1 Samuel 15:30-31
Saul tried again, "I have sinned. But don't abandon me! Support me with your presence before the leaders and the people. Come alongside me as I go back to worship GOD."
Samuel did. He went back with him. And Saul went to his knees before GOD and worshiped.
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.
Second chances… we all need them from time to time. We make a mistake, and we know we can do better – if only we are given a chance to prove it. We all know of people who are in the media forefront who have really blown it big time… and many are asking for us to “forgive and forget” – to give them another chance to do better. We may also know people in our own community, circle of friends, or even our own family who need a second chance and our support as they make an effort to change.
Think about this… because of the blood of Jesus on the cross, we all have a shot at a second chance. Saul asked Samuel to stick by him and to encourage the entire church and community to support him as he tried to rebuild his relationship with God – and others. We have asked God to stick by us and support us as we commit to living the life of a Christian. And maybe you are asking your friends, family, church family, and community to support you in efforts to turn your own life around and live better. Or maybe someone is asking you to lend your support and encouragement in their own rebuilding effort.
Either way, we cannot refuse. Hopefully fellow believers will come to your rescue and encourage you if/when you need it. And surely you will do the same for others when they approach you. God will not abandon us… He will never turn his back on us when we ask Him to help… to set us on our feet and give us another chance. So how can we do any less for others?
Who do you need to encourage today? Who do you need to ask for support in your own efforts to make changes and/or do better? Do you need to ask God to give you a second chance? Evaluate your situation and see where you need to ask these questions… then get busy finding the road back to God and right living - for yourself and everyone in your path.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 5, 2011
1 Samuel 15:16-23
"Enough!" interrupted Samuel. "Let me tell you what GOD told me last night."
Saul said, "Go ahead. Tell me." And Samuel told him. "When you started out in this, you were nothing— and you knew it. Then GOD put you at the head of Israel—made you king over Israel. Then GOD sent you off to do a job for him, ordering you, 'Go and put those sinners, the Amalekites, under a holy ban. Go to war against them until you have totally wiped them out.' So why did you not obey GOD? Why did you grab all this loot? Why, with GOD's eyes on you all the time, did you brazenly carry out this evil?"
Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey GOD. I did the job GOD set for me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to GOD at Gilgal—what's wrong with that?"
Then Samuel said, “Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to GOD's command, he says No to your kingship.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I have to laugh at some of the people in the public eye these days who claim that they are “not in it for the publicity.” Clearly some of the stories we are hearing over and over again in our news are nothing more than publicity stunts… attempts to get people to “look at me!” Many of the “candidates” for public office who made us think they were going to run have already withdrawn… but they left us talking about them! Others are still at it… milking the media for every last ounce of attention.
A lot of these people grabbing the headlines are multi-millionaires. They could afford to send thousands of dollars – if not a million or more – to devastated areas like Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They could build orphanages and create clean water supplies in Third World countries. And some of them do this. But many of them spend their money on lavish homes and cars, mega-parties, and gargantuan empires of “toys” and “stuff” – and more media buzz!
At the same time, I know people who barely get buy each month on a fixed income… yet they find a way to visit the sick and the needy… to cook food for those who are hungry… to rescue a stray dog or cat that doesn’t have a home… and much more. They spend their time and energy lifting others in the name of Jesus… and yes, they probably sent drinking water, toothpaste, soap and more in the truckload of goods that our church or another local group delivered to one of the tornado-ravaged areas.
A lot of the media seekers will stand at the microphone and thank God for blessing them and guiding their steps and decisions. But talk is cheap. God would rather they do something with the blessings He has given them and listen to Him when He says, “Use what I have given you to bless and care for others in my name.” He would rather they be obedient servants than celebrity seekers who are filled with hot air.
What about you? Do you “talk a good game?” Do you tell others how much God has done for you, show up on Sunday at church… and maybe even during the week for a youth service, prayer meeting or Bible study… and then return to your cushy life of focusing on yourself? Or do you ask God, “Where do you want me to serve today? How do You want me to use the blessings You have given me? What is YOUR plan for me this day?”
Selfishness and failure to listen to God cost Saul the kingship… what might it be costing you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Enough!" interrupted Samuel. "Let me tell you what GOD told me last night."
Saul said, "Go ahead. Tell me." And Samuel told him. "When you started out in this, you were nothing— and you knew it. Then GOD put you at the head of Israel—made you king over Israel. Then GOD sent you off to do a job for him, ordering you, 'Go and put those sinners, the Amalekites, under a holy ban. Go to war against them until you have totally wiped them out.' So why did you not obey GOD? Why did you grab all this loot? Why, with GOD's eyes on you all the time, did you brazenly carry out this evil?"
Saul defended himself. "What are you talking about? I did obey GOD. I did the job GOD set for me. I brought in King Agag and destroyed the Amalekites under the terms of the holy ban. So the soldiers saved back a few choice sheep and cattle from the holy ban for sacrifice to GOD at Gilgal—what's wrong with that?"
Then Samuel said, “Do you think all GOD wants are sacrifices— empty rituals just for show? He wants you to listen to him! Plain listening is the thing, not staging a lavish religious production. Not doing what GOD tells you is far worse than fooling around in the occult. Getting self-important around GOD is far worse than making deals with your dead ancestors. Because you said No to GOD's command, he says No to your kingship.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I have to laugh at some of the people in the public eye these days who claim that they are “not in it for the publicity.” Clearly some of the stories we are hearing over and over again in our news are nothing more than publicity stunts… attempts to get people to “look at me!” Many of the “candidates” for public office who made us think they were going to run have already withdrawn… but they left us talking about them! Others are still at it… milking the media for every last ounce of attention.
A lot of these people grabbing the headlines are multi-millionaires. They could afford to send thousands of dollars – if not a million or more – to devastated areas like Joplin, Missouri, and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. They could build orphanages and create clean water supplies in Third World countries. And some of them do this. But many of them spend their money on lavish homes and cars, mega-parties, and gargantuan empires of “toys” and “stuff” – and more media buzz!
At the same time, I know people who barely get buy each month on a fixed income… yet they find a way to visit the sick and the needy… to cook food for those who are hungry… to rescue a stray dog or cat that doesn’t have a home… and much more. They spend their time and energy lifting others in the name of Jesus… and yes, they probably sent drinking water, toothpaste, soap and more in the truckload of goods that our church or another local group delivered to one of the tornado-ravaged areas.
A lot of the media seekers will stand at the microphone and thank God for blessing them and guiding their steps and decisions. But talk is cheap. God would rather they do something with the blessings He has given them and listen to Him when He says, “Use what I have given you to bless and care for others in my name.” He would rather they be obedient servants than celebrity seekers who are filled with hot air.
What about you? Do you “talk a good game?” Do you tell others how much God has done for you, show up on Sunday at church… and maybe even during the week for a youth service, prayer meeting or Bible study… and then return to your cushy life of focusing on yourself? Or do you ask God, “Where do you want me to serve today? How do You want me to use the blessings You have given me? What is YOUR plan for me this day?”
Selfishness and failure to listen to God cost Saul the kingship… what might it be costing you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 4, 2011
1 Samuel 14:6
Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe GOD will work for us. There's no rule that says GOD can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop GOD from saving when he sets his mind to it."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On April 12, 2011, 10-year-old LaShaun Armstrong’s 25-year-old mother put him and three siblings in the family van and told them, “If I’m going to die, you’re all going to die with me.” Then she drove the van into the frigid waters of the Hudson River near Newburgh, New York, 60 miles north of New York City. LaShaun managed to open a driver’s side window and swim to safety. His mother had crawled into the back seat, where she held LaShaun’s siblings – ages 5, 2, and eleven months. LaShaun says as he broke free, his mother said, “Oh, my God, I made a mistake” and tried to climb into the front seat and put the car in reverse. But it was too late. LaShaun was the only survivor.
News reports of this tragic incident hit the airwaves, and people were shocked and heartbroken. In particular, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was greatly moved by the courage of a young boy… and his tremendous loss. Lewis was so touched by LaShaun’s story that he formed a foundation and garnered the assistance of some of his friends from the Carolina Panthers. Lewis has since become something of a “big brother” to LaShaun. He said, "I looked at him and told him, 'I'm here for you man. I can't replace what you've lost. But I can tell you that I'm here to go forward with you.'"
Lewis was particularly touched by LaShaun’s story, because his own mother was unable to afford to keep him when he was a teenager. He knows the devastation of feeling abandoned by his mother… and he has vowed to make a difference in LaShaun’s life. Now, others have joined him, and LaShaun is surrounded by the love and care of many who are vowing to make a difference for him.
I know that Ray Lewis is a pro athlete with lots of resources. But he also has a big heart. He didn’t have to take an interest in a 10-year-old boy. Like many, he could have said, “That’s sad… but I’m just one person – and I don’t even know LaShaun Armstrong. There’s no way I could do anything.” Instead, this is an example of a man who has been given much using his wealth, status and resources to help others. And we can do this, too. Just as Jonathan learned in this passage from 1 Samuel, God doesn’t always need an army to make a difference… He can do great things with just one person, if He so desires.
When someone I knew to be a faithful Christian would say to me, “I am praying for you,” I used to reply, “Good… because I know you have a direct line to Heaven.” That sounds nice, and it’s quite the compliment… but it simply is not true. Nobody has a more direct line to heaven than another person. Your “line” to God is just as clear and has as many “bars” as the next person’s. You may seem to hear from Him more clearly than some… and your faithful contact may seem to result in more blessings… but God is waiting to help each of us equally.
We seriously underestimate God’s power and purpose to use “lil’ ole me” to serve and further His kingdom. He may not be calling you to fight a legion of pagans – or start a foundation to help an abandoned 10-year-old boy. But He does have plans for you – just “lil’ ole YOU”! Are you paying attention? Are you hearing God’s voice and answering His call?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe GOD will work for us. There's no rule that says GOD can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop GOD from saving when he sets his mind to it."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On April 12, 2011, 10-year-old LaShaun Armstrong’s 25-year-old mother put him and three siblings in the family van and told them, “If I’m going to die, you’re all going to die with me.” Then she drove the van into the frigid waters of the Hudson River near Newburgh, New York, 60 miles north of New York City. LaShaun managed to open a driver’s side window and swim to safety. His mother had crawled into the back seat, where she held LaShaun’s siblings – ages 5, 2, and eleven months. LaShaun says as he broke free, his mother said, “Oh, my God, I made a mistake” and tried to climb into the front seat and put the car in reverse. But it was too late. LaShaun was the only survivor.
News reports of this tragic incident hit the airwaves, and people were shocked and heartbroken. In particular, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was greatly moved by the courage of a young boy… and his tremendous loss. Lewis was so touched by LaShaun’s story that he formed a foundation and garnered the assistance of some of his friends from the Carolina Panthers. Lewis has since become something of a “big brother” to LaShaun. He said, "I looked at him and told him, 'I'm here for you man. I can't replace what you've lost. But I can tell you that I'm here to go forward with you.'"
Lewis was particularly touched by LaShaun’s story, because his own mother was unable to afford to keep him when he was a teenager. He knows the devastation of feeling abandoned by his mother… and he has vowed to make a difference in LaShaun’s life. Now, others have joined him, and LaShaun is surrounded by the love and care of many who are vowing to make a difference for him.
I know that Ray Lewis is a pro athlete with lots of resources. But he also has a big heart. He didn’t have to take an interest in a 10-year-old boy. Like many, he could have said, “That’s sad… but I’m just one person – and I don’t even know LaShaun Armstrong. There’s no way I could do anything.” Instead, this is an example of a man who has been given much using his wealth, status and resources to help others. And we can do this, too. Just as Jonathan learned in this passage from 1 Samuel, God doesn’t always need an army to make a difference… He can do great things with just one person, if He so desires.
When someone I knew to be a faithful Christian would say to me, “I am praying for you,” I used to reply, “Good… because I know you have a direct line to Heaven.” That sounds nice, and it’s quite the compliment… but it simply is not true. Nobody has a more direct line to heaven than another person. Your “line” to God is just as clear and has as many “bars” as the next person’s. You may seem to hear from Him more clearly than some… and your faithful contact may seem to result in more blessings… but God is waiting to help each of us equally.
We seriously underestimate God’s power and purpose to use “lil’ ole me” to serve and further His kingdom. He may not be calling you to fight a legion of pagans – or start a foundation to help an abandoned 10-year-old boy. But He does have plans for you – just “lil’ ole YOU”! Are you paying attention? Are you hearing God’s voice and answering His call?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 3, 2011
Proverbs 21:20
Be sensible and store up precious treasures-- don't waste them like a fool.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother loves to travel. It seems like she is “on the go” a lot of the time, and one day she said, “I’m doing all I can while I am still young enough and able… because I know the day will come when I no longer can do all of this.” My mother is a writer, and she pursues her career as she travels, but she is also semi-retired, so she has the freedom and luxury of spare time to visit interesting destinations. She is storing up “precious treasures” in the form of memories of all of the places she has visited and people she has met.
But not all “treasures” we store are so precious! We seem to have time for some things… but not others. It’s sometimes interesting to see that working parents who will find time to watch a favorite television program, or sporting event are too busy to sit and hold a child and read a second bed-time story… or to toss a ball or shoot hoops with a fifth-grader after dinner. Busy adults have time to meet a friend for a cup of coffee or a night of Bunco or poker, but they can’t spare an hour to commiserate as an aging grandmother talks one more time about her declining health or Grandpa tells about his days as a soldier or the sore spot on his leg.
It’s amazing how friends have time to come over to your house and hang out or share a meal… but when you are sick or injured, they just don’t have time to drop by and even see if you need anything. It’s funny how we have time for concerts, sporting events, “important” meetings at work and school… but we can’t spare a couple of hours on Sunday for worship with fellow believers, much less an afternoon to do mission work.
I often think about my grandparents and my great-grandparents and how hard they worked… farming, doing all sorts of housework without microwaves and washing machines, refrigerators and gas or electric cook stoves. I marvel at how they made all of their own clothing and bedding… and still had time to teach children to sew and plant a garden, do mission work in their church, and study their Bible in the evenings. Some of my fondest memories of my grandparents are the times they seemed to drop everything they were doing just to do what I wanted or needed. Regrettably, I also recall times when I have told my own nieces or grandparents, “I’m just too busy for that.”
Often, what we think is precious treasure may actually be selfish pleasure. It is important that we learn to tell the difference… that we pay attention and ask God to show us which is which… and then make wise choices about how we spend our time. What consumes your time these days? Are you making the best use of your time and storing up treasures that matter for Eternity? Isn’t it time you began?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Be sensible and store up precious treasures-- don't waste them like a fool.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother loves to travel. It seems like she is “on the go” a lot of the time, and one day she said, “I’m doing all I can while I am still young enough and able… because I know the day will come when I no longer can do all of this.” My mother is a writer, and she pursues her career as she travels, but she is also semi-retired, so she has the freedom and luxury of spare time to visit interesting destinations. She is storing up “precious treasures” in the form of memories of all of the places she has visited and people she has met.
But not all “treasures” we store are so precious! We seem to have time for some things… but not others. It’s sometimes interesting to see that working parents who will find time to watch a favorite television program, or sporting event are too busy to sit and hold a child and read a second bed-time story… or to toss a ball or shoot hoops with a fifth-grader after dinner. Busy adults have time to meet a friend for a cup of coffee or a night of Bunco or poker, but they can’t spare an hour to commiserate as an aging grandmother talks one more time about her declining health or Grandpa tells about his days as a soldier or the sore spot on his leg.
It’s amazing how friends have time to come over to your house and hang out or share a meal… but when you are sick or injured, they just don’t have time to drop by and even see if you need anything. It’s funny how we have time for concerts, sporting events, “important” meetings at work and school… but we can’t spare a couple of hours on Sunday for worship with fellow believers, much less an afternoon to do mission work.
I often think about my grandparents and my great-grandparents and how hard they worked… farming, doing all sorts of housework without microwaves and washing machines, refrigerators and gas or electric cook stoves. I marvel at how they made all of their own clothing and bedding… and still had time to teach children to sew and plant a garden, do mission work in their church, and study their Bible in the evenings. Some of my fondest memories of my grandparents are the times they seemed to drop everything they were doing just to do what I wanted or needed. Regrettably, I also recall times when I have told my own nieces or grandparents, “I’m just too busy for that.”
Often, what we think is precious treasure may actually be selfish pleasure. It is important that we learn to tell the difference… that we pay attention and ask God to show us which is which… and then make wise choices about how we spend our time. What consumes your time these days? Are you making the best use of your time and storing up treasures that matter for Eternity? Isn’t it time you began?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 2, 2011
Proverbs 21:2-3
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts. Doing what is right and fair pleases the LORD more than an offering.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I heard Paige, a young girl who belongs to our church, tell about a really hard decision she had to make. Last summer, she was offered the chance to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica, and she was thrilled to be invited. Paige had realized that God was calling her to serve in missions after she heard a missionary to Africa speak. So when she was offered the chance to go to Costa Rica, she knew that this was a huge opportunity. The problem was… this trip was scheduled for the same week as her cheer camp in Florida.
Paige went to her cheerleading sponsor and asked if she could possibly be excused from the camp… and she explained why. The sponsor said she was sorry, but there could be no exceptions. If she let one cheerleader miss, it wouldn’t be fair to the other team members. So Paige had to make a choice… a very hard one. She prayed hard about this, and in the end, she went to Costa Rica. She said it was one of the hardest decisions she ever made… but also one of the best. Paige discovered people in Costa Rica with real needs… and amazing hardships. She realized that her ministry in God’s name had meant something to the people she encountered – for that week, and for a long time afterward.
Sometimes doing the right thing and making the right choice is really hard. I am not sure that I could have made the choice Paige made the summer before my senior year. I’m not sure I always make the right choices even now. But I know that sometimes my heart tells me to choose one way… and God tells me to choose another. When there is something I really want to do that is different from what God wants, I usually know it.
Sometimes I want to sleep in when God wants me to get up and get going. Sometimes I want to tell someone “No” when they ask for help… when clearly God wants me to lend them a hand. Sometimes I want to spout off and say something mean or unkind to someone to make my point… and I know God wants me to bite my tongue and take the high road.
I don’t know what your heart is pulling at you to say or do that doesn’t line up with what is right in God’s eyes. But I know that He can help you to make the correct choice… and just like Paige, you will never regret it. Yes, sometimes our hard decisions seem to “cost” us something… just like Paige’s choice cost her cheer camp and more. But God will make up any “cost” you may feel you have paid in rewards and blessings. All you have to do is ask Him to help you do the right thing. This requires courage and faith in God to see you through… do you have what it takes?
©2011 Debbie Robus
We may think we are doing the right thing, but the LORD always knows what is in our hearts. Doing what is right and fair pleases the LORD more than an offering.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I heard Paige, a young girl who belongs to our church, tell about a really hard decision she had to make. Last summer, she was offered the chance to go on a mission trip to Costa Rica, and she was thrilled to be invited. Paige had realized that God was calling her to serve in missions after she heard a missionary to Africa speak. So when she was offered the chance to go to Costa Rica, she knew that this was a huge opportunity. The problem was… this trip was scheduled for the same week as her cheer camp in Florida.
Paige went to her cheerleading sponsor and asked if she could possibly be excused from the camp… and she explained why. The sponsor said she was sorry, but there could be no exceptions. If she let one cheerleader miss, it wouldn’t be fair to the other team members. So Paige had to make a choice… a very hard one. She prayed hard about this, and in the end, she went to Costa Rica. She said it was one of the hardest decisions she ever made… but also one of the best. Paige discovered people in Costa Rica with real needs… and amazing hardships. She realized that her ministry in God’s name had meant something to the people she encountered – for that week, and for a long time afterward.
Sometimes doing the right thing and making the right choice is really hard. I am not sure that I could have made the choice Paige made the summer before my senior year. I’m not sure I always make the right choices even now. But I know that sometimes my heart tells me to choose one way… and God tells me to choose another. When there is something I really want to do that is different from what God wants, I usually know it.
Sometimes I want to sleep in when God wants me to get up and get going. Sometimes I want to tell someone “No” when they ask for help… when clearly God wants me to lend them a hand. Sometimes I want to spout off and say something mean or unkind to someone to make my point… and I know God wants me to bite my tongue and take the high road.
I don’t know what your heart is pulling at you to say or do that doesn’t line up with what is right in God’s eyes. But I know that He can help you to make the correct choice… and just like Paige, you will never regret it. Yes, sometimes our hard decisions seem to “cost” us something… just like Paige’s choice cost her cheer camp and more. But God will make up any “cost” you may feel you have paid in rewards and blessings. All you have to do is ask Him to help you do the right thing. This requires courage and faith in God to see you through… do you have what it takes?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 1, 2011
Luke 22:20-23
After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, "This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!"
Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Never underestimate the power of one person – or a single act. I told you about Will Norton, the young man who graduated from high school in Joplin, Missouri, then was sucked through the sunroof of his SUV on the way home during the EF-5 tornado that struck his community. There is a lot of information on Facebook about Will, courtesy of his family. This remarkable teenager was interested in studying film design, and he got quite good at making his own videos. Many are posted on YouTube… you can see them by going to http://www.youtube.com/user/willdabeast88883333.
One of the videos is about tattoo artist Kat Von D… Will was a huge fan. In this video, Will talks about a trip he took to California to visit a college he was hoping to attend. During the trip, he actually saw Kat Von D outside her tattoo shop… but he was too excited to even speak to her. It’s a cute video… and during all of the posts about the Joplin tornado and Will Norton, Kat Von D learned of the video – and Will’s story. Apparently she draws a sketch each day and posts it on her twitter account. May 29th, Kat Von D dedicated her sketch to Will Norton. The family is now trying to obtain usage rights for the sketch.
Think about it… because of this one kid and the tragic story of how he was killed by a tornado, the message of Jesus Christ and the example of tremendous faith in God is being shared with the world. Countless people who knew and loved Will have responded to Kat Von D’s sketch on her Twitter page. The posts from Will’s Aunt Tracey and other family members are all about their faith… how God is blessing them even now… how they are continuing to pray for other families who have lost loved ones – and some who are still searching for victims. If Kat Von D starts to share Will’s story through her resources, the exponential ripples of these messages of trusting Jesus, no matter what, are mind boggling!
Imagine how different things would have been, had Judas not betrayed Jesus. Of course, we know that this was all part of God’s plan to allow Judas to sell out his Master, but our purposes in many of the things we say and do have far less purposeful outcomes. But let’s spin this around. Imagine the power of just one act of obedience… one leap of faith… one example of tremendous courage and strength. Imagine the impact of one teenage boy who recited scripture as a tornado sucked him, literally, into heaven.
Do you have any idea the impact your have on others? Do you realize the power of a single act on your part to help – or harm – someone else? Do you understand that what you say and do – how you conduct yourself every single day – speaks volumes about your relationship with Jesus Christ? We have a choice… we can be a “Will Norton” or a “Judas”. Which one do you more closely resemble most days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, "This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!"
Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Never underestimate the power of one person – or a single act. I told you about Will Norton, the young man who graduated from high school in Joplin, Missouri, then was sucked through the sunroof of his SUV on the way home during the EF-5 tornado that struck his community. There is a lot of information on Facebook about Will, courtesy of his family. This remarkable teenager was interested in studying film design, and he got quite good at making his own videos. Many are posted on YouTube… you can see them by going to http://www.youtube.com/user/willdabeast88883333.
One of the videos is about tattoo artist Kat Von D… Will was a huge fan. In this video, Will talks about a trip he took to California to visit a college he was hoping to attend. During the trip, he actually saw Kat Von D outside her tattoo shop… but he was too excited to even speak to her. It’s a cute video… and during all of the posts about the Joplin tornado and Will Norton, Kat Von D learned of the video – and Will’s story. Apparently she draws a sketch each day and posts it on her twitter account. May 29th, Kat Von D dedicated her sketch to Will Norton. The family is now trying to obtain usage rights for the sketch.
Think about it… because of this one kid and the tragic story of how he was killed by a tornado, the message of Jesus Christ and the example of tremendous faith in God is being shared with the world. Countless people who knew and loved Will have responded to Kat Von D’s sketch on her Twitter page. The posts from Will’s Aunt Tracey and other family members are all about their faith… how God is blessing them even now… how they are continuing to pray for other families who have lost loved ones – and some who are still searching for victims. If Kat Von D starts to share Will’s story through her resources, the exponential ripples of these messages of trusting Jesus, no matter what, are mind boggling!
Imagine how different things would have been, had Judas not betrayed Jesus. Of course, we know that this was all part of God’s plan to allow Judas to sell out his Master, but our purposes in many of the things we say and do have far less purposeful outcomes. But let’s spin this around. Imagine the power of just one act of obedience… one leap of faith… one example of tremendous courage and strength. Imagine the impact of one teenage boy who recited scripture as a tornado sucked him, literally, into heaven.
Do you have any idea the impact your have on others? Do you realize the power of a single act on your part to help – or harm – someone else? Do you understand that what you say and do – how you conduct yourself every single day – speaks volumes about your relationship with Jesus Christ? We have a choice… we can be a “Will Norton” or a “Judas”. Which one do you more closely resemble most days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 31, 2011
Psalm 90:14
When morning comes, let your love satisfy all our needs. Then we can celebrate and be glad for what time we have left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you are like me – and most people – you probably are in the habit of using three products to do a task, when one would have been sufficient. I used to have a whole basket of cleaning products – scrub for the shower tile, disinfectant for surfaces, window cleaner for the windows and mirrors, furniture polish for the wood, and many more products that commercials and advertisements told me we simply could not stay clean unless we purchased them!
But then I stumbled onto a recipe at my grandmother’s for a cleaning solution she called “Glass Plus.” I’m not talking about the commercial brand by the same name… this was a concoction of 2 tablespoons ammonia, 1 teaspoon of dish detergent, and 2 cups of rubbing alcohol. You put all of this in a clean plastic gallon milk jug, and fill it with water. Not only does this solution clean mirrors and windows beautifully… it also disinfects surfaces at the same time.
When I fill a spray bottle with this solution, I don’t need a bottle of disinfectant AND a bottle of window cleaner. I can use this solution on all sorts of spills… in virtually every room of the house, and even on outside surfaces… and it’s far cheaper than those store brands! One spray bottle of this concoction satisfies virtually all of my household cleaning needs!
Do you see the correlation with our Spiritual life? We run around trying to get all of these “aids” that we think we need to make us more Spiritual, when God has already given us all that we need. We have Jesus… we have the Bible… we can go to God in prayer any time of the night or day. The Holy Spirit is always with us, ready to give us wisdom, courage, and comfort. God has given us an “all-in-One” product!
Most of us will still try other products from time to time. We’ll be lured in by the commercials and ads, and we will wonder… is this “glass plus” cleaner really enough to get the job done? And honestly, a lot of us will get caught up in external things Spiritually, too. We’ll become fascinated with a particular set of Bible study aids or a certain speaker. We’ll listen non-stop to the music of a favorite Christian musical artist or group… or we’ll decide that hymns are old school, and we need Contemporary Christian music to really “feel the Holy Spirit” in our lives. We’ll become so absorbed in this or that ministry in our church or community and fail to recognize that God is at work all around us – in people and ministries of all sizes, shapes and colors.
The bottom line is that we need to remind ourselves that God truly is an “All-in-One” solution Who satisfies every single one of our needs. If we wake each morning and give our day – and our needs to Him, think of how much extra time and energy we will have… and how much better things will go. Are you still trying extra products and gadgets? Or have you settled in for the long haul with God and let Him handle things for you? Isn’t it time you simplified your life and put Him in charge? Are you ready to let go… and let God?
©2011 Debbie Robus
When morning comes, let your love satisfy all our needs. Then we can celebrate and be glad for what time we have left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you are like me – and most people – you probably are in the habit of using three products to do a task, when one would have been sufficient. I used to have a whole basket of cleaning products – scrub for the shower tile, disinfectant for surfaces, window cleaner for the windows and mirrors, furniture polish for the wood, and many more products that commercials and advertisements told me we simply could not stay clean unless we purchased them!
But then I stumbled onto a recipe at my grandmother’s for a cleaning solution she called “Glass Plus.” I’m not talking about the commercial brand by the same name… this was a concoction of 2 tablespoons ammonia, 1 teaspoon of dish detergent, and 2 cups of rubbing alcohol. You put all of this in a clean plastic gallon milk jug, and fill it with water. Not only does this solution clean mirrors and windows beautifully… it also disinfects surfaces at the same time.
When I fill a spray bottle with this solution, I don’t need a bottle of disinfectant AND a bottle of window cleaner. I can use this solution on all sorts of spills… in virtually every room of the house, and even on outside surfaces… and it’s far cheaper than those store brands! One spray bottle of this concoction satisfies virtually all of my household cleaning needs!
Do you see the correlation with our Spiritual life? We run around trying to get all of these “aids” that we think we need to make us more Spiritual, when God has already given us all that we need. We have Jesus… we have the Bible… we can go to God in prayer any time of the night or day. The Holy Spirit is always with us, ready to give us wisdom, courage, and comfort. God has given us an “all-in-One” product!
Most of us will still try other products from time to time. We’ll be lured in by the commercials and ads, and we will wonder… is this “glass plus” cleaner really enough to get the job done? And honestly, a lot of us will get caught up in external things Spiritually, too. We’ll become fascinated with a particular set of Bible study aids or a certain speaker. We’ll listen non-stop to the music of a favorite Christian musical artist or group… or we’ll decide that hymns are old school, and we need Contemporary Christian music to really “feel the Holy Spirit” in our lives. We’ll become so absorbed in this or that ministry in our church or community and fail to recognize that God is at work all around us – in people and ministries of all sizes, shapes and colors.
The bottom line is that we need to remind ourselves that God truly is an “All-in-One” solution Who satisfies every single one of our needs. If we wake each morning and give our day – and our needs to Him, think of how much extra time and energy we will have… and how much better things will go. Are you still trying extra products and gadgets? Or have you settled in for the long haul with God and let Him handle things for you? Isn’t it time you simplified your life and put Him in charge? Are you ready to let go… and let God?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 30, 2011
Luke 23:13-25
Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge. And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It's clear that he's done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."
At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!" (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again. But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him!"
He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.
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 other night, our cat Mabel came in the living room while we were watching TV, and she began to pace around… and even whimper. My husband asked her, “Is your food bowl empty?” I checked… there was plenty of food. We both looked at each other and laughed. We knew that she wanted a dish of milk… a treat we have only recently begun to give our cats. Normally we give them milk right before bedtime, when we feed them for the night. But it was a couple of hours earlier, and Mabel was already begging.
Finally, we caved. I poured a small saucer of milk, and she came running to the laundry room where we feed them and began to lap at the cold treat. We had given in to her demands. And while the only consequence will be that she once again thinks she can manipulate us into doing whatever she wants, in essence, we were her “Pilate.”
Quite honestly, we are all a lot like Pilate more often than we care to admit. We cave to our peers and do things we know we shouldn’t. We give in to our own frailties and desires and fall off our diet, buy that new pair of shoes or the latest electronic gadget or computer game we can’t really afford, and cheat – just this once – on a test, our taxes, or our significant other. And if you read Luke 22, you see that Jesus’ disciples were no better. Peter denied Jesus three times after His arrest – before the rooster could even signal the dawn of a new day. We are weak souls indeed!
The Good News is that we don’t have to succumb to our weaknesses. We have Inner Strength that we cannot even comprehend… in the form of the Holy Spirit. We can call on the Holy Spirit any hour of the night or day to shore up our resolve… to give us courage to stand up to the temptation of that extra cookie, a persuasive friend, or the lure of something we know we should avoid. Pilate knew that to choose Barabbas was right… but it would bring him ridicule and/or discomfort from the people, and he did not have the necessary courage and faith to do this.
When we make the more difficult choice of doing the right thing… we can depend on God to bless the outcome of our faithfulness. When your boss says, “Lie for me, or lose your job,” the temptation may be to do what it takes to stay employed. But God will help you find another – better – place to work, if you do the right thing and your boss fires you, as threatened. When a friend or loved one says, “You think you’re too good for me. I don’t want to hang around you anymore” because you won’t do something illicit or illegal, walk away, knowing God will see you through whatever the outcome. When you think you can’t possibly exercise or do some sort of workout to get in better physical shape, God can help you take the baby steps that lead to bigger steps… and give you the strength and courage to persevere.
It all starts with one thing – a simple prayer… “Lord help me.” He can… and He will! We may have been modern-day “Pilates” in the past, but we don’t have to continue with this kind of behavior. It’s time to exercise our faith muscle… to call on the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us… and to trust God to keep His promises. How deep is your faith? How strong is your resolve? Who is guarding your heart and guiding your choices these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge. And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. It's clear that he's done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."
At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!" (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again. But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him!"
He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go." But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.
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 other night, our cat Mabel came in the living room while we were watching TV, and she began to pace around… and even whimper. My husband asked her, “Is your food bowl empty?” I checked… there was plenty of food. We both looked at each other and laughed. We knew that she wanted a dish of milk… a treat we have only recently begun to give our cats. Normally we give them milk right before bedtime, when we feed them for the night. But it was a couple of hours earlier, and Mabel was already begging.
Finally, we caved. I poured a small saucer of milk, and she came running to the laundry room where we feed them and began to lap at the cold treat. We had given in to her demands. And while the only consequence will be that she once again thinks she can manipulate us into doing whatever she wants, in essence, we were her “Pilate.”
Quite honestly, we are all a lot like Pilate more often than we care to admit. We cave to our peers and do things we know we shouldn’t. We give in to our own frailties and desires and fall off our diet, buy that new pair of shoes or the latest electronic gadget or computer game we can’t really afford, and cheat – just this once – on a test, our taxes, or our significant other. And if you read Luke 22, you see that Jesus’ disciples were no better. Peter denied Jesus three times after His arrest – before the rooster could even signal the dawn of a new day. We are weak souls indeed!
The Good News is that we don’t have to succumb to our weaknesses. We have Inner Strength that we cannot even comprehend… in the form of the Holy Spirit. We can call on the Holy Spirit any hour of the night or day to shore up our resolve… to give us courage to stand up to the temptation of that extra cookie, a persuasive friend, or the lure of something we know we should avoid. Pilate knew that to choose Barabbas was right… but it would bring him ridicule and/or discomfort from the people, and he did not have the necessary courage and faith to do this.
When we make the more difficult choice of doing the right thing… we can depend on God to bless the outcome of our faithfulness. When your boss says, “Lie for me, or lose your job,” the temptation may be to do what it takes to stay employed. But God will help you find another – better – place to work, if you do the right thing and your boss fires you, as threatened. When a friend or loved one says, “You think you’re too good for me. I don’t want to hang around you anymore” because you won’t do something illicit or illegal, walk away, knowing God will see you through whatever the outcome. When you think you can’t possibly exercise or do some sort of workout to get in better physical shape, God can help you take the baby steps that lead to bigger steps… and give you the strength and courage to persevere.
It all starts with one thing – a simple prayer… “Lord help me.” He can… and He will! We may have been modern-day “Pilates” in the past, but we don’t have to continue with this kind of behavior. It’s time to exercise our faith muscle… to call on the Holy Spirit to guide and protect us… and to trust God to keep His promises. How deep is your faith? How strong is your resolve? Who is guarding your heart and guiding your choices these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 29, 2011
Psalm 90:16-17
Do wonderful things for us, your servants, and show your mighty power to our children. Our Lord and our God, treat us with kindness and let all go well for us. Please let all go well!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You may have heard the story of Will Norton, a teenager who graduated from Joplin High School on Sunday afternoon, May 22nd, then headed home with his dad. As Will drove, the EF-5 tornado struck, and he and his dad were picked up in their SUV and swirled and tossed violently around in the air. Will’s dad clung desperately to him as the tornado literally pulled him through the vehicle’s sunroof. Will’s dad was badly injured and was taken to a Joplin hospital. Will was nowhere to be found.
For days, hundreds of volunteers, family members and friends searched the rubble of Joplin for Will Norton. Hospitals as far away as Kansas City, Tulsa, and Hot Springs, Arkansas, were queried to see if perhaps Will had been taken there. And on Friday night, May 27th, Will’s body was found in Joplin – in a pond. He had not survived.
Will’s dad reported that as the tornado pulled him from the SUV, he continually quoted scripture verses. His Aunt Tracey posted on a Facebook page, “…another night, but now one with the peace of knowing where Will is. Sadness in my heart for those that have lost so much. May God guide them to peace.” Earlier in the week, Will’s Aunt Tracey had been interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and while on camera, she turned to comfort Will’s sister, saying, “We’ll be okay, baby… we’ll be okay.” And while their hearts are broken and they are devastated by the loss of this young man… who from all accounts was a pretty amazing kid… their prayer has been answered… and all has gone [relatively] well.
This family, like many who have endured suffering and anguish because of the tornado, knows the love and kindness of total strangers who have come from all parts of the country – just to help. They know the prayers of people from around the world that God would lead them to their loved one – dead or alive – and give them peace and some sense of closure. They know that, in the days ahead, God will send people to minister to them – and they will in turn minister to others out of their grief… and all will be well.
Do you have this peace and comfort? Do you feel the power and presence of God in your life in such a way that you know that… no matter what is hurled your way… all will go well? Can you claim, with confidence, that even if a tornado sucked you into the air and through the sunroof, you would be at peace… maybe even have the ability to quote the word of God as you rose to meet Him? As Christians, we need to know God in such a way that we are fully confident that all will go well, regardless of our situation. We must strive to develop the kind of relationship that gives us the continual “peace that passes all understanding.”
I’m sure that in the days to come, many will look at Will Norton’s family and question how and why they can appear so peaceful in the midst of such a horrific tragedy. I’m sure some will question their grieving process and how they can possibly think that all is going well. And I am equally sure they have their private moments when all is anything but well in their world. However, they understand that God is using this tragedy for His glory… and He has not even begun to show them all the ways that He can bring good out of such an ugly, devastating event.
For now, these families who are enduring this destruction with such dignity are my new heroes. They truly are living the faith that with God, all is going well… and I want to be just like them… don’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Do wonderful things for us, your servants, and show your mighty power to our children. Our Lord and our God, treat us with kindness and let all go well for us. Please let all go well!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You may have heard the story of Will Norton, a teenager who graduated from Joplin High School on Sunday afternoon, May 22nd, then headed home with his dad. As Will drove, the EF-5 tornado struck, and he and his dad were picked up in their SUV and swirled and tossed violently around in the air. Will’s dad clung desperately to him as the tornado literally pulled him through the vehicle’s sunroof. Will’s dad was badly injured and was taken to a Joplin hospital. Will was nowhere to be found.
For days, hundreds of volunteers, family members and friends searched the rubble of Joplin for Will Norton. Hospitals as far away as Kansas City, Tulsa, and Hot Springs, Arkansas, were queried to see if perhaps Will had been taken there. And on Friday night, May 27th, Will’s body was found in Joplin – in a pond. He had not survived.
Will’s dad reported that as the tornado pulled him from the SUV, he continually quoted scripture verses. His Aunt Tracey posted on a Facebook page, “…another night, but now one with the peace of knowing where Will is. Sadness in my heart for those that have lost so much. May God guide them to peace.” Earlier in the week, Will’s Aunt Tracey had been interviewed by CNN’s Anderson Cooper, and while on camera, she turned to comfort Will’s sister, saying, “We’ll be okay, baby… we’ll be okay.” And while their hearts are broken and they are devastated by the loss of this young man… who from all accounts was a pretty amazing kid… their prayer has been answered… and all has gone [relatively] well.
This family, like many who have endured suffering and anguish because of the tornado, knows the love and kindness of total strangers who have come from all parts of the country – just to help. They know the prayers of people from around the world that God would lead them to their loved one – dead or alive – and give them peace and some sense of closure. They know that, in the days ahead, God will send people to minister to them – and they will in turn minister to others out of their grief… and all will be well.
Do you have this peace and comfort? Do you feel the power and presence of God in your life in such a way that you know that… no matter what is hurled your way… all will go well? Can you claim, with confidence, that even if a tornado sucked you into the air and through the sunroof, you would be at peace… maybe even have the ability to quote the word of God as you rose to meet Him? As Christians, we need to know God in such a way that we are fully confident that all will go well, regardless of our situation. We must strive to develop the kind of relationship that gives us the continual “peace that passes all understanding.”
I’m sure that in the days to come, many will look at Will Norton’s family and question how and why they can appear so peaceful in the midst of such a horrific tragedy. I’m sure some will question their grieving process and how they can possibly think that all is going well. And I am equally sure they have their private moments when all is anything but well in their world. However, they understand that God is using this tragedy for His glory… and He has not even begun to show them all the ways that He can bring good out of such an ugly, devastating event.
For now, these families who are enduring this destruction with such dignity are my new heroes. They truly are living the faith that with God, all is going well… and I want to be just like them… don’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 28, 2011
Luke 21:34-36
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."
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.
“Live for today!” “Seize the moment!” “Life is not a dress rehearsal!” “You only get one chance, so go for it!” “Just do it!” We’ve all heard these clichés and others. And there is some truth in each of them. A lot of people waste time procrastinating or waiting for someone to sweep them off their feet or their “ship to come in” – and they totally miss out on some of life’s best moments!
But there are also those who have a bad day, so they go shopping and pay with plastic for things they cannot afford and really don’t need, because it makes them feel better temporarily. Others party and go crazy and plan to settle down later. They even call it “sowing wild oats.” Still others figure, “My life is down the tubes anyway, so why bother?!” And all of these philosophies are simply “stinkin’ thinkin’!”
Do you remember a few weeks ago when air traffic controllers went to sleep on the job, and the result was some very scary near-misses by a few planes in the air… and a couple that were trying to land? Jesus is telling us “Don’t go to sleep at the switch.” We cannot get caught up in living for the moment and our own interests so much that we lose focus on Him and what He desires from us – and for us. We must put God first… then ask Him to show us how to prioritize everything – and everyone else – on our list.
Please understand… God wants us to fully enjoy our lives. He wants us to “seize the moment” and live every minute like it was our last. But He wants to show us how we can best accomplish this… how to live with no regrets, so that when He returns or calls us home, we can stand proudly before Him and hear, “You lived and served well.” All it takes is a shift in attitude on our part… moving a step closer to Him and away from our own selfish interests. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal… are you making the most of your shot at it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping. Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once. So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."
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.
“Live for today!” “Seize the moment!” “Life is not a dress rehearsal!” “You only get one chance, so go for it!” “Just do it!” We’ve all heard these clichés and others. And there is some truth in each of them. A lot of people waste time procrastinating or waiting for someone to sweep them off their feet or their “ship to come in” – and they totally miss out on some of life’s best moments!
But there are also those who have a bad day, so they go shopping and pay with plastic for things they cannot afford and really don’t need, because it makes them feel better temporarily. Others party and go crazy and plan to settle down later. They even call it “sowing wild oats.” Still others figure, “My life is down the tubes anyway, so why bother?!” And all of these philosophies are simply “stinkin’ thinkin’!”
Do you remember a few weeks ago when air traffic controllers went to sleep on the job, and the result was some very scary near-misses by a few planes in the air… and a couple that were trying to land? Jesus is telling us “Don’t go to sleep at the switch.” We cannot get caught up in living for the moment and our own interests so much that we lose focus on Him and what He desires from us – and for us. We must put God first… then ask Him to show us how to prioritize everything – and everyone else – on our list.
Please understand… God wants us to fully enjoy our lives. He wants us to “seize the moment” and live every minute like it was our last. But He wants to show us how we can best accomplish this… how to live with no regrets, so that when He returns or calls us home, we can stand proudly before Him and hear, “You lived and served well.” All it takes is a shift in attitude on our part… moving a step closer to Him and away from our own selfish interests. Life isn’t a dress rehearsal… are you making the most of your shot at it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 27, 2011
Luke 21:8-15
Jesus replied: Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. They will say, "I am Christ!" and "Now is the time!" But don't follow them. When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end.
Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other. There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.
Before all this happens, you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in your meeting places and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors. But this will be your chance to tell about your faith.
Don't worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I will be the first to admit that these last few weeks of deadly tornadoes have really taken a toll on my spirit. From just down the road at Vilonia, Arkansas, to further southeast in Tuscaloosa, the devastation seemed unfathomable. Harrowing stories of loss, destruction – and survival – left me with a lump in my throat. When Joplin, Missouri, was hit, I found myself sitting on the couch watching the coverage and listening to the stories in tears. By the time we watched live coverage of a tornado that ripped through a community north of Oklahoma City, I was truly disturbed. I saw families with children and pets literally climb from underneath the rubble that had - minutes earlier - been their homes and wave a “we’re okay” signal to the helicopter crew.
I asked God, “Why?” It’s a normal, fair question… one God doesn’t mind us asking. I’ve come to truly believe that God does not cause these disasters. But at the same time, He allows them to happen. And I can see how those who straddle the fence over their faith in God’s promises could be asking, “What kind of God would allow such devastation?” I get it… and so does God!
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve just had another “prediction” that the world would end. Of course, it did not. No one knows the hour… remember? “Why is all of this happening, God? Can You give us at least some hint of your motives and purposes in all of this?” At least a portion of the answer came to me in these verses in Luke. Notice that Jesus warns us first against “doomsday deceivers” who want to predict when He will return. But then, look at verse 11, which says, in part… All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.” If you have watched the news reports lately, you have certainly seen plenty of frightening things in our skies.
So what have I taken away from all of this? Look at the last verse of this passage again… “I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you…” I have asked myself, “What if that were our community? What if that were my son/daughter who was missing? What if my mother’s Facebook page had a post that simply read “Gone”? What if my husband and I and our pets dug out of our safe room and found that everything we owned was gone… the trees sanded bare around rubble that was once our home? What if we didn’t get the warning in time and awoke in a hospital… or heaven? What if we… and most of our community… had to completely start over and rebuild from scratch?”
Without fail, the answer I have received – almost instantly – has been… “It would be okay.” I don’t mean it would be great or that I would not be devastated… but I would have peace, because God will always be with me. None of my enemies – including tornadoes – are able to oppose me. With every news report, I read and hear stories of great faith… saving grace… an outpouring of love and compassion from one person to another. I see the hand of God at work, knitting together communities of people from all corners of the country – and even the world – to offer prayers, support, and physical manpower to help with the rescue and recovery.
As the pastor of one Joplin church said, “This is just the building – the real church is the people themselves.” We are more than our “stuff,” and in these weeks of true human loss and tragedy, each of us has been given a chance to model true Christian behavior. We can donate to the Red Cross and other organizations. We can contribute bottled water and toiletries to drives at our local churches to be delivered and dispensed to the victims of these devastating storms. And we can pray for everyone involved – from the victims to the survivors to the rescue workers who rush to the scene to give physical assistance.
I marvel at how people rebuild and recover from such devastating disasters… but they do. And I know that this can’t happen under human power alone. God surely uses these situations to build His Kingdom and strengthen the faith of His children. This might not be the way we would do it, but that’s why we are not God!
Today, take some time to stop and pray for those who are involved in these natural disasters… tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and more. Ask God to use this situation for His glory… to bring about a great strengthening of resolve and faith in His promises to help us defeat all enemies – even “Mother Nature’s” wrath. Ask God to strengthen your own faith… to give you courage and confidence that you can handle anything that is hurled your way – with His help. Pray for those who are directly involved in these tragedies… that they might have comfort, courage, and peace for their journey. And always…always... thank God for never deserting us… even in the vortex of a tornado.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus replied: Don't be fooled by those who will come and claim to be me. They will say, "I am Christ!" and "Now is the time!" But don't follow them. When you hear about wars and riots, don't be afraid. These things will have to happen first, but that isn't the end.
Nations will go to war against one another, and kingdoms will attack each other. There will be great earthquakes, and in many places people will starve to death and suffer terrible diseases. All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.
Before all this happens, you will be arrested and punished. You will be tried in your meeting places and put in jail. Because of me you will be placed on trial before kings and governors. But this will be your chance to tell about your faith.
Don't worry about what you will say to defend yourselves. I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you or to say that you are wrong.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I will be the first to admit that these last few weeks of deadly tornadoes have really taken a toll on my spirit. From just down the road at Vilonia, Arkansas, to further southeast in Tuscaloosa, the devastation seemed unfathomable. Harrowing stories of loss, destruction – and survival – left me with a lump in my throat. When Joplin, Missouri, was hit, I found myself sitting on the couch watching the coverage and listening to the stories in tears. By the time we watched live coverage of a tornado that ripped through a community north of Oklahoma City, I was truly disturbed. I saw families with children and pets literally climb from underneath the rubble that had - minutes earlier - been their homes and wave a “we’re okay” signal to the helicopter crew.
I asked God, “Why?” It’s a normal, fair question… one God doesn’t mind us asking. I’ve come to truly believe that God does not cause these disasters. But at the same time, He allows them to happen. And I can see how those who straddle the fence over their faith in God’s promises could be asking, “What kind of God would allow such devastation?” I get it… and so does God!
As if that wasn’t enough, we’ve just had another “prediction” that the world would end. Of course, it did not. No one knows the hour… remember? “Why is all of this happening, God? Can You give us at least some hint of your motives and purposes in all of this?” At least a portion of the answer came to me in these verses in Luke. Notice that Jesus warns us first against “doomsday deceivers” who want to predict when He will return. But then, look at verse 11, which says, in part… All sorts of frightening things will be seen in the sky.” If you have watched the news reports lately, you have certainly seen plenty of frightening things in our skies.
So what have I taken away from all of this? Look at the last verse of this passage again… “I will give you the wisdom to know what to say. None of your enemies will be able to oppose you…” I have asked myself, “What if that were our community? What if that were my son/daughter who was missing? What if my mother’s Facebook page had a post that simply read “Gone”? What if my husband and I and our pets dug out of our safe room and found that everything we owned was gone… the trees sanded bare around rubble that was once our home? What if we didn’t get the warning in time and awoke in a hospital… or heaven? What if we… and most of our community… had to completely start over and rebuild from scratch?”
Without fail, the answer I have received – almost instantly – has been… “It would be okay.” I don’t mean it would be great or that I would not be devastated… but I would have peace, because God will always be with me. None of my enemies – including tornadoes – are able to oppose me. With every news report, I read and hear stories of great faith… saving grace… an outpouring of love and compassion from one person to another. I see the hand of God at work, knitting together communities of people from all corners of the country – and even the world – to offer prayers, support, and physical manpower to help with the rescue and recovery.
As the pastor of one Joplin church said, “This is just the building – the real church is the people themselves.” We are more than our “stuff,” and in these weeks of true human loss and tragedy, each of us has been given a chance to model true Christian behavior. We can donate to the Red Cross and other organizations. We can contribute bottled water and toiletries to drives at our local churches to be delivered and dispensed to the victims of these devastating storms. And we can pray for everyone involved – from the victims to the survivors to the rescue workers who rush to the scene to give physical assistance.
I marvel at how people rebuild and recover from such devastating disasters… but they do. And I know that this can’t happen under human power alone. God surely uses these situations to build His Kingdom and strengthen the faith of His children. This might not be the way we would do it, but that’s why we are not God!
Today, take some time to stop and pray for those who are involved in these natural disasters… tornadoes, earthquakes, floods, and more. Ask God to use this situation for His glory… to bring about a great strengthening of resolve and faith in His promises to help us defeat all enemies – even “Mother Nature’s” wrath. Ask God to strengthen your own faith… to give you courage and confidence that you can handle anything that is hurled your way – with His help. Pray for those who are directly involved in these tragedies… that they might have comfort, courage, and peace for their journey. And always…always... thank God for never deserting us… even in the vortex of a tornado.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 26, 2011
Judges 16:26-30
A young man was leading Samson by the hand, and Samson said to him, "I need to lean against something. Take me over to the columns that hold up the roof." The Philistine rulers were celebrating in a temple packed with people and with three thousand more on the flat roof. They had all been watching Samson and making fun of him.
Samson prayed, "Please remember me, LORD God. The Philistines poked out my eyes, but make me strong one last time, so I can take revenge for at least one of my eyes!" Samson was standing between the two middle columns that held up the roof. He felt around and found one column with his right hand, and the other with his left hand.
Then he shouted, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed against the columns as hard as he could, and the temple collapsed with the Philistine rulers and everyone else still inside. Samson killed more Philistines when he died than he had killed during his entire life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched CNN’s Anderson Cooper interview a young woman in Joplin, Missouri, who was caught in the devastating tornado that ravaged her community. The woman said that while she took refuge underneath an overpass, she observed an eighteen-wheeler flying through the air… literally tossed about by the tornado. When it came to rest, the vehicle was on its side. She left her car and rushed to check on the driver, who was trapped in the cab. The windshield was loose in one spot, and she somehow managed to grab hold of the windshield wipers and rip the windshield away so that the man could climb out and free himself.
She explained that after she rescued this driver, she returned to her car, and a law enforcement officer approached her with a person who was injured and asked her to drive this person to medical help. She began searching for a Red Cross rescue unit for this person… thinking she could stick around and volunteer. The woman explained that she had volunteered for the Red Cross before in disasters that were far more minor.
Anderson Cooper was amazed that this young woman who had just experienced such a shocking event was willing and able to volunteer to help others. He was even more stunned when she casually said, “Well, my home was destroyed, so this gave me something to do.” It was as if she said, “Lord, my eyes have been poked out by the enemy, but please remember me one more time. Let me bring something constructive and good out of all of this chaos.”
I wonder… how often do we do this? When our “eyes” are gouged out by the enemy, do we ask God to give us opportunities to serve? Or do we “tuck tail” and run for the hills? Samson was by no means a perfect man. He had his flaws… and his failures. His faith may have faltered at times, but He never gave up on God… and God never gave up on Samson!
God has not given up on you, either. It may seem like He has turned His back on you… but truly, this is not the case. God may step back and give us a little room to squirm… a chance to learn a few hard lessons… but He never deserts us completely. We are the ones who walk away. But it doesn’t have to be like this. We have everything to gain by staying faithful to God… and everything to lose by trying to do things our own way. We shouldn’t have to have a tornado or an “eyes gouged out” moment to shake us into a right relationship with God, but if that’s where you find yourself… there is still hope.
Stop what you are doing and talk with God. Ask Him to forgive you for wandering away and thinking you could make it on your own. Humbly come before Him and offer yourself to Him…gouged eyes and all…and see what He has in store. Discover the opportunities that God has waiting for you… to serve… to be a blessing… and to be blessed.
©2011 Debbie Robus
A young man was leading Samson by the hand, and Samson said to him, "I need to lean against something. Take me over to the columns that hold up the roof." The Philistine rulers were celebrating in a temple packed with people and with three thousand more on the flat roof. They had all been watching Samson and making fun of him.
Samson prayed, "Please remember me, LORD God. The Philistines poked out my eyes, but make me strong one last time, so I can take revenge for at least one of my eyes!" Samson was standing between the two middle columns that held up the roof. He felt around and found one column with his right hand, and the other with his left hand.
Then he shouted, "Let me die with the Philistines!" He pushed against the columns as hard as he could, and the temple collapsed with the Philistine rulers and everyone else still inside. Samson killed more Philistines when he died than he had killed during his entire life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched CNN’s Anderson Cooper interview a young woman in Joplin, Missouri, who was caught in the devastating tornado that ravaged her community. The woman said that while she took refuge underneath an overpass, she observed an eighteen-wheeler flying through the air… literally tossed about by the tornado. When it came to rest, the vehicle was on its side. She left her car and rushed to check on the driver, who was trapped in the cab. The windshield was loose in one spot, and she somehow managed to grab hold of the windshield wipers and rip the windshield away so that the man could climb out and free himself.
She explained that after she rescued this driver, she returned to her car, and a law enforcement officer approached her with a person who was injured and asked her to drive this person to medical help. She began searching for a Red Cross rescue unit for this person… thinking she could stick around and volunteer. The woman explained that she had volunteered for the Red Cross before in disasters that were far more minor.
Anderson Cooper was amazed that this young woman who had just experienced such a shocking event was willing and able to volunteer to help others. He was even more stunned when she casually said, “Well, my home was destroyed, so this gave me something to do.” It was as if she said, “Lord, my eyes have been poked out by the enemy, but please remember me one more time. Let me bring something constructive and good out of all of this chaos.”
I wonder… how often do we do this? When our “eyes” are gouged out by the enemy, do we ask God to give us opportunities to serve? Or do we “tuck tail” and run for the hills? Samson was by no means a perfect man. He had his flaws… and his failures. His faith may have faltered at times, but He never gave up on God… and God never gave up on Samson!
God has not given up on you, either. It may seem like He has turned His back on you… but truly, this is not the case. God may step back and give us a little room to squirm… a chance to learn a few hard lessons… but He never deserts us completely. We are the ones who walk away. But it doesn’t have to be like this. We have everything to gain by staying faithful to God… and everything to lose by trying to do things our own way. We shouldn’t have to have a tornado or an “eyes gouged out” moment to shake us into a right relationship with God, but if that’s where you find yourself… there is still hope.
Stop what you are doing and talk with God. Ask Him to forgive you for wandering away and thinking you could make it on your own. Humbly come before Him and offer yourself to Him…gouged eyes and all…and see what He has in store. Discover the opportunities that God has waiting for you… to serve… to be a blessing… and to be blessed.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 25, 2011
Judges 16:15-21
"Samson," Delilah said, "you claim to love me, but you don't mean it! You've made me look like a fool three times now, and you still haven't told me why you are so strong."
Delilah started nagging and pestering him day after day, until he couldn't stand it any longer. Finally, Samson told her the truth. "I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else."
Delilah realized that he was telling the truth. So she sent someone to tell the Philistine rulers, "Come to my house one more time. Samson has finally told me the truth." The Philistine rulers went to Delilah's house, and they brought along the silver they had promised her.
Delilah had lulled Samson to sleep with his head resting in her lap. She signaled to one of the Philistine men as she began cutting off Samson's seven braids. And by the time she was finished, Samson's strength was gone. Delilah tied him up and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are attacking!”
Samson woke up and thought, "I'll break loose and escape, just as I always do." He did not realize that the LORD had stopped helping him. The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes. They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching school, I can’t count the number of times I asked a child, “Why did you do such-and-such?” and the child replied, “He/she told me to!” Apparently, school-age children are helpless against the suggestions and persuasions of their peers! But the same might be said of “children” of all ages.
Teenagers are influenced by their friends to participate in all sorts of activities… drinking, drug abuse, sexual experimentation, “youthful mischief” and more. Adults are seduced, literally, by their own desires for the acceptance and approval of others, gratification of a variety of appetites and addictions, and self-validation. So it’s no stretch to see how Samson caved when Delilah persisted. She wooed Samson and accused him of not loving her. She played on his vulnerabilities and emotions and totally manipulated him. In the end, Samson abandoned his sensibility, his reliance on God, and his principles… and it cost him dearly.
When Delilah told the Philistines to cut Samson’s hair, the Bible says that God stopped helping him. Our strength from God may not lie in our hair, but we are still a lot like Samson. We want so badly to be loved and accepted… to be appreciated and to fit in with our friends and family… and we often compromise our faith in an attempt to accomplish this. Samson would have done just about anything to please Delilah… and he pretty well did. But the Philistines, who were in cahoots with Delilah, gouged out Samson’s eyes and put him in prison! Things did not turn out anywhere close to what Samson had hoped would happen!
Things often don’t go as we had hoped, either. Our best efforts to fit in or attain the level of satisfaction we were seeking are thwarted… and sometimes they end badly. We fail to recognize that God has stopped helping us, too. Notice I did not say that God left us… because He doesn’t do that. But when we step away from God and try to do things our own way, He does sometimes take a step backward and rein in His help for awhile.
God used a human like Samson to accomplish many things. But like all humans, Samson had his weaknesses. One of those was what can be seen as a “disconnect” from God. What would have happened if Samson had taken the time to ask God what to do before he told Delilah about his hair? What if Samson had just stopped and asked God to guide his words and his choices… and to give him the strength to do the right thing – even if he was tempted to choose otherwise?
What if we did this? Would the outcome in many of our situations be different? Wouldn’t it make sense that taking a few minutes to talk with God and seek His advice could result in better outcomes… and prevent a lot of heartache and frustration? Isn’t it worth a shot? Isn’t it time we stop trying to “fly by the seat of our pants” and making choices just because they make us feel good or please others… and start living out our faith in God by consulting Him about all aspects of our life each and every day?
We do carry the strength and power of God with us… maybe not in a long thick head of hair - but in our heart and soul, nonetheless. Are we willing to risk losing even some of this power by making poor choices? Who is telling you what to do and how to act these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Samson," Delilah said, "you claim to love me, but you don't mean it! You've made me look like a fool three times now, and you still haven't told me why you are so strong."
Delilah started nagging and pestering him day after day, until he couldn't stand it any longer. Finally, Samson told her the truth. "I have belonged to God ever since I was born, so my hair has never been cut. If it were ever cut off, my strength would leave me, and I would be as weak as anyone else."
Delilah realized that he was telling the truth. So she sent someone to tell the Philistine rulers, "Come to my house one more time. Samson has finally told me the truth." The Philistine rulers went to Delilah's house, and they brought along the silver they had promised her.
Delilah had lulled Samson to sleep with his head resting in her lap. She signaled to one of the Philistine men as she began cutting off Samson's seven braids. And by the time she was finished, Samson's strength was gone. Delilah tied him up and shouted, "Samson, the Philistines are attacking!”
Samson woke up and thought, "I'll break loose and escape, just as I always do." He did not realize that the LORD had stopped helping him. The Philistines grabbed Samson and poked out his eyes. They took him to the prison in Gaza and chained him up. Then they put him to work, turning a millstone to grind grain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was teaching school, I can’t count the number of times I asked a child, “Why did you do such-and-such?” and the child replied, “He/she told me to!” Apparently, school-age children are helpless against the suggestions and persuasions of their peers! But the same might be said of “children” of all ages.
Teenagers are influenced by their friends to participate in all sorts of activities… drinking, drug abuse, sexual experimentation, “youthful mischief” and more. Adults are seduced, literally, by their own desires for the acceptance and approval of others, gratification of a variety of appetites and addictions, and self-validation. So it’s no stretch to see how Samson caved when Delilah persisted. She wooed Samson and accused him of not loving her. She played on his vulnerabilities and emotions and totally manipulated him. In the end, Samson abandoned his sensibility, his reliance on God, and his principles… and it cost him dearly.
When Delilah told the Philistines to cut Samson’s hair, the Bible says that God stopped helping him. Our strength from God may not lie in our hair, but we are still a lot like Samson. We want so badly to be loved and accepted… to be appreciated and to fit in with our friends and family… and we often compromise our faith in an attempt to accomplish this. Samson would have done just about anything to please Delilah… and he pretty well did. But the Philistines, who were in cahoots with Delilah, gouged out Samson’s eyes and put him in prison! Things did not turn out anywhere close to what Samson had hoped would happen!
Things often don’t go as we had hoped, either. Our best efforts to fit in or attain the level of satisfaction we were seeking are thwarted… and sometimes they end badly. We fail to recognize that God has stopped helping us, too. Notice I did not say that God left us… because He doesn’t do that. But when we step away from God and try to do things our own way, He does sometimes take a step backward and rein in His help for awhile.
God used a human like Samson to accomplish many things. But like all humans, Samson had his weaknesses. One of those was what can be seen as a “disconnect” from God. What would have happened if Samson had taken the time to ask God what to do before he told Delilah about his hair? What if Samson had just stopped and asked God to guide his words and his choices… and to give him the strength to do the right thing – even if he was tempted to choose otherwise?
What if we did this? Would the outcome in many of our situations be different? Wouldn’t it make sense that taking a few minutes to talk with God and seek His advice could result in better outcomes… and prevent a lot of heartache and frustration? Isn’t it worth a shot? Isn’t it time we stop trying to “fly by the seat of our pants” and making choices just because they make us feel good or please others… and start living out our faith in God by consulting Him about all aspects of our life each and every day?
We do carry the strength and power of God with us… maybe not in a long thick head of hair - but in our heart and soul, nonetheless. Are we willing to risk losing even some of this power by making poor choices? Who is telling you what to do and how to act these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 24, 2011
Judges 15:1-3
Later on—it was during the wheat harvest—Samson visited his bride, bringing a young goat. He said, "Let me see my wife—show me her bedroom."
But her father wouldn't let him in. He said, "I concluded that by now you hated her with a passion, so I gave her to your best man. But her little sister is even more beautiful. Why not take her instead?"
Samson said, "That does it. This time when I wreak havoc on the Philistines, I'm blameless."
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.
Jumping to conclusions… we’ve all done it. Someone doesn’t return a phone call, and we automatically assume they don’t want to speak with us. Or we see two people whispering in the corner of a room, and we decide they must be talking about us. Guests visit our gym or football stadium, and nobody welcomes them… and they conclude that we are unfriendly and unsportsmanlike. Worse yet… people visit our church, and no one greets them or smiles in their direction, and they deem our church as “unfriendly” and unwelcoming. We are all guilty of making assumptions and drawing conclusions.
In Samson’s case, several assumptions were made, including Samson’s conclusion that he was actually married to the Philistine bride who he had wed in a lavish, seven-day bachelor party/wedding of sorts. Let’s just say he got a little sidetracked, and when he went to get her some time later, she had been given to the best man by her father, who assumed Samson didn’t really want to marry her.
I hope you will read these chapters in Judges as we look at the lessons they contain… but suffice it to say that Samson and the Philistines made some assumptions and decisions that led to a whole lot of trouble! And we do that, too! We trust the wrong people… we fail to get all of the facts, or we set ourselves up to be mistreated or disappointed… and we assume the worst!
I don’t know why we rush to conclusions without doing sufficient investigation first to make sure we are on the right track. Maybe we listen to the wrong people and are misinformed. Sometimes we get in a hurry and don’t take time to really think through a situation and get all the facts. Sometimes we are in an “it’s all about me” mode and just naturally assume that others are against us in some manner. And most of the time, we fail to consult God and ask Him to sort out all of this so that we can proceed in a wise, calm, mature manner.
Samson got caught up in riddles, seduction, and the agendas of other people. In his case, it was all God’s orchestration – giving him reason to come up against the Philistines and defeat them. In our cases, I’m afraid the reasons are not so Godly. Jumping to conclusions caused Samson’s father-in-law and bride to lose their lives. Jumping to conclusions caused the Philistines to be conquered – and virtually destroyed – by Samson, under God’s power.
Jumping to conclusions may not get us killed… but it can result in a lot of heartache and frustration that is totally needless. The next time you are tempted to jump to conclusions, stop and ask God to show you what is really happening. Ask Him to give you wisdom and peace about the situation – and to show you how you should react. Stay in contact and conversation with God, so that you can operate in confidence and peace instead of paranoia and misinformation. God will show you how to sift through everything and make the right choices… are you asking the right questions?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Later on—it was during the wheat harvest—Samson visited his bride, bringing a young goat. He said, "Let me see my wife—show me her bedroom."
But her father wouldn't let him in. He said, "I concluded that by now you hated her with a passion, so I gave her to your best man. But her little sister is even more beautiful. Why not take her instead?"
Samson said, "That does it. This time when I wreak havoc on the Philistines, I'm blameless."
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.
Jumping to conclusions… we’ve all done it. Someone doesn’t return a phone call, and we automatically assume they don’t want to speak with us. Or we see two people whispering in the corner of a room, and we decide they must be talking about us. Guests visit our gym or football stadium, and nobody welcomes them… and they conclude that we are unfriendly and unsportsmanlike. Worse yet… people visit our church, and no one greets them or smiles in their direction, and they deem our church as “unfriendly” and unwelcoming. We are all guilty of making assumptions and drawing conclusions.
In Samson’s case, several assumptions were made, including Samson’s conclusion that he was actually married to the Philistine bride who he had wed in a lavish, seven-day bachelor party/wedding of sorts. Let’s just say he got a little sidetracked, and when he went to get her some time later, she had been given to the best man by her father, who assumed Samson didn’t really want to marry her.
I hope you will read these chapters in Judges as we look at the lessons they contain… but suffice it to say that Samson and the Philistines made some assumptions and decisions that led to a whole lot of trouble! And we do that, too! We trust the wrong people… we fail to get all of the facts, or we set ourselves up to be mistreated or disappointed… and we assume the worst!
I don’t know why we rush to conclusions without doing sufficient investigation first to make sure we are on the right track. Maybe we listen to the wrong people and are misinformed. Sometimes we get in a hurry and don’t take time to really think through a situation and get all the facts. Sometimes we are in an “it’s all about me” mode and just naturally assume that others are against us in some manner. And most of the time, we fail to consult God and ask Him to sort out all of this so that we can proceed in a wise, calm, mature manner.
Samson got caught up in riddles, seduction, and the agendas of other people. In his case, it was all God’s orchestration – giving him reason to come up against the Philistines and defeat them. In our cases, I’m afraid the reasons are not so Godly. Jumping to conclusions caused Samson’s father-in-law and bride to lose their lives. Jumping to conclusions caused the Philistines to be conquered – and virtually destroyed – by Samson, under God’s power.
Jumping to conclusions may not get us killed… but it can result in a lot of heartache and frustration that is totally needless. The next time you are tempted to jump to conclusions, stop and ask God to show you what is really happening. Ask Him to give you wisdom and peace about the situation – and to show you how you should react. Stay in contact and conversation with God, so that you can operate in confidence and peace instead of paranoia and misinformation. God will show you how to sift through everything and make the right choices… are you asking the right questions?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 23, 2011
Proverbs 20:18
Be sure you have sound advice before making plans or starting a war.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Often, I will see a post on Facebook from someone planning a trip… “Where’s a good place to stay in Destin?” “How was the weather at Such-and-Such destination last week?” “What are the gas prices like down toward Disneyland?” The advice of someone who has “been there/done that” on a vacation can be very helpful to someone who is still in the planning stages. And it makes perfect sense to ask. Wouldn’t you want to know the best restaurants and motels, cheapest places to get gas, and best times of day to visit certain attractions and avoid long lines?
If you study history, you will see that even back to Old Testament days, people consulted others before starting – or participating in – a war. Strategy was discussed – what worked and what did not, which routes were best, what would happen if this approach or that one were taken, and more. And the right advice often made a huge difference in the outcome.
So what does this have to do with our faith walk? God is using this verse to remind us to seek HIS advice and the advice of fellow believers before making big decisions. Don’t get the advice of just anyone. Seek someone who seems to have a strong connection with God… someone who is known to make wise decisions in his/her own daily living… someone who you are certain prays and studies God’s word before making the first move.
Quite often, God will use others to guide us in the right direction, so find a couple of trustworthy people to consult when you are in need of sound advice. Be sure you ask God to choose these “go-to” advisors for you. He will point you in their direction and make it crystal clear to you that these are the right folks to help you.
God did not call us to serve Him by ourselves. He wants us to interact and lean on one another for help… and that includes sound advice. Find your “go-to” friends and catalog their contact info. When a decision arises, ask God to point you in the right direction… and He will show you who to ask and how to proceed. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have decided according to His will… and your choices will be solid as a Rock.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Be sure you have sound advice before making plans or starting a war.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Often, I will see a post on Facebook from someone planning a trip… “Where’s a good place to stay in Destin?” “How was the weather at Such-and-Such destination last week?” “What are the gas prices like down toward Disneyland?” The advice of someone who has “been there/done that” on a vacation can be very helpful to someone who is still in the planning stages. And it makes perfect sense to ask. Wouldn’t you want to know the best restaurants and motels, cheapest places to get gas, and best times of day to visit certain attractions and avoid long lines?
If you study history, you will see that even back to Old Testament days, people consulted others before starting – or participating in – a war. Strategy was discussed – what worked and what did not, which routes were best, what would happen if this approach or that one were taken, and more. And the right advice often made a huge difference in the outcome.
So what does this have to do with our faith walk? God is using this verse to remind us to seek HIS advice and the advice of fellow believers before making big decisions. Don’t get the advice of just anyone. Seek someone who seems to have a strong connection with God… someone who is known to make wise decisions in his/her own daily living… someone who you are certain prays and studies God’s word before making the first move.
Quite often, God will use others to guide us in the right direction, so find a couple of trustworthy people to consult when you are in need of sound advice. Be sure you ask God to choose these “go-to” advisors for you. He will point you in their direction and make it crystal clear to you that these are the right folks to help you.
God did not call us to serve Him by ourselves. He wants us to interact and lean on one another for help… and that includes sound advice. Find your “go-to” friends and catalog their contact info. When a decision arises, ask God to point you in the right direction… and He will show you who to ask and how to proceed. You will have the satisfaction of knowing that you have decided according to His will… and your choices will be solid as a Rock.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 22, 2011
Proverbs 20:3
It makes you look good when you avoid a fight -- only fools love to quarrel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who comes in the door trying to pick a fight? It’s really hard to even have a conversation with this person, because he/she takes everything you say the wrong way – or there is potential for this to happen. Those who love to quarrel often have a way of drawing you into their argument before you even realize what is happening.
Pretty soon, you notice that people are avoiding this person altogether, because it’s easier than risking getting into an argument… and the person who loves to argue starts to look rather foolish and sad.
Often we do find ourselves drawn into an argument before we realize what is happening. So the challenge is to stay on guard and to hold our tongue… to think before we speak, and to choose our words carefully. We’ve all heard the recommendation to “count to ten” before we speak in these situations. Just recently I read an article by an expert who suggested we needed to count longer – maybe even to 100! I’m not sure that is necessary, but give yourself a few seconds to collect your thoughts and calm your nerves… and quietly ask God to give you the right things to say and a loving demeanor.
I have not always chosen my words carefully in these situations… and regretfully, I’ve come off looking as foolish as the other guy. I have to tell you, there is a lot of satisfaction in knowing you walked away from a quarrel without losing your cool. In those situations, I am very quick to thank God… because I know I could never do that under my own steam.
I pray that we would all learn to control our emotions… and our words… as we grow in our walk with God. I pray that we would learn to stop more often and count to ten… or twenty or thirty… and give ourselves time to ask God for His strength and wisdom. I pray that we would “take the high road” and walk away with our integrity… claws retracted and reputation intact! I pray that God would work in each of us to develop this ability more thoroughly… and may your arguments and quarrels become less frequent… and far less foolish.
©2011 Debbie Robus
It makes you look good when you avoid a fight -- only fools love to quarrel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who comes in the door trying to pick a fight? It’s really hard to even have a conversation with this person, because he/she takes everything you say the wrong way – or there is potential for this to happen. Those who love to quarrel often have a way of drawing you into their argument before you even realize what is happening.
Pretty soon, you notice that people are avoiding this person altogether, because it’s easier than risking getting into an argument… and the person who loves to argue starts to look rather foolish and sad.
Often we do find ourselves drawn into an argument before we realize what is happening. So the challenge is to stay on guard and to hold our tongue… to think before we speak, and to choose our words carefully. We’ve all heard the recommendation to “count to ten” before we speak in these situations. Just recently I read an article by an expert who suggested we needed to count longer – maybe even to 100! I’m not sure that is necessary, but give yourself a few seconds to collect your thoughts and calm your nerves… and quietly ask God to give you the right things to say and a loving demeanor.
I have not always chosen my words carefully in these situations… and regretfully, I’ve come off looking as foolish as the other guy. I have to tell you, there is a lot of satisfaction in knowing you walked away from a quarrel without losing your cool. In those situations, I am very quick to thank God… because I know I could never do that under my own steam.
I pray that we would all learn to control our emotions… and our words… as we grow in our walk with God. I pray that we would learn to stop more often and count to ten… or twenty or thirty… and give ourselves time to ask God for His strength and wisdom. I pray that we would “take the high road” and walk away with our integrity… claws retracted and reputation intact! I pray that God would work in each of us to develop this ability more thoroughly… and may your arguments and quarrels become less frequent… and far less foolish.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2011
Proverbs 19:6-7
Lots of people flock around a generous person;
everyone's a friend to the philanthropist.
When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
out of sight, out of mind.
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.
If you have ever experienced the breakup or divorce of a couple with whom you were friends or acquaintances, you know how awkward it can be to maintain contact with the parties involved. This has happened to my husband and me… and often, we like both people and really don’t want to choose sides. Sometimes, it seems easier just to avoid both of them than to have to figure out how to deal with such a dicey situation.
Or maybe you know someone who has been injured or come down with a debilitating illness… and all of a sudden, you really don’t know how you are supposed to react to this person – or how to help. So a lot of times, we back off and pretend we are busy or make up some other excuse for not coming around… or we just completely cut the person out of our circle.
And maybe you have been on the “receiving end” of this sort of situation. Maybe because of circumstances beyond your control, things have changed in your life… health, finances, relationships… and you find that people you thought cared about you have disappeared. It happens more often than we want to think… and it hurts.
It’s easy to be friends and acquaintances with healthy, successful, generous people. And sadly, some people hang around these kind of folks because of what is in it for themselves. But God has called us to “love one another”… and that means loving others for themselves – not what they can do for you. This means not waiting to call someone and ask how they are doing until you need to follow that question with, “Listen… I need a big favor.” We are to continue to make the effort to stay in touch with people and love them – even when it’s awkward, or we don’t know how to help, or they seem so down on their luck that they feel like they have nothing to offer another human being.
We are all God’s children. He loves each and every one of us… and to Him, we are all tremendously valuable. If we are going to love one another like true Disciples of Christ, we must love in all circumstances and at all times. Ask yourself some hard questions about the people in your circle… and those from whom you have disconnected. Ask yourself why you surround yourself with some – and why you have distanced from others. The answers might astound you – and you might find that God is calling you to do some shifting in your “circle.”
Be obedient to the will of God… love others not for what they can do for you, but because of who they are and what they mean to you personally. Don’t let “out of sight – out of mind” apply to you and your relationships. Would you want others… or worse yet – God Himself… to treat you this way? Don’t be guilty of offering others any less than you would hope for yourself in relationships. Be a true vessel of the love and light of Christ, and treat others as God instructs you to do so.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Lots of people flock around a generous person;
everyone's a friend to the philanthropist.
When you're down on your luck, even your family avoids you—
yes, even your best friends wish you'd get lost.
If they see you coming, they look the other way—
out of sight, out of mind.
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.
If you have ever experienced the breakup or divorce of a couple with whom you were friends or acquaintances, you know how awkward it can be to maintain contact with the parties involved. This has happened to my husband and me… and often, we like both people and really don’t want to choose sides. Sometimes, it seems easier just to avoid both of them than to have to figure out how to deal with such a dicey situation.
Or maybe you know someone who has been injured or come down with a debilitating illness… and all of a sudden, you really don’t know how you are supposed to react to this person – or how to help. So a lot of times, we back off and pretend we are busy or make up some other excuse for not coming around… or we just completely cut the person out of our circle.
And maybe you have been on the “receiving end” of this sort of situation. Maybe because of circumstances beyond your control, things have changed in your life… health, finances, relationships… and you find that people you thought cared about you have disappeared. It happens more often than we want to think… and it hurts.
It’s easy to be friends and acquaintances with healthy, successful, generous people. And sadly, some people hang around these kind of folks because of what is in it for themselves. But God has called us to “love one another”… and that means loving others for themselves – not what they can do for you. This means not waiting to call someone and ask how they are doing until you need to follow that question with, “Listen… I need a big favor.” We are to continue to make the effort to stay in touch with people and love them – even when it’s awkward, or we don’t know how to help, or they seem so down on their luck that they feel like they have nothing to offer another human being.
We are all God’s children. He loves each and every one of us… and to Him, we are all tremendously valuable. If we are going to love one another like true Disciples of Christ, we must love in all circumstances and at all times. Ask yourself some hard questions about the people in your circle… and those from whom you have disconnected. Ask yourself why you surround yourself with some – and why you have distanced from others. The answers might astound you – and you might find that God is calling you to do some shifting in your “circle.”
Be obedient to the will of God… love others not for what they can do for you, but because of who they are and what they mean to you personally. Don’t let “out of sight – out of mind” apply to you and your relationships. Would you want others… or worse yet – God Himself… to treat you this way? Don’t be guilty of offering others any less than you would hope for yourself in relationships. Be a true vessel of the love and light of Christ, and treat others as God instructs you to do so.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 20, 2011
Judges 11:29-39
Then the LORD's Spirit took control of Jephthah, and Jephthah went through Gilead and Manasseh, raising an army. Finally, he arrived at Mizpah in Gilead, where he promised the LORD, "If you will let me defeat the Ammonites and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first."
From Mizpah, Jephthah attacked the Ammonites, and the LORD helped him defeat them. Jephthah and his army destroyed the twenty towns between Aroer and Minnith, and others as far as Abel-Keramim. After that, the Ammonites could not invade Israel any more.
When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, the first one to meet him was his daughter. She was playing a tambourine and dancing to celebrate his victory, and she was his only child.
"Oh!" Jephthah cried. Then he tore his clothes in sorrow and said to his daughter, "I made a sacred promise to the LORD, and I must keep it. Your coming out to meet me has broken my heart."
"Father," she said, "you made a sacred promise to the LORD, and he let you defeat the Ammonites. Now, you must do what you promised, even if it means I must die.
But first, please let me spend two months, wandering in the hill country with my friends. We will cry together, because I can never get married and have children." "Yes, you may have two months," Jephthah said. She and some other girls left, and for two months they wandered in the hill country, crying because she could never get married and have children. Then she went back to her father. He did what he had promised, and she never got married.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Okay, first of all, if our father promised someone something that involved a sacrifice on our part, I seriously doubt we would be so agreeable, don’t you?! Even if it didn’t involve human sacrifice – OUR human sacrifice – I still don’t think we would be so accommodating. We would hope that our dad would say, “You’re right… I really didn’t mean it! I would never think of allowing you (or your friends or possessions) to be harmed, just because I promised.” Never mind that God had saved an entire clan of people because of Jephthah’s promise…after all, we bargain with God all the time, don’t we? Surely we don’t mean to follow through… even if He delivers!
This passage illustrates a very important point… if we are going to bargain with God, we better be ready, willing, and able to deliver on our end… because God doesn’t play around! Moreover, if we do bargain with God, we had better be careful what we offer in return for whatever we ask of Him. I am pretty certain I could not have done what Jephthah’s daughter did. For one thing, she really had nothing to do with her father’s bargain with God… she was an innocent bystander caught in the cross-hairs.
On the other hand, had I been Jephthah… even considering his daughter’s willingness… I am not sure I could have followed through with killing her. I would probably have been on my knees, asking God to have mercy on me and find a suitable substitute. But that is not where we want to be, is it? We don’t want to be in a relationship with God where we are making promises we can’t possibly deliver, and hoping He will be merciful and accept something else!
Because of the blood of Jesus, living sacrifices are no longer necessary from us mere mortals. But there are plenty of times we do come before God and ask for His help, promising all sorts of things in return… “Just let me lose this 10 pounds, and I promise I will give up ice cream and start jogging every day.” We tell Him, “Please heal my loved one, and I will never miss another Sunday of worship services!” We ask, “Can you just help me make it through these finals, and I promise that next semester, I will study really hard and be ready!”
When we make promises to God in return for requesting His help, we had better be ready, willing, and able to deliver. If we don’t have the courage and fortitude of Jephthah and his daughter to fully make good on our vows, we better rethink what we are asking – and how we ask for it. Is your word your bond… with people in everyday life – and especially with God? Shouldn’t it be?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Then the LORD's Spirit took control of Jephthah, and Jephthah went through Gilead and Manasseh, raising an army. Finally, he arrived at Mizpah in Gilead, where he promised the LORD, "If you will let me defeat the Ammonites and come home safely, I will sacrifice to you whoever comes out to meet me first."
From Mizpah, Jephthah attacked the Ammonites, and the LORD helped him defeat them. Jephthah and his army destroyed the twenty towns between Aroer and Minnith, and others as far as Abel-Keramim. After that, the Ammonites could not invade Israel any more.
When Jephthah returned to his home in Mizpah, the first one to meet him was his daughter. She was playing a tambourine and dancing to celebrate his victory, and she was his only child.
"Oh!" Jephthah cried. Then he tore his clothes in sorrow and said to his daughter, "I made a sacred promise to the LORD, and I must keep it. Your coming out to meet me has broken my heart."
"Father," she said, "you made a sacred promise to the LORD, and he let you defeat the Ammonites. Now, you must do what you promised, even if it means I must die.
But first, please let me spend two months, wandering in the hill country with my friends. We will cry together, because I can never get married and have children." "Yes, you may have two months," Jephthah said. She and some other girls left, and for two months they wandered in the hill country, crying because she could never get married and have children. Then she went back to her father. He did what he had promised, and she never got married.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Okay, first of all, if our father promised someone something that involved a sacrifice on our part, I seriously doubt we would be so agreeable, don’t you?! Even if it didn’t involve human sacrifice – OUR human sacrifice – I still don’t think we would be so accommodating. We would hope that our dad would say, “You’re right… I really didn’t mean it! I would never think of allowing you (or your friends or possessions) to be harmed, just because I promised.” Never mind that God had saved an entire clan of people because of Jephthah’s promise…after all, we bargain with God all the time, don’t we? Surely we don’t mean to follow through… even if He delivers!
This passage illustrates a very important point… if we are going to bargain with God, we better be ready, willing, and able to deliver on our end… because God doesn’t play around! Moreover, if we do bargain with God, we had better be careful what we offer in return for whatever we ask of Him. I am pretty certain I could not have done what Jephthah’s daughter did. For one thing, she really had nothing to do with her father’s bargain with God… she was an innocent bystander caught in the cross-hairs.
On the other hand, had I been Jephthah… even considering his daughter’s willingness… I am not sure I could have followed through with killing her. I would probably have been on my knees, asking God to have mercy on me and find a suitable substitute. But that is not where we want to be, is it? We don’t want to be in a relationship with God where we are making promises we can’t possibly deliver, and hoping He will be merciful and accept something else!
Because of the blood of Jesus, living sacrifices are no longer necessary from us mere mortals. But there are plenty of times we do come before God and ask for His help, promising all sorts of things in return… “Just let me lose this 10 pounds, and I promise I will give up ice cream and start jogging every day.” We tell Him, “Please heal my loved one, and I will never miss another Sunday of worship services!” We ask, “Can you just help me make it through these finals, and I promise that next semester, I will study really hard and be ready!”
When we make promises to God in return for requesting His help, we had better be ready, willing, and able to deliver. If we don’t have the courage and fortitude of Jephthah and his daughter to fully make good on our vows, we better rethink what we are asking – and how we ask for it. Is your word your bond… with people in everyday life – and especially with God? Shouldn’t it be?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 19, 2011
Judges 4:14-24
Deborah shouted, "Barak, it's time to attack Sisera! Because today the LORD is going to help you defeat him. In fact, the LORD has already gone on ahead to fight for you."
Barak led his ten thousand troops down from Mount Tabor. And during the battle, the LORD confused Sisera, his chariot drivers, and his whole army. Everyone was so afraid of Barak and his army, that even Sisera jumped down from his chariot and tried to escape. Barak's forces went after Sisera's chariots and army as far as Harosheth-Ha-Goiim. Sisera's entire army was wiped out.
Only Sisera escaped. He ran to Heber's camp, because Heber and his family had a peace treaty with the king of Hazor. Sisera went to the tent that belonged to Jael, Heber's wife. She came out to greet him and said, " Come in, sir! Please come on in. Don't be afraid."
After they had gone inside, Sisera lay down, and Jael covered him with a blanket. "Could I have a little water?" he asked. "I'm thirsty." Jael opened a leather bottle and poured him some milk, then she covered him back up. "Stand at the entrance to the tent," Sisera told her. "If someone comes by and asks if anyone is inside, tell them `No.'"
Sisera was exhausted and soon fell fast asleep. Jael took a hammer and drove a tent-peg through his head into the ground, and he died. Meanwhile, Barak had been following Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "The man you're looking for is inside," she said. "Come in and I'll show him to you."
They went inside, and there was Sisera--dead and stretched out with a tent-peg through his skull. That same day the Israelites defeated the Canaanite King Jabin, and his army was no longer powerful enough to attack the Israelites. Jabin grew weaker while the Israelites kept growing stronger, and at last the Israelites destroyed him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I bet you are expecting me to use this story to say, “Never underestimate the power of a woman!” Or maybe you’re saying to yourself, “WOW! I didn’t know these sort of things were written about in the Old Testament!” But what I really want you to understand today from this story is that when God makes a promise, He means what He says! And as I heard a pastor say recently, “It’s a fixed fight! The only way you can lose is to forfeit!”
God told Deborah that He was going to help Barak defeat Sisera’s army. In fact, He told her that He had already sent an army ahead to start the fighting. Basically, all Barak and his army had to do was show up! And that’s what they did… and the battle was successful – except for capturing and/or killing Sisera, the leader.
I guess Sisera thought he could run, hide and get away, but God had other plans… and he used Jael to accomplish them. See, as this pastor explained it so beautifully… “God has taken away your enemy’s ability to hurt you – you have nothing to fear. If you call on God, He is obligated to deliver you.” All you have to do is show up and trust Him to do it!
Does this mean we can ask for anything under the sun and expect to get it? NO! God’s will is still in play. But when we ask God to help us… He must, because He has promised to do so – according to His will.
I don’t know if I could have been as brave as Jael. I’d like to think so, because to do otherwise would have been, in essence, to forfeit. Do we really believe that God is with us… that He has “fixed the fight” for us? Isn’t it time we started showing up and trusting Him to already be there with His army in tow? Are we ready to start living, speaking and believing what He has promised? Do you have your “tent-peg” handy?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Deborah shouted, "Barak, it's time to attack Sisera! Because today the LORD is going to help you defeat him. In fact, the LORD has already gone on ahead to fight for you."
Barak led his ten thousand troops down from Mount Tabor. And during the battle, the LORD confused Sisera, his chariot drivers, and his whole army. Everyone was so afraid of Barak and his army, that even Sisera jumped down from his chariot and tried to escape. Barak's forces went after Sisera's chariots and army as far as Harosheth-Ha-Goiim. Sisera's entire army was wiped out.
Only Sisera escaped. He ran to Heber's camp, because Heber and his family had a peace treaty with the king of Hazor. Sisera went to the tent that belonged to Jael, Heber's wife. She came out to greet him and said, " Come in, sir! Please come on in. Don't be afraid."
After they had gone inside, Sisera lay down, and Jael covered him with a blanket. "Could I have a little water?" he asked. "I'm thirsty." Jael opened a leather bottle and poured him some milk, then she covered him back up. "Stand at the entrance to the tent," Sisera told her. "If someone comes by and asks if anyone is inside, tell them `No.'"
Sisera was exhausted and soon fell fast asleep. Jael took a hammer and drove a tent-peg through his head into the ground, and he died. Meanwhile, Barak had been following Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. "The man you're looking for is inside," she said. "Come in and I'll show him to you."
They went inside, and there was Sisera--dead and stretched out with a tent-peg through his skull. That same day the Israelites defeated the Canaanite King Jabin, and his army was no longer powerful enough to attack the Israelites. Jabin grew weaker while the Israelites kept growing stronger, and at last the Israelites destroyed him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I bet you are expecting me to use this story to say, “Never underestimate the power of a woman!” Or maybe you’re saying to yourself, “WOW! I didn’t know these sort of things were written about in the Old Testament!” But what I really want you to understand today from this story is that when God makes a promise, He means what He says! And as I heard a pastor say recently, “It’s a fixed fight! The only way you can lose is to forfeit!”
God told Deborah that He was going to help Barak defeat Sisera’s army. In fact, He told her that He had already sent an army ahead to start the fighting. Basically, all Barak and his army had to do was show up! And that’s what they did… and the battle was successful – except for capturing and/or killing Sisera, the leader.
I guess Sisera thought he could run, hide and get away, but God had other plans… and he used Jael to accomplish them. See, as this pastor explained it so beautifully… “God has taken away your enemy’s ability to hurt you – you have nothing to fear. If you call on God, He is obligated to deliver you.” All you have to do is show up and trust Him to do it!
Does this mean we can ask for anything under the sun and expect to get it? NO! God’s will is still in play. But when we ask God to help us… He must, because He has promised to do so – according to His will.
I don’t know if I could have been as brave as Jael. I’d like to think so, because to do otherwise would have been, in essence, to forfeit. Do we really believe that God is with us… that He has “fixed the fight” for us? Isn’t it time we started showing up and trusting Him to already be there with His army in tow? Are we ready to start living, speaking and believing what He has promised? Do you have your “tent-peg” handy?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 18, 2011
Proverbs 18:20-21
Make your words good – you will be glad you did. Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend recently sent me a video from YouTube that portrayed a blind man sitting on a sidewalk with a sign that read, “I’m blind… please help.” People would pass him, and occasionally someone would toss a coin his way. Then a woman stopped, walked back, picked up the sign and scribbled something on the back of it. She turned the cardboard over and stood it up beside the man… and he began to be flooded with coins.
The woman returned, and the man asked, “What did you do to my sign?” She replied, “I wrote a sign… but with different words.” Her words were… “It’s a beautiful day, and I can’t see it.” You can see this video for yourself at http://youtu.be/Hzgzim5m7oU.
How often are we guilty of choosing the wrong words? Do you suppose you are more persuasive when you tell a child, “Don’t!” or “No!”… or when you say, “That stove is hot… if you touch it, you will get burned.”? When you tell a friend, “You’re turning into a jerk,” do you really think he/she will listen? But if you say, “You know I love you, but other people are starting to avoid you because of how you are acting,” you might get his/her attention.
When you tell someone, “You really need to be coming to church” – how do you suppose they feel? But if you say… “We have such a great time at church, and we’d love it if you would come with us” – you might have a chance of getting them there. If you tell someone, “God loves you so much and wants to bless you in ways you can’t imagine,” won’t that get you farther than saying, “You better turn to God… or else!”?
Often we say things out of love and care or concern… but that’s not how they are received. I’ve heard people (who usually are known for a rather sharp tongue and blunt attitude anyway) say, “Well, I told them that for their own good!” No… these people failed to choose good words… and in doing so, they did far more harm than any good they ever hoped to accomplish. The Bible tells us that the tongue holds the power of life or death… and the difference is often determined by how we choose our words.
What about you? Are you a blind man today… or is it a beautiful day and you can’t see it? The difference is all in a matter of words. Have you asked God to help you choose yours wisely today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Make your words good – you will be glad you did. Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend recently sent me a video from YouTube that portrayed a blind man sitting on a sidewalk with a sign that read, “I’m blind… please help.” People would pass him, and occasionally someone would toss a coin his way. Then a woman stopped, walked back, picked up the sign and scribbled something on the back of it. She turned the cardboard over and stood it up beside the man… and he began to be flooded with coins.
The woman returned, and the man asked, “What did you do to my sign?” She replied, “I wrote a sign… but with different words.” Her words were… “It’s a beautiful day, and I can’t see it.” You can see this video for yourself at http://youtu.be/Hzgzim5m7oU.
How often are we guilty of choosing the wrong words? Do you suppose you are more persuasive when you tell a child, “Don’t!” or “No!”… or when you say, “That stove is hot… if you touch it, you will get burned.”? When you tell a friend, “You’re turning into a jerk,” do you really think he/she will listen? But if you say, “You know I love you, but other people are starting to avoid you because of how you are acting,” you might get his/her attention.
When you tell someone, “You really need to be coming to church” – how do you suppose they feel? But if you say… “We have such a great time at church, and we’d love it if you would come with us” – you might have a chance of getting them there. If you tell someone, “God loves you so much and wants to bless you in ways you can’t imagine,” won’t that get you farther than saying, “You better turn to God… or else!”?
Often we say things out of love and care or concern… but that’s not how they are received. I’ve heard people (who usually are known for a rather sharp tongue and blunt attitude anyway) say, “Well, I told them that for their own good!” No… these people failed to choose good words… and in doing so, they did far more harm than any good they ever hoped to accomplish. The Bible tells us that the tongue holds the power of life or death… and the difference is often determined by how we choose our words.
What about you? Are you a blind man today… or is it a beautiful day and you can’t see it? The difference is all in a matter of words. Have you asked God to help you choose yours wisely today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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