December 6 ~ Psalm 1:1-6
God blesses those people who refuse evil advice and won’t follow sinners or join in sneering at God. Instead, the Law of the Lord makes them happy, and they think about it day and night. They are like trees growing beside a stream, trees that produce fruit in season and always have leaves. Those people succeed in everything they do.
That isn’t true of those who are evil, because they are like straw blown by the wind. Sinners won’t have an excuse on the day of judgment, and they won’t have a place with the people of God.
The Lord protects everyone who follows him, but the wicked follow a road that leads to ruin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine purchased a personalized item for Christmas, and when she went to pick it up, the business had misspelled one of the names on the item. Of course, my friend was disappointed. She had paid a lot of money for this item, and the name of one of her children was spelled incorrectly. The store owner offered my friend a $10 coupon good on her next purchase as compensation. Afraid she might say something ugly, my friend left quickly. However, she voiced her frustration on Facebook, and her friends responded in large numbers with all sorts of advice. More importantly, many asked for the name of the business so that they could avoid patronizing that particular store.
In fairness, the store owner thought better of her offer and called later to say she would replace the tray with a new one – spelled correctly. So in the end, she did the right thing. To have done otherwise would have been incredibly damaging to her business, because word of things like this travels quickly. But she probably still did major harm to her business by the initial response. And it does make one stop and wonder… “Why was there any hesitation?” In business, the motto that “The customer is always right” should have applied here… and that store owner should have immediately offered to replace the item.
This is sort of a loose illustration of how we don’t always do what is right… with regrettable consequences. It is important that we stay awake and alert… on our toes… and that doing the right thing becomes our second nature. I don’t know if this person was momentarily caught off guard and became defensive… or if she was thinking selfishly and decided that she was not going to “eat” her profit… or if her bottom line was so tight that she simply felt like she could not afford to forfeit this sale. But I do know that sometimes, doing the right thing seems expensive on the surface. Let me assure you, it’s always worth any perceived trouble.
There will be people who will lie, cheat, and steal… and appear to get ahead by doing so. But someday, the jig will be up! They will have to answer... if not to other mere mortals… to God Almighty. Everyone who has stepped on the backs of others to become “successful”… those who have been abusive and unkind – or just downright deceptive - will have to answer for their insults and indiscretions. And God will not be lenient!
It’s frustrating to see others operate in dishonesty and deception… and to watch them seem to breeze by doing so. It’s hard to feel like you did the right thing… gave your very best… and you were slapped down and penalized for it. But I can assure you, God will bless your efforts. It may take a long time… or seem like it’s taking forever… but He will do this. God measures success by a far different ruler… and His is the only one that matters.
Do the right thing. Avoid evil, deception, lying, cheating and stealing. Any “quick-fix” or shortcut that involves these behaviors will never be worth it in the end. Plant your roots firmly in the promises of God… trust Him to make things right on your behalf… and delight in pleasing Him. The goal is to hear God say, “Well done!” What will He say to you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 5, 2012
John 3:16
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think of at least one person you love and believe you couldn’t live without. Now… imagine if the only way to save millions of people was to sacrifice the life of that person. Would you do it? COULD you?
This is exactly what God did for us. He looked at each one of us… sinful and imperfect… and said, “It would be worth it.” He was willing to allow His one and only Son to suffer and die in order to potentially save the rest of us. Even crazier is the fact that this was not guaranteed. God still allows us free will, which means that some will actually choose NOT to claim Jesus Christ as the LORD of their lives. Some will declare that God does not exist, while others will turn their backs on Him at some point. Some will mock Him and worship other gods instead. Still… God looked at all of these possible outcomes and said, “It’s worth the sacrifice… and the risk."
I don’t know if you have ever watched someone you love suffer in pain or sickness. Maybe you have stood by a friend or family member who was going through an emotional trauma and offered them your support and encouragement. If so, you have some idea of how hard it is to observe your loved one in discomfort – if not downright agony. Now imagine how hard it must have been for God to watch His Son be ridiculed, beaten, spit upon, tortured, mocked, bloodied… and crucified. Still, He said, “It’s all worth it.”
Do you get that He was thinking of YOU? YOU were worth all of this. YOU were so loved that God was willing to trade the life of Jesus for yours. YOU have so much value to God that He does not wish for any harm to come to a single hair on your head…so He numbers them. YOU are so important to God that He cares about every aspect of what is happening in your life… every single day. And He was willing to allow His only Son to die the most horrific death imaginable in order to pay the price for YOUR life.
Who could love you more than this? Who could handle the worries of your day better? Who should have your unending faith, trust and loyalty? Who do you worship… and Who is the LORD of YOUR life?
©2012 Debbie Robus
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think of at least one person you love and believe you couldn’t live without. Now… imagine if the only way to save millions of people was to sacrifice the life of that person. Would you do it? COULD you?
This is exactly what God did for us. He looked at each one of us… sinful and imperfect… and said, “It would be worth it.” He was willing to allow His one and only Son to suffer and die in order to potentially save the rest of us. Even crazier is the fact that this was not guaranteed. God still allows us free will, which means that some will actually choose NOT to claim Jesus Christ as the LORD of their lives. Some will declare that God does not exist, while others will turn their backs on Him at some point. Some will mock Him and worship other gods instead. Still… God looked at all of these possible outcomes and said, “It’s worth the sacrifice… and the risk."
I don’t know if you have ever watched someone you love suffer in pain or sickness. Maybe you have stood by a friend or family member who was going through an emotional trauma and offered them your support and encouragement. If so, you have some idea of how hard it is to observe your loved one in discomfort – if not downright agony. Now imagine how hard it must have been for God to watch His Son be ridiculed, beaten, spit upon, tortured, mocked, bloodied… and crucified. Still, He said, “It’s all worth it.”
Do you get that He was thinking of YOU? YOU were worth all of this. YOU were so loved that God was willing to trade the life of Jesus for yours. YOU have so much value to God that He does not wish for any harm to come to a single hair on your head…so He numbers them. YOU are so important to God that He cares about every aspect of what is happening in your life… every single day. And He was willing to allow His only Son to die the most horrific death imaginable in order to pay the price for YOUR life.
Who could love you more than this? Who could handle the worries of your day better? Who should have your unending faith, trust and loyalty? Who do you worship… and Who is the LORD of YOUR life?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 4, 2012
Romans 8:18-27
I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I took Timothy and his younger sister, Zola, to play at the park. On the way home afterward, Timmy started a little mantra… “I don’t want to go home! I don’t want to go home! I want to go back to your house! I don’t want to go home!” Finally, I said, “Timothy, you have to go home, because tomorrow when you wake up, there will be a surprise for you there.” We had left an advent gift for the children… something to unwrap every day until Christmas - and the next day was December 1st.
Immediately, Timmy asked, “What is the surprise?” I replied, “I can’t tell you.” “But what is it?” he persisted. “I’m not telling you… it’s a secret.” “But what IS the secret?” he changed his tactic. “I can’t tell you… then it wouldn’t be a secret.” “But you have to tell me!” he insisted. I assured him I did not have to tell… and I wouldn’t… he would just have to wait until the next morning to see the surprise.
Man! Do we ever do this with God! “But you have to show us… now!” we groan. “We need answers! We need to see what is coming next! We need to know, LORD!” We are impatient… we want what we hope for, and we want it… TODAY!
As I read this passage, I thought of Timothy. Oh, how I love him! I so wanted to tell him what was in store. I wanted to scoop him up, hug him and wipe away his tears and say, “It’s okay, buddy. Here’s how this is going to go. We’re taking care of you.” But there are times when we must allow our children to develop patience… and wait. And God knows that great, exciting things are in store for us… but we have to cultivate our faith, develop endurance, and practice perseverance before He delivers.
Timothy’s pleas grew louder and louder, as if our silence indicated that we didn’t hear him. And our prayers often take on a sense of urgency and a louder tone. We need to realize that God hears us… He knows our thoughts… He understands our every need. And He is on the job… working things out perfectly. OUR JOB is to trust God… to continue to walk in faith… to never lose hope…and to wait patiently on His answers and outcomes. This is a tall order for most of us. But as surely as Christmas surprises come for three-year-old boys who hang in there… God delivers on our behalf.
What are you hoping for these days? How patiently are you waiting on God’s response?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I am sure that what we are suffering now cannot compare with the glory that will be shown to us. In fact, all creation is eagerly waiting for God to show who his children are. Meanwhile, creation is confused, but not because it wants to be confused. God made it this way in the hope that creation would be set free from decay and would share in the glorious freedom of his children. We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
In certain ways we are weak, but the Spirit is here to help us. For example, when we don’t know what to pray for, the Spirit prays for us in ways that cannot be put into words. All of our thoughts are known to God. He can understand what is in the mind of the Spirit, as the Spirit prays for God’s people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I took Timothy and his younger sister, Zola, to play at the park. On the way home afterward, Timmy started a little mantra… “I don’t want to go home! I don’t want to go home! I want to go back to your house! I don’t want to go home!” Finally, I said, “Timothy, you have to go home, because tomorrow when you wake up, there will be a surprise for you there.” We had left an advent gift for the children… something to unwrap every day until Christmas - and the next day was December 1st.
Immediately, Timmy asked, “What is the surprise?” I replied, “I can’t tell you.” “But what is it?” he persisted. “I’m not telling you… it’s a secret.” “But what IS the secret?” he changed his tactic. “I can’t tell you… then it wouldn’t be a secret.” “But you have to tell me!” he insisted. I assured him I did not have to tell… and I wouldn’t… he would just have to wait until the next morning to see the surprise.
Man! Do we ever do this with God! “But you have to show us… now!” we groan. “We need answers! We need to see what is coming next! We need to know, LORD!” We are impatient… we want what we hope for, and we want it… TODAY!
As I read this passage, I thought of Timothy. Oh, how I love him! I so wanted to tell him what was in store. I wanted to scoop him up, hug him and wipe away his tears and say, “It’s okay, buddy. Here’s how this is going to go. We’re taking care of you.” But there are times when we must allow our children to develop patience… and wait. And God knows that great, exciting things are in store for us… but we have to cultivate our faith, develop endurance, and practice perseverance before He delivers.
Timothy’s pleas grew louder and louder, as if our silence indicated that we didn’t hear him. And our prayers often take on a sense of urgency and a louder tone. We need to realize that God hears us… He knows our thoughts… He understands our every need. And He is on the job… working things out perfectly. OUR JOB is to trust God… to continue to walk in faith… to never lose hope…and to wait patiently on His answers and outcomes. This is a tall order for most of us. But as surely as Christmas surprises come for three-year-old boys who hang in there… God delivers on our behalf.
What are you hoping for these days? How patiently are you waiting on God’s response?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 3, 2012
Romans 8:26-28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
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.
Some of you will probably find this morbid… or weird… but I like to visit the cemetery. I don’t go often, but when I do, I always feel the presence of God. The family cemetery where many of my great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even my grandfather, dad and brother are buried is a beautiful, serene place. This time of year, you can see Sugar Loaf Mountain through the trees. You can hear geese and ducks on Magness Lake, and cattle graze in the adjacent pasture. I have been to this cemetery on bitterly cold days, and days when it was beastly hot. I’ve stood there in downpours and a chilling drizzle. And Saturday when I visited, the weather was sunny, breezy, and unseasonably warm for December 1st.
Can I be real with you? The last few days, I have truly not known what to pray… for a variety of reasons. We all have these times in our life… times when the words will not come… when we cannot collect our thoughts into something that makes sense. So when I visited the cemetery on Saturday to place flowers on several graves, I spent some time just sitting very quietly… looking at the beauty around me… and listening for God. I have to tell you, I left there feeling like I really didn’t hear much in return… until today.
When I read this passage, it was as if God said, “I heard your groanings. I un-jumbled your thoughts. I know what you were thinking and feeling… I felt your wordless sighs…and I’m on it!” I cannot tell you how much better this made me feel. I get it that God understands our thoughts even when we can’t express them… but when you hit a “dry spell” for several days where you feel like your prayers don’t make a lick of sense, it can be a little unsettling. I find myself thinking, “I have so many things I want to place before God… why can’t I articulate them?” THIS is when God’s spirit lifts us and carries the load. THIS is when He hears and interprets what makes no sense… even to us! THIS is great news and should bring us tremendous comfort!
I don’t know what is happening in your life today… finals, health issues, job challenges, family dynamics, loss of some kind – or even the stress of the holidays and more. But I do know this… if you will sit quietly and just “be” for a while, God will hear your inner groans and sighs. If you will remain faithful and simply come before His presence, God will unscramble your thoughts and make sense of them… and He will work things out for you according to His perfect will.
You don’t have to go to a cemetery, a church, or even a quiet room to do be in God’s presence. You can accomplish this at your desk, in your car, or wherever you find yourself. All you have to do is sit still and say, “Here I am, LORD.” He will do the rest. Aren’t you tired of waiting? Aren’t you ready for God to help you along? Isn’t this a great time to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
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.
Some of you will probably find this morbid… or weird… but I like to visit the cemetery. I don’t go often, but when I do, I always feel the presence of God. The family cemetery where many of my great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and even my grandfather, dad and brother are buried is a beautiful, serene place. This time of year, you can see Sugar Loaf Mountain through the trees. You can hear geese and ducks on Magness Lake, and cattle graze in the adjacent pasture. I have been to this cemetery on bitterly cold days, and days when it was beastly hot. I’ve stood there in downpours and a chilling drizzle. And Saturday when I visited, the weather was sunny, breezy, and unseasonably warm for December 1st.
Can I be real with you? The last few days, I have truly not known what to pray… for a variety of reasons. We all have these times in our life… times when the words will not come… when we cannot collect our thoughts into something that makes sense. So when I visited the cemetery on Saturday to place flowers on several graves, I spent some time just sitting very quietly… looking at the beauty around me… and listening for God. I have to tell you, I left there feeling like I really didn’t hear much in return… until today.
When I read this passage, it was as if God said, “I heard your groanings. I un-jumbled your thoughts. I know what you were thinking and feeling… I felt your wordless sighs…and I’m on it!” I cannot tell you how much better this made me feel. I get it that God understands our thoughts even when we can’t express them… but when you hit a “dry spell” for several days where you feel like your prayers don’t make a lick of sense, it can be a little unsettling. I find myself thinking, “I have so many things I want to place before God… why can’t I articulate them?” THIS is when God’s spirit lifts us and carries the load. THIS is when He hears and interprets what makes no sense… even to us! THIS is great news and should bring us tremendous comfort!
I don’t know what is happening in your life today… finals, health issues, job challenges, family dynamics, loss of some kind – or even the stress of the holidays and more. But I do know this… if you will sit quietly and just “be” for a while, God will hear your inner groans and sighs. If you will remain faithful and simply come before His presence, God will unscramble your thoughts and make sense of them… and He will work things out for you according to His perfect will.
You don’t have to go to a cemetery, a church, or even a quiet room to do be in God’s presence. You can accomplish this at your desk, in your car, or wherever you find yourself. All you have to do is sit still and say, “Here I am, LORD.” He will do the rest. Aren’t you tired of waiting? Aren’t you ready for God to help you along? Isn’t this a great time to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 2, 2012
Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We all know the adage, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” But very few of us pay much attention to this in our daily living. We “skim” the directions on the box, at best. We half listen when the doctor or pharmacist says, “Be sure to take that medication with food or drink plenty of water.” The speed limit number is just a suggestion… right? Just because the coach/fitness instructor says to eat several small meals a day and do 20 reps of each exercise doesn’t mean that we won’t reach our goal faster if we skip most meals and double the reps. After all, we know our own body/limits better than they do! Sure, the doctor said not to walk on that broken foot for another two weeks, but we have games to play and places to be… it really doesn’t hurt that badly!
I could continue to list examples of ways people try to guide us with sound advice, and we stubbornly choose to muddle through in our own way. But I think you get the picture. While the consequences of these actions may not be that significant in our daily living, when we fail to listen to the instructions and guidance we receive from God, this is a whole other story.
It’s hard to say why we find it so hard to listen to God’s advice – and even harder to take it! But I know that God will never steer us in the wrong direction. His plans are always perfect and designed to propel us in exactly the way we need to go. Will His course always be easy? Will we always want to follow His lead? Absolutely not! Should we do this anyway? Most definitely!
Most of us probably have a pretty good idea when we are hearing from God… we just don’t always choose to listen. The scriptures are telling us that this is “stinkin’ thinkin’” – and we need to change course immediately! Trust in God to show you the right path to take. Trust HIS guidance… not your own. You can listen to your gut… but check with God to make sure that His is the voice you are finding there! Save yourself heartache and frustration in the long run by putting God’s plans into action instead of your own. Allow Him to keep you on track… then thank Him for doing exactly that!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Trust God from the bottom of your heart;
don’t try to figure out everything on your own.
Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go;
he’s the one who will keep you on track.
Don’t assume that you know it all.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We all know the adage, “When all else fails, read the instructions.” But very few of us pay much attention to this in our daily living. We “skim” the directions on the box, at best. We half listen when the doctor or pharmacist says, “Be sure to take that medication with food or drink plenty of water.” The speed limit number is just a suggestion… right? Just because the coach/fitness instructor says to eat several small meals a day and do 20 reps of each exercise doesn’t mean that we won’t reach our goal faster if we skip most meals and double the reps. After all, we know our own body/limits better than they do! Sure, the doctor said not to walk on that broken foot for another two weeks, but we have games to play and places to be… it really doesn’t hurt that badly!
I could continue to list examples of ways people try to guide us with sound advice, and we stubbornly choose to muddle through in our own way. But I think you get the picture. While the consequences of these actions may not be that significant in our daily living, when we fail to listen to the instructions and guidance we receive from God, this is a whole other story.
It’s hard to say why we find it so hard to listen to God’s advice – and even harder to take it! But I know that God will never steer us in the wrong direction. His plans are always perfect and designed to propel us in exactly the way we need to go. Will His course always be easy? Will we always want to follow His lead? Absolutely not! Should we do this anyway? Most definitely!
Most of us probably have a pretty good idea when we are hearing from God… we just don’t always choose to listen. The scriptures are telling us that this is “stinkin’ thinkin’” – and we need to change course immediately! Trust in God to show you the right path to take. Trust HIS guidance… not your own. You can listen to your gut… but check with God to make sure that His is the voice you are finding there! Save yourself heartache and frustration in the long run by putting God’s plans into action instead of your own. Allow Him to keep you on track… then thank Him for doing exactly that!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 1, 2012
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
How many times do you suppose you have said – either to yourself or aloud – “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” in the context of worrying about an outcome or stressing over a challenging situation? It is human nature to over-analyze… to worry, stress, fret, and feel uncertain. This also demonstrates an immature level of faith and confidence.
As we grow in Christian faith and develop our trust in God to meet our needs, we learn that operating in fear, trepidation, worry and frustration is a waste of our time. We realize that we don’t have to always know the outcome… all we really need to understand is that God is handling everything for us. When we get to the point where we can confidently sit back and say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out… and that’s okay!”… everything in life changes.
I wish I could say that I am totally there. But I must admit I still have my moments. However, they are less frequent, and I have even said to others in recent months, “I feel amazingly calm about this!” I am not used to this feeling – yet! But I want to be!
We are so blessed to serve a God who meets our every need… Almighty God, who can truly handle each situation in our life so perfectly that we are assured of outcomes we cannot even predict. We can operate in the confidence of expectation that God will take care of us… orchestrate every detail perfectly… and leave us free to spend our time and energy serving Him by serving others. Don’t you want this faith for yourself? Isn’t it time you began to trust God for your outcomes and rested in His assurance?
The next time you say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” I pray you have developed the confidence and level of faith that allows you to add… “but God does - and that’s enough!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
How many times do you suppose you have said – either to yourself or aloud – “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” in the context of worrying about an outcome or stressing over a challenging situation? It is human nature to over-analyze… to worry, stress, fret, and feel uncertain. This also demonstrates an immature level of faith and confidence.
As we grow in Christian faith and develop our trust in God to meet our needs, we learn that operating in fear, trepidation, worry and frustration is a waste of our time. We realize that we don’t have to always know the outcome… all we really need to understand is that God is handling everything for us. When we get to the point where we can confidently sit back and say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out… and that’s okay!”… everything in life changes.
I wish I could say that I am totally there. But I must admit I still have my moments. However, they are less frequent, and I have even said to others in recent months, “I feel amazingly calm about this!” I am not used to this feeling – yet! But I want to be!
We are so blessed to serve a God who meets our every need… Almighty God, who can truly handle each situation in our life so perfectly that we are assured of outcomes we cannot even predict. We can operate in the confidence of expectation that God will take care of us… orchestrate every detail perfectly… and leave us free to spend our time and energy serving Him by serving others. Don’t you want this faith for yourself? Isn’t it time you began to trust God for your outcomes and rested in His assurance?
The next time you say, “I don’t know how this is going to work out!” I pray you have developed the confidence and level of faith that allows you to add… “but God does - and that’s enough!”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 30, 2012
1 Corinthians 13:1-13
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
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 any given day, most of us would say we are pretty loving people. Notice I didn’t say loveable… but I believe we all want to at least think we are fairly loving toward others. But if you read the list of qualities in this passage, you will find that we all fall short on quite a few of them. The very people we love are those with whom we are often impatient. We often want what others have, and more than a few of us insist on our own way. We love conditionally… we try to make ourselves look better than the next guy…we fly off the handle more times than we care to count!
These are not the actions of someone who loves genuinely… but they are very human actions. I don’t mean to excuse our behavior… and honestly, one of the great mysteries of Christian faith is how/why God continues to love us when we are so unlovely – particularly toward each other. As the Apostle Paul has aptly pointed out, we see things in a fog for now. Someday we will have all the answers, but for now, we must trust that God is handling things for us perfectly.
I’m pretty sure that we mortals would not be able to handle knowing what God knows. He has allowed us to sort of sugarcoat a lot of things about ourselves and others that allows us to love each other… and yet, God loves us warts and all! Now that’s pure love!
Having said all of this, I like to think that I am a loving person… that I treat others with kindness and respect… and that God is pleased with my efforts. In reading this passage again, I can clearly see that I fall short a lot of the time. Thankfully, my challenge – and yours – is to keep trying… to trust God, to hope that He will continue to grant us grace and mercy, and to work harder at loving more deeply and generously. Without love in action, our faith is hollow. How extravagant is your love these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.
We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.
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 any given day, most of us would say we are pretty loving people. Notice I didn’t say loveable… but I believe we all want to at least think we are fairly loving toward others. But if you read the list of qualities in this passage, you will find that we all fall short on quite a few of them. The very people we love are those with whom we are often impatient. We often want what others have, and more than a few of us insist on our own way. We love conditionally… we try to make ourselves look better than the next guy…we fly off the handle more times than we care to count!
These are not the actions of someone who loves genuinely… but they are very human actions. I don’t mean to excuse our behavior… and honestly, one of the great mysteries of Christian faith is how/why God continues to love us when we are so unlovely – particularly toward each other. As the Apostle Paul has aptly pointed out, we see things in a fog for now. Someday we will have all the answers, but for now, we must trust that God is handling things for us perfectly.
I’m pretty sure that we mortals would not be able to handle knowing what God knows. He has allowed us to sort of sugarcoat a lot of things about ourselves and others that allows us to love each other… and yet, God loves us warts and all! Now that’s pure love!
Having said all of this, I like to think that I am a loving person… that I treat others with kindness and respect… and that God is pleased with my efforts. In reading this passage again, I can clearly see that I fall short a lot of the time. Thankfully, my challenge – and yours – is to keep trying… to trust God, to hope that He will continue to grant us grace and mercy, and to work harder at loving more deeply and generously. Without love in action, our faith is hollow. How extravagant is your love these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 29, 2012
Joshua 1:9
I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you ever start to feel discouraged or have a pity party, go to your local hospital and sit in the outpatient waiting area for a while. There you will get a real slice of life… patients waiting for chemo treatments…elderly persons who have a myriad of ailments… loved ones waiting in the surgery area while doctors operate on family members and friends…people who are depending on walkers, canes, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and more. Listen to the chatter as these people talk – often candidly – about their treatments, countless visits to doctors and therapists, and the worries and concerns of their day.
Talk about some “Joshua 1:9 ambassadors!” You will hear stories of bravery and strength that will knock your socks off… and probably humble you to your core. I know this is always my reaction. I have waited in this area for doctor visits… and also as an advocate for loved ones. Each time, I come away thinking, “My problems seem so small and insignificant. More importantly, God is handling them for me. I have nothing to fear… no need to be discouraged.”
This very morning, I had allowed some things to pile up on me. I was starting to feel pretty low. Then I opened my outline file of scriptures about frustration and discouragement, and the one I had designated for today was Joshua 1:9. How is that for being brought up short by God?! He very quickly reminded me WHO is in charge here… and it ain’t me!
In this very simple, yet powerful way, God reminded me that I must be strong and brave… never afraid or discouraged. HE is in charge… HE is with me wherever I go… and HE will handle all of my concerns and meet every need. How awesome is that?!
I don’t know what is “on your plate” today. I have no clue what issues trouble or challenge you… what worries and concerns may be weighing you down and bringing you sorrow or alarm. But I do know that this makes the devil very happy to see you so low… and at the same time, it saddens God. He is standing right in front of us saying, “HERE I AM! You have nothing to fear! Pick yourself up and get going. Fill yourself with the comfort and joy of knowing that I have your back… and we’ve.got.this!”
I encourage you to be strong and brave this day… and in the days ahead. Know that God is with you wherever you go… and remember to smile! “This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad!” Psalm 128:24
©2012 Debbie Robus
I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you ever start to feel discouraged or have a pity party, go to your local hospital and sit in the outpatient waiting area for a while. There you will get a real slice of life… patients waiting for chemo treatments…elderly persons who have a myriad of ailments… loved ones waiting in the surgery area while doctors operate on family members and friends…people who are depending on walkers, canes, wheelchairs, oxygen tanks, and more. Listen to the chatter as these people talk – often candidly – about their treatments, countless visits to doctors and therapists, and the worries and concerns of their day.
Talk about some “Joshua 1:9 ambassadors!” You will hear stories of bravery and strength that will knock your socks off… and probably humble you to your core. I know this is always my reaction. I have waited in this area for doctor visits… and also as an advocate for loved ones. Each time, I come away thinking, “My problems seem so small and insignificant. More importantly, God is handling them for me. I have nothing to fear… no need to be discouraged.”
This very morning, I had allowed some things to pile up on me. I was starting to feel pretty low. Then I opened my outline file of scriptures about frustration and discouragement, and the one I had designated for today was Joshua 1:9. How is that for being brought up short by God?! He very quickly reminded me WHO is in charge here… and it ain’t me!
In this very simple, yet powerful way, God reminded me that I must be strong and brave… never afraid or discouraged. HE is in charge… HE is with me wherever I go… and HE will handle all of my concerns and meet every need. How awesome is that?!
I don’t know what is “on your plate” today. I have no clue what issues trouble or challenge you… what worries and concerns may be weighing you down and bringing you sorrow or alarm. But I do know that this makes the devil very happy to see you so low… and at the same time, it saddens God. He is standing right in front of us saying, “HERE I AM! You have nothing to fear! Pick yourself up and get going. Fill yourself with the comfort and joy of knowing that I have your back… and we’ve.got.this!”
I encourage you to be strong and brave this day… and in the days ahead. Know that God is with you wherever you go… and remember to smile! “This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad!” Psalm 128:24
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 28, 2012
Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
How many times have you made plans that somehow were derailed? Just today, I made plans to clean out some boxes in my garage. I decided that this project was going so well that I would also gather some things from my craft room. After all, I am taking unwanted items to the thrift shop later this week… I just as well take as much as I can! Then my husband called to me to help him clean out some boxes in the attic. I got involved in his project, along with my own, and before I knew it, the day that was going to have room for lots of projects was over!
I can’t complain. We have accomplished a lot today. And I have learned to roll with the punches… very seldom do my days go completely as planned. Everyone has twists and turns in their plans, and I learned a long time ago that getting upset when “life happens” will not be very healthy in the long run! But if I stay on course and sort of “reboot” every now and again, what needs to get done is eventually accomplished.
The beautiful thing is that God has plans for each of us… perfect plans. And we can try all we want to derail them… we can insert our own desires and two-cents-worth into the mix…and we can fall apart when things don’t go as we hoped or anticipated. But at the end of the day, if we will pay close attention, God’s plans will be the ones that get us the farthest down the road.
We need to begin each morning by asking, “LORD, what are YOUR plans for me today? Show me how to accomplish what YOU have in store for me… to listen for Your voice and direction.” We need to stay the course as much as possible. But when bumps in the road occur, we need to ask God to help us handle them and get back on track as quickly as possible. If we try to fix things on our own… or we veer away from the designs that God has for us, we can expect problems, disappointments and heartaches.
I am amazed when I stop and recognize that God created a plan precisely for my life… and yours… and the next guy’s, and the next. I see His hand in so many aspects of my days, and I see Him at work for others, too. I have to laugh at how ridiculous we are to think we could do better… or that He doesn’t care about us. And I am truly, deeply humbled by such a generous gift.
I don’t know the plans God has for you… but I know they are amazing. Have you asked Him lately what He has in store for you… and which direction you should take? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. In those days when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
How many times have you made plans that somehow were derailed? Just today, I made plans to clean out some boxes in my garage. I decided that this project was going so well that I would also gather some things from my craft room. After all, I am taking unwanted items to the thrift shop later this week… I just as well take as much as I can! Then my husband called to me to help him clean out some boxes in the attic. I got involved in his project, along with my own, and before I knew it, the day that was going to have room for lots of projects was over!
I can’t complain. We have accomplished a lot today. And I have learned to roll with the punches… very seldom do my days go completely as planned. Everyone has twists and turns in their plans, and I learned a long time ago that getting upset when “life happens” will not be very healthy in the long run! But if I stay on course and sort of “reboot” every now and again, what needs to get done is eventually accomplished.
The beautiful thing is that God has plans for each of us… perfect plans. And we can try all we want to derail them… we can insert our own desires and two-cents-worth into the mix…and we can fall apart when things don’t go as we hoped or anticipated. But at the end of the day, if we will pay close attention, God’s plans will be the ones that get us the farthest down the road.
We need to begin each morning by asking, “LORD, what are YOUR plans for me today? Show me how to accomplish what YOU have in store for me… to listen for Your voice and direction.” We need to stay the course as much as possible. But when bumps in the road occur, we need to ask God to help us handle them and get back on track as quickly as possible. If we try to fix things on our own… or we veer away from the designs that God has for us, we can expect problems, disappointments and heartaches.
I am amazed when I stop and recognize that God created a plan precisely for my life… and yours… and the next guy’s, and the next. I see His hand in so many aspects of my days, and I see Him at work for others, too. I have to laugh at how ridiculous we are to think we could do better… or that He doesn’t care about us. And I am truly, deeply humbled by such a generous gift.
I don’t know the plans God has for you… but I know they are amazing. Have you asked Him lately what He has in store for you… and which direction you should take? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 27, 2012
Psalm 62:5-8
Only God gives inward peace,and I depend on him.
God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe,and he is the fortress
God saves me and honors me.
He is that mighty rock where I find safety.
Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns.
God is our place of safety.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility. I have to admit, it’s getting harder and harder to visit with her. Most days, she can barely manage to speak a few words, and you have to guess at what she is trying to say. She sits and looks at her lap and fidgets. She is restless…and lately, she has been grumpy. She can’t tell us what is wrong, but I suspect she is just tired of this world.
Today there were more words than usual, though broken and scattered. But as I tried to think of things to tell her, I shared how Timothy was frustrated and did not want to go to bed. I said, “It’s tough to be three sometimes… just like it’s tough to be one hundred.” My grandmother began to cry. She reached out and grabbed my hand with one of hers, and with the other, she reached for my face and cupped my chin. Then she said, “I wish you would come more often.” If I stayed with my grandmother 24/7, she would still say this. And I had to laugh to myself at the thought that when I do visit, she spends our time together complaining… usually that I don’t come often or stay long enough.
But this day, she managed to add, “I am so lonesome.” She also was able to tell me she doesn’t begrudge (her word) that I have other obligations and must balance my time… and that “I’ve tried to explain that I’m working on it.” I asked her what she was working on, and she replied, “Being lonesome.” I attempted to assure my grandmother that we are all lonesome from time to time. And I reminded her that she is surrounded by people all day long. But I also understand that for a woman of her age who is limited by speech, hearing, vision, and limited mobility… and a forgetful mind… life can be quite isolating.
If I let myself, these thoughts could drive me batty… wouldn’t the devil love that?! Instead, I have chosen to share my concerns with God. Oh, He already knows them… but He loves it when we come before Him and pour out our hearts. I know that my grandmother must do this, too… in whatever way she can these days – and that she has given God her worries and frustrations for decades.
I do have an inner peace. I know that God has a reason for keeping my grandmother on this earth. I’ve told Him that I believe she deserves to get to go to heaven, where every tear will be wiped away and she will speak and dance again. And I’ve very clearly felt God telling me, “I hear you… and I’ve got this!” Believe me, I have not held back! I’ve shared concerns and frustrations and requests aplenty about all sorts of issues and challengescl and each time I have felt His strength and a sense of inner calm. If not, I’ve kept talking to Him until that feeling washed over me!
Your frustrations, worries and concerns are probably far different than mine. You most likely don’t have a 100-year-old grandmother. But you may have trials and situations that I cannot even fathom. And our God is big enough to handle all of them! He can blanket you in strength and inner peace. He can be your rock and place of safety, just as surely as He is mine and my grandmother’s.
God can fill the loneliest heart with joy and peace and still the mind of anyone Satan tries to trouble. All you have to do is trust Him - and tell Him each and every one of your concerns. When was the last time you really “came clean” with God and told Him everything? How much inner calm do you have? Isn’t it time to give your burdens and frustrations to God and start operating in His safety and peace? Won’t you share what’s on your heart with Him today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Only God gives inward peace,and I depend on him.
God alone is the mighty rock that keeps me safe,and he is the fortress
God saves me and honors me.
He is that mighty rock where I find safety.
Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns.
God is our place of safety.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility. I have to admit, it’s getting harder and harder to visit with her. Most days, she can barely manage to speak a few words, and you have to guess at what she is trying to say. She sits and looks at her lap and fidgets. She is restless…and lately, she has been grumpy. She can’t tell us what is wrong, but I suspect she is just tired of this world.
Today there were more words than usual, though broken and scattered. But as I tried to think of things to tell her, I shared how Timothy was frustrated and did not want to go to bed. I said, “It’s tough to be three sometimes… just like it’s tough to be one hundred.” My grandmother began to cry. She reached out and grabbed my hand with one of hers, and with the other, she reached for my face and cupped my chin. Then she said, “I wish you would come more often.” If I stayed with my grandmother 24/7, she would still say this. And I had to laugh to myself at the thought that when I do visit, she spends our time together complaining… usually that I don’t come often or stay long enough.
But this day, she managed to add, “I am so lonesome.” She also was able to tell me she doesn’t begrudge (her word) that I have other obligations and must balance my time… and that “I’ve tried to explain that I’m working on it.” I asked her what she was working on, and she replied, “Being lonesome.” I attempted to assure my grandmother that we are all lonesome from time to time. And I reminded her that she is surrounded by people all day long. But I also understand that for a woman of her age who is limited by speech, hearing, vision, and limited mobility… and a forgetful mind… life can be quite isolating.
If I let myself, these thoughts could drive me batty… wouldn’t the devil love that?! Instead, I have chosen to share my concerns with God. Oh, He already knows them… but He loves it when we come before Him and pour out our hearts. I know that my grandmother must do this, too… in whatever way she can these days – and that she has given God her worries and frustrations for decades.
I do have an inner peace. I know that God has a reason for keeping my grandmother on this earth. I’ve told Him that I believe she deserves to get to go to heaven, where every tear will be wiped away and she will speak and dance again. And I’ve very clearly felt God telling me, “I hear you… and I’ve got this!” Believe me, I have not held back! I’ve shared concerns and frustrations and requests aplenty about all sorts of issues and challengescl and each time I have felt His strength and a sense of inner calm. If not, I’ve kept talking to Him until that feeling washed over me!
Your frustrations, worries and concerns are probably far different than mine. You most likely don’t have a 100-year-old grandmother. But you may have trials and situations that I cannot even fathom. And our God is big enough to handle all of them! He can blanket you in strength and inner peace. He can be your rock and place of safety, just as surely as He is mine and my grandmother’s.
God can fill the loneliest heart with joy and peace and still the mind of anyone Satan tries to trouble. All you have to do is trust Him - and tell Him each and every one of your concerns. When was the last time you really “came clean” with God and told Him everything? How much inner calm do you have? Isn’t it time to give your burdens and frustrations to God and start operating in His safety and peace? Won’t you share what’s on your heart with Him today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 26, 2012
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other night, Timothy did not want to go to bed. I knew he was exhausted. It was late, and his day had been full. But he also had not visited our house in a few weeks, and he was having so much fun playing with toys that sleeping was the last thing on his mind. I assured him that we would play all day the following day – after we rested – but he would have none of that! We sat on the edge of the bed and he tearfully cried, “We can’t do this! There has to be a better way!”
My heart broke for this little guy, as I hugged him and wiped away his tears. I know… I know… he was being dramatic and working me. But at the same time, I know that he is only three years old, and these are confusing times for children his age. They want to exert their independence, yet they often lack the skills and abilities to express themselves properly. And let’s be honest, sometimes things in life just make us want to have a good cry.
Soon enough, three-year-old children discover real problems… pain, suffering and truly hard life lessons – even death. As we grow, we may have a friend, family member, or spouse who comes to our rescue and wipes away our tears and reassures us. But often, we may find ourselves wandering in a wasteland of sorts… carrying burdens and frustrations on our own without anyone to physically offer us comfort and encouragement.
The GOOD NEWS is that God is always with us… ready to shoulder our burdens and soothe us when we cry. We can take anything to God… He is always ready to hear our deepest hurts and to comfort us. And we have the hope and promise of a day when there will be NO MORE tears, sickness, hurt, confusion, frustration, suffering or pain. That is glorious news to me!
This is what keeps me going on days when I would really like to throw up my hands and say, “I’m done!” And don’t tell me you don’t have those days… because we all do! But God understands… and He is right there to lift us and help us put one foot in front of the other. All we have to do is say, “LORD, I can’t do this… there has to be a better way. Please help me.”
Don’t you want to call on God? Don’t you want to feel His gentle hand on your face, wiping away your tears…His strong arms wrapping around you and holding you close? Aren’t you encouraged by this promise of heaven and no more pain, sorrow and tears? Isn’t today the perfect time to start depending on God to handle whatever challenges you… and to trust His promises for your future?
©2012 Debbie Robus
He will wipe all tears from their eyes, and there will be no more death, suffering, crying, or pain. These things of the past are gone forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other night, Timothy did not want to go to bed. I knew he was exhausted. It was late, and his day had been full. But he also had not visited our house in a few weeks, and he was having so much fun playing with toys that sleeping was the last thing on his mind. I assured him that we would play all day the following day – after we rested – but he would have none of that! We sat on the edge of the bed and he tearfully cried, “We can’t do this! There has to be a better way!”
My heart broke for this little guy, as I hugged him and wiped away his tears. I know… I know… he was being dramatic and working me. But at the same time, I know that he is only three years old, and these are confusing times for children his age. They want to exert their independence, yet they often lack the skills and abilities to express themselves properly. And let’s be honest, sometimes things in life just make us want to have a good cry.
Soon enough, three-year-old children discover real problems… pain, suffering and truly hard life lessons – even death. As we grow, we may have a friend, family member, or spouse who comes to our rescue and wipes away our tears and reassures us. But often, we may find ourselves wandering in a wasteland of sorts… carrying burdens and frustrations on our own without anyone to physically offer us comfort and encouragement.
The GOOD NEWS is that God is always with us… ready to shoulder our burdens and soothe us when we cry. We can take anything to God… He is always ready to hear our deepest hurts and to comfort us. And we have the hope and promise of a day when there will be NO MORE tears, sickness, hurt, confusion, frustration, suffering or pain. That is glorious news to me!
This is what keeps me going on days when I would really like to throw up my hands and say, “I’m done!” And don’t tell me you don’t have those days… because we all do! But God understands… and He is right there to lift us and help us put one foot in front of the other. All we have to do is say, “LORD, I can’t do this… there has to be a better way. Please help me.”
Don’t you want to call on God? Don’t you want to feel His gentle hand on your face, wiping away your tears…His strong arms wrapping around you and holding you close? Aren’t you encouraged by this promise of heaven and no more pain, sorrow and tears? Isn’t today the perfect time to start depending on God to handle whatever challenges you… and to trust His promises for your future?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 25, 2012
Galatians 6:9
Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere around 1980, when I was teaching kindergarten, the principal asked me if a first-grade boy could spend most of his day in my classroom, because he was not able to function properly in his own. The child was evaluated and deemed to perform on the level of a child of about age 3. So I agreed to let Chuckie play in my classroom. And he did spend most of his day quietly playing with toys, puzzles and games. The other children even accepted that this was what Chuckie did all day - that is…when he wasn’t eating.
I could not feed this little boy enough. Clearly, the only time Chuckie really ate was when he was at school. The cafeteria manager gave him double helpings. I fed him “snacks” for breakfast and again before the last bell rang. I knew that he might not eat again until the next morning. He would tell me that he and his sister ate “pasketti” (spaghetti)… but all they got was what was left after his mother ate. Chuckie’s dad was determined to keep Mom happy, so she ate first.
The Department of Human Services was notified of this situation, and a caseworker was assigned. And the more she did for this family, the more the parents demanded. One day, the father was listing his “needs” to the caseworker, and he ended with… “Oh, and we need a car.” The caseworker replied, “What color would you like?” She said, “This was such a preposterous request that I figured it deserved a similar response!”
Ultimately, most everyone who tried to help this family came together in a court of law, where a judge was prepared to sign adoption papers for the children to be placed with a loving, stable couple. The parents were ready to sign, until the judge told them they would never get their children back. The parents reneged. And a local pediatrician bought the entire family bus tickets to Pennsylvania, where other relatives lived. Those in the courtroom had reached the end of their rope… they had given all the help they could… they were exhausted and exasperated.
I don’t know whatever happened to Chuckie and his family. I probably don’t want to know. I don’t fault those who made the decision to stop trying to help, because they had given all they had to give… and more. Their efforts were better served helping children whose families were more cooperative. But I do wonder about Chuckie…and others like him. And I think about people in our own circles who exhaust and exasperate us - so we throw up our hands and move away. What happens to them? Do they find other benefactors? More importantly, what if God threw up His hands and walked away from us?
Here’s what I have concluded. When you are tired and fed up… when you don’t have anything left to give to others…you can still love them and pray for them… and that is something. But don’t close the door completely. Don’t shut them out of your heart and stop caring. There is always hope. You don’t have to spend yourself into bankruptcy. You don’t have to give of your physical time and energy until you are literally sick and tired. But you must continue to care. And prayer is a powerful tool…often the only one we really need.
I am grateful to know that God never gives up on me… even when I exhaust and exasperate Him (which must be a dozen times a day or more!). And I must remind myself not to give up on others. I am not looking for a tangible “reward” – and neither should you. It should be payment enough to know that we are doing what God does for us… that we are serving Him as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth – and showing His love to others in the bargain. In my heart, I am believing that God sent another loving group of people to minister to Chuckie and his sister. And I am thankful for the opportunity I had to look after this child, if only for a few brief months. I was greatly blessed by this experience… and forever changed.
How and where is God using you in the life of someone who needs help? And how are you answering His call?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere around 1980, when I was teaching kindergarten, the principal asked me if a first-grade boy could spend most of his day in my classroom, because he was not able to function properly in his own. The child was evaluated and deemed to perform on the level of a child of about age 3. So I agreed to let Chuckie play in my classroom. And he did spend most of his day quietly playing with toys, puzzles and games. The other children even accepted that this was what Chuckie did all day - that is…when he wasn’t eating.
I could not feed this little boy enough. Clearly, the only time Chuckie really ate was when he was at school. The cafeteria manager gave him double helpings. I fed him “snacks” for breakfast and again before the last bell rang. I knew that he might not eat again until the next morning. He would tell me that he and his sister ate “pasketti” (spaghetti)… but all they got was what was left after his mother ate. Chuckie’s dad was determined to keep Mom happy, so she ate first.
The Department of Human Services was notified of this situation, and a caseworker was assigned. And the more she did for this family, the more the parents demanded. One day, the father was listing his “needs” to the caseworker, and he ended with… “Oh, and we need a car.” The caseworker replied, “What color would you like?” She said, “This was such a preposterous request that I figured it deserved a similar response!”
Ultimately, most everyone who tried to help this family came together in a court of law, where a judge was prepared to sign adoption papers for the children to be placed with a loving, stable couple. The parents were ready to sign, until the judge told them they would never get their children back. The parents reneged. And a local pediatrician bought the entire family bus tickets to Pennsylvania, where other relatives lived. Those in the courtroom had reached the end of their rope… they had given all the help they could… they were exhausted and exasperated.
I don’t know whatever happened to Chuckie and his family. I probably don’t want to know. I don’t fault those who made the decision to stop trying to help, because they had given all they had to give… and more. Their efforts were better served helping children whose families were more cooperative. But I do wonder about Chuckie…and others like him. And I think about people in our own circles who exhaust and exasperate us - so we throw up our hands and move away. What happens to them? Do they find other benefactors? More importantly, what if God threw up His hands and walked away from us?
Here’s what I have concluded. When you are tired and fed up… when you don’t have anything left to give to others…you can still love them and pray for them… and that is something. But don’t close the door completely. Don’t shut them out of your heart and stop caring. There is always hope. You don’t have to spend yourself into bankruptcy. You don’t have to give of your physical time and energy until you are literally sick and tired. But you must continue to care. And prayer is a powerful tool…often the only one we really need.
I am grateful to know that God never gives up on me… even when I exhaust and exasperate Him (which must be a dozen times a day or more!). And I must remind myself not to give up on others. I am not looking for a tangible “reward” – and neither should you. It should be payment enough to know that we are doing what God does for us… that we are serving Him as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth – and showing His love to others in the bargain. In my heart, I am believing that God sent another loving group of people to minister to Chuckie and his sister. And I am thankful for the opportunity I had to look after this child, if only for a few brief months. I was greatly blessed by this experience… and forever changed.
How and where is God using you in the life of someone who needs help? And how are you answering His call?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 24, 2012
Proverbs 3:5-12
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.
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 know I use our nephew Timothy as an analogy a lot, but God shows me so much through this little three-year-old. For most of his first three years, it was just us and Timothy. He stayed with us a lot… even after his mom and dad and little sister, Zola, moved to Texas. Then baby brother Nathan joined the family in August. Now the family has moved back to Arkansas, and we see all of them nearly every day. And for the first time, Timmy has to share his grandparents, great-grandparents… and his Uncle Greg and Aunt Debbie. Nearly every time we are together, he asks me, “Are you still my baby?”… and by this he means, is he still MY baby. I assure him that yes, he will ALWAYS be our baby.
Trust is a difficult thing when you are three. And figuring everything out is hard. So there is a lot of “water testing,” more than a few temper tantrums, and even some loving correction – which leads to lots and lots of tears. Timothy is still learning that the adults in his life mean business… and for the moment, know best…and that our gentle correction and “rules” are put in place out of a deep and abiding love.
We are all so much like the three-year-old child. We think we know what is best for our lives…we test the waters to see how much God will let us get by with… and then we pout when He reins us in. We need to recognize that God has our very best interests at heart… we need to trust Him from the bottom of our hearts.
I know! I know… sometimes we want to do it ourselves… our way! We get frustrated and impatient… or we don’t like the direction in which we feel God leading us, and we say, “I’ll take it from here!” What generally results is a huge hot mess! Read this passage again. Don’t you want your bones to vibrate with life? Don’t you want your body to glow with good health? Isn’t it time you ran to God rather than away from Him? Wouldn’t today be a perfect time to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life! Honor God with everything you own; give him the first and the best. Your barns will burst, your wine vats will brim over. But don’t, dear friend, resent God’s discipline; don’t sulk under his loving correction. It’s the child he loves that God corrects; a father’s delight is behind all this.
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 know I use our nephew Timothy as an analogy a lot, but God shows me so much through this little three-year-old. For most of his first three years, it was just us and Timothy. He stayed with us a lot… even after his mom and dad and little sister, Zola, moved to Texas. Then baby brother Nathan joined the family in August. Now the family has moved back to Arkansas, and we see all of them nearly every day. And for the first time, Timmy has to share his grandparents, great-grandparents… and his Uncle Greg and Aunt Debbie. Nearly every time we are together, he asks me, “Are you still my baby?”… and by this he means, is he still MY baby. I assure him that yes, he will ALWAYS be our baby.
Trust is a difficult thing when you are three. And figuring everything out is hard. So there is a lot of “water testing,” more than a few temper tantrums, and even some loving correction – which leads to lots and lots of tears. Timothy is still learning that the adults in his life mean business… and for the moment, know best…and that our gentle correction and “rules” are put in place out of a deep and abiding love.
We are all so much like the three-year-old child. We think we know what is best for our lives…we test the waters to see how much God will let us get by with… and then we pout when He reins us in. We need to recognize that God has our very best interests at heart… we need to trust Him from the bottom of our hearts.
I know! I know… sometimes we want to do it ourselves… our way! We get frustrated and impatient… or we don’t like the direction in which we feel God leading us, and we say, “I’ll take it from here!” What generally results is a huge hot mess! Read this passage again. Don’t you want your bones to vibrate with life? Don’t you want your body to glow with good health? Isn’t it time you ran to God rather than away from Him? Wouldn’t today be a perfect time to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 23, 2012
Psalm 4:4-5
Complain if you must, but don’t lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.
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’ve been listening to the conversations Timothy has with his toy dinosaurs and jungle animals… and also his bath tub “friends.” You can learn a lot from an imaginative three-year-old! One conversation he had recently involved a “Grandpa” dinosaur and a smaller animal who wanted to come along on an adventure. Grandpa would say, “You can’t come with us…it’s too dangerous. But how can we get across this bridge… got any ideas?”
Timothy worked out his problems in these conversations and arrived at answers. Granted, they were make-believe conversations… and a lot of it was quotes from his videos about “The Land That Time Forgot.” Still, there was a great lesson here. We need to spend some time sharing our frustrations and concerns with God and asking Him… “Got any ideas?” I can assure you, He has plenty of them… and He is more than ready to share His answers with you!
More and more, I find myself in situations where I really need someone to talk to… but the “right person” just doesn’t seem to exist. Either my concerns would be worrisome or hurtful to some… or seem downright ugly and mean to others… or the things that genuinely trouble me sound totally ridiculous and/or as if I am lacking in faith when I say them out loud. So I tell these things to God. NOTHING is too ridiculous, hurtful and mean, or doubtful to share with Him. I can be myself, pour out my heart, and “let it all hang out” before God, and He will not judge me. BUT…He will answer!
God’s verdict will always be right and sound… and if I will just sit still for a while and listen, He will show me exactly what I need to do. A lot of the time we cannot help our feelings… our thoughts and impressions are very real to us. But we don’t need to air them for the world to hear. Instead, all we have to do is pour out our hearts to God and ask, “Got any ideas?” I guarantee you that He does! Who are you talking to these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Complain if you must, but don’t lash out. Keep your mouth shut, and let your heart do the talking. Build your case before God and wait for his verdict.
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’ve been listening to the conversations Timothy has with his toy dinosaurs and jungle animals… and also his bath tub “friends.” You can learn a lot from an imaginative three-year-old! One conversation he had recently involved a “Grandpa” dinosaur and a smaller animal who wanted to come along on an adventure. Grandpa would say, “You can’t come with us…it’s too dangerous. But how can we get across this bridge… got any ideas?”
Timothy worked out his problems in these conversations and arrived at answers. Granted, they were make-believe conversations… and a lot of it was quotes from his videos about “The Land That Time Forgot.” Still, there was a great lesson here. We need to spend some time sharing our frustrations and concerns with God and asking Him… “Got any ideas?” I can assure you, He has plenty of them… and He is more than ready to share His answers with you!
More and more, I find myself in situations where I really need someone to talk to… but the “right person” just doesn’t seem to exist. Either my concerns would be worrisome or hurtful to some… or seem downright ugly and mean to others… or the things that genuinely trouble me sound totally ridiculous and/or as if I am lacking in faith when I say them out loud. So I tell these things to God. NOTHING is too ridiculous, hurtful and mean, or doubtful to share with Him. I can be myself, pour out my heart, and “let it all hang out” before God, and He will not judge me. BUT…He will answer!
God’s verdict will always be right and sound… and if I will just sit still for a while and listen, He will show me exactly what I need to do. A lot of the time we cannot help our feelings… our thoughts and impressions are very real to us. But we don’t need to air them for the world to hear. Instead, all we have to do is pour out our hearts to God and ask, “Got any ideas?” I guarantee you that He does! Who are you talking to these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 22, 2012
1 Peter 5:7
God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas were a huge deal in my family. We gathered for gigantic potluck meals, rotating who served as host/hostess among the adult family members. In attendance were my parents and my siblings, both sets of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins… sometimes as many as 30 people. When I was small, my dad and some male cousins would go quail hunting right after lunch. In later years, we sat around and visited…and ate…looked at old pictures…and ate…watched football… and ate…played dominoes… and did I mention that we ate?! We would reheat what was left around dinner time and eat one last time, then say our good-byes and return to our individual homes.
As an adult, I have come to realize how much work this annual dinner was for the host/hostess… how long and hard others (who had regular day jobs) worked in the evenings and early morning of Thanksgiving Day to prepare the succulent dishes that always graced our tables and sideboards. But for me, it was a day when everyone got together to share food and fellowship without a care in the world. It was as if we cast all of our cares aside for that one day.
Now I realize that a lot of people come to the Thanksgiving Day table with a heavy heart… burdens that seem insurmountable…troubles of all kinds. There isn’t enough turkey, cranberries or pumpkin pie in the world to soothe what ails them. And I get it… I truly do. I will miss my grandparents today… the cousins who have long since gone to heaven and feast at the Heavenly table… my dad and my brother… my father-in-law who loved to see his family gathered around the table… and my little grandmother who is physically unable to leave her apartment and be with us. In the back of my mind I will be thinking about what I have to do next week, what’s going on in the world at large, those less fortunate, and the challenges that lie before me and my family.
But the GOOD NEWS is that I serve a God who is more than able to handle these worries and burdens. So today, I will make an extra effort to hand them to Him… to thank Him for such strong and sturdy shoulders that can carry the cares of the world. I will allow God to fill me with joy for the memories of times gone past… and the new traditions and memories we will begin to create this day with family members who are present… and our little great-niece and nephews, Zola, Timmy and Nathan. I will laugh and celebrate the joy and wonder of their presence… and the freedom to share a delicious meal with them in the cozy, festive home of their great-grandmother… my mom. I will cook the traditional green beans in my grandmother’s old iron Dutch oven. I’ll make other dishes that have come to be holiday favorites… as will others. And we will eat… and eat… and eat some more… because we can, praise God!
Wherever you are today… whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving Day officially, or you are merely counting your blessings because you can – and should… give God praise for carrying our worries and cares. Thank Him for being so powerful, loving, generous, gracious and merciful. Thank God for those who have filled your life in the past… and those who surround you today and in days to come. Recognize that your worst day WITH God is better than your best day without Him… and be incredibly thankful for that! Let go and let God… be thankful and blessed… and please pass the gravy… and the TUMS®!
©2012 Debbie Robus
God cares for you, so turn all your worries over to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas were a huge deal in my family. We gathered for gigantic potluck meals, rotating who served as host/hostess among the adult family members. In attendance were my parents and my siblings, both sets of my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins… sometimes as many as 30 people. When I was small, my dad and some male cousins would go quail hunting right after lunch. In later years, we sat around and visited…and ate…looked at old pictures…and ate…watched football… and ate…played dominoes… and did I mention that we ate?! We would reheat what was left around dinner time and eat one last time, then say our good-byes and return to our individual homes.
As an adult, I have come to realize how much work this annual dinner was for the host/hostess… how long and hard others (who had regular day jobs) worked in the evenings and early morning of Thanksgiving Day to prepare the succulent dishes that always graced our tables and sideboards. But for me, it was a day when everyone got together to share food and fellowship without a care in the world. It was as if we cast all of our cares aside for that one day.
Now I realize that a lot of people come to the Thanksgiving Day table with a heavy heart… burdens that seem insurmountable…troubles of all kinds. There isn’t enough turkey, cranberries or pumpkin pie in the world to soothe what ails them. And I get it… I truly do. I will miss my grandparents today… the cousins who have long since gone to heaven and feast at the Heavenly table… my dad and my brother… my father-in-law who loved to see his family gathered around the table… and my little grandmother who is physically unable to leave her apartment and be with us. In the back of my mind I will be thinking about what I have to do next week, what’s going on in the world at large, those less fortunate, and the challenges that lie before me and my family.
But the GOOD NEWS is that I serve a God who is more than able to handle these worries and burdens. So today, I will make an extra effort to hand them to Him… to thank Him for such strong and sturdy shoulders that can carry the cares of the world. I will allow God to fill me with joy for the memories of times gone past… and the new traditions and memories we will begin to create this day with family members who are present… and our little great-niece and nephews, Zola, Timmy and Nathan. I will laugh and celebrate the joy and wonder of their presence… and the freedom to share a delicious meal with them in the cozy, festive home of their great-grandmother… my mom. I will cook the traditional green beans in my grandmother’s old iron Dutch oven. I’ll make other dishes that have come to be holiday favorites… as will others. And we will eat… and eat… and eat some more… because we can, praise God!
Wherever you are today… whether you are celebrating Thanksgiving Day officially, or you are merely counting your blessings because you can – and should… give God praise for carrying our worries and cares. Thank Him for being so powerful, loving, generous, gracious and merciful. Thank God for those who have filled your life in the past… and those who surround you today and in days to come. Recognize that your worst day WITH God is better than your best day without Him… and be incredibly thankful for that! Let go and let God… be thankful and blessed… and please pass the gravy… and the TUMS®!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 21, 2012
Matthew 11:28-29
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timmy and I watched “Daisy Bothers Minnie,” a Disney video. Minnie Mouse and her cat, Figero, are all set to relax for the evening, when Daisy calls to say she has a problem at her house and cannot take her “therapeutic bath.” Even though Minnie has plans for the evening, Daisy inserts herself into Minnie’s night and comes right on over. Then she imposes over and over, causing all sorts of problems, and totally interrupting Minnie’s “quiet night at home.” To say that Minnie Mouse was frustrated would be a major understatement. Minnie was more than tired from carrying heavy burdens!
From the demands of family members and friends to school and work - to concerns about the world at large, our burdens can get pretty heavy. Some have worries that seem like they would crush Superman, much less us ordinary humans. Around the world, illness, debt, relationship difficulties, homelessness, war, separation, hunger, fear and oppression, and more weigh heavily on the shoulders of millions of people every minute of the day. But even if your own “burdens” pale in comparison to those of someone in a war-torn country or a person who is facing a serious illness or the prospect of homelessness, they are YOUR burdens and have real significance in your life and the lives of those with whom you interact.
The amazingly wonderful thing is that God can handle ALL burdens. The woman in the Sudan who cannot feed herself or her children can cry out to God just like the student in a college classroom who needs help getting through freshman English! The soldier who is stationed halfway around the world in Afghanistan and won’t be home for Thanksgiving can experience rest in the LORD just as much as the elderly shut-in who will spend the holiday in his/her living room, all alone, watching parades and ballgames on TV.
The hostage in a war-torn country who is beaten and imprisoned can feel the same comfort and care from God as the foster child who is separated from his/her biological family and doesn’t know what will happen next. Every single one of us has “burdens” that seem like more than we can handle at one time or another, and God stands ready to take this load from each of us… if only we will ask Him to do so.
These verses in The Message say in part… “Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to lay my burdens down at the feet of Jesus and learn the unforced rhythms of His grace.
So often, we’re like Minnie Mouse… we reach our limits with friends, family members, work, school, and the worries of our day. We are ready to “have a quiet night” and relax… and something – or someone like Daisy Duck – comes along to ruin our plans. We can become overwhelmed in a hurry. God understands this, and He is saying, “I’ve got this. Let me handle things while you rest.” Aren’t you ready to do this? Isn’t it time we stopped throwing up our hands and screaming in frustration? Won’t you simply pick up the easy, gentle, graceful yoke of God and wear it for a change… and let Him handle the heavy stuff?
©2012 Debbie Robus
If you are tired from carrying heavy burdens, come to me and I will give you rest. Take the yoke I give you. Put it on your shoulders and learn from me. I am gentle and humble, and you will find rest.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timmy and I watched “Daisy Bothers Minnie,” a Disney video. Minnie Mouse and her cat, Figero, are all set to relax for the evening, when Daisy calls to say she has a problem at her house and cannot take her “therapeutic bath.” Even though Minnie has plans for the evening, Daisy inserts herself into Minnie’s night and comes right on over. Then she imposes over and over, causing all sorts of problems, and totally interrupting Minnie’s “quiet night at home.” To say that Minnie Mouse was frustrated would be a major understatement. Minnie was more than tired from carrying heavy burdens!
From the demands of family members and friends to school and work - to concerns about the world at large, our burdens can get pretty heavy. Some have worries that seem like they would crush Superman, much less us ordinary humans. Around the world, illness, debt, relationship difficulties, homelessness, war, separation, hunger, fear and oppression, and more weigh heavily on the shoulders of millions of people every minute of the day. But even if your own “burdens” pale in comparison to those of someone in a war-torn country or a person who is facing a serious illness or the prospect of homelessness, they are YOUR burdens and have real significance in your life and the lives of those with whom you interact.
The amazingly wonderful thing is that God can handle ALL burdens. The woman in the Sudan who cannot feed herself or her children can cry out to God just like the student in a college classroom who needs help getting through freshman English! The soldier who is stationed halfway around the world in Afghanistan and won’t be home for Thanksgiving can experience rest in the LORD just as much as the elderly shut-in who will spend the holiday in his/her living room, all alone, watching parades and ballgames on TV.
The hostage in a war-torn country who is beaten and imprisoned can feel the same comfort and care from God as the foster child who is separated from his/her biological family and doesn’t know what will happen next. Every single one of us has “burdens” that seem like more than we can handle at one time or another, and God stands ready to take this load from each of us… if only we will ask Him to do so.
These verses in The Message say in part… “Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to lay my burdens down at the feet of Jesus and learn the unforced rhythms of His grace.
So often, we’re like Minnie Mouse… we reach our limits with friends, family members, work, school, and the worries of our day. We are ready to “have a quiet night” and relax… and something – or someone like Daisy Duck – comes along to ruin our plans. We can become overwhelmed in a hurry. God understands this, and He is saying, “I’ve got this. Let me handle things while you rest.” Aren’t you ready to do this? Isn’t it time we stopped throwing up our hands and screaming in frustration? Won’t you simply pick up the easy, gentle, graceful yoke of God and wear it for a change… and let Him handle the heavy stuff?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 20, 2012
Philippians 4:6-7
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was 29 years old, I was diagnosed with endometriosis… a disease in which pieces of the uterine lining “go rogue” and migrate to other parts of the body, attach and grow. This is very painful… and in my case, some of this tissue attached to my colon. The solution was a hysterectomy – removal of my reproductive organs. Doctors don’t like to perform this procedure on otherwise healthy women of child-bearing age. But in my case, there was no other option. In fact, I went into surgery knowing that part of my colon might have to be removed, as well… and thankfully that was not necessary.
This was a scary time for me and my family. It was also a time of calm and peace. Yes, I was nervous about major surgery. But I was so anxious to feel better… to be rid of the thing that caused me daily discomfort and distress. I still remember lying in the pre-op room while a nurse administered the first medications before anesthesia. My surgery had been delayed several hours because of some emergencies, and as the medication hit my system, my blood pressure bottomed out, and I was “gone!” When I came to, the nurse was frantically working to get me to speak. I think she thought she had killed me!
After determining that I was okay, the medical team continued their work, and I remember thinking, “I will either wake up in the recovery room… or in heaven… and either one is okay.” I was not the most mature Christian at 29, but I trusted God… and He carried me safely through that – and many scary days since!
You may have Philippians 4:6-7 before… it’s the “peace that passes all understanding” passage. But what does that mean? In this translation, we see this phrase explained as “a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good to settle you down.” In my case, God washed over me with a sense that everything was coming together as He wished… and I truly was settled down. More times than I can count, I have poured out my frustrations, fears, anxieties and distresses to God, and He has settled me. And the more I practice this… the easier it becomes.
I have told you that I have momentary times of panic…days when I am shrouded in worry, and the devil really does a number on me. But they are becoming more infrequent as I learn to walk more in the wholeness of God. I have to remind myself often that God is in control… because the devil is always right there shouting, “Yeah, but what about such-and-such? Shouldn’t you be upset about that?” If you ever pass me and I’m mumbling, “Go away, devil!”… you’ll know I am not talking to YOU!
I think it’s time we all had a “devil-ectomy!” Let’s remove the offending thing that causes us worry, pain and distress! Let’s shroud ourselves in the wholeness and operate in the inexplicable “peace that passes all understanding.” Haven’t you had enough? Aren’t you ready to settle down in the LORD? Isn’t today a great day to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When I was 29 years old, I was diagnosed with endometriosis… a disease in which pieces of the uterine lining “go rogue” and migrate to other parts of the body, attach and grow. This is very painful… and in my case, some of this tissue attached to my colon. The solution was a hysterectomy – removal of my reproductive organs. Doctors don’t like to perform this procedure on otherwise healthy women of child-bearing age. But in my case, there was no other option. In fact, I went into surgery knowing that part of my colon might have to be removed, as well… and thankfully that was not necessary.
This was a scary time for me and my family. It was also a time of calm and peace. Yes, I was nervous about major surgery. But I was so anxious to feel better… to be rid of the thing that caused me daily discomfort and distress. I still remember lying in the pre-op room while a nurse administered the first medications before anesthesia. My surgery had been delayed several hours because of some emergencies, and as the medication hit my system, my blood pressure bottomed out, and I was “gone!” When I came to, the nurse was frantically working to get me to speak. I think she thought she had killed me!
After determining that I was okay, the medical team continued their work, and I remember thinking, “I will either wake up in the recovery room… or in heaven… and either one is okay.” I was not the most mature Christian at 29, but I trusted God… and He carried me safely through that – and many scary days since!
You may have Philippians 4:6-7 before… it’s the “peace that passes all understanding” passage. But what does that mean? In this translation, we see this phrase explained as “a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good to settle you down.” In my case, God washed over me with a sense that everything was coming together as He wished… and I truly was settled down. More times than I can count, I have poured out my frustrations, fears, anxieties and distresses to God, and He has settled me. And the more I practice this… the easier it becomes.
I have told you that I have momentary times of panic…days when I am shrouded in worry, and the devil really does a number on me. But they are becoming more infrequent as I learn to walk more in the wholeness of God. I have to remind myself often that God is in control… because the devil is always right there shouting, “Yeah, but what about such-and-such? Shouldn’t you be upset about that?” If you ever pass me and I’m mumbling, “Go away, devil!”… you’ll know I am not talking to YOU!
I think it’s time we all had a “devil-ectomy!” Let’s remove the offending thing that causes us worry, pain and distress! Let’s shroud ourselves in the wholeness and operate in the inexplicable “peace that passes all understanding.” Haven’t you had enough? Aren’t you ready to settle down in the LORD? Isn’t today a great day to begin?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 19, 2012
John 16:33
I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.
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 want to give the devil fits, just get comfortable with God! The closer you draw to Him, the more minor irritations and frustrations Satan will throw your way. It’s like he’s saying, “Oh yeah? Well what about THIS one?”! I have to laugh as I picture him, hands on his hips, growling and perturbed because his latest rant or scheme did not put me out of commission. But this has not always been the case… and I will be the first to admit that I still let the devil get to me and rattle my cage far too often!
This is “Thanksgiving Week” in the USA… a time when we are supposed to stop and make an extra effort to count our blessings. I know I have more than my share… and I am so grateful to God for all He does for me every minute of the day. I am incredibly thankful that He has conquered the world and I can live deeply at peace… unshaken and assured, even when momentary difficulties arise. I cannot imagine surviving all the things that come our way in even an “ordinary day” without the power of Jesus behind me.
I am surrounded by people who inspire me with their examples of tremendous faith in the midst of great challenge… a mother whose son is undergoing treatments for cancer wrote that if she could make a chain of daily blessings in their lives, it would stretch around the house, and then some… a young newlywed whose husband is battling a sinister and most-certainly terminal brain cancer, journals of the wonderful hiking trip they had to a local mountainous area and the joy of daily routines like soccer practice for their little boys… the mother of two four-year-olds who spent their first year of life in Arkansas Children’s hospital, lost their third sibling along the way, and wakes up with a new physical “issue” almost every day – yet reports that her son fell and knocked out three front teeth, and she was glad that it was just a “normal little-boy accident/injury” and not something more major! Now that’s faith in action!
I could go on and on… but I think you get the picture. One of my former Sunday school students posted on Facebook that ““For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” You could easily insert the words frustrated, irritated, distressed, or hopeless and have the same result. And the whole point is that, while these are normal human reactions, they serve no purpose in the life of a Christian.
In the words of an old song called “Pick Yourself Up” by Jerome Kern…”pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!” Recognize that God has already sent the devil packing, so we have no business letting him back into our neighborhood, so to speak. Kick him to the curb for good. When you start to feel frustrated, irritated, angry, or hopeless, shake Satan from your shoulder and say, “No way! I serve the Most High God, who has conquered the world! I am unshaken and assured that He has my back, and I am at peace!” Then do.it!
Be confident and faithful… a living example for others. Difficulties will come, but they do not define us. Cast ALL of your cares on God, for He truly does care for you in every way.
©2012 Debbie Robus
I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.
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 want to give the devil fits, just get comfortable with God! The closer you draw to Him, the more minor irritations and frustrations Satan will throw your way. It’s like he’s saying, “Oh yeah? Well what about THIS one?”! I have to laugh as I picture him, hands on his hips, growling and perturbed because his latest rant or scheme did not put me out of commission. But this has not always been the case… and I will be the first to admit that I still let the devil get to me and rattle my cage far too often!
This is “Thanksgiving Week” in the USA… a time when we are supposed to stop and make an extra effort to count our blessings. I know I have more than my share… and I am so grateful to God for all He does for me every minute of the day. I am incredibly thankful that He has conquered the world and I can live deeply at peace… unshaken and assured, even when momentary difficulties arise. I cannot imagine surviving all the things that come our way in even an “ordinary day” without the power of Jesus behind me.
I am surrounded by people who inspire me with their examples of tremendous faith in the midst of great challenge… a mother whose son is undergoing treatments for cancer wrote that if she could make a chain of daily blessings in their lives, it would stretch around the house, and then some… a young newlywed whose husband is battling a sinister and most-certainly terminal brain cancer, journals of the wonderful hiking trip they had to a local mountainous area and the joy of daily routines like soccer practice for their little boys… the mother of two four-year-olds who spent their first year of life in Arkansas Children’s hospital, lost their third sibling along the way, and wakes up with a new physical “issue” almost every day – yet reports that her son fell and knocked out three front teeth, and she was glad that it was just a “normal little-boy accident/injury” and not something more major! Now that’s faith in action!
I could go on and on… but I think you get the picture. One of my former Sunday school students posted on Facebook that ““For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.” You could easily insert the words frustrated, irritated, distressed, or hopeless and have the same result. And the whole point is that, while these are normal human reactions, they serve no purpose in the life of a Christian.
In the words of an old song called “Pick Yourself Up” by Jerome Kern…”pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start all over again!” Recognize that God has already sent the devil packing, so we have no business letting him back into our neighborhood, so to speak. Kick him to the curb for good. When you start to feel frustrated, irritated, angry, or hopeless, shake Satan from your shoulder and say, “No way! I serve the Most High God, who has conquered the world! I am unshaken and assured that He has my back, and I am at peace!” Then do.it!
Be confident and faithful… a living example for others. Difficulties will come, but they do not define us. Cast ALL of your cares on God, for He truly does care for you in every way.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 18, 2012
Psalm 34:18
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
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 haven’t “had the breath knocked out of me” in years…can’t even remember when it happened last. But I do remember the feeling… that momentary shock and fright – and wonder if “this was IT!” Then the breath returned, and other than maybe being sore from falling so hard, everything returned to normal. Usually, this happens in a group – like playing kickball as a kid – and others rush to your side to make sure you are okay.
When my grandmother fell last Christmas Eve on our driveway and hit her head, I am fairly certain she was momentarily dazed – if not unconscious. We hurried to her, and I held her head off the pavement until the ambulance arrived with EMTs to assist her. The night my dad suffered a massive stroke, I remember my husband going to the car to retrieve his C-pap machine (a device that aides in breathing if you have sleep apnea). When my husband returned from the parking lot, the doors to the waiting room swung open, and there on either side of him were two of my dearest cousins who had come to support us. I know beyond any doubt that they were real-life angels sent by God. And did we ever need them, because my dad did not survive… and our hearts were broken.
Let’s face it… life kicks all of us in the gut at least once or twice. And for a moment, it’s like having the breath knocked out of you. We wonder what to do, maybe even panic a little – and fear the worst. The GOOD NEWS is that God is right there with us, and He will give us everything we need to catch our breath. He will mend our broken hearts… maybe not right away…but in His time. He will show us a way out of whatever dilemma we face. God will never leave us.
If we will just hold on to this thought…if we will simply trust that with God, all things are possible, then the “kicks in the gut” that are bound to happen in life won’t seem fatal. We really have no clue what we can endure with God’s help. I’m not asking to find out… but I am certainly aware that I can deal with whatever comes my way. If God can give Jesus’ mother, Mary, the courage and strength to watch her Son be tortured and crucified on a cross… don’t you think He can help you manage your “gut-checks?” Don’t give up hope. Cry out to God, and call on Him to draw near. You’ll find He was already there all along.
©2012 Debbie Robus
If your heart is broken, you’ll find God right there; if you’re kicked in the gut, he’ll help you catch your breath.
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 haven’t “had the breath knocked out of me” in years…can’t even remember when it happened last. But I do remember the feeling… that momentary shock and fright – and wonder if “this was IT!” Then the breath returned, and other than maybe being sore from falling so hard, everything returned to normal. Usually, this happens in a group – like playing kickball as a kid – and others rush to your side to make sure you are okay.
When my grandmother fell last Christmas Eve on our driveway and hit her head, I am fairly certain she was momentarily dazed – if not unconscious. We hurried to her, and I held her head off the pavement until the ambulance arrived with EMTs to assist her. The night my dad suffered a massive stroke, I remember my husband going to the car to retrieve his C-pap machine (a device that aides in breathing if you have sleep apnea). When my husband returned from the parking lot, the doors to the waiting room swung open, and there on either side of him were two of my dearest cousins who had come to support us. I know beyond any doubt that they were real-life angels sent by God. And did we ever need them, because my dad did not survive… and our hearts were broken.
Let’s face it… life kicks all of us in the gut at least once or twice. And for a moment, it’s like having the breath knocked out of you. We wonder what to do, maybe even panic a little – and fear the worst. The GOOD NEWS is that God is right there with us, and He will give us everything we need to catch our breath. He will mend our broken hearts… maybe not right away…but in His time. He will show us a way out of whatever dilemma we face. God will never leave us.
If we will just hold on to this thought…if we will simply trust that with God, all things are possible, then the “kicks in the gut” that are bound to happen in life won’t seem fatal. We really have no clue what we can endure with God’s help. I’m not asking to find out… but I am certainly aware that I can deal with whatever comes my way. If God can give Jesus’ mother, Mary, the courage and strength to watch her Son be tortured and crucified on a cross… don’t you think He can help you manage your “gut-checks?” Don’t give up hope. Cry out to God, and call on Him to draw near. You’ll find He was already there all along.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 17, 2012
Isaiah 41:9-10
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side.
I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’
Don’t panic. I’m with you.
There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy has been learning how to deal with frustration. Sometimes he will stack up his blocks in a “tower” that is not structurally sound. He puts little blocks near the bottom and bigger, heavier ones near the top. When this configuration collapses and falls to the floor, Timmy also falls apart. So we have been trying to teach him to remain calm, to recognize that all is not lost… we are here to help him, and we will show him how to build a better, more sound configuration.
I have to tell you, I am often not far behind my three-year-old nephew in the “Frustration Department!” We all have challenges and “towers” in life that are not structurally sound. And when they crash and burn… so do we, much of the time. I really need this passage to remind me that there is no need for panic or fear. God is with me, holding me steady and keeping a firm grip on me. If I will calm down and trust Him, God will give me strength and show me how to build a firmer foundation and find better solutions to whatever challenges I face. And He will do the same for you!
We all have frustrations. But we also have a “cure for what ails us” – a Heavenly Father who is right beside us. God picked us… He has not dropped us and will never fail to meet our needs or answer our calls. All we have to do is take the first step… to move closer and ask Him to help.
When a wobbly structure falls, we’ve tried to teach Timmy to say, “Oops!” and start over… to realize that all is not lost. It’s much the same with God and the “wobbly structures” in our own lives. We need to learn to say, “Uh-oh, God… I’m in trouble here… can you help?”... then trust Him to do exactly that. Where can you apply this to your own life? What “towers” have crashed and need fixing? Are you ready to call out to God and feel His grip tighten? Isn’t it time to say “Oops?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
I pulled you in from all over the world,
called you in from every dark corner of the earth,
Telling you, ‘You’re my servant, serving on my side.
I’ve picked you. I haven’t dropped you.’
Don’t panic. I’m with you.
There’s no need to fear for I’m your God.
I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you.
I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy has been learning how to deal with frustration. Sometimes he will stack up his blocks in a “tower” that is not structurally sound. He puts little blocks near the bottom and bigger, heavier ones near the top. When this configuration collapses and falls to the floor, Timmy also falls apart. So we have been trying to teach him to remain calm, to recognize that all is not lost… we are here to help him, and we will show him how to build a better, more sound configuration.
I have to tell you, I am often not far behind my three-year-old nephew in the “Frustration Department!” We all have challenges and “towers” in life that are not structurally sound. And when they crash and burn… so do we, much of the time. I really need this passage to remind me that there is no need for panic or fear. God is with me, holding me steady and keeping a firm grip on me. If I will calm down and trust Him, God will give me strength and show me how to build a firmer foundation and find better solutions to whatever challenges I face. And He will do the same for you!
We all have frustrations. But we also have a “cure for what ails us” – a Heavenly Father who is right beside us. God picked us… He has not dropped us and will never fail to meet our needs or answer our calls. All we have to do is take the first step… to move closer and ask Him to help.
When a wobbly structure falls, we’ve tried to teach Timmy to say, “Oops!” and start over… to realize that all is not lost. It’s much the same with God and the “wobbly structures” in our own lives. We need to learn to say, “Uh-oh, God… I’m in trouble here… can you help?”... then trust Him to do exactly that. Where can you apply this to your own life? What “towers” have crashed and need fixing? Are you ready to call out to God and feel His grip tighten? Isn’t it time to say “Oops?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
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