November 4 ~ Job 6:8-13
8-13 "All I want is an answer to one prayer,
a last request to be honored:
Let God step on me—squash me like a bug,
and be done with me for good.
I'd at least have the satisfaction
of not having blasphemed the Holy God,
before being pressed past the limits.
Where's the strength to keep my hopes up?
What future do I have to keep me going?
Do you think I have nerves of steel?
Do you think I'm made of iron?
Do you think I can pull myself up by my bootstraps?
Why, I don't even have any boots!
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Job is obviously one frustrated fellow. He does not understand what God is doing with him. And so often, neither do we! Many times, we think things ought to go one way, and God has other plans. You are getting ready for a big event at school or church, and you come down with a really nasty cold. You are running around like crazy trying to “get it all done,” and you lock your keys in your car. Your life seems to be going really, really well, and boom… you face a huge trial or challenge of some sort. And you wonder, “What are you trying to tell me, Lord?” You may even feel like it’s just not worth the effort, as Job does when he suggests that God “squash me like a bug.”
But I assure you that God is bigger than ANY thing we could ever experience. He has reasons that we will never understand in this lifetime, but I can assure you, they are perfect. He allows us to face challenges and “bumps in the road” for HIS purposes. He doesn’t cause them… but He works through them to strengthen us and to help us to deepen our faith and trust in Him.
So even if you don’t have any boots, pull yourself up by your “imaginary bootstraps” and allow God to work through you. Tell Him to “bring it on,” knowing that with His help, you can handle it all.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 3 ~ Job 6:1-7
1-7 Job answered:
"If my misery could be weighed,
if you could pile the whole bitter load on the scales,
It would be heavier than all the sand of the sea!
Is it any wonder that I'm screaming like a caged cat?
The arrows of God Almighty are in me,
poison arrows -- and I'm poisoned all through!
God has dumped the whole works on me.
Donkeys bray and cows moo when they run out of pasture --
so don't expect me to keep quiet in this.
Do you see what God has dished out for me?
It's enough to turn anyone's stomach!
Everything in me is repulsed by it --
it makes me sick.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever felt like your misery was heaver than all the sand of the sea? Have you ever just needed to “vent”? I want you to know today that God understands this need. He hears you when you cry out to Him. He actually is glad to hear you say, “I’ve got more than I can handle here!” God knows that when you figure out you can’t handle things on your own, you are more ready to turn to Him for help.
One more thing to remember… Job is really frustrated here, and so he is talking about all that God has dished out for him. God did not cause Job’s problems. Yes, He allowed them, so that Satan could see how faithful and strong Job was in his walk with God, but God still has not deserted Job. This is a very important point. God has not deserted us, either… even if it seems so.
So call out to God. Let Him hear – and have – your misery. Go ahead and “vent!”
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 2 ~ Job 5:17-27
"So, what a blessing when God steps in and corrects you!
Mind you, don't despise the discipline of Almighty God!
True, he wounds, but he also dresses the wound;
the same hand that hurts you, heals you.
From one disaster after another he delivers you;
no matter what the calamity, the evil can't touch you—
20-26 "In famine, he'll keep you from starving,
in war, from being gutted by the sword.
You'll be protected from vicious gossip
and live fearless through any catastrophe.
You'll shrug off disaster and famine,
and stroll fearlessly among wild animals.
You'll be on good terms with rocks and mountains;
wild animals will become your good friends.
You'll know that your place on earth is safe,
you'll look over your goods and find nothing amiss.
You'll see your children grow up,
your family lovely and lissome as orchard grass.
You'll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years,
like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.
27 "Yes, this is the way things are -- my word of honor!
Take it to heart and you won't go wrong."
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Your professor hands your paper to you – the one you worked on for days and nights on end – and his grade is so low it could cause you to lose your scholarship. Now you will have to work even harder the rest of the semester. You think to yourself, “I prayed about this paper… why didn’t God help me get a better grade?” Recently, I went to my physician for a checkup. I knew that my cholesterol had been dangerously high, and I had tried to lower it for over a year with some natural supplements, because I tend to be allergic to traditional medications. I had prayed that God would allow this natural remedy to work, and that my cholesterol would be lower. And it was… but only 20 points or so… and the totals were still dangerously high. My doctor felt I had reached the point where I must try the “big guns” and chance an allergic reaction.
In both instances, God has not failed us. If you have to work harder and study more to pull your grade up and keep your scholarship, God will help you. And in my instance, God can keep me safe and allow this drug to work for me. The KEY is within US… will we trust Him? Will we believe Him when He says He will deliver us from disaster?
It is so easy to say, “God is GOD – He should just take care of these things for us on the front end!” But who are we to tell God how to care for us? Maybe this is why He lets us flail around a little… maybe we need a gentle (or not-so-gentle) reminder who serves Whom! I pray today that we would strengthen in our faith and our TRUST, and that we would be continually reminded that GOD is still in control!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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November 1 ~ Job 5:8-16
8-16 "If I were in your shoes, I'd go straight to God,
I'd throw myself on the mercy of God.
After all, he's famous for great and unexpected acts;
there's no end to his surprises.
He gives rain, for instance, across the wide earth,
sends water to irrigate the fields.
He raises up the down-and-out,
gives firm footing to those sinking in grief.
He aborts the schemes of conniving crooks,
so that none of their plots come to term.
He catches the know-it-alls in their conspiracies—
all that intricate intrigue swept out with the trash!
Suddenly they're disoriented, plunged into darkness;
they can't see to put one foot in front of the other.
But the downtrodden are saved by God,
saved from the murderous plots, saved from the iron fist.
And so the poor continue to hope,
while injustice is bound and gagged.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I’m going to let the words of Job McCully’s grandmother speak to you today. She wrote this journal entry on their blog last week. BTW… Job’s grandma is recovering from breast cancer. She lives with the McCullys and has been one of Job’s major caregivers since he was born. Here’s what she wrote…
Well yesterday at 8:39 p.m. Job crashed and was without a pulse until 8:47 p.m. I was on instant messenger conference with family and friends. They all want to know everything all the stats etc. I noticed his pulse/oxygen level was dropping. So I posted that his oxygen was down to 79. Then I heard the Nurse call for a crash cart and he started doing CPR on Job. They worked on Job for 8 minutes before I heard them say, “We have a pulse”. The team worked like a precision tool in the hands of God.
The Dr. said don’t expect for Job to wake up before morning. At about 3:00 a.m. Job opened his beautiful brown eyes. He had to have restraints put on his arms because they had to put an arterial line in his left wrist to more accurately measure his blood pressure, and also to keep him from pulling on other lines. Today they took him for a CT scan of his brain, chest, and abdomen. CT scan did not reveal anything wrong with brain, or anything new wrong with his chest. So Praise the Lord.
They said that Job had been standing on the edge of a cliff and when they started the sedation medicine it pushed him over the edge. Therefore the crash. Job is stable now and continues to be in the hands of our awesome God. God had prepared us for battle before the battle had begun. I had anointed Job and the room again about two hours before. Tina (Job’s mother) and her friends had went to the church and had been praying for Job for about 2 or 3 hours before. Tina had requested that I read Psalm 18 to Job 5 minutes before. God knew what was going to happen and He had us prepare.
You can’t tell me that we don’t serve an awesome God. One who cares and loves us. He is so wonderful, so marvelous. He is my hope, my salvation. Without Him I can do nothing. With Him I can do all things. He is our HEALER.
Love you forever in Christ Jesus our Lord, Grandma
It seems to me that the McCullys have heard Eliphaz and paid attention! When the world says, “listen to the doctors (mere mortals),” they say, “We’re gonna talk to God first and see what HE says!” What about us? Do we have this level of faith and trust in our awesome God? Let this message today be your “Eliphaz moment!” Wake up and recognize WHO is truly in control… and put your trust in HIM!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 31 ~ Job 5:1-7
1-7 "Call for help, Job, if you think anyone will answer! To which of the holy angels will you turn?
The hot temper of a fool eventually kills him,
the jealous anger of a simpleton does her in.
I've seen it myself - seen fools putting down roots,
and then, suddenly, their houses are cursed.
Their children out in the cold, abused and exploited,
with no one to stick up for them.
Hungry people off the street plunder their harvests,
cleaning them out completely, taking thorns and all,
insatiable for everything they have.
Don't blame fate when things go wrong -
trouble doesn't come from nowhere.
It's human! Mortals are born and bred for trouble,
as certainly as sparks fly upward.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
“It’s not my fault!” How many times have you heard someone say that? Or what about “Whatever happens will happen” or “It was just meant to be?” We all tend to want to credit “fate” with the circumstances and events of our lives. That is so much easier than taking responsibility for them – or for stepping up to the plate and realizing that we often cause (or at least contribute to) our own problems.
It is so much easier to blame “fate” – or worse yet… GOD. “Why is God doing this to me? Why is God punishing me? Why has God let my business fail? Why has God made me sick? Why has God kept me in a lousy job for low pay and a house that is run down and driving a clunker of a car?” Eliphaz is reminding Job that “You know better than this!”
I honestly think that Eliphaz has said all of these things to Job about what others believe and how others act in order to shake him up and say, “Hey, man! Take a look around. See how foolish this thinking and behavior is, especially for a man of God like YOU! And that is our message for today. Take a look around at how the world would see your circumstances – good or bad – and recognize God’s plan for your life. See the areas where YOU have contributed to your own downfall (sin). Maybe God allowed you to wallow in it a little to show you how much you need Him, but He has NEVER left you. He didn’t leave Job, and He won’t leave us!
So blame fate if you think that will help… but know that GOD is still in charge!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 30 ~ Job 4:12-21
12-16 "A word came to me in secret—
a mere whisper of a word, but I heard it clearly.
It came in a scary dream one night,
after I had fallen into a deep, deep sleep.
Dread stared me in the face, and Terror.
I was scared to death—I shook from head to foot.
A spirit glided right in front of me—
the hair on my head stood on end.
I couldn't tell what it was that appeared there—
a blur...and then I heard a muffled voice:
17-21 "'How can mere mortals be more righteous than God?
How can humans be purer than their Creator?
Why, God doesn't even trust his own servants,
doesn't even cheer his angels,
So how much less these bodies composed of mud,
fragile as moths?
These bodies of ours are here today and gone tomorrow,
and no one even notices - gone without a trace. -
we die and are never the wiser for having lived.'"
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Okay, so this is sorta scary. Do you know people who live as if they are so insignificant that they could be here one day and gone the next and nobody would care? Eliphaz’s dream revealed to him that many of us live our lives like we are fragile jars of clay that will shatter if we hit the slightest bump. That doesn’t say very much for the God we serve, does it? Do you think we are so unimportant to God that He would allow us to come and go on this earth without anyone taking notice? Do you really think that was His intention?
I believe God sent Eliphaz to Job to say, “Hey… you are special to God… He is with you! He will not let you slip and fall and shatter into a million pieces. I know it seems bad right now, but keep the faith, man! God is with you… God will save you!” And I believe that God will do the same for each of us. But we have to do our part. We have to trust Him and stand firm and steady with Him and always give Him praise and glory, no matter what! Can you do that? I know that you can. You may be counting on God, but know this… God is also counting on YOU!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 29 ~ Job 4:1-11
1-6 Then Eliphaz from Teman spoke up:
"Would you mind if I said something to you? Under the circumstances it's hard to keep quiet.
You yourself have done this plenty of times, spoken words
that clarify, encouraged those who were about to quit.
Your words have put stumbling people on their feet,
put fresh hope in people about to collapse.
But now you're the one in trouble - you're hurting!
You've been hit hard and you're reeling from the blow.
But shouldn't your devout life give you confidence now?
Shouldn't your exemplary life give you hope?
7-11 "Think! Has a truly innocent person ever ended up on the scrap heap?
Do genuinely upright people ever lose out in the end?
It's my observation that those who plow evil
and sow trouble reap evil and trouble.
One breath from God and they fall apart,
one blast of his anger and there's nothing left of them.
The mighty lion, king of the beasts, roars mightily,
but when he's toothless he's useless -
No teeth, no prey - and the cubs
wander off to fend for themselves.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Do you know somebody like Job? Do you know somebody who is always telling others to “hang in there” and “keep your chin up?” But when the chips are down for them, all bets are off! It’s called “practicing what you preach,” and Job is being taken to task here for not doing just that!
We don’t know what we would do in a truly desperate situation. It’s very easy to tell someone else who is suffering how to act, but quite another for us to act “right” in a similar situation. I think the thing to remember is that God will never give us more than we can handle… with special emphasis on the WE! Keep God in the equation as a more-than-equal partner, and you can handle anything.
I also think that God understands that even the most faithful Christian will have momentary lapses in strength and courage. I think that there may be a moment when you say, “I’m not sure I can do this!” and God hears you and comes to your rescue… if you call on Him! I believe that God understood Job’s pain and suffering and that He knew Job’s heart. God knew that Job would never turn away from Him, and He sent this friend Eliphaz to rattle his cage and remind him WHO was in charge!
What about you… do you need someone to rattle your cage? Do you need to be reminded Who is in charge, and that you will never be given more than you can handle? Then consider it done! Now go and give God praise in all your circumstances!
©2007 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotionals on the Book of Job - Week 1
October 28 ~ Job 3:11-26
11-19 "Why didn't I die at birth, my first breath out of the womb my last?
Why were there arms to rock me, and breasts for me to drink from?
I could be resting in peace right now, asleep forever, feeling no pain,
In the company of kings and statesmen in their royal ruins,
Or with princes resplendent in their gold and silver tombs.
Why wasn't I stillborn and buried with all the babies who never saw light,
Where the wicked no longer trouble anyone and bone-weary people get a long-deserved rest? Prisoners sleep undisturbed, never again to wake up to the bark of the guards. The small and the great are equals in that place, and slaves are free from their masters.
20-23 "Why does God bother giving light to the miserable, why bother keeping bitter people alive, those who want in the worst way to die, and can't, who can't imagine anything better than death, who count the day of their death and burial the happiest day of their life? What's the point of life when it doesn't make sense, when God blocks all the roads to meaning?
24-26 "Instead of bread I get groans for my supper, then leave the table and vomit my anguish. The worst of my fears has come true, what I've dreaded most has happened. My repose is shattered, my peace destroyed. No rest for me, ever - death has invaded 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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I knew a little lady named Ms. Esther who was very ill. She had trouble getting her breath on a good day. There was really nothing the doctors could do for her except keep her comfortable, and yet she lingered for months in a nursing home. She had several trips to the hospital, and each time, we would all think, “this is it! God will surely call Ms. Esther home this time!” And the next thing you know, Esther would be back at the nursing home.
Over and over again, Ms. Esther told her loved ones how ready she was to die. She would say, “I just don’t understand why the Lord doesn’t take me.” On the surface, it did seem odd… Heaven would be so glorious for Ms. Esther, a devoted, faithful Christian lady. Why didn’t God reward her and take her home? There we go again, trying to second guess GOD! Don’t we get it yet that His timing is always perfect?!
God did call Ms. Esther home, but not before she had blessed countless others in His name. She lingered, befriending young aids and nurses at the nursing home. Her loving, kind faithful spirit was a witness to others, and God knew this! He left her on this earth doing His work until He was satisfied that it was enough, and then He called her to Him.
I believe we seriously underestimate God’s capacity to use us in all situations. We ask why He allows our good young Christian men to fight a war in Iraq, forgetting the witness they can provide to those who fight alongside them – not to mention the people in the country they are visiting. We ask why God allows a little 9-year-old boy to suffer for months while his lungs deteriorate, and why another young child will have to die in order for this boy to live. And we forget that God has used that little boy to show others how powerful and mighty and loving and merciful He is. We question why God would allow a hurricane to destroy most of a major city and many of its residents – if not physically, then certainly in spirit – and yet we forget to recognize the thousands of volunteers who served food from trailers for weeks on end and worked in shelters and provided clothing and refuge for those in need… and shared the love of Christ in the bargain.
God’s timing is always perfect. He knew what was best for Ms. Esther, and He knows what is best for you and me. Are you trusting Him today, or are you asking “why me?”
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 27 ~ Job 3:1-10
1-2 Then Job broke the silence. He spoke up and cursed his fate:
3-10 "Obliterate the day I was born. Blank out the night I was conceived!
Let it be a black hole in space. May God above forget it ever happened. Erase it from the books! May the day of my birth be buried in deep darkness, shrouded by the fog, swallowed by the night. And the night of my conception - the devil take it! Rip the date off the calendar, delete it from the almanac. Oh, turn that night into pure nothingness -no sounds of pleasure from that night, ever! May those who are good at cursing curse that day. Unleash the sea beast, Leviathan, on it. May its morning stars turn to black cinders, waiting for a daylight that never comes, never once seeing the first light of dawn. And why? Because it released me from my mother's womb into a life with so much trouble.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Why Me, Lord? That’s the name of a song made famous by Kris Kristofferson in 1971. Do you suppose that Kristofferson got the idea from Job? Job really doesn’t ask “why me?” Rather he says, “Let me die! Pretend I was never born. Turn back the clock and change history.” BUT… and this is important… he still does not blame God!
Almost 2 years ago, a classmate of mine was fighting a battle with breast cancer. Becky and I talked several times during the course of her illness, and one day she said, “You know, I could ask ‘why me?’ but I get to thinking about it, and I wonder, ‘why NOT me?’” To be able to ask that question in the face of such serious struggle and suffering is a sign of incredible faith in God.
You see, God will never give us more than we can handle. REALLY! It may seem like things are piling up on us and we are drowning in “bad” things and situations, but God can use all of that for good. He can use any one of us and any of our experiences for His glory.
So on your roughest day… in your darkest hour… the cry to God should not be “erase me from the books and pretend I never existed,” but rather, “bring it on, Lord, and I’ll give YOU the glory for victory in YOU!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 26 ~ Job 2:11-13
Three of Job's friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country - Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuhah, Zophar from Naamath - and went together to Job to keep him company and comfort him. When they first caught sight of him, they couldn't believe what they saw - they hardly recognized him! They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. Then they sat with him on the ground. Seven days and nights they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When my brother was very ill and near the end of his life, he reached a point where he needed morphine to control his pain and discomfort. He was incredibly swollen… his liver had stopped filtering out the toxins from his body, and he was in serious pain.
My brother was a very energetic, friendly guy, and as a nurse, he befriended all he encountered… his patients, the wait staff in restaurants, the checker at the store, and most certainly those he knew well. The start of a morphine drip signaled the beginning of “the end,” and all of his friends and family were there. As his fellow nurses set up the line for the drug and got him settled in his bed, he was surrounded by loving, friendly faces. Aids and nurses who were not even assigned to his case came to sit with him and show their love and support. They laughed about antics from childhood. They told stories of experiences they had shared at the hospital and in recent years of serving those who needed home health and Hospice.
It wasn’t that these people didn’t care that my brother was not himself, but they didn’t care about how he looked. They saw beyond the outward appearance to the inner man. And on his last somewhat lucid night, they sat and shared the time with him for hours on end. They sat and “suffered quietly” with him.
I would like to think that in a time of suffering or need, my friends would come to support me. But more importantly, I would like to think that I would come to the aid of my friends and family. I would like to think that I shared my faith by being faithful to those I love… even in their darkest moments. Surely these friends of Job’s were men of God. I can imagine that after they showed their solidarity by tearing their clothing and crying out they also shared their faith with God. I can imagine they said, “Hang in there, brother… we’re with you all the way, and so is God!” And He truly is.
So I ask you… when your friends are suffering and/or in need, where are you? Are you a friend who comforts and keeps others company? I pray that you will examine your life and how you share your faith with others. Is there someone you owe a visit?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 25 ~ Job 2:1-10
1-3 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan also showed up. God singled out Satan, saying, "And what have you been up to?" Satan answered God, "Oh, going here and there, checking things out." Then God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him, is there - honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn't work."
4-5 Satan answered, "A human would do anything to save his life. But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away his health? He'd curse you to your face, that's what."
6 God said, "All right. Go ahead - you can do what you like with him. But mind you, don't kill him."
7-8 Satan left God and struck Job with terrible sores. Job was ulcers and scabs from head to foot. They itched and oozed so badly that he took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself, then went and sat on a trash heap, among the ashes.
9 His wife said, "Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!"
10 He told her, "You're talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God - why not also the bad days?" Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Sheesh! It’s not easy being faithful, is it?! I think of little Job McCully and all he has endured. I think of his pain and suffering since February and how many months he has put up with tubes and needles and tests and medicines and fevers and loneliness and trouble breathing. I think of his parents who have set aside jobs, home, friends, and their very lives to spend all of their time attending to Job’s needs and sitting with him at the hospital, serving as his advocate with the medical staff. And yet, day after day, they write on their blog and praise God. They quote scripture and talk of how deeply they are digging into the Word and how much stronger they have become in their faith because of all of this.
God did not make Job sick, and He has not made Job McCully sick. But God has used this situation to draw countless numbers of people closer to Him. The impact little Job has had doesn’t stop with his parents and family members. It ripples out to his friends, his classmates, his community and church, neighboring communities, and even to YOU!
We take the good days from God – why indeed not also the bad days? Look around you and see how blessed you are. You may have just been whining and complaining about something… if so, ask yourself, are you praising God in the bad days as well as the good?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 24 ~ Job 1:13-22
13-15 Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
16 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them—burned them to a crisp. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
17 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
18-19 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
20 Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped:
21 Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I'll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed.
22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Score Job – 1; Satan – 0! I wonder… could we be this faithful? I think about the people of New Orleans who lost everything in Hurrican Katrina. They lost their homes, their businesses, and in many instances, their loved ones. And yet, many of them persevered. They found shelter wherever they could until the storm passed. They made arrangements to return and rebuild. They worshipped wherever they could.
If a massive tornado hit your town and wiped out everything you owned and even took your family, how would you react? Would you be like Job? Would you continue to praise God? Or would you blame Him and cave.
It really is a matter of faith. Either you believe that God is a loving God who would never desert you and deserves your blessings in all situations, or you have given in to Satan and his attempts to drag you down and pull you away from God and into a life of sin. I’m not saying it is easy. I’m not saying you won’t be tempted to cry out to God, “Why are you doing this to me?” But believe me, HE is not causing any of your misfortune. HE represents your way out. DO NOT BLAME GOD! God’s name be ever blessed!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 23 ~ Job 1:6-12
6-7 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, "What have you been up to?" Satan answered God, "Going here and there, checking things out on earth."
8 God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."
9-10 Satan retorted, "So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can't lose!
11 "But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He'd curse you right to your face, that's what."
12 God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Man! What if your mom and dad told a known criminal that he could take everything you owned, as long as he didn’t hurt you? Would you feel deserted by your parents? Would you be angry with them? Would you want to run away and live apart from them?
What if your parents were pretty sure you would not do this? What if they were confident that, no matter what, you would love them and stick by them… at all costs?I hope that God never tests me like He tested Job.
I hope that I am never put in a position where I have ample reasons to feel like I want to turn my back on God. There was a time when I’m not sure I could have passed such a test of faith. I would like to think that I am at a place in my Christian walk where this would be a no-brainer. But still, I thank God for not testing me in this manner. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the devil to have that level of control over me… even with God’s blessing.
But the point is this. We have to be ready to stand up to such a test. We have to be so strong in our faith and devotion and service to God that even if He hands us to the devil and says, “go ahead… see what he/she is made of!” we do not bend or break. We must be so filled with the Holy Spirit that we can stand up to any test and focus completely on the cross and Jesus. Tests will come. They may not be as serious as those given Job, but we will be tested with choices and chances to sin and fall short, and we must be ever diligent in our faith and our determination to follow Christ. I pray that I will be up to the challenges… will you?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 22 ~ Job 1:1-5
1-3 Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was also very wealthy—seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants—the most influential man in all the East!
4-5 His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking. When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly." Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they'd sinned.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Some of you will be parents some day. Some of you have already reared your children. If you are not yet a parent, I want you to consider Job’s example. He went to God on behalf of his children… just in case they might have sinned against Him. He “interceded” on behalf of his children. And this scripture says Job did this regularly.
I know that my mother prays for me on a regular basis. Like Job, she “intercedes” on my behalf and probably prays for my health and well-being, and knowing my mother, she asks for forgiveness and restoration from God for any sins I have committed. And that is an awesome gift! Any time someone prays for me, I feel incredibly blessed. And I know that God listens to the prayers of others on my behalf.
I try to do the same for others. I pray for family, friends, fellow church members, world leaders, and YOU. I ask God’s protection and blessings on each person I encounter. And I feel certain He listens.
But back to Job… I think it is a truly amazing gift to intercede for your children. In Job’s day, before Christ came and died on the cross for our sins, this meant not only praying to God, but sacrificing a burnt offering for each child… most likely a small animal. It was a lot of work! I encourage you to pray for others.
I encourage you, especially, to pray for your children. It’s not too early to start praying now… even for children you don’t yet have! God knows about them… when you will get them, what they will look like, what you will name them, and how their lives will develop. You can start now to ask Him to take your children in a certain direction… and to lead them in His ways. I believe He will listen. I believe it will make a difference. Make this one of your habits and see for yourself!
©2007 Debbie Robus
11-19 "Why didn't I die at birth, my first breath out of the womb my last?
Why were there arms to rock me, and breasts for me to drink from?
I could be resting in peace right now, asleep forever, feeling no pain,
In the company of kings and statesmen in their royal ruins,
Or with princes resplendent in their gold and silver tombs.
Why wasn't I stillborn and buried with all the babies who never saw light,
Where the wicked no longer trouble anyone and bone-weary people get a long-deserved rest? Prisoners sleep undisturbed, never again to wake up to the bark of the guards. The small and the great are equals in that place, and slaves are free from their masters.
20-23 "Why does God bother giving light to the miserable, why bother keeping bitter people alive, those who want in the worst way to die, and can't, who can't imagine anything better than death, who count the day of their death and burial the happiest day of their life? What's the point of life when it doesn't make sense, when God blocks all the roads to meaning?
24-26 "Instead of bread I get groans for my supper, then leave the table and vomit my anguish. The worst of my fears has come true, what I've dreaded most has happened. My repose is shattered, my peace destroyed. No rest for me, ever - death has invaded 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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I knew a little lady named Ms. Esther who was very ill. She had trouble getting her breath on a good day. There was really nothing the doctors could do for her except keep her comfortable, and yet she lingered for months in a nursing home. She had several trips to the hospital, and each time, we would all think, “this is it! God will surely call Ms. Esther home this time!” And the next thing you know, Esther would be back at the nursing home.
Over and over again, Ms. Esther told her loved ones how ready she was to die. She would say, “I just don’t understand why the Lord doesn’t take me.” On the surface, it did seem odd… Heaven would be so glorious for Ms. Esther, a devoted, faithful Christian lady. Why didn’t God reward her and take her home? There we go again, trying to second guess GOD! Don’t we get it yet that His timing is always perfect?!
God did call Ms. Esther home, but not before she had blessed countless others in His name. She lingered, befriending young aids and nurses at the nursing home. Her loving, kind faithful spirit was a witness to others, and God knew this! He left her on this earth doing His work until He was satisfied that it was enough, and then He called her to Him.
I believe we seriously underestimate God’s capacity to use us in all situations. We ask why He allows our good young Christian men to fight a war in Iraq, forgetting the witness they can provide to those who fight alongside them – not to mention the people in the country they are visiting. We ask why God allows a little 9-year-old boy to suffer for months while his lungs deteriorate, and why another young child will have to die in order for this boy to live. And we forget that God has used that little boy to show others how powerful and mighty and loving and merciful He is. We question why God would allow a hurricane to destroy most of a major city and many of its residents – if not physically, then certainly in spirit – and yet we forget to recognize the thousands of volunteers who served food from trailers for weeks on end and worked in shelters and provided clothing and refuge for those in need… and shared the love of Christ in the bargain.
God’s timing is always perfect. He knew what was best for Ms. Esther, and He knows what is best for you and me. Are you trusting Him today, or are you asking “why me?”
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 27 ~ Job 3:1-10
1-2 Then Job broke the silence. He spoke up and cursed his fate:
3-10 "Obliterate the day I was born. Blank out the night I was conceived!
Let it be a black hole in space. May God above forget it ever happened. Erase it from the books! May the day of my birth be buried in deep darkness, shrouded by the fog, swallowed by the night. And the night of my conception - the devil take it! Rip the date off the calendar, delete it from the almanac. Oh, turn that night into pure nothingness -no sounds of pleasure from that night, ever! May those who are good at cursing curse that day. Unleash the sea beast, Leviathan, on it. May its morning stars turn to black cinders, waiting for a daylight that never comes, never once seeing the first light of dawn. And why? Because it released me from my mother's womb into a life with so much trouble.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Why Me, Lord? That’s the name of a song made famous by Kris Kristofferson in 1971. Do you suppose that Kristofferson got the idea from Job? Job really doesn’t ask “why me?” Rather he says, “Let me die! Pretend I was never born. Turn back the clock and change history.” BUT… and this is important… he still does not blame God!
Almost 2 years ago, a classmate of mine was fighting a battle with breast cancer. Becky and I talked several times during the course of her illness, and one day she said, “You know, I could ask ‘why me?’ but I get to thinking about it, and I wonder, ‘why NOT me?’” To be able to ask that question in the face of such serious struggle and suffering is a sign of incredible faith in God.
You see, God will never give us more than we can handle. REALLY! It may seem like things are piling up on us and we are drowning in “bad” things and situations, but God can use all of that for good. He can use any one of us and any of our experiences for His glory.
So on your roughest day… in your darkest hour… the cry to God should not be “erase me from the books and pretend I never existed,” but rather, “bring it on, Lord, and I’ll give YOU the glory for victory in YOU!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 26 ~ Job 2:11-13
Three of Job's friends heard of all the trouble that had fallen on him. Each traveled from his own country - Eliphaz from Teman, Bildad from Shuhah, Zophar from Naamath - and went together to Job to keep him company and comfort him. When they first caught sight of him, they couldn't believe what they saw - they hardly recognized him! They cried out in lament, ripped their robes, and dumped dirt on their heads as a sign of their grief. Then they sat with him on the ground. Seven days and nights they sat there without saying a word. They could see how rotten he felt, how deeply he was suffering.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When my brother was very ill and near the end of his life, he reached a point where he needed morphine to control his pain and discomfort. He was incredibly swollen… his liver had stopped filtering out the toxins from his body, and he was in serious pain.
My brother was a very energetic, friendly guy, and as a nurse, he befriended all he encountered… his patients, the wait staff in restaurants, the checker at the store, and most certainly those he knew well. The start of a morphine drip signaled the beginning of “the end,” and all of his friends and family were there. As his fellow nurses set up the line for the drug and got him settled in his bed, he was surrounded by loving, friendly faces. Aids and nurses who were not even assigned to his case came to sit with him and show their love and support. They laughed about antics from childhood. They told stories of experiences they had shared at the hospital and in recent years of serving those who needed home health and Hospice.
It wasn’t that these people didn’t care that my brother was not himself, but they didn’t care about how he looked. They saw beyond the outward appearance to the inner man. And on his last somewhat lucid night, they sat and shared the time with him for hours on end. They sat and “suffered quietly” with him.
I would like to think that in a time of suffering or need, my friends would come to support me. But more importantly, I would like to think that I would come to the aid of my friends and family. I would like to think that I shared my faith by being faithful to those I love… even in their darkest moments. Surely these friends of Job’s were men of God. I can imagine that after they showed their solidarity by tearing their clothing and crying out they also shared their faith with God. I can imagine they said, “Hang in there, brother… we’re with you all the way, and so is God!” And He truly is.
So I ask you… when your friends are suffering and/or in need, where are you? Are you a friend who comforts and keeps others company? I pray that you will examine your life and how you share your faith with others. Is there someone you owe a visit?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 25 ~ Job 2:1-10
1-3 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan also showed up. God singled out Satan, saying, "And what have you been up to?" Satan answered God, "Oh, going here and there, checking things out." Then God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him, is there - honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn't work."
4-5 Satan answered, "A human would do anything to save his life. But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away his health? He'd curse you to your face, that's what."
6 God said, "All right. Go ahead - you can do what you like with him. But mind you, don't kill him."
7-8 Satan left God and struck Job with terrible sores. Job was ulcers and scabs from head to foot. They itched and oozed so badly that he took a piece of broken pottery to scrape himself, then went and sat on a trash heap, among the ashes.
9 His wife said, "Still holding on to your precious integrity, are you? Curse God and be done with it!"
10 He told her, "You're talking like an empty-headed fool. We take the good days from God - why not also the bad days?" Not once through all this did Job sin. He said nothing against God.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Sheesh! It’s not easy being faithful, is it?! I think of little Job McCully and all he has endured. I think of his pain and suffering since February and how many months he has put up with tubes and needles and tests and medicines and fevers and loneliness and trouble breathing. I think of his parents who have set aside jobs, home, friends, and their very lives to spend all of their time attending to Job’s needs and sitting with him at the hospital, serving as his advocate with the medical staff. And yet, day after day, they write on their blog and praise God. They quote scripture and talk of how deeply they are digging into the Word and how much stronger they have become in their faith because of all of this.
God did not make Job sick, and He has not made Job McCully sick. But God has used this situation to draw countless numbers of people closer to Him. The impact little Job has had doesn’t stop with his parents and family members. It ripples out to his friends, his classmates, his community and church, neighboring communities, and even to YOU!
We take the good days from God – why indeed not also the bad days? Look around you and see how blessed you are. You may have just been whining and complaining about something… if so, ask yourself, are you praising God in the bad days as well as the good?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 24 ~ Job 1:13-22
13-15 Sometime later, while Job's children were having one of their parties at the home of the oldest son, a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys grazing in the field next to us when Sabeans attacked. They stole the animals and killed the field hands. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
16 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Bolts of lightning struck the sheep and the shepherds and fried them—burned them to a crisp. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
17 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Chaldeans coming from three directions raided the camels and massacred the camel drivers. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
18-19 While he was still talking, another messenger arrived and said, "Your children were having a party at the home of the oldest brother when a tornado swept in off the desert and struck the house. It collapsed on the young people and they died. I'm the only one to get out alive and tell you what happened."
20 Job got to his feet, ripped his robe, shaved his head, then fell to the ground and worshiped:
21 Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I'll return to the womb of the earth. God gives, God takes. God's name be ever blessed.
22 Not once through all this did Job sin; not once did he blame God.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Score Job – 1; Satan – 0! I wonder… could we be this faithful? I think about the people of New Orleans who lost everything in Hurrican Katrina. They lost their homes, their businesses, and in many instances, their loved ones. And yet, many of them persevered. They found shelter wherever they could until the storm passed. They made arrangements to return and rebuild. They worshipped wherever they could.
If a massive tornado hit your town and wiped out everything you owned and even took your family, how would you react? Would you be like Job? Would you continue to praise God? Or would you blame Him and cave.
It really is a matter of faith. Either you believe that God is a loving God who would never desert you and deserves your blessings in all situations, or you have given in to Satan and his attempts to drag you down and pull you away from God and into a life of sin. I’m not saying it is easy. I’m not saying you won’t be tempted to cry out to God, “Why are you doing this to me?” But believe me, HE is not causing any of your misfortune. HE represents your way out. DO NOT BLAME GOD! God’s name be ever blessed!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 23 ~ Job 1:6-12
6-7 One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan, who was the Designated Accuser, came along with them. God singled out Satan and said, "What have you been up to?" Satan answered God, "Going here and there, checking things out on earth."
8 God said to Satan, "Have you noticed my friend Job? There's no one quite like him—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil."
9-10 Satan retorted, "So do you think Job does all that out of the sheer goodness of his heart? Why, no one ever had it so good! You pamper him like a pet, make sure nothing bad ever happens to him or his family or his possessions, bless everything he does—he can't lose!
11 "But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away everything that is his? He'd curse you right to your face, that's what."
12 God replied, "We'll see. Go ahead—do what you want with all that is his. Just don't hurt him." Then Satan left the presence of God.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Man! What if your mom and dad told a known criminal that he could take everything you owned, as long as he didn’t hurt you? Would you feel deserted by your parents? Would you be angry with them? Would you want to run away and live apart from them?
What if your parents were pretty sure you would not do this? What if they were confident that, no matter what, you would love them and stick by them… at all costs?I hope that God never tests me like He tested Job.
I hope that I am never put in a position where I have ample reasons to feel like I want to turn my back on God. There was a time when I’m not sure I could have passed such a test of faith. I would like to think that I am at a place in my Christian walk where this would be a no-brainer. But still, I thank God for not testing me in this manner. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want the devil to have that level of control over me… even with God’s blessing.
But the point is this. We have to be ready to stand up to such a test. We have to be so strong in our faith and devotion and service to God that even if He hands us to the devil and says, “go ahead… see what he/she is made of!” we do not bend or break. We must be so filled with the Holy Spirit that we can stand up to any test and focus completely on the cross and Jesus. Tests will come. They may not be as serious as those given Job, but we will be tested with choices and chances to sin and fall short, and we must be ever diligent in our faith and our determination to follow Christ. I pray that I will be up to the challenges… will you?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 22 ~ Job 1:1-5
1-3 Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was also very wealthy—seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants—the most influential man in all the East!
4-5 His sons used to take turns hosting parties in their homes, always inviting their three sisters to join them in their merrymaking. When the parties were over, Job would get up early in the morning and sacrifice a burnt offering for each of his children, thinking, "Maybe one of them sinned by defying God inwardly." Job made a habit of this sacrificial atonement, just in case they'd sinned.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Some of you will be parents some day. Some of you have already reared your children. If you are not yet a parent, I want you to consider Job’s example. He went to God on behalf of his children… just in case they might have sinned against Him. He “interceded” on behalf of his children. And this scripture says Job did this regularly.
I know that my mother prays for me on a regular basis. Like Job, she “intercedes” on my behalf and probably prays for my health and well-being, and knowing my mother, she asks for forgiveness and restoration from God for any sins I have committed. And that is an awesome gift! Any time someone prays for me, I feel incredibly blessed. And I know that God listens to the prayers of others on my behalf.
I try to do the same for others. I pray for family, friends, fellow church members, world leaders, and YOU. I ask God’s protection and blessings on each person I encounter. And I feel certain He listens.
But back to Job… I think it is a truly amazing gift to intercede for your children. In Job’s day, before Christ came and died on the cross for our sins, this meant not only praying to God, but sacrificing a burnt offering for each child… most likely a small animal. It was a lot of work! I encourage you to pray for others.
I encourage you, especially, to pray for your children. It’s not too early to start praying now… even for children you don’t yet have! God knows about them… when you will get them, what they will look like, what you will name them, and how their lives will develop. You can start now to ask Him to take your children in a certain direction… and to lead them in His ways. I believe He will listen. I believe it will make a difference. Make this one of your habits and see for yourself!
©2007 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotionals for October - Week 3
October 21 ~ Psalm 119:73
With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you. When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad. I can see now, God, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what's true and right. Oh, love me - and right now! - hold me tight! just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to. Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel. Let those who fear you turn to me for evidence of your wise guidance. And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
If you haven’t seen the movie” Men of Honor,” you should rent it. Here is the synopsis presented at www.Netflix.com:
“Against formidable odds, Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr.) sets his sights on becoming the U.S. Navy's first African-American master diver in this uplifting true story. Brashear's biggest obstacle? Leslie Sunday (Robert De Niro), an old-school diving instructor embittered by the Navy's new, less prejudicial policies. Ultimately, fate conspires to bring the men together into a setting of mutual respect, triumph … and honor.”
Trials and troubles will come. Challenges most certainly will come. But God will show you the way… what is true and right… if you will listen! God DOES love you, and He wants you to be happy, whole and holy, soul and body, and to always be able to walk with your head held high. Keep your mind fixed on God’s counsel… read your Bible, pray, spend time in worship and fellowship with other Christians, and just simply stop, sit still and LISTEN to God from time to time. He WILL show give you wise guidance. He will hold you tight and comfort you.
I pray that you truly will walk with God each day, and that you really do dance to His tune. Now go and live in Him – and may He live in you!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 20 ~ Psalm 91:1
You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing - not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
On a cold Sunday morning in December, just a few days before Christmas 1981, my grandmother fried sausage for breakfast for herself and my grandfather. They were up early this cloudy winter morning, getting ready for Sunday School and church. They never missed, even in bad weather. Christmas packages were piled under their little tree by the front door, and I’m sure my grandfather had stoked the fire in their wood-burning stove to warm their small home.
As my grandmother turned the sausages in the skillet, she heard a crackling noise and asked my grandfather if it were sleeting outside. He opened the door to check, and hurried to tell my grandmother to get out of the house… there was no sleet… the house was on fire! My grandfather raced to remove their two vehicles from under an attached carport, while my grandmother raced to grab clothing from the drawers, ironically returning to turn off the flame underneath the sausages.
My grandparents lived on a fairly quiet and seldom-traveled roadway, but that day, a passerby stopped and helped them carry out drawers of clothing, a chair, the family Bible, and their treasured clock that graced the fireplace mantel. The fire truck did come, but since this was a rural area, the volunteer firemen from in town initially missed the turnoff, and all my grandparents could do was listen to the screaming sirens as the truck drove past and looped around while they watched their house go up in flames. In the end, the house was leveled. Even the cast iron skillets and a large claw-footed cast iron bath tub were reduced to ashes. It was determined that the fire was electrical in nature… a combination of an old house and old wiring, maybe. We will never know for sure.
Gone were my grandmother’s beautiful hand-made quilts. Gone were their photos, and the porcelain china my grandmother had scrimped and saved to buy years ago at a local dime store. Gone were their eye glasses and wallets, their furnishings, and nearly 30 years of memories. But my grandparents were spared. The things they lost were just that – THINGS… but they were irreplaceable. That my grandmother didn’t continue cooking breakfast and assume the noise was sleet is the refuge of God. That my grandfather, at age 71, was able to get both vehicles away from the house and save an explosion was the refuge of God. That friends from church were wintering in another state and offered the use of their home for the next few months was God’s refuge. That their church members “pounded” them with food, clothing, household goods, etc., to get them back on their feet was the refuge of God.
Evil and harm came to the door and knocked, but God protected my grandparents. They literally went through the fire, but the operative word is “THROUGH!” Other 70-something couples might have folded, said “that’s it,” and moved into a nursing home or assisted living center. But not my grandparents! By spring, there was a new house on their property, and they were moving into a comfortable, safe new home, planting their garden, and regrouping. Because they were faithful servants of God, He was faithful to them. He shielded them from countless trials and challenges through the years, and they always gave Him the credit and the glory. Can you say you would do the same?
I challenge you… as your life unfolds, walk with God in a way that you can claim “…because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door.” May God always be your refuge.
©2007 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------
October 19 ~ Psalm 37:21-24
21-22 Wicked borrows and never returns; Righteous gives and gives.
Generous gets it all in the end; Stingy is cut off at the pass.
23-24 Stalwart walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy.
If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Dictionary.com defines stalwart as “firm, steadfast, or uncompromising.” So the person who is stalwart in their Christian walk stays firm, steadfast and uncompromising, no matter what happens.
I am reminded of a little boy I have met via e-mail and the internet - Job McCully, from Bigelow, Arkansas. Job (pronounced “Jobe,” like in the Bible) is 9 years old, and he is a leukemia/bone marrow transplant survivor. Unfortunately, the treatments/transplant have weakened his lungs, so that now he needs a lung transplant. He has been hospitalized since last February in Little Rock, then Houston, and now St. Louis. His faithfulness and the Christian witness of his entire family through all of this suffering – and oh, has there ever been suffering! – is truly inspiring.
One Friday last month, the doctors told Job’s mother that she should sign a DNR order (Do Not Resuscitate) because he would not live through the weekend. She listened, thanked them all, turned, and walked away. She decided not to “play God” with her son’s life and to let Him decide how the weekend progressed. Job recovered from his weekend bout with pneumonia and was better than he had been in weeks.
It seems that it is “two steps forward and one step back” with Job, but he continues to praise God. His parents, grandmother and big sister continue to praise God and wait on HIS timing. It’s hard to say what we would do if we were in the McCully’s shoes. It’s hard to say if we could be as faithful as they have been. But surely we can learn from their example. Think stalwart, and think of Job McCully and his family. What an amazing thing it would be to be able to exchange your name in the scripture passage for the word stalwart. The McCullys can.
Let this inspire you: “(Stalwart – firm, steadfast, uncompromising) Job McCully walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy. If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.” Please pray for Job and his family, and pray that you can be as faithful in your own challenges.
To learn more about Job, go to www.caringbridge.org/ar/job
©2007 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------
October 18 ~ Psalm 23:4
Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Several years ago, my mother took a trip to Yosemite National Park. Her husband’s brother lives near Yosemite and is an avid hiker, and he introduced them to the use of a walking stick. They were so impressed that they bought sticks for themselves, and they presented my husband and me each a hand-carved walking stick for Christmas.
There is a walking trail very near my house. It has a fairly neat and clear walking surface, but along the way, there are rocks, tree roots, tiny limbs and nuts from the trees, and other obstacles. The walking stick comes in very handy as a stabilizer, and it gives me an extra layer of security when walking this trail. Several summers ago, my husband and I visited the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia, and we stopped at one trail where several “community walking sticks” were resting against a tree at the entrance for visitors to borrow while there. Walking sticks can definitely be a good thing, and I find them a source of comfort.
The “trail of life” is chock full of obstacles – and any one of them could put us on a path to destruction. But Jesus, the Great Shepherd, is with us always… His trusty shepherd’s crook (walking stick) is ever at His side. If we start to stumble, He reaches out to grab us, and steadies us with the stick, so to speak.
We have nothing to fear as long as we stay close to God. We don’t have to worry about being condemned to eternal death in hell. We don’t have to be afraid that bad things will happen to us. Whatever challenges we face, whatever obstacles present themselves to us, Jesus is right there with us to walk through it and lead us through to the other side and Eternal Life in Heaven. That is the goal… that is the prize… and walking with Christ is the way to attain it!
©2007 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
October 17 ~ Psalm 15:1-3
1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list?
2 "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.
3-4 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; despise the despicable.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Please note that this passage is in the Psalms. And everything that is said here is true. God does want us to walk straight, act right, tell the truth, not hurt our friends, not blame our neighbors, and despise despicable things and behaviors.
But please remember that there is MORE to salvation and “getting invited to dinner at God’s place – getting on His guest list” – and that is accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and inviting Him to live in our hearts and walk with us every day. We must invite the Holy Spirit to fill us and be an integral part of every part of our life!
I really want to be God’s dinner guest, don’t you? I have to admit, I am humbled and amazed that the “ticket” is so simple… the cost was extremely high for Jesus… but for us, it is FREE! Surely, if He can give me such a valuable ticket, the least I can do is to walk straight, act right, tell the truth, and love others in His name. Can you?
©2007 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------------
October 16 ~ Revelation 22:12-15
12-13 "Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work. I'm A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.
14-15 "How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they'll walk through the gates to the City. But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies.“
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I have to tell you, I really enjoy doing laundry. Oh sure, it’s time consuming and may seem a little like drudgery, but it gives me tremendous satisfaction. You take a couple of baskets of dirty, dingy clothing, put them in some soapy water and wash them clean, dry them, and then fold them neatly, then put them away to be worn again. Sometimes there are stubborn stains that require special treatment, and I am a little bit of a fanatic about ironing (no, I do NOT iron our underwear!), but there is satisfaction in wearing clothing that is crisp and clean and neatly pressed. I feel like it says to others that we care… or that I care about our appearance and taking care of our belongings.
As Christians, we “wash our robes” in the blood of Jesus. His blood cleans us of all sins and buys us the right to walk through the gates to Heaven. Those with the dirt and grime of sin and lies will be left behind and sentenced to an eternity in hell. Oh, sure, sometimes we fall or fail to be less than God calls us to be and our “robe” gets a stain that needs extra attention – a return to more time in prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. But our “laundry” will always be clean and neatly pressed if we trust in God. The Tree of Life (life with Christ) is ours for good!
I don’t know about you, but I am so excited about the day when I get to walk through those gates and enter Heaven for all eternity. I’m not the least bit afraid of death, because I know that what is waiting for me is more incredible than I could even begin to imagine. Everything will always be clean, stain free, and neatly pressed, and I won’t even have to do the laundry and ironing! How awesome is that?!
©2007 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
October 15 ~ Revelation 2:4
"But you walked away from your first love - why? What's going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you've fallen? A Lucifer fall! "Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When I was in college the ramifications of Watergate were being felt in full force. One week before my husband and I married, Gerald Ford was sworn in as our new president, replacing Richard Nixon, a man whom we discovered had risen in power by hurting a lot of other people and doing some very dishonest things. And yet, his White House was frequented by Billy Graham so often that historians have remarked that Rev. Graham somewhat served as a silent member of Nixon’s staff. Imagine how betrayed such a man of God as Rev. Graham felt when the full story of Watergate was disclosed.
I cannot imagine how President Nixon must have felt… and I won’t begin to speculate. But countless people have been caught in HUGE errors in judgment (I’m being kind here!) and the price has been high… prison, loss of office, loss of family and friends, financial ruin, and/or more. And more than once, they have asked for forgiveness and received a pardon. It is my understanding that in later years, Richard Nixon asked forgiveness from Billy Graham, and he received it.
Hopefully you and I will never experience such a “fall” as that of Richard Nixon. We certainly don’t have to if we listen to what Paul is saying in this passage. Lucifer (Satan) was one of God’s most precious angels, but he turned away from God. Pride swelled in him and he tried to lead a revolution of the angels against God. And for that, he and one third of all of the angels were cast out of heaven forever.
There is no second chance for Satan. But there IS a second chance for us. If we have walked away from God in any way, shape, or form, there IS time for us to return. We can be fully restored, with our “record” totally expunged and forgiven. Jesus has bought and paid for every one of our sins... but we MUST accept His gift and follow Him, love Him, serve Him.
Stop feeling guilty. Stop feeling like you are not worthy of forgiveness or God’s love. We never will be worthy… but that’s the point! This gift is so incredible and so freely given, and it’s all ours because God loves us! But the chance to accept it does have an expiration date! If you die or Christ returns and you have not chosen to make Him the Lord of your life, you will never see heaven. I am trusting that, if you are reading this, you have already made Christ your Savior. But your Spiritual life may need a tune-up or a little restoration, as most of us do from time to time. So turn around TODAY and walk back to Jesus. He’s waiting and watching and ready to receive you with open arms. Walk into His light and make His path your own.
©2007 Debbie Robus
With your very own hands you formed me; now breathe your wisdom over me so I can understand you. When they see me waiting, expecting your Word, those who fear you will take heart and be glad. I can see now, God, that your decisions are right; your testing has taught me what's true and right. Oh, love me - and right now! - hold me tight! just the way you promised. Now comfort me so I can live, really live; your revelation is the tune I dance to. Let the fast-talking tricksters be exposed as frauds; they tried to sell me a bill of goods, but I kept my mind fixed on your counsel. Let those who fear you turn to me for evidence of your wise guidance. And let me live whole and holy, soul and body, so I can always walk with my head held high.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
If you haven’t seen the movie” Men of Honor,” you should rent it. Here is the synopsis presented at www.Netflix.com:
“Against formidable odds, Carl Brashear (Cuba Gooding Jr.) sets his sights on becoming the U.S. Navy's first African-American master diver in this uplifting true story. Brashear's biggest obstacle? Leslie Sunday (Robert De Niro), an old-school diving instructor embittered by the Navy's new, less prejudicial policies. Ultimately, fate conspires to bring the men together into a setting of mutual respect, triumph … and honor.”
Trials and troubles will come. Challenges most certainly will come. But God will show you the way… what is true and right… if you will listen! God DOES love you, and He wants you to be happy, whole and holy, soul and body, and to always be able to walk with your head held high. Keep your mind fixed on God’s counsel… read your Bible, pray, spend time in worship and fellowship with other Christians, and just simply stop, sit still and LISTEN to God from time to time. He WILL show give you wise guidance. He will hold you tight and comfort you.
I pray that you truly will walk with God each day, and that you really do dance to His tune. Now go and live in Him – and may He live in you!
©2007 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------
October 20 ~ Psalm 91:1
You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, Say this: "God, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!" That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you - under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm. Fear nothing - not wild wolves in the night, not flying arrows in the day, Not disease that prowls through the darkness, not disaster that erupts at high noon. Even though others succumb all around, drop like flies right and left, no harm will even graze you. You'll stand untouched, watch it all from a distance, watch the wicked turn into corpses. Yes, because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door. He ordered his angels to guard you wherever you go. If you stumble, they'll catch you; their job is to keep you from falling. You'll walk unharmed among lions and snakes, and kick young lions and serpents from the path.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
On a cold Sunday morning in December, just a few days before Christmas 1981, my grandmother fried sausage for breakfast for herself and my grandfather. They were up early this cloudy winter morning, getting ready for Sunday School and church. They never missed, even in bad weather. Christmas packages were piled under their little tree by the front door, and I’m sure my grandfather had stoked the fire in their wood-burning stove to warm their small home.
As my grandmother turned the sausages in the skillet, she heard a crackling noise and asked my grandfather if it were sleeting outside. He opened the door to check, and hurried to tell my grandmother to get out of the house… there was no sleet… the house was on fire! My grandfather raced to remove their two vehicles from under an attached carport, while my grandmother raced to grab clothing from the drawers, ironically returning to turn off the flame underneath the sausages.
My grandparents lived on a fairly quiet and seldom-traveled roadway, but that day, a passerby stopped and helped them carry out drawers of clothing, a chair, the family Bible, and their treasured clock that graced the fireplace mantel. The fire truck did come, but since this was a rural area, the volunteer firemen from in town initially missed the turnoff, and all my grandparents could do was listen to the screaming sirens as the truck drove past and looped around while they watched their house go up in flames. In the end, the house was leveled. Even the cast iron skillets and a large claw-footed cast iron bath tub were reduced to ashes. It was determined that the fire was electrical in nature… a combination of an old house and old wiring, maybe. We will never know for sure.
Gone were my grandmother’s beautiful hand-made quilts. Gone were their photos, and the porcelain china my grandmother had scrimped and saved to buy years ago at a local dime store. Gone were their eye glasses and wallets, their furnishings, and nearly 30 years of memories. But my grandparents were spared. The things they lost were just that – THINGS… but they were irreplaceable. That my grandmother didn’t continue cooking breakfast and assume the noise was sleet is the refuge of God. That my grandfather, at age 71, was able to get both vehicles away from the house and save an explosion was the refuge of God. That friends from church were wintering in another state and offered the use of their home for the next few months was God’s refuge. That their church members “pounded” them with food, clothing, household goods, etc., to get them back on their feet was the refuge of God.
Evil and harm came to the door and knocked, but God protected my grandparents. They literally went through the fire, but the operative word is “THROUGH!” Other 70-something couples might have folded, said “that’s it,” and moved into a nursing home or assisted living center. But not my grandparents! By spring, there was a new house on their property, and they were moving into a comfortable, safe new home, planting their garden, and regrouping. Because they were faithful servants of God, He was faithful to them. He shielded them from countless trials and challenges through the years, and they always gave Him the credit and the glory. Can you say you would do the same?
I challenge you… as your life unfolds, walk with God in a way that you can claim “…because God's your refuge, the High God your very own home, Evil can't get close to you, harm can't get through the door.” May God always be your refuge.
©2007 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------
October 19 ~ Psalm 37:21-24
21-22 Wicked borrows and never returns; Righteous gives and gives.
Generous gets it all in the end; Stingy is cut off at the pass.
23-24 Stalwart walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy.
If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Dictionary.com defines stalwart as “firm, steadfast, or uncompromising.” So the person who is stalwart in their Christian walk stays firm, steadfast and uncompromising, no matter what happens.
I am reminded of a little boy I have met via e-mail and the internet - Job McCully, from Bigelow, Arkansas. Job (pronounced “Jobe,” like in the Bible) is 9 years old, and he is a leukemia/bone marrow transplant survivor. Unfortunately, the treatments/transplant have weakened his lungs, so that now he needs a lung transplant. He has been hospitalized since last February in Little Rock, then Houston, and now St. Louis. His faithfulness and the Christian witness of his entire family through all of this suffering – and oh, has there ever been suffering! – is truly inspiring.
One Friday last month, the doctors told Job’s mother that she should sign a DNR order (Do Not Resuscitate) because he would not live through the weekend. She listened, thanked them all, turned, and walked away. She decided not to “play God” with her son’s life and to let Him decide how the weekend progressed. Job recovered from his weekend bout with pneumonia and was better than he had been in weeks.
It seems that it is “two steps forward and one step back” with Job, but he continues to praise God. His parents, grandmother and big sister continue to praise God and wait on HIS timing. It’s hard to say what we would do if we were in the McCully’s shoes. It’s hard to say if we could be as faithful as they have been. But surely we can learn from their example. Think stalwart, and think of Job McCully and his family. What an amazing thing it would be to be able to exchange your name in the scripture passage for the word stalwart. The McCullys can.
Let this inspire you: “(Stalwart – firm, steadfast, uncompromising) Job McCully walks in step with God; his path blazed by God, he's happy. If he stumbles, he's not down for long; God has a grip on his hand.” Please pray for Job and his family, and pray that you can be as faithful in your own challenges.
To learn more about Job, go to www.caringbridge.org/ar/job
©2007 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------
October 18 ~ Psalm 23:4
Even when the way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Several years ago, my mother took a trip to Yosemite National Park. Her husband’s brother lives near Yosemite and is an avid hiker, and he introduced them to the use of a walking stick. They were so impressed that they bought sticks for themselves, and they presented my husband and me each a hand-carved walking stick for Christmas.
There is a walking trail very near my house. It has a fairly neat and clear walking surface, but along the way, there are rocks, tree roots, tiny limbs and nuts from the trees, and other obstacles. The walking stick comes in very handy as a stabilizer, and it gives me an extra layer of security when walking this trail. Several summers ago, my husband and I visited the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina and Virginia, and we stopped at one trail where several “community walking sticks” were resting against a tree at the entrance for visitors to borrow while there. Walking sticks can definitely be a good thing, and I find them a source of comfort.
The “trail of life” is chock full of obstacles – and any one of them could put us on a path to destruction. But Jesus, the Great Shepherd, is with us always… His trusty shepherd’s crook (walking stick) is ever at His side. If we start to stumble, He reaches out to grab us, and steadies us with the stick, so to speak.
We have nothing to fear as long as we stay close to God. We don’t have to worry about being condemned to eternal death in hell. We don’t have to be afraid that bad things will happen to us. Whatever challenges we face, whatever obstacles present themselves to us, Jesus is right there with us to walk through it and lead us through to the other side and Eternal Life in Heaven. That is the goal… that is the prize… and walking with Christ is the way to attain it!
©2007 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
October 17 ~ Psalm 15:1-3
1 God, who gets invited to dinner at your place? How do we get on your guest list?
2 "Walk straight, act right, tell the truth.
3-4 "Don't hurt your friend, don't blame your neighbor; despise the despicable.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Please note that this passage is in the Psalms. And everything that is said here is true. God does want us to walk straight, act right, tell the truth, not hurt our friends, not blame our neighbors, and despise despicable things and behaviors.
But please remember that there is MORE to salvation and “getting invited to dinner at God’s place – getting on His guest list” – and that is accepting Jesus Christ as our Savior and inviting Him to live in our hearts and walk with us every day. We must invite the Holy Spirit to fill us and be an integral part of every part of our life!
I really want to be God’s dinner guest, don’t you? I have to admit, I am humbled and amazed that the “ticket” is so simple… the cost was extremely high for Jesus… but for us, it is FREE! Surely, if He can give me such a valuable ticket, the least I can do is to walk straight, act right, tell the truth, and love others in His name. Can you?
©2007 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------------
October 16 ~ Revelation 22:12-15
12-13 "Yes, I'm on my way! I'll be there soon! I'm bringing my payroll with me. I'll pay all people in full for their life's work. I'm A to Z, the First and the Final, Beginning and Conclusion.
14-15 "How blessed are those who wash their robes! The Tree of Life is theirs for good, and they'll walk through the gates to the City. But outside for good are the filthy curs: sorcerers, fornicators, murderers, idolaters—all who love and live lies.“
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I have to tell you, I really enjoy doing laundry. Oh sure, it’s time consuming and may seem a little like drudgery, but it gives me tremendous satisfaction. You take a couple of baskets of dirty, dingy clothing, put them in some soapy water and wash them clean, dry them, and then fold them neatly, then put them away to be worn again. Sometimes there are stubborn stains that require special treatment, and I am a little bit of a fanatic about ironing (no, I do NOT iron our underwear!), but there is satisfaction in wearing clothing that is crisp and clean and neatly pressed. I feel like it says to others that we care… or that I care about our appearance and taking care of our belongings.
As Christians, we “wash our robes” in the blood of Jesus. His blood cleans us of all sins and buys us the right to walk through the gates to Heaven. Those with the dirt and grime of sin and lies will be left behind and sentenced to an eternity in hell. Oh, sure, sometimes we fall or fail to be less than God calls us to be and our “robe” gets a stain that needs extra attention – a return to more time in prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers. But our “laundry” will always be clean and neatly pressed if we trust in God. The Tree of Life (life with Christ) is ours for good!
I don’t know about you, but I am so excited about the day when I get to walk through those gates and enter Heaven for all eternity. I’m not the least bit afraid of death, because I know that what is waiting for me is more incredible than I could even begin to imagine. Everything will always be clean, stain free, and neatly pressed, and I won’t even have to do the laundry and ironing! How awesome is that?!
©2007 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
October 15 ~ Revelation 2:4
"But you walked away from your first love - why? What's going on with you, anyway? Do you have any idea how far you've fallen? A Lucifer fall! "Turn back! Recover your dear early love. No time to waste, for I'm well on my way to removing your light from the golden circle.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When I was in college the ramifications of Watergate were being felt in full force. One week before my husband and I married, Gerald Ford was sworn in as our new president, replacing Richard Nixon, a man whom we discovered had risen in power by hurting a lot of other people and doing some very dishonest things. And yet, his White House was frequented by Billy Graham so often that historians have remarked that Rev. Graham somewhat served as a silent member of Nixon’s staff. Imagine how betrayed such a man of God as Rev. Graham felt when the full story of Watergate was disclosed.
I cannot imagine how President Nixon must have felt… and I won’t begin to speculate. But countless people have been caught in HUGE errors in judgment (I’m being kind here!) and the price has been high… prison, loss of office, loss of family and friends, financial ruin, and/or more. And more than once, they have asked for forgiveness and received a pardon. It is my understanding that in later years, Richard Nixon asked forgiveness from Billy Graham, and he received it.
Hopefully you and I will never experience such a “fall” as that of Richard Nixon. We certainly don’t have to if we listen to what Paul is saying in this passage. Lucifer (Satan) was one of God’s most precious angels, but he turned away from God. Pride swelled in him and he tried to lead a revolution of the angels against God. And for that, he and one third of all of the angels were cast out of heaven forever.
There is no second chance for Satan. But there IS a second chance for us. If we have walked away from God in any way, shape, or form, there IS time for us to return. We can be fully restored, with our “record” totally expunged and forgiven. Jesus has bought and paid for every one of our sins... but we MUST accept His gift and follow Him, love Him, serve Him.
Stop feeling guilty. Stop feeling like you are not worthy of forgiveness or God’s love. We never will be worthy… but that’s the point! This gift is so incredible and so freely given, and it’s all ours because God loves us! But the chance to accept it does have an expiration date! If you die or Christ returns and you have not chosen to make Him the Lord of your life, you will never see heaven. I am trusting that, if you are reading this, you have already made Christ your Savior. But your Spiritual life may need a tune-up or a little restoration, as most of us do from time to time. So turn around TODAY and walk back to Jesus. He’s waiting and watching and ready to receive you with open arms. Walk into His light and make His path your own.
©2007 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotionals for October - Week 2
October 14 ~ 2 John 1:8
And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I was reading an article in our state newspaper recently about the “Little Rock Nine” – nine black teenagers who were escorted into Central High School by armed militia in 1957. The story talked about how scared the students were as they walked along the sidewalks and heard death threats and obscenities and shouts from those who did not want them to attend the all-white school. Many church leaders discouraged them. Many in the crowd claimed to be God-fearing Christians.
As a result of the un-Christian behavior of the protestors and others in roles of leadership and influence, some of the young black teens turned away from God. They couldn’t understand how a loving God would allow such things to happen… how God could allow them to be so tormented and abused.
So often, when the chips are down and life seems to be crumbling around us, we are tempted to turn from God. We are tempted to blame Him for our troubles and question His existence. Worse yet, sometimes we become so high and mighty or “forward thinking” that we rationalize that surely GOD – if He existed – would not allow all the suffering in the world. Or we become convinced that anyone with half a brain would be open to the possibilities that there is more than one way to Heaven. If you are a college student, you may very likely hear all of this and more in some of your classes or discussions with other students.
I beg you to stay with the teachings of Christ. Keep in the Word of God. We do not serve a God who delights in punishment or suffering – nor does He cause it. We serve a loving, merciful God Who is full of grace for us. We serve a God Who gave us our brains and expects us to use them, but He also expects us to listen to Him and be obedient to His teachings.
I can assure you that life will not be easy on this earth. Suffering will come to most of us, in one form or another. And many of us will be presented with other teachings and ideas and maybe even criticized or belittled for believing that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. We may be mocked for believing in the One True God. But I promise… that criticism, mockery and any attempts to make you feel small are all only momentary. The reward is Heaven and Eternity with God the Father and His Son Jesus. We will understand everything when we get there. But we have to get there! And the way to do that is to stay faithful and continually walk with God and follow His teachings. You can do it! I’m in your corner, and so are countless other people. Have faith, walk with God, and claim your prize!
©2007 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
October 13 - 1 John 1:6
If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth - we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.
You and I both know that many people will, at some time or another, say, “Oh, So-and-so is a good friend of mine.” And either this is just not so – and the two people in question are not friends, or, once the “friend” is away, the person talks about them like anything but a friend. We would probably both agree that this is despicable behavior… and even quite sad. How awful to have to invent “friends” – and even worse, to have friends whom you criticize and mistreat.
And yet… this is what we do with God, isn’t it? We claim we know Him well, when we hardly give Him the time of day. We claim we love Him and serve Him, and then we live anything but a life that pleases or honors Him. We take His name in vain. We disobey His commands, and we walk around in the darkness of a life that better serves and honors Satan. And I can assure you, compared to a life in the light of God, this is truly a dark, dark existence.
So what are we to do? Certainly, we need to reconsider how we treat our so-called “friends.” But most importantly, we need to reconsider how we treat the Friend who matters above all others. He is in a class all by Himself, and we must make sure that He knows how important He is to us. If we do this, His bright, bright light and love will shine on and around us in every moment and situation of our lives. We won’t have to worry about how we treat our “friends” because the Light will make it evident to us. We won’t have to stumble… HE will light the way!
Are you lying through your teeth? Are you living the life you claim? Come out of the darkness… turn on the Light!
©2007 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------------
October 12 ~ James 1:22
Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I watch the evening news almost every day, but I have to admit that many times I am only halfway listening, at best, while doing something else. The news is often so negative and depressing that I just don’t care to pay that much attention to it. Consequently, I sometimes find myself catching a small snippet of a story and wishing I had paid more attention. Sometimes I even get on the Internet and do a Google search to try to learn more.
I admire those who absorb and retain most, if not all, of what they hear. I wish I retained more of what I read. I find myself having to read and re-read stories in the newspaper or other articles and information (i.e. instruction manuals) if I really want to understand and/or convey the info to someone else or put it into practice.
So it is with God’s Word. Hearing it one time, or reading through it once in the Bible is not going to get it for most of us. We are going to have to study it, dissect the passages and investigate their meanings fully. We are going to have to hear scripture lessons on the same passages… over and over and over again! And we are going to have to put into practice what we are reading and hearing.
In life, I find that I have better results if I do something with the information I “import” into my brain right away. I can’t read an instruction manual for the new computer printer and then wait a week to install it and try to recall what I read! It’s the same with the Word of God. When you read it/hear it, act on it – right away! If the Word told you to share God’s love with others, do it! If you read a passage that talks about prayer, pray! If you read or hear about giving God praise, stop and worship Him! It doesn’t have to take your whole day… but putting God’s word into action when you hear it or read it will make it real! So “act on what you hear” and walk with God every day!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 11 ~ Hebrews 13:5
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I correspond with a couple in New York whose son, Joseph Patrick Henry, answered the call on 9-11 with his fellow firefighters in Ladder Company #21 and lost his life that day. This 25-year-old with his whole world ahead of him walked into that situation and never returned. His mother told me a few years later, “we never recovered his body.” Two years ago, a childhood classmate of mine went on a fishing vacation in Costa Rica with his buddies. He stood to reel in a big fish and fell back into his chair, dead of a heart attack at the age of 48. The “red tape” of dying in a foreign country resulted in his remains being cremated and returned to his mother and brother as a box of ashes marked with his name.
Any time someone dies, the emptiness and devastation of never seeing them again on this earth is very hard. But when there is nothing tangible – a body – the feelings are compounded. It is as if everything is unfinished, and “closure” is often hard to achieve. It happens a lot… the bodies of countless soldiers are lost in every war, and families are left to wonder and grope with the fear of the unknown, and possibly the obsession with wondering “did he/she really die?” They may even fear moving on with their lives… plagued by the gnawing idea that their loved one might actually be alive and return someday.
I describe all of this to you to serve as a background for this… God will NEVER walk away from you and not return. God IS with you; Jesus IS coming back! You don’t have to wonder; you don’t have to fear; you don’t have to feel empty and devastated. Relax! Enjoy God’s love and company, and “chill” with Him! It doesn’t get better than that!
©2007 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 10 ~ Hebrews 10:19
So, friends, we can now - without hesitation - walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Imagine if you had a relationship with someone, but the only way you could communicate with them was to send a message through someone else. How long do you think that relationship would endure? Do you think it would be very strong and intimate?
In the Old Testament, only certain “priests” could go into the small inner tents and offer a blood sacrifice to speak to God. Can you imagine it? What if you had to go to the church and present your prayers and offerings to a minister, who in turn went into a special private room and offered blood sacrifices and burnt offerings for you. Do you think this would allow you to get close to God… to develop an intimate personal relationship with Him?
Jesus HAS cleared the way. Because of HIS blood and sacrifices for us, we no longer have to have someone else to speak to God for us. We can “go boldly to the throne” by ourselves and talk with Him directly. Better yet, His Holy Spirit is freely available to fill us. He can walk with us everywhere… every day!
This is GREAT NEWS! Walk right up to God… enter His Holy Place… invite Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and bask in His company every minute of every day!
©2007 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------
October 9 ~ Hebrews 4:14
Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
There is really nothing to add to today’s scripture passage. Imagine walking right up to Jesus and accepting His mercy and help! That is exactly what He wants us to do. So what are you waiting for? I’m in… are you?
©2007 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------
October 8 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:4
But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I’ve enjoyed sitting on my back porch this fall and watching the sky grow dusky dark with nightfall. It’s interesting to watch the night creatures come out… the fox who saunters through our yard… the spiders who spin their webs and catch their prey… the moths who are drawn to the brightness of the lights… the raccoons who scurry up trees to eat muscadines… the possums who scamper across the yard and “play dead” when they sense someone has spotted them. If I am sitting outside when the darkness falls, I can adjust fairly easily and see this activity for several minutes.
If I have been inside in the light and venture into the darkness of nightfall, I have trouble seeing things, because my eyes cannot readily adjust to the extreme change. If I sit long enough in the darkness, things come into focus better.
But in the early morning, when the sun is rising, I can also see all sorts of things. I see much more clearly, and enjoy the birds and the squirrels playing in the trees. I can see the chipmunk hopping across the yard and the lizards scurrying in and around the leaves. I can see buzzards and herons flying overhead and a pair of pileated woodpeckers I enjoy watching collecting bugs from the tree bark. I can see butterflies and hummingbirds and fluffy clouds floating overhead. I can see leaves rustling in the breeze and flowers in bloom.
The dark is enticing… the “mystery” of what is “out there” is intriguing and alluring. But the daylight is so much nicer. In the light of the day, there are still surprises and “mysteries,” but you can see them so much more clearly! I much prefer the daylight… or a bright starry night with a full moon!
I also prefer the daylight in my walk with Christ. I have tried the darkness… and it is mysterious. But it is also intimidating, lonely, and filled with potholes and pitfalls. We are called to be spiritual “creatures of the daylight!” We are called to walk in Christ’s love and light! So step out of the darkness into the light and feel Christ walking right beside you!
©2007 Debbie Robus
And be very careful around them so you don't lose out on what we've worked so diligently in together; I want you to get every reward you have coming to you. Anyone who gets so progressive in his thinking that he walks out on the teaching of Christ, walks out on God. But whoever stays with the teaching, stays faithful to both the Father and the Son.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I was reading an article in our state newspaper recently about the “Little Rock Nine” – nine black teenagers who were escorted into Central High School by armed militia in 1957. The story talked about how scared the students were as they walked along the sidewalks and heard death threats and obscenities and shouts from those who did not want them to attend the all-white school. Many church leaders discouraged them. Many in the crowd claimed to be God-fearing Christians.
As a result of the un-Christian behavior of the protestors and others in roles of leadership and influence, some of the young black teens turned away from God. They couldn’t understand how a loving God would allow such things to happen… how God could allow them to be so tormented and abused.
So often, when the chips are down and life seems to be crumbling around us, we are tempted to turn from God. We are tempted to blame Him for our troubles and question His existence. Worse yet, sometimes we become so high and mighty or “forward thinking” that we rationalize that surely GOD – if He existed – would not allow all the suffering in the world. Or we become convinced that anyone with half a brain would be open to the possibilities that there is more than one way to Heaven. If you are a college student, you may very likely hear all of this and more in some of your classes or discussions with other students.
I beg you to stay with the teachings of Christ. Keep in the Word of God. We do not serve a God who delights in punishment or suffering – nor does He cause it. We serve a loving, merciful God Who is full of grace for us. We serve a God Who gave us our brains and expects us to use them, but He also expects us to listen to Him and be obedient to His teachings.
I can assure you that life will not be easy on this earth. Suffering will come to most of us, in one form or another. And many of us will be presented with other teachings and ideas and maybe even criticized or belittled for believing that Jesus is the only way to Heaven. We may be mocked for believing in the One True God. But I promise… that criticism, mockery and any attempts to make you feel small are all only momentary. The reward is Heaven and Eternity with God the Father and His Son Jesus. We will understand everything when we get there. But we have to get there! And the way to do that is to stay faithful and continually walk with God and follow His teachings. You can do it! I’m in your corner, and so are countless other people. Have faith, walk with God, and claim your prize!
©2007 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
October 13 - 1 John 1:6
If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth - we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.
You and I both know that many people will, at some time or another, say, “Oh, So-and-so is a good friend of mine.” And either this is just not so – and the two people in question are not friends, or, once the “friend” is away, the person talks about them like anything but a friend. We would probably both agree that this is despicable behavior… and even quite sad. How awful to have to invent “friends” – and even worse, to have friends whom you criticize and mistreat.
And yet… this is what we do with God, isn’t it? We claim we know Him well, when we hardly give Him the time of day. We claim we love Him and serve Him, and then we live anything but a life that pleases or honors Him. We take His name in vain. We disobey His commands, and we walk around in the darkness of a life that better serves and honors Satan. And I can assure you, compared to a life in the light of God, this is truly a dark, dark existence.
So what are we to do? Certainly, we need to reconsider how we treat our so-called “friends.” But most importantly, we need to reconsider how we treat the Friend who matters above all others. He is in a class all by Himself, and we must make sure that He knows how important He is to us. If we do this, His bright, bright light and love will shine on and around us in every moment and situation of our lives. We won’t have to worry about how we treat our “friends” because the Light will make it evident to us. We won’t have to stumble… HE will light the way!
Are you lying through your teeth? Are you living the life you claim? Come out of the darkness… turn on the Light!
©2007 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------------
October 12 ~ James 1:22
Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don't act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I watch the evening news almost every day, but I have to admit that many times I am only halfway listening, at best, while doing something else. The news is often so negative and depressing that I just don’t care to pay that much attention to it. Consequently, I sometimes find myself catching a small snippet of a story and wishing I had paid more attention. Sometimes I even get on the Internet and do a Google search to try to learn more.
I admire those who absorb and retain most, if not all, of what they hear. I wish I retained more of what I read. I find myself having to read and re-read stories in the newspaper or other articles and information (i.e. instruction manuals) if I really want to understand and/or convey the info to someone else or put it into practice.
So it is with God’s Word. Hearing it one time, or reading through it once in the Bible is not going to get it for most of us. We are going to have to study it, dissect the passages and investigate their meanings fully. We are going to have to hear scripture lessons on the same passages… over and over and over again! And we are going to have to put into practice what we are reading and hearing.
In life, I find that I have better results if I do something with the information I “import” into my brain right away. I can’t read an instruction manual for the new computer printer and then wait a week to install it and try to recall what I read! It’s the same with the Word of God. When you read it/hear it, act on it – right away! If the Word told you to share God’s love with others, do it! If you read a passage that talks about prayer, pray! If you read or hear about giving God praise, stop and worship Him! It doesn’t have to take your whole day… but putting God’s word into action when you hear it or read it will make it real! So “act on what you hear” and walk with God every day!
©2007 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
October 11 ~ Hebrews 13:5
Don't be obsessed with getting more material things. Be relaxed with what you have. Since God assured us, "I'll never let you down, never walk off and leave you," we can boldly quote, God is there, ready to help; I'm fearless no matter what. Who or what can get to me?
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I correspond with a couple in New York whose son, Joseph Patrick Henry, answered the call on 9-11 with his fellow firefighters in Ladder Company #21 and lost his life that day. This 25-year-old with his whole world ahead of him walked into that situation and never returned. His mother told me a few years later, “we never recovered his body.” Two years ago, a childhood classmate of mine went on a fishing vacation in Costa Rica with his buddies. He stood to reel in a big fish and fell back into his chair, dead of a heart attack at the age of 48. The “red tape” of dying in a foreign country resulted in his remains being cremated and returned to his mother and brother as a box of ashes marked with his name.
Any time someone dies, the emptiness and devastation of never seeing them again on this earth is very hard. But when there is nothing tangible – a body – the feelings are compounded. It is as if everything is unfinished, and “closure” is often hard to achieve. It happens a lot… the bodies of countless soldiers are lost in every war, and families are left to wonder and grope with the fear of the unknown, and possibly the obsession with wondering “did he/she really die?” They may even fear moving on with their lives… plagued by the gnawing idea that their loved one might actually be alive and return someday.
I describe all of this to you to serve as a background for this… God will NEVER walk away from you and not return. God IS with you; Jesus IS coming back! You don’t have to wonder; you don’t have to fear; you don’t have to feel empty and devastated. Relax! Enjoy God’s love and company, and “chill” with Him! It doesn’t get better than that!
©2007 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 10 ~ Hebrews 10:19
So, friends, we can now - without hesitation - walk right up to God, into "the Holy Place." Jesus has cleared the way by the blood of his sacrifice, acting as our priest before God. The "curtain" into God's presence is his body.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Imagine if you had a relationship with someone, but the only way you could communicate with them was to send a message through someone else. How long do you think that relationship would endure? Do you think it would be very strong and intimate?
In the Old Testament, only certain “priests” could go into the small inner tents and offer a blood sacrifice to speak to God. Can you imagine it? What if you had to go to the church and present your prayers and offerings to a minister, who in turn went into a special private room and offered blood sacrifices and burnt offerings for you. Do you think this would allow you to get close to God… to develop an intimate personal relationship with Him?
Jesus HAS cleared the way. Because of HIS blood and sacrifices for us, we no longer have to have someone else to speak to God for us. We can “go boldly to the throne” by ourselves and talk with Him directly. Better yet, His Holy Spirit is freely available to fill us. He can walk with us everywhere… every day!
This is GREAT NEWS! Walk right up to God… enter His Holy Place… invite Him to fill you with His Holy Spirit and bask in His company every minute of every day!
©2007 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------
October 9 ~ Hebrews 4:14
Now that we know what we have - Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God - let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all - all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
There is really nothing to add to today’s scripture passage. Imagine walking right up to Jesus and accepting His mercy and help! That is exactly what He wants us to do. So what are you waiting for? I’m in… are you?
©2007 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------
October 8 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:4
But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I’ve enjoyed sitting on my back porch this fall and watching the sky grow dusky dark with nightfall. It’s interesting to watch the night creatures come out… the fox who saunters through our yard… the spiders who spin their webs and catch their prey… the moths who are drawn to the brightness of the lights… the raccoons who scurry up trees to eat muscadines… the possums who scamper across the yard and “play dead” when they sense someone has spotted them. If I am sitting outside when the darkness falls, I can adjust fairly easily and see this activity for several minutes.
If I have been inside in the light and venture into the darkness of nightfall, I have trouble seeing things, because my eyes cannot readily adjust to the extreme change. If I sit long enough in the darkness, things come into focus better.
But in the early morning, when the sun is rising, I can also see all sorts of things. I see much more clearly, and enjoy the birds and the squirrels playing in the trees. I can see the chipmunk hopping across the yard and the lizards scurrying in and around the leaves. I can see buzzards and herons flying overhead and a pair of pileated woodpeckers I enjoy watching collecting bugs from the tree bark. I can see butterflies and hummingbirds and fluffy clouds floating overhead. I can see leaves rustling in the breeze and flowers in bloom.
The dark is enticing… the “mystery” of what is “out there” is intriguing and alluring. But the daylight is so much nicer. In the light of the day, there are still surprises and “mysteries,” but you can see them so much more clearly! I much prefer the daylight… or a bright starry night with a full moon!
I also prefer the daylight in my walk with Christ. I have tried the darkness… and it is mysterious. But it is also intimidating, lonely, and filled with potholes and pitfalls. We are called to be spiritual “creatures of the daylight!” We are called to walk in Christ’s love and light! So step out of the darkness into the light and feel Christ walking right beside you!
©2007 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotionals for October 2007 - Week 1
October 7 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:1
I don't think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other - "We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!" - suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I know that in today’s world, many women have their babies by Caeserean and know ahead of time the date and time the surgery will be performed to deliver their infant. They even know the sex of the baby for most of the pregnancy… or at least many prospective parents have the option of knowing in advance. But just a few years ago when my niece was born, we knew neither the day of her birth, or whether we would get a boy or a girl! We eagerly waited in anticipation for the big day. And early one morning, my sister felt the first pangs of labor. By mid-afternoon, our baby girl was wrapped tightly in a blanket with a little cap on her head, greeting us with her bright eyes and exercising her lungs as if to say, “I’m here! I’m here!” Thankfully, we were ready, and the nursery was filled with all of the things necessary to care for a baby. You see… we had prepared well in advance for her arrival. We didn’t know when she would get here, but we knew she was coming, and we wanted to be ready! And long before she got here, we loved her.
We don’t know when Jesus will get here, but we know He is coming. I don’t know about you, but I want to be ready for His arrival. I want to know that I have prepared for Him, and that I have done what He calls me to do in order to help others get ready for Him. I want to love Him and serve Him long before He gets here, and I want to share His love with others so that they know how wonderful He is and make preparations to meet Him, too.
I don’t know about you, but I hope that I am not caught completely off guard… “walking around complacently.” I hope that I walk so closely to Christ each day that I am ready when He is. I don’t know when He is coming, but I want to be ready for Him, just the same. I pray that you will be ready, also.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 6 ~ 1 Thessalonians 4:15
And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence - we have the Master's word on it - that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us. The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise - they'll go first. Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master. Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever been to a big football game, like maybe to Fayetteville to an Arkansas Razorbacks game, and you stood with the crowd and cheered as the big inflatable Razorback was engulfed in smoke and fog, and then the team emerged? The feeling was nothing short of euphoric, as you felt the energy and enthusiasm of the crowd. You felt the love and pride for the team that was running across the field. You felt the bright lights and the excitement and anticipation of a great night of football and a victory and shouting “We’re number 1!” and “Wooo Pig, Sooie!” You were so happy you probably felt like you were “walking on air.”
Imagine for a moment if Christ comes tomorrow. Imagine the incredible brightness of the light surrounding Him. Imagine the “Archangel thunder” and “God’s trumpet blast!” Imagine those who have died rising with Christ into the clouds and the fog and the mist… and then He reaches down with Hands for YOU! Imagine your energy and enthusiasm and euphoria. Imagine how overwhelmingly incredible this moment will be!! Imagine literally walking on air!
I don’t know about you, but just the thought of this day and how incredible it will be excites me. The thought of seeing Jesus face-to-face overwhelms me. Think of the song, “I Can Only Imagine” – the words speak of wondering what it will be like to see Him… whether you will be able to stand or dance or even speak in His presence. These thoughts DO reassure me. They do make it all worthwhile. I will see my loved ones again. I will see Jesus in all His glory. I will walk on air! And you can, too. It’s your choice - will you be coming with us?
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 5 ~ Colossians 1:21
You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. There is no other Message - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I love the work of author John Grisham. I collect his books and have read almost all of them. They are great illustrations of human nature and frailty. In The Testament, a wealthy businessman, Troy Phelan, realizes he is dying, so he sets out to write his last will and testament. He knows his rebellious children have been disrespectful, ungrateful, and that they have each breezed through countless of his millions already. So he writes a will that leaves each of them enough to cover outstanding debts, but nothing for their future misadventures.
I won’t give away any more of the story… read it for yourself! But the point is this. We, as children of God, have been much like Troy Phelan’s children. We have been disrespectful, disobedient, and rebellious, and we have squandered more of God’s gifts than we could even imagine. But the difference is that, in Christ’s death, He doesn’t cut us out of the will, so to speak, but rather He gives us an even bigger and better gift than ever – the gift of forgiveness of our sins and Eternal Life with Him! And Paul is right – you don’t walk away from a gift like that! You pay attention to your Father, and you stay in His will… obedient, respectful, and ready to follow and serve.
Thankfully, once we accept Christ as our Savior, He keeps us “in the will” and doesn’t make frequent changes, like Mr. Phelan did in the story. Thankfully God does not play games with our lives… earthly AND eternally! But His gift is so amazing, so unselfish, so holy that it commands our attention… and our very best. “You don’t walk away from a gift like that!”
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 4 ~ Ephesians 6:10
And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I do not like fighting. I do not enjoy watching boxing matches. Nothing about watching two people pummel each other with their fists excites me. But when we got a few free months of HBO as a promotional, it just so happened that Arkansas’ own Jermain Taylor was fighting Kelly Pavlik for Middleweight Champion of the World, I found myself watching the match.
The first few rounds were back and forth. One contender and then the other was declared winner of the individual rounds. At one point, Taylor knocked Pavlik to his knees, but the 25-year-old from Ohio got up and came back swinging. In the seventh round, Pavlik connected with Taylor’s face and delivered a stunning blow. That connection was quickly followed by a burst of more punches that ultimately dropped Jermain Taylor to the floor. He slumped into the corner and appeared to be knocked unconscious momentarily. I have to admit, I felt sad, and then sick.
Taylor’s camp of coaches, trainers, family and supporters quickly rallied around him and administered first aid and comfort. While Pavlik relished his victory and the new title and belt of a world middleweight champion, Taylor and his entourage gathered their belongings and exited from the arena. Less than a half hour later, Jermain was sitting in his dressing room talking with a TV commentator and promising a rematch.
In our Spiritual life, we have a formidable opponent in the “ring of life” – Satan. And we have what we need to fight him... Jesus has bought and paid for everything we will need to save us from the pummeling blows that Satan will attempt to deliver. Like Kevin Pavlik refusing to go away in the fight with Jermain Taylor, Satan refuses to go away. But the difference is that Jermain Taylor walks into the ring alone, with only his skills and his wits. We, on the other hand, walk into the ring of life with Jesus by our side (if we invite Him), and that makes all the difference!
So strengthen yourself with the full armor of everything God offers you. Never “step into the ring” against Satan without Jesus, and you will walk away the champion every time.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 2 ~ Galatians 6:14
For my part, I am going to boast about nothing but the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ. Because of that Cross, I have been crucified in relation to the world, set free from the stifling atmosphere of pleasing others and fitting into the little patterns that they dictate. Can't you see the central issue in all this? It is not what you and I do - submit to circumcision, reject circumcision. It is what God is doing, and he is creating something totally new, a free life! All who walk by this standard are the true Israel of God - his chosen people. Peace and mercy on them!
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
It doesn’t get any plainer than this! Paul is telling us that we are not to worry about what others think, as long as we are focusing on “the Cross of our Master, Jesus Christ.” I know I have told you others are watching – and they are! And they are judging you. But if they are judging you critically for serving Jesus, give God praise! What an honor to be among those who are His chosen people. How wonderful to have God’s peace and mercy... that’s all that matters.
When I was a young girl, I attended a church that frowned on Christians who were not members of that particular church denomination participating in Holy Communion. It just wasn’t done! And we always passed the plates of bread and the trays of communion cups with the grape juice – no dipping bread into a common cup! Other denominations have the believers come and kneel at the altar, and the minister places a wafer (the bread) on the person’s tongue. Some denominations have an open altar call after each sermon, and anyone is welcome to come to the altar to pray. Other denominations believe that the altar call is only for those who are inviting Christ to live in their heart or rededicating their lives – or moving their membership. Coming to the altar just to pray is considered frivolous!
Do you see how silly this all is? Do you see that many of our denominations split hairs over the smallest of things? Do you see how none of this matters to God? It’s not about the miniscule details of how you worship and serve. It’s not in whether you circumcise males or not, as it was in Old Testament times. I tell you again, it is all about JESUS! It is all about “the Cross of our Master.” Walk by this standard. Lay your petty traditions and details at the foot of the Cross and freely WALK with Christ today!
©2007 Debbie Robus
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October 11 ~ Corinthians 10:29
But, except for these special cases, I'm not going to walk around on eggshells worrying about what small-minded people might say; I'm going to stride free and easy, knowing what our large-minded Master has already said. If I eat what is served to me, grateful to God for what is on the table, how can I worry about what someone will say? I thanked God for it and he blessed it!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
If you read this entire chapter and get the whole context, you will see that Paul is talking about the Old Testament laws concerning what was “clean” to eat and what foods should be avoided, particularly meats. Paul is saying that Christ has changed everything and that it is better to eat something once considered “unclean” than to offend the host who is feeding you. In other words, when we walk with God, we don’t have to worry so much about “religious ceremony.” That is not what is important. What is important is having a personal relationship with God, and recognizing Him as all-powerful, all-knowing, and the Author and Finisher of our lives.
I am not disrespecting church traditions. They have their place. But I am saying that quite often we get caught up in the trappings and traditions of church and worship – the rules and regulations, or the “we’ve always done it this way” mentality, and we forget that it’s all about Jesus. It’s all about walking with Him and serving Him and blessing others in His name – and being blessed by Jesus in the bargain! It’s not about how you baptize – whether you dunk or sprinkle. It’s not about whether those who partake of communion are members of your church or not, but rather whether they have a relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s not about whether you raise your hands in praise and worship or not or use musical instruments or allow taped music or which translation of the Bible you study, but whether you do praise and worship God and study God’s word regularly.
So lighten up a little! Don’t be a believer with tunnel vision. Look at the big picture… and its Artist… and walk with Jesus, free of any religious or societal trappings. Keep your eye on what is really important, and encourage others to do the same.
©2007 Debbie Robus
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