December 31 ~ James 2:17
In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do.
(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 know that exercise that is used in certain programs where you have one person stand behind another, and the person in front is supposed to fall backward and depend on the one behind to catch him/her? It’s a matter of trust – and faith that the person who is “catching” will actually do just that! Now, you can have all of the faith in the world that the “catcher” will do his/her job, but if you are dropped, your faith will probably be destroyed (along with your backside) – and the “catcher’s” reputation will be in question. If, on the other hand, the “catcher” is ready, willing, and able, and the person falling never lets go… then where is his/her faith? Do you see how faith and works are dependent on one another?
Many people will say that “you can’t get into heaven by being good or doing good deeds” – and in and of itself, this is a true statement. However, we see clearly that “faith without deeds (works or action) is dead.” So, saying you believe in Jesus and His power to save us, to heal us, to be our Comforter and our Guide, and then throwing up your hands at the first sign of trouble is not putting your faith into action. Saying you believe the scriptures and then not loving your neighbor as yourself – in other words… sharing your gifts, your time and your talents – in some ways negates your faith.
Granted, there are mitigating circumstances, sometimes. Or are there? We have been praying for Zoe and Trey’s grandmother, JoAnn Miles, in recent weeks as she has fought for her very life. One could argue that she has been unable to exemplify her faith from her ICU hospital bed. But she has exemplified her faith… through the guestbook notes and posts of those who love her and testify to how she has ministered in their lives. She has witnessed to others through the CaringBridge posts of her daughters - and even a post of her own when she was able. She has blessed the nurses and medical staff who care for her in the way she and her husband react to each other so lovingly and with such unending devotion. So as you see, there is NO EXCUSE! There is no instance in which a true person of faith cannot serve God and put his/her faith into action in whatever way they are able.
Today is the last day of this year. Tomorrow begins a new chapter… a fresh start in many ways. What will you do with this next 365 days? How will you live? Will you let your faith lie dormant, or will you put it into action each and every day? A few years ago, The Prayer of Jabez was written, based upon a simple prayer from 1 Chronicles 4:10. In it, Jabez asked God to “enlarge my coast” – or as one translation words it, to “increase my territory.” The author of The Prayer of Jabez interprets territory to include opportunities to minister and witness to others. Will you seek ways to “increase your territory” as the Prayer of Jabez asks… will you truly live for Jesus in this next year?
If each of us reading this devotional today truly live out our faith in works and actions in 2009, imagine the impact and the possibilities! How exciting it is to think of a year filled with faith and action… how blessed we are to be able to serve our God! Be a blessing this next year. Resolve tonight to have both faith AND deeds in the year ahead… and watch God bless your efforts!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 30 ~ James 1:19-21
Post this at all the intersections, dear friends: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. God's righteousness doesn't grow from human anger. So throw all spoiled virtue and cancerous evil in the garbage. In simple humility, let our gardener, God, landscape you with the Word, making a salvation-garden of your life.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I will be the first to admit that I sometimes have a “short fuse.” I hope I am doing better as I grow in my faith and depend on God more each day. But I know there are times when we all overreact and have outbursts that are less than pretty. I have never been someone who could hold a grudge for very long, thankfully. But I know people who are always angry about something or someone, and I wonder if they realize how that spoils their “Spiritual garden.”
Someone commented recently that spring will be here before we know it. Daffodils and crocus start peeking through the ground in February – and sometimes even late January! Many of us will start to plan our spring gardens and contemplate what to plant, while others will “force” springtime bulbs to bloom indoors for an early glimpse of spring’s glory.
What will we do to cultivate our “Spiritual gardens?” Will we plan for growth and long for the fruits? Will we guard our tongues and our emotions – our anger – and seek God’s guidance and cultivation as the Ultimate Gardener? Will we toss our evil thoughts and words into the garbage – never on the compost heap of our souls? (We don’t want them recycled and worked back into the “soil” of our lives!)
I love this translation of James’ admonition: Lead with your ears, follow up with your tongue, and let anger straggle along in the rear. This could be a fantastic New Year’s resolution for each of us. If we did just this, we would be creating amazing “soil” in which God could work. So what is going in your garden for 2009? How will you cultivate your Spiritual garden? Will you give God a humble landscape for His mighty creations?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 29 ~ 1 Timothy 4:15-16
Cultivate these things. Immerse yourself in them. The people will all see you mature right before their eyes! Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience 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.)
For three semesters now, I have been cheering my sister as she returned to college to pursue a degree in Medical Information Technology. “You can do it! You’re doing great! Hang in there!” I tell her. There have been some pretty bumpy spots in the road. Bad weather that made the commute to Searcy dicey… illness… a grueling schedule of work and study… weariness and a sense of being totally overwhelmed have at times felt insurmountable. And yet, the first semester she had a 4.00 – the next a mixture of A’s and B’s… and this semester just completed brought almost all A’s and B’s in such courses as Medical Terminology, Anatomy and Physiology, and Medical Coding. I would have to say that her true character has shown through this ordeal. When it seemed like the challenges were too big… the tasks too difficult… she rose to the occasion. She kept at it… she was not diverted. And I know she will continue to persevere and rise to the challenges of her next – and final – semester!
There is another side to this, though… and a very important component. Many of us have also “kept at it” right alongside my sister – in prayer and support. We have not waivered. We have not been diverted. I’ll admit there have been a couple of times when I came close to doubting if this could really be pulled off successfully. Would she miss too many days and fall behind? Would work and school prove just too much to combine? But as the weeks passed – and the prayers flew to heaven – we would say, “That’s another week down… one step closer.” (And I would be a little embarrassed at my lack of faith in my own prayers and God’s power to overcome these obstacles!) My favorite mantra has been, “One bite of this elephant at a time,” and just lately, I reminded my sister that she is one semester away from swallowing the old guy completely.
I don’t know what your “elephant” is, but I know WHO can help you conquer him. Whatever you have on your plate, whatever is challenging you… keep a firm grasp on your faith and following Jesus. Keep on “keepin’ on” and being the person God has called you to be. Put one foot in front of the other and move. Don’t get diverted. In the words of the Nike slogan, “Just Do It!” Be an example to others of the power of prayer and living a life of faith. Be blessed – and be a blessing in the process! You can do it… your “elephant” is going down, praise God! Show the world that believers in Jesus have all the right stuff, and watch what happens!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 28 ~ John 12:47-50
"If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
During the holidays, I overheard one of my nieces ask her daughter, “What did I tell you about Christmas gifts?” and the great-niece replied, “That no matter what it was, I better act like I liked it and say ‘Thank You!’” Are we like that about Jesus’ gift of salvation? Do we pretend we like it and even say “Thank you,” then go on our merry way and act however we please? Do we reject the teachings of the Bible as old and outdated and not relevant to our lives today, because if we accept them, we will have to make some changes in our lifestyle?
Do we twist the Gospel to suit our needs? Notice I didn’t say meet our needs, because the Gospel does just that… but it doesn’t always suit OUR needs… or what we perceive as our needs. It doesn’t always “feel good!” So many of us decide to be polite and “play along,” but on the inside, we haven’t fully committed.
We are approaching the start of a New Year. It is a lot like starting a new chapter in a book – or even a new course of study at school. This is a chance to begin all over again, so to speak… to put the past behind us and move ahead – maybe even in a new direction. Let this be the day you choose to fully commit to the teachings of Jesus. Let this be the year you decide to take God seriously and to open your heart and mind to Him. Choose Eternal Life, and accept the steps toward that goal. Resolve today to be a faithful – and honest – follower of Jesus Christ, and see how amazing the coming year can be!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 27 ~ Matthew 7:15-20
"Be wary of false preachers who smile a lot, dripping with practiced sincerity. Chances are they are out to rip you off some way or other. Don't be impressed with charisma; look for character. Who preachers are is the main thing, not what they say. A genuine leader will never exploit your emotions or your pocketbook. These diseased trees with their bad apples are going to be chopped down and burned.
(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.)
We all remember fairy tales and children’s stories where someone pretends to be nice in order to get what he/she wants, and the other characters are so impressed… the witch who befriended Hansel and Gretel, the wolf who was going to help Little Red Riding Hood… the Cat in the Hat who was so much fun, until he turned the house upside down and scared the children half to death! And who among us has not been at least a tad deceitful ourselves in order to get what we want? The old adage that you get more flies with honey turns into a sweet mess of half-truths to sway people in our direction, and soon we are no better than that wicked witch or the mean old wolf! It isn’t just children who are “nice” for Santa during the early days of December and then “naughty” as all get out as soon as the tree comes down!
I think the key for us in this passage today is not to be wary of false preachers and deceitful leaders… although we should indeed do just that. No, I want us to be careful that WE are not the deceivers… the “sweet-talkers” who will say and do anything to get our own way. Jesus didn’t come to earth for us to be able to say and do whatever pleases us. He came that we might learn to better please HIM… and that is altogether different! So make sure your character is completely impeccable. Make sure that you are the “real deal” all the time – and not just the first 24 days of December! Be sure that who you are and what you say and do line up with the word of God, and your character will never be in question.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 26 ~ Matthew 3:7-10
When John realized that a lot of Pharisees and Sadducees were showing up for a baptismal experience because it was becoming the popular thing to do, he exploded: "Brood of snakes! What do you think you're doing slithering down here to the river? Do you think a little water on your snakeskins is going to make any difference? It's your life that must change, not your skin! And don't think you can pull rank by claiming Abraham as father. Being a descendant of Abraham is neither here nor there. Descendants of Abraham are a dime a dozen. What counts is your life. Is it green and blossoming? Because if it's deadwood, it goes on the fire.
(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 little, the day after Christmas was a disappointing day. The hoopla of Christmas was over, and it was time to put away all of the gifts and get back to reality. I have known of many people who spend December 26th removing the Christmas tree – or packing it away, along with all decorations that indicate a holiday occurred. In fact, when we were children and decorated live cedar trees, I’m thinking that old dry tree probably made its exit on the day after Christmas, as well! It seemed that after we married, some segment of the family was always celebrating late, and after a few years, I just got into the habit of leaving all of the decorations out until at least New Years Day. Somehow, that doesn’t seem quite as sad and abrupt as cleaning up December 26th.
More importantly, though, is what we do with our attitude. When Christmas Day is over, do we pack away our “Christmas attitude” along with the tree and decorations? Do we lose our smiles and our joy and turn into sour, negative grumps? Do we become a more moderate version of Scrooge? Maybe we are not total ogres, but we are not as kind and polite as we were on Christmas Eve… we are not as considerate of others… we don’t think about the hungry and homeless and needy – the sick and infirm. All of a sudden, it’s as if a switch has been pulled, and it is “life as usual” again.
Whoa… wait a minute! Did Christmas mean nothing? If the true meaning of Christmas was the arrival of a Savior who would show us how to serve God and share His message with others... a Lord who would die for our sins so that we could LIVE… then why did our spirits fall today? Christmas isn’t for ONE DAY. The spirit of Christmas should be an every-day-all-year event! So put your party hat back on… celebrate the birth of Jesus and all that it means for us EVERY day, not just December 25th. Pack away the tree and your holiday decorations if you must, but keep your spirit front and center today and always!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 25 ~ Deuteronomy 6:5 and 11:1
6:5 Love God, your God, with your whole heart: love him with all that's in you, love him with all you've got.
11:1 So love God, your God; guard well his rules and regulations; obey his commandments for the rest of time.
(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.)
Today, children of all ages throughout the world will race to peek under a Christmas tree and see what Santa has left them. There will be shrieks and squeals of joy as the phrases, “I love it!” and “It’s exactly what I asked for!” are uttered in dozens of languages over gadgets and toys and trinkets of all kinds.
The real gift of this day – the ONLY gift that matters – is the gift of Jesus Christ and His love for us. The only response that has lasting consequences today is “I love YOU, Jesus!”
So while you are drowning in tinsel and paper and ribbon and basking in the afterglow of hot cocoa and cookies and too much turkey and ham, remember to take time to stop and reflect on our Savior. Jesus Christ – the King of Kings and Lord of Lords… today is HIS day! Make Him the Star on your tree. Make Him the reason for celebrating. The rest is just window dressing. Love Jesus with all that is in you – all that you’ve got! HE is the best gift you will ever receive.
Merry Christmas – May God bless you this day and always.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 24 ~ Revelations 3:15-17 "I know you inside and out, and find little to my liking. You're not cold, you're not hot—far better to be either cold or hot! You're stale. You're stagnant. You make me want to vomit. You brag, 'I'm rich, I've got it made, I need nothing from anyone,' oblivious that in fact you're a pitiful, blind beggar, threadbare and homeless.
Matthew 16:24-26
Then Jesus went to work on his disciples. "Anyone who intends to come with me as to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat; I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What kind of deal is it to get everything you want but lose yourself? What could you ever trade your soul for?
(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.)
Whew! How’s this for a Christmas Eve scripture passage?! I certainly hope that this description from Revelations doesn’t fit how God feels about me today – or YOU! Okay, so you may not brag that you are rich or have it made. You may feel you are truly quite humble. But let me ask you something… “When was the last time you thanked God for all you have?” You know, we don’t create our “wealth” – it is God given. He gives us the talents and abilities to be creative and smart and hard workers. God provides us with jobs, homes, food, clothing – everything!
And what do we give Him in return? Do we help others? Do we give all we can to those who are less fortunate? Here is my challenge. Today is Christmas Eve. There is still time for some “Christmas Spirit” – some self-sacrifice. I am challenging each of us to give something extra today. Put your pocket change in the Salvation Army bucket at the store. Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a long time and have a brief visit – or call someone who is lonely or ill and tell them you are thinking of them. Take a plate of cookies from your kitchen to a shut-in neighbor. Tip extra at the restaurant – or to the car-hop at Sonic! Smile and say “Thank You” to the sales clerks and the bank teller and the guy who takes your money at the car wash! Do at least ONE THING today that is not about YOU!
Today, of all days, remember that YOU ARE NOT IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT! Don’t run from anything God sends your way… HE will see you through it all. And in return, share that good news with others through a self-less gesture of kindness. For that matter, let today be the first in a long line of many self-less gestures. See how long you can keep it going!
O, Holy Night… the stars ARE brightly shining... it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth! We thank you, Lord Jesus, for your selfless act of coming to earth, teaching us, and dying for our sins. We know we can’t ever measure up… but Your sacrifice means we don’t have to try! May your Christmas Eve truly be a blessing – and may you also be a blessing to others this day!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 23 ~ Matthew 5:14-16
"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.
(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.)
What does it say about us as believers if we act like Scrooges at Christmas… or any other time of the year, for that matter? If we gripe and grumble about the holidays, the weather, our finances, or our out-of-shape body… what does that say to others about our faith? We know that through Christ, we can do ALL things, don’t we? So why are we “hiding our light under a barrel” and acting like sad sacks and grumps?
“But you don’t understand,” you may say… “I just lost my job, or my mother is hospitalized and gravely ill, or the bank foreclosed on my home, my car died and I failed the one class I needed to graduate.” Again… serving God ain’t for sissies! I do understand your concerns. I know what it’s like to have a parent in the hospital on Christmas Eve. I know what it’s like to lose a loved one just before the holidays. I’ve seen people very near and dear to me lose everything financially and wonder what was next. I know soldiers in Iraq who won’t be home for Christmas and single mothers who wonder how they will rear their children alone. I know elderly people who have absolutely NO living relatives nearby to bring them as much as a plate of Christmas cookies.
I guess what really reminded me of how we are to let our light shine for Christ in all circumstances happened in 1980. My husband’s grandfather died a few days before Christmas in Iowa City, Iowa. We traveled there to attend his funeral – on Christmas Eve. It was snowy and cold – probably as cold as I have ever been – and the dreariness of the weather added to the sadness of those days. Christmas Day dawned, and we arrived at Grandma’s house for a visit. Neighbors had brought all sorts of Christmas goodies to share, and a small Christmas tree was twinkling in a corner of the dining room. Grandma sat on the couch, and as each person entered, she would greet them cheerfully, “Merry Christmas!” My husband’s grandmother talked about the scriptures and the promise of the Christmas story and Christ’s return someday – and how we had no excuse for not being happy. I was amazed at her tenacity and courage. She had just buried her husband, yet she was wishing others a “Merry Christmas!” – and she meant it!
There will ALWAYS be reasons to be sad and throw a pity party. There will ALWAYS be excuses to just crawl back into bed and pull up the covers and pretend things are not happening. But JESUS did NOT come to earth so that we could run and hide when the going got tough! Jesus came to show us how to LIVE in and through ALL circumstances in our lives, and to prompt others to open up to God in the process. So how brightly are you shining – this Christmas and in the days afterward?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 22 ~ James 3:10-12
10-12 My friends, this can't go on. A spring doesn't gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don't bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don't bear apples, do they? You're not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are you?
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I’m probably not going to win any new friends with today’s message. Just this week, I watched a Dr. Phil episode (yes, Dr. Phil!) about a woman who goes totally overboard with Christmas – decorations cover every inch of every room of her house. She buys stupid gag gifts all year that make her laugh, and then she wraps them as presents for her children and grandchildren. She starts decorating in October and gets it all packed away in time for Easter! She could not stop smiling and laughing the whole hour… even when she was the brunt of many jokes/snide comments by Dr. Phil and others.
The other guest on the show absolutely detests Christmas. She pays her family and friends $50 each NOT to get her a gift. She shops for others – but only out of a sense of obligation. She cannot stand the greeting “Merry Christmas,” and she doesn’t attend any holiday family get-togethers or any celebrations/services that refer to Christmas. She seemed like one of the most miserable people I’ve ever seen! Her justification for her attitude was that “Christmas has become too commercial and doesn’t focus on the birth of Christ any more.”
Surprisingly, once upon a time, this woman celebrated like everyone else. Something happened to change her attitude, and she mentioned an “ex-mother-in-law who is a saint,” so I suspect a messy divorce colored her thinking. I know people who have dismissed Christmas for this reason – or a myriad of others. Maybe they associate it with the painful loss of a loved one. Maybe they do not have a lot of family or friends nearby and can’t face the holidays “alone.” Maybe they are sick or physically disabled, and just the though of having to make extra effort to be cheerful, much less maneuver around, for the holidays is frustrating.
If we looked long and hard enough, every single one of us could come up with a reason that celebrating Christmas is just too much effort (and a few of us wouldn’t have to look that long!) so we are “opting out” this year. Let me ask you something… “When the chips are down, does God opt out on you?” When things aren’t going well, is that a license to turn our backs on God and stop being kind to others, sharing the message of Christ, and even going to church? Then why should celebrating Christmas – the birth of Jesus Christ – be any different? I’m not saying you have to buy a talking Christmas wreath or a toilet seat that plays “Jingle Bells.” But in my opinion, refusing to celebrate Christmas is NOT an option for Christians. You can’t gush fresh water one day and pond scum the next, and you can’t “skip Christmas!” and glorify God. So pull yourself up by the bootstraps, grab a candy cane and spread some cheer. This is the season of GREAT NEWS! Unto us is born a Savior, and He is Christ the King!
©2008 Debbie Robus
One More Psalm and a Christmas Story 3
December 20 ~ Matthew 22:34-38
34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"
37-40 Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from 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.)
I tried to go shopping at Wal-Mart earlier in the week. I got as far as the parking lot, but when my tires started spinning on the slick street as the sleet pelted my windshield, I decided groceries could wait! So when I DID get to the store, my list was twice (or three times?) as long, and apparently everybody else in a 4-county area was in the same predicament. The store was packed with shoppers who were scrambling for items on the shelves.
I heard all sorts of comments, from “My husband lost his job, so we are just doing the bare minimum this year,” to “I haven’t even started on my Christmas shopping – I may have to just write checks!” to “I don’t know what this country is coming to – we may all starve!” I heard a few less than hearty “Merry Christmases” and even a truly joyful, sincere one or two. But the overwhelming mood was one of stress, urgency, and a “let’s just get this whole Christmas thing over with” attitude.
I am not always a cheerful person. I have my moments – just ask my husband! And in years past, I’ve been in the same stress-filled shoes as a few of those shoppers – trying to juggle a job, a home, family issues and the holidays. But I think it is time for ALL of us to stop and look at this passage from Matthew. Jesus never said this would be easy! We are to love Him with everything we have, and love others as much as we love ourselves. Those are the two most important things.
If we keep the focus on these things, then the long, long checkout line at the store becomes an opportunity to smile and be cheerful to others. Walking the aisles looking for green beans and sweet potatoes becomes a chance to hum a familiar Christmas carol. Perusing the shelves for that favorite video game to give your loved one provides you with time to think about that person and how much you love them – and how much joy your gift will bring.
The bottom line is that we need to get the focus off of ourselves and think more about Jesus – and others – this Christmas. Love Jesus with EVERYTHING you have, and then love others and treat them as well as you treat yourself. And try humming a carol or two in the store… or at least SMILE more! You’ll be amazed at the reaction of those around you – AND yourself!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 19 ~ Judges 13:9-25
8 Manoah prayed to God: "Master, let the man of God you sent come to us again and teach us how to raise this boy who is to be born."
9-10 God listened to Manoah. God's angel came again to the woman. She was sitting in the field; her husband Manoah wasn't there with her. She jumped to her feet and ran and told her husband: "He's back! The man who came to me that day!"
11 Manoah got up and, following his wife, came to the man. He said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife?" He said, "I am."
12 Manoah said, "So. When what you say comes true, what do you have to tell us about this boy and his work?"
13-14 The angel of God said to Manoah, "Keep in mind everything I told the woman. Eat nothing that comes from the vine: Drink no wine or beer; eat no ritually unclean foods. She's to observe everything I commanded her."
15 Manoah said to the angel of God, "Please, stay with us a little longer; we'll prepare a meal for you—a young goat." 16 God's angel said to Manoah, "Even if I stay, I won't eat your food. But if you want to prepare a Whole-Burnt-Offering for God, go ahead—offer it!" Manoah had no idea that he was talking to the angel of God.
17 Then Manoah asked the angel of God, "What's your name? When your words come true, we'd like to honor you."
18 The angel of God said, "What's this? You ask for my name? You wouldn't understand—it's sheer wonder."
19-21 So Manoah took the kid and the Grain-Offering and sacrificed them on a rock altar to God who works wonders. As the flames leapt up from the altar to heaven, God's angel also ascended in the altar flames. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground. Manoah and his wife never saw the angel of God again.
21-22 Only then did Manoah realize that this was God's angel. He said to his wife, "We're as good as dead! We've looked on God!"
23 But his wife said, "If God were planning to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted our Whole-Burnt-Offering and Grain-Offering, or revealed all these things to us—given us this birth announcement."
24-25 The woman gave birth to a son. They named him Samson. The boy grew and God blessed him. The Spirit of God began working in him while he was staying at a Danite camp between Zorah and Eshtaol.
(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.)
Well! Now you know "the rest of the story" - the history behind the birth of Samson, a mighty man of God. If you want to read something really cool, keep reading in Judges about what happened to Samson. But for today, I want us to focus on the last part of Verse 16 from this chapter of Judges. "Manoah had no idea that he was talking to the angel of God."
I am afraid that much of the time, we are like Manoah. God sends angels to guide us, but we don’t recognize them. We are so busy with what WE think is important that we don’t focus on the things of God that make such a difference. We can spend three hours or better watching a Razorback football game on television, but we can’t spend thirty minutes reading a scripture passage and praying. We might skim over these daily devotionals for five minutes, but there is NO WAY we are going to sit down and read the rest of the story about Samson – or any other story – because we have things to do, places to go and people to see!
So we fumble along and hope that we hear from God often enough to get by pretty well in life. What we don’t realize is that tuning in to God more could have AMAZING consequences. EVERYTHING could change. I’m not saying our lives would be perfect, but surely they could be better! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to meet God’s angel and not recognize him! Even in this busy week before Christmas, I want to take time to stop and pay attention to the messages – and the messengers – God is sending my way. What about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
December 18 ~ Judges 13:2-7
2-5 At that time there was a man named Manoah from Zorah from the tribe of Dan. His wife was barren and childless. The angel of God appeared to her and told her, "I know that you are barren and childless, but you're going to become pregnant and bear a son. But take much care: Drink no wine or beer; eat nothing ritually unclean. You are, in fact, pregnant right now, carrying a son. No razor will touch his head—the boy will be God's Nazirite from the moment of his birth. He will launch the deliverance from Philistine oppression."
6-7 The woman went to her husband and said, "A man of God came to me. He looked like the angel of God—terror laced with glory! I didn't ask him where he was from and he didn't tell me his name, but he told me, 'You're pregnant. You're going to give birth to a son. Don't drink any wine or beer and eat nothing ritually unclean. The boy will be God's Nazirite from the moment of birth to the day of his death.'"
(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 don’t know about you, but I am amazed many times over when I read about how angels appeared to these people and gave them such heavy-duty information as this angel gave Manoah’s wife! I also find it interesting that long before Mary and Elizabeth, angels were appearing to women and telling them about a pregnancy! And you may be wondering why I am sharing these scriptures in the middle of the Christmas season – focusing on the birth of others besides Jesus Christ!
The truth is that I am still focused on the birth of Jesus. See, God could have just said one day, "I think I will send my Son to earth in the form of a baby." But that’s not how it happened at all! No… God planned EVERYTHING. He prepared for Jesus’ birth for centuries at least, maybe longer! He set things in motion even in the Garden of Eden. He used angels to deliver messages that had a direct impact on the events of the birth in the manger in Bethlehem.
Now I ask you… if God loved us so much that He put THAT much thought and effort into preparing for Jesus’ birth, is there any question how much He loves us? If God is able to orchestrate all of these events, can’t He surely send angels today to minister to us and deliver messages? Do we really GET how big God is?
©2008 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 17 ~ Genesis 16:5-16
5 Sarai told Abram, "It's all your fault that I'm suffering this abuse. I put my maid in bed with you and the minute she knows she's pregnant, she treats me like I'm nothing. May God decide which of us is right."
6 "You decide," said Abram. "Your maid is your business." Sarai was abusive to Hagar and Hagar ran away.
7-8 An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. He said, "Hagar, maid of Sarai, what are you doing here?" She said, "I'm running away from Sarai my mistress."
9-12 The angel of God said, "Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse." He continued, "I'm going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you'll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you. He'll be a bucking bronco of a man, a real fighter, fighting and being fought, Always stirring up trouble, always at odds with his family."
13 She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, "You're the God who sees me! "Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!"
14 That's how that desert spring got named "God-Alive-Sees-Me Spring." That spring is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.
15-16 Hagar gave Abram a son. Abram named him Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave him his son, Ishmael.
(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.)
Throughout the stories of the Bible, God sent angels to meet the needs of His children. We are familiar with the angel who appeared to Mary – and maybe even the angel Gabriel who told Elizabeth about her pregnancy. But there were many angels down through history who were important to our legacy. Indirectly, these angels had a hand in the "Christmas story," because they ministered to those in Jesus’ lineage.
I believe that angels minister to us today. A bright light may not shine around them… we may not "see" them physically. But surely you have had instances where you have said, "Angels were watching over me." And most certainly they were.It all goes back to the issue of listening and watching for God to speak to us in whatever manner He chooses, including angels. If we are not alert, we may miss His blessings. I am surely glad that Hagar was listening. I’m glad that Elizabeth and Mary were paying attention. And I hope that when the God who sees US speaks – even if through an angel - we will "see" Him, too.
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------
December 16 ~ Matthew 2:12-15
12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
13 After the scholars were gone, God's angel showed up again in Joseph's dream and commanded, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him."
14-15 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: "I called my son out of Egypt."
(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 started to do something, and for some reason you couldn’t even explain, you stopped dead in your tracks and felt that you were NOT supposed to go in that direction? Sometimes, the “sign” is so strong and powerful that you just KNOW you need to switch gears. Other times, it may be a nagging sense that “something is just not right.” I believe we need to be paying closer attention to these signals. I believe a lot of times, God tries to warn us… or at the very least to steer us in a better direction… and quite often, we brush these thoughts aside and move ahead – sometimes with horrible outcomes.
We can’t turn back the clock – although probably all of us wish we could about at least one decision or another – but we can start today to listen and pay attention. Thankfully, Joseph and the scholars had their heads on straight and were listening to God. I’m not saying we all need to start interpreting our dreams – God may not speak to us that way. But we need to be more aware and alert in our everyday lives. We need to be in constant contact with God, so that when He does speak to us, we are listening and recognize His voice!
God may be calling you out of your own “Egypt” today. Will you know His voice – and will you be ready to follow?
©2008 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------------
December 15 ~ Matthew 1:9-11
9-10 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
(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, I knew some people who collected Santa Clauses. That seemed like a fun thing to have – a whole display at holiday time of the jolly old man in the red suit! And I have to admit, over the years, I’ve acquired a few Santas of my own that make me smile when I see them on a shelf. Other people collect those Christmas villages… the little houses and the people, and trains and cars and storefronts that all light up and sparkle. That seemed fun, too, but I wanted something different. So I started collecting nativity scenes. I began my collection with a beautiful tall white ceramic set – Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus with his own little bed. I also had a musical nativity snow globe that played “Silent Night.” Over twenty years later, I count 48 individual “nativities” on my piano and sofa table, and there are more on our Christmas tree. Every year I say I am done – that I have more than enough. And then I will spy a beautiful set at an auction or estate sale… or someone will give me one. This year, I added a very old chalkware set that belonged to my mother’s first grade teacher, an old Italian plaster set my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday, and an intricate little Italian set I discovered in a box of “treasures” I bought at an auction.
While I do still keep a few sets to add to my collection, I have started giving some away and sharing with others, especially children. I am in awe of a child’s face when he/she views a nativity scene. I remember being mesmerized by a life-sized set that graced our courthouse lawn each Christmas when I was a little, and I miss it being there today. I think there is an innate sense of understanding – a relationship between children and the Baby in the manger – that we sort of glaze over as we age.
This year, I have already given two nativities to children. One was to my cousin Olivia, who had been forbidden to touch the precious heirloom characters of her aunts’ nativities. Now she has her very own set that she can handle as much as she likes. And she is… Jesus sleeps with Dora (the explorer) in her house (His barn), and rides with Olivia and Mary and Joseph in her Barbie car. I don’t find this irreverent… you see, Jesus is always with her… even in her Barbie car! The other set I gave to some little friends who are just learning about Jesus. As Ada unwrapped each character, she kissed it and smiled at me and said, “Mine!” Do you see where I’m going with this? The nativity really is hers! The story of what happened in that manger is significant for these little children, and on their own level, they get it in a way many of us have lost!
The wise men, who knew scarcely more than these little children about what was happening, knelt and worshipped Jesus and showered Him with precious gifts. It is my prayer that this Christmas season, we would all wade through the maze of commercialism, busyness, skepticism… whatever… and worship like little children. It is my prayer that Jesus would be with us in every car and house, every day, and that we would always recognize that He is “mine” and yours forever.
©2008 Debbie Robus
34-36 When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"
37-40 Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from 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.)
I tried to go shopping at Wal-Mart earlier in the week. I got as far as the parking lot, but when my tires started spinning on the slick street as the sleet pelted my windshield, I decided groceries could wait! So when I DID get to the store, my list was twice (or three times?) as long, and apparently everybody else in a 4-county area was in the same predicament. The store was packed with shoppers who were scrambling for items on the shelves.
I heard all sorts of comments, from “My husband lost his job, so we are just doing the bare minimum this year,” to “I haven’t even started on my Christmas shopping – I may have to just write checks!” to “I don’t know what this country is coming to – we may all starve!” I heard a few less than hearty “Merry Christmases” and even a truly joyful, sincere one or two. But the overwhelming mood was one of stress, urgency, and a “let’s just get this whole Christmas thing over with” attitude.
I am not always a cheerful person. I have my moments – just ask my husband! And in years past, I’ve been in the same stress-filled shoes as a few of those shoppers – trying to juggle a job, a home, family issues and the holidays. But I think it is time for ALL of us to stop and look at this passage from Matthew. Jesus never said this would be easy! We are to love Him with everything we have, and love others as much as we love ourselves. Those are the two most important things.
If we keep the focus on these things, then the long, long checkout line at the store becomes an opportunity to smile and be cheerful to others. Walking the aisles looking for green beans and sweet potatoes becomes a chance to hum a familiar Christmas carol. Perusing the shelves for that favorite video game to give your loved one provides you with time to think about that person and how much you love them – and how much joy your gift will bring.
The bottom line is that we need to get the focus off of ourselves and think more about Jesus – and others – this Christmas. Love Jesus with EVERYTHING you have, and then love others and treat them as well as you treat yourself. And try humming a carol or two in the store… or at least SMILE more! You’ll be amazed at the reaction of those around you – AND yourself!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 19 ~ Judges 13:9-25
8 Manoah prayed to God: "Master, let the man of God you sent come to us again and teach us how to raise this boy who is to be born."
9-10 God listened to Manoah. God's angel came again to the woman. She was sitting in the field; her husband Manoah wasn't there with her. She jumped to her feet and ran and told her husband: "He's back! The man who came to me that day!"
11 Manoah got up and, following his wife, came to the man. He said to him, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife?" He said, "I am."
12 Manoah said, "So. When what you say comes true, what do you have to tell us about this boy and his work?"
13-14 The angel of God said to Manoah, "Keep in mind everything I told the woman. Eat nothing that comes from the vine: Drink no wine or beer; eat no ritually unclean foods. She's to observe everything I commanded her."
15 Manoah said to the angel of God, "Please, stay with us a little longer; we'll prepare a meal for you—a young goat." 16 God's angel said to Manoah, "Even if I stay, I won't eat your food. But if you want to prepare a Whole-Burnt-Offering for God, go ahead—offer it!" Manoah had no idea that he was talking to the angel of God.
17 Then Manoah asked the angel of God, "What's your name? When your words come true, we'd like to honor you."
18 The angel of God said, "What's this? You ask for my name? You wouldn't understand—it's sheer wonder."
19-21 So Manoah took the kid and the Grain-Offering and sacrificed them on a rock altar to God who works wonders. As the flames leapt up from the altar to heaven, God's angel also ascended in the altar flames. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell facedown to the ground. Manoah and his wife never saw the angel of God again.
21-22 Only then did Manoah realize that this was God's angel. He said to his wife, "We're as good as dead! We've looked on God!"
23 But his wife said, "If God were planning to kill us, he wouldn't have accepted our Whole-Burnt-Offering and Grain-Offering, or revealed all these things to us—given us this birth announcement."
24-25 The woman gave birth to a son. They named him Samson. The boy grew and God blessed him. The Spirit of God began working in him while he was staying at a Danite camp between Zorah and Eshtaol.
(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.)
Well! Now you know "the rest of the story" - the history behind the birth of Samson, a mighty man of God. If you want to read something really cool, keep reading in Judges about what happened to Samson. But for today, I want us to focus on the last part of Verse 16 from this chapter of Judges. "Manoah had no idea that he was talking to the angel of God."
I am afraid that much of the time, we are like Manoah. God sends angels to guide us, but we don’t recognize them. We are so busy with what WE think is important that we don’t focus on the things of God that make such a difference. We can spend three hours or better watching a Razorback football game on television, but we can’t spend thirty minutes reading a scripture passage and praying. We might skim over these daily devotionals for five minutes, but there is NO WAY we are going to sit down and read the rest of the story about Samson – or any other story – because we have things to do, places to go and people to see!
So we fumble along and hope that we hear from God often enough to get by pretty well in life. What we don’t realize is that tuning in to God more could have AMAZING consequences. EVERYTHING could change. I’m not saying our lives would be perfect, but surely they could be better! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to meet God’s angel and not recognize him! Even in this busy week before Christmas, I want to take time to stop and pay attention to the messages – and the messengers – God is sending my way. What about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
December 18 ~ Judges 13:2-7
2-5 At that time there was a man named Manoah from Zorah from the tribe of Dan. His wife was barren and childless. The angel of God appeared to her and told her, "I know that you are barren and childless, but you're going to become pregnant and bear a son. But take much care: Drink no wine or beer; eat nothing ritually unclean. You are, in fact, pregnant right now, carrying a son. No razor will touch his head—the boy will be God's Nazirite from the moment of his birth. He will launch the deliverance from Philistine oppression."
6-7 The woman went to her husband and said, "A man of God came to me. He looked like the angel of God—terror laced with glory! I didn't ask him where he was from and he didn't tell me his name, but he told me, 'You're pregnant. You're going to give birth to a son. Don't drink any wine or beer and eat nothing ritually unclean. The boy will be God's Nazirite from the moment of birth to the day of his death.'"
(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 don’t know about you, but I am amazed many times over when I read about how angels appeared to these people and gave them such heavy-duty information as this angel gave Manoah’s wife! I also find it interesting that long before Mary and Elizabeth, angels were appearing to women and telling them about a pregnancy! And you may be wondering why I am sharing these scriptures in the middle of the Christmas season – focusing on the birth of others besides Jesus Christ!
The truth is that I am still focused on the birth of Jesus. See, God could have just said one day, "I think I will send my Son to earth in the form of a baby." But that’s not how it happened at all! No… God planned EVERYTHING. He prepared for Jesus’ birth for centuries at least, maybe longer! He set things in motion even in the Garden of Eden. He used angels to deliver messages that had a direct impact on the events of the birth in the manger in Bethlehem.
Now I ask you… if God loved us so much that He put THAT much thought and effort into preparing for Jesus’ birth, is there any question how much He loves us? If God is able to orchestrate all of these events, can’t He surely send angels today to minister to us and deliver messages? Do we really GET how big God is?
©2008 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 17 ~ Genesis 16:5-16
5 Sarai told Abram, "It's all your fault that I'm suffering this abuse. I put my maid in bed with you and the minute she knows she's pregnant, she treats me like I'm nothing. May God decide which of us is right."
6 "You decide," said Abram. "Your maid is your business." Sarai was abusive to Hagar and Hagar ran away.
7-8 An angel of God found her beside a spring in the desert; it was the spring on the road to Shur. He said, "Hagar, maid of Sarai, what are you doing here?" She said, "I'm running away from Sarai my mistress."
9-12 The angel of God said, "Go back to your mistress. Put up with her abuse." He continued, "I'm going to give you a big family, children past counting. From this pregnancy, you'll get a son: Name him Ishmael; for God heard you, God answered you. He'll be a bucking bronco of a man, a real fighter, fighting and being fought, Always stirring up trouble, always at odds with his family."
13 She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, "You're the God who sees me! "Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!"
14 That's how that desert spring got named "God-Alive-Sees-Me Spring." That spring is still there, between Kadesh and Bered.
15-16 Hagar gave Abram a son. Abram named him Ishmael. Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar gave him his son, Ishmael.
(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.)
Throughout the stories of the Bible, God sent angels to meet the needs of His children. We are familiar with the angel who appeared to Mary – and maybe even the angel Gabriel who told Elizabeth about her pregnancy. But there were many angels down through history who were important to our legacy. Indirectly, these angels had a hand in the "Christmas story," because they ministered to those in Jesus’ lineage.
I believe that angels minister to us today. A bright light may not shine around them… we may not "see" them physically. But surely you have had instances where you have said, "Angels were watching over me." And most certainly they were.It all goes back to the issue of listening and watching for God to speak to us in whatever manner He chooses, including angels. If we are not alert, we may miss His blessings. I am surely glad that Hagar was listening. I’m glad that Elizabeth and Mary were paying attention. And I hope that when the God who sees US speaks – even if through an angel - we will "see" Him, too.
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------
December 16 ~ Matthew 2:12-15
12 In a dream, they were warned not to report back to Herod. So they worked out another route, left the territory without being seen, and returned to their own country.
13 After the scholars were gone, God's angel showed up again in Joseph's dream and commanded, "Get up. Take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt. Stay until further notice. Herod is on the hunt for this child, and wants to kill him."
14-15 Joseph obeyed. He got up, took the child and his mother under cover of darkness. They were out of town and well on their way by daylight. They lived in Egypt until Herod's death. This Egyptian exile fulfilled what Hosea had preached: "I called my son out of Egypt."
(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 started to do something, and for some reason you couldn’t even explain, you stopped dead in your tracks and felt that you were NOT supposed to go in that direction? Sometimes, the “sign” is so strong and powerful that you just KNOW you need to switch gears. Other times, it may be a nagging sense that “something is just not right.” I believe we need to be paying closer attention to these signals. I believe a lot of times, God tries to warn us… or at the very least to steer us in a better direction… and quite often, we brush these thoughts aside and move ahead – sometimes with horrible outcomes.
We can’t turn back the clock – although probably all of us wish we could about at least one decision or another – but we can start today to listen and pay attention. Thankfully, Joseph and the scholars had their heads on straight and were listening to God. I’m not saying we all need to start interpreting our dreams – God may not speak to us that way. But we need to be more aware and alert in our everyday lives. We need to be in constant contact with God, so that when He does speak to us, we are listening and recognize His voice!
God may be calling you out of your own “Egypt” today. Will you know His voice – and will you be ready to follow?
©2008 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------------
December 15 ~ Matthew 1:9-11
9-10 Instructed by the king, they set off. Then the star appeared again, the same star they had seen in the eastern skies. It led them on until it hovered over the place of the child. They could hardly contain themselves: They were in the right place! They had arrived at the right time!
11 They entered the house and saw the child in the arms of Mary, his mother. Overcome, they kneeled and worshiped him. Then they opened their luggage and presented gifts: gold, frankincense, myrrh.
(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, I knew some people who collected Santa Clauses. That seemed like a fun thing to have – a whole display at holiday time of the jolly old man in the red suit! And I have to admit, over the years, I’ve acquired a few Santas of my own that make me smile when I see them on a shelf. Other people collect those Christmas villages… the little houses and the people, and trains and cars and storefronts that all light up and sparkle. That seemed fun, too, but I wanted something different. So I started collecting nativity scenes. I began my collection with a beautiful tall white ceramic set – Joseph, Mary, and Baby Jesus with his own little bed. I also had a musical nativity snow globe that played “Silent Night.” Over twenty years later, I count 48 individual “nativities” on my piano and sofa table, and there are more on our Christmas tree. Every year I say I am done – that I have more than enough. And then I will spy a beautiful set at an auction or estate sale… or someone will give me one. This year, I added a very old chalkware set that belonged to my mother’s first grade teacher, an old Italian plaster set my mother-in-law gave me for my birthday, and an intricate little Italian set I discovered in a box of “treasures” I bought at an auction.
While I do still keep a few sets to add to my collection, I have started giving some away and sharing with others, especially children. I am in awe of a child’s face when he/she views a nativity scene. I remember being mesmerized by a life-sized set that graced our courthouse lawn each Christmas when I was a little, and I miss it being there today. I think there is an innate sense of understanding – a relationship between children and the Baby in the manger – that we sort of glaze over as we age.
This year, I have already given two nativities to children. One was to my cousin Olivia, who had been forbidden to touch the precious heirloom characters of her aunts’ nativities. Now she has her very own set that she can handle as much as she likes. And she is… Jesus sleeps with Dora (the explorer) in her house (His barn), and rides with Olivia and Mary and Joseph in her Barbie car. I don’t find this irreverent… you see, Jesus is always with her… even in her Barbie car! The other set I gave to some little friends who are just learning about Jesus. As Ada unwrapped each character, she kissed it and smiled at me and said, “Mine!” Do you see where I’m going with this? The nativity really is hers! The story of what happened in that manger is significant for these little children, and on their own level, they get it in a way many of us have lost!
The wise men, who knew scarcely more than these little children about what was happening, knelt and worshipped Jesus and showered Him with precious gifts. It is my prayer that this Christmas season, we would all wade through the maze of commercialism, busyness, skepticism… whatever… and worship like little children. It is my prayer that Jesus would be with us in every car and house, every day, and that we would always recognize that He is “mine” and yours forever.
©2008 Debbie Robus
One More Psalm and a Christmas Story
December 14 ~ Matthew 1:3-8
3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
5-6 They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."
7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."
(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.)
”Just in case”… how many things do we do in our lives “just in case?” Just in case we get exposed to the flu, let’s get a flu shot. Just in case it rains, let’s take a jacket or umbrella. Just in case the test is harder than we thought, let’s study for a few minutes. Just in case So-and-So calls, we better have our cell phone turned on! Just in case there really IS something to all this talk of Jesus and heaven and hell, we better go to church and at least act halfway like decent folk!
I find a lot of things about this part of “The Christmas Story” interesting. First of all… notice that the “kings” were not present immediately after Jesus’ birth, as depicted in almost all nativity scenes. They traveled from far away, maybe even weeks later. Another thing I find interesting is that Herod was so worried about this tiny baby who was supposed to be the Messiah. Isn’t it funny that he considered this infant “competition” of sorts? Why was he so afraid? Clearly on some level, Herod recognized Jesus’ importance and believed that His birth was extraordinary.
So if only “just in case,” Herod decided he better do something about this newborn baby. He used the scholars – the wise men/kings – to use their wisdom, genuine study and research to find the baby Jesus. Herod pretended that he wanted to worship, too… but it was all a ruse – a trick. He really wanted to destroy this “competition” baby King.
You know, we are all a lot like Herod. There are so many things we either really don’t believe deep in our hearts (lack of faith?) – and more than a few others we don’t WANT to believe or follow. Either they are hard or considered less than fun, or they seem “uncool.” And so we make up excuses. We have backup plans “just in case,” and we use others to do our dirty work. We are deceptive, skeptical, and downright low and dishonest in ways great and small. And yet… God sent Jesus to save us. This is the essence of Christmas. Knowing that from almost Day One, people would be out to kill Jesus, to smear His character and reputation, to renounce Him as the Messiah – God sent Him anyway. This is the good news of Christmas! Nothing and no one could stop God from loving us. Nothing and no one could keep Him from saving His children. Isn’t it great to be one of God’s very own? Doesn’t focusing on this make Christmas better than ever?
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 13 ~ Matthew 2:1-2
1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory - this was during Herod's kingship - a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."
(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.)
“What do you know, girl?” That is almost always how my friend Julie greets me. This is her version of “How are you doing?” She doesn’t actually want to know what I know… she is using that as her special greeting – something she has made a habit of using as her “hallmark” salutation! If she relied on friends like me for her knowledge and information, she would be fumbling in the dark most of the time!
In the context of the three scholars, or “wise men”/kings, as we know them, they DID want to know… and through study and paying close attention, they learned a LOT! When I first read these verses, it occurred to me… “How did these men know that the star in the East signaled Jesus’ birth? How did they even know about Jesus?” In digging deeper and doing some study of my own, I discovered that these men had been researching such things for a long, long time. They had studied the prophecies of the Old Testament. They had paid attention to astronomy – and probably even astrology, to the extent that it contributed hints and “leads” for their other studies. They had listened to others and watched for the predicted “signs and wonders.” Why else would three scholars in the West have paid attention to a star in the East and followed it? How else would they have known that Bethlehem was a holy city and the logical place for the King of the Jews to be born?
Surely God had a hand in all of this. Surely He led these men and orchestrated the events of their studies, their wisdom, and the signs and wonders in their path. But more than that, we need to remember that these men were paying attention! They were doing the things that led them to this result. They were studying… listening… watching. AND… they believed what they learned! And yes, there was quite a bit of faith involved.
My point for today is that we have a lot of information placed in our path each and every day. What are we doing with it? Are we studying and listening and watching and gleaning what is important while tossing the rest? Are we focusing on the right things? Are we sure that we would recognize “signs and wonders” if God sent them our way? Would we dismiss them as being for someone else if they seemed like a “Star in the East” guiding us in the “West?” God IS trying to get messages to us each and every day. He IS sending us “signs and wonders.” The question is… are we paying attention – and will we recognize Him?
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------
December 12 ~ Luke 2:19-20
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!
(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 know how you overhear your mom bragging about you to some of her friends, and you are a little embarrassed. You sort of feel like the nice things being said are just words… after all, she IS your mother, and she is supposed to think you are great, right? So what if Mary, the birth mother of Jesus, went around telling everyone about this great thing that had happened and how her son was the Messiah, the Lord and Master of all who will believe in Him. People would think she was nuts! At the very least, they might not believe her because of her close proximity to this situation!
But the shepherds… well, that was another story. They had witnessed an angel showing up in the field surrounded by bright light. They had been led by that light to a manger, where just as the angel predicted, a newborn baby was wrapped and in the arms of His mother. I don’t know about you, but I think if something like that happened to ME, I would become a believer pretty fast, and I would want to tell EVERYONE!
You know, God didn’t have to do things this way. He didn’t have to send Jesus in this form or under these circumstances. Jesus could have instantaneously appeared on earth as a full-grown man. He could have just started walking the earth teaching and proclaiming Himself as our Savior and urging those who heard Him to believe and follow His teachings. But God had a plan… and it involved a whole lotta faith! God is all about free will – our loving Him because we WANT to, not because we have to or are afraid to do otherwise. So HE sent Jesus in the form of a human baby, and He led shepherds to find Him and then start spreading the Good News. And now, God is depending on US to be the shepherds and keep getting the word out. How are you doing? Are you spreading the Gospel, or are you keeping it to yourself?
©2008 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------
December 11 ~ Luke 2:8-18
8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
(Scripture 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.)
Did it ever occur to you that the shepherds might not have been able to find the baby Jesus if Joseph had found a room somewhere for Mary to deliver? Suppose the shepherds had been challenged to go house to house in Bethlehem, looking for a newborn baby. It’s possible that there might have been other babies born that same night! But a baby born in a manger… now there couldn’t have been very many of those! AND… who was going to question a handful of shepherds looking for a manger?
Do you see how God orchestrated this all beautifully? He didn’t have the shepherds seeking a “needle in a haystack”. He sent angels and light to guide them – and then He placed His Son in a manger – the logical place for shepherds to be. In the same way, and with equal care, God orchestrates the events of our lives. He sets things in motion, guides our path, and often sends angels to show us the way.
The KEY is to recognizer this guidance. Seldom, if ever, is an angel going to bathe us in bright light and speak to us directly. Our guidance will most likely be more subtle… a scripture, a “still small voice” in our heads, a clear “sign” that is an answer to prayer, meditation, and/or worship. Things go so much better when we follow God’s lead… the question is… how well are you paying attention?
©2008 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------
December 10 ~ Luke 2:6-7
6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
(Scripture 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.)
Does it strike you as odd that Luke only gave a couple of sentences to the actual birth of Jesus?! It’s sort of like, “Oh, by the way, while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, they had a baby, and since there wasn’t a vacancy at the inn, they had to have him in a barn!” What? Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in Bethlehem in a stable? How did it happen? What were the details? Did Joseph really try to find another place? Were there complications in the birth? Who helped with the delivery?
Why do you suppose that Luke didn’t give us more information? Matthew gave us even less. If the birth of Jesus Christ was truly this amazing, incredible thing, then why do those who reported it not give more details? In MY opinion, there are a couple of reasons: 1) the reporters were men, and men just don’t give as many details as women – especially about something like the birth of a baby; and 2) the birth itself is not the story. We’ve made it a big deal over the years, and we’ve built celebrations and plays and incredible illustrations around this “manger scene,” but the story is not the actual birth of Jesus. The story is the events leading up to His birth, and what happened afterward… the reaction of those in surrounding areas (shepherds, kings, King Herod), and the life that Jesus led in the next three decades, culminating with His crucifixion.
Several years ago, I heard a beloved pastor say that the real story of Christmas was NOT Christ’s birth –the real story was in the crucifixion and the events surrounding Easter. I was at first somewhat offended by that notion, but once I began to really study the life of Jesus and what His coming to earth meant for us, I realized that there IS so much more to this story than just the birth in the manger. Yes, the birth is important, but only in the context of everything else. I pray that as you celebrate Christ’s birth this season, you will also celebrate His LIFE among us, and the ultimate sacrifice He came to make for us on the cross.
©2008 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------------------
December 9 ~ Luke 2:1-5
1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
(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 had to do something you didn’t want to do? We may not agree with every law on the books, but we still have to obey them. We may feel our taxes are too high, but we still have to pay. We may not want to go to school or work, but we must! There is something to be said for accountability… and Joseph gave us a great example. Surely he had all kinds of great excuses for not going to Bethlehem. For one thing, his soon-to-be-wife was very pregnant, and it was a long, cold trek… and apparently, he only had one donkey! But still he went… and so did Mary. You know, she could have probably stayed at home, but notice she realized her place was with Joseph and traveled with him to his home town.
There are always going to be things we don’t like or want to do. There are always going to be rules with which we don’t agree, schedules we’d rather not meet, and people who are telling us to do things we don’t like. But clearly the scriptures set a precedent for obeying laws and doing the right thing. If Joseph and Mary were able to be obedient in their circumstances, we have no excuse for not doing the same. It may not always be easy or fun, but nobody said being an obedient Christian was going to be a walk in the park!There are so many lessons in the “Christmas Story” … and obedience to authority is one of them – whether it is your parents, your teachers, your boss, the government, or God. In all things, be obedient and faithful, and as we will see in days to come, you will be blessed for your efforts.
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------
December 8 ~ Luke 1:65-80
65-66 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."
67-79 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
and in the very house of David his servant,
Just as he promised long ago
through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
and every hateful hand;
Mercy to our fathers,
as he remembers to do what he said he'd do,
What he swore to our father Abraham—
a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
made holy before him as long as we live.
And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest,"
will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to his people,
the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
God's Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
down the path of peace.
80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.
(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 hope you are getting a clearer picture of the greatness – the importance – of John, the son of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zachariah. He is important to the Christmas story. He was the forerunner of Christ – the original “front man,” and in years to come, he would pave the way for Jesus with many people. John would prepare people to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and repent of their sins. He would spread the gospel – the Good News of Salvation in Christ.
As important as John was to the “Christmas Story,” he had a more far-reaching role. John the Baptist, as he would come to be known, was a model of how we should witness for Christ. He told others about Jesus. We should tell others about Jesus. He encouraged people to stop living sinfully… both by his own example and by his teachings and ministries to others. We should model this behavior in our own lives and interaction with others. John the Baptist’s life was prophesied in Isaiah as one who would be a “voice crying in the wilderness”… and he did preach in the wilderness of Judea. God gave Isaiah the vision of John’s birth and ministry long before he was born… and God planned the birth and life of each one of us.
We may not be John the Baptist, but we are all called to prepare the hearts of others to receive Jesus Christ, just as he did. In this way, we have our own role to play in the Christmas story, even today. Are you up for the challenge?
©2008 Debbie Robus
3-4 When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, "Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?"
5-6 They told him, "Bethlehem, Judah territory. The prophet Micah wrote it plainly:
It's you, Bethlehem, in Judah's land,
no longer bringing up the rear.
From you will come the leader
who will shepherd-rule my people, my Israel."
7-8 Herod then arranged a secret meeting with the scholars from the East. Pretending to be as devout as they were, he got them to tell him exactly when the birth-announcement star appeared. Then he told them the prophecy about Bethlehem, and said, "Go find this child. Leave no stone unturned. As soon as you find him, send word and I'll join you at once in your worship."
(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.)
”Just in case”… how many things do we do in our lives “just in case?” Just in case we get exposed to the flu, let’s get a flu shot. Just in case it rains, let’s take a jacket or umbrella. Just in case the test is harder than we thought, let’s study for a few minutes. Just in case So-and-So calls, we better have our cell phone turned on! Just in case there really IS something to all this talk of Jesus and heaven and hell, we better go to church and at least act halfway like decent folk!
I find a lot of things about this part of “The Christmas Story” interesting. First of all… notice that the “kings” were not present immediately after Jesus’ birth, as depicted in almost all nativity scenes. They traveled from far away, maybe even weeks later. Another thing I find interesting is that Herod was so worried about this tiny baby who was supposed to be the Messiah. Isn’t it funny that he considered this infant “competition” of sorts? Why was he so afraid? Clearly on some level, Herod recognized Jesus’ importance and believed that His birth was extraordinary.
So if only “just in case,” Herod decided he better do something about this newborn baby. He used the scholars – the wise men/kings – to use their wisdom, genuine study and research to find the baby Jesus. Herod pretended that he wanted to worship, too… but it was all a ruse – a trick. He really wanted to destroy this “competition” baby King.
You know, we are all a lot like Herod. There are so many things we either really don’t believe deep in our hearts (lack of faith?) – and more than a few others we don’t WANT to believe or follow. Either they are hard or considered less than fun, or they seem “uncool.” And so we make up excuses. We have backup plans “just in case,” and we use others to do our dirty work. We are deceptive, skeptical, and downright low and dishonest in ways great and small. And yet… God sent Jesus to save us. This is the essence of Christmas. Knowing that from almost Day One, people would be out to kill Jesus, to smear His character and reputation, to renounce Him as the Messiah – God sent Him anyway. This is the good news of Christmas! Nothing and no one could stop God from loving us. Nothing and no one could keep Him from saving His children. Isn’t it great to be one of God’s very own? Doesn’t focusing on this make Christmas better than ever?
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
December 13 ~ Matthew 2:1-2
1-2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory - this was during Herod's kingship - a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, "Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We're on pilgrimage to worship him."
(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.)
“What do you know, girl?” That is almost always how my friend Julie greets me. This is her version of “How are you doing?” She doesn’t actually want to know what I know… she is using that as her special greeting – something she has made a habit of using as her “hallmark” salutation! If she relied on friends like me for her knowledge and information, she would be fumbling in the dark most of the time!
In the context of the three scholars, or “wise men”/kings, as we know them, they DID want to know… and through study and paying close attention, they learned a LOT! When I first read these verses, it occurred to me… “How did these men know that the star in the East signaled Jesus’ birth? How did they even know about Jesus?” In digging deeper and doing some study of my own, I discovered that these men had been researching such things for a long, long time. They had studied the prophecies of the Old Testament. They had paid attention to astronomy – and probably even astrology, to the extent that it contributed hints and “leads” for their other studies. They had listened to others and watched for the predicted “signs and wonders.” Why else would three scholars in the West have paid attention to a star in the East and followed it? How else would they have known that Bethlehem was a holy city and the logical place for the King of the Jews to be born?
Surely God had a hand in all of this. Surely He led these men and orchestrated the events of their studies, their wisdom, and the signs and wonders in their path. But more than that, we need to remember that these men were paying attention! They were doing the things that led them to this result. They were studying… listening… watching. AND… they believed what they learned! And yes, there was quite a bit of faith involved.
My point for today is that we have a lot of information placed in our path each and every day. What are we doing with it? Are we studying and listening and watching and gleaning what is important while tossing the rest? Are we focusing on the right things? Are we sure that we would recognize “signs and wonders” if God sent them our way? Would we dismiss them as being for someone else if they seemed like a “Star in the East” guiding us in the “West?” God IS trying to get messages to us each and every day. He IS sending us “signs and wonders.” The question is… are we paying attention – and will we recognize Him?
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------
December 12 ~ Luke 2:19-20
19-20 Mary kept all these things to herself, holding them dear, deep within herself. The sheepherders returned and let loose, glorifying and praising God for everything they had heard and seen. It turned out exactly the way they'd been told!
(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 know how you overhear your mom bragging about you to some of her friends, and you are a little embarrassed. You sort of feel like the nice things being said are just words… after all, she IS your mother, and she is supposed to think you are great, right? So what if Mary, the birth mother of Jesus, went around telling everyone about this great thing that had happened and how her son was the Messiah, the Lord and Master of all who will believe in Him. People would think she was nuts! At the very least, they might not believe her because of her close proximity to this situation!
But the shepherds… well, that was another story. They had witnessed an angel showing up in the field surrounded by bright light. They had been led by that light to a manger, where just as the angel predicted, a newborn baby was wrapped and in the arms of His mother. I don’t know about you, but I think if something like that happened to ME, I would become a believer pretty fast, and I would want to tell EVERYONE!
You know, God didn’t have to do things this way. He didn’t have to send Jesus in this form or under these circumstances. Jesus could have instantaneously appeared on earth as a full-grown man. He could have just started walking the earth teaching and proclaiming Himself as our Savior and urging those who heard Him to believe and follow His teachings. But God had a plan… and it involved a whole lotta faith! God is all about free will – our loving Him because we WANT to, not because we have to or are afraid to do otherwise. So HE sent Jesus in the form of a human baby, and He led shepherds to find Him and then start spreading the Good News. And now, God is depending on US to be the shepherds and keep getting the word out. How are you doing? Are you spreading the Gospel, or are you keeping it to yourself?
©2008 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------------
December 11 ~ Luke 2:8-18
8-12 There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God's angel stood among them and God's glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, "Don't be afraid. I'm here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David's town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you're to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger."
13-14 At once the angel was joined by a huge angelic choir singing God's praises:
Glory to God in the heavenly heights,
Peace to all men and women on earth who please him.
15-18 As the angel choir withdrew into heaven, the sheepherders talked it over. "Let's get over to Bethlehem as fast as we can and see for ourselves what God has revealed to us." They left, running, and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the manger. Seeing was believing. They told everyone they met what the angels had said about this child. All who heard the sheepherders were impressed.
(Scripture 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.)
Did it ever occur to you that the shepherds might not have been able to find the baby Jesus if Joseph had found a room somewhere for Mary to deliver? Suppose the shepherds had been challenged to go house to house in Bethlehem, looking for a newborn baby. It’s possible that there might have been other babies born that same night! But a baby born in a manger… now there couldn’t have been very many of those! AND… who was going to question a handful of shepherds looking for a manger?
Do you see how God orchestrated this all beautifully? He didn’t have the shepherds seeking a “needle in a haystack”. He sent angels and light to guide them – and then He placed His Son in a manger – the logical place for shepherds to be. In the same way, and with equal care, God orchestrates the events of our lives. He sets things in motion, guides our path, and often sends angels to show us the way.
The KEY is to recognizer this guidance. Seldom, if ever, is an angel going to bathe us in bright light and speak to us directly. Our guidance will most likely be more subtle… a scripture, a “still small voice” in our heads, a clear “sign” that is an answer to prayer, meditation, and/or worship. Things go so much better when we follow God’s lead… the question is… how well are you paying attention?
©2008 Debbie Robus
-----------------------------------------------------
December 10 ~ Luke 2:6-7
6-7 While they were there, the time came for her to give birth. She gave birth to a son, her firstborn. She wrapped him in a blanket and laid him in a manger, because there was no room in the hostel.
(Scripture 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.)
Does it strike you as odd that Luke only gave a couple of sentences to the actual birth of Jesus?! It’s sort of like, “Oh, by the way, while Mary and Joseph were in Bethlehem, they had a baby, and since there wasn’t a vacancy at the inn, they had to have him in a barn!” What? Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords was born in Bethlehem in a stable? How did it happen? What were the details? Did Joseph really try to find another place? Were there complications in the birth? Who helped with the delivery?
Why do you suppose that Luke didn’t give us more information? Matthew gave us even less. If the birth of Jesus Christ was truly this amazing, incredible thing, then why do those who reported it not give more details? In MY opinion, there are a couple of reasons: 1) the reporters were men, and men just don’t give as many details as women – especially about something like the birth of a baby; and 2) the birth itself is not the story. We’ve made it a big deal over the years, and we’ve built celebrations and plays and incredible illustrations around this “manger scene,” but the story is not the actual birth of Jesus. The story is the events leading up to His birth, and what happened afterward… the reaction of those in surrounding areas (shepherds, kings, King Herod), and the life that Jesus led in the next three decades, culminating with His crucifixion.
Several years ago, I heard a beloved pastor say that the real story of Christmas was NOT Christ’s birth –the real story was in the crucifixion and the events surrounding Easter. I was at first somewhat offended by that notion, but once I began to really study the life of Jesus and what His coming to earth meant for us, I realized that there IS so much more to this story than just the birth in the manger. Yes, the birth is important, but only in the context of everything else. I pray that as you celebrate Christ’s birth this season, you will also celebrate His LIFE among us, and the ultimate sacrifice He came to make for us on the cross.
©2008 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------------------
December 9 ~ Luke 2:1-5
1-5 About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David's town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
(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 had to do something you didn’t want to do? We may not agree with every law on the books, but we still have to obey them. We may feel our taxes are too high, but we still have to pay. We may not want to go to school or work, but we must! There is something to be said for accountability… and Joseph gave us a great example. Surely he had all kinds of great excuses for not going to Bethlehem. For one thing, his soon-to-be-wife was very pregnant, and it was a long, cold trek… and apparently, he only had one donkey! But still he went… and so did Mary. You know, she could have probably stayed at home, but notice she realized her place was with Joseph and traveled with him to his home town.
There are always going to be things we don’t like or want to do. There are always going to be rules with which we don’t agree, schedules we’d rather not meet, and people who are telling us to do things we don’t like. But clearly the scriptures set a precedent for obeying laws and doing the right thing. If Joseph and Mary were able to be obedient in their circumstances, we have no excuse for not doing the same. It may not always be easy or fun, but nobody said being an obedient Christian was going to be a walk in the park!There are so many lessons in the “Christmas Story” … and obedience to authority is one of them – whether it is your parents, your teachers, your boss, the government, or God. In all things, be obedient and faithful, and as we will see in days to come, you will be blessed for your efforts.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 8 ~ Luke 1:65-80
65-66 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, "What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this."
67-79 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
and in the very house of David his servant,
Just as he promised long ago
through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
and every hateful hand;
Mercy to our fathers,
as he remembers to do what he said he'd do,
What he swore to our father Abraham—
a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
made holy before him as long as we live.
And you, my child, "Prophet of the Highest,"
will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to his people,
the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
God's Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
down the path of peace.
80 The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.
(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 hope you are getting a clearer picture of the greatness – the importance – of John, the son of Mary’s cousin Elizabeth and her husband Zachariah. He is important to the Christmas story. He was the forerunner of Christ – the original “front man,” and in years to come, he would pave the way for Jesus with many people. John would prepare people to receive Jesus Christ as their Savior and repent of their sins. He would spread the gospel – the Good News of Salvation in Christ.
As important as John was to the “Christmas Story,” he had a more far-reaching role. John the Baptist, as he would come to be known, was a model of how we should witness for Christ. He told others about Jesus. We should tell others about Jesus. He encouraged people to stop living sinfully… both by his own example and by his teachings and ministries to others. We should model this behavior in our own lives and interaction with others. John the Baptist’s life was prophesied in Isaiah as one who would be a “voice crying in the wilderness”… and he did preach in the wilderness of Judea. God gave Isaiah the vision of John’s birth and ministry long before he was born… and God planned the birth and life of each one of us.
We may not be John the Baptist, but we are all called to prepare the hearts of others to receive Jesus Christ, just as he did. In this way, we have our own role to play in the Christmas story, even today. Are you up for the challenge?
©2008 Debbie Robus
One More Psalm and a Christmas Story
December 7 ~ Luke 1:57-64
57-58 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she bore a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.
59-60 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: "No. He is to be called John."
61-62 "But," they said, "no one in your family is named that." They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.
63-64 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, "His name is to be John." That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah's mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising 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.)
Do you remember when I mentioned a few days ago that God promised to deliver Zachariah when the time was right? So why do you suppose He chose NOW to restore Zachariah’s speech. Clearly it was because Zachariah was faithful. He listened to God, and when the time came to obey and name the baby John, as God had told Zachariah and Elizabeth to do, they spoke up and said so! I can imagine this caused quite a stir, because it was probably customary to name the firstborn son after the father, and as the scripture tells us, nobody in Zachariah and Elizabeth’s families was named John.
How faithful are you? When God clearly tells you, “Don’t go to that party,” or “Don’t watch that movie,” or “I want you to put your spare change in the Salvation Army bucket outside of Wal-Mart,” or even, “push that cart back to the cart carousel instead of leaving it beside your vehicle” – when you hear God even in such small instances (or maybe especially in them), what do you do? We must be faithful to obey God in ALL things… from the naming of our children to the tipping of a wait person in a restaurant or putting trash where it goes instead of littering. God is guiding us all of the time… it is up to us to pay attention and follow His lead. It will not go unnoticed. God WILL deliver on His promises. Are you willing to do YOUR part?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 6 ~ Luke 1:46-55
46-56 And Mary said,
I'm bursting with God-news;
I'm dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
I'm the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It's exactly what he promised,
beginning with Abraham and right up to now.
56 Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.
(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.)
Suppose God led you into scary, unknown territory. It might not be as dramatic as a virgin birth, or it could be something equally terrifying. He might be calling you to change careers or study paths… to give up your dream of med school in exchange for a career as a paramedic. He might be directing you away from a degree in business, music, art, or science to become a teacher of these things instead. He might be calling you to use your computer knowledge to design AV ministries for churches instead of becoming an IT for a major corporation.
You might be facing struggles in your life, and God might be saying, “Take my hand and trust ME to get you through this,” and in your vulnerability and stress, your faith is faltering. Go back and read the list of things that Mary credits to God. Look at how she claims that what God has done for her will NEVER be forgotten. It’s that way for all of us. His mercy really DOES flow in wave after wave for those who are in awe before Him. It really IS exactly as He promised… the question is, are you willing to step up and out in faith and believe Him?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 5 ~ Luke 1:39-45
39-45 Mary didn't waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah's house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,
You're so blessed among women,
and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
believed every word would come true!
(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 know, I think if I were Mary, I would have wanted to go tell somebody about this right away, too! She must have been scared half to death – and excited, also. And imagine how relieved she must have felt to hear Elizabeth confirm what Gabriel had told her. She had to feel better to hear a human – a relative – tell her about the baby. I’m sure this made it all “real” to her… if she had any doubts.
So often, we doubt what God is telling us – or showing us. So often, we want someone to confirm to us that we are on the right track, or we will say to God, “Give me a sign.” I firmly believe we miss out on a lot of blessings because we hesitate. “Just Do It” is a great motto for Christians! You will know when you are doing God’s will. You may not feel a leap inside like that of Elizabeth’s baby, but the Holy Spirit WILL move in you, and you will be encouraged, comforted, and blessed! Don’t waste a minute! Listen for God’s voice and act on His directions. You will be so glad you did.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 4 ~ Luke 1:26-38
26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning! You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out! God be with you.
29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great, be called 'Son of the Highest.'
The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob's house forever— no end, ever, to his kingdom."
34 Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've never slept with a man."
35 The angel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come upon you, the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth will be called Holy, Son of God.
36-38"And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."
And Mary said, Yes, I see it all now: I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me just as you say.
Then the angel left her.
(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.)
WOW! Talk about a surprise! Imagine being a teenage girl and being told you are going to have a baby! Historians say that it is most likely that Mary was somewhere around twelve or thirteen years of age. Honestly, I think that even in my fifties, I would be scared to death if an angel appeared and told me I was expecting – not to mention that the baby was a gift from God! Ole Gabriel could stand before me all day and say, “You have nothing to fear,” and I would probably still be shaking in my boots. Notice that the angel first told Mary how beautiful she was to God… his version of “You’re not gonna believe this, but I’m an agent of God and this is for real!” I think I would still figure that a) this guy was crazy, and b) I needed to run!
The fact that Mary neither ran nor deemed the angel Gabriel to be anything other than who he said he was is amazingly wonderful. The fact that she accepted this news with grace has huge meaning for all of us. What if she had run? What if she had argued with Gabriel, and God had honored her free will and changed His mind? How did a young teenage girl have the courage, faith, and fortitude to accept this news and serve God – and all mankind – so well? What if that was you or me? What would we do?
And yet, so often, God calls on us to do things that are outside our comfort zone – or downright scary – and we shake our heads and say, “Nope… not me! Pick somebody else!” God puts opportunities to serve Him in our path each and every day, and we make a choice. Sometimes He sets things up so that it is very clear that it is a “God thing,” and we decide what we will do. Other times, the lines seem a little blurry, and the water seems a little troubled, and it is so easy to chicken out and take what seems to be the easy road.
But I want us to remember Mary… this young teenage girl who stepped up to the plate. She didn’t do it for herself. She did it for us, through God’s amazing grace. God chose Mary for an incredibly daunting task. She risked her reputation, her marriage – her very life – for each of us, so that Jesus Christ could come to earth in human form to die for our sins and ensure our place in heaven for all of eternity. Remember Mary and her courage, and when God calls on you to step up – or out – for Him, remember how beautiful you are inside and out because of His grace and Jesus Christ. Remember Mary, and make the right choice.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 3 ~ Luke 1:18-23
18 Zachariah said to the angel, "Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman."
19-20 But the angel said, "I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won't believe me, you'll be unable to say a word until the day of your son's birth. Every word I've spoken to you will come true on time—God's time."
21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn't speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.
23-25 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn't long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. "So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!" she said.
(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 told you several times that God doesn’t cause bad things to happen to us, and I firmly believe that. But I also believe that we learn in this passage that sometimes, when we question God or fail to trust Him, He moves in a different direction to remind us Who is in charge! I still don’t think God does this to harm us in any way… but have you ever said, “God must really have a great sense of humor!” when something happened to you? Well maybe that was God’s way of getting your attention!
Let’s say there is a weekend shopping trip in your future plans, but you are really short on cash. You want to go out of town with your friends for the weekend to shop. You really want to go, but you know deep down that you don’t have extra cash to be spending on a trip to shop for things you don’t need and can’t afford. You just can’t get any peace about this, so you talk to God about it. You aren’t asking God for cash… you are just telling Him how badly you want to go on this trip. God plainly tells you, “Don’t go… you can’t afford it, and you have no business going.” But you, in your infinite wisdom say, “that wasn’t GOD… that must be the devil trying to bring me down.” The time for the trip nears, and you develop a really nasty cold that sends you to bed for several days. It’s not life threatening, but shopping is the LAST thing on your mind!
It’s just possible that in this instance, God made a decision for you and saved you from yourself… and in doing so, He may have also showed you Who is BOSS! He told you plainly what you needed to hear, and you didn’t believe him. Rather than let you make a huge mistake, and in this case blow money you didn’t have, He moved you in another direction (call it “grace”) and kept you out of hot water.
Now, in Zachariah’s case, God used a really profound way to get his attention – rendering him literally speechless for several months. BUT… and this is important… in the end, God delivered Zachariah, just as He promised. And He will deliver US, too. God’s purposes for us are always good… never evil. He is trying to show us things and tell us things every day, and we are so stubborn and faithless! Don’t be like Zachariah. Don’t end up speechless – even figuratively! When God speaks or shows you something, take Him at His word. Believe and receive the good news of God.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 2 ~ Luke 1:5-17
5-7 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.
8-12 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.
13-15 But the angel reassured him, "Don't fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You're going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you - many will delight in his birth. He'll achieve great stature with God.
15-17 "He'll drink neither wine nor beer. He'll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother's womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God's arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he'll get the people ready for 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.)
We are in full “Christmas mode” now – it’s all over the stores, television, and even the Internet! But how much do we really know about “the Christmas story?” Oh, sure, we know the “Charlie Brown version.” We know the story we have seen in pageants all of our lives and heard about in Sunday School. But how much do these stories and pageants leave out… if only to save time and condense the story to one that can be told or enacted in about an hour, complete with hymns? So for a few days, we are going to study the story of Christ’s birth, from the prospective of Luke. Let’s see what we can discover that will enable us to better understand these events and how God used them to bless us.
It all starts with Zachariah and Elizabeth. Bet you thought it started with Mary and Joseph, eh?! Nope, it started with this old couple, Zachariah and Elizabeth, who were never able to have children, and now they were far too old… and well past child-bearing ages. Ever want something so badly and wish for it and dream about it, but you never get it? I think we all do on one level or another. Some even wish for a baby they are unable to conceive. Others wish for a career that never materializes, or wealth that never comes, or maybe even that really cool car that never happened.
Now imagine if you were old and gray and an angel appeared before you and said, “You know that thing you wanted so badly when you were younger? You’re getting it now! And that baby/career/wealth/cool car/whatever you wished for is going to bless thousands of people. It is going to delight you and others. It will even pave the way for others to find their way to God!” WOW!!! Luke says that this news paralyzed Zachariah with fear. I’d probably be paralyzed, too, wouldn’t you?!
Notice that the angel told Zachariah “your prayer has been heard.” I want us to focus on this sentence today. Okay, so this doesn’t mean we will get the car, the career, the big house, the cool car, the baby, or even the girl/guy of our dreams. But when it matters… when we are faithful and focus on pleasing God, He hears our prayers. And in HIS TIME, we get answers. They may not be the answers we want, but they will always be the answer we need. We’re going to see in days to come how the faithfulness of a few people who lived “with a clear conscience before God” changed the whole world. That’s a pretty big statement, and I’m not saying our faithfulness and holy living will have an impact this broad, but it will change things in ways we can’t even see or may never realize.
Are you faithful in your prayers? Do you trust God to do what is best for you, even if you grow to be an old person with no visible results? It’s a challenge, I’ll admit. We are used to instant gratification in pretty much every area of our life. Can you do it? Can you follow God and keep praying and believing? Isn’t the Christmas Season the perfect time to give it a try?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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December 1 ~ Psalm 150
1-6 Hallelujah! Praise God in his holy house of worship,
praise him under the open skies;
Praise him for his acts of power,
praise him for his magnificent greatness;
Praise with a blast on the trumpet,
praise by strumming soft strings;
Praise him with castanets and dance,
praise him with banjo and flute;
Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum,
praise him with fiddles and mandolin.
Let every living, breathing creature praise God!
Hallelujah!
(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 a Contemporary Christian Worship song about “Let Everything That Has Breath Praise the Lord.” I am sure it is based on this passage. I know that I have had a theme lately of talking to you about troubles and how to hand them over to God. But it seems like a lot of us are hurting these days… for a lot of reasons. Just the other day, I stopped as I was driving down the road to pick up a former Sunday School student of mine. He was walking up a steep hill, and I offered him a ride to the top. He told me he had just attended the funeral of an acquaintance from high school who died in a car accident. He needed to walk and just do some serious thinking. This person has had more than his own share of troubles, trials and heartaches this year, and yet, when I mentioned this, he said, “It’s nothing compared to this guy’s family. They did not deserve this.”
The fact is that many people do not deserve the heartache and troubles that come their way. And God is not being mean. He does not cause these things to happen. But He often uses them in ways we cannot even imagine that will bring about His purposes, glorify His name, and bless us in the bargain. Sounds crazy, I know! But this is 100% the truth of how God operates.
So, even when our hearts are heavy – even when our burdens are weighing us down – even when we feel like we are in the pit of despair, we must praise God. Because, you see, God is STILL on the throne… He is still greater than anything we will ever encounter. He is still our mighty, powerful, wonderful Counselor, Father GOD! Praise Him with everything you have – and then some! Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!
©2008 Debbie Robus
More Studies in the Psalms - Week 4
November 30 ~ Psalm 145:14-21
14 God gives a hand to those down on their luck,
gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.
15 All eyes are on you, expectant;
you give them their meals on time.
16 Generous to a fault,
you lavish your favor on all creatures.
17 Everything God does is right—
the trademark on all his works is love.
18 God's there, listening for all who pray,
for all who pray and mean it.
19 He does what's best for those who fear him—
hears them call out, and saves them.
20 God sticks by all who love him,
but it's all over for those who don't.
21 My mouth is filled with God's praise.
Let everything living bless him,
bless his holy name from now to eternity!
(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.)
Here we are at the end of November. Many of us have already put Thanksgiving behind us and looked ahead toward Christmas! But let’s take one more day to focus on how blessed we are. Oh, sure… we have problems – and maybe things look pretty bleak for you at the moment. But read this passage again. God gives a hand to those down on their luck and a fresh start to those ready to quit! God gives us meals on time, He hears us when we pray, and He always does what is best for us. More than that… God sticks by us… He hears us call out and saves us.
Do you get it? No matter how bad things may seem right now, God can help – and He will if you call on Him and mean it! You have to mean it, and you have to believe that He will answer. He will do the rest.
So stop what you are doing and thank God for loving you so well. Thank Him for what He has done – and what He is going to do in your life. Praise Him for blessings given that you don’t deserve and never, ever doubt His love for you. Keep the faith, keep praising and thanking God… and then watch Him work in your life. It’s gonna be amazing, I just know it! To God be all the glory… amen!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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November 29 ~ Psalm 145:8-13
8 God is all mercy and grace—
not quick to anger, is rich in love.
9 God is good to one and all;
everything he does is suffused with grace.
10-11 Creation and creatures applaud you, God;
your holy people bless you.
They talk about the glories of your rule,
they exclaim over your splendor,
12 Letting the world know of your power for good,
the lavish splendor of your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal;
you never get voted out of office.
God always does what he says,
and is gracious in everything he does.
(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.)
We hear a lot about God’s grace, but do we fully understand it? I know I really had no clue about the grace of God until a few years ago. Until I experienced the Walk to Emmaus and heard several people speak about God’s grace and how it plays out daily in their lives, I didn’t even begin to understand what it entails. At Emmaus I learned about prevenient grace… the grace of God that allows us the opportunity to get to know Him. We’ve talked in recent Psalms about how God knew us even before we were formed in our mother’s womb. Now I understand that long before I was born, He was gracious toward me in planning for my future and giving me opportunities to get to know Him.
I also learned about God’s justifying grace. God sent His only Son to die on the cross for my sins so that I might be able to spend eternity in heaven with Him. Now THAT’s grace – and I certainly did not deserve it, but then, that’s why it’s called “grace!” And then I learned about sanctifying grace. Once we surrender to Christ and begin to follow Him, we still need God’s grace to help us stay on the right path. We need His grace and mercy as we face down the devil each and every day – and He generously grants it!
God lavishes grace on us – all kinds of grace, according to what we need at the time. He isn’t fickle – He doesn’t love us one day and desert us the next. He never takes a vacation. His wallet is never empty and He never runs out of time for His children. God’s grace is abundant, always available, and always enough. To Him be the glory for loving us so well.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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November 28 ~ Psalm 145:1-7
1 I lift you high in praise, my God, O my King! and I'll bless your name into eternity.
2 I'll bless you every day,
and keep it up from now to eternity.
3 God is magnificent; he can never be praised enough.
There are no boundaries to his greatness.
4 Generation after generation stands in awe of your work;
each one tells stories of your mighty acts.
5 Your beauty and splendor have everyone talking;
I compose songs on your wonders.
6 Your marvelous doings are headline news;
I could write a book full of the details of your greatness.
7 The fame of your goodness spreads across the country;
your righteousness is on everyone's lips.
(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.)
All you have to do is check out at the grocery store, and you are bombarded with the magazines and tabloid newspapers that give us all sorts of useless drivel that passes for “news.” We know so much about so little… and our appetite for it seems unending.
With all of the technology we have today, spreading news worldwide can happen in what seems like a nanosecond. In the psalmist’s day, it took a little longer. Spreading the fame of God’s goodness across the country may not seem so daunting to us… but even with all of our capabilities to do so, are we really speaking of God as often as we should? Are we praising Him every day and recognizing His goodness? Are we passing to future generations the message of how God has worked in our own lives and that of our families and friends?
Do we really realize how magnificent God is – and is the news of His marvelous doings “headline news” in our vernacular? It should be! It should be the most important topic of conversation… the thought we dwell on each day. Praising God and recognizing His blessings in our life should be the first words out of our mouths. We can talk for days and weeks about our favorite football and basketball teams, politics, the environment and the economy… but when it comes to talking about God and His mighty works, we clam up and have very little to contribute. And it can be that way… but we have to take the first step and change our mindset – and our focus. We may have to work at it at first, but over time, it will come more easily.
The more you focus on God… the more you talk about Him… the more you share how He has blessed your life with others… the more it will become second nature to you… and sharing God’s righteousness will be ever on the tip of your tongue. God is more than worthy of our praise… let’s give Him His due!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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November 27 ~ Psalm 143:10-12
10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God.
May your gracious Spirit lead me forward
on a firm footing.
11 For the glory of your name, O Lord, preserve my life.
Because of your faithfulness, bring me out of this distress.
12 In your unfailing love, silence all my enemies
and destroy all my foes,
for I am your servant.
(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 did not specifically pick this passage for today, but I don’t think it could be more appropriate. Wouldn’t this make a wonderful start to our Thanksgiving prayers today? On a day when we pause to be thankful for all of God’s blessings, wouldn’t it be great to humble ourselves before Him as His servants? This is the perfect day to ask God to teach us to do His will, to silence our enemies and put us on a firm forward footing in our efforts to glorify His name! I pray that your Thanksgiving Day is a blessed one – that the food is satisfying, the fellowship with others gives you joy, and that God is glorified and praised all day long.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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November 26 ~ Psalm 143:7-9
7 Come quickly, Lord, and answer me,
for my depression deepens.
Don’t turn away from me,
or I will die.
8 Let me hear of your unfailing love each morning,
for I am trusting you.
Show me where to walk,
for I give myself to you.
9 Rescue me from my enemies, Lord;
I run to you to hide 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 don’t have a clue what your circumstances are today. I don’t know who among you feels like this passage was written just for you and describes your situation to a “T”. But I do know that the last three sentences apply to all of us. God will show us where to walk if we give ourselves over to Him. He will rescue us from our enemies. If we run to God, He will hide us from Satan and protect us.
My prayer for you today is that you would call on God to come quickly and answer your needs. Run to God. Trust Him, and hide in the shelter of His loving arms. He will show you where to walk. He will answer your prayers and rescue you. His love truly is unfailing, and for that we can all be truly thankful!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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November 25 ~ Psalm 143:1-6
1-2 Listen to this prayer of mine, God; pay attention to what I'm asking.
Answer me—you're famous for your answers!
Do what's right for me.
But don't, please don't, haul me into court;
not a person alive would be acquitted there.
3-6 The enemy hunted me down;
he kicked me and stomped me within an inch of my life.
He put me in a black hole,
buried me like a corpse in that dungeon.
I sat there in despair, my spirit draining away,
my heart heavy, like lead.
I remembered the old days,
went over all you've done, pondered the ways you've worked,
Stretched out my hands to you,
as thirsty for you as a desert thirsty for rain.
(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 this seems like a weird scripture passage for a few days before Thanksgiving, but let’s look at it again. The psalmist is in deep despair. He says the enemy has hunted him down and stomped him within an inch of his life! Do you ever feel that way? Maybe this describes how you are feeling now… you are facing finals, a money squeeze, and a holiday weekend with far-flung family members! Maybe you are trying to figure out how you will bake everything in the oven on time and where you will park Aunt Martha while she visits! Maybe you are headed home from college and you know your grades are not as great as hoped, and you still have to get through a barrage of questions from Mom and Dad and the relatives about “how is school going?” – not to mention finals when you get back to school. Maybe, like some among us, you are approaching the holidays minus a loved one who has passed recently – or someone you love is sick and/or hospitalized. Maybe you are alone, and you are dreading this weekend and the constant reminders at every turn of family and “togetherness.”
The GOOD NEWS is that, while not a single one of us is exempt from the fallout of dealing with the enemy (sin), we CAN stretch out our hands to God and expect an answer. Notice I didn’t say that we will get the answer we want – but we WILL get an answer. No matter what your situation, no matter how heavy your heart, how drained your spirit, remember the mighty works of God… how His goodness, grace and mercy wash over us. Call on God in prayer – humbly approach Him and lay out your troubles and the concerns of your heart before Him. He wants to hear from you – He is listening – He WILL answer!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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November 24 ~ Psalm 139:23-24
23-24 Investigate my life, O God,
find out everything about me;
Cross-examine and test me,
get a clear picture of what I'm about;
See for yourself whether I've done anything wrong—
then guide me on the road to eternal 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 love a good courtroom drama. I am always intrigued by the deliveries of the opposing counsels… the cleverness of some of their questions… the summaries and closing arguments. I guess that’s why I collect John Grisham’s books. Many of them include a trial at some point, or some legalese… and it is always so well-conceived and brilliantly presented. In real life, the word “trial” sends shivers down our spines… none of us ever hopes to end up in court for any reason. Even jury duty is enough to make some of us squirm! The thought of being investigated, tested, and cross-examined makes us uneasy at best, and for some, this could be disastrous. I heard Governor Mike Huckabee interviewing actor Kelsey Grammer on television, and he asked Grammer if he would ever run for office. Grammer’s reply was, “I have far too many skeletons in my closet for that!”
Imagine if we were afraid to get close to God because of the skeletons in OUR closets… our sins. Imagine if the thought of being thoroughly investigated and cross-examined by God made us squirm. Maybe it does! But honestly, we should be completely comfortable with an examination by God. If He finds anything wrong, we should hope He would reveal it to us and show us how to correct the problem. We should want His guidance and thorough study of our lives, so that we are pointed in the right direction toward eternity with Him!
Don’t be afraid to ask God to examine your life. Be an “open book” for Him, and listen for His “report.” Stay closely attuned to God and listening for His evaluation, then be ready to put His recommendations for improvement into effect!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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November 23 ~ Psalm 139:17-22
17-22 Your thoughts—how rare, how beautiful!
God, I'll never comprehend them!
I couldn't even begin to count them—
any more than I could count the sand of the sea.
Oh, let me rise in the morning and live always with you!
And please, God, do away with wickedness for good!
And you murderers—out of here!—
all the men and women who belittle you, God,
infatuated with cheap god-imitations.
See how I hate those who hate you, God,
see how I loathe all this godless arrogance;
I hate it with pure, unadulterated hatred.
Your enemies are my enemies!
(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 sat on a beach and run your fingers and toes through the sand, watching the endless grains sift back into the water or onto the ground? The activity is at once relaxing, awe-inspiring, and mesmerizing! To think of all of those tiny grains of sand, and yet God knows each one and placed it right there – in that spot – at that particular time… and to realize that He cares about US with just as much attention to detail is beyond comprehension!
At first glance, this seems like a really harsh passage… all that talk of hating enemies and godless arrogance. But really, it’s a passage of love… love for God – and loyalty. In other words, the psalmist is saying that he will not pay any attention to those who belittle God or worship other “gods.” He is saying that they don’t even register on his radar screen. He is not wishing ill on them… but rather he is choosing not to recognize them in favor of the God whose creativity and power is more vast than the grains of sand.
I had never really thought about GOD’s thoughts as being rare and beautiful… but when you stop to consider that there is none other who can begin to have thoughts anywhere near the same level as His, these words truly do fit! When you consider the amazing, rare, beautiful vastness of God’s thoughts – about us and each of His creatures, wanting to rise and live with Him is pretty much a no-brainer, isn’t it? Loving God totally inevitably equals loathing those who would choose otherwise – not with a sinful sense of hate, but in the context of “I’m not going there!” Free will keeps God from doing away with others’ choice, but how will you choose? I hope you will choose to love God completely. Truly “don’t go there.” Choose loving God and walking with Him - and enjoy all of His blessings each and every day.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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