Where Do We Go From Here? - Week 4

January 31 ~ Psalm 17:15
And me? I plan on looking you full in the face. When I get up, I'll see your full stature and live heaven on earth.

(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.)

This is a Psalm David wrote after God saved him from King Saul and his enemies. It speaks of serving Christ on this earth. But I have another question to ask today. Do you ever think about what it will truly be like when you see Jesus for the first time… I mean really see Him in Heaven? I am reminded of that song, “I Can Only Imagine.” Honestly, we can only imagine… and whatever we imagine, I firmly believe it will be greater than that! What will we do? Will we be speechless? Will we dance and sing? Will we fall at His feet and start worshiping? I really don’t know, but I do know it will be the single most incredible moment ever!

I can’t begin to plan for it, I can’t begin to describe or envision what it will truly be like when I meet Jesus face to face, but I do know this… I do plan to do just that! And in the meantime, I will seek His face in earthly places… in my home… in my work… in my service and my church work… in my daily walk and witness. I will look for Him and ways to serve Him and glorify Him now, so that when I do meet Him in heaven, He is well pleased with me and greets me with open arms.

I plan on looking Jesus full in the face someday… do you?

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 30 ~ Revelation 10:5
Then the Angel I saw astride sea and land lifted his right hand to Heaven and swore by the One Living Forever and Ever, who created Heaven and everything in it, earth and everything in it, sea and everything in it, that time was up—that when the seventh Angel blew his trumpet, which he was about to do, the Mystery of God, all the plans he had revealed to his servants, the prophets, would be completed.

(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 heard the phrase “learning never ends?” This may be true – we may learn new things until the day we die. But the fact is, learning will end someday, because scripture tells us the world will end. When all of God’s plans have been completed, time will be up… and the world will end!

I don’t know if you or I will be around for this or not. That, too, is part of God’s plan… the mystery of when Christ will return. It’s part of what makes our “faith walk.” If we knew all the answers, we wouldn’t have any need for faith. But God does have a plan for everything and everyone. It’s all in the scripture, if we want to study it. We may not find a minute-by-minute account of how our life will play out, but we will find the blueprints for how to operate within God’s plan, and that really is what it’s all about.

What about you? Are you with God all the way – even if it means to the end of the earth? Are you following His plan completely and trusting Him faithfully to plan wisely for you? When time is up, will you have completed everything you should? Will you be ready to truly experience full knowledge of God’s kingdom and the revelation of His mysteries?

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 29 ~ 1 Peter 5:8
Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You're not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It's the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won't last forever. It won't be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, 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.)

Suffering is a relative term, but all of us have at one time or another felt we were suffering. Certainly we have never suffered in the same context as Jesus Christ, but in our own little worlds, our suffering is real and sometimes anguishing and debilitating. And more often than not, our suffering is a result of letting our guard down and allowing Satan a foothold. We falter, and he pounces and causes us trouble. Or… we succeed in our efforts to serve God fully, and the devil becomes furious with us and tries even harder to wreck our plans and cause us heartache. Nobody ever said serving God and following His plans would be easy!

But the good news is that we know Who wins in the end! God gets the last word, and we must hang onto that thought. We must keep our “eye on the Prize” – an eternal life with Christ – and keep our focus on completing God’s plans for us. Keep your guard up. Stay awake and keep a firm grip on the faith. God gets the last word – yes, He does!


©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 28 ~ Hebrews 9:16
Like a will that takes effect when someone dies, the new covenant was put into action at Jesus' death. His death marked the transition from the old plan to the new one, canceling the old obligations and accompanying sins, and summoning the heirs to receive the eternal inheritance that was promised them. He brought together God and his people in this new way.

(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.)

Last year, I started a Bible study that was designed to help you read the entire Bible in a year. Each day, there was an Old Testament passage and a New Testament passage, and sometimes a Psalm. In studying the Bible this way, I learned a lot about Old Testament ways… burnt offerings, rituals, sacrifices. The contrast between serving God before Christ came and afterward was vivid and amazing! I have to tell you, I am so glad I am not an “Old Testament believer!” I am not sure I could have held up to the rigors of all of the sacrifices and preparations and just remembering all of the laws!

I am truly grateful that God sent Jesus, and that Jesus followed God’s plan through and gave His life for mine. I am grateful that because of His sacrifices and obedience to God’s plan, I don’t have to worry about rituals, sacrifices, offerings of animals, and more. All I have to do is focus on Jesus – His grace and mercy for me – and to seek God’s plan each day for my life and do all I can to accomplish it. This was all part of the plan, too! Isn’t that amazing? Isn’t that wonderful? You are a part of God’s plan – are you doing all you can to seek Him and accomplish His goals for your life?

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 27 ~ Ephesians 1:7
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.


(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 down with your parents and mapped out a plan for something? Maybe your dad was transferred with his work to another town and you had to plan a move. Maybe you have been looking at colleges and reviewing scholarship offers and trying to figure out where you will study. Maybe you are an adult who is helping an elderly parent select an assisted living facility or nursing home. Maybe you or a family member is ill and the doctor has outlined treatment options, and you are trying to decide which plan is best.

Imagine the conversations between God and Christ. Some of them are even described in the Bible. I am reminded of Christ talking to His Father in the Garden of Gethsemane… asking for the cup of crucifixion and suffering to be taken from him if there is any other way. And we all know how God replied. We also know that Jesus accepted God’s plans for His life, knowing that in doing so, it would mean freedom for all of us! Literally, the weight of the world rested on Christ, and He accepted the task.

All of this was done for you and for me - all of this was done to buy our freedom from sin forever. I can’t imagine the conversation – “Son (or daughter), I want you to pour out your life – to suffer, bleed, and die on a cross – so that all mankind has a chance to live with us in heaven for all eternity.” “Okay, Father, if that’s what You ask, I will do it.” Could we ever even remotely be that obedient? Often we can’t even get it right picking out a plan for a move, college, a nursing home, or our health! Yet Christ was willing to give His LIFE for all of us… people who were hundreds and thousands of years from being born… people who didn’t deserve it… people who could never repay Him. How can we not be humbled by that? How can we not want to bow before One Who loves us so unconditionally? How can we ignore His plans for our lives? It’s time for another reality check. Where are you today? Are you following God’s plans, or are you trying to make up your own as you go along? Turn back to Jesus. Follow Him. You won’t regret it!

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 26 ~ Ephesians 1:3
How blessed is God! And what a blessing he is! He's the Father of our Master, Jesus Christ, and takes us to the high places of blessing in him. Long before he laid down earth's foundations, he had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of his love, to be made whole and holy by his love. Long, long ago he decided to adopt us into his family through Jesus Christ. (What pleasure he took in planning this!) He wanted us to enter into the celebration of his lavish gift-giving by the hand of his beloved Son.


(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)

A couple of years ago, my husband and I “adopted” a little boy in Ghana. It wasn’t a typical adoption. We are sponsoring Timothy Kodjo Owasu Frim through an organization called Compassion International. We send this organization money each month to help cover Kodjo’s needs. In Ghana, most families exist on an income of about $32 a month, so our monthly contribution of $30 for Kodjo will go a long way to provide him with clothing, food, health care, school supplies, and more. We write letters to Kodjo, and he writes to us, sharing what he is learning, and how he is growing – physically, cognitively, and Spiritually.

We didn’t plan to adopt Kodjo. We didn’t spend months thinking about it and preparing. God just convicted us one Sunday that this was something we needed to do, and as we thumbed through an album of available children to “adopt,” we were both moved to choose Kodjo. We have grown to love this little seven-year-old boy, but we know we will most likely never meet him face-to-face. Hopefully we will have some influence over his future through our letters of encouragement and our financial support, but ultimately, we cannot give him all that we would or coul,d were he under our roof.I am so grateful that Jesus will make the difference – for us and for Kodjo. He planned for this little boy long ago, and He planned for us to select him and be part of his life. He planned all of this and more, and the gifts we are unable to provide, He will bring. He will bless Kodjo; He will bless us, and someday, we will all be together in Eternity. Now that’s a Plan!

Jesus didn’t just thumb through a book and see our pictures and choose us. He knew all of us long before we were born and planned thoroughly for each of us. What has God written on your heart? What plans is He making for you? Ask Him to guide you and show you the correct path. It may not include adopting a little boy from Ghana, but you never know! Whatever He plans, take joy in knowing that by following His plans, you are giving HIM great joy, and nothing could be better than pleasing our Jesus in this way.

©2008 Debbie Robus


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January 25 ~ Galatians 5:4
I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Meanwhile we expectantly wait for a satisfying relationship with the Spirit. For in Christ, neither our most conscientious religion nor disregard of religion amounts to anything. What matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.

(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)

One night at the practice for our church’s Praise and Worship team, the talk turned to some of our practices. The band members were asked our feelings on whether or not we should provide attendees with a bulletin for our service. There were a lot of opinions and ideas. From there, the question arose, how should we let the pastor know when time is running out if he/she is longwinded? Again, there were several schools of thought. THEN someone said, “We should get all of the announcements and “business” over with at the first of the service so that the rest of the hour can be uninterrupted worship and time for the Holy Spirit to work. Even more discussion followed.

Eventually, we stopped and stood back and laughed, because all of the little things we were discussing were just that – little things. And while they are each worthy of consideration and discussion when planning for a meaningful worship service, they are not Spiritual “deal-breakers.” And more importantly, they are mere “religious plans and projects,” and focusing on them intently takes the focus off of Christ. It may not be a “fall from grace” per se, but anything that takes the focus off of Christ, even momentarily, separates us from Him.


How awesome is it to know that it is all far less complicated than we try to make it?! This scripture ends with a great summary – “what matters is something far more interior: faith expressed in love.” Christ loves us and desires a relationship with us. In fact, He has planned for it. Our job is to accept the plan, and to love Him and serve Him in return. The rest – the “religious plans and projects” are just gravy. They may enhance our worship. They may help us to stay focused, but in the end, they are manmade plans for serving a supernatural God, and they will fall short every time. Keep it simple, love Christ, serve Him faithfully, and let the rest take care of itself according to His plan.

©2008 Debbie Robus


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January 24 ~ 2 Corinthians 3:4
We couldn't be more sure of ourselves in this—that you, written by Christ himself for God, are our letter of recommendation. We wouldn't think of writing this kind of letter about ourselves. Only God can write such a letter. His letter authorizes us to help carry out this new plan of action. The plan wasn't written out with ink on paper, with pages and pages of legal footnotes, killing your spirit. It's written with Spirit on spirit, his life on our lives!

(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.)

Has anyone ever written a letter of recommendation for you? Have you ever written one for someone else? It’s a pretty big responsibility. If you are writing, you are endorsing that person, vouching for their character and/or expertise. If someone is writing one for you, they are putting their own reputation on the line by saying that you are capable of doing what you say and what is asked of you.Paul is telling the Corinthians that the fact they came to Christ is a “letter of recommendation” to others. Their life in Christ, written and planned by God, tells others, “I vouch for these persons. They are MINE. They follow Me and My ways. They are part of My plan.”

Notice that Paul says this letter is “not written out with ink on paper.” It is written “with Spirit on spiritHIS life on our lives.” This is the most important “letter of recommendation” we can ever hope to receive. This is the one that counts. The others may land you a job or win you an election, but this one is the “ticket to heaven” – and to living in God’s will on this earth. I pray today that you will make sure that your life’s “personal folder” has this “recommendation letter” in it. I pray that His spirit has written on your spirit, and His life and plans are yours.

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 23 ~ Romans 1:16
It's news I'm most proud to proclaim, this extraordinary Message of God's powerful plan to rescue everyone who trusts him, starting with Jews and then right on to everyone else! God's way of putting people right shows up in the acts of faith, confirming what Scripture has said all along: "The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives."


(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 really live? “Yeah… sure!” you may say. “I have a lot of friends who share good times with me. I drive a nice car and wear nice clothes. I have a good job (or my parents have a good job and I have access to money). I have a significant other and a great relationship. I would say my life is successful in pretty much every way!”


But I ask you again, do you really live? Because, you see, in order to really live, you have to trust God completely. You have to follow Him in every nook and cranny of your life. With God, it’s not about the parties or the people… it’s about His POWER and His PLANS and your willingness to follow them.”The person in right standing before God by trusting him really lives.” Do you?

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 22 ~ Acts 22:14
"Then he said, 'The God of our ancestors has handpicked you to be briefed on his plan of action. You've actually seen the Righteous Innocent and heard him speak. You are to be a key witness to everyone you meet of what you've seen and heard. So what are you waiting for? Get up and get yourself baptized, scrubbed clean of those sins and personally acquainted with 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.)

Okay, so maybe you and I have not been literally struck blind on the road by the Light of Christ. We walk in faith that He is there, but we have not physically seen His glory like Paul. But do you understand that God handpicked you, nonetheless? Do you get that He has a plan of action for your life? He has spoken to you, in many ways. He has called you to serve him. Now what will you do?

As the scripture says, it’s time for us to get up and scrub ourselves clean of sin and get personally acquainted with God. It’s time for us to humbly ask for His forgiveness and mercy, then accept it! It’s time for us to know God so well that we are 100% certain that our plans are His plans, and to move forward with them. Is this a daunting challenge? You bet it is! Can you do it? With God’s help, all things are possible. So I ask you today, “What are you waiting for?” You have been chosen and planned for by GOD ALMIGHTY… it’s time to get a move on!

©2008 Debbie Robus







Where Do We Go From Here? - Week 3

January 21 ~ Acts 22:10
"Then I said, 'What do I do now, Master?' "He said, 'Get to your feet and enter Damascus. There you'll be told everything that's been set out for you to do.' And so we entered Damascus, but nothing like the entrance I had planned—I was blind as a bat and my companions had to lead me in by the hand.”


(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)

Have you ever been at an amusement park on a ride that took you through dark tunnels? I’m thinking of “Fire-In-The-Hole,” a roller coaster ride at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri. The ad on SilverDollarCity.com says the ride offers “thrilling surprises around every corner.” No matter how well you think you know what will happen next, there are indeed surprises… some scary, almost all thrilling.

Paul started on the road to Damascus as Saul, a Jew born in Tarsus, who was authorized to hunt down Christians and kill them. That was his plan. But God had other plans. He caused a bright light to fall on Saul – a blinding light – and when He had Saul’s attention, He asked Saul why he was persecuting the followers of Christ. God then brought Ananias on the scene to explain His plan for Saul to transform to Paul and become one of God’s greatest witnesses for Christ.


Life is like a roller coaster, filled with ups and downs. And so often, like Saul, we trudge ahead, so sure of our plans… so sure that what we are doing is the “right thing.” And often, God has to correct us and bring us back to HIS plans for us, which are always better. He may not blind us, literally, to get our attention, but he has ways of doing that. Like the surprises and thrills of the roller coaster ride, God fills our life with surprises and thrills, and in the end, the Ride with Christ is the one we need to take.

So the next time something happens to “blind” you temporarily… the next time you are surprised by where your life ride takes you, stop and ask God, “What is your purpose? What are you planning for me? Make sure your plans line up with His, and everything will come clearly into focus once again.

©2008 Debbie Robus


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January 20 ~ Acts 20:7
We met on Sunday to worship and celebrate the Master's Supper. Paul addressed the congregation. Our plan was to leave first thing in the morning, but Paul talked on, way past midnight. We were meeting in a well-lighted upper room. A young man named Eutychus was sitting in an open window. As Paul went on and on, Eutychus fell sound asleep and toppled out the third-story window. When they picked him up, he was dead.


(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 learning to be flexible. It’s a good thing to make plans, but it is important to remember that plans can change. There were two things that came to mind when I read this passage. First, I was reminded of times when I made all sorts of plans, and then things happened that kept those plans from materializing. I can think of several times when I had a whole day of activities planned, and someone got sick and needed my help or a problem arose at work and I had to attend to it and abandon other projects, or even on my “day off.” Or somebody suggested we do something fun on the spur of the moment, and I was able to change my plans and go along. I can think of times when I got in a hurry and caused a spill or an accident that required attention and deflected my plans and interrupted my day – and not in a positive manner!

And that brings to mind the second thing, and that is that sometimes changes in plans are the work of God… and sometimes they are the work of the devil. Look at Eutychus. I seriously doubt he planned on falling out a window and dying! Was that God’s hand at work – or Satan’s? Was Eutychus paying attention and keeping his focus on the right things? Are we? How many times do we “fall asleep” and allow Satan an opportunity to slip in and cause us harm or change our plans and steer us off course?

I want you to remember Eutychus and what happened to him. Remind yourself that plans may change at any moment. Know that sometimes God changes our plans for His purposes, and sometimes Satan changes them for a much less favorable result. Stay alert and learn to tell the difference, and know WHO is changing your plans! If you find yourself “falling asleep” and allowing Satan to change them, ask God to help you stay focused. Keep Him at the forefront of your life, and you will do much better at staying on track!

©2008 Debbie Robus


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January 19 ~ Acts 16:6
They went to Phrygia, and then on through the region of Galatia. Their plan was to turn west into Asia province, but the Holy Spirit blocked that route. So they went to Mysia and tried to go north to Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus wouldn't let them go there either. Proceeding on through Mysia, they went down to the seaport Troas.

(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.)

Has the Holy Spirit ever blocked your plans? Remember when I told you about trying to change teaching positions? I was so sure I would get the position as a fifth-grade teacher, and I was truly devastated for awhile when it didn’t work out as I had planned. But God’s plans for my future were so much better! I couldn’t see it at the time, but it is crystal clear to me that His hand was at work in everything. I have tried to envision what my life would have been like had that position been given to me, and I can think of a thousand and one reasons God wanted something else!

What is God blocking for you today? Is there something you are trying to do that just will not come together? It is as if you hit a brick wall and cannot get through it, and you don’t have a clue why this is happening. I would like to suggest that maybe your plans are not God’s plans in this area. Maybe He is “blocking the route” so that you will find His path. If you are struggling with plans and things are not working out as you had hoped, stop and ask God where HE would have you go. Open your heart and mind to the possibilities when God does the planning. I predict you will look back someday and realize His plans for your future were much better!


©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 18 ~ Acts 3:17
"And now, friends, I know you had no idea what you were doing when you killed Jesus, and neither did your leaders. But God, who through the preaching of all the prophets had said all along that his Messiah would be killed, knew exactly what you were doing and used it to fulfill his plans.”

(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.)


Thank goodness we are never too old to learn! I learn new things – especially about how God works – every day. But I sure wish I had learned a few of these things in my teens and twenties… it would have made those years a lot easier in many ways. So hear me when I say again, “God can use any situation for His purposes.” Yes, there are things that we do and say that grieve God. Yes, God is heartbroken when children are mistreated and in desperate situations. Yes, God despises puppy mills and cruelty to animals. Sure, God doesn’t want his children to end up homeless and on the streets.

But God can take a disjointed, abusive childhood and create a social worker who empathizes with the plight of children in similar situations. Or He can rescue children from these situations and place them with loving parents who are praying for a child to bless. God can take a situation of animal cruelty to raise awareness about issues such as spaying and neutering or animal adoption. In our own community, a puppy mill raid resulted in the citizens coming together for a common cause and adopting over 150 puppies in just a few days. People took time from busy schedules to buy food and blankets and more to take to the animal shelter for these helpless animals. Do you see God’s hand in this?

God doesn’t want us to become homeless and destitute. But He can place His servants in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and public assistance agencies to help those who succumb to this situation. He can use others to become activists who work to enact programs and legislation that keeps this from happening. He can use His believers to witness to those who have made a series of poor choices that led them to a life on the streets.

What have I learned as I have grown in my faith? I have learned that a lot of how I see things determines my outcome. So when I see human suffering and tragedy – in others’ lives or my own – I am learning to ask “What do you want me to do with this Lord? What is The Plan?” And that is making the difference. I encourage you to start to look at things with this mindset and ask God what “The Plan” is for your life. Try to look at things with a Godly perspective and see how God can use you for His purposes today!

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 17 ~ Acts 2:22
"Fellow Israelites, listen carefully to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man thoroughly accredited by God to you—the miracles and wonders and signs that God did through him are common knowledge—this Jesus, following the deliberate and well-thought-out plan of God, was betrayed by men who took the law into their own hands, and was handed over to you. And you pinned him to a cross and killed him. But God untied the death ropes and raised him up. Death was no match for him. David said it all: I saw God before me for all time. Nothing can shake me; he's right by my side. I'm glad from the inside out, ecstatic; I've pitched my tent in the land of hope. I know you'll never dump me in Hades; I'll never even smell the stench of death. You've got my feet on the life-path, with your face shining sun-joy all around.

(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 when I stop and think that every minute of Jesus’ life was thought out and planned for by God, I am both humbled and amazed. God planned the wedding at Cana and the changing of water into wine. He planned the feeding of the masses with the fish and five loaves of bread. He planned Christ’s taunting and questioning of the rabbis and teachers in the synagogue. He even planned the crucifixion and the empty tomb and the resurrection of Christ.

”But wait!” you are probably thinking. Haven’t I said that I do not believe God causes bad things to happen? So why would he cause the crucifixion? The key to this answer lies in the word “cause”. I do not believe God caused these things to happen to Jesus, but He knew they would happen and He planned for them – to the extent that He planned for a way to use them for His purposes.

In the same way, God has thought out and planned for every minute of your life – and mine! So when your family moves to a new town in your senior year and you have to make a whole new set of friends, God is not punishing you. He is opening doors for you to grow as a person and expand your circle of friends and experiences. When your grandmother gets Alzheimer’s and doesn’t recognize you any more, God is not being mean. He knew this would happen, and He planned ways for you to learn patience in caring for your grandmother. And He may have given you an opportunity to become involved in groups that provide support or awareness about Alzheimer’s.

We have to start recognizing that God has plans for us… and as we learned in Jeremiah 29:11, they are good plans. So when bad things happen, or we are hurt or disappointed or a devastating tragedy occurs, we must realize that God did not cause this to happen to us, but He knew it would take place, and He made plans to use it for His purposes – and our good - if we will let Him. Jesus got this… He knew that His suffering and torturous death were necessary in order for us to have Eternal Life. He accepted God’s plan, and am I ever glad He did! In the same way, when life doesn’t go exactly as we had planned and troubles come, we must ask God, “What do I need to do with this? How will YOU use this situation? What are YOU planning?” We must ask these questions with a sincere, humble heart, and then stand back and watch God work!

©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 16 ~ John 15:26
"When the Friend I plan to send you from the Father comes—the Spirit of Truth issuing from the Father—he will confirm everything about me. You, too, from your side must give your confirming evidence, since you are in this with me from the start."


"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 say “Goodbye” to someone who was moving or going away for a long time, or maybe your loved one died? Do you remember how it felt – how empty you were and how alone you seemed and how gut-wrenchingly painful it may have been? Imagine if Jesus had died on the cross and gone to heaven and left us with nothing. Imagine how desperate and empty life would be.

But God knew this, and it was all part of His plan to send the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and be our constant companion until Christ comes again. And the Holy Spirit is so all knowing and all powerful that He can even help to fill the gaps that are left when we are hurting over the loss of someone to earthly distance or even death.

Don’t miss this! The Holy Spirit lives within each of us, and He will never leave us. When you start to feel sad or lonely, call on the Holy Spirit to fill you with joy and peace. When you are overwhelmed and feeling helpless, ask the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort you. Consider the Holy Spirit your “best friend Who lives in your heart,” and share anything and everything with Him – any time or place!

How amazing it is that God would plan so completely that He even planned for a Comforter to be with us until Christ comes again! You have a Forever Friend and He will always be with you – through thick and thin. Thank God today for sending His Holy Spirit… and throw open the doors of your heart and let Him truly live in you and guide your plans and your daily living.

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 15 ~ John 15:11
"I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I'm no longer calling you servants because servants don't understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I've named you friends because I've let you in on everything I've heard from the Father.”

(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 you have plans for something fun or exciting, you want to share them with others, don’t you? If you get engaged and plan a wedding, you want to let your friends and family know the details. If you get accepted to the college of your choice – and even better, offered scholarships – you want to share that news. If you get sick, people will ask, “what did the doctor say?” In other words… what is the plan of treatment? If you find out you are expecting a baby (or grandbaby), you want everyone to know your plans – from which doctor will handle the delivery to what color you will do the nursery to what you will name the child! If you are changing jobs or moving to a new town, you want to let people know – and they want to know your new address, how you will execute the move, whether there is anything they can do to help, and more.

Part of loving others is sharing things with them… happy AND sad events in your life, plans for the future, important decisions. Sometimes we try to bottle things up inside and handle it all ourselves. For whatever reason, we don’t let others in, and we don’t share ourselves with others – thoughts, feelings, plans, fears, discouragements, joys, desires, frustrations, and more. And this leads to feelings of loneliness, isolation, more discouragement, and sometimes a distance from the Lord.

Jesus has clearly called us to include other people in our own lives. He has called for our plans to include time and energy for sharing with others. He has set the example by sharing His thoughts, feelings and plans with us. His plans call for us to love others, to be willing to sacrifice for them, and to find joy in the friendship.

So share your life with others. Make sure that whatever you plan, you include time and energy for friendship and sharing God’s love through fellowship with others. You will be healthier, happier, and more like Him. And as an added bonus His joy will become yours!

©2008 Debbie Robus





Where Do We Go From Here? - Week 2

January 14 ~ Luke 14:33
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.”

(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.)

This is really a tough verse to wrap our brains around. See, we want to follow Christ, but so often, we have that “Burger King” relationship – we want it our way. So if following Christ means giving up your close friendship with your best drinking buddy, you may stiffen and say, “now wait a minute here!” If following Christ means that you can no longer play violent video games that degrade women, you may ask, “why does this matter?” If following Christ means you can no longer sleep in on Sundays or you have to pass up an after-church breakfast with family and friends to teach a Sunday School class or sing in the choir, you may say, “C’mon now… that’s going too far!”

Maybe you have to sell your tricked-out sports car and buy a modest sedan in order to afford that summer mission trip you are feeling led to take. Maybe you have studied for a career in medicine, with plans to specialize and make lots of money, but God clearly opens doors for you to practice medicine in a poor rural area and live modestly.

Be honest. Is anything really too much to give up for the One Who gave up his own life for you? Is it really asking too much to expect us to be willing to drop everything – and everyone – to follow the ONLY One Who really matters?I certainly hope that Jesus never asks me to give up my family and friends to follow Him. But I hope with all that is in me that I would be willing and faithful enough to do just that if He made it clear that I should. I have plans for my future, and I pray that they are His plans. But if not, I will ditch them in a heartbeat to follow the ones He sets forth. Think of your dearest thing… the one thing (or person) who is most precious to you. If Jesus asked you to walk away from that thing or person, could you do it? Would you? How badly do you want to be His disciple? It’s a daunting question – maybe the biggest question you will ever ask yourself. But it is vital to your Spiritual future and to following the plans that God has for your life. You may never be asked to do this, but you need to know how you would answer.

Do you really want the “Burger King” relationship – or are you up for totally being a disciple of Christ?

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 13 ~ Luke 14:28
"Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you're going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: 'He started something he couldn't finish.'”

(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.)

So often, we are shortsighted in our vision. We have “a plan,” but it’s not a very far-reaching one. When I was young and planned for my future and the possibility of having children, I never really thought of them as teenagers, much less adults. But babies do grow up! If you are in college and thinking about your future, it may include a degree, a job, and making money… but have you considered where and how you will accomplish all of this? Have you asked yourself seriously if this is what you want to do for the next twenty or thirty years? I’m not saying you have to stay in the career path you choose now, but you need a more far-reaching plan than many of us seem to make.

You may be in what you feel is an exciting, fulfilling relationship. But have you considered growing old with this person? Are you being honest with yourself – and your significant other – about where this is headed and what you see as your future together?

Are you “saving for a rainy day?” Do you have a savings account, a retirement plan, insurance? Have you considered what you would do if you suddenly became very ill and unable to work or finish school? Do you have a plan if your car breaks down and you can’t get back and forth to school or work? And when trouble comes, do you throw up your hands and throw in the towel? Do you start things you can’t finish?

It’s time for a reality check. God has a plan for our lives, but He expects us to use the intelligence and other resources He has given us to help flesh out the plan! I encourage you today to spend some time with Him and try to figure out where He is leading you. Ask yourself if you are doing your part to see His plan to fruition. Have you made the necessary preparations to ensure the plan works? God is counting on us to do our part. He will give us everything we need, but it is up to us to do the leg work!

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 12 ~ Luke 8:1
He continued according to plan, traveled to town after town, village after village, preaching God's kingdom, spreading the Message. The Twelve were with him. There were also some women in their company who had been healed of various evil afflictions and illnesses: Mary, the one called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out; Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod's manager; and Susanna—along with many others who used their considerable means to provide for the company.

(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 Jesus walked from village to village teaching, preaching, and healing, He was following God’s plan for His life. The people who followed Jesus… the disciples, Mary, Joanna, Susanna and others - were following God’s plan. Did you ever stop to think about how Jesus’ ministry was funded and supported? Obviously God’s plan included people who would accompany Jesus’ group and see that their physical needs were met – food, clothing, shelter. Clearly God sent people with money to buy what was not donated – and He planned the donations, also!

Remember, God’s plan for Jesus called for Him to walk among us as a human being. Certainly Jesus could have miraculously and supernaturally fed Himself and others – and He did that in Matthew 14. But God wanted people to see Jesus as they saw themselves… with needs that HE met… accompanied by people whom HE used to minister to others. And so He planned for these people to show up and step up to the plate.

Has it really soaked in with you that there was a plan for Jesus’ life, too? God didn’t just plan our lives, but He planned the life of His Son, also. He planned the birth, the childhood, the ministry… even the crucifixion. It was all part of God’s plan for Jesus – AND for us – because ultimately, God sent Jesus for you and me! It doesn’t get more awesome and amazing – and humbling – than that!

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 11 ~ Zechariah 8:14
“…Don't be afraid. And now here's what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts. Don't cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don't do or say what isn't so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest."

(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.)

Don’t cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. You are probably thinking, “oh, I would never do that! I’m not that kind of person.” And I am sure that is true. But let’s look at this in context of the other instructions – do the right thing, say and do only what is so, and tell the whole truth.

Let’s say you saw potential in a parcel of land. Maybe it was a good place for a housing subdivision or commercial shopping center. Maybe it had great timber that would be worth a lot of money. But, there was a catch – this property had a tumble-down house on it, and in that house lived an elderly lady on a fixed income. She wasn’t very well educated. You decided that you could talk to the lady and convince her to sell the property to you – for what she did not realize was well below fair market value. You promised to help her qualify for government subsidized housing, convincing her it was nicer and more comfortable than where she currently lived.

Now, suppose that you stood to make many times over what you were spending on this land and could easily have afforded to make a higher offer to this lady – even purchased her a comfortable house and provided her with money for daily living expenses while still realizing a tidy profit. But you comforted yourself that you were improving her present situation, and you convinced yourself that this was generous enough of you to sleep at night. You completed the sale and developed the property – maybe you even sold the timber – and you made a huge profit. And the lonely little lady lived on government assistance for the rest of her days.

Suppose you tell people things that aren’t exactly the truth in order to make them feel obligated one way or another to do things. I always think of those vacuum salesmen and women who knock on doors and want to give a “free demonstration” (followed by high-pressure sales tactics!). I am also reminded of an episode of
Andy Griffith in which Opie wanted to sell his bicycle so he could buy another one. He extolled all of the bike’s virtues to his buddy who was interested, but he neglected to divulge the list of problems with the bike. Andy challenged Opie on this and pointed out that a full disclosure was required. Later when Andy wanted to sell his house and failed to point out to potential buyers that the house had a leak and some cracks and other damage, Opie turned the tables. It wasn’t that either one of these fellows were bad people, but they were using an unfair advantage to get what they wanted – in these cases, a sale.

You may not be the richest person in the world. Every “deal” may not be “the big one.” But God will bless your life if you do the right thing, say and do only what is true, speak the whole truth, and never take unfair advantage of others. Plan to live a simple, honest life that pleases God, and He will take care of the rest.

©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 10 ~ Amos 7:14
But Amos stood up to Amaziah: "I never set up to be a preacher, never had plans to be a preacher. I raised cattle and I pruned trees. Then God took me off the farm and said, 'Go preach to my people 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.)

My former pastor and friend, Bro. John Miles III, used to say, “Never tell God what you plan to do, because He will change your plans!” It’s just possible that God will show you Who is really in charge of the planning process. Little girls plan a fairy tale wedding from an early age and “play house.” Little boys play with guns and balls and dream of being soldiers or pro athletes. Kids with talent and creativity aspire to be actors and actresses and big-name celebrities.

The point I got from this passage is that no matter what you are doing today, God may have other plans for your tomorrow. Just because you are on track today to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, stay-at-home mom, pro athlete, coach, or whatever you are planning doesn’t mean that God may not show you another path tomorrow. You may be in the military today, but God may be using you to witness to soldiers in preparation for missionary service in the years ahead – or to be a team leader in some business venture.

You may be planning a successful career as a prosecuting attorney, and God may want you to be a public defender in an inner city. Today you may be working at a good job and playing golf in your spare time and enjoying the simple life of a small community. Next year God may move you to a community in a colder climate where there aren’t many golf courses and give you a new hobby. Or, He may change your interests, and you may not care about golf any longer!

God may be paving the way for you to become a lay speaker for your church or to drive the van on Sundays. He may be about to move you out of the Sunday School class you love so dearly and into a new one where your Spiritual insights are needed – or where He feels you can grow more in your walk with Him. God may know that poor health – yours or someone else’s – is ahead of you, and He may be planting people and events in your life now that will strengthen you for the days ahead. He may see a huge financial turn-around on the horizon and be planning ways for you to bless others with your newfound wealth.

I guess the point I am trying to get across is that we must not get too cozy or complacent in our lives and “rest on our laurels.” We must not ever close our minds and hearts to new possibilities with God. The old adage that “when God closes a door, He opens a window” is so true. If things aren’t working out like you had planned, stop and ask God what He is planning. I promise you He does have plans for each of us. They may not be grandiose… in fact, His plans might include rest and a slower pace! Wherever God’s plans take you in life, if He makes them, they are sure to be perfect!


©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 9 ~ Jeremiah 29:11
I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope 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.)

Have you ever made plans to do something and someone else (your parents, friends, spouse, counselor, pastor, boss, etc.) told you that they had other plans, and you must go along with theirs rather than yours? How did that make you feel? Did you trust the person who was making the plans? Did you feel their choices were right for you? Were the results better than you imagined? Were they worse?

God has plans for our lives, and they are good plans. As I’ve said before, God’s plans are not always what we envisioned, and at the time, they may even seem a little crazy! But whatever God takes you to, He will take you through! It may involve hardship. It may involve the break-up of a relationship or giving up old friends and old habits. He may use physical suffering or persecution in the workplace to strengthen you. (Notice I didn’t say God would cause this, but rather He will use it for His glory and your growth! God is not in the business of making plans that will hurt you, and He does NOT cause our misfortunes!)

Jeremiah 29:11 is a powerful verse. God knows the plans He has for your life, and they are good plans – prosperous, successful, healthy plans for a bright future, both on this earth and in Eternity. The plans of other mortals may not always be God-sent or right for you, but GOD’s plans are always on target. If God shows up through scripture, prayer, or just that little Voice that won’t stop nagging you, pay attention. See what He has in store and where He will lead you!

©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 8 ~ Jeremiah 1:5
"Before I shaped you in the womb, I knew all about you. Before you saw the light of day, I had holy plans for 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.)

When a woman finds out she is pregnant, the planning starts. Long before most babies arrive, their nursery is filled with furniture, clothing, diapers and baby products, toys, the latest gadgets in baby care, and more. And often, the parents have spent the nine expectant months conjuring up a future for their unborn child. Will he be a future president or an outstanding athlete? Will she be a beauty queen or a famous actress – or a future president? Will they grow up to be healthy, attractive, fit, and financially successful? Will they be happy and well-adjusted? Will they take care of their parents in their old age?!

Many parents will also plan for children who walk in the favor of God. And this is planning extraordinaire! Probably the best plan/hope/dream anyone could have for their child is to wish for them to grow up in the wisdom, love, grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. And this is God’s wish for each of us. Long before we were even formed in our mother’s womb, God had planned our life. He loves us so much that He took time to plan us eons ago! He knew us even then… knew how we will “turn out.” If God loves us enough to have planned our lives so long ago, don’t you think He will help us live them?New parents may plan for their children, but they can never plan as fully – or as well – as God has planned for us. His plans are perfect… and holy… and nothing could be better than that!


©2008 Debbie Robus

Where Do We Go From Here? - Week 1

January 7 ~ Isaiah 25:1
God, you are my God. I celebrate you. I praise you. You've done your share of miracle-wonders, well-thought-out plans, solid and sure.

(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 things work out well for you, do you stop to thank God? Or do you say to yourself (or whoever will listen) “Man, that was lucky!” Friend, luck had nothing to do with it! If something good happens in your life, God deserves the credit. If you get a miracle, God gave it to you.

So what about when bad things happen? Did God plan that, too? No! I do not believe for one minute that God is behind bad things, misfortune, illness, disease, or anything negative in your life. But…I do believe that God will take your worst experiences and turn them into blessings if you will let Him. God is in the business of blessing those who love Him, and He will make a way where none seems evident. With God, all things are possible.

I don’t know what you are going through… or what lies ahead for any of us. But I do know WHO is planning my future. And I will celebrate God and give Him praise in all things. Will you?

©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 6 ~ Proverbs 16:1
Mortals make elaborate plans, but God has the last word.

(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.)

”Never say ‘Never!’” That’s something I say to myself from time to time, because just as sure as I say, “I will never do so-and-so,” God changes things and I end up doing just that! When my husband and I moved back to the city where we attended college, I said more than once, “I will never live in Heber Springs again!” ”Never say ‘Never!’” When I joined the church I now attend, I planned to attend 8:30 worship service, followed by a 9:30 Sunday School class, and have the rest of my Sunday to do whatever I pleased. Then one day as I left the sanctuary, the 9:30 Praise and Worship band was scrambling because their pianist had not shown up, and they had no instrumentalists, and I offered to pitch in as best I could. I’ve been with them for almost eight years now, with Sunday School classes and small group leadership thrown in at the 11:00 hour. ”Never say ‘Never!’

We are all really good at making elaborate plans… mortal plans. But God does have the last word. And for all of the plans we make, His are far better than we could ever concoct. I’m not saying that it’s a bad thing to plan. In fact, it’s a good thing, especially if you plan prayerfully. But understand that even on our best day, the plans we make may fall short of God’s plans for us, and His trump ours every time. So open your heart and mind to the possibilities that God offers, and ask Him to guide you as you make your plans.

©2008 Debbie Robus


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January 5 ~ Proverbs 15:22
Refuse good advice and watch your plans fail; take good counsel and watch them succeed.

(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.)

Can you recall a time when you got good advice? One that comes to mind for me is my freshman English class. In high school, I took tests called the College Level Examination Program (CLEP). If you made a certain score on these tests, you could skip (or “CLEP”) college classes and receive credit for them. I was able to “CLEP” College Algebra and the first semester of freshman English. So the second semester of my freshman year, I enrolled in an English composition class. My professor, Francis Irby Gwaltney, took one look at my record and said, “My dear, why are you here? You belong in the “honors English” class.” I explained to Mr. G. that, while I had excellent instruction in high school in English grammar, I had not gotten much literature and virtually NO instruction in writing. In fact, in three years of high school, I never wrote a single composition (or “theme” as we called them in the 1970’s). I respectfully asked to stay in this composition class, and Mr. Gwaltney (a successful author and screenwriter) graciously agreed.

Mr. Gwaltney advised me that the “honors” class would look better on my transcript, but he knew that this class would consist of reading literary classics and then writing about them, and I had no background for doing this. So, he offered to go with me to visit the chairman of the English department, where he explained my situation and recommended that I be allowed to remain in his class.I know God was behind all of this, because all we did in Mr. Gwaltney’s class was write. Every Monday we were assigned a topic. Every Friday, we turned in our “theme.” Mr. Gwaltney had an incredibly entertaining but discombobulated way of teaching, but learn we did! He counted off .25 points (on a 4.00 system) for each misspelled word. And he counted off just as much for use of the word “very.” He felt this word was “very” unnecessary and redundant! It took me years to be able to use it in a sentence again!

Mr. Gwaltney laid the groundwork for a skill that has served me extremely well in the last 30 years. He took a 17-year-old “child bride” (his nickname for me) and gave me skills and advice that proved invaluable. God knew I needed Mr. Gwaltney, and He made a way for us to work together that semester. God gave Mr. G. “good counsel” to pass along, and I am so glad He gave me the wisdom to take it!

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 4 ~ Job 42:1
Job answered God: "I'm convinced: You can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset your plans. You asked, 'Who is this muddying the water, ignorantly confusing the issue, second-guessing my purposes?' I admit it. I was the one. I babbled on about things far beyond me, made small talk about wonders way over my head. You told me, 'Listen, and let me do the talking. Let me ask the questions. You give the answers.' I admit I once lived by rumors of you; now I have it all firsthand—from my own eyes and ears! I'm sorry—forgive me. I'll never do that again, I promise! I'll never again live on crusts of hearsay, crumbs of rumor."

(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 teaching, I worked for a principal who was something of a tyrant. She simply was not a nice person, and she treated the teachers in my building terribly. Job vacancies came open in another elementary school in our district, and I applied. I had taught kindergarten for eight years, and I was ready for a change, so I applied for a fifth grade teaching position at this other school. The interview went well, although this principal expressed skepticism that I could make the switch from teaching 5-year-olds to relating to 10-year-olds. I assured him that I could do it and was ready for the change.

There was one other person who applied for this job, and the word circulated back to me through fellow teachers that I had done well, and I was a shoo-in for the position. And then the call came. One morning as I taught my kindergarten class, I was summoned to the telephone, where the interviewing principal thanked me but said he had decided to hire the other teacher. I was devastated. I had put all my hopes in those rumors and talk. I had become convinced that job was mine, and I was crushed. For a couple of days, I really didn’t know what to do. I prayed for answers, but I also wallowed in the disappointment and futility of having to stay in my present situation and work for the oppressive principal.

As I looked back on these events later, I realized that God was orchestrating everything. The principal who didn’t hire me did me a favor, because I began to formulate a plan for leaving my teaching job and starting a new business. I wish now that I had been mature enough in my faith to realize that God was at work, but that came later. I was as foolish as Job, listening to others instead of staying in tune with God and trusting Him to deliver an outcome. I still would not have gotten the job, but I would have better understood why I didn’t get it, and that God was planning something bigger and better for me.

Let’s agree – you and I – to avoid muddying the water. Let’s not listen to the idle talk of others… the predictions and rumors. Let’s not run to psychics and read horoscopes and try to figure things out on our own. Let’s pray and read God’s word and listen for His voice and “be still and know” Who is in control. God can do anything and everything. Nothing and no one can upset His plans. Let’s let Him give the answers and do the talking from now on.

©2008 Debbie Robus


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January 3 ~ 2 Kings 19:25
Did it never occur to you that I'm behind all this? Long, long ago I drew up the plans, and now I've gone into action,

(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)

When I was in junior high, I attended a summer church camp. Caught up in the emotional hoopla of nightly church services and peer pressure, I was convinced that I was called by God to be a missionary nurse. The trouble with this was that, first and foremost, I am reduced to fainting at the sight of needles and not worth a flip when it comes to watching surgical procedures. Somehow I didn’t feel this would play very well in the medical arena. I was offered scholarships from leading state universities to study piano, and that was my next plan. But in the summer before my junior year, I conducted art and music activities for preschoolers at our church’s Vacation Bible School, and I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that I was called to teach young children. So I became an elementary school teacher and taught first grade and kindergarten students for almost a decade.

I also assumed that I would marry and have children. I had it all mapped out… two kids, Christian and Courtney, and a nice home, summers off, and a happy life. Over 30 years later, I have had nice homes, a few summers off, and a happy life, but Christian and Courtney must belong to someone else! You see, God’s plans for me did not include children of my own, but He gave me hundreds of other children to love, plus a couple dozen nieces, nephews, and children of friends on which to dote. He also gave me time that would have been spent on rearing a family to devote to helping with the care of grandparents, relatives in need, and friends and neighbors.

God’s plans for my life included developing a magazine with my husband that would help thousands of retired travelers find work to keep their RVs on the road. His plans included turning bumps in the road into opportunities for blessings, and along the way, my relationship with my church family deepened and opportunities arose for teaching Sunday School classes and small groups… and for writing these devotionals!

I don’t really know what God has in store for me now. I hope I have many years ahead to find out! But I have come to see His hand in every step I have made… even the mis-steps – and there have been many. That is when He truly arrived and “saved the day!” And now I feel like I have grown and see the signs of His influence better and sooner. No matter what age you are, I challenge you to watch for God as he steers your life in various directions. Learn the signs and how to hear from Him, and follow His plans. They may not be what you expected, but I promise, when God is the designer, the end result is always better!

©2008 Debbie Robus

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January 2 ~ Exodus 25:1
God spoke to Moses: "Tell the Israelites that they are to set aside offerings for me. Receive the offerings from everyone who is willing to give. These are the offerings I want you to receive from them: gold, silver, bronze; blue, purple, and scarlet material; fine linen; goats' hair; tanned rams' skins; dolphin skins; acacia wood; lamp oil; spices for anointing oils and for fragrant incense; onyx stones and other stones for setting in the Ephod and the Breastpiece. Let them construct a Sanctuary for me so that I can live among them. You are to construct it following the plans I've given you, the design for The Dwelling and the design for all its furnishings.

(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)

When my husband and I decided to build a new house, we knew from experience that we were in for months of planning and preparation. We spent days sitting on our vacant lot, deciding how and where to place the rooms for maximum appeal and comfort. We spent weeks drawing the floor plan, and then working with a building designer to make sure the house would be structurally sound and feasible. We spent months gathering the hardware, fixtures and other materials needed to bring our drawings to life, so to speak, in the form of a house in which we could actually live.

In this scripture passage, God has sent plans to the Israelites for a Sanctuary. If they built it based on God’s plans, He promised to dwell there with them and live among them. God has spent time planning each of our lives, and if we follow His plans, He will dwell among us, too. But quite often, we are not as careful in the attention we pay to our life plans as we are to something as insignificant as a structure in which to live. We must realize that we are a house, of sorts – a temple for God. And as such, the most important plans we make involve including God in each decision, each piece of “hardware” and each “fixture.” We must be sure our Spiritual “house” is structurally sound. In other words, God won’t live in a Spiritual shack!

So start today - ask God to guide your steps. Ask Him to help you with each decision you make, no matter how small it seems. Ask God to be the designer of your life, and then invite Him to live with you every day. I promise, His plans for you will result in something far grander than you could ever design on your own!

©s Debbie Robus

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January 1 ~ Genesis 50:19
Joseph replied, "Don't be afraid. Do I act for God? Don't you see, you planned evil against me but God used those same plans for my good, as you see all around you right now—life for many people. Easy now, you have nothing to fear; I'll take care of you and your children." He reassured them, speaking with them heart-to-heart.

(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.)

Happy New Year! Here it is, a new day, a new year, a “fresh start” and “clean slate” and all of those other clichés we always hear! But truly, this can be all of these things and more, if we remember Joseph’s words. God has good plans for us this year. I don’t know what they are, exactly, but I know that God can use anything for good and for His glory.

Last year on January 1st, I had no idea that I would spend nearly three months with my leg in a cast. Maybe you had no idea you would lose your job, your marriage or relationship would fall apart, your loved ones would die, you would get sick, or you would flunk out of school… or whatever might have happened to you. You might not have known you would inherit a lot of money, win a big sports tournament, meet somebody new and wonderful, or have a baby!

I don’t know what your circumstances are, but I do know that God can turn anything around if we let him. Our illness or injury can be a time to grow closer to Him and to witness to others. Our loneliness in a failed relationship can be a chance to reach out to others who are lonely and hurting. Our victories can be a chance to share with others how God has blessed us. Our windfalls can be an opportunity to bless others and share the wealth in God’s name.

I don’t know what God has in store for us in the coming year, but I do know He will be with us. No matter what happens, God can see us through it. This month we will look at devos that ask, “Where Do We Go from Here?” We will see where God is taking us and how to figure out what lies ahead according to HIS plans for our lives. I don’t know about you, but I’m excited about the future? Where do we go from here? Let’s explore it together. With God by our side, I know it’s going to be a great ride!


©2008 Debbie Robus