January 31 ~ Philippians 3:15-16
So let's keep focused on that goal, those of us who want everything God has for us. If any of you have something else in mind, something less than total commitment, God will clear your blurred vision - you'll see it yet! Now that we're on the right track, let's stay on it.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
On Sundays after church, my husband and I like to have lunch with friends, and usually we go to the hospital cafeteria. The food is great, and there are all sorts of choices. Sometimes there is even a pasta bar, where you can tell the server what you want in your dish, and he/she mixes it together and cooks it for you while you watch. In any case, you here a lot of “I’ll have this… and some of that… and a little of the other” as people make their selections. At the pasta bar, you might even hear someone say, “I’ll take a little of all of it!”
When it comes to my relationship with God and what He has on the “menu,” I want “all of it.” But I don’t want just a little – I want a LOT! And I have come to a point where I am willing to do everything He asks in order to get it! I’d be lying if I didn’t tell you I hope He doesn’t ask me to move to a Third World country or do something that involves needles and blood (i.e. become a nurse) because that’s really not how I roll… but I don’t get to choose. If I say I want a lot of ALL He is offering, I have to be willing to do whatever He asks.
I’ll be honest, there are times I clearly hear God telling me to do things even now that make me cringe. When He tells me to invite a stranger to church or to go give a friendly hug to someone who irritates me… or sometimes when He says, “You need to put that shopping cart back in the carousel and not leave it beside your car!” I feel myself tense up, and sometimes I even grumble and growl a little! But then I try to muster up the verse of a good song, like “Our God is an Awesome God,” and at least hum a little as I make my way to do what He told me to do!
See, it’s all about the goal… the prize… that day in Heaven when God reviews my life and makes note of how well (and how poorly) I did. I want there to be more checkmarks in the “plus” column than the “minus.” I want Him to say, “You did your very best to serve me with complete faith, obedience, and (hopefully) humility.” It’s not about stars in a crown or a mansion with bigger rooms… it’s about knowing I pleased my Heavenly Father. I hope I’m on the right track… and I plan to stay on it. Are you with me?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 30 ~ Philippians 1:27-30
Meanwhile, live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message of Christ. Let nothing in your conduct hang on whether I come or not. Your conduct must be the same whether I show up to see things for myself or hear of it from a distance. Stand united, singular in vision, contending for people's trust in the Message, the good news, not flinching or dodging in the slightest before the opposition. Your courage and unity will show them what they're up against: defeat for them, victory for you - and both because of God. There's far more to this life than trusting in Christ. There's also suffering for him. And the suffering is as much a gift as the trusting. You're involved in the same kind of struggle you saw me go through, on which you are now getting an updated report in this letter.
(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.)
How many times do we do or say things we shouldn’t because we think nobody is watching or listening? Nobody will know… right? Paul is telling us that it DOES matter! He is saying that whether anyone is around to notice or not… GOD notices. And after all He has done for us, we owe him our best conduct – at all times!
Suffering for Christ is an interesting concept, isn’t it? Christ’s suffering for us is obvious, but HOW do we suffer for HIM? When you don’t want to party and drink – or gamble – or you won’t lie and cheat for your boss and someone says, "I can’t hang out with you any more – you bring me down," that is suffering for Christ. When you can’t go somewhere with a friend or loved one because you have already made plans to attend church or a church function, that is suffering for Christ. When you would rather be all alone – and lonely – rather than hang out with a crowd who is into sinful behaviors and attitudes… THAT is suffering for Christ.
When you are willing to stand up and be counted and speak the Word of God, even when your sentiments are not shared and people mock you or even verbally attack you – THAT is suffering for Christ. When Christians are willing to literally lay down their life – on whatever mission field they occupy – in order to share the Gospel, THAT is suffering for Christ. And Paul is telling us that when we "suffer for Christ," we are receiving a gift. We are being allowed to share – on a very small scale – in the struggles that Jesus endured on our behalf. We are being given a tiny glimpse of what He did for us. Hopefully, this helps us to trust even more – and to want to serve God better and to conduct ourselves impeccably.
So how are we doing? Are we a credit to the Message of Christ? What can we do to improve?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 29 ~ Philippians 1:3-6
Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
(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 think of someone, has it ever occurred to you to stop right then and pray for them? Don’t you think this is a wonderful idea? Oh, sure, you can’t spend your WHOLE DAY doing this every time you think of someone… or can you? It doesn’t have to be a 30-minute prayer? What if you passed someone in the hallway and spoke to them, and under your breath you said, "Lord please bless Joe today." Or you get an e-mail prayer request for someone who is ill, and you read their name and just say, "Father, heal Tom and grant him peace." Or maybe you are talking with someone on the phone, and when you hang up, you quietly say, "Thank you, Jesus, for my friendship with Joan."
It doesn’t have to be a huge long prayer to be effective. AND… I’m guessing that the upside of this is that you are going to get a blessing yourself. As the Apostle Paul says, you will find yourself praying with a glad heart. This could revolutionize your thinking – praying like this could change your attitude AND the tone of your whole day!
So what are you waiting for? Let’s try this for a day or two and see what happens. I’m starting now. I thank God for every remembrance of you… "Lord, please bless the person receiving this message and give them a glad heart of joy and peace in You today."
©2008 Debbie Robus
Getting Organized... and Sticking to It! - Week 4
January 28 ~ Ephesians 6:13-18
Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
(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 heard someone say, “I don’t need any help! I can do it myself!” When it comes to being consistent in our life as a Christian, we see clearly in this scripture that we can NOT do it ourselves. Notice it says we need a weapon! That is because Satan is a very, very formidable opponent. And let me tell you, he will not be one bit happy about you living for Jesus! The stronger you become in your Christian walk, the harder the devil will fight to win you back to his side.
So take a long, hard look at this passage. Be prepared. Take all the help you can get. Study God’s word. Keep your eyes open and pray hard. And help your brother and sister in Christ to do the same thing. You may wonder, “If it’s so hard, why bother?” Let me tell you, every struggle you endure for Christ will be worth it. There will be hard times, but there will be amazingly wonderful rewards… and the ultimate reward will be spending eternity in heaven. It won’t get any better than running into Jesus’ arms some day. Meanwhile, each earthly step toward our heavenly home will bring its own rewards and blessings.Be prepared, keep your eyes open – and keep the faith – and God will help you stay on your feet!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 27 ~ Ephesians 4:14-16
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love - like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust 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.)
Are you a “babe in the woods” in your faith? For far too long… maybe even 30 years or better… this described me. I knew just enough scripture and hymns to feel smug in my faith. I went to church often and was a “good person.” I prayed and occasionally read my Bible. But I didn’t produce much fruit… and honestly, I didn’t understand God’s power to sustain me in times of need – or His love for me in sending Jesus Christ. In many ways, I was a pretty easy mark for the devil because of my lax attitude. For the longest, I didn’t get that Jesus’ very breath and blood flow through me and nourish me each day. THAT is powerful… and empowering!
Where are you in your walk? Are you in tune with the Holy Spirit? Do you feel Jesus’ breath and blood flowing through you? Is He the source of everything you do? I encourage you to stop today and re-examine your situation. Look for time in your day to read the Bible and pray – or to read the words of a good Christian author as God uses him/her to speak to your current needs. Visit with a strong Christian friend and see what you can learn from him/her. Listen to some good Christian music. In other words, feed upon the word of God through His word and the words He gives fellow believers for you. Grow in your faith. Don’t stay a “baby Christian.” Don’t be an easy mark for the devil. Grow up, recognize the truth, share it with others, and feel Christ nourishing you each day.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 26 ~ Galatians 6:9-10
So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever felt you were spreading yourself too thinly? We all get overloaded at times, but one of the easiest – and worst – places for this is in church work and/or ministry. There are so many needs, and sometimes we feel “called” to share in meeting all of them. There is the food drive, the shoe drive, the children’s after-school program, youth night, Sunday night Bible study, Monday morning Bible study, choir, church supper, answering the phone in the office – and you’ve not even left the parking lot! The Christian Health Center needs volunteers, along with Cleburne County Cares, the Humane Society, and the Hospital Auxiliary. Countless charities need your money, this charity or that needs your help in soliciting donations, and friends and family need visits, food, and encouragement for a myriad of reasons. And we still haven’t left town and considered true “community outreach” or global missions!
Whew! No wonder we are fatigued from “doing good!” I think the message of this passage is this… “Slow down! Take a good look around your own backyard. Who in your immediate circle needs you?” If we don’t take care of the needs of those closest to us and nurture them, then how will we ever build a strong group of Christians to minister to others as the circle widens? We’ve all heard the saying, “Charity begins at home.” Well, so does ministry!
So look around your immediate circle and your own backyard today, and see where needs can be met. If you have time and energy to expand beyond that a little, go for it! God will show you how far to venture in your efforts. And if you keep at it, He will harvest a good crop from them. Ask God where HE wants you to serve, and then get to work!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 25 ~ Galatians 5:1
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
January 20th, Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States and became the first African-American to do so. That night, he slept in the White House - built by slaves - and only a few yards from where many of them slept each night in huts on the White House grounds. I’m sure most of them never dreamed that some day a man with African roots like theirs would be leading the free world and living in the house they had helped to build. It has taken a long, long time to remove the harnesses of slavery in this country – and even today, I don’t believe they are completely gone in some circles.
I know that many people – of all colors – feel bonds of slavery to something or someone, even today. But the GOOD NEWS is that ALL of us are free in Christ Jesus! All of us were slaves to the devil before Christ came to save us, but save us He did! Now we can live a free life in Him. We don’t ever have to be slaves to sin or the devil again, and that is wonderful news.
I am sure that many people have endured their suffering and hardship in slavery to man by holding onto the promises of freedom in Jesus. Imagine all of the slaves who toiled in faith that SOME DAY things would be different and freedom would come. We don’t have to wait for freedom through Christ Jesus. With God all things ARE possible. Freedom from man’s bondage may take centuries, but freedom from the devil comes in an instant – the moment we ask Jesus to live in our hearts and be the Lord of our life. So take YOUR stand! Give your harness of slavery to Christ and life a free life in Him. He will take care of everything else.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 24 ~ 2 Corinthians 5:15
Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
(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.)
In 1975, my husband and I sat with our family in the end zone at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, surrounded by Texas A&M Aggie fans. I can tell you that the outset of that game was anything but pleasant. Texas A&M was undefeated and destined for a berth in the Cotton Bowl. Arkansas won the game 31-6, and we savored the victory while the A&M fans sat in stunned silence.
We all like to be winners, and we all like to feel included. Sitting on a bench in an end zone filled with gloating opponents doesn’t make you feel included – or like a winner! The good news is that we are ALL winners with Jesus. We are all included. There are no losers. The opponent (Satan) has been defeated, and nobody else has to be on his team. One man came to earth and died for EVERYONE. We can all celebrate at the end. Nobody has to sit in stunned silence. And we all get to go to the biggest “bowl game” of all time… Heaven!
Belonging to Jesus changes everything and colors my approach to each and every day. I can’t imagine being on the outside and looking in… but I know there are those who do. It doesn’t have to be that way. What Jesus did for you and me, He will surely do for those who don’t yet believe. It says so in this passage… “He included everyone in his death…” Our job is to get this word out to everyone we meet, so that they can join us. We’re all in the same boat with Jesus… and there is still room for others! Where are you sitting?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 23 ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge - a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.
(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 signed something that had to be witnessed or notarized? The witnesses and notary public must sign and/or stamp the document, attesting that they saw you sign the paper. They are affirming you… stating that indeed, YOU signed where you said you signed. Their signature and/or notary seal are vital to the authenticity and validity of the document!
Jesus authorized and validated us with His very blood. His death on the cross and resurrection three days later were the “stamp” and seal on our sins, removing any record of them forever. His crucifixion and resurrection also signaled the beginning of our new life in Him.
If the notary and witnesses signed a document and we failed to sign, it would not be valid. It takes BOTH to create a legal and binding statement. In the same way, God’s “Yes” requires our “Yes” to complete the agreement. Our salvation is not guaranteed because Jesus says He will vouch for us (cover our sins). We have to do our part. We have to say, “Yes, I ask for forgiveness. Yes, I will follow You all the days of my life.” And we have to mean it! God’s “Yes” and our “Yes” together create a sure thing in Christ. His eternal pledge becomes our guarantee of life with Him on earth AND in heaven.So where do you stand today? Have you given your “Yes” to God? Has He stamped you with His eternal pledge? Is your future a sure thing in Christ?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 22 ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
(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.)
The NIV translates this verse as, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.” Sometimes, we get so caught up in the routine of daily life that we forget to stay alert. We drop our guard, and sometimes we are unloving – and unlovely!
Surely as we are bombarded on all sides by stressful situations, demands of work and family and “keeping all of the balls in the air,” it is easy to say, “I think I will skip my Bible study today,” or to cut our prayers short. We find reasons to miss everything from church services to committee meetings. We sign up for small groups and special events with the greatest of intentions, and then we find ourselves to weary or too busy to attend. We meet people in the store and whiz by them shouting, “Hi! How are you?” but not waiting for the answer, because we are “on the run” to get to our next event.
“But this is life!” I hear you saying. And you are right… and it’s a life that is rich with openings for the devil to make headway. When we drop our guard, he goes to work. The moments when we are too stressed or busy to make time for God is the when we need to find EXTRA time for Him. When we are so busy we don’t have time to share God’s love with others – or we reduce even our conversation with family members and/or spouses to a grunt and a grumble – Satan rolls up his sleeves and gets to work! When we laugh at an off-color joke or ignore a racial slur, or we turn away as someone behaves in a manner that isn’t Christ-like, we are not only unloving in our behavior, but we are compromising our convictions.
In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus says "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (MSG) Jesus has promised He will never give us more than we can handle with His help. So be bold in your faith, keep on guard, rest in His grace, love without stopping, and LIVE in Him. Be strong, stay faithful, love always, and give all you’ve got for Jesus!
©2008 Debbie Robus
Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.
(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 heard someone say, “I don’t need any help! I can do it myself!” When it comes to being consistent in our life as a Christian, we see clearly in this scripture that we can NOT do it ourselves. Notice it says we need a weapon! That is because Satan is a very, very formidable opponent. And let me tell you, he will not be one bit happy about you living for Jesus! The stronger you become in your Christian walk, the harder the devil will fight to win you back to his side.
So take a long, hard look at this passage. Be prepared. Take all the help you can get. Study God’s word. Keep your eyes open and pray hard. And help your brother and sister in Christ to do the same thing. You may wonder, “If it’s so hard, why bother?” Let me tell you, every struggle you endure for Christ will be worth it. There will be hard times, but there will be amazingly wonderful rewards… and the ultimate reward will be spending eternity in heaven. It won’t get any better than running into Jesus’ arms some day. Meanwhile, each earthly step toward our heavenly home will bring its own rewards and blessings.Be prepared, keep your eyes open – and keep the faith – and God will help you stay on your feet!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 27 ~ Ephesians 4:14-16
No prolonged infancies among us, please. We'll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love - like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust 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.)
Are you a “babe in the woods” in your faith? For far too long… maybe even 30 years or better… this described me. I knew just enough scripture and hymns to feel smug in my faith. I went to church often and was a “good person.” I prayed and occasionally read my Bible. But I didn’t produce much fruit… and honestly, I didn’t understand God’s power to sustain me in times of need – or His love for me in sending Jesus Christ. In many ways, I was a pretty easy mark for the devil because of my lax attitude. For the longest, I didn’t get that Jesus’ very breath and blood flow through me and nourish me each day. THAT is powerful… and empowering!
Where are you in your walk? Are you in tune with the Holy Spirit? Do you feel Jesus’ breath and blood flowing through you? Is He the source of everything you do? I encourage you to stop today and re-examine your situation. Look for time in your day to read the Bible and pray – or to read the words of a good Christian author as God uses him/her to speak to your current needs. Visit with a strong Christian friend and see what you can learn from him/her. Listen to some good Christian music. In other words, feed upon the word of God through His word and the words He gives fellow believers for you. Grow in your faith. Don’t stay a “baby Christian.” Don’t be an easy mark for the devil. Grow up, recognize the truth, share it with others, and feel Christ nourishing you each day.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 26 ~ Galatians 6:9-10
So let's not allow ourselves to get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever felt you were spreading yourself too thinly? We all get overloaded at times, but one of the easiest – and worst – places for this is in church work and/or ministry. There are so many needs, and sometimes we feel “called” to share in meeting all of them. There is the food drive, the shoe drive, the children’s after-school program, youth night, Sunday night Bible study, Monday morning Bible study, choir, church supper, answering the phone in the office – and you’ve not even left the parking lot! The Christian Health Center needs volunteers, along with Cleburne County Cares, the Humane Society, and the Hospital Auxiliary. Countless charities need your money, this charity or that needs your help in soliciting donations, and friends and family need visits, food, and encouragement for a myriad of reasons. And we still haven’t left town and considered true “community outreach” or global missions!
Whew! No wonder we are fatigued from “doing good!” I think the message of this passage is this… “Slow down! Take a good look around your own backyard. Who in your immediate circle needs you?” If we don’t take care of the needs of those closest to us and nurture them, then how will we ever build a strong group of Christians to minister to others as the circle widens? We’ve all heard the saying, “Charity begins at home.” Well, so does ministry!
So look around your immediate circle and your own backyard today, and see where needs can be met. If you have time and energy to expand beyond that a little, go for it! God will show you how far to venture in your efforts. And if you keep at it, He will harvest a good crop from them. Ask God where HE wants you to serve, and then get to work!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 25 ~ Galatians 5:1
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
January 20th, Barack Obama took the oath of office as the 44th President of the United States and became the first African-American to do so. That night, he slept in the White House - built by slaves - and only a few yards from where many of them slept each night in huts on the White House grounds. I’m sure most of them never dreamed that some day a man with African roots like theirs would be leading the free world and living in the house they had helped to build. It has taken a long, long time to remove the harnesses of slavery in this country – and even today, I don’t believe they are completely gone in some circles.
I know that many people – of all colors – feel bonds of slavery to something or someone, even today. But the GOOD NEWS is that ALL of us are free in Christ Jesus! All of us were slaves to the devil before Christ came to save us, but save us He did! Now we can live a free life in Him. We don’t ever have to be slaves to sin or the devil again, and that is wonderful news.
I am sure that many people have endured their suffering and hardship in slavery to man by holding onto the promises of freedom in Jesus. Imagine all of the slaves who toiled in faith that SOME DAY things would be different and freedom would come. We don’t have to wait for freedom through Christ Jesus. With God all things ARE possible. Freedom from man’s bondage may take centuries, but freedom from the devil comes in an instant – the moment we ask Jesus to live in our hearts and be the Lord of our life. So take YOUR stand! Give your harness of slavery to Christ and life a free life in Him. He will take care of everything else.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 24 ~ 2 Corinthians 5:15
Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
(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.)
In 1975, my husband and I sat with our family in the end zone at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, surrounded by Texas A&M Aggie fans. I can tell you that the outset of that game was anything but pleasant. Texas A&M was undefeated and destined for a berth in the Cotton Bowl. Arkansas won the game 31-6, and we savored the victory while the A&M fans sat in stunned silence.
We all like to be winners, and we all like to feel included. Sitting on a bench in an end zone filled with gloating opponents doesn’t make you feel included – or like a winner! The good news is that we are ALL winners with Jesus. We are all included. There are no losers. The opponent (Satan) has been defeated, and nobody else has to be on his team. One man came to earth and died for EVERYONE. We can all celebrate at the end. Nobody has to sit in stunned silence. And we all get to go to the biggest “bowl game” of all time… Heaven!
Belonging to Jesus changes everything and colors my approach to each and every day. I can’t imagine being on the outside and looking in… but I know there are those who do. It doesn’t have to be that way. What Jesus did for you and me, He will surely do for those who don’t yet believe. It says so in this passage… “He included everyone in his death…” Our job is to get this word out to everyone we meet, so that they can join us. We’re all in the same boat with Jesus… and there is still room for others! Where are you sitting?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 23 ~ 2 Corinthians 1:20-22
Whatever God has promised gets stamped with the Yes of Jesus. In him, this is what we preach and pray, the great Amen, God's Yes and our Yes together, gloriously evident. God affirms us, making us a sure thing in Christ, putting his Yes within us. By his Spirit he has stamped us with his eternal pledge - a sure beginning of what he is destined to complete.
(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 signed something that had to be witnessed or notarized? The witnesses and notary public must sign and/or stamp the document, attesting that they saw you sign the paper. They are affirming you… stating that indeed, YOU signed where you said you signed. Their signature and/or notary seal are vital to the authenticity and validity of the document!
Jesus authorized and validated us with His very blood. His death on the cross and resurrection three days later were the “stamp” and seal on our sins, removing any record of them forever. His crucifixion and resurrection also signaled the beginning of our new life in Him.
If the notary and witnesses signed a document and we failed to sign, it would not be valid. It takes BOTH to create a legal and binding statement. In the same way, God’s “Yes” requires our “Yes” to complete the agreement. Our salvation is not guaranteed because Jesus says He will vouch for us (cover our sins). We have to do our part. We have to say, “Yes, I ask for forgiveness. Yes, I will follow You all the days of my life.” And we have to mean it! God’s “Yes” and our “Yes” together create a sure thing in Christ. His eternal pledge becomes our guarantee of life with Him on earth AND in heaven.So where do you stand today? Have you given your “Yes” to God? Has He stamped you with His eternal pledge? Is your future a sure thing in Christ?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 22 ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you've got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
(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.)
The NIV translates this verse as, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong. Do everything in love.” Sometimes, we get so caught up in the routine of daily life that we forget to stay alert. We drop our guard, and sometimes we are unloving – and unlovely!
Surely as we are bombarded on all sides by stressful situations, demands of work and family and “keeping all of the balls in the air,” it is easy to say, “I think I will skip my Bible study today,” or to cut our prayers short. We find reasons to miss everything from church services to committee meetings. We sign up for small groups and special events with the greatest of intentions, and then we find ourselves to weary or too busy to attend. We meet people in the store and whiz by them shouting, “Hi! How are you?” but not waiting for the answer, because we are “on the run” to get to our next event.
“But this is life!” I hear you saying. And you are right… and it’s a life that is rich with openings for the devil to make headway. When we drop our guard, he goes to work. The moments when we are too stressed or busy to make time for God is the when we need to find EXTRA time for Him. When we are so busy we don’t have time to share God’s love with others – or we reduce even our conversation with family members and/or spouses to a grunt and a grumble – Satan rolls up his sleeves and gets to work! When we laugh at an off-color joke or ignore a racial slur, or we turn away as someone behaves in a manner that isn’t Christ-like, we are not only unloving in our behavior, but we are compromising our convictions.
In Matthew 11:29-30, Jesus says "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." (MSG) Jesus has promised He will never give us more than we can handle with His help. So be bold in your faith, keep on guard, rest in His grace, love without stopping, and LIVE in Him. Be strong, stay faithful, love always, and give all you’ve got for Jesus!
©2008 Debbie Robus
Getting Organized... and Sticking to It! - Week 3
January 21 ~ 1 Corinthians 15:58
With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.
(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 involved in an effort or project that just seemed to go nowhere? Have you felt like throwing in the towel – or maybe you did just that? We’ve all been there, and there is no shame in “changing gears” if you feel God is leading you to do so. But what if you feel you are stuck in something that is going nowhere, but you don’t feel God leading you to move?
Whatever challenges come, we must remember that anything we do as Christians – any time we spend on a certain project or task – has merit in God’s kingdom, if we are doing it in a spirit of service and witness. So if you started a Bible study and only three people (including yourself) attended regularly before you disbanded, then three people were blessed and fed from God’s word. If you checked groceries at a local store and were courteous and kind to customers, you were sharing God’s love. Something as seemingly mundane as keeping a clean house for your family – or keeping the family vehicles in repair and running well – or even taking out the garbage! – can bless God as you serve others.
I don’t know your station in life. You may be a student, a single mom or dad, a single person getting started in a career – or seeking a job to pay your bills, a newlywed navigating the waters of a new marriage, a retiree trying to stretch your pensions, or even a minister or church leader. It doesn’t matter. Whatever you do, remember this passage. Ask yourself two questions… 1) am I doing this in a spirit of service to God, and 2) are my efforts a blessing to Him? If the answer to these questions is “Yes,” then your time has been well spent… and God has used you to further His kingdom.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 20 ~ 1 Corinthians 1:7-9
Just think — you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
(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.)
Adventure… now there’s a word for today. As we inaugurate a new president, we wonder what the future holds for our country – and even for the world. Regardless of our political leanings, we can all agree that there are a lot of uncertainties in today’s world. One way or another, we are all touched by the economic crisis. We may not have lost our job, but we have paid higher prices at the stores and the gas pump. We may not be hungry or homeless, but we have all seen the news stories of those who are – or who are one paycheck away from such devastation. War ravages many countries, and global warming is changing the composition of our earth.
And yet we have reason to be hopeful. We have reason to look toward the future and consider the “adventure.” Why? Because of God’s gifts. The reason we will survive does not rest with our president, our congressmen and senators, or any one world leader or organization. Our future rests in God Almighty, Who never gives up on us. It is because of God standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us and keeping us steady and on track that we can face each day with confidence and courage.
No matter how hard things get… no matter how low the stock market sinks or how high prices go, God will be with us to help us navigate the waters. I don’t know about you, but this excites me. God will NEVER give up on us, so how can we give up – on Him or on life in general? Change IS in the air today… and regardless of the outcome, God will be with us. With Him on our side, there is no way we can fail! Sometime today, stop and thank God for loving us – and for all of His good gifts, especially His Son, Jesus Christ!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 19 ~ Romans 8:31-39
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
(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.)
Nearly every one of us has encountered a troubling situation or a “bully” of sorts at some point in our lives. Maybe it was a classmate at school – or maybe it was an overbearing boss or coworker – or maybe it was a family member. Regardless, you may have felt a range of emotions from sadness to frustration, loneliness and/or total hopelessness. This person’s actions may have hurt you deeply. You may even be experiencing some of these emotions now due to circumstances in your life – “bully” or not.
What I want to emphasize to you today is the sentence that says “None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.” I want to turn this around and also emphasize to you that none of this fazes Jesus, and He is the only One who matters. So if it doesn’t faze Jesus… if it doesn’t alter how much He loves us or how He feels about us… why should it bother us so much? “But you don’t understand… I was really hurt!” you may say. I am sure you were. But what I am saying is that there is no attack that can come upon us that God doesn’t understand. There is nothing that separates us from the love of Christ, and He is always with us! Doesn’t knowing that make a difference? Doesn’t embracing this passage give you hope even in a dark time? Doesn’t this give you renewed confidence and courage?
I was profoundly struck by the verse that said that Jesus – the One who died on the cross for us – stands before God at this very minute on our behalf. WOW! It was more than enough that He died for us… but He continues to go to bat for us. He continues to stick up for us and to fight for us. Now, if He is willing to do that for us before God, surely He can help us overcome our everyday battles. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ… with Him on our side, how CAN we lose?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 18 ~ Romans 8:29-30
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
(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 used to be a show on AETN where a man named Bob Ross painted scenic landscapes – an entire painting in thirty minutes. Mr. Ross is now deceased, but he perfected a method of painting that he taught to countless other people, and many became followers – and teachers - of his method. Bob started with a blank canvas that he would paint one or two solid colors, such as blue on the top two thirds, and green on the bottom third. From there, he would add mountains, trees, water, and maybe even a little house or a small animal. He used a palette knife to add bark to trees and rocks to creeks. And more than once, he made a mistake, and he would laugh in his velvety soft voice and say, “that’s just a happy accident.”
Bob Ross was known for his “happy accidents,” and they didn’t upset him. He knew before he ever put the first drop of paint on his canvas that things would not go as he hoped, but in the end, the painting would be beautiful. He took the slips of the brush, the wayward tree or the miscolored rock and turned them into something unique and interesting to give his masterpiece character.
And in the same way, we Christians are all often God’s “happy accidents.” He planned for us long before we were born. He chose us, and He wouldn’t wipe us off the canvas and start over for anything. But we are not perfect, and often we do or say things that are not what God would have added to his landscape painting. But He works us in… He covers the sins over in His infinite grace and mercy, and He keeps working on His masterpiece.
I cannot begin to put into words how grateful I am that God doesn’t give up on me. I am so humbled, honored, and BLESSED that He will stick with me until my “landscape painting” is completed. I am amazed that He loves me enough to want me to join him in heaven for eternity – to “hang my painting” in His house, so to speak. I praise God for loving me so generously. I thank Him for sticking by me and working out a way to cover over my “accidents/sins.” I am grateful that He has called me by name, and I am doing all I can to be who He has called me to be in Him. What about you… how is YOUR “painting” coming along these days?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 17 ~ Romans 2:5-8
You're not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it's going to blaze hot and high, God's fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end you get what's coming to you — Real Life for those who work on God's side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, 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.)
Have you ever been to an Ash Wednesday service where the pastor gave you paper and a pencil and asked you to list your sins? Then one by one, each person in attendance dropped the papers into a fire pit and burned them, signifying that through Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven and scattered like dust. Most likely, the pastor took the ashes from that fire and mixed them with oil to mark your forehead afterward with the sign of the cross to symbolize this.
One Ash Wednesday, I remember the fire grew rather hot. We were indoors, and the smoke rose and swirled through the sanctuary… and it even burned our eyes a little. As I read this passage and thought about the sins of those who will refuse to believe in Jesus, I was saddened. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to think about hell and its fires. I don’t like to think of God - my Heavenly Father, my protector, my all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing Comforter – as fiery and punishing and condemning ANYONE to the furnaces of hell. But I recognize that MY God is also a just God… and jealous. While my God is the God of second chances (and third, fourth and more), in the end He will not stand for those who choose Satan over Him.
Satan’s ways may seem fun, exciting, and easier – and some would argue that his ways are more loving… more “all-welcoming.” But this is not what the Bible tells me. Matthew 11:28 says “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.) That sounds welcoming to me! This is the God I want to serve. I’m convinced that following Jesus and working for Him will bring me Real Life and an eternity in Heaven. I’m betting there will be campfires there, and I enjoy a good campfire as much as the next person. But I also have the option to move away from a campfire if I get too warm. That sort of “fire” is the only kind I care to experience… how about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 16 ~ Acts 14:21-22
After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core of disciples, they retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn't be easy: "Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times."
(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 question people ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” You know the comedian, Larry the Cable Guy and his famous phrase, “Here’s your sign…” Well… “here’s your answer in scripture!” Paul and Barnabas have spelled it out clearly for Jesus’ disciples – and for us today – when you sign on to serve Jesus, you have to go through hard times.
Now you may be asking, “But why?” Let me ask you something… if serving God were a piece of cake and always smooth sailing, how would we grow in our knowledge and faith? If we never had any challenges, how would we experience God’s grace and mercy over us… His comfort and His healing? How would we share with others the powers and wonders of God if we sat back on our haunches and were handed nothing but positive experiences all the time?
God will NEVER give us more than we can handle, although it surely seems so to us mere mortals much of the time. In our deepest grief – our darkest hour – our most trying physical, economical, social and moral challenges – GOD will be there. HE will deliver us to the other side. But He needs our hand… we have to reach out and take the first step toward Him, no matter how hard it seems. One step… He will do the rest. Stick with what you believe and don’t quit. It may not be easy, but it will surely be worth it!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 15 ~ Acts 13:42-43
When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath. As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they'd started, this living in and by God's grace.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
If you are like me, sticking with things is a constant challenge. I don’t consider myself a quitter, but I am human. And when I feel that my efforts are not productive (or as productive as I want them to be!) or several things seem to go wrong in rapid succession, I’m just like a lot of folks – I tend to want to curl up in a ball and forget it!
Can I tell you something? In the life of a true Christian, 1) we are going to be challenged a lot, and 2) quitting is not an option! So how on earth will we get through it all? The answer is found in one word – Grace! God will give us the grace we need to make it through each day.
God’s grace prepared a way for us before we were even born – He planned for our family, our upbringing, even the continent on which we would live! God’s grace provided Jesus to die on the cross for our sins as a way out of hell. God’s grace covers us when we stumble and fall – and when we fail to live the life we have been called to live for Him. God’s grace helps us to grow as Christians – allowing us to learn more and more about how He operates. God’s grace protects us and keeps us… even when things seem to go wrong or people turn on us or we just simply have a bad day.
God’s grace is manifested in us in countless ways each and every day. If we just focus on Him and stick with what we started, He will help us to overcome any obstacle. It may not be easy – or pretty – but by God’s grace, we will survive to live for Him another day. We all get down – we all have bad days. But hang in there – God is on our side, and His grace is sufficient to meet all of our needs.
©2008 Debbie Robus
With all this going for us, my dear, dear friends, stand your ground. And don't hold back. Throw yourselves into the work of the Master, confident that nothing you do for him is a waste of time or effort.
(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 involved in an effort or project that just seemed to go nowhere? Have you felt like throwing in the towel – or maybe you did just that? We’ve all been there, and there is no shame in “changing gears” if you feel God is leading you to do so. But what if you feel you are stuck in something that is going nowhere, but you don’t feel God leading you to move?
Whatever challenges come, we must remember that anything we do as Christians – any time we spend on a certain project or task – has merit in God’s kingdom, if we are doing it in a spirit of service and witness. So if you started a Bible study and only three people (including yourself) attended regularly before you disbanded, then three people were blessed and fed from God’s word. If you checked groceries at a local store and were courteous and kind to customers, you were sharing God’s love. Something as seemingly mundane as keeping a clean house for your family – or keeping the family vehicles in repair and running well – or even taking out the garbage! – can bless God as you serve others.
I don’t know your station in life. You may be a student, a single mom or dad, a single person getting started in a career – or seeking a job to pay your bills, a newlywed navigating the waters of a new marriage, a retiree trying to stretch your pensions, or even a minister or church leader. It doesn’t matter. Whatever you do, remember this passage. Ask yourself two questions… 1) am I doing this in a spirit of service to God, and 2) are my efforts a blessing to Him? If the answer to these questions is “Yes,” then your time has been well spent… and God has used you to further His kingdom.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 20 ~ 1 Corinthians 1:7-9
Just think — you don't need a thing, you've got it all! All God's gifts are right in front of you as you wait expectantly for our Master Jesus to arrive on the scene for the Finale. And not only that, but God himself is right alongside to keep you steady and on track until things are all wrapped up by Jesus. God, who got you started in this spiritual adventure, shares with us the life of his Son and our Master Jesus. He will never give up on you. Never forget that.
(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.)
Adventure… now there’s a word for today. As we inaugurate a new president, we wonder what the future holds for our country – and even for the world. Regardless of our political leanings, we can all agree that there are a lot of uncertainties in today’s world. One way or another, we are all touched by the economic crisis. We may not have lost our job, but we have paid higher prices at the stores and the gas pump. We may not be hungry or homeless, but we have all seen the news stories of those who are – or who are one paycheck away from such devastation. War ravages many countries, and global warming is changing the composition of our earth.
And yet we have reason to be hopeful. We have reason to look toward the future and consider the “adventure.” Why? Because of God’s gifts. The reason we will survive does not rest with our president, our congressmen and senators, or any one world leader or organization. Our future rests in God Almighty, Who never gives up on us. It is because of God standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us and keeping us steady and on track that we can face each day with confidence and courage.
No matter how hard things get… no matter how low the stock market sinks or how high prices go, God will be with us to help us navigate the waters. I don’t know about you, but this excites me. God will NEVER give up on us, so how can we give up – on Him or on life in general? Change IS in the air today… and regardless of the outcome, God will be with us. With Him on our side, there is no way we can fail! Sometime today, stop and thank God for loving us – and for all of His good gifts, especially His Son, Jesus Christ!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 19 ~ Romans 8:31-39
So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:
They kill us in cold blood because they hate you.
We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.
None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us.
(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.)
Nearly every one of us has encountered a troubling situation or a “bully” of sorts at some point in our lives. Maybe it was a classmate at school – or maybe it was an overbearing boss or coworker – or maybe it was a family member. Regardless, you may have felt a range of emotions from sadness to frustration, loneliness and/or total hopelessness. This person’s actions may have hurt you deeply. You may even be experiencing some of these emotions now due to circumstances in your life – “bully” or not.
What I want to emphasize to you today is the sentence that says “None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.” I want to turn this around and also emphasize to you that none of this fazes Jesus, and He is the only One who matters. So if it doesn’t faze Jesus… if it doesn’t alter how much He loves us or how He feels about us… why should it bother us so much? “But you don’t understand… I was really hurt!” you may say. I am sure you were. But what I am saying is that there is no attack that can come upon us that God doesn’t understand. There is nothing that separates us from the love of Christ, and He is always with us! Doesn’t knowing that make a difference? Doesn’t embracing this passage give you hope even in a dark time? Doesn’t this give you renewed confidence and courage?
I was profoundly struck by the verse that said that Jesus – the One who died on the cross for us – stands before God at this very minute on our behalf. WOW! It was more than enough that He died for us… but He continues to go to bat for us. He continues to stick up for us and to fight for us. Now, if He is willing to do that for us before God, surely He can help us overcome our everyday battles. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ… with Him on our side, how CAN we lose?
©2008 Debbie Robus
--------------------------------------------------------------
January 18 ~ Romans 8:29-30
God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him. After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.
(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 used to be a show on AETN where a man named Bob Ross painted scenic landscapes – an entire painting in thirty minutes. Mr. Ross is now deceased, but he perfected a method of painting that he taught to countless other people, and many became followers – and teachers - of his method. Bob started with a blank canvas that he would paint one or two solid colors, such as blue on the top two thirds, and green on the bottom third. From there, he would add mountains, trees, water, and maybe even a little house or a small animal. He used a palette knife to add bark to trees and rocks to creeks. And more than once, he made a mistake, and he would laugh in his velvety soft voice and say, “that’s just a happy accident.”
Bob Ross was known for his “happy accidents,” and they didn’t upset him. He knew before he ever put the first drop of paint on his canvas that things would not go as he hoped, but in the end, the painting would be beautiful. He took the slips of the brush, the wayward tree or the miscolored rock and turned them into something unique and interesting to give his masterpiece character.
And in the same way, we Christians are all often God’s “happy accidents.” He planned for us long before we were born. He chose us, and He wouldn’t wipe us off the canvas and start over for anything. But we are not perfect, and often we do or say things that are not what God would have added to his landscape painting. But He works us in… He covers the sins over in His infinite grace and mercy, and He keeps working on His masterpiece.
I cannot begin to put into words how grateful I am that God doesn’t give up on me. I am so humbled, honored, and BLESSED that He will stick with me until my “landscape painting” is completed. I am amazed that He loves me enough to want me to join him in heaven for eternity – to “hang my painting” in His house, so to speak. I praise God for loving me so generously. I thank Him for sticking by me and working out a way to cover over my “accidents/sins.” I am grateful that He has called me by name, and I am doing all I can to be who He has called me to be in Him. What about you… how is YOUR “painting” coming along these days?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 17 ~ Romans 2:5-8
You're not getting by with anything. Every refusal and avoidance of God adds fuel to the fire. The day is coming when it's going to blaze hot and high, God's fiery and righteous judgment. Make no mistake: In the end you get what's coming to you — Real Life for those who work on God's side, but to those who insist on getting their own way and take the path of least resistance, 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.)
Have you ever been to an Ash Wednesday service where the pastor gave you paper and a pencil and asked you to list your sins? Then one by one, each person in attendance dropped the papers into a fire pit and burned them, signifying that through Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven and scattered like dust. Most likely, the pastor took the ashes from that fire and mixed them with oil to mark your forehead afterward with the sign of the cross to symbolize this.
One Ash Wednesday, I remember the fire grew rather hot. We were indoors, and the smoke rose and swirled through the sanctuary… and it even burned our eyes a little. As I read this passage and thought about the sins of those who will refuse to believe in Jesus, I was saddened. I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to think about hell and its fires. I don’t like to think of God - my Heavenly Father, my protector, my all-powerful, all-loving, all-knowing Comforter – as fiery and punishing and condemning ANYONE to the furnaces of hell. But I recognize that MY God is also a just God… and jealous. While my God is the God of second chances (and third, fourth and more), in the end He will not stand for those who choose Satan over Him.
Satan’s ways may seem fun, exciting, and easier – and some would argue that his ways are more loving… more “all-welcoming.” But this is not what the Bible tells me. Matthew 11:28 says “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Scripture taken from the King James Version, 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States. To read this passage from The Message, go to www.biblegateway.com and do a passage lookup.) That sounds welcoming to me! This is the God I want to serve. I’m convinced that following Jesus and working for Him will bring me Real Life and an eternity in Heaven. I’m betting there will be campfires there, and I enjoy a good campfire as much as the next person. But I also have the option to move away from a campfire if I get too warm. That sort of “fire” is the only kind I care to experience… how about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 16 ~ Acts 14:21-22
After proclaiming the Message in Derbe and establishing a strong core of disciples, they retraced their steps to Lystra, then Iconium, and then Antioch, putting muscle and sinew in the lives of the disciples, urging them to stick with what they had begun to believe and not quit, making it clear to them that it wouldn't be easy: "Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times."
(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 question people ask, “Why do bad things happen to good people?” You know the comedian, Larry the Cable Guy and his famous phrase, “Here’s your sign…” Well… “here’s your answer in scripture!” Paul and Barnabas have spelled it out clearly for Jesus’ disciples – and for us today – when you sign on to serve Jesus, you have to go through hard times.
Now you may be asking, “But why?” Let me ask you something… if serving God were a piece of cake and always smooth sailing, how would we grow in our knowledge and faith? If we never had any challenges, how would we experience God’s grace and mercy over us… His comfort and His healing? How would we share with others the powers and wonders of God if we sat back on our haunches and were handed nothing but positive experiences all the time?
God will NEVER give us more than we can handle, although it surely seems so to us mere mortals much of the time. In our deepest grief – our darkest hour – our most trying physical, economical, social and moral challenges – GOD will be there. HE will deliver us to the other side. But He needs our hand… we have to reach out and take the first step toward Him, no matter how hard it seems. One step… He will do the rest. Stick with what you believe and don’t quit. It may not be easy, but it will surely be worth it!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 15 ~ Acts 13:42-43
When the service was over, Paul and Barnabas were invited back to preach again the next Sabbath. As the meeting broke up, a good many Jews and converts to Judaism went along with Paul and Barnabas, who urged them in long conversations to stick with what they'd started, this living in and by God's grace.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
If you are like me, sticking with things is a constant challenge. I don’t consider myself a quitter, but I am human. And when I feel that my efforts are not productive (or as productive as I want them to be!) or several things seem to go wrong in rapid succession, I’m just like a lot of folks – I tend to want to curl up in a ball and forget it!
Can I tell you something? In the life of a true Christian, 1) we are going to be challenged a lot, and 2) quitting is not an option! So how on earth will we get through it all? The answer is found in one word – Grace! God will give us the grace we need to make it through each day.
God’s grace prepared a way for us before we were even born – He planned for our family, our upbringing, even the continent on which we would live! God’s grace provided Jesus to die on the cross for our sins as a way out of hell. God’s grace covers us when we stumble and fall – and when we fail to live the life we have been called to live for Him. God’s grace helps us to grow as Christians – allowing us to learn more and more about how He operates. God’s grace protects us and keeps us… even when things seem to go wrong or people turn on us or we just simply have a bad day.
God’s grace is manifested in us in countless ways each and every day. If we just focus on Him and stick with what we started, He will help us to overcome any obstacle. It may not be easy – or pretty – but by God’s grace, we will survive to live for Him another day. We all get down – we all have bad days. But hang in there – God is on our side, and His grace is sufficient to meet all of our needs.
©2008 Debbie Robus
Getting Organized... and Sticking to It!
January 14 ~ Acts 11:22-24
When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this, they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways. The community grew large and strong in the Master.
(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 gone to a sporting event where the cheerleaders really had the crowd revved up and “into” the game? Did it make a difference in how the team performed? Have you ever noticed how when the opponent “takes the wind out of the sails” of your team, the crowd sometimes goes “flat?” Conversely, when your team makes a “run,” the crowd can come back and get energized and even affect the outcome of the game?
There are a lot of areas of life that operate similarly to this… and one of these is our Christian life. If people get “fired up” and excited about church and Bible study and worship, it can be infectious. Others jump on board, and attendance may increase, and certainly, the mood may improve among those who are involved on a regular basis. And often, this enthusiasm starts with one person – or two or three at best.
The sad thing is that it only takes one person to start to drag things in the WRONG direction. One person, believe it or not, can seriously affect the life of a church. Trust me, nobody knows this better than Satan! So he is watching all the time for someone he can persuade… someone he can drag down and depress and disgruntle. It doesn’t have to be church attendance itself… negativity in any area in the life of a Christian is Satan’s goal.
We must guard our hearts at all times. We must not let Satan have us as a vessel for doing his work. We must be like the cheerleaders at the ballgame, keeping our fellow believers revved up for Jesus and working for His kingdom. So everybody raise your hands and say it with me… “Let’s go, Christians!” (clap-clap-clap-clap; clap-clap-clap-clap) “Let’s go, Christians!” Get your blood pumping for Him and fill your heart with joy! Stay strong in the Master… and grow more confident in His ways each day!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 13 ~ John 15:9-10
I've loved you the way my Father has loved me. Make yourselves at home in my love. If you keep my commands, you'll remain intimately at home in my love. That's what I've done—kept my Father's commands and made myself at home in his 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.)
When I was a little kid, I lived in a very close-knit neighborhood. We had neighbors who were just about as comfortable in our home as their own – and vice versa. It was nothing for my “Aunt Martha” from next door to walk in during a meal, grab an extra plate and sit down to the table to join us. If she needed ketchup from the fridge, she helped herself. She would pour herself a glass of tea or a Coke, and she made herself completely at home – and we wouldn’t have had it any other way. We loved “Aunt Martha” and welcomed her visits… and conversely, we felt at home in her house and the homes of our other neighbors.
Because our mother had taught us not to help ourselves without being invited, we were polite when we visited, and waited to be offered a cookie or something to drink. But we always felt welcome. In fact, ours was such a cozy, tight-knit neighborhood that people felt comfortable dropping in for coffee in the early morning when you were still in your pajamas and robe – and they wearing theirs, too! Now I can’t say there weren’t some squabbles in the neighborhood from time to time – maybe more than were disclosed to us kids - but we felt such a warmth and intimacy in our relationships with many of the neighbors, and we felt very much at home in each others’ love.
I am comforted to know that Jesus loves like that – like my dear neighbors, and even more deeply than they loved! He is every bit at home in my heart, and I in His! I am welcome there. I can pull up a chair to His table and help myself to the meatloaf, mashed potatoes and iced tea! I can come as I am – pj’s, robe, and all. No need to fix up and “put on airs” for Jesus… He loves us just the way we are, 24/7! Of course, just like when I was a child and knew to respect the homes and property of others and not help myself without asking, Jesus asks us to abide by His “house rules,” so to speak. He asks us to keep His commandments, as He has done with HIS Father God, and to walk in His ways. If we do this, His door will always be open, and His heart will be full of love for us.
I long to be Jesus’ forever neighbor… and to experience His loving welcome all hours of the night and day. I pray that we might each be able to claim a place of intimacy in His home – both now and for all Eternity.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 12 ~ John 15:4-8
4 "Live in me. Make your home in me just as I do in you. In the same way that a branch can't bear grapes by itself but only by being joined to the vine, you can't bear fruit unless you are joined with me.
5-8 "I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you're joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can't produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.
(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 of my life, a good pot of brown/pinto beans has been a “comfort food” in my family. Do you know how to cook a good pot of beans? It starts with a relationship. First you have to take dried beans and submerge them in a large bowl of water for several hours – or even overnight. And you know what happens? As those beans absorb the water, they swell! By morning, it appears that you have twice as many beans or more, as each bean takes on water. Try cooking dried beans without soaking them sometime and see what happens – you end up with a pot of small, shriveled,rock-hard kernels you can barely chew! Yes, a good pot of brown/pinto beans starts with a soaking in water!
Now imagine that we are the beans… dried, shriveled, and hard. Jesus is the water. His death on the cross acts like the hydration that fills us, softens the edges, removes all of the sins and fills us with abundant life. We become new creatures in Him, just like those hard dried beans transform and become something much more palatable!
So Vine:branches – water:beans… either one without the other is unproductive. I know this sounds silly, but think of it this way… be a bean for Jesus! Soak up all He gives you, fill yourself with Him and give Him a home. Mature and swell in His love and be everything He is calling you to be. If you ever planted a bean as a child, you probably soaked it overnight first to fill it with water, and then you put it into the dirt. Several days later, a leafy green plant began to emerge… and theoretically, that plant could produce even more beans. Fill yourself with Jesus, so that you can be productive and show others how to live in Him, also! Now let’s get busy – we’ve got some soaking and growing to do!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 11 ~ John 10:25-30
Jesus answered, "I told you, but you don't believe. Everything I have done has been authorized by my Father, actions that speak louder than words. You don't believe because you're not my sheep. My sheep recognize my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them real and eternal life. They are protected from the Destroyer for good. No one can steal them from out of my hand. The Father who put them under my care is so much greater than the Destroyer and Thief. No one could ever get them away from him. I and the Father are one heart and mind."
(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.)
Jesus tells us that His sheep know His voice. When He speaks, they recognize Him. And as the Great Shepherd, He protects them. I don’t know whether YOU hear Jesus’ voice or not. I hope so! But He clearly shows that some will not recognize Him, because they are not His sheep. “And just what is in it for me?” you might ask. Look at what He promises. Jesus’ sheep receive real and eternal life. They are protected – NO ONE can steal them from His hand or get them away from Him. I don’t know about you, but that sounds pretty good to me!
I know following Jesus is all about faith and trust. We are trusting that the Bible is infallible and that all of the things Jesus commands us to do really did come from Him. We are believing that God truly did authorize Jesus to heal the sick, blind and crippled. We accept on faith that Jesus fed thousands with a small sack lunch, turned water into wine, and died on the cross for our sins - then rose again three days later. We are trusting that He truly does hold us in His hands and protect us – both now and for all eternity. I believe all of this and more because I WANT to be His sheep. When I asked Him to be my Shepherd, something changed inside, and now I am certain I hear His voice – that I belong to Him. I do not want to be “fair game” for the one He refers to as “The Destroyer!” That doesn’t sound very pleasant to me!
If you are not yet one of Jesus’ sheep – if you do not hear His voice calling to you and His arms protecting you – or if you have wandered away - this can all change. Humbly ask Jesus to become your Great Shepherd. Ask Him to forgive your sins and be the Lord of your life forever and ever. Free yourself from any possibility of capture by the “Destroyer and Thief” and start believing – and hearing - today!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 10 ~ John 8:31-32
Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. "If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you."
(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.)
Sticking with it… why is this such a hard concept for us much of the time? We stick with our resolutions – all day January 1st! We stick with a diet for a few days – or maybe even for the first 10 lbs. – and then, we’re right back to the fridge and the cookie jar! We stick with an exercise program until it gets hot – or cold – or we get the flu and miss a week or two – and then we just never seem to get back to it. We set out to get a degree in something and find a good job in a chosen field, but then “life happens,” and we never seem to get back to where we left off and finish.
We have drawers full of unfinished projects – half-painted rooms and gardens we started but never completed. And worst of all, we have lives that we set out to live for Christ, and somewhere along the way, we derailed. I don’t know about you, but unfinished projects drive me wacky! They gnaw at the corners of my mind and call to me… “What about that material you bought for making pillows and never used? What about all those photos you were going scan and/or put into a scrapbook? It’s been three days since you even looked at the treadmill. When was the last time you cracked open your Bible? Just HOW long has it been since you went to church or even thought about your relationship with God?”
Slowly but surely, unfinished business – of any kind, but especially the Spiritual kind – begins to wear on us. It begins to imprison us and make us feel heavily burdened. We buy into all sorts of lies and excuses to try to make ourselves feel better, but honestly, there is only One Way out – only ONE TRUTH… and that is JESUS! He will lead us and help us to live in a way that glorifies Him. He will free us from the burdens of unfinished business. I can’t promise He will keep you on your diet or finish your project or your college degree for you, but I know He will surely help YOU to do it! Sticking with it… finishing what you start and running the good race – especially when it comes to living for Jesus… will give you a freedom better than you ever imagined. What could be better than this?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 9 ~ John 6:35-38
Jesus said, "I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don't really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent 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 bet at least once during the holidays you ate so much that you thought you couldn’t possibly hold one more morsel. You felt if you ate or drank anything else, you might absolutely explode! And for awhile at least, that feeling of fullness stayed around. You didn’t want to even think about more food or drink! Imagine being that full Spiritually – and all the time! Imagine being so full of Jesus that you thought your heart might just explode through your chest. Sounds crazy? It’s not! Jesus wants to fill us this way… and He can, if we will stay close to Him.
You may wonder if I am saying that Jesus will fill us so completely that we don’t need more of Him. No… we must constantly feed on His word… pray… study and fellowship with others… minister and witness. In other words, in order to stay FULL, we have to continually be reloading AND sharing! The food we eat and drink each day may fill us for a short while… maybe even a day or so… but eventually, we have to stop and have a meal and replenish our body. The “Bread of Life” replenishes constantly… IF we stay close to Jesus.
I love the part of this passage that says “once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go.” That is such a beautiful image… of Jesus holding onto me and not letting go. I pray that this is true for you, also. I pray that you have run into Jesus’ arms and He has you wrapped securely there. I pray that you are feeding continually on the Bread of Life. If you aren’t, don’t you think it’s time to start? All you have to do is to desire a constant relationship with Jesus… and then invite Him to live in your heart and be the Lord of your life. It’s that easy. We can all hunger and thirst no more in Him. Run to Jesus, and rest in His arms today.
©2008 Debbie Robus
January 8 ~ Luke 22:31-32
Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out. When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh 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.)
Okay, show of hands… how many of you feel like Simon? How many of you feel like Satan has tried his best to separate you from God? Man, I know I have! I think to myself, “Why did I say that?” or “What was I thinking?” or “Come back, God… come BACK! How could He let such a terrible thing happen?” There have been times when I wondered, “What’s the point? Nothing seems to be working and things seem to be just getting steadily worse! If God loves me, how could He desert me like this?” And I bet you have felt the same way!
But the truth of the matter is that while God does NOT desert us. Satan truly DOES do all he can to pull us away from our Heavenly Father. It is SATAN who plants those doubts and fears. It is Satan who gives us frustrations and temptations and tests to steer us in the wrong direction. It is vital that we realize that Satan is the bad guy here… certainly not God! The devil is real, and he is on the job 24/7, and we have to fight and stay strong to ward off his attempts to derail us.
My prayer is that each of us would not give in or “give out.” My prayer is that we would turn to our Christian friends and family for support and encouragement. And in turn, as we come through our own trials and tests, we must be there for others. We’re all in this together… so stay on your toes and stay strong in the Lord!
©2008 Debbie Robus
Getting Organized
January 7 ~ John 6:39-40
”This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion 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.)
Glue is my friend. In the world of auctions and garage sales and “antiques and treasures,” there are often broken parts… the wing of an angel or delicate “signed and numbered” (i.e. valuable) ceramic bird… the handle on an exquisite teacup… and much more. These otherwise wonderful treasures usually just need a little glue to pull them back together… and as I practice and grow in expertise, I’m getting pretty good at aligning the pieces, so that often you can’t even tell the piece has been repaired. (I do always disclose this fact if I am selling!)
Sometimes, there are pieces that seem to defy repair. A good example of this would be a ceramic “sitting cherub” my mother-in-law gave me. I painted him to look “bronzed” and sat him on a rock in my birdbath, so that I could enjoy looking at him each time I looked out the window. This little cherub held a bird’s nest with a tiny bird in it, and it wasn’t long before I noticed the tail of the bird had broken off and was lying in the ceramic nest. I glued it on with my best glue, and it held for a few weeks, and then one day I glanced out, and “Oh, no!” – the tail was off again. THREE times I glued that tail – and I even tried other glues. But so far, it just won’t stick! So I decided to bring the cherub inside and work on him and see if over the winter, the glue will dry better and the tail will stay. However, when I retrieved him, I discovered that several freezes in December had caused his little feet to crack and fall off! So I have a lot of gluing and repair to do!
You may be wondering, “Why doesn’t she just toss the cherub?” Let me ask you something… what if Jesus just tossed us every time we became broken? What if He said, “Yeah… he/she was a pretty good piece for awhile, but I’ve got plenty more. No sense bothering with this one.” And He tossed us away like a broken piece of pottery? Is that the Jesus we follow? Absolutely not! Jesus puts us together… His blood on the cross is the glue that repairs us. Sometimes it’s just a broken tail or handle, and sometimes our feet are broken in several pieces… or worse. But He sees us for the beautiful, whole believer, and He restores us.
I am not pretending to compare my meager efforts to glue pottery to Jesus’ restoration of us as Christians. But at the same time, I hope you can see that giving up is not the answer… especially in our Spiritual life. Jesus never quits on us… how can we possibly quit on Him?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 6 ~ Matthew 24:13-14
Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
(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 past week, I put away the Christmas decorations. This is not a chore I enjoy. It is not so much that I am sad to see the decorations go (although I have to admit that I am) as that I put out a LOT of decorations, and taking them down and packing them all away is a daunting task. Just where DO you start?! I’ve found that once I get going, it seems to fall into place, and if I just keep plugging away, pretty soon I have it all neatly stored for another year. I can say the same for other tasks, like washing the dishes, doing the laundry and ironing, studying for tests, exercise, and more. By staying with it, the results do come. We do see “light at the end of the tunnel.”
For Christians, there are going to be times when we just don’t feel like we are getting anywhere. We may even begin to question if we are really on the right track – are we reaching anyone for Jesus? Are we growing in our faith? Are we learning more about the Bible and what the scriptures mean in our daily living? I can assure you, even when we feel we are not making progress or reaping any benefits, if we are working at staying with it, we truly are. God always blesses our efforts when we serve Him and study His word – when we seek His will for our lives. And whether we know it or not, He is using us to reach others for His Kingdom. You may not see it… but remember that “fruit” we bear? It’s there in the kindnesses we do for others… the contributions we make to charities… the volunteer help we give to various people and agencies… the way we conduct ourselves in our daily living. People are always watching… and God is always using us. Our job is to stay with it. You really won’t be sorry… are you in it for the long haul?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 5 ~ Matthew 10:21-23
"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
(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.)
Wherever God leads me, I will go… however He guides me, I will follow. I pray that we would always stay the course and never quit, regardless of how hard it may seem. It IS worth the effort.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 4 ~ Luke 6:43-46
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
(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 as I say, not as I do.” That’s a saying we have probably all heard. For instance, the overweight doctor may tell you that you must shed several pounds for your health. Or your parents may take a drag from a cigarette and tell you that “you must NEVER smoke!” There is a joke about the plumber, or other skilled professional, whose own plumbing/repairs never get done – he/she is so busy doing things for others – for pay – that things around their own house fall apart. This is really pretty illogical, isn’t it?!
Scripturally, we see that this is certainly not sound thinking. Yet all of us, at one time or another have said, “Yes, I love you Lord…” and then done something we knew we shouldn’t do. Our “fruit” has not matched the tree – we have neglected our own Spiritual “house!” I can tell you from my own experience that the times my “fruit” has not matched up with my faith, I have felt pretty miserable. Don’t get caught up in this. You can’t call Jesus, “Lord,” and then do your own thing – have it your way! Make a resolution today – to yourself AND to God – that you are going to live a Christian life that bears “good fruit.” Resolve to live for Christ in a “do as I do AND say” way – not one or the other. Keep your Spiritual house in order. And may the overflow of your heart fill your mouth with pleasing words that honor God and glorify His name.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 3 ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
(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.)
January is a time of year when many of us clean our closets, organize our drawers, and try to bring a sense of order back into our houses, offices, dorm rooms, or garages. Cleaning closets and drawers can be an interesting process. Inevitably we find items we didn’t remember we had… and often we find things that have us asking, “What on earth were we thinking?” Outdated clothing, useless odds and ends like rubber bands and “twisty ties”, paper clips, various wrappers and old notes create clutter we didn’t even know we had!
Cleaning our closets and drawers brings everything into the light of day, where we can sort it all, judge the value of each item, and come to a conclusion about what to do with it. Some of it is worthless junk… and some of it may even cause us to cringe – what were we thinking?!
The truth of the matter is that someday, everything will be pulled out of the “closets and drawers” of our lives before God, and HE will be the One asking, “What were you thinking?” and “Where did THIS come from?” The hope is that He will illuminate many GOOD things – acts of faith and service, witness, worship, prayer, and study – and declare you a pretty dutiful person… a faithful and faith-filled Christian who walked closely with Jesus. The words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” are a worthy goal to which we should aspire… a neat and orderly “closet of life in Christ” is the ultimate conclusion. When all has been heard – when everything is laid out before God, what will He say about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 2 ~ James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Several years ago, my widowed grandmother was keeping company with a man in our community who had recently lost his wife to cancer. “Deb” was a wonderful octogenarian who we came to love like a grandfather. He had worked hard all most of his life as a house painter. He liked to hunt… and he and my grandmother loved to dance at the Sugarloaf Folklore Society east of town.
Deb never had much interest in church… and apparently he had not paid much attention to God or “religion” for most of his life. When he started seeing my grandmother, she invited him to attend her church with her… and to everyone’s surprise, he went. He also quit smoking and drinking. His own family members could not believe the changes. For some seven years, my grandmother and Deb were constant companions… spending nearly every waking moment together from daylight to dark, and they grew to know each other very well.
Then Deb was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The prognosis didn’t look good, and Deb decided he did not want to endure the prescribed seven weeks of radiation treatments that were not guaranteed to work but sure to sap his strength and his quality of life. It became apparent that he didn’t have long to live – maybe a year at best. My grandmother was extremely worried for Debt’s spiritual health. She knew him better than anyone, and she knew he had never given his heart to Jesus. She told me that one night, when she could stand it no longer, she sat next to him on his couch, crying, and told him, “I can’t bear to think you would die and not go to heaven. I am begging you to pray with me and give your heart to Jesus.” And he did! Right there, in his living room, they knelt next to his couch and prayed that Jesus would forgive his sins and welcome him into eternity in heaven when his time came. A couple of weeks later, this 87-year-old man was baptized at the First Baptist Church. The pastor said Deb was living proof that you are never too old to change… that it is never too late to give your heart to Jesus.
Deb didn’t live much longer. I gave him a Bible, and he spent a lot of his last weeks reading it. His three children, themselves Christians, were thrilled that their dad’s salvation was secured… that his future was certain. When the day came for Deb to go to Jesus, I sat with him and held his hand, knowing he was headed for glory very shortly - and taking great comfort in that knowledge. The only reason I was certain of this was because my grandmother loved him enough to fall to her knees and beg him to surrender to Jesus. Had she not shown this sinner the error of his ways, I probably could not have sat there with such comfort and certainty about his passing.
You and I may never get such a profound opportunity to witness to someone else and lead them to Christ. On the other hand, we may be getting opportunities at every turn and either not recognize them or refuse to act on them. Don’t let either of these be on your head. Be alert for chances to share Jesus with others. Be on the lookout for opportunities to boldly encourage others to invite Jesus to be the Lord of their life – to give up sin in exchange for eternity in heaven! You don’t have to be successful – you just have to try. God will do the rest. All we have to do is lead the way.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 1 ~ James 2:21-24
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
(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! Today is a day when many of us are tempted to make resolutions. We will resolve to lose weight, exercise, maybe quit smoking, read our Bible more (or books in general), be nicer to others, finish all of those projects we have been putting off, or any number of other goals and promises. There is something about the New year that makes us want to set goals and create a list of things we are going to DO in the next twelve months. We want something to show for our year… a way to mark the days and how successful we were in living each to its fullest!
I will be the first to admit that I have trouble just “being.” I wonder… am I ADHD? Seriously, I seem to have this overwhelming sense that I must be in continual motion… always busy… always doing something. And the question I ask myself quite often is… what do I have to show for all of my busyness? If I accomplish all of my goals and resolutions, how will that justify my faith and give it a voice? Do you see where I am going here? There is nothing wrong with New Year’s Resolutions and goals. But are your goals and resolutions working together with your faith?
Are you creating a total package for God… believing in Him with all your heart and serving Him with all you have?
We have a perfect model of how this works in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Make your resolutions… but ask God to guide you. Resolve to do HIS will this year… to complete the projects HE wants done. Live out your faith in every area of your life and resolve that your actions will make it complete!
©2008 Debbie Robus
”This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. This is what my Father wants: that anyone who sees the Son and trusts who he is and what he does and then aligns with him will enter real life, eternal life. My part is to put them on their feet alive and whole at the completion 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.)
Glue is my friend. In the world of auctions and garage sales and “antiques and treasures,” there are often broken parts… the wing of an angel or delicate “signed and numbered” (i.e. valuable) ceramic bird… the handle on an exquisite teacup… and much more. These otherwise wonderful treasures usually just need a little glue to pull them back together… and as I practice and grow in expertise, I’m getting pretty good at aligning the pieces, so that often you can’t even tell the piece has been repaired. (I do always disclose this fact if I am selling!)
Sometimes, there are pieces that seem to defy repair. A good example of this would be a ceramic “sitting cherub” my mother-in-law gave me. I painted him to look “bronzed” and sat him on a rock in my birdbath, so that I could enjoy looking at him each time I looked out the window. This little cherub held a bird’s nest with a tiny bird in it, and it wasn’t long before I noticed the tail of the bird had broken off and was lying in the ceramic nest. I glued it on with my best glue, and it held for a few weeks, and then one day I glanced out, and “Oh, no!” – the tail was off again. THREE times I glued that tail – and I even tried other glues. But so far, it just won’t stick! So I decided to bring the cherub inside and work on him and see if over the winter, the glue will dry better and the tail will stay. However, when I retrieved him, I discovered that several freezes in December had caused his little feet to crack and fall off! So I have a lot of gluing and repair to do!
You may be wondering, “Why doesn’t she just toss the cherub?” Let me ask you something… what if Jesus just tossed us every time we became broken? What if He said, “Yeah… he/she was a pretty good piece for awhile, but I’ve got plenty more. No sense bothering with this one.” And He tossed us away like a broken piece of pottery? Is that the Jesus we follow? Absolutely not! Jesus puts us together… His blood on the cross is the glue that repairs us. Sometimes it’s just a broken tail or handle, and sometimes our feet are broken in several pieces… or worse. But He sees us for the beautiful, whole believer, and He restores us.
I am not pretending to compare my meager efforts to glue pottery to Jesus’ restoration of us as Christians. But at the same time, I hope you can see that giving up is not the answer… especially in our Spiritual life. Jesus never quits on us… how can we possibly quit on Him?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 6 ~ Matthew 24:13-14
Staying with it—that's what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won't be sorry, and you'll be saved. All during this time, the good news—the Message of the kingdom—will be preached all over the world, a witness staked out in every country. And then the end will come.
(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 past week, I put away the Christmas decorations. This is not a chore I enjoy. It is not so much that I am sad to see the decorations go (although I have to admit that I am) as that I put out a LOT of decorations, and taking them down and packing them all away is a daunting task. Just where DO you start?! I’ve found that once I get going, it seems to fall into place, and if I just keep plugging away, pretty soon I have it all neatly stored for another year. I can say the same for other tasks, like washing the dishes, doing the laundry and ironing, studying for tests, exercise, and more. By staying with it, the results do come. We do see “light at the end of the tunnel.”
For Christians, there are going to be times when we just don’t feel like we are getting anywhere. We may even begin to question if we are really on the right track – are we reaching anyone for Jesus? Are we growing in our faith? Are we learning more about the Bible and what the scriptures mean in our daily living? I can assure you, even when we feel we are not making progress or reaping any benefits, if we are working at staying with it, we truly are. God always blesses our efforts when we serve Him and study His word – when we seek His will for our lives. And whether we know it or not, He is using us to reach others for His Kingdom. You may not see it… but remember that “fruit” we bear? It’s there in the kindnesses we do for others… the contributions we make to charities… the volunteer help we give to various people and agencies… the way we conduct ourselves in our daily living. People are always watching… and God is always using us. Our job is to stay with it. You really won’t be sorry… are you in it for the long haul?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 5 ~ Matthew 10:21-23
"When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
(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.)
Wherever God leads me, I will go… however He guides me, I will follow. I pray that we would always stay the course and never quit, regardless of how hard it may seem. It IS worth the effort.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 4 ~ Luke 6:43-46
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit. People do not pick figs from thornbushes, or grapes from briers. 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks. 46 "Why do you call me, `Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?
(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 as I say, not as I do.” That’s a saying we have probably all heard. For instance, the overweight doctor may tell you that you must shed several pounds for your health. Or your parents may take a drag from a cigarette and tell you that “you must NEVER smoke!” There is a joke about the plumber, or other skilled professional, whose own plumbing/repairs never get done – he/she is so busy doing things for others – for pay – that things around their own house fall apart. This is really pretty illogical, isn’t it?!
Scripturally, we see that this is certainly not sound thinking. Yet all of us, at one time or another have said, “Yes, I love you Lord…” and then done something we knew we shouldn’t do. Our “fruit” has not matched the tree – we have neglected our own Spiritual “house!” I can tell you from my own experience that the times my “fruit” has not matched up with my faith, I have felt pretty miserable. Don’t get caught up in this. You can’t call Jesus, “Lord,” and then do your own thing – have it your way! Make a resolution today – to yourself AND to God – that you are going to live a Christian life that bears “good fruit.” Resolve to live for Christ in a “do as I do AND say” way – not one or the other. Keep your Spiritual house in order. And may the overflow of your heart fill your mouth with pleasing words that honor God and glorify His name.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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January 3 ~ Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
13 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole [duty] of man. 14 For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
(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.)
January is a time of year when many of us clean our closets, organize our drawers, and try to bring a sense of order back into our houses, offices, dorm rooms, or garages. Cleaning closets and drawers can be an interesting process. Inevitably we find items we didn’t remember we had… and often we find things that have us asking, “What on earth were we thinking?” Outdated clothing, useless odds and ends like rubber bands and “twisty ties”, paper clips, various wrappers and old notes create clutter we didn’t even know we had!
Cleaning our closets and drawers brings everything into the light of day, where we can sort it all, judge the value of each item, and come to a conclusion about what to do with it. Some of it is worthless junk… and some of it may even cause us to cringe – what were we thinking?!
The truth of the matter is that someday, everything will be pulled out of the “closets and drawers” of our lives before God, and HE will be the One asking, “What were you thinking?” and “Where did THIS come from?” The hope is that He will illuminate many GOOD things – acts of faith and service, witness, worship, prayer, and study – and declare you a pretty dutiful person… a faithful and faith-filled Christian who walked closely with Jesus. The words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” are a worthy goal to which we should aspire… a neat and orderly “closet of life in Christ” is the ultimate conclusion. When all has been heard – when everything is laid out before God, what will He say about you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 2 ~ James 5:19-20
My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Several years ago, my widowed grandmother was keeping company with a man in our community who had recently lost his wife to cancer. “Deb” was a wonderful octogenarian who we came to love like a grandfather. He had worked hard all most of his life as a house painter. He liked to hunt… and he and my grandmother loved to dance at the Sugarloaf Folklore Society east of town.
Deb never had much interest in church… and apparently he had not paid much attention to God or “religion” for most of his life. When he started seeing my grandmother, she invited him to attend her church with her… and to everyone’s surprise, he went. He also quit smoking and drinking. His own family members could not believe the changes. For some seven years, my grandmother and Deb were constant companions… spending nearly every waking moment together from daylight to dark, and they grew to know each other very well.
Then Deb was diagnosed with bladder cancer. The prognosis didn’t look good, and Deb decided he did not want to endure the prescribed seven weeks of radiation treatments that were not guaranteed to work but sure to sap his strength and his quality of life. It became apparent that he didn’t have long to live – maybe a year at best. My grandmother was extremely worried for Debt’s spiritual health. She knew him better than anyone, and she knew he had never given his heart to Jesus. She told me that one night, when she could stand it no longer, she sat next to him on his couch, crying, and told him, “I can’t bear to think you would die and not go to heaven. I am begging you to pray with me and give your heart to Jesus.” And he did! Right there, in his living room, they knelt next to his couch and prayed that Jesus would forgive his sins and welcome him into eternity in heaven when his time came. A couple of weeks later, this 87-year-old man was baptized at the First Baptist Church. The pastor said Deb was living proof that you are never too old to change… that it is never too late to give your heart to Jesus.
Deb didn’t live much longer. I gave him a Bible, and he spent a lot of his last weeks reading it. His three children, themselves Christians, were thrilled that their dad’s salvation was secured… that his future was certain. When the day came for Deb to go to Jesus, I sat with him and held his hand, knowing he was headed for glory very shortly - and taking great comfort in that knowledge. The only reason I was certain of this was because my grandmother loved him enough to fall to her knees and beg him to surrender to Jesus. Had she not shown this sinner the error of his ways, I probably could not have sat there with such comfort and certainty about his passing.
You and I may never get such a profound opportunity to witness to someone else and lead them to Christ. On the other hand, we may be getting opportunities at every turn and either not recognize them or refuse to act on them. Don’t let either of these be on your head. Be alert for chances to share Jesus with others. Be on the lookout for opportunities to boldly encourage others to invite Jesus to be the Lord of their life – to give up sin in exchange for eternity in heaven! You don’t have to be successful – you just have to try. God will do the rest. All we have to do is lead the way.
©2008 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------------
January 1 ~ James 2:21-24
21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23 And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24 You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
(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! Today is a day when many of us are tempted to make resolutions. We will resolve to lose weight, exercise, maybe quit smoking, read our Bible more (or books in general), be nicer to others, finish all of those projects we have been putting off, or any number of other goals and promises. There is something about the New year that makes us want to set goals and create a list of things we are going to DO in the next twelve months. We want something to show for our year… a way to mark the days and how successful we were in living each to its fullest!
I will be the first to admit that I have trouble just “being.” I wonder… am I ADHD? Seriously, I seem to have this overwhelming sense that I must be in continual motion… always busy… always doing something. And the question I ask myself quite often is… what do I have to show for all of my busyness? If I accomplish all of my goals and resolutions, how will that justify my faith and give it a voice? Do you see where I am going here? There is nothing wrong with New Year’s Resolutions and goals. But are your goals and resolutions working together with your faith?
Are you creating a total package for God… believing in Him with all your heart and serving Him with all you have?
We have a perfect model of how this works in the story of Abraham and Isaac. Make your resolutions… but ask God to guide you. Resolve to do HIS will this year… to complete the projects HE wants done. Live out your faith in every area of your life and resolve that your actions will make it complete!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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