February 28 ~ Ephesians 6:13
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.)
I am one of those people who overpack. Just pick up my purse, and you will understand. I try so hard to carry one of those cute little clutch purses or travel with a little carry-on case and nothing else. But where do you put your wallet? and your keys? and your cell phone? And then there is gum and lipstick – and for me, an Epi-pen, and a case for my sunglasses. Oh, and I have to have some aspirin and a couple of antihistamines… and some tissues… and an ink pen and some sort of note pad… and well, you get the picture… and that was just my PURSE! I’ve tried leaving home without all of this stuff… and sometimes I can manage with just my phone and a couple of things stuck into a pocket. But invariably, my husband will ask, “Do you have any (insert gum, aspirin, tissues, etc. here)? Or someone will want to give me information I really should write down so I won’t forget, and there I am… stuck without my purse and all of my “essentials.”
How is it that we can be so dependent on what we carry in our purses, suitcases or pockets, and yet, when it comes to our Spiritual “tool bag,” we throw caution to the wind and try to “wing it” on our own? Don’t we know that we will get into situations where we need truth, righteousness, peace, faith and salvation? Can’t we see over and over how helpful it would be to have God’s Word to call upon when dealing with a challenging person or situation? What if nobody prayed – for each other or themselves? Our Spiritual “tool bag” needs to be bigger than any purse, suitcase, or pocket. We need to put on every weapon God has issued – every day – and we need to keep these tools with us at all times. We may occasionally skirt disaster by leaving home without wallets, tissues, an Epi-pen – and yes, even lipstick! But we cannot afford to ever, ever, EVER be without the Spiritual tools God has given us! So I ask you, what’s in your “bag” today? Did you remember to pack enough?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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February 27 ~ Hebrews 12:4-11
In this all-out match against sin, others have suffered far worse than you, to say nothing of what Jesus went through - all that bloodshed! So don't feel sorry for yourselves. Or have you forgotten how good parents treat children, and that God regards you as his children?
My dear child, don't shrug off God's discipline,
but don't be crushed by it either.
It's the child he loves that he disciplines;
the child he embraces, he also corrects.
God is educating you; that's why you must never drop out. He's treating you as dear children. This trouble you're in isn't punishment; it's training, the normal experience of children. Only irresponsible parents leave children to fend for themselves. Would you prefer an irresponsible God? We respect our own parents for training and not spoiling us, so why not embrace God's training so we can truly live? While we were children, our parents did what seemed best to them. But God is doing what is best for us, training us to live God's holy best. At the time, discipline isn't much fun. It always feels like it's going against the grain. Later, of course, it pays off handsomely, for it's the well-trained who find themselves mature in their relationship with God.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
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.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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February 26 ~ Hebrews 12:1-3
Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed - that exhilarating finish in and with God - he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When I was in the 10th grade, I got a sore throat, and the doctor prescribed an antibiotic. I had an allergic reaction and ended up in the hospital for four days. The night before I was hospitalized, my hands and feet swelled so badly they looked like giant sausages. My dad took me to the doctor’s house, where he gave me a shot of adrenaline. One other time after I married, I had to get a shot of adrenaline for an allergic reaction, and I can tell you, those two times will do me for the rest of my life! If you have ever had adrenaline, you know what I mean. Your heart pounds! Think of a time when you were suddenly frightened, and your heart started to pound and your pulse quickened and you felt like you would jump out of your skin. Now multiply that by at least ten, and you have the idea!
While I don’t want to have a shot of real adrenaline anytime soon, I would love to have adrenaline shot into my soul! I would love to feel that way, Spiritually, and plow my way through everything the devil tosses my way on a daily basis. I would love to be better at keeping my sights on where I’m headed and putting up with anything along the way. I would love to be “Spiritually lean and mean!”
So what is keeping me from doing this? Absolutely nothing except the devil and my weak will. It’s time for me to get into better Spiritual shape. It’s time for me to take a good hard look at the saints who have gone before me and how THEY did it…and to model their faith and tenacity – their perseverance through thick and thin. And that’s what I am going to do. We are beginning the season of Lent, a 40-day period of fasting and prayer for many Christians. Lent is also a season of taking stock and reflecting on Jesus – His crucifixion and resurrection – and the season of Easter.
Many Christians will “give up” something during Lent as an outward symbol of “suffering” and their commitment to focusing on Christ more. Some give up chocolate or sugar – others smoking, drinking or cursing! This season, I am not going to give up something for Lent – I am going to take on something! I am going to commit to spending more time in prayer and study. I may even revisit the 40 Days of Purpose in The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren. I’m going to give myself a shot of “Spiritual adrenaline” and plow through Lent and into Easter, squarely focused on Jesus, the cross, and the fact that I am headed to Eternity with HIM! What about you? How will you spend the Lenten season? Is Spiritual adrenaline shooting through YOUR soul?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 25 ~ Hebrews 10:32-39
Remember those early days after you first saw the light? Those were the hard times! Kicked around in public, targets of every kind of abuse—some days it was you, other days your friends. If some friends went to prison, you stuck by them. If some enemies broke in and seized your goods, you let them go with a smile, knowing they couldn't touch your real treasure. Nothing they did bothered you, nothing set you back. So don't throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It's still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God's plan so you'll be there for the promised completion.
It won't be long now, he's on the way;
he'll show up most any minute.
But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust;
if he cuts and runs, I won't be very happy.
But we're not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We'll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Just like with anything new, we are extremely excited and enthused about it at first. Think about something as trivial as a new pair of sneakers. You are so excited by them at first… you want to wear them everywhere. People notice and ask, “Are those new sneakers?” and you proudly hold up your foot and say, “Yeah!” It’s the same with a new hairstyle, a new car or house… or even a new job. The first few days are heady – you somehow feel better about yourself and everything around you. But over time, the “newness” wears thin, and it’s just another pair of sneakers or another hairstyle, car, house, or job. You may still enjoy whatever this “new thing” is in your life, but “the thrill is gone,” as the song says.
In much the same way, we act this way about our faith. When we first come to know Jesus – when the Holy Spirit fills us – we are overwhelmed with joy and excitement. Nothing fazes us because we are so enthralled with our Jesus and His power in our life. We live for Sundays and other opportunities to meet with fellow Christians and share in a worship experience. We can’t get enough of our Bible and will read it every chance we have. We have all of our radios tuned to Christian stations, and our CD players and iPods are filled with the latest contemporary Christian and worship music or hymns. Everything in our lives focuses on our Heavenly Father and His promises and blessings.
But over time, this thrill fades. I’ve seen it time and again – even in my own life. I see a new – or renewed – Christian who is “on fire” for Jesus, and I think, “that used to be me.” Sometimes you will see someone who is so excited they almost seem overbearing and obnoxious… a little too eager, maybe, to share the Good News with you. That was me at one time, too. I remember feeling so amazingly full and excited about the Gospel that I could NOT stop sharing. And judging from the looks on other people’s faces, it was probably overkill at times.
I’m not saying we should all be obnoxious and overbearing in our faith, or that we have to have enthusiasm practically oozing from our pores. But I see so many Christians who, for whatever reason, are not living their faith… or certainly they are not outwardly demonstrating it. You know the type… the “grump” who always has an issue or a problem… the person for whom everything is a major deal. Others have to wonder, do they really believe God will take care of them? Are they standing on God’s promises? What about someone you know from your church who is always talking about how wonderful their relationship is with God is, then sitting behind you at a pee-wee basketball game, where this “faith-filled” person is chewing on the referee like a piece of tough leather? Or maybe you know someone who is always negative about everything - cynical and sarcastic in their comments and personality - and this same person talks of Bible studies and church committees and even quotes scripture in their everyday conversation. And I haven’t even gotten to the person who is all talk and promises to work with (and help) others and then does whatever he/she pleases and acts selfishly.
We can’t have it both ways. I know the “new” wears off a lot of things in our lives, but we have to be very careful that it NEVER wears off in our Christian living. My prayer is that over the next few days and weeks, we would all take a long hard look at our lives and see where we are falling short in this area. I am asking God to reveal Himself to us in new ways, with fresh eyes, and to restore the enthusiasm and excitement in each of us for His message. I’m asking God to remind us of His promises and show us how to stand on them and reach others in His name. We may be one obnoxious group of Christians, but I can’t think of a better reason to be overbearing and excited. Can you?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 24 ~ Hebrews 10:22-25
So let's do it—full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let's see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
(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 you think I’m going to use this passage as a justification for why we should go to church! I can see why that might be what some get from this passage, but I think the meaning is a little deeper. I think this passage is telling us to stick with God… to rely on His promises and believe wholeheartedly that He is Who the Bible says He is… and He does what He promises. I believe that this passage is also telling us that WE are to fulfill God’s promises by encouraging and loving one another, staying positive, and through fellowship with one another. That may include attending church services, but I don’t believe these verses limit our worship to Sundays and/or a church building.
Recently my husband and I shared a meal with nine other people in a friend’s home. Then we sat and discussed our thoughts about two books most of us had read recently. One was The Shack by William P. Young. It was interesting to learn what others got out of the book, and ultimately most of us ended up sharing about our faith and what God’s promises mean to us. We were “preaching to the choir,” somewhat, but we were also in fellowship and “edifying” (or building up) one another’s faith. We topped off our evening with Holy Communion.
Now you may be thinking, "That’s not exactly how I want to spend a Friday night!” But I have to tell you, it was one of the best nights out I’ve enjoyed in a long, long time! And I’d like to think it pretty well followed Jesus’ Biblical model of sharing a meal, fellowship, and the Good News!
My point is that we have been given the greatest gift of all time… salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ, and promises of God to help us navigate the waters of everyday life and then enjoy eternity with Him in heaven. I believe it is up to us to be inventive and creative in sharing this message with others – and in living for Him. His promises keep us going… now we must encourage others to do the same!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 23 ~ Hebrews 6:13-18
When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line. He said, "I promise that I'll bless you with everything I have—bless and bless and bless!" Abraham stuck it out and got everything that had been promised to him. When people make promises, they guarantee them by appeal to some authority above them so that if there is any question that they'll make good on the promise, the authority will back them up. When God wanted to guarantee his promises, he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee - God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change, the promise is likewise unchangeable.
(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.)
Russell Kelso Carter was not unlike many of us. Born in 1849, he was surrounded by Christian influences. And like many of us, he “listened but did not hear” much of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ in his early life. That changed when he was 15. He gave his life to Jesus at a prayer meeting at his military academy. But then again, like so many, he proceeded to live life on his own terms, and he says that for the next 14 years, he was unwilling to pay the price to live for Christ. He says that “My soul cried for deliverance, and God’s unlimited promises stood out like stars above me.”
Fast forward to 1879, when Carter’s heart was severely diseased and resisting medical treatment. He heard prayers of healing, but he felt it was almost blasphemy to ask God to heal one who had been so rebellious. But God healed him anyway, and Carter knelt and “made a consecration that covered everything.” He rested in God’s promises of healing and never looked back. And he went on to attend college and live a long full, healthy life. In 1886, he wrote a well-known hymn, Standing on the Promises, which is still sung today in churches throughout the world. In verse two, Carter writes:
Standing on the promises that cannot fail,
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the living Word of God I shall prevail
Standing on the Promises of God.
What are your “howling storms of doubt and fear” today? Are you prevailing by the Word of God? Are you standing on His promises – promises that cannot fail? Isn’t it amazing to think that the promises of God that healed a man in the 1800’s are the same promises that can heal and rescue us today? The chorus to this hymn says… “Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior. Standing, standing – I’m standing on the promises of God.”
Are YOU standing on the promises of God today? If you aren’t, I pray that you will humble yourself before Him and “consecrate everything” – ask for forgiveness and recognize God’s power in every area of your life. Stand on the promises of God, and like Russell Kelso Carter, find them wonderfully and marvelously satisfying.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 22 ~ Hebrews 6:9-12
I'm sure that won't happen to you, friends. I have better things in mind for you—salvation things! God doesn't miss anything. He knows perfectly well all the love you've shown him by helping needy Christians, and that you keep at it. And now I want each of you to extend that same intensity toward a full-bodied hope, and keep at it till the finish. Don't drag your feet. Be like those who stay the course with committed faith and then get everything promised to them.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I don’t know about you, but some days, I cannot stay focused on the task at hand. Even things that I find fun, I sometimes have trouble sticking with. A movie that I really want to watch will arrive in the mail from Netflix, and I may put off sitting down to view it for several days. I drag my feet, because I get bogged down with other things. There is a show I want to watch on television, or I am busy writing at my computer, or I’m just not in the mood… a zillion reasons can come up, and days go by before I get to the movie. Often, I enjoy the show so much that we wonder why it took us so long to actually find time to watch it!
God has a lot of great things in store for us, but so often, we drag our feet about doing what we need to do for Him, and we miss out on these blessings. When we finally DO make time for Him and His plans, we are astounded at how good it feels… and how blessed we are for being obedient. We may wonder what took us so long! I know… “life happens.” It’s easy to get bogged down in the things of this world and drag our feet about serving God. We find a million reasons that we can’t stop and study our Bible. We let e-mail pile up in our Inbox until we have two weeks of daily devotionals unread! We sleep in on Sundays and don’t get to church – or something comes up and we don’t make it to other church events. And then we wonder why we feel out of sorts… why things just aren’t coming together for us like they should! Can you see that everything works together? Can you see that loving God is not enough – you have to serve Him, obey Him, and share Him with others in order to get the full experience of life in Christ?
As we read in Ecclesiastes, there is a time and place for everything… and surely “piddling” has its place, too. Just wasting away an hour or two – or even a day once in awhile is okay and even quite therapeutic. But a steady diet of this is not what God designed for us! Stay the course…stop dragging your feet. As a rule, be committed… and be blessed!
©2008 Debbie Robus
Sticking to It - Week 3
February 21 ~ Hebrews 6:1-3
So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with 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.)
I think I have told you before that my husband and I sponsor a child in Ghana through Compassion International. Our “son,” Timothy Kodjo Owasu Frim, is seven years old, and we “adopted” him two years ago. When we first began corresponding with Kodjo, he drew pictures on the back of the letters to us that his teacher or social worker translated into English. They were precious – little round circles with sticks emerging from them to represent his legs (no arms) and his eyes and a mouth. These drawings reminded me of those my kindergarten students used to make early in the year, when their body image was still fairly immature. As children mature and progress, their body drawings begin to include all four appendages, then fingers, defined feet and toes, and more. And true to his development, Kodjo now draws himself with a complete body. He also draws cars, trucks, soccer balls, buildings, and more – and he even colors them with crayons! He recognizes – and illustrates – whole objects, not stick versions – and his body image fundamentals are sound.
This passage is suggesting that we grow up in our “body image” in Christ. When we first became Christians, we saw ourselves as “heads with stick legs” – just getting started and not fully developed. We didn’t understand everything that trusting God entailed. But NOW – now we should be grasping completely what it means to live in Christ – the basic teachings of the Bible, as well as the Great Commission to go into the world and teach others in Jesus’ name. We should understand what it means to love your neighbor as yourself - and to love the Lord your God with all your heart. Our “Spiritual body image” should have developed and progressed to include our hands and feet – and we understand that those hands and feet are to be used to serve Jesus!
So where are you in your Spiritual development? Are you still like the five-year-olds who fingerpaint and draw stick art? Or have you grown in your faith and your service to God, so that you now produce grand masterpieces of art for His glory in the form of souls won for Christ and works done in service for Him? It’s time to GROW! It’s time to get on with it… there is so much to do, and time’s a-wastin’! Ask God to show you how to stay true to Him and serve Him, and to create grand works of Spiritual “art” for His glory!
©2008 Debbie Robus
If you would like to sponsor a child like Kodjo through Compassion International, go to www.compassion.com
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February 20 ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Every day, all over the world, people endure incredible suffering and hardship. Turn on the television late at night or very early in the morning, and you can likely find a program that features children who are diseased, orphaned, and/or starving. The evening news presents one sad story after another – joblessness, crime, natural disasters and more. It’s no wonder that we ask, “What is the world coming to?” and some of us ask, “What do we do now?”
The answer is Jesus. I know that sounds too simple. I know that you may even say, “Yeah, right… let’s all put on our rose-colored glasses and pretend that everything will be okay.” This is NOT what I am saying at all. What I AM saying is that Jesus understands. Everything we have endured - and more – Jesus has endured… everything EXCEPT sin. Jesus was tempted by the devil. Jesus was starved, beaten, brutalized, robbed, and ultimately, murdered. Jesus experienced the heartbreaking death of his friend Lazarus. While He did raise Lazarus from the dead, He felt horrible that He was somewhere else when Lazarus was dying and needed Him… and others berated Jesus for this! So He knows how we feel when we have regrets.
Jesus saw homelessness, disease, and the starvation of children. He understands… EVERYTHING… and He is with us. He is saying, “Heap your burdens and sadness on Me… I can take it… I can help.” When you grieve, our Heavenly Father says, “I know… I gave up my only Son to a brutal, horrific murder and torture. I know how you are hurting.” If you are sad and mourning the death of a family member or friend, God understands… and He can help. If you are sick, He is with you and can comfort you. If you have lost your job or you are struggling with school, He will help you with this, too. But WE have to keep God in our sights! We have to focus on Him and BELIEVE that He will do what He has promised. Don’t let your access to God slip through your fingers. Don’t take it lightly. Walk right up to Him and ask for mercy – and then RECEIVE it. Take the mercy, accept the help. Keep Jesus in your sights and in your heart.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 19 ~ Hebrews 3:12-14
So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.
(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 may remember my cousin J.D., who broke every bone in his face when a large pine log hit him full force. Praise be to God, J.D. is doing well today. Reconstructive surgery was miraculously successful, and the wires that held his jaws shut for some six weeks are now coming off. His face shows little to no evidence that he ever suffered any accident, much less one of such magnitude and severity.
The kicker to this story is that shortly before J.D.’s accident, he was ordained to become a minister. He gives God full glory for all that has been accomplished in his life – and he readily acknowledges that the devil tried to close his mouth and keep him from sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. He will tell anyone who will listen that the devil has tried to shut him up and put him away for a long, long time. And even now, as he moves forward to become a fulltime evangelist, he admits that the devil is very angry with him and is trying to trip him up and throw him off course at every turn.
It would have been very easy for J.D. to fold. But instead, he is focusing on the sanctifying grace of God and trusting that He will take the most difficult situation and use it to bring glory to His kingdom. J.D. said, “It took an 8-foot pine pole to truly wake me up to the power of God. But - praise God - nothing can rattle me now.” He is sharpening his reflexes every day through prayer and study, and he is keeping a grip on the sure thing… God’s grace and mercy. J.D. is in this with Christ for the long haul.
I hope it doesn’t take a pine pole full force in the face to awaken you or me to the living God. I pray that we can all keep a grip on the sure thing of Jesus Christ’s blood for our sins – His sanctifying grace that covers us each and every day even when our mind (and heart) wanders temporarily. I pray we are each in this with Christ for the long haul. It’s not easy… it takes concentration, effort, and looking out for each other. Stay on your toes… keep an eye on yourself and each other… sharpen your reflexes, and hang on! Put on the full armor of God and live for HIM! And while you are at it, thank Him for the mighty works He is doing – in J.D. - AND in each of us!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 18 ~ Hebrews 3:6-11
Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says,
Today, please listen;
don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising,"
that time of wilderness testing!
Even though they watched me at work for forty years,
your ancestors refused to let me do it my way;
over and over they tried my patience.
And I was provoked, oh, so provoked!
I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God;
they refuse to walk down my road."
Exasperated, I vowed,
"They'll never get where they're going,
never be able to sit down and rest."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
My mom’s dog, Spot, (a 53-lb. Boxer mix) has to at least be a distant cousin to the dog Marley, of the movie “Marley and Me.” Spot is high-energy, suffers separation anxiety, and loves to be loved. He is so high-strung that he just goes nuts when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. And every day, when the mailman slides Mom’s mail into the slot in her front door, Spot comes ripping through the house at full throttle, barking and shouting and acting as if he will tear that mail slot from the door!
Spot is nearly ten years old, yet he still gets just as excited over someone at the door as he did when Mom first got him. To get in the door, we divert his attention by saying, “Go get a toy!” And almost every time, Spot turns and runs to find a toy and return to us… giving us just enough time to make it inside before he greets us (which can include jumping and pawing and licking!). Spot never learns. Bless his heart… the “go get a toy” trick is new every single time, and he has not caught on that, indeed, it is just a trick. In some ways, it exasperates us that after all these years we can’t get inside without this wild and crazy greeting. On the other hand, we find it a somewhat amusing routine and know we would miss it on some level, were Spot not there to meet us.
But God is NOT amused when we spin our wheels and fail to “get it.” Moses wandered in the desert with the Israelites for forty years! They endured all sorts of hardships and tribulations because they refused to believe God and listen to Him as He spoke through Moses. There is a joke that says, “Why did the Israelites wander in the desert with Moses for forty years? Because even they refused to ask directions!” The truth is that Moses HAD the directions, but the Israelites refused to hear them! Today, WE have the directions – the word of God… but are WE listening? Or are we spinning our wheels,” running to the mail slot in the door day after day” and “waking up in a new world?”
We are wasting time here! God has an abundance of blessings He wants to shower on us… but He also has a lot of work He needs us to do! We need to get busy sharing His message of salvation with others, serving in His name, and loving unconditionally. We need to be offering people hope and courage through a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ! We need to be in prayer, study and fellowship. We need to be listening to God and doing everything according to HIS will and directions.
Where are you today? Are you like Spot, wandering for 10, 20, or even 40 years or more in a wilderness? Are you Spiritually lost – not in the sense that you have not been saved and redeemed through Jesus Christ – but in the sense that you do not know how to move forward in your salvation? The answers are clear… the scripture is the ultimate map for a life in Christ. It is up to us to open it and seek God’s direction!
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------------
February 17 ~ Hebrews 3:1-5
So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house.
(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 HGTV’s Designed to Sell, a real estate agent previews a house that has been on the market for awhile, and he/she makes comments about what is wrong – why the house has not sold. An interior designer then comes in and outlines changes that he/she is going to make, along with the assistance of the homeowners and two or three carpenters. Everybody works hard, but the final “say” comes from the lead designer. The realtor spells out the problems, but the designer actually fixes them. And sometimes, the homeowners are not sure they are going to like what is being done to their house, but they trust the designer to know his/her craft well – and to create a selling design!
This may seem like a flimsy analogy, but do you see how the realtor, the show’s host, the homeowners – and even the carpenters – are the “Moses” of the project? Do you see how we lay the groundwork, but Jesus is the real BUILDER – the One in charge who tells us how things are REALLY done. We trust Jesus to know what He is telling us is sound – the whole truth and nothing but. Everything rests on His shoulders.
I know many of us have doubts from time to time. Surely when things get hard or we struggle with something, we may question God. We may ask, “Why is this happening?” or “Where ARE you?” But we must remember, the Lead Designer has the final say, and we are trusting Him to be right and to work in us toward a good end. Instead of asking “Why? Where?” or even “When?” we should be asking “HOW?” How will this happen? How can I stay in your will and trust your timing? HOW can I do my part for your kingdom? Christ as Son is in charge of the house. We are merely the servants… as was Moses. What was good enough for HIM is more than enough for us.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 16 ~ ~ Hebrews 2:1-4
It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit. 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.)
I always find it fascinating – and exciting, when God changes someone. I love to see Him take a person who was wallowing in the excesses of drinking, drugs, abusive behavior, and more, and create a mighty servant who welcomes every opportunity to witness and bless others in Jesus’ name. I think my all-around favorite is the person who says, “I’m not sure I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He was a great man. I believe the Bible has a lot of good stories and good advice on how to live, but I’m not sure it is the word of God.” I love it when God begins to work in and through them, redeeming them with His grace, and they begin to see that there is no denying God’s presence and power. There is no denying that God created the universe and sent His only Son to earth to teach us how to live and then save us from our sins. In my heart, there is NO disputing JESUS… there is no denying He is the Son of God and every word He spoke was truth - or that God’s word is infallible.
But the point of this passage is that just because we know something to be true doesn’t know we embrace it. We humans are terribly stubborn and prone to do things our way – on our timetable. We want to pick and choose what to believe and how certain scriptures apply to our lives. The scary thing about this is that we can totally miss the boat! If we are out in left field, doing things to suit ourselves and ignoring – or denying – Jesus and His message of salvation – we often drift way off course. And it may take a LOT to get us back – surely God’s grace, but maybe even a little tooth rattling! God won’t cause bad things to happen, but if He thinks we might draw closer to Him because of a situation, He very well may allow it.
The state of Texas has the anti-litter slogan, “Don’t Mess With Texas.” I’m here to tell you, “Don’t mess with God!” Don’t drift away. The more I study the Bible, the more I see how passages in the Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth, line up 100% with passages in the New Testament. This is no high-fallutin’ magic trick! This is because God’s Word is the TRUTH – Jesus IS the Master – the Son of God – the deliver of God’s message AND the deliverer of US as sinners into Eternity with Him. Stay on course! If you are running AWAY from God, turn and head for home. His grace will see you through and deliver you safely.
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 15 ~ The Lord’s Prayer
Please be sure to view this, and be blessed.
http://www.lordsprayermovie.com/
Please Note: This is not an endorsement of the MasterMind program or Mary Robinson Reynolds... but the movie itself is inspiring.
So come on, let's leave the preschool fingerpainting exercises on Christ and get on with the grand work of art. Grow up in Christ. The basic foundational truths are in place: turning your back on "salvation by self-help" and turning in trust toward God; baptismal instructions; laying on of hands; resurrection of the dead; eternal judgment. God helping us, we'll stay true to all that. But there's so much more. Let's get on with 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.)
I think I have told you before that my husband and I sponsor a child in Ghana through Compassion International. Our “son,” Timothy Kodjo Owasu Frim, is seven years old, and we “adopted” him two years ago. When we first began corresponding with Kodjo, he drew pictures on the back of the letters to us that his teacher or social worker translated into English. They were precious – little round circles with sticks emerging from them to represent his legs (no arms) and his eyes and a mouth. These drawings reminded me of those my kindergarten students used to make early in the year, when their body image was still fairly immature. As children mature and progress, their body drawings begin to include all four appendages, then fingers, defined feet and toes, and more. And true to his development, Kodjo now draws himself with a complete body. He also draws cars, trucks, soccer balls, buildings, and more – and he even colors them with crayons! He recognizes – and illustrates – whole objects, not stick versions – and his body image fundamentals are sound.
This passage is suggesting that we grow up in our “body image” in Christ. When we first became Christians, we saw ourselves as “heads with stick legs” – just getting started and not fully developed. We didn’t understand everything that trusting God entailed. But NOW – now we should be grasping completely what it means to live in Christ – the basic teachings of the Bible, as well as the Great Commission to go into the world and teach others in Jesus’ name. We should understand what it means to love your neighbor as yourself - and to love the Lord your God with all your heart. Our “Spiritual body image” should have developed and progressed to include our hands and feet – and we understand that those hands and feet are to be used to serve Jesus!
So where are you in your Spiritual development? Are you still like the five-year-olds who fingerpaint and draw stick art? Or have you grown in your faith and your service to God, so that you now produce grand masterpieces of art for His glory in the form of souls won for Christ and works done in service for Him? It’s time to GROW! It’s time to get on with it… there is so much to do, and time’s a-wastin’! Ask God to show you how to stay true to Him and serve Him, and to create grand works of Spiritual “art” for His glory!
©2008 Debbie Robus
If you would like to sponsor a child like Kodjo through Compassion International, go to www.compassion.com
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February 20 ~ Hebrews 4:14-16
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let's not let it slip through our fingers. We don't have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He's been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let's walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Every day, all over the world, people endure incredible suffering and hardship. Turn on the television late at night or very early in the morning, and you can likely find a program that features children who are diseased, orphaned, and/or starving. The evening news presents one sad story after another – joblessness, crime, natural disasters and more. It’s no wonder that we ask, “What is the world coming to?” and some of us ask, “What do we do now?”
The answer is Jesus. I know that sounds too simple. I know that you may even say, “Yeah, right… let’s all put on our rose-colored glasses and pretend that everything will be okay.” This is NOT what I am saying at all. What I AM saying is that Jesus understands. Everything we have endured - and more – Jesus has endured… everything EXCEPT sin. Jesus was tempted by the devil. Jesus was starved, beaten, brutalized, robbed, and ultimately, murdered. Jesus experienced the heartbreaking death of his friend Lazarus. While He did raise Lazarus from the dead, He felt horrible that He was somewhere else when Lazarus was dying and needed Him… and others berated Jesus for this! So He knows how we feel when we have regrets.
Jesus saw homelessness, disease, and the starvation of children. He understands… EVERYTHING… and He is with us. He is saying, “Heap your burdens and sadness on Me… I can take it… I can help.” When you grieve, our Heavenly Father says, “I know… I gave up my only Son to a brutal, horrific murder and torture. I know how you are hurting.” If you are sad and mourning the death of a family member or friend, God understands… and He can help. If you are sick, He is with you and can comfort you. If you have lost your job or you are struggling with school, He will help you with this, too. But WE have to keep God in our sights! We have to focus on Him and BELIEVE that He will do what He has promised. Don’t let your access to God slip through your fingers. Don’t take it lightly. Walk right up to Him and ask for mercy – and then RECEIVE it. Take the mercy, accept the help. Keep Jesus in your sights and in your heart.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 19 ~ Hebrews 3:12-14
So watch your step, friends. Make sure there's no evil unbelief lying around that will trip you up and throw you off course, diverting you from the living God. For as long as it's still God's Today, keep each other on your toes so sin doesn't slow down your reflexes. If we can only keep our grip on the sure thing we started out with, we're in this with Christ for the long haul.
(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 may remember my cousin J.D., who broke every bone in his face when a large pine log hit him full force. Praise be to God, J.D. is doing well today. Reconstructive surgery was miraculously successful, and the wires that held his jaws shut for some six weeks are now coming off. His face shows little to no evidence that he ever suffered any accident, much less one of such magnitude and severity.
The kicker to this story is that shortly before J.D.’s accident, he was ordained to become a minister. He gives God full glory for all that has been accomplished in his life – and he readily acknowledges that the devil tried to close his mouth and keep him from sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others. He will tell anyone who will listen that the devil has tried to shut him up and put him away for a long, long time. And even now, as he moves forward to become a fulltime evangelist, he admits that the devil is very angry with him and is trying to trip him up and throw him off course at every turn.
It would have been very easy for J.D. to fold. But instead, he is focusing on the sanctifying grace of God and trusting that He will take the most difficult situation and use it to bring glory to His kingdom. J.D. said, “It took an 8-foot pine pole to truly wake me up to the power of God. But - praise God - nothing can rattle me now.” He is sharpening his reflexes every day through prayer and study, and he is keeping a grip on the sure thing… God’s grace and mercy. J.D. is in this with Christ for the long haul.
I hope it doesn’t take a pine pole full force in the face to awaken you or me to the living God. I pray that we can all keep a grip on the sure thing of Jesus Christ’s blood for our sins – His sanctifying grace that covers us each and every day even when our mind (and heart) wanders temporarily. I pray we are each in this with Christ for the long haul. It’s not easy… it takes concentration, effort, and looking out for each other. Stay on your toes… keep an eye on yourself and each other… sharpen your reflexes, and hang on! Put on the full armor of God and live for HIM! And while you are at it, thank Him for the mighty works He is doing – in J.D. - AND in each of us!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 18 ~ Hebrews 3:6-11
Now, if we can only keep a firm grip on this bold confidence, we're the house! That's why the Holy Spirit says,
Today, please listen;
don't turn a deaf ear as in "the bitter uprising,"
that time of wilderness testing!
Even though they watched me at work for forty years,
your ancestors refused to let me do it my way;
over and over they tried my patience.
And I was provoked, oh, so provoked!
I said, "They'll never keep their minds on God;
they refuse to walk down my road."
Exasperated, I vowed,
"They'll never get where they're going,
never be able to sit down and rest."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
My mom’s dog, Spot, (a 53-lb. Boxer mix) has to at least be a distant cousin to the dog Marley, of the movie “Marley and Me.” Spot is high-energy, suffers separation anxiety, and loves to be loved. He is so high-strung that he just goes nuts when someone rings the doorbell or knocks on the door. And every day, when the mailman slides Mom’s mail into the slot in her front door, Spot comes ripping through the house at full throttle, barking and shouting and acting as if he will tear that mail slot from the door!
Spot is nearly ten years old, yet he still gets just as excited over someone at the door as he did when Mom first got him. To get in the door, we divert his attention by saying, “Go get a toy!” And almost every time, Spot turns and runs to find a toy and return to us… giving us just enough time to make it inside before he greets us (which can include jumping and pawing and licking!). Spot never learns. Bless his heart… the “go get a toy” trick is new every single time, and he has not caught on that, indeed, it is just a trick. In some ways, it exasperates us that after all these years we can’t get inside without this wild and crazy greeting. On the other hand, we find it a somewhat amusing routine and know we would miss it on some level, were Spot not there to meet us.
But God is NOT amused when we spin our wheels and fail to “get it.” Moses wandered in the desert with the Israelites for forty years! They endured all sorts of hardships and tribulations because they refused to believe God and listen to Him as He spoke through Moses. There is a joke that says, “Why did the Israelites wander in the desert with Moses for forty years? Because even they refused to ask directions!” The truth is that Moses HAD the directions, but the Israelites refused to hear them! Today, WE have the directions – the word of God… but are WE listening? Or are we spinning our wheels,” running to the mail slot in the door day after day” and “waking up in a new world?”
We are wasting time here! God has an abundance of blessings He wants to shower on us… but He also has a lot of work He needs us to do! We need to get busy sharing His message of salvation with others, serving in His name, and loving unconditionally. We need to be offering people hope and courage through a meaningful relationship with Jesus Christ! We need to be in prayer, study and fellowship. We need to be listening to God and doing everything according to HIS will and directions.
Where are you today? Are you like Spot, wandering for 10, 20, or even 40 years or more in a wilderness? Are you Spiritually lost – not in the sense that you have not been saved and redeemed through Jesus Christ – but in the sense that you do not know how to move forward in your salvation? The answers are clear… the scripture is the ultimate map for a life in Christ. It is up to us to open it and seek God’s direction!
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------------
February 17 ~ Hebrews 3:1-5
So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house.
(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 HGTV’s Designed to Sell, a real estate agent previews a house that has been on the market for awhile, and he/she makes comments about what is wrong – why the house has not sold. An interior designer then comes in and outlines changes that he/she is going to make, along with the assistance of the homeowners and two or three carpenters. Everybody works hard, but the final “say” comes from the lead designer. The realtor spells out the problems, but the designer actually fixes them. And sometimes, the homeowners are not sure they are going to like what is being done to their house, but they trust the designer to know his/her craft well – and to create a selling design!
This may seem like a flimsy analogy, but do you see how the realtor, the show’s host, the homeowners – and even the carpenters – are the “Moses” of the project? Do you see how we lay the groundwork, but Jesus is the real BUILDER – the One in charge who tells us how things are REALLY done. We trust Jesus to know what He is telling us is sound – the whole truth and nothing but. Everything rests on His shoulders.
I know many of us have doubts from time to time. Surely when things get hard or we struggle with something, we may question God. We may ask, “Why is this happening?” or “Where ARE you?” But we must remember, the Lead Designer has the final say, and we are trusting Him to be right and to work in us toward a good end. Instead of asking “Why? Where?” or even “When?” we should be asking “HOW?” How will this happen? How can I stay in your will and trust your timing? HOW can I do my part for your kingdom? Christ as Son is in charge of the house. We are merely the servants… as was Moses. What was good enough for HIM is more than enough for us.
©2008 Debbie Robus
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 16 ~ ~ Hebrews 2:1-4
It's crucial that we keep a firm grip on what we've heard so that we don't drift off. If the old message delivered by the angels was valid and nobody got away with anything, do you think we can risk neglecting this latest message, this magnificent salvation? First of all, it was delivered in person by the Master, then accurately passed on to us by those who heard it from him. All the while God was validating it with gifts through the Holy Spirit, all sorts of signs and miracles, as he saw fit. 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.)
I always find it fascinating – and exciting, when God changes someone. I love to see Him take a person who was wallowing in the excesses of drinking, drugs, abusive behavior, and more, and create a mighty servant who welcomes every opportunity to witness and bless others in Jesus’ name. I think my all-around favorite is the person who says, “I’m not sure I believe that Jesus is the Son of God. I believe He was a great man. I believe the Bible has a lot of good stories and good advice on how to live, but I’m not sure it is the word of God.” I love it when God begins to work in and through them, redeeming them with His grace, and they begin to see that there is no denying God’s presence and power. There is no denying that God created the universe and sent His only Son to earth to teach us how to live and then save us from our sins. In my heart, there is NO disputing JESUS… there is no denying He is the Son of God and every word He spoke was truth - or that God’s word is infallible.
But the point of this passage is that just because we know something to be true doesn’t know we embrace it. We humans are terribly stubborn and prone to do things our way – on our timetable. We want to pick and choose what to believe and how certain scriptures apply to our lives. The scary thing about this is that we can totally miss the boat! If we are out in left field, doing things to suit ourselves and ignoring – or denying – Jesus and His message of salvation – we often drift way off course. And it may take a LOT to get us back – surely God’s grace, but maybe even a little tooth rattling! God won’t cause bad things to happen, but if He thinks we might draw closer to Him because of a situation, He very well may allow it.
The state of Texas has the anti-litter slogan, “Don’t Mess With Texas.” I’m here to tell you, “Don’t mess with God!” Don’t drift away. The more I study the Bible, the more I see how passages in the Old Testament, written hundreds of years before Jesus walked the earth, line up 100% with passages in the New Testament. This is no high-fallutin’ magic trick! This is because God’s Word is the TRUTH – Jesus IS the Master – the Son of God – the deliver of God’s message AND the deliverer of US as sinners into Eternity with Him. Stay on course! If you are running AWAY from God, turn and head for home. His grace will see you through and deliver you safely.
©2008 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------------------
February 15 ~ The Lord’s Prayer
Please be sure to view this, and be blessed.
http://www.lordsprayermovie.com/
Please Note: This is not an endorsement of the MasterMind program or Mary Robinson Reynolds... but the movie itself is inspiring.
Sticking to It - Week 2
February 14 ~ Titus 1:5-9
I left you in charge in Crete so you could complete what I left half-done. Appoint leaders in every town according to my instructions. As you select them, ask, "Is this man well-thought-of? Is he committed to his wife? Are his children believers? Do they respect him and stay out of trouble?" It's important that a church leader, responsible for the affairs in God's house, be looked up to - not pushy, not short-tempered, not a drunk, not a bully, not money-hungry. He must welcome people, be helpful, wise, fair, reverent, have a good grip on himself, and have a good grip on the Message, knowing how to use the truth to either spur people on in knowledge or stop them in their tracks if they oppose 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.)
Have you ever been involved in an organization or occupation that had a code of conduct, so to speak? Maybe there was a dress code, or you were required to take an oath to perform certain duties. Rotary International is one organization that comes to mind for me. The club encourages members to attend each meeting, and conduct their daily living according to a 4-Way Test – Is it the truth? Is it fair to all concerned? Will it build goodwill and better friendships? Will it be beneficial to all concerned?
This passage from Titus speaks of church leaders… but the criteria listed in these verses is really for all Christians. If we are truly God’s agents… representatives of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shouldn’t we be well thought of, committed to our spouse (if married) – or our boyfriend or girlfriend? If we are parents, shouldn’t we be rearing our children to respect us AND God? Shouldn’t we all be reverent, with a good grip on our personal lives AND our knowledge of the Word of God? If we know Jesus and love Him – if we desire to live for Christ, shouldn’t we know how to use His message to bring others to a relationship with Him? Examine your own life. See if your conduct is such that it meets 4-Way Test in the context of living for Jesus: Do you speak His truth? Are your actions fair to all concerned? Do you share His message in order to build goodwill and better friendships? Are you doing all you can to share the benefits of a life in Christ with all concerned?
Today is Valentine’s Day – a day when we talk a lot about love. But really, isn’t living according to Jesus’ standards – and sharing His message with others - the ultimate act of love? Are you living in a way that says “Happy Valentine’s Day” to everyone – including Jesus?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 13 ~ 2 Timothy 4:16-18
At my preliminary hearing no one stood by me. They all ran like scared rabbits. But it doesn't matter - the Master stood by me and helped me spread the Message loud and clear to those who had never heard it. I was snatched from the jaws of the lion! God's looking after me, keeping me safe in the kingdom of heaven. All praise to him, praise forever! Oh, yes!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
When I was in elementary school, there was a boy in my neighborhood who was. something of a brainiac – today you would probably call him a “nerd.” Gordon was brilliant, but sorely lacking in common sense. He fancied himself something of a scientist, and he was always concocting some crazy “experiment” in the family’s wood-frame barn-like shed behind the house.
One day, Gordon created some sort of hair-brained experiment in that barn, and every one of the neighborhood kids who were playing in his yard scattered. You might say we ran like scared rabbits. We heard a loud boom, and then flames erupted, and soon the yard around the shed was on fire. Gordon’s mother ran from the house yelling and screaming at him, and together they got a water hose and extinguished the flames. I think it’s safe to say that Gordon was snatched from the jaws of the lion that day!
None of the neighborhood kids stood by Gordon. I imagine he felt pretty lonely standing before his mother, trying to explain his antics and wondering where his cohorts went! Gordon believed in his “experiments.” He always felt like he was on the verge of some major “breakthrough” – even at 9 years old! Yet he struggled to find anyone to stand with him and support his efforts.
Have you ever felt like this about your faith? Have you ever felt like serving God and sharing Him with others was costly? Have your friends and/or family members run like scared rabbits? I hope you will understand that even when it seems like others have deserted you because of your love for Jesus, JESUS is still with you. For every friend who deserts you, He will bring you at least two new ones. For every time you have felt lonely and singled out for serving God, you will be given double portions of love and joy. The God who has snatched you from the jaws of the lion (Satan) will look after you, keep you safe, and stand by you through thick and thin. This is reason to shout and celebrate. This is reason to thank God and praise Him. Keep on “keepin’ on!” He will be with you all the way!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 12 ~ 2 Timothy 3:14-17
But don't let it faze you. Stick with what you learned and believed, sure of the integrity of your teachers—why, you took in the sacred Scriptures with your mother's milk! There's nothing like the written Word of God for showing you the way to salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for 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.)
We all know the Bible has answers for our life… or at least that’s what we have been told. But do you know how – and where to look for those answers? When we were in college, members of Gideons International came around and gave each student a New Testament with the Psalms and Proverbs. Since we went to Arkansas Tech, our Bibles were bright green, representing Tech’s green and gold school colors. Inside the front of this little pocket-sized New Testament, there was a list of topics you could look up, as in “Where to find help if…” and then there was an alphabetical listing of words like “anxious,” “worried,” and “lonely.” After each word, scriptures were listed that gave answers, comfort, or encouragement for this topic. I can assure you that we used these little New Testaments a lot in our college years.
With the advent of the Internet, Bible help is literally a few clicks away. My favorite starting point is www.BibleGateway.com, but I have also used Google. For instance, a keyword search for “worry” in The Message translation at BibleGateway will net you 56 separate scripture references that include the word “worry.” If you do a keyword search for “joblessness” you may not find any scriptures that include that specific word. But if you Google “scriptures on finding a job,” you will get several separate websites that offer scriptures related to this subject. You may have to dig a little deeper, but answers are there.
If you have several questions or topics you feel you want to research, write them down. Once you have searched and found scriptures that relate, write THOSE down alongside your question or topic. Then begin to meditate and pray over those scriptures. Read them every day, and ask God to use His Word to speak to you and help you determine the best way to proceed.
Last fall, I felt God leading me to open my Bible for a few hours and take a look at the Psalms. I began to go through the Book of Psalms from the first chapter to the very end, and I made notes of those that particularly seemed to speak to me… to stir something in me… those Psalms that “struck a nerve.” These became my guide for the devos we did last fall as “Studies in the Psalms.” The scripture for today’s devotional is the result of a Google search for “Scriptures about perseverance.”
My point is that God’s word is just as relevant and useful for us today as it was in the days of Moses. And a single scripture passage can speak to what is on your heart today in one way – and again next week when you have a completely different question or issue. I thank God for creating the new technologies that make studying His word even easier. We really have no excuse, have we?! God WILL use His word to answer you… the key is to know how – and where – to look.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 11 ~ 2 Timothy 2:8-13
Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead. It's what you've heard from me all along. It's what I'm sitting in jail for right now—but God's Word isn't in jail! That's why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory. This is a sure thing:
If we die with him, we'll live with him;
If we stick it out with him, we'll rule with him;
If we turn our backs on him, he'll turn his back on us;
If we give up on him, he does not give up—
for there's no way he can be false to himself.
(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.)
Isn’t God amazing? He knew that these scriptures on perseverance – sticking with it – were just what we need to hear these days. I know people who have stopped watching the news because it is just too bleak. And I agree… the news IS bleak… unemployment, war, homelessness, natural disasters. People are hurting all across the world. So should we all just stop what we are doing, throw up our hands and say, “This is just too hard!” as if God does not know – or care - what is happening to us?
Let me ask you something… do you believe what is written in the Bible? Would you agree that people have experienced unemployment, war, homelessness, natural disasters and more since the time of Adam and Eve? Did God abandon them? Absolutely NOT! And He won’t abandon us, either. So what if you lose your job? God is still with you, and He will help you find another. War is horrible, and I don’t believe it pleases God. But I do believe that a Godly soldier on the battlefield – in war OR life in general – can do many good works for the glory of God, even in the midst of a horrific situation.
When we lose our earthly home – to the economy or a natural disaster - God is still with us. If disease or illness comes, God will be with us every step of the way as we heal – even if our healing comes in death. When we face the death of a loved one, God understands our grief and comforts us. When we face our own death, God prepares a home for us with Him and welcomes us there. In Psalm 139:7-8, David said that “I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!” (NLT). Now THAT’s my God… a God who never gives up on me!
Now, more than ever, we need to focus on Jesus. We need to put all of our trust in HIM… not the things of this world. We need to know who we are in Christ… and live for Him. Even if bad things do happen to us, we’ll still come out on top. If we turn our back on Jesus, He may turn His back on us and let us wallow in our misery for awhile… but thankfully, He will never give up. You may have been tempted lately to throw up your hands and give up – on your situation AND Jesus. But know this… Jesus is a sure thing… and He is waiting for you. Live with Jesus… stick it out with Him… and see for yourself just how well He will meet your needs.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 10 ~ 2 Timothy 2:1-7
So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ. Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!— to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others. When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did. A soldier on duty doesn't get caught up in making deals at the marketplace. He concentrates on carrying out orders. An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere. It's the diligent farmer who gets the produce. Think it over. God will make it all plain.
(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.)
Are things tough in your world these days? How are you handling the challenges in your life? Are you taking it on the chin, trusting that God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow? Are you concentrating on putting one foot in front of the other, forging ahead in faith that God will see you through your struggles, and “gettin’ it done?”
Now is the time for faith-filled Christians to step up to the plate. More than ever, it is time for us to say, “I may be facing a mountain, but God will help me climb it.” I don’t know what your struggle is today… but I know God can help you handle it. And He is counting on us to share that message with others who are hurting or in need. He needs us to be reliable leaders and teach others how to meet their challenges head-on, with Him at their side, and say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” He can – He will – He has! Take it on the chin… face your challenges and keep looking toward heaven. God is on our side… and He is more than enough!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 9 ~ 2 Timothy 1:11-14
This is the Message I've been set apart to proclaim as preacher, emissary, and teacher. It's also the cause of all this trouble I'm in. But I have no regrets. I couldn't be more sure of my ground - the One I've trusted in can take care of what he's trusted me to do right to the end. So keep at your work, this faith and love rooted in Christ, exactly as I set it out for you. It's as sound as the day you first heard it from me. Guard this precious thing placed in your custody by the Holy Spirit who works in 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.)
I have a wonderful book entitled “Then Sings My Soul” that contains some of our best-known and loved hymns… and a description of each one’s origin. Page 400 contains a hymn by Daniel W. Whittle, “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” The history page says that Whittle was born in 1840 in Massachusetts and moved to Chicago as a teenager. There, he enlisted in the Civil War in the 72nd Illinois Infantry. He was badly wounded in the Battle of Vicksburg and taken prisoner by the Confederates. He lost his right arm and had other serious injuries.
While in the POW camp, Whittle became bored and started reading a spare New Testament. He was moved by the words and felt he needed to invite Christ to be his Savior, but he fell asleep before he could do that. Soon a hospital orderly woke him to say that another POW was dying and wanted someone to pray for him. This confused Whittle, but the orderly said he thought Whittle was a Christian because he had seen him reading a Bible. So Whittle prayed over the dying boy and confessed his sins and asked Christ to forgive him. When he stood up, the young boy was dead, but he had a look of peace on his once-troubled face. Whittle said he felt that God used this boy to lead him to Christ – and in turn God used HIM to lead the boy to Christ, also.
In 1883, Whittle wrote “I Know Whom I Have Believed.” The chorus is from 2 Timothy 1:12 – King James Version. It says…”for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” God didn’t give up on Daniel Whittle. Imprisoned, maimed, lonely and bored, Whittle was still in God’s care… and God used him to minister to others. This is a testament that it’s never too late. No circumstance is too great or too difficult for God to help you overcome. You can’t sink so low that God can’t lift you and use you. God never gives up on us, so we must never give up on others!
Guard the precious gifts God bestows upon your life and share them with others. The road may not always be easy, but you will have no regrets. Know whom you have believed. Be persuaded that He is able to keep you and use you… all the way to the end.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 8 ~ II Thessalonians 3:10-13
Don't you remember the rule we had when we lived with you? "If you don't work, you don't eat." And now we're getting reports that a bunch of lazy good-for-nothings are taking advantage of you. This must not be tolerated. We command them to get to work immediately - no excuses, no arguments - and earn their own keep. Friends, don't slack off in doing your duty.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Do you know someone who seems to be unable to get ahead of their troubles? It seems that this person takes one step forward and two steps back. Maybe this describes your own life. If so, I encourage you to closely examine how you are living. I’m not saying you are doing anything wrong… I am not passing judgment.
I am suggesting you look at how you are living. I am not talking about whether you are a morally sound person, a hard worker at your job, or even a good spouse, parent, son or daughter. I’m talking about your Spiritual living. When was the last time you opened your Bible? When was the last time you humbly approached God and asked for His help and guidance? When was the last time you threw up your hands and had a little “meltdown” and said, “this is just too hard!”? When troubles come, do you give them to God and ask Him to help you with them, or do you wring your hands and ask, “Now what do I do?”
God is not necessarily punishing us for our Spiritual slacking. But He may not be fully blessing us, either. The adage, “If you don’t work, you don’t eat,” applies to your walk with God, too. If you are not working to stay close to Him – if you are not faithful to His promises and trusting HIM to care for your needs and guide your steps – then you may not be hearing His answers or feeling His presence. It’s not that God is not THERE… but you are blocking the reception, so to speak.
So don’t be a Spiritual slacker. Keep God front and center in every facet of your life. Seek His will about EVERYTHING… and do the things that will help you hear from Him, like Bible study and prayer, fellowship with other believers, and more. Do your Spiritual duty, and God will feed you more than you can eat!
©2008 Debbie Robus
Sticking To It
February 7 ~ II Thessalonians 2:15-17
So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
(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 last days of January were sad ones for my pastor, Bro. David Bush, as his brother Richard lost a battle with leukemia. The same week, my former pastor, Bro. John Miles, lost his mother after she succumbed to a lengthy hospital stay for a variety of issues that compromised her health. Both men and their family members have expressed in recent days how grateful they are for the love, prayers and support of the many who know and love them – and even some who don’t. They have been strengthened and encouraged by the kind words and deeds of others. This has helped them to keep their feet on the ground and hold their heads high.
I want us to stop and remember that death is no respecter of persons. Grief does not escape members of the clergy or others in ministry. Just because you are a pastor doesn’t mean you won’t suffer pain and heartache when your loved ones pass away. Ministers are human, too… and we tend to forget that things that happen to us in everyday life happen to them, as well.
So instead of looking at your pastor – or your Sunday School teacher or your friend who you consider to be a strong faith-filled Christian – and expecting him/her to live above grief and heartache and pain, remember what we have been taught. Reach out to them in love and surprise them with gifts of unending help and confidence. Help them to understand that you are supporting them in their grieving process – or whatever stressful situation they may be enduring. Remind them of the promises of God that THEY continually share with YOU. Make them feel like a “real person” – a child of God on an equal plane with everyone else, and deserving of compassion and encouragement.
God didn’t call us to minister only to the unchurched or the unbelievers. Look around your “Spiritual family” and see who needs your help today. Strengthening the body of Christ will have far-reaching effects. Try it and see for yourself how this can enliven your speech and invigorate your work for the Lord!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 6 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with 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.)
There was a time in my life when I would have never raised my hands in worship. Even if I wanted to – I would restrain myself for fear of being ridiculed by others – or at least risking a dirty look from someone! When I was a little girl, there was a church up the street from our house that held worship services several nights each week. In the summertime, when our windows were open, you could hear the people whooping and hollering – and we called them “holy rollers.” They were definitely not suppressing the Spirit… and now I understand that my judgmental description of them was, in essence, an attempt to stifle them. They very well may have been hearing from the Holy Spirit and raising their hands and shouting in a way I wanted to - but wouldn’t. The difference was that they did not suppress the Spirit or stifle Him – and many of us do just that!
On the other hand, I have encountered “Spiritual” people who have some pretty far-out ideas about God and His word. They interpret the Bible in such a way as to say that we should only study the King James version, or that women should never cut their hair. They get hung up on one person or one particular scripture, and they build their entire faith and Spiritual life around this. We have to guard ourselves against becoming caught up in such things – against being gullible.
I’ve told you before that www.snopes.com is one of my favorite websites. I go there to check out anything I receive on e-mail that sounds a little fishy. This website helps me to keep from being gullible. And that’s a good thing! For things of a Spiritual nature, I consult God’s word – my Bible. I may read the same passages in several translations before I hear the answer, but I trust God to show me what is right and true – and to keep me from falling into evil traps and “Spiritual falsehoods.”
I’m not saying we need to all start shouting and raising our hands and speaking in tongues. But we must not stifle the Holy Spirit – in ourselves or others – by making judgments, or by suppressing ourselves if the Spirit moves us in that manner. At the same time, we must stay awake and alert – and informed - so that we are not gullible or compromised in our faith. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. This is sound advice we can all use.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 5 ~ 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
You know how sometimes after a big football victory, the team will douse the coach with a huge cooler of Gatorade? The icy liquid pours and splashes onto the coach as a symbol of the joy and enthusiasm of the team – and how much they care for him at that moment! I don’t know about you, but if someone doused me with cold sticky Gatorade like that, I would be infused with strength - as adrenaline rushed through my body!
So imagine Jesus pouring love and strength and purity onto you just like that big cooler of Gatorade – except this love and strength and purity is warm and soothing and soaks into your pores and nourishes your soul. You feel confident and energized from the inside, and it overflows to those in your presence. That’s how your Christian living should be. You should have so much of Jesus poured onto you – and into you – that it overflows and splashes on others.
Life as a Christian is better than winning a football game… being on God’s team is a much bigger victory! Jesus’ love for you is better than any cooler of Gatorade or ice water. May Jesus douse you with His strength, purity and confidence, and may His love fill you and splash over onto others.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 4 ~ Colossians 2:6-7
My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
(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 known someone who seemed to be a “professional student?” This person had gone to school so long it seemed as if they he/she was afraid to step on out into the world and put their education to work – literally! Or maybe there was a comfort level in being a student and sponging off of Mom and Dad!
Sometimes in our Christian life, we are like this. We love Jesus… we have invited Him into our heart. We go to church, we read the Bible and attend studies and prayer groups. But we can’t share our faith with anyone else. We can’t seem to “put our faith into action!” It’s not that we are bad persons… but we are stuck!
The time has come for us to share our gift of Jesus with others. The time has come to reach out to people… to do random acts of kindness… to be bold in our witness and speak up when opportunities arise and tell others how God has blessed us… to offer a helping hand, or even a smile to someone who needs one. The time has come for us to live for Jesus so that others see Him in us – and want Him for themselves. School IS out… it’s time to get to work!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 3 ~ Colossians 1:22-23
You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Mess - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Some studies show that children who were forced to attend church often turn into teenagers and young adults who refuse to go at all. I know from my own experience working with junior/senior high/college students that many told me in their high school years, “I’m just coming because my parents make me. When I turn 18, you won’t see me here any more.” And it was difficult to get those in college to come to church functions or a Sunday School class. I won’t say all of them had turned their backs on God, but there was more than one who said, “Christianity – this ‘God thing’ - is not for me.”
I’ve met teens and adults who have told me that they do not believe in God… or they once believed, but now they are not sure. Some feel that as long as they are a “good person,” God will surely not abandon THEM! Others have told me, “God really never did anything for me. I’m not sure He even exists. I’m going to do things MY way for a change!” When I hear these things, I try to smile and bite my tongue. Because in my own way, I’ve done and said the same things. Oh, maybe I didn’t say God doesn’t exist, but I treated Him like He didn’t. I tried things my way and stayed away from anything related to church activities. I picked and chose when I would serve – and how – and I suited MY needs and desires, not GOD’s.
And then, purely by God’s grace, I caught a glimpse of the Cross – and what Jesus had done – for ME! I saw how He had suffered, bled and died so that I could LIVE – not just in Heaven for all Eternity (which would be more than enough), but also in this earthly lifetime. I saw how God loved me enough to send Jesus – to give His only Son – His very best – for ME! And all I had heard and read about God since I was a child began to come to life – and I wanted to know more – to read more – to hear more of God’s word preached and taught. I wanted to live for Him and WITH Him – each and every day.
It is so easy to get distracted and pulled off track by the things of this world. There are plenty of tools in the devil’s arsenal to pull us away from God. If you have gotten distracted, this is your chance to come back over to God’s side. Today can be the day that you turn your back on the things that pulled you away and return to Him… laying yourself before Jesus at the foot of the Cross. He will take you back in a heartbeat and help you to stay grounded and steady. But the first step is totally yours. Will you take it?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 2 ~ Colossians 1:9-12
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for 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.)
Have you ever been through something that was difficult, and you wondered, “When will this ever end?” Many things we do are hard but have an end result… training for a marathon, studying for a college degree, recovery and rehab after an illness or injury, working on a big project like writing a book or planning a wedding. The bigger struggles come with things like a long-term illness, an abusive relationship, slavery, world hunger, homelessness. These are the sorts of things that seem to have no end in sight and require Supernatural strength to endure.
I am thankful that I am not involved in a “big struggle” these days. I am not enslaved, homeless, or abused. But I have helped to care for loved ones who suffered through terminal illness and wondered how we would all get through it. I’ve wondered how – and when – we would find joy again. Thankfully I didn’t question IF it would happen… but I did ask how and when. And just as the scripture promises, God did make me strong enough for the journey – and He did bring joy to my life again. What He has done for me, He will most certainly do for you and others.
I don’t know what your “long haul” is – or even if you have one right now. But no matter where you are in life these days – long trips or short – God is with you. He will give you the grit and strength to make it through them. He will take you all the way to joy, brightness and beauty. Stick it out, with God on your side. Stay attuned to His will, and He will give you all you need for each day.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 1 ~ Philippians 4:1
My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever bought something at the grocery store that was supposedly in a resealable package? You know… some cookies and snack crackers come like that… with a sticky tab. As you roll the package down from the top, that tab is supposed to stick and hold the package together and keep your snacks fresh. We all know that these sticky tabs don’t stay sticky very long. The upside is that the snack probably doesn’t last long either, so it’s all good.
God loves us so much. He wants the very best for us – the "freshest product" at all times. In order for us to be at our best – and to receive the very best from God – we have to stay on track. We have to stick to it. Our "sticky tab" has to be a whole lot better than the one on those cookies and snack crackers.
So how are you doing? Are you steady and consistent in your walk with God? Are you doing everything you can to keep His Spirit sealed and fresh within you? Is your Christian living the kind that will last long enough to even need a "freshness seal?" I challenge you to check yourself and see how you are doing. Make any changes necessary to be the very "freshest" quality Christian you can – and do all you can to see that your "Spiritual integrity seal" continues to stick!
©2008 Debbie Robus
So, friends, take a firm stand, feet on the ground and head high. Keep a tight grip on what you were taught, whether in personal conversation or by our letter. May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help and confidence, put a fresh heart in you, invigorate your work, enliven your speech.
(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 last days of January were sad ones for my pastor, Bro. David Bush, as his brother Richard lost a battle with leukemia. The same week, my former pastor, Bro. John Miles, lost his mother after she succumbed to a lengthy hospital stay for a variety of issues that compromised her health. Both men and their family members have expressed in recent days how grateful they are for the love, prayers and support of the many who know and love them – and even some who don’t. They have been strengthened and encouraged by the kind words and deeds of others. This has helped them to keep their feet on the ground and hold their heads high.
I want us to stop and remember that death is no respecter of persons. Grief does not escape members of the clergy or others in ministry. Just because you are a pastor doesn’t mean you won’t suffer pain and heartache when your loved ones pass away. Ministers are human, too… and we tend to forget that things that happen to us in everyday life happen to them, as well.
So instead of looking at your pastor – or your Sunday School teacher or your friend who you consider to be a strong faith-filled Christian – and expecting him/her to live above grief and heartache and pain, remember what we have been taught. Reach out to them in love and surprise them with gifts of unending help and confidence. Help them to understand that you are supporting them in their grieving process – or whatever stressful situation they may be enduring. Remind them of the promises of God that THEY continually share with YOU. Make them feel like a “real person” – a child of God on an equal plane with everyone else, and deserving of compassion and encouragement.
God didn’t call us to minister only to the unchurched or the unbelievers. Look around your “Spiritual family” and see who needs your help today. Strengthening the body of Christ will have far-reaching effects. Try it and see for yourself how this can enliven your speech and invigorate your work for the Lord!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 6 ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:19-21
Don't suppress the Spirit, and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good. Throw out anything tainted with 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.)
There was a time in my life when I would have never raised my hands in worship. Even if I wanted to – I would restrain myself for fear of being ridiculed by others – or at least risking a dirty look from someone! When I was a little girl, there was a church up the street from our house that held worship services several nights each week. In the summertime, when our windows were open, you could hear the people whooping and hollering – and we called them “holy rollers.” They were definitely not suppressing the Spirit… and now I understand that my judgmental description of them was, in essence, an attempt to stifle them. They very well may have been hearing from the Holy Spirit and raising their hands and shouting in a way I wanted to - but wouldn’t. The difference was that they did not suppress the Spirit or stifle Him – and many of us do just that!
On the other hand, I have encountered “Spiritual” people who have some pretty far-out ideas about God and His word. They interpret the Bible in such a way as to say that we should only study the King James version, or that women should never cut their hair. They get hung up on one person or one particular scripture, and they build their entire faith and Spiritual life around this. We have to guard ourselves against becoming caught up in such things – against being gullible.
I’ve told you before that www.snopes.com is one of my favorite websites. I go there to check out anything I receive on e-mail that sounds a little fishy. This website helps me to keep from being gullible. And that’s a good thing! For things of a Spiritual nature, I consult God’s word – my Bible. I may read the same passages in several translations before I hear the answer, but I trust God to show me what is right and true – and to keep me from falling into evil traps and “Spiritual falsehoods.”
I’m not saying we need to all start shouting and raising our hands and speaking in tongues. But we must not stifle the Holy Spirit – in ourselves or others – by making judgments, or by suppressing ourselves if the Spirit moves us in that manner. At the same time, we must stay awake and alert – and informed - so that we are not gullible or compromised in our faith. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil. This is sound advice we can all use.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 5 ~ 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
You know how sometimes after a big football victory, the team will douse the coach with a huge cooler of Gatorade? The icy liquid pours and splashes onto the coach as a symbol of the joy and enthusiasm of the team – and how much they care for him at that moment! I don’t know about you, but if someone doused me with cold sticky Gatorade like that, I would be infused with strength - as adrenaline rushed through my body!
So imagine Jesus pouring love and strength and purity onto you just like that big cooler of Gatorade – except this love and strength and purity is warm and soothing and soaks into your pores and nourishes your soul. You feel confident and energized from the inside, and it overflows to those in your presence. That’s how your Christian living should be. You should have so much of Jesus poured onto you – and into you – that it overflows and splashes on others.
Life as a Christian is better than winning a football game… being on God’s team is a much bigger victory! Jesus’ love for you is better than any cooler of Gatorade or ice water. May Jesus douse you with His strength, purity and confidence, and may His love fill you and splash over onto others.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 4 ~ Colossians 2:6-7
My counsel for you is simple and straightforward: Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live him. You're deeply rooted in him. You're well constructed upon him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught. School's out; quit studying the subject and start living it! And let your living spill over into thanksgiving.
(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 known someone who seemed to be a “professional student?” This person had gone to school so long it seemed as if they he/she was afraid to step on out into the world and put their education to work – literally! Or maybe there was a comfort level in being a student and sponging off of Mom and Dad!
Sometimes in our Christian life, we are like this. We love Jesus… we have invited Him into our heart. We go to church, we read the Bible and attend studies and prayer groups. But we can’t share our faith with anyone else. We can’t seem to “put our faith into action!” It’s not that we are bad persons… but we are stuck!
The time has come for us to share our gift of Jesus with others. The time has come to reach out to people… to do random acts of kindness… to be bold in our witness and speak up when opportunities arise and tell others how God has blessed us… to offer a helping hand, or even a smile to someone who needs one. The time has come for us to live for Jesus so that others see Him in us – and want Him for themselves. School IS out… it’s time to get to work!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 3 ~ Colossians 1:22-23
You yourselves are a case study of what he does. At one time you all had your backs turned to God, thinking rebellious thoughts of him, giving him trouble every chance you got. But now, by giving himself completely at the Cross, actually dying for you, Christ brought you over to God's side and put your lives together, whole and holy in his presence. You don't walk away from a gift like that! You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Mess - just this one. Every creature under heaven gets this same Message. I, Paul, am a messenger of this Message.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Some studies show that children who were forced to attend church often turn into teenagers and young adults who refuse to go at all. I know from my own experience working with junior/senior high/college students that many told me in their high school years, “I’m just coming because my parents make me. When I turn 18, you won’t see me here any more.” And it was difficult to get those in college to come to church functions or a Sunday School class. I won’t say all of them had turned their backs on God, but there was more than one who said, “Christianity – this ‘God thing’ - is not for me.”
I’ve met teens and adults who have told me that they do not believe in God… or they once believed, but now they are not sure. Some feel that as long as they are a “good person,” God will surely not abandon THEM! Others have told me, “God really never did anything for me. I’m not sure He even exists. I’m going to do things MY way for a change!” When I hear these things, I try to smile and bite my tongue. Because in my own way, I’ve done and said the same things. Oh, maybe I didn’t say God doesn’t exist, but I treated Him like He didn’t. I tried things my way and stayed away from anything related to church activities. I picked and chose when I would serve – and how – and I suited MY needs and desires, not GOD’s.
And then, purely by God’s grace, I caught a glimpse of the Cross – and what Jesus had done – for ME! I saw how He had suffered, bled and died so that I could LIVE – not just in Heaven for all Eternity (which would be more than enough), but also in this earthly lifetime. I saw how God loved me enough to send Jesus – to give His only Son – His very best – for ME! And all I had heard and read about God since I was a child began to come to life – and I wanted to know more – to read more – to hear more of God’s word preached and taught. I wanted to live for Him and WITH Him – each and every day.
It is so easy to get distracted and pulled off track by the things of this world. There are plenty of tools in the devil’s arsenal to pull us away from God. If you have gotten distracted, this is your chance to come back over to God’s side. Today can be the day that you turn your back on the things that pulled you away and return to Him… laying yourself before Jesus at the foot of the Cross. He will take you back in a heartbeat and help you to stay grounded and steady. But the first step is totally yours. Will you take it?
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 2 ~ Colossians 1:9-12
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven't stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you'll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you'll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for 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.)
Have you ever been through something that was difficult, and you wondered, “When will this ever end?” Many things we do are hard but have an end result… training for a marathon, studying for a college degree, recovery and rehab after an illness or injury, working on a big project like writing a book or planning a wedding. The bigger struggles come with things like a long-term illness, an abusive relationship, slavery, world hunger, homelessness. These are the sorts of things that seem to have no end in sight and require Supernatural strength to endure.
I am thankful that I am not involved in a “big struggle” these days. I am not enslaved, homeless, or abused. But I have helped to care for loved ones who suffered through terminal illness and wondered how we would all get through it. I’ve wondered how – and when – we would find joy again. Thankfully I didn’t question IF it would happen… but I did ask how and when. And just as the scripture promises, God did make me strong enough for the journey – and He did bring joy to my life again. What He has done for me, He will most certainly do for you and others.
I don’t know what your “long haul” is – or even if you have one right now. But no matter where you are in life these days – long trips or short – God is with you. He will give you the grit and strength to make it through them. He will take you all the way to joy, brightness and beauty. Stick it out, with God on your side. Stay attuned to His will, and He will give you all you need for each day.
©2008 Debbie Robus
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February 1 ~ Philippians 4:1
My dear, dear friends! I love you so much. I do want the very best for you. You make me feel such joy, fill me with such pride. Don't waver. Stay on track, steady in God.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever bought something at the grocery store that was supposedly in a resealable package? You know… some cookies and snack crackers come like that… with a sticky tab. As you roll the package down from the top, that tab is supposed to stick and hold the package together and keep your snacks fresh. We all know that these sticky tabs don’t stay sticky very long. The upside is that the snack probably doesn’t last long either, so it’s all good.
God loves us so much. He wants the very best for us – the "freshest product" at all times. In order for us to be at our best – and to receive the very best from God – we have to stay on track. We have to stick to it. Our "sticky tab" has to be a whole lot better than the one on those cookies and snack crackers.
So how are you doing? Are you steady and consistent in your walk with God? Are you doing everything you can to keep His Spirit sealed and fresh within you? Is your Christian living the kind that will last long enough to even need a "freshness seal?" I challenge you to check yourself and see how you are doing. Make any changes necessary to be the very "freshest" quality Christian you can – and do all you can to see that your "Spiritual integrity seal" continues to stick!
©2008 Debbie Robus
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