April 30 ~ 1 Corinthians 12:19-24
But I also want you to think about how this keeps your significance from getting blown up into self-importance. For no matter how significant you are, it is only because of what you are a part of. An enormous eye or a gigantic hand wouldn't be a body, but a monster. What we have is one body with many parts, each its proper size and in its proper place. No part is important on its own. Can you imagine Eye telling Hand, "Get lost; I don't need you"? Or, Head telling Foot, "You're fired; your job has been phased out"? As a matter of fact, in practice it works the other way - the "lower" the part, the more basic, and therefore necessary. You can live without an eye, for instance, but not without a stomach. When it's a part of your own body you are concerned with, it makes no difference whether the part is visible or clothed, higher or lower. You give it dignity and honor just as it is, without comparisons. If anything, you have more concern for the lower parts than the higher. If you had to choose, wouldn't you prefer good digestion to full-bodied hair?
(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 watched cheerleaders at a sporting event build a pyramid? Everyone seems to focus on the people at the top… the ones who climb higher and higher on the backs and legs of others to stand several feet in the air, often on one foot or another. Or maybe you’ve watched as a strong young man lifts the petite female cheerleader up over his head with one hand, and then with a slight toss, she is airborne until he catches her safely near the ground. Amazingly, these feats usually work smoothly, but once in awhile, there is a mishap, and someone falls – and sometimes the injuries are quite serious.
We seem to glorify the person at the top… the young girl who climbs to the head of the tower or is flipped high in the air by her cheerleading partner. The truth of the matter is that the base of the pyramid and the strong partner on the ground are the real heroes of this spectacle. Without a strong base, none of these formations and routines would be possible. None of these are solo acts!
And this is how it is for Christians. We are NOTHING without the support underneath us – Jesus Christ. He is the base of our pyramid… the support that lifts us into the air and flips us… and more importantly… catches us as we fall. By the same token, we are no more important than any other Christian. Together, we do great things for Christ - we support one another. On our own, we often crumble or lose our footing. We need the encouragement, empathy, wisdom, courage, and yes… “back” of other brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus.
Without a base, there would be no pyramid. Without support, there would be no aerial flips. Without Jesus, we would fall – and fail. Without our brothers and sisters in Christ, we would accomplish far less for the Kingdom of God. Be thankful for the support of Jesus – and others… and lend your support whenever possible. It’s all about the Foundation!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 29 ~ 1 Corinthians 9:23
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized - whoever. I didn't take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ - but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I've become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn't just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
If you have ever watched Miami Ink or L.A. Ink, you know that Kat Von D is a beautiful dark-haired woman who is also a tattoo artist. Her body is covered in elaborate tattoos… including the face of Beethoven (because she studied classical music as a child), stars around her eyes, and many other characters and embellishments. Tattoos have become quite popular these days, and you may even have one or two. So… do I need to get a tattoo in order to fit in and be a more effective Christian? Do I need to modify my appearance, my hobbies and interests, the kind of car I drive, and even my street address so that others “accept” me more and are more receptive to my witness?
The answer to all of these questions is a very emphatic “NO!” But I do need to have an understanding and a general knowledge of things outside my comfort zone… and so do you. I need to know about the interests and lifestyles of those I wish to reach. I need a general understanding of other religious beliefs. I cannot be grossed out or outwardly put off by the appearance of someone else or their choices. I can’t cross to the other side of the street to avoid contact with someone whose lifestyle or culture I find offensive or different. Many “Christian” white people did exactly this to avoid passing African-Americans on the sidewalks of Little Rock and other cities when I was a little girl. Today, some of us still cut a wide berth for those who appear to be Middle Eastern, and yes, even Hispanic and African-American… not to mention those we assume are poor, addicted to drugs, gay, or even physically different/handicapped.
Paul says we need to be “in the world,” but not conformed to it. That means that as Christians, we must pay attention to world events and “know what’s happenin’,” – but we don’t have to be a physical part of that happening! We don’t have to change the way we dress, our lifestyle, our hobbies or our beliefs to “fit in” with others so that they will see Jesus in us. But we absolutely cannot be judgmental of others, either, or we’ve blown it big time.
While I don’t plan to tattoo the face of Beethoven, The Beatles, or anyone else on my body any time soon, I don’t mind those who have “body art.” The only “tattoo” I ever plan to have is the “mark” of Jesus upon my heart, but that is right for me. The only piercings for me (aside from a couple of holes in my ears) are those of my Saviour on the cross. But that doesn’t make me better than those who are covered in piercings… and that doesn’t mean that THEY are not Christians. I don’t know what “makes them tick,” but I know that God does – and He loves them, just as He loves me. So my message today is Paul’s message… be aware of the things of this world, but don’t change to try and fit in with others. Be yourself… and all that God has made you to be. People who are the “real deal” will win more souls for Christ than phony wannabes any day of the week!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 28 ~ 1 Corinthians 8:8-9
But fortunately God doesn't grade us on our diet. We're neither commended when we clean our plate nor reprimanded when we just can't stomach it. But God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old associations to be thrown off track.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
This passage continues the thread of yesterday’s passage about becoming new creatures in Christ, and how we all get there in different ways and on different time tables. The 6th graders at my church have been taking “Confirmation” classes. The official website of United Methodist Churches describes this as “Confirmation preparation” classes, and says…” It is the first public affirmation of the grace of God in one's baptism and the acknowledgment of one's acceptance of that grace by faith. This moment includes all the elements of conversion-repentance of sin, surrender and death of self, trust in the saving grace of God, new life in Christ, and becoming an instrument of God's purpose in the world. The profession of Christian faith, to be celebrated in the midst of the worshiping congregation, should include the voicing of baptismal vows as a witness to faith and the opportunity to give testimony to personal Christian experience.”
A very important part of this explanation comes next… “Two things should be noted here: One, confirmation is not becoming a member of the church. Baptism already celebrated that! Two, confirmation is a person's first public affirmation of the faith of the church as being his or her own faith. In other words, the confirmand is taking responsibility for living as a member of the body of Christ and for fulfilling God's purposes.” These classes are usually conducted for pre-teens who are old enough to accept responsibility for their behavior and their choice to follow Jesus. And with Confirmation comes an obligation not to throw others off track – to live in a way that is pleasing to God and honors Him and the sacrifices He made for us.
Some who are reading this devo were “Confirmed” in their pre-teens. Many others have “confirmed” their faith in Jesus Christ at some point in time through a personal profession of faith in Him, inviting His Holy Spirit to live within you, and committing to serve Him in everything you say and do. God doesn’t care if we take Confirmation classes or not… but He does care that we surrender to Him – AND… that we conduct our lives in a way that “represents” Him to others appropriately and respectfully.
I remember well my niece’s Confirmation about seven years ago. I remember how amazing it was to feel the power of the Holy Spirit as we placed our hands on her and the pastor immersed her head in water and baptized her. I remember going last summer to Sandy Beach and witnessing the total immersion baptism of several children I have loved since before they were born. It was a holy, humbling time, as we realized the impact of this demonstration of faith and the responsibilities it carried. Please pray for children throughout the world who will be Confirmed in the next few weeks. Pray for their families and friends – and pray that they will all be strong and courageous in their faith – and always “represent” their life in Christ to others in a way that pleases God. And as a “confirmed” Christian already… be sure you also “represent” Christ well.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 27 ~ 1 Corinthians 8:7
In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the meat when it was offered up to an idol. It's just like any other meat. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive.
We need to be sensitive to the fact that we're not all at the same level of understanding in this. Some of you have spent your entire lives eating "idol meat," and are sure that there's something bad in the meat that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience shaped under those conditions isn't going to change overnight.
(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 met someone who became a Christian and almost immediately seemed to “get it” and have an incredible grasp and command of scripture knowledge? Maybe this person appeared to have a very deep relationship with the Holy Spirit, and maybe this person intimidated you just a little. I think we all know someone like this, and maybe we are even caused to question why our faith/Bible knowledge/spiritual relationship is not as strong as that of others.
I don’t know why some people gain a quicker understanding of how Jesus took our sins on the cross. We all “understand” what happened for us on the cross, but I find that I sometimes still fail to “leave it at the cross” – to leave my past sins behind and move ahead. Others seem to do that far better than I. There are so many people who know a whole lot more scripture than I do… and they can spout chapter and verse and have incredible recall for this. I, on the other hand, am left to say, “Somewhere in the Bible it says ‘such-and-such’” and paraphrase, offering to look it up later.
The point is that we are all human. And some of us have spent a lifetime dragging out our past sins and bemoaning them… some of us have faster recall for scripture… some of us come to a quicker understanding and deep relationship with the Holy Spirit. But that doesn’t mean we are superior to those who don’t… or inferior to those who do! God isn’t tapping a wristwatch and setting a time limit on how quickly we fully develop our relationship with him. He understands that, for some of us, “old habits die hard,” and we are not going to change overnight.
Yes, the transformation of salvation changes us into new creatures, and we should leave our old sinful lives behind. But even babies take awhile to develop fully. The have difficulty focusing their eyes at first, and they are unable to walk and talk for several months to a few years. So it is with us. We don’t fully develop as Christians overnight. But we must always be sensitive as Christians… never judgmental, and certainly never “know-it-alls” about Jesus. Above all, we must keep working and trying – and learning and growing – and heading toward the day when our old ways are just that – old ways – and we live our “best lives” … fully embracing and understanding our new life in Christ.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 26 ~ 1 Corinthians 4:9-13
It seems to me that God has put us who bear his Message on stage in a theater in which no one wants to buy a ticket. We're something everyone stands around and stares at, like an accident in the street. We're the Messiah's misfits. You might be sure of yourselves, but we live in the midst of frailties and uncertainties. You might be well-thought-of by others, but we're mostly kicked around. Much of the time we don't have enough to eat, we wear patched and threadbare clothes, we get doors slammed in our faces, and we pick up odd jobs anywhere we can to eke out a living. When they call us names, we say, "God bless you." When they spread rumors about us, we put in a good word for them. We're treated like garbage, potato peelings from the culture's kitchen. And it's not getting any better.
(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.)
Nobody likes rejection. Nobody likes to have doors slammed in their faces. Did you ever sell something like Girl Scout Cookies or tickets to a school fundraiser, and you had to go door-to-door and ask people to buy what you were selling? Do you remember how awful it felt when they said “No,” but your parents and teachers and leaders had said, “Smile and be nice, even if they don’t buy from you.” It was hard, wasn’t it?
Now think about your Christian life. Think about how many times you reach out to people and they either say, “No, thanks!” or they snicker at you as you walk away (or do it to your face!) or sometimes they are downright rude! It hurts, doesn’t it? And it probably doesn’t make you feel one bit better to be reminded that this has been going on since the early churches of Jesus’ disciples!
But here’s the deal… the hurt and rejection we face as Christians is so, so minor, compared to what Jesus suffered for us. The mockery and rudeness we have to “endure” for Him can’t begin to compare to what He endured for our sins. It almost seems embarrassing to even mention our indignities in the face of those done to Christ, doesn’t it?
So the next time you feel you are mistreated because of your faith, remember The One who endured far and above what we will ever face – and all on our behalf. Smile and say, “God bless you,” and move on… confident that God will bless YOU greatly for even your smallest efforts to share His love – and the Gospel – with another.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 25 ~ 1 Corinthians 2:3-5
I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.
(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.)
Sometimes people ask me questions for which I have no clear answer… questions about faith and why God allows certain things. I have been asked, “How will I know when I hear from God?” and even “What should I do about this?” Talk about a challenge! I feel so inadequate to answer these questions – and indeed, on my own, I AM totally inadequate. So my first move is to stop and ask God to give me the words… the wisdom and the courage to steer each person in the right direction. And sometimes, He tells me to say, “I don’t know.”
But more often, God clearly shows me what to say and how to proceed. I know it comes from Him, because I often take a step back and ask myself, “Where did that come from?” – and then I realize that I KNOW the answer to that question! There is no way that I could come up with all of the messages for these devotionals… the encouragement for friends… the guidance for those who ask questions... without God giving me the words and wisdom. I know my own limitations and inadequacies… and they are HUGE! I am not an authority on the Bible or any matters of faith… but I do know Jesus… and HE has ALL of the answers! And what He does for me, He will surely do for you.
When someone asks you a question or challenges your faith, don’t try to tackle the answer on your own. You will bomb bigger than Dallas and fall flat on your face. Stop – for a few minutes, hours, or even days – take a deep breath, and ask God to equip you to handle the situation. When you are confident that you are moving under HIS leadership, forge ahead. You will be amazed at what you are able to say and do… and you’ll know that GOD did it… He just used you as the vehicle!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 24 ~ 1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
A friend told me recently about visiting with a pastor in another community. The man was impeccably dressed, drove a nice car, and appeared to be fairly wealthy. He made the comment, “I plan to claim this community!” He did not add… “for Jesus.” He stopped at the declaration that HE would claim the community. It left those to whom he was speaking wondering… what was he claiming the community FOR – his own political gain, personal wealth? Hopefully, he felt those listening understood he meant he would claim the city for Jesus – and hopefully that IS what he meant! But so often, we inadvertently say what we really mean even when we mean to say something else!God doesn’t mind if we have nice things… if we work hard and earn them. But He wants us to give back to HIM first – and to give HIM the credit for all we have - before treating ourselves to luxuries. God doesn’t care what kind of car we drive, what we wear or where we live. He doesn’t care about pedigree… or even your past! God cares about your heart – and Who gets the credit in your life – for everything!
Tooting your own horn will get you nowhere with God. Remember, without Him, we can do nothing! With God, ALL things are possible! Now tell me, Who really deserves the glory?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 23 ~ Romans 15:1-2
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, "How can I 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.)
Sometimes I see a post on Facebook or hear a comment from someone that tells me that this person is hurting… something has happened to cause them to feel helpless – or hopeless. They wonder what is coming next, why this is happening, and how they will survive it all. As a Christian, I have three choices… 1) I can jump in with them and commiserate all the way and wonder and worry with them, or 2) I can ignore their comments and pretend it is of no concern to me, or 3) I can ask God to give me helpful thoughts and deeds to share with this person.
In so many situations, well-meaning, loving, kind-hearted Christian people totally freeze and do not know how to react to others. And often, this “inaction” is perceived by those who need us as apathy. We inadvertently make them feel as if: 1) we don’t care about them, and 2) neither does anybody else, especially God.
Strength is indeed given to us for service to others – not for status so that others can see how wonderful and strong we are. So the next time you see a friend who is in need… or even a friend to whom something GOOD has happened, let them know that you noticed… and that you care. If there is a need, ask how you can help? At the very least, tell them, “I care about you and I’m praying for you.” And mean it – do it! If you can do more, go for it. After all, tomorrow, YOU may be the one in need.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 22 ~ Romans 14:1-4
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don't see things the way you do. And don't jump all over them every time they do or say something you don't agree with - even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently.
For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume he should only be a vegetarian and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ's table, wouldn't it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn't eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God's welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your 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.)
When I was in elementary school, we had fish sticks at school nearly every Friday. Why was this? It stemmed from a religious custom. For centuries, it has been a universal Christian custom (not all Christians practice this custom) to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays… and in religious circles, “fasting” means no meat in the diet. In Jesus’ day, meat was a luxury (and by meat, I mean something other than fish, which was easy to catch and readily available). “Meat” became a rich man’s food, while fish was a poor man’s food… and fasting came to mean omitting meat and substituting fish! To this day, many restaurants and cafeterias still serve some type of fish on Fridays.
Does fasting make us more holy? Not necessarily. Fasting may take the focus off of filling our stomachs and put it on filling our hearts with the Holy Spirit. But I seriously doubt that many of us give much thought to eating fish on Friday and consider it a “holy” act of fasting! Does that mean it is wrong for those who take this custom seriously? It absolutely does not – nor is it wrong for Christians to fast and pray at any time. If this ritual brings a person closer to God and makes him/her more in tune with the Holy Spirit, we have no business questioning or criticizing. The same goes for criticizing women who feel they must wear long dresses, or certain congregations who dance and sing with hands raised in praise to God. These customs may seem strange to us, but they do not give us license to question a brother or sister’s faith.
I am working hard on this sin of judging others. I am not a judgmental person, but I have to admit, human nature kicks in more often than I would like, and I realize that I have indeed judged someone for their beliefs or actions. One of the ways I am trying to handle this is to remind myself that this person is just as much a child of God as I am. And if I believe he/she is a Christian, this person is also my brother or sister in Christ… heir to everything that I am… and just as precious to God as I will ever be. For me to be critical or judgmental is to deny who I am - or who I want to be - in Christ Jesus. I know I am a work in progress, but by God’s grace, I can treat my brothers and sisters better along the way - and leave the judging to Him.
©2009 Debbie Robus
April 2009 Devotionals - Week 3
April 21 ~ Romans 8:26-28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
For me, this is one of the most comforting passages in the Bible. Often I crawl into bed at night and realize that I really did a poor job of praying during the day. I honestly didn’t stop and specifically tell God my burdens, my worries, my concerns. I didn’t take time to sit still and praise Him… and LISTEN for His voice.
The GOOD NEWS is that God heard me anyway! He knew when I read that prayer request on e-mail and heaved a sigh of concern over someone’s illness or need that I was asking for His help. He knew when I got a decent parking space at the store and muttered, “Thank you, Jesus,” that I was praising Him. He knew when I said to someone, “Isn’t this a beautiful day?” that I was grateful to Him for providing it. When I stopped and took a deep breath before answering a question from someone who was needing advice or direction, God knew that I was waiting for Him to give me the words.
I’m not saying we don’t need to find time to sit and talk to God. I’m certainly not saying that my prayer life – and that of many of us – couldn’t use an overhaul. But I am saying that God knows us… He KNOWS us! And He hears us and watches over EVERY detail of our lives, even when WE don’t know what we need for ourselves. That is amazing news. I am so comforted to know that God has my back… aren’t you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 20 ~ Romans 6:19
I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Imagine a world with no structure. Imagine if we all just went to work or school when we pleased… stayed as long as we liked… came and went at will. Would anything ever get done? I have talked to several people who have retired or quit working to stay home, and almost all say, “I don’t get anything done… how did I ever work?” It seems that the structure of having a routine – somewhere we have to be at an appointed hour or for a certain schedule – helps us to plan our days and organize our time. Left to our own devices, some of us (and I am talking from experience here!) spend a lot of time just “piddling” at things! We look up at the clock and wonder where the day went, and sometimes we don’t have much to show for it!
That’s how it is for us in our spiritual lives. Surrendering to God may seem like we have signed on for a life of rules and regulations – and constrictive structure! But the truth is that the “structure” of living within God’s will gives us tremendous freedom… and a purpose! Without God, we wander around aimlessly from one sin to another, and NOTHING satisfies. We “think” we are free – doing as we please – but truly we aren’t. There is nothing free about this aimless living.
Our human nature makes us weak and unable to function without structure. God says, “I can fix this. I can give you structure and purpose AND freedom in the bargain… freedom from sin and a future filled with darkness and destruction – and hell.” Remember, Jesus has promised that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Don’t you want that? Don’t you want the freedom of a “spiritual schedule” and the healing and wholeness that comes with it? All you have to do is ask, and this freedom can be yours. What are you waiting for?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 19 ~ Acts 20:33-35
"I've never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.'"
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
It just sends me “over the edge” to watch one of the many programs now on our dozens of TV channels and see people who are so greedy. I watched a woman on The Real Housewives of New York City purchase a $16,000 purse! I am not making this up – it was a birthday present from her husband – to go with her new Mercedes SUV. I am not stupid – I know there are actually purses that cost even more than $16,000. But really people, does anyone need to spend this kind of money on a purse? The very next day, I saw a friend of mine in Wal-Mart, and she was buying tissues for her son’s class at school after she discovered that his teacher had been buying them with her own money for several weeks. Let’s see – a new purse vs. enough tissues and/or classroom supplies to outfit several elementary schools for a whole year – which would make more sense and do more good?
I think of all of the extravagance and “stuff” we all have, while others are starving, homeless and helpless, and I wonder, “Have we gone mad?” Some argue that “God wants His children to be happy and blessed.” And He absolutely does! But no part of that necessarily includes exorbitant wealth, much less extraordinary waste and greed! I’m not saying we all need to sell everything we have and live in a tent, wearing only the clothes on our backs. But I am saying that we need to think long and hard about what we have and how we spend our money and our time. If we see someone in need, and instead of helping him/her, we help ourselves to more, we’ve missed the message of Jesus altogether. If we can’t spare any time and energy for those who need our help because we want it all for our own interests, we have not been paying attention to God’s word!
Some of the wealthiest men and women in the world have been some of the most generous and humble. They learned early – and well – the lesson that “it is better to give than to receive.” What about us? Do we work on behalf of the weak, or do we exploit them? Have we learned the lessons of our Master?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 18 ~ Mark 14:27-28
Jesus told them, "You're all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it's my fault. There's a Scripture that says,
I will strike the shepherd;
The sheep will go helter-skelter.
"But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee."
(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.)
Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one – a parent, a grandparent, a sibling… a good friend. It is human nature to feel “lost” afterward – to wonder how we will continue to live without this person. It is even natural to be angry with this person for dying – for leaving us. “If only you hadn’t left me, such-and-such would not have happened as it did.”
I had never really considered that the disciples might be angry with Jesus for dying on the cross. I had never thought about how their worlds surely DID fall apart afterward. After all, many of these men gave up everything – family, friends, their jobs and homes – to follow Jesus. What were they supposed to do now that He was gone? They may have also resented Him for not stopping all of this, which we all know He surely could have done.
But Jesus is telling them in this passage that He will lead the way for them. He will NOT desert them, even in death. While their frustrations, resentments and heartaches are all perfectly normal human reactions, He is encouraging them to keep the faith… to hold on and move ahead… to keep doing what He has taught them.
I believe there is a message for US in this passage. When we lose a loved one, we are allowed to grieve. We are allowed to be sad, frustrated, and yes – even momentarily lost and confused. But Jesus is leading us as surely as He led the disciples. He is going ahead of us and showing us the way just as much today as He did after His resurrection. We do not have to be afraid, confused, or devastated, because Jesus is always with us. He will not let us fall into a pit and wallow… He will give us direction. This is good news! This gives us hope and promise – and joy! “I will go ahead of you, leading the way…” He will… He does! Hallelujah!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 17 ~ Matthew 26:40-41
When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
We all know that feeling… when we are so sleepy that we absolutely cannot keep our eyes open. I sometimes sit down to watch a very interesting program on television – or worse yet, a good movie I’ve been anxious to see – only to wake up later and realize I either nodded off and missed it completely, or I have to back up the show and start over. It isn’t that I don’t want to watch the program/movie… but my eyelids droop and get heavy, and soon I am snoozing away. Thank goodness for DVR!
This may be excusable for movies or television… or long car rides and other things that lull us to sleep, but “falling asleep on the job” with Jesus is NOT acceptable or excusable. Let’s be honest… we’re all a bit on the lazy side when it comes to serving Jesus and staying “awake and alert,” aren’t we? Oh, sure… some of us are worse than others (and I lump myself in that category), but how often do we start out to study our Bible or spend some time in prayer, only to move on to something else rather quickly or let our mind wander to thoughts of other things? How often do we set in to be a Christian friend to someone, then after a few weeks or months at best, we drift away and move on to someone or something else? How often do we look back and see how far we have drifted away from God… and how much temptation and sin has crept into our lives and wonder when and how THAT happened?
Isn’t it time to truly wake up? Isn’t it time we quit being lazy, sleepy Christians and asked God for the strength and stamina to stand with Him consistently and serve Him above all else? Being a Christian is not about relaxing or dropping our guard. Being a Christian is about staying awake and alert and ready to do whatever God asks – whenever He needs us. Can’t we stick it out with Him for a single hour or more? Are you up for this?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 16 ~ Joel 3:9-11
Announce this to the godless nations:
Prepare for battle!
Soldiers at attention!
Present arms! Advance!
Turn your shovels into swords,
turn your hoes into spears.
Let the weak one throw out his chest
and say, "I'm tough, I'm a fighter."
Hurry up, pagans! Wherever you are, get a move on!
Get your act together.
Prepare to be
shattered by 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.)
How strong are you, spiritually? Are you strong enough to fight for God? Are you a fit soldier for His army? Because you see, we really are in a spiritual war. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Satan’s army is large, well-armed, and powerful. Open the newspaper, turn on the television… his tactics take “special-ops” to a whole new level!
But you know something? GOD’s army is stronger! Why? Because our Leader is stronger! Satan can NEVER defeat God. He can have more people, more weapons, more slick tricks… but GOD will still win in the end!
Knowing this… whose army do you want to serve? Who will be your General? The prophet Joel has told us… God will shatter the pagans! Why on earth would you want to be on the losing side? It doesn’t matter if you feel weak… God can strengthen you. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know much scripture, God can help you learn more. It doesn’t matter if you feel inadequate to witness… let GOD give you the words. No person who is truly willing to serve in God’s army will be ill-equipped. The US Army may ask you to “Be all that you can be,” but in God’s army, you can “Be MORE than you could ever be on your own!” Is there any question Who should be your Leader?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 15 ~ Ezekiel 34:20-22
"'Therefore, God, the Master, says: I myself am stepping in and making things right between the plump sheep and the skinny sheep. Because you forced your way with shoulder and rump and butted at all the weaker animals with your horns till you scattered them all over the hills, I'll come in and save my dear flock, no longer let them be pushed around. I'll step in and set things right between one sheep and another.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever felt like you were pushed around? I’m not necessarily talking about being bullied, although that would qualify. I’m talking about when you felt like the whole world seemed against you – or at least not in your corner. For many, today is one of those days. Many Americans resent having to pay income taxes… and they feel like “the government” is “doing them wrong.” For whatever reason, many resent having to give back a portion of their income to keep this country functioning – and I’m sure you have your own opinion about this!
The point I want to make is that there are a lot of things we don’t like in life. And there are a lot of things that others don’t like in life… because of US! Sometimes WE are the” shoulder and rump” butting others who are weaker in some way. And God sees this. God sees when WE are being butted, and He sees when we butt others. And HE can set things right… if we let Him.
I’m not saying that God will fix it so you don’t have to pay income tax… but He can adjust your attitude and your insult about having to do so. And God can heal our country – if we will ask Him to do it, and listen as He guides us through the process. Evangelist Joel Osteen likes to say we can be victors or victims. I pray that you would ask God to help you become the former – and to set things right between you and others with whom you may have “butted heads or shoulders.”
©2009 Debbie Robus
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
For me, this is one of the most comforting passages in the Bible. Often I crawl into bed at night and realize that I really did a poor job of praying during the day. I honestly didn’t stop and specifically tell God my burdens, my worries, my concerns. I didn’t take time to sit still and praise Him… and LISTEN for His voice.
The GOOD NEWS is that God heard me anyway! He knew when I read that prayer request on e-mail and heaved a sigh of concern over someone’s illness or need that I was asking for His help. He knew when I got a decent parking space at the store and muttered, “Thank you, Jesus,” that I was praising Him. He knew when I said to someone, “Isn’t this a beautiful day?” that I was grateful to Him for providing it. When I stopped and took a deep breath before answering a question from someone who was needing advice or direction, God knew that I was waiting for Him to give me the words.
I’m not saying we don’t need to find time to sit and talk to God. I’m certainly not saying that my prayer life – and that of many of us – couldn’t use an overhaul. But I am saying that God knows us… He KNOWS us! And He hears us and watches over EVERY detail of our lives, even when WE don’t know what we need for ourselves. That is amazing news. I am so comforted to know that God has my back… aren’t you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 20 ~ Romans 6:19
I'm using this freedom language because it's easy to picture. You can readily recall, can't you, how at one time the more you did just what you felt like doing—not caring about others, not caring about God—the worse your life became and the less freedom you had? And how much different is it now as you live in God's freedom, your lives healed and expansive in holiness?
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Imagine a world with no structure. Imagine if we all just went to work or school when we pleased… stayed as long as we liked… came and went at will. Would anything ever get done? I have talked to several people who have retired or quit working to stay home, and almost all say, “I don’t get anything done… how did I ever work?” It seems that the structure of having a routine – somewhere we have to be at an appointed hour or for a certain schedule – helps us to plan our days and organize our time. Left to our own devices, some of us (and I am talking from experience here!) spend a lot of time just “piddling” at things! We look up at the clock and wonder where the day went, and sometimes we don’t have much to show for it!
That’s how it is for us in our spiritual lives. Surrendering to God may seem like we have signed on for a life of rules and regulations – and constrictive structure! But the truth is that the “structure” of living within God’s will gives us tremendous freedom… and a purpose! Without God, we wander around aimlessly from one sin to another, and NOTHING satisfies. We “think” we are free – doing as we please – but truly we aren’t. There is nothing free about this aimless living.
Our human nature makes us weak and unable to function without structure. God says, “I can fix this. I can give you structure and purpose AND freedom in the bargain… freedom from sin and a future filled with darkness and destruction – and hell.” Remember, Jesus has promised that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Don’t you want that? Don’t you want the freedom of a “spiritual schedule” and the healing and wholeness that comes with it? All you have to do is ask, and this freedom can be yours. What are you waiting for?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 19 ~ Acts 20:33-35
"I've never, as you so well know, had any taste for wealth or fashion. With these bare hands I took care of my own basic needs and those who worked with me. In everything I've done, I have demonstrated to you how necessary it is to work on behalf of the weak and not exploit them. You'll not likely go wrong here if you keep remembering that our Master said, 'You're far happier giving than getting.'"
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
It just sends me “over the edge” to watch one of the many programs now on our dozens of TV channels and see people who are so greedy. I watched a woman on The Real Housewives of New York City purchase a $16,000 purse! I am not making this up – it was a birthday present from her husband – to go with her new Mercedes SUV. I am not stupid – I know there are actually purses that cost even more than $16,000. But really people, does anyone need to spend this kind of money on a purse? The very next day, I saw a friend of mine in Wal-Mart, and she was buying tissues for her son’s class at school after she discovered that his teacher had been buying them with her own money for several weeks. Let’s see – a new purse vs. enough tissues and/or classroom supplies to outfit several elementary schools for a whole year – which would make more sense and do more good?
I think of all of the extravagance and “stuff” we all have, while others are starving, homeless and helpless, and I wonder, “Have we gone mad?” Some argue that “God wants His children to be happy and blessed.” And He absolutely does! But no part of that necessarily includes exorbitant wealth, much less extraordinary waste and greed! I’m not saying we all need to sell everything we have and live in a tent, wearing only the clothes on our backs. But I am saying that we need to think long and hard about what we have and how we spend our money and our time. If we see someone in need, and instead of helping him/her, we help ourselves to more, we’ve missed the message of Jesus altogether. If we can’t spare any time and energy for those who need our help because we want it all for our own interests, we have not been paying attention to God’s word!
Some of the wealthiest men and women in the world have been some of the most generous and humble. They learned early – and well – the lesson that “it is better to give than to receive.” What about us? Do we work on behalf of the weak, or do we exploit them? Have we learned the lessons of our Master?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 18 ~ Mark 14:27-28
Jesus told them, "You're all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it's my fault. There's a Scripture that says,
I will strike the shepherd;
The sheep will go helter-skelter.
"But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee."
(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.)
Many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one – a parent, a grandparent, a sibling… a good friend. It is human nature to feel “lost” afterward – to wonder how we will continue to live without this person. It is even natural to be angry with this person for dying – for leaving us. “If only you hadn’t left me, such-and-such would not have happened as it did.”
I had never really considered that the disciples might be angry with Jesus for dying on the cross. I had never thought about how their worlds surely DID fall apart afterward. After all, many of these men gave up everything – family, friends, their jobs and homes – to follow Jesus. What were they supposed to do now that He was gone? They may have also resented Him for not stopping all of this, which we all know He surely could have done.
But Jesus is telling them in this passage that He will lead the way for them. He will NOT desert them, even in death. While their frustrations, resentments and heartaches are all perfectly normal human reactions, He is encouraging them to keep the faith… to hold on and move ahead… to keep doing what He has taught them.
I believe there is a message for US in this passage. When we lose a loved one, we are allowed to grieve. We are allowed to be sad, frustrated, and yes – even momentarily lost and confused. But Jesus is leading us as surely as He led the disciples. He is going ahead of us and showing us the way just as much today as He did after His resurrection. We do not have to be afraid, confused, or devastated, because Jesus is always with us. He will not let us fall into a pit and wallow… He will give us direction. This is good news! This gives us hope and promise – and joy! “I will go ahead of you, leading the way…” He will… He does! Hallelujah!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 17 ~ Matthew 26:40-41
When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, "Can't you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don't wander into temptation without even knowing you're in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there's another part that's as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
We all know that feeling… when we are so sleepy that we absolutely cannot keep our eyes open. I sometimes sit down to watch a very interesting program on television – or worse yet, a good movie I’ve been anxious to see – only to wake up later and realize I either nodded off and missed it completely, or I have to back up the show and start over. It isn’t that I don’t want to watch the program/movie… but my eyelids droop and get heavy, and soon I am snoozing away. Thank goodness for DVR!
This may be excusable for movies or television… or long car rides and other things that lull us to sleep, but “falling asleep on the job” with Jesus is NOT acceptable or excusable. Let’s be honest… we’re all a bit on the lazy side when it comes to serving Jesus and staying “awake and alert,” aren’t we? Oh, sure… some of us are worse than others (and I lump myself in that category), but how often do we start out to study our Bible or spend some time in prayer, only to move on to something else rather quickly or let our mind wander to thoughts of other things? How often do we set in to be a Christian friend to someone, then after a few weeks or months at best, we drift away and move on to someone or something else? How often do we look back and see how far we have drifted away from God… and how much temptation and sin has crept into our lives and wonder when and how THAT happened?
Isn’t it time to truly wake up? Isn’t it time we quit being lazy, sleepy Christians and asked God for the strength and stamina to stand with Him consistently and serve Him above all else? Being a Christian is not about relaxing or dropping our guard. Being a Christian is about staying awake and alert and ready to do whatever God asks – whenever He needs us. Can’t we stick it out with Him for a single hour or more? Are you up for this?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 16 ~ Joel 3:9-11
Announce this to the godless nations:
Prepare for battle!
Soldiers at attention!
Present arms! Advance!
Turn your shovels into swords,
turn your hoes into spears.
Let the weak one throw out his chest
and say, "I'm tough, I'm a fighter."
Hurry up, pagans! Wherever you are, get a move on!
Get your act together.
Prepare to be
shattered by 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.)
How strong are you, spiritually? Are you strong enough to fight for God? Are you a fit soldier for His army? Because you see, we really are in a spiritual war. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Satan’s army is large, well-armed, and powerful. Open the newspaper, turn on the television… his tactics take “special-ops” to a whole new level!
But you know something? GOD’s army is stronger! Why? Because our Leader is stronger! Satan can NEVER defeat God. He can have more people, more weapons, more slick tricks… but GOD will still win in the end!
Knowing this… whose army do you want to serve? Who will be your General? The prophet Joel has told us… God will shatter the pagans! Why on earth would you want to be on the losing side? It doesn’t matter if you feel weak… God can strengthen you. It doesn’t matter if you don’t know much scripture, God can help you learn more. It doesn’t matter if you feel inadequate to witness… let GOD give you the words. No person who is truly willing to serve in God’s army will be ill-equipped. The US Army may ask you to “Be all that you can be,” but in God’s army, you can “Be MORE than you could ever be on your own!” Is there any question Who should be your Leader?
©2009 Debbie Robus
---------------------------------------------------------
April 15 ~ Ezekiel 34:20-22
"'Therefore, God, the Master, says: I myself am stepping in and making things right between the plump sheep and the skinny sheep. Because you forced your way with shoulder and rump and butted at all the weaker animals with your horns till you scattered them all over the hills, I'll come in and save my dear flock, no longer let them be pushed around. I'll step in and set things right between one sheep and another.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Have you ever felt like you were pushed around? I’m not necessarily talking about being bullied, although that would qualify. I’m talking about when you felt like the whole world seemed against you – or at least not in your corner. For many, today is one of those days. Many Americans resent having to pay income taxes… and they feel like “the government” is “doing them wrong.” For whatever reason, many resent having to give back a portion of their income to keep this country functioning – and I’m sure you have your own opinion about this!
The point I want to make is that there are a lot of things we don’t like in life. And there are a lot of things that others don’t like in life… because of US! Sometimes WE are the” shoulder and rump” butting others who are weaker in some way. And God sees this. God sees when WE are being butted, and He sees when we butt others. And HE can set things right… if we let Him.
I’m not saying that God will fix it so you don’t have to pay income tax… but He can adjust your attitude and your insult about having to do so. And God can heal our country – if we will ask Him to do it, and listen as He guides us through the process. Evangelist Joel Osteen likes to say we can be victors or victims. I pray that you would ask God to help you become the former – and to set things right between you and others with whom you may have “butted heads or shoulders.”
©2009 Debbie Robus
April 2009 Devotionals - Week 2
April 14 ~ Ezekiel 34:11-16
"'God, the Master, says: From now on, I myself am the shepherd. I'm going looking for them. As shepherds go after their flocks when they get scattered, I'm going after my sheep. I'll rescue them from all the places they've been scattered to in the storms. I'll bring them back from foreign peoples, gather them from foreign countries, and bring them back to their home country. I'll feed them on the mountains of Israel, along the streams, among their own people. I'll lead them into lush pasture so they can roam the mountain pastures of Israel, graze at leisure, feed in the rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. And I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I myself will make sure they get plenty of rest. I'll go after the lost, I'll collect the strays, I'll doctor the injured, I'll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they're not exploited.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Do you remember that children’s story, The Little Red Hen? The Little Red Hen asks EVERYONE she knows to help her plant her wheat, harvest it, take it to the mill, and bake bread afterward. But nobody helps her. Everyone has their own excuses, and most of them just answer, “I can’t.” or “I won’t!” Some even say “Not me!” as if it is someone else’s problem. So The Little Red Hen does it all herself.
BUT… when the bread is ready to eat… all of those naysayers are back – and HUNGRY! Those who were not willing to help with any of the preparations or the work are more than willing to eat the rewards! And isn’t this us? Aren’t we so willing to let God do all the work, expecting every step of the way to feast at His table in Heaven just like we worked as hard as He did? Don’t we often assume that just because we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have a “free ticket to paradise?”
The truth is that inviting Jesus to live in our hearts is the BEGINNING… but there is so much more to it. Yes, He will welcome us into Heaven, but He will also review how we served Him on earth… and many of us may come up very short! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that kind of Christian life. I don’t want to be like the characters in The Little Red Hen, letting God do all of the work and then expecting to feast like royalty. I have been given a gift of extraordinary value… I am a child of God! And so are YOU, hopefully. This gift came an amazingly high price, as we have just been reminded in the Easter season. So what I do in service, out of respect for my lineage, can never be enough… but it’s a start. “I can’t, I won’t, and not me” are not in my vocabulary when it comes to serving God. What about yours?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 13 ~ Ezekiel 34:1-6
God's Message came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherd-leaders of Israel. Yes, prophesy! Tell those shepherds, 'God, the Master, says: Doom to you shepherds of Israel, feeding your own mouths! Aren't shepherds supposed to feed sheep? You drink the milk, you make clothes from the wool, you roast the lambs, but you don't feed the sheep. You don't build up the weak ones, don't heal the sick, don't doctor the injured, don't go after the strays, don't look for the lost. You bully and badger them. And now they're scattered every which way because there was no shepherd - scattered and easy pickings for wolves and coyotes. Scattered - my sheep! - exposed and vulnerable across mountains and hills. My sheep scattered all over the world, and no one out looking for 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.)
Does this describe us? I really wish not, but I’m afraid more times than we will admit, we are just like these shepherds. We stand ready to see “what’s in it for me?” but we never see the cost. It is so important that we look good, feel well, and have everything we want, but we forget about the guy down the street who just lost his job and can’t even feed his family.
We are so afraid we won’t do well on a test or run our fastest in a race, while forgetting that we are fortunate to be able to see and hear and think… and run! In the movie Seven Pounds Will Smith’s character berates a customer service representative for being slow… only to discover the man is blind… and he continues to berate him. He says this is a test of the man’s demeanor under pressure. In truth, this character is bullying and badgering someone whom he feels is week. Isn’t that us often? And how is our demeanor, pressure or not? Do we look out for the weak among us? Or are we so busy being concerned with our own welfare and interests that we don’t see anyone else?
I pray that this week, we would look for the sick to heal, the hungry to feed, the injured to “doctor,” the lost to redeem. I pray that this week, the focus would be on our weakness as witnesses… and the weaknesses of others who are truly in need. God IS looking out for the weak, but He is calling us to do the same.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 12 ~ Isaiah 40:27-31
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Today is Easter Sunday… a day to celebrate that Christ is Risen! The grave could not hold Him! We serve a God so huge that death could not consume Him… a rock cave could not contain Him! How can we ever think He doesn’t care about us, when EVERYTHING about Christ’s life was for US? How can we ever complain or whine, when God NEVER stops working on our behalf?!
How can we ever get too tired to work for God, when He is always working for us? This is a great day to celebrate.
- Celebrate all that God has done in your life.
- Celebrate that He sent His Son to save us, and nothing mortal man or the devil did could stop this!
- Celebrate all that God is going to do in your life from this day forward! Be energized and excited!
Keep up… run and don’t grow weary… walk and don’t faint! Take a deep breath and hitch up your britches! God lasts… and He wants you to last with Him! Did you hear me? The GRAVE could not contain Him… and His fresh strength is ours!
Christ is Risen! Run and don’t get tired, walk and don’t fall behind. To gain the privilege of serving the “Creator of all you can see or imagine,” waiting upon God is so worth it!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 11 ~ Psalm 72:9-14
Foes will fall on their knees before God,
his enemies lick the dust.
Kings remote and legendary will pay homage,
kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.
All kings will fall down and worship,
and godless nations sign up to serve him,
Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
the destitute who have run out of luck.
He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
he restores the wretched of the earth.
He frees them from tyranny and torture—
when they bleed, he bleeds;
when they die, he dies.
(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.)
Today is a good time for us to stop and think about how deeply God loves us. Yesterday was Good Friday… a day when we focused on the Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus. Today, as we ponder all that Christ did for us – as we think back over the events that led to this point… the supper with the disciples, Judas’ betrayal, the prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, the brutal beating and horrific abuse, and then the cross itself… let’s think also of God. Let’s remember that when Jesus cried and sweat drops of blood, God felt it. When Jesus was beaten and disfigured, God felt that. When the spikes were driven through His hands and feet, God felt every bit of that, too. When Jesus died, God’s heart was broken, and He suffered the loss.
Understand this… there is nothing… absolutely NOTHING that you can feel that God doesn’t feel, too. When you are ecstatic and filled with joy, so is He. But when you are hurting, so is God. When you are lonely, hungry, anxious, heartbroken, discouraged, sick, tortured, frustrated, or afraid, God understands everything you feel. And He stands ready to help us through whatever we are enduring… if we will only let Him. When troubles come, we tend to say, “God, this is how I am feeling.” What we don’t always hear is God answering… “I KNOW!”
Today is the perfect day to understand, finally, that God DOES know what we are going through – because He is there with us. The same God who endured the suffering and death of His Only Son on the cross is the God who walks with us each minute of every day. We just often fail to recognize His presence. Isn’t it time we changed this? Isn’t today the perfect time to start?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 10 ~ Psalm 41:1-3
Dignify those who are down on their luck; you'll feel good—that's what God does.
God looks after us all, makes us robust with life—
Lucky to be in the land, we're free from enemy worries.
Whenever we're sick and in bed, God becomes our nurse,
nurses us back to health.
(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.)
If you were lucky enough to escape one of the nasty “bugs” that went around this winter, you are a rare bird! It seemed like this was a really bad winter for illnesses that put us in bed for several days, if not weeks. And I would bet that most of you had someone who came to your rescue and served as your “nurse”. You were probably too weak to do much except lie in bed and rest, but someone picked up the slack and took care of you until you felt better.
I believe that God literally nurses us back to health when we are sick. And this is a great thing. He heals us when we are sick, especially if we call on Him to do so. But even more importantly, when we are Spiritually sick… when we are filled with the “virus” of Satan and sin, God heals us. He nurtures us and nurses us back to health in Him. How does He do this?
- God surrounds us with Christian friends and family to share His love and His word.
- God feeds us from His word… the “Bread of Life” to nourish our souls
- God fights the devil for us, just as surely as antibiotics fight an infection
- God strengthens us through our relationship with Him – prayer, worship, Bible study and fellowship
- God blesses us in ways great and small – He encourages and gives us hope and promise of brighter days ahead – and an Eternity with Him
There is more, but you get the idea. God can help us heal when we are physically sick, but He is truly the GREAT HEALER when it comes to matters of Spiritual weakness and health. If you are still feeling unwell, I pray that God will heal your body soon. If you are Spiritually unhealthy, I pray even more that God will touch you and restore you in the days to come.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 9 ~ Psalm 12:5
Into the hovels of the poor,
Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:
"I've had enough; I'm on my way
To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."
(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.)
Recently I’ve watched several special programs on television about people who are losing their jobs and their homes. Many are ending up on the streets – some in tent cities… others in shelters. You and I cannot begin to imagine how their hearts must ache – and maybe their bellies. Many of them seem to have ended up this way through little or no fault of their own. Many are simply victims of circumstance… and one thing just led to another until there was no money to pay bills or buy groceries, and all was lost.
It is heartbreaking to watch these programs… but my heartbreak is nothing compared to how the people who are living it must feel. I believe God has had enough of this. He is working to correct these situations, even by allowing programs to be produced to make the public aware of them. It is not God’s will that we be hungry, homeless and hurting. This grieves Him.
For every person who is physically hungry, homeless and hurting, dozens more are Spiritually poor. They lack the Bread of Life, assurance of a home for eternity in Heaven, and the peace that passes all understanding – the comfort of the Holy Spirit and a relationship with God. THIS truly grieves God. While the awareness of the public is being raised about the plight of the hungry and homeless during the economic crisis, we must wake up to the crisis of a Spiritual magnitude. It is up to US, as believers, to reach out to those who need to feed on God’s word. It is up to US to obey God and allow Him to work in and through us to reach others for His kingdom. It is up to US to love others with the love of Christ and to heal the brokenhearted in His name.
Amazingly, I believe that as we work to rescue the Spiritually poor, God will manifest Himself in ways we can’t even imagine to rescue those who are physically in need. If each one of us will do our part to minister in God’s name, we’ll be astounded at what can happen. God will equip us with what we need to accomplish these things. I’m ready to be a part of His miraculous works… are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 8 ~ Job 12:13-25
"True wisdom and real power belong to God;
from him we learn how to live,
and also what to live for.
If he tears something down, it's down for good;
if he locks people up, they're locked up for good.
If he holds back the rain, there's a drought;
if he lets it loose, there's a flood.
Strength and success belong to God;
both deceived and deceiver must answer to him.
He strips experts of their vaunted credentials,
exposes judges as witless fools.
He divests kings of their royal garments,
then ties a rag around their waists.
He strips priests of their robes,
and fires high officials from their jobs.
He forces trusted sages to keep silence,
deprives elders of their good sense and wisdom.
He dumps contempt on famous people,
disarms the strong and mighty.
He shines a spotlight into caves of darkness,
hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun.
He makes nations rise and then fall,
builds up some and abandons others.
He robs world leaders of their reason,
and sends them off into no-man's-land.
They grope in the dark without a clue,
lurching and staggering like drunks."
(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.)
As we approach Easter weekend, many of us ponder the events that transpired when Jesus was crucified. We have heard WHY God allowed these horrible things to happen to Jesus, and we think we “get it,” but we don’t really. We can’t possibly comprehend the depths of God’s love for us and this sacrifice. But can we accept His power to do this and more? Can we “get” that God has ALL power and truly controls everything?
Even our free will is given to us by God. HE could change that and make us like little puppets that do nothing but His bidding, but He chooses to allow US to choose Him – or not. So why does God allow us to falter and fail sometimes? Read the first lines again. God shows us how to live… and what to live for. We are weak in and of ourselves… but in HIM, we are strong. His strength can be ours… He can give us power to overcome the devil and darkness in our lives - and to shine brightly with His love.
While you focus on Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection this weekend – and you consider all that God has done for us, remember His power. Remember that while we are weak, our Heavenly Father is strong – and He is in our corner! How ARE we living… and what ARE we living for these days? God has the power to change things… all we have to do is let Him.
©2009 Debbie Robus
April 2009 Devotionals
April 7 ~ 2 Chronicles 20:10-12
”And now it's happened: men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn't let Israel touch them when we got here at first -- we detoured around them and didn't lay a hand on them. And now they've come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O dear God, won't you take care of them? We're helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don't know what to do; we're looking to you."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
In February 2008, a high school classmate of mine left her mobile home in Mtn. View, Arkansas, and ran for the seeming safety of her next-door neighbor’s brick house as a tornado approached. When the tornado drew near, the neighbors determined that they would all be safer lying in a ditch outside. Everyone ran for cover there, but at the last second, my classmate turned back toward the house. Just as she got to it, the tornado hit, and the house was ripped apart as if it had exploded. Why she chose to turn back is a mystery, but she paid with her life. Ironically, the mobile home she had left earlier remained fully intact next door.
I’m sure the neighbors felt incredibly helpless. I am sure they cried out to God to take care of them – and to their friend to come with them. Maybe she panicked and decided the ditch was unsafe – and maybe she cried out to God that she didn’t know what to do. Was she looking for answers as she turned and ran back inside? We will never know. And what about us? As the storms of life brew around us, are we running around frantically, crying out to God that we don’t know what to do? Do we start flailing around and trying to figure things out on our own?
Jehoshaphat and the Israelites knew what to do. They had listened to God and built His temple, then protected it. And now as all of this was threatened, they felt weak – but only for a moment. They cried out for help from God, and while they may have temporarily panicked, the rest of the story tells us that it wasn’t for long! The Holy Spirit spoke to the group through a man in the crowd and told them to believe in God and to give Him thanks – that they would come out on top. And that is exactly what happened. Verse 13 says that “Everyone in Judah was there—little children, wives, sons - all present and attentive to God.” The enemies were killed – ambushed by agents of God… and the Israelites were not only spared, but they were blessed with the collection of their enemies’ spoils. And they were shouting – “Give thanks to God. God’s love never quits!”
I am not saying that God didn’t protect my classmate. I honestly don’t know what happened in that whole situation – or what might have been happening in her life that was much worse than a ticket to heaven. But I do know that so often, we work ourselves into such a tizzy and try to handle things on our own, all the while crying out to God to help us, but not really hearing what He tells us. God shows us what to do… He gives us clear guidelines through His word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. But WE have to do our part – we have to sit still and LISTEN! We have to pay attention and TRUST Him – and we can never give up or lower our guard! We are so quick to prepare a “safe room” and an emergency kit for natural storms… but have we prepared adequately for the storms of life? Isn’t it time we did?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 6 ~ 2 Samuel 3:38-39
The king spoke to his servants: "You realize, don't you, that today a prince and hero fell victim of foul play in Israel? And I, though anointed king, was helpless to do anything about it. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. God, requite the criminal for his crime!"
(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 watched a situation unfold that you knew would have a bad outcome, and you were helpless to do anything to prevent it? Or maybe, as in the case of David, someone did something stupid or wrong even after you warned against it. Do you remember how you felt afterward? As much as you wanted to “mop up” and fix things, the damage had been done.
In David’s case, he told his soldier Joab to leave a man named Abner alone. Joab insisted to David that Abner was a spy… and besides, Abner had killed Joab’s brother. So, Joab and his men ambushed Abner and killed him. When David found out, he made Joab and his men - and everyone else - put on mourning clothes and throw a big funeral and cry and act all sad so that HE (David) would be seen weeping and wailing, and he would be publicly cleared of any wrongdoing. Then David cried out to God to fix things, because he realized he was not able to do this for himself.
Now you may be asking, “What does this have to do with us?” How many times do we get ourselves in a mess… either by saying or doing the wrong thing, or by association with the wrong people… and the first thing you know, we’ve dug ourselves a pretty good hole. Maybe we really had nothing to do with creating the mess… but there we are, trying to smooth ruffled feathers or cover someone’s debt or mistake and “make it all go away” or “prevent World War III!” And how many times do we throw up our hands and cry, “Lord, help me!”?
The crazy thing is that the Lord DOES help us! And honestly, He should be our first line of defense, not the last. He should be the One we turn to immediately, laying out our problem and trusting Him to help us solve it, instead of the other way around. When will we learn that without God, nothing turns out right? When will we really GET that WITH God, all things are possible? It’s time to admit that we are nothing without Him. If we really, truly GET this, then many of our messes will never materialize in the first place. And when they DO, God will be there to hand us the mop.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 5 ~ Judges 6:15
Gideon said to him, "Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan's the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the runt of the litter."
(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.)
She was the runt of the litter - our little kitten. She couldn’t run as fast as her siblings. So when her mother crossed Highway 7 in Russellville, just past the Pizza Inn, she trailed behind. Our friends saw her and stopped to rescue her from certain death on the busy highway. And that is how we became the “parents” of a little gray kitten we named Tigger.
Throughout the next fifteen years, Tigger was our baby. She sat with us as we studied for college courses. She birthed four babies of her own, and one of them became our second cat, Grady, who kept us company for nineteen years. Tigger may have been a runt, but she grew to become a precious member of our family. She did whatever we did much of the time… from watching TV and eating Nacho Cheese Doritos… to snuggling for a nap… to just sitting and keeping us company. She was more than a cat… she was a friend and companion.
Our little seven pound cat never saved a nation, but she may as well have for all of the joy and love she gave us. She was the weakest in her family… the runt of the litter, but she was everything to us. If a small feline can do so much for two humans, how much more can WE do for others? We may feel weak… we may be “the runt,” but just look what God can do with a runt! Surely He can use us!
The next time you feel weak or inadequate… the next time you feel you are not able to do something - especially something for God… remember Gideon, and remember our little cat Tigger. Do you see what God can do with runts? Do you see what He can do with you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 4 ~ Matthew 22:36-40
When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"
Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
In our laundry room, we have a wall with hooks on it for holding coats and hats. I looked at the wall recently, and throughout the winter, the collection of jackets, hats, and scarves has grown to the point that the hooks are laden. Surely there are far more outer garments there than we need… especially for spring and summer! I think it’s time for a little “spring cleaning!”
On our “spiritual coat rack,” we may possibly have too much hanging from the pegs. Jesus has shown us that we have two commands that support everything else. But we come along, and we load those commands with so much “stuff” – we love God, but we want Him to shoulder our distance and apathy. We love others, but we want God to “fix” them to suit our needs. These are just two examples of how we try to make our relationship with God something besides what He has designed.
I suggest we all have a “spiritual spring cleaning.” I suggest we examine our hearts and see where we have a few extra “coats” on the “pegs” that don’t belong there, and either put them in the proper perspective or get rid of them altogether. Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence, then Love others as well as you love yourself. Be careful how you load these “pegs” – don’t weigh them down with unnecessary baggage.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 3 ~ Hosea 12:6
What are you waiting for? Return to your God!
Commit yourself in love, in justice!
Wait for your God,
and don't give up on him - ever!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I don’t know about you, but I am not a quitter. In fact, I will sometimes pursue something long after I should have folded and moved on… a glitch in my computer I can’t seem to solve… that pesky stain that will not come out of my favorite t-shirt… correspondence and communication with a friend or family member who does not reciprocate. I just have a really hard time saying, “That’s it… I give up.”
Some might argue that I am just being stubborn… and maybe even stupid. And there is wisdom in knowing when to “cut your losses” and move on. Even Jesus told the disciples to “shake the dust from your feet” and move on from an area where the people will not welcome a disciple or listen to the Gospel. But I am SO glad to know that God doesn’t ever shake my “dust” from His feet. And I will never turn away from Him. It may seem at times as if God has left and wandered away from us, but I assure you, it is exactly the opposite. God sits in the wings sometimes and observes… and lets us learn a thing or two… but He never leaves!
So I may try to do a little “selective quitting” in the future. I may let the stain stay or cut my losses on the computer program – or even “shelve” the one-sided communication (notice I didn’t say I would abandon someone completely!), but I will never quit on God! And thankfully, He never quits on ME! This is the best news of the day!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 2 ~ Jeremiah 32:37-40
"'Watch for this! I will collect them from all the countries to which I will have driven them in my anger and rage and indignation. Yes, I'll bring them all back to this place and let them live here in peace. They will be my people, I will be their God. I'll make them of one mind and heart, always honoring me, so that they can live good and whole lives, they and their children after them. What's more, I'll make a covenant with them that will last forever, a covenant to stick with them no matter what, and work for their good. I'll fill their hearts with a deep respect for me so they'll not even think of turning away from me.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
You can go home again… that is the message God gave me today through this passage. For some of you, this means that whatever has happened to separate you from your parents, your siblings, or your closest friends, God can restore. For others, it means that whatever happened in your relationship with your child, all is not lost. God can bring reconciliation and build a new, stronger connection between you. You may have bitterness over a situation that even transcends to include a particular building or city - even the thought of this place causes you to shudder. God can change that, too.
Worse than any earthly separation, you may have had a “disconnect” with God. His word for you today is that this can change. God is waiting to welcome you home. He is promising to stick with you forever and help you work for good and peace in your life.
God can collect children from the ends of the earth and return them to their home – and restore relationships in the bargain. God can give peace where none existed – and where we believed harmony could NEVER happen. God can bless us in ways we never even imagined, if we will open our hearts to Him. God’s presence in our life can make such a difference that we will never EVER consider turning away again. I don’t know about you, but I so want that! In most ways, I feel I am there… but we can always dig in deeper with God, can’t we? With all that He has promised, why are we dragging our feet? We have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain. So c’mon… what are we waiting for? It’s time to go home!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 1 ~ Proverbs 4:18-19
The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can't see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
(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 stayed in a strange place and felt disoriented in the dark? Maybe you got up in the night to go to the bathroom or something, and not wanting to wake up the others, you didn’t turn on a light. Remember how you had your hands out in front of you, fearing that at any minute you might bump into something? Or maybe you actually did trip over something or stub your toe and stumble a little? It’s not a good feeling at all, is it? Even worse, think of a dark hallway or path in the woods, and you are walking along and going farther and deeper, and it gets darker and darker. That can be a scary feeling… and it can be dangerous, too!
Now think of swimming. Imagine you dive down deeply into the lake, and it’s dark and murky along the bottom. But as you rise, the light of the sun shines brighter and brighter, and you are naturally drawn to that light. Or think of a dark hallway, and the little ray of light that might be illuminating the far end and drawing you forward. I also was reminded of the new energy efficient light bulbs we are using these days. When you first turn on a lamp, the light is a little soft and dim, but as the bulb “warms up,” it burns more brightly.
Now think about your Spiritual life. Are you fumbling around in the dark, stumbling over things and stubbing your toes and feeling scared, alone and frustrated much of the time? Or are you growing ever brighter in the light of Christ, drawing closer to Him and reflecting His brilliance? It’s time to get out of the dark. It’s time to come into the Light of Christ and shine for Him. Don’t you agree?
©2009 Debbie Robus
”And now it's happened: men from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir have shown up. You didn't let Israel touch them when we got here at first -- we detoured around them and didn't lay a hand on them. And now they've come to kick us out of the country you gave us. O dear God, won't you take care of them? We're helpless before this vandal horde ready to attack us. We don't know what to do; we're looking to you."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
In February 2008, a high school classmate of mine left her mobile home in Mtn. View, Arkansas, and ran for the seeming safety of her next-door neighbor’s brick house as a tornado approached. When the tornado drew near, the neighbors determined that they would all be safer lying in a ditch outside. Everyone ran for cover there, but at the last second, my classmate turned back toward the house. Just as she got to it, the tornado hit, and the house was ripped apart as if it had exploded. Why she chose to turn back is a mystery, but she paid with her life. Ironically, the mobile home she had left earlier remained fully intact next door.
I’m sure the neighbors felt incredibly helpless. I am sure they cried out to God to take care of them – and to their friend to come with them. Maybe she panicked and decided the ditch was unsafe – and maybe she cried out to God that she didn’t know what to do. Was she looking for answers as she turned and ran back inside? We will never know. And what about us? As the storms of life brew around us, are we running around frantically, crying out to God that we don’t know what to do? Do we start flailing around and trying to figure things out on our own?
Jehoshaphat and the Israelites knew what to do. They had listened to God and built His temple, then protected it. And now as all of this was threatened, they felt weak – but only for a moment. They cried out for help from God, and while they may have temporarily panicked, the rest of the story tells us that it wasn’t for long! The Holy Spirit spoke to the group through a man in the crowd and told them to believe in God and to give Him thanks – that they would come out on top. And that is exactly what happened. Verse 13 says that “Everyone in Judah was there—little children, wives, sons - all present and attentive to God.” The enemies were killed – ambushed by agents of God… and the Israelites were not only spared, but they were blessed with the collection of their enemies’ spoils. And they were shouting – “Give thanks to God. God’s love never quits!”
I am not saying that God didn’t protect my classmate. I honestly don’t know what happened in that whole situation – or what might have been happening in her life that was much worse than a ticket to heaven. But I do know that so often, we work ourselves into such a tizzy and try to handle things on our own, all the while crying out to God to help us, but not really hearing what He tells us. God shows us what to do… He gives us clear guidelines through His word, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. But WE have to do our part – we have to sit still and LISTEN! We have to pay attention and TRUST Him – and we can never give up or lower our guard! We are so quick to prepare a “safe room” and an emergency kit for natural storms… but have we prepared adequately for the storms of life? Isn’t it time we did?
©2009 Debbie Robus
----------------------------------------------------------
April 6 ~ 2 Samuel 3:38-39
The king spoke to his servants: "You realize, don't you, that today a prince and hero fell victim of foul play in Israel? And I, though anointed king, was helpless to do anything about it. These sons of Zeruiah are too much for me. God, requite the criminal for his crime!"
(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 watched a situation unfold that you knew would have a bad outcome, and you were helpless to do anything to prevent it? Or maybe, as in the case of David, someone did something stupid or wrong even after you warned against it. Do you remember how you felt afterward? As much as you wanted to “mop up” and fix things, the damage had been done.
In David’s case, he told his soldier Joab to leave a man named Abner alone. Joab insisted to David that Abner was a spy… and besides, Abner had killed Joab’s brother. So, Joab and his men ambushed Abner and killed him. When David found out, he made Joab and his men - and everyone else - put on mourning clothes and throw a big funeral and cry and act all sad so that HE (David) would be seen weeping and wailing, and he would be publicly cleared of any wrongdoing. Then David cried out to God to fix things, because he realized he was not able to do this for himself.
Now you may be asking, “What does this have to do with us?” How many times do we get ourselves in a mess… either by saying or doing the wrong thing, or by association with the wrong people… and the first thing you know, we’ve dug ourselves a pretty good hole. Maybe we really had nothing to do with creating the mess… but there we are, trying to smooth ruffled feathers or cover someone’s debt or mistake and “make it all go away” or “prevent World War III!” And how many times do we throw up our hands and cry, “Lord, help me!”?
The crazy thing is that the Lord DOES help us! And honestly, He should be our first line of defense, not the last. He should be the One we turn to immediately, laying out our problem and trusting Him to help us solve it, instead of the other way around. When will we learn that without God, nothing turns out right? When will we really GET that WITH God, all things are possible? It’s time to admit that we are nothing without Him. If we really, truly GET this, then many of our messes will never materialize in the first place. And when they DO, God will be there to hand us the mop.
©2009 Debbie Robus
------------------------------------------------------------
April 5 ~ Judges 6:15
Gideon said to him, "Me, my master? How and with what could I ever save Israel? Look at me. My clan's the weakest in Manasseh and I'm the runt of the litter."
(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.)
She was the runt of the litter - our little kitten. She couldn’t run as fast as her siblings. So when her mother crossed Highway 7 in Russellville, just past the Pizza Inn, she trailed behind. Our friends saw her and stopped to rescue her from certain death on the busy highway. And that is how we became the “parents” of a little gray kitten we named Tigger.
Throughout the next fifteen years, Tigger was our baby. She sat with us as we studied for college courses. She birthed four babies of her own, and one of them became our second cat, Grady, who kept us company for nineteen years. Tigger may have been a runt, but she grew to become a precious member of our family. She did whatever we did much of the time… from watching TV and eating Nacho Cheese Doritos… to snuggling for a nap… to just sitting and keeping us company. She was more than a cat… she was a friend and companion.
Our little seven pound cat never saved a nation, but she may as well have for all of the joy and love she gave us. She was the weakest in her family… the runt of the litter, but she was everything to us. If a small feline can do so much for two humans, how much more can WE do for others? We may feel weak… we may be “the runt,” but just look what God can do with a runt! Surely He can use us!
The next time you feel weak or inadequate… the next time you feel you are not able to do something - especially something for God… remember Gideon, and remember our little cat Tigger. Do you see what God can do with runts? Do you see what He can do with you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 4 ~ Matthew 22:36-40
When the Pharisees heard how he had bested the Sadducees, they gathered their forces for an assault. One of their religion scholars spoke for them, posing a question they hoped would show him up: "Teacher, which command in God's Law is the most important?"
Jesus said, "'Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence.' This is the most important, the first on any list. But there is a second to set alongside it: 'Love others as well as you love yourself.' These two commands are pegs; everything in God's Law and the Prophets hangs from them."
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
In our laundry room, we have a wall with hooks on it for holding coats and hats. I looked at the wall recently, and throughout the winter, the collection of jackets, hats, and scarves has grown to the point that the hooks are laden. Surely there are far more outer garments there than we need… especially for spring and summer! I think it’s time for a little “spring cleaning!”
On our “spiritual coat rack,” we may possibly have too much hanging from the pegs. Jesus has shown us that we have two commands that support everything else. But we come along, and we load those commands with so much “stuff” – we love God, but we want Him to shoulder our distance and apathy. We love others, but we want God to “fix” them to suit our needs. These are just two examples of how we try to make our relationship with God something besides what He has designed.
I suggest we all have a “spiritual spring cleaning.” I suggest we examine our hearts and see where we have a few extra “coats” on the “pegs” that don’t belong there, and either put them in the proper perspective or get rid of them altogether. Love the Lord your God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence, then Love others as well as you love yourself. Be careful how you load these “pegs” – don’t weigh them down with unnecessary baggage.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 3 ~ Hosea 12:6
What are you waiting for? Return to your God!
Commit yourself in love, in justice!
Wait for your God,
and don't give up on him - ever!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
I don’t know about you, but I am not a quitter. In fact, I will sometimes pursue something long after I should have folded and moved on… a glitch in my computer I can’t seem to solve… that pesky stain that will not come out of my favorite t-shirt… correspondence and communication with a friend or family member who does not reciprocate. I just have a really hard time saying, “That’s it… I give up.”
Some might argue that I am just being stubborn… and maybe even stupid. And there is wisdom in knowing when to “cut your losses” and move on. Even Jesus told the disciples to “shake the dust from your feet” and move on from an area where the people will not welcome a disciple or listen to the Gospel. But I am SO glad to know that God doesn’t ever shake my “dust” from His feet. And I will never turn away from Him. It may seem at times as if God has left and wandered away from us, but I assure you, it is exactly the opposite. God sits in the wings sometimes and observes… and lets us learn a thing or two… but He never leaves!
So I may try to do a little “selective quitting” in the future. I may let the stain stay or cut my losses on the computer program – or even “shelve” the one-sided communication (notice I didn’t say I would abandon someone completely!), but I will never quit on God! And thankfully, He never quits on ME! This is the best news of the day!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 2 ~ Jeremiah 32:37-40
"'Watch for this! I will collect them from all the countries to which I will have driven them in my anger and rage and indignation. Yes, I'll bring them all back to this place and let them live here in peace. They will be my people, I will be their God. I'll make them of one mind and heart, always honoring me, so that they can live good and whole lives, they and their children after them. What's more, I'll make a covenant with them that will last forever, a covenant to stick with them no matter what, and work for their good. I'll fill their hearts with a deep respect for me so they'll not even think of turning away from me.
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
You can go home again… that is the message God gave me today through this passage. For some of you, this means that whatever has happened to separate you from your parents, your siblings, or your closest friends, God can restore. For others, it means that whatever happened in your relationship with your child, all is not lost. God can bring reconciliation and build a new, stronger connection between you. You may have bitterness over a situation that even transcends to include a particular building or city - even the thought of this place causes you to shudder. God can change that, too.
Worse than any earthly separation, you may have had a “disconnect” with God. His word for you today is that this can change. God is waiting to welcome you home. He is promising to stick with you forever and help you work for good and peace in your life.
God can collect children from the ends of the earth and return them to their home – and restore relationships in the bargain. God can give peace where none existed – and where we believed harmony could NEVER happen. God can bless us in ways we never even imagined, if we will open our hearts to Him. God’s presence in our life can make such a difference that we will never EVER consider turning away again. I don’t know about you, but I so want that! In most ways, I feel I am there… but we can always dig in deeper with God, can’t we? With all that He has promised, why are we dragging our feet? We have nothing to lose and EVERYTHING to gain. So c’mon… what are we waiting for? It’s time to go home!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 1 ~ Proverbs 4:18-19
The ways of right-living people glow with light;
the longer they live, the brighter they shine.
But the road of wrongdoing gets darker and darker—
travelers can't see a thing; they fall flat on their faces.
(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 stayed in a strange place and felt disoriented in the dark? Maybe you got up in the night to go to the bathroom or something, and not wanting to wake up the others, you didn’t turn on a light. Remember how you had your hands out in front of you, fearing that at any minute you might bump into something? Or maybe you actually did trip over something or stub your toe and stumble a little? It’s not a good feeling at all, is it? Even worse, think of a dark hallway or path in the woods, and you are walking along and going farther and deeper, and it gets darker and darker. That can be a scary feeling… and it can be dangerous, too!
Now think of swimming. Imagine you dive down deeply into the lake, and it’s dark and murky along the bottom. But as you rise, the light of the sun shines brighter and brighter, and you are naturally drawn to that light. Or think of a dark hallway, and the little ray of light that might be illuminating the far end and drawing you forward. I also was reminded of the new energy efficient light bulbs we are using these days. When you first turn on a lamp, the light is a little soft and dim, but as the bulb “warms up,” it burns more brightly.
Now think about your Spiritual life. Are you fumbling around in the dark, stumbling over things and stubbing your toes and feeling scared, alone and frustrated much of the time? Or are you growing ever brighter in the light of Christ, drawing closer to Him and reflecting His brilliance? It’s time to get out of the dark. It’s time to come into the Light of Christ and shine for Him. Don’t you agree?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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