March 31 ~ 1 Corinthians 15:3-8
I told you the most important part of the message exactly as it was told to me. That part is: Christ died for our sins, as the Scriptures say. He was buried, and three days later he was raised to life, as the Scriptures say. Christ appeared to Peter, then to the twelve. After this, he appeared to more than five hundred other followers. Most of them are still alive, but some have died. He also appeared to James, and then to all of the apostles. Finally, he appeared to me, even though I am like someone who was born at the wrong time.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The burden of proof is often a deciding factor in countless life situations, from court cases to new inventions to medical research. Everyone wants proof before they will believe something. If you weren’t drinking and driving, take a breathalyzer test and prove it in court. If this new vacuum cleaner really does pick up more than its competitor, show me in a side-by-side comparison. If this new drug really does cure cancer, I want to see results and case studies that confirm this! If Jesus really rose from the grave… I want to hear this news from people who were there!
Ah… there’s the rub… we really can’t talk to anyone who was actually there. We have to rely on the reports of Paul, the Apostles, the Disciples, and over five hundred other people who saw Jesus after the crucifixion and burial. Is that enough proof? Can we take the word of these people? Some would argue that we cannot trust these accounts. We believe the words of some people we never met who claim they were there and saw this. Don’t we demand more proof than that for even simple things, like showing ID at the grocery store?
The fact is that we are very much operating in faith that this happened. We are trusting Paul and others to tell us honestly what they saw and heard. Why would we trust them? We are such skeptical people by nature. Why do we believe this? We believe because the evidence really is overwhelming. Think about it. The story has not changed in almost 2000 years. Geologists and historians have been able to document many of the events and evidence surrounding the crucifixion. But more than this, we have learned from experience that God’s word is infallible. If we have been paying attention, we have seen that His promises play out in our own lives in so many ways every single day. If you have cultivated a relationship with God and His Holy Spirit, you already feel differently on the inside. You know that you know that you know that this is real… and that Paul’s account of the resurrection of Jesus Christ is 100% accurate.
There will be some who will not believe. There will be some who are skeptical and say that they cannot accept all of this as anything but a colorful story … the proof is just not compelling enough. But I am not among them. The proof is more than compelling to me. As we approach Easter weekend, and I think about the events of that few days, I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that every second of it happened just as written. I am humbled and heartsick as I think about Jesus agonizing in the Garden of Gethsemane as He prayed for God to find another way, if possible. I am physically sick as I consider the torture and crucifixion… imagine each spike being driven into Christ’s hands and feet. I am incredibly numb and grief stricken as I imagine the rumble of thunder, the dark skies, and the earth trembling after Jesus says, “It is finished.” I am overcome with joy and elation to realize on the third day that the grave was empty, and Jesus overcame death! I KNOW that He now sits in heaven at the right hand of God, and He talks to God about ME every single day!
More than that, I know that Jesus talks to God about YOU each day, also. He loves us so much that, in His mind, everything that happened was worth the price. Whatever you are going through today, know this… you can handle it because of Jesus. You can get through this and “rise again” in Him. Just as God raised Jesus from the grave, He will raise you from whatever is challenging you today. We are not alone… we have a Saviour! The proof is overwhelming… can you see Him?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 30, 2010
March 30 ~ Ephesians 1:19-21
I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven. There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Sometime in the last few months, you have probably lost electrical power. It may have been due to ice or snow – or high winds and thunderstorms… or simply caused by a squirrel who decided to tightrope dance across the power lines. At any rate, when we lose electrical power, we seem to lose our way for a time. Everywhere we turn, there is something we can’t do like we normally do, because we don’t have power. Flip a switch? Oh, yeah… no power. Want to go somewhere? You have to manually raise your garage door, because the electric door opener isn’t working. Need to make a phone call? Can’t use that cordless phone, can you?! You can’t use your microwave, or maybe your stove. You can’t watch television, and you have limited battery life in your cell phones and laptops! If you live in a rural area, you may not be able to use your water, either, because your well pump runs on electricity! Very quickly, you learn the might and value of “power,” and you can’t wait for it to return!
What if we lost God’s power? Hopefully, we are depending on God to wield His power for us 24/7 in ways great and small. Hopefully we trust Him to use His power to keep us healthy, safe (from worldly enemies as well as the devil), fed, clothed, and mentally sound. We trust God to bring the sunshine each day and to provide plant and animal life to feed us, water to hydrate, people who can teach us and nurture us Spiritually through His word, and more.
You may not have consciously and deliberately given God’s power in your life much thought. Much like our electricity, you may have taken God’s power for granted. Let’s start today to pay closer attention to how God’s power is evidenced in our lives. Let’s make a list – at least mentally – of where God is operating on our behalf. Let’s stop taking this for granted and realize that God’s power has gotten us to this point and will carry us into the future – well into Eternity! Without God’s power, Jesus would never have been raised from the dead. Without God’s power, we would never have salvation and the promise of heaven. Without God’s power, the lights would go out for us in more ways than one. Thank God for giving us Jesus – and for the ways He will wield His power for us in the future. Feel the power of God in your life today… and give Him praise for exercising it on your behalf.
©2010 Debbie Robus
I want you to know about the great and mighty power that God has for us followers. It is the same wonderful power he used when he raised Christ from death and let him sit at his right side in heaven. There Christ rules over all forces, authorities, powers, and rulers. He rules over all beings in this world and will rule in the future world as well.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Sometime in the last few months, you have probably lost electrical power. It may have been due to ice or snow – or high winds and thunderstorms… or simply caused by a squirrel who decided to tightrope dance across the power lines. At any rate, when we lose electrical power, we seem to lose our way for a time. Everywhere we turn, there is something we can’t do like we normally do, because we don’t have power. Flip a switch? Oh, yeah… no power. Want to go somewhere? You have to manually raise your garage door, because the electric door opener isn’t working. Need to make a phone call? Can’t use that cordless phone, can you?! You can’t use your microwave, or maybe your stove. You can’t watch television, and you have limited battery life in your cell phones and laptops! If you live in a rural area, you may not be able to use your water, either, because your well pump runs on electricity! Very quickly, you learn the might and value of “power,” and you can’t wait for it to return!
What if we lost God’s power? Hopefully, we are depending on God to wield His power for us 24/7 in ways great and small. Hopefully we trust Him to use His power to keep us healthy, safe (from worldly enemies as well as the devil), fed, clothed, and mentally sound. We trust God to bring the sunshine each day and to provide plant and animal life to feed us, water to hydrate, people who can teach us and nurture us Spiritually through His word, and more.
You may not have consciously and deliberately given God’s power in your life much thought. Much like our electricity, you may have taken God’s power for granted. Let’s start today to pay closer attention to how God’s power is evidenced in our lives. Let’s make a list – at least mentally – of where God is operating on our behalf. Let’s stop taking this for granted and realize that God’s power has gotten us to this point and will carry us into the future – well into Eternity! Without God’s power, Jesus would never have been raised from the dead. Without God’s power, we would never have salvation and the promise of heaven. Without God’s power, the lights would go out for us in more ways than one. Thank God for giving us Jesus – and for the ways He will wield His power for us in the future. Feel the power of God in your life today… and give Him praise for exercising it on your behalf.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 29, 2010
March 29 ~ Romans 8:10-11
But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I saw a television show once in which a child asked his father what happens to us when we die. The dad took a glove and put it on his hand. Then he removed it and wiggled his fingers. He said, “The glove is like our body.” Pulling it off his hand, he added, “When our body dies, the soul inside still lives… just in another form.” I’ve thought about this simple analogy often – the concept of our body as a “glove” for our spirit.
Let’s think about gloves for a minute. Some gloves are heavy-duty and made of strong fabric or leather for manual labor like carpentry, farming, or working with things that are rough and dirty. We’ve all seen filthy work gloves that have been used for this purpose. And those dirty gloves are protecting the hands underneath. Once the gloves are removed, the hands inside are hopefully fairly clean, soft and free of scratches and blisters.
A few decades ago, a lady almost never left home without her gloves. She had gloves to match every outfit, and dress gloves were always worn to church! Even when dining out, a lady removed only one glove and kept it in her lap while she ate! Of course, her hands remained soft and supple inside the gloves.
The thing is… each person’s “gloves” are different. And once the gloves come off, we may each use our hands differently, but they still move and function without the gloves. This is, very simply, how our lives are with God. Some of us wear some pretty filthy gloves… caked with sin and hard living, while others wear nicer gloves. All of the gloves can get dirty from time to time – because we are all sinful. But if we accept Jesus, when the “gloves” come off, our spirit is still alive… clean and free of scratches and blemishes…ready to live forever with our Heavenly Father!
I know this is an oversimplified illustration. But think about your life as a glove. What does it look like? Are you still wearing an old dirty work glove, caked with the grime and filth of sin? Or have you put on your fancy dress glove? When you die and the “glove” comes off, what will be underneath? Will your spirit rise to new life by God’s Spirit? Just what sort of “glove” are you wearing these days? Are you alive in Christ Jesus?
©2010 Debbie Robus
But Christ lives in you. So you are alive because God has accepted you, even though your bodies must die because of your sins. Yet God raised Jesus to life! God's Spirit now lives in you, and he will raise you to life by his Spirit.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I saw a television show once in which a child asked his father what happens to us when we die. The dad took a glove and put it on his hand. Then he removed it and wiggled his fingers. He said, “The glove is like our body.” Pulling it off his hand, he added, “When our body dies, the soul inside still lives… just in another form.” I’ve thought about this simple analogy often – the concept of our body as a “glove” for our spirit.
Let’s think about gloves for a minute. Some gloves are heavy-duty and made of strong fabric or leather for manual labor like carpentry, farming, or working with things that are rough and dirty. We’ve all seen filthy work gloves that have been used for this purpose. And those dirty gloves are protecting the hands underneath. Once the gloves are removed, the hands inside are hopefully fairly clean, soft and free of scratches and blisters.
A few decades ago, a lady almost never left home without her gloves. She had gloves to match every outfit, and dress gloves were always worn to church! Even when dining out, a lady removed only one glove and kept it in her lap while she ate! Of course, her hands remained soft and supple inside the gloves.
The thing is… each person’s “gloves” are different. And once the gloves come off, we may each use our hands differently, but they still move and function without the gloves. This is, very simply, how our lives are with God. Some of us wear some pretty filthy gloves… caked with sin and hard living, while others wear nicer gloves. All of the gloves can get dirty from time to time – because we are all sinful. But if we accept Jesus, when the “gloves” come off, our spirit is still alive… clean and free of scratches and blemishes…ready to live forever with our Heavenly Father!
I know this is an oversimplified illustration. But think about your life as a glove. What does it look like? Are you still wearing an old dirty work glove, caked with the grime and filth of sin? Or have you put on your fancy dress glove? When you die and the “glove” comes off, what will be underneath? Will your spirit rise to new life by God’s Spirit? Just what sort of “glove” are you wearing these days? Are you alive in Christ Jesus?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 28, 2010
March 28 ~ Acts 13:30-35
But God raised him from death! Then for many days Jesus appeared to his followers who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about him. God made a promise to our ancestors. And we are here to tell you the good news that he has kept this promise to us. It is just as the second Psalm says about Jesus, "You are my son because today I have become your Father." God raised Jesus from death and will never let his body decay. It is just as God said, "I will make to you the same holy promise that I made to David." And in another psalm it says, "God will never let the body of his Holy One decay."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I promise.” We say that so often. We tell our babies and small children, “I promise I will be right back.” We tell family and friends, “I promise I will remember to do such-and-such for you,” or “I promise I will never lie to you, “ or even “I promise I will do better.” We tell our teachers, “I promise, the dog ate my homework!”
“I promise, I promise!” But how many of our promises are reliable? How often do we fall short of delivering on our promises? What if GOD fell short? What if He had allowed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, but somehow He never resurrected Jesus’ body? What if God had allowed Jesus’ body to decay? Our “Good News” wouldn’t be very good, would it?!
There’s more to consider... before we gave our hearts to Jesus, we were “dead” in sin. But Jesus bought and paid for our sins on the cross, and then He rose from the grave. Because of this, we are no longer “dead” in sin. We have risen to new life in Christ. God promised this, too! If God had failed to honor even one part of His promises, we would not be saved from sin and guaranteed an eternity with Him in heaven.
Because we are human, we often fail to honor our promises, even when our intentions are the best in the world. Thankfully, God NEVER fails to honor a promise. We can rest assured that what He has said He will do for us will be done. This is wonderful news! I promise this is true… because GOD has promised it!
2009 Debbie Robus
But God raised him from death! Then for many days Jesus appeared to his followers who had gone with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. Now they are telling our people about him. God made a promise to our ancestors. And we are here to tell you the good news that he has kept this promise to us. It is just as the second Psalm says about Jesus, "You are my son because today I have become your Father." God raised Jesus from death and will never let his body decay. It is just as God said, "I will make to you the same holy promise that I made to David." And in another psalm it says, "God will never let the body of his Holy One decay."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I promise.” We say that so often. We tell our babies and small children, “I promise I will be right back.” We tell family and friends, “I promise I will remember to do such-and-such for you,” or “I promise I will never lie to you, “ or even “I promise I will do better.” We tell our teachers, “I promise, the dog ate my homework!”
“I promise, I promise!” But how many of our promises are reliable? How often do we fall short of delivering on our promises? What if GOD fell short? What if He had allowed Jesus to die on the cross for our sins, but somehow He never resurrected Jesus’ body? What if God had allowed Jesus’ body to decay? Our “Good News” wouldn’t be very good, would it?!
There’s more to consider... before we gave our hearts to Jesus, we were “dead” in sin. But Jesus bought and paid for our sins on the cross, and then He rose from the grave. Because of this, we are no longer “dead” in sin. We have risen to new life in Christ. God promised this, too! If God had failed to honor even one part of His promises, we would not be saved from sin and guaranteed an eternity with Him in heaven.
Because we are human, we often fail to honor our promises, even when our intentions are the best in the world. Thankfully, God NEVER fails to honor a promise. We can rest assured that what He has said He will do for us will be done. This is wonderful news! I promise this is true… because GOD has promised it!
2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 27, 2010
March 27 ~ Romans 8:33-34
If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, speaking to him for us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine wrote on Facebook that he would like to go back and revisit all of the books and movies that meant so much more to his parents than they did to him when he first read them – like Seabiscuit. He explained, “In any work wherein loss or illness of a child is crucial to character development, I'm sure I would connect more with that person and his or her motivations. Even "The Incredibles" got to me because by then I had a child. You understand better the meaning of the phrase "do anything it takes."
In Romans 8, we hear the Apostle Paul explaining that if God is for us, who is really against us? Paul continues that if God was willing to give up His only Son for us, won’t He give us EVERYTHING else? If God chose us, can anyone else truly reject us? I will tell you, I cannot imagine giving up a child. I’ve thought a lot about this, and I fully understand how parents save a child at the risk of their own life. Think rescuing a child who is drowning, or holding a baby out the window of a burning building for someone else to save. I get that… I would do that in a heartbeat. But to allow my child to be nailed to be tortured and nailed to a cross… even to save millions of other “children”… well, I don’t know that kind of love in human form. I would do anything it takes to save a child, but I am fairly certain I could not sacrifice them – no matter what the cause.
So given this consideration, when God says He sent Jesus to die for me, I have to believe Him. When God says that I am precious in His sight, I have to repeat those words when I feel condemned or criticized by others. When God says that what He does for me, He does for many, I have to look at each person I encounter as a His child, fully deserving of all He gives…just like I am. I have to remember that Jesus died for me, you, and everyone else who will believe in Him… and now He goes to bat for ALL of us each and every day. I am grateful that God loves enough to sacrifice HIS Son for all of us… I am grateful for His power and grace and mercy. Where I am weak, He is strong… and I praise Him for this.
Romans 8 concludes with verses that tell us nothing can separate us from God’s love. God… the ultimate Parent… loves us more than we can imagine… enough to sacrifice Jesus on the cross for our sins. How can we not serve One who loves us incredibly? If God is on our side, who can be against us?
©2010 Debbie Robus
If God says his chosen ones are acceptable to him, can anyone bring charges against them? Or can anyone condemn them? No indeed! Christ died and was raised to life, and now he is at God's right side, speaking to him for us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine wrote on Facebook that he would like to go back and revisit all of the books and movies that meant so much more to his parents than they did to him when he first read them – like Seabiscuit. He explained, “In any work wherein loss or illness of a child is crucial to character development, I'm sure I would connect more with that person and his or her motivations. Even "The Incredibles" got to me because by then I had a child. You understand better the meaning of the phrase "do anything it takes."
In Romans 8, we hear the Apostle Paul explaining that if God is for us, who is really against us? Paul continues that if God was willing to give up His only Son for us, won’t He give us EVERYTHING else? If God chose us, can anyone else truly reject us? I will tell you, I cannot imagine giving up a child. I’ve thought a lot about this, and I fully understand how parents save a child at the risk of their own life. Think rescuing a child who is drowning, or holding a baby out the window of a burning building for someone else to save. I get that… I would do that in a heartbeat. But to allow my child to be nailed to be tortured and nailed to a cross… even to save millions of other “children”… well, I don’t know that kind of love in human form. I would do anything it takes to save a child, but I am fairly certain I could not sacrifice them – no matter what the cause.
So given this consideration, when God says He sent Jesus to die for me, I have to believe Him. When God says that I am precious in His sight, I have to repeat those words when I feel condemned or criticized by others. When God says that what He does for me, He does for many, I have to look at each person I encounter as a His child, fully deserving of all He gives…just like I am. I have to remember that Jesus died for me, you, and everyone else who will believe in Him… and now He goes to bat for ALL of us each and every day. I am grateful that God loves enough to sacrifice HIS Son for all of us… I am grateful for His power and grace and mercy. Where I am weak, He is strong… and I praise Him for this.
Romans 8 concludes with verses that tell us nothing can separate us from God’s love. God… the ultimate Parent… loves us more than we can imagine… enough to sacrifice Jesus on the cross for our sins. How can we not serve One who loves us incredibly? If God is on our side, who can be against us?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 26, 2010
March 26 ~ Romans 4:20-25
But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God. So God accepted him, just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words were not written only for Abraham. They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life. God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I wish I could say I have never doubted or questioned God’s promise. But unlike Abraham, I have to admit that at times, my faith has wavered. I want to trust God fully, but let’s face it… sometimes this is really hard. When we see injustices and heartaches and hatred… disease and strife and suffering… it’s hard to smile and say, “Oh, yes, God loves us… He’s taking care of everything for us.”
But I am learning that when things seem rough and tough – when we are down and out, heartsick, disappointed, and hopeless - THIS is when God really starts to work in us. This is when we truly exercise faith and trust God to pull us through… and believe that He will do just that! We can assume from scripture that when Jesus knelt in the garden to pray before He was handed over to the Roman soldiers, He was more than a little bit scared and apprehensive. In fact, He asked God if there was not another way to accomplish the same things. But in the end, knowing the horrific events that lay ahead of Him, Jesus trusted God to know what was best.
Here’s the deal… I’m pretty sure none of us is facing anything remotely close to the torture and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Our challenges may be huge, but they still pale in comparison. Yet, Jesus trusted God to make Him strong enough to face these horrors, and He gave God all the credit and glory for the outcome. Everything Jesus did was for US… so that we could trust God to meet our needs. So why does our faith waver so much? Isn’t it time we trusted God completely and for everything? What would that feel like? Are you willing to find out for yourself?
Humbly ask God to forgive your lack of faith, then do all you can to “let go and let God” in your life. Trust Him to fulfill the same promises given to Abraham in your life, and see how far faith will take you.
©2010 Debbie Robus
But Abraham never doubted or questioned God’s promise. His faith made him strong, and he gave all the credit to God. So God accepted him, just as we read in the Scriptures. But these words were not written only for Abraham. They were written for us, since we will also be accepted because of our faith in God, who raised our Lord Jesus to life. God gave Jesus to die for our sins, and he raised him to life, so that we would be made acceptable to God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I wish I could say I have never doubted or questioned God’s promise. But unlike Abraham, I have to admit that at times, my faith has wavered. I want to trust God fully, but let’s face it… sometimes this is really hard. When we see injustices and heartaches and hatred… disease and strife and suffering… it’s hard to smile and say, “Oh, yes, God loves us… He’s taking care of everything for us.”
But I am learning that when things seem rough and tough – when we are down and out, heartsick, disappointed, and hopeless - THIS is when God really starts to work in us. This is when we truly exercise faith and trust God to pull us through… and believe that He will do just that! We can assume from scripture that when Jesus knelt in the garden to pray before He was handed over to the Roman soldiers, He was more than a little bit scared and apprehensive. In fact, He asked God if there was not another way to accomplish the same things. But in the end, knowing the horrific events that lay ahead of Him, Jesus trusted God to know what was best.
Here’s the deal… I’m pretty sure none of us is facing anything remotely close to the torture and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Our challenges may be huge, but they still pale in comparison. Yet, Jesus trusted God to make Him strong enough to face these horrors, and He gave God all the credit and glory for the outcome. Everything Jesus did was for US… so that we could trust God to meet our needs. So why does our faith waver so much? Isn’t it time we trusted God completely and for everything? What would that feel like? Are you willing to find out for yourself?
Humbly ask God to forgive your lack of faith, then do all you can to “let go and let God” in your life. Trust Him to fulfill the same promises given to Abraham in your life, and see how far faith will take you.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 25, 2010
March 25 ~ Luke 24:46-48
He told them: "The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Suppose someone knew some really great news that would help you tremendously. Let’s say, for instance, that you were sick, and someone knew exactly how to make you feel better – or even cure you – but he/she kept the information from you. Let’s say you desperately needed a job, and family members and friends knew of several companies that were hiring, but they never bothered to let you know… and you did not have access to this information any other way. Or, let’s say that someone let you walk around all day with a hole in your pants or your skirt tucked into your underwear… and nobody told you about this and saved you from further embarrassment. Thankfully, most of these scenarios are unlikely today, especially given the lightning speed with which “news” travels over phone lines and Internet social networks.
Now consider if the disciples had not shared the knowledge of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection with others. Suppose that there was limited firsthand information about the crucifixion from those who observed it. Maybe the word traveled as far as nearby villages as people ventured away and spread the news. But suppose that nobody ever told about the empty grave… the rolled away stone… the resurrection of Jesus on the third day. What would have happened? Wouldn’t this negate the entire sacrifice and effort of Jesus on our behalf? If we didn’t know about Jesus… and about His sacrifices and the fact that He rose on the third day and is ALIVE… how would we ever come to know Him and believe in Him? How would we ever learn of His promises – and our promise of a home with Him for eternity?
The simple fact is that someone had to tell. Jesus commanded His disciples to tell everything that had happened… but only after He empowered them with His Holy Spirit? Why was this important? Because, as humans, we tend to color things a bit… make them fuzzy around the edges… sugarcoat the rough stuff or operate in fear instead of love. Jesus wanted to make sure that His Holy Spirit led us as we shared His story and message. But He definitely wants it to be shared! And honestly, if we can tell half the world on Facebook that someone just saw Miley Cyrus shopping in a department store, can’t we tell others about Jesus Christ and how He bought and paid for our sins on the cross and now LIVES with our Heavenly Father? Can’t we share the message of how Jesus has changed our life and will do the same for others? Can’t we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in sharing the Good News with every nation?
God has given us everything we need to accomplish this – Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, technology and communication tools galore. Now all we have to do is get up and get going. We have people to tell… Good News to share! We must tell everything that has happened and encourage everyone to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. Who have you told this news today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
He told them: "The Scriptures say that the Messiah must suffer, then three days later he will rise from death. They also say that all people of every nation must be told in my name to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. So beginning in Jerusalem, you must tell everything that has happened."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Suppose someone knew some really great news that would help you tremendously. Let’s say, for instance, that you were sick, and someone knew exactly how to make you feel better – or even cure you – but he/she kept the information from you. Let’s say you desperately needed a job, and family members and friends knew of several companies that were hiring, but they never bothered to let you know… and you did not have access to this information any other way. Or, let’s say that someone let you walk around all day with a hole in your pants or your skirt tucked into your underwear… and nobody told you about this and saved you from further embarrassment. Thankfully, most of these scenarios are unlikely today, especially given the lightning speed with which “news” travels over phone lines and Internet social networks.
Now consider if the disciples had not shared the knowledge of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection with others. Suppose that there was limited firsthand information about the crucifixion from those who observed it. Maybe the word traveled as far as nearby villages as people ventured away and spread the news. But suppose that nobody ever told about the empty grave… the rolled away stone… the resurrection of Jesus on the third day. What would have happened? Wouldn’t this negate the entire sacrifice and effort of Jesus on our behalf? If we didn’t know about Jesus… and about His sacrifices and the fact that He rose on the third day and is ALIVE… how would we ever come to know Him and believe in Him? How would we ever learn of His promises – and our promise of a home with Him for eternity?
The simple fact is that someone had to tell. Jesus commanded His disciples to tell everything that had happened… but only after He empowered them with His Holy Spirit? Why was this important? Because, as humans, we tend to color things a bit… make them fuzzy around the edges… sugarcoat the rough stuff or operate in fear instead of love. Jesus wanted to make sure that His Holy Spirit led us as we shared His story and message. But He definitely wants it to be shared! And honestly, if we can tell half the world on Facebook that someone just saw Miley Cyrus shopping in a department store, can’t we tell others about Jesus Christ and how He bought and paid for our sins on the cross and now LIVES with our Heavenly Father? Can’t we share the message of how Jesus has changed our life and will do the same for others? Can’t we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us in sharing the Good News with every nation?
God has given us everything we need to accomplish this – Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, technology and communication tools galore. Now all we have to do is get up and get going. We have people to tell… Good News to share! We must tell everything that has happened and encourage everyone to turn to God, in order to be forgiven. Who have you told this news today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 24, 2010
March 24 ~ John 10:17-18
The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You’ve probably seen the TV game show, Let’s Make a Deal. Sometimes the host will tell a contestant. “You can have what is behind Door #1… OR… I will give you $1000 cash, and you can walk away now.” Sometimes what is behind Door #1 is lousy, but often it is a great prize, worth far more than $1000 – a car, a boat, new home furnishings, a fantastic trip, or even big bucks. But the contestant must choose… instant gratification, or the possibility of something far greater. The power to make this choice is totally within their hands.
Nobody made Jesus die on the cross for us – not even God! Do you get this? Even Jesus had free will. He could have supernaturally come down off the cross at any time and said, “Nope – don’t think so – I’m not doing this!” He could have spun around and wiped out all of the Roman soldiers who abused and tortured Him. He could have knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, “Find someone else, God… I can’t do this.” But He did it. He saw that by giving His life in this manner, He not only gained it back – He also gained the salvation of those who would follow Him… for all eternity. This was the most important choice ever made… and Jesus made it for US!
We have a choice, too. We choose to “give up” our old, sinful nature. In return, we receive a new life in Christ Jesus – and the privilege of spending eternity in His presence. When you start to feel the “cost” might be too high, consider Jesus. When you start to feel like you can’t part with your friends, your money, your addiction, your partying ways, your old bad habits of whatever sort and more, consider what Jesus sacrificed just so you could have a choice in the first place. Consider the concept that giving up your “old self” means gaining a new life… not necessarily an easy life or one filled with fun and excitement every minute of every day… but a blessed life in Christ. Think about your choice in terms of giving up short-term, “for-the-moment” satisfactions for the opportunity to spend eternity in the presence of God Almighty.
We have a choice… and believe it or not, we have the power. We can use it to choose life in Christ in exchange for our old nature, as God commands us to do. Or we can go our own way and choose to live for today only. We can “take the cash and run,” or choose what is behind Door #1, so to speak. The difference is that we KNOW what is “behind the door”… so why would we settle for less?
©2010 Debbie Robus
The Father loves me, because I give up my life, so that I may receive it back again. No one takes my life from me. I give it up willingly! I have the power to give it up and the power to receive it back again, just as my Father commanded me to do.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You’ve probably seen the TV game show, Let’s Make a Deal. Sometimes the host will tell a contestant. “You can have what is behind Door #1… OR… I will give you $1000 cash, and you can walk away now.” Sometimes what is behind Door #1 is lousy, but often it is a great prize, worth far more than $1000 – a car, a boat, new home furnishings, a fantastic trip, or even big bucks. But the contestant must choose… instant gratification, or the possibility of something far greater. The power to make this choice is totally within their hands.
Nobody made Jesus die on the cross for us – not even God! Do you get this? Even Jesus had free will. He could have supernaturally come down off the cross at any time and said, “Nope – don’t think so – I’m not doing this!” He could have spun around and wiped out all of the Roman soldiers who abused and tortured Him. He could have knelt in the Garden of Gethsemane and said, “Find someone else, God… I can’t do this.” But He did it. He saw that by giving His life in this manner, He not only gained it back – He also gained the salvation of those who would follow Him… for all eternity. This was the most important choice ever made… and Jesus made it for US!
We have a choice, too. We choose to “give up” our old, sinful nature. In return, we receive a new life in Christ Jesus – and the privilege of spending eternity in His presence. When you start to feel the “cost” might be too high, consider Jesus. When you start to feel like you can’t part with your friends, your money, your addiction, your partying ways, your old bad habits of whatever sort and more, consider what Jesus sacrificed just so you could have a choice in the first place. Consider the concept that giving up your “old self” means gaining a new life… not necessarily an easy life or one filled with fun and excitement every minute of every day… but a blessed life in Christ. Think about your choice in terms of giving up short-term, “for-the-moment” satisfactions for the opportunity to spend eternity in the presence of God Almighty.
We have a choice… and believe it or not, we have the power. We can use it to choose life in Christ in exchange for our old nature, as God commands us to do. Or we can go our own way and choose to live for today only. We can “take the cash and run,” or choose what is behind Door #1, so to speak. The difference is that we KNOW what is “behind the door”… so why would we settle for less?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 23, 2010
March 23 ~ Mark 14:27-28
Jesus said to his disciples, "All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, `I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few months ago, a friend of mine wrote to say that “Not Me” had cut the hair of one of her young sons. She said that “Not Me” visits often, along with “I Don’t Know.” Since no one would own up to cutting the little boy’s hair, all three of her children had to go to their rooms. Soon one of the children said, “MAYBE I know something about this.” It’s a funny story, if one that is too familiar to parents and teachers. It seems like “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” must live in a lot of houses from time to time!
What isn’t funny is that “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” also live among adults, quite often. We are quick to pass the buck, place blame on others, or claim, “The devil made me do it.” And in many cases, the devil surely did make us do things we should not - but in the offing, we frequently deny Jesus Christ. Oh, we don’t out-and-out say, “I don’t know Him.” We’re more subtle about it. But the end result is the same. We are just like Peter and the others… we don’t know Him.
See, we can’t say we know Jesus and lie, cheat and steal. We can’t say we know Jesus and mistreat others. We can’t say we know Jesus and use His name as a curse word – or ride the fence about such things as whether there is one God and one way to know Him. We can’t pick and choose when and how we serve Him, and we can’t live for the moment and expect God to save us later. We must learn from Peter and Judas and the other disciples. We must take responsibility for our thoughts and actions – and we must be very careful to live a life that honors God and does not disappoint or disrespect Him.
We have been given the greatest gift ever in Christ Jesus. We must acknowledge Jesus and His great love, grace and mercy by welcoming Him into our hearts and lives and giving Him “the best seat in the house.” “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” should never be welcome… it’s time to kick them - and the devil - to the curb for good!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples, "All of you will reject me, as the Scriptures say, `I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' But after I am raised to life, I will go ahead of you to Galilee."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few months ago, a friend of mine wrote to say that “Not Me” had cut the hair of one of her young sons. She said that “Not Me” visits often, along with “I Don’t Know.” Since no one would own up to cutting the little boy’s hair, all three of her children had to go to their rooms. Soon one of the children said, “MAYBE I know something about this.” It’s a funny story, if one that is too familiar to parents and teachers. It seems like “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” must live in a lot of houses from time to time!
What isn’t funny is that “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” also live among adults, quite often. We are quick to pass the buck, place blame on others, or claim, “The devil made me do it.” And in many cases, the devil surely did make us do things we should not - but in the offing, we frequently deny Jesus Christ. Oh, we don’t out-and-out say, “I don’t know Him.” We’re more subtle about it. But the end result is the same. We are just like Peter and the others… we don’t know Him.
See, we can’t say we know Jesus and lie, cheat and steal. We can’t say we know Jesus and mistreat others. We can’t say we know Jesus and use His name as a curse word – or ride the fence about such things as whether there is one God and one way to know Him. We can’t pick and choose when and how we serve Him, and we can’t live for the moment and expect God to save us later. We must learn from Peter and Judas and the other disciples. We must take responsibility for our thoughts and actions – and we must be very careful to live a life that honors God and does not disappoint or disrespect Him.
We have been given the greatest gift ever in Christ Jesus. We must acknowledge Jesus and His great love, grace and mercy by welcoming Him into our hearts and lives and giving Him “the best seat in the house.” “Not Me” and “I Don’t Know” should never be welcome… it’s time to kick them - and the devil - to the curb for good!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 22, 2010
March 22 ~ Matthew 20:18-19
We are now on our way to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death, and then they will hand him over to foreigners who will make fun of him. They will beat him and nail him to a cross. But on the third day he will rise from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a new show on NBC called “Who Do You Think You Are?” in which celebrities trace their family roots. The first episode followed actress Lisa Kudrow, of “Friends” fame, as she traveled to Poland to search for her ancestors. What she found there was heartbreaking. Her great-grandmother and other family members had been marched to their death by the Nazis in a small village called Ilya. History indicates that these Jewish men, women, and children were stripped naked and led in groups of three or four to the edge of a large concrete cellar and shot, then dumped into the cellar. Later, the bodies were burned.
Lisa was visibly shaken as she stood where her great-grandmother had stood and thought of her and the others, waiting there and knowing what was about to happen. She said, “I keep thinking of the children.” As I watched this story, I thought of the children, too. What did her great-grandmother say to them? Did she comfort them and reassure them it would be okay? Or was she visibly frightened – and did she convey that fear to the others?
I also thought of another “child” – Jesus, the Son of God. He knew what was going to happen, and He knew how horrific His torture and death would be. But He endured it anyway – for each of us. God knew that the sacrifice of His son would ensure that His children – you and I – would have eternal life. He apparently felt it was a reasonable exchange. Personally, I don’t think I could sacrifice the life of my own child…even to save the masses. But then, I don’t have God’s capacity for unconditional love, grace and mercy!
I am so humbled and grateful for the sacrifices of Jesus. I am heartbroken for the horrific injustices that were inflicted upon the Jews and others throughout history. But I know a God who makes everything new… a God who holds our hand through even the most heinous experiences and says, “I’m with you. I love you. Trust me, and I will save you.” I don’t understand God’s love for us, but I don’t have to – all I have to do is accept Him. God’s love is a gift – freely given to all who will believe in Him. Are you ready to receive this love and claim victory over sin and death? Are you ready to live in Christ Jesus and look forward to spending eternity with Him? If you have not already chosen a life in Christ, today is the perfect time to do so. If you have, perhaps you need to spend some time in prayer and thanksgiving for all God has done in your life. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and will return for us. Will you be ready?
©2010 Debbie Robus
We are now on our way to Jerusalem, where the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses. They will sentence him to death, and then they will hand him over to foreigners who will make fun of him. They will beat him and nail him to a cross. But on the third day he will rise from death.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a new show on NBC called “Who Do You Think You Are?” in which celebrities trace their family roots. The first episode followed actress Lisa Kudrow, of “Friends” fame, as she traveled to Poland to search for her ancestors. What she found there was heartbreaking. Her great-grandmother and other family members had been marched to their death by the Nazis in a small village called Ilya. History indicates that these Jewish men, women, and children were stripped naked and led in groups of three or four to the edge of a large concrete cellar and shot, then dumped into the cellar. Later, the bodies were burned.
Lisa was visibly shaken as she stood where her great-grandmother had stood and thought of her and the others, waiting there and knowing what was about to happen. She said, “I keep thinking of the children.” As I watched this story, I thought of the children, too. What did her great-grandmother say to them? Did she comfort them and reassure them it would be okay? Or was she visibly frightened – and did she convey that fear to the others?
I also thought of another “child” – Jesus, the Son of God. He knew what was going to happen, and He knew how horrific His torture and death would be. But He endured it anyway – for each of us. God knew that the sacrifice of His son would ensure that His children – you and I – would have eternal life. He apparently felt it was a reasonable exchange. Personally, I don’t think I could sacrifice the life of my own child…even to save the masses. But then, I don’t have God’s capacity for unconditional love, grace and mercy!
I am so humbled and grateful for the sacrifices of Jesus. I am heartbroken for the horrific injustices that were inflicted upon the Jews and others throughout history. But I know a God who makes everything new… a God who holds our hand through even the most heinous experiences and says, “I’m with you. I love you. Trust me, and I will save you.” I don’t understand God’s love for us, but I don’t have to – all I have to do is accept Him. God’s love is a gift – freely given to all who will believe in Him. Are you ready to receive this love and claim victory over sin and death? Are you ready to live in Christ Jesus and look forward to spending eternity with Him? If you have not already chosen a life in Christ, today is the perfect time to do so. If you have, perhaps you need to spend some time in prayer and thanksgiving for all God has done in your life. Jesus Christ rose from the dead and will return for us. Will you be ready?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 21, 2010
March 21 ~ Isaiah 26:19
Your people will rise to life! Tell them to leave their graves and celebrate with shouts. You refresh the earth like morning dew; you give life to the dead.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In late February and early March, the landscape around our area gets about as bare as bare can get! It almost looks like everything is dead except for the green of the pine and cedar trees. Then, almost overnight, things start to burst open with buds and color. Little flowers dot the yards, and jonquils, crocus and hyacinth rise and bloom and brighten what had been a dreary scene. Yellow forsythia and red-pink japonica bushes remind us that spring has sprung, and plant life is reborn before our very eyes. People come out of their houses and work in their yards, play ball, and start a new exercise routine. The doldrums of winter are over, and we all get a burst of rejuvenation and refreshment!
In Isaiah, we read about people rising from their graves to new life, refreshed like morning dew. This refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who rose from the grave and ascended into Heaven to reign forever. It also refers to us – how we have a new life in Christ. Our old, sinful lives are dead, but a new life has risen. Just like the jonquils and the forsythia, we bloom and are called to brighten the day with the light of Christ!
Spring is a great time to regroup – to shake off the winter doldrums and revive ourselves. It is a great time to evaluate our Spiritual lives and see where we need a rebirth… and to ask Jesus to refresh us. Rise from your grave and celebrate with shouts! Because of Jesus, we have LIFE everlasting! Be filled with joy and new energy, and share His Good News with everyone you meet. Jesus is alive… and so are we who believe in Him! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Your people will rise to life! Tell them to leave their graves and celebrate with shouts. You refresh the earth like morning dew; you give life to the dead.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In late February and early March, the landscape around our area gets about as bare as bare can get! It almost looks like everything is dead except for the green of the pine and cedar trees. Then, almost overnight, things start to burst open with buds and color. Little flowers dot the yards, and jonquils, crocus and hyacinth rise and bloom and brighten what had been a dreary scene. Yellow forsythia and red-pink japonica bushes remind us that spring has sprung, and plant life is reborn before our very eyes. People come out of their houses and work in their yards, play ball, and start a new exercise routine. The doldrums of winter are over, and we all get a burst of rejuvenation and refreshment!
In Isaiah, we read about people rising from their graves to new life, refreshed like morning dew. This refers to the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Who rose from the grave and ascended into Heaven to reign forever. It also refers to us – how we have a new life in Christ. Our old, sinful lives are dead, but a new life has risen. Just like the jonquils and the forsythia, we bloom and are called to brighten the day with the light of Christ!
Spring is a great time to regroup – to shake off the winter doldrums and revive ourselves. It is a great time to evaluate our Spiritual lives and see where we need a rebirth… and to ask Jesus to refresh us. Rise from your grave and celebrate with shouts! Because of Jesus, we have LIFE everlasting! Be filled with joy and new energy, and share His Good News with everyone you meet. Jesus is alive… and so are we who believe in Him! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 20, 2010
March 20 ~ Psalm 52:8
But I am like an olive tree growing in God's house, and I can count on his love forever and ever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law took a Mississippi River cruise several years ago with her aunt. Along the way, they saw a gingko tree, and my mother-in-law picked up a seed, brought it home, and planted it. Today, she has a beautiful tree in her front yard. She has carefully nurtured this gingko tree, and it stands almost two stories high now and produces leaves that turn a vivid yellow-gold in the fall. Recently, she asked my husband to prune a “second trunk” that was developing to give it an even nicer shape. As long as she is able, she will love and care for this tree, and it will thrive and continue to grow.
As crazy as this sounds, God cares about this gingko tree, too, just as He cares for all of His creations. But more importantly, as much as God cares about this tree, He cares for us even more. He “planted” us and has nurtured us along the way, and we can count on His love forever and ever at every stage of our journey. I know this is not NEWS to you, but think about this carefully for a while. God has nurtured you since even before you were a “seed” planted in your mother’s womb. He has planned for you, seen that your every need was met, and provided you with all you need to grow into the person He planned you to be. He sometimes “prunes” us for better growth by allowing us to go through a few things. And He LOVES you – forever and ever.
Don’t you feel a little more special today? Isn’t it wonderful to remind yourself just how much God loves you? Do you have a better understanding of how and why you can trust Him to always want the best for you? I don’t know about you, but I am pretty humbled by this. And when I see the beauty and perfection in even a yellow-leafed gingko tree and how carefully God planned for it, I am excited about what He has in store for me! Thank God today for loving you so well. Trust Him to continue to nurture you and care for you in the days to come – and to love you forever and ever.
©2010 Debbie Robus
But I am like an olive tree growing in God's house, and I can count on his love forever and ever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law took a Mississippi River cruise several years ago with her aunt. Along the way, they saw a gingko tree, and my mother-in-law picked up a seed, brought it home, and planted it. Today, she has a beautiful tree in her front yard. She has carefully nurtured this gingko tree, and it stands almost two stories high now and produces leaves that turn a vivid yellow-gold in the fall. Recently, she asked my husband to prune a “second trunk” that was developing to give it an even nicer shape. As long as she is able, she will love and care for this tree, and it will thrive and continue to grow.
As crazy as this sounds, God cares about this gingko tree, too, just as He cares for all of His creations. But more importantly, as much as God cares about this tree, He cares for us even more. He “planted” us and has nurtured us along the way, and we can count on His love forever and ever at every stage of our journey. I know this is not NEWS to you, but think about this carefully for a while. God has nurtured you since even before you were a “seed” planted in your mother’s womb. He has planned for you, seen that your every need was met, and provided you with all you need to grow into the person He planned you to be. He sometimes “prunes” us for better growth by allowing us to go through a few things. And He LOVES you – forever and ever.
Don’t you feel a little more special today? Isn’t it wonderful to remind yourself just how much God loves you? Do you have a better understanding of how and why you can trust Him to always want the best for you? I don’t know about you, but I am pretty humbled by this. And when I see the beauty and perfection in even a yellow-leafed gingko tree and how carefully God planned for it, I am excited about what He has in store for me! Thank God today for loving you so well. Trust Him to continue to nurture you and care for you in the days to come – and to love you forever and ever.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 19, 2010
March 19 ~ Psalm 143:8
Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Babies are so fun when they first awaken in the morning. They are usually rested and fresh, and it’s as if they are starting all over – another day, new discoveries, and new adventures. The first hour in the morning with Timothy is often filled with giggles and gurgles, smiles and laughs, and anticipation of a big day ahead. He looks at us as if to say, “What are you going to show me today?”
Do you realize that we are God’s babies… and to Him, we awaken each morning new, fresh, and ready for guidance, adventure and discovery? What if we asked God each morning, “What are You going to show me today?” Do we trust Him to teach us more? We surely don’t know it all… and we never will. But have we really asked God to teach us each day? Have we trusted Him to have new things in store for us and to reveal them to us according to His will?
Let’s start with today. Let’s ask God, “What are you going to show me today?” Let’s trust Him to teach us new things and to reveal more of Himself to us. Let’s keep an open mind and heart – and pay attention! It’s going to be a wonderful day, because TODAY we are going to learn more about God’s love and trust Him. Are you ready to get started?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Babies are so fun when they first awaken in the morning. They are usually rested and fresh, and it’s as if they are starting all over – another day, new discoveries, and new adventures. The first hour in the morning with Timothy is often filled with giggles and gurgles, smiles and laughs, and anticipation of a big day ahead. He looks at us as if to say, “What are you going to show me today?”
Do you realize that we are God’s babies… and to Him, we awaken each morning new, fresh, and ready for guidance, adventure and discovery? What if we asked God each morning, “What are You going to show me today?” Do we trust Him to teach us more? We surely don’t know it all… and we never will. But have we really asked God to teach us each day? Have we trusted Him to have new things in store for us and to reveal them to us according to His will?
Let’s start with today. Let’s ask God, “What are you going to show me today?” Let’s trust Him to teach us new things and to reveal more of Himself to us. Let’s keep an open mind and heart – and pay attention! It’s going to be a wonderful day, because TODAY we are going to learn more about God’s love and trust Him. Are you ready to get started?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 18, 2010
March 18 ~ Psalm 37:3-8
Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart's desire. Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help. Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun that you were right. Be patient and trust the LORD. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things. Don't be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you stopped to notice lately how many celebrities are hitting rock bottom? Addictions of all sorts plague them… long term relationships are almost non-existent… they end up in bankruptcy court and some even fall so far they take their own life – or lose it because of carelessness and the activities that consume them. So why do we sometimes aspire to be like these people? Why do we look at them and say, “Well THEY are doing it and getting rich, or THEY have all the luck.” Really?
We don’t often hear the “real-life stories” of those who are living right and trusting the Lord and how He delivered them, but I assure you, they are out there. And “Spiritual success stories” exist in your own community. Maybe you know someone who made a difficult choice and passed up what seemed like a great deal, lots of money, or the “chance of a lifetime.” But their prayerful consideration led them to believe God wanted them to do something else. I know a teacher who was once a successful sales manager for several states, but he felt God calling him to the classroom. I know others who sold their home, packed up their belongings, and moved into a small apartment in another city to start an urban ministry, because they felt God calling them to do so. I know people who gave up their vacation to do mission work in Costa Rica and other areas of need. They could have chosen to go to the beach and relax for a week, but instead, they chose to spend the time building needed facilities for a poor community and sharing God’s love with its people.
I could go on, but you get the picture. When we trust in God, and live right, even when it isn’t easy or fun, He blesses us. It may seem like the “sinners” have all the fun, but I assure you, they do not… and certainly not for the long haul. We’re heading into spring break for many. It is a time when there is always a lot of temptation to party all week and sorta go nuts. It’s all in good fun, right? It’s just one week, right? Let me tell you – a lot can happen in a week – both good and bad. Trust God to show you how to spend your spring break. If He tells you to go to the beach with your friends, ask Him how you should conduct yourself while you are there… and live right.
Whatever challenges and choices you face in life, be patient. This spring break – and beyond - don’t be angry with those who choose to do things you do not… and don’t be critical. Just stand firm, trust God, and stay safe, knowing that in the end, God will bless you and your efforts. The land will be yours, and God will show you that you made the right choices.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe. Do what the LORD wants, and he will give you your heart's desire. Let the LORD lead you and trust him to help. Then it will be as clear as the noonday sun that you were right. Be patient and trust the LORD. Don't let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things. Don't be angry or furious. Anger can lead to sin.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you stopped to notice lately how many celebrities are hitting rock bottom? Addictions of all sorts plague them… long term relationships are almost non-existent… they end up in bankruptcy court and some even fall so far they take their own life – or lose it because of carelessness and the activities that consume them. So why do we sometimes aspire to be like these people? Why do we look at them and say, “Well THEY are doing it and getting rich, or THEY have all the luck.” Really?
We don’t often hear the “real-life stories” of those who are living right and trusting the Lord and how He delivered them, but I assure you, they are out there. And “Spiritual success stories” exist in your own community. Maybe you know someone who made a difficult choice and passed up what seemed like a great deal, lots of money, or the “chance of a lifetime.” But their prayerful consideration led them to believe God wanted them to do something else. I know a teacher who was once a successful sales manager for several states, but he felt God calling him to the classroom. I know others who sold their home, packed up their belongings, and moved into a small apartment in another city to start an urban ministry, because they felt God calling them to do so. I know people who gave up their vacation to do mission work in Costa Rica and other areas of need. They could have chosen to go to the beach and relax for a week, but instead, they chose to spend the time building needed facilities for a poor community and sharing God’s love with its people.
I could go on, but you get the picture. When we trust in God, and live right, even when it isn’t easy or fun, He blesses us. It may seem like the “sinners” have all the fun, but I assure you, they do not… and certainly not for the long haul. We’re heading into spring break for many. It is a time when there is always a lot of temptation to party all week and sorta go nuts. It’s all in good fun, right? It’s just one week, right? Let me tell you – a lot can happen in a week – both good and bad. Trust God to show you how to spend your spring break. If He tells you to go to the beach with your friends, ask Him how you should conduct yourself while you are there… and live right.
Whatever challenges and choices you face in life, be patient. This spring break – and beyond - don’t be angry with those who choose to do things you do not… and don’t be critical. Just stand firm, trust God, and stay safe, knowing that in the end, God will bless you and your efforts. The land will be yours, and God will show you that you made the right choices.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 17, 2010
March 17 ~ Psalm 33:18-21
But the LORD watches over all who honor him and trust his kindness. He protects them from death and starvation. We depend on you, LORD, to help and protect us. You make our hearts glad because we trust you, the only God. Be kind and bless us! We depend on you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about all of the people on whom you depend. If you are still living at home, you depend on your parents for food, clothing, and shelter – at least in part. You depend on your teachers to impart knowledge to you and help you learn. You depend on firefighters and law enforcement personnel to keep you safe. You depend on doctors to help you heal and stay well, the mail carrier to deliver your mail, and the banker to hold onto your money until you need it!
If any one of these people let you down, things start to go wrong in your life in a hurry! But we all know that people have limitations, and somewhere down the line, someone you are counting on for something will let you down, drop the ball, or totally fail you.
Aren’t you glad this is not the case with Jesus? Aren’t you glad we serve a God who protects us from death and starvation – both literally and Spiritually? Take comfort in knowing that the LORD watches over us and protects us. The next time you are fearful, worried, in need of some kind, overwhelmed, or some human being has let you down, think of Jesus. Remember that HE is always with us. Jesus never fails or disappoints. Honor Him and thank Him for loving us so well, and trust His kindness. Rest in the knowledge that you can always depend on Jesus to meet all of your needs!
©2010 Debbie Robus
But the LORD watches over all who honor him and trust his kindness. He protects them from death and starvation. We depend on you, LORD, to help and protect us. You make our hearts glad because we trust you, the only God. Be kind and bless us! We depend on you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about all of the people on whom you depend. If you are still living at home, you depend on your parents for food, clothing, and shelter – at least in part. You depend on your teachers to impart knowledge to you and help you learn. You depend on firefighters and law enforcement personnel to keep you safe. You depend on doctors to help you heal and stay well, the mail carrier to deliver your mail, and the banker to hold onto your money until you need it!
If any one of these people let you down, things start to go wrong in your life in a hurry! But we all know that people have limitations, and somewhere down the line, someone you are counting on for something will let you down, drop the ball, or totally fail you.
Aren’t you glad this is not the case with Jesus? Aren’t you glad we serve a God who protects us from death and starvation – both literally and Spiritually? Take comfort in knowing that the LORD watches over us and protects us. The next time you are fearful, worried, in need of some kind, overwhelmed, or some human being has let you down, think of Jesus. Remember that HE is always with us. Jesus never fails or disappoints. Honor Him and thank Him for loving us so well, and trust His kindness. Rest in the knowledge that you can always depend on Jesus to meet all of your needs!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 16, 2010
March 16 ~ Psalm 25:1, 4-5
I offer you my heart, LORD God...
Show me your paths and teach me to follow; guide me by your truth and instruct me. You keep me safe, and I always trust you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I hiked up to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain one warm spring day. We had not been there in a few years, but the familiar path was still there, and in no time at all, we were at the spot where it is easiest – and relatively safest – to climb to the top. When we set out on our little hike, we trusted that the path was still there… that we would be able to find “Fat Man’s Squeeze” in the rocks and get to our final destination. And we were not disappointed. The path we had used many times as children led us where we wanted to go, just like an old friend.
Not all paths are familiar ones. There have been times when we have made treks that took us down unknown roads or over terrain which we had never seen before – both physically and figuratively. And sometimes in life, Satan is able to lead us down a path that ends in disappointment or destruction… and goes nowhere. The key to choosing the right “path” is to first seek God… ask Him to guide your steps and show you the way. This may involve prayer, meditation, Bible study, consulting Christian friends… or just plain reading a good map! But we can trust God to always get us where we need to go.
It starts with this prayer… “Show me your paths and teach me to follow… guide me by your truth, instruct me, and keep me safe.” He can… He will… are you trusting Him to do this?
©2010 Debbie Robus
I offer you my heart, LORD God...
Show me your paths and teach me to follow; guide me by your truth and instruct me. You keep me safe, and I always trust you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I hiked up to the summit of Sugar Loaf Mountain one warm spring day. We had not been there in a few years, but the familiar path was still there, and in no time at all, we were at the spot where it is easiest – and relatively safest – to climb to the top. When we set out on our little hike, we trusted that the path was still there… that we would be able to find “Fat Man’s Squeeze” in the rocks and get to our final destination. And we were not disappointed. The path we had used many times as children led us where we wanted to go, just like an old friend.
Not all paths are familiar ones. There have been times when we have made treks that took us down unknown roads or over terrain which we had never seen before – both physically and figuratively. And sometimes in life, Satan is able to lead us down a path that ends in disappointment or destruction… and goes nowhere. The key to choosing the right “path” is to first seek God… ask Him to guide your steps and show you the way. This may involve prayer, meditation, Bible study, consulting Christian friends… or just plain reading a good map! But we can trust God to always get us where we need to go.
It starts with this prayer… “Show me your paths and teach me to follow… guide me by your truth, instruct me, and keep me safe.” He can… He will… are you trusting Him to do this?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 15, 2010
March 15 ~ Psalm 21:7
LORD Most High, the king trusts you, and your kindness keeps him from defeat.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Let’s talk about a couple of words today – disappointment and defeat. We use the word “defeat” for several situations in life, but honestly, few of us are ever truly defeated. And after reading this passage, I am beginning to think we Christians should NEVER use this word. Yes, we will be disappointed from time to time. Things don’t work out like we hoped. We lose contests and elections… we don’t get the job we wanted – or the girl/guy… we suffer devastating illnesses, injuries, and other tragedies. I’m here to tell you, the devil is on the clock 24/7 to throw us some serious curves in life and make us feel defeated. But in truth, defeat is not possible, because God is protecting us.
Read all of Psalm 21 and you will see how powerful and protective God is toward us. When Satan knocks you down and saps your health, strength and spirit, remember that God guards you. Sometimes He says, “Enough… come home and live with me,” but even death is not a defeat for Christians. When we experience disappointments, God offers solutions and hope… and a way to pick ourselves up and keep going.
Consider evangelist Joyce Meyer, who writes of her childhood abuse and a disastrous first marriage that ended even before the birth of her young son. Months after the baby was born, she met Dave - her husband of now more than 30 years. Dave was praying for God to bring him a woman who needed help. WOW – that’s some prayer! But God allowed Dave to help turn Joyce’s early disappointments into tremendous victories. She was NEVER defeated.
I watched a dear classmate and her family lose everything in a house fire – including vital personal documents, family photos, and more. They trusted God to help them rebuild – and He answered. Then a few years later, my friend developed breast cancer… another potential “defeat.” But she trusted God once again. She would tell me, “I’m fine, and I’ll be okay no matter what.” And when God called her home, these words echoed in my mind. Even in death, she was not defeated.
I don’t know your circumstances. God does. Consider the ball team who makes it to the championship game, only to lose. First, second, or even third-runner-ups are disappointed, but they are not defeated. I guarantee you that on every one of those teams, there will be countless success stories that we may never hear, but they are there nonetheless. Maybe a team member overcame some sort of struggle along the way and is better for it. Maybe another was given a college scholarship and allowed to obtain a degree and hope for a future that would never have happened otherwise. Maybe someone was not chosen for American Idol but was “discovered” for some other venue that proved to be far more stable and lasting. Once an employer did not select me for a teaching position, and I was devastated. But nearly twenty-five years and a successful publishing “career” later, I am grateful that God steered me in a different direction.
My point is this. We humans often suffer a disappointment, and we throw up our hands and declare it a defeat. This is “stinkin’ thinkin’!” The word “defeat” should not be in the Christian vocabulary, because God covers us in kindness, grace, mercy – love – and defeat is not possible. Trust God to cover you in kindness. Trust Him to turn your disappointments in to opportunities for growth and new direction. Trust Him to know what is best for your life and to show you how to keep moving forward. Trust GOD to handle Satan and his army – and to never allow him to deliver you a defeat. We may be temporarily disappointed, but we are NEVER defeated… and there IS a difference!
©2010 Debbie Robus
LORD Most High, the king trusts you, and your kindness keeps him from defeat.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Let’s talk about a couple of words today – disappointment and defeat. We use the word “defeat” for several situations in life, but honestly, few of us are ever truly defeated. And after reading this passage, I am beginning to think we Christians should NEVER use this word. Yes, we will be disappointed from time to time. Things don’t work out like we hoped. We lose contests and elections… we don’t get the job we wanted – or the girl/guy… we suffer devastating illnesses, injuries, and other tragedies. I’m here to tell you, the devil is on the clock 24/7 to throw us some serious curves in life and make us feel defeated. But in truth, defeat is not possible, because God is protecting us.
Read all of Psalm 21 and you will see how powerful and protective God is toward us. When Satan knocks you down and saps your health, strength and spirit, remember that God guards you. Sometimes He says, “Enough… come home and live with me,” but even death is not a defeat for Christians. When we experience disappointments, God offers solutions and hope… and a way to pick ourselves up and keep going.
Consider evangelist Joyce Meyer, who writes of her childhood abuse and a disastrous first marriage that ended even before the birth of her young son. Months after the baby was born, she met Dave - her husband of now more than 30 years. Dave was praying for God to bring him a woman who needed help. WOW – that’s some prayer! But God allowed Dave to help turn Joyce’s early disappointments into tremendous victories. She was NEVER defeated.
I watched a dear classmate and her family lose everything in a house fire – including vital personal documents, family photos, and more. They trusted God to help them rebuild – and He answered. Then a few years later, my friend developed breast cancer… another potential “defeat.” But she trusted God once again. She would tell me, “I’m fine, and I’ll be okay no matter what.” And when God called her home, these words echoed in my mind. Even in death, she was not defeated.
I don’t know your circumstances. God does. Consider the ball team who makes it to the championship game, only to lose. First, second, or even third-runner-ups are disappointed, but they are not defeated. I guarantee you that on every one of those teams, there will be countless success stories that we may never hear, but they are there nonetheless. Maybe a team member overcame some sort of struggle along the way and is better for it. Maybe another was given a college scholarship and allowed to obtain a degree and hope for a future that would never have happened otherwise. Maybe someone was not chosen for American Idol but was “discovered” for some other venue that proved to be far more stable and lasting. Once an employer did not select me for a teaching position, and I was devastated. But nearly twenty-five years and a successful publishing “career” later, I am grateful that God steered me in a different direction.
My point is this. We humans often suffer a disappointment, and we throw up our hands and declare it a defeat. This is “stinkin’ thinkin’!” The word “defeat” should not be in the Christian vocabulary, because God covers us in kindness, grace, mercy – love – and defeat is not possible. Trust God to cover you in kindness. Trust Him to turn your disappointments in to opportunities for growth and new direction. Trust Him to know what is best for your life and to show you how to keep moving forward. Trust GOD to handle Satan and his army – and to never allow him to deliver you a defeat. We may be temporarily disappointed, but we are NEVER defeated… and there IS a difference!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2010
March 14 ~ Psalm 125:1
Everyone who trusts the LORD is like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our house sits on a bluff overlooking the Little Red River, just below Greers Ferry Dam. We can step to any window on the back side of our house and see the dam, the power house, and the river winding below us. Since we moved into this house, more than one visitor has said, “One thing is for sure… when the dam goes, you’ll be the first to know!” Our response, delivered with a laugh, has been, “That dam isn’t going anywhere!” Along with a LOT of other people down river, we are trusting it to hold back the water of Greers Ferry Lake! Of course, we realize that a devastating earthquake like those in Haiti and Chile could rattle this structure, but for the most part, we trust that the dam “cannot be shaken and will stand forever.”
In the early 1980’s, a tornado ripped through Cleburne County and literally uprooted a massive iron and concrete structure known as “the Edgemont Bridge,” near Greers Ferry. When my parents called us and told us that the bridge was gone, we envisioned a little bit of mangled iron torn from the top. But they were serious – the bridge was GONE! I assume what is left of it lies on the bottom of the lake nearby… I don’t know for sure. But we thought that structure was invincible and would last forever. Hundreds of people trusted the bridge to be there every day to get them across the lake to work, school, and more.
Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about even an earthquake or tornado shaking the soundness of our God. We can trust Him to stand firm and steady forever – to NEVER be shaken. If we trust God, we don’t have to wonder or worry that He won’t be available to us… that He will be too busy, too tired, too sick, or just plain not interested. We don’t have to fear that something will “take God out” and make Him unavailable. God will ALWAYS be there for us!
As with most things of this earth, we have to trust that the dam will hold… to a point. We have to trust that the bridges that carry us from Point A to Point B will stand. But we have to be realistic and understand that something could actually happen someday to change this. We have to understand that trusting family and friends comes with a “caveat” – because, as humans, people can be fickle. But with GOD, we never have to have a backup plan – in fact, this would run counter to our faith and trust in Him. We can be assured that God’s love, grace and mercy for us endures forever!
We can trust that Jesus will ALWAYS stand in the gap as our bridge to God… we can trust that God will protect us from the wickedness of Satan – standing as the Dam that holds back his evil. I am thankful that this is one thing I never have to worry about. Dams may leak or crumble… bridges may fall, but GOD stands forever! Hallelujah! Thanks and praises be to Him. What a mighty God we serve! Are you trusting His strength in your life today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Everyone who trusts the LORD is like Mount Zion that cannot be shaken and will stand forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our house sits on a bluff overlooking the Little Red River, just below Greers Ferry Dam. We can step to any window on the back side of our house and see the dam, the power house, and the river winding below us. Since we moved into this house, more than one visitor has said, “One thing is for sure… when the dam goes, you’ll be the first to know!” Our response, delivered with a laugh, has been, “That dam isn’t going anywhere!” Along with a LOT of other people down river, we are trusting it to hold back the water of Greers Ferry Lake! Of course, we realize that a devastating earthquake like those in Haiti and Chile could rattle this structure, but for the most part, we trust that the dam “cannot be shaken and will stand forever.”
In the early 1980’s, a tornado ripped through Cleburne County and literally uprooted a massive iron and concrete structure known as “the Edgemont Bridge,” near Greers Ferry. When my parents called us and told us that the bridge was gone, we envisioned a little bit of mangled iron torn from the top. But they were serious – the bridge was GONE! I assume what is left of it lies on the bottom of the lake nearby… I don’t know for sure. But we thought that structure was invincible and would last forever. Hundreds of people trusted the bridge to be there every day to get them across the lake to work, school, and more.
Thankfully, we don’t have to worry about even an earthquake or tornado shaking the soundness of our God. We can trust Him to stand firm and steady forever – to NEVER be shaken. If we trust God, we don’t have to wonder or worry that He won’t be available to us… that He will be too busy, too tired, too sick, or just plain not interested. We don’t have to fear that something will “take God out” and make Him unavailable. God will ALWAYS be there for us!
As with most things of this earth, we have to trust that the dam will hold… to a point. We have to trust that the bridges that carry us from Point A to Point B will stand. But we have to be realistic and understand that something could actually happen someday to change this. We have to understand that trusting family and friends comes with a “caveat” – because, as humans, people can be fickle. But with GOD, we never have to have a backup plan – in fact, this would run counter to our faith and trust in Him. We can be assured that God’s love, grace and mercy for us endures forever!
We can trust that Jesus will ALWAYS stand in the gap as our bridge to God… we can trust that God will protect us from the wickedness of Satan – standing as the Dam that holds back his evil. I am thankful that this is one thing I never have to worry about. Dams may leak or crumble… bridges may fall, but GOD stands forever! Hallelujah! Thanks and praises be to Him. What a mighty God we serve! Are you trusting His strength in your life today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 13, 2010
March 13 ~ Romans 10:11-13
The Scriptures say that no one who has faith will be disappointed, no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. All who call out to the Lord will be saved.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was eleven years old when Dr. Martin Luther King was gunned down in Memphis. Sadly, I remember trips to shop in Little Rock when I was a little girl, and there were still “whites only” water fountains. When I was in the fifth grade, we spent six months in Oklahoma, where there were more Native Americans in my class than Caucasians. My best friend was Leona, a Native American whose last name, I have sadly forgotten. I do remember my brother’s best friend in first grade was Marvin Birdtail. I knew that Leona was poor and could not always afford the mid-morning milk, and I sometimes slipped her the three cents or whatever it cost at that time. I was lucky enough to have a few extra coins in my pocket, and it was important to me that Leona not be left out when we went to the milk room. But I never thought about her as anything but my friend.
For the first time in my life, I encountered African Americans when I went to college, and many of them became my friends… Eunice, Patricia, Elihu, Archie, and others. It honestly did not occur to me that they were black and I was white… they were just good friends and classmates who shared notes, textbooks, a love of music, and time between classes. In fact, because Arkansas Tech was so highly touted for its music department at that time, the “line in the sand” was often more about whether or not you were involved in music than the color of your skin. And because I was a piano student, I was “in!”
I am grateful for my college experiences… and my time shared with Leona and Marvin and the others in Oklahoma. Because of it, I don’t see skin color… I see the person. But I also learned the power of a person’s desire to belong. I have to admit, being part of the “music” crowd who hung out between classes at the Witherspoon building felt pretty good! And by default, those who were with me were “in” too… like my husband, and Eunice’s boyfriend, and others.
Thankfully, with Jesus, EVERYONE is “in” if we want to be. We don’t have to be a music major or an athlete or have a certain skin color. We don’t have to be able to afford certain things or know somebody who knows somebody. All we have to do is ask Jesus to live in and through us and be Lord of our lives, and He will do just that. We can trust Him to be color blind, oblivious to socio-economic status, and downright ambivalent about our talents and abilities. We can rest in the knowledge that He will love us and care for us generously because He LOVES us - and for no other reason.
Isn’t this incredible?! Isn’t this amazing, wonderful, and totally awesome? Don’t you want “in” on this? Whatever is keeping you from being a child of God today, let it go and invite Jesus into your heart. Jesus doesn’t “play favorites” or discriminate… He is not a bigot of any kind. All who call on Him are welcome. This is GOOD NEWS! Be “in” with Jesus…you will not be disappointed.
©2010 Debbie Robus
The Scriptures say that no one who has faith will be disappointed, no matter if that person is a Jew or a Gentile. There is only one Lord, and he is generous to everyone who asks for his help. All who call out to the Lord will be saved.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was eleven years old when Dr. Martin Luther King was gunned down in Memphis. Sadly, I remember trips to shop in Little Rock when I was a little girl, and there were still “whites only” water fountains. When I was in the fifth grade, we spent six months in Oklahoma, where there were more Native Americans in my class than Caucasians. My best friend was Leona, a Native American whose last name, I have sadly forgotten. I do remember my brother’s best friend in first grade was Marvin Birdtail. I knew that Leona was poor and could not always afford the mid-morning milk, and I sometimes slipped her the three cents or whatever it cost at that time. I was lucky enough to have a few extra coins in my pocket, and it was important to me that Leona not be left out when we went to the milk room. But I never thought about her as anything but my friend.
For the first time in my life, I encountered African Americans when I went to college, and many of them became my friends… Eunice, Patricia, Elihu, Archie, and others. It honestly did not occur to me that they were black and I was white… they were just good friends and classmates who shared notes, textbooks, a love of music, and time between classes. In fact, because Arkansas Tech was so highly touted for its music department at that time, the “line in the sand” was often more about whether or not you were involved in music than the color of your skin. And because I was a piano student, I was “in!”
I am grateful for my college experiences… and my time shared with Leona and Marvin and the others in Oklahoma. Because of it, I don’t see skin color… I see the person. But I also learned the power of a person’s desire to belong. I have to admit, being part of the “music” crowd who hung out between classes at the Witherspoon building felt pretty good! And by default, those who were with me were “in” too… like my husband, and Eunice’s boyfriend, and others.
Thankfully, with Jesus, EVERYONE is “in” if we want to be. We don’t have to be a music major or an athlete or have a certain skin color. We don’t have to be able to afford certain things or know somebody who knows somebody. All we have to do is ask Jesus to live in and through us and be Lord of our lives, and He will do just that. We can trust Him to be color blind, oblivious to socio-economic status, and downright ambivalent about our talents and abilities. We can rest in the knowledge that He will love us and care for us generously because He LOVES us - and for no other reason.
Isn’t this incredible?! Isn’t this amazing, wonderful, and totally awesome? Don’t you want “in” on this? Whatever is keeping you from being a child of God today, let it go and invite Jesus into your heart. Jesus doesn’t “play favorites” or discriminate… He is not a bigot of any kind. All who call on Him are welcome. This is GOOD NEWS! Be “in” with Jesus…you will not be disappointed.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 12, 2010
March 12 ~ Psalm 9:10
Everyone who honors your name can trust you, because you are faithful to all who depend on you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have lived any time at all, you have probably had someone depending on you – a friend, a relative, a pet, a co-worker or boss, a child perhaps – maybe even a parent or grandparent. And because we are humans, most likely, that person has done something that was hurtful, disrespectful – or at the very least, inconsiderate – and you probably felt like, “I don’t want this person to depend on me any longer. I don’t want to ‘be there’ for him/her.”
This doesn’t make you a bad person to feel this way. Hopefully, you asked God for strength, and you “sucked it up” and went ahead being the trustworthy, dependable person for the one who seemed so ungrateful.
The next time you are ready to “throw in the towel” with someone, stop and ask yourself this… “What if God threw in the towel with me?” Because you see, we all know that we are hurtful, insulting, disrespectful, and downright inconsiderate toward God – and often. We don’t honor His name like we should. We don’t listen to Him and do what He tells us… and some of us are just flat determined to do quite the opposite! And yet, He loves us and is faithful to us. He never “throws in the towel” with us… He never gives up… God never quits on our behalf.
If God is so loving and faithful to us when we dishonor Him, how much more do you suppose He would bless us if we honored and obeyed Him? We all know that we find it much easier to do things for those who are appreciative and grateful… even if that is not our reason for serving. So what if we were appreciative and grateful toward God?
Let’s do two things: 1) let’s make a concerted effort to keep loving and serving those who are unlovely and ungrateful, because that is what God commands us to do, and 2) let’s step up our gratitude toward God, on whom we depend. He is faithful to us even when we don’t deserve His care, and we would do well to find every opportunity possible to honor Him.
©2009 Debbie Robus
Everyone who honors your name can trust you, because you are faithful to all who depend on you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have lived any time at all, you have probably had someone depending on you – a friend, a relative, a pet, a co-worker or boss, a child perhaps – maybe even a parent or grandparent. And because we are humans, most likely, that person has done something that was hurtful, disrespectful – or at the very least, inconsiderate – and you probably felt like, “I don’t want this person to depend on me any longer. I don’t want to ‘be there’ for him/her.”
This doesn’t make you a bad person to feel this way. Hopefully, you asked God for strength, and you “sucked it up” and went ahead being the trustworthy, dependable person for the one who seemed so ungrateful.
The next time you are ready to “throw in the towel” with someone, stop and ask yourself this… “What if God threw in the towel with me?” Because you see, we all know that we are hurtful, insulting, disrespectful, and downright inconsiderate toward God – and often. We don’t honor His name like we should. We don’t listen to Him and do what He tells us… and some of us are just flat determined to do quite the opposite! And yet, He loves us and is faithful to us. He never “throws in the towel” with us… He never gives up… God never quits on our behalf.
If God is so loving and faithful to us when we dishonor Him, how much more do you suppose He would bless us if we honored and obeyed Him? We all know that we find it much easier to do things for those who are appreciative and grateful… even if that is not our reason for serving. So what if we were appreciative and grateful toward God?
Let’s do two things: 1) let’s make a concerted effort to keep loving and serving those who are unlovely and ungrateful, because that is what God commands us to do, and 2) let’s step up our gratitude toward God, on whom we depend. He is faithful to us even when we don’t deserve His care, and we would do well to find every opportunity possible to honor Him.
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 11, 2010
March 11 ~ Psalm 40:4
You bless all of those who trust you, LORD, and refuse to worship idols or follow false gods.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I were driving back from the Gulf South Basketball tournament in Memphis, and he asked me, “If you were handed $1 million, what would you do with it?” Of course, we both agreed that about $300,000 would go to taxes, so let’s say you were handed $700,000 cash… how would you spend it? I had trouble deciding for certain what I would do, but I mentioned investing some and giving some to charity. My husband added, “What if you were only in your twenties… what would you do with it then?” Surely the answers would be different – a house, a car, things would probably top the list!
The point is that as we mature, we hopefully learn what is truly important. We learn the proper order of priority for certain things in our lives. And hopefully, God and His work tops the list! There is a movement afoot today in certain circles to show people how the more we give, the more we are blessed. This runs counter to what many believe, but it is true. And the more we give of ourselves to God… not just physically, but also our heart and our faith in Him – and our service to others… the more He blesses us.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss a single blessing of God. His blessings have become top shelf with me. Serving Him and trusting Him are not always easy, but to do otherwise is no longer an option. Am I selling everything I have and moving to an under-developed country? No! Am I looking for more ways to serve in my own back yard? Absolutely! Am I playing the lottery to get funds for my projects? No way! I’m trusting God to show me where to serve, how to afford and accomplish this… and to bless the outcome. Everything else is just gravy. What would YOU do with $1 million windfall? Who or what would be at the top of YOUR list?
©2009 Debbie Robus
You bless all of those who trust you, LORD, and refuse to worship idols or follow false gods.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I were driving back from the Gulf South Basketball tournament in Memphis, and he asked me, “If you were handed $1 million, what would you do with it?” Of course, we both agreed that about $300,000 would go to taxes, so let’s say you were handed $700,000 cash… how would you spend it? I had trouble deciding for certain what I would do, but I mentioned investing some and giving some to charity. My husband added, “What if you were only in your twenties… what would you do with it then?” Surely the answers would be different – a house, a car, things would probably top the list!
The point is that as we mature, we hopefully learn what is truly important. We learn the proper order of priority for certain things in our lives. And hopefully, God and His work tops the list! There is a movement afoot today in certain circles to show people how the more we give, the more we are blessed. This runs counter to what many believe, but it is true. And the more we give of ourselves to God… not just physically, but also our heart and our faith in Him – and our service to others… the more He blesses us.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to miss a single blessing of God. His blessings have become top shelf with me. Serving Him and trusting Him are not always easy, but to do otherwise is no longer an option. Am I selling everything I have and moving to an under-developed country? No! Am I looking for more ways to serve in my own back yard? Absolutely! Am I playing the lottery to get funds for my projects? No way! I’m trusting God to show me where to serve, how to afford and accomplish this… and to bless the outcome. Everything else is just gravy. What would YOU do with $1 million windfall? Who or what would be at the top of YOUR list?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 10, 2010
March 10 ~ Psalm 62:8
Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns. God is our place of safety.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Everyone needs a “place of safety.” Everyone needs a place to go and sit and be alone and feel sheltered from the “storms of life.” This may be your bedroom, a den, or even your car. Some parents report that their only “haven” is the bathroom with the door locked! When I was a child, my places of safety were the mossy creek bank across from my grandparents’ farm house, a ride on my horse through the pasture, or the storm cellar (where we spent MANY hours!). That probably explains why to this day, I insist on a “safe room” in our house where we can go during threats of tornadoes!
We also need a Spiritual “place of safety.” This doesn’t have to be a physical location, although for many, it is helpful to have a set “spot” where they can go to talk to God and meditate upon His word. For me, this place is currently my sun porch. At another home, it was a rocking chair or the swing on my front porch. Even on cold winter nights, I would bundle up and go there to talk to God… to pour out my concerns. I felt His presence deeply there… and every twinkling star was like His wink of reassurance.
You don’t have to have a designated “place of safety” to communicate with God and trust Him with your concerns. You might do this in the car on your commute to work… or you might develop a time of meditation with Him while sitting on a bench and waiting on your mom to pick you up from school. Your “place of safety” with God might just be a calming effect you evoke by sitting quietly, praying and meditating. The point is to feel God’s presence and to envision His arms engulfing and protecting you. The point is to trust God to always welcome you - wherever you are, whatever is happening in your life - and to know that He will be there for you. He will – He IS! Are you trusting Him enough these days? Do you have a “place of safety” with God?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Trust God, my friends, and always tell him each one of your concerns. God is our place of safety.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Everyone needs a “place of safety.” Everyone needs a place to go and sit and be alone and feel sheltered from the “storms of life.” This may be your bedroom, a den, or even your car. Some parents report that their only “haven” is the bathroom with the door locked! When I was a child, my places of safety were the mossy creek bank across from my grandparents’ farm house, a ride on my horse through the pasture, or the storm cellar (where we spent MANY hours!). That probably explains why to this day, I insist on a “safe room” in our house where we can go during threats of tornadoes!
We also need a Spiritual “place of safety.” This doesn’t have to be a physical location, although for many, it is helpful to have a set “spot” where they can go to talk to God and meditate upon His word. For me, this place is currently my sun porch. At another home, it was a rocking chair or the swing on my front porch. Even on cold winter nights, I would bundle up and go there to talk to God… to pour out my concerns. I felt His presence deeply there… and every twinkling star was like His wink of reassurance.
You don’t have to have a designated “place of safety” to communicate with God and trust Him with your concerns. You might do this in the car on your commute to work… or you might develop a time of meditation with Him while sitting on a bench and waiting on your mom to pick you up from school. Your “place of safety” with God might just be a calming effect you evoke by sitting quietly, praying and meditating. The point is to feel God’s presence and to envision His arms engulfing and protecting you. The point is to trust God to always welcome you - wherever you are, whatever is happening in your life - and to know that He will be there for you. He will – He IS! Are you trusting Him enough these days? Do you have a “place of safety” with God?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 9, 2010
March 9 ~ Jeremiah 17:7
But I will bless those who trust me. They will be like trees growing beside a stream -- trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green. They bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As I took a long walk on a recent warm, sunny day, I counted my blessings. I remembered a day three years ago this week when I stepped off a 4-foot porch and crashed to the ground, breaking my ankle and tearing many ligaments in my foot. As I hobbled on crutches, sat on the couch for weeks and did daily therapy to recover, I trusted God to allow me to walk again… and now I can trek several miles without any trouble. A couple of years ago, I bent over to pick up a plate from the dishwasher, and my back went into excruciating spasms. For the next week, I lay in bed trying to find a comfortable position, and trusting God to heal me and allow me to stand up again. Today, I almost never think about my back. I lift and carry our baby nephew, Timothy, who weighs over 22 lbs. I bend and stretch and walk – and even unload the dishwasher(!), because God blessed me.
When the doctor told me that my brother would either respond to antibiotics or be dead in a week from an infection, I trusted God for the outcome, and we were blessed with six more months together. When we became weary from working night and day in our business, my husband and I trusted God to bring us a solution – and He sent us a buyer. Knowing we would not entrust our “baby” to just anyone, God chose buyers who were our friends – people we knew would care deeply for our business. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.
When you are worried or even mildly concerned over the outcome for your health situation, trust God and be blessed. When you need to sell your house, and buyers are not coming forward quickly, trust God for His timing… and a blessed result. When too much rain – or not enough – affects your crops, yard, business, or leisure activities… trust God to rectify the situation in the best manner. When you are facing a difficult test or some challenge that seems insurmountable, trust God and see how well He orchestrates things. When you are struggling in a relationship and things just don’t ever seem to even out, trust God to do the smoothing… and watch His blessings flow.
We need to “stop and smell the roses.” We need to trust God and believe Him for the situations in our lives. And when He delivers - and blesses – we need to notice! Are you trusting God to meet your needs and to bless your life? Have you thanked Him today for blessings you have already received? Are you “letting go and letting God” have authority over your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2009 Debbie Robus
But I will bless those who trust me. They will be like trees growing beside a stream -- trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green. They bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As I took a long walk on a recent warm, sunny day, I counted my blessings. I remembered a day three years ago this week when I stepped off a 4-foot porch and crashed to the ground, breaking my ankle and tearing many ligaments in my foot. As I hobbled on crutches, sat on the couch for weeks and did daily therapy to recover, I trusted God to allow me to walk again… and now I can trek several miles without any trouble. A couple of years ago, I bent over to pick up a plate from the dishwasher, and my back went into excruciating spasms. For the next week, I lay in bed trying to find a comfortable position, and trusting God to heal me and allow me to stand up again. Today, I almost never think about my back. I lift and carry our baby nephew, Timothy, who weighs over 22 lbs. I bend and stretch and walk – and even unload the dishwasher(!), because God blessed me.
When the doctor told me that my brother would either respond to antibiotics or be dead in a week from an infection, I trusted God for the outcome, and we were blessed with six more months together. When we became weary from working night and day in our business, my husband and I trusted God to bring us a solution – and He sent us a buyer. Knowing we would not entrust our “baby” to just anyone, God chose buyers who were our friends – people we knew would care deeply for our business. I could go on and on, but I think you get the picture.
When you are worried or even mildly concerned over the outcome for your health situation, trust God and be blessed. When you need to sell your house, and buyers are not coming forward quickly, trust God for His timing… and a blessed result. When too much rain – or not enough – affects your crops, yard, business, or leisure activities… trust God to rectify the situation in the best manner. When you are facing a difficult test or some challenge that seems insurmountable, trust God and see how well He orchestrates things. When you are struggling in a relationship and things just don’t ever seem to even out, trust God to do the smoothing… and watch His blessings flow.
We need to “stop and smell the roses.” We need to trust God and believe Him for the situations in our lives. And when He delivers - and blesses – we need to notice! Are you trusting God to meet your needs and to bless your life? Have you thanked Him today for blessings you have already received? Are you “letting go and letting God” have authority over your life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 8, 2010
March 8 ~ Isaiah 26:4
So always trust the LORD because he is forever our mighty rock.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about Sugarloaf Mountain. Picture the strong, sturdy rock formations at the top of that hill and how they have stood for centuries. Consider the strength of those rocks and try to imagine what type of force it would take to destroy them. Hard to even fathom, isn’t it?! The only force I can envision that could destroy Sugarloaf would be GOD Himself! So when we consider God as our “mighty rock” and think of Him in terms of such strength… it makes perfect sense to trust Him, doesn’t it? Think about climbing to the top of Sugarloaf and resting underneath a clear blue sky - feeling the wind blow across your face - and how comforted you are by this sensation… how exhilarated you are to have accomplished reaching the summit. Doesn’t the idea of trusting God to give you these feelings in everyday life make sense?
Don’t you want to trust Someone who will never let you down… Someone who will never let you fall? Don’t you want to trust someone who will always be there, day after month after year? Don’t you want to trust Someone who has the power and strength to, literally, move mountains… yet has the love, grace, mercy and compassion to treat us with the gentleness of an adoring father each and every day? Don’t you want to live in a way that you feel the “wind of God’s love” blow across your face?
We can have all of this, and more… God IS our mighty rock… and He is waiting for us to trust Him. I’m ready – are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
So always trust the LORD because he is forever our mighty rock.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about Sugarloaf Mountain. Picture the strong, sturdy rock formations at the top of that hill and how they have stood for centuries. Consider the strength of those rocks and try to imagine what type of force it would take to destroy them. Hard to even fathom, isn’t it?! The only force I can envision that could destroy Sugarloaf would be GOD Himself! So when we consider God as our “mighty rock” and think of Him in terms of such strength… it makes perfect sense to trust Him, doesn’t it? Think about climbing to the top of Sugarloaf and resting underneath a clear blue sky - feeling the wind blow across your face - and how comforted you are by this sensation… how exhilarated you are to have accomplished reaching the summit. Doesn’t the idea of trusting God to give you these feelings in everyday life make sense?
Don’t you want to trust Someone who will never let you down… Someone who will never let you fall? Don’t you want to trust someone who will always be there, day after month after year? Don’t you want to trust Someone who has the power and strength to, literally, move mountains… yet has the love, grace, mercy and compassion to treat us with the gentleness of an adoring father each and every day? Don’t you want to live in a way that you feel the “wind of God’s love” blow across your face?
We can have all of this, and more… God IS our mighty rock… and He is waiting for us to trust Him. I’m ready – are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 7, 2010
March 7 ~ Psalm 55:23
But what about those people who are cruel and brutal? You will throw them down into the deepest pit long before their time. I trust you, LORD!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Lately, I’ve been talking with God about my relationships with other people. I’ve considered that, at times, I have most likely said unkind or inconsiderate things to others. I hope I have not been cruel and brutal… but often, others perceive our actions and words as such even when we do not. I operate under the assumption that if people “feel” a certain way – those feelings are real to them. So if someone feels you are cruel or brutal – or if you feel someone has been cruel or brutal toward you – those feelings have merit.
Probably all of us have felt at one time or another that someone was unkind or unfair toward us. And a natural, human instinct is to take that person down – or to fight back on our own behalf.
The message I have gotten from talking with God about this is that while these people and experiences have impact on our lives… they do not have to affect us… and there is a difference! Think of bumper cars. If you bump into someone in your car, most likely there will be no lasting injury or consequence. But if you crash your car into someone else’s, this could affect all of you for the rest of your lives. What is the difference between the impact of a bump and the effect of a crash? Often it is how we perceive the event or incident. How can we change our perception? Trust in God to handle this for you!
“Yeah, right,” you may be saying. “That’s a lot easier said than done.” Yes, and nobody said being a faithful Christian was easy. Trusting God sounds simple, but it involves a release of our own desires as we fully rest in HIM to handle the worries of our day. It doesn’t happen overnight, but prayer and constant communication with God will strengthen you in your efforts. My prayer for all of us is that we could trust God to make tiny bumps out of major crashes in our lives… that our impacts could be minor and our effects nonexistent. He can do this for us… but we have to do our part. What’s holding you back today? Aren’t you ready to let God fight your battles?
©2009 Debbie Robus
But what about those people who are cruel and brutal? You will throw them down into the deepest pit long before their time. I trust you, LORD!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Lately, I’ve been talking with God about my relationships with other people. I’ve considered that, at times, I have most likely said unkind or inconsiderate things to others. I hope I have not been cruel and brutal… but often, others perceive our actions and words as such even when we do not. I operate under the assumption that if people “feel” a certain way – those feelings are real to them. So if someone feels you are cruel or brutal – or if you feel someone has been cruel or brutal toward you – those feelings have merit.
Probably all of us have felt at one time or another that someone was unkind or unfair toward us. And a natural, human instinct is to take that person down – or to fight back on our own behalf.
The message I have gotten from talking with God about this is that while these people and experiences have impact on our lives… they do not have to affect us… and there is a difference! Think of bumper cars. If you bump into someone in your car, most likely there will be no lasting injury or consequence. But if you crash your car into someone else’s, this could affect all of you for the rest of your lives. What is the difference between the impact of a bump and the effect of a crash? Often it is how we perceive the event or incident. How can we change our perception? Trust in God to handle this for you!
“Yeah, right,” you may be saying. “That’s a lot easier said than done.” Yes, and nobody said being a faithful Christian was easy. Trusting God sounds simple, but it involves a release of our own desires as we fully rest in HIM to handle the worries of our day. It doesn’t happen overnight, but prayer and constant communication with God will strengthen you in your efforts. My prayer for all of us is that we could trust God to make tiny bumps out of major crashes in our lives… that our impacts could be minor and our effects nonexistent. He can do this for us… but we have to do our part. What’s holding you back today? Aren’t you ready to let God fight your battles?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 6, 2010
March 6 ~ Psalm 20:7
Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Strength… when used for the right purposes, it can wield power, protection, and movement! When used for the wrong reasons, strength can be brutal. It can bruise, break, and cause great harm – literally, physically and emotionally. And sometimes, we foolishly – or even unknowingly – place our trust in the wrong types of strength. We count too heavily on human beings, who can disappoint. We trust the power of money, material possessions, or status. And somewhere down the line, we realize that these things do not satisfy – or sustain us – and sometimes they even hurt us.
True power and strength lies with God. HE is the one who guides and protects us. He is the one with the ability to move mountains – both literally and figuratively – in our lives. Remember, GOD is the ultimate Superhero! God will not harm us – He is our shield. He will not bruise us and beat us down – He is our protection. He will not abandon us – He is our Savior. We must learn to trust God completely – to surrender to His will and KNOW that what He does in and through us is most important – and in our best interest. We must realize that trusting God is not scary – it is comforting. He is our “soft place to fall.” He is our Rock and our Redeemer.
Friends and family, money and possessions have their place and purpose in our lives. But without trust in God and a strong relationship with Him, all other relationships and “trusts” are subject to failure. Make sure your trust is placed properly and that your relationship with God gets top priority. His strength is always a sure thing!
©2009 Debbie Robus
Some people trust the power of chariots or horses, but we trust you, LORD God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Strength… when used for the right purposes, it can wield power, protection, and movement! When used for the wrong reasons, strength can be brutal. It can bruise, break, and cause great harm – literally, physically and emotionally. And sometimes, we foolishly – or even unknowingly – place our trust in the wrong types of strength. We count too heavily on human beings, who can disappoint. We trust the power of money, material possessions, or status. And somewhere down the line, we realize that these things do not satisfy – or sustain us – and sometimes they even hurt us.
True power and strength lies with God. HE is the one who guides and protects us. He is the one with the ability to move mountains – both literally and figuratively – in our lives. Remember, GOD is the ultimate Superhero! God will not harm us – He is our shield. He will not bruise us and beat us down – He is our protection. He will not abandon us – He is our Savior. We must learn to trust God completely – to surrender to His will and KNOW that what He does in and through us is most important – and in our best interest. We must realize that trusting God is not scary – it is comforting. He is our “soft place to fall.” He is our Rock and our Redeemer.
Friends and family, money and possessions have their place and purpose in our lives. But without trust in God and a strong relationship with Him, all other relationships and “trusts” are subject to failure. Make sure your trust is placed properly and that your relationship with God gets top priority. His strength is always a sure thing!
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 5, 2010
March 5 ~ Psalms 86:2
Protect me and save me because you are my God. I am your faithful servant, and I trust you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you have someone who depends on you? Maybe it’s a child or a spouse - or if you are a young person, it might be a pet. But you are responsible for the care, feeding, and basic nurture of this living being. I know that our two cats trust us to always have fresh food for them and plenty of water to drink. They look to us for love and affection, physical exercise and play. When Lucy cries at the sink, she trusts that I will come refresh the water. When Mabel leads us to the empty food bowl, she trusts that we will refill it. When our nephew Timothy is with us, he trusts us completely for food, dry diapers and clean clothes, a bath, safety as he explores new things, entertainment and attention. Timothy trusts that when he cries, we will do something. He trusts that we will protect him from falling and getting hurt… and he knows that wherever he crawls, we will be there with him.
With our pets and our nephew, it doesn’t matter if we are sick, injured, busy, or just having a bad day – they still need us, and they trust us to be there for them! We are always “on the clock.” And they thank us with cuddles and hugs, kisses (from the baby) - licks and purrs (from the kitties)! They love us, and we know it!
God is always “on the clock” for us. He is continually meeting all of our needs and watching over us. He never takes a holiday! We can depend on Him to care for us, protect us, nurture and love us… we can trust Him. The question is… do we? Do we honestly trust God to do these things – and thank Him for doing so? Or more to the point, do we take this care and protection for granted? Do we just assume God will do this? There IS a difference… gratitude. If you read all of Psalm 86, you will see that David, the psalmist, recognized God’s power and blessings in His life, and he acknowledged God as His master and himself as the servant.
We can’t earn God’s love and care, but we can certainly thank Him for it. We can earnestly trust Him to meet our needs – and thank Him when He does. Are you God’s faithful servant? Are you trusting Him… and then giving Him the praise He deserves?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Protect me and save me because you are my God. I am your faithful servant, and I trust you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you have someone who depends on you? Maybe it’s a child or a spouse - or if you are a young person, it might be a pet. But you are responsible for the care, feeding, and basic nurture of this living being. I know that our two cats trust us to always have fresh food for them and plenty of water to drink. They look to us for love and affection, physical exercise and play. When Lucy cries at the sink, she trusts that I will come refresh the water. When Mabel leads us to the empty food bowl, she trusts that we will refill it. When our nephew Timothy is with us, he trusts us completely for food, dry diapers and clean clothes, a bath, safety as he explores new things, entertainment and attention. Timothy trusts that when he cries, we will do something. He trusts that we will protect him from falling and getting hurt… and he knows that wherever he crawls, we will be there with him.
With our pets and our nephew, it doesn’t matter if we are sick, injured, busy, or just having a bad day – they still need us, and they trust us to be there for them! We are always “on the clock.” And they thank us with cuddles and hugs, kisses (from the baby) - licks and purrs (from the kitties)! They love us, and we know it!
God is always “on the clock” for us. He is continually meeting all of our needs and watching over us. He never takes a holiday! We can depend on Him to care for us, protect us, nurture and love us… we can trust Him. The question is… do we? Do we honestly trust God to do these things – and thank Him for doing so? Or more to the point, do we take this care and protection for granted? Do we just assume God will do this? There IS a difference… gratitude. If you read all of Psalm 86, you will see that David, the psalmist, recognized God’s power and blessings in His life, and he acknowledged God as His master and himself as the servant.
We can’t earn God’s love and care, but we can certainly thank Him for it. We can earnestly trust Him to meet our needs – and thank Him when He does. Are you God’s faithful servant? Are you trusting Him… and then giving Him the praise He deserves?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 4, 2010
March 4 ~ Psalm 32:10
All kinds of troubles will strike the wicked, but your kindness shields those who trust you, LORD.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about common cold medicine. When you have a runny nose and stuffy head, you trust this drug to help alleviate your symptoms and make you feel better. But in the wrong hands, the same ingredients can be utilized to create something more sinister – a “recreational drug” that can steal your health and ruin lives. When you use the can of cooking spray in your cabinet to coat a dish or pan, you trust that whatever you cook will not stick. But that same can of cooking spray could have a far more serious – even lethal – use as a “recreational inhalant.” It’s a bit like playing Russian Roulette.
Do you see where I am going? When we focus on doing the will of God and place our trust in Him, He shields us. When we focus on serving ourselves - or something/someone other than God - trouble strikes. The difference in the outcome resides solely in our choices. We are like the cold medicine or the can of cooking spray. Used for the right purposes, all goes well. Used for the wrong purposes, serious consequences can result.
We can choose to trust God and rest in the knowledge that He will guide our steps. Or we can go it alone and take our chances. I don’t know about you, but this seems like a “no-brainer” to me. Live with the “right purposes.” Trust God and rest under the kindness of His shield. Focus on serving Him and enjoy the blessings that will follow.
©2009 Debbie Robus
All kinds of troubles will strike the wicked, but your kindness shields those who trust you, LORD.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think about common cold medicine. When you have a runny nose and stuffy head, you trust this drug to help alleviate your symptoms and make you feel better. But in the wrong hands, the same ingredients can be utilized to create something more sinister – a “recreational drug” that can steal your health and ruin lives. When you use the can of cooking spray in your cabinet to coat a dish or pan, you trust that whatever you cook will not stick. But that same can of cooking spray could have a far more serious – even lethal – use as a “recreational inhalant.” It’s a bit like playing Russian Roulette.
Do you see where I am going? When we focus on doing the will of God and place our trust in Him, He shields us. When we focus on serving ourselves - or something/someone other than God - trouble strikes. The difference in the outcome resides solely in our choices. We are like the cold medicine or the can of cooking spray. Used for the right purposes, all goes well. Used for the wrong purposes, serious consequences can result.
We can choose to trust God and rest in the knowledge that He will guide our steps. Or we can go it alone and take our chances. I don’t know about you, but this seems like a “no-brainer” to me. Live with the “right purposes.” Trust God and rest under the kindness of His shield. Focus on serving Him and enjoy the blessings that will follow.
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 3, 2010
March 3 ~ Isaiah 50:10
Who out there fears God, actually listens to the voice of his servant?
For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: Trust in God. Lean on your 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.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to walk into a dark house or room. Throughout our house, there are always lamps or lights of some sort glowing – if only a solar night light to guide our steps in the middle of the night. I heard an older person complain that nowadays, we are never truly in the dark, because there are so many lights on electronics that continually glow in our houses.
We can choose to have a Spiritual “light” on all the time in our hearts. We can choose to lean on God and know that He is always with us, guiding our steps. We never have to stumble or fumble around in the dark. We never have to get lost and go down the wrong path. GOD can keep us headed in the right direction! We just have to trust Him. We have to respect His power and authority and LISTEN to His voice.
As much as I dislike a dark house, I dislike Spiritual darkness even more. I don’t like the empty, confused feeling of fumbling in the dark Spiritually and not knowing which direction to go. I don’t enjoy feeling distant from God and His guidance. But the good news is that I don’t HAVE to feel this way! I can “flip the switch” so to speak and do the things that keep me in right relationship with God. HE will light my way and keep me from groping in the dark. And that is a very comforting feeling. Who is lighting your way these days? Are you listening to God and the voice of His servant?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Who out there fears God, actually listens to the voice of his servant?
For anyone out there who doesn't know where you're going, anyone groping in the dark, Here's what: Trust in God. Lean on your 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.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like to walk into a dark house or room. Throughout our house, there are always lamps or lights of some sort glowing – if only a solar night light to guide our steps in the middle of the night. I heard an older person complain that nowadays, we are never truly in the dark, because there are so many lights on electronics that continually glow in our houses.
We can choose to have a Spiritual “light” on all the time in our hearts. We can choose to lean on God and know that He is always with us, guiding our steps. We never have to stumble or fumble around in the dark. We never have to get lost and go down the wrong path. GOD can keep us headed in the right direction! We just have to trust Him. We have to respect His power and authority and LISTEN to His voice.
As much as I dislike a dark house, I dislike Spiritual darkness even more. I don’t like the empty, confused feeling of fumbling in the dark Spiritually and not knowing which direction to go. I don’t enjoy feeling distant from God and His guidance. But the good news is that I don’t HAVE to feel this way! I can “flip the switch” so to speak and do the things that keep me in right relationship with God. HE will light my way and keep me from groping in the dark. And that is a very comforting feeling. Who is lighting your way these days? Are you listening to God and the voice of His servant?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 2, 2010
March 2 ~ John 14:1
Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Prove it!” How many times have you heard this or said it yourself? We all want proof, don’t we?! If we can just see things for ourselves, we’ll believe them. If someone can just show us how everything is going to come together and work out well, we’ll go along with the plans. It’s sort of like those people who read the last page of the book first – we want to know how things end!
So often, we Christians are amazingly skeptical. We’re as bad as Thomas and the other disciples. We want nothing short of pyrotechnics, flashing lights and bright billboards on every corner to assure us that Jesus IS who He says He is and will do what He promised. We say we believe in Him. We say we trust Him. But then we act in the completely opposite manner. We need proof! We need to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt – and with physical evidence, please – that God is real and will handle our problems and deliver us from the devil and his agents. For many of us, the miracles all around us are not enough… we need more!
If you read on in John 14, you will see that Jesus tells the disciples, in essence, to relax. He tells them that they have been together a long time – long enough for the disciples to know that Jesus is a man of His word. So when He says that He is taking care of everything and preparing a place for them and will return, that should be enough to satisfy them. When He tells them that He is one with the Father, and therefore, we have a one-on-one, intimate relationship with God, we should believe Him. And then, as if He knows this won’t be sufficient, He calls on the Holy Spirit to come and be our constant companion.
I don’t know about you, but it seems rather tiresome to me to be continually wondering if God is who He says He is and will do what He promised. I’m ready to relax. I’m ready to let go and trust Him completely – to believe in Him and rely on the Holy Spirit each day to be my constant companion and guide. I’m ready rest in the Lord and let Him handle my days, nights, weekends… the whole shebang! Are you ready? What’s keeping you from trusting Him for yourself?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples, "Don't be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“Prove it!” How many times have you heard this or said it yourself? We all want proof, don’t we?! If we can just see things for ourselves, we’ll believe them. If someone can just show us how everything is going to come together and work out well, we’ll go along with the plans. It’s sort of like those people who read the last page of the book first – we want to know how things end!
So often, we Christians are amazingly skeptical. We’re as bad as Thomas and the other disciples. We want nothing short of pyrotechnics, flashing lights and bright billboards on every corner to assure us that Jesus IS who He says He is and will do what He promised. We say we believe in Him. We say we trust Him. But then we act in the completely opposite manner. We need proof! We need to KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt – and with physical evidence, please – that God is real and will handle our problems and deliver us from the devil and his agents. For many of us, the miracles all around us are not enough… we need more!
If you read on in John 14, you will see that Jesus tells the disciples, in essence, to relax. He tells them that they have been together a long time – long enough for the disciples to know that Jesus is a man of His word. So when He says that He is taking care of everything and preparing a place for them and will return, that should be enough to satisfy them. When He tells them that He is one with the Father, and therefore, we have a one-on-one, intimate relationship with God, we should believe Him. And then, as if He knows this won’t be sufficient, He calls on the Holy Spirit to come and be our constant companion.
I don’t know about you, but it seems rather tiresome to me to be continually wondering if God is who He says He is and will do what He promised. I’m ready to relax. I’m ready to let go and trust Him completely – to believe in Him and rely on the Holy Spirit each day to be my constant companion and guide. I’m ready rest in the Lord and let Him handle my days, nights, weekends… the whole shebang! Are you ready? What’s keeping you from trusting Him for yourself?
©2009 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 1, 2010
March 1 ~ Proverbs 3:5-6
With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever read the book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? Alexander is a little boy with problems that go from bad to worse as his day progresses. There have been days when I felt exactly like Alexander, and you may have had one of those days, too. I’m pretty sure we all have them! But the key to overcoming these seemingly lousy days is to remember WHO clears the road for us!
See, the worst day in the world with God is better than any other day. And if we trust Him with all of our heart and move ourselves out of the way, He can operate. God can turn our worst day around in a heartbeat and make it great. I know – I’ve seen Him do it more than once – and very recently! But we have to get out of the way and trust Him to work. Sometimes the instinct is to take matters into our own hands. Rarely is this a good idea!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Let HIM lead you. The road may still be a little bumpy at times, but He will get you where you need to go far better than you could ever manage on your own.
©2009 Debbie Robus
With all your heart you must trust the LORD and not your own judgment. Always let him lead you, and he will clear the road for you to follow.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever read the book, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst? Alexander is a little boy with problems that go from bad to worse as his day progresses. There have been days when I felt exactly like Alexander, and you may have had one of those days, too. I’m pretty sure we all have them! But the key to overcoming these seemingly lousy days is to remember WHO clears the road for us!
See, the worst day in the world with God is better than any other day. And if we trust Him with all of our heart and move ourselves out of the way, He can operate. God can turn our worst day around in a heartbeat and make it great. I know – I’ve seen Him do it more than once – and very recently! But we have to get out of the way and trust Him to work. Sometimes the instinct is to take matters into our own hands. Rarely is this a good idea!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Let HIM lead you. The road may still be a little bumpy at times, but He will get you where you need to go far better than you could ever manage on your own.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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