Matthew 6:19-21
Don't store up treasures on earth! Moths and rust can destroy them, and thieves can break in and steal them. Instead, store up your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy them, and thieves cannot break in and steal them. Your heart will always be where your treasure is.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We have begun sorting my grandmother’s clothes in preparation for her move to an assisted living facility… hopefully within the next week or so. My grandmother’s house is very small… but like most people, she has made very good use of her space! I remarked after paring down the clothing in three closets to one that “Mam-ma has more clothes than I have… and I have too many!” The interesting thing was how many of these items of clothing I have never seen her wear. She has beautiful suits… nice matching outfits that have a jacket, pants and a blouse… probably a dozen coats… and much more.
Several items of clothing looked as if they had never been worn… and truly, they might have been worn two or three times. Again, like many of us, my grandmother wears a few items of clothing over and over again. She has “good clothes” and “everyday clothes”… “work clothes” and “clothes I wear to the beauty shop” (clothing that can get wet or survive a hair product spill). She has her “regular pajamas,” and her pajamas she keeps tucked away in a drawer… “in case I have to go to the hospital.”
As we sorted, she mumbled to me that she hated to wear such nice things at the assisted living facility. I laughed and said, somewhat sarcastically, “Are you afraid you will be putting on airs or something?” She retorted, “Well, yes!” I assured her she would be just fine, and now was the time to be wearing her nicer things. As my cousin put it later… “This is her time to shine!”
For the record, my grandmother is not a materialistic person. Many of the beautiful clothing pieces she has were given to her as Christmas and birthday gifts or as a treat from some cousins who visit and always take her shopping. She is one of the most frugal… and generous… people I know. But we all know people who spend hours and days and weeks searching for just the right outfit… those who have to have the newest sneakers or the latest gadget. We know people who get on a waiting list for the next best electronic or computerized thing to come down the pike… tossing aside what they already own like yesterday’s garbage.
The more I go to estate auctions and sales… and yes, sort through my grandmother’s belongings… the more I am struck by how “it’s all just stuff.” Remember, everything my grandmother owned burned to the ground in 1981. She has accumulated everything she now has in the last thirty years. Think of those who have been amassing “stuff” for a lifetime that spans a half dozen decades or more! Hopefully, they are like my grandmother and realize that all of it can vaporize in a matter of minutes. Hopefully, we are learning that what matters is accumulating blessings, time spent serving God, good friends, loving our family and those around us, and truly building a reserve of “Disciple moments”.
There is nothing wrong with having nice things. There is no shame in dressing well or enjoying the latest computer gadget. But when we put these things ahead of our work for the Kingdom of God… when we value tangible things more than relationships with Him and His children…we’re in serious trouble. What we value really does speak about our heart. What do you value? Where is your heart? Are you packing away “stuff” in your closets and drawers for a “special occasion?” Or are you “wearing your good clothes” today as you serve God with your very best?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 30, 2011
Matthew 5:33-37
"And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”
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.
I tried a few years ago to read the whole Bible in one year by following a study guide… a passage from both the Old and New Testaments, Psalms and Proverbs each day. I made it quite a few months before “life” got in the way and I fell short. I am determined once again to do this… and after nearly a month, I am finding that I actually look forward to this time each day and seeing what God will reveal to me through His word.
One of the neatest things about this study is discovering how verses in these various sections of the Bible work together. The passage in the Old Testament is often referenced in some way in the Psalms or the New Testament scriptures. And so it was when I read in recent days about Moses confronting Pharaoh (at God’s instruction) and asking him to release the Israelites so that they could move from Egypt. Moses did several things to prove to Pharaoh that this was God’s doing, not his own. And each time, Pharaoh would say, “Okay… you can go.” And then he would turn right around and change his mind.
With God’s power, Moses and his brother Aaron turned walking sticks into snakes, brought plagues of gnats, frogs, and flies upon the land. They turned all of the water in the Nile and every river, pond, stream – even the water in the pots and pans in the houses – into blood. After several of these demonstrations, Pharaoh could not deny that God was behind them, but still his heart was hardened. Pharaoh’s word was no good. He made promises and did not keep them. And in the end, he and his people suffered for this.
In Matthew 5, Jesus is reminding us that our words are important. When we tell someone we are going to do something – it matters. Whether you promise to pick someone up and give them a ride and then never show or you say, “I’ll pray for you,” and never do so… your words matter. When you tell someone you’ll call them tomorrow, call them. When you say, “Yes, I’ll help you move,” you had better show up on moving day! When you tell someone you are coming for dinner, be there… and be on time! When you tell someone, “I will do this for you for such-and-such price” – don’t change the amount later. When you borrow something and promise to pay back the lender, be sure you do just that! When you promise to do something for someone else, don’t let them down – do the job, and do it to the best of your ability.
More importantly, do not fall short on your promises to God. When you tell Him you are ready to serve, do what He asks. Let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No” – as Jesus says in Matthew 5. If you are asked to do something or make a commitment you know you cannot honor, it’s better to tell the person who is asking, “No” than to fail to come through on the promise. There really are situations where the appropriate response is a “No” or to say, “I’m sorry, but I just cannot do this” or “I am simply unable to serve at this time.”
Our words and commitments do have value – and consequences. We know we can count on God to keep His word to us… can He count on us to do the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"And don't say anything you don't mean. This counsel is embedded deep in our traditions. You only make things worse when you lay down a smoke screen of pious talk, saying, 'I'll pray for you,' and never doing it, or saying, 'God be with you,' and not meaning it. You don't make your words true by embellishing them with religious lace. In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less true. Just say 'yes' and 'no.' When you manipulate words to get your own way, you go wrong.”
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.
I tried a few years ago to read the whole Bible in one year by following a study guide… a passage from both the Old and New Testaments, Psalms and Proverbs each day. I made it quite a few months before “life” got in the way and I fell short. I am determined once again to do this… and after nearly a month, I am finding that I actually look forward to this time each day and seeing what God will reveal to me through His word.
One of the neatest things about this study is discovering how verses in these various sections of the Bible work together. The passage in the Old Testament is often referenced in some way in the Psalms or the New Testament scriptures. And so it was when I read in recent days about Moses confronting Pharaoh (at God’s instruction) and asking him to release the Israelites so that they could move from Egypt. Moses did several things to prove to Pharaoh that this was God’s doing, not his own. And each time, Pharaoh would say, “Okay… you can go.” And then he would turn right around and change his mind.
With God’s power, Moses and his brother Aaron turned walking sticks into snakes, brought plagues of gnats, frogs, and flies upon the land. They turned all of the water in the Nile and every river, pond, stream – even the water in the pots and pans in the houses – into blood. After several of these demonstrations, Pharaoh could not deny that God was behind them, but still his heart was hardened. Pharaoh’s word was no good. He made promises and did not keep them. And in the end, he and his people suffered for this.
In Matthew 5, Jesus is reminding us that our words are important. When we tell someone we are going to do something – it matters. Whether you promise to pick someone up and give them a ride and then never show or you say, “I’ll pray for you,” and never do so… your words matter. When you tell someone you’ll call them tomorrow, call them. When you say, “Yes, I’ll help you move,” you had better show up on moving day! When you tell someone you are coming for dinner, be there… and be on time! When you tell someone, “I will do this for you for such-and-such price” – don’t change the amount later. When you borrow something and promise to pay back the lender, be sure you do just that! When you promise to do something for someone else, don’t let them down – do the job, and do it to the best of your ability.
More importantly, do not fall short on your promises to God. When you tell Him you are ready to serve, do what He asks. Let your “Yes” be “Yes” and your “No” be “No” – as Jesus says in Matthew 5. If you are asked to do something or make a commitment you know you cannot honor, it’s better to tell the person who is asking, “No” than to fail to come through on the promise. There really are situations where the appropriate response is a “No” or to say, “I’m sorry, but I just cannot do this” or “I am simply unable to serve at this time.”
Our words and commitments do have value – and consequences. We know we can count on God to keep His word to us… can He count on us to do the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 29, 2011
Matthew 5:13
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”
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.
We hear a lot these days about watching our salt intake. Doctors who report on television news stations – or have their own TV shows – are warning us to greatly reduce the amount of salt in our diet. On the other hand, professionals who are evaluating the work of chefs and “would-be chefs” on a number of cooking shows routinely mention salt. There is a delicate balance… not enough, and the dish is bland and lacks flavor. Add too much, and all you taste is salt.
Few people really enjoy bland food… or food that lacks enough salt. Most people detest a dish that is too salty! And this analogy in Matthew 5 for salt directly applies to our Christian life.
Jesus has told us that we are the salt. How we conduct ourselves… the things we say and do… enhance the “flavor” of His work. In other words, when people see us living in joy… gladly doing for others… speaking kindly and holding our tongue when many would lash out or say something ugly… they see the goodness of God through us. When we “take the high road” and quietly work behind the scenes to make life better for others… when we show compassion… and most especially, when we demonstrate faith in the midst of challenges… people see the power, grace, mercy and love of God in action.
At the same time, when we add “too much salt,” we have a negative effect. When we behave badly, then claim to be Disciples of Christ… people notice. When we go on and on about how active we are in ministries… give people the impression that the Sunday School class to which we belong, the Bible study we attend, and our mission work and generous spirit are what define our Christian life, we have “over-salted” – and it often leaves a foul taste with others. I’m not saying we can’t ever tell someone we will pray for them (if we indeed pray for them afterward), or that it is in any way wrong to attend a Bible study or Sunday School… or to do missions work. But the delicate “seasoning” comes in how we present our lives to others… how well we balance the “salt.”
Salt is a subtle flavoring. When there is not enough of it in a dish, people notice – and miss it! When there is too much salt, people notice, also… and for many, the dish is ruined. If we over-salt our Christian witness with too much outward show of how wonderful we are… how faithfully we serve… what martyrs we are for Jesus… we may do more harm than good for the kingdom of God. If we are careful and attentive with our “salt,” God can use us to bring out the very best flavor of a life in Christ… and others will take notice and want more for themselves.
We all know people who are “heavy-handed with the salt shaker”… and I’m betting you know a few who are on the bland side… literally, and in their daily Christian living. It’s time for us to take a hard look at our Christian “salt shaker” and see where we should correct the balance. Have you checked your “salt” lately?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.”
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.
We hear a lot these days about watching our salt intake. Doctors who report on television news stations – or have their own TV shows – are warning us to greatly reduce the amount of salt in our diet. On the other hand, professionals who are evaluating the work of chefs and “would-be chefs” on a number of cooking shows routinely mention salt. There is a delicate balance… not enough, and the dish is bland and lacks flavor. Add too much, and all you taste is salt.
Few people really enjoy bland food… or food that lacks enough salt. Most people detest a dish that is too salty! And this analogy in Matthew 5 for salt directly applies to our Christian life.
Jesus has told us that we are the salt. How we conduct ourselves… the things we say and do… enhance the “flavor” of His work. In other words, when people see us living in joy… gladly doing for others… speaking kindly and holding our tongue when many would lash out or say something ugly… they see the goodness of God through us. When we “take the high road” and quietly work behind the scenes to make life better for others… when we show compassion… and most especially, when we demonstrate faith in the midst of challenges… people see the power, grace, mercy and love of God in action.
At the same time, when we add “too much salt,” we have a negative effect. When we behave badly, then claim to be Disciples of Christ… people notice. When we go on and on about how active we are in ministries… give people the impression that the Sunday School class to which we belong, the Bible study we attend, and our mission work and generous spirit are what define our Christian life, we have “over-salted” – and it often leaves a foul taste with others. I’m not saying we can’t ever tell someone we will pray for them (if we indeed pray for them afterward), or that it is in any way wrong to attend a Bible study or Sunday School… or to do missions work. But the delicate “seasoning” comes in how we present our lives to others… how well we balance the “salt.”
Salt is a subtle flavoring. When there is not enough of it in a dish, people notice – and miss it! When there is too much salt, people notice, also… and for many, the dish is ruined. If we over-salt our Christian witness with too much outward show of how wonderful we are… how faithfully we serve… what martyrs we are for Jesus… we may do more harm than good for the kingdom of God. If we are careful and attentive with our “salt,” God can use us to bring out the very best flavor of a life in Christ… and others will take notice and want more for themselves.
We all know people who are “heavy-handed with the salt shaker”… and I’m betting you know a few who are on the bland side… literally, and in their daily Christian living. It’s time for us to take a hard look at our Christian “salt shaker” and see where we should correct the balance. Have you checked your “salt” lately?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 28, 2011
Psalm 10:16-18
Our LORD, you will always rule, but nations will vanish from the earth. You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help. You defend orphans and everyone else in need, so that no one on earth can terrify others again.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend shared with us recently that her daughter laughed at those who so eagerly share photos of their children on Facebook… until she had her own baby. She said, “Now I get it.” And truly, until we have walked in others’ shoes, we often don’t understand their thinking… the things that make them happy, sad, proud, embarrassed, encouraged or defeated.
But God always understands. He knows the heartache of orphans who long for a home and someone to love them. He understands the fears and disappointment of those who are abused by a parent, spouse, or someone else. He sees the child who is bullied, and His heart is grieved. He “gets it” when someone we love is sick and we are unable to help heal.
I remember feeling so helpless when my brother was ill and slipping away from us. There was nothing we could do to restore his health this side of heaven. I know the frustration of holding a screaming child who can’t tell me where he hurts or what is wrong… and wondering what on earth I can possibly do to soothe him. But GOD knows exactly what to do. He hears everything… feels the pain and suffering… understands the heartache and sorrow… and HE can fix what we mere mortals cannot.
It may seem like small consolation to think that God knows what is happening when you are being abused or mistreated… when you are sick and/or suffering. You may be wondering… “If God knows this is happening, why doesn’t He DO something about it?” The answer is complicated, but here’s the “nuts and bolts” of it… God does see our needs, and He IS meeting them. What we have to understand is that God’s timing may not align with ours. Also, we must learn to stay faithful and close to God even when we feel He is not hearing our cries… the times we feel He is not listening… much less answering.
We will never fully understand how God operates in this lifetime. But we must stay faithful that He is “on the clock” on our behalf. He will always rule… He will always have our back… and He will always be right on time. Our job is to believe this… stay strong in our faith… and not resort to criticism of God’s timing. Someday, just like my friend’s daughter, we will “get it.” For now, let it be enough to know that God is always working in your behalf… for the perfect outcome when the time is right.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Our LORD, you will always rule, but nations will vanish from the earth. You listen to the longings of those who suffer. You offer them hope, and you pay attention to their cries for help. You defend orphans and everyone else in need, so that no one on earth can terrify others again.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend shared with us recently that her daughter laughed at those who so eagerly share photos of their children on Facebook… until she had her own baby. She said, “Now I get it.” And truly, until we have walked in others’ shoes, we often don’t understand their thinking… the things that make them happy, sad, proud, embarrassed, encouraged or defeated.
But God always understands. He knows the heartache of orphans who long for a home and someone to love them. He understands the fears and disappointment of those who are abused by a parent, spouse, or someone else. He sees the child who is bullied, and His heart is grieved. He “gets it” when someone we love is sick and we are unable to help heal.
I remember feeling so helpless when my brother was ill and slipping away from us. There was nothing we could do to restore his health this side of heaven. I know the frustration of holding a screaming child who can’t tell me where he hurts or what is wrong… and wondering what on earth I can possibly do to soothe him. But GOD knows exactly what to do. He hears everything… feels the pain and suffering… understands the heartache and sorrow… and HE can fix what we mere mortals cannot.
It may seem like small consolation to think that God knows what is happening when you are being abused or mistreated… when you are sick and/or suffering. You may be wondering… “If God knows this is happening, why doesn’t He DO something about it?” The answer is complicated, but here’s the “nuts and bolts” of it… God does see our needs, and He IS meeting them. What we have to understand is that God’s timing may not align with ours. Also, we must learn to stay faithful and close to God even when we feel He is not hearing our cries… the times we feel He is not listening… much less answering.
We will never fully understand how God operates in this lifetime. But we must stay faithful that He is “on the clock” on our behalf. He will always rule… He will always have our back… and He will always be right on time. Our job is to believe this… stay strong in our faith… and not resort to criticism of God’s timing. Someday, just like my friend’s daughter, we will “get it.” For now, let it be enough to know that God is always working in your behalf… for the perfect outcome when the time is right.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 27, 2011
Psalm 8:3-9
I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place. Then I ask, "Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?" You made us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor. You let us rule everything your hands have made. And you put all of it under our power-- the sheep and the cattle, and every wild animal, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and all ocean creatures. Our LORD and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have not watched the movie Temple Grandin, you need to rent it! The true story of a woman with autism, this film tells not only about the life and work of Temple Grandin and how she struggled with her condition… it is also about the incredible work she has done in the area of humane treatment of cattle.
The movie is a little hard to watch in spots, because inhumane treatment of cattle is depicted. But as you will see in the movie, Temple Grandin champions the care of both horses and cattle… and her dedication serves to remind us that something as “lowly” as a cow is valuable to God and deserves to be treated kindly.
I’ve thought about this movie a lot since we viewed it, and I have come to recognize even more strongly the incredible work God has done in and through Temple Grandin. God used her to provide care and a change in the way cattle are treated today in many corners of our country. God used Temple Grandin to show others so much about autism. I don’t want to give away the movie, but let’s just say that I don’t think you can watch this movie without being struck by how much God has used her… and the fact that God can use each of us in extraordinary ways, if we will open our hearts to Him.
We all have doubts from time to time… but hear me clearly… the same God who created the moon and stars… the same God who cares about cattle and horses, bugs and birds… the same God who can accomplish miraculous things through someone with autism… this God loves you dearly. You are precious to Him, and He values you more than you realize. When you start to feel down or discourage, remember that the God of the Universe thinks you are amazing. He values you above all other of His creatures. He’s got your back! How can we not honor Him? How can we help but sing His praise and serve Him with our whole heart? How can we ever feel useless?
The same God who used Temple Grandin to accomplish incredible things wants to bless you, too. What’s holding you back… have you acknowledged Him in your life? Are you giving Him the glory and honor He deserves? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I often think of the heavens your hands have made, and of the moon and stars you put in place. Then I ask, "Why do you care about us humans? Why are you concerned for us weaklings?" You made us a little lower than you yourself, and you have crowned us with glory and honor. You let us rule everything your hands have made. And you put all of it under our power-- the sheep and the cattle, and every wild animal, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and all ocean creatures. Our LORD and Ruler, your name is wonderful everywhere on earth!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you have not watched the movie Temple Grandin, you need to rent it! The true story of a woman with autism, this film tells not only about the life and work of Temple Grandin and how she struggled with her condition… it is also about the incredible work she has done in the area of humane treatment of cattle.
The movie is a little hard to watch in spots, because inhumane treatment of cattle is depicted. But as you will see in the movie, Temple Grandin champions the care of both horses and cattle… and her dedication serves to remind us that something as “lowly” as a cow is valuable to God and deserves to be treated kindly.
I’ve thought about this movie a lot since we viewed it, and I have come to recognize even more strongly the incredible work God has done in and through Temple Grandin. God used her to provide care and a change in the way cattle are treated today in many corners of our country. God used Temple Grandin to show others so much about autism. I don’t want to give away the movie, but let’s just say that I don’t think you can watch this movie without being struck by how much God has used her… and the fact that God can use each of us in extraordinary ways, if we will open our hearts to Him.
We all have doubts from time to time… but hear me clearly… the same God who created the moon and stars… the same God who cares about cattle and horses, bugs and birds… the same God who can accomplish miraculous things through someone with autism… this God loves you dearly. You are precious to Him, and He values you more than you realize. When you start to feel down or discourage, remember that the God of the Universe thinks you are amazing. He values you above all other of His creatures. He’s got your back! How can we not honor Him? How can we help but sing His praise and serve Him with our whole heart? How can we ever feel useless?
The same God who used Temple Grandin to accomplish incredible things wants to bless you, too. What’s holding you back… have you acknowledged Him in your life? Are you giving Him the glory and honor He deserves? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 26, 2011
Psalm 5:11-12
Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice. Our LORD, you bless those who live right, and you shield them with your kindness.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last fall, my grandmother was involved in a vehicle collision, and she suffered a bruised sternum. After several hours in the ER, the doctors told me that she might be woozy the first night, and someone should probably stay with her. I went home with her to spend the night. I didn’t sleep much, so I was awake around 3:00 a.m. when I heard her get up and head toward her bathroom.
I rose up enough in bed to see a little white-haired streak pass through the hallway pushing a walker, as my grandmother made her way from her bedroom into the bathroom. I realized that, even shaken from her accident, she was so familiar with that route of about 10 feet that she did not falter. After 22 years of making this trek every night, she was so familiar with this path that she literally could have done it in her sleep. I lay back down, confident she was safe… for that night at least.
In recent weeks, it has become apparent that my little grandmother is declining, and we have all agreed it is not truly safe for her to live alone in her own home. We are literally days away from moving her into an assisted living facility… just waiting on the last of the paper work to be completed. In this facility, my grandmother will have her own apartment, and she will be able to retain a level of relative independence.
At the same time, she will have skilled nursing care, help with taking her medications properly, three meals a day, help with personal needs… and hopefully, more safety. She won’t have to walk outside to get her mail… she can walk in the hallways for exercise and not worry about the weather. She will have friends near her own age with whom to visit and spend time, and we all feel she will be happier. For my part, as her primary caregiver, I will sleep better at night knowing she is there receiving all of this care and attention.
God has sheltered my grandmother for 98 years. He has protected her in the midst of illnesses, accidents, and even a house fire. He has always restored her health and her well-being… and comforted her in times of grief and loss. And I have no doubt He will continue to care for her and protect her once she makes this move. As I look at what God has done for my grandmother all of these years… I recognize that in return, she has remained faithful to Him and loved Him. She has lived right, and God has blessed her. And what God does for my little grandmother, He will surely do for each of us!
For many of us, old age and assisted living facilities are not even on our radar. But changes in life will come… trials, tribulations, hard times and tragedies will befall each of us. Like my grandmother, we will not skate through life without challenges. But just like her, we can enjoy a life filled with blessings, protection, restoration and rewards. Every single day, God stands ready to care for us beyond anything we could ever imagine. The challenge for us is to recognize His power and presence… and to live as Christians like we really mean it! We must honor our commitment and sing songs of joy… and God will give us all the reason we need to do so.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Let all who run to you for protection always sing joyful songs. Provide shelter for those who truly love you and let them rejoice. Our LORD, you bless those who live right, and you shield them with your kindness.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last fall, my grandmother was involved in a vehicle collision, and she suffered a bruised sternum. After several hours in the ER, the doctors told me that she might be woozy the first night, and someone should probably stay with her. I went home with her to spend the night. I didn’t sleep much, so I was awake around 3:00 a.m. when I heard her get up and head toward her bathroom.
I rose up enough in bed to see a little white-haired streak pass through the hallway pushing a walker, as my grandmother made her way from her bedroom into the bathroom. I realized that, even shaken from her accident, she was so familiar with that route of about 10 feet that she did not falter. After 22 years of making this trek every night, she was so familiar with this path that she literally could have done it in her sleep. I lay back down, confident she was safe… for that night at least.
In recent weeks, it has become apparent that my little grandmother is declining, and we have all agreed it is not truly safe for her to live alone in her own home. We are literally days away from moving her into an assisted living facility… just waiting on the last of the paper work to be completed. In this facility, my grandmother will have her own apartment, and she will be able to retain a level of relative independence.
At the same time, she will have skilled nursing care, help with taking her medications properly, three meals a day, help with personal needs… and hopefully, more safety. She won’t have to walk outside to get her mail… she can walk in the hallways for exercise and not worry about the weather. She will have friends near her own age with whom to visit and spend time, and we all feel she will be happier. For my part, as her primary caregiver, I will sleep better at night knowing she is there receiving all of this care and attention.
God has sheltered my grandmother for 98 years. He has protected her in the midst of illnesses, accidents, and even a house fire. He has always restored her health and her well-being… and comforted her in times of grief and loss. And I have no doubt He will continue to care for her and protect her once she makes this move. As I look at what God has done for my grandmother all of these years… I recognize that in return, she has remained faithful to Him and loved Him. She has lived right, and God has blessed her. And what God does for my little grandmother, He will surely do for each of us!
For many of us, old age and assisted living facilities are not even on our radar. But changes in life will come… trials, tribulations, hard times and tragedies will befall each of us. Like my grandmother, we will not skate through life without challenges. But just like her, we can enjoy a life filled with blessings, protection, restoration and rewards. Every single day, God stands ready to care for us beyond anything we could ever imagine. The challenge for us is to recognize His power and presence… and to live as Christians like we really mean it! We must honor our commitment and sing songs of joy… and God will give us all the reason we need to do so.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 25, 2011
Matthew 10:21-23
When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the book of Genesis, the story is told of Joseph being left for dead in an abandoned well. Years later the brothers find themselves in great need… and their families in danger of starving. They travel to Egypt, where they meet a man who gives them food. They do not recognize their long-lost brother, Joseph, and when he reveals his identity, they are nearly scared to death! They figure Joseph is going to enact some sort of revenge on them for their dastardly deeds.
But Joseph tells his brothers that they need not fear. He explains that he feels God orchestrated all of this for a greater good… namely so that he would be in a position to offer the families food throughout a five-year famine. What these men intended for evil, God used for the greater good. The beauty is that Joseph recognized God – and His hand in all of this.
So often, we feel we are “victims of circumstances” – and we may quite literally feel the wrath of our family members and friends… particularly if they do not agree with our stance. It’s tough to stand up for our faith sometimes. It’s hard to tell your parents that their comments around the dinner table about someone of another race or lifestyle are unkind and ungodly. Choosing to help someone in need when your spouse is telling you not to spend the money can be difficult. Helping family members or friends who are in dire straits when everyone around you says, “You’re wasting your time, energy… and money,” takes guts.
Standing up and saying, “I’m not going to that party… and I wish you wouldn’t go, either,” may make you the butt of ridicule and jokes, but you still may have no business caving in and going to the party. Taking a friend’s keys and telling him/her, “You will not drive after you’ve been drinking” may take a lot of nerve, but it’s the right call. Choosing to foster children in your home because God led you to this decision… even when people are questioning your sanity… will lead to honor and blessings in the end. I think you get my point.
God never called us to an easy life… although when we rest in Him and let Him have our burdens, the load does lighten. Many times, choosing to follow the lead of our Heavenly Father will seem to “cost us” in this earthly realm. And often, the very people who claim to be followers of Jesus are the ones who hate and spew the most anger and venom. This is not because they don’t love you… or even that they don’t approve of what you are doing. Often it is because these people fear choosing for themselves what you have discovered to be true life in Christ!
I have often been amazed at how people who claim to love God and desire an abiding relationship with Him can be so negative, angry, bigoted, unkind, jealous, and narrow-minded. While I don’t mean to judge, I’ve about decided many of them either caved in to the pressure from others… or what they believe they have with God is far more superficial than they realize.
Don’t let this happen to you. Be a survivor. “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,” as the hymn says. Listen to God and follow His lead. Rest in his arms and the comfort of knowing you are honoring Him with your choices. Figure out where you need to become more like Him, and make the necessary changes. Remember Joseph… remember how God turned his situation around. Be assured that God is on your side, as well. Keep your faith, and remember that serving well will all be worth it in the end.
©2011 Debbie Robus
When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don't quit. Don't cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you've run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the book of Genesis, the story is told of Joseph being left for dead in an abandoned well. Years later the brothers find themselves in great need… and their families in danger of starving. They travel to Egypt, where they meet a man who gives them food. They do not recognize their long-lost brother, Joseph, and when he reveals his identity, they are nearly scared to death! They figure Joseph is going to enact some sort of revenge on them for their dastardly deeds.
But Joseph tells his brothers that they need not fear. He explains that he feels God orchestrated all of this for a greater good… namely so that he would be in a position to offer the families food throughout a five-year famine. What these men intended for evil, God used for the greater good. The beauty is that Joseph recognized God – and His hand in all of this.
So often, we feel we are “victims of circumstances” – and we may quite literally feel the wrath of our family members and friends… particularly if they do not agree with our stance. It’s tough to stand up for our faith sometimes. It’s hard to tell your parents that their comments around the dinner table about someone of another race or lifestyle are unkind and ungodly. Choosing to help someone in need when your spouse is telling you not to spend the money can be difficult. Helping family members or friends who are in dire straits when everyone around you says, “You’re wasting your time, energy… and money,” takes guts.
Standing up and saying, “I’m not going to that party… and I wish you wouldn’t go, either,” may make you the butt of ridicule and jokes, but you still may have no business caving in and going to the party. Taking a friend’s keys and telling him/her, “You will not drive after you’ve been drinking” may take a lot of nerve, but it’s the right call. Choosing to foster children in your home because God led you to this decision… even when people are questioning your sanity… will lead to honor and blessings in the end. I think you get my point.
God never called us to an easy life… although when we rest in Him and let Him have our burdens, the load does lighten. Many times, choosing to follow the lead of our Heavenly Father will seem to “cost us” in this earthly realm. And often, the very people who claim to be followers of Jesus are the ones who hate and spew the most anger and venom. This is not because they don’t love you… or even that they don’t approve of what you are doing. Often it is because these people fear choosing for themselves what you have discovered to be true life in Christ!
I have often been amazed at how people who claim to love God and desire an abiding relationship with Him can be so negative, angry, bigoted, unkind, jealous, and narrow-minded. While I don’t mean to judge, I’ve about decided many of them either caved in to the pressure from others… or what they believe they have with God is far more superficial than they realize.
Don’t let this happen to you. Be a survivor. “Stand up, stand up for Jesus,” as the hymn says. Listen to God and follow His lead. Rest in his arms and the comfort of knowing you are honoring Him with your choices. Figure out where you need to become more like Him, and make the necessary changes. Remember Joseph… remember how God turned his situation around. Be assured that God is on your side, as well. Keep your faith, and remember that serving well will all be worth it in the end.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 24, 2011
Matthew 12:35-37
A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am utilizing a Bible study guide designed to help me read the entire Bible in one year. Each day, I read a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Recently, this passage from Matthew 12 was accompanied by scripture from Genesis 37 and 38. In Chapter 37, the story of Joseph is told – how his father made him a beautiful coat that caused great jealousy among his brothers. They captured Joseph and ripped off his beautiful coat, tossed him into a dry well, and left him to die. The brothers bloodied the coat with an animal carcass. When they returned home, they showed it to their father and let him assume that animals attacked Joseph and killed him.
I’ll let you read Genesis 38 and the story of Judah for yourself, but suffice it to say it’s pretty dicey reading… and a good example of someone who gave their word and kept it – albeit for a stiff price! If you want to read it in Contemporary English Version and don’t have a copy of this translation, go to http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2038&version=CEV.
The point is, our words mean something… but we’ve gotten pretty fast and loose with them. We are quick to judge others… and to publicly condemn. We casually commit to one relationship after another. And while Genesis 38 points out that having sex with someone and getting them pregnant is nothing new, stepping up to the plate and owning responsibility for our actions – keeping our word – has become much less commonplace. We lie when it suits our purpose. We are all too quick to act like Joseph’s brothers – to do one thing and say another… and never give it a second thought.
My mother and I have been having a conversation lately about some things that have taken place where people said one thing and did another, and how frustrating it can be if you are on the “receiving end.” I made the comment that the people who make promises and do not keep their word will have to answer for this someday. As long as I know that I am doing what is right and pleases God, I cannot worry about what the other guy chooses to do. She replied that my dad used to say, “If they can live with it… so can I.”
This is well and good if you are living right… if your word truly is your bond. But some of us have taken the position that we can live with half-truths and saying things we don’t mean… and we will deal with the fallout as it comes – or sometime down the road. The trouble is… while we may be okay with this, God is not. He will hold us accountable for what we said… for promises and commitments made… for lies and misdeeds. And as this passage so eloquently expresses… careless words will come back to haunt you.
It’s time for us to take a long, hard look at our lives… to see where we need to make serious changes. We must assess how well we are lined up with the word – and will – of God. The time for becoming a person who chooses words carefully and honors commitments – whose word is a solid bond – is now! If each of us will do our part to make sure that we produce good deeds and words, season after season, we will be amazed at the ripple effect.
We need to live in such a way that we know we can live with what we have said and done because it pleases God. We need to set the bar high – and to be a good example for others. Who knows… maybe they will be impressed enough with our integrity and example that they want to make these changes in their own lives. Isn’t it worth a shot?
©2011 Debbie Robus
A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am utilizing a Bible study guide designed to help me read the entire Bible in one year. Each day, I read a passage from the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. Recently, this passage from Matthew 12 was accompanied by scripture from Genesis 37 and 38. In Chapter 37, the story of Joseph is told – how his father made him a beautiful coat that caused great jealousy among his brothers. They captured Joseph and ripped off his beautiful coat, tossed him into a dry well, and left him to die. The brothers bloodied the coat with an animal carcass. When they returned home, they showed it to their father and let him assume that animals attacked Joseph and killed him.
I’ll let you read Genesis 38 and the story of Judah for yourself, but suffice it to say it’s pretty dicey reading… and a good example of someone who gave their word and kept it – albeit for a stiff price! If you want to read it in Contemporary English Version and don’t have a copy of this translation, go to http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2038&version=CEV.
The point is, our words mean something… but we’ve gotten pretty fast and loose with them. We are quick to judge others… and to publicly condemn. We casually commit to one relationship after another. And while Genesis 38 points out that having sex with someone and getting them pregnant is nothing new, stepping up to the plate and owning responsibility for our actions – keeping our word – has become much less commonplace. We lie when it suits our purpose. We are all too quick to act like Joseph’s brothers – to do one thing and say another… and never give it a second thought.
My mother and I have been having a conversation lately about some things that have taken place where people said one thing and did another, and how frustrating it can be if you are on the “receiving end.” I made the comment that the people who make promises and do not keep their word will have to answer for this someday. As long as I know that I am doing what is right and pleases God, I cannot worry about what the other guy chooses to do. She replied that my dad used to say, “If they can live with it… so can I.”
This is well and good if you are living right… if your word truly is your bond. But some of us have taken the position that we can live with half-truths and saying things we don’t mean… and we will deal with the fallout as it comes – or sometime down the road. The trouble is… while we may be okay with this, God is not. He will hold us accountable for what we said… for promises and commitments made… for lies and misdeeds. And as this passage so eloquently expresses… careless words will come back to haunt you.
It’s time for us to take a long, hard look at our lives… to see where we need to make serious changes. We must assess how well we are lined up with the word – and will – of God. The time for becoming a person who chooses words carefully and honors commitments – whose word is a solid bond – is now! If each of us will do our part to make sure that we produce good deeds and words, season after season, we will be amazed at the ripple effect.
We need to live in such a way that we know we can live with what we have said and done because it pleases God. We need to set the bar high – and to be a good example for others. Who knows… maybe they will be impressed enough with our integrity and example that they want to make these changes in their own lives. Isn’t it worth a shot?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 23, 2011
Hebrews 13:8
Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This time of year, we sometimes have trouble planning too many things because of our weather. One day it’s sunny and in the upper 40s or low 50s, and the next, we have four or five inches of snow on the ground and our streets are icy. The weather can change quickly. I’ve seen tornadoes come through one evening, and a big snow follow the next day. We preface a lot of our plans with, “If it snows…” or “If the roads don’t get icy.” Let’s face it, weather is ever changing, and we have to adjust our own lives accordingly.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God doesn’t change like the weather? Don’t you find comfort in knowing that you can always count on God to be the same… yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The only thing that really changes is how we respond and react to Him. When we pull away, it feels like God changed… but in truth, we were the ones who moved. When everything seems to be going very well in our lives, we are right there to thank God for the changes.
What we have to recognize is that changes in our life may be orchestrated or influenced by God and/or our relationship with Him. But HE never, ever, ever changes. God is always with us. God is always guiding us and working things together for His good. God is always ready to help us and make a way, even where we see none. God’s love never fails… never falters… never hesitates. His care never ceases.
If you sense a change, examine your life and see where and how YOU moved. If the change was positive, thank God for helping you to find your way toward that outcome. If the change was not a good one, ask God for help to restore you on the right path. Thank God for being constant… for never changing or waffling in our lives. Give Him glory for his steadfast love and care… and ask Him to keep you on the right path, so that all of your changes are ones that draw you closer to Him. Check your “Spiritual weather” today and make sure the forecast is one that reflects clear skies and a God-filled relationship.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This time of year, we sometimes have trouble planning too many things because of our weather. One day it’s sunny and in the upper 40s or low 50s, and the next, we have four or five inches of snow on the ground and our streets are icy. The weather can change quickly. I’ve seen tornadoes come through one evening, and a big snow follow the next day. We preface a lot of our plans with, “If it snows…” or “If the roads don’t get icy.” Let’s face it, weather is ever changing, and we have to adjust our own lives accordingly.
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God doesn’t change like the weather? Don’t you find comfort in knowing that you can always count on God to be the same… yesterday, today, and tomorrow. The only thing that really changes is how we respond and react to Him. When we pull away, it feels like God changed… but in truth, we were the ones who moved. When everything seems to be going very well in our lives, we are right there to thank God for the changes.
What we have to recognize is that changes in our life may be orchestrated or influenced by God and/or our relationship with Him. But HE never, ever, ever changes. God is always with us. God is always guiding us and working things together for His good. God is always ready to help us and make a way, even where we see none. God’s love never fails… never falters… never hesitates. His care never ceases.
If you sense a change, examine your life and see where and how YOU moved. If the change was positive, thank God for helping you to find your way toward that outcome. If the change was not a good one, ask God for help to restore you on the right path. Thank God for being constant… for never changing or waffling in our lives. Give Him glory for his steadfast love and care… and ask Him to keep you on the right path, so that all of your changes are ones that draw you closer to Him. Check your “Spiritual weather” today and make sure the forecast is one that reflects clear skies and a God-filled relationship.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 22, 2011
Hebrews 6:18
God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine how you would feel if you were a young person waiting for your mom or dad to pick you up somewhere… say after school… and they never came for you. What if they told you, “I promise I will be at your ballgame, play, band concert…” or another event… and they didn’t make it. It’s bad enough that other people lie and don’t keep promises and vows, but when we think about our own mother or father, we expect things to be different. These are the people to whom we have hopefully run for safety, encouragement, and assurance that everything will be okay.
The truth of the matter is that, sadly, there are parents who break promises and vows to their children every day – about issues that are both great and small. There are parents who flatly lie to their children. For some, there is no safety, encouragement, or assurance to be found in the arms of a parent. As heartbreaking as this seems, it is reality for far too many.
The GOOD NEWS is that our HEAVENLY FATHER will never lie to us. He will never break a promise or a vow. What God has told us He will do for us is 100% the truth – guaranteed. His arms are open to receive us, and we can run to Him for safety any time. He is always available to encourage us and reassure us that everything will be okay, if we just stick close to Him.
God offers us hope when no one else can. If you are fortunate enough to have – or to have had – parents who were honest and dependable, thank God for such a blessing… and thank them for honoring their responsibility to God as a parent. If you have experienced disappointment from mere humans, remember that you can always count on God. He never changes or disappoints. I promise!
©2011 Debbie Robus
God cannot tell lies! And so his promises and vows are two things that can never be changed. We have run to God for safety. Now his promises should greatly encourage us to take hold of the hope that is right in front of us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine how you would feel if you were a young person waiting for your mom or dad to pick you up somewhere… say after school… and they never came for you. What if they told you, “I promise I will be at your ballgame, play, band concert…” or another event… and they didn’t make it. It’s bad enough that other people lie and don’t keep promises and vows, but when we think about our own mother or father, we expect things to be different. These are the people to whom we have hopefully run for safety, encouragement, and assurance that everything will be okay.
The truth of the matter is that, sadly, there are parents who break promises and vows to their children every day – about issues that are both great and small. There are parents who flatly lie to their children. For some, there is no safety, encouragement, or assurance to be found in the arms of a parent. As heartbreaking as this seems, it is reality for far too many.
The GOOD NEWS is that our HEAVENLY FATHER will never lie to us. He will never break a promise or a vow. What God has told us He will do for us is 100% the truth – guaranteed. His arms are open to receive us, and we can run to Him for safety any time. He is always available to encourage us and reassure us that everything will be okay, if we just stick close to Him.
God offers us hope when no one else can. If you are fortunate enough to have – or to have had – parents who were honest and dependable, thank God for such a blessing… and thank them for honoring their responsibility to God as a parent. If you have experienced disappointment from mere humans, remember that you can always count on God. He never changes or disappoints. I promise!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 21, 2011
Ephesians 4:20-24
But that isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Change is hard… even when we know it is good for us. We know that exercising and eating right will help us live a healthier life – and give us a slimmer, more toned physique. But knowing this and actually doing the work are two different things. Often, overeating and lack of exercise become habits, and any habit can be hard to break. But equally as often, once we get in the groove and change the habit, we wonder what took us so long to make the change. Haven’t you ever known a smoker who said, “I’ll never smoke again!” – or someone who lost a lot of weight and maybe took up running or some other form of exercise and said, “I can’t believe I was ever like that!”?
The same can be said of our Christian faith. There are a lot of factors that keep us from being all we can be and changing into a new person… fear, laziness, procrastination, and more. And if we are honest, we will admit that all of these boil down to listening to the devil. HE plants these doubts, fears and excuses in our mind.
If we can just call upon the Holy Spirit and ask Him to fill us… to change our heart and mind… to help us to be more like God… He will do so. And over time, with careful attention, dedication, and determination, we will begin to lose the old habits that hold us back and keep us in the dark. We will become more sure of our “new self,” and we’ll be saying, “What was I thinking?!” We will struggle to recognize the old person and find it easier and easier to leave him/her in the dust.
We were created for so much more. We were created by God to be like Him… to please Him and be truly holy. And God sent His Holy Spirit to change our way of thinking and help us become this new person. Have you recognized the Holy Spirit in your life? Have you acknowledged Him and called on Him for help to become the new you? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
But that isn't what you were taught about Jesus Christ. He is the truth, and you heard about him and learned about him. You were told that your foolish desires will destroy you and that you must give up your old way of life with all its bad habits. Let the Spirit change your way of thinking and make you into a new person. You were created to be like God, and so you must please him and be truly holy.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Change is hard… even when we know it is good for us. We know that exercising and eating right will help us live a healthier life – and give us a slimmer, more toned physique. But knowing this and actually doing the work are two different things. Often, overeating and lack of exercise become habits, and any habit can be hard to break. But equally as often, once we get in the groove and change the habit, we wonder what took us so long to make the change. Haven’t you ever known a smoker who said, “I’ll never smoke again!” – or someone who lost a lot of weight and maybe took up running or some other form of exercise and said, “I can’t believe I was ever like that!”?
The same can be said of our Christian faith. There are a lot of factors that keep us from being all we can be and changing into a new person… fear, laziness, procrastination, and more. And if we are honest, we will admit that all of these boil down to listening to the devil. HE plants these doubts, fears and excuses in our mind.
If we can just call upon the Holy Spirit and ask Him to fill us… to change our heart and mind… to help us to be more like God… He will do so. And over time, with careful attention, dedication, and determination, we will begin to lose the old habits that hold us back and keep us in the dark. We will become more sure of our “new self,” and we’ll be saying, “What was I thinking?!” We will struggle to recognize the old person and find it easier and easier to leave him/her in the dust.
We were created for so much more. We were created by God to be like Him… to please Him and be truly holy. And God sent His Holy Spirit to change our way of thinking and help us become this new person. Have you recognized the Holy Spirit in your life? Have you acknowledged Him and called on Him for help to become the new you? Isn’t it about time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 20, 2011
Galatians 5:9
You were doing so well until someone made you turn from the truth. And that person was certainly not sent by the one who chose you. A little yeast can change a whole batch of dough, but you belong to the Lord. That makes me certain that you will do what I say, instead of what someone else tells you to do. Whoever is causing trouble for you will be punished.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As someone who has made her fair share of bread, I can tell you that it’s all about the yeast. Without it, the bread won’t rise. And even if you do remember to put in the yeast, you have to “jump-start” it with water that is heated to the correct temperature. Water that is too cool will keep the yeast from activating. Water that is too hot will “kill” it and have the same result.
There is another factor to yeast… it has to be fresh, because it is a living organism that ferments when mixed with water… and this produces carbon dioxide and the bubbles that give bread its texture. In the world of bread making, it matters when you add the yeast to the bread mixture. If you don’t ferment it with water first, the salt in the dough will kill it and your bread will be dense and flat. So you can see that yeast plays an important role.
In this passage, I believe Paul is telling the Galatians that “yeast” is the devil or his agents. He is saying that when we allow negative influences into our lives, the results can affect not only us… but also those around us. In other words, when we listen to Satan or his agents, the “whole batch” of dough can be affected.
I also believe we can look at this in a positive light. Yeast is a catalyst. It makes things happen. If we take care of the “yeast” – if we nurture it, mix it with water that is the right temperature, and use it while it’s fresh, we can have a really wonderful loaf of bread. So it would follow that if we look at our relationship with God in this manner – if we treat our Christian faith as “good yeast” and give it the right attention and care in the form of listening to God and following His will for our lives… serving Him well – we can have great results. By keeping our relationship with God fresh… continually nurturing our faith through prayer and Bible study, fellowship with other believers, service and surrender of self, we can affect not only our own life, but the lives of those around us, too… the “whole batch!”
I have been taken to task before by some who are adamant that Biblical references to yeast always represent the devil. But I believe that this is a prime example of God’s word being relevant for our lives in one way at one time… and in another on a different day. I haven’t changed God’s word… or His intention… by saying this. I have indicated that God’s word is right for us all the time… in all circumstances. The bottom line is that outside influences (yeast) can affect the whole batch of bread (our lives and the lives of those around us). The challenge for us is to be discerning… to recognize “good yeast” and “bad yeast”… and to act accordingly.
The end result will either be light, fluffy, warm bread… a life that glorifies Jesus – the Bread of Life… or a dense, flat piece of leathery dough… a life swayed by the devil and his agents that weighs us down and steals our joy. What are you doing with the “yeast” in your life? Do you know how to tell “good yeast” from bad? What sort of “bread” are YOU baking?
©2011 Debbie Robus
You were doing so well until someone made you turn from the truth. And that person was certainly not sent by the one who chose you. A little yeast can change a whole batch of dough, but you belong to the Lord. That makes me certain that you will do what I say, instead of what someone else tells you to do. Whoever is causing trouble for you will be punished.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As someone who has made her fair share of bread, I can tell you that it’s all about the yeast. Without it, the bread won’t rise. And even if you do remember to put in the yeast, you have to “jump-start” it with water that is heated to the correct temperature. Water that is too cool will keep the yeast from activating. Water that is too hot will “kill” it and have the same result.
There is another factor to yeast… it has to be fresh, because it is a living organism that ferments when mixed with water… and this produces carbon dioxide and the bubbles that give bread its texture. In the world of bread making, it matters when you add the yeast to the bread mixture. If you don’t ferment it with water first, the salt in the dough will kill it and your bread will be dense and flat. So you can see that yeast plays an important role.
In this passage, I believe Paul is telling the Galatians that “yeast” is the devil or his agents. He is saying that when we allow negative influences into our lives, the results can affect not only us… but also those around us. In other words, when we listen to Satan or his agents, the “whole batch” of dough can be affected.
I also believe we can look at this in a positive light. Yeast is a catalyst. It makes things happen. If we take care of the “yeast” – if we nurture it, mix it with water that is the right temperature, and use it while it’s fresh, we can have a really wonderful loaf of bread. So it would follow that if we look at our relationship with God in this manner – if we treat our Christian faith as “good yeast” and give it the right attention and care in the form of listening to God and following His will for our lives… serving Him well – we can have great results. By keeping our relationship with God fresh… continually nurturing our faith through prayer and Bible study, fellowship with other believers, service and surrender of self, we can affect not only our own life, but the lives of those around us, too… the “whole batch!”
I have been taken to task before by some who are adamant that Biblical references to yeast always represent the devil. But I believe that this is a prime example of God’s word being relevant for our lives in one way at one time… and in another on a different day. I haven’t changed God’s word… or His intention… by saying this. I have indicated that God’s word is right for us all the time… in all circumstances. The bottom line is that outside influences (yeast) can affect the whole batch of bread (our lives and the lives of those around us). The challenge for us is to be discerning… to recognize “good yeast” and “bad yeast”… and to act accordingly.
The end result will either be light, fluffy, warm bread… a life that glorifies Jesus – the Bread of Life… or a dense, flat piece of leathery dough… a life swayed by the devil and his agents that weighs us down and steals our joy. What are you doing with the “yeast” in your life? Do you know how to tell “good yeast” from bad? What sort of “bread” are YOU baking?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 19, 2011
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked.
These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. So always be cheerful!
As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. But we live by faith, not by what we see. We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a child, there was a series of books that I loved about “The Boxcar Children”… described on Wikipedia.org as “the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They had been staying at a bakery but ran away when they heard the baker's wife say she will take all of them in but Benny, leaving Benny with no option but to go back to the orphanage. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.” I was reminded of these books as I watched an episode of Undercover Boss in which a woman who was clearly filled with joy told her boss, the undercover executive, how she had once been homeless. She had actually lived in a boxcar as a child, and she said her grandmother cared for her and siblings there… boiling water for their baths and other needs and keeping them warm and safe… until she was about 7 years of age.
Life has been hard for this woman. She now works as a part of a cleaning crew for a company that does home restoration after a fire, flood, or wind storm. The particular day this episode was filmed, the woman and her undercover boss were cleaning the smoke damage left from a kitchen fire at the home of an elderly woman. Later, when the boss revealed his true identity to this woman - who admitted to being uneducated and “not talking right” - he told her [paraphrasing]… “Don’t ever change. Always be the kind, loving, joy-filled person you are now.” He recognized that this woman was not who she appeared to be “on the outside.” Her appearance, language, demeanor and circumstances were all just the outward “tent.” The real person was within… and she radiated positive energy and love for her family, her life, other people. And while she didn’t speak it on camera, I suspect she has a deep abiding faith in God, as well.
While living in a boxcar as a child most assuredly affected this woman, she didn’t let it define her. She didn’t let her lack of education, the fact she was about to lose her home to foreclosure, or any other negative influences control her life. She is living now like she is already clothed by her heavenly home.
How are we living? Are we groaning from the heavy burden of our “earthly tents?” Have we let the circumstances of our lives get us down and make us less than we should be for Jesus? Do we lean on these circumstances like a crutch and say, “I would do better if it weren’t for this … or that… or something else.” Do we blame our childhood, our level of education, lack of income, where we live, or other outside factors for how we are serving (or not) in God’s army? What defines us… our “earthly tents” or our Heavenly home?
How we answer matters. If we are living only for Heaven and the day when we get “new clothes,” we’re missing the whole point. God wants us to do all we can in His name while we are alive. He wants us to be cheerful because of what lies ahead… and to share this joy and His Good News with other. For Christians, our life on earth is not the end… but we shouldn’t be just marking time, either. Our “earthly tent” may have some rips and tatters, but people should see joy, hope and faith inside. What do others see inside your “tent”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked.
These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. So always be cheerful!
As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. But we live by faith, not by what we see. We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a child, there was a series of books that I loved about “The Boxcar Children”… described on Wikipedia.org as “the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They had been staying at a bakery but ran away when they heard the baker's wife say she will take all of them in but Benny, leaving Benny with no option but to go back to the orphanage. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.” I was reminded of these books as I watched an episode of Undercover Boss in which a woman who was clearly filled with joy told her boss, the undercover executive, how she had once been homeless. She had actually lived in a boxcar as a child, and she said her grandmother cared for her and siblings there… boiling water for their baths and other needs and keeping them warm and safe… until she was about 7 years of age.
Life has been hard for this woman. She now works as a part of a cleaning crew for a company that does home restoration after a fire, flood, or wind storm. The particular day this episode was filmed, the woman and her undercover boss were cleaning the smoke damage left from a kitchen fire at the home of an elderly woman. Later, when the boss revealed his true identity to this woman - who admitted to being uneducated and “not talking right” - he told her [paraphrasing]… “Don’t ever change. Always be the kind, loving, joy-filled person you are now.” He recognized that this woman was not who she appeared to be “on the outside.” Her appearance, language, demeanor and circumstances were all just the outward “tent.” The real person was within… and she radiated positive energy and love for her family, her life, other people. And while she didn’t speak it on camera, I suspect she has a deep abiding faith in God, as well.
While living in a boxcar as a child most assuredly affected this woman, she didn’t let it define her. She didn’t let her lack of education, the fact she was about to lose her home to foreclosure, or any other negative influences control her life. She is living now like she is already clothed by her heavenly home.
How are we living? Are we groaning from the heavy burden of our “earthly tents?” Have we let the circumstances of our lives get us down and make us less than we should be for Jesus? Do we lean on these circumstances like a crutch and say, “I would do better if it weren’t for this … or that… or something else.” Do we blame our childhood, our level of education, lack of income, where we live, or other outside factors for how we are serving (or not) in God’s army? What defines us… our “earthly tents” or our Heavenly home?
How we answer matters. If we are living only for Heaven and the day when we get “new clothes,” we’re missing the whole point. God wants us to do all we can in His name while we are alive. He wants us to be cheerful because of what lies ahead… and to share this joy and His Good News with other. For Christians, our life on earth is not the end… but we shouldn’t be just marking time, either. Our “earthly tent” may have some rips and tatters, but people should see joy, hope and faith inside. What do others see inside your “tent”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 18, 2011
1 Corinthians 7:20
So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we got our first kitten, she was extremely wild. A friend “caught” her as she and her litter mates followed their mother across busy Highway 7 just north of Arkansas Tech. Tigger was clearly the runt of the litter, and she was just slow enough for our friend to rescue. The others made it safely across the road and into thick brush. For weeks after Tigger came to our home, she would hide under the couch, scared to death of her enormous owners. This tiny kitten fit in the palm of our hand. I would reach under the couch and drag her out… then wrap her in a dish towel to protect myself from her tiny, razor-sharp claws… and I would hold her tightly to my chest and talk soothingly to her.
I don’t remember exactly how long it took, but eventually, Tigger was no longer afraid of us or our little mobile home. She snuggled with us voluntarily, played and romped through the place, and generally became “Queen of the Castle.” When we would drive home to visit our family on weekends, she road on the dashboard of our car… perfectly content to doze there – even oblivious to the motion of the windshield wipers when it rained.
Then Tigger had kittens… and she changed again. She was still loving and fearless, but her contentment in the car was gone forever. All it took was one long, miserable ride home with her babies in a basket… crying, sick, and unhappy… and she had forever had enough of the car. From that point forward, there was no changing her. She was totally disgusted with the car and would let us know it! We might have succeeded in changing her from a terrified kitten on the side of the road into a loving, nurturing house cat… but we would never get her to ride on our dashboard again!
I will tell you right now… people will try to change you all of your life. Friends will want you to like what they like… to enjoy their same tastes in everything from fashion to sports to video games and music. Love interests may try to get you to become more like them. They may tell others, “He would be perfect if I could just get him to like musicals…” or “She is great except for being so disorganized… if I can just change that, we’ll get along fine.” Still others may say, “You need to come to this Bible study we are having – if you were serious about your walk with God, you would come to more things like this.”
Go back and read the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 7:20. Clearly, God has a plan for our lives, and while some changes are positive – and there is nothing wrong with a Bible study, becoming more organizing, or deciding you like musicals – we can’t become someone else. We are who God made us to be… and trying to change to suit anyone except Him is just plain wrong. It will only lead to misery and possible disaster. We are not feral kittens who can be “tamed” over time… and this is not God’s design for us!
Search your heart… and spend time every day talking to God. Ask Him in all circumstances… “Is this what You want me to do? Is this who You have called me to be?” Trust His answers. If you sense that God is telling you the changes you are about to make are not of His doing, stop immediately and move in another direction.
The devil will delight in using others to try to sway your opinions… and he’s really clever at making a convincing argument. Our job as Christians is to stay awake and alert – and in constant communication with our Heavenly Father, who chose us just as we were and doesn’t want anyone else. Be authentic… be who God chose…only change if HE says so!
©2011 Debbie Robus
So don't try to change what you were when God chose you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we got our first kitten, she was extremely wild. A friend “caught” her as she and her litter mates followed their mother across busy Highway 7 just north of Arkansas Tech. Tigger was clearly the runt of the litter, and she was just slow enough for our friend to rescue. The others made it safely across the road and into thick brush. For weeks after Tigger came to our home, she would hide under the couch, scared to death of her enormous owners. This tiny kitten fit in the palm of our hand. I would reach under the couch and drag her out… then wrap her in a dish towel to protect myself from her tiny, razor-sharp claws… and I would hold her tightly to my chest and talk soothingly to her.
I don’t remember exactly how long it took, but eventually, Tigger was no longer afraid of us or our little mobile home. She snuggled with us voluntarily, played and romped through the place, and generally became “Queen of the Castle.” When we would drive home to visit our family on weekends, she road on the dashboard of our car… perfectly content to doze there – even oblivious to the motion of the windshield wipers when it rained.
Then Tigger had kittens… and she changed again. She was still loving and fearless, but her contentment in the car was gone forever. All it took was one long, miserable ride home with her babies in a basket… crying, sick, and unhappy… and she had forever had enough of the car. From that point forward, there was no changing her. She was totally disgusted with the car and would let us know it! We might have succeeded in changing her from a terrified kitten on the side of the road into a loving, nurturing house cat… but we would never get her to ride on our dashboard again!
I will tell you right now… people will try to change you all of your life. Friends will want you to like what they like… to enjoy their same tastes in everything from fashion to sports to video games and music. Love interests may try to get you to become more like them. They may tell others, “He would be perfect if I could just get him to like musicals…” or “She is great except for being so disorganized… if I can just change that, we’ll get along fine.” Still others may say, “You need to come to this Bible study we are having – if you were serious about your walk with God, you would come to more things like this.”
Go back and read the verses leading up to 1 Corinthians 7:20. Clearly, God has a plan for our lives, and while some changes are positive – and there is nothing wrong with a Bible study, becoming more organizing, or deciding you like musicals – we can’t become someone else. We are who God made us to be… and trying to change to suit anyone except Him is just plain wrong. It will only lead to misery and possible disaster. We are not feral kittens who can be “tamed” over time… and this is not God’s design for us!
Search your heart… and spend time every day talking to God. Ask Him in all circumstances… “Is this what You want me to do? Is this who You have called me to be?” Trust His answers. If you sense that God is telling you the changes you are about to make are not of His doing, stop immediately and move in another direction.
The devil will delight in using others to try to sway your opinions… and he’s really clever at making a convincing argument. Our job as Christians is to stay awake and alert – and in constant communication with our Heavenly Father, who chose us just as we were and doesn’t want anyone else. Be authentic… be who God chose…only change if HE says so!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 17, 2011
Romans 12:2
Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A student from my very first class of first graders wrote on Facebook over the weekend about a conversation with his 7-year-old, second-grade son. The conversation was about Martin Luther King, Jr. My now-grown student asked his son what he learned about Dr. King, and the little boy said he learned that “brown” people were not allowed to sit up front, had to use different bathrooms, and that the home of Dr. King’s parents was bombed. He asked, “Did you know that, Daddy?” My student asked his son, “Why do you think they did this?” and the little boy said, “Because they were mad at them.”
My student continued in his post – and again on his personal blog – to discuss how sad he is that like many of us, he grew up in a community where… “I never saw a face in school or anywhere else in town that was not Caucasian - unless you count the folks who owned the local Chinese restaurant.” He and I – and others – commiserated that our own childhood attitudes toward those of other races and ethnicities was influenced in large part by the racial isolation of our upbringing. Things are somewhat different in our area of the country now, but not greatly. For many, our true introduction to people of other races, ethnicities, and cultures comes when we move away to attend college.
Although I heard plenty of talk around me, I never grew up with negative feelings toward others of any race, creed, or color. When we moved to Oklahoma for a few months during my fifth-grade year, my best friend was a full-blooded Indian girl named Leona. In college, some of my closest friends were black. And while Dr. King had paved the way toward more tolerance and acceptance of others, I still saw tremendous evidence of inequality in the late 1970’s when I attended college.
My student teaching experience was a prime example of this. The kindergarten teacher to whom I was assigned for a little more than four weeks left for maternity leave one week after I arrived in her classroom. Another teacher was hired to replace her, but in a dramatic shift on Friday afternoon, word came from the administration office that “a black face must be behind the desk on Monday.” The “quota” for an integrated faculty was low. A girl who had graduated just a few weeks earlier – and student taught the previous semester in this same elementary school – was flown in from South Carolina, where she had moved with her son. On Monday morning, Deborah was my new “mentor.”
The sad part is that Deborah had not had a good student teaching experience. The principal had tried to intervene and change this, but the attitudes were so strong that she faced an uphill battle. She told me, “You will have to help each other.” And that’s what we did. As I look back on this situation, I see how God orchestrated the details. My mother was already a kindergarten teacher, so making lesson plans and pulling the classroom together was easy for me. I knew Deborah from classes we had shared, and I liked her. There were some volatile situations with angry parents, and I was able to help mediate… to serve as a bridge in the gap. And all too soon, my time in that kindergarten classroom was over… but not before Deborah had settled in and some of the anger had diffused.
I honestly don’t know what happened to Deborah after that year. We moved back to Heber Springs, and I lost touch. But I do know that, sadly, a lot of attitudes have not changed much in 34 years. There would still be parents today who would throw a royal fit if this same situation occurred. Too many people are listening to the attitudes, prejudices and fears of the people of this world.
Maya Angelou says, “When you know better, you do better.” Unfortunately, in this arena, that’s not always the case. But it can be. We do know better. We know that God created people of all races, creeds and colors… and all are precious to Him. We are no different in God’s eyes than our neighbors from Africa, the Native Americans, those of Asian descent, and others. When we were little, we sang, “Jesus loves the little children… red and yellow, black and white - they are precious in His sight.” But do we believe this? Have we listened to God and let Him change our mind? Don’t we want to please our Heavenly Father and do everything that is good? Isn’t today a perfect time to let God change the way you think?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Don't be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think. Then you will know how to do everything that is good and pleasing to him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A student from my very first class of first graders wrote on Facebook over the weekend about a conversation with his 7-year-old, second-grade son. The conversation was about Martin Luther King, Jr. My now-grown student asked his son what he learned about Dr. King, and the little boy said he learned that “brown” people were not allowed to sit up front, had to use different bathrooms, and that the home of Dr. King’s parents was bombed. He asked, “Did you know that, Daddy?” My student asked his son, “Why do you think they did this?” and the little boy said, “Because they were mad at them.”
My student continued in his post – and again on his personal blog – to discuss how sad he is that like many of us, he grew up in a community where… “I never saw a face in school or anywhere else in town that was not Caucasian - unless you count the folks who owned the local Chinese restaurant.” He and I – and others – commiserated that our own childhood attitudes toward those of other races and ethnicities was influenced in large part by the racial isolation of our upbringing. Things are somewhat different in our area of the country now, but not greatly. For many, our true introduction to people of other races, ethnicities, and cultures comes when we move away to attend college.
Although I heard plenty of talk around me, I never grew up with negative feelings toward others of any race, creed, or color. When we moved to Oklahoma for a few months during my fifth-grade year, my best friend was a full-blooded Indian girl named Leona. In college, some of my closest friends were black. And while Dr. King had paved the way toward more tolerance and acceptance of others, I still saw tremendous evidence of inequality in the late 1970’s when I attended college.
My student teaching experience was a prime example of this. The kindergarten teacher to whom I was assigned for a little more than four weeks left for maternity leave one week after I arrived in her classroom. Another teacher was hired to replace her, but in a dramatic shift on Friday afternoon, word came from the administration office that “a black face must be behind the desk on Monday.” The “quota” for an integrated faculty was low. A girl who had graduated just a few weeks earlier – and student taught the previous semester in this same elementary school – was flown in from South Carolina, where she had moved with her son. On Monday morning, Deborah was my new “mentor.”
The sad part is that Deborah had not had a good student teaching experience. The principal had tried to intervene and change this, but the attitudes were so strong that she faced an uphill battle. She told me, “You will have to help each other.” And that’s what we did. As I look back on this situation, I see how God orchestrated the details. My mother was already a kindergarten teacher, so making lesson plans and pulling the classroom together was easy for me. I knew Deborah from classes we had shared, and I liked her. There were some volatile situations with angry parents, and I was able to help mediate… to serve as a bridge in the gap. And all too soon, my time in that kindergarten classroom was over… but not before Deborah had settled in and some of the anger had diffused.
I honestly don’t know what happened to Deborah after that year. We moved back to Heber Springs, and I lost touch. But I do know that, sadly, a lot of attitudes have not changed much in 34 years. There would still be parents today who would throw a royal fit if this same situation occurred. Too many people are listening to the attitudes, prejudices and fears of the people of this world.
Maya Angelou says, “When you know better, you do better.” Unfortunately, in this arena, that’s not always the case. But it can be. We do know better. We know that God created people of all races, creeds and colors… and all are precious to Him. We are no different in God’s eyes than our neighbors from Africa, the Native Americans, those of Asian descent, and others. When we were little, we sang, “Jesus loves the little children… red and yellow, black and white - they are precious in His sight.” But do we believe this? Have we listened to God and let Him change our mind? Don’t we want to please our Heavenly Father and do everything that is good? Isn’t today a perfect time to let God change the way you think?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 16, 2011
John 16:22
You are now very sad. But later I will see you, and you will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A dear sweet lady who attended my church passed away this week. Ms. Gene was 93 years young. I mentioned her passing to my cousin, who knew her even better than I, and she said, “It’s sad, but she’s missed her husband, Leo, long enough. Every time she spoke it seemed she had something to say about Leo… 'Leo Gray always said…' or some other reference to him." My cousin said, “It's time she was with him again.” And truly, I was not sad that Ms. Gene has gone to heaven as much as I was sad that we will miss this spunky little lady here on earth. I know that Ms. Gene and others who have gone to heaven would not change things and return to this earth for anything. As much as I miss my loved ones who have passed, I wouldn’t begin to ask them to return… and they would not oblige anyway! And nothing I could say or do would change their minds.
Here’s the lesson in today’s passage… and it’s not about heaven, really. Or maybe it is, to some degree. See, I think we should be living in such a way now that we don’t have to get to heaven to know the glory that awaits us there. I know that my thoughts about this earth will change when I am finally at the feet of Jesus. But I think the real change ought to take place NOW! I ought to live on this earth like I’m already at Jesus’ feet.
Oh, sure… heaven will be much more wonderful. Things will be different there. But so much of what God offers us, we put on a shelf and “save” for when we get to heaven. There is so much that we could be enjoying and experiencing now, if we would only open our hearts and minds to the possibilities.
There will be moments of sadness in all of our lives… but they don’t have to last. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to see Jesus… at least not totally. He is evident everywhere we look. His Holy Spirit can dwell in our hearts and everything we say and do can be permeated by His influence. We can change the way we feel today and experience all the joy He desires for us on this earth. It may not be as good as heaven (and most assuredly, it’s not!), but it can be pretty great if we’ll let Him have control.
This is sort of like the person who saves their good pajamas “in case I have to go to the hospital,” or someone who puts away nicer clothes for a special occasion… and that occasion rarely, if ever, happens. Nice clothes don’t do you any good in the closet or drawers… and saving your joy in Christ for heaven won’t help you in this lifetime. Start living fully – change your heart and mind and let the Holy Spirit fill you from the inside out… and be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel today. Heaven will be better… but with God in control, life on this earth can be pretty good, too!
©2011 Debbie Robus
You are now very sad. But later I will see you, and you will be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A dear sweet lady who attended my church passed away this week. Ms. Gene was 93 years young. I mentioned her passing to my cousin, who knew her even better than I, and she said, “It’s sad, but she’s missed her husband, Leo, long enough. Every time she spoke it seemed she had something to say about Leo… 'Leo Gray always said…' or some other reference to him." My cousin said, “It's time she was with him again.” And truly, I was not sad that Ms. Gene has gone to heaven as much as I was sad that we will miss this spunky little lady here on earth. I know that Ms. Gene and others who have gone to heaven would not change things and return to this earth for anything. As much as I miss my loved ones who have passed, I wouldn’t begin to ask them to return… and they would not oblige anyway! And nothing I could say or do would change their minds.
Here’s the lesson in today’s passage… and it’s not about heaven, really. Or maybe it is, to some degree. See, I think we should be living in such a way now that we don’t have to get to heaven to know the glory that awaits us there. I know that my thoughts about this earth will change when I am finally at the feet of Jesus. But I think the real change ought to take place NOW! I ought to live on this earth like I’m already at Jesus’ feet.
Oh, sure… heaven will be much more wonderful. Things will be different there. But so much of what God offers us, we put on a shelf and “save” for when we get to heaven. There is so much that we could be enjoying and experiencing now, if we would only open our hearts and minds to the possibilities.
There will be moments of sadness in all of our lives… but they don’t have to last. We don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to see Jesus… at least not totally. He is evident everywhere we look. His Holy Spirit can dwell in our hearts and everything we say and do can be permeated by His influence. We can change the way we feel today and experience all the joy He desires for us on this earth. It may not be as good as heaven (and most assuredly, it’s not!), but it can be pretty great if we’ll let Him have control.
This is sort of like the person who saves their good pajamas “in case I have to go to the hospital,” or someone who puts away nicer clothes for a special occasion… and that occasion rarely, if ever, happens. Nice clothes don’t do you any good in the closet or drawers… and saving your joy in Christ for heaven won’t help you in this lifetime. Start living fully – change your heart and mind and let the Holy Spirit fill you from the inside out… and be so happy that no one will be able to change the way you feel today. Heaven will be better… but with God in control, life on this earth can be pretty good, too!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 15, 2011
John 3:6
Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you belong to a particular church denomination, most likely this is the denomination of your parents and/or grandparents… or your spouse or another family member. We tend to be “born into” a particular church and stay there… or at least in that denomination. Maybe you have heard the joke, “I had a drug problem… I was drug to church all my life.” Plenty of parents, like my own, took their children to church from the time they were just a few weeks old.
It would be great if parents could guarantee the salvation of their children just by taking them to church. I’m sure many parents would gladly accept this responsibility. Lots of grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, moms and dads and other adults would be happy to drag kids to church every Sunday if they were even 25% hopeful that this really could ensure them a place in heaven.
But this is the one thing that parents and other adults cannot do for children – or any other person. Each person is solely responsible for giving his/her heart to Jesus. Every one of us make this commitment for ourselves. And going to church does not change us into Spirit-filled children of God. Yes… we are all God’s children, meaning God created all of us. But to truly be HIS forever and into Eternity, we have to accept His gift of Jesus Christ and invite His Holy Spirit to dwell within our heart.
Your parents can provide lots of things for you – a home, a loving family environment, food, clothing, transportation, an education, payment of your debts, and more. They can pray for you, drag you to church, and provide a Spirit-filled home and atmosphere in which to rear you. But when it comes to choosing to become a Christian, you have to make this choice – and change – for yourself.
There is one thing we others can do… we can encourage you to make this choice and change TODAY. Give your heart to God… accept His gift of Jesus Christ for your sins, and begin to serve Him now. Becoming a Spirit-filled child of God will be the best “grown-up” decision you ever make.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you belong to a particular church denomination, most likely this is the denomination of your parents and/or grandparents… or your spouse or another family member. We tend to be “born into” a particular church and stay there… or at least in that denomination. Maybe you have heard the joke, “I had a drug problem… I was drug to church all my life.” Plenty of parents, like my own, took their children to church from the time they were just a few weeks old.
It would be great if parents could guarantee the salvation of their children just by taking them to church. I’m sure many parents would gladly accept this responsibility. Lots of grandmas and grandpas, aunts and uncles, moms and dads and other adults would be happy to drag kids to church every Sunday if they were even 25% hopeful that this really could ensure them a place in heaven.
But this is the one thing that parents and other adults cannot do for children – or any other person. Each person is solely responsible for giving his/her heart to Jesus. Every one of us make this commitment for ourselves. And going to church does not change us into Spirit-filled children of God. Yes… we are all God’s children, meaning God created all of us. But to truly be HIS forever and into Eternity, we have to accept His gift of Jesus Christ and invite His Holy Spirit to dwell within our heart.
Your parents can provide lots of things for you – a home, a loving family environment, food, clothing, transportation, an education, payment of your debts, and more. They can pray for you, drag you to church, and provide a Spirit-filled home and atmosphere in which to rear you. But when it comes to choosing to become a Christian, you have to make this choice – and change – for yourself.
There is one thing we others can do… we can encourage you to make this choice and change TODAY. Give your heart to God… accept His gift of Jesus Christ for your sins, and begin to serve Him now. Becoming a Spirit-filled child of God will be the best “grown-up” decision you ever make.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 14, 2011
Matthew 21:32
When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who cannot keep a promise? This person tells you over and over, “I’ll be there,” or “I’ll do it!” and the whole time they are talking, you know in your heart this will never happen. It’s not that the person is evil… and maybe their intentions were good… but the level of commitment is just not there.
In this passage, Jesus has told a parable about two men who have vineyards, and their father tells them to go out and work them. The first son says, “No way!” But later he changes his mind and works his vineyard. The second son says, “Sure, Dad… I’ll do this.” But his vineyard work is never done. Jesus says that those who live sinfully but repent and change their ways are ahead of “Christians” who say one thing and do another.
In other words, there are a lot of people who “play Christian.” They say they have given their heart to Jesus. And maybe they have. A lot of people seem to give their heart to Jesus in exchange for salvation… but they fail to remember the part about promising to serve Him and be His disciple on this earth! It’s much the same as saying, “I’ll be there…” and not showing up when the time arrives.
If you miss a class, your instructor may allow you to make up the work. The school district factors in a couple or three “snow days” that can be used for bad weather without having to make up extra time at the end of the school year or during spring break. And I think a lot of Christians look at their faith walk as having “snow days” built in… time where they don’t really have to do “show up” for Jesus. But this is risky business!
Our God is loving, forgiving, full of grace and mercy… but He also holds us accountable. Someday, He will ask… where were you? Did you really mean it when you said you would follow Me and serve Me? When did you plan to be My disciple and share the Good News with others? When did you plan to make good on your promises?
If this describes you in any way, shape, or form… today is the day to make a change. Today is the day to be the son who actually works his vineyard… the person who does what he/she says will be done. Don’t give God lip service… don’t disrespect Him like that! Show God your must humble, sincere, honest committed heart… change your mind, believe, and be the real deal for Him – now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
When John the Baptist showed you how to do right, you would not believe him. But these evil people did believe. And even when you saw what they did, you still would not change your minds and believe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who cannot keep a promise? This person tells you over and over, “I’ll be there,” or “I’ll do it!” and the whole time they are talking, you know in your heart this will never happen. It’s not that the person is evil… and maybe their intentions were good… but the level of commitment is just not there.
In this passage, Jesus has told a parable about two men who have vineyards, and their father tells them to go out and work them. The first son says, “No way!” But later he changes his mind and works his vineyard. The second son says, “Sure, Dad… I’ll do this.” But his vineyard work is never done. Jesus says that those who live sinfully but repent and change their ways are ahead of “Christians” who say one thing and do another.
In other words, there are a lot of people who “play Christian.” They say they have given their heart to Jesus. And maybe they have. A lot of people seem to give their heart to Jesus in exchange for salvation… but they fail to remember the part about promising to serve Him and be His disciple on this earth! It’s much the same as saying, “I’ll be there…” and not showing up when the time arrives.
If you miss a class, your instructor may allow you to make up the work. The school district factors in a couple or three “snow days” that can be used for bad weather without having to make up extra time at the end of the school year or during spring break. And I think a lot of Christians look at their faith walk as having “snow days” built in… time where they don’t really have to do “show up” for Jesus. But this is risky business!
Our God is loving, forgiving, full of grace and mercy… but He also holds us accountable. Someday, He will ask… where were you? Did you really mean it when you said you would follow Me and serve Me? When did you plan to be My disciple and share the Good News with others? When did you plan to make good on your promises?
If this describes you in any way, shape, or form… today is the day to make a change. Today is the day to be the son who actually works his vineyard… the person who does what he/she says will be done. Don’t give God lip service… don’t disrespect Him like that! Show God your must humble, sincere, honest committed heart… change your mind, believe, and be the real deal for Him – now and always.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 13, 2011
Matthew 18:3
Then he said: I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy has been staying with us lately, and I always marvel at how curious he is… and how we can almost see his thought processes. There are three decorative “nested” metal tins stacked on the floor beside our staircase. Each lid is painted with a picture of angels. Timothy loves them… mostly because the empty tins make a great noise when he bangs them together or on something else. But he also loves to try to stack the tins… although usually his efforts result in much clanging as the stack falls to the floor.
But lately, he has figured out if he will put the largest tin on bottom, then the smallest one next, and then the middle-sized one on top, they stay in place and he can pick the stack up and move it from one place to another. It’s really rewarding to see him develop – even in such a small way. His thought processes have progressed to a stage where he can reason out this little dilemma and come up with a viable solution.
Imagine how we must seem to God. Think of our faith in the context of a baby who grows and progresses in development. In the “toddler” stage, we begin to figure out how to use the gifts God has given us to handle difficult situations… to call on Him to give us wisdom and discernment to navigate challenges and problems. As we grow and mature, we learn even more about how God operates within us… how the Holy Spirit moves to guide us through every minute of the day. This must give Him such delight to see us grow and discover how He works.
None of us “knows it all” the day we become a Christian. None of us ever has all of the wisdom and potential that God wishes for us… we are all forever works in progress. We all began as babies… and we are hopefully growing and developing in our walk with Christ and our abilities to serve Him well. Just like children, some of us will progress more quickly than others… while some of us will be “slow learners.”
The key to this passage is our understanding that we must approach God with the innocence of a child… the wonder and awe at even the simplest things, like three nested tin cans! We must not come with a “know-it-all attitude” that we don’t need guidance… or that our salvation makes us better than anyone else. We must come to Jesus with humility, a hunger for knowledge, and the childlike enthusiasm for all He wishes to share with us.
For some of us, this means we need to make a change. Maybe we tried to “skip ahead” and be more than we were capable of too soon. Perhaps we need to humble ourselves and say, “Lord, I don’t know nearly as much as I thought I did… but I’m willing to listen and learn.” Maybe we need to rekindle our excitement and enthusiasm… our wonder and awe… for the amazing life we have in Christ. Maybe we need to reacquaint ourselves with the Holy Spirit. Whatever we need to do… the time for change is now. The day to start is this one. Are you ready to become like a kid again?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Then he said: I promise you this. If you don't change and become like a child, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy has been staying with us lately, and I always marvel at how curious he is… and how we can almost see his thought processes. There are three decorative “nested” metal tins stacked on the floor beside our staircase. Each lid is painted with a picture of angels. Timothy loves them… mostly because the empty tins make a great noise when he bangs them together or on something else. But he also loves to try to stack the tins… although usually his efforts result in much clanging as the stack falls to the floor.
But lately, he has figured out if he will put the largest tin on bottom, then the smallest one next, and then the middle-sized one on top, they stay in place and he can pick the stack up and move it from one place to another. It’s really rewarding to see him develop – even in such a small way. His thought processes have progressed to a stage where he can reason out this little dilemma and come up with a viable solution.
Imagine how we must seem to God. Think of our faith in the context of a baby who grows and progresses in development. In the “toddler” stage, we begin to figure out how to use the gifts God has given us to handle difficult situations… to call on Him to give us wisdom and discernment to navigate challenges and problems. As we grow and mature, we learn even more about how God operates within us… how the Holy Spirit moves to guide us through every minute of the day. This must give Him such delight to see us grow and discover how He works.
None of us “knows it all” the day we become a Christian. None of us ever has all of the wisdom and potential that God wishes for us… we are all forever works in progress. We all began as babies… and we are hopefully growing and developing in our walk with Christ and our abilities to serve Him well. Just like children, some of us will progress more quickly than others… while some of us will be “slow learners.”
The key to this passage is our understanding that we must approach God with the innocence of a child… the wonder and awe at even the simplest things, like three nested tin cans! We must not come with a “know-it-all attitude” that we don’t need guidance… or that our salvation makes us better than anyone else. We must come to Jesus with humility, a hunger for knowledge, and the childlike enthusiasm for all He wishes to share with us.
For some of us, this means we need to make a change. Maybe we tried to “skip ahead” and be more than we were capable of too soon. Perhaps we need to humble ourselves and say, “Lord, I don’t know nearly as much as I thought I did… but I’m willing to listen and learn.” Maybe we need to rekindle our excitement and enthusiasm… our wonder and awe… for the amazing life we have in Christ. Maybe we need to reacquaint ourselves with the Holy Spirit. Whatever we need to do… the time for change is now. The day to start is this one. Are you ready to become like a kid again?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 12, 2011
Matthew 17:2
There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I like to sell some of my antiques and treasures online through websites like Etsy and eBay. One of the keys to making a sale is posting good pictures of your products. Antique glassware, jewelry, and similar objects are hard for amateurs like me to photograph well. I’ve researched and practiced, and I’ve learned a lot… and one of the keys to a great photo is proper lighting.
Direct lighting is too harsh and often distorts the true coloring of the object. Back lighting may create shadows and dark areas. The trick is to almost make the object look as if the light comes from within. You want to illuminate all of the beauty and the best assets of the piece… to showcase the item in all its glory and cause those who see it to say, “I have to have this!”
Now stick with me… think about your spiritual relationship. Not everyone has the “heavenly moment” we see depicted on television and in the movies, where choirs of angels sing and we are bathed in bright white light. I know that many people would love for their salvation experience to be this dramatic, but just because we don’t see bright light and hear choirs doesn’t mean we have not been transformed.
And that’s not the point. See, it’s not about the light… or the drama of our transformation. It’s about what we do with our salvation. Just like the antiques that may not benefit or “show well” in bright light or back lighting, our Christian witness is best presented when the “Light” comes from within. When we demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives, we have the most impact for Jesus. We allow HIS light and glory to shine.
Peter, James, and John got to witness “the glory of the Lord.” We get to experience it as His Holy Spirit dwells within us and radiates outward. Just how brightly the Light shines is, in large part, up to us. Are you living in such a way that others see your witness and what God is doing in your life and say, “I have to have that for myself?” How much “glory” are others seeing in you these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I like to sell some of my antiques and treasures online through websites like Etsy and eBay. One of the keys to making a sale is posting good pictures of your products. Antique glassware, jewelry, and similar objects are hard for amateurs like me to photograph well. I’ve researched and practiced, and I’ve learned a lot… and one of the keys to a great photo is proper lighting.
Direct lighting is too harsh and often distorts the true coloring of the object. Back lighting may create shadows and dark areas. The trick is to almost make the object look as if the light comes from within. You want to illuminate all of the beauty and the best assets of the piece… to showcase the item in all its glory and cause those who see it to say, “I have to have this!”
Now stick with me… think about your spiritual relationship. Not everyone has the “heavenly moment” we see depicted on television and in the movies, where choirs of angels sing and we are bathed in bright white light. I know that many people would love for their salvation experience to be this dramatic, but just because we don’t see bright light and hear choirs doesn’t mean we have not been transformed.
And that’s not the point. See, it’s not about the light… or the drama of our transformation. It’s about what we do with our salvation. Just like the antiques that may not benefit or “show well” in bright light or back lighting, our Christian witness is best presented when the “Light” comes from within. When we demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives, we have the most impact for Jesus. We allow HIS light and glory to shine.
Peter, James, and John got to witness “the glory of the Lord.” We get to experience it as His Holy Spirit dwells within us and radiates outward. Just how brightly the Light shines is, in large part, up to us. Are you living in such a way that others see your witness and what God is doing in your life and say, “I have to have that for myself?” How much “glory” are others seeing in you these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 11, 2011
Daniel 4:34-35
"At the end of the seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked to heaven. I was given my mind back and I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever:
"His sovereign rule lasts and lasts, his kingdom never declines and falls. Life on this earth doesn't add up to much, but God's heavenly army keeps everything going. No one can interrupt his work, no one can call his rule into question.
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.
Two recent events immediately came to mind when I read this scripture passage. The first was the tragic shooting that occurred in Tucson, Arizona, where a deranged young man attempted to assassinate a congresswoman and succeeded in killing six people and injuring 19 more. While there are dozens of stories from this event, one that stuck out in my mind was that of a new congressional aide who actually ran into the gunfire and protected his boss… 40-year-old Gabby Giffords. He held her against his body and applied pressure to the gunshot wound to her head. Experts say he may have quite literally saved Giffords’ life, because she lost very little blood.
The other was the death of a young man who had been involved in a car accident. His parents are devoted members of the Emmaus community and dear servants of God. This young son lay paralyzed for days from a cervical injury and exhibited little to no brain activity. He left behind a wife and two young sons. But on the day he went to heaven, his organs were harvested. Another man received a liver transplant and now has new hope for a long life.
In both instances, incredible tragedy occurred. Hearts are forever broken, and the grief is almost unbearable. But at the same time, God’s heavenly army keeps everything going. In the midst of the chaos and bedlam of a mass murder scene, God’s army sent heroes to rescue… and to subdue the assailant.
In the gut-wrenching turmoil of giving up a son, God sent his army to bolster the resolve of grieving loved ones so that they could agree to donate vital organs to others who needed them. God orchestrated medical staff… and the “match” of a suitable recipient for this young man’s liver. Because a dear friend of my mother received a new liver a few years ago, I know how incredible the timing was for all of this… nothing short of supernatural!
We cannot bring back the people who lost their lives in Tucson, or the young man who was involved in the car accident. We cannot change world events or a lot of what happens to each of us. But we can recognize that GOD never changes… and His army is always at work – even when we can’t see it – keeping things going. We can’t interrupt… we cannot change… and we wouldn’t want to if we could.
Today, I am taking on the prayer and praise of Nebuchadnezzar. I’m looking to heaven… thanking and glorifying God, Who lives forever. I’m trusting His rule and recognizing the power and promise of His army to be present in my life and make the difference. Are you with me? Will you look to heaven and offer your own prayer and praise? Are you ready to trust God’s rule for your own life?
©2010 Debbie Robus
"At the end of the seven years, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked to heaven. I was given my mind back and I blessed the High God, thanking and glorifying God, who lives forever:
"His sovereign rule lasts and lasts, his kingdom never declines and falls. Life on this earth doesn't add up to much, but God's heavenly army keeps everything going. No one can interrupt his work, no one can call his rule into question.
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.
Two recent events immediately came to mind when I read this scripture passage. The first was the tragic shooting that occurred in Tucson, Arizona, where a deranged young man attempted to assassinate a congresswoman and succeeded in killing six people and injuring 19 more. While there are dozens of stories from this event, one that stuck out in my mind was that of a new congressional aide who actually ran into the gunfire and protected his boss… 40-year-old Gabby Giffords. He held her against his body and applied pressure to the gunshot wound to her head. Experts say he may have quite literally saved Giffords’ life, because she lost very little blood.
The other was the death of a young man who had been involved in a car accident. His parents are devoted members of the Emmaus community and dear servants of God. This young son lay paralyzed for days from a cervical injury and exhibited little to no brain activity. He left behind a wife and two young sons. But on the day he went to heaven, his organs were harvested. Another man received a liver transplant and now has new hope for a long life.
In both instances, incredible tragedy occurred. Hearts are forever broken, and the grief is almost unbearable. But at the same time, God’s heavenly army keeps everything going. In the midst of the chaos and bedlam of a mass murder scene, God’s army sent heroes to rescue… and to subdue the assailant.
In the gut-wrenching turmoil of giving up a son, God sent his army to bolster the resolve of grieving loved ones so that they could agree to donate vital organs to others who needed them. God orchestrated medical staff… and the “match” of a suitable recipient for this young man’s liver. Because a dear friend of my mother received a new liver a few years ago, I know how incredible the timing was for all of this… nothing short of supernatural!
We cannot bring back the people who lost their lives in Tucson, or the young man who was involved in the car accident. We cannot change world events or a lot of what happens to each of us. But we can recognize that GOD never changes… and His army is always at work – even when we can’t see it – keeping things going. We can’t interrupt… we cannot change… and we wouldn’t want to if we could.
Today, I am taking on the prayer and praise of Nebuchadnezzar. I’m looking to heaven… thanking and glorifying God, Who lives forever. I’m trusting His rule and recognizing the power and promise of His army to be present in my life and make the difference. Are you with me? Will you look to heaven and offer your own prayer and praise? Are you ready to trust God’s rule for your own life?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 10, 2011
Jeremiah 13:23
Can you ever change and do what's right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A decade ago, I was a sun worshipper. My skin is incredibly pale, and I thought a tan made me look better… younger, healthier, and more fit. In the winter, I would skip the tanning bed and give my skin a rest, and I did not like how it looked… pasty, freckled, and almost ghostly! But over time, I realized that I was not really changing my skin… I was just making it age faster. No matter how much time I spend in a tanning bed – or how much I am able to darken my skin – when I stop the process, my skin will once again be pasty white (albeit with more freckles and “sun/age spots” as a result).
In other words, I didn’t really change my skin color, any more than bleaching my hair changes the fact that my “natural color” is a salt-and-pepper combo of dishwater blonde and snowy white. Once I stop spending time in the tanning bed or out in the sun – or going to a hairdresser and having my hair color adjusted – the original color returns. The change is only on the surface.
Sadly, there are some people who seem to treat their relationship with God like tanning or coloring their hair. The results are short-term, and fairly shallow. Once the “new” wears off, old habits and behaviors resurface. The “change” was not from deep within the heart. Maybe these people thought the change was real… maybe they convinced themselves that they had given their heart to God and were committed to following Him and serving as Christ’s disciple. And maybe nobody explained to them that salvation is not the end – it’s the beginning!
Accepting Jesus is the first step… inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but Jesus’ words were, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He also told us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The rewards of a life in Christ are great… but so is the responsibility. And often, our commitment to God involves incredible, profound, permanent change. I’ll be the first to tell you that this is difficult… and there may be periods when we slip and fall and seem to lose our way for a time. But the key is to get back to God as quickly as possible, to admit your shortcomings and earnestly work to correct them.
Maybe we can’t change our ethnicity or the real color of our hair (at least not once and for all), but with work and dedication… faith and trust in God… we can change our heart to line up more closely with His. Are you willing to do what it takes to make the changes that matter? Is today the day you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Can you ever change and do what's right? Can people change the color of their skin, or can a leopard remove its spots? If so, then maybe you can change and learn to do right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A decade ago, I was a sun worshipper. My skin is incredibly pale, and I thought a tan made me look better… younger, healthier, and more fit. In the winter, I would skip the tanning bed and give my skin a rest, and I did not like how it looked… pasty, freckled, and almost ghostly! But over time, I realized that I was not really changing my skin… I was just making it age faster. No matter how much time I spend in a tanning bed – or how much I am able to darken my skin – when I stop the process, my skin will once again be pasty white (albeit with more freckles and “sun/age spots” as a result).
In other words, I didn’t really change my skin color, any more than bleaching my hair changes the fact that my “natural color” is a salt-and-pepper combo of dishwater blonde and snowy white. Once I stop spending time in the tanning bed or out in the sun – or going to a hairdresser and having my hair color adjusted – the original color returns. The change is only on the surface.
Sadly, there are some people who seem to treat their relationship with God like tanning or coloring their hair. The results are short-term, and fairly shallow. Once the “new” wears off, old habits and behaviors resurface. The “change” was not from deep within the heart. Maybe these people thought the change was real… maybe they convinced themselves that they had given their heart to God and were committed to following Him and serving as Christ’s disciple. And maybe nobody explained to them that salvation is not the end – it’s the beginning!
Accepting Jesus is the first step… inviting the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but Jesus’ words were, “Take up your cross and follow Me.” He also told us to “go and make disciples of all nations.” The rewards of a life in Christ are great… but so is the responsibility. And often, our commitment to God involves incredible, profound, permanent change. I’ll be the first to tell you that this is difficult… and there may be periods when we slip and fall and seem to lose our way for a time. But the key is to get back to God as quickly as possible, to admit your shortcomings and earnestly work to correct them.
Maybe we can’t change our ethnicity or the real color of our hair (at least not once and for all), but with work and dedication… faith and trust in God… we can change our heart to line up more closely with His. Are you willing to do what it takes to make the changes that matter? Is today the day you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 9, 2011
Jeremiah 7:5
The LORD told me to stand by the gate of the temple and to tell the people who were going in that the LORD All-Powerful, the God of Israel, had said: Pay attention, people of Judah! Change your ways and start living right, then I will let you keep on living in your own country. Don't fool yourselves! My temple is here in Jerusalem, but that doesn't mean I will protect you. I will keep you safe only if you change your ways. Be fair and honest with each other. Stop taking advantage of foreigners, orphans, and widows. Don't kill innocent people. And stop worshiping other gods. Then I will let you enjoy a long life in this land I gave your ancestors.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s all about who you know. Isn’t this how many of us operate? You get into certain organizations or events because you know “the guy” in charge… or your dad was a friend of someone who is involved. Or you vouch for someone because, “His brother is a friend of mine,” or “I know her mother.” A lot of people go through life playing the system and riding on the coat-tails of other people in this manner.
But this passage is telling us that we can’t do this with God. When it comes to our own Christianity, it doesn’t matter if our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances are all faithful disciples of Christ. It’s not enough that your parents belong to such-and-such church or your wife goes to worship every Sunday. If you want God to bless you and protect you… if you want to get into heaven and spend Eternity with your Heavenly Father... YOU have to change your ways and make a commitment to serve Him. Nobody can do this for you… and you can’t stand in for anyone else.
God sees everything we do. He hears every word we speak and knows every thought we create. He knows our heart… when we are being sincere – and when we are playing a game. But our relationship with God is no game. We cannot manipulate the Holy Spirit – or expect Him to protect us when we merely “go through the motions.”
It’s time for us to renew our commitment to God. It’s time for us to forget about invoking the name of others or expecting anyone else to serve in our place. We need to get serious about our faith and make real and lasting changes. Are you ready to do this? Haven’t you played around with your relationship with God long enough? If you are willing to make the change, He is willing to meet you more than halfway. How can you refuse such an amazing offer… and why would you? Step out in faith today. Make the needed changes and face God with confidence in His promises… and His amazing protection.
©2010 Debbie Robus
The LORD told me to stand by the gate of the temple and to tell the people who were going in that the LORD All-Powerful, the God of Israel, had said: Pay attention, people of Judah! Change your ways and start living right, then I will let you keep on living in your own country. Don't fool yourselves! My temple is here in Jerusalem, but that doesn't mean I will protect you. I will keep you safe only if you change your ways. Be fair and honest with each other. Stop taking advantage of foreigners, orphans, and widows. Don't kill innocent people. And stop worshiping other gods. Then I will let you enjoy a long life in this land I gave your ancestors.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s all about who you know. Isn’t this how many of us operate? You get into certain organizations or events because you know “the guy” in charge… or your dad was a friend of someone who is involved. Or you vouch for someone because, “His brother is a friend of mine,” or “I know her mother.” A lot of people go through life playing the system and riding on the coat-tails of other people in this manner.
But this passage is telling us that we can’t do this with God. When it comes to our own Christianity, it doesn’t matter if our parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters, friends and acquaintances are all faithful disciples of Christ. It’s not enough that your parents belong to such-and-such church or your wife goes to worship every Sunday. If you want God to bless you and protect you… if you want to get into heaven and spend Eternity with your Heavenly Father... YOU have to change your ways and make a commitment to serve Him. Nobody can do this for you… and you can’t stand in for anyone else.
God sees everything we do. He hears every word we speak and knows every thought we create. He knows our heart… when we are being sincere – and when we are playing a game. But our relationship with God is no game. We cannot manipulate the Holy Spirit – or expect Him to protect us when we merely “go through the motions.”
It’s time for us to renew our commitment to God. It’s time for us to forget about invoking the name of others or expecting anyone else to serve in our place. We need to get serious about our faith and make real and lasting changes. Are you ready to do this? Haven’t you played around with your relationship with God long enough? If you are willing to make the change, He is willing to meet you more than halfway. How can you refuse such an amazing offer… and why would you? Step out in faith today. Make the needed changes and face God with confidence in His promises… and His amazing protection.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 8, 2011
Ecclesiastes 1:4
People come, and people go, but still the world never changes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, I had a small circle of close friends. I was friendly with other kids in my class and at church, but four girls – Becky, Carla, Martha and Robin – were especially dear. I didn’t have bridesmaids when we married, so these girls served cake and punch at our wedding. After high school, we did a fairly good job of staying in touch for several years… often getting together for brunch during Christmas break. But over time, we got together less often. We all married and moved in different directions… and as husbands and babies came along and lives got busy, we grew apart in some ways.
But the bond never left. We all grieved when breast cancer took Becky from us a few years ago… and when Robin’s daughter was tragically killed in a car wreck. We supported Carla through the illnesses and subsequent deaths of her parents. We celebrated the accomplishments of each other’s children along the way … and the birth of Becky’s grand-daughter and namesake.
On Christmas Eve, my friend Carla dropped in at our house to purchase a copy of a book my mother has written. We quickly snapped a couple of photos, not knowing when we will see each other again. I keep up with Robin on Facebook… and Martha sent a Christmas card with a photo of her two teenage sons. We don’t see each other very often any more, but I still feel a bond with these women. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of similar relationships between my mother and some of her childhood friends… and the underlying bond that remains.
We tend to romanticize the friendships of our childhood. We fondly remember long days spent playing together or working on a class project. We build up the conflicts and clashes, and they become epic events that forever shape our personalities. As we mature, we come to recognize that friends come and go in our lives. Some of my closest friends now are childhood friends with whom I lost touch for a number of years and have reconnected. Other people with whom I developed friendships as an adult have, for the moment, gone in different directions, and we seldom – if ever – communicate.
The thing is… we often treat our relationship with God like a friendship. And while Jesus is our “Forever Friend,” as we tell our children, the relationship we have with God and His Holy Spirit should not change. There should be no periods of distance… no need for reconnection. We should work hard to keep in constant touch with God, regardless of our circumstances… because I assure you, HE has not gone anywhere! Nothing has changed on God’s end… but we allow the things of this world to get in the way and affect our relationship.
If you need to reconnect with God today, I urge you to make this change. Rekindle your relationship with Him… rebuild your friendship… and NEVER, EVER move away again. People come and people go, but GOD is always there. The question is… where are YOU?
©2010 Debbie Robus
People come, and people go, but still the world never changes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, I had a small circle of close friends. I was friendly with other kids in my class and at church, but four girls – Becky, Carla, Martha and Robin – were especially dear. I didn’t have bridesmaids when we married, so these girls served cake and punch at our wedding. After high school, we did a fairly good job of staying in touch for several years… often getting together for brunch during Christmas break. But over time, we got together less often. We all married and moved in different directions… and as husbands and babies came along and lives got busy, we grew apart in some ways.
But the bond never left. We all grieved when breast cancer took Becky from us a few years ago… and when Robin’s daughter was tragically killed in a car wreck. We supported Carla through the illnesses and subsequent deaths of her parents. We celebrated the accomplishments of each other’s children along the way … and the birth of Becky’s grand-daughter and namesake.
On Christmas Eve, my friend Carla dropped in at our house to purchase a copy of a book my mother has written. We quickly snapped a couple of photos, not knowing when we will see each other again. I keep up with Robin on Facebook… and Martha sent a Christmas card with a photo of her two teenage sons. We don’t see each other very often any more, but I still feel a bond with these women. I have witnessed the ebb and flow of similar relationships between my mother and some of her childhood friends… and the underlying bond that remains.
We tend to romanticize the friendships of our childhood. We fondly remember long days spent playing together or working on a class project. We build up the conflicts and clashes, and they become epic events that forever shape our personalities. As we mature, we come to recognize that friends come and go in our lives. Some of my closest friends now are childhood friends with whom I lost touch for a number of years and have reconnected. Other people with whom I developed friendships as an adult have, for the moment, gone in different directions, and we seldom – if ever – communicate.
The thing is… we often treat our relationship with God like a friendship. And while Jesus is our “Forever Friend,” as we tell our children, the relationship we have with God and His Holy Spirit should not change. There should be no periods of distance… no need for reconnection. We should work hard to keep in constant touch with God, regardless of our circumstances… because I assure you, HE has not gone anywhere! Nothing has changed on God’s end… but we allow the things of this world to get in the way and affect our relationship.
If you need to reconnect with God today, I urge you to make this change. Rekindle your relationship with Him… rebuild your friendship… and NEVER, EVER move away again. People come and people go, but GOD is always there. The question is… where are YOU?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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