Luke 12:29-32
"What I'm trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God's giving. People who don't know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don't be afraid of missing out. You're my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.”
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.
Recently I found myself involved in a discussion about a few well-known televangelists. It all started innocently when a group of people were discussing various ministries, and an acquaintance asked me about my own background. He said, “You seem to recognize many of these names. What exactly is your own story?” I explained the various denominations to which I have belonged over my lifetime and some of the Bible teachers I have found particularly helpful as I grew in my faith. I also expressed disappointment in some who seem more interested in teaching that God rewards our faith with material blessings. In other words, they teach that if you come and plant a $100 bill on the sanctuary altar, God will give you a gift worth many times that in return.
I got quite an earful from one person in the group who seemed to appreciate this philosophy and appeared very upset that I “didn’t get it!” My friends and I let him talk… somewhat because he refused to let anyone else talk! The acquaintance and I later evaluated the conversation and agreed that “works” alone won’t cut it with God. In other words, we can’t earn God’s favor, and we can’t buy His blessings.
The man asked me, “Don’t you want God to bless you?” Of course! He continued, “Do you think you might be blocking His blessings?” Sometimes… but not for the reasons he expressed. As I told my friend, I believe that we were created by God to bless others in His name… not to get fancy cars, mega-mansions, expensive jewelry and more. Some may indeed become wealthy along the way… but wealth is not the goal. However, I am afraid that it has become just that for some people and certain ministries.
We must be careful to guard our motives. God is very clear on this. Everything you have can be stripped from you in a heartbeat. God wants your needs to be met in every arena. But He does not want you to focus on what you can get or accumulate. He wants you to focus on HIM… who and how you can serve in His name… and never to miss out on even a single thing He is trying to give you.
The biggest blessings you will ever get from God will not be cars, jewels, houses, and furs… but rather the satisfaction of knowing you served others well in His name. The biggest blessings will be when someone says, “You helped me today,” or “Your words were just what I needed,” or “I was on my way down - your help couldn’t have come at a better time.” When you learn to operate in blessings and service to others, God opens the floodgates of blessings upon you.”
So chill out… work hard, but don’t make getting “stuff” your priority. Enjoy knowing that God is meeting your needs every single day… and using you to help meet the needs of others in the bargain. Make room for Him to work in and through you… and feel the blessings flow!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 29, 2011
Psalm 139:7-12
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Where could I go to escape from your Spirit or from your sight?
If I were to climb up to the highest heavens, you would be there.
If I were to dig down to the world of the dead you would also be there.
Suppose I had wings like the dawning day and flew across the ocean.
Even then your powerful arm would guide and protect me.
Or suppose I said, "I'll hide in the dark until night comes to cover me over.”
But you see in the dark because daylight and dark are all the same to you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was sharing with a group of friends recently about how children take things so literally, and often they don’t understand concepts like “the blood of Jesus,” or “How can Jesus live in my heart – how does He get in there?” One of my friends said she heard about a child who leaned over to his mother in church and said, “If this is God’s house, why ain’t He ever home?”
I know, I know… it’s probably just a joke. But let’s give it a serious look for a minute or two. Just exactly where is God? More importantly, where is He in your world? Do you find Him in your church sanctuary on Sunday? Do you feel His presence with you every day? Do you have such an intimate relationship with God that you know beyond the shadow of a doubt that He is always with you? Do you get it that you could never hide from God… even if you wanted to do so?
Have you ever looked at the moon on a bright, clear night and considered that people halfway around the world are seeing the same bright orb in the sky? When a Sunday-school student of mine was deployed to Afghanistan, we talked about the moon … how our God made that moon and positioned it so that we could both see it! Our God is big enough to do a lot of things… and just as He is able to position the moon, He is able to follow us wherever we go and be with us at all times.
The trouble is… some of us keep trying to hide from God, for a number of reasons. Some of us want to “test the waters” and try a few things we know are sinful. Some of us feel we can’t measure up to what God desires for us or expects of us… so we want to “pull the covers over our head” and disappear from Him. Still others have decided that they know what is best for themselves… better than God does… and they wish He would just leave them alone.
The truth is… God is always at home… and He wants to be wherever we are. And we should want God to be with us at all times. He’s not interested in making us feel badly about ourselves. He wants to give us courage, strength, peace and comfort. God doesn’t want us to hide from Him or try to make a go of it alone. He knows the struggles and challenges that we face, and He wants to face them with us! And just like the Psalmist made clear… we really can’t hide from God in the first place. So why not invite Him into our heart and take advantage of the love, grace and mercy He offers?!
God loves us so much. He doesn’t want to nag and pester us to love and serve Him in return. That’s really not how He rolls! Why don’t you invite Him to be where you are and find out for yourself just how amazing life can be when you recognize His presence! Isn’t it time you gave God a permanent residence in your heart? Isn’t it time you recognized God and welcomed Him home?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 28, 2011
Luke 12:15
Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."
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.
Few among us have not heard of the new reality TV shows that feature “hoarders” – people who have some sort of mental or psychological disconnect that causes them to be unable to part with anything… even garbage. Others continually acquire material possessions… or even pets. And recently, a new show has featured people who use discount coupons to save hundreds of dollars on groceries and other items… but many of them become “hoarders” of sorts, accumulating storage rooms filled with items they don’t even want or use, all because they were “free."
I will be the first to admit that I have too much “stuff”. I have far more clothes than I can wear. I tend to stockpile a few staples and paper goods in the pantry. Everyone knows I love antiques and old things… and my laundry room and closets attest to this. I have mundane collections… from books to nativity sets… and like most people, a fair share of “junk” I just can’t seem to part with.
But I have honestly come to a point in my life where I feel my “stuff” does not define me. I could get rid of most of it tomorrow and be just fine. Maybe I’ve cleaned out one too many drawer at my grandmother’s or gone to enough estate auctions to see that it’s just stuff, and you can’t take it all with you! I stood at an estate auction recently and looked at items being sold for pennies on the dollar and thought, “Yesterday, those things were important and valuable to the person who owned them. Today, they are being auctioned off to the highest bidder.”
Greed is caused by a number of things… deep-seated psychological needs, a mental disconnect, something that happened in one’s past, a strong desire for control, and more. But at the very core, I believe that greed is borne out of a spiritual lack. We are trying to fill up an emptiness within us that only God can fill… but many of us don’t know that He is what we really need. Once we learn to focus on God and the things He desires for us… to spend our time serving Him and living in His presence, our wealth and belongings are not nearly as important… or at least they shouldn’t be!
I stood recently at the cemetery and looked at a large brass box that contained my cousin’s ashes. I thought about my own life and how someday I, too, will be reduced to a box like that. What will be my legacy? Will my “stuff” matter then? Will people talk at my funeral about what a nice car I drove or the house in which I lived? Will they say, “She had nice stuff!” Or will they talk about how I lived… who I loved… how I served my LORD? I pray that I would never be defined by what I have. I pray that we would all learn to value relationships and the things of God more than material wealth.
What about you? What is valuable to you? Are you greedy… a hoarder… defined by your “stuff?” Or are you focused on what really matters? Ask God to help you de-clutter your life and focus on serving Him. Call on Him to give you the wisdom and courage to “clean out the closets” of your life and lay down the baggage. Learn to really live… free and unencumbered. Fill up on God – not things… and see how blessed your life can truly be.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Speaking to the people, he went on, "Take care! Protect yourself against the least bit of greed. Life is not defined by what you have, even when you have a lot."
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.
Few among us have not heard of the new reality TV shows that feature “hoarders” – people who have some sort of mental or psychological disconnect that causes them to be unable to part with anything… even garbage. Others continually acquire material possessions… or even pets. And recently, a new show has featured people who use discount coupons to save hundreds of dollars on groceries and other items… but many of them become “hoarders” of sorts, accumulating storage rooms filled with items they don’t even want or use, all because they were “free."
I will be the first to admit that I have too much “stuff”. I have far more clothes than I can wear. I tend to stockpile a few staples and paper goods in the pantry. Everyone knows I love antiques and old things… and my laundry room and closets attest to this. I have mundane collections… from books to nativity sets… and like most people, a fair share of “junk” I just can’t seem to part with.
But I have honestly come to a point in my life where I feel my “stuff” does not define me. I could get rid of most of it tomorrow and be just fine. Maybe I’ve cleaned out one too many drawer at my grandmother’s or gone to enough estate auctions to see that it’s just stuff, and you can’t take it all with you! I stood at an estate auction recently and looked at items being sold for pennies on the dollar and thought, “Yesterday, those things were important and valuable to the person who owned them. Today, they are being auctioned off to the highest bidder.”
Greed is caused by a number of things… deep-seated psychological needs, a mental disconnect, something that happened in one’s past, a strong desire for control, and more. But at the very core, I believe that greed is borne out of a spiritual lack. We are trying to fill up an emptiness within us that only God can fill… but many of us don’t know that He is what we really need. Once we learn to focus on God and the things He desires for us… to spend our time serving Him and living in His presence, our wealth and belongings are not nearly as important… or at least they shouldn’t be!
I stood recently at the cemetery and looked at a large brass box that contained my cousin’s ashes. I thought about my own life and how someday I, too, will be reduced to a box like that. What will be my legacy? Will my “stuff” matter then? Will people talk at my funeral about what a nice car I drove or the house in which I lived? Will they say, “She had nice stuff!” Or will they talk about how I lived… who I loved… how I served my LORD? I pray that I would never be defined by what I have. I pray that we would all learn to value relationships and the things of God more than material wealth.
What about you? What is valuable to you? Are you greedy… a hoarder… defined by your “stuff?” Or are you focused on what really matters? Ask God to help you de-clutter your life and focus on serving Him. Call on Him to give you the wisdom and courage to “clean out the closets” of your life and lay down the baggage. Learn to really live… free and unencumbered. Fill up on God – not things… and see how blessed your life can truly be.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Luke 12:11-12
"When they drag you into their meeting places, or into police courts and before judges, don't worry about defending yourselves—what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes."
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.
Recently I dropped my sister off for work, and as I sat in the parking lot, a woman I’ve known since high school approached my car. She said, “I don’t know if I ever told you, but the card you sent me when my dad died meant more to me than just about any card I received. You said all the right things.” I thanked her for sharing that with me. I cannot begin to tell you what I said in that card, but I’m glad to know it was what she needed to hear at the time.
Years ago, I wrote a book called What to Say and Do… When You Don’t Know What to Say and Do. I wrote this book after experiencing the death of several family members and friends and hearing people say over and over, “I just didn’t know what to say.” Often, their solution was to say and do nothing… and the silence was in some ways more hurtful than if they had said the wrong thing.
My own experiences caused me to pay closer attention to making sure I did not fall into this pattern myself. I began to make more of an effort to send cards and notes to people... cards expressing sympathy, get-well wishes, and even cards of encouragement and thanks. But more importantly, I started really praying about what I said before I wrote the note. And just like the woman who thanked me for the card when her dad passed away, others have told me, “Your words meant so much.”
The truth is… they were not my words. I always ask God to tell me the right things to say in cards. I wish I were better at making sure I ask God to tell me the right things to say before I speak, but I’m afraid my mouth often still engages before my brain does. And once words are spoken, they can be very hard to retract!
Do not miss this… the Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes. He is always ready… his words are always perfect. But we have to ask Him for help. We have to stop and say, “LORD… guide my words. Let me say what you want me to say… the things that will be pleasing to you and helpful to this person. Give me the right answers… the kind words… the best solutions to offer in this situation.” And He will do just that!
I’ve come to understand that the fear of saying the wrong thing is just another tool of the devil. This is just one more way he wants to squelch us and keep us from truly living for Jesus and serving as His disciple. And I am not willing to let him have that kind of satisfaction… are you? Ask God for help in choosing your words… then don’t be afraid to step out and speak up in His name. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes.
©2011 Debbie Robus
"When they drag you into their meeting places, or into police courts and before judges, don't worry about defending yourselves—what you'll say or how you'll say it. The right words will be there. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes."
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.
Recently I dropped my sister off for work, and as I sat in the parking lot, a woman I’ve known since high school approached my car. She said, “I don’t know if I ever told you, but the card you sent me when my dad died meant more to me than just about any card I received. You said all the right things.” I thanked her for sharing that with me. I cannot begin to tell you what I said in that card, but I’m glad to know it was what she needed to hear at the time.
Years ago, I wrote a book called What to Say and Do… When You Don’t Know What to Say and Do. I wrote this book after experiencing the death of several family members and friends and hearing people say over and over, “I just didn’t know what to say.” Often, their solution was to say and do nothing… and the silence was in some ways more hurtful than if they had said the wrong thing.
My own experiences caused me to pay closer attention to making sure I did not fall into this pattern myself. I began to make more of an effort to send cards and notes to people... cards expressing sympathy, get-well wishes, and even cards of encouragement and thanks. But more importantly, I started really praying about what I said before I wrote the note. And just like the woman who thanked me for the card when her dad passed away, others have told me, “Your words meant so much.”
The truth is… they were not my words. I always ask God to tell me the right things to say in cards. I wish I were better at making sure I ask God to tell me the right things to say before I speak, but I’m afraid my mouth often still engages before my brain does. And once words are spoken, they can be very hard to retract!
Do not miss this… the Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes. He is always ready… his words are always perfect. But we have to ask Him for help. We have to stop and say, “LORD… guide my words. Let me say what you want me to say… the things that will be pleasing to you and helpful to this person. Give me the right answers… the kind words… the best solutions to offer in this situation.” And He will do just that!
I’ve come to understand that the fear of saying the wrong thing is just another tool of the devil. This is just one more way he wants to squelch us and keep us from truly living for Jesus and serving as His disciple. And I am not willing to let him have that kind of satisfaction… are you? Ask God for help in choosing your words… then don’t be afraid to step out and speak up in His name. The Holy Spirit will give you the right words when the time comes.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 26, 2011
Luke 12:6-10
What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
"Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels?
"If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked.
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.
Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Imagine it… God knows exactly how many hairs are on your head… and mine… and his… and hers… and theirs. Incredible, isn’t it?! “So what?” you may say… “Why would God even care about my hair?” Because God cares about everything about you! You are the apple of His eye. He knows every single detail of your life… and He loves you anyway!
So often – and for a number of reasons – people start to feel like nobody cares. Nobody is paying attention…nobody notices. I’m talking about more than self-pity… I’m talking about a feeling that we are incredibly insignificant in the scheme of things. If we died tomorrow, would it matter? The truth is that God created each of us for a purpose… and if we are not around to fulfill that purpose, it matters greatly!
God is always ready to meet you where you are… to stand with you – and to stand up for you! If someone tries to tell you that you don’t matter… or if the devil tries to plant those thoughts in your head, do not listen! Stand up, square your shoulders and say, “I’m worth more than a million canaries!” Because honestly, if God cares about every feather of a tiny canary, He surely cares about each of us even more.
There’s one other thing… because God is so loving, gracious, and merciful, and always willing to stand up for us… we must be willing to do the same. If we turn our back on God and try to make a go of things on our own terms, we can’t expect Him to bail us out of the mess we make! God is not Burger King… we can’t have it our way… and we can’t pick and choose when to serve Him and when we want to try something different! We really don’t want to do that anyway… because we’ve all seen how badly things go when we try to do them without God in control.
So thank God today for valuing you so highly – for caring about every intricate detail of your life. Ask Him to show you how to serve Him better… and take a stab at caring about the details of HIS life in return. Stand proudly knowing you are so important to Almighty God… and always remember who has your back!
©2011 Debbie Robus
What's the price of two or three pet canaries? Some loose change, right? But God never overlooks a single one. And he pays even greater attention to you, down to the last detail—even numbering the hairs on your head! So don't be intimidated by all this bully talk. You're worth more than a million canaries.
"Stand up for me among the people you meet and the Son of Man will stand up for you before all God's angels. But if you pretend you don't know me, do you think I'll defend you before God's angels?
"If you bad-mouth the Son of Man out of misunderstanding or ignorance, that can be overlooked. But if you're knowingly attacking God himself, taking aim at the Holy Spirit, that won't be overlooked.
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.
Take a look at yourself in the mirror. Imagine it… God knows exactly how many hairs are on your head… and mine… and his… and hers… and theirs. Incredible, isn’t it?! “So what?” you may say… “Why would God even care about my hair?” Because God cares about everything about you! You are the apple of His eye. He knows every single detail of your life… and He loves you anyway!
So often – and for a number of reasons – people start to feel like nobody cares. Nobody is paying attention…nobody notices. I’m talking about more than self-pity… I’m talking about a feeling that we are incredibly insignificant in the scheme of things. If we died tomorrow, would it matter? The truth is that God created each of us for a purpose… and if we are not around to fulfill that purpose, it matters greatly!
God is always ready to meet you where you are… to stand with you – and to stand up for you! If someone tries to tell you that you don’t matter… or if the devil tries to plant those thoughts in your head, do not listen! Stand up, square your shoulders and say, “I’m worth more than a million canaries!” Because honestly, if God cares about every feather of a tiny canary, He surely cares about each of us even more.
There’s one other thing… because God is so loving, gracious, and merciful, and always willing to stand up for us… we must be willing to do the same. If we turn our back on God and try to make a go of things on our own terms, we can’t expect Him to bail us out of the mess we make! God is not Burger King… we can’t have it our way… and we can’t pick and choose when to serve Him and when we want to try something different! We really don’t want to do that anyway… because we’ve all seen how badly things go when we try to do them without God in control.
So thank God today for valuing you so highly – for caring about every intricate detail of your life. Ask Him to show you how to serve Him better… and take a stab at caring about the details of HIS life in return. Stand proudly knowing you are so important to Almighty God… and always remember who has your back!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 25, 2011
Luke 12:1-3
By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other's toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus' primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, "Watch yourselves carefully so you don't get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can't whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day's coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.
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.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone told you just what you wanted to hear… nice compliments… positive statements… big promises? In essence, they “buttered you up” and made you feel really good about yourself and/or a particular situation. Maybe a coach promised you that you would play at a certain position and be a key component to the success of the team. Or maybe an employer promised you all sorts of great things about a new job – or a new position in your present job.
Maybe someone promised to love you and take care of you and “be yours forever.” Maybe someone who had not behaved well in the past promised to turn over a new leaf and “do better this time.” But as time went along in each of these situations, things changed. The person who had made all the big promises and statements revealed his/her “true self,” and things were markedly different than what you had believed.
We like to think we are pretty good at spotting phonies. Nobody wants to think they are gullible or can be taken advantage of easily. But the truth is, the devil has people waiting on every corner to do just that. So we have to be on guard… we have to ask God to give us wisdom and discernment… and we have to take everything to Him in prayer and seek His opinion before we make any commitments of any kind… body, mind, and/or soul!
In the same way, we must ask God to help us never to be guilty of deceiving another person. We must always be “the real deal.” We can’t be hypocritical and say we are disciples of Christ, then act foolishly or behave in ways that make others question our faith. We can’t treat someone kindly in public and then talk badly about him/her in private. We cannot write a letter to the editor and disrespect our President or another person or group of people - or be derogatory or cruel - and then stand on Sunday and sing praises to God in a worship service, read scripture with the congregation, or lead others in Bible study.
Think about this… imagine being in a group of people who are kind to you, include you in their conversations, and speak respectfully – even loyally to you. Then you walk away, and later you learn that the minute you were gone, at least one person in that group began to talk about you. Maybe they even called you every name in the book. At the very least, they were critical, unkind, and cruel… and they encouraged others to behave in the same way. Hurts even to think about it, doesn’t it?! Now realize that, in essence, that is exactly what we do to Jesus day in and day out… in dozens of ways. Every time we are phony or hypocritical, we are treating Jesus just like this. How much does that hurt to consider?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a phony. I do not want to disrespect my LORD and Savior – or anyone else – in this way. I want to be “the real deal” at all times, because that is who Jesus calls me to be. I want my faith to be honest and genuine… and I want others to know that I mean what I say, and I take my cues from God. What about you? Are you wearing a mask and using it to hide who you really are? Do you pretend to be Godly and then “act a fool” when you think nobody’s looking? Isn’t it time you got real with God… and with others? Wouldn’t today be a good time to start?
©2011 Debbie Robus
By this time the crowd, unwieldy and stepping on each other's toes, numbered into the thousands. But Jesus' primary concern was his disciples. He said to them, "Watch yourselves carefully so you don't get contaminated with Pharisee yeast, Pharisee phoniness. You can't keep your true self hidden forever; before long you'll be exposed. You can't hide behind a religious mask forever; sooner or later the mask will slip and your true face will be known. You can't whisper one thing in private and preach the opposite in public; the day's coming when those whispers will be repeated all over town.
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.
Have you ever been in a situation where someone told you just what you wanted to hear… nice compliments… positive statements… big promises? In essence, they “buttered you up” and made you feel really good about yourself and/or a particular situation. Maybe a coach promised you that you would play at a certain position and be a key component to the success of the team. Or maybe an employer promised you all sorts of great things about a new job – or a new position in your present job.
Maybe someone promised to love you and take care of you and “be yours forever.” Maybe someone who had not behaved well in the past promised to turn over a new leaf and “do better this time.” But as time went along in each of these situations, things changed. The person who had made all the big promises and statements revealed his/her “true self,” and things were markedly different than what you had believed.
We like to think we are pretty good at spotting phonies. Nobody wants to think they are gullible or can be taken advantage of easily. But the truth is, the devil has people waiting on every corner to do just that. So we have to be on guard… we have to ask God to give us wisdom and discernment… and we have to take everything to Him in prayer and seek His opinion before we make any commitments of any kind… body, mind, and/or soul!
In the same way, we must ask God to help us never to be guilty of deceiving another person. We must always be “the real deal.” We can’t be hypocritical and say we are disciples of Christ, then act foolishly or behave in ways that make others question our faith. We can’t treat someone kindly in public and then talk badly about him/her in private. We cannot write a letter to the editor and disrespect our President or another person or group of people - or be derogatory or cruel - and then stand on Sunday and sing praises to God in a worship service, read scripture with the congregation, or lead others in Bible study.
Think about this… imagine being in a group of people who are kind to you, include you in their conversations, and speak respectfully – even loyally to you. Then you walk away, and later you learn that the minute you were gone, at least one person in that group began to talk about you. Maybe they even called you every name in the book. At the very least, they were critical, unkind, and cruel… and they encouraged others to behave in the same way. Hurts even to think about it, doesn’t it?! Now realize that, in essence, that is exactly what we do to Jesus day in and day out… in dozens of ways. Every time we are phony or hypocritical, we are treating Jesus just like this. How much does that hurt to consider?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to be a phony. I do not want to disrespect my LORD and Savior – or anyone else – in this way. I want to be “the real deal” at all times, because that is who Jesus calls me to be. I want my faith to be honest and genuine… and I want others to know that I mean what I say, and I take my cues from God. What about you? Are you wearing a mask and using it to hide who you really are? Do you pretend to be Godly and then “act a fool” when you think nobody’s looking? Isn’t it time you got real with God… and with others? Wouldn’t today be a good time to start?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 24, 2011
Luke 11:23
"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.”
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.
Recently I was talking with someone about a certain situation, and this person said, “I’m going to keep doing the same thing I’ve always done… which is nothing.” It was meant as a joke at the time, but frankly, that’s what a lot of us do… and it’s not funny!
We sit on the sidelines in many situations and “let things happen,” and if we’re not helping, we really are making things worse. When we see a friend post repeatedly on Facebook about excessive drinking and passing out, and we don’t address this, we are contributing to his/her problem – possibly alcoholism… or a drunk driving situation. When we see people in desperate need, and we shake our head and say, “That’s too bad,” then move on with our life, we’re in essence saying, “I really don’t care if your life goes down the tubes.”
Don’t get me wrong… I am not saying we have a license to bash others for their choices… or to meddle, dive in or seize control. This is not a rally cry for protests at public facilities… or permission to humiliate people who practice other religions or lifestyles. That is not what this is about at all… we are not to be judge and jury! Frankly, our “Christian judgment” of others usually does far more harm than good. But we are called to model the actions of Jesus Christ, who approached others in a loving, gentle manner and showed them what HE had to offer.
In saying to someone who has a drinking problem, “I am concerned about you… how can I help?” we are modeling Christian behavior and offering the love of Jesus. In sharing our extra food, clothing, and more with those in need, we are serving in His name. In helping the elderly and infirm… helpless children in need and those who can’t help themselves… we are saying, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, who died for you and loves you beyond measure. He has called me to serve others in His name, so I am offering you love, grace and mercy on His behalf.
Today we remind ourselves that we serve a God who could not be contained in an earthly grave. Our God is so powerful, so loving and merciful that He sacrificed everything for us… even His own Son on the cross. So when He says, “Are you with me?”… how can we possibly remain neutral? In our efforts to stay out of the fracas, we are ultimately working for the enemy camp. I don’t know about you, but that’s not where I want to be. I’m willing to step up – and out – for Jesus. I’m ready to serve in His camp. Will I see you there?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"This is war, and there is no neutral ground. If you're not on my side, you're the enemy; if you're not helping, you're making things worse.”
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.
Recently I was talking with someone about a certain situation, and this person said, “I’m going to keep doing the same thing I’ve always done… which is nothing.” It was meant as a joke at the time, but frankly, that’s what a lot of us do… and it’s not funny!
We sit on the sidelines in many situations and “let things happen,” and if we’re not helping, we really are making things worse. When we see a friend post repeatedly on Facebook about excessive drinking and passing out, and we don’t address this, we are contributing to his/her problem – possibly alcoholism… or a drunk driving situation. When we see people in desperate need, and we shake our head and say, “That’s too bad,” then move on with our life, we’re in essence saying, “I really don’t care if your life goes down the tubes.”
Don’t get me wrong… I am not saying we have a license to bash others for their choices… or to meddle, dive in or seize control. This is not a rally cry for protests at public facilities… or permission to humiliate people who practice other religions or lifestyles. That is not what this is about at all… we are not to be judge and jury! Frankly, our “Christian judgment” of others usually does far more harm than good. But we are called to model the actions of Jesus Christ, who approached others in a loving, gentle manner and showed them what HE had to offer.
In saying to someone who has a drinking problem, “I am concerned about you… how can I help?” we are modeling Christian behavior and offering the love of Jesus. In sharing our extra food, clothing, and more with those in need, we are serving in His name. In helping the elderly and infirm… helpless children in need and those who can’t help themselves… we are saying, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, who died for you and loves you beyond measure. He has called me to serve others in His name, so I am offering you love, grace and mercy on His behalf.
Today we remind ourselves that we serve a God who could not be contained in an earthly grave. Our God is so powerful, so loving and merciful that He sacrificed everything for us… even His own Son on the cross. So when He says, “Are you with me?”… how can we possibly remain neutral? In our efforts to stay out of the fracas, we are ultimately working for the enemy camp. I don’t know about you, but that’s not where I want to be. I’m willing to step up – and out – for Jesus. I’m ready to serve in His camp. Will I see you there?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 23, 2011
Luke 11:9
So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy was staying with us recently, and my mother came over to visit. She brought a blue plastic Easter basket, filled with:
• blue Easter grass
• two different packages/flavors of “Peeps”
• a chocolate bunny
• a Curious George DVD
• a bottle of all-in-one shampoo
• a bunny car filled with Easter candy
• a wand of bubbles, and
• a baby doll that laughs when you squeeze it.
I groaned when I saw all the sticky candy, and she laughed and said, “It’s okay… I’m the great-grandmother!” This is one great-grandmother who knows how to give “good gifts!” And of course, three Peeps later, Timmy was a happy, sticky mess out on our driveway blowing bubbles! He’s not old enough to actually ask for gifts yet, but when he is, I’m sure we will gladly - and readily – oblige… and our door is always open to any and all of our nieces and nephews and young friends.
Truly the basket of goodies was filled with things that, while not necessarily healthy for Timothy, were just what a kid needs on Easter week. Many needs this kid didn’t even know he had were met… and then some!
The GOOD NEWS for each of us this Easter weekend – and always – is that God’s door is always open. He may not give us Peeps and chocolate bunnies, but whatever we ask Him will be given to us, according to His will – and with our best interest at the forefront. So if you ask God for a new Mustang, and you really need transportation to get back and forth to school or work, He may give you a used Ford Focus! If you ask God to help you put food on the table, He may see that you have just enough to eat each day rather than showering you with a pantry filled with groceries. But the point is, God will answer… He will meet your needs. His door is always open!
Because of the blood of Jesus… because of the incredible sacrifice of a totally innocent man Who was willing to take our sins and die for them, we can freely ask for anything. Because this man was Jesus Christ in human form, who could not be contained in an earthly grave, the door to our Father’s house is always open. Because of the incredible love of our LORD and Savior, the Holy Spirit is available to each of us…ready to fill our hearts and be our constant companion!
This is the “Good Gift” of Easter. This is the Good Gift we can enjoy all year long… every year… again and again! Ask God for anything, and trust Him to know just how to answer… and to give you “good and perfect gifts” upon request.
©2011 Debbie Robus
So I tell you to ask and you will receive, search and you will find, knock and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive, everyone who searches will find, and the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Which one of you fathers would give your hungry child a snake if the child asked for a fish? Which one of you would give your child a scorpion if the child asked for an egg? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give the Holy Spirit to anyone who asks.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy was staying with us recently, and my mother came over to visit. She brought a blue plastic Easter basket, filled with:
• blue Easter grass
• two different packages/flavors of “Peeps”
• a chocolate bunny
• a Curious George DVD
• a bottle of all-in-one shampoo
• a bunny car filled with Easter candy
• a wand of bubbles, and
• a baby doll that laughs when you squeeze it.
I groaned when I saw all the sticky candy, and she laughed and said, “It’s okay… I’m the great-grandmother!” This is one great-grandmother who knows how to give “good gifts!” And of course, three Peeps later, Timmy was a happy, sticky mess out on our driveway blowing bubbles! He’s not old enough to actually ask for gifts yet, but when he is, I’m sure we will gladly - and readily – oblige… and our door is always open to any and all of our nieces and nephews and young friends.
Truly the basket of goodies was filled with things that, while not necessarily healthy for Timothy, were just what a kid needs on Easter week. Many needs this kid didn’t even know he had were met… and then some!
The GOOD NEWS for each of us this Easter weekend – and always – is that God’s door is always open. He may not give us Peeps and chocolate bunnies, but whatever we ask Him will be given to us, according to His will – and with our best interest at the forefront. So if you ask God for a new Mustang, and you really need transportation to get back and forth to school or work, He may give you a used Ford Focus! If you ask God to help you put food on the table, He may see that you have just enough to eat each day rather than showering you with a pantry filled with groceries. But the point is, God will answer… He will meet your needs. His door is always open!
Because of the blood of Jesus… because of the incredible sacrifice of a totally innocent man Who was willing to take our sins and die for them, we can freely ask for anything. Because this man was Jesus Christ in human form, who could not be contained in an earthly grave, the door to our Father’s house is always open. Because of the incredible love of our LORD and Savior, the Holy Spirit is available to each of us…ready to fill our hearts and be our constant companion!
This is the “Good Gift” of Easter. This is the Good Gift we can enjoy all year long… every year… again and again! Ask God for anything, and trust Him to know just how to answer… and to give you “good and perfect gifts” upon request.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 22, 2011
Luke 10:25-29
An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to have eternal life?"
Jesus answered, "What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?" The man replied, "The Scriptures say, `Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.' They also say, `Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.' “
Jesus said, "You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life." But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, "Who are my neighbors?"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“What’s the catch?” How many times do we ask someone this question? We have become skeptical about so many things. And often, when someone tells us something, we wonder what the hidden agenda is… where is the loophole? There must be an angle… another meaning or motive.
So when this scholar asked Jesus about Eternal Life, he gave the scriptural answer for how to obtain it… and then he basically added, “… but what’s the real answer?” He asked Jesus to define this “neighbor” we are to love as we love ourselves. And if you read the rest of this passage, you will discover the story we know as that of “the Good Samaritan” who treated a complete stranger with love and kindness, just as he would have his own brother.
The point I want us to get today is that we often know the answer, but we still look for the loophole. We know what Jesus wants from us… but we’re looking for a “catch” or an excuse, or another interpretation that better suits our agenda. “Yes, LORD, you told us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves… but you didn’t mean poor people, did you? Surely you didn’t mean people who are gay or those who are Muslim! LORD, you were only talking about upper middle class white Americans, right?” Or we justify our behavior by saying, “But LORD, if I talked to someone the way that person talked to me, I would not feel good about myself… so surely you don’t mean for me to love him/her after the things that were said!”
We justify our sins by saying, “But I do love you, LORD… even if I did do such-and-such. It really has nothing to do with my faith!” What we don’t seem to grasp is that loving God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind means never doing anything that would disappoint Him… or cause our “neighbor” to falter… or showing disrespect for God, His children, or even His planet – in any manner! That’s painting with a broad brush… but that’s exactly what Jesus did! Still, we look for the loophole… we don’t believe He was talking about us… and we attempt to do as we please.
The time has come for us to step up to the plate and really hear what Jesus is saying in this passage… and take it at face value. No more arrogance… no more looking for a way around the truth or claiming that these commandments do not apply to us… they do! And the path to Eternal Life is clearly defined here. The question is… are we on this path? Are we following the commandments? Or are we still busy looking for a loophole?
©2011 Debbie Robus
An expert in the Law of Moses stood up and asked Jesus a question to see what he would say. "Teacher," he asked, "what must I do to have eternal life?"
Jesus answered, "What is written in the Scriptures? How do you understand them?" The man replied, "The Scriptures say, `Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind.' They also say, `Love your neighbors as much as you love yourself.' “
Jesus said, "You have given the right answer. If you do this, you will have eternal life." But the man wanted to show that he knew what he was talking about. So he asked Jesus, "Who are my neighbors?"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“What’s the catch?” How many times do we ask someone this question? We have become skeptical about so many things. And often, when someone tells us something, we wonder what the hidden agenda is… where is the loophole? There must be an angle… another meaning or motive.
So when this scholar asked Jesus about Eternal Life, he gave the scriptural answer for how to obtain it… and then he basically added, “… but what’s the real answer?” He asked Jesus to define this “neighbor” we are to love as we love ourselves. And if you read the rest of this passage, you will discover the story we know as that of “the Good Samaritan” who treated a complete stranger with love and kindness, just as he would have his own brother.
The point I want us to get today is that we often know the answer, but we still look for the loophole. We know what Jesus wants from us… but we’re looking for a “catch” or an excuse, or another interpretation that better suits our agenda. “Yes, LORD, you told us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves… but you didn’t mean poor people, did you? Surely you didn’t mean people who are gay or those who are Muslim! LORD, you were only talking about upper middle class white Americans, right?” Or we justify our behavior by saying, “But LORD, if I talked to someone the way that person talked to me, I would not feel good about myself… so surely you don’t mean for me to love him/her after the things that were said!”
We justify our sins by saying, “But I do love you, LORD… even if I did do such-and-such. It really has nothing to do with my faith!” What we don’t seem to grasp is that loving God with all our heart, soul, strength and mind means never doing anything that would disappoint Him… or cause our “neighbor” to falter… or showing disrespect for God, His children, or even His planet – in any manner! That’s painting with a broad brush… but that’s exactly what Jesus did! Still, we look for the loophole… we don’t believe He was talking about us… and we attempt to do as we please.
The time has come for us to step up to the plate and really hear what Jesus is saying in this passage… and take it at face value. No more arrogance… no more looking for a way around the truth or claiming that these commandments do not apply to us… they do! And the path to Eternal Life is clearly defined here. The question is… are we on this path? Are we following the commandments? Or are we still busy looking for a loophole?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 21, 2011
Luke 11:2-4
So he said, "When you pray, say,
Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."
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 are all familiar with “The Lord’s Prayer.” We all learned to recite it at a very early age, and each of us can probably recite a version of it without even thinking. And this is part of the problem. We can recite the words to this prayer, but we give very little thought to what we are saying.
I believe we can read the same passage of scripture many times and take away something completely different in each instance. For me, one verse in particular stood out recently… “Set the world right.” This is the “Thy will be done on earth and in Heaven” verse… but “Set the world right” really rang home with me.
Whatever is happening in your “world” right now, God can set right. Whatever troubles you have… heartaches… challenges… disappointments… frustrations… struggles… sins… He can handle all of them. God will be there to celebrate your highest highs… and to lift you from your lowest lows. And in the process, He will feed your body and your soul, forgive you when you disappoint, and help you overcome the temptations of the devil.
I’ve prayed this prayer several times in recent days. My 46-year-old cousin, Carla Lou, died on Palm Sunday. She suffered a brain aneurysm while attending a college class reunion in Little Rock. This left us shocked and confused… why was someone so young and in seemingly good health taken from us? Why had we not communicated more in recent years after she moved to Ohio? How do we process the fact that in the blink of an eye, she is just gone forever?
Through all of these questions, and more, I’ve heard this phrase repeated over and over, “God will set the world right.” He knows my heartaches… and yours. He knows what I need at this very moment… and He will deliver exactly that… and He stands ready to do the same for you!
“The Lord’s Prayer” is a great model for our everyday prayers. The points covered in these two verses are a great basis for our conversations with God… starting with praise and ending with an acknowledgment that His Kingdom is forever and ever. But let’s remember to stop and truly think about what we are saying when we recite this prayer – or when we pray at any time. Make your words count… speak from the heart, and truly communicate with God. He’s waiting to hear from us… to set our world right… and to meet every one of our needs. “Our Father, who art in heaven… set my world right…and be glorified.”
©2011 Debbie Robus
So he said, "When you pray, say,
Father,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil."
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 are all familiar with “The Lord’s Prayer.” We all learned to recite it at a very early age, and each of us can probably recite a version of it without even thinking. And this is part of the problem. We can recite the words to this prayer, but we give very little thought to what we are saying.
I believe we can read the same passage of scripture many times and take away something completely different in each instance. For me, one verse in particular stood out recently… “Set the world right.” This is the “Thy will be done on earth and in Heaven” verse… but “Set the world right” really rang home with me.
Whatever is happening in your “world” right now, God can set right. Whatever troubles you have… heartaches… challenges… disappointments… frustrations… struggles… sins… He can handle all of them. God will be there to celebrate your highest highs… and to lift you from your lowest lows. And in the process, He will feed your body and your soul, forgive you when you disappoint, and help you overcome the temptations of the devil.
I’ve prayed this prayer several times in recent days. My 46-year-old cousin, Carla Lou, died on Palm Sunday. She suffered a brain aneurysm while attending a college class reunion in Little Rock. This left us shocked and confused… why was someone so young and in seemingly good health taken from us? Why had we not communicated more in recent years after she moved to Ohio? How do we process the fact that in the blink of an eye, she is just gone forever?
Through all of these questions, and more, I’ve heard this phrase repeated over and over, “God will set the world right.” He knows my heartaches… and yours. He knows what I need at this very moment… and He will deliver exactly that… and He stands ready to do the same for you!
“The Lord’s Prayer” is a great model for our everyday prayers. The points covered in these two verses are a great basis for our conversations with God… starting with praise and ending with an acknowledgment that His Kingdom is forever and ever. But let’s remember to stop and truly think about what we are saying when we recite this prayer – or when we pray at any time. Make your words count… speak from the heart, and truly communicate with God. He’s waiting to hear from us… to set our world right… and to meet every one of our needs. “Our Father, who art in heaven… set my world right…and be glorified.”
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2011
Luke 9:62
Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My grandmother has the staff at her assisted living facility jumping through hoops to help her “make a garden.” For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has had a garden of some sort every year. When I was a child, she and my grandfather grew nearly everything they ate. Each late winter/early spring, they would get out the little wheel plow and make the rows in their garden for the various vegetables. For the deeper furrows, my Pap-pa would hitch a mule to the plow and make his rows.
Like many good farmers I knew through the years, my grandparents’ rows were always neat and orderly, and incredibly straight. Oh, they tried to teach me and my siblings to plow the rows, but ours were never straight enough, and our attention span was probably not long enough… and we most likely looked back while plowing! I can still hear my grandmother fussing about those rows… and she told me just last week that she had chastised the maintenance guy at her senior residence because “he didn’t dig his trenches deep enough.”
What does this mean in the end? What does it really hurt? Maybe not much… but then again, maybe it hurts a lot. In a relatively square garden patch, one crooked row leads to another… and another… and ultimately, besides crooked rows, you could end up without enough space for everything you wanted or needed to grow. Also, crooked rows speak to the orderliness of the gardener. And serious gardeners like my grandmother take their planting personally… and feel any flaws reflect directly on their character!
In the context of our spiritual life, Jesus is saying that we have to leave the past in the past. We can’t be continually looking back at what we did or worrying about what we didn’t finish or fix. We have to be willing to say, “Jesus has called me to serve Him now… those things no longer matter. He is more important!”
So when people say, “I’ll give my heart to Jesus tomorrow… just let me have one more wild night,” this passage is for them. When someone says, “Lightning will strike if I darken the doors of the church sanctuary,” this passage says, “That’s not true.” When people tell you, I’ve got to get my life in better order before I can serve others,” that’s stinkin’ thinkin’! I remember very clearly believing that I could not attend a Walk to Emmaus until I had resolved some “issues” in my own heart first. I thought I had to fix myself before I could allow God to work… and nothing could be further from the truth!
God wants us right where we are… now… today… this minute! He wants us to say, “I want so badly to be in Your will and serving You with every fiber of my being that I am willing to drop everything and start immediately.” He doesn’t want us to hesitate… to even look back and wave “Good-bye” to our sinful past. He just wants us to move forward, plowing the straightest, neatest row of Christian faith and trust that we possibly can. He will give us the seeds to plant. He will fertilize and nurture our “garden” and handle the harvest. All we have to do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
I am so bad about hesitating. I am clearly one of those who wants to “tie up loose ends” first. I have a terribly hard time “letting go and letting God” sometimes… don’t you? But we can change! We can do better. We must learn to operate in faith and stop looking backward. Our spiritual “garden” depends on it!
During the Walk to Emmaus… we say to those who attend, “Christ is counting on you.” They reply, “And I am counting on Christ.” Are you counting on Christ today? Or are you looking backward, procrastinating, and trying to fix things yourself? Isn’t it time you started plowing forward? Can Christ count on you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered, "Anyone who starts plowing and keeps looking back isn't worth a thing to God's kingdom!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My grandmother has the staff at her assisted living facility jumping through hoops to help her “make a garden.” For as long as I can remember, my grandmother has had a garden of some sort every year. When I was a child, she and my grandfather grew nearly everything they ate. Each late winter/early spring, they would get out the little wheel plow and make the rows in their garden for the various vegetables. For the deeper furrows, my Pap-pa would hitch a mule to the plow and make his rows.
Like many good farmers I knew through the years, my grandparents’ rows were always neat and orderly, and incredibly straight. Oh, they tried to teach me and my siblings to plow the rows, but ours were never straight enough, and our attention span was probably not long enough… and we most likely looked back while plowing! I can still hear my grandmother fussing about those rows… and she told me just last week that she had chastised the maintenance guy at her senior residence because “he didn’t dig his trenches deep enough.”
What does this mean in the end? What does it really hurt? Maybe not much… but then again, maybe it hurts a lot. In a relatively square garden patch, one crooked row leads to another… and another… and ultimately, besides crooked rows, you could end up without enough space for everything you wanted or needed to grow. Also, crooked rows speak to the orderliness of the gardener. And serious gardeners like my grandmother take their planting personally… and feel any flaws reflect directly on their character!
In the context of our spiritual life, Jesus is saying that we have to leave the past in the past. We can’t be continually looking back at what we did or worrying about what we didn’t finish or fix. We have to be willing to say, “Jesus has called me to serve Him now… those things no longer matter. He is more important!”
So when people say, “I’ll give my heart to Jesus tomorrow… just let me have one more wild night,” this passage is for them. When someone says, “Lightning will strike if I darken the doors of the church sanctuary,” this passage says, “That’s not true.” When people tell you, I’ve got to get my life in better order before I can serve others,” that’s stinkin’ thinkin’! I remember very clearly believing that I could not attend a Walk to Emmaus until I had resolved some “issues” in my own heart first. I thought I had to fix myself before I could allow God to work… and nothing could be further from the truth!
God wants us right where we are… now… today… this minute! He wants us to say, “I want so badly to be in Your will and serving You with every fiber of my being that I am willing to drop everything and start immediately.” He doesn’t want us to hesitate… to even look back and wave “Good-bye” to our sinful past. He just wants us to move forward, plowing the straightest, neatest row of Christian faith and trust that we possibly can. He will give us the seeds to plant. He will fertilize and nurture our “garden” and handle the harvest. All we have to do is put one foot in front of the other and keep moving forward.
I am so bad about hesitating. I am clearly one of those who wants to “tie up loose ends” first. I have a terribly hard time “letting go and letting God” sometimes… don’t you? But we can change! We can do better. We must learn to operate in faith and stop looking backward. Our spiritual “garden” depends on it!
During the Walk to Emmaus… we say to those who attend, “Christ is counting on you.” They reply, “And I am counting on Christ.” Are you counting on Christ today? Or are you looking backward, procrastinating, and trying to fix things yourself? Isn’t it time you started plowing forward? Can Christ count on you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 19, 2011
Luke 9:46-48
They started arguing over which of them would be most famous. When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side. "Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me," he said. "And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of ours posted a video on Facebook of her 18-month-old daughter dancing. As the little toddler gave it all she had, her mom coached her… “You go, girl! Whooo… get down, sista!” And the baby did just that. She danced her heart out and shook, stomped, waved and spun with wild abandon. Her spirit for dancing was HUGE… larger than many adults several times her size could muster.
Children bring such an enthusiasm to much of what they attempt. They often fail to recognize their small stature and “go for the gusto” in whatever they try to accomplish. Think of the small toddler who picks up something as large as he/she is and tries to carry it. The older we get, the more stifled we become, it seems… the more uptight, insecure, and inhibited… and all aspects of our life are affected by this – especially our Spirituality.
Jesus wants us to celebrate and serve Him like the dancing toddler… with all-out abandon, complete spirit, enthusiasm and eagerness. He wants us to pick up things that seem far larger than our ability to carry them, confident that HE will make the difference! Jesus wants us to accept Him… believing that we can do all things with His strength. He doesn’t want us to assert ourselves because of our own greatness or place of honor beside Him, but rather because of His power in and through us.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you jousting for “position” with Jesus, struggling to be mature, reserved and well-known among others as a “good Christian?” Or are you dancing with wild abandon… celebrating the Holy Spirit working in and through you… accepting Jesus and serving Him wherever He places you? The difference is huge…the size of your heart and your spirit matters… not your “position” as a Christian. When was the last time you danced for Jesus? C’mon, brothers and sistas… it’s time to get down!
©2011 Debbie Robus
They started arguing over which of them would be most famous. When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side. "Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me," he said. "And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of ours posted a video on Facebook of her 18-month-old daughter dancing. As the little toddler gave it all she had, her mom coached her… “You go, girl! Whooo… get down, sista!” And the baby did just that. She danced her heart out and shook, stomped, waved and spun with wild abandon. Her spirit for dancing was HUGE… larger than many adults several times her size could muster.
Children bring such an enthusiasm to much of what they attempt. They often fail to recognize their small stature and “go for the gusto” in whatever they try to accomplish. Think of the small toddler who picks up something as large as he/she is and tries to carry it. The older we get, the more stifled we become, it seems… the more uptight, insecure, and inhibited… and all aspects of our life are affected by this – especially our Spirituality.
Jesus wants us to celebrate and serve Him like the dancing toddler… with all-out abandon, complete spirit, enthusiasm and eagerness. He wants us to pick up things that seem far larger than our ability to carry them, confident that HE will make the difference! Jesus wants us to accept Him… believing that we can do all things with His strength. He doesn’t want us to assert ourselves because of our own greatness or place of honor beside Him, but rather because of His power in and through us.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you jousting for “position” with Jesus, struggling to be mature, reserved and well-known among others as a “good Christian?” Or are you dancing with wild abandon… celebrating the Holy Spirit working in and through you… accepting Jesus and serving Him wherever He places you? The difference is huge…the size of your heart and your spirit matters… not your “position” as a Christian. When was the last time you danced for Jesus? C’mon, brothers and sistas… it’s time to get down!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 18, 2011
Psalm 78:1-4
My friends, I beg you to listen as I teach. I will give instruction and explain the mystery of what happened long ago. These are things we learned from our ancestors, and we will tell them to the next generation. We won't keep secret the glorious deeds and the mighty miracles of the LORD.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For as long as I can remember, my grandparents have told me about “way back when” – their own history… and that of their ancestors. They have passed on a legacy to me of good and bad times… of heartaches and struggles – and great accomplishments. I know how hard my Grand-dad worked to get a high school diploma, coming to Heber Springs from Wilburn when he was 19 and boarding “in town” – stoking the stove at the high school each night with coal while his classmates slept snugly in warm beds at home, so that he could afford to attend school alongside them. I have his high school diploma, Senior Class photo and other memorabilia from the Class of 1930… framed and hanging on my office wall.
I’ve heard countless stories about how my mother-in-law and her sisters boarded in Iowa City, miles from their country farm, so that they could attend U-High – the high school associated with the University of Iowa – in the early 1940s. She has told me how many of her instructors were authors of the textbooks from which she studied… how she had access to indoor swimming and all of the amenities of the college… and how she and her sisters worked for pennies to buy food to supplement the home-canned goods her mother sent with them every weekend or two when they would return home for a visit. We’ve visited the campus with her and even walked through classrooms where she and her sisters once sat for lectures.
Were it not for the oral histories of our parents and grandparents, teachers and others, we would not know how we got here. We wouldn’t know the hard work and struggles, the heartaches and hardships that were endured to pave the way. We would not know the achievements and accomplishments of those who came before us. And all of this information does matter.
But none of this holds a candle to the legacy of our Heavenly Father and the servants and saints who paved the way for us to be able to worship God as we do today. What if nobody had shared the Good News of Jesus Christ? What if no one took the time to tell children and young people about God and His mighty works? What if the message of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection three days later were never told? What if nobody ever shared how God had worked in their life and blessed them? What if we never did this for anyone else?
Verse 7 of this Psalm says “Never forget the works of God, but keep His commands to the letter.” Don’t keep God a secret! Share His work within you with others. Keep the Spiritual history alive in every sense of the word. Pass along to the next generation the marvelous fame and fortune of God Almighty! Share what He has done – and is doing – in your life with others and be a part of His legacy.
©2011 Debbie Robus
My friends, I beg you to listen as I teach. I will give instruction and explain the mystery of what happened long ago. These are things we learned from our ancestors, and we will tell them to the next generation. We won't keep secret the glorious deeds and the mighty miracles of the LORD.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For as long as I can remember, my grandparents have told me about “way back when” – their own history… and that of their ancestors. They have passed on a legacy to me of good and bad times… of heartaches and struggles – and great accomplishments. I know how hard my Grand-dad worked to get a high school diploma, coming to Heber Springs from Wilburn when he was 19 and boarding “in town” – stoking the stove at the high school each night with coal while his classmates slept snugly in warm beds at home, so that he could afford to attend school alongside them. I have his high school diploma, Senior Class photo and other memorabilia from the Class of 1930… framed and hanging on my office wall.
I’ve heard countless stories about how my mother-in-law and her sisters boarded in Iowa City, miles from their country farm, so that they could attend U-High – the high school associated with the University of Iowa – in the early 1940s. She has told me how many of her instructors were authors of the textbooks from which she studied… how she had access to indoor swimming and all of the amenities of the college… and how she and her sisters worked for pennies to buy food to supplement the home-canned goods her mother sent with them every weekend or two when they would return home for a visit. We’ve visited the campus with her and even walked through classrooms where she and her sisters once sat for lectures.
Were it not for the oral histories of our parents and grandparents, teachers and others, we would not know how we got here. We wouldn’t know the hard work and struggles, the heartaches and hardships that were endured to pave the way. We would not know the achievements and accomplishments of those who came before us. And all of this information does matter.
But none of this holds a candle to the legacy of our Heavenly Father and the servants and saints who paved the way for us to be able to worship God as we do today. What if nobody had shared the Good News of Jesus Christ? What if no one took the time to tell children and young people about God and His mighty works? What if the message of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection three days later were never told? What if nobody ever shared how God had worked in their life and blessed them? What if we never did this for anyone else?
Verse 7 of this Psalm says “Never forget the works of God, but keep His commands to the letter.” Don’t keep God a secret! Share His work within you with others. Keep the Spiritual history alive in every sense of the word. Pass along to the next generation the marvelous fame and fortune of God Almighty! Share what He has done – and is doing – in your life with others and be a part of His legacy.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 17, 2011
Psalm 77:2-15
I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head. I bow my head—then wring my hands. I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me.
I go over the days one by one, I ponder the years gone by. I strum my lute all through the night, wondering how to get my life together.
Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again? Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out? Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us? "Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him."
Once again I'll go over what GOD has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts. O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.
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.
Recently someone said something to me that caused me to question myself. The person expressed an opinion about how I had handled a business matter, and all of a sudden, I was filled with doubt. I thought I had done the right thing… in fact, I was sure of it. Yet the comments of one person caused me to second-guess what I already knew.
I shared the conversation with my husband, and he said, “That’s only one person’s opinion.” I reviewed some written guidelines I had been given and found that I had complied with all of them. Yet I was bothered for several hours by this encounter… until I realized that I was wasting time… and Satan was laughing. Then I got mad… and I spent some time in prayer and got over myself!
For the record, I wasn’t mad at the person with whom I spoke… or even the devil for causing me some angst. It was more a case of being mad at myself for allowing this! When I first felt unsettled about the conversation, I should have stopped everything and talked to God about it. And God tried to use my husband to tell me I was wasting time. But I still had to wring my hands for awhile and go over some scenarios in my head for how to fix things.
Here’s the deal… the next time frustration, doubt and second-guessing about anything creeps into your thought process – even something seemingly insignificant or of a highly secular manner – STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and PRAY! Remind yourself that God never stops working on your behalf. He always has your back. He is the God who makes things happen and pulls people out of the worst kind of trouble. Surely He can manage the doubt and worry the devil wants to give you! Don’t you think God could do a better job than you could of handling such things? Shouldn’t you at least give Him a try and find out for yourself?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord; my life was an open wound that wouldn't heal. When friends said, "Everything will turn out all right," I didn't believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head. I bow my head—then wring my hands. I'm awake all night—not a wink of sleep; I can't even say what's bothering me.
I go over the days one by one, I ponder the years gone by. I strum my lute all through the night, wondering how to get my life together.
Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good? Will he never smile again? Is his love worn threadbare? Has his salvation promise burned out? Has God forgotten his manners? Has he angrily stalked off and left us? "Just my luck," I said. "The High God goes out of business just the moment I need him."
Once again I'll go over what GOD has done, lay out on the table the ancient wonders; I'll ponder all the things you've accomplished, and give a long, loving look at your acts. O God! Your way is holy! No god is great like God! You're the God who makes things happen; you showed everyone what you can do— You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble, rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.
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.
Recently someone said something to me that caused me to question myself. The person expressed an opinion about how I had handled a business matter, and all of a sudden, I was filled with doubt. I thought I had done the right thing… in fact, I was sure of it. Yet the comments of one person caused me to second-guess what I already knew.
I shared the conversation with my husband, and he said, “That’s only one person’s opinion.” I reviewed some written guidelines I had been given and found that I had complied with all of them. Yet I was bothered for several hours by this encounter… until I realized that I was wasting time… and Satan was laughing. Then I got mad… and I spent some time in prayer and got over myself!
For the record, I wasn’t mad at the person with whom I spoke… or even the devil for causing me some angst. It was more a case of being mad at myself for allowing this! When I first felt unsettled about the conversation, I should have stopped everything and talked to God about it. And God tried to use my husband to tell me I was wasting time. But I still had to wring my hands for awhile and go over some scenarios in my head for how to fix things.
Here’s the deal… the next time frustration, doubt and second-guessing about anything creeps into your thought process – even something seemingly insignificant or of a highly secular manner – STOP WHAT YOU ARE DOING and PRAY! Remind yourself that God never stops working on your behalf. He always has your back. He is the God who makes things happen and pulls people out of the worst kind of trouble. Surely He can manage the doubt and worry the devil wants to give you! Don’t you think God could do a better job than you could of handling such things? Shouldn’t you at least give Him a try and find out for yourself?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 16, 2011
Proverbs 12:25
Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Legendary news anchor Barbara Walters says that when she underwent open heart surgery last year, she recalls that she was not anxious (worried) as she was wheeled into the operating room. She thought to herself… “If I die on the operating table, I won’t know it.” If only it were always that simple to free ourselves of worry and anxiety! This scripture is right… worry is a heavy burden… and Satan makes sure most of us get a big dose of it daily.
We worry about everything from the weather to tests to whether or not our jeans will fit or we will have the right outfit for an upcoming event. We worry about big things in our lives… and the seemingly insignificant ones, as well. Many of us carry the burden of worry like a badge of honor. We’ve made a career out of brooding over worries.
God wants us to give our worries to Him. He wants us to lighten up… to be more trusting and faithful in His ability to work and bring about good in our lives. And He wants us to share that positive energy and outlook with others. We must offer a word of cheer and encouragement whenever we can, to lighten the burden of worry for the other guy.
Worry and anxiety truly do not change the outcome… but God does! The sooner we learn to rest in God and give Him control over our lives, the sooner we can become a cheerleader for others… and encourage them to do the same. Worry is a tool of the devil… designed to drag us down and keep us from experiencing the richest blessings of God. Are you really going to let him have that sort of satisfaction? Isn’t today a good day to “cast all your cares upon the LORD” and let Him do His job? Let’s focus on being the cheerleader instead of the worry-wort. Let’s see what amazing things God has in store for us when we let Him handle our day!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Worry is a heavy burden, but a kind word always brings cheer.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Legendary news anchor Barbara Walters says that when she underwent open heart surgery last year, she recalls that she was not anxious (worried) as she was wheeled into the operating room. She thought to herself… “If I die on the operating table, I won’t know it.” If only it were always that simple to free ourselves of worry and anxiety! This scripture is right… worry is a heavy burden… and Satan makes sure most of us get a big dose of it daily.
We worry about everything from the weather to tests to whether or not our jeans will fit or we will have the right outfit for an upcoming event. We worry about big things in our lives… and the seemingly insignificant ones, as well. Many of us carry the burden of worry like a badge of honor. We’ve made a career out of brooding over worries.
God wants us to give our worries to Him. He wants us to lighten up… to be more trusting and faithful in His ability to work and bring about good in our lives. And He wants us to share that positive energy and outlook with others. We must offer a word of cheer and encouragement whenever we can, to lighten the burden of worry for the other guy.
Worry and anxiety truly do not change the outcome… but God does! The sooner we learn to rest in God and give Him control over our lives, the sooner we can become a cheerleader for others… and encourage them to do the same. Worry is a tool of the devil… designed to drag us down and keep us from experiencing the richest blessings of God. Are you really going to let him have that sort of satisfaction? Isn’t today a good day to “cast all your cares upon the LORD” and let Him do His job? Let’s focus on being the cheerleader instead of the worry-wort. Let’s see what amazing things God has in store for us when we let Him handle our day!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 15, 2011
Proverbs 12:18-19, 22
Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise. Truth lasts; lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
God can't stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have worked with some great people in my lifetime. I’ve gotten acquainted with some people of tremendous integrity and moral fiber… people who truly put the interests of others above their own and always do the right thing, even in situations where that is a darn tough choice! I’ve also encountered some people who would step over their own grandmother to make themselves look better. These people lie so often that nobody knows if – or when – they have uttered anything resembling the truth. A lot of people have been hurt along the way by this dishonesty… and I can assure you, God is not pleased by these lies.
In “the heat of the moment,” we often say and do things that are hurtful… dishonest… outrageous… disrespectful. And the effect of these behaviors can be powerful. Some of us become so skilled at distorting the facts that we honestly don’t know what is true and what isn’t any more. And some people know they are lying… and simply don’t care!
Early on, God blessed me with enough examples of honest people who “took the high road” to see that nothing good comes from lies and hurtful words. And while I am sure that I am still sometimes guilty of saying something rash and sharp, I pray that more often, I bite my tongue or find a way of expressing my viewpoint in a kind and loving manner. I have seen firsthand how God blesses this type of behavior.
Be assured that retaliating toward a bully will not get you anywhere. While it may seem like walking away and “taking it” is the coward’s way… it’s not. God will sustain you. He will give you what you need… and in the long run, YOU will be the one who is blessed. When people cheat you out of what is rightfully yours, know that God will make things right. I’m not talking about revenge… although that may be what God chooses to enact. But God will bless you for your honesty and integrity. It may take years… you may have to wait until you get to Heaven… but He will bless you for honoring Him in this way.
Sadly, Satan is the author of lies… and he has plenty of willing agents to present them. He has cheaters and deadbeats and vindictive people on every street corner, waiting to challenge our faith and our Spiritual integrity. Do not be fooled… do not fall into this trap. Take the High Road… walk above the dishonesty and stay close to Jesus. He will see you through… He will bless your loyalty. You will look back and realize that these tests have made you stronger and fortified your relationship with the One who matters… and you’ll be thankful for God’s gifts of wisdom and courage… and the healing of lasting truth.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise. Truth lasts; lies are here today, gone tomorrow.
God can't stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have worked with some great people in my lifetime. I’ve gotten acquainted with some people of tremendous integrity and moral fiber… people who truly put the interests of others above their own and always do the right thing, even in situations where that is a darn tough choice! I’ve also encountered some people who would step over their own grandmother to make themselves look better. These people lie so often that nobody knows if – or when – they have uttered anything resembling the truth. A lot of people have been hurt along the way by this dishonesty… and I can assure you, God is not pleased by these lies.
In “the heat of the moment,” we often say and do things that are hurtful… dishonest… outrageous… disrespectful. And the effect of these behaviors can be powerful. Some of us become so skilled at distorting the facts that we honestly don’t know what is true and what isn’t any more. And some people know they are lying… and simply don’t care!
Early on, God blessed me with enough examples of honest people who “took the high road” to see that nothing good comes from lies and hurtful words. And while I am sure that I am still sometimes guilty of saying something rash and sharp, I pray that more often, I bite my tongue or find a way of expressing my viewpoint in a kind and loving manner. I have seen firsthand how God blesses this type of behavior.
Be assured that retaliating toward a bully will not get you anywhere. While it may seem like walking away and “taking it” is the coward’s way… it’s not. God will sustain you. He will give you what you need… and in the long run, YOU will be the one who is blessed. When people cheat you out of what is rightfully yours, know that God will make things right. I’m not talking about revenge… although that may be what God chooses to enact. But God will bless you for your honesty and integrity. It may take years… you may have to wait until you get to Heaven… but He will bless you for honoring Him in this way.
Sadly, Satan is the author of lies… and he has plenty of willing agents to present them. He has cheaters and deadbeats and vindictive people on every street corner, waiting to challenge our faith and our Spiritual integrity. Do not be fooled… do not fall into this trap. Take the High Road… walk above the dishonesty and stay close to Jesus. He will see you through… He will bless your loyalty. You will look back and realize that these tests have made you stronger and fortified your relationship with the One who matters… and you’ll be thankful for God’s gifts of wisdom and courage… and the healing of lasting truth.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 14, 2011
Psalm 71:17-18
You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I'm telling the world your wonders; I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray. God, don't walk off and leave me until I get out the news of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come, Your famous and righteous ways, O God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I have laughingly remarked more than once that I know a few older folks who run circles around me on a daily basis. They have more zip than the Energizer Bunny, and by the time I get up, many of them have accomplished a day’s worth of work! But I also hear older people say, “You’re still young… I just can’t do what I used to any more.” And I get that. When I taught kindergarten in my 20s, I could get up and down out of the floor all day long without a second thought. Now, every time I get in the floor with Timothy, the ache in my knees when I stand reminds me that I’m no longer 20-something.
But this doesn’t mean that I can’t do things with my little nephew… or that older Christians cannot continue to serve. It just means that there truly is a “time for every season,” as we read in Ecclesiastes… and we may have to shift our attitude and our focus to fit each stage of life. The question is… are we meeting the challenge and doing all we are capable of doing in each “season”?
See, when we are young and able-bodied, God may be calling us to work with children, do physical labor like yard work for the elderly or simple carpentry and repairs. He may be asking us to drive a route for Meals on Wheels or deliver older adults to medical and shopping appointments and more. As we age, God may shift us to more of a stationary role… prayer warrior, someone who makes phone calls to check on others or sends cards of encouragement and concern. He may want you to use your workplace or your position in the community to share His message with others… and when you are older – possibly retired – He may use you in new and different ways. My 98-year-old grandmother lives in an apartment at an assisted living facility… and she walks across the street to visit nursing home residents.
The bottom line is this… we are never too young or too old to serve God. He will never “shove us on a shelf” and declare us of no use. OUR job is to figure out how and where He wants us to serve… then get busy doing just that! Do you know what He’s calling you to do in this season of your life? Are you getting out the news as He wishes?
©2011 Debbie Robus
You got me when I was an unformed youth, God, and taught me everything I know. Now I'm telling the world your wonders; I'll keep at it until I'm old and gray. God, don't walk off and leave me until I get out the news of your strong right arm to this world, news of your power to the world yet to come, Your famous and righteous ways, O God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I have laughingly remarked more than once that I know a few older folks who run circles around me on a daily basis. They have more zip than the Energizer Bunny, and by the time I get up, many of them have accomplished a day’s worth of work! But I also hear older people say, “You’re still young… I just can’t do what I used to any more.” And I get that. When I taught kindergarten in my 20s, I could get up and down out of the floor all day long without a second thought. Now, every time I get in the floor with Timothy, the ache in my knees when I stand reminds me that I’m no longer 20-something.
But this doesn’t mean that I can’t do things with my little nephew… or that older Christians cannot continue to serve. It just means that there truly is a “time for every season,” as we read in Ecclesiastes… and we may have to shift our attitude and our focus to fit each stage of life. The question is… are we meeting the challenge and doing all we are capable of doing in each “season”?
See, when we are young and able-bodied, God may be calling us to work with children, do physical labor like yard work for the elderly or simple carpentry and repairs. He may be asking us to drive a route for Meals on Wheels or deliver older adults to medical and shopping appointments and more. As we age, God may shift us to more of a stationary role… prayer warrior, someone who makes phone calls to check on others or sends cards of encouragement and concern. He may want you to use your workplace or your position in the community to share His message with others… and when you are older – possibly retired – He may use you in new and different ways. My 98-year-old grandmother lives in an apartment at an assisted living facility… and she walks across the street to visit nursing home residents.
The bottom line is this… we are never too young or too old to serve God. He will never “shove us on a shelf” and declare us of no use. OUR job is to figure out how and where He wants us to serve… then get busy doing just that! Do you know what He’s calling you to do in this season of your life? Are you getting out the news as He wishes?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 13, 2011
Psalm 66:16-20
All who worship God, come here and listen; I will tell you everything God has done for me. I prayed to the Lord, and I praised him. If my thoughts had been sinful, he would have refused to hear me. But God did listen and answered my prayer. Let's praise God! He listened when I prayed, and he is always kind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we see a friend or family member and ask, “What’s new?”… we often get an earful. People are ready to share their latest ailments, challenges, mishaps, and more… and I am as guilty as the next person. Wouldn’t we be surprised if we asked “What’s new?” and someone replied, “God is meeting all my needs… He blessed me with a good night’s rest and I’m feeling great. All of my bills are paid and I have plenty to eat… and best of all, He’s got a mansion waiting for me when I get to heaven!”?!
Honestly, we would probably 1) take a step backward, and 2) wonder if the person speaking was thinking clearly! We are just not accustomed to hearing such good news… people simply do not express their blessings as frequently as they detail their misfortunes and the negative aspects of their lives. It’s as if we think people either won’t be interested in hearing that we have no complaints… or they will think we are bragging.
The truth is that we have no basis for this thinking… because most of us have never tried speaking positively – at least not without peppering in negative comments, as well. The late TV broadcaster Paul Eells said that he tried to make every person he encountered feel like they were the only person in the room. He did this, in part, by focusing on that person and his/her needs rather than his own. And I can’t help but believe that when Paul did share about himself with others, it was more often positive in nature than negative.
We really do need to change our attitude in this area. We need to start making a concerted effort to speak positively… to share Good News and talk about the great things God is doing for us each and every minute of the day. This is not a denial that you have problems… everyone does! But what if instead of sharing your problem… you shared how God is solving it?! The difference is simply a shift in attitude. Surely our great God deserves this… and more. Isn’t it time we started speaking of His power and how He answers our prayers? Are you willing to give this a try?
©2011 Debbie Robus
All who worship God, come here and listen; I will tell you everything God has done for me. I prayed to the Lord, and I praised him. If my thoughts had been sinful, he would have refused to hear me. But God did listen and answered my prayer. Let's praise God! He listened when I prayed, and he is always kind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we see a friend or family member and ask, “What’s new?”… we often get an earful. People are ready to share their latest ailments, challenges, mishaps, and more… and I am as guilty as the next person. Wouldn’t we be surprised if we asked “What’s new?” and someone replied, “God is meeting all my needs… He blessed me with a good night’s rest and I’m feeling great. All of my bills are paid and I have plenty to eat… and best of all, He’s got a mansion waiting for me when I get to heaven!”?!
Honestly, we would probably 1) take a step backward, and 2) wonder if the person speaking was thinking clearly! We are just not accustomed to hearing such good news… people simply do not express their blessings as frequently as they detail their misfortunes and the negative aspects of their lives. It’s as if we think people either won’t be interested in hearing that we have no complaints… or they will think we are bragging.
The truth is that we have no basis for this thinking… because most of us have never tried speaking positively – at least not without peppering in negative comments, as well. The late TV broadcaster Paul Eells said that he tried to make every person he encountered feel like they were the only person in the room. He did this, in part, by focusing on that person and his/her needs rather than his own. And I can’t help but believe that when Paul did share about himself with others, it was more often positive in nature than negative.
We really do need to change our attitude in this area. We need to start making a concerted effort to speak positively… to share Good News and talk about the great things God is doing for us each and every minute of the day. This is not a denial that you have problems… everyone does! But what if instead of sharing your problem… you shared how God is solving it?! The difference is simply a shift in attitude. Surely our great God deserves this… and more. Isn’t it time we started speaking of His power and how He answers our prayers? Are you willing to give this a try?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 12, 2011
Psalm 63:1-8
You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. As long as I live, I will pray to you. I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet.
I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night. You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Death is a fact of life. And the older I get, the more funerals I seem to be attending. Many of the friends and relatives in my grandparents’ age group are gone now… along with most of the folks in my childhood neighborhood, who were “satellite grandparents” to me and my siblings. Now, people in my parents’ circle of friends are beginning to decline – and go to heaven. It’s not really a sad time… more bittersweet… because I know they are receiving a great reward for their faithfulness on this earth, and they are happy in the face-to-face company of Jesus and those who went before them.
But all the same, there is some understandable sadness for those who are left behind, because these people are missed. God understands this… and He blesses us with memories… moments to reflect on our time with these people… and hopefully a time to laugh and smile as we think about what they meant to us and events we shared.
And so it is with a man named Dickie… a friend of my parents… the son of my childhood neighbor, Mary… who passed away recently. My personal association with Dickie goes back to a time when I was probably ten or eleven years old. Every Sunday morning in the summer, Dickie would come to our house around 8:00 and pick me up, and we would drive to DamSite Park, where he and I conducted a “lakeside worship” service for campers and visitors to our area. Dickie would unpack an old blue box “pump organ” from the trunk of his car and set it up for me. I would pass out hymnals and brochures about our church. We would sing a couple of hymns while I played the organ – “Blessed Assurance” was a favorite! – and then Dickie would read Scripture and deliver a few words. It was all over in time for us to get home and dress for our own Sunday-school and church services.
I don’t know how many years we did this… but I was thinking that Dickie was probably in his forties then. I wondered how many 40-something men would be so faithful and committed these days. For as long as I can remember, Dickie has been a faithful servant of his church and his LORD… until Alzheimer’s rendered him unable to be active in recent months.
Lest you think Dickie had a cushy life that made serving God easy, let me set things straight. Dickie lost his only son, Steve, to cancer in the 1980s after a long, gut-wrenching battle and dozens of experimental treatments. He suffered more than one bout with Bell’s Palsy, a weakness and paralysis of the facial muscles. Then he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. But he kept going.
He traveled with his wife and their friends… often in an RV caravan… across the country and back – frequently visiting places out West… Arizona, California, and even Alaska. He and his wife participated in “car shows” – showcasing Steve’s prized Shelby and other Mustangs that Dickie restored. And Dickie served in many capacities in his home church, including substituting as a Sunday-school teacher for a men’s class when the regular teacher would be away… sometimes for months at a time.
When I think of my friend Dickie, I think of a man of great integrity and faith… someone who paid attention to details… whether on the car he was restoring, the gas heating unit he was installing or repairing in his propane business, or the materials he carried to a campground pavilion each Sunday to bring the Good News to weekend visitors. I think of someone who knew the power and glory of God… that no matter what he endured on this earth, this God would reward him well in heaven… someone who shared his faith and trust in God with others.
Today, I celebrate the faithful service of my friend Dickie… and I recognize God’s love and strength through his model of Christian service. We would do well to look around at the shining examples among us of those who rest in God and realize their salvation comes from him. We can learn much from people like Dickie. Look around for your own models of faith and service… those who dance and praise God in the shadow of His wings. We should strive to be more like them. We, too, must stay close to God and lean on His arms for support… until He calls us home for our own reward.
©2011 Debbie Robus
You are my God. I worship you. In my heart, I long for you, as I would long for a stream in a scorching desert. I have seen your power and your glory in the place of worship. Your love means more than life to me, and I praise you. As long as I live, I will pray to you. I will sing joyful praises and be filled with excitement like a guest at a banquet.
I think about you before I go to sleep, and my thoughts turn to you during the night. You have helped me, and I sing happy songs in the shadow of your wings. I stay close to you, and your powerful arm supports me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Death is a fact of life. And the older I get, the more funerals I seem to be attending. Many of the friends and relatives in my grandparents’ age group are gone now… along with most of the folks in my childhood neighborhood, who were “satellite grandparents” to me and my siblings. Now, people in my parents’ circle of friends are beginning to decline – and go to heaven. It’s not really a sad time… more bittersweet… because I know they are receiving a great reward for their faithfulness on this earth, and they are happy in the face-to-face company of Jesus and those who went before them.
But all the same, there is some understandable sadness for those who are left behind, because these people are missed. God understands this… and He blesses us with memories… moments to reflect on our time with these people… and hopefully a time to laugh and smile as we think about what they meant to us and events we shared.
And so it is with a man named Dickie… a friend of my parents… the son of my childhood neighbor, Mary… who passed away recently. My personal association with Dickie goes back to a time when I was probably ten or eleven years old. Every Sunday morning in the summer, Dickie would come to our house around 8:00 and pick me up, and we would drive to DamSite Park, where he and I conducted a “lakeside worship” service for campers and visitors to our area. Dickie would unpack an old blue box “pump organ” from the trunk of his car and set it up for me. I would pass out hymnals and brochures about our church. We would sing a couple of hymns while I played the organ – “Blessed Assurance” was a favorite! – and then Dickie would read Scripture and deliver a few words. It was all over in time for us to get home and dress for our own Sunday-school and church services.
I don’t know how many years we did this… but I was thinking that Dickie was probably in his forties then. I wondered how many 40-something men would be so faithful and committed these days. For as long as I can remember, Dickie has been a faithful servant of his church and his LORD… until Alzheimer’s rendered him unable to be active in recent months.
Lest you think Dickie had a cushy life that made serving God easy, let me set things straight. Dickie lost his only son, Steve, to cancer in the 1980s after a long, gut-wrenching battle and dozens of experimental treatments. He suffered more than one bout with Bell’s Palsy, a weakness and paralysis of the facial muscles. Then he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. But he kept going.
He traveled with his wife and their friends… often in an RV caravan… across the country and back – frequently visiting places out West… Arizona, California, and even Alaska. He and his wife participated in “car shows” – showcasing Steve’s prized Shelby and other Mustangs that Dickie restored. And Dickie served in many capacities in his home church, including substituting as a Sunday-school teacher for a men’s class when the regular teacher would be away… sometimes for months at a time.
When I think of my friend Dickie, I think of a man of great integrity and faith… someone who paid attention to details… whether on the car he was restoring, the gas heating unit he was installing or repairing in his propane business, or the materials he carried to a campground pavilion each Sunday to bring the Good News to weekend visitors. I think of someone who knew the power and glory of God… that no matter what he endured on this earth, this God would reward him well in heaven… someone who shared his faith and trust in God with others.
Today, I celebrate the faithful service of my friend Dickie… and I recognize God’s love and strength through his model of Christian service. We would do well to look around at the shining examples among us of those who rest in God and realize their salvation comes from him. We can learn much from people like Dickie. Look around for your own models of faith and service… those who dance and praise God in the shadow of His wings. We should strive to be more like them. We, too, must stay close to God and lean on His arms for support… until He calls us home for our own reward.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Deuteronomy 10:16-18
Remember your agreement with the LORD and stop being so stubborn. The LORD your God is more powerful than all other gods and lords, and his tremendous power is to be feared. His decisions are always fair, and you cannot bribe him to change his mind. The LORD defends the rights of orphans and widows. He cares for foreigners and gives them food and clothing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In our country, we elect politicians to office, and they promise to do all sorts of things for us as their constituents. But then lobbyists start working on them to support this project or that cause… and other outside influences come into play… and sadly, some are swayed by bribes and big talk… and our best interests are not served after all. Not all politicians are easily influenced, but it happens enough that we have to ask ourselves what is really going on! Didn’t they say they cared about us? Didn’t they choose to go into public office and work on our behalf?
Thankfully, God is not a politician! He chose us to be His children… and He always has our best interests at heart. God cannot be bribed… and even when we feel His decisions are not fair… they truly are. We just don’t understand the big picture… we can’t see what God sees or know all that He knows.
So we must trust that God is always working on our behalf. And we have plenty of proof of this. All we have to do is look around us. God has been taking care of His children for centuries. He is on the clock, meeting our needs every second of the day. And all He asks in return is that we love Him and trust Him… to respect His power and stop being so stubborn. We must stop being “Burger King Christians” and demanding to “have it our way.” Simply put, we are not GOD, and we do not know what is best.
Verses 14-15 of this chapter of Deuteronomy tell us to look around – everything we see belongs to God… and He chose US to be His precious children. Hasn’t His “record” proven that we can trust Him? Isn’t it time we did just that?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Remember your agreement with the LORD and stop being so stubborn. The LORD your God is more powerful than all other gods and lords, and his tremendous power is to be feared. His decisions are always fair, and you cannot bribe him to change his mind. The LORD defends the rights of orphans and widows. He cares for foreigners and gives them food and clothing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In our country, we elect politicians to office, and they promise to do all sorts of things for us as their constituents. But then lobbyists start working on them to support this project or that cause… and other outside influences come into play… and sadly, some are swayed by bribes and big talk… and our best interests are not served after all. Not all politicians are easily influenced, but it happens enough that we have to ask ourselves what is really going on! Didn’t they say they cared about us? Didn’t they choose to go into public office and work on our behalf?
Thankfully, God is not a politician! He chose us to be His children… and He always has our best interests at heart. God cannot be bribed… and even when we feel His decisions are not fair… they truly are. We just don’t understand the big picture… we can’t see what God sees or know all that He knows.
So we must trust that God is always working on our behalf. And we have plenty of proof of this. All we have to do is look around us. God has been taking care of His children for centuries. He is on the clock, meeting our needs every second of the day. And all He asks in return is that we love Him and trust Him… to respect His power and stop being so stubborn. We must stop being “Burger King Christians” and demanding to “have it our way.” Simply put, we are not GOD, and we do not know what is best.
Verses 14-15 of this chapter of Deuteronomy tell us to look around – everything we see belongs to God… and He chose US to be His precious children. Hasn’t His “record” proven that we can trust Him? Isn’t it time we did just that?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 10, 2011
Luke 9:23-27
Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Recently, we attended a benefit performance to raise funds for Autism Speaks. Did you know that a child is diagnosed with autism somewhere in the world every 20 minutes? At the performance, several family members spoke about living with someone who has autism. One mother told of moving her family from Florida to Little Rock so that her son could attend a certain school and receive necessary help. A little boy talked about his brother’s obsession with air fresheners… Febreze, Glade, Air Wick… and how sick he is of smelling a few of the “signature scents.” A dad talked about the wonders of hearing his son tell him “I love you.”
All in all, these families embraced their children – and the struggles that they encounter on a daily basis. I’m sure it’s not all a bed of roses for any of them, but you wouldn’t have known it on this day, as the families danced together on stage with a professional modern dance company in the grand finale.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren says our question is not to be “Why me?” but rather “What do you want me to learn?” Truly, God is always teaching us… even in the most difficult moments of our lives. Moments of suffering and sorrow can often be some of the biggest opportunities for us to grow in faith and our trust in God and His promises. These can also be our times to shine for Jesus… as we share His love for each of us with others.
I have no doubt that the families that include an autistic child would like to have a few minutes with God to sit down and tell Him a thing or two. But the fact is, God already knows how difficult the challenges are for these children and the families to whom they belong. And I have no doubt that their struggles and challenges are lessened if/when they really learn to move over and let God “drive the car.”
We have such a hard time with this concept. WE want to be in the driver’s seat… but that is simply not where we Christians belong. We can never get things right like God can… we can never know what is truly best for our situation like He does… and we are foolish to think otherwise. We have to let God lead… we have to accept – even embrace – whatever He allows in our lives… understanding that we have a lot left to learn, no matter what age we may be.
So who is driving your “car” these days? Are you stuck in the “Why me?” mode… wondering “When is it my turn?” to be “footloose and fancy free?” Or have you surrendered your heart and life completely to Jesus, trusting that He has much for you to learn… and He will be with you every step of the way? The choice is really pretty simple… so why not go ahead and hand over the keys?!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Then he told them what they could expect for themselves: "Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You're not in the driver's seat—I am. Don't run from suffering; embrace it. Follow me and I'll show you how. Self-help is no help at all. Self-sacrifice is the way, my way, to finding yourself, your true self. What good would it do to get everything you want and lose you, the real you? If any of you is embarrassed with me and the way I'm leading you, know that the Son of Man will be far more embarrassed with you when he arrives in all his splendor in company with the Father and the holy angels. This isn't, you realize, pie in the sky by and by. Some who have taken their stand right here are going to see it happen, see with their own eyes the kingdom of God."
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Recently, we attended a benefit performance to raise funds for Autism Speaks. Did you know that a child is diagnosed with autism somewhere in the world every 20 minutes? At the performance, several family members spoke about living with someone who has autism. One mother told of moving her family from Florida to Little Rock so that her son could attend a certain school and receive necessary help. A little boy talked about his brother’s obsession with air fresheners… Febreze, Glade, Air Wick… and how sick he is of smelling a few of the “signature scents.” A dad talked about the wonders of hearing his son tell him “I love you.”
All in all, these families embraced their children – and the struggles that they encounter on a daily basis. I’m sure it’s not all a bed of roses for any of them, but you wouldn’t have known it on this day, as the families danced together on stage with a professional modern dance company in the grand finale.
In The Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren says our question is not to be “Why me?” but rather “What do you want me to learn?” Truly, God is always teaching us… even in the most difficult moments of our lives. Moments of suffering and sorrow can often be some of the biggest opportunities for us to grow in faith and our trust in God and His promises. These can also be our times to shine for Jesus… as we share His love for each of us with others.
I have no doubt that the families that include an autistic child would like to have a few minutes with God to sit down and tell Him a thing or two. But the fact is, God already knows how difficult the challenges are for these children and the families to whom they belong. And I have no doubt that their struggles and challenges are lessened if/when they really learn to move over and let God “drive the car.”
We have such a hard time with this concept. WE want to be in the driver’s seat… but that is simply not where we Christians belong. We can never get things right like God can… we can never know what is truly best for our situation like He does… and we are foolish to think otherwise. We have to let God lead… we have to accept – even embrace – whatever He allows in our lives… understanding that we have a lot left to learn, no matter what age we may be.
So who is driving your “car” these days? Are you stuck in the “Why me?” mode… wondering “When is it my turn?” to be “footloose and fancy free?” Or have you surrendered your heart and life completely to Jesus, trusting that He has much for you to learn… and He will be with you every step of the way? The choice is really pretty simple… so why not go ahead and hand over the keys?!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 9, 2011
Luke 9:1-5
Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on."
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.
Last week, I visited my grandmother at the Assisted Living Facility where she now resides. As I entered the building, I met a couple with whom I became acquainted recently at a “Family Council” meeting at the facility. This couple is struggling to cope with the challenges of caring for an elderly uncle who is a resident there. In my bag, I had tucked a copy of a book my mother wrote about her experience when my maternal grandparents were in a nursing home. I planned to share this book with the facility administrator. But when I saw this couple, I reached into the bag and pulled out the book. I handed it to the woman and said, “I have something for you that might help.” She thanked me and said, “I need all the help I can get.”
In that instant, God equipped me to minister to this person. He gave me what I needed to say, “You are important… your frustrations matter… someone else cares.” And as she reads the book, she will see that GOD cares deeply about what she is going through.
I’ve read and studied this passage in Luke dozens of times… and each time, I think I zeroed in on the last phrase, which says in some translations, “shake the dust off your feet” and move on [if people aren’t receptive to your witness]. But this time, when I read the passage, another phrase caught my eye… “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment… keep it simple… you are the equipment”!
See, when we share the Good News of Jesus Christ, we have everything we need to do this, because HE equips us! We are often presented with little moments just like the one I described… opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus… and all we need is what we have in that moment. God equips us with everything we need to share His love, grace, mercy, and power right then and there.
There is a time and a place for big buildings, fancy sound systems, large choirs or praise bands. These serve a purpose. Seminary degrees in Bible theology, Christian counseling, and church administration often provide churches with trained leadership. I want my doctors and nurses to have spent time studying and practicing medical procedures before they “practice” on me!
But when it comes to sharing Jesus with others… and showing them His love, grace, mercy, and power… we have everything we need already. We don’t have to drive a fancy car or live in a big, expensive home. We don’t need to dress up in designer clothing. We just have to live in such a way that others can see Jesus Christ operating within us… and we have to share the Good News with them that Jesus can do the same in their lives.
Don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong with dressing well, living in a nice home, or driving an expensive car. I am not speaking against church leaders or medical personnel… or saying it’s wrong to stay in a 5-star luxury hotel, if you can afford it. Beautiful church facilities can help create a worshipful atmosphere… and I love a good choir or praise band. The sound system can enhance worship – or ruin it completely. But these things don’t make you more of a Christian… or necessarily speak to the power and promises of Jesus Christ.
We have gotten so attached to our “gadgets”… our “equipment,” if you will. We can’t leave home without our phone. If we don’t check our e-mail on the hour, we feel “naked” and out of touch. For some of us, even Bible study involves an Internet connection and other electronic gadgets to assist us in locating scripture quickly, and taking notes. We feel like we can’t “witness” to others without a crutch – a reference tool… or at least some type of Bible in our hand. And “tools” have their place. But hear the words of Jesus again… “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment… keep it simple… you are the equipment”!
Trust God to give you all you need to reach others in His name… then “shake the dust from your feet” and move forward. Trust Him to work in even the most difficult – or ordinary – situations… and keep using the equipment He gives you to share the Good News with others.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on."
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.
Last week, I visited my grandmother at the Assisted Living Facility where she now resides. As I entered the building, I met a couple with whom I became acquainted recently at a “Family Council” meeting at the facility. This couple is struggling to cope with the challenges of caring for an elderly uncle who is a resident there. In my bag, I had tucked a copy of a book my mother wrote about her experience when my maternal grandparents were in a nursing home. I planned to share this book with the facility administrator. But when I saw this couple, I reached into the bag and pulled out the book. I handed it to the woman and said, “I have something for you that might help.” She thanked me and said, “I need all the help I can get.”
In that instant, God equipped me to minister to this person. He gave me what I needed to say, “You are important… your frustrations matter… someone else cares.” And as she reads the book, she will see that GOD cares deeply about what she is going through.
I’ve read and studied this passage in Luke dozens of times… and each time, I think I zeroed in on the last phrase, which says in some translations, “shake the dust off your feet” and move on [if people aren’t receptive to your witness]. But this time, when I read the passage, another phrase caught my eye… “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment… keep it simple… you are the equipment”!
See, when we share the Good News of Jesus Christ, we have everything we need to do this, because HE equips us! We are often presented with little moments just like the one I described… opportunities to be the hands and feet of Jesus… and all we need is what we have in that moment. God equips us with everything we need to share His love, grace, mercy, and power right then and there.
There is a time and a place for big buildings, fancy sound systems, large choirs or praise bands. These serve a purpose. Seminary degrees in Bible theology, Christian counseling, and church administration often provide churches with trained leadership. I want my doctors and nurses to have spent time studying and practicing medical procedures before they “practice” on me!
But when it comes to sharing Jesus with others… and showing them His love, grace, mercy, and power… we have everything we need already. We don’t have to drive a fancy car or live in a big, expensive home. We don’t need to dress up in designer clothing. We just have to live in such a way that others can see Jesus Christ operating within us… and we have to share the Good News with them that Jesus can do the same in their lives.
Don’t misunderstand me. There is nothing wrong with dressing well, living in a nice home, or driving an expensive car. I am not speaking against church leaders or medical personnel… or saying it’s wrong to stay in a 5-star luxury hotel, if you can afford it. Beautiful church facilities can help create a worshipful atmosphere… and I love a good choir or praise band. The sound system can enhance worship – or ruin it completely. But these things don’t make you more of a Christian… or necessarily speak to the power and promises of Jesus Christ.
We have gotten so attached to our “gadgets”… our “equipment,” if you will. We can’t leave home without our phone. If we don’t check our e-mail on the hour, we feel “naked” and out of touch. For some of us, even Bible study involves an Internet connection and other electronic gadgets to assist us in locating scripture quickly, and taking notes. We feel like we can’t “witness” to others without a crutch – a reference tool… or at least some type of Bible in our hand. And “tools” have their place. But hear the words of Jesus again… “Don’t load yourselves up with equipment… keep it simple… you are the equipment”!
Trust God to give you all you need to reach others in His name… then “shake the dust from your feet” and move forward. Trust Him to work in even the most difficult – or ordinary – situations… and keep using the equipment He gives you to share the Good News with others.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 8, 2011
Luke 8:8-10
When Jesus had finished speaking, he said, "If you have ears, pay attention!"
Jesus' disciples asked him what the story meant. So he answered: I have explained the secrets about God's kingdom to you, but for others I can only use stories. These people look, but they don't see, and they hear, but they don't understand.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I spend a lot of time showing Timothy things that I’ve told him, because he doesn’t understand what I am saying. Some of the “lessons” – like “that’s hot” or “that piano lid will pinch your fingers” are going to be learned the hard way, while others seem to come easier as he mimics our behaviors and words. And often, while I am demonstrating a concept, he is kicking and screaming and exercising his “terrible twos” to the max!
But after a few days of working with a new tricycle, Timothy is starting to get the hang of keeping his feet on the pedals and steering. The last visit, he actually sat at the piano and matched my rhythms on the keys as he sang along… and some of the words actually made sense! If I had any notion he wasn’t paying attention, he showed me differently! And I have to admit, my husband and I were both bursting with pride at his newfound accomplishments.
Think about this… in God’s eyes, we are often the “terrible two-year-old”… kicking and screaming and wanting to do things our own way. God tells us in all sorts of ways what we need to know… but sometimes, we have to be shown. We need an example… a “sign” – something to indicate to us that He is at work in a situation. I have no doubt that we try God’s patience just like toddlers try ours. And I have to wonder… does He burst with pride when we begin to “get it?”
As we grow in our faith… as we develop as Christians… we must become secure and comfortable as we rest in the confidence that God is telling us the truth. Just as toddlers begin to comprehend the spoken word more and more… we must learn to comprehend what God shares with us in Scripture, through prayer and fellowship with other believers, and in the “signs and wonders” all around us. We must learn to hear from God and understand Him… and sometimes we will have to learn the hard way by “touching something hot” or through our own failures and shortcomings.
Jesus said, “If you have ears, pay attention!” God wants us to hear Him… loudly and clearly… even when He doesn’t physically speak! Are you listening? Are you hearing from God? Does He have your attention?
©2011 Debbie Robus
When Jesus had finished speaking, he said, "If you have ears, pay attention!"
Jesus' disciples asked him what the story meant. So he answered: I have explained the secrets about God's kingdom to you, but for others I can only use stories. These people look, but they don't see, and they hear, but they don't understand.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I spend a lot of time showing Timothy things that I’ve told him, because he doesn’t understand what I am saying. Some of the “lessons” – like “that’s hot” or “that piano lid will pinch your fingers” are going to be learned the hard way, while others seem to come easier as he mimics our behaviors and words. And often, while I am demonstrating a concept, he is kicking and screaming and exercising his “terrible twos” to the max!
But after a few days of working with a new tricycle, Timothy is starting to get the hang of keeping his feet on the pedals and steering. The last visit, he actually sat at the piano and matched my rhythms on the keys as he sang along… and some of the words actually made sense! If I had any notion he wasn’t paying attention, he showed me differently! And I have to admit, my husband and I were both bursting with pride at his newfound accomplishments.
Think about this… in God’s eyes, we are often the “terrible two-year-old”… kicking and screaming and wanting to do things our own way. God tells us in all sorts of ways what we need to know… but sometimes, we have to be shown. We need an example… a “sign” – something to indicate to us that He is at work in a situation. I have no doubt that we try God’s patience just like toddlers try ours. And I have to wonder… does He burst with pride when we begin to “get it?”
As we grow in our faith… as we develop as Christians… we must become secure and comfortable as we rest in the confidence that God is telling us the truth. Just as toddlers begin to comprehend the spoken word more and more… we must learn to comprehend what God shares with us in Scripture, through prayer and fellowship with other believers, and in the “signs and wonders” all around us. We must learn to hear from God and understand Him… and sometimes we will have to learn the hard way by “touching something hot” or through our own failures and shortcomings.
Jesus said, “If you have ears, pay attention!” God wants us to hear Him… loudly and clearly… even when He doesn’t physically speak! Are you listening? Are you hearing from God? Does He have your attention?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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