John 1:14-18
The Word became a human being and lived here with us. We saw his true glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father. From him all the kindness and all the truth of God have come down to us. John spoke about him and shouted, "This is the one I told you would come! He is greater than I am, because he was alive before I was born."
Because of all that the Son is, we have been given one blessing after another. The Law was given by Moses, but Jesus Christ brought us undeserved kindness and truth. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is truly God and is closest to the Father, has shown us what God is like.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was visiting with a dear friend recently, and the conversation turned to my uncle… my grandfather’s brother. Late in life, this confirmed bachelor married my friend’s great-aunt. Pretty much all I ever knew of my uncle was a gruff, bitter, unpleasant “old cuss” who muttered and grumbled and wasn’t much fun to be around. My grandmother always said, “The War (meaning WWII) changed him. He wasn’t always like that, and I don’t know what happened ‘over there,’ but when he came back, he was different.”
The funny thing was… my friend said, “I just loved Uncle Noel… he was so kind and sweet… he was great!” My jaw literally dropped. I knew that he doted on his wife (my friend’s aunt) and that we snickered and giggled about this gruff old man who “made goo-goo eyes” over this woman. But still, we never saw the gentle, pleasant, loving man my friend saw… we certainly never saw “sweetness!” And don’t misunderstand… I was glad to hear that he exhibited these qualities toward her and her sister. I’m glad to know he had it in him… even if we didn’t see it!
A lot of what we know about someone is what we are told. Unless we really get to know them for ourselves, all of our impressions and opinions regarding this person are merely hearsay or judgments based on distant observances. And it’s no different with Jesus. The Bible tells us of His greatness… His love and compassion… His mercy. Prophets spoke of Him before His coming… and those who served with Him wrote about their experiences. But until we experience Jesus for ourselves, people can tell us all day long about Him, and we may still have the wrong opinion at best… or totally miss experiencing a genuine, intimate relationship with Him completely. There is a difference between knowing Jesus and truly experiencing Him.
Had my friend not experienced such a loving relationship with my uncle for herself, she might have only known him through my eyes… and my experiences with him. Through Jesus, we get a huge glimpse into what God is truly like. When we experience Jesus, we experience our Heavenly Father. The best is yet to be, when we meet face-to-face in Heaven. But for now, I encourage you to study, pray, fellowship, and communicate with Jesus. Get to know him and experience for yourself His love, grace, mercy and power as He works in your life – here and now.
The “endorsement” of others isn’t a bad thing… our witness to others, based on our own experience with Jesus, is important – and part of being a Disciple of Christ. But nothing beats the real thing – the true personal experience that comes from an intimate relationship with Jesus on a continual basis. Unless we develop this for ourselves – and encourage others to do the same – we’ve not gotten to really know Jesus… and our experience in Him is less than complete. Don’t know Jesus only through the eyes of others… get to know Him for yourself and see how incredible a relationship with Him can truly be.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 29, 2011
John 1:9-13
The true light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. The Word was in the world, but no one knew him, though God had made the world with his Word. He came into his own world, but his own nation did not welcome him. Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God. They were not God's children by nature or because of any human desires. God himself was the one who made them his children.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law recently celebrated another birthday. My husband and his brothers planned to meet their mom for dinner at a local restaurant. The day before, I made a birthday cake and put it in the refrigerator to keep the icing fresh. I wrapped a gift and set it on the counter, and my husband’s brothers and their wives bought gifts and cards, too. The day of the birthday, we met for dinner. Then everyone came to our house afterward. We got out the cake and ice cream, and my mother-in-law opened her cards and gifts. Some of her relatives and friends… grandchildren, her sister, and nieces… called or sent Facebook messages to wish her a Happy Birthday.
Now, suppose we had left the cake in the refrigerator. What if we had left our gifts and cards on the counter… sat around and visited … and merely looked at each other? Or what if we had failed to even mention to my mother-in-law that it was her birthday… much less honor the date in any way? Would it still have been my mother-in-law’s birthday? Certainly! Would we have celebrated to the fullest of our ability and with a 100% effort? Absolutely not! Just because the calendar said it was her birthday and she turned a year older didn’t mean that the event was fully recognized and hailed with complete enthusiasm and gusto! In order for this to happen, we had to do something… we had to become engaged and fully involved… and we had to acknowledge – and celebrate the day!
Some people do not believe Jesus is the Son of God. They think He was just a very good man who lived a good life and did many great things. If you ask most people if they believe in God, they will say, “Yes.” If you ask most Christians to explain their relationship with Jesus, they may tell you, “He died on the cross for my sins.” But what does this really mean for most folks?
Who is Jesus, really? Is the depth of most relationships with Jesus Christ the fact that He died for our sins? Do most people understand that acknowledging this fact is not enough? Is their faith in Jesus akin to leaving a birthday cake in the refrigerator? The cake is there… and maybe by making the cake, we feel we acknowledged the special day. By the same token, we may feel we have done enough to become Christians by acknowledging that Jesus died for our sins.
Until we take the next step – until we not only acknowledge what Jesus did on the cross, but ask Him to forgive us for our part in it… until we “cut the cake,” the deal is not done! The birthday still happened… and God still gave us life… but until we fully celebrate… until we fully develop our relationship with Him… we cannot truly claim victory. We can’t say we are Disciples of Christ… faith-filled Christians, until we acknowledge Jesus, ask Him to forgive us for our sins, and begin to walk in His light and share His Good News with others.
A birthday rolls around for every living person once a year. But not all birthdays are celebrated and shared with others. God created all of us, but not all of us become “Children of God” in the context of salvation and Eternal Life through Jesus Christ. And not all Children of God truly live in the light of Christ and daily walk by faith… not all Christians truly “get it.” Do you?
How will you celebrate… both your earthly life and your life in Christ? Will you know Jesus, or will you truly KNOW Him? There is a difference… can you see it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The true light that shines on everyone was coming into the world. The Word was in the world, but no one knew him, though God had made the world with his Word. He came into his own world, but his own nation did not welcome him. Yet some people accepted him and put their faith in him. So he gave them the right to be the children of God. They were not God's children by nature or because of any human desires. God himself was the one who made them his children.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother-in-law recently celebrated another birthday. My husband and his brothers planned to meet their mom for dinner at a local restaurant. The day before, I made a birthday cake and put it in the refrigerator to keep the icing fresh. I wrapped a gift and set it on the counter, and my husband’s brothers and their wives bought gifts and cards, too. The day of the birthday, we met for dinner. Then everyone came to our house afterward. We got out the cake and ice cream, and my mother-in-law opened her cards and gifts. Some of her relatives and friends… grandchildren, her sister, and nieces… called or sent Facebook messages to wish her a Happy Birthday.
Now, suppose we had left the cake in the refrigerator. What if we had left our gifts and cards on the counter… sat around and visited … and merely looked at each other? Or what if we had failed to even mention to my mother-in-law that it was her birthday… much less honor the date in any way? Would it still have been my mother-in-law’s birthday? Certainly! Would we have celebrated to the fullest of our ability and with a 100% effort? Absolutely not! Just because the calendar said it was her birthday and she turned a year older didn’t mean that the event was fully recognized and hailed with complete enthusiasm and gusto! In order for this to happen, we had to do something… we had to become engaged and fully involved… and we had to acknowledge – and celebrate the day!
Some people do not believe Jesus is the Son of God. They think He was just a very good man who lived a good life and did many great things. If you ask most people if they believe in God, they will say, “Yes.” If you ask most Christians to explain their relationship with Jesus, they may tell you, “He died on the cross for my sins.” But what does this really mean for most folks?
Who is Jesus, really? Is the depth of most relationships with Jesus Christ the fact that He died for our sins? Do most people understand that acknowledging this fact is not enough? Is their faith in Jesus akin to leaving a birthday cake in the refrigerator? The cake is there… and maybe by making the cake, we feel we acknowledged the special day. By the same token, we may feel we have done enough to become Christians by acknowledging that Jesus died for our sins.
Until we take the next step – until we not only acknowledge what Jesus did on the cross, but ask Him to forgive us for our part in it… until we “cut the cake,” the deal is not done! The birthday still happened… and God still gave us life… but until we fully celebrate… until we fully develop our relationship with Him… we cannot truly claim victory. We can’t say we are Disciples of Christ… faith-filled Christians, until we acknowledge Jesus, ask Him to forgive us for our sins, and begin to walk in His light and share His Good News with others.
A birthday rolls around for every living person once a year. But not all birthdays are celebrated and shared with others. God created all of us, but not all of us become “Children of God” in the context of salvation and Eternal Life through Jesus Christ. And not all Children of God truly live in the light of Christ and daily walk by faith… not all Christians truly “get it.” Do you?
How will you celebrate… both your earthly life and your life in Christ? Will you know Jesus, or will you truly KNOW Him? There is a difference… can you see it?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 28, 2011
John 1:6-8
God sent a man named John, who came to tell about the light and to lead all people to have faith. John wasn't that light. He came only to tell about the light.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever tried to ask someone a question, and the person totally went off in another direction with their answer? They missed the point completely! Or maybe you have said something to someone, and what they heard was altogether different. You gave one message… the person received another!
We do this a lot in our faith walk. We get all hung up on one little phrase in a scripture verse… or we focus on something that is really pretty insignificant… and we miss the bigger picture. And a lot of people got mixed up and thought that John was God’s “Chosen One,” when in reality, he was the messenger. John was anointed by God and chosen to prepare the way… and he did lead many to develop a faith in Jesus and a relationship with our Heavenly Father. But John was not Jesus, and he never claimed to be.
So often, we get a little pious – somewhat high and mighty – and we tend to think better of ourselves than we should! Just because we have a relationship with Jesus and are covered in His blood – heirs to the Throne of Grace – doesn’t mean we can lord it over others! This is not a license to judge and condemn them for what we consider sinful or wrong behavior. We are not entitled to claim to do great things under our own power. The only power we have comes from Jesus Christ working in and through us!
With the power of Jesus, we can spread the Good News of His salvation. With the power of Jesus, we can tell all about the light and lead people to a faith in Christ for themselves. We cannot judge sin… we cannot heal sickness… we cannot save anyone. Only God can do this through the blood of Jesus Christ. But we can deliver the message. We can live in a manner that shows others what a faith in Jesus can do for them. We can love others and share grace, mercy, and forgiveness… modeling Christ-like behaviors. And we must do this!
When it comes to modeling Christian behavior, John was a pioneer! He showed others the way to walk in faith and shared the Good News of the coming of Jesus. We can take our cue from John… we can walk in faith, and we can share with others how Jesus sacrificed His very life for each of us on the cross. It is our turn to tell about the Light. How are you doing?
©2011 Debbie Robus
God sent a man named John, who came to tell about the light and to lead all people to have faith. John wasn't that light. He came only to tell about the light.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Have you ever tried to ask someone a question, and the person totally went off in another direction with their answer? They missed the point completely! Or maybe you have said something to someone, and what they heard was altogether different. You gave one message… the person received another!
We do this a lot in our faith walk. We get all hung up on one little phrase in a scripture verse… or we focus on something that is really pretty insignificant… and we miss the bigger picture. And a lot of people got mixed up and thought that John was God’s “Chosen One,” when in reality, he was the messenger. John was anointed by God and chosen to prepare the way… and he did lead many to develop a faith in Jesus and a relationship with our Heavenly Father. But John was not Jesus, and he never claimed to be.
So often, we get a little pious – somewhat high and mighty – and we tend to think better of ourselves than we should! Just because we have a relationship with Jesus and are covered in His blood – heirs to the Throne of Grace – doesn’t mean we can lord it over others! This is not a license to judge and condemn them for what we consider sinful or wrong behavior. We are not entitled to claim to do great things under our own power. The only power we have comes from Jesus Christ working in and through us!
With the power of Jesus, we can spread the Good News of His salvation. With the power of Jesus, we can tell all about the light and lead people to a faith in Christ for themselves. We cannot judge sin… we cannot heal sickness… we cannot save anyone. Only God can do this through the blood of Jesus Christ. But we can deliver the message. We can live in a manner that shows others what a faith in Jesus can do for them. We can love others and share grace, mercy, and forgiveness… modeling Christ-like behaviors. And we must do this!
When it comes to modeling Christian behavior, John was a pioneer! He showed others the way to walk in faith and shared the Good News of the coming of Jesus. We can take our cue from John… we can walk in faith, and we can share with others how Jesus sacrificed His very life for each of us on the cross. It is our turn to tell about the Light. How are you doing?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 27, 2011
John 1:1-5
In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the movie “Gasland,” a farmer in Wyoming took the movie producer into the mountains and showed him ancient drawings that still line a rock wall. The two men talked about how old this area of our country is… how thousands of years ago, water carved out the Tetons and created the rock formations that stand tall on this land today. In the same manner, we look at the Grand Canyon, and we can’t even wrap our brains around how old it is… how long it has been there.
Sometimes my husband and I watch travel shows on television about interesting, beautiful places in Europe. Many of the buildings and ruins are centuries old… and some were created almost a thousand years ago. It boggles the mind to think about how – and when – these magnificent structures were created. I can’t fathom a time when the area where rivers now flow was actually the mountainous “inverse”. I look at an old bridge that was built early in the last century – or a cool older home built around 1920, and I am amazed at the workmanship… knowing the technology and machinery we have today did not exist at that time. But then I look at an ancient monastery in the Himalayas, I can’t even comprehend how the workmen traveled to that location… much less how they carried the materials and tools necessary to create such a magnificent structure.
Then I read in the book of John about how Jesus was with God before Creation… how He has always been with God… how he IS God… a part of the “Three-in-One” – God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… and I can barely wrap my brain around this, either. John bases this statement on a dream he describes in Revelation 19:13 and 16, where he says “The rider wore a robe that was covered with blood, and he was known as ‘The Word of God.’ On the part of the robe that covered his thigh was written, ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’”
We’ve studied the creation story in Genesis since we were very young – maybe even toddlers! We all know much of it by heart… “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” But if you are like me, you don’t stop to consider the magnitude of that this means… and most surely you haven’t thought about Jesus being present! What does say to us today? Why am I telling you this?
I believe that we need to be more aware of the continual presence of God in our lives – in all three forms. I believe there is great encouragement and hope in the knowledge that Jesus has been with us since before Creation… He sent His Holy Spirit to be with us now… and He will be waiting for us in heaven! Every one of us is going to encounter times in our lives when we have a real “gut-check.” We are going to experience challenges and times of great need… and every step of the way, Jesus will be with us. It is incredible to me to think that long before a single person was created, Jesus was there… and He will be with us in Eternity. He truly does number our steps… and know what is planned for us!
Doesn’t this make you feel better? Doesn’t it give you comfort and courage to know that the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS has always been with us… and always will be? Are you starting to “get it” that we can always call on Him… that He truly cares for our every need? His life gave us light, and Darkness (Satan) has never put Him out… and never will. Buildings will crumble and fall away… mountains can be blasted to rubble by heavy machinery… but Jesus Christ stands forever! Now that’s Good News worth celebrating! And have a glorious day with the LORD!
©2011 Debbie Robus
In the beginning was the one who is called the Word. The Word was with God and was truly God. From the very beginning the Word was with God. And with this Word, God created all things. Nothing was made without the Word. Everything that was created received its life from him, and his life gave light to everyone. The light keeps shining in the dark, and darkness has never put it out.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In the movie “Gasland,” a farmer in Wyoming took the movie producer into the mountains and showed him ancient drawings that still line a rock wall. The two men talked about how old this area of our country is… how thousands of years ago, water carved out the Tetons and created the rock formations that stand tall on this land today. In the same manner, we look at the Grand Canyon, and we can’t even wrap our brains around how old it is… how long it has been there.
Sometimes my husband and I watch travel shows on television about interesting, beautiful places in Europe. Many of the buildings and ruins are centuries old… and some were created almost a thousand years ago. It boggles the mind to think about how – and when – these magnificent structures were created. I can’t fathom a time when the area where rivers now flow was actually the mountainous “inverse”. I look at an old bridge that was built early in the last century – or a cool older home built around 1920, and I am amazed at the workmanship… knowing the technology and machinery we have today did not exist at that time. But then I look at an ancient monastery in the Himalayas, I can’t even comprehend how the workmen traveled to that location… much less how they carried the materials and tools necessary to create such a magnificent structure.
Then I read in the book of John about how Jesus was with God before Creation… how He has always been with God… how he IS God… a part of the “Three-in-One” – God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit… and I can barely wrap my brain around this, either. John bases this statement on a dream he describes in Revelation 19:13 and 16, where he says “The rider wore a robe that was covered with blood, and he was known as ‘The Word of God.’ On the part of the robe that covered his thigh was written, ‘KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.’”
We’ve studied the creation story in Genesis since we were very young – maybe even toddlers! We all know much of it by heart… “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” But if you are like me, you don’t stop to consider the magnitude of that this means… and most surely you haven’t thought about Jesus being present! What does say to us today? Why am I telling you this?
I believe that we need to be more aware of the continual presence of God in our lives – in all three forms. I believe there is great encouragement and hope in the knowledge that Jesus has been with us since before Creation… He sent His Holy Spirit to be with us now… and He will be waiting for us in heaven! Every one of us is going to encounter times in our lives when we have a real “gut-check.” We are going to experience challenges and times of great need… and every step of the way, Jesus will be with us. It is incredible to me to think that long before a single person was created, Jesus was there… and He will be with us in Eternity. He truly does number our steps… and know what is planned for us!
Doesn’t this make you feel better? Doesn’t it give you comfort and courage to know that the KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS has always been with us… and always will be? Are you starting to “get it” that we can always call on Him… that He truly cares for our every need? His life gave us light, and Darkness (Satan) has never put Him out… and never will. Buildings will crumble and fall away… mountains can be blasted to rubble by heavy machinery… but Jesus Christ stands forever! Now that’s Good News worth celebrating! And have a glorious day with the LORD!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 26, 2011
June 26 ~ Luke 24:1-8
Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices that they had prepared. When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think.
Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? Jesus isn't here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, 'The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.' "Then they remembered what Jesus had said.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few weeks ago, my grandmother called me one evening and said, “Something’s wrong with my television… it says ‘Cable’ and I can’t get anything.” After questioning her a little bit, I decided that she had punched a button on her TV remote control and was not on the right input for her cable channels. I tried to talk her through fixing the problem, but finally, I just got in the car and drove to her apartment, which is (luckily) about five minutes away from our house.
When I walked into my grandmother’s room, the television was on… and she was watching a program. I could not determine any problem. When I would flip through the channels to show her they were all there, a display would temporarily flash “Cable,” and she would say, “See... it says ‘cable.’” I explained that it was supposed to do that… and this indicated she was on the right settings. She insisted she was not – that her channels were not all showing. Finally, I looked at the clock and determined the real problem… she was looking for her favorite show – “Wheel of Fortune.” But it was Sunday night, and this show does not air on Sundays. She knew this – at least at one time – but she was still looking for her show. And when she couldn’t find it, she went into a tizzy and decided something was wrong with her television.
Aren’t we all like this more often than we care to admit… particularly when it comes to Spiritual matters? Don’t we look for things we know are not there… and conversely, don’t we fail to recognize things God has promised? Don’t we wring our hands and decide that something is terribly wrong, forgetting that Jesus has promised to be with us always… even unto the ends of the earth? Don’t we decide that the worst possible outcome will result, even when we know God has promised He will take care of us and meet our every need?
We need to take a step back… dig deep into our Bibles… and revel in the promises of God. We need to cling to them… trust them… believe that what He has said He will do will, indeed, be done. If God tells us that He is going to be with us through a challenge or a crisis, we need to believe Him. If He whispers to us and says, “I’m not on board with that,” we better believe Him then, also!
The question becomes… how closely are we communicating with God? How well are we hearing from Him… and how much do we trust what He is telling us? If you are still searching for your “Wheel of Fortune” when you know better, it’s time to change the channel and realize that God didn’t make a mistake… you did. If God has answered your prayer as He promised… and you are misreading the situation and going into a tailspin, it’s time to calm down and re-evaluate the situation. God has all the answers… but we must be truly listening… and hearing what He is telling us! Are you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, carrying the spices that they had prepared. When they found the stone rolled away from the entrance, they went in. But they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus, and they did not know what to think.
Suddenly two men in shining white clothes stood beside them. The women were afraid and bowed to the ground. But the men said, "Why are you looking in the place of the dead for someone who is alive? Jesus isn't here! He has been raised from death. Remember that while he was still in Galilee, he told you, 'The Son of Man will be handed over to sinners who will nail him to a cross. But three days later he will rise to life.' "Then they remembered what Jesus had said.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few weeks ago, my grandmother called me one evening and said, “Something’s wrong with my television… it says ‘Cable’ and I can’t get anything.” After questioning her a little bit, I decided that she had punched a button on her TV remote control and was not on the right input for her cable channels. I tried to talk her through fixing the problem, but finally, I just got in the car and drove to her apartment, which is (luckily) about five minutes away from our house.
When I walked into my grandmother’s room, the television was on… and she was watching a program. I could not determine any problem. When I would flip through the channels to show her they were all there, a display would temporarily flash “Cable,” and she would say, “See... it says ‘cable.’” I explained that it was supposed to do that… and this indicated she was on the right settings. She insisted she was not – that her channels were not all showing. Finally, I looked at the clock and determined the real problem… she was looking for her favorite show – “Wheel of Fortune.” But it was Sunday night, and this show does not air on Sundays. She knew this – at least at one time – but she was still looking for her show. And when she couldn’t find it, she went into a tizzy and decided something was wrong with her television.
Aren’t we all like this more often than we care to admit… particularly when it comes to Spiritual matters? Don’t we look for things we know are not there… and conversely, don’t we fail to recognize things God has promised? Don’t we wring our hands and decide that something is terribly wrong, forgetting that Jesus has promised to be with us always… even unto the ends of the earth? Don’t we decide that the worst possible outcome will result, even when we know God has promised He will take care of us and meet our every need?
We need to take a step back… dig deep into our Bibles… and revel in the promises of God. We need to cling to them… trust them… believe that what He has said He will do will, indeed, be done. If God tells us that He is going to be with us through a challenge or a crisis, we need to believe Him. If He whispers to us and says, “I’m not on board with that,” we better believe Him then, also!
The question becomes… how closely are we communicating with God? How well are we hearing from Him… and how much do we trust what He is telling us? If you are still searching for your “Wheel of Fortune” when you know better, it’s time to change the channel and realize that God didn’t make a mistake… you did. If God has answered your prayer as He promised… and you are misreading the situation and going into a tailspin, it’s time to calm down and re-evaluate the situation. God has all the answers… but we must be truly listening… and hearing what He is telling us! Are you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 25, 2011
Luke 24:45-49
He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."
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 interviewed by a life coach who authors a website called Mom in the Balance. Her focus is on helping busy moms balance the care of their own younger families with that of an older friend or loved one. There is a name for this group of people… the Sandwich Generation… and I have a blog about my own experiences with this, which is why I was interviewed.
The interviewer asked me if I had a support group to help me through rough patches. I named several people who had been particularly supportive… my husband, my mom, a close friend, and a former pastor. But I also noted that one day recently, I was feeling especially in need of support after a disagreement with my grandmother over a safety issue. None of my “support group” were readily available, and temporarily, I felt very alone.
I pulled into a parking space at Wal-Mart, on the verge of tears, and asked myself, “Okay, Debbie… if someone came to you for advice about this, what would you tell them?” In that moment, I realized I had just heard from my “Inner Power”… my “Forever Friend”… the Holy Spirit, who Jesus sent to equip us with power from on High!
I sat in the car and asked God to help me sort through my feelings and figure out a way to cope with my situation… and He did! I continued my prayer by thanking Him, and I walked into the store with a lighter heart and a smile on my face. I knew that I was not alone… that the Holy Spirit was always with me – fully equipping me to meet any challenge head-on, with full confidence and the backing of His power.
There will be many times in life when we face problems, challenges, quandaries over things we don’t know how to handle. We will have “gut-checks” that leave us breathless and crying… and times of loneliness and sadness when we really need a friend. The GOOD NEWS is that we always have the best Friend in the universe at our disposal… and He is a heartbeat away. Mortal friends and support networks are wonderful… God-sent and sanctified… but nothing compares with the power and companionship of our Forever Friend – the Holy Spirit.
I encourage you today to find a moment to get quiet and call out to your Forever Friend… to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you in new and powerful ways… to thank Him for never deserting you… and to recognize His continual presence alongside you. He is always on the clock – always available – never “on another call” or “taking a break.” You can call Him night or day, 24/7. Is your line of communication open? Is the Holy Spirit #1 on your Support Team? Shouldn’t He be?
©2011 Debbie Robus
He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."
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 interviewed by a life coach who authors a website called Mom in the Balance. Her focus is on helping busy moms balance the care of their own younger families with that of an older friend or loved one. There is a name for this group of people… the Sandwich Generation… and I have a blog about my own experiences with this, which is why I was interviewed.
The interviewer asked me if I had a support group to help me through rough patches. I named several people who had been particularly supportive… my husband, my mom, a close friend, and a former pastor. But I also noted that one day recently, I was feeling especially in need of support after a disagreement with my grandmother over a safety issue. None of my “support group” were readily available, and temporarily, I felt very alone.
I pulled into a parking space at Wal-Mart, on the verge of tears, and asked myself, “Okay, Debbie… if someone came to you for advice about this, what would you tell them?” In that moment, I realized I had just heard from my “Inner Power”… my “Forever Friend”… the Holy Spirit, who Jesus sent to equip us with power from on High!
I sat in the car and asked God to help me sort through my feelings and figure out a way to cope with my situation… and He did! I continued my prayer by thanking Him, and I walked into the store with a lighter heart and a smile on my face. I knew that I was not alone… that the Holy Spirit was always with me – fully equipping me to meet any challenge head-on, with full confidence and the backing of His power.
There will be many times in life when we face problems, challenges, quandaries over things we don’t know how to handle. We will have “gut-checks” that leave us breathless and crying… and times of loneliness and sadness when we really need a friend. The GOOD NEWS is that we always have the best Friend in the universe at our disposal… and He is a heartbeat away. Mortal friends and support networks are wonderful… God-sent and sanctified… but nothing compares with the power and companionship of our Forever Friend – the Holy Spirit.
I encourage you today to find a moment to get quiet and call out to your Forever Friend… to ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Himself to you in new and powerful ways… to thank Him for never deserting you… and to recognize His continual presence alongside you. He is always on the clock – always available – never “on another call” or “taking a break.” You can call Him night or day, 24/7. Is your line of communication open? Is the Holy Spirit #1 on your Support Team? Shouldn’t He be?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 24, 2011
Luke 24:28-34
They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"
They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!"
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.
“Light bulb moments”… “Aha! Moments”… whatever you call them, we’ve all had that time when “the lights went on,” and we truly understood something that had eluded us beforehand. For these two men on the road to Emmaus, their “light bulb” moment came when Jesus sat with them and broke bread, then blessed it. They had been so caught up in their sadness over the crucifixion, death and disappearance of Jesus that they couldn’t recognize Him walking right alongside them on the road.
Suddenly, all of the things Jesus had said and done as He walked with them to their home came together and made sense… and helped them to realize that THIS was the man everyone was talking about… the person who was crucified, buried, and then came up missing from the tomb. THIS was no mere mortal… He was JESUS CHRIST… the MESSIAH! These men realized in an instant just how much Jesus loved them… how true His teachings were… and just how incredibly real His power was.
An entire “community” has been built around this scripture passage. Information about the Walk to Emmaus at www.upperroom.org says “The Walk to Emmaus offers today's disciples a parallel opportunity to rediscover Christ's presence in their lives, to gain fresh understanding of God's transforming grace, and to form friendships that foster faith and support spiritual maturity.” While the Walk to Emmaus is associated with the United Methodist Church, anyone can attend. For teenagers, there is a comparable event known as Chrysalis. Other denominations have similar spiritual renewal programs, such as the Catholic Church’s Cursillo and a non-denominational “Faith Walk” program that is offered in several locations throughout the South.
Whether you ever attend one of these four-day events or not is irrelevant. I found my Walk to Emmaus experience to be life-changing, as I discovered more about the abundant grace of Jesus Christ… how much He loves us and wants us to trust Him – and to serve Him by sharing His love and grace with others. It is safe to say that I had a “light bulb moment” on my “walk.” But we can have this same experience in the quiet of our own home… out on a hike in the natural beauty of God’s creation… or in the midst of a noisy praise and worship service at a local church.
The key is to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities with Jesus… to really, really recognize that He is walking right beside us! We’re on the road of life, head hung low, slogging through our daily routine and worrying and fretting about all sorts of things – many of which are quite legitimate! – and we fail to recognize that Jesus is right there with us. He’s ready to take on our burdens, to extend His grace to us for our shortcomings, and to love us unconditionally. But a lot of us have simply never fully recognized His presence.
Let’s make today a “light bulb moment” day for all of us. Even if you have had such an experience in the past… we all need a refresher course from time to time. Let’s stop what we are doing for a few seconds, close our eyes, and say, “Come close, LORD… I know you are there… I really, truly feel you with me.” Then DO IT! Feel His presence… accept His grace, mercy, and love – and bask in them. And share this good news with others by serving like the Disciple you are. It’s time… this is the day… altogether now… say, “Aha!”
©2011 Debbie Robus
They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"
They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!"
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.
“Light bulb moments”… “Aha! Moments”… whatever you call them, we’ve all had that time when “the lights went on,” and we truly understood something that had eluded us beforehand. For these two men on the road to Emmaus, their “light bulb” moment came when Jesus sat with them and broke bread, then blessed it. They had been so caught up in their sadness over the crucifixion, death and disappearance of Jesus that they couldn’t recognize Him walking right alongside them on the road.
Suddenly, all of the things Jesus had said and done as He walked with them to their home came together and made sense… and helped them to realize that THIS was the man everyone was talking about… the person who was crucified, buried, and then came up missing from the tomb. THIS was no mere mortal… He was JESUS CHRIST… the MESSIAH! These men realized in an instant just how much Jesus loved them… how true His teachings were… and just how incredibly real His power was.
An entire “community” has been built around this scripture passage. Information about the Walk to Emmaus at www.upperroom.org says “The Walk to Emmaus offers today's disciples a parallel opportunity to rediscover Christ's presence in their lives, to gain fresh understanding of God's transforming grace, and to form friendships that foster faith and support spiritual maturity.” While the Walk to Emmaus is associated with the United Methodist Church, anyone can attend. For teenagers, there is a comparable event known as Chrysalis. Other denominations have similar spiritual renewal programs, such as the Catholic Church’s Cursillo and a non-denominational “Faith Walk” program that is offered in several locations throughout the South.
Whether you ever attend one of these four-day events or not is irrelevant. I found my Walk to Emmaus experience to be life-changing, as I discovered more about the abundant grace of Jesus Christ… how much He loves us and wants us to trust Him – and to serve Him by sharing His love and grace with others. It is safe to say that I had a “light bulb moment” on my “walk.” But we can have this same experience in the quiet of our own home… out on a hike in the natural beauty of God’s creation… or in the midst of a noisy praise and worship service at a local church.
The key is to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities with Jesus… to really, really recognize that He is walking right beside us! We’re on the road of life, head hung low, slogging through our daily routine and worrying and fretting about all sorts of things – many of which are quite legitimate! – and we fail to recognize that Jesus is right there with us. He’s ready to take on our burdens, to extend His grace to us for our shortcomings, and to love us unconditionally. But a lot of us have simply never fully recognized His presence.
Let’s make today a “light bulb moment” day for all of us. Even if you have had such an experience in the past… we all need a refresher course from time to time. Let’s stop what we are doing for a few seconds, close our eyes, and say, “Come close, LORD… I know you are there… I really, truly feel you with me.” Then DO IT! Feel His presence… accept His grace, mercy, and love – and bask in them. And share this good news with others by serving like the Disciple you are. It’s time… this is the day… altogether now… say, “Aha!”
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2011
Luke 22:49-51
When Jesus' disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked, "Lord, should we attack them with a sword?" One of the disciples even struck at the high priest's servant with his sword and cut off the servant's right ear.
"Enough of that!" Jesus said. Then he touched the servant's ear and healed it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother used to tell us, “Two ‘wrongs’ don’t make a ‘right’.” I will admit, when I was a kid, I got pretty sick of hearing this… but when we were kids, revenge seemed like a pretty good way to go at times. We didn’t have the maturity to understand that we were basically heaping troubles upon troubles.
Sadly, a lot of us still don’t get it! Somebody makes us mad or upsets us, and we immediately start thinking of ways to make them suffer. “I’ll show them how this feels!” we think… and we start plotting ways to ostracize the person who has offended us or one of our friends or loved ones – just like the Disciple cut off the ear of the soldier who had come for Jesus.
We look at someone who seems headed down the wrong path – and on whom most people have already thrown in the towel – and we say, “What’s the use?” And we stop caring – and even praying. We ask God to help us overcome a struggle in our lives, and His answer seems too long in coming (it’s certainly not due to our impatience!)… and we give up and give in to the struggle and the consequences it brings. Someone doesn’t respond to us in the way we feel they should… or we listen to gossip and the talk of others and form a negative opinion about this person… and we decide to ignore them altogether – or we are downright icy (and rude) to them. After all, they are not “our kind.”
The cold hard fact of life is that people are not going to always be who and what we want them to be. They are not going to always treat us as we would like – or respond in ways that suit our agenda. But this doesn’t give us the right to “cut off their ear!” Even if we feel like our motives are justified, we need to listen to the words of Jesus saying, “Enough of that!” If we want to truly model Christian behavior, we have to follow His lead. We have to “turn the other cheek,” continue to treat others as we would wish to be treated, and love one another in Jesus’ name.
It’s a tall order… but not much about the Christian walk is simple or easy. What we have to understand is that the long-term ramifications of our actions and behaviors will far outweigh any immediate satisfaction we might gain from a knee-jerk reaction. Staying the course with Christ will pay off in benefits and blessings we can’t even imagine. “Enough already!” It’s time to remember who we are – and WHOSE we are… and start living up to the grace-filled position we have been given. Have you had enough?
©2011 Debbie Robus
When Jesus' disciples saw what was about to happen, they asked, "Lord, should we attack them with a sword?" One of the disciples even struck at the high priest's servant with his sword and cut off the servant's right ear.
"Enough of that!" Jesus said. Then he touched the servant's ear and healed it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My mother used to tell us, “Two ‘wrongs’ don’t make a ‘right’.” I will admit, when I was a kid, I got pretty sick of hearing this… but when we were kids, revenge seemed like a pretty good way to go at times. We didn’t have the maturity to understand that we were basically heaping troubles upon troubles.
Sadly, a lot of us still don’t get it! Somebody makes us mad or upsets us, and we immediately start thinking of ways to make them suffer. “I’ll show them how this feels!” we think… and we start plotting ways to ostracize the person who has offended us or one of our friends or loved ones – just like the Disciple cut off the ear of the soldier who had come for Jesus.
We look at someone who seems headed down the wrong path – and on whom most people have already thrown in the towel – and we say, “What’s the use?” And we stop caring – and even praying. We ask God to help us overcome a struggle in our lives, and His answer seems too long in coming (it’s certainly not due to our impatience!)… and we give up and give in to the struggle and the consequences it brings. Someone doesn’t respond to us in the way we feel they should… or we listen to gossip and the talk of others and form a negative opinion about this person… and we decide to ignore them altogether – or we are downright icy (and rude) to them. After all, they are not “our kind.”
The cold hard fact of life is that people are not going to always be who and what we want them to be. They are not going to always treat us as we would like – or respond in ways that suit our agenda. But this doesn’t give us the right to “cut off their ear!” Even if we feel like our motives are justified, we need to listen to the words of Jesus saying, “Enough of that!” If we want to truly model Christian behavior, we have to follow His lead. We have to “turn the other cheek,” continue to treat others as we would wish to be treated, and love one another in Jesus’ name.
It’s a tall order… but not much about the Christian walk is simple or easy. What we have to understand is that the long-term ramifications of our actions and behaviors will far outweigh any immediate satisfaction we might gain from a knee-jerk reaction. Staying the course with Christ will pay off in benefits and blessings we can’t even imagine. “Enough already!” It’s time to remember who we are – and WHOSE we are… and start living up to the grace-filled position we have been given. Have you had enough?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 22, 2011
Luke 22:41-44
He pulled away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?" At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In his book, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Baptist minister Don Piper tells his real-life experience of being involved in a head-on collision in January 1989, near Livingston, Texas. The crash was so bad - and Piper’s injuries were so severe - that paramedics covered his car with a tarp and left him for 90 minutes while they waited on a coroner to arrive and pronounce him legally dead. And Piper tells of traveling to heaven…the people and things he saw there… and how glorious it was. Truly, he did not want to ever leave… he was perfectly content to be dead!
But another minister passed by the site of the wreck and felt God telling him to go to the car and pray for the person inside. This man felt this so strongly that he insisted to paramedics that he needed to crawl inside what was left of the back end of this mangled car and pray for the victim. The paramedic relented, and the pastor did exactly this, placing his hand on Don’s shoulder and praying – then singing, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Much to the pastor’s surprise, Don began to sing along with him!
I won’t give away any more of the book… I hope you will read it for yourself. But I will tell you that for a long time, Don Piper was incredibly angry that God had made him return to earth. Heaven was everything Don had been told it would be… and so much more. It was truly glorious… happy… amazing… wonderful… far beyond any words Don could find to describe it. Yet he returned to earth to endure horrendous suffering, depression, pain and sadness. And for a long time, he didn’t understand why God could do this to him.
Again, I don’t want to give away the story, but let’s just say it took Don a long time to come to a point where he could truly say… “Not what I want, Father… what do You want?” And when he began to ask the right question… and to really seek – and follow – God’s will, he saw things clearly. He discovered the amazing plans that God had for him on this earth… the ways in which he could serve and bless in the name of Jesus.
Recently my 98-year-old grandmother said, “Some days, I just don’t know why I’m still here.” I began to share with her about this book… and to remind her of all of the people she blesses every day with her presence. I pointed out the young nurses’ aides that she “grandmothers” and the maintenance man she is teaching to “garden.” I mentioned the other residents that she visits with and checks up on each day, and a young mother she has befriended and to whom she has become a confidante.
I could have pointed out the husband of her friend who resides across the street in the nursing home – a man she visits and prays with often… or the hairdresser and manicurist she no doubt witnesses to each week… or the ladies from the community who visit and get the “sales pitch” from her to “C’mon down and live here with us… you’ll like it!”
God isn’t done with her… His will – not hers. And God isn’t done with us, either. The question is… are we seeking His will? Are we asking, “What is Your will, not mine?” Do we listen for God’s direction in our lives… and follow it? Or do we say, “Yeah…but NO! I think I’ll do this instead. That seems a little too hard, scary, or painful… and it certainly doesn’t look like much fun. No, LORD, I think I’ll do this instead.”? It’s time for us to humble ourselves… to follow the lead of Jesus Himself and to submit to God’s will for our lives.
I told my grandmother, “Heaven will come soon enough… and it will be even better than you could ever have imagined. Meanwhile, you’ve still got work to do!” And so do we! Have you gotten your assignment? Are you doing the work God planned for you until He calls you home? Isn’t it time you got started?
©2011 Debbie Robus
He pulled away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?" At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In his book, 90 Minutes in Heaven, Baptist minister Don Piper tells his real-life experience of being involved in a head-on collision in January 1989, near Livingston, Texas. The crash was so bad - and Piper’s injuries were so severe - that paramedics covered his car with a tarp and left him for 90 minutes while they waited on a coroner to arrive and pronounce him legally dead. And Piper tells of traveling to heaven…the people and things he saw there… and how glorious it was. Truly, he did not want to ever leave… he was perfectly content to be dead!
But another minister passed by the site of the wreck and felt God telling him to go to the car and pray for the person inside. This man felt this so strongly that he insisted to paramedics that he needed to crawl inside what was left of the back end of this mangled car and pray for the victim. The paramedic relented, and the pastor did exactly this, placing his hand on Don’s shoulder and praying – then singing, “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” Much to the pastor’s surprise, Don began to sing along with him!
I won’t give away any more of the book… I hope you will read it for yourself. But I will tell you that for a long time, Don Piper was incredibly angry that God had made him return to earth. Heaven was everything Don had been told it would be… and so much more. It was truly glorious… happy… amazing… wonderful… far beyond any words Don could find to describe it. Yet he returned to earth to endure horrendous suffering, depression, pain and sadness. And for a long time, he didn’t understand why God could do this to him.
Again, I don’t want to give away the story, but let’s just say it took Don a long time to come to a point where he could truly say… “Not what I want, Father… what do You want?” And when he began to ask the right question… and to really seek – and follow – God’s will, he saw things clearly. He discovered the amazing plans that God had for him on this earth… the ways in which he could serve and bless in the name of Jesus.
Recently my 98-year-old grandmother said, “Some days, I just don’t know why I’m still here.” I began to share with her about this book… and to remind her of all of the people she blesses every day with her presence. I pointed out the young nurses’ aides that she “grandmothers” and the maintenance man she is teaching to “garden.” I mentioned the other residents that she visits with and checks up on each day, and a young mother she has befriended and to whom she has become a confidante.
I could have pointed out the husband of her friend who resides across the street in the nursing home – a man she visits and prays with often… or the hairdresser and manicurist she no doubt witnesses to each week… or the ladies from the community who visit and get the “sales pitch” from her to “C’mon down and live here with us… you’ll like it!”
God isn’t done with her… His will – not hers. And God isn’t done with us, either. The question is… are we seeking His will? Are we asking, “What is Your will, not mine?” Do we listen for God’s direction in our lives… and follow it? Or do we say, “Yeah…but NO! I think I’ll do this instead. That seems a little too hard, scary, or painful… and it certainly doesn’t look like much fun. No, LORD, I think I’ll do this instead.”? It’s time for us to humble ourselves… to follow the lead of Jesus Himself and to submit to God’s will for our lives.
I told my grandmother, “Heaven will come soon enough… and it will be even better than you could ever have imagined. Meanwhile, you’ve still got work to do!” And so do we! Have you gotten your assignment? Are you doing the work God planned for you until He calls you home? Isn’t it time you got started?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 21, 2011
2 Samuel 7:28-29
"And now, Master GOD, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would, Master GOD! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"
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 added a new member to our family. Three weeks ago, we welcomed Timothy’s baby sister, Zola, to the world. As soon as we knew that Zola was on the way, I began to pray for her. When the doctor declared that the baby would be a girl and a name was selected, I began to ask God specifically to nurture and protect Zola… before her birth and always. In the same way, I am praying for the unborn baby girl that my cousin and his wife are expecting, as well as the many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives in our extended family.
I don’t always pray for my family members by name… sometimes the prayer is more collective, as in “Please protect my husband’s brothers, their wives and children,” or “LORD, bless my cousins in northwest Arkansas and my husband’s family in Iowa.” But I believe these prayers make a difference… and pack more punch than we realize!
There is a lot of talk in the Old Testament about covenants – agreements between God and His children… promises to lead them through trials and tribulations and keep them safe. In the New Testament, the covenant between us and God comes from the blood of Jesus. When we invite Jesus to be LORD of our life, this covenant blood covers all of our sins and secures our future with Him in heaven. And when we pray and ask God for help, protection, answers, healing, and more… He hears us and delivers – according to His will.
I believe we fail to recognize the power of reminding God of His covenant with us as it extends to our family. There is power in the prayer, “Father, you promised to bless my family and keep your eye on them.” There is even more power in the confidence that God will do exactly this! I have seen the power of these prayers in action… I’ve seen the blessings and protection of God over my family members in a variety of situations. And I’ve come to recognize the power of God’s promise in the lives of those who are faithful. This makes me want to operate more fully in faith.
As much as people are watching, God is watching even more closely. When he sees a family member who is faithful and serving with honor… glorifying His name and trusting Him to mark their steps… I believe God looks at the extended family and blesses accordingly when asked. You may have family members who are not believers… or who certainly are not serving God and honoring Him in their lives. But because of your faithfulness and fervent prayers, God may bring about events that change this. I’m not saying your faith can save your family – or that they can be Christians “by proxy” through you. But I am saying that God will look at you – your service, your requests, and your faithfulness – and He will bless you in ways you can’t imagine – even to caring for your extended family.
So remember to talk to God often about everything – but be sure to remind Him of His covenant with you and your family. Ask Him to bless your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins – and those yet to come in future generations. Believe that God will hear your prayers and answer according to His will… which is always perfect. Then operate in the confidence that God is “on the clock” – for you and your family!
©2011 Debbie Robus
"And now, Master GOD, being the God you are, speaking sure words as you do, and having just said this wonderful thing to me, please, just one more thing: Bless my family; keep your eye on them always. You've already as much as said that you would, Master GOD! Oh, may your blessing be on my family permanently!"
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 added a new member to our family. Three weeks ago, we welcomed Timothy’s baby sister, Zola, to the world. As soon as we knew that Zola was on the way, I began to pray for her. When the doctor declared that the baby would be a girl and a name was selected, I began to ask God specifically to nurture and protect Zola… before her birth and always. In the same way, I am praying for the unborn baby girl that my cousin and his wife are expecting, as well as the many nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives in our extended family.
I don’t always pray for my family members by name… sometimes the prayer is more collective, as in “Please protect my husband’s brothers, their wives and children,” or “LORD, bless my cousins in northwest Arkansas and my husband’s family in Iowa.” But I believe these prayers make a difference… and pack more punch than we realize!
There is a lot of talk in the Old Testament about covenants – agreements between God and His children… promises to lead them through trials and tribulations and keep them safe. In the New Testament, the covenant between us and God comes from the blood of Jesus. When we invite Jesus to be LORD of our life, this covenant blood covers all of our sins and secures our future with Him in heaven. And when we pray and ask God for help, protection, answers, healing, and more… He hears us and delivers – according to His will.
I believe we fail to recognize the power of reminding God of His covenant with us as it extends to our family. There is power in the prayer, “Father, you promised to bless my family and keep your eye on them.” There is even more power in the confidence that God will do exactly this! I have seen the power of these prayers in action… I’ve seen the blessings and protection of God over my family members in a variety of situations. And I’ve come to recognize the power of God’s promise in the lives of those who are faithful. This makes me want to operate more fully in faith.
As much as people are watching, God is watching even more closely. When he sees a family member who is faithful and serving with honor… glorifying His name and trusting Him to mark their steps… I believe God looks at the extended family and blesses accordingly when asked. You may have family members who are not believers… or who certainly are not serving God and honoring Him in their lives. But because of your faithfulness and fervent prayers, God may bring about events that change this. I’m not saying your faith can save your family – or that they can be Christians “by proxy” through you. But I am saying that God will look at you – your service, your requests, and your faithfulness – and He will bless you in ways you can’t imagine – even to caring for your extended family.
So remember to talk to God often about everything – but be sure to remind Him of His covenant with you and your family. Ask Him to bless your parents, siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins – and those yet to come in future generations. Believe that God will hear your prayers and answer according to His will… which is always perfect. Then operate in the confidence that God is “on the clock” – for you and your family!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 20, 2011
1 Samuel 30:23-25
"Families don't do this sort of thing! Oh no, my brothers!" said David as he broke up the argument. "You can't act this way with what God gave us! God kept us safe. He handed over the raiders who attacked us. Who would ever listen to this kind of talk? The share of the one who stays with the gear is the share of the one who fights—equal shares. Share and share alike!" From that day on, David made that the rule in Israel—and it still is.
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.
During the NBA finals, Jimmy Kimmel and Usher did a parody video called “Bench Warmer,” in which they “thank” the athletes who come along for the ride and rarely – if ever – get a chance to play. We’re not talking about Lebron James, Jason Kidd, and Dwyane Wade… or even well-known players like Shaquille O’Neal. This video is aimed at such relative unknowns as Eddie House, Jamaal Magliore, and Corey Brewer.
Now, if you don’t follow pro basketball, you may not be familiar with any of these names, but let me assure you, Lebron and Shaq get a lot more recognition than House, Magliore, Brewer, and dozens more. Yet all are (or were) members of professional basketball teams. All make six-figure (or more) incomes. And while some of the “stars” may think they carry the load for their team, it is still a team sport. At the end of the day, all play a supporting role in the team’s overall performance. And they each get paid for their contributions.
By the same token, the guy who totes the water bottles and towels gets paid. He didn’t score the winning basket… he didn’t have any assists or steals… he didn’t make a single free throw. But he did his part in contributing to the team’s effort. And he, also, gets a paycheck.
Where am I going with this? After all, we can agree that the assistant who dispenses water and towels doesn’t make anything near the salary of someone like Lebron James or Dwyane Wade. But he is compensated. The team doesn’t say, “You weren’t on the court when the winning shot was made… so you don’t get a check this week.” In the same way, God does not bless only those in the limelight. You may feel like your contributions are small… but God sees their value in the grand scheme of things.
You may not be able to take foster children into your home for care and nurture… but you may be able to contribute money for clothing, diapers, and more. You might not have extra time to visit shut-ins, but you can take a few minutes to make a phone call or mail a card to someone and let them know you are thinking of them. You may not have the ability to play an instrument in the Praise Band or sing in the choir, but you can open your mouth and at least whisper words of worship and praise during the Sunday services.
As long as you are doing all you can to the best of your abilities and circumstances, God is pleased… and He will bless you. Your efforts are just as vital and significant to His Kingdom as those of the likes of Billy Graham, your pastor, or a missionary serving in a foreign land. There is no shame in being a “bench warmer” for Jesus… as long as you are supporting the team. If you are willing to get up and get in the game and serve to the best of your ability whenever He calls on you, your “bench warmer” status is as vital as that of the “stars”. At the end of the day, you get the “Championship Ring” just like everyone else. Our access to heaven is not determined by our “celebrity status” among God’s servants.
If you have decided you are an unworthy, insignificant “bench warmer” for Jesus, I encourage you to change your attitude. You are just as important as the next guy. “Bench warmers” may not get the recognition and credit of the “star players,” but their contributions are vital to the team effort. All God asks is that you do be awake, alert, and ready to get in the game whenever He calls your name.
A friend of mine once said of her son – a freshman on a high school athletic team - “He’s a great bench warmer!” Can people – and God – say this about you? Are you a “great bench warmer” for Jesus? Are you doing all you can to support His team? Isn’t it time you did?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 19, 2011
Psalm 96:1-4
Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD, sing and praise his name. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!" Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things! The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One morning recently I got up early and headed for the farmer’s market and the grocery store, before the heat of the day set in and made being in and out of a car quite miserable. I stopped at Spring Park, where a farmer’s truck bed was laden with vegetables like potatoes, onions, squash, and tomatoes. He had cantaloupes and watermelons, too. As he placed the tomatoes and squash I had purchased into a bag, a strong breeze stirred through the trees.
I looked at those trees… tall and mighty – standing in that park for decades, if not centuries. And later, I stood and looked at old oak trees in the yard of our former office across the street from my grandparents’ house, where all but one massive oak tree that shaded the property have succumbed to time and mankind. I thought about how God had placed these trees in our yards and parks to shade us and carry cool breezes on a hot summer day.
I thought about how God provides us with delicious summer garden vegetables and fruits… how He carefully orchestrates every detail of our lives and continually does “wonderful and marvelous things.” And I realized… none of us praise Him enough! We should get up every morning and sing a new song to the LORD. We should praise His name day after day.
Even on our worst day… when nothing seems to be going right, we didn’t sleep well (or overslept), and life is really getting us down… we should still give God continual praise, because He never stops working on our behalf. So the challenge for each of us is this… let’s begin each day with praise to God for all that He does for us. Let’s make a concerted effort to praise Him throughout the day for all of his marvelous works and wonders that surround us. Let’s get in the habit of praising God continually for being our Savior and the only God worthy of our worship.
It’s time we stopped taking God for granted. Have you given Him praise today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Sing a new song to the LORD! Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD, sing and praise his name. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!" Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things! The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One morning recently I got up early and headed for the farmer’s market and the grocery store, before the heat of the day set in and made being in and out of a car quite miserable. I stopped at Spring Park, where a farmer’s truck bed was laden with vegetables like potatoes, onions, squash, and tomatoes. He had cantaloupes and watermelons, too. As he placed the tomatoes and squash I had purchased into a bag, a strong breeze stirred through the trees.
I looked at those trees… tall and mighty – standing in that park for decades, if not centuries. And later, I stood and looked at old oak trees in the yard of our former office across the street from my grandparents’ house, where all but one massive oak tree that shaded the property have succumbed to time and mankind. I thought about how God had placed these trees in our yards and parks to shade us and carry cool breezes on a hot summer day.
I thought about how God provides us with delicious summer garden vegetables and fruits… how He carefully orchestrates every detail of our lives and continually does “wonderful and marvelous things.” And I realized… none of us praise Him enough! We should get up every morning and sing a new song to the LORD. We should praise His name day after day.
Even on our worst day… when nothing seems to be going right, we didn’t sleep well (or overslept), and life is really getting us down… we should still give God continual praise, because He never stops working on our behalf. So the challenge for each of us is this… let’s begin each day with praise to God for all that He does for us. Let’s make a concerted effort to praise Him throughout the day for all of his marvelous works and wonders that surround us. Let’s get in the habit of praising God continually for being our Savior and the only God worthy of our worship.
It’s time we stopped taking God for granted. Have you given Him praise today?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2011
Luke 17:10
If your servant comes in from plowing or from taking care of the sheep, would you say, "Welcome! Come on in and have something to eat"? No, you wouldn't say that. You would say, "Fix me something to eat. Get ready to serve me, so I can have my meal. Then later on you can eat and drink." Servants don't deserve special thanks for doing what they are supposed to do. And that's how it should be with you. When you've done all you should, then say, "We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Years ago, I worked for a room fragrance company in PR. I often traveled with the company’s executives to high-profile events, where my job was to take photographs and make notes for creating press releases and generating “buzz” later. I had some interesting experiences and met some fairly famous people. But often, I got my photos, did my work, and ate in the kitchen with the rest of the service staff. When we traveled, I had nice hotel rooms… but not the penthouse suites of the owners. I did what was expected of me, completed the work, and I left my job… satisfied I had done all I was supposed to do.
Aside from my paycheck, my “compensation” came in the form of knowing I did my job well… that I served to the best of my ability… and then I let the chips fall. When I mailed press kits and sample products, I never knew if anyone would be interested in what I offered… but I knew I had done my best – and that was enough.
I think one of the hardest things for us to do as Christians is to do what we are supposed to do… then leave the rest to God. This is where faith comes into play. Many of us are born “fixers,” and we can’t seem to stop fidgeting with our work and trying to manipulate the outcomes. But we must learn to stop… and with God’s help, we can. It’s time for us to do three things:
1) Ask God where and how to serve Him
2) Do all we can according to God’s direction
3) Let go and let God handle the rest.
Will this be easy? Not for most of us. Will it be worth it? Absolutely! It’s time for us to learn to prayerfully serve God, say, “The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.”… and leave it at that.
©2011 Debbie Robus
If your servant comes in from plowing or from taking care of the sheep, would you say, "Welcome! Come on in and have something to eat"? No, you wouldn't say that. You would say, "Fix me something to eat. Get ready to serve me, so I can have my meal. Then later on you can eat and drink." Servants don't deserve special thanks for doing what they are supposed to do. And that's how it should be with you. When you've done all you should, then say, "We are merely servants, and we have simply done our duty."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Years ago, I worked for a room fragrance company in PR. I often traveled with the company’s executives to high-profile events, where my job was to take photographs and make notes for creating press releases and generating “buzz” later. I had some interesting experiences and met some fairly famous people. But often, I got my photos, did my work, and ate in the kitchen with the rest of the service staff. When we traveled, I had nice hotel rooms… but not the penthouse suites of the owners. I did what was expected of me, completed the work, and I left my job… satisfied I had done all I was supposed to do.
Aside from my paycheck, my “compensation” came in the form of knowing I did my job well… that I served to the best of my ability… and then I let the chips fall. When I mailed press kits and sample products, I never knew if anyone would be interested in what I offered… but I knew I had done my best – and that was enough.
I think one of the hardest things for us to do as Christians is to do what we are supposed to do… then leave the rest to God. This is where faith comes into play. Many of us are born “fixers,” and we can’t seem to stop fidgeting with our work and trying to manipulate the outcomes. But we must learn to stop… and with God’s help, we can. It’s time for us to do three things:
1) Ask God where and how to serve Him
2) Do all we can according to God’s direction
3) Let go and let God handle the rest.
Will this be easy? Not for most of us. Will it be worth it? Absolutely! It’s time for us to learn to prayerfully serve God, say, “The work is done. What we were told to do, we did.”… and leave it at that.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 17, 2011
Luke 17:5-6
The apostles said to the Lord, "Make our faith stronger!"
Jesus replied: If you had faith no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up, roots and all, and to plant itself in the ocean. And it would!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, someone in my church gave me a necklace that had a little mustard seed encased in glass. I didn’t understand the importance of that gift at the time… all I knew was that the mustard seed was very tiny. And honestly, I’ve read this scripture all my life and totally missed the point. Have you?
See, we are always saying, “I wish my faith were stronger,” or “I wish I had more faith.” The point is… we need faith - period! Jesus is saying in these verses that faith the size of a tiny mustard seed could uproot a tree or move a mountain… the least amount of faith could accomplish huge results. Our problem is not how much faith we have, but rather whether we truly have faith in the first place!
We all say we have faith. We all say, “I believe God will do this or that.” But do we really? Aren’t we often just giving lip service to our faith and failing to back it with the real deal? Isn’t it time we stopped merely “talking the talk” and really got in the game and walked in genuine faith? This is a daunting shift in our thinking and behavior, and it probably won’t happen overnight… but we simply must realize that our “faith problem” lies with quality, not quantity.
What have you been talking about trusting God for lately? Are you ready to stop simply talking and start truly believing? What is your “mustard seed faith” able to accomplish?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The apostles said to the Lord, "Make our faith stronger!"
Jesus replied: If you had faith no bigger than a tiny mustard seed, you could tell this mulberry tree to pull itself up, roots and all, and to plant itself in the ocean. And it would!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a little girl, someone in my church gave me a necklace that had a little mustard seed encased in glass. I didn’t understand the importance of that gift at the time… all I knew was that the mustard seed was very tiny. And honestly, I’ve read this scripture all my life and totally missed the point. Have you?
See, we are always saying, “I wish my faith were stronger,” or “I wish I had more faith.” The point is… we need faith - period! Jesus is saying in these verses that faith the size of a tiny mustard seed could uproot a tree or move a mountain… the least amount of faith could accomplish huge results. Our problem is not how much faith we have, but rather whether we truly have faith in the first place!
We all say we have faith. We all say, “I believe God will do this or that.” But do we really? Aren’t we often just giving lip service to our faith and failing to back it with the real deal? Isn’t it time we stopped merely “talking the talk” and really got in the game and walked in genuine faith? This is a daunting shift in our thinking and behavior, and it probably won’t happen overnight… but we simply must realize that our “faith problem” lies with quality, not quantity.
What have you been talking about trusting God for lately? Are you ready to stop simply talking and start truly believing? What is your “mustard seed faith” able to accomplish?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 16, 2011
Luke 17:3-4
So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, "I am sorry," you should still forgive that person.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Years ago, I confided to my pastor about a deep hurt I had experienced. He looked at me with amazement and said, “But I’ve seen you interact with this person, and you have such a loving relationship!” I replied, “Yes, because I forgave… I had to. Otherwise, this would have eaten me alive.” He just shook his head, touched my hand and said, “God bless you… you did the right thing.” Forgiveness is a daunting challenge for most of us… especially when we have been mistreated, insulted, deceived and/or wounded repeatedly. And I will tell you, I don’t always forgive easily or readily… even when I know I should.
The sad fact is that we expect Jesus to forgive us for infractions toward Him, when we cannot forgive those who offend us. We make promises to Jesus and fail to deliver… we turn our back on Him when it suits our need to impress someone or look important – or when doing what is right would not be quite as much fun… we wound Him deeply with our inability to stay faithful and serve as He desires. And yet, He forgives us… over and over again.
So we must forgive those who mistreat us or behave badly. I didn’t say we have to accept what they do… or ignore it. Jesus tells us that we must gently correct those who do this, which means you have every right to tell another person that you do not like how they are behaving… if you feel it is harmful to you, others, or themselves. We must be very careful to judge another person’s “sin,” but we are all pretty good gauges of behavior that is unacceptable toward us or others. If you have a friend or loved one who is abusing alcohol or drugs, you should say something.
If you know someone who is acting irresponsibly, failing to show up for school or work, not taking proper care of their children or their own health and hygiene, or even mistreating their pets, you have an obligation to confront them in a loving manner. Whether you affect a change is not the issue… only God can truly help them to change. But when these people come to you and ask you to forgive them – whether they have changed temporarily or forever – you must do so. And honestly, you must forgive them even when they don’t ask. We cannot ask God to forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others.
I know this is hard. I know that there are times we all want to just give up and walk away… and there is nothing wrong with taking a break for awhile and letting the dust settle. But ultimately, we are bound by our covenant with Jesus Christ to forgive others… over and over again, if necessary.Who is seeking your forgiveness today? Who do you need to ask to forgive you? Are you ready to be a true Disciple of Christ and accept the hard challenges? Do you need to begin by asking Jesus to forgive you yet again – or to help you forgive someone else? He will… and you must. What are you waiting for? Forgiveness is only a prayer away.
©2011 Debbie Robus
So be careful what you do. Correct any followers of mine who sin, and forgive the ones who say they are sorry. Even if one of them mistreats you seven times in one day and says, "I am sorry," you should still forgive that person.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Years ago, I confided to my pastor about a deep hurt I had experienced. He looked at me with amazement and said, “But I’ve seen you interact with this person, and you have such a loving relationship!” I replied, “Yes, because I forgave… I had to. Otherwise, this would have eaten me alive.” He just shook his head, touched my hand and said, “God bless you… you did the right thing.” Forgiveness is a daunting challenge for most of us… especially when we have been mistreated, insulted, deceived and/or wounded repeatedly. And I will tell you, I don’t always forgive easily or readily… even when I know I should.
The sad fact is that we expect Jesus to forgive us for infractions toward Him, when we cannot forgive those who offend us. We make promises to Jesus and fail to deliver… we turn our back on Him when it suits our need to impress someone or look important – or when doing what is right would not be quite as much fun… we wound Him deeply with our inability to stay faithful and serve as He desires. And yet, He forgives us… over and over again.
So we must forgive those who mistreat us or behave badly. I didn’t say we have to accept what they do… or ignore it. Jesus tells us that we must gently correct those who do this, which means you have every right to tell another person that you do not like how they are behaving… if you feel it is harmful to you, others, or themselves. We must be very careful to judge another person’s “sin,” but we are all pretty good gauges of behavior that is unacceptable toward us or others. If you have a friend or loved one who is abusing alcohol or drugs, you should say something.
If you know someone who is acting irresponsibly, failing to show up for school or work, not taking proper care of their children or their own health and hygiene, or even mistreating their pets, you have an obligation to confront them in a loving manner. Whether you affect a change is not the issue… only God can truly help them to change. But when these people come to you and ask you to forgive them – whether they have changed temporarily or forever – you must do so. And honestly, you must forgive them even when they don’t ask. We cannot ask God to forgive us if we are not willing to forgive others.
I know this is hard. I know that there are times we all want to just give up and walk away… and there is nothing wrong with taking a break for awhile and letting the dust settle. But ultimately, we are bound by our covenant with Jesus Christ to forgive others… over and over again, if necessary.Who is seeking your forgiveness today? Who do you need to ask to forgive you? Are you ready to be a true Disciple of Christ and accept the hard challenges? Do you need to begin by asking Jesus to forgive you yet again – or to help you forgive someone else? He will… and you must. What are you waiting for? Forgiveness is only a prayer away.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 15, 2011
Luke 16:10-15
Jesus went on to make these comments:
If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things;
If you're a crook in small things, you'll be a crook in big things.
If you're not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses: He'll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second. You can't serve both God and the Bank.
When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch. So Jesus spoke to them: "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance.
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.
Selling online is fun… but it can be challenging, too. Once in awhile, you will get a customer who cannot be satisfied. Even though you try to make your photos and written description as clear and inclusive as possible, there will be that person who says, “This is not what I ordered,” or “You didn’t tell me such-and-such.” Whether they are correct is pretty irrelevant. I’ve learned that the smartest thing to do is say, “Send it back,” eat any shipping expense, and move forward.
In online selling, reputation is everything. You are known by how promptly and carefully you ship… whether products are as you described… and how fair your charges are. So when a repeat customer recently paid nearly $2 more for shipping than it actually cost, I immediately issued a refund. I could have kept that overage… it would have covered my PayPal fees. And the customer had known the shipping cost when she purchased. In my defense, I had to estimate shipping cost based on a more distant destination. Since the customer lived in a nearby state, shipping costs were not as high as estimated. So I issued the refund.
In the long run, being fair and honest will get me more customers and repeat business – and this customer has left wonderful feedback for other potential buyers to read. Two dollars is not a big amount, but as this passage illustrates, small things lead to bigger things. And conversely, small gestures… like issuing this refund… will lead to bigger things, such as more sales down the road.
You may know someone of whom it is said, “If his/her lips are moving, he/she is lying.” Sadly, we probably all know someone we wouldn’t trust past the front door. But for every person who is this dishonest or untrustworthy, there are many others who walk among us who are more subtle and deceptive. I hope you are not one of these people. I hope you don’t operate in the “Who will know?” realm of sweeping little things under the rug, “putting lipstick on the pig” and making yourself look like someone you are not… basically being a phony. You may fool the people around you – at least for awhile – but God will never be fooled!
Ask yourself where and when you may have temptations to color the truth in your favor – even a little. Examine every area of your life to see if there are any corners where you are less than honest with others – and yourself! Ask God to help you be the real deal… the person He created you to be… and to focus on being genuine and serving Him well. Just like my positive feedback online, doing the right thing will bring you exponential blessings that you can’t even imagine. God knows your heart… and He will honor your best efforts. Is this what you are giving Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus went on to make these comments:
If you're honest in small things, you'll be honest in big things;
If you're a crook in small things, you'll be a crook in big things.
If you're not honest in small jobs, who will put you in charge of the store?
No worker can serve two bosses: He'll either hate the first and love the second or adore the first and despise the second. You can't serve both God and the Bank.
When the Pharisees, a money-obsessed bunch, heard him say these things, they rolled their eyes, dismissing him as hopelessly out of touch. So Jesus spoke to them: "You are masters at making yourselves look good in front of others, but God knows what's behind the appearance.
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.
Selling online is fun… but it can be challenging, too. Once in awhile, you will get a customer who cannot be satisfied. Even though you try to make your photos and written description as clear and inclusive as possible, there will be that person who says, “This is not what I ordered,” or “You didn’t tell me such-and-such.” Whether they are correct is pretty irrelevant. I’ve learned that the smartest thing to do is say, “Send it back,” eat any shipping expense, and move forward.
In online selling, reputation is everything. You are known by how promptly and carefully you ship… whether products are as you described… and how fair your charges are. So when a repeat customer recently paid nearly $2 more for shipping than it actually cost, I immediately issued a refund. I could have kept that overage… it would have covered my PayPal fees. And the customer had known the shipping cost when she purchased. In my defense, I had to estimate shipping cost based on a more distant destination. Since the customer lived in a nearby state, shipping costs were not as high as estimated. So I issued the refund.
In the long run, being fair and honest will get me more customers and repeat business – and this customer has left wonderful feedback for other potential buyers to read. Two dollars is not a big amount, but as this passage illustrates, small things lead to bigger things. And conversely, small gestures… like issuing this refund… will lead to bigger things, such as more sales down the road.
You may know someone of whom it is said, “If his/her lips are moving, he/she is lying.” Sadly, we probably all know someone we wouldn’t trust past the front door. But for every person who is this dishonest or untrustworthy, there are many others who walk among us who are more subtle and deceptive. I hope you are not one of these people. I hope you don’t operate in the “Who will know?” realm of sweeping little things under the rug, “putting lipstick on the pig” and making yourself look like someone you are not… basically being a phony. You may fool the people around you – at least for awhile – but God will never be fooled!
Ask yourself where and when you may have temptations to color the truth in your favor – even a little. Examine every area of your life to see if there are any corners where you are less than honest with others – and yourself! Ask God to help you be the real deal… the person He created you to be… and to focus on being genuine and serving Him well. Just like my positive feedback online, doing the right thing will bring you exponential blessings that you can’t even imagine. God knows your heart… and He will honor your best efforts. Is this what you are giving Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 14, 2011
Luke 16:8-9
"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
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.
There is a new television show on one of the cable networks called “Extreme Couponing.” People across America have become obsessed with clipping coupons. They combine them with store sales, store discount cards, and other special offers to purchase hundreds-to-thousands of dollars in merchandise for as little as pennies. Some have even done so well that the store paid them to carry home enough products to fill multiple shopping carts.
I’ve always been a coupon clipper. I almost always have coupons for paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent and dish-washing liquid. I hardly ever pay full price for toothpaste, cereal, or diapers. But “extreme couponers” will buy more than a hundred bottles of hot sauce because they have coupons that can be coupled with store sales to get these items “for free.” Their storage rooms are filled with items that nobody in their family uses. The single woman with a shelf unit full of diapers… the couple with a wall lined with dog food and no dog… the man who has closet shelf full of vitamins and more pain reliever than he could ever possibly use… all have truly taken couponing to the “extreme!”
Don’t get me wrong… I’m all for people saving money on their grocery bill… and if these folks want to spend their lives clipping and filing coupons, researching store sales and trying to score dozens of products for free… that’s their business. But stockpiling items you will never need or use, just because you can, doesn’t seem quite right to me. However, there are several “extreme couponers” who are sharing the wealth. They are using the hundreds of tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap and bottles of shampoo to create “toiletries kits” for soldiers and the homeless. One mom is feeding her extended family, her neighbors, and the teenage friends of her children with the products she amasses. Another young woman is providing her elderly grandmother with “free” groceries and household goods from her stock closet.
My point is that God wants us to look at the “street-wise” behavior of those who may be focusing on themselves and their own agendas and see where we can take some of those same tactics and use them in the right manner. He is not encouraging us to lie, cheat, or steal… but rather to “make lemons out of lemonade.” He is telling us that our focus is not to be on what we can get for ourselves, but what we can do for others. So instead of concentrating on how to cut corners, “play the system,” and get something for nothing… we should be using our wits to figure out how to genuinely accomplish more for God’s Kingdom, serve others in His name, and meet the needs of people wherever they are.
We all know people who say they are doing things “in the name of Jesus” – all the while hiding behind our LORD in order to make themselves look good… and to get ahead. This is exactly what Jesus is warning against. He wants us to be smart… but in a way that glorifies Him. Instead of stockpiling toothpaste, soap and toilet paper “because we can,” He wants us to use our ability to amass these products to share with those who can’t afford to buy them. The same energy some of us spend applying for loans, grants and public assistance, and "get-rich-quick schemes" to help us pay bills and put food on the table could be spent on getting a job with benefits and earning our own way.
Are we smart with the gifts God has given us… and are we using them to serve Him and those around us… or ourselves? Isn’t it time we stopped focusing inward and started looking around to see where and how we can truly live… and serve… in Jesus name? Just how “street smart” for Jesus are you these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Now here's a surprise: The master praised the crooked manager! And why? Because he knew how to look after himself. Streetwise people are smarter in this regard than law-abiding citizens. They are on constant alert, looking for angles, surviving by their wits. I want you to be smart in the same way—but for what is right—using every adversity to stimulate you to creative survival, to concentrate your attention on the bare essentials, so you'll live, really live, and not complacently just get by on good behavior."
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.
There is a new television show on one of the cable networks called “Extreme Couponing.” People across America have become obsessed with clipping coupons. They combine them with store sales, store discount cards, and other special offers to purchase hundreds-to-thousands of dollars in merchandise for as little as pennies. Some have even done so well that the store paid them to carry home enough products to fill multiple shopping carts.
I’ve always been a coupon clipper. I almost always have coupons for paper towels, toilet paper, laundry detergent and dish-washing liquid. I hardly ever pay full price for toothpaste, cereal, or diapers. But “extreme couponers” will buy more than a hundred bottles of hot sauce because they have coupons that can be coupled with store sales to get these items “for free.” Their storage rooms are filled with items that nobody in their family uses. The single woman with a shelf unit full of diapers… the couple with a wall lined with dog food and no dog… the man who has closet shelf full of vitamins and more pain reliever than he could ever possibly use… all have truly taken couponing to the “extreme!”
Don’t get me wrong… I’m all for people saving money on their grocery bill… and if these folks want to spend their lives clipping and filing coupons, researching store sales and trying to score dozens of products for free… that’s their business. But stockpiling items you will never need or use, just because you can, doesn’t seem quite right to me. However, there are several “extreme couponers” who are sharing the wealth. They are using the hundreds of tubes of toothpaste, bars of soap and bottles of shampoo to create “toiletries kits” for soldiers and the homeless. One mom is feeding her extended family, her neighbors, and the teenage friends of her children with the products she amasses. Another young woman is providing her elderly grandmother with “free” groceries and household goods from her stock closet.
My point is that God wants us to look at the “street-wise” behavior of those who may be focusing on themselves and their own agendas and see where we can take some of those same tactics and use them in the right manner. He is not encouraging us to lie, cheat, or steal… but rather to “make lemons out of lemonade.” He is telling us that our focus is not to be on what we can get for ourselves, but what we can do for others. So instead of concentrating on how to cut corners, “play the system,” and get something for nothing… we should be using our wits to figure out how to genuinely accomplish more for God’s Kingdom, serve others in His name, and meet the needs of people wherever they are.
We all know people who say they are doing things “in the name of Jesus” – all the while hiding behind our LORD in order to make themselves look good… and to get ahead. This is exactly what Jesus is warning against. He wants us to be smart… but in a way that glorifies Him. Instead of stockpiling toothpaste, soap and toilet paper “because we can,” He wants us to use our ability to amass these products to share with those who can’t afford to buy them. The same energy some of us spend applying for loans, grants and public assistance, and "get-rich-quick schemes" to help us pay bills and put food on the table could be spent on getting a job with benefits and earning our own way.
Are we smart with the gifts God has given us… and are we using them to serve Him and those around us… or ourselves? Isn’t it time we stopped focusing inward and started looking around to see where and how we can truly live… and serve… in Jesus name? Just how “street smart” for Jesus are you these days?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 13, 2011
Luke 23:26
As Jesus was being led away, some soldiers grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Simon. He was coming in from the fields, but they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine walking home from a long day of work or school, and all of a sudden, you are surrounded by police officers or soldiers who are saying, “Come with us… we need you.” Would you be scared? Would you be worried and curious about what they wanted with you… especially knowing that you had done nothing wrong? What if they lifted a heavy wooden cross onto your shoulders and said, “Carry this up the mountain.”? Would adrenaline kick in and help you? Would you freak out and try to escape? What would you do?!
The chances of this happening to us are slim to none. But suppose someone stopped you after work or school and said, “I really need your help. My car broke down and I need a ride.” Or you got a phone call as you headed to the lake for a day of fun, and a friend or loved one said, “I’m sick. Can you watch my baby today… come walk my dog… handle closing my business?” What would you do?
I’m sure that the Simon the Cyrene had no idea when he awoke that morning that he would be expected to help Jesus carry the cross to Calvary at the day’s end. And most of us don’t wake up expecting someone to interrupt our day with a request for help. But the point is, we never know where – or when – we will be called to serve as Disciples of Christ. We won’t literally be asked to carry the cross of Jesus… but in ways great and small, we’ll be called upon to serve in His name.
We must be ready. We must wake up each day asking, “Lord, how and where will you have me serve today?” We must be alert for opportunities… and willing to accept whatever “assignment” God gives us. Some will be unpleasant or downright difficult… others will be total joy to complete. Many will interrupt our plans. But always, when Jesus pulls out of the crowd and says, “It’s your turn,” we must be ready and willing… HE will make us able! Are you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
As Jesus was being led away, some soldiers grabbed hold of a man from Cyrene named Simon. He was coming in from the fields, but they put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Imagine walking home from a long day of work or school, and all of a sudden, you are surrounded by police officers or soldiers who are saying, “Come with us… we need you.” Would you be scared? Would you be worried and curious about what they wanted with you… especially knowing that you had done nothing wrong? What if they lifted a heavy wooden cross onto your shoulders and said, “Carry this up the mountain.”? Would adrenaline kick in and help you? Would you freak out and try to escape? What would you do?!
The chances of this happening to us are slim to none. But suppose someone stopped you after work or school and said, “I really need your help. My car broke down and I need a ride.” Or you got a phone call as you headed to the lake for a day of fun, and a friend or loved one said, “I’m sick. Can you watch my baby today… come walk my dog… handle closing my business?” What would you do?
I’m sure that the Simon the Cyrene had no idea when he awoke that morning that he would be expected to help Jesus carry the cross to Calvary at the day’s end. And most of us don’t wake up expecting someone to interrupt our day with a request for help. But the point is, we never know where – or when – we will be called to serve as Disciples of Christ. We won’t literally be asked to carry the cross of Jesus… but in ways great and small, we’ll be called upon to serve in His name.
We must be ready. We must wake up each day asking, “Lord, how and where will you have me serve today?” We must be alert for opportunities… and willing to accept whatever “assignment” God gives us. Some will be unpleasant or downright difficult… others will be total joy to complete. Many will interrupt our plans. But always, when Jesus pulls out of the crowd and says, “It’s your turn,” we must be ready and willing… HE will make us able! Are you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 12, 2011
Psalm 91:14-16
"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says GOD, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"
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.
One of my all-time favorite songs is James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” Actually, it was written by another of my all-time favorite musicians, Carole King. In part, the lyrics say, “You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am… I’ll come runnin’ to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall… all you have to do is call… and I’ll be there… yes, I will – you’ve got a friend.”
Isn’t that exactly what God is expressing in this Psalm? Isn’t he always just as close as our “call?” Doesn’t He answer in good times and bad… through every season. Isn’t He our truest Friend of all?
If you don’t know this song, Google it and have a listen. You’ll find that the words provide an almost perfect description of our relationship with God… or the relationship we should desire. “You just call out My Name… and you know wherever I am… I’ll come running to see you again.” God is waiting… the party is prepared… is He your closest friend? Have you called on Him lately?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says GOD, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"
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.
One of my all-time favorite songs is James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” Actually, it was written by another of my all-time favorite musicians, Carole King. In part, the lyrics say, “You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am… I’ll come runnin’ to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall… all you have to do is call… and I’ll be there… yes, I will – you’ve got a friend.”
Isn’t that exactly what God is expressing in this Psalm? Isn’t he always just as close as our “call?” Doesn’t He answer in good times and bad… through every season. Isn’t He our truest Friend of all?
If you don’t know this song, Google it and have a listen. You’ll find that the words provide an almost perfect description of our relationship with God… or the relationship we should desire. “You just call out My Name… and you know wherever I am… I’ll come running to see you again.” God is waiting… the party is prepared… is He your closest friend? Have you called on Him lately?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 11, 2011
Psalm 91:1-4
You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, say this: "GOD, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.
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.
My mother recently wrote a blog post about her memories of tornadoes in Arkansas. Much of my early childhood was spent in a storm cellar. This was in the days before “Five-live Dopplar,” satellite imagery, and more. Our “menfolk” would stand on the porch and “watch the clouds”… and as Mother pointed out, more than once they literally dove into the cellar for cover as a storm approached.
However, most nights we children would sit in the cellar with all of the women from the neighborhood and listen as they talked about the day’s events. When one of us needed a bathroom break, a man would be summoned from the porch. We were wrapped in a quilt and carried into the house, then returned to the cellar. I can still remember the snug safety of that quilt “cocoon” – wrapped tightly and held in the arms of my dad, my then-high-school-aged cousin Jim, or someone else I trusted to protect me.
As an adult, when I read this passage, I am reminded of the snug safety of those summer-time quilts and the arms of a loved one wrapped around me. I am reminded of how safe I felt in the shadow of pine trees that lined a creek bed across the road from my paternal grandparents’ farmhouse… how I took refuge there often on the soft mossy bank and listened to the soothing “whisper” of the wind in the pines. And I am comforted to think that God’s protection of me is much the same… loving, strong – yet as gentle and soothing as the whisper of that wind – safe and protective. He truly does fend off all harm.
What about you? Are you trusting God today? I will admit that sometimes fear and insecurity sneak in, and I am momentarily caught off-guard. The devil loves to try to steal my peace and try to fill me with lies and worries. But I’m not having it… and neither should you. We “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and “rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Let that soak in… truly think about how powerful this is! God is our refuge and fortress… we trust Him (or we should!)… and in His arms – no matter what comes our way - we are perfectly safe. Do you feel His presence and comfort? Are you snug and comfortable in the “quilt” of His love and protection? Won’t you allow Him to handle your cares and worries… and rest in His peace?
©2011 Debbie Robus
You who sit down in the High God's presence, spend the night in Shaddai's shadow, say this: "GOD, you're my refuge. I trust in you and I'm safe!"
That's right—he rescues you from hidden traps, shields you from deadly hazards. His huge outstretched arms protect you—under them you're perfectly safe; his arms fend off all harm.
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.
My mother recently wrote a blog post about her memories of tornadoes in Arkansas. Much of my early childhood was spent in a storm cellar. This was in the days before “Five-live Dopplar,” satellite imagery, and more. Our “menfolk” would stand on the porch and “watch the clouds”… and as Mother pointed out, more than once they literally dove into the cellar for cover as a storm approached.
However, most nights we children would sit in the cellar with all of the women from the neighborhood and listen as they talked about the day’s events. When one of us needed a bathroom break, a man would be summoned from the porch. We were wrapped in a quilt and carried into the house, then returned to the cellar. I can still remember the snug safety of that quilt “cocoon” – wrapped tightly and held in the arms of my dad, my then-high-school-aged cousin Jim, or someone else I trusted to protect me.
As an adult, when I read this passage, I am reminded of the snug safety of those summer-time quilts and the arms of a loved one wrapped around me. I am reminded of how safe I felt in the shadow of pine trees that lined a creek bed across the road from my paternal grandparents’ farmhouse… how I took refuge there often on the soft mossy bank and listened to the soothing “whisper” of the wind in the pines. And I am comforted to think that God’s protection of me is much the same… loving, strong – yet as gentle and soothing as the whisper of that wind – safe and protective. He truly does fend off all harm.
What about you? Are you trusting God today? I will admit that sometimes fear and insecurity sneak in, and I am momentarily caught off-guard. The devil loves to try to steal my peace and try to fill me with lies and worries. But I’m not having it… and neither should you. We “dwell in the shelter of the Most High” and “rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”
Let that soak in… truly think about how powerful this is! God is our refuge and fortress… we trust Him (or we should!)… and in His arms – no matter what comes our way - we are perfectly safe. Do you feel His presence and comfort? Are you snug and comfortable in the “quilt” of His love and protection? Won’t you allow Him to handle your cares and worries… and rest in His peace?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 10, 2011
Luke 14:33-35
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.
"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
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.
A friend of mine posted on Facebook that she was staying up late at night reading the book Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. I downloaded it onto my Kindle and began reading. Just like my friend… I could not put the book down. I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it for yourself. Whether you believe that this truly happened or not, I pray that you will glean some insights into how much God loves us… the power of prayer… the reality of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives… and how important it is to focus on the right things.
The Burpo family faced several life-changing challenges, but none more gut-wrenching than the sudden, near-fatal illness of their 4-year-old son, Colton. And in this experience, they had to wrestle with the possibility of giving Colton – literally – to God. It’s a decision we all pray we never have to make… choosing to trust God even in the loss of our child. But as Todd Burpo points out in this book, our Heavenly Father turned away as Jesus died on the cross… and Burpo surmises it was largely because He would not have been able to allow it, had He watched.
Still, we must be willing to do whatever God asks… trusting that He will be with us every step of the way. And after reading this book, I think you will have a better understanding of just how God is with us – in everything. Nobody said being a disciple of Christ was going to be easy… but more and more I am convinced that it is worth the cost, no matter what that may be.
I know it’s hard sometimes… I know that many of us face gut-wrenching challenges and struggles… and we often cry out to God and ask, “Why is this happening? Where are you?” I am confident that He is still here… with us every step of the way. He has given everything – even to His own Son – so that we can be with Him. The question is… “What are we willing to give to be with Him?”
©2011 Debbie Robus
"Simply put, if you're not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can't be my disciple.
"Salt is excellent. But if the salt goes flat, it's useless, good for nothing.
"Are you listening to this? Really listening?"
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.
A friend of mine posted on Facebook that she was staying up late at night reading the book Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy’s Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. I downloaded it onto my Kindle and began reading. Just like my friend… I could not put the book down. I encourage you to get a copy of this book and read it for yourself. Whether you believe that this truly happened or not, I pray that you will glean some insights into how much God loves us… the power of prayer… the reality of the Holy Spirit and His work in our lives… and how important it is to focus on the right things.
The Burpo family faced several life-changing challenges, but none more gut-wrenching than the sudden, near-fatal illness of their 4-year-old son, Colton. And in this experience, they had to wrestle with the possibility of giving Colton – literally – to God. It’s a decision we all pray we never have to make… choosing to trust God even in the loss of our child. But as Todd Burpo points out in this book, our Heavenly Father turned away as Jesus died on the cross… and Burpo surmises it was largely because He would not have been able to allow it, had He watched.
Still, we must be willing to do whatever God asks… trusting that He will be with us every step of the way. And after reading this book, I think you will have a better understanding of just how God is with us – in everything. Nobody said being a disciple of Christ was going to be easy… but more and more I am convinced that it is worth the cost, no matter what that may be.
I know it’s hard sometimes… I know that many of us face gut-wrenching challenges and struggles… and we often cry out to God and ask, “Why is this happening? Where are you?” I am confident that He is still here… with us every step of the way. He has given everything – even to His own Son – so that we can be with Him. The question is… “What are we willing to give to be with Him?”
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 9, 2011
Proverbs 18:24
Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Another favorite book of Timothy’s these days is titled Slobcat. It’s the story of a little girl and her cat. The family named him Slobcat because they think he is lazy. The story shows Slobcat doing all sorts of things – rescuing a baby kitten from deep water, scaring away snakes and predatory birds in the garden, batting a ball out of the way so that the mother doesn’t trip and fall, and much more. But in each instance, the family doesn’t notice the good things that Slobcat does.
Instead, they see a cat who is constantly under foot rather than one who protects them. They see a cat who is too lazy to come in out of the rain – not one who rescues kittens from deep water. Basically, the family fails to recognize what a good friend and companion Slobcat is to each of them.
What about us? Do we recognize our real friends? Do we realize who truly has our back through thick and thin… who cares about us and keeps our confidence? Have we chosen our friends wisely and acknowledged how important these good, true friends are in our lives?
So often, we are like the little girl in the story and her family. We go through life taking our truest friends for granted… or failing to recognize them in the first place. We run after people we want to be our friends… we seek relationships that are not in our best interest – and downright unhealthy in some cases - while foregoing the attention and devotion of those who genuinely care about our well-being. We fail to acknowledge the countless ways a true friend cares for us on a regular basis… and sometimes – just like Slobcat’s family – we assume the opposite.
Shouldn’t we take a look around and see if we have mistakenly labeled a genuine friend in our lives as a “Slobcat”? Can you identify your true friends these days? Have you thanked God for bringing them into your life… and have you thanked these individuals for their friendship and devotion? It only takes a few minutes to send an e-mail, make a phone call, or drop a note to your friends and let them know how blessed you feel that God has placed them in your life. Isn’t today a perfect time to do just that?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Another favorite book of Timothy’s these days is titled Slobcat. It’s the story of a little girl and her cat. The family named him Slobcat because they think he is lazy. The story shows Slobcat doing all sorts of things – rescuing a baby kitten from deep water, scaring away snakes and predatory birds in the garden, batting a ball out of the way so that the mother doesn’t trip and fall, and much more. But in each instance, the family doesn’t notice the good things that Slobcat does.
Instead, they see a cat who is constantly under foot rather than one who protects them. They see a cat who is too lazy to come in out of the rain – not one who rescues kittens from deep water. Basically, the family fails to recognize what a good friend and companion Slobcat is to each of them.
What about us? Do we recognize our real friends? Do we realize who truly has our back through thick and thin… who cares about us and keeps our confidence? Have we chosen our friends wisely and acknowledged how important these good, true friends are in our lives?
So often, we are like the little girl in the story and her family. We go through life taking our truest friends for granted… or failing to recognize them in the first place. We run after people we want to be our friends… we seek relationships that are not in our best interest – and downright unhealthy in some cases - while foregoing the attention and devotion of those who genuinely care about our well-being. We fail to acknowledge the countless ways a true friend cares for us on a regular basis… and sometimes – just like Slobcat’s family – we assume the opposite.
Shouldn’t we take a look around and see if we have mistakenly labeled a genuine friend in our lives as a “Slobcat”? Can you identify your true friends these days? Have you thanked God for bringing them into your life… and have you thanked these individuals for their friendship and devotion? It only takes a few minutes to send an e-mail, make a phone call, or drop a note to your friends and let them know how blessed you feel that God has placed them in your life. Isn’t today a perfect time to do just that?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 8, 2011
1 Samuel 17:39-47
David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things.
"I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it."
David took off the armor and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.
Goliath came toward David, walking behind the soldier who was carrying his shield. When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, good-looking boy, he made fun of him. "Do you think I'm a dog?" Goliath asked. "Is that why you've come after me with a stick?" He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods and shouted, "Come on! When I'm finished with you, I'll feed you to the birds and wild animals!"
David answered: You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel's army, and you have insulted him too!
Today the LORD will help me defeat you. I'll knock you down and cut off your head, and I'll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God. Everybody here will see that the LORD doesn't need swords or spears to save his people. The LORD always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I watched the movie Secretariat. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your list to rent soon. As we watched, I told my husband, “There seems to be a lot of sadness (and struggle) in this story.” He laughed and said, “You remember how it ends, don’t you?” I did, but still, the writers/directors had done a great job of maintaining the suspense and interest… and weaving stories of interpersonal relationships in along the way.
We know how the “story” ends with God, too. We know that He always wins his battles… and yes, most of us know – if only deep down – that God will help us defeat our enemies. But we tend to waste a lot of time trying to change the story… even when that makes no sense. At best, we try to fight our own battles, handle things our way and on our own timetable… and in essence, we walk through life burdened with all of the armor that weighed David down and would have impeded his ability to fight.
It’s time we took off the heavy armor… the defense mechanisms, the defeatist attitudes, the worry, frustration and fear that the devil tries to heap on us… and let God fight our battles. He may fight for us – or He may work through us to accomplish His purposes. Either way, we know how this ends… God wins! And if we trust him to fight our battles, so do we.
©2011 Debbie Robus
David strapped on a sword and tried to walk around, but he was not used to wearing those things.
"I can't move with all this stuff on," David said. "I'm just not used to it."
David took off the armor and picked up his shepherd's stick. He went out to a stream and picked up five smooth rocks and put them in his leather bag. Then with his sling in his hand, he went straight toward Goliath.
Goliath came toward David, walking behind the soldier who was carrying his shield. When Goliath saw that David was just a healthy, good-looking boy, he made fun of him. "Do you think I'm a dog?" Goliath asked. "Is that why you've come after me with a stick?" He cursed David in the name of the Philistine gods and shouted, "Come on! When I'm finished with you, I'll feed you to the birds and wild animals!"
David answered: You've come out to fight me with a sword and a spear and a dagger. But I've come out to fight you in the name of the LORD All-Powerful. He is the God of Israel's army, and you have insulted him too!
Today the LORD will help me defeat you. I'll knock you down and cut off your head, and I'll feed the bodies of the other Philistine soldiers to the birds and wild animals. Then the whole world will know that Israel has a real God. Everybody here will see that the LORD doesn't need swords or spears to save his people. The LORD always wins his battles, and he will help us defeat you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few nights ago, my husband and I watched the movie Secretariat. If you haven’t seen it yet, put it on your list to rent soon. As we watched, I told my husband, “There seems to be a lot of sadness (and struggle) in this story.” He laughed and said, “You remember how it ends, don’t you?” I did, but still, the writers/directors had done a great job of maintaining the suspense and interest… and weaving stories of interpersonal relationships in along the way.
We know how the “story” ends with God, too. We know that He always wins his battles… and yes, most of us know – if only deep down – that God will help us defeat our enemies. But we tend to waste a lot of time trying to change the story… even when that makes no sense. At best, we try to fight our own battles, handle things our way and on our own timetable… and in essence, we walk through life burdened with all of the armor that weighed David down and would have impeded his ability to fight.
It’s time we took off the heavy armor… the defense mechanisms, the defeatist attitudes, the worry, frustration and fear that the devil tries to heap on us… and let God fight our battles. He may fight for us – or He may work through us to accomplish His purposes. Either way, we know how this ends… God wins! And if we trust him to fight our battles, so do we.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 7, 2011
1 Samuel 16:6-7
When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel noticed Jesse's oldest son, Eliab. "He has to be the one the LORD has chosen," Samuel said to himself.
But the LORD told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of Timothy’s favorite books at the moment is Olivia, by Ian Falconer - the story of a little piglet and her family… father, mother, brother Ian, dog Perry, and Edwin the cat. The illustrations of Olivia are not bright and bold, like those in many of Timmy’s books. They are all done in black and red on a white background, with some grey shading. Olivia only wears red, and she is depicted somewhat realistically and not “prettied up” as pigs go. Yet Timothy loves her. Olivia is extremely energetic, and the story line is that “she is very good at wearing people out.”
In one part of the story, Olivia goes to the museum on a rainy day, and she studies a painting of beautiful ballerinas. The story says she looks at it for a long time. She also looks at an abstract painting – blobs of paint that appear to have been splattered on the canvas. She remarks to her mother, “I could do that in about five minutes,” and then she proceeds to go home and try it on a wall of her home. Of course, the next text is… “Time out!”
The point is, Olivia did not see the beauty in the abstract painting. She did not see the “heart” in the work that the artist – and apparently other admirers – saw. Timothy sees beyond the simple black and red line drawings and colorings of this little piglet and judges her heart… her similarities in behavior to him… and her exuberance for life. He doesn’t seem to notice her appearance… in fact, I bet he would tell you she is quite beautiful.
We live in a society where looks are everything. People obsess over all sorts of cosmetic concerns… from a “bad hair day” to the extra weight they are carrying to a face covered in freckles. You feel like the blemish or mole on your face is all people see when they look at you… while many hardly notice it. We let our self-awareness of the “muffin top” we’re carrying or that bald spot on our head overshadow our ability to be present in the moment and serve others… and God.
We need to be more like Olivia, the piglet. I don’t mean that we need to get so out of control that we start painting abstract art on our walls… but we need to focus more on life and what matters - and less on appearances. And we need to stop judging others based on looks and first impressions. That zany, overly exuberant, talkative person who drives you nuts may be a loving, caring person who would do anything he/she could to help someone else. The person who is dirty and disheveled… the one who always seems aloof or disinterested… the guy who is so scatterbrained you figure he would lose his head if it weren’t attached… may be just the people God uses to relate to others and serve them right where they are.
The people who are always “dressed to the nines”, drive fancy cars and have lots of money, or have impressive degrees from major colleges and universities may be the very people who are too busy focusing on their own agendas… and not the needs of others or God’s plans. People who are tall and handsome… smart, rich and successful… athletic and talented… may not necessarily be the ones who are serving God the most – or to the best of their ability.
We must stop judging people by appearance. And we need to check our own behavior and see where we are letting our appearance hamper our ability to serve. Are we self-conscious and timid? Are we egotistical and arrogant? What is in our heart? When God looks there, what does He see… and does it please Him? Are you one of God’s chosen servants? What changes do you need to make to become more like Him? Are you ready to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
When Jesse and his sons arrived, Samuel noticed Jesse's oldest son, Eliab. "He has to be the one the LORD has chosen," Samuel said to himself.
But the LORD told him, "Samuel, don't think Eliab is the one just because he's tall and handsome. He isn't the one I've chosen. People judge others by what they look like, but I judge people by what is in their hearts."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One of Timothy’s favorite books at the moment is Olivia, by Ian Falconer - the story of a little piglet and her family… father, mother, brother Ian, dog Perry, and Edwin the cat. The illustrations of Olivia are not bright and bold, like those in many of Timmy’s books. They are all done in black and red on a white background, with some grey shading. Olivia only wears red, and she is depicted somewhat realistically and not “prettied up” as pigs go. Yet Timothy loves her. Olivia is extremely energetic, and the story line is that “she is very good at wearing people out.”
In one part of the story, Olivia goes to the museum on a rainy day, and she studies a painting of beautiful ballerinas. The story says she looks at it for a long time. She also looks at an abstract painting – blobs of paint that appear to have been splattered on the canvas. She remarks to her mother, “I could do that in about five minutes,” and then she proceeds to go home and try it on a wall of her home. Of course, the next text is… “Time out!”
The point is, Olivia did not see the beauty in the abstract painting. She did not see the “heart” in the work that the artist – and apparently other admirers – saw. Timothy sees beyond the simple black and red line drawings and colorings of this little piglet and judges her heart… her similarities in behavior to him… and her exuberance for life. He doesn’t seem to notice her appearance… in fact, I bet he would tell you she is quite beautiful.
We live in a society where looks are everything. People obsess over all sorts of cosmetic concerns… from a “bad hair day” to the extra weight they are carrying to a face covered in freckles. You feel like the blemish or mole on your face is all people see when they look at you… while many hardly notice it. We let our self-awareness of the “muffin top” we’re carrying or that bald spot on our head overshadow our ability to be present in the moment and serve others… and God.
We need to be more like Olivia, the piglet. I don’t mean that we need to get so out of control that we start painting abstract art on our walls… but we need to focus more on life and what matters - and less on appearances. And we need to stop judging others based on looks and first impressions. That zany, overly exuberant, talkative person who drives you nuts may be a loving, caring person who would do anything he/she could to help someone else. The person who is dirty and disheveled… the one who always seems aloof or disinterested… the guy who is so scatterbrained you figure he would lose his head if it weren’t attached… may be just the people God uses to relate to others and serve them right where they are.
The people who are always “dressed to the nines”, drive fancy cars and have lots of money, or have impressive degrees from major colleges and universities may be the very people who are too busy focusing on their own agendas… and not the needs of others or God’s plans. People who are tall and handsome… smart, rich and successful… athletic and talented… may not necessarily be the ones who are serving God the most – or to the best of their ability.
We must stop judging people by appearance. And we need to check our own behavior and see where we are letting our appearance hamper our ability to serve. Are we self-conscious and timid? Are we egotistical and arrogant? What is in our heart? When God looks there, what does He see… and does it please Him? Are you one of God’s chosen servants? What changes do you need to make to become more like Him? Are you ready to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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