Daily Devotional for June 30, 2013

Isaiah 11:13
Then at last the jealousy between Israel and Judah will end. They will not be rivals anymore.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
My mother-in-law dog sits for several families.  She keeps their dogs for anywhere from one day to a few weeks, as needed.  One couple has two little dogs… Breezy and Cookie.  Breezy is an older dog… Cookie is fairly young and new… both are what I call “dust mops!”  Cookie is all energetic and friendly… Breezy is old and tired.  But Breezy was here first… and she is jealous of Cookie!  So when Cookie runs past her and jumps into my mother-in-law’s lap, Breezy barks and growls.  She knows that she cannot jump up that high… but she does not like it that Cookie can!
 
Of course, petty jealousy among animals is to be expected… and fairly uncontrollable.  By nature, most animals are territorial.  They do not like when another encroaches on their space. This can cause some pretty good ruckuses and commotions!  And we are all jealous at one time or another.  Even God is jealous… He does not like it when we give our attention and devotion to something or someone other than Him!
 
But a lot of our acts of envy, resentment, suspicion, distrust, and desire of another’s possessions or traits are unnecessary… and could be avoided.  As a result, we could have a whole lot more peace in our daily living!  The first step in achieving this can begin with Isaiah 11.  Start at the beginning of this chapter.  We are told of the coming of “a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root”. This “Branch” is Jesus Christ.  Isaiah describes Him this way…
 

• The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
• He will delight in obeying the Lord.
• He will not judge by appearance nor make a decision based on hearsay.
• He will give justice to the poor and make fair decisions for the exploited.
• The earth will shake at the force of his word, and one breath from his mouth will destroy the wicked.
• He will wear righteousness like a belt and truth like an undergarment.

If we strive to be like Jesus… to be the “fruit” of His “branch”… we will have no room in our lives for jealousy.  We will not judge others or listen to gossip and hearsay.  We will be fair and reasonable with everyone and stand up for those who are being mistreated… and we will find ways to shed our own ego in favor of the other person’s feelings.
 
God’s jealousy over us is a protective one… a possessiveness of us borne out of our Father’s deep abiding love for His children.  His is not necessarily envy as much as a desire to be first and foremost in our lives… to be the only focus of our worship and devotion.  Human jealousy has an ugly side and features suspicion, distrust, covetousness, resentfulness, and selfish desires.  Because of God’s jealousy, we find peace in belonging solely to Him.  Because of our own human jealousy, we often experience anything but peace!
 
In Jesus, we find the perfect example of how to honor and obey the LORD… to discover complete peace in Him…and to bear “good fruit.”  Unlike Cookie and Breezy and other canines, we humans DO have a choice.  We can do our best to model the teachings of Jesus Christ.  We can seek lives of peace and calm rather than discord and commotion.
 
We can “bear good fruit” that reflects our relationship to the “Branch”.  We can call on God to end our internal rivalries and fill us with serenity and an inner stillness… and He will gladly do this.  Aren’t you ready to experience this for yourself?  Will this be the day your “rivalries” end?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 29, 2013

Hebrews 2:11
So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Today would be my brother Tim’s 52nd birthday.  It would also be the 50th birthday of a childhood friend who has passed…Dr. J. Aaron Little – the older son of my piano teacher.  And today is the 49th birthday of my cousin, Darin, who grew up in Texas.  We didn’t know each other well growing up… but our families have somewhat reconnected in the past year.  While the bond with my brother was unimaginably strong, these other two men were/are “brothers” of sorts, as well.  I spent countless hours in the Little home as a teenager, where I grew to love Aaron, his sister Lee Ann and brother Adam like family.  We attended the same church growing up… the roots of our relationship run deep.
 
When my cousin Darin lost his dad last fall, the family gathered for his burial in a local family cemetery, where our shared ancestors are laid to rest.  When my grandmother died in March, and many of these same cousins returned for her funeral and burial.  In June, another cousin organized a family reunion. We got together to share photographs and memories of good times from the past, family history, and to “pick the brains” of the older relatives who can still remember Grandma and Grandpa and what things were like in this area decades ago.


My sister Suzanne, me, my brother Tim, and my
grandmother Polly, less than three weeks before
Tim went to be with Jesus... September 1998.

There are several people in my life with whom I share no blood relation… but they could not be any more like a sister or brother to me if that were the case. I bet you can say the same.  We share a bond… a mutual love and respect… and in most cases, a deep and abiding love for God.  Ultimately, we are “blood related”… by the blood of Christ!  This is why I think many of my most profound friendships and relationships can be traced back to childhood…and the church in which I was reared.  We learned to love God together at an early age.  I just made a mental list of more than half a dozen families from that era with whom I feel this “brotherly” and “sisterly” connection to this day.
 
In the world at large, we must acknowledge that millions are our brothers and sisters in Christ… and we must warmly embrace them – in our hearts, if not literally.  We cannot judge… we must not exclude… we have to look for their good qualities and operate in peace and calm rather than discord and chaos.  Just as in any “sibling relationship,” there are times when we will argue… when someone will cause us embarrassment or disappointment… when the other guy will say or do something that irritates (if not disgusts) us…when we will all experience a “less-than-proud” moment.  But as “brothers and sisters in Christ,” we all share the same Heavenly Father. At the end of the day, we must not be ashamed of any of our family members.
 
There is great peace and comfort in “family” relationships.  When someone is claiming to be a Christian and acting in an ungodly manner…saying things that are rude or crude…treating others unkindly or in a discriminatory fashion…operating with arrogance and an air of superiority and judgment… it’s hard to say, “That person is my brother/sister in Christ.”  There is a temptation to act out toward this person… to feel hurt and disappointment…or to impose distance and/or a separation.  But God is calling us to extend brotherly/sisterly love in Christ to these persons… to make every effort to live in harmony… to do whatever is necessary to get along.  The old adage that “you can pick your friends… but not your family” is true - even in the body of Christ!
 
So today, I celebrate three men… all of whom probably got on my last nerve more than once as we grew up… and I celebrate the larger family of believers in Jesus Christ.  I take great joy in knowing that I belong to such a big… and growing… family.  The bond I feel with others who love Jesus so deeply gives me a tremendous peace and satisfaction… and in Jesus’ name, I long to encourage others to join the circle. Just imagine how glorious our “family reunion” will be when we get to Heaven!
 
What about you?  Are you at peace with your Christian brothers and sisters?  Do you feel the bond that comes from a shared love and acceptance in Jesus?  Are there “siblings” who rub you the wrong way… both those you know personally and others you “know of”?  Isn’t it time to start loving all of them with the love of Jesus… to drop the judgments and the feelings of irritation and/or ego – and to allow them the same latitude and grace you would hope they afford you?
 
Will this be the day you reconnect with some of your “family” members and embrace them… warts and all?  Don’t you think it should be?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 28, 2013

June 28 ~ Hebrews 12:4-11
None of you have yet been hurt in your battle against sin.  But you have forgotten that the Scriptures say to God’s children,
 
“When the Lord punishes you, don’t make light of it, and when he corrects you, don’t be discouraged.  The Lord corrects the people he loves and disciplines those he calls his own.”
 
Be patient when you are being corrected! This is how God treats his children. Don’t all parents correct their children?  God corrects all of his children, and if he doesn’t correct you, then you don’t really belong to him. Our earthly fathers correct us, and we still respect them. Isn’t it even better to be given true life by letting our spiritual Father correct us?
 
Our human fathers correct us for a short time, and they do it as they think best. But God corrects us for our own good, because he wants us to be holy, as he is.  It is never fun to be corrected. In fact, at the time it is always painful. But if we learn to obey by being corrected, we will do right and live at peace.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
As I tucked Timothy into bed one recent night, he said, “Tell me a story.”  So I told him the story of “The Three Little Bears.”  Then he said, “Tell me another story.   I asked, “What story would you like to hear?”  He replied… “Tell me the story of how we have to listen to GOD… and how those people ate the fruit of the tree and got into trouble.”  So I gave him my best “four-year-old version” of the story of Adam and Eve and their sin in the Garden of Eden.  When I finished, Timothy whispered dramatically… “God was SO disappointed.”  I agreed and reminded him that yes, God is disappointed when we don’t listen to Him… that we must obey Him and do what He says.
 
I also pointed out that God wants us to listen to our parents, our aunts and uncles… and to be nice to our brothers, sisters, and friends.  Timothy said, “We don’t want to disappoint God!”  I agreed again.  Then I asked him, “Did you know you can talk to God?  We call it praying… we say our prayers and talk to God – and He talks to us!”  We discussed some prayer books I have bought him in the past… Timothy calls them his “God books”… and how our prayers are the time we thank God for everything He has given us – and we ask Him to help us be good listeners.  I offered… “Would you like for me to talk to God for you now?”   Timothy nodded yes.
 
So I prayed a simple prayer.  I thanked God for Timothy…his sister Zola, who was sleeping in another bed nearby…his brother Nathan…his mom and dad… and all of the people who love him.  I thanked God for giving us grass and trees and fruit and everything we have… and I asked Him to help us – especially Timothy – be good listeners.  When I finished, Timothy said, “I don’t want to disappoint God!”  I told him that God is not disappointed with him… that God loves him.  “And as long as you listen to God and do what He says,” I continued, “God will be very happy.”  I also told him that sometimes we all fail to listen to God… and when that happens, we should tell God we are sorry.
 
Timothy asked, “Would you say that talk to God again?”  I clarified, “You want me to talk to God again for you?”  He replied, “Yes… tell Him I’m sorry when I disappoint Him.”  Trying to hold it together, I prayed once again and thanked God for all of His good gifts… and I told Him that Timothy really wants to listen, but sometimes he forgets… and he is sorry.”  Then I reminded Timothy how very much God loves him.  “God is not disappointed with you,” I assured him as we snuggled.  You make Him very happy… and as long as you do your best to listen to Him and are really sorry when you forget, He will not be disappointed.  God will ALWAYS love you.
 
This amazing little four-year-old boy looked up at me, grinned, and said, “Okay… GOOD NIGHT!”  And he rolled over and drifted off to sleep.  If you knew our “history,” you would know that this is a child who didn’t go to sleep many nights of his first three years without a major battle… and then he was plagued with “night terrors” – almost nightly disruptions in his sleep that left him screaming for sometimes as much as an hour before he could settle back into a restful pattern.  To see him drift off to sleep with such peace gives me a relief I cannot verbalize.  To know that he went to sleep with peace in his heart about his relationship to God – and such a depth of wisdom and understanding – gives me a joy beyond description.
 
It seems like the older we get, the more we lose our “child-like wonder and understanding” of God’s love for us and what He requires in return… and we also lose much of our peace.  While the “hows and whys” of our relationship and the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins are incredibly complicated…the basic tenets are fairly simple.  Listen to God…deeply desire to please Him…accept that there will be times when we fall short… be ready to apologize and ask for forgiveness… and above all, remember that God loves us and calls us His own.
 
I encourage you to take some time to meditate on these principles…to talk with God and discover where you have overcomplicated and cluttered your relationship with things that truly are not of significance – or benefit.  Have you created much of your own inner turmoil and anxiety by making your Christian faith far more difficult and complex than God ever intended?  Isn’t it time you came back to the purity and simplicity of a four-year-old who doesn’t want to disappoint God?  Will this be the night you sleep in peace and assurance that God loves you and has forgiven you for “not listening?”  Isn’t it your turn to have a bedtime talk with God?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 27, 2013

Hebrews 12:14-17
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
 
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.
 
Regardless of how you feel about the Paula Deen debacle, I think we can all agree that hers is a perfect example of how even a couple of ill-chosen words can have powerful – even permanent – ramifications.  A snide remark, criticism, off-color joke, or disagreement with another may not cost you national endorsements or ruin your business… but these actions can certainly affect your reputation, your personal relationships – and possibly your bond with God.
 
The lesson for all of us is to guard not only what we say… but also our heart.  It’s sort of the “garbage in – garbage out” theory.  Here’s a good example… when I was in junior high, one of my teachers told a joke about a little girl who was talking to her mother about a movie titled “Damn Yankees.”  Her mother said, “You cannot SAY that word!”  The little girl replied, “Oops… I’m sorry… Darn Yankees!”  We laughed, because in the late 1960s, people really couldn’t/didn’t use that word – or many others.  It was considered impolite, improper, and in the eyes of some… sinful.
 
Today, I am hearing not only that word, but also words and distasteful phrases - like the LORD’s name taken in vain - on cable television programs, along with other off-color terms, as if they were regular table conversation.  I’m not talking HBO or Showtime… I’m talking Bravo, E, and other channels that are available on satellite and cable TV packages… programs that run all hours of the night and day that any young child could view with the click of a remote control.  And the saddest part of this is that we have become so accustomed to hearing these words that we don’t even notice… much less change the channel!  This doesn’t even take into account the words and phrases that are spoken on our mainstream channels and/or “bleeped”…even though most of us know what is being said!
 
My point is that hearing these words in such common, public settings makes them too familiar… and opens the door for them to become part of our everyday vernacular.  We see people arguing, screaming, throwing things and getting into brawls on “reality” TV shows and even daytime television, and we grow accustomed to believing that this is how “real” people behave.  We lose our sense of self-control… our ability to regulate our words, deeds – and thoughts.  And we allow these “weeds” to take root in our lives with little to no thought for the consequences.
 
My husband and I have been reading a book about the events that led to the beginning of the Civil War, titled 1861.  In more than one instance, we have learned of the actions of a single person that completely changed the course of events.  The stories of these individuals attest to the power of one person… both positively and negatively.  Creating an atmosphere of calm and harmony begins with each of us.  Finding God’s peace starts at home… in our own hearts.
 
Examine your daily activities and encounters.  Look for areas where you are allowing “weeds” into the “garden” of your life.  Ask God to show you how you are, at the very least, setting yourself up to satisfy short-term appetites (fitting in by telling distasteful jokes… letting others know how you really feel at the expense of their feelings – and your own dignity…peppering your language with colorful expletives…being critical in an effort to appear more intelligent or superior).  Allow God to reveal these “weeds” to you and help you to eradicate them.
 
Make it your primary goal to stay in a right relationship with God… to always check with Him before speaking or acting… to become so attuned to His ways that even when you start to say or do something unkind or inappropriate… you check yourself and change course!   The more this happens, the more you will recognize God working in and through you… and the more you will realize His blessings in your everyday living.  As we have seen with Paula Deen, it’s very hard to take back what has been said or done.  In other words, it only takes a “weed” or two to really mess up the “garden” of your life.  Stay close to God and make sure yours is “weed free” at all times!
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 26, 2013

Haggai 2:6-9
Soon I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake the nations, and their treasures will be brought here. Then the brightness of my glory will fill this temple. All silver and gold belong to me, and I promise that this new temple will be more glorious than the first one. I will also bless this city with peace.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
This was my daily quote…I am sorry I don’t have the source to cite…”A Sunday school teacher was reading a Bible story to her class.  ‘The man named Lot was warned to take his wife and flee out of the city, but his wife looked back and turned to salt.’  A little boy softly asked, ‘What happened to the flea?’”
 
Today’s scripture passage was included in an outline I created for scriptures on peace… gleaned from several Internet searches for such verses.  I almost deleted these particular verses from the outline.  Frankly, I didn’t understand a lot about Haggai.  I knew that he was a prophet, but I didn’t know much about the meaning or history behind his 2-chapter book in the Old Testament.
 
The Internet is an amazing resource!  I found several commentaries on Haggai and read a few of them. Still, there was little to no clarity about what these chapters had to do with finding God’s peace.  Then I discovered a commentary at http://www.soniclight.com/constable/notes/pdf/haggai.pdf by Thomas L. Constable, Th.D., Senior Professor Emeritus of Bible Exposition at Dallas Theological Seminary in Dallas, Texas.
 
Dr. Thomas took 26 pages to outline and explain Haggai’s prophecy and why he believes God allowed it to be included in the Old Testament writings.  He narrowed it down to four “perils” that we face… 1) misplaced priorities; 2) incorrect perspectives, 3) unrealistic expectations; and 4) unnecessary fears.  Dr. Thomas noted the verses in these chapters in which Haggai demonstrates these perils. Solomon’s temple has been destroyed.  There is a movement to rebuild this temple, but the people of Israel appear to be too busy and preoccupied with building their own homes and other endeavors to fully concentrate on rebuilding God’s temple (misplaced priorities).
 
Once building does begin, those involved decide that the temple is not going to be as grand and glorious as the one built by King Solomon, and they become discouraged and disheartened (incorrect perspectives).  They expect lavish blessings and gifts from God for their efforts to rebuild… and they are disappointed (unrealistic expectations).  After the temple is completed, the people of Israel compare themselves to the Gentiles and decide that they are inferior as a people… that they will never be as respected and valued by God as others (unnecessary fears).  Haggai reminds us how wrong the Israelites were on all counts.
 
Don’t these “perils” ring a bell?  Haven’t we all had misplaced priorities… incorrect perspectives…unrealistic expectations… and unnecessary fears?  The people of Israel failed to put God’s work ahead of their own… don’t we sometimes do this?  They based their value and the value of their contributions on personal wealth.  In other words, those who didn’t have a lot of gold and silver to give to the “building fund” didn’t believe their contributions would be valued in the project.  How many times have you decided that you or your contributions were not “good enough” to be offered?
 
The people of Israel thought that any efforts they did make for God would be instantly and tremendously rewarded.  Do we expect “immediate gratification and reward” from God for our “good deeds?”  They looked around and compared themselves to others… and promptly felt like they did not measure up.  How often do you look in the mirror and wish you looked more like So-and-So?  Do you sometimes wish you had another person’s possessions, appearance… or their life in general?  Like the Israelites, do you diminish your own value in God’s eyes and long for the “favor” He appears to grant to another?  Truly, we are all exactly like the people of Israel that Haggai describes!
 
Can we possibly hope to experience God’s peace in the midst of these pressures?  I think you know the answer.  Haggai dispels every one of these “perils” with promises from God… “Don’t worry. My Spirit is right here with you…I promise that this new temple will be more glorious than the first one... I will also bless this city with peace.”
 
We are all a lot like the little boy hearing the Sunday school lesson… we’re focused on the flea and completely missed the real message!  Don’t overlook the significance of Haggai’s words… make God’s plans for your life a top priority.  Recognize that God doesn’t care about your material wealth – He just wants you to do your best with what you have.  Celebrate God’s timing and learn to appreciate even His smallest blessings and gifts as much or more than the extravagant ones.  Recognize that we are all precious in His sight.  The talents, abilities and strengths He gave to you are uniquely yours… and would never be right for someone else.  By the same token, theirs would never be right for you!
 
Who knew there was such “meat” in a 2-chapter Old Testament prophecy?  If we change these four “life pressures” into positive actions that glorify God and His love for us, I believe that the peace in our lives will grow exponentially. God has pretty much guaranteed it.  Now it’s up to us to do our part.  What will you do?  Will you start to turn these pressures around… or are you still too busy worrying about what happened to the flea?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 25, 2013

Galatians 5:22-23
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
 
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.
 
Sunday morning after church, we got everyone fastened into car seats and started to drive out of the church parking lot. I asked Timothy, “What did you learn in Sunday school today?” He replied, “We learned that you have to listen to GOD (emphasis here on the Father’s name in a dramatic drawl).”  “Really?” I quizzed.  “Yes!” he continued, “and some people ate the fruit of the tree, and they got in TROUBLE!”  Later, when we took the children home, Timothy repeated this story to his mother.  But he added… “And the lady and that girl ate the fruit, and they can’t ever go into the jungle again!”
 
This is what happens when we don’t listen to God!  Well, okay… maybe we will still be able to “go into the jungle” – which means that God continues to love us, and we Christians can still enjoy the blessings of Salvation…even when we sin.  But this kind of thinking focuses on settling for “adequate” rather than operating in “abundance.”  I don’t know about you… but I’d rather have operate in the latter!
 
Do you really want a life of “good enough”… of barely getting by… of living in the relative drudgery of putting one foot in front of the other each day and doing the same old thing for years on end?  I’m not just talking about your physical assets – home, car, clothing and possessions – or your job. I’m also talking about having relationships that are stale – or always in some sort of state of discord or high drama… living with a poor self-image…and worst of all, lacking in joy and confidence with regard to your relationship with the Holy Spirit… or feeling like you don’t even have a relationship with the Holy Spirit in the first place.
 
When we live God’s way, scripture describes how all sorts of things come into full view for us… how we find ourselves feeling more complete and satisfied… functioning at a higher level in all areas of life.  My dad would call this “running on all cylinders”… and hopefully you get this picture!  God has perfect plans for each of us.  All we have to do is seek them – and follow through!  Clearly, our little four-year-old has a few things to learn yet about sin and disobedience… or does he?  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to chance being exiled from the “jungle” of God’s gifts forever.
 
Will you listen to GOD and live His way?  Aren’t you ready to experience His peace?  Are you ready to eat the “good fruit” He wishes to give you?  Isn’t today the perfect time to begin?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 24, 2013

Galatians 3:28-29
In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
 
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.
 
This morning I worked on some baby bibs for my little nephew, Nathan.  I thought about all of the cute clothes I make for my nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  While clothes shouldn’t matter all that much… they do.  In our culture, children are judged by other children – and adults – even at an early age.  The child who is dirty and always dressed in stained, tattered or worn-out clothing is not valued (or treated as nicely) by some as much as children who look like they just stepped out of Baby Gap or even Old Navy!  This morning I also thought of another child of “ours” – Timothy Kodjo Owusu Frim, who lives in Ghana.  My husband and I have sponsored “Kodjo” through Compassion International since May 2006.
 
Kodjo will be 13 in October.  We exchange letters somewhere around once a month, and each year, we receive an updated picture of our guy.  I wish I could share the pictures with you.  Each time, Kodjo is dressed in clothing that is either undersized, oversized… or simply what many would consider a fashion faux pas.  I am pretty sure the jeans he was wearing in the last photo we received were designed for girls.  Yet he appears grateful to have this clothing… and I figure in his poor fishing village in Ghana, this is the norm rather than the exception.  Still, it breaks my heart… and I sometimes wish I could hop a plane to Africa and scoop this little man up and bring him home to live with us!
 
I know that this would not solve the world’s problems – or even be the right thing for Kodjo, who has a family (albeit a somewhat disjointed one) in Ghana.  But here’s what I know…at the end of the day, this tall, very-dark skinned brown-eyed child is just as precious as our little fair-skinned, blue-eyed Timothy and his brother Nathan.  This little boy holds the same importance in God’s eyes as our brown-eyed, curly-headed Zola.  The drawings from Kodjo that started out as stick figures and progressed over the years to detailed renderings of race cars and people demonstrate a mind that is growing and developing just like the creative brain of my red-headed, freckled-faced cousin Olivia.
 
When thinking of all of these children, the most important thing to remember is that they are all members of Christ’s family.  God doesn’t see them as black, white, male, female, poor, rich, intelligent or intellectually challenged, creative or “less-than-average.”  God loves each and every one of them equally.  I try to remind each of these children as often as possible how much I love them… and that God loves them even more!  I know that most of them are still too young to fully comprehend this… but someday, I pray that this concept will give each of them a tremendous sense of peace.
 
Take a minute to consider just how important you are to God.  Reflect upon the incredible sacrifices He made for you through the blood of His only Son – Jesus Christ.  Remind yourself that God planned for you from before the time of Abraham and Moses… He thought about you centuries before you were ever a living, breathing soul.  Let it soak in just how much God loves you…how deeply He cares about you and your every need.  If this doesn’t give you a sense of peace and calm even in the midst of whatever may be happening in your life today… I can’t imagine what will.
 
At the end of the day, I cannot truly change how I - or anyone I know and love - will be treated by others, based on appearance, race, gender, ethnicity, social or economic status, and more.  But I can take comfort in knowing that God sees none of this.  All He sees are His precious creations.  All He wants is to be loved by each one of us… and to grant us blessings, salvation and peace in return.  He wants us to “put on blinders” when we look at others … to only see members of His family and not the “labels” placed on them by man.
 
Whenever you feel you are being judged unfairly, remind yourself Whose you are.  Thank God for such amazing, unconditional love. Find peace and comfort in knowing that you belong to Him.  Look past the “outer coverings” of others and uncover the intrinsic value that God sees within them, as well.  Offer His grace and peace to each person you encounter…and allow harmony a chance to prosper in all of us.
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 23, 2013

Ecclesiastes 4:4-6
Then I realized that we work and do wonderful things just because we are jealous of others. This makes no more sense than chasing the wind.
 
Fools will fold their hands and starve to death. Yet a very little food eaten in peace is better than twice as much earned from overwork and chasing the wind.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
My husband and I recently began taking Timothy and Zola with us to church on Sunday… and “out to lunch” afterward.  We used to eat out at a local sit-down restaurant or cafeteria on Sundays… now we frequent McDonald’s or Burger King!  Instead of an entrée, vegetables and possibly dessert, we now have a burger or chicken nuggets and fries… and dessert is usually an ice cream cone or a cookie!  But the company is so entertaining!  Truthfully, what we eat – or where we are – is not nearly as important as who is with us.
 
Today, we gathered around a small table at Burger King… my husband and me, Timothy, Zola, and Grandma “E” – my husband’s mother, who is adored by the children.  We ate our burgers, nuggets and fries, followed by ice cream.  Then I took Timothy to the restroom to clean his hands… sticky from the ice cream cone he had devoured.  Once inside, he told me he needed to use the restroom. I told him I would wait outside the stall for him. I was wearing a brightly-colored long skirt that I repurposed from a dress I purchased at a local thrift store.  But as I stood in front of the bathroom stall, I heard this little voice say, “I can still see your princess clothes and your sandals [under the door].”  I stifled a laugh and stepped out of Timothy’s view.
 
We have eaten at gourmet restaurants and dined at banquet halls.  We have paid “good money” for a nice steak dinner with all the trimmings.  And we have tried taking the little children to a sit-down restaurant for a meal of “meat, potatoes and vegetables.”  But I wouldn’t trade any of these for the time we spend crowded around a small table enjoying “happy meals” and watching these children smile and laugh.  There is a peace and unpretentiousness about such a simple meal.  The kids don’t eat much… they dribble soft drinks and ice cream down the front of their clothes and wriggle around on their seats.  But it is the “exclamation point” on their Sunday morning… a time when they eagerly anticipate seeing their friends at church and spending time afterward with us and Grandma “E.”  And I have to tell you, having a four-year-old describe my attire as “princess clothes” isn’t too shabby either!
 
What does this have to do with you and your faith?  The message I believe God wants to convey in this passage today is to slow down and find His peace in the simple things.  Everything doesn’t have to be a lavish production.  There is no shame in working hard, having nice things, or dining in fine restaurants.  But don’t overlook the joy and serenity of something as simple as a cold drink shared on the porch with a neighbor or friend…a “staycation” with your family that involves swims at local beaches, popcorn and videos, and frozen pizzas or take-out vs. a week at an expensive resort…a morning cup of coffee while you sit in your favorite chair and simply listen to God for a few minutes or more… a fast-food meal with family and/or friends where everyone eats burgers and fries instead of an expensive, formal restaurant meal.
 
Many years ago, my mom and dad hosted a somewhat impromptu “family dinner” one evening. This time, instead of roasting some sort of meat like brisket or ham – or grilling burgers – Mom made sandwiches – tuna fish, and her famous pimiento cheese.  Others brought chips, baked beans and “trimmings” from the store.  I don’t remember what was served for dessert, but it was something quick and easy.  Twenty years ago or more, my family had a lot of spur-of-the-moment gatherings…like wiener roasts at a local park near the lake.  We’d all bring hot dogs and buns, chips, marshmallows and drinks and lawn chairs.  In a matter of an hour, we would be gathered around a fire… talking and laughing and enjoying the scenery and the fellowship of one another.   I particularly remember the sandwich dinner, because my dear cousin Eddie – who is now with Jesus – said, “This was great!  We don’t need to go to a whole lot of trouble to get together… we just need to do it.”  And he was right.  In so many areas of life, it’s not about what “food you serve” as much as the spirit, or intention of those who gather.
 
So find God’s peace in the little things.  Understand that He is in every detail… even the small ones.  Settle into God’s rhythms and start to see things as He does… how much He cares about every tiny aspect of your life.  Quit trying to keep up with everybody else… to pretend to be somebody you are not…to make everything such a production.  Don’t miss out on the serenity of just “being”… whether in the company of others, or alone with God.  Stop chasing the wind and relax a little.  Give God a chance to show you just how peaceful a simpler life can be.
 
We can learn a lot from toddlers and four-year-olds.  They see things with such purity – and often more clarity than any of us “grown-ups!”  So they discover “princess clothes” in repurposed thrift-store finds…and peace and joy in an ice cream cone, some chicken nuggets and a cheap toy in a box!  Where are you looking for peace these days?  Have you been too busy chasing the wind to discover what is right in front of you?  Will this be the day that you slow down and give God’s peace a chance?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 22, 2013

Colossians 3:15-17
Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
 
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, A Simple Act of Gratitude: How Learning to Say Thank You Changed My Life, author John Kralik describes how his life was tumbling in a free-fall of despair and destitution.  He was losing clients in his law practice – and those he had were not paying their bills.  His relationships were falling apart.  He had unhealthy habits – and poor physical health as a result.  While walking one evening, Kralik was struck by the thought, “What if I focused on the things in my life for which I am thankful… and grateful?  What if I concentrated on the things I have instead of what I lack?”
 
To say this was a “game changer” for Kralik would be putting it mildly.  He began to find at least one person per day to thank.  Some days, it was easy…a friend did something nice for him, and he wrote a little note of thanks.  Other days, finding something – or someone – to whom he could express gratitude was a little harder.  He began to really stretch… to thank clients for their business- even when they had not paid their bill.  He began to leave notes with the barrista at the coffee house and the cashiers at stores where he shopped.  He thanked old college professors for that extra little bit of encouragement offered to him… and his doctor for suggesting he stop smoking and drop a few pounds!  After several weeks of writing thank-you notes, Kralik vowed to continue this for an entire year.  He actually wrote notes of gratitude every day for the next two years or better!
 
John Kralik discovered something amazing.  His life turned around in countless ways.  His health and physical well-being improved… his relationships with family, friends, and business associates got better… he got back on his feet financially.  But more importantly, Kralik found a peace like he had never experienced.
 
I am not saying that we should start writing a thank-you note to someone every day…although I believe such a project could be life-changing.  I am suggesting that we look at Colossians 3:15-17 and integrate some of Paul’s admonitions into our daily living.  We could all cultivate a little more thankfulness.  We could give the message of Jesus Christ more room in our lives… we could do a better job of loving Christ with our whole heart and loving others as He loves us.  We could concentrate more on being grateful for God’s gifts and less on complaining about what we lack or what troubles or irritates us.
 
I know more than one person who keeps a “gratitude journal.”  Each day, they write down at least one thing for which they are grateful.  I have noticed that these people seem to be a little more positive and cheerful than most folks.  For many of us, practicing gratitude and a positive outlook are habits that we have let lapse.  The exercise of writing down things for which we are thankful could help us get back on track.  If you want to take it a step further and send someone a note every day to express thanks or gratitude… go for it!
 
I happen to like hand-written notes.  They show an added effort to take pen to paper, find a stamp, and deliver (or mail) the message.  But you don’t have to hand-write a note for this to work. I know one person who messages one “friend” per day on Facebook to tell him/her why she is glad this person is in her life.  Wouldn’t you like to get an e-mail message or a text from someone who says, “I’m grateful for you.  Thank you for XYZ”?
 
The point is that by making a concerted effort to be more thankful or grateful… to share the message of Christ in our daily living and “sing your heart out for God” - your own heart changes.  You lose the garbage and the baggage…and gain peace and joy.  You live more fully in Jesus.  Isn’t that what we’re after?
 
What are you waiting for?  Think about who should receive your first message of gratitude and/or thanks.  Start with Jesus!  Keep a list of the people you thank… and look at it from time to time to see just how blessed you truly are.  And thank YOU for reading these daily devotionals and sharing your love of Christ with me in this manner.  I pray that you are truly blessed by His word and the insights I offer… and I am grateful for you and your friendship.  Now go thank somebody in Jesus’ name… and bless their socks off (and yours) in the bargain!
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 21, 2013

Colossians 1:19-20
God himself was pleased to live fully in his Son. And God was pleased for him to make peace by sacrificing his blood on the cross,
so that all beings in heaven and on earth would be brought back to God.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
I would not have made a good “Old Testament” woman!  I cannot imagine living every day with the knowledge that I would have to make this sacrifice or another to atone for my sins…that a priest would talk to God for me and decide how I should live and what I should do to show my loyalty and honor to Him.  I can barely remember to take my grocery list to the store, so how on earth would I remember all of the rules about what was unclean – and when…which days to do what…how to clean and dress this animal or that and what we could and could not eat!  I have to imagine that for most, life in Old Testament days was anything but peaceful.
 
We don’t fully comprehend how blessed we are because of Jesus.  Few of us really understand how peaceful He made life for us because of His sacrifices on the cross.  We take for granted the privilege of talking directly to God… and most of us certainly lack ample appreciation for our salvation and all that it implies.  In a nutshell, the incredibly horrific, selfless and complicated sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross gave our lives amazing simplicity, by comparison.  Because of Jesus, all who believe in Him and call on His name are saved – forever.  Because of Jesus…we can talk to God anytime we want or need, and His Holy Spirit can dwell in our heart to guide us every second of the day.  Because of Jesus, we don’t have to worry about sacrificing animals or which meat is clean or unclean… we don’t have to pay attention to rites, rituals and burnt offerings.  We don’t need anyone else to tell us how to worship, what to believe, or what the Bible says… we can read God’s word for ourselves and personally discover His teachings.
 
The beauty of finding God’s peace lies in the simplicity of a relationship with Him.  We don’t have to jump through hoops.  We don’t need bells and whistles… we just need Jesus.  My cousin JD is preaching a tent revival in Fairview, Alabama.  He and two other evangelists have held worship every night for three weeks now.  A local newspaper interviewed the evangelists about the services and the hundreds of people who are coming every night to hear God’s word and find His peace and healing.
 
I read the interview online, along with several dozen comments submitted by other readers.  Sadly, most were negative. How could these men believe that drug addicts would immediately lose their addiction at the altar?  Who in their right mind would think people could really be healed by God in an instant and lay down a cane or a walker and stroll away without pain?  Many said this was like many other “business ventures”… when the money (or in this case, the people) dried up and stopped coming in… the evangelists will “close shop.”
 
Sadly, too many people do not see the simplicity and peace that Jesus can bring.  There is nothing fancy about an open-air tent on a hot June night in Alabama.  There is no big choir or even a Praise and Worship Team.  One man from a local congregation plays a keyboard and leads congregational praise and worship singing.  People are coming for a hefty dose of one thing… Jesus… and they are getting all they asked for, and more.  But many of us are skeptical.  We are like the Old Testament people.  We think we surely must jump through some hoops, butcher a goat, or SOMETHING!  It surely can’t be as simple as trusting in Jesus… can it?
 
The time has come to start truly seeking Jesus...and trusting Him to give us peace.  We need to un-complicate our lives and stop looking for blaring horns, fireworks and bright lights… and focus on the One who can change things forever.  The answer to 99% of our stresses can be found in Jesus.  Through His own chaos, turmoil and suffering, He bought and paid for perpetual peace for each of us.  So why aren’t we operating in it?
 
When was the last time you called on Jesus… for anything?  Isn’t it time to turn back to Him?  God is waiting… what’s keeping you from Him – and from operating in His peace?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 20, 2013

2 Timothy 1:2
Timothy, you are like a dear child to me. I pray that God our Father and our Lord Christ Jesus will be kind and merciful to you and will bless you with peace!
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
I saw a post on Facebook that said:  “PEACE... it does not mean to be in a place where there is no noise, trouble or hard work.  It means to be in the midst of those things and still be calm in your heart.”  I couldn’t help but think that this is the kind of peace that the Apostle Paul was talking about… a peace so complete in Jesus Christ that we barely notice the “noise, trouble or hard work.” But there are a lot of us who do not enjoy such peace.  It’s not that we can’t… or that complete peace in Jesus is not available to us.  The problem is that too many of us either enjoy our worries and troubles a little too much… or we have just become numb to them.  Either way, we have not surrendered them to God, so we find ourselves uncomfortable… unsettled… and frequently operating in anything but true serenity.
 
Don’t you want to change this?  Don’t you want to be different… to conquer the devil’s power over you – and this IS the devil’s work, not God’s!  Wouldn’t it be wonderful to be able to look at whatever challenges you face and say, “Yes…I see this happening, but I’m not going to fall apart at the seams – or even stress out over it,” or “I am fully aware that things are chaotic right now, but I will not allow this to define or dishearten me.”  Aren’t you ready to operate in a constant state of complete peace and the confidence that God has your back?
 
How do we make this shift?  How do we go from being caught up in the chaos to operating in the complete peace of Jesus?  We start by recognizing His power… by saying over and over that “God’s got this!”  We recite scriptures like Philippians 4:13…” For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”(NLT), Romans 8:31… What can we say about all this? If God is on our side, can anyone be against us?” or even Psalm 23:1…” The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.”  We repeat these scriptures silently – or aloud if necessary – until they take hold in our spirit and we feel calm and peaceful.  And then we linger there in that spot.  The more you do this… the more you trust God and truly hand Him your worries, cares, confusion and commotion…the more you will feel His peace.
 
There are two things to remember…

1. God wants us to operate completely in His peace.  This is His deep desire for each one of us.
2. God’s complete peace is attainable… we can experience it and make it part of our everyday living.

 
All we have to do is to reach out to God… to call on Him to give us peace – and to surrender our cares to Him in all circumstances.  As the quote explains, the noise, trouble and hard work may still be there… but with complete peace in Jesus, we’ll hardly notice.
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 19, 2103

2 Thessalonians 5:16
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Every day, we are each faced with situations that can disrupt any semblance of peace in our lives.  We may get cut off in traffic… we may stress out over a test or an upcoming competition…illness may be plaguing us or someone we know and love…we can have money troubles or relationship challenges… there can be problems with our job… our computer can crash or get a virus… or some sort of emergency may arise that sends us scrambling to deal with a myriad of questions/issues we were not anticipating.  Life is hard, and the devil delights in making it even harder for us each and every day!
 
I would be willing to bet that you would have a hard time finding someone who says, “I want chaos in my life… I thrive on illness, accidents, calamity and discord.”  We all want tranquility… contentment… serenity… for things in our life to go well… and for the devil to leave us alone!  But sometimes, it seems like this is totally out of the realm of possibilities.  Why can’t we simply have peace and quiet in our lives?
 
The truth of the matter is that we can have peace and quiet… but we often fail to recognize what real peace looks like - and how to get it!  See, you have to study this passage again.  It doesn’t say, “May the Lord of peace himself give you everything you asked for and make your life hunky-dory every single day.”  It says, “May the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation.  The Lord be with you all.”  There is a difference… do you see it?
 
Let’s look a little closer.  Jesus is “the Lord of peace himself,” which means that He operates in perfect peace at all times.  He doesn’t worry, stew, fret, become excited or agitated, wring His hands, or throw a hissy fit!  He trusts God to walk with Him and be with Him at all times…to make the bad times tolerable and manageable… and the good times great… to give Him peace in all circumstances.  When we learn to operate in God’s peace… the peace of mind that He is in control and available in every minute to help us with whatever we are experiencing…we can have the kind of “peace and quiet” that we envision.  When God settles things for me, I have a calm and serenity that I cannot even explain.  In fact, I have asked before, “Why am I so calm about this?”  The only explanation is that I gave the situation to God and allowed Him to work… I gave Him room to handle things, and He gave me peace and quiet in return.
 
Think about the events of even this day… how you may have hurried and worried, fretted and stressed.  Consider all that has challenged you, and ask yourself whether you tried to handle these things on your own… or whether you allowed God to cover you with His peace.  Your answer matters.  If you are content to try to find your own peace, the devil will surely be busy giving you anything but that!  If you want to operate in calm and serenity, confidence and security… you need a hefty dose of Jesus!  Ask Him to bring you peace.  Release your burdens and even the most insignificant of issues to Him.
 
Let Jesus show you how to walk in faith that He’s got this… and feel the weight lift from your shoulders.  Truly discover what it means to allow the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. And may the Lord truly be with you all.
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 18, 2013

2 Corinthians 7:1
With promises like this to pull us on, dear friends, let’s make a clean break with everything that defiles or distracts us, both within and without. Let’s make our entire lives fit and holy temples for the worship of God.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
A friend of mine sums up her life like this… “Oh, look… a squirrel!”  In other words, she is easily distracted by something as simple as a squirrel passing through her yard.  And let’s be honest… there are countless interruptions in our everyday life that can divert our attention.  Staying focused and “on task” is not easy!
 
At any given moment, my mind is racing between a dozen or more trains of thought… what I have on my “to-do list” for the day…what to say in this devotional… what to cook for dinner…when I will have time to fit in a workout…what day will be good for the children to visit…I forgot to water the plants…did I turn off the iron?...I wish I hadn’t said/done such-and-such to one person or another… why did I eat that last chicken strip?... I need to check and answer e-mail…and so much more!  And I bet you could give me a similar list.  While all of this is going on in our brains, we are trying to concentrate on specific tasks… studying…working at our job…caring for our children, friends or other family members… driving… texting or e-mailing… carrying on a conversation with someone…or even reading our Bible or praying!
 
Paul is telling us in this passage that we need to clean out the clutter.  We need to call on God to help us gain focus – and keep it.  We need to learn to concentrate on one, maybe two tasks at a time…to limit the minutes we spend daydreaming… to get organized… and to prioritize.  When we “see a squirrel,” we need to essentially say, “Yep, that’s a squirrel!” and return to the task at hand.
 
We need to start replacing some of the mindless drivel that occupies our mind – and our time – with a dialog between ourselves and God, Bible study, and a focus on things that honor and glorify Him.  We need to evaluate every aspect of our lives… from the junk food we ingest to our lack of exercise and proper rest to the activities that consume our days and nights… and see where these things line up with God’s plan for us.
 
There is no time like the present to clear the clutter – physically, mentally, and Spiritually.  Every single one of us has some area of our life with which we are less than serene.  Even those of us who feel that life is pretty good can name something that could use improvement… an aspect that we could work on that would bring us more into sync with God – and create a more peaceful existence in the bargain.
 
Clearing the clutter and making more room for God is something each of us should consider.  God will help us figure out what needs to stay and what should go.  And when we “see a squirrel”…He can help us learn how to momentarily admire it and get right back on track!  Aren’t you ready to rid yourself of distractions and the troubles that come with them?  Don’t you want to focus more clearly on God and His plan for your life?  Isn’t it time to bring His peace and order into your daily living?  Will this be the day you begin… or are you still too busy looking at squirrels?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 17, 2013

1 Timothy 5:8
People who don’t take care of their relatives, and especially their own families, have given up their faith. They are worse than someone who doesn’t have faith in the Lord.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Today is my cousin JD’s birthday.  I have known JD since he was a very little boy… when his parents moved to Arkansas from Wisconsin.  His mother was recovering from breast cancer, and she wanted JD to grow up near her husband’s family.  So they moved to the hometown of JD’s dad.  I’ve shared this story before…but as JD grew up, he got into trouble - particularly with drug abuse.  He spent time in juvenile detention programs and rehabs. His mother’s cancer returned, and she died around the time JD graduated from high school.  When JD tried to physically harm a police officer, he was sent to prison.
 
It seemed that there was no hope for this guy… and we were all heartsick.  But JD’s dad never gave up on him… and I knew that his mother and grandmother wouldn’t either – were they still alive.  I felt God telling me, “This is your cousin…the son of people you love dearly.  Reach out to him.”  I’ll be honest… JD scared me. He was loud and wild… and VERY tall and strong.  He intimidated a lot of people.  But I got his prison address and began to write to him. I told him that I loved him… but God loved him even more.  And JD returned letters filled with anger, hatred…and absolutely no peace.
 
I’ll spare the further details, except to say that JD was sent to “the hole” for some infraction in the prison’s general population, and he had nothing to keep him company except a Bible [and the Holy Spirit].  This is where JD rediscovered Jesus.  From then, everything changed… and a “new creature” emerged.  I wish I could say that everything has been peaceful and happy since that time.  But the truth is that there were rocky patches in our relationship… and even rockier times for JD.  He married Angie, the love of his life, in 2011…only to lose her to breast cancer two days before their 2nd wedding anniversary this past January. JD and Angie had spent much of their two-year marriage traveling from city to city, preaching the gospel in churches and a underneath large tent they hauled with them.
 
This morning, I was watching a segment on ABC’s The View about Lt. Col. Mark Weber, who appeared on the June 5th episode with his wife and three sons.  Weber was diagnosed with Stage IV gastrointestinal cancer in 2010, shortly before being appointed as a military advisor to the Afghan Parliament.  He penned Tell My Sons… A Father’s Love Letters as a collection of life lessons for his own sons – and for others.  Something Weber said in the end of the interview was incredibly profound… as I am certain are many of the insights in his book.  He said in part…”What do you do when life doesn’t go the way that you want it to?  Because I’ve got news for you – and I hope it’s not a news flash – but life’s not going to go the way that you want it to.  So what are you gonna do?  [You] realize that sadness is part of the equation…you can’t get rid of that.  And you don’t call what’s sad ‘happy’… you look for the happiness that’s right next to it.”  Eight days later, Weber peacefully slipped away from this earth at his home, surrounded by family members.
 
My cousin JD and Angie dreamed of spending years on the road, enlarging God’s Kingdom and helping others find peace and healing.  So when Angie died so suddenly, JD sold virtually everything he owned, packed his tent, loaded his truck, and headed out to continue the work that God had called him to do.  He is looking for happiness right next to the sadness.  And while I know he misses Angie every minute and grieves the loss of her service alongside him, JD is finding purpose – and peace – in his own discipleship.  He is presently ministering every night under a tent in Fairview, Alabama, where lives are being changed and souls are being won to Jesus. In one Facebook post, JD wrote… “I'm speechless about the move of God in Fairview. We had planned to end the meeting on the 14th of June… but as of right now, it's open-ended. We will be here until whenever!”
 
And I am reminded once again of the words in 1 Timothy 5:8, where Paul admonishes us to take care of our relatives… especially our own families.  Each of us will become disheartened, disappointed, and/or discouraged at one time or another.  Some of us may wish to throw up our hands and say, “That’s it!  I’m done!”  But God is reminding us in this passage that we must never stop loving others and caring about them.  We may stop giving physical and monetary aid… we may step aside and allow others to learn hard lessons or tempers to cool… but we must always share love in Christ Jesus, just as He does for us when we are unlovely.  God will handle the rest.  He will work in our lives and the lives of others - and fill in the gaps. He will bring peace and contentment, and the assurance that we did what He asked of us.
 
I know that some of you are tempted to “find a new family.”  But what if God did this to you?  This would not bring you peace, any more than a failure to share God’s love with your own family members will allow you to operate in joy and contentment.  Ask God to show you how and where to minister to your own relatives… and to your family of believers in Jesus Christ.  Begin in your own back yard…then branch out and broaden your circle.  Ask God to bless your obedience… to help you discover happiness right next to sadness… and to fill you with peace in the process.
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 16, 2013

June 16 ~ John 5:5-9
Beside the pool was a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw the man and realized that he had been crippled for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be healed?”
 
The man answered, “Lord, I don’t have anyone to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. I try to get in, but someone else always gets there first.”
 
Jesus told him, “Pick up your mat and walk!” Right then the man was healed. He picked up his mat and started walking around. The day on which this happened was a Sabbath.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Can you imagine being sick or injured for 38 years and doing the exact same thing every day to try to change this… with no success?  Many of you have not even been on this earth for 38 years, so this is probably beyond comprehension to you!  And even for those of us who have lived beyond this time frame, the concept is daunting!
 
I’ve seen several commentaries on this passage. Some suggest that the man could surely have found some way to roll over into the pool in the course of almost four decades.  They maintain that he managed to get there every day, so he could surely have fought and clawed his way to the front of the line!
 
I like the analogy given by Rev. Billy Graham’s daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, in her book… Just Give Me Jesus.  Lotz suggests that the man made peace with being a cripple.  She further maintains that much of the time, we are just like that man!  We grow complacent… tired… frustrated… and we settle for our life as it is.  We make peace with our sins. We realize that we don’t honor God with our whole heart… we don’t really trust Him to handle our worries and cares… we don’t fully serve God in everything and represent Him to the best of our abilities in our everyday living.  And we become okay with this.
 
We have a ton of excuses… we’re too tired, too busy, too sick.  There was that time when we felt God really let us down because things didn’t go as we had planned.  He allowed a loved one to die… we lost our job/home/health/family.  Somebody said something to us that really hurt our feelings.  We just didn’t have the talent or the energy for whatever God called us to do… and we felt justified in doing nothing.  An old habit was too hard to kick… we liked our old friends and unruly lifestyle.  We were “good enough”… and we settled.
 
Lotz maintains that what we and the man at the pool of Bethesda lack is right in front of us… and His name is Jesus.  All we have to do is call on Him… wholeheartedly trust Him… and He will give us whatever we lack.  He’ll push us over into the pool – and we will be healed.  Jesus will give us the courage to do what we thought was impossible… to face the insurmountable tasks and challenges… to change who and what we have become.  Jesus will give us a peace like we only dreamed of experiencing…a satisfaction, security, and contentment we would never have believed was achievable.  And He is ready to start today.
 
We have a choice.  We can lie down with the man beside the pool and remain stuck there.  We can make peace with our sins… or we can choose Jesus.  We can live more fully than we ever imagined… with more joy, confidence and serenity than we ever envisioned… or we can wallow and wait for someone to move aside and make room – or to push us over into the “pool.”  Neither of these is likely to happen.  So what are you waiting for?  Aren’t you ready to make peace with Jesus instead of your sins?  Will this be the day that you “pick up your mat and walk?”
 
©2013 Debbie Robus