Matthew 10:17-23
“Don’t be naive. Some people will impugn your motives, others will smear your reputation—just because you believe in me. Don’t be upset when they haul you before the civil authorities. Without knowing it, they’ve done you—and me—a favor, given you a platform for preaching the kingdom news! And don’t worry about what you’ll say or how you’ll say it. The right words will be there; the Spirit of your Father will supply the words.
“When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I can remember times when I was growing up that certain friends and acquaintances did not include me in an activity or conversation because they thought I would not approve, based on my church affiliation. Whether their assumption was correct or not, they must have assumed that I would judge them… so they judged me first! I wasn’t invited to certain parties… I was excluded from a few “cliques”. Honestly, I wasn’t all that popular. It wasn’t that I was judgmental – or even that I was especially vocal about my faith. It was more that since I attended a certain church with a reputation for believing particular things, others assumed that I felt the same way and would probably condemn those who attended elsewhere – or nowhere at all!
Like many, I was stung by these judgments… so much so that I distanced myself from church in my early adulthood. I never turned my back on God, but I tried to be more “regular”… to fit in and avoid situations where others might label me a “Jesus freak” – or even “religious” or “spiritual”. Maybe you have done this, too. It’s an easy trap to fall into…and there is a certain comfort level in hanging out “under the radar,” so to speak. Nobody expects very much of you there… and most never think to judge you one way or the other.
As God began to help me through some difficult and challenging situations, I realized that being bold in my faith was not an option… it was an obligation. But there is a caveat… we Christians walk a fine line between being effective examples of faith in Jesus Christ – and being obnoxious fools. There will always be those who label us as “the token Christian of the family”… a “Jesus freak”… “the Church lady”…”religious fanatics”…or some other tag meant to demean and offend us. The temptation will be there to close our mouths, lay low, and try to fit in with the rest of the world. But we must listen to Jesus’ words in this passage… “Don’t quit! Don’t cave in! It is all well worth it in the end.”
How do we do this? I don’t have a solid answer for you. But I can give you a couple of working examples. I have two very dear lifelong friends, JR and John, who have always been loved and accepted by others as kind, hardworking men… good husbands, fathers, and in one case – an adoring grandfather. You will see them at outings from school sporting events to civic gatherings. They take their wives to the movies – as one of them put it…“to see a chick flick with my chick!” And you will see them at church on Sundays, where one serves as a pastor – the other (also an ordained minister) serves as a minister of music.
These men are not “preachy” or pushy about their faith, but their quiet, wise demeanor speaks volumes about their Christian faith. Both have a way of offering a welcoming smile and calming, sage advice… of praying over a friend with wisdom and confidence… of saying just what needs to be said and showing up at exactly the right time. And I have seen both of them criticized for their stance…and judged unfairly.
In my book, these men have mastered the “dance” of proclaiming love in the midst of hate. They have figured out how to “win friends and influence people” by simply living for Jesus. Yes, they are pastors… but they do not “preach” outside of the pulpit. On the street on an ordinary weekday, they are just JR and John… men who love God and care deeply about His people… and it shows. They do more to win over the naysayers with their quiet strength than a dozen sidewalk evangelists! And we would do well to take a good long look at their “Christian business model” and copy it in our own daily living.
If you are persecuted or judged for your faith, I’m sorry… it’s often part of Discipleship. But there are things we can do to temper this. We don’t have to stop proclaiming the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ… or sharing what great things He has done in our own lives with those around us. But we can ask God to grant us the wisdom and good sense to know when to simply BE… to love others unconditionally and SHOW them how we have been blessed rather than by telling them… to quietly distance ourselves from activities and conversations that we know are wrong, rather than making a big noise about it… to show others that living for Jesus doesn’t make us weird or superior – or even dull and boring!
We can show others that a life in Christ is filled with peace, joy, and abiding comfort in all situations. Maybe then, others will want what we have for themselves. Isn’t it worth a shot?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 30, 2013
Mark 13:11
But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
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.
Once in a while, I think of my friend Theresa… the librarian at the elementary school where I taught. Theresa married a man named Tom, and to hear her tell it… he was perfect. He was a city cop who did everything well… treated her like a queen… loved their daughter and his children from a previous marriage like the best daddy in the world. No other man measured up to Tom, and Theresa made sure we knew it! Now I look back and see that Theresa must have spent hours/days/weeks preparing her spiels for us. She must have thought long and hard about how to spin the story of her marriage to Tom.
All of the glowing accolades Theresa heaped upon this man could not change the fact that he was an abusive husband. I can still see the bruise marks on her neck where Tom strangled her… the mottled purple and yellow areas that no amount of mortician’s makeup could hide. I don’t know how much of the marriage that Theresa was trapped in an abusive situation. When she managed to escape, Tom harassed her… and then he pleaded with her to come back to him. I’m sure he had his own rehearsed spiel… how things would be different this time… how he would never hurt her again. But his lies were lethal. In the end, he could not control himself…and it cost my friend her life.
A lot of us are caught in a trap of spending countless hours figuring out what to say… how to act… what image to project to others – and this is physically, mentally and spiritually exhausting, if not deadly! All we really need to do is “let go and let GOD”… to “move over and let Him drive the car!” We are not literally “on trial” for anything, as this scripture references… but we have placed ourselves in judgment by others – both real and imagined. We worry about whether we are smart enough, good looking, rich enough, wear the right clothes and drive the right car. We wonder if others think our home is nice enough… and whether we are sufficiently “spiritual”. We work ourselves into a tizzy trying to create the best image… to cover up our sins and shortcomings… to compensate for our perceived lack of whatever it is we think we need… and we make ourselves miserable in the process.
Life would be so much simpler if we would just let God have control. If we would shift our focus from making excuses to making time for God to work in and through us, we would never have to worry about most everything that concerns us. And if you think this is easy for me, you are sadly mistaken. This is a tough one for ALL of us… and I am including myself!
Today needs to be the day we stop the madness! This needs to be a day of change and reconciliation… a day when we say, “That’s it! I’m done letting the devil drive me crazy!” (Because we all know this is the devil’s doing… right?!) This should be the day that we stop and say, “LORD, I’m sorry I have shut you out… I’m ready to let your Holy Spirit have complete charge of my life. From now on, I will trust YOU to give me the words and actions that I need… and to handle the outcomes.”
Today can be the day we experience a transformation from someone who is frantically trying to be someone and something we are not… to the peace-filled person God has created us to be. Are you ready to make the switch? Won’t you hand over the keys to God and let Him “drive”?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But when you are arrested and stand trial, don’t worry in advance about what to say. Just say what God tells you at that time, for it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.
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.
Once in a while, I think of my friend Theresa… the librarian at the elementary school where I taught. Theresa married a man named Tom, and to hear her tell it… he was perfect. He was a city cop who did everything well… treated her like a queen… loved their daughter and his children from a previous marriage like the best daddy in the world. No other man measured up to Tom, and Theresa made sure we knew it! Now I look back and see that Theresa must have spent hours/days/weeks preparing her spiels for us. She must have thought long and hard about how to spin the story of her marriage to Tom.
All of the glowing accolades Theresa heaped upon this man could not change the fact that he was an abusive husband. I can still see the bruise marks on her neck where Tom strangled her… the mottled purple and yellow areas that no amount of mortician’s makeup could hide. I don’t know how much of the marriage that Theresa was trapped in an abusive situation. When she managed to escape, Tom harassed her… and then he pleaded with her to come back to him. I’m sure he had his own rehearsed spiel… how things would be different this time… how he would never hurt her again. But his lies were lethal. In the end, he could not control himself…and it cost my friend her life.
A lot of us are caught in a trap of spending countless hours figuring out what to say… how to act… what image to project to others – and this is physically, mentally and spiritually exhausting, if not deadly! All we really need to do is “let go and let GOD”… to “move over and let Him drive the car!” We are not literally “on trial” for anything, as this scripture references… but we have placed ourselves in judgment by others – both real and imagined. We worry about whether we are smart enough, good looking, rich enough, wear the right clothes and drive the right car. We wonder if others think our home is nice enough… and whether we are sufficiently “spiritual”. We work ourselves into a tizzy trying to create the best image… to cover up our sins and shortcomings… to compensate for our perceived lack of whatever it is we think we need… and we make ourselves miserable in the process.
Life would be so much simpler if we would just let God have control. If we would shift our focus from making excuses to making time for God to work in and through us, we would never have to worry about most everything that concerns us. And if you think this is easy for me, you are sadly mistaken. This is a tough one for ALL of us… and I am including myself!
Today needs to be the day we stop the madness! This needs to be a day of change and reconciliation… a day when we say, “That’s it! I’m done letting the devil drive me crazy!” (Because we all know this is the devil’s doing… right?!) This should be the day that we stop and say, “LORD, I’m sorry I have shut you out… I’m ready to let your Holy Spirit have complete charge of my life. From now on, I will trust YOU to give me the words and actions that I need… and to handle the outcomes.”
Today can be the day we experience a transformation from someone who is frantically trying to be someone and something we are not… to the peace-filled person God has created us to be. Are you ready to make the switch? Won’t you hand over the keys to God and let Him “drive”?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 29, 2013
Malachi 2:4-5
I am telling you this, so I can continue to keep my agreement with your ancestor Levi. I blessed him with a full life, as I had promised, and he kept his part of the agreement by honoring me and respecting my name. He taught the truth and never told lies, and he led a lot of people to turn from sin, because he obeyed me and lived right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently our church held a baptism at our city’s public beach. Ten children and youth and 2 adults were baptized. After the service, a friend approached us and began to share how she had been touched by this event. One of the young girls baptized was a member of her “small group”, and she explained that she loved her “girls” like her own daughters. She said (I’m paraphrasing here)…“We talk about everything. I have told them that I made my share of mistakes… and they will, too… and God will still love them.”
This is the message of today’s scripture passage. I went back to Genesis and Exodus and refreshed my memory about Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. In Genesis 34, we read how Levi and his brother Simeon sought revenge on the family of Shechem, who had raped their sister Dinah. The brothers killed Shechem and his family and pillaged their home and property… and Jacob was not pleased. In fact, he cursed Levi and Simeon for this. (Does this sound like “Real Housewives – or House Men – of the Bible?!”)
We also read in Exodus 32 how the people of Levi’s tribe (Levites) waited for Moses to bring the tablets with God’s commands down from Mt. Sinai. They did not worship the golden calf that had been created by Aaron and his followers. For this, God blessed the tribe of Levi. He didn’t promise them land, which was a common reward in that era. Instead, God promised them something far more valuable and enduring... God promised to scatter His love and care throughout the subsequent generations of Levi. He promised to bless their honor, respect and obedience with the gift of a full life in Him.
Remember, these were Old Testament writings. Jesus had not come to die on the cross. He was yet another of God’s gifts to those who are respectful, honest and obedient… those who trust in Him to meet their every need. I tell you all of this to reiterate what my friend said… we all make mistakes. We may not kill and loot an entire village of people… rob and steal, abuse animals and people alike, as Levi and Simeon did to Shechem’s family. But we will sin, just the same. And there is nothing we can do that God cannot forgive – if we are truly repentant and humble. There is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us!
The only way we could possibly make God turn His back on us would be to turn our backs on Him and renounce Him for good. Trust me… some have tried this for a while. They have wandered away from God for a season… maybe even claimed that God does not exist. But even these people can experience God’s love and blessings again… if only they will turn around and claim Him once more. This should give us all tremendous peace and comfort!
Someone needs this message today. Someone needs to know that God still loves them! One or more of us need to hear that God will take us back…set us upright…forgive us whatever it is we have done that seems so horrid and shameful… and bless us beyond anything we could ever imagine! All we have to do is turn to Him… give Him our honest, humble, obedient love and respect… acknowledge His son, Jesus Christ, as our savior…and earnestly ask for forgiveness. It truly is that simple.
Peace and restoration are just a prayer away. What are you waiting for?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I am telling you this, so I can continue to keep my agreement with your ancestor Levi. I blessed him with a full life, as I had promised, and he kept his part of the agreement by honoring me and respecting my name. He taught the truth and never told lies, and he led a lot of people to turn from sin, because he obeyed me and lived right.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently our church held a baptism at our city’s public beach. Ten children and youth and 2 adults were baptized. After the service, a friend approached us and began to share how she had been touched by this event. One of the young girls baptized was a member of her “small group”, and she explained that she loved her “girls” like her own daughters. She said (I’m paraphrasing here)…“We talk about everything. I have told them that I made my share of mistakes… and they will, too… and God will still love them.”
This is the message of today’s scripture passage. I went back to Genesis and Exodus and refreshed my memory about Levi, the third son of Jacob and Leah. In Genesis 34, we read how Levi and his brother Simeon sought revenge on the family of Shechem, who had raped their sister Dinah. The brothers killed Shechem and his family and pillaged their home and property… and Jacob was not pleased. In fact, he cursed Levi and Simeon for this. (Does this sound like “Real Housewives – or House Men – of the Bible?!”)
We also read in Exodus 32 how the people of Levi’s tribe (Levites) waited for Moses to bring the tablets with God’s commands down from Mt. Sinai. They did not worship the golden calf that had been created by Aaron and his followers. For this, God blessed the tribe of Levi. He didn’t promise them land, which was a common reward in that era. Instead, God promised them something far more valuable and enduring... God promised to scatter His love and care throughout the subsequent generations of Levi. He promised to bless their honor, respect and obedience with the gift of a full life in Him.
Remember, these were Old Testament writings. Jesus had not come to die on the cross. He was yet another of God’s gifts to those who are respectful, honest and obedient… those who trust in Him to meet their every need. I tell you all of this to reiterate what my friend said… we all make mistakes. We may not kill and loot an entire village of people… rob and steal, abuse animals and people alike, as Levi and Simeon did to Shechem’s family. But we will sin, just the same. And there is nothing we can do that God cannot forgive – if we are truly repentant and humble. There is nothing we can do to make God stop loving us!
The only way we could possibly make God turn His back on us would be to turn our backs on Him and renounce Him for good. Trust me… some have tried this for a while. They have wandered away from God for a season… maybe even claimed that God does not exist. But even these people can experience God’s love and blessings again… if only they will turn around and claim Him once more. This should give us all tremendous peace and comfort!
Someone needs this message today. Someone needs to know that God still loves them! One or more of us need to hear that God will take us back…set us upright…forgive us whatever it is we have done that seems so horrid and shameful… and bless us beyond anything we could ever imagine! All we have to do is turn to Him… give Him our honest, humble, obedient love and respect… acknowledge His son, Jesus Christ, as our savior…and earnestly ask for forgiveness. It truly is that simple.
Peace and restoration are just a prayer away. What are you waiting for?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 28, 2013
Luke 2:14
“Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.”
What are you truly thankful for? If someone were to ask you this question, how would you answer? Would you list your family, friends, food, clothing, and shelter…your salvation through Jesus Christ, a good job, health, a nice car to drive or good looks? My mother often speaks of how thankful she is to turn on the tap and get hot water… something that is virtually unheard of in many corners of the world. Are you thankful for technology… your laptop and/or smart phone…medical breakthroughs that have revolutionized health care? Do you stop to consider your freedom… clean air… and public safety? Do you voice appreciation for these things – to God and to others?
At the end of the day, each of these brings us one gift… peace. And the direct provider of this blessing is God Almighty! Because of God and His incredible gift of Jesus, those of us who have invited Christ to live in our hearts can someday stand before our Heavenly Father and hear Him say… “All your sins have been forgiven. Your slate is clean… you are safely at home with Me.” Because of the blessings of God, most of us are where we are today… living in the home we have – with the family and friends we have… enjoying freedom of speech and religion, mobility and safety to go and do as we please, relatively good health, clean air and water, and all of the modern conveniences. We probably don’t think about it this way… but at the heart of all we enjoy and everything we do, we are seeking peace.
Until we acknowledge God and His hand in our lives, we will never truly experience complete peace. Until we focus on pleasing God and serving Him… until we invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and guide our every breath, we will not know complete peace… GOD’s peace. I don’t know about you, but I’ve come to the point where THIS is tantamount to me! What I want more than anything in life is to have God’s complete peace, because I know that unimaginable blessings come along with it. God’s peace is the “meat and potatoes”… His blessings are the “gravy”… and I want heapin’ helpings of both!
What about you? Are you struggling to find peace in your heart – about anything and everything? Do you feel a lack… an emptiness or a gnawing sensation that something is missing? Could it be God’s peace? Have you thanked God for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon you… and have you asked Him to show you areas of untapped service and obedience to Him that could be blocking complete peace? Isn’t today a great day to start discovering how you can align yourself more closely with God… and receive His peace in return?
What are you waiting for? Praise God in Heaven… He is worthy, and He will give you peace!
©2013 Debbie Robus
“Praise God in heaven! Peace on earth to everyone who pleases God.”
Jude 1:24-25Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Offer praise to God our Savior because of our Lord Jesus Christ! Only God can keep you from falling and make you pure and joyful in his glorious presence. Before time began and now and forevermore, God is worthy of glory, honor, power, and authority. Amen.
What are you truly thankful for? If someone were to ask you this question, how would you answer? Would you list your family, friends, food, clothing, and shelter…your salvation through Jesus Christ, a good job, health, a nice car to drive or good looks? My mother often speaks of how thankful she is to turn on the tap and get hot water… something that is virtually unheard of in many corners of the world. Are you thankful for technology… your laptop and/or smart phone…medical breakthroughs that have revolutionized health care? Do you stop to consider your freedom… clean air… and public safety? Do you voice appreciation for these things – to God and to others?
At the end of the day, each of these brings us one gift… peace. And the direct provider of this blessing is God Almighty! Because of God and His incredible gift of Jesus, those of us who have invited Christ to live in our hearts can someday stand before our Heavenly Father and hear Him say… “All your sins have been forgiven. Your slate is clean… you are safely at home with Me.” Because of the blessings of God, most of us are where we are today… living in the home we have – with the family and friends we have… enjoying freedom of speech and religion, mobility and safety to go and do as we please, relatively good health, clean air and water, and all of the modern conveniences. We probably don’t think about it this way… but at the heart of all we enjoy and everything we do, we are seeking peace.
Until we acknowledge God and His hand in our lives, we will never truly experience complete peace. Until we focus on pleasing God and serving Him… until we invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and guide our every breath, we will not know complete peace… GOD’s peace. I don’t know about you, but I’ve come to the point where THIS is tantamount to me! What I want more than anything in life is to have God’s complete peace, because I know that unimaginable blessings come along with it. God’s peace is the “meat and potatoes”… His blessings are the “gravy”… and I want heapin’ helpings of both!
What about you? Are you struggling to find peace in your heart – about anything and everything? Do you feel a lack… an emptiness or a gnawing sensation that something is missing? Could it be God’s peace? Have you thanked God for all of the blessings He has bestowed upon you… and have you asked Him to show you areas of untapped service and obedience to Him that could be blocking complete peace? Isn’t today a great day to start discovering how you can align yourself more closely with God… and receive His peace in return?
What are you waiting for? Praise God in Heaven… He is worthy, and He will give you peace!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 27, 2013
Leviticus 19:18
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I once knew someone who fell in love and gave his girlfriend a beautiful – and very expensive – diamond engagement ring. Then she broke up with him… and kept the ring! He was furious. I’m not talking hundreds of dollars… I’m talking tens of thousands! And he subsequently learned that this was not the first diamond ring that the girl had received… and kept after a breakup! I guess you could say she considered these to be “consolation prizes” of a sort!
Hopefully this has not happened to you – at least not in such an expensive and disappointing fashion. But you very well may have shared your belongings, your money, your time – or even your heart with another person, only to have him/her trample all over your love and generosity in some manner. Perhaps you shared your apartment or home with someone – and they trashed it. Maybe you gave a friend in need an extra twenty dollar bill…and he/she blew it on cigarettes or a video game. Or you showered someone with love and concern – only to learn that he/she had been cursing your name when your back was turned and spreading vicious lies about you to others. How would you react? How would you want to respond?
There is an old adage that says, “Living well is the best revenge.” But what, exactly, constitutes “living well”? If you examine the words of this scripture passage, you find that loving others as much as you love yourself paints this picture with a pretty broad brush! In other words, to have true peace…GOD’s peace… you must be willing to “turn the other cheek” in many situations… to overlook or forgive others’ missteps and mistreatment of you… to stay calm and unfazed in the face of disappointments and exploitations.
In order to truly experience peace in your life, you have to come to a point where you quit trying to please others and focus on pleasing only GOD. You have truly arrived when you can say… “I know I have done the right thing. I can live with myself and what I think… how I feel… my words and actions. How the other guy deals with it is up to him and God.” Sadly, there will be times in all of our lives when we will be cheated, wronged, disappointed, and possibly rejected by others. But GOD will never leave us. If we focus on Him, He will take care of everything else. He is the only One we have to please.
I don’t know if the guy ever got his ring back or not… but he eventually married someone else and moved on with his life. In the scheme of things, the lessons we learn are not about the value of our losses as much as how we handle the experience. When we take ourselves out of the equation… when we stop being angry, don’t try to take revenge, and love others as much as we love ourselves… we give God control of doling out judgment… and we allow Him to fill us with His peace in return. For me, that is the ultimate example of “living well”… what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Stop being angry and don’t try to take revenge. I am the Lord, and I command you to love others as much as you love yourself.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I once knew someone who fell in love and gave his girlfriend a beautiful – and very expensive – diamond engagement ring. Then she broke up with him… and kept the ring! He was furious. I’m not talking hundreds of dollars… I’m talking tens of thousands! And he subsequently learned that this was not the first diamond ring that the girl had received… and kept after a breakup! I guess you could say she considered these to be “consolation prizes” of a sort!
Hopefully this has not happened to you – at least not in such an expensive and disappointing fashion. But you very well may have shared your belongings, your money, your time – or even your heart with another person, only to have him/her trample all over your love and generosity in some manner. Perhaps you shared your apartment or home with someone – and they trashed it. Maybe you gave a friend in need an extra twenty dollar bill…and he/she blew it on cigarettes or a video game. Or you showered someone with love and concern – only to learn that he/she had been cursing your name when your back was turned and spreading vicious lies about you to others. How would you react? How would you want to respond?
There is an old adage that says, “Living well is the best revenge.” But what, exactly, constitutes “living well”? If you examine the words of this scripture passage, you find that loving others as much as you love yourself paints this picture with a pretty broad brush! In other words, to have true peace…GOD’s peace… you must be willing to “turn the other cheek” in many situations… to overlook or forgive others’ missteps and mistreatment of you… to stay calm and unfazed in the face of disappointments and exploitations.
In order to truly experience peace in your life, you have to come to a point where you quit trying to please others and focus on pleasing only GOD. You have truly arrived when you can say… “I know I have done the right thing. I can live with myself and what I think… how I feel… my words and actions. How the other guy deals with it is up to him and God.” Sadly, there will be times in all of our lives when we will be cheated, wronged, disappointed, and possibly rejected by others. But GOD will never leave us. If we focus on Him, He will take care of everything else. He is the only One we have to please.
I don’t know if the guy ever got his ring back or not… but he eventually married someone else and moved on with his life. In the scheme of things, the lessons we learn are not about the value of our losses as much as how we handle the experience. When we take ourselves out of the equation… when we stop being angry, don’t try to take revenge, and love others as much as we love ourselves… we give God control of doling out judgment… and we allow Him to fill us with His peace in return. For me, that is the ultimate example of “living well”… what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 26, 2013
John 7:38
Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.”
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.
As I write this devotional, a gentle, steady rain is falling. This time last year, we would have given just about anything for a late-July shower. Two months of record-breaking heat and virtually no rainfall had led to a landscape that appeared to be - quite literally - scorched. We were mandated to conserve water, and of course, our entire state was under a “burn ban”. Still, destructive grass and forest fires were prevalent… and devastating to plant, animal and human life. In late August, my husband and I traveled to Texas, and as we drove through an area of south Arkansas that had actually received some life-sustaining rains, the contrast in the landscape and “greenery” was distinctive – and telling.
I read through entries in my prayer journal for the summer of 2012. In mid-June, I asked God to send rain. On July 1st, I wrote, “WE NEED RAIN!” On July 2nd, I thanked God for 1½ inches of precipitation – at least in our yard! By the middle of August, I was once again asking God to send more rain. And late in the month, He delivered once again. But the blistering heat quickly erased the benefits of these infrequent showers. The drought was so serious in our area that people gathered in at least one local church to hold a prayer meeting… to specifically ask for rain!
Quite literally, we depend upon water for our very existence… and our survival. So the image of our salvation in Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him as that of “life-giving water,” is one that we can readily understand. We need His “Living Water” for our souls. We need the “hydration” of the Holy Spirit to give us guidance, wisdom, confidence, courage… and peace. And on a rainy summer afternoon as we remember a not-so-distant time without any precipitation, we find tremendous comfort in every precious drop.
Do you experience the same solace with each drop of Christ’s Living Water? Does His love, grace, wisdom, forgiveness, comfort and encouragement soothe you like a cool drink of H2O? Do you call on the LORD to provide you with “rain” for your heart and soul… or are you lost in a spiritual drought? Have you thanked God for the “rain” He has brought about in your life… and do you appreciate how truly life-giving our salvation through Jesus Christ is? Do you trust Him… for anything and everything? Can you believe that He knows far better than we do what is best in every circumstance? Do you have faith in Him to bring the “rain” that is necessary… and to care for you even in the “arid” slumps?
Is Jesus’ “life-giving water” flowing from deep inside you? Don’t you need Him in your life? Isn’t today a great day to let the Water flow…to quench yourself from the inside out, once and for all? In the words of a familiar praise and worship song, “Let it rain! Let it rain! Open the floodgates of heaven… let it rain!”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.”
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.
As I write this devotional, a gentle, steady rain is falling. This time last year, we would have given just about anything for a late-July shower. Two months of record-breaking heat and virtually no rainfall had led to a landscape that appeared to be - quite literally - scorched. We were mandated to conserve water, and of course, our entire state was under a “burn ban”. Still, destructive grass and forest fires were prevalent… and devastating to plant, animal and human life. In late August, my husband and I traveled to Texas, and as we drove through an area of south Arkansas that had actually received some life-sustaining rains, the contrast in the landscape and “greenery” was distinctive – and telling.
I read through entries in my prayer journal for the summer of 2012. In mid-June, I asked God to send rain. On July 1st, I wrote, “WE NEED RAIN!” On July 2nd, I thanked God for 1½ inches of precipitation – at least in our yard! By the middle of August, I was once again asking God to send more rain. And late in the month, He delivered once again. But the blistering heat quickly erased the benefits of these infrequent showers. The drought was so serious in our area that people gathered in at least one local church to hold a prayer meeting… to specifically ask for rain!
Quite literally, we depend upon water for our very existence… and our survival. So the image of our salvation in Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him as that of “life-giving water,” is one that we can readily understand. We need His “Living Water” for our souls. We need the “hydration” of the Holy Spirit to give us guidance, wisdom, confidence, courage… and peace. And on a rainy summer afternoon as we remember a not-so-distant time without any precipitation, we find tremendous comfort in every precious drop.
Do you experience the same solace with each drop of Christ’s Living Water? Does His love, grace, wisdom, forgiveness, comfort and encouragement soothe you like a cool drink of H2O? Do you call on the LORD to provide you with “rain” for your heart and soul… or are you lost in a spiritual drought? Have you thanked God for the “rain” He has brought about in your life… and do you appreciate how truly life-giving our salvation through Jesus Christ is? Do you trust Him… for anything and everything? Can you believe that He knows far better than we do what is best in every circumstance? Do you have faith in Him to bring the “rain” that is necessary… and to care for you even in the “arid” slumps?
Is Jesus’ “life-giving water” flowing from deep inside you? Don’t you need Him in your life? Isn’t today a great day to let the Water flow…to quench yourself from the inside out, once and for all? In the words of a familiar praise and worship song, “Let it rain! Let it rain! Open the floodgates of heaven… let it rain!”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 25, 2013
John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to 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.
Last week at Vacation Bible School, the children learned the Bible verse from John 3:16. As I talked with the students who came through my crafts class (roughly ages 7-12), I asked them what this verse meant to them. In the more traditional translation, they were told that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish. What did the word “perish” mean to them? You can’t tell a child that they will never die… because in the mortal sense, all of us will die someday. So how do you explain this verse in a way that makes sense?
I believe this translation from The Message goes a long way toward doing exactly this! God loved us to enough to sacrifice His one and only Son, Jesus Christ – to send Him into the world to fight the devil, and to suffer on the cross for our sins… to “stand in the crosshairs on our behalf”. If we believe this and trust Jesus, we can have a whole and lasting life… help with all of our troubles…peace and comfort in every situation… and the promise of forever at His feet in heaven when our human bodies give out. If we do not choose Jesus, we choose to perish, which means we ultimately choose the “death sentence” of hell – whether we say this out loud or not.
Children understand choices. They make them every day. We tell even smaller children, “You can choose to throw that temper tantrum and go to ‘Time Out,’ or you can choose to stop your screaming and play nicely. You get to choose – eat your dinner and you get ice cream; don’t eat your dinner, and there will be no dessert!” So when we tell them, “You can choose to believe that God loves you… that Jesus wants to be your ‘Forever Friend’ and help you with anything and everything. When you get to heaven, Jesus will stand before God and tell Him that ‘I’ve covered his/her sins. He is part of our family forever.’ Or, you can choose to trust the devil, and he will lie to you and tell you your life is good – but it will all end very badly someday. When your earthly life ends, there will be nobody there to stand up for you. This is what it means to ‘perish.’”
This is a hard reality… one we don’t like to think about…one that on the surface paints Christianity as cold and calculated – an “either/or” situation. And in some ways, it is. But don’t miss the beauty and peace of this passage. God loved us SO MUCH that He was willing to send is one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, love us, and teach us how to get along… and then die a horrible, gruesome, agonizing death so that we can LIVE… FOREVER and EVER and EVER! All we have to do is choose Jesus! All we have to do is love Him back, and He takes care of absolutely, positively everything else! Yes, the alternative is essentially a “death sentence.” Yes, those who choose not to believe are destined for an eternity in hell… if not hell on earth. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The choice is so simple… and beautiful… and filled with peace and joy. Choose Jesus. Choose JESUS! CHOOSE JESUS!!!
At the end of our VBS, I believe many of the children totally “got this”. If little children can understand God’s words in John 3:16-18, why can’t we? What is keeping us from believing with childlike faith? The stakes are so high… the rewards are so great… the peace is indescribable. Will you choose to perish with the devil… or will you choose to live with Jesus? You’ve been given an amazing, incredible gift in Jesus Christ… won’t you accept Him and invite Him into your heart forever?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to 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.
Last week at Vacation Bible School, the children learned the Bible verse from John 3:16. As I talked with the students who came through my crafts class (roughly ages 7-12), I asked them what this verse meant to them. In the more traditional translation, they were told that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish. What did the word “perish” mean to them? You can’t tell a child that they will never die… because in the mortal sense, all of us will die someday. So how do you explain this verse in a way that makes sense?
I believe this translation from The Message goes a long way toward doing exactly this! God loved us to enough to sacrifice His one and only Son, Jesus Christ – to send Him into the world to fight the devil, and to suffer on the cross for our sins… to “stand in the crosshairs on our behalf”. If we believe this and trust Jesus, we can have a whole and lasting life… help with all of our troubles…peace and comfort in every situation… and the promise of forever at His feet in heaven when our human bodies give out. If we do not choose Jesus, we choose to perish, which means we ultimately choose the “death sentence” of hell – whether we say this out loud or not.
Children understand choices. They make them every day. We tell even smaller children, “You can choose to throw that temper tantrum and go to ‘Time Out,’ or you can choose to stop your screaming and play nicely. You get to choose – eat your dinner and you get ice cream; don’t eat your dinner, and there will be no dessert!” So when we tell them, “You can choose to believe that God loves you… that Jesus wants to be your ‘Forever Friend’ and help you with anything and everything. When you get to heaven, Jesus will stand before God and tell Him that ‘I’ve covered his/her sins. He is part of our family forever.’ Or, you can choose to trust the devil, and he will lie to you and tell you your life is good – but it will all end very badly someday. When your earthly life ends, there will be nobody there to stand up for you. This is what it means to ‘perish.’”
This is a hard reality… one we don’t like to think about…one that on the surface paints Christianity as cold and calculated – an “either/or” situation. And in some ways, it is. But don’t miss the beauty and peace of this passage. God loved us SO MUCH that He was willing to send is one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, love us, and teach us how to get along… and then die a horrible, gruesome, agonizing death so that we can LIVE… FOREVER and EVER and EVER! All we have to do is choose Jesus! All we have to do is love Him back, and He takes care of absolutely, positively everything else! Yes, the alternative is essentially a “death sentence.” Yes, those who choose not to believe are destined for an eternity in hell… if not hell on earth. But it doesn’t have to be this way. The choice is so simple… and beautiful… and filled with peace and joy. Choose Jesus. Choose JESUS! CHOOSE JESUS!!!
At the end of our VBS, I believe many of the children totally “got this”. If little children can understand God’s words in John 3:16-18, why can’t we? What is keeping us from believing with childlike faith? The stakes are so high… the rewards are so great… the peace is indescribable. Will you choose to perish with the devil… or will you choose to live with Jesus? You’ve been given an amazing, incredible gift in Jesus Christ… won’t you accept Him and invite Him into your heart forever?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 24, 2013
John 20:19
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.
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.
Timothy likes to pretend that something is after him… a lion, a hyena, or even a bear. He will cower or hide and say, “We have to get away from the scary animal!” He’s only pretending, but let’s face it… in life, there are a lot of times when we would like to “lock the door” – and lock out the “scary animals!” Maybe it’s concern about a class … or a final exam. Maybe we are starting a new job and we are nervous. Perhaps we are meeting someone for the first time, and we have anxiety. Or maybe a doctor is giving us the results of tests or x-rays… and we are worried.
No matter how daunting life situations become, we must remember that we are never alone. Jesus is standing there with us. He offers us His peace and the promise that He will guide us through any and all circumstances. He will calm our fears… He will give us comfort and courage to face whatever lies before us… no matter how large or small our challenge seems.
We are fortunate that we live in a country where we don’t have to lock our doors in order to worship God. Until a few years ago, most church buildings in America were never locked. You could slip into a sanctuary on any street corner and spend a few quiet minutes communicating with God and feeling His presence in a holy setting. Most of these buildings are no longer open 24/7… because of possible vandalism - not the prospect of persecution. Unlike Jesus’ disciples, we are free to worship God on any street corner… anywhere and anytime we choose. And Jesus is standing there with us.
As Christians, we have acknowledged that we believe in Jesus as our Savior… that we trust Him to cover our sins – and to give us hope and peace in this life and for all eternity. Now it is time for us to act upon what we have declared. Whenever we feel nervous, afraid, worried, concerned, or disturbed in any manner, we need to remember that Jesus is standing right beside us, saying, “Peace be with you.” With Jesus by our side, we can face any challenge with hope and confidence… and complete calm.
Do you feel His presence today? Have you unlocked the door and allowed Jesus to come in? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.
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.
Timothy likes to pretend that something is after him… a lion, a hyena, or even a bear. He will cower or hide and say, “We have to get away from the scary animal!” He’s only pretending, but let’s face it… in life, there are a lot of times when we would like to “lock the door” – and lock out the “scary animals!” Maybe it’s concern about a class … or a final exam. Maybe we are starting a new job and we are nervous. Perhaps we are meeting someone for the first time, and we have anxiety. Or maybe a doctor is giving us the results of tests or x-rays… and we are worried.
No matter how daunting life situations become, we must remember that we are never alone. Jesus is standing there with us. He offers us His peace and the promise that He will guide us through any and all circumstances. He will calm our fears… He will give us comfort and courage to face whatever lies before us… no matter how large or small our challenge seems.
We are fortunate that we live in a country where we don’t have to lock our doors in order to worship God. Until a few years ago, most church buildings in America were never locked. You could slip into a sanctuary on any street corner and spend a few quiet minutes communicating with God and feeling His presence in a holy setting. Most of these buildings are no longer open 24/7… because of possible vandalism - not the prospect of persecution. Unlike Jesus’ disciples, we are free to worship God on any street corner… anywhere and anytime we choose. And Jesus is standing there with us.
As Christians, we have acknowledged that we believe in Jesus as our Savior… that we trust Him to cover our sins – and to give us hope and peace in this life and for all eternity. Now it is time for us to act upon what we have declared. Whenever we feel nervous, afraid, worried, concerned, or disturbed in any manner, we need to remember that Jesus is standing right beside us, saying, “Peace be with you.” With Jesus by our side, we can face any challenge with hope and confidence… and complete calm.
Do you feel His presence today? Have you unlocked the door and allowed Jesus to come in? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 23, 2013
John 16:31-33
Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was visiting with a friend who is fostering a very young child. She said, “I have grown so much in the last three months.” She shared a few things with me about her difficulties… and friends shared even more about how the child who had come into this woman’s home had some pretty serious issues. I was told of the incredible progress this child has made since coming into the care of my friend and her husband. Clearly their love and nurture have done wonders for him. And she told me, “We have gotten the bigger blessing.”
I totally understand the concept of “growing from difficulties.” And I bet many of you do, as well. You know what it feels like to bear unbelievable challenges, worries and concerns… to operate totally on faith that God will fix things…because honestly, trust in God is all you have! We know this is all we need… more than enough, in fact! But when your back is to the wall, and the only choice you have is to look up to heaven and say, “LORD, this is bigger than I am. You will have to handle this!”… you may not feel so unshakable and assured – at least initially.
The more I experience, the easier it becomes for me to trust God for an outcome. Honestly, it’s fairly easy to say this today… because for the moment, everything in my life is going along quite smoothly. But I know that the day will come again when there will be challenges… heartaches… disappointments… concerns… and plenty of reasons to feel unsettled and frightened. How will I respond in that moment? I would love to say that I will take heart, totally trust God, and forge ahead… unshakable, assured, and deeply at peace. I pray this will be the case. But I know it’s not always easy for us to do this as mere humans! In fact, you may be feeling unsettled and frightened at this very moment.
I believe God is using this scripture passage to reassure each of us today that He is in control… that we are not abandoned… that He is with us. We know that He has done amazing things in our lives already. We’ve seen Him handle crises and conflicts, struggles and disappointments, challenges that appear to be insurmountable and heartaches that seem impossible to bear. All of the trials yet to come are no different. God never changes. So take heart! Let go and let God. Trust Him in all circumstances… and feel His presence. Grow in the difficulties God enables you to handle… and live deeply in His peace in all circumstances.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was visiting with a friend who is fostering a very young child. She said, “I have grown so much in the last three months.” She shared a few things with me about her difficulties… and friends shared even more about how the child who had come into this woman’s home had some pretty serious issues. I was told of the incredible progress this child has made since coming into the care of my friend and her husband. Clearly their love and nurture have done wonders for him. And she told me, “We have gotten the bigger blessing.”
I totally understand the concept of “growing from difficulties.” And I bet many of you do, as well. You know what it feels like to bear unbelievable challenges, worries and concerns… to operate totally on faith that God will fix things…because honestly, trust in God is all you have! We know this is all we need… more than enough, in fact! But when your back is to the wall, and the only choice you have is to look up to heaven and say, “LORD, this is bigger than I am. You will have to handle this!”… you may not feel so unshakable and assured – at least initially.
The more I experience, the easier it becomes for me to trust God for an outcome. Honestly, it’s fairly easy to say this today… because for the moment, everything in my life is going along quite smoothly. But I know that the day will come again when there will be challenges… heartaches… disappointments… concerns… and plenty of reasons to feel unsettled and frightened. How will I respond in that moment? I would love to say that I will take heart, totally trust God, and forge ahead… unshakable, assured, and deeply at peace. I pray this will be the case. But I know it’s not always easy for us to do this as mere humans! In fact, you may be feeling unsettled and frightened at this very moment.
I believe God is using this scripture passage to reassure each of us today that He is in control… that we are not abandoned… that He is with us. We know that He has done amazing things in our lives already. We’ve seen Him handle crises and conflicts, struggles and disappointments, challenges that appear to be insurmountable and heartaches that seem impossible to bear. All of the trials yet to come are no different. God never changes. So take heart! Let go and let God. Trust Him in all circumstances… and feel His presence. Grow in the difficulties God enables you to handle… and live deeply in His peace in all circumstances.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 22, 2013
John 14:27
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
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 maternal grandmother was very opinionated about gifts. She had criteria for what constituted a “gift” and what didn’t. So when my grandfather gave her a box of loose “face powder” one Christmas, she had a fit! “That is NOT a gift!” she told my mother - AND my grandfather! Even though she enjoyed using this product – and it was an expensive item you had to buy at a high-end department store or a pharmacy with a cosmetics counter – she did not consider this an appropriate gift. When my grandmother gave us a present, we learned to make a huge fuss over it. If not, she would usually say, “I can tell you don’t like that. I’ll just take it back.” Sometimes gifts come with “strings” attached!
Just a few years ago, my Mam-ma Polly gave me “birthday money.” Soon afterward, we were driving home from her beauty shop appointment one afternoon, and she asked, “What did you buy with your money?” It was important to her to know that I had used her gift to get something I wanted or needed… and that I had not just stuck it into my pocket and used it for everyday expenses, like gas for the car, a sub sandwich, or diapers for the little ones! Sometimes, what we do with our gifts matters greatly!
Jesus’ “gift” – peace of mind and heart in the form of the Holy Spirit – is not something that can be wrapped in a box with pretty paper and a bow. The presence of the Holy Spirit is not an item that you can purchase at Wal-Mart, a high-end department store, or even in church! Your parents, spouse, best friend, or pastor cannot give you this peace. And you know what else? The peace of the Holy Spirit doesn’t come with “strings” attached! This is a FREE gift to you from Jesus. All you have to do in return is to welcome Him… to recognize His presence…and to treat Him with love, reverence, respect, and gratitude.
The Holy Spirit will not impose upon you. His presence must be invited… requested. Jesus will not ask you, “What did you do with this gift?” Oh, sure… He knows already. But the whole point of Jesus giving us His Holy Spirit is that it comes to us at no charge… with no “conditions of use.” Still, we must ask ourselves…how are we treating the Holy Spirit? Have we made room for Him in our hearts? Do we recognize the incomparable peace He brings us? How are we utilizing this extraordinary present? What will we do with it?
There are a lot of things in life that can give us peace of mind… good health, a steady income, food on the table and a roof over our heads, good friends, a loving family, and more. There are even people in our lives who bring us joy and a semblance of peace. But none of these can compare to the gift of peace and comfort from the Holy Spirit. Nothing can alleviate our troubles and fears like His presence. No other bequest will ever compare… none will offer anything near the benefits and blessings of His presence. Have you received Jesus’ gift of continual peace for your mind and heart? Do you recognize the Holy Spirit and nurture your relationship with Him? How are you “spending” this amazing offering? What you do with this “gift”… truly does matter! What will be your response?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
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 maternal grandmother was very opinionated about gifts. She had criteria for what constituted a “gift” and what didn’t. So when my grandfather gave her a box of loose “face powder” one Christmas, she had a fit! “That is NOT a gift!” she told my mother - AND my grandfather! Even though she enjoyed using this product – and it was an expensive item you had to buy at a high-end department store or a pharmacy with a cosmetics counter – she did not consider this an appropriate gift. When my grandmother gave us a present, we learned to make a huge fuss over it. If not, she would usually say, “I can tell you don’t like that. I’ll just take it back.” Sometimes gifts come with “strings” attached!
Just a few years ago, my Mam-ma Polly gave me “birthday money.” Soon afterward, we were driving home from her beauty shop appointment one afternoon, and she asked, “What did you buy with your money?” It was important to her to know that I had used her gift to get something I wanted or needed… and that I had not just stuck it into my pocket and used it for everyday expenses, like gas for the car, a sub sandwich, or diapers for the little ones! Sometimes, what we do with our gifts matters greatly!
Jesus’ “gift” – peace of mind and heart in the form of the Holy Spirit – is not something that can be wrapped in a box with pretty paper and a bow. The presence of the Holy Spirit is not an item that you can purchase at Wal-Mart, a high-end department store, or even in church! Your parents, spouse, best friend, or pastor cannot give you this peace. And you know what else? The peace of the Holy Spirit doesn’t come with “strings” attached! This is a FREE gift to you from Jesus. All you have to do in return is to welcome Him… to recognize His presence…and to treat Him with love, reverence, respect, and gratitude.
The Holy Spirit will not impose upon you. His presence must be invited… requested. Jesus will not ask you, “What did you do with this gift?” Oh, sure… He knows already. But the whole point of Jesus giving us His Holy Spirit is that it comes to us at no charge… with no “conditions of use.” Still, we must ask ourselves…how are we treating the Holy Spirit? Have we made room for Him in our hearts? Do we recognize the incomparable peace He brings us? How are we utilizing this extraordinary present? What will we do with it?
There are a lot of things in life that can give us peace of mind… good health, a steady income, food on the table and a roof over our heads, good friends, a loving family, and more. There are even people in our lives who bring us joy and a semblance of peace. But none of these can compare to the gift of peace and comfort from the Holy Spirit. Nothing can alleviate our troubles and fears like His presence. No other bequest will ever compare… none will offer anything near the benefits and blessings of His presence. Have you received Jesus’ gift of continual peace for your mind and heart? Do you recognize the Holy Spirit and nurture your relationship with Him? How are you “spending” this amazing offering? What you do with this “gift”… truly does matter! What will be your response?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 21, 2013
Job 5:20-26
“In famine, he’ll keep you from starving,
in war, from being gutted by the sword.
You’ll be protected from vicious gossip
and live fearless through any catastrophe.
You’ll shrug off disaster and famine,
and stroll fearlessly among wild animals.
You’ll be on good terms with rocks and mountains;
wild animals will become your good friends.
You’ll know that your place on earth is safe,
you’ll look over your goods and find nothing amiss.
You’ll see your children grow up,
your family lovely and lissome as orchard grass.
You’ll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years,
like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We got in the car after church, and I asked Timothy, “What did you learn today?” He replied, “God keeps His promises.” The children had heard the story of Noah today and how “he kept the animals safe from the water,” as Timothy related. Over and again in the Bible, we read stories of how God kept – and keeps – His promises. And here in Job 5, we read this once more. Beginning in verse 8 of this chapter, we read… “If I were in your shoes, I’d go straight to God…I’d throw myself on the mercy of God. After all, he’s famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises.” Still, we doubt… we worry… we often live in a state of unsettled confusion.
All around me today, I have been receiving messages reminding me to be thankful and grateful to God. The Bishop’s post on Facebook this morning was a prayer of thanks… our pastor’s message was “Thanksgiving in July”… Timothy’s Bible lesson was on how God keeps His promises… this afternoon my husband and I attended the baptism of several children and adults…and this passage reminded me of all the things that God will do for me. Surely my “lesson” for today is how to operate in gratitude… to find peace in trusting that God will take care of things for me.
So what do you say? Are you thankful today for the countless ways God has blessed you… the awesome manner in which He meets your every need and keeps His promises? Do you trust Him and find peace in the confidence that He is working 24/7 on your behalf? Have you offered a prayer of gratitude to God today for loving you far above and beyond what you deserve? Isn’t this a perfect time to do so?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“In famine, he’ll keep you from starving,
in war, from being gutted by the sword.
You’ll be protected from vicious gossip
and live fearless through any catastrophe.
You’ll shrug off disaster and famine,
and stroll fearlessly among wild animals.
You’ll be on good terms with rocks and mountains;
wild animals will become your good friends.
You’ll know that your place on earth is safe,
you’ll look over your goods and find nothing amiss.
You’ll see your children grow up,
your family lovely and lissome as orchard grass.
You’ll arrive at your grave ripe with many good years,
like sheaves of golden grain at harvest.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We got in the car after church, and I asked Timothy, “What did you learn today?” He replied, “God keeps His promises.” The children had heard the story of Noah today and how “he kept the animals safe from the water,” as Timothy related. Over and again in the Bible, we read stories of how God kept – and keeps – His promises. And here in Job 5, we read this once more. Beginning in verse 8 of this chapter, we read… “If I were in your shoes, I’d go straight to God…I’d throw myself on the mercy of God. After all, he’s famous for great and unexpected acts; there’s no end to his surprises.” Still, we doubt… we worry… we often live in a state of unsettled confusion.
All around me today, I have been receiving messages reminding me to be thankful and grateful to God. The Bishop’s post on Facebook this morning was a prayer of thanks… our pastor’s message was “Thanksgiving in July”… Timothy’s Bible lesson was on how God keeps His promises… this afternoon my husband and I attended the baptism of several children and adults…and this passage reminded me of all the things that God will do for me. Surely my “lesson” for today is how to operate in gratitude… to find peace in trusting that God will take care of things for me.
So what do you say? Are you thankful today for the countless ways God has blessed you… the awesome manner in which He meets your every need and keeps His promises? Do you trust Him and find peace in the confidence that He is working 24/7 on your behalf? Have you offered a prayer of gratitude to God today for loving you far above and beyond what you deserve? Isn’t this a perfect time to do so?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 20, 2013
July 20 ~ Jeremiah 33:6
Then someday, I will heal this place and my people as well, and let them enjoy unending peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About this time three years ago, my grandmother received an invitation to the 101st birthday party for one of her lifelong friends, Mrs. Lois Taylor. She asked me to take her to the party. I’ll be honest… that was about the LAST thing I wanted to do with my Sunday, but I knew this was important to Mam-ma, so I agreed to go. When we arrived, I got Mam-ma settled next to Mrs. Lois and began to snap pictures of them. Soon, the buffet line formed, and I filled a plate for Mam-ma… then got back in line to fill my own plate. A man approached me and said something to the effect of, “So… what’s your story?” He gestured in wide circles to indicate he was referring to my presence with my grandmother, the picture taking… and basically asked, “Why are you here?”
I explained that I had brought my grandmother… and told of her connection to Mrs. Lois. This guy explained that he had brought his dad from Oklahoma… Mrs. Lois’ brother, Grimm. We stood and talked… and talked… and talked pretty much through lunch. He asked questions and told me about himself. His name was Mich Magness… he was Mrs. Lois’ nephew. He said he was a gerontologist for the Oklahoma Department of Health, and he asked questions about my caregiving for Mam-ma… and (at that time) Timothy. He provided valuable insights about eldercare, and I could see that he was someone who understood my situation – and empathized. Mich is one of those guys you just instantly like.
So the following summer, I didn’t mind when Mam-ma asked me to take her to Mrs. Lois’ 102nd birthday party. I visited with Mich again, and I gave him a card with the link to my blog about the Sandwich Generation and my experiences caring for my grandmother and helping to care for Timothy and his siblings. Mich quickly became one of my biggest supporters, and he responded often to my posts on Facebook about my blog. He shared my blog with HIS contacts. He gave me great advice – and comfort at times – and he offered me tremendous encouragement and empathy when Mam-ma died last spring.
Mich always had something to say… until sometime in early June. And suddenly, his posts on Facebook stopped. There were no messages… no comments… nothing. I soon learned that Mich had suffered some sort of “episode” while lecturing in Oklahoma City, and tests had revealed a malignant brain tumor. I exchanged private messages on Facebook with Mich on June 24th. I wanted him to know that I knew what was happening… and that I was praying. His last message said, “I’m ok. Thanks for caring.” Mich’s cousin has been updating me, and when she saw him last week, he could barely make conversation. He has glioblastoma… a brain cancer with almost a 100% mortality rate… and his is apparently progressing quickly.
A year ago, I had never even heard of glioblastoma… or GBM for short. Then the newlywed husband of a young woman I know was diagnosed with GBM… and after that, my childhood neighbor, Donnie was diagnosed. The young husband is doing well and responding to treatments for now… Donnie died in June. This is supposed to be an extremely rare form of cancer… yet I know three men who have “battled the beast”, as the wife of the young man calls it. And I find myself asking why three vibrant, productive men have been stricken with such a horrible affliction.
I’ve particularly thought about Mich lately… about all of the people he has helped… about how he supports his church and the school in his hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma… about his wife, sons and grandchildren – and his 93-year-old dad. I’ve reminded myself about all of the great advice Mich has given me… much of which I have shared with others on my blog. I have marveled at the lives he has touched… and wondered why his efforts are being squelched by GBM.
I’ll admit… I don’t have answers. But I do have some insights. I’ve seen the posts on Facebook for Mich. Even though he probably cannot read them, people are reaching out and sharing how much he has helped them. I know his wise instruction via seminars, one-on-one counseling, great advice, and championing of causes great and small will be his legacy. I know that Mich is a Christian who loves Jesus and has shared His Good News with countless others. I know that none of us is promised tomorrow, so we better make the most of today. I know that healing sometimes comes in death… and Mich will be healed. And I know that God will give Mich – and those of us who have grown to love him – unending peace.
I don’t know what your situation is today… what may be troubling you or causing you to feel unsettled – or even unsure. But I do know that God is in the business of making a way where we see none… healing people and circumstances…bringing peace where all we see is turmoil and chaos. In the words of the last message I received from my friend Mich, “I’m okay. Thanks for caring.” I do care about my friends and the families of all three of these men. I care about you, as well. And I am telling you… “God’s got this!” He cherishes you far more any mere mortal ever could… and He stands ready to meet your every need, to heal you, and to give you unending peace. All we have to do is trust Him. Is that too much to ask?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Then someday, I will heal this place and my people as well, and let them enjoy unending peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About this time three years ago, my grandmother received an invitation to the 101st birthday party for one of her lifelong friends, Mrs. Lois Taylor. She asked me to take her to the party. I’ll be honest… that was about the LAST thing I wanted to do with my Sunday, but I knew this was important to Mam-ma, so I agreed to go. When we arrived, I got Mam-ma settled next to Mrs. Lois and began to snap pictures of them. Soon, the buffet line formed, and I filled a plate for Mam-ma… then got back in line to fill my own plate. A man approached me and said something to the effect of, “So… what’s your story?” He gestured in wide circles to indicate he was referring to my presence with my grandmother, the picture taking… and basically asked, “Why are you here?”
I explained that I had brought my grandmother… and told of her connection to Mrs. Lois. This guy explained that he had brought his dad from Oklahoma… Mrs. Lois’ brother, Grimm. We stood and talked… and talked… and talked pretty much through lunch. He asked questions and told me about himself. His name was Mich Magness… he was Mrs. Lois’ nephew. He said he was a gerontologist for the Oklahoma Department of Health, and he asked questions about my caregiving for Mam-ma… and (at that time) Timothy. He provided valuable insights about eldercare, and I could see that he was someone who understood my situation – and empathized. Mich is one of those guys you just instantly like.
So the following summer, I didn’t mind when Mam-ma asked me to take her to Mrs. Lois’ 102nd birthday party. I visited with Mich again, and I gave him a card with the link to my blog about the Sandwich Generation and my experiences caring for my grandmother and helping to care for Timothy and his siblings. Mich quickly became one of my biggest supporters, and he responded often to my posts on Facebook about my blog. He shared my blog with HIS contacts. He gave me great advice – and comfort at times – and he offered me tremendous encouragement and empathy when Mam-ma died last spring.
Mich always had something to say… until sometime in early June. And suddenly, his posts on Facebook stopped. There were no messages… no comments… nothing. I soon learned that Mich had suffered some sort of “episode” while lecturing in Oklahoma City, and tests had revealed a malignant brain tumor. I exchanged private messages on Facebook with Mich on June 24th. I wanted him to know that I knew what was happening… and that I was praying. His last message said, “I’m ok. Thanks for caring.” Mich’s cousin has been updating me, and when she saw him last week, he could barely make conversation. He has glioblastoma… a brain cancer with almost a 100% mortality rate… and his is apparently progressing quickly.
A year ago, I had never even heard of glioblastoma… or GBM for short. Then the newlywed husband of a young woman I know was diagnosed with GBM… and after that, my childhood neighbor, Donnie was diagnosed. The young husband is doing well and responding to treatments for now… Donnie died in June. This is supposed to be an extremely rare form of cancer… yet I know three men who have “battled the beast”, as the wife of the young man calls it. And I find myself asking why three vibrant, productive men have been stricken with such a horrible affliction.
I’ve particularly thought about Mich lately… about all of the people he has helped… about how he supports his church and the school in his hometown of Okemah, Oklahoma… about his wife, sons and grandchildren – and his 93-year-old dad. I’ve reminded myself about all of the great advice Mich has given me… much of which I have shared with others on my blog. I have marveled at the lives he has touched… and wondered why his efforts are being squelched by GBM.
I’ll admit… I don’t have answers. But I do have some insights. I’ve seen the posts on Facebook for Mich. Even though he probably cannot read them, people are reaching out and sharing how much he has helped them. I know his wise instruction via seminars, one-on-one counseling, great advice, and championing of causes great and small will be his legacy. I know that Mich is a Christian who loves Jesus and has shared His Good News with countless others. I know that none of us is promised tomorrow, so we better make the most of today. I know that healing sometimes comes in death… and Mich will be healed. And I know that God will give Mich – and those of us who have grown to love him – unending peace.
I don’t know what your situation is today… what may be troubling you or causing you to feel unsettled – or even unsure. But I do know that God is in the business of making a way where we see none… healing people and circumstances…bringing peace where all we see is turmoil and chaos. In the words of the last message I received from my friend Mich, “I’m okay. Thanks for caring.” I do care about my friends and the families of all three of these men. I care about you, as well. And I am telling you… “God’s got this!” He cherishes you far more any mere mortal ever could… and He stands ready to meet your every need, to heal you, and to give you unending peace. All we have to do is trust Him. Is that too much to ask?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 19, 2013
James 4:1-2
Why do you fight and argue with each other? Isn’t it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body? You want something you don’t have, and you will do anything to get it. You will even kill! But you still cannot get what you want, and you won’t get it by fighting and arguing. You should pray for it.
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.
In one of her workout videos, trainer Jillian Michaels points to the rock-hard abs of one of her models and says, “I would do just about anything to get abs like these.” Serious athletes and trainers like Michaels are probably willing to put in the necessary hours of work and make dietary sacrifices to achieve such a look. Most of us are willing to settle for something less… or we desire this effect but are unwilling to put in the necessary work to achieve it. In fact, we are drawn like moths to a flame when we see ads for “10-minute Workouts” or “Ripped in 30”… or those "weight loss centers" where you can lose several inches and clothing sizes in an hour. Whether we are willing to practically “kill” for the results we desire… or we want them handed to us… we often lack peace about our situation. We are frustrated, stressed, and often express our feelings via arguments and outbursts. In the words of author Lysa TerKeurst… we “come unglued!”
Still others spend hours/days/weeks seeking a solution to their problems via life coaches, relationship experts, and “spiritual mentors” who write books, produce tapes and create programs designed to help us become rich, prosperous, and discover the secret to finding happiness. One of the most popular of late has involved letting us in on “The Secret!” I almost cringe every time I hear this phrase. It reminds me of an old spiritual song, “There Is No Secret What God Can Do”!
To me, this is the great part of my relationship with Jesus Christ… there are no secrets! The Bible clearly tells us what God has done for us… what He is doing for us each day… and what He will do for us into Eternity. Our role is precisely detailed… love God with all of our heart… love others as we love ourselves… and “go and make disciples” – or share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with others. Fighting and arguing accomplish none of this. Looking for a “quick fix” doesn’t work… and frankly, neither does pinning all of our hopes and dreams on some “guru” who is going to give us the “magic bullet” for turning our life around!
During Vacation Bible School, I talked to the children about hearing from God. Some said they had never “heard” from Him. So I asked… “When you talk to your mom or dad about a problem, and they give you a good solution… where do you think they got it? When you read your Bible and search for answers, and you find just what you needed… how do you suppose that happened?” You could see the “light bulbs” going on all across the room as children realized that God is at work answering us and helping us to get what we need… and He uses many tools to deliver His message. Notice, though, that I said He gives us what we need… and this is very different from what we may want!
You may think that you can only find peace and joy if you are rich, thin, pretty, famous, athletic, artistic, talented, popular – you fill in the blanks. But God sees us in a completely different way than we often see ourselves. His plans for us – which are perfect – may not be what we had in mind. But if we will listen and pay attention, God will show us how to find happiness and peace in HIS will. This means that we may not have as much money or material wealth as we had hoped… we may always have that extra bump or bulge we can’t quite shed… we may not be able to run a marathon or win a beauty contest… and we certainly may not be the next American Idol! But we will be the person God designed us to be… we will be His masterpiece. And if we operate out of a desire to serve Him with our whole heart, we will have joy and peace beyond anything we could ever have imagined.
What are your heart’s desires? What are you doing to get them? Isn’t it time you stopped and spent some time in prayer… asked God what HE wants for you? It truly is no secret what God can do in your life… if only you will ask Him and submit to His will. Aren’t you ready to operate in His complete peace? Have you prayed for it lately?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Why do you fight and argue with each other? Isn’t it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body? You want something you don’t have, and you will do anything to get it. You will even kill! But you still cannot get what you want, and you won’t get it by fighting and arguing. You should pray for it.
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.
In one of her workout videos, trainer Jillian Michaels points to the rock-hard abs of one of her models and says, “I would do just about anything to get abs like these.” Serious athletes and trainers like Michaels are probably willing to put in the necessary hours of work and make dietary sacrifices to achieve such a look. Most of us are willing to settle for something less… or we desire this effect but are unwilling to put in the necessary work to achieve it. In fact, we are drawn like moths to a flame when we see ads for “10-minute Workouts” or “Ripped in 30”… or those "weight loss centers" where you can lose several inches and clothing sizes in an hour. Whether we are willing to practically “kill” for the results we desire… or we want them handed to us… we often lack peace about our situation. We are frustrated, stressed, and often express our feelings via arguments and outbursts. In the words of author Lysa TerKeurst… we “come unglued!”
Still others spend hours/days/weeks seeking a solution to their problems via life coaches, relationship experts, and “spiritual mentors” who write books, produce tapes and create programs designed to help us become rich, prosperous, and discover the secret to finding happiness. One of the most popular of late has involved letting us in on “The Secret!” I almost cringe every time I hear this phrase. It reminds me of an old spiritual song, “There Is No Secret What God Can Do”!
To me, this is the great part of my relationship with Jesus Christ… there are no secrets! The Bible clearly tells us what God has done for us… what He is doing for us each day… and what He will do for us into Eternity. Our role is precisely detailed… love God with all of our heart… love others as we love ourselves… and “go and make disciples” – or share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with others. Fighting and arguing accomplish none of this. Looking for a “quick fix” doesn’t work… and frankly, neither does pinning all of our hopes and dreams on some “guru” who is going to give us the “magic bullet” for turning our life around!
During Vacation Bible School, I talked to the children about hearing from God. Some said they had never “heard” from Him. So I asked… “When you talk to your mom or dad about a problem, and they give you a good solution… where do you think they got it? When you read your Bible and search for answers, and you find just what you needed… how do you suppose that happened?” You could see the “light bulbs” going on all across the room as children realized that God is at work answering us and helping us to get what we need… and He uses many tools to deliver His message. Notice, though, that I said He gives us what we need… and this is very different from what we may want!
You may think that you can only find peace and joy if you are rich, thin, pretty, famous, athletic, artistic, talented, popular – you fill in the blanks. But God sees us in a completely different way than we often see ourselves. His plans for us – which are perfect – may not be what we had in mind. But if we will listen and pay attention, God will show us how to find happiness and peace in HIS will. This means that we may not have as much money or material wealth as we had hoped… we may always have that extra bump or bulge we can’t quite shed… we may not be able to run a marathon or win a beauty contest… and we certainly may not be the next American Idol! But we will be the person God designed us to be… we will be His masterpiece. And if we operate out of a desire to serve Him with our whole heart, we will have joy and peace beyond anything we could ever have imagined.
What are your heart’s desires? What are you doing to get them? Isn’t it time you stopped and spent some time in prayer… asked God what HE wants for you? It truly is no secret what God can do in your life… if only you will ask Him and submit to His will. Aren’t you ready to operate in His complete peace? Have you prayed for it lately?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 18, 2013
James 3:18
Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We had record attendance at our Vacation Bible School, and it seemed that each night the number who showed up grew! So by Night #3, we were running low on supplies for the crafts. For the fourth and final night, we actually did run short! Anticipating this, our children’s director had left a bin of supplies in our classroom for an alternate rendition of our craft for the night. We were supposed to make a papier maché memory box that featured a decal of a world globe glued on the lid… and a card printed with the Bible verse from John 3:16 glued inside. During the opening service, my cousin Olivia and some of her friends had asked me what the craft was, and I told them, “We’re going to make a memory box!”… not thinking that we might run out of supplies.
Sure enough, by the time the third graders made it to our last crafting session, we had ten boxes… and about 19 children. So I eagerly displayed a little plaque made of craft foam, popsicle sticks, a glittery pipe cleaner, and a decal of the world and John 3:16 and said, “Tonight, we will make this plaque that you can hang on your doorknob or your wall and remember what you learned at VBS!” Olivia said, “But Aunt Debbie… you said we were going to make a memory box.” I apologized and said, “We ran out of boxes… our ‘marketplace’ is sold out!” “But you promised!” several little girls said in unison.
I asked how many children wanted to make the box. About 14 hands went up. I apologized again and said, “We only have ten boxes… that just will not work… and I want to be fair to everyone. So we will all have to do the same thing.” And then, one little boy said, “I’ll make the plaque… if that will help.” His friend sitting next to him said, “I will, too.” One by one, the little boys began to offer to make the alternate version of the craft project. In short order, all of the boys had decided that the girls could have the boxes… they would make the plaques. Here’s the kicker… we had ten girls!
Isn’t it amazing how God works out the details when we work together in peace and harmony? Don’t you find it incredibly wonderful that He orchestrates a healthy, robust community overflowing with mercy and blessings when we “do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor”? Do you see that a group of 9-year-old-almost-fourth-graders schooled us in how to get this done?!
I stood back and realized that this was the lesson of our Vacation Bible School. These children truly heard the message of the Apostle Paul as he shared the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. They were busy putting into action the meaning of his words in Philippians 3:12-14… “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
Where do you need to compromise and reach for Christ? Where have you been two-faced or behaved unreasonably? Have you treated others with dignity and honor…even when it took every fiber of your being to do so? Do you have your eye on the goal of finding peace by living for Jesus and making every effort to get along? Isn’t it time you humbled yourself like Paul… and these precious children… and made this the focus of your life? Will today be the day you begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We had record attendance at our Vacation Bible School, and it seemed that each night the number who showed up grew! So by Night #3, we were running low on supplies for the crafts. For the fourth and final night, we actually did run short! Anticipating this, our children’s director had left a bin of supplies in our classroom for an alternate rendition of our craft for the night. We were supposed to make a papier maché memory box that featured a decal of a world globe glued on the lid… and a card printed with the Bible verse from John 3:16 glued inside. During the opening service, my cousin Olivia and some of her friends had asked me what the craft was, and I told them, “We’re going to make a memory box!”… not thinking that we might run out of supplies.
Sure enough, by the time the third graders made it to our last crafting session, we had ten boxes… and about 19 children. So I eagerly displayed a little plaque made of craft foam, popsicle sticks, a glittery pipe cleaner, and a decal of the world and John 3:16 and said, “Tonight, we will make this plaque that you can hang on your doorknob or your wall and remember what you learned at VBS!” Olivia said, “But Aunt Debbie… you said we were going to make a memory box.” I apologized and said, “We ran out of boxes… our ‘marketplace’ is sold out!” “But you promised!” several little girls said in unison.
I asked how many children wanted to make the box. About 14 hands went up. I apologized again and said, “We only have ten boxes… that just will not work… and I want to be fair to everyone. So we will all have to do the same thing.” And then, one little boy said, “I’ll make the plaque… if that will help.” His friend sitting next to him said, “I will, too.” One by one, the little boys began to offer to make the alternate version of the craft project. In short order, all of the boys had decided that the girls could have the boxes… they would make the plaques. Here’s the kicker… we had ten girls!
Isn’t it amazing how God works out the details when we work together in peace and harmony? Don’t you find it incredibly wonderful that He orchestrates a healthy, robust community overflowing with mercy and blessings when we “do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor”? Do you see that a group of 9-year-old-almost-fourth-graders schooled us in how to get this done?!
I stood back and realized that this was the lesson of our Vacation Bible School. These children truly heard the message of the Apostle Paul as he shared the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. They were busy putting into action the meaning of his words in Philippians 3:12-14… “I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.”
Where do you need to compromise and reach for Christ? Where have you been two-faced or behaved unreasonably? Have you treated others with dignity and honor…even when it took every fiber of your being to do so? Do you have your eye on the goal of finding peace by living for Jesus and making every effort to get along? Isn’t it time you humbled yourself like Paul… and these precious children… and made this the focus of your life? Will today be the day you begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 17, 2013
James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
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.
Last night at our Vacation Bible School, my character had to “come clean” to the children and tell them that I had been lying for two nights. I really do know Jesus, but I told them I’d only heard of him…because I was afraid if they knew the truth, they would not visit our marketplace and spend their dollars – much less like me and be my friend. I had really talked poorly about the Apostle Paul, a visitor to Athens where “my” marketplace was located. Now I confessed that everything I had said was a ruse… a selfish, insincere ploy on my part to “save my own hide” and keep my business afloat. I asked the children to forgive me… and told them that I had already asked for – and received – forgiveness from Jesus. So many people were being persecuted, I explained, because of their faith… and I was just unwilling to risk being one of them. Thankfully, the children were sweet and forgiving. Many said, “I KNEW IT! I knew all along you believed!” Others acted disappointed, but were gracious and showed me mercy nonetheless.
I am reading a book titled 1861, by Adam Goodheart, which details the events leading up to the beginning of the Civil War. I find it pretty sad to read the quotes of men in power who reference God and cite scripture, while voicing an unwillingness to yield to others or show mercy… men who “played favorites” all day long and considered only the opinions and feelings that were theirs. A lot of that still goes on today… and it is every bit as unsettling. There really is very little new "under the sun”!
This is not to say that we are on the verge of a civil war. In fact, I pray that we are not! But a lot of us have less than pure motives. We say that we hear from God and walk in His wisdom… then we operate on the “What’s in it for me?” theory in our daily living. We would rather deny our faith in God than have someone judge us. We go along with unkind talk, cruel and off-putting jokes and more... because we don’t want to be singled out. We play favorites when it suits our desires… and it’s our way or the highway. And if we are honest, we have to admit that there are at least moments when this creates a less than peaceful existence.
I have to tell you… even though I was role-playing last night at VBS, it felt good to tell the truth. It even felt good to ask for mercy and forgiveness. The make-believe “secret” between us created a divide…and left me feeling unsettled. If you are a true child of God… or as I told the children last night – if Jesus truly lives in your heart and is your “Forever Friend”… you have to feel at least tinges of guilt and uneasiness when you operate in selfishness and insincerity. It has to make you at least a little anxious to “play favorites” or go along with others when you know they are being unkind or dishonest.
Isn’t it time to “come clean” with Jesus? Isn’t it time to operate in the purity of His wisdom and trust Him to see you through any and all reactions and repercussions? Don’t you want the peace of knowing that you are pleasing God at every turn… and that He has your back? What “secrets” do you need to divulge? Are you ready for the gentle life of Christ’s love and peace? Is this the day you begin to change?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
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.
Last night at our Vacation Bible School, my character had to “come clean” to the children and tell them that I had been lying for two nights. I really do know Jesus, but I told them I’d only heard of him…because I was afraid if they knew the truth, they would not visit our marketplace and spend their dollars – much less like me and be my friend. I had really talked poorly about the Apostle Paul, a visitor to Athens where “my” marketplace was located. Now I confessed that everything I had said was a ruse… a selfish, insincere ploy on my part to “save my own hide” and keep my business afloat. I asked the children to forgive me… and told them that I had already asked for – and received – forgiveness from Jesus. So many people were being persecuted, I explained, because of their faith… and I was just unwilling to risk being one of them. Thankfully, the children were sweet and forgiving. Many said, “I KNEW IT! I knew all along you believed!” Others acted disappointed, but were gracious and showed me mercy nonetheless.
I am reading a book titled 1861, by Adam Goodheart, which details the events leading up to the beginning of the Civil War. I find it pretty sad to read the quotes of men in power who reference God and cite scripture, while voicing an unwillingness to yield to others or show mercy… men who “played favorites” all day long and considered only the opinions and feelings that were theirs. A lot of that still goes on today… and it is every bit as unsettling. There really is very little new "under the sun”!
This is not to say that we are on the verge of a civil war. In fact, I pray that we are not! But a lot of us have less than pure motives. We say that we hear from God and walk in His wisdom… then we operate on the “What’s in it for me?” theory in our daily living. We would rather deny our faith in God than have someone judge us. We go along with unkind talk, cruel and off-putting jokes and more... because we don’t want to be singled out. We play favorites when it suits our desires… and it’s our way or the highway. And if we are honest, we have to admit that there are at least moments when this creates a less than peaceful existence.
I have to tell you… even though I was role-playing last night at VBS, it felt good to tell the truth. It even felt good to ask for mercy and forgiveness. The make-believe “secret” between us created a divide…and left me feeling unsettled. If you are a true child of God… or as I told the children last night – if Jesus truly lives in your heart and is your “Forever Friend”… you have to feel at least tinges of guilt and uneasiness when you operate in selfishness and insincerity. It has to make you at least a little anxious to “play favorites” or go along with others when you know they are being unkind or dishonest.
Isn’t it time to “come clean” with Jesus? Isn’t it time to operate in the purity of His wisdom and trust Him to see you through any and all reactions and repercussions? Don’t you want the peace of knowing that you are pleasing God at every turn… and that He has your back? What “secrets” do you need to divulge? Are you ready for the gentle life of Christ’s love and peace? Is this the day you begin to change?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 16, 2013
James 2:14-24
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.”
Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever said to someone, “Call me if you need me!” and then secretly whispered, “Oh, LORD, please don’t let them really call!”? Or maybe you have told someone, “If there is anything I can do for you,” and hoped they wouldn’t take you up on the offer. When they DID, you griped and groaned (at least secretly) because you had to make good on your promise. I’m afraid we are all guilty of some form of this response at one time or another.
When someone makes some form of these statements to me, I generally discard their comments. I assume that the person who made this offer was providing “lip service” and walked away feeling like, “My work is done here… I’m off the hook!” However, there are a few people I know who say this and mean it. I have seen their faith in action. When they tell me they are ready and willing to help me, I know they truly are! Do you know people like this? I hope so!
So what can you do if you are one of these people who “talk the talk” and don’t “walk the walk?” Start by making sincere offers to help others. Say…“Can I give you a ride… cook you a meal or go through a drive-thru and pick up lunch…come over and visit with you for a while (as you recuperate or because you are lonely)…help you with your house work or yard work… serve in XYZ ministry at church?” (You fill in the blanks!) Think of concrete offers to make… and stand behind them. As your reputation grows for keeping your word and your “works of faith,” people will begin to trust that you mean it when you offer to do something for them.
By the same token, James reminds us in this scripture passage that we cannot say we trust God to care for us and then “trouble our troubles” to death! We cannot ask God to help us with such-and-such and then tell everyone we meet how worried we are about this situation. It is one thing to say, “Would you join me in prayer over a concern”… believing that God is listening and will handle the situation. It is quite another to ask others to pray out of fear and apprehension that your prayers are not sufficient on their own merits!
On his Facebook page, Pastor Rick Warren (Saddleback Church – author of The Purpose Driven Life) said…” Every time you make a bad choice, it becomes harder to make a good one.” Today, start making good choices… faith-filled choices that bring you the peace and joy of a complete relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t just offer Him “lip service”. Go “all in” with your mindset and your acts of faith!
How “fruitful in works” is your relationship with Jesus? Is it time for an attitude adjustment? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it? For instance, you come upon an old friend dressed in rags and half-starved and say, “Good morning, friend! Be clothed in Christ! Be filled with the Holy Spirit!” and walk off without providing so much as a coat or a cup of soup—where does that get you? Isn’t it obvious that God-talk without God-acts is outrageous nonsense?
I can already hear one of you agreeing by saying, “Sounds good. You take care of the faith department, I’ll handle the works department.”
Not so fast. You can no more show me your works apart from your faith than I can show you my faith apart from my works. Faith and works, works and faith, fit together hand in glove.
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That’s just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Wasn’t our ancestor Abraham “made right with God by works” when he placed his son Isaac on the sacrificial altar? Isn’t it obvious that faith and works are yoked partners, that faith expresses itself in works? That the works are “works of faith”? The full meaning of “believe” in the Scripture sentence, “Abraham believed God and was set right with God,” includes his action. It’s that mesh of believing and acting that got Abraham named “God’s friend.” Is it not evident that a person is made right with God not by a barren faith but by faith fruitful in works?
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Have you ever said to someone, “Call me if you need me!” and then secretly whispered, “Oh, LORD, please don’t let them really call!”? Or maybe you have told someone, “If there is anything I can do for you,” and hoped they wouldn’t take you up on the offer. When they DID, you griped and groaned (at least secretly) because you had to make good on your promise. I’m afraid we are all guilty of some form of this response at one time or another.
When someone makes some form of these statements to me, I generally discard their comments. I assume that the person who made this offer was providing “lip service” and walked away feeling like, “My work is done here… I’m off the hook!” However, there are a few people I know who say this and mean it. I have seen their faith in action. When they tell me they are ready and willing to help me, I know they truly are! Do you know people like this? I hope so!
So what can you do if you are one of these people who “talk the talk” and don’t “walk the walk?” Start by making sincere offers to help others. Say…“Can I give you a ride… cook you a meal or go through a drive-thru and pick up lunch…come over and visit with you for a while (as you recuperate or because you are lonely)…help you with your house work or yard work… serve in XYZ ministry at church?” (You fill in the blanks!) Think of concrete offers to make… and stand behind them. As your reputation grows for keeping your word and your “works of faith,” people will begin to trust that you mean it when you offer to do something for them.
By the same token, James reminds us in this scripture passage that we cannot say we trust God to care for us and then “trouble our troubles” to death! We cannot ask God to help us with such-and-such and then tell everyone we meet how worried we are about this situation. It is one thing to say, “Would you join me in prayer over a concern”… believing that God is listening and will handle the situation. It is quite another to ask others to pray out of fear and apprehension that your prayers are not sufficient on their own merits!
On his Facebook page, Pastor Rick Warren (Saddleback Church – author of The Purpose Driven Life) said…” Every time you make a bad choice, it becomes harder to make a good one.” Today, start making good choices… faith-filled choices that bring you the peace and joy of a complete relationship with Jesus Christ. Don’t just offer Him “lip service”. Go “all in” with your mindset and your acts of faith!
How “fruitful in works” is your relationship with Jesus? Is it time for an attitude adjustment? Isn’t today a good time to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 15, 2013
James 1:6-9
But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
Any of God’s people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so highly of them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Vacation Bible School began at my church last night, and the theme is Athens. We are learning about Paul’s journey to Athens to proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ. I am leading crafts for grades 1-5. My assistant and I created a “marketplace”… tenting overhead with tables laden with musical instruments, pottery, baskets, fruits and vegetables, and more. We dress in costume appropriate for the era and visit with the children as they create their “marketplace souvenirs”. Last night it was a musical lyre…tonight it will be a clay pot decorated with beads and jewels, then a voting ballot necklace and a memory box on subsequent nights.
The “leader guidelines” tell us to begin the first night as skeptics…to ask the children if they have heard of this guy, Paul… and the “crazy” things he is saying about some guy named Jesus who died and rose again. Supposedly, Paul is telling people that there is only one God… and He is Jesus! As market vendors during a “festival of gods,” we are to ask the children, “How can this be? Aren’t there many gods?” Recognizing that women probably were not supposed to have an opinion, I told one table of 3rd-graders that I overheard my husband and father talking, and they said that there were MANY gods… that this Paul fellow was wrong. One little girl looked up at me and said, “Well, your husband needs to read his Bible!”
As the Vacation Bible School progresses, we will all learn the TRUTH about Paul and Jesus, and by the last night, my character will have become a believer. But for now, I have a feeling at least one 3rd grader does not trust me! In her mind, I have doubts. She has none… and thankfully, I am happy to report that many other children in the group adamantly expressed an assurance that Jesus is REAL and the one true God.
My character is sort of having a rough go of things. Business is slow in the marketplace, and now some guy has shown up in town stirring up trouble. My character has a lot of questions. As I told the children last night, “I hope I get to meet this Paul guy and hear what he has to say.” And maybe you need to hear from someone about Jesus today. Even if you know Him… you may not really know Him. You may not have the full assurance that He is with you and will provide for your every need, regardless of who you are – or where you are in life. You may not understand that God does not see us as we see ourselves… He doesn’t recognize “beauty” as we do… He doesn’t care about your economic status – He just cares what you do with what you have! God doesn’t judge us by the same criteria we value. He stands ready to bless us… to love and nurture us… to meet our every need. Our job is to trust Him to do so… and to recognize His blessings when they come.
Are you even a little like my marketplace vendor? Are you even the least bit skeptical about when and how God answers our prayers and cares for us? Are you as certain as a 3rd-grader of the power and autonomy of Jesus in your life? Isn’t it time you were? On the way home last night, Timothy reported that “Paul is our friend!” Some of us need to hear this today… and to hear that Jesus is the best Friend we will ever have. If little children who have absolutely zero reference point for a relationship with Jesus can believe in Him so readily and trust His word… why can’t we? Isn’t it time to change this?
©2013 Debbie Robus
But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. If you are that kind of person, you can’t make up your mind, and you surely can’t be trusted. So don’t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
Any of God’s people who are poor should be glad that he thinks so highly of them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The “leader guidelines” tell us to begin the first night as skeptics…to ask the children if they have heard of this guy, Paul… and the “crazy” things he is saying about some guy named Jesus who died and rose again. Supposedly, Paul is telling people that there is only one God… and He is Jesus! As market vendors during a “festival of gods,” we are to ask the children, “How can this be? Aren’t there many gods?” Recognizing that women probably were not supposed to have an opinion, I told one table of 3rd-graders that I overheard my husband and father talking, and they said that there were MANY gods… that this Paul fellow was wrong. One little girl looked up at me and said, “Well, your husband needs to read his Bible!”
As the Vacation Bible School progresses, we will all learn the TRUTH about Paul and Jesus, and by the last night, my character will have become a believer. But for now, I have a feeling at least one 3rd grader does not trust me! In her mind, I have doubts. She has none… and thankfully, I am happy to report that many other children in the group adamantly expressed an assurance that Jesus is REAL and the one true God.
My character is sort of having a rough go of things. Business is slow in the marketplace, and now some guy has shown up in town stirring up trouble. My character has a lot of questions. As I told the children last night, “I hope I get to meet this Paul guy and hear what he has to say.” And maybe you need to hear from someone about Jesus today. Even if you know Him… you may not really know Him. You may not have the full assurance that He is with you and will provide for your every need, regardless of who you are – or where you are in life. You may not understand that God does not see us as we see ourselves… He doesn’t recognize “beauty” as we do… He doesn’t care about your economic status – He just cares what you do with what you have! God doesn’t judge us by the same criteria we value. He stands ready to bless us… to love and nurture us… to meet our every need. Our job is to trust Him to do so… and to recognize His blessings when they come.
Are you even a little like my marketplace vendor? Are you even the least bit skeptical about when and how God answers our prayers and cares for us? Are you as certain as a 3rd-grader of the power and autonomy of Jesus in your life? Isn’t it time you were? On the way home last night, Timothy reported that “Paul is our friend!” Some of us need to hear this today… and to hear that Jesus is the best Friend we will ever have. If little children who have absolutely zero reference point for a relationship with Jesus can believe in Him so readily and trust His word… why can’t we? Isn’t it time to change this?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 13, 2013
Isaiah 9:2-6
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. Our Lord, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken.
You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian. The boots of marching warriors and the blood-stained uniforms have been fed to flames and eaten by fire.
A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As I read over this passage in Isaiah, I felt a sense of encouragement. Isaiah foretold the coming of Jesus… the “Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God…Eternal Father and Prince of Peace”. We have all that we need in Him… we just have to tap into His power… grace…mercy… forgiveness… and abounding love. Because of Jesus, we can set our own feelings and opinions aside and operate in His love. We can try to see people and situations as Jesus sees them. We can go to work to erase hatred and unkindness… to lead with Christ’s love in everything we think, feel, say and do.
There are no winners in this situation. As is often the case, every person involved has lost in some way. We must turn to Jesus and find our victories in Him…discover triumph in the knowledge that Christ sacrificed His very life that we might live – abundantly and peacefully. We must focus on the love of Jesus and incorporate it into every single minute of our day. We must see each person as God’s creation, precious in His sight and fully entitled to the same love and care that He affords us. Only then can we fully experience peace and confidence.
I cannot imagine what it must be like for either family involved in this case… for the parents of these two men – both the son who was killed, and the one who has been acquitted. But we must not let disappointments and even perceived injustices define and disrupt us and take our focus off of sharing Jesus’ love. We must allow God to handle vengeance and serve as the Ultimate Judge. And we must ask God to fill us with His love and peace. Pray for God’s peace today and in the days ahead… for yourself and for our nation and the world at large.
“A Sunday Prayer” – Bishop Gary Mueller, Arkansas Conference – The United Methodist Church
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. Our Lord, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken.
You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian. The boots of marching warriors and the blood-stained uniforms have been fed to flames and eaten by fire.
A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I am praying with everything I’ve got -Our church’s bishop, Gary Mueller, wrote this prayer as part of his morning devotional titled “A Sunday Prayer”. In his writing, he noted the court decision handed down late last night acquitting a man who shot and killed Florida teenager… claiming he felt his life was in danger. There is great controversy on both sides of this case, and the Bishop began his note with the comment that there is once again a huge divide in our nation. He also noted that this breaks his heart… but it break’s God’s even more. So he begged God to send more and more of His love to us today… to bind us together and once again strengthen our nation.
Send your love today.
Then send it more and more and more.
Not just to others. But to me.
So I can do what I often feel incapable of doing.
Lead with your love in everything I think, feel, say and do.
Walk a mile in others’ shoes.
Understand in new ways.
Get on board with you.
Change in the ways I need to. And go to work -
Until your will is as real on earth as it already is in heaven.
So children can walk the streets safely.
And there’s no need to carry guns.
And no one will die from hunger.
And hatred is erased from human hearts.
Hear my prayer, Lord.
Hear our prayer, Lord.
Hear your prayer, Lord.
Amen.”
As I read over this passage in Isaiah, I felt a sense of encouragement. Isaiah foretold the coming of Jesus… the “Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God…Eternal Father and Prince of Peace”. We have all that we need in Him… we just have to tap into His power… grace…mercy… forgiveness… and abounding love. Because of Jesus, we can set our own feelings and opinions aside and operate in His love. We can try to see people and situations as Jesus sees them. We can go to work to erase hatred and unkindness… to lead with Christ’s love in everything we think, feel, say and do.
There are no winners in this situation. As is often the case, every person involved has lost in some way. We must turn to Jesus and find our victories in Him…discover triumph in the knowledge that Christ sacrificed His very life that we might live – abundantly and peacefully. We must focus on the love of Jesus and incorporate it into every single minute of our day. We must see each person as God’s creation, precious in His sight and fully entitled to the same love and care that He affords us. Only then can we fully experience peace and confidence.
I cannot imagine what it must be like for either family involved in this case… for the parents of these two men – both the son who was killed, and the one who has been acquitted. But we must not let disappointments and even perceived injustices define and disrupt us and take our focus off of sharing Jesus’ love. We must allow God to handle vengeance and serve as the Ultimate Judge. And we must ask God to fill us with His love and peace. Pray for God’s peace today and in the days ahead… for yourself and for our nation and the world at large.
"Hear our prayer, LORD… Hear our prayer."©2013 Debbie Robus
“A Sunday Prayer” – Bishop Gary Mueller, Arkansas Conference – The United Methodist Church
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