Titus 3:7
Jesus treated us much better than we deserve.
He made us acceptable to God and gave us the hope of eternal life.
Zephaniah 3:17
The Lord your God wins victory after victory and is always with you.
He celebrates and sings because of you, and he will refresh your life with his love.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, a friend of mine posted this on Facebook:
Ok, so here's the deal…Satan REALLY hates me. He's a thief, a liar, and the lowest of low. He'll use any of his cohorts; anxiety, imperfection, depression, oppression, regret, fear, doubt, loss, pain, apathy, indifference ...to SNUFF out my light. Be on the lookout… because if you've said “YES!” to God, you better believe he'll come for you too!
Clearly, she is dealing with some serious challenges… as are all of us at one time or another. So these two verses… one from the New Testament and one from the Old Testament, both bring us a message of hope. Jesus treats us much better than we deserve and makes us acceptable to God. We have hope of Eternal Life because of Jesus. AND…God wins victory after victory and is always with us! God actually sings because of us and refreshes us with His love.
Satan cannot stand it when we give our heart to God. He absolutely despises even the thought that we belong to God and are protected and reinvigorated by His love and care. So he uses all of his cohorts to TRY to snuff out our light…just as my friend said. But the all-important filled-with-hope-and-and-comfort GOOD NEWS is that Satan can never win when we belong to God!
As we close out this year, I am sure that there have been moments of joy and peace in your life in the last twelve months. But I am also fairly certain that many have experienced a time when you felt like the devil was coming after you. I’m not big on New Year’s resolutions, but I am resolving to put on God’s full armor this year… to remind myself often of His presence - and His unending love and care. When Satan sends his cohorts to try to snuff out my light, I’ll stomp my foot and tell him to “Get lost!” As the old hymn says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness”… and I know that He is covering me in both.
I pray that you will end this year – and enter the next – with hope… the hope of always being acceptable to God through Jesus… the hope of God’s victory after victory – and his unending presence in your life… and the ultimate hope of Eternal Life with Him in heaven someday. Resolve to make 2014 a year of HOPE…refreshed with God’s love and armed against Satan and every one of his cohorts. God bless and keep you… Happy New Year!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Titus 1:1-2
From Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ.
I encourage God’s own people to have more faith and to understand the truth about religion. Then they will have the hope of eternal life that God promised long ago. And God never tells a lie!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Yesterday when I picked Timothy up, he said (as he often does), “I waited and waited for you to come, and I was worried that you weren’t coming!” I reminded him that his Uncle Greg and I will always come to get him when we say we will… that when we make a promise to him, we will not break it. He can trust us to keep our word. And for the record, I don’t think his mother even told him that we were coming after him until right before I arrived! But he always tells us that he waited and worried that we might not come. And I have to tell you…even if that is a manipulative ploy on the part of a 4-year-old boy… it tugs at my heart to think that he might actually fear that we won’t keep a promise.
As I read this passage and thought about Timothy’s comments, it struck me that God must feel much the same way. He has promised so much to us… and He would never lie to His children. So when we question and doubt… worry and wonder… it has to bother Him. And it also robs us of our hope, faith, confidence and peace.
So how can we combat this? Paul is very clear in his letter to Titus. He challenges us to understand God’s truths… which means to study His word, to spend time in communication with Him through prayer and meditation (listening for God’s voice), and to observe the words and actions of faith-filled Christian disciples in our midst. The old adage that “knowledge is power” has never been more profound than in this instance.
I reminded Timothy again yesterday that he never has to worry that we won’t come for him as promised… or that we will fail to keep any other promises we make to him. The timing may not be to his liking… and the circumstances may not line up perfectly with his expectations, but we will always respond. And God will also respond… to each of us who hopes, trusts, and believes in Him. As Timothy grows older, he will understand more about trust and who keeps their word and makes good on promises… including God. And as we study and understand more about God and the teachings of Jesus, the more our faith and hope will increase.
Are you studying and learning about God? Are you making efforts to increase your knowledge… and to grow your faith and hope in Him? Isn’t it time you did exactly this? As we move toward the New Year and make resolutions about everything under the sun, wouldn’t this be the perfect time to resolve to get to know God better? Will this be the year that you begin to really believe His promises for your life? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Titus 3:11-14
God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
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.
Timothy is visiting us for three days and two nights… and as he put it, “I have a LOT of work to do.” In the first 90 minutes, he ate two cheese sandwiches (NO crust!), drank a glass of orange juice, sampled his first eggnog (and loved it!), watched “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and part of “Frosty the Snowman”, played with cars and planes, looked at the ornaments on the Christmas tree, made characters out of new Play-Doh®, and grabbed his “Christmas” blanket and a “soft” Santa Claus, headed upstairs to his Uncle Greg’s office, and piled up on the daybed for a “rest”! Every time he visits, there are familiar toys and rituals… but he makes many of them see new and fresh… as if he is experiencing them for the very first time! For him, there are lots of “do-overs” at our house!
New life… a second chance…starting over…even something as seemingly mundane as a new package of Play-Doh®…don’t we all long for this at one time or another? Don’t we long for the slate to be wiped clean and anticipate a day when everything is perfect… or pretty darn close?
The GOOD NEWS is that the perfect day IS coming, for those of us who have hope in Jesus Christ. We can eagerly await this day with the anticipation of a four-year-old boy who has just been told he gets an extended stay with his aunt and uncle in the “Playland” that is like heaven on earth for him. We have each been granted a new life… a second chance… an opportunity to turn our backs on the godless, indulgent life of our past and fill our hearts and minds with the things of God.
Sound boring and un-exciting? Let me assure you, this life is entirely the opposite. Because of God’s grace, mercy, and blessings… because of the sacrifices of Jesus Christ for our sins… we have the opportunity to enjoy abundant life. We can live free of the constraints of trying to conform to the standards of others. Ours are clear cut…love God with all our heart, mind, and soul… and love others as God loves us! If anything we are doing, saying, or thinking doesn’t line up with this… we know we are off track and need to get back on the right path. The best part is that God stands ready to give and forgive… to help us start over - every day if necessary! So just like Timothy, each day can be as new and fresh as the first time we visited… our first day as a disciple of Christ.
Do you need a “do-over” with Jesus? Did you know that He is willing to grant this to you? Have you placed your hope in Him to give you a pure life filled with energetic goodness? Are you making Him proud in your service as His disciple? Do you have the child-like wonder in your relationship with Jesus that makes even a cheese sandwich with no crust and your first sips of eggnog seem glorious and refreshing? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Romans 8:22-25
We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth.
The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s that time of year again… the time when we start to mark important dates in a new calendar and plan for the coming year. It is probably pretty safe to surmise that every one of us has anticipated some date in our future… a graduation… a wedding… the birth of a child…a move… even a special “date” or event, like prom…moving into a new house… starting a new job…or even the arrival of Christmas Day. And if we are brutally honest, at least once we’ve gotten to said date and asked ourselves, “Now what?”! This reminds me of a book by Dawn Brown titled, Been There, Done That… Now What?...which could be the mantra for a lot of us! The excitement and anticipation of “getting there” often culminates with something of a letdown of sorts.
Once that event for which we yearned has come and gone… where is our hope? Since we are human, we generally move on to “the next big thing”…we pack up the Christmas decorations and plan our New Year’s celebration. We graduate from high school and plan our move to college… or graduate from college and start looking for a job. We marry and start planning our lives together - or creating a new family. We move into a new house and busy ourselves with all of the projects and chores that come with it… or we work hard at a new job and seek ways to “move up the ladder”.
In the realm of our Spiritual faith…what are we doing? Where is our focus? We place our hope in God to see us through all sorts of experiences, ”growth spurts” and challenges. But our ultimate hope is to see Jesus face-to-face… to dwell in His presence forever and ever… to “have all the answers”. And truthfully, God could do all of that for us today…here… now… without any of us having to die. He could come back to earth in the form of Jesus, explain all of the mysteries of the universe to us… and make everything completely “perfect”.
So why doesn’t God do this? Doesn’t He love us? The answer lies in one single sentence from this passage…” if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping.” If we had all of the answers and God gave us everything now, we would have no reason to continue to trust in Him… to rely on Him… to work patiently to reach the ultimate goal of His eternal presence. I know that we think it would be fantastic if everything were all complete today… if we knew the answers to everything and all of God’s promises for our life were fulfilled with the snap of a finger. But the truth is that we would be standing around saying, “Been there, done that… now what?”… and it is very likely that we would not fully appreciate what God has in store for us.
I once lamented to a friend about how my brother and others suffered in the days/weeks prior to their death. I questioned why this had to happen…what was the purpose in their anguish and pain? My friend reminded me that this time frame was but a “blip on the screen” compared to Eternity… that their glory in heaven was made all the sweeter for the struggles they endured in this lifetime. Their perseverance and patience was rewarded… and so ours will be! Hope is a good thing… it keeps us faithful and eager… hungry for the things of God. In His timing, all will be revealed… and when it is, the “next big thing” - eternity with Him in heaven - will be all the sweeter.
So as you fill in the boxes on your new calendar, do so with hope. We can’t know everything the coming weeks and months will hold, but we know that God will be involved every step of the way. I am asking Him to allow me to patiently wait on Him and the experiences and blessings yet to come… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Romans 5:2-5
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.
We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
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.
A friend of mine lost her brother to cancer a few months ago, and she commented on Facebook that “I did not send Christmas cards this year.” Between repeated trips to another state to spend precious time with her brother before he passed and the challenges of caring for her own family (and conducting the children’s program at our church, to boot), she simply did not have the time and energy for sending out seasonal greetings. I don’t know about you, but I fully understand this. Sometimes “life” is such a challenge that we absolutely must prioritize and delegate our strength to the things that really matter. And sending cards during the holidays may be something that we push to the bottom of the list.
Does this mean that we aren’t celebrating Christmas? Have we lost our faith and confidence in the promises and blessings this season represents? Absolutely not! To the contrary, the trials and problems of life often show us that we are tougher than we realize. In turn, our strength and integrity are refined, so that we are more sensitive to the things of this season that really matter… sharing God’s love and care with other people… recognizing His role as the central focus of the holiday… and reminding ourselves of what is truly important.
This may mean scheduling a family dinner at a restaurant rather than slaving over a stove for several days to create the perfect meal – or conversely, making special recipes and carrying on the traditions that have created family memories for decades – and foregoing some other activity in order to find the time to do this. It may mean recognizing that Christmas was not “ruined” because UPS or FedEx did not deliver our packages on time. Or it may mean not giving gifts at all… or seriously curtailing the gift-giving… in order to focus on the true spirit of the holiday – and those who have real, tangible physical needs.
In strengthening our character, we truly do develop a deeper sense of hope. Our focus is narrowed and concentrated on Jesus, who gives us the strength and uses His Holy Spirit to comfort and guide us through times of trial and difficulty. We are better able to reach out to others who are hurting or questioning… those who might be in the early stages of “trial and tribulation”. We can say with confidence that God loves all of us… that He is fully engaged in each and every situation for those who call on Him… and that better days are ahead.
I honestly cannot remember a recent Christmas season where I have been so acutely aware of people who were hurting or in great need of God’s comfort and care. I also cannot remember a Christmas in the last few years in which I have felt more hopeful. I wish there were some way to magically convey this hope to each of you… to fill you with a true assurance that God is at work in your life… strengthening you…building character… and offering you hope. All I can tell you is that He has done this for me – over and again. I know that I am not unique… that what God has done for me, He will surely do for anyone who asks in Jesus’ name.
So even though the actual holiday was two days ago… what are you asking for this Christmas? Will this be the year that you fully recognize God’s strength and power in your life and begin to depend upon the confident hope of salvation through Jesus Christ? Don’t you think it should be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Romans 5:13
I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of 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.
This is traditionally a day filled with a mixed bag of emotions. For some, there is a let-down. Christmas is officially “over” in their household, and it’s back to work – and on with “life”. Some will spend the day rushing to take down the tree and put away every indicator of the Christmas celebrated just a few hours ago. Others will be busy playing with new toys – or even new electronic gadgets and gizmos – and thinking about how to incorporate them into their daily living in the next few weeks/months. Still others will be completely relieved that a painful reminder of the loneliness and sadness in their lives has passed… and they can try to return to some semblance of “normalcy”.
I’ll admit… for just a few minutes after everyone left our house last night and it got really quiet, I looked around and wished everything was put away. But it was more a weariness from the busy day - and the thought of actually putting it all back in the closet - than a sense of finality. Several years ago, I gave myself permission to leave most of the Christmas decorations out until after New Year’s Day. For one thing, it takes me 2-3 days to get everything decorated… and it seems a shame to rush to put them away just 23 days later! More importantly, I’m simply not done with Christmas yet… and truly, none of us should be!
Hear me out… I’m not talking about the decorations and the gifts. Maybe you feel like you will burst or go into a diabetic coma if you eat one more cookie, bite of turkey or ham, or piece of chocolate. But that’s not the true story of Christmas anyway, now… is it?! The message of Christmas is the hope that God sent us in the form of a tiny baby who grew into a wise-beyond-his-years boy… and then into a young adult leader/teacher/healer. The story is how God came to us in human form to show us how to live for Him… how to walk with Him… and then suffered and died for us so that we can carry the power of His Holy Spirit in our hearts forever! We really, really need to revel in that a little while longer. If keeping the decorations up and celebrating with cookies and cocoa helps us to do that…then, we shouldn’t rush to “un-decorate”!
More importantly, we should do whatever it takes to keep the “spirit of Christmas” alive in our hearts and minds all through the year. We need to take some time to talk to God and study His word and allow Him to fill us with complete joy and peace. We must invite Him to fill our hearts and souls with the power of His Holy Spirit… and an unending source – and sense – of hope. We may not say “Merry Christmas” in June or July… but our attitude and demeanor should convey the joy, kindness and warmth that seem to flow so easily and readily in the first three weeks of December.
How will you treat your faith and God’s gift of hope in the next few days/weeks/months? Will this be the day that you pack Him away with the tree and decorations, dust your hands and say, “That’s it until next year!”? Or will you take time to sit quietly and reflect on the amazing gift God gave you? Will you give as much time and attention to thinking about how you can utilize God’s power and the teachings of Jesus in the coming months as you do to the new gifts you opened yesterday?
Isn’t this a day to take some time for a relaxing cup of cocoa or coffee… one last Christmas cookie…and a little conversation with God about where – and how – you’ll use His bequests in the coming year? Christmas isn’t over… it should be just beginning! In the words of the old carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” this is actually the Second Day! How are you spending yours?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Romans 12:11-13
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
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’ve been in the kitchen all morning, cooking for our family Christmas celebration this evening. There will be twelve us around the table, so I have two beef roasts baking in crock pots, a salad chilling in the refrigerator, two pies cooling on the counter… and seasoned green beans (with bacon and a few other family secret ingredients) simmering in my Mam-ma Polly’s cast iron “Dutch oven” atop the stove. There are other side dishes and several traditions that will be honored with this meal… but the green beans dish is certainly one of them.
When I smelled something unpleasant this morning, I realized that the flame under the Dutch oven had gone out… and propane gas was seeping into the air around the stove. It was a putrid smell that I quickly dispersed by relighting the flame and turning on an exhaust fan. Thankfully, I was nearby and discovered this quickly... and I am watching carefully to make sure that I do not turn the dial too low for that burner in the future!
Our hope and faith in God is a lot like the burner on my gas range. If we are not careful, we can reduce the control button on our faith and focus to a point where the fuel of God’s great love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings just leaks out and is squandered in our lives. And the results can really stink! More importantly, if left unchecked, this can create a potentially dangerous situation. We risk becoming cynical, hopeless, and ineffective as a Christian disciple.
God doesn’t want us to waste one drop of His love and care. He didn’t send Jesus to earth to live and die for us so that we could fritter away His gifts into thin air. God’s present of Jesus Christ is far too precious to leave unattended and un-nurtured. The last thing any of us should ever want is for our Discipleship to smell to the high heavens!
So today, on Jesus’ birthday, let’s redouble our efforts to keep the flame of His love burning in our hearts and minds. Amidst the food and the festivities, let’s remember how important it is to always be alert servants… cheerfully expectant. Let’s take time to pray… to help others… and to seek creative ways to be a light for Christ Jesus. May it always be said of us that we kept the faith…remained hopeful… and that our efforts to serve in Jesus’ name were like a pleasant aroma. God bless and keep you this day… and always. And have a very Merry Christmas!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 71:12-16
Come closer, God!
Please hurry and help.
Embarrass and destroy
all who want me dead;
disgrace and confuse
all who want to hurt me.
I will never give up hope.
All day long I will tell
the wonderful things you do
to save your people.
But you have done much more
than I could possibly know.
I will praise you, Lord God,
for your mighty deeds
and your power to save.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a child, a family who attended our church had three daughters. The youngest was afflicted with cerebral palsy. In the late 1950s and the 1960s, many children who had a “birth defect” were either kept at home behind closed doors… or placed in an institution where a professional staff cared for them. But not Mary. Her parents and sisters treated her as normally as any other person. She did attend a school in a nearby community for a while, but her mother brought her home on weekends. Eventually, she had live-in care to help the family meet her needs… and she was a frequent attendee at church and community events.
Mary was confined to a wheelchair. Her atrophied arms and legs did not work right. She communicated with her eyes and facial gestures. As a child, I often heard adults criticizing this family for treating Mary so normally. They scoffed at the notion that Mary could communicate. When the family claimed that Mary played a mean game of bridge, people secretly rolled their eyes and laughed… and I’m sure there were plenty who were bold enough to actually voice their opinions to this family.
Mary’s mother, Geraldine (whom I called MawMac), shared my birthday…and over the years, we exchanged birthday cake, cards and phone calls. I considered MawMac my mentor and hero until her dying day. For all of her 94 years, she fought through illnesses and injuries… criticisms, personal hardships and heartaches… so that she could care for Mary. When the day came that MawMac was too old to physically care for Mary at home - even with the assistance of other caregivers - she reluctantly agreed to allow Mary to move to a skilled-care facility in a community some 40 miles away. Until she had to give up driving because of her age and health (somewhere in her late 80s!), MawMac made the trip to visit Mary at least once a week. Her end-of-life goal was to live longer than Mary. She said, "The only person I want to outlive is Mary. I'm her mother, and I must be here to be sure she is always cared for."
MawMac was one of the Godliest women I ever knew. If the church doors were open… she was there. She gave great advice! Her faith and hope were an inspiration to many. Eventually, she moved to an Assisted Living facility and became very ill. One August day, her daughters visited Mary (who was just recovering from an illness of her own). They told Mary how sick MawMac was…how hard it was for her to move and breathe. And that night, Mary went to sleep… and woke up in heaven. Less than 24 hours later, MawMac followed her. These two ladies lived and breathed their hope in Jesus… they “walked” their faith in God to see them through anything and everything. They looked past criticisms and ridicule - and what was probably outright hatred and disgust from some… and saw the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ. And this is where they placed their focus.
I wonder if you and I can say the same thing in our own lives? Surely there are times when we are snubbed… hurt… insulted… demeaned. Maybe you are ridiculed for your faith…or judged unfairly because you choose to conduct yourself in a particular way. If you are steadfast in your faith and your love for Jesus, there will always be those who groan and roll their eyes behind your back. I’ve noticed these are also some of the same people who are front and center to ask for help and prayers when the chips are down! The conclusion I have drawn is that consistent, enduring hope and faith in God rubs off on others… and pays dividends!
And so we come to Christmas Eve and narrow our focus to that night over 2000 years ago when God sent a baby to earth to live and breathe among us as human flesh. Let’s remind ourselves that He has done much more than we could possibly know. Jesus has given us hope where ours was lost… He quiets the offenses and attacks of those who judge and belittle us (if only behind our backs)… and He will never leave us or cease in His efforts on our behalf! This is truly GOOD NEWS… and God is surely worthy of our praise… and our unending hope!
One of MawMac’s daughters shared these thoughts with me, and I would like to pass them on to you…
“Something my mother used to do every Christmas Eve was take us outside before bedtime. She'd say, ‘Now, look up in the sky and just feel the night. You can tell Santa Claus is up there.’ She said this in her most dramatic voice and it really impressed us. She continued until we were grown. I did the same with my children. I also continued after they were grown up. I suspect that this Christmas Eve, I will be out there looking up at the sky, feeling the night and Santa. The faith and excitement of all those millions of children makes it real and palpable. Give it a whirl!”
While MawMac may very well have said that you can tell Santa Claus is up there… I’d be willing to bet she also reminded her children that GOD is up there, too. MawMac’s hope was in God, who makes everything possible. And so is mine! So tonight, go outside and look up in the sky and “feel the night.” Revel in God’s presence…receive His gift of Jesus… and embrace all of the hope that comes with it. I dare you to "give it a whirl"! Merry Christmas Eve… and may God bless and keep you!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 52
Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
All day long you plot destruction.
Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;
you’re an expert at telling lies.
You love evil more than good
and lies more than truth.
You love to destroy others with your words,
you liar!
But God will strike you down once and for all.
He will pull you from your home
and uproot you from the land of the living.
The righteous will see it and be amazed.
They will laugh and say,
“Look what happens to mighty warriors
who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.
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.
You know the song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. We’ve all sung it a zillion times. Remember the line where it says, “He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice”? We’ve all known people who were plenty “naughty”… and still seemed to manage to be on Santa’s “nice” list!
At some point, you have probably said of someone else… “If I did what he/she has done, I would be in jail… the poor house…big trouble…” (you fill in the blank). We all know people who seem to “get by with murder”. Maybe you know someone who never pays his/her bills, yet they always seem to get by somehow – and have nice things (like clothes, cars and homes) in the bargain. Or maybe you know someone who is dishonest…who makes promises and doesn’t keep them… someone who is unreliable or downright disruptive… yet people flock to this person and want him/her to be in their circle of friends and influences.
Perhaps you have worked very hard at school, at a job, for your team, or for a group in your church… and someone else who flies under the radar seems to take all of the glory and accolades. Or maybe you know those who waltz into a situation, toss around money and big talk, and make a big (and phony) splash to garner attention and credit, while the real workers were overshadowed on the sidelines. MAYBE…someone has lied about you – or to you – and somehow, he/she has managed to bully you and/or others into believing that you were actually the one who was “in the wrong” in a particular situation. It’s all enough to make you throw up your hands and claim that “Nice guys really DO finish LAST!”
But David is reminding all of us in this Psalm that no one gets by with anything! God is watching… and He is not amused by those who think they are above reproach. Like an olive tree (which is prized for its hard wood and durability - as well as its beauty), we are to remain strong and steady in our faith and our actions. We are to place our hope in God’s unfailing love… and trust His directives for our lives. We are to “keep on keepin’ on”… even when it seems like we are spinning our wheels.
Ultimately, God will take action. Those who have “misbehaved” will be reprimanded… there will be consequences for their actions. Those who have used wealth and influence to get ahead will have to answer for their actions… and those who have remained relentless and faithful in their trust and service will be rewarded.
I know it’s frustrating to sit on the sidelines and watch people cut corners and appear to skate by in life. But I also know that God will reward those who remain loyal and serve Him well. Don’t be distracted by the ones who play fast and loose with God’s gifts. Focus on Jesus and His teachings. Keep doing what you know is right… and never lose hope that God is noticing. GOD knows who is really naughty and nice…and His “list” is the only one that truly matters! The most important question is…in which column will He place your name?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 43:5
Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God!
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.
A failing grade…a lost job…spending the holidays away from family and friends…grieving the loss of a loved one…no money to pay bills – much less buy Christmas gifts…illness or injury…a broken relationship…a house or other property that won’t sell…aging and all of the nuances that accompany this phase of life…disappointment of any kind…all of these are reasons to feel discouraged. Any of it is enough to make your heart sad… and God understands this!
God also offers us hope… and redemption. He will lift us out of our discouragement and sadness. I cannot tell you exactly how… when… or where. But I know that He will. He’s done it for me… countless times… and I know that He will do it again. And He will do this for YOU, as well!
“But I still have all of these problems and sadness!” you may be saying. I’m sure you do! I didn’t say that God would instantly fix everything for you and make life hunky-dory! But I will tell you this… someday you will look back and reflect on this time. If you have remained hopeful, sought God’s help - and trusted Him to deliver on His promises - you will look at this time and say, “Ohhhh… so that’s what He was showing me. That’s why it took XYZ amount of time...God was working things out all along!” Again, I cannot tell you how it will happen… or how quickly… but God will answer you - every time!
Today… as you experience life in whatever form it is presenting itself to you…feel God’s presence. Put your hope in Him and believe that He is meeting your needs. Praise Him for being with you in all circumstances… call Him your Savior and God and operate in full confidence that He will bring you joy and peace… today, and always.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 39:7
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
My only hope is in you.
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.
Where did I put my _____? You fill in the blank! Each one of us probably asks this question several times a day. We wonder where we put put our keys… our phone…our wallet…even our car (in a busy parking lot)! It’s enough to drive a person batty at times… especially if we cannot find said item!
I wonder if you have ever asked yourself, “Where is my hope?” Because you see, there are plenty of things in life that seem to cause people to lose theirs. At any given moment, we may be stressing and fretting over a final exam…funding for a scholarship…bills we can’t seem to pay…not enough work - or sleep…the challenges of parenthood – or aging…too much to do – or too little…illness and/or injury…and more. And let’s not even talk about grief and loneliness… a feeling of helplessness over things that are beyond our control! I’m talking real, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, anxiety-producing situations that reduce us to a blithering mess! In these moments, many – if not all of us - will ask, “Where is my hope?”
C’mon now… you know the answer! You’ve always known that your hope lies in Jesus Christ and what He did for you. But you know what else? God understands when we question this! He gets it when we are despondent and heartsick and worry and fret. See… in those moments, we are raw… broken… REAL! And God gets a chance to truly show up and show out! He stands in the wings, waiting for us to realize that He can fix this! He can restore us… encourage us… give us new insights and a positive outlook. And the sooner we realize this and recognize His power to help… the better!
So where did you put your hope today? Have you momentarily lost it? Has it actually been missing for a long, long time? Isn’t today the perfect day to find it again… to rediscover God and what He does for us every day through His Son, Jesus Christ? Will this be the moment that you heave a sigh of relief and say, “I’ve found my hope…His name is Jesus!”? He’s standing right beside you… isn’t it time you acknowledged Him?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 31:24
So be strong and courageous,
all you who put your hope in the Lord!
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 we attended Timothy’s pre-K Christmas program. Children from three different classes (a 3-year-old pre-K group, and two classes of 4-and-5-year-olds) offered their renditions of familiar Christmas tunes. Timothy’s group was one of the “older” ones, and they sang three tunes, “Jingle Bells”, “Christmas Colors”, and “Feliz Navidad”.
You never know what you will get with small children, and we were not disappointed. The 3-year-olds were all dressed as angels… flowing white “robes” trimmed with silver tinsel… tinsel halos on their heads. And each and every one of them sang well. There were no “melt-downs”... no one looked frightened… all performed with strength and courage.
The second group contained about a half dozen 4-and-5-year-old boys and one little girl. For the most part, they did well. But one little boy was terribly upset. He didn’t just cry… he sobbed. And thankfully, someone came to his rescue and held him on the stage until this group completed their performance.
Then it was time for Timothy’s group. We did not know what to expect, but he did well… once he located his family in the audience. We watched him walk down the aisle… searching every pew of the church sanctuary for us. He was visibly concerned when he got to the stage, and we could see him mouth, “Where is my family? I can’t find my family!” We knew it would not go well if he didn’t locate us before the songs began. And sure enough… he spotted us… and his face lit up as he smiled and waved and called out to us. Then, he lifted his eyes to the ceiling, drew in a big breath, and heaved a giant sigh of relief.
To see such palpable consolation in that little boy just made me want to cry. Timothy had put all of his hope in the love and support of his family. He trusted them to be present for him… to observe him and encourage him in his performance…and he tried very hard to be strong and courageous. And when he saw his mom, dad, grandmother, siblings… and his Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg (who were surprise guests to him)…all of his fortitude and bravery were worth it! He sang his little heart out…smiled, waved and gave a “thumbs up”… and even bowed at the end!
What about you? Are you still seeking God as you walk down the “aisle of life”? Are you wondering if God is there to support you? Do you have hope that He is with you… meeting your needs and cheering you on? Does God undergird everything you do? Is He present in your life in a tangible, profound way? Have you exhaled that all-important sigh of relief as you inhaled God’s goodness and power over your life? Isn’t it time to do exactly that?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 27:4-5
The one thing I ask of the Lord—
the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections
and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
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.
“All I want for Christmas…” is a phrase that is uttered countless times by children of ALL ages every year. This is the first year that Timothy has really understood about Santa Claus. And he has a list – a Spiderman pillow pal, cars and trucks, and “other stuff”!
Isn’t that how we are so much of the time? We have a list of specific things that we want from God… and a lot of “other stuff”. We are anything but single-minded, when in fact, all we need is to seek the house of the LORD all the days of our life… to delight in His perfections and meditate in His temple. If we focus on God, He truly will conceal us in the sanctuary of His love, grace, wisdom and mercy when the troubles come…and they will come in this earthly lifetime!
In this season when our focus is scattered in a zillion different directions, let’s stop and take a minute to reel things in… to pull back on the festivities and plans and wishes and expectations and focus on God’s gift of Jesus Christ… the real reason for Christmas and so much more. If we pin our hopes on Jesus… if we concentrate on living with Him as the center of our very being… everything else truly is “other stuff”… as it should be.
What are you asking for this Christmas? Who are you seeking? Are you hoping for – and expecting – to receive your heart’s desires… because they line up with those of God Almighty through His Son, Jesus Christ? Will this be the season that you begin to seek the One Thing that matters and forget the “other stuff”? Are you ready to rest in the safety of His love and care? Will this be the day you start to make it happen?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
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.
This is really a hard month for patience… especially if you are four! Timothy is told virtually every day that he has to wait on something… “We have to wait to open presents until Christmas Day”… “We have to wait for the parade to start”… “We have to wait seven more ‘sleeps’ for Santa to visit”… “We have to wait until Christmas to see what Santa brings us” (to which he replies, “But it IS Christmas!”)…you get the idea. We have tried to explain to Timothy and his two-year-old sister Zola that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday… that this is truly why we celebrate. We’ve looked at dozens of nativities and talked about Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus. We have discussed the wise men and their gifts…the shepherds and the all-important-to-Timothy animals that they tend.
We took the children to our community Christmas parade, and they were both so excited by the lights, cars, trucks, floats, marching band, horses, and more. When the participants threw candy, Timothy’s little body literally shook all over with excitement! The wonder and awe in both of their faces was incredibly heartwarming. Everything about the night was magical for them. And when they came face-to-face with Santa Claus, Timothy stuck out his little hand and said, “Merry Christmas, Santa!” and then declared… “I have seen the real Santa!”
The children may not realize it, but they are already “waiting on the LORD!” Whether they are waiting patiently is questionable at any given moment, but they are waiting, nonetheless. Surely they are confident that Christmas Day will come… that we will celebrate the birth of Jesus (and open presents from Santa!). But what about those of us who are old enough to fully comprehend everything that happened some 2046 years ago? Do we fully operate in bravery, courage, and patience as we serve the LORD and wait on His return?
We should be able to understand the true meaning of Christmas…AND the earthly life of Jesus…His crucifixion and resurrection. We should be trembling with excitement at the thought meeting “the real Jesus” face-to-face for the first time. The idea of heaven should be as magical and invoke as much awe and wonderment in us as the Christmas lights, sights and sounds of a parade provided for countless children on a moonlit December night.
Even in our darkest, most despondent moment, we should be filled with hope that Jesus is waiting for us… that the best is yet to come! I know there are plenty of sad situations… grief-stricken people whose hearts are broken, those who will lose their jobs the end of this month (if they haven’t already), many who cannot pay bills – much less provide Christmas gifts and meals for their loved ones... people who are sick and battling serious illnesses and injuries…lonely folks…people separated from loved ones by military deployment other constraints. And these are legitimate concerns…plausible reasons to lose heart that God understands! But He also provides an answer…His gift of Jesus Christ! For this reason, we can be hopeful. We can be brave and courageous… and patiently wait for Him to come to us – both as a Rescuer in this earthly life, and as our ultimate Savior for all eternity.
I can be as impatient as a four-year-old at times…but I’ve experienced enough of God’s grace, mercy and blessings in my life already to know that He is worth the wait. The thought of seeing Him in person makes my heart flutter and almost causes me to tremble as much as little Timothy did… and I am more than hopeful that this will happen – in God’s timing. Can you say the same? Are you ready to operate in the hope and patience of Jesus…this season and always? Isn’t this a great day to begin?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 25:3
No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced,
but disgrace comes to those who try to deceive others.
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.
I wasn’t going to tell you this… but…I guess this is as good a time as any for the “Christmas Bicycle” story. I’m guessing my brother was about 8 years old the Christmas he asked for a “real bicycle”. You see, the only bicycle he had ever owned was a second-hand, cobbled-up affair that someone had fixed for him, and he wanted a “Stingray” bicycle with the banana seat and all the trimmings. He was positive that Santa Claus… a.k.a. Mom and Dad… would bring him this bicycle. That was all he talked about… for weeks. “When I get my bicycle”… or “Santa is bringing me a bicycle”… or “I will do this or that on my new bicycle.” My sister and I… older than he by 3 and 4 years… were ready to gag. When Tim got on a run about something like that, he would NOT let it go!
We always spent Christmas Eve at the farm with my grandparents… my Mam-ma Polly and Pap-pa Truman. That year, Tim got a cassette tape recorder from them. But all the way home, he talked about the bicycle he would get the next morning. So my sister and I asked to “borrow” the tape recorder, and we made little bedtime recording for Tim. We told him that there was not enough money to get him the bicycle he wanted. We explained that Mom and Dad had bought a wig for my sister Suzanne, and I don’t remember what they got me, but when they finished paying for those items, there just was not enough money for the bike. We asked him to “buck up”… to try not to be upset… to essentially be a sore loser and give the bicycle nonsense a rest!
We delivered the tape recording to Tim and said, “Listen to this!”… and then we returned to our room. Soon, we heard crying. Our little brother was Devastated (and yes, I meant to use a capital “D”!). He was so heartbroken, and we were immediately sorry that we had done this. We tried and tried to convince him that it was a joke… that we made it all up… that he WAS getting a bicycle for Christmas. But the damage was done.
The next morning, Tim was one sad little boy as he dragged himself into the living room. Mom and Dad tried to coax him to look out the dining room window onto the patio. They told him that “Santa” had left something there for him. He did not seem the least bit enthused… and of course, my parents were totally baffled by his behavior. So my sister and I had to confess. Then we threw open the curtain and revealed the shiny new bike, and Tim was beyond excited again. But Suzanne and I were not nearly as jubilant… and our parents were even less thrilled with us!
To this day, the “Christmas Bicycle Story” is a situation that makes us groan. How could we have been so deceptive and so cruel? Even given how annoying our little brother could be, that was an awful thing to do to him. But Tim, being “Tim” forgave us over and again through the years and offered both of us more grace for that incident - and other times we blamed Little Brother for our own misdeeds - than either of us deserved. To say that we are ashamed and disgraced by our behavior would be a major understatement… but we take comfort in knowing that we truly were forgiven.
I have said many times that even when nobody discovers your wrongdoings… God knows about them. Even if you seem to “skate by” with transgressions, deceptions and lies…God knows the truth. I don’t know about you, but the one thing I cannot bear to face is the thought that I might stand before God in disgrace. Thankfully, I don’t have to. I have given Him my heart and soul… I have invited Jesus to be the LORD of my life and to fill my heart with His Holy Spirit. I have been forgiven and offered unending love, grace and mercy. And while this is not a license to lie, cheat and steal, I know that if/when I do falter (because we are human and will have our moments), God will pick me up, dust me off, and set me upright again.
Because of all of this, I have hope. I will do my very best never to operate in deceit… and certainly I will make every effort not to disgrace myself… much less God. I will thank Him every day for His forgiveness and unconditional love and care. And I will live expectantly…anticipating the day when I will not only be able to share a laugh again about the “Christmas Bicycle” with my brother… but also to receive another hug of forgiveness from him.
Best of all, I will enjoy the glory and wonderment of God’s presence face-to-face… and that will be the best “Christmas” present ever! Are you hoping for… and expecting the same?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 146:3-9
Don’t put your life in the hands of experts
who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don’t have what it takes;
when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
put your hope in God and know real blessing!
God made sky and soil,
sea and all the fish in it.
He always does what he says—
he defends the wronged,
he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
he gives sight to the blind,
he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
takes the side of orphans and widows,
but makes short work of the wicked.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Sunday morning, Timothy came stomping into the bathroom where I was dressing for church. “Aunt Debbie,” he said indignantly, “Uncle Greg just called me a ‘stinker’!” I asked Timothy what he had done, and he replied, “But I’m hungry!” He had been opening the kitchen cabinets and drawers to scavenge for a snack! And truly, he comes by his “stinker” trait honestly. My Mam-ma Polly… Timothy’s great-great-grandmother, could really be a stinker at times. Take for instance the summer day that I grocery shopped for her, and she put Clorox® bleach on her list. It was at least 103 in the shade, and I had planned to shop at Wal-Mart. Clorox® bleach was on sale at a grocery store across town – for ten cents less. I told Mam-ma that I would just get her the store brand, because it was even cheaper. She went into a tailspin! It had to be Clorox®! I told her that “bleach is bleach”… but she vehemently disagreed. To “seal the deal”, she added a loaf of bread to her list – Best Choice… sold only at the store where the bleach was a dime cheaper! So of course, I did what any respectful grand-daughter would do… I trekked across town to the other store and bought her Clorox® bleach and the loaf of bread!
I come from a long line of “stinkers”… and we are all “brand snobs” about certain things. I will only use Hellmann’s REAL mayonnaise, and my chili flavoring of choice is Williams. My brother was a “brand snob” about several food items, and he, my dad, and my Mam-ma’s boyfriend all had major – and differing – opinions about which brand of canned pork ‘n beans was the best! And while each of us has preferences about certain things… or silly notions, ideas and opinions about this or that (and feel that OUR opinion is the RIGHT one!)…the world will not fall apart if we prefer Bush’s beans over Van de Kamp’s… or Kraft Mayo over Hellmann’s. It won’t even matter whether we use a generic bleach or the Clorox® brand!
But when it comes to our life – both on this earth and for all eternity… in the matter of where we place our hope… it matters greatly who we listen to and trust. You don’t have to look very far to get a zillion opinions. Some will tell you that you must attend this church or that one… that you must memorize scripture or perform certain rituals. Others will say that it doesn’t really matter – there are many ways to God and plenty of paths to heaven. Do NOT accept any imitations in your faith walk. Do not listen to those who speak of anything other than God’s word and time spent in His presence to determine what HE is saying to you. Study, pray, listen and learn for yourself! Don’t leave this up to anyone else!
Just because your friends and family members prefer “Brand A” faith doesn’t make it right for you any more than your taste buds are better suited to one store brand over another. You may be swayed by the media and peer pressure to purchase certain brands, to support a particular political party, and even to drive a certain kind of car. You may do everything you can to fit in with others in society…to conform to what others tell you is “normal” and “expected.” But I am telling you this… in matters of your heart, your soul, and your eternity… all the hype in the world is exactly that - puff and fluff. Stick with the REAL DEAL… put your hope in God Almighty. Trust the teachings and actions of Jesus Christ… believe in His sacrifices for you on the cross, and in the hope of a place in His presence someday in heaven.
If you must be a “stinker”, be one for God! Insist on Him and nothing else. Make Him your “brand of choice”… your only hope… and never waver. You can always trust Him to give you the best results… to bless you immeasurably and never steer you down the wrong path. God is worth the “drive across town”… His love and care is literally the biggest savings of your life!
Who are you listening to these days? Are you swayed by the message of “experts”… or are you clinging to the words and wisdom of God Almighty? Are you secure in the hope of heaven and God’s promises? Isn’t it time you were?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 119:113-120
I hate the two-faced,
but I love your clear-cut revelation.
You’re my place of quiet retreat;
I wait for your Word to renew me.
Get out of my life, evildoers,
so I can keep my God’s commands.
Take my side as you promised; I’ll live then for sure.
Don’t disappoint all my grand hopes.
Stick with me and I’ll be all right;
I’ll give total allegiance to your definitions of life.
Expose all who drift away from your sayings;
their casual idolatry is lethal.
You reject earth’s wicked as so much rubbish;
therefore I lovingly embrace everything you say.
I shiver in awe before you;
your decisions leave me speechless with reverence.
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.
When Timothy and Zola visited this week, I showed them a little vintage elf ornament that hangs on a Christmas tree I decorated for them. They have an “Elf on the Shelf” at their house named Christopher Pop-In-Kins, so I told them that OUR elf was named Henry Truman, and that he was watching them just like Christopher did at home – and reporting to Santa. The children were very well behaved… and any time they started to falter, we reminded them about Henry Truman - and they generally changed their mind. It is very hard to be good at Christmas time with all of the temptations, exciting events and sweet treats to keep your mind and body revved up. But the Christmas season is also a time when children of all ages often at least try to act nicer!
Have you noticed that you see a lot of people in church around the Christmas and Easter seasons that you never see there the rest of the year? Or maybe you’ve observed that a lot of people are friendlier and more generous to others during the holidays. A friend of mine actually refers to these folks as “Christmas and Easter Christians”! While I’m glad to see people in church any day of the year… while I will take all the incentives for good behavior in children that I can get – especially at Christmas time…it does leave me to wonder about what they are like the rest of the year.
Don’t misunderstand me… God is thrilled ANY TIME we turn to Him. His heart is glad when we worship Him and come before Him for guidance and care. But He is so much more than a “Christmas and Easter God”. He wants us to walk with Him each and every day of the year… to be diligent and serious in our Christian discipleship – not casual worshippers. God wants us to spend time in His presence and hear what He has to say 365 days a year… not to drift away from His teachings for months on end – or to call on Him only when the chips are down and we are desperate!
I am sad to admit that I think my friend might be at least partially right. I am afraid there truly are “Christmas and Easter Christians” who hardly give God any thought the other ten months of the year. And sadly, I’m pretty sure they are missing out on all of the benefits and blessings of a constant relationship with God. They don’t fully know what it is to shiver in awe with speechless reverence at God’s power in their lives. They have not given Him their full allegiance, so their hopes – if they even have any – often end in disappointment.
As I told Timothy this morning, there are “ten more sleeps” until Christmas. Let’s recommit ourselves in this next ten days to waiting on God’s word to renew us… to finding a place of quiet retreat with Him each and every day of the year. Let’s let take God’s side and keep His commands… and live every minute of the day with assurance that He is giving life to our hopes, meeting our every need, and planning for our future even into Eternity. Let’s be “Everyday Christians” who really, truly operate in the hope of Jesus Christ… at Christmas, Easter, and always.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Proverbs 24:14
In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
If you find it, you will have a bright future,
and your hopes will not be cut short.
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.
There is a lot of information available about the healing qualities of honey. Those who are especially interested in “natural healing” tout honey as something of a “wonder drug” for boosting your immune system, killing bacteria, and more. So when I saw a recipe on Pinterest for an “all-natural” tea made with honey, lemon and ginger root that was supposed to soothe sore throats and colds, I decided to make some.
The recipe said to slice fresh lemons and grate fresh ginger root. Layer both in a clean fruit jar. Cover the lemon and ginger root with honey, screw on a lid, and set the jar in the refrigerator. The honey will mix with the lemon oils and juices and the ginger flavoring over the next several days. The recipe suggested that you spoon some of this mixture into a heat-proof container and add very hot water, let it “steep”, then strain the mixture into a mug... and enjoy!
Last week, a friend visited us who was nursing the remnants of a cold and cough. I offered her some lemon-ginger tea, and she drank TWO cups! She said it was delicious… and that it did seem to soothe her throat. We all voiced a hope that her cold would soon be gone… and that the tea with honey would play a part in getting her well quickly!
Okay, so maybe that’s a stretch! But the wisdom of God is like honey. In fact, several translations of this passage actually refer to this sweet nectar by name. When we fill our hearts and minds with God’s wisdom, we also fill ourselves with hope that He will meet our needs… heal our bodies and souls…and create a promising future for us! Just like the simple, unadulterated recipe that soothes our scratchy sore throat, God’s wisdom can be a balm for our weary soul - and give us confidence and hope for the days ahead. It’s really not that much of a far-fetched notion, after all!
So if you have a sore throat or a cold, try some lemon-ginger-honey tea! If you need a hefty dose of hope and the promises of God… seek His wisdom. Picture Him standing at the door to your heart, holding a steaming hot mug of His love, grace, mercy, power, understanding… and hope. Now THAT’S a recipe worth sharing!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Proverbs 13:12
Unrelenting disappointment leaves you heartsick,
but a sudden good break can turn life around.
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.
It’s raining here today… a cold rain with an occasional sleet pellet – but rain just the same. After a week of sub-freezing temperatures and a hefty layer of ice that still covers much of the grass and hillsides, we’re glad for “just rain.” In fact, when the temperature “soared” to the low-to-mid-thirties yesterday, people acted like we were having a heat wave. Some dragged out shorts and t-shirts… many more shucked their heavy coats. And when the sun began to shine a few days ago, everybody’s mood brightened!
A week ago, people on Facebook were lamenting their “cabin fever”… complaining about spending two or three days in a row cooped up in the house. At the first sign of melting, many ventured out – if only to Wal-Mart – thrilled for the “sudden good break”. They had hoped for at least a sign that warmer weather was coming… and its arrival changed their whole mood.
Sound silly? Maybe. But here’s something that isn’t. When you have one genuine unrelenting disappointment after another, you do become discouraged… even heartsick. When one family member after another gets sick… or dies… you begin to wonder whether God truly cares about you. When Christmas is coming and the plant where you have worked for more than a decade is scheduled to close on December 31st - and you are losing your paycheck, benefits, and more - you feel like you will never smile again. When your marriage or relationship falls apart, you back your car into a post, and the dog gets sick… you start to feel like “if it weren’t for bad luck, I’d have no luck at all”!
Without a doubt, there are times in our lives when we seem to experience “unrelenting disappointment”. More than a few of us have experienced a season when we were truly heartsick. But just as many of us have had a “sudden good break” that seemed to turn things around… at least temporarily. Just like a warmer, sunshine-filled day after a dreary ice storm, the clouds seemed to part, and our spirits were lifted.
This is what God offers us… every single day! God doesn’t want us to operate in “cloudy days”. He doesn’t want our lives to be filled with disappointments that just won’t quit… or situations that leave us heartbroken and clouded by despair. He wants us to look to Him for answers… to trust that He is still with us, no matter what… to have hope and confidence that He will turn things around.
God is better than a “sudden good break”… because He is constant and steady. And while it may seem at times like He has totally deserted us and left us to wallow in the pit of misery… nothing could be further from the truth. This is the time when we cannot see how busy God is… working things out for us. Perhaps He is taking our lives in a different direction. Maybe He is planning for a season of growth… or preparing us to nurture someone else because of our own heartache. There are so many things about how God operates that we cannot see and understand… but I am confident that leaving us to fend for ourselves is not one of them!
Eighteen years ago, dear friends to Greg and me lost their 17-year-old son in a terrible car accident. Several students were returning one night from an out-of-town basketball game when their car crashed. Two young men were killed. Yesterday on Facebook, the brother of the other young man who was killed posted to the daughter of our friends and said, “When I think about all that happened that night, I don't know that I would change a thing. It was this day 18 years ago that shaped the man I am today, and I know it has molded into your heart a mother’s love. God is pretty awesome. I don't know about you, but there were times when I literally needed to feel Gods touch...and He always came through.”
To be able to recognize God’s hand in such a tragedy… to see how He could turn such horrific events into something good and mold a strong, faithful Christian man and a loving, Godly mother to two young boys as a result… exemplifies lives filled with hope in Jesus Christ. Are you sitting around waiting for a “sudden good break”… or do you believe that God is creating the events that will turn your life around… even as you read this? Do you trust His ability and desire to transform your heartaches into happiness… to carry you through the rough seasons and restore your joy… to shower you with blessings you never even saw coming?
Will you live your life with perpetual “cabin fever” and discontent… or will you operate in hope for the brighter days ahead? This IS a choice… and it’s yours. What will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
