1 John 1:9
But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Attending a high school basketball game can be akin to looking at humanity in a fishbowl! You have two teams fighting for the same victory. Then you have the parents, friends, relatives and casual observers who care about the outcome to varying degrees. On the teams themselves, you have players representing several age groups…from freshmen and sophomores who are relatively “green”…to the seniors who are playing their last season and laying it all on the line. In the case of a district tournament we recently attended, the outcome of the games signaled not only the end of the season for some…but also the end of a “career” for many who will not be moving on to play ball at the college level.
So as we sat and cheered our senior girls’ team to victory, I watched the players on the opposing team see their hopes and dreams dashed in a one-point loss. I observed in the previous game as almost-grown boys quite literally made a trudge of defeat to their bench…tears filling their eyes as they hugged teammates and commiserated the end of this phase of their lives.
I know what you may be thinking…a year from now, these will be distant memories – maybe totally unimportant to these young people in the scheme of things. And yes, the final game(s) of your high school “career” are not as critical as world peace…or even many of the crises and concerns that affect each of us on any given day. But let’s keep things in context…and in so doing, let’s have a little empathy and compassion for the other guy.
We were all teenagers once…surely we remember how all-important many of those experiences were at the time…the first dance…your athletic competitions…your last band concert or marching performance…a budding romance. Some of you remember what it felt like as a parent to see your children go through these rites of passage and realize that they were growing up…and away from your “nest” in short order. Surely you can feel some semblance of empathy for the person seated next to you who is exuberant over every basket…yelling at the referee in protest of a foul on his/her kid that seemed undeserved…or tearful at game’s end.
What does this have to do with our scripture verse for today? I’m glad you asked! The very same God who forgives our sins when we call on Him… the One who takes away our tears and fears and forgives us when we “act a fool” and admit it…the God who cares about worldwide hunger and injustice…also cares about the mixed bag of emotions that surround a high school senior’s last ballgame. The same God we trust to care for us and take away our sins cares for that dad who is unhappy with the refs - and the mom who is crying her eyes out because her baby has taken one more step toward independence.
The same God who holds us in His hands when we are sick or in need will heal and comfort others who are sick or troubled. The same God who orchestrates even the most mundane occurrences of our daily living will guide the steps of others who call on Him. The same God who forgives our sins and washes them away will offer salvation and eternal life to anyone else who confesses his/her sins.
We are no different…no better…no more privileged before God than anyone else. And at the end of the day…or the end of a game…we are all pretty much the same. We love our kids… our schools…our communities and our country. We live, love, laugh and cry…and we are all precious to God. Take a good hard look at the people around you and recognize that what God offers to you…He also offers to them. Does this change how you relate with them? Shouldn’t it?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 27, 2014
Colossians 1:9-12
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine is embarking on a huge project to create a home for single mothers whose children were placed in foster care and are now transitioning back into a “traditional home” setting. Many of these women need help developing the necessary skills to create a solid, stable family unit that can sustain them and their children. It is hoped that a commitment to six months in this group home will equip these families to function well enough to stay out of the foster care system and “make a go of it”. Is this project fraught with opportunities for difficulties – even failure? Absolutely! Does this mean that my friend should not pursue what she believes God has called her to do? Absolutely not!
There are plenty of situations where we hesitate to get involved because we fear the outcome. Will we offend the person we are trying to comfort? Will we say the right things? Will this endeavor work…or will it fail miserably? Will all parties be left disappointed – even devastated? If we cannot guarantee that our efforts and ministries will be successful – and fruitful – should we pursue them? Read this scripture passage again…pay particular attention to the phrase that says “It is strength [the God-given glory-strength] that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy…”
Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” There are a lot of situations where we will be called to pour out our hearts…to invest our physical, mental and emotional strength…and every indication will be that our attempts to share the compassion, mercy, love and grace of Jesus Christ were ineffective…rejected…a total waste of time. But this is never the case.
We do not get to decide whether our service for Jesus was effective or not. In fact, whether we have a visible, tangible result or not is totally unimportant. What matters is that we are obedient…that we do what God leads us to do…that we make the effort and trust Him for the outcome. So my friend feels that God is calling her to do this…and she is obediently serving. Whether the desired outcome is achieved or not is totally up to God. At the end of the day, all who were involved will know that they “worked hard in God’s orchard”…that they listened to His voice and operated in His strength.
Where is God calling you to step up and out today? Who needs a hug…a hand…a word of encouragement…or whatever you feel God leading you to share as an act of mercy and compassion? How are you offering God’s love to others…and how are you serving Him? Are you obedient and eager to learn more about how to do His work? Are you willing to accept the challenge…and the potential for “failure”?
God will not waste your efforts…you will not serve Him in vain – even if it seems that your offers of love and support have been rejected. When we listen to God’s voice and serve Him obediently, He will make the difference…and we will be strengthened and blessed in the process. Are you ready to discover this for yourself?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Be assured that from the first day we heard of you, we haven’t stopped praying for you, asking God to give you wise minds and spirits attuned to his will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which God works. We pray that you’ll live well for the Master, making him proud of you as you work hard in his orchard. As you learn more and more how God works, you will learn how to do your work. We pray that you’ll have the strength to stick it out over the long haul—not the grim strength of gritting your teeth but the glory-strength God gives. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking the Father who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that he has for us.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A friend of mine is embarking on a huge project to create a home for single mothers whose children were placed in foster care and are now transitioning back into a “traditional home” setting. Many of these women need help developing the necessary skills to create a solid, stable family unit that can sustain them and their children. It is hoped that a commitment to six months in this group home will equip these families to function well enough to stay out of the foster care system and “make a go of it”. Is this project fraught with opportunities for difficulties – even failure? Absolutely! Does this mean that my friend should not pursue what she believes God has called her to do? Absolutely not!
There are plenty of situations where we hesitate to get involved because we fear the outcome. Will we offend the person we are trying to comfort? Will we say the right things? Will this endeavor work…or will it fail miserably? Will all parties be left disappointed – even devastated? If we cannot guarantee that our efforts and ministries will be successful – and fruitful – should we pursue them? Read this scripture passage again…pay particular attention to the phrase that says “It is strength [the God-given glory-strength] that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy…”
Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “You use steel to sharpen steel, and one friend sharpens another.” There are a lot of situations where we will be called to pour out our hearts…to invest our physical, mental and emotional strength…and every indication will be that our attempts to share the compassion, mercy, love and grace of Jesus Christ were ineffective…rejected…a total waste of time. But this is never the case.
We do not get to decide whether our service for Jesus was effective or not. In fact, whether we have a visible, tangible result or not is totally unimportant. What matters is that we are obedient…that we do what God leads us to do…that we make the effort and trust Him for the outcome. So my friend feels that God is calling her to do this…and she is obediently serving. Whether the desired outcome is achieved or not is totally up to God. At the end of the day, all who were involved will know that they “worked hard in God’s orchard”…that they listened to His voice and operated in His strength.
Where is God calling you to step up and out today? Who needs a hug…a hand…a word of encouragement…or whatever you feel God leading you to share as an act of mercy and compassion? How are you offering God’s love to others…and how are you serving Him? Are you obedient and eager to learn more about how to do His work? Are you willing to accept the challenge…and the potential for “failure”?
God will not waste your efforts…you will not serve Him in vain – even if it seems that your offers of love and support have been rejected. When we listen to God’s voice and serve Him obediently, He will make the difference…and we will be strengthened and blessed in the process. Are you ready to discover this for yourself?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 26, 2014
James 1:12
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
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 the blink of an eye…everything can change. One minute you can be having the best day…eagerly anticipating the future…and then you step off a ledge, break your ankle and seriously damage your foot. That happened to me almost seven years ago. And for the next nine weeks, I was unable to walk without crutches and spent much of that time sitting rather helplessly on the couch or lying in bed. As we sat at our desks one hot summer morning, my mother-in-law called for Greg to come home quickly...his dad had died while sitting in his “easy chair”. An “ordinary” work day that started with picking peaches and gardening suddenly became a day that would change our lives forever.
A relative went to work one day as usual and was told “this is your last day with us.” In essence, she was fired from a job she had held for nine years – apparently over policy differences. Another cousin woke one recent morning with a fiery red rash around her mid-section that was later diagnosed as shingles – a painful, itchy, virus that can make one miserable for weeks and months. We’ve heard news reports more than once of a young athlete who collapsed and died on the football field or basketball court during a scrimmage or actual contest. I’m sure that no one wakes up on any given morning thinking, “Today I will lose my home – or my family or my life – in a tornado, fire, earthquake or flood.”
There are “good” tests, such as marriage, the arrival of a new baby, starting college, or beginning a new job. And we all know there are plenty of tests that appear to be anything but positive or happy. Let’s be honest…we are often left asking God, “Why?” We wonder “Why me?”…”Why now?”...”Why this?”. Why did God immobilize me with a foot injury just as we were building a new house and there were dozens of decisions to make? Why does God call our loved ones to heaven and leave us hurting and bewildered? Why do we experience sudden upheavals - such as a job loss or a debilitating illness - when we have bills to pay, people who are depending on us for a myriad of things, and a ton of things to get done?
Why do some people seem to have “Job-sized” troubles? I am thinking of those who experience multiple losses within the span of a few months…and often endure unexpected personal illness, needed home or vehicle repairs, and more? We truly are left to wonder “why bad things happen to good people”…and why God allows this! And the short answer is: I honestly do not know.
But here’s the thing. Every unpleasant – even devastating – experience in my life has brought blessings, strength, and a deeper dependence on God to meet my daily needs. I can look back at each one of the tests and temptations in my life and enumerate ways that God was caring for me and orchestrating events that bolstered my faith and Christian witness. And I’ve seen the same thing happen in the lives of others. If nothing else, these experiences have given me a more tender heart toward others who encounter similar circumstances. I am able to say with confidence, “You will be just fine.” I don’t offer this observation callously or without sympathy for what this person is enduring. I share this out of a deep love and concern…and firsthand knowledge of its truth.
Perhaps God is testing you as you read this. Perhaps you are in a season where life is pretty great and you are “in the zone”! Whatever lies behind you…and ahead of you…God is with you. He is equipping you to handle the tests and temptations. Just as importantly, God will give you opportunities to share compassion and empathy for these circumstances with others who are equally tested and tempted.
How will you respond? This is the real question…because you do have a choice. You can elect to wallow in self-pity and let the devil drag you down…or you can say, “LORD…I don’t understand, but I trust you completely. Show me how to use this experience for Your purposes. Strengthen me and give me courage, comfort and confidence. Place before me those who need to see how You are helping me through this…the ones who need to be encouraged and ministered to out of my own tests and temptations.”
Will this be easy? Probably not! I do not mean to imply that God will instantly take your heartaches, grief, and difficulties from you. But He will walk through them with you…every step of the way…and create opportunities and blessings you never even saw coming. Will you trust Him to do this? Are you ready for whatever comes your way because of your strength and faith in the LORD? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
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 the blink of an eye…everything can change. One minute you can be having the best day…eagerly anticipating the future…and then you step off a ledge, break your ankle and seriously damage your foot. That happened to me almost seven years ago. And for the next nine weeks, I was unable to walk without crutches and spent much of that time sitting rather helplessly on the couch or lying in bed. As we sat at our desks one hot summer morning, my mother-in-law called for Greg to come home quickly...his dad had died while sitting in his “easy chair”. An “ordinary” work day that started with picking peaches and gardening suddenly became a day that would change our lives forever.
A relative went to work one day as usual and was told “this is your last day with us.” In essence, she was fired from a job she had held for nine years – apparently over policy differences. Another cousin woke one recent morning with a fiery red rash around her mid-section that was later diagnosed as shingles – a painful, itchy, virus that can make one miserable for weeks and months. We’ve heard news reports more than once of a young athlete who collapsed and died on the football field or basketball court during a scrimmage or actual contest. I’m sure that no one wakes up on any given morning thinking, “Today I will lose my home – or my family or my life – in a tornado, fire, earthquake or flood.”
There are “good” tests, such as marriage, the arrival of a new baby, starting college, or beginning a new job. And we all know there are plenty of tests that appear to be anything but positive or happy. Let’s be honest…we are often left asking God, “Why?” We wonder “Why me?”…”Why now?”...”Why this?”. Why did God immobilize me with a foot injury just as we were building a new house and there were dozens of decisions to make? Why does God call our loved ones to heaven and leave us hurting and bewildered? Why do we experience sudden upheavals - such as a job loss or a debilitating illness - when we have bills to pay, people who are depending on us for a myriad of things, and a ton of things to get done?
Why do some people seem to have “Job-sized” troubles? I am thinking of those who experience multiple losses within the span of a few months…and often endure unexpected personal illness, needed home or vehicle repairs, and more? We truly are left to wonder “why bad things happen to good people”…and why God allows this! And the short answer is: I honestly do not know.
But here’s the thing. Every unpleasant – even devastating – experience in my life has brought blessings, strength, and a deeper dependence on God to meet my daily needs. I can look back at each one of the tests and temptations in my life and enumerate ways that God was caring for me and orchestrating events that bolstered my faith and Christian witness. And I’ve seen the same thing happen in the lives of others. If nothing else, these experiences have given me a more tender heart toward others who encounter similar circumstances. I am able to say with confidence, “You will be just fine.” I don’t offer this observation callously or without sympathy for what this person is enduring. I share this out of a deep love and concern…and firsthand knowledge of its truth.
Perhaps God is testing you as you read this. Perhaps you are in a season where life is pretty great and you are “in the zone”! Whatever lies behind you…and ahead of you…God is with you. He is equipping you to handle the tests and temptations. Just as importantly, God will give you opportunities to share compassion and empathy for these circumstances with others who are equally tested and tempted.
How will you respond? This is the real question…because you do have a choice. You can elect to wallow in self-pity and let the devil drag you down…or you can say, “LORD…I don’t understand, but I trust you completely. Show me how to use this experience for Your purposes. Strengthen me and give me courage, comfort and confidence. Place before me those who need to see how You are helping me through this…the ones who need to be encouraged and ministered to out of my own tests and temptations.”
Will this be easy? Probably not! I do not mean to imply that God will instantly take your heartaches, grief, and difficulties from you. But He will walk through them with you…every step of the way…and create opportunities and blessings you never even saw coming. Will you trust Him to do this? Are you ready for whatever comes your way because of your strength and faith in the LORD? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 25, 2014
John 1:18
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
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 know we are “late to the dance”, but we are finally watching the television miniseries The Bible, which initially aired in spring 2013 on The History Channel. This program has zipped through the Bible with lightning speed and only scratched the surface in telling the story of God’s word with selective, often-underdeveloped snippets. But the writers/producers have still managed to present a compelling image of life in Biblical times – and left many hungry to grab their Bibles and dig in more deeply. And that’s a good thing!
One of the persuasive demonstrations of the first three episodes was the incredible faith of many people who never saw the face of God. They trusted Him…worshipped Him...and obeyed Him solely on the words of a handful of people who either saw God in some form as Moses did, heard from Him directly - like Abraham - or were visited by an angel who gave them a direct message, as was the case for Mary, mother of Jesus. Most of the everyday, ordinary people of Israel walked totally by faith. They trusted that those who led them on God’s behalf had truly heard from Him.
When Jesus came to earth, He revealed God to man in a whole new way. He didn’t use burning bushes, the sudden appearance of angels, or even the audible voice of God to reach those in His midst. Instead, he related to them on a more personal level. When Peter cast his nets and came up empty-handed, Jesus took him out to fish one more time. The nets almost broke from the haul…giving Jesus the opening to say, “Come with me and I’ll make you a Fisherman Extraordinaire…one who harvests souls for God’s kingdom instead of food for the table.” When Jesus saw the sick and the lame, He touched them and made them well and whole…He demonstrated God’s love and care in a tangible way. When people were hungry, Jesus fed them… literally AND figuratively. He embraced the children who surrounded Him and reminded the adults that there is a special place in the Kingdom for those with a child-like heart of wonder and acceptance. And He suffered…for His beliefs and on our behalf…and was ultimately tortured and crucified.
It may have been difficult for those in the Old Testament times to see God…to fully understand Him. And truly, if you watch this miniseries and study your Bible, you will get a sense of just how incredibly brave it was of many to step up and out for God. Thousands died serving a God they never saw. Many were tortured unmercifully because they claimed to believe in a God who had never physically revealed Himself to them. We may operate faithfully in an unseen God…but I daresay many of us will ever be in any danger for doing so. The “stakes” for us are pretty low by comparison to so many who preceded us.
Still, we can learn much from those who followed God in such a valiant manner. For starters, we can recognize that the God who loved and cared for these people is the same God who cares for us. If God could do incredible, miraculous things in the lives of the Israelites who followed Him…don’t you think He will do the same for you? Don’t you believe that the God who protected Mary and Joseph…Who guided them as they delivered Jesus into the world and shielded Him from King Herod…will protect you and guide your steps? Do you fully comprehend that the compassion Jesus had for the people in Galilee and the surrounding cities is accessible to you…and available for you to share with others in His name?
One of the challenges we often face in sharing the love, compassion, grace and mercy of God with others is their inability to get past a sense of His physical absence. This is where we have the perfect opportunity to say, “I know that God exists…that He will do these things for you…because this is what He has done for me.” We can cite personal examples of God’s power and care for our own lives. In doing so, we can essentially say, “I get what you are going through…and I know Someone who can help you!”
Are you ready to be the face of God to others? Will this be the day that you reveal His love and care to someone by offering them compassion and understanding? Are you operating in faith that God will meet your needs each day…and are you ready to share this confidence with others? Will you step up and out in faith in an “unseen God”… and let others see Him through you today? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
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 know we are “late to the dance”, but we are finally watching the television miniseries The Bible, which initially aired in spring 2013 on The History Channel. This program has zipped through the Bible with lightning speed and only scratched the surface in telling the story of God’s word with selective, often-underdeveloped snippets. But the writers/producers have still managed to present a compelling image of life in Biblical times – and left many hungry to grab their Bibles and dig in more deeply. And that’s a good thing!
One of the persuasive demonstrations of the first three episodes was the incredible faith of many people who never saw the face of God. They trusted Him…worshipped Him...and obeyed Him solely on the words of a handful of people who either saw God in some form as Moses did, heard from Him directly - like Abraham - or were visited by an angel who gave them a direct message, as was the case for Mary, mother of Jesus. Most of the everyday, ordinary people of Israel walked totally by faith. They trusted that those who led them on God’s behalf had truly heard from Him.
When Jesus came to earth, He revealed God to man in a whole new way. He didn’t use burning bushes, the sudden appearance of angels, or even the audible voice of God to reach those in His midst. Instead, he related to them on a more personal level. When Peter cast his nets and came up empty-handed, Jesus took him out to fish one more time. The nets almost broke from the haul…giving Jesus the opening to say, “Come with me and I’ll make you a Fisherman Extraordinaire…one who harvests souls for God’s kingdom instead of food for the table.” When Jesus saw the sick and the lame, He touched them and made them well and whole…He demonstrated God’s love and care in a tangible way. When people were hungry, Jesus fed them… literally AND figuratively. He embraced the children who surrounded Him and reminded the adults that there is a special place in the Kingdom for those with a child-like heart of wonder and acceptance. And He suffered…for His beliefs and on our behalf…and was ultimately tortured and crucified.
It may have been difficult for those in the Old Testament times to see God…to fully understand Him. And truly, if you watch this miniseries and study your Bible, you will get a sense of just how incredibly brave it was of many to step up and out for God. Thousands died serving a God they never saw. Many were tortured unmercifully because they claimed to believe in a God who had never physically revealed Himself to them. We may operate faithfully in an unseen God…but I daresay many of us will ever be in any danger for doing so. The “stakes” for us are pretty low by comparison to so many who preceded us.
Still, we can learn much from those who followed God in such a valiant manner. For starters, we can recognize that the God who loved and cared for these people is the same God who cares for us. If God could do incredible, miraculous things in the lives of the Israelites who followed Him…don’t you think He will do the same for you? Don’t you believe that the God who protected Mary and Joseph…Who guided them as they delivered Jesus into the world and shielded Him from King Herod…will protect you and guide your steps? Do you fully comprehend that the compassion Jesus had for the people in Galilee and the surrounding cities is accessible to you…and available for you to share with others in His name?
One of the challenges we often face in sharing the love, compassion, grace and mercy of God with others is their inability to get past a sense of His physical absence. This is where we have the perfect opportunity to say, “I know that God exists…that He will do these things for you…because this is what He has done for me.” We can cite personal examples of God’s power and care for our own lives. In doing so, we can essentially say, “I get what you are going through…and I know Someone who can help you!”
Are you ready to be the face of God to others? Will this be the day that you reveal His love and care to someone by offering them compassion and understanding? Are you operating in faith that God will meet your needs each day…and are you ready to share this confidence with others? Will you step up and out in faith in an “unseen God”… and let others see Him through you today? Don’t you think you should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 24, 2014
1 Timothy 1:19-20
Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme 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.
I watched a documentary on NBC about Olympic figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. You may know the story of these two women who were rising stars in the figure skating world… both poised to win Olympic medals in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway. Kerrigan was attacked after a practice one day and hit in the knee with a metal bar. Harding would later be implicated in a convoluted – and poorly executed – scheme to injure Kerrigan so that she could not contend for Olympic gold…thus, freeing the way for Harding to win the medal. As Kerrigan lay in the hallway, crippled from the attack, she cried out, “Why?! Why, me?!” Some have made fun of her and criticized her as a “whiner,” while others maintain that she was in excruciating pain and offered a legitimate reaction.
Pastor Joel Osteen recently preached a sermon titled, “All is Well.” He encouraged listeners to focus on repeating this phrase – and truly believing these words…regardless of what is happening in our lives. He maintained that with God at the helm, all truly is well…all the time. These are encouraging words. This is an incredibly hopeful thought…and one that represents “perfect timing” for many people I know who are experiencing a “season” of difficulty and challenge. The fact is that this is a timely thought for many people on any given day. If we truly do rely on God to meet our needs…if we honestly believe that He will make a way where none seems possible…then certainly “all is well”.
Given this thought to ponder, we look at Paul’s words to Timothy – in particular, verse 20 when he says that he threw out Hymenaeus and Alexander (two pastors) and “handed them over to Satan”. What does this mean? How can this be? I went in search of explanation and discovered an insightful online sermon by Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. If you have time and really want to dig into this message, go to http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/54-9 and read/listen to what he says. He cites numerous scripture passages to solidify his view…including instances in the Old and New Testament where a believer was handed over to Satan…for “refining”…for “proving the validity of their faith”…and “for greater effectiveness”. But in all situations, the purpose was not to literally give these people to the devil…but ultimately, to bring glory to God - and a deepening of their relationship with Him.
So what does this mean for us as Christians? Stop and think about your life and the lives of others. Do you know someone who just can’t seem to catch a break? I’m talking about a faith-filled Christian who seems to experience one challenge after another for a period of time…physical illness and/or injury, the loss of loved ones, perhaps a job loss or difficulties at school – or some problem in their home life. Perhaps you or someone you know have gotten to the point where you wake up in the morning and ask, “What else can possibly go wrong?”
Here’s the thing…even Jesus was delivered to Satan…but He was not defeated by him. God’s hand of protection never left Jesus…and He won’t leave us, either. We may go through some truly rough, heartbreaking, painful times in our lives…but God will still meet our needs…and ultimately, “all is well”. As faith-filled Christians, this is the message we must internalize…and the hope and encouragement that we must offer others.
Our job is to operate with compassion and empathy…to honestly offer sympathy to others who seem to be in the pit of despair and desperation. But at the same time, we must offer them hope. We must assure them that God will not leave them in this pit…even if He allows them to visit for a while. We must demonstrate confidence and faith in our own lives when things appear to be impossible…and we must use our own bleak “seasons” as tools to encourage others who are troubled. We must pray fervently for God to work in us and those to whom we minister, so that the results He desires are manifested…and His power and everlasting care are glorified.
God will not hand us over to Satan “lock, stock and barrel”…but He will do whatever it takes to refine us and make us the most faithful, hopeful, and effective Disciples we can possibly become. We must look at the challenges before us - and those presented to others - as opportunities to stretch and grow in our faith and ministry. We must be ready to learn from them…and to trust God for the outcomes. And all the while, we must demonstrate that…“All is well”.
Has God handed you over to the devil for a season? If so, are you remaining steadfast in your faith? Are you growing in your reliance on God’s wisdom, power, and love? Are you encouraging others and offering them compassion and empathy…even as they seem to fall into a pit of despair and the tricks and battering of Satan’s attempts to wear them down and reclaim them? Will this be the day that you look up and grab God’s hand and say, “Whatever You throw at me, I will not let go. All is well! All is well!”? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
https://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/VideoStreaming.aspx
Click on 2.23.2014 #607 "All is Well"
Cling to your faith in Christ, and keep your conscience clear. For some people have deliberately violated their consciences; as a result, their faith has been shipwrecked. Hymenaeus and Alexander are two examples. I threw them out and handed them over to Satan so they might learn not to blaspheme 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.
I watched a documentary on NBC about Olympic figure skaters Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding. You may know the story of these two women who were rising stars in the figure skating world… both poised to win Olympic medals in 1994 at Lillehammer, Norway. Kerrigan was attacked after a practice one day and hit in the knee with a metal bar. Harding would later be implicated in a convoluted – and poorly executed – scheme to injure Kerrigan so that she could not contend for Olympic gold…thus, freeing the way for Harding to win the medal. As Kerrigan lay in the hallway, crippled from the attack, she cried out, “Why?! Why, me?!” Some have made fun of her and criticized her as a “whiner,” while others maintain that she was in excruciating pain and offered a legitimate reaction.
Pastor Joel Osteen recently preached a sermon titled, “All is Well.” He encouraged listeners to focus on repeating this phrase – and truly believing these words…regardless of what is happening in our lives. He maintained that with God at the helm, all truly is well…all the time. These are encouraging words. This is an incredibly hopeful thought…and one that represents “perfect timing” for many people I know who are experiencing a “season” of difficulty and challenge. The fact is that this is a timely thought for many people on any given day. If we truly do rely on God to meet our needs…if we honestly believe that He will make a way where none seems possible…then certainly “all is well”.
Given this thought to ponder, we look at Paul’s words to Timothy – in particular, verse 20 when he says that he threw out Hymenaeus and Alexander (two pastors) and “handed them over to Satan”. What does this mean? How can this be? I went in search of explanation and discovered an insightful online sermon by Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California. If you have time and really want to dig into this message, go to http://www.gty.org/resources/sermons/54-9 and read/listen to what he says. He cites numerous scripture passages to solidify his view…including instances in the Old and New Testament where a believer was handed over to Satan…for “refining”…for “proving the validity of their faith”…and “for greater effectiveness”. But in all situations, the purpose was not to literally give these people to the devil…but ultimately, to bring glory to God - and a deepening of their relationship with Him.
So what does this mean for us as Christians? Stop and think about your life and the lives of others. Do you know someone who just can’t seem to catch a break? I’m talking about a faith-filled Christian who seems to experience one challenge after another for a period of time…physical illness and/or injury, the loss of loved ones, perhaps a job loss or difficulties at school – or some problem in their home life. Perhaps you or someone you know have gotten to the point where you wake up in the morning and ask, “What else can possibly go wrong?”
Here’s the thing…even Jesus was delivered to Satan…but He was not defeated by him. God’s hand of protection never left Jesus…and He won’t leave us, either. We may go through some truly rough, heartbreaking, painful times in our lives…but God will still meet our needs…and ultimately, “all is well”. As faith-filled Christians, this is the message we must internalize…and the hope and encouragement that we must offer others.
Our job is to operate with compassion and empathy…to honestly offer sympathy to others who seem to be in the pit of despair and desperation. But at the same time, we must offer them hope. We must assure them that God will not leave them in this pit…even if He allows them to visit for a while. We must demonstrate confidence and faith in our own lives when things appear to be impossible…and we must use our own bleak “seasons” as tools to encourage others who are troubled. We must pray fervently for God to work in us and those to whom we minister, so that the results He desires are manifested…and His power and everlasting care are glorified.
God will not hand us over to Satan “lock, stock and barrel”…but He will do whatever it takes to refine us and make us the most faithful, hopeful, and effective Disciples we can possibly become. We must look at the challenges before us - and those presented to others - as opportunities to stretch and grow in our faith and ministry. We must be ready to learn from them…and to trust God for the outcomes. And all the while, we must demonstrate that…“All is well”.
Has God handed you over to the devil for a season? If so, are you remaining steadfast in your faith? Are you growing in your reliance on God’s wisdom, power, and love? Are you encouraging others and offering them compassion and empathy…even as they seem to fall into a pit of despair and the tricks and battering of Satan’s attempts to wear them down and reclaim them? Will this be the day that you look up and grab God’s hand and say, “Whatever You throw at me, I will not let go. All is well! All is well!”? Don’t you think it’s time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
https://www.joelosteen.com/Pages/VideoStreaming.aspx
Click on 2.23.2014 #607 "All is Well"
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2014
James 1:27
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless 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.
Several years ago, a friend shared an audiobook with me… So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey, by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. This is the fictional story of a disillusioned pastor named Jake who has several encounters with a stranger who strongly resembles the mannerisms of the apostle John. A review of this book on Amazon.com says in part…” Facing his own disappointment with Christianity, Jake must forsake the habits that have made his faith rote and rediscover the love that captured his heart when he first believed.”
Critics have claimed that this book just fuels the fire for bashing “institutional church”, which one person described as a place where “church members are hopelessly ignorant, able to recite chapter and verse but knowing nothing of the heart of Scripture.” In one chapter, “Pastor Jake” is reminded of his childhood and “competitions” to learn Bible verses and earn “Gold Stars”…and the pressure and guilt he felt when he didn’t perform well in this endeavor. This really struck a chord with me.
When I was a child, my church held an annual fundraiser for overseas missions. A big map was hung above the choir loft, and every time someone donated a certain amount of money to this mission fund, a red bulb was lit on this map. I so wanted my family to be able to light one of those bulbs. But coming from a household of five whose budget was limited, this never happened. And somewhere in my subconscious, I think I felt less valuable as a Christian witness - not because my family could not afford to contribute - but because we somehow didn’t fit in with those who did. Now understand, a LOT of families in our church never gave enough to light a bulb…and this truly had nothing to do with how well we served others in God’s name. Plain and simple, it was a “religious” competition…”hot air” that truly was not about overseas missions as much as creating an image of “group participation”. In actuality, this only divided the “haves” from the “have-nots” – even within the church body.
To this day, I feel a tad uneasy when I receive solicitations in the mail for legitimate donations… St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – even my own church and its ministries. How does one choose? Where does one draw the line? Are you a “bad Christian” if you donate to one cause and not another? If you are serving and giving to the best of your ability - yet you continue to be asked by church leaders and charitable organizations to give more - does this mean you are not serving God well…or doing enough? Is serving God about getting the “Gold Star”…or are we serving out of a heart for the “homeless and loveless” in the world? Are we giving our money, time and talent to make a name for ourselves and soothe our conscience (or shush those who berate us)…or are we earnestly seeking God’s will for our lives and ministering to others according to His will?
It matters greatly how we answer these questions. I firmly believe that God will provide for every need when we seek His will and act accordingly. If God leads us to give money or donate to a mission fund or charity, we should certainly do so. If God says, “Use your time and talents in this manner for my glory,” we should get up and get going! If God presents us with people and circumstances for which our own life experiences give us firsthand knowledge - and the ability to comfort and encourage - we should step up and out and do exactly that!
Hear me on this…God doesn’t care if you never light a bulb on a map to raise funds for missions – or earn a badge or pin for attending a certain number of Bible studies - or learning x number of scripture verses. God really could care less if we are “religious”! What matters to God is that we eagerly seek His will for our lives…that we ask Him how, when and where to share the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with others…and that we spend every waking minute honoring Him with our faith and obedience.
I have to tell you, I’m a little tired of divisive tactics and “religious” people who want to make others look or feel badly because they are not doing enough…aren’t giving enough…aren’t high-profile enough in their ministry efforts and Christian witness. God doesn’t want a show…He wants believers who have a true heart for Him and want to share His love with others. The only “medal” or recognition we should be seeking is the words…“Well done, My good and faithful servant,” when we stand before the LORD on Judgment Day. Our focus should be on loving others and meeting their needs in Jesus’ name – each and every day…and letting God have the glory and recognition.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you working hard to earn an earthly medal? Is your “religious” appearance nothing more than a “hot-air” performance? Are you genuinely God’s faithful servant? Are your ministries sincere, compassionate, heartfelt and God-sanctioned? Isn’t it time they were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
Anyone who sets himself up as “religious” by talking a good game is self-deceived. This kind of religion is hot air and only hot air. Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless 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.
Several years ago, a friend shared an audiobook with me… So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore: An Unexpected Journey, by Wayne Jacobsen and Dave Coleman. This is the fictional story of a disillusioned pastor named Jake who has several encounters with a stranger who strongly resembles the mannerisms of the apostle John. A review of this book on Amazon.com says in part…” Facing his own disappointment with Christianity, Jake must forsake the habits that have made his faith rote and rediscover the love that captured his heart when he first believed.”
Critics have claimed that this book just fuels the fire for bashing “institutional church”, which one person described as a place where “church members are hopelessly ignorant, able to recite chapter and verse but knowing nothing of the heart of Scripture.” In one chapter, “Pastor Jake” is reminded of his childhood and “competitions” to learn Bible verses and earn “Gold Stars”…and the pressure and guilt he felt when he didn’t perform well in this endeavor. This really struck a chord with me.
When I was a child, my church held an annual fundraiser for overseas missions. A big map was hung above the choir loft, and every time someone donated a certain amount of money to this mission fund, a red bulb was lit on this map. I so wanted my family to be able to light one of those bulbs. But coming from a household of five whose budget was limited, this never happened. And somewhere in my subconscious, I think I felt less valuable as a Christian witness - not because my family could not afford to contribute - but because we somehow didn’t fit in with those who did. Now understand, a LOT of families in our church never gave enough to light a bulb…and this truly had nothing to do with how well we served others in God’s name. Plain and simple, it was a “religious” competition…”hot air” that truly was not about overseas missions as much as creating an image of “group participation”. In actuality, this only divided the “haves” from the “have-nots” – even within the church body.
To this day, I feel a tad uneasy when I receive solicitations in the mail for legitimate donations… St. Jude’s Hospital, the American Cancer Society, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Arkansas Children’s Hospital – even my own church and its ministries. How does one choose? Where does one draw the line? Are you a “bad Christian” if you donate to one cause and not another? If you are serving and giving to the best of your ability - yet you continue to be asked by church leaders and charitable organizations to give more - does this mean you are not serving God well…or doing enough? Is serving God about getting the “Gold Star”…or are we serving out of a heart for the “homeless and loveless” in the world? Are we giving our money, time and talent to make a name for ourselves and soothe our conscience (or shush those who berate us)…or are we earnestly seeking God’s will for our lives and ministering to others according to His will?
It matters greatly how we answer these questions. I firmly believe that God will provide for every need when we seek His will and act accordingly. If God leads us to give money or donate to a mission fund or charity, we should certainly do so. If God says, “Use your time and talents in this manner for my glory,” we should get up and get going! If God presents us with people and circumstances for which our own life experiences give us firsthand knowledge - and the ability to comfort and encourage - we should step up and out and do exactly that!
Hear me on this…God doesn’t care if you never light a bulb on a map to raise funds for missions – or earn a badge or pin for attending a certain number of Bible studies - or learning x number of scripture verses. God really could care less if we are “religious”! What matters to God is that we eagerly seek His will for our lives…that we ask Him how, when and where to share the love and Good News of Jesus Christ with others…and that we spend every waking minute honoring Him with our faith and obedience.
I have to tell you, I’m a little tired of divisive tactics and “religious” people who want to make others look or feel badly because they are not doing enough…aren’t giving enough…aren’t high-profile enough in their ministry efforts and Christian witness. God doesn’t want a show…He wants believers who have a true heart for Him and want to share His love with others. The only “medal” or recognition we should be seeking is the words…“Well done, My good and faithful servant,” when we stand before the LORD on Judgment Day. Our focus should be on loving others and meeting their needs in Jesus’ name – each and every day…and letting God have the glory and recognition.
Where do you fit in this picture? Are you working hard to earn an earthly medal? Is your “religious” appearance nothing more than a “hot-air” performance? Are you genuinely God’s faithful servant? Are your ministries sincere, compassionate, heartfelt and God-sanctioned? Isn’t it time they were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
Daily Devotional for February 22, 2014
Titus 2:1-6
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
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.
Someone shared a video on Facebook of what appeared to be a “tween-age” boy standing on a covered sidewalk at a middle school or junior high. This boy, who was fairly hefty in size, was approached by another young man – a somewhat scrawny and certainly smaller kid – who began to bully him. In fact, he punched the larger boy in the face as other children looked on and encouraged him. Then the larger boy lifted the bully – almost over his head - and slammed him into the concrete sidewalk. The bully slowly rose and literally limped away – clearly injured…hopefully not permanently.
I have to tell you, I was sorry I clicked on this video. I cannot erase this image from my mind. While I will be the first to say that there is no place for bullying – ever – I cannot agree that this retaliation was acceptable. It does not represent a disciplined life or solid doctrine in my book. What bothers me as much is that this video is being shared and presented in a somewhat “he-had-it-coming” light. I found myself feeling sorry for pint-sized aggressor.
Bullying is never acceptable or appropriate. But I believe that bullies act out of insecurity more than aggression. And this is where I feel that these verses from Titus are appropriate. What are we teaching our children? Are we building them up – or tearing them down – with our own behavior? What sort of example are we setting for each other? How are we relating to one another on a daily basis? Are we operating with dignity, temperance, patience and reverence? Do we strive to be good role models for children? Or do we gossip, cheat, lie, steal, and look down on others? Do we perpetuate the concept of bullying by our talk? Are we quick to criticize, belittle, and taunt others – if only in the privacy of our homes or vehicles?
Do we laugh at videos such as this one, pat each other on the shoulder and say, “That’ll teach him!”? Do others see us as someone who has a kind heart and a healthy respect for each person…or as someone who endorses undisciplined, ungodly behavior? Where exactly do you draw the line?
I believe these are all valid questions. And I believe that God has given us clear instructions on how we are to conduct our lives each day. We need to ask God to fill us with solid doctrine (i.e. a healthy understanding – and practice – of Jesus’ teachings)…and to guide us as we demonstrate this to others in our behavior, our speech, and our personal interactions. People are watching! When they look at you…who – and what – do they see?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Your job is to speak out on the things that make for solid doctrine. Guide older men into lives of temperance, dignity, and wisdom, into healthy faith, love, and endurance. Guide older women into lives of reverence so they end up as neither gossips nor drunks, but models of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. We don’t want anyone looking down on God’s Message because of their behavior. Also, guide the young men to live disciplined lives.
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.
Someone shared a video on Facebook of what appeared to be a “tween-age” boy standing on a covered sidewalk at a middle school or junior high. This boy, who was fairly hefty in size, was approached by another young man – a somewhat scrawny and certainly smaller kid – who began to bully him. In fact, he punched the larger boy in the face as other children looked on and encouraged him. Then the larger boy lifted the bully – almost over his head - and slammed him into the concrete sidewalk. The bully slowly rose and literally limped away – clearly injured…hopefully not permanently.
I have to tell you, I was sorry I clicked on this video. I cannot erase this image from my mind. While I will be the first to say that there is no place for bullying – ever – I cannot agree that this retaliation was acceptable. It does not represent a disciplined life or solid doctrine in my book. What bothers me as much is that this video is being shared and presented in a somewhat “he-had-it-coming” light. I found myself feeling sorry for pint-sized aggressor.
Bullying is never acceptable or appropriate. But I believe that bullies act out of insecurity more than aggression. And this is where I feel that these verses from Titus are appropriate. What are we teaching our children? Are we building them up – or tearing them down – with our own behavior? What sort of example are we setting for each other? How are we relating to one another on a daily basis? Are we operating with dignity, temperance, patience and reverence? Do we strive to be good role models for children? Or do we gossip, cheat, lie, steal, and look down on others? Do we perpetuate the concept of bullying by our talk? Are we quick to criticize, belittle, and taunt others – if only in the privacy of our homes or vehicles?
Do we laugh at videos such as this one, pat each other on the shoulder and say, “That’ll teach him!”? Do others see us as someone who has a kind heart and a healthy respect for each person…or as someone who endorses undisciplined, ungodly behavior? Where exactly do you draw the line?
I believe these are all valid questions. And I believe that God has given us clear instructions on how we are to conduct our lives each day. We need to ask God to fill us with solid doctrine (i.e. a healthy understanding – and practice – of Jesus’ teachings)…and to guide us as we demonstrate this to others in our behavior, our speech, and our personal interactions. People are watching! When they look at you…who – and what – do they see?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 21, 2014
Philippians 2:5-8
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
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.
The 13th season of the reality TV competition American Idol is underway, and two Arkansans were included in this year’s group of contestants who “made it through to Hollywood”. Malcolm Allen of Wrightsville, and Spencer Lloyd, who hails from Bryant, made it through the first rounds and competed as part of the “top 13” as the field narrowed to 10 contestants. Neither continued beyond this point, although Lloyd was given a chance to “sing for your life” - as contest judge Jennifer Lopez put it. The judges all found Lloyd’s song selection and performance to be lackluster and not truly “star quality”, although they commended him for his talent and making it as far in the competition as he did.
So the aspirations of these two young men – and countless other young people who auditioned and participated in this competition – have been somewhat dashed. While a few eliminated contestants have gone on to reach some pinnacle of stardom, most returned home to a “regular life” among their family and friends. Some will perform at local venues, while others will sing in a church choir – or in the shower! Hopefully, this experience will not define these young people…at least not in the way one might think.
Consider Spencer Lloyd…a youth minister and worship leader at Family Life Church in Bryant, Arkansas. Perhaps God is calling him to focus on this ministry instead of a bigger stage. Maybe this is a harsh – even humbling – reminder that God decides how, when and where we are to use the talents and abilities that He gives us. Perhaps God is whispering to Spencer, “I need you to reach people for Me on a more basic, intimate level.” Yes, some are called to share Jesus on a world-wide stage. There is a place for the Chris Tomlins, Michael W. Smiths, and Natalie Grants…Beth Moores, Jen Hatmakers and Max Lucados. But not all of us are called to serve on such a high-profile stage.
Quite honestly, this notoriety can be a slippery slope. The devil loves to take men and women of God, fill them with a powerful ego, and watch them fall – and take others along with them for the ride. Because of his appearance on American Idol, Spencer Lloyd’s name recognition has grown…so essentially, he has expanded his audience. But you and I are no less important to God. Our ministries and witness are every bit as vital. And because of our “simplicity”, we might just be able to reach those who would never listen to someone with celebrity status. They might perceive such people as “unapproachable” or out of touch with the realities of their “regular” lives. We - plain, ordinary people that we are - have a critical role to play as Disciples of Christ!
We can relate to the person who struggles to trust God when bills are piling up and there don’t seem to be enough work hours in the day to earn enough to cover them. We can offer first-hand compassion and empathy to someone who is going through a rough time…illness, relationship problems, work challenges – or the lack of a job, the challenges of child-rearing – or aging, and so much more. We can share out of the plainness of our own lives in a way that is real and plausible to others.
This is why Jesus came to earth as a humble human being. He certainly is anything but plain and ordinary. But God knew that people would not accept another egotistical, arrogant king. He knew that we needed someone who was one of us…a real, honest-to-goodness person…even though Jesus is truly so much more! Only a Supernatural King in a commonplace, familiar form could speak to us at our very core. Jesus could only reach the “average Joe” as a humble servant touched by the hand of God. And this is who we are called to be…the regular guy…the plain and simple, humble servant who loves God and shares His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional devotion with others.
Spencer Lloyd is perfectly positioned to reach countless people for Jesus Christ…but so are you and I. God has called us to humbly serve others in Jesus’ name…to be one of them – relatable, sympathetic, and “human”. We might not be the next American Idol, but if we serve with a respectful and unpretentious heart, we’ll be true rock stars in the eyes of God. We will become “celebrities” of a heavenly kind…with blessings and dividends far beyond anything Hollywood could ever hope to offer.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.
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.
The 13th season of the reality TV competition American Idol is underway, and two Arkansans were included in this year’s group of contestants who “made it through to Hollywood”. Malcolm Allen of Wrightsville, and Spencer Lloyd, who hails from Bryant, made it through the first rounds and competed as part of the “top 13” as the field narrowed to 10 contestants. Neither continued beyond this point, although Lloyd was given a chance to “sing for your life” - as contest judge Jennifer Lopez put it. The judges all found Lloyd’s song selection and performance to be lackluster and not truly “star quality”, although they commended him for his talent and making it as far in the competition as he did.
So the aspirations of these two young men – and countless other young people who auditioned and participated in this competition – have been somewhat dashed. While a few eliminated contestants have gone on to reach some pinnacle of stardom, most returned home to a “regular life” among their family and friends. Some will perform at local venues, while others will sing in a church choir – or in the shower! Hopefully, this experience will not define these young people…at least not in the way one might think.
Consider Spencer Lloyd…a youth minister and worship leader at Family Life Church in Bryant, Arkansas. Perhaps God is calling him to focus on this ministry instead of a bigger stage. Maybe this is a harsh – even humbling – reminder that God decides how, when and where we are to use the talents and abilities that He gives us. Perhaps God is whispering to Spencer, “I need you to reach people for Me on a more basic, intimate level.” Yes, some are called to share Jesus on a world-wide stage. There is a place for the Chris Tomlins, Michael W. Smiths, and Natalie Grants…Beth Moores, Jen Hatmakers and Max Lucados. But not all of us are called to serve on such a high-profile stage.
Quite honestly, this notoriety can be a slippery slope. The devil loves to take men and women of God, fill them with a powerful ego, and watch them fall – and take others along with them for the ride. Because of his appearance on American Idol, Spencer Lloyd’s name recognition has grown…so essentially, he has expanded his audience. But you and I are no less important to God. Our ministries and witness are every bit as vital. And because of our “simplicity”, we might just be able to reach those who would never listen to someone with celebrity status. They might perceive such people as “unapproachable” or out of touch with the realities of their “regular” lives. We - plain, ordinary people that we are - have a critical role to play as Disciples of Christ!
We can relate to the person who struggles to trust God when bills are piling up and there don’t seem to be enough work hours in the day to earn enough to cover them. We can offer first-hand compassion and empathy to someone who is going through a rough time…illness, relationship problems, work challenges – or the lack of a job, the challenges of child-rearing – or aging, and so much more. We can share out of the plainness of our own lives in a way that is real and plausible to others.
This is why Jesus came to earth as a humble human being. He certainly is anything but plain and ordinary. But God knew that people would not accept another egotistical, arrogant king. He knew that we needed someone who was one of us…a real, honest-to-goodness person…even though Jesus is truly so much more! Only a Supernatural King in a commonplace, familiar form could speak to us at our very core. Jesus could only reach the “average Joe” as a humble servant touched by the hand of God. And this is who we are called to be…the regular guy…the plain and simple, humble servant who loves God and shares His grace, mercy, forgiveness, and unconditional devotion with others.
Spencer Lloyd is perfectly positioned to reach countless people for Jesus Christ…but so are you and I. God has called us to humbly serve others in Jesus’ name…to be one of them – relatable, sympathetic, and “human”. We might not be the next American Idol, but if we serve with a respectful and unpretentious heart, we’ll be true rock stars in the eyes of God. We will become “celebrities” of a heavenly kind…with blessings and dividends far beyond anything Hollywood could ever hope to offer.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 20, 2014
Galatians 2:6-10
And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.) Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.
In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.
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 The Glass Castle, author Jeanette Walls talks a lot about being poor. It’s not that her parents weren’t capable of earning a decent living and providing for Walls and her three siblings. But both were poor managers - and a little unstable mentally and/or emotionally – and they pretty much chose not to work. Their theory was that “allowing” the children to fend for themselves would build character and develop lifelong survival skills. You probably cannot imagine your parents doing this…but I’ve worked with enough children and families to know that a somewhat “subconscious” form of this mindset exists more often than we want to believe.
Whether children learn survival skills as a result of this upbringing or not isn’t as important as how this treatment affects them psychologically. Walls describes how she and her siblings ate out of the garbage cans at the school cafeteria when no one was looking. They had no lunch money - and their mother absolutely forbade them to accept “free lunch” – so they would pretend they were not hungry. Then they would secretly steal away to the garbage cans and pilfer leftovers. Their clothes were ratty, and they even painted their skin to try to camouflage the holes in their garments. They were frequently cold… Walls’ brother, Brian, once turned a boat upside-down over his “bed” to keep the rain that dipped through holes in the roof from hitting him while he slept.
Like countless children throughout the world, these children simply wanted to be accepted…to fit in…to feel loved and nurtured. A college professor once accused Walls of not understanding the plight of the homeless, and she did not respond out of a fear that her own situation would be uncovered. Today, Walls is a successful author. She is married…and quite wealthy. Her father died from the ravages of alcoholism. Despite Wall’s efforts to provide her with a home and what most would consider “creature comforts”, Walls’ mother is homeless – by choice – on the streets of New York City.
What does this have to do with Paul’s words to the Galatians…and what is the message in this passage and illustration for us? If you read the verses again, you will see that God used Paul to preach to the Gentiles…and Peter reached out to the Jews. Both were serving God, but they were doing so out of their respective backgrounds. Sometimes, we can put ourselves in the other guy’s shoes…and sometimes, “it takes one to know one.” Does this mean that we cannot minister to the poor if we have never done without? Absolutely not! To the contrary, we must ask God to give us compassion for others, regardless of who they are. I’m not talking about pity…I’m talking about a true love and caring for others that transcends race, creed, color, sexual orientation, addictions, income levels, intellect, and more.
But there will also be instances where we can help others because of personal knowledge and insights. If you have gone through a divorce or nasty breakup…you can reach out to someone else who is experiencing this - and share how God got you through it. If you are battling an illness, you can offer support to someone else going through the same thing. If you struggled with college Algebra, you can help someone else in the same boat. Who can better counsel and comfort someone who is grieving a loss than those who have experienced this in their own lives? If you have overcome financial troubles and become debt-free (or close to it), you are in the perfect position to offer concrete, first-hand wisdom and encouragement to someone else who is struggling with this.
In addition, we need to stop and realize that none of us truly knows what is going on behind the scenes. Countless families like Jeanette Wall’s make every effort to “put on a good front”. We have no clue that there are problems at home…that kids are cold and hungry…that parents are suffering from illnesses and addictions…that there are relationship conflicts, abuses, and financial troubles. Sometimes, the cover-ups are “successful” – and no one is the wiser. Sometimes, things blow up at some point…and the results are devastating and ugly. OUR JOB as Disciples of Christ is to be awake and alert…to be loving, full of grace and mercy, kind and compassionate…and to offer others a safe “soft place to fall” if they decide to seek help.
How you demonstrate the love of Jesus in your daily living may make the difference between a child who suffers in silence – and one who feels comfortable enough to say, “I am in trouble, and I need your help.” Your kindness to someone who is disheveled and dirty or cold and hungry may allow him/her to stick around long enough to discover the love of Christ – and His power to create lifelong changes and improvements. Your willingness to listen to someone who has opinions and ideas that are different, at best – and maybe downright preposterous in your estimate – might be the catalyst for this person’s willingness to consider an alternative mindset. If we are quick to judge and suggest that it’s “our way or the highway”…we may permanently alienate the very people who desperately need to see and hear Jesus through us.
We need to smile more…to exude an air of kindness, grace, mercy, and acceptance…to honestly emulate Jesus Christ and His unconditional love for others. I saw the photo of a T-shirt on Facebook that said, “Love Thy Neighbor…thy homeless neighbor…thy Muslim neighbor…thy black neighbor…thy gay neighbor…thy white neighbor…thy Jewish neighbor…thy Christian neighbor…thy atheist neighbor…thy racist neighbor…thy addicted neighbor”.
What if we really did this? Paul tells us in this passage from Galatians 2 that God has equipped each of us to do this. He has tailored our individual “skillsets” to reach specific people. Have you determined yours? Do you know who – and how – God is calling you to share the love of Jesus with others? Are you selective in your witness, or do you genuinely desire to serve wherever God sends you – and to whomever He chooses – even the poor? Just how serious are you about your faith and discipleship? How willing – and eager - are you to share God’s love and the message of Jesus Christ with others? Don’t you think it’s time you knew?
©2014 Debbie Robus
And the leaders of the church had nothing to add to what I was preaching. (By the way, their reputation as great leaders made no difference to me, for God has no favorites.) Instead, they saw that God had given me the responsibility of preaching the gospel to the Gentiles, just as he had given Peter the responsibility of preaching to the Jews. For the same God who worked through Peter as the apostle to the Jews also worked through me as the apostle to the Gentiles.
In fact, James, Peter, and John, who were known as pillars of the church, recognized the gift God had given me, and they accepted Barnabas and me as their co-workers. They encouraged us to keep preaching to the Gentiles, while they continued their work with the Jews. Their only suggestion was that we keep on helping the poor, which I have always been eager to do.
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 The Glass Castle, author Jeanette Walls talks a lot about being poor. It’s not that her parents weren’t capable of earning a decent living and providing for Walls and her three siblings. But both were poor managers - and a little unstable mentally and/or emotionally – and they pretty much chose not to work. Their theory was that “allowing” the children to fend for themselves would build character and develop lifelong survival skills. You probably cannot imagine your parents doing this…but I’ve worked with enough children and families to know that a somewhat “subconscious” form of this mindset exists more often than we want to believe.
Whether children learn survival skills as a result of this upbringing or not isn’t as important as how this treatment affects them psychologically. Walls describes how she and her siblings ate out of the garbage cans at the school cafeteria when no one was looking. They had no lunch money - and their mother absolutely forbade them to accept “free lunch” – so they would pretend they were not hungry. Then they would secretly steal away to the garbage cans and pilfer leftovers. Their clothes were ratty, and they even painted their skin to try to camouflage the holes in their garments. They were frequently cold… Walls’ brother, Brian, once turned a boat upside-down over his “bed” to keep the rain that dipped through holes in the roof from hitting him while he slept.
Like countless children throughout the world, these children simply wanted to be accepted…to fit in…to feel loved and nurtured. A college professor once accused Walls of not understanding the plight of the homeless, and she did not respond out of a fear that her own situation would be uncovered. Today, Walls is a successful author. She is married…and quite wealthy. Her father died from the ravages of alcoholism. Despite Wall’s efforts to provide her with a home and what most would consider “creature comforts”, Walls’ mother is homeless – by choice – on the streets of New York City.
What does this have to do with Paul’s words to the Galatians…and what is the message in this passage and illustration for us? If you read the verses again, you will see that God used Paul to preach to the Gentiles…and Peter reached out to the Jews. Both were serving God, but they were doing so out of their respective backgrounds. Sometimes, we can put ourselves in the other guy’s shoes…and sometimes, “it takes one to know one.” Does this mean that we cannot minister to the poor if we have never done without? Absolutely not! To the contrary, we must ask God to give us compassion for others, regardless of who they are. I’m not talking about pity…I’m talking about a true love and caring for others that transcends race, creed, color, sexual orientation, addictions, income levels, intellect, and more.
But there will also be instances where we can help others because of personal knowledge and insights. If you have gone through a divorce or nasty breakup…you can reach out to someone else who is experiencing this - and share how God got you through it. If you are battling an illness, you can offer support to someone else going through the same thing. If you struggled with college Algebra, you can help someone else in the same boat. Who can better counsel and comfort someone who is grieving a loss than those who have experienced this in their own lives? If you have overcome financial troubles and become debt-free (or close to it), you are in the perfect position to offer concrete, first-hand wisdom and encouragement to someone else who is struggling with this.
In addition, we need to stop and realize that none of us truly knows what is going on behind the scenes. Countless families like Jeanette Wall’s make every effort to “put on a good front”. We have no clue that there are problems at home…that kids are cold and hungry…that parents are suffering from illnesses and addictions…that there are relationship conflicts, abuses, and financial troubles. Sometimes, the cover-ups are “successful” – and no one is the wiser. Sometimes, things blow up at some point…and the results are devastating and ugly. OUR JOB as Disciples of Christ is to be awake and alert…to be loving, full of grace and mercy, kind and compassionate…and to offer others a safe “soft place to fall” if they decide to seek help.
How you demonstrate the love of Jesus in your daily living may make the difference between a child who suffers in silence – and one who feels comfortable enough to say, “I am in trouble, and I need your help.” Your kindness to someone who is disheveled and dirty or cold and hungry may allow him/her to stick around long enough to discover the love of Christ – and His power to create lifelong changes and improvements. Your willingness to listen to someone who has opinions and ideas that are different, at best – and maybe downright preposterous in your estimate – might be the catalyst for this person’s willingness to consider an alternative mindset. If we are quick to judge and suggest that it’s “our way or the highway”…we may permanently alienate the very people who desperately need to see and hear Jesus through us.
We need to smile more…to exude an air of kindness, grace, mercy, and acceptance…to honestly emulate Jesus Christ and His unconditional love for others. I saw the photo of a T-shirt on Facebook that said, “Love Thy Neighbor…thy homeless neighbor…thy Muslim neighbor…thy black neighbor…thy gay neighbor…thy white neighbor…thy Jewish neighbor…thy Christian neighbor…thy atheist neighbor…thy racist neighbor…thy addicted neighbor”.
What if we really did this? Paul tells us in this passage from Galatians 2 that God has equipped each of us to do this. He has tailored our individual “skillsets” to reach specific people. Have you determined yours? Do you know who – and how – God is calling you to share the love of Jesus with others? Are you selective in your witness, or do you genuinely desire to serve wherever God sends you – and to whomever He chooses – even the poor? Just how serious are you about your faith and discipleship? How willing – and eager - are you to share God’s love and the message of Jesus Christ with others? Don’t you think it’s time you knew?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 19, 2014
Titus 2:11-14
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.
My cousin’s wife started taking a dietary supplement a few months ago, and now she is selling the product and encouraging others to try it. She is always posting photos and information about this product on Facebook…sharing testimonials for how much weight she and others have lost while using it - and talking about how much more energy they have now. Another friend recently signed on as a salesperson for a company that sells a mascara that instantly gives you longer, thicker eyelashes. She has been posting “before” and “after” pictures on Facebook.
Both of these women cannot stop telling others about these products. And while neither of these products is right for me, I have to admit that these ladies are excellent salespersons! They are so excited about their products that I can’t help but be intrigued. Their enthusiasm is definitely contagious! In addition to selling these products themselves, both women are encouraging others to join the company and become “team members”, as well.
I did not share these examples in order to encourage you to start selling these products – or any others promoted and sold in this manner. But I do think we can learn a lot from these sales methods. Here’s a novel idea…what if we were so enthused about our “new life in Christ” that we couldn’t stop sharing this news with others?! What if our excitement about how Jesus has changed our lives was so powerful that we wanted to tell people about Him all the time? What if our transformation was clearly visible to others in our “before” and “after” demonstrations – or “pictures”, so to speak. Suppose we lived as profound examples of the power, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ. What would happen if we behaved in a way that others couldn’t help but want to try Jesus for themselves?
This sounds so simple…like maybe I’ve “drilled it down” too plainly. But truthfully, Jesus’ gift of salvation is at once simple – and oh, so vast! The multi-level-marketing salespeople like to tell potential “team members” that…”the sky is the limit!” The sky IS the limit with Jesus! There is nothing that He cannot do for us…nothing that He will not do, if only we will “join” and choose to follow Him. He wants us to tell others…to be walking billboards for His love and the power of salvation in Him. Jesus not only wants to transform our lives…He wants us to share His GOOD NEWS with everyone we encounter.
My friends are happily sharing the amounts of their “royalties” checks from these companies on their Facebook posts. They are promoting the financial benefits of selling their products…along with what they claim to be actual physical advantages. Sharing the love of Christ with others may not literally provide you with a hefty paycheck. But the “dividends” are far greater than any others you might ever hope to receive…”freedom from a dark, rebellious life”… a “good pure life” that honors Jesus and makes Him proud…joy and energy…and Someone we can lean on anytime – for anything!
Call me crazy. But what if we exercised the same level of enthusiasm and energy that we give to a weight-loss product or a lash-enhancing mascara to serve Jesus and share His message with others? What if we offered Jesus the same level of “customer service” that we would consider a no-brainer in our businesses and friendships? What if we truly became spokespersons for the salvation of Jesus Christ…and encouraged others to “sign on” and get in on these benefits for themselves? Are you ready to find out? Who are you actively promoting these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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.
My cousin’s wife started taking a dietary supplement a few months ago, and now she is selling the product and encouraging others to try it. She is always posting photos and information about this product on Facebook…sharing testimonials for how much weight she and others have lost while using it - and talking about how much more energy they have now. Another friend recently signed on as a salesperson for a company that sells a mascara that instantly gives you longer, thicker eyelashes. She has been posting “before” and “after” pictures on Facebook.
Both of these women cannot stop telling others about these products. And while neither of these products is right for me, I have to admit that these ladies are excellent salespersons! They are so excited about their products that I can’t help but be intrigued. Their enthusiasm is definitely contagious! In addition to selling these products themselves, both women are encouraging others to join the company and become “team members”, as well.
I did not share these examples in order to encourage you to start selling these products – or any others promoted and sold in this manner. But I do think we can learn a lot from these sales methods. Here’s a novel idea…what if we were so enthused about our “new life in Christ” that we couldn’t stop sharing this news with others?! What if our excitement about how Jesus has changed our lives was so powerful that we wanted to tell people about Him all the time? What if our transformation was clearly visible to others in our “before” and “after” demonstrations – or “pictures”, so to speak. Suppose we lived as profound examples of the power, grace, and mercy of Jesus Christ. What would happen if we behaved in a way that others couldn’t help but want to try Jesus for themselves?
This sounds so simple…like maybe I’ve “drilled it down” too plainly. But truthfully, Jesus’ gift of salvation is at once simple – and oh, so vast! The multi-level-marketing salespeople like to tell potential “team members” that…”the sky is the limit!” The sky IS the limit with Jesus! There is nothing that He cannot do for us…nothing that He will not do, if only we will “join” and choose to follow Him. He wants us to tell others…to be walking billboards for His love and the power of salvation in Him. Jesus not only wants to transform our lives…He wants us to share His GOOD NEWS with everyone we encounter.
My friends are happily sharing the amounts of their “royalties” checks from these companies on their Facebook posts. They are promoting the financial benefits of selling their products…along with what they claim to be actual physical advantages. Sharing the love of Christ with others may not literally provide you with a hefty paycheck. But the “dividends” are far greater than any others you might ever hope to receive…”freedom from a dark, rebellious life”… a “good pure life” that honors Jesus and makes Him proud…joy and energy…and Someone we can lean on anytime – for anything!
Call me crazy. But what if we exercised the same level of enthusiasm and energy that we give to a weight-loss product or a lash-enhancing mascara to serve Jesus and share His message with others? What if we offered Jesus the same level of “customer service” that we would consider a no-brainer in our businesses and friendships? What if we truly became spokespersons for the salvation of Jesus Christ…and encouraged others to “sign on” and get in on these benefits for themselves? Are you ready to find out? Who are you actively promoting these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 18, 2014
Philippians 2:12-13
What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
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.
Our 18-month-old nephew Nathan is incredibly shy and does not like to interact with others. As his mother says, “He will charm the socks off you…but he’ll give you the evil eye while doing it!” And that’s if he will even look at you! When he finally learned to walk, he would only do so “in secret” for several months. If anyone spotted him walking…and certainly if we acknowledged it or praised him…he immediately sat down. Nathan truly proves the theory that every child is different. His personality is certainly not anything like that of Timothy and Zola – neither of whom ever meet a stranger!
When you think about it, little ones are often doing things “in secret” that they don’t want adults to see or hear. And I can tell you from my own teaching experience that children often behave in a totally different manner when they are at school or in public from how they act at home. And this speaks to the heart of what Paul is telling the Philippians in this scripture passage.
As disciples of Christ, it is important that we honor Him in our daily living. People are watching! But here’s the deal…we cannot drop our guard when we are in the privacy of our own home. We can’t smile and be kind to others when we meet them at school or in the grocery store…then make fun of them and/or curse them when we get in the car and drive away. We cannot be front and center at the latest community service or church mission project, and then refuse to help around the house – or act like we are entitled to special treatment with family and friends. The true measure of our faithfulness and devotion to Jesus Christ and His teachings is evidenced by how we live “in secret”.
When no one is around to tell you how wonderful you are, do you still pray for others…send them encouraging messages…offer to help – and follow through? Do you only serve in ministries with a high visibility? Are you just as eager to work “behind the scenes” in God’s army…or do you have to be “front and center” so that everyone can see what a wonderful, devoted “soldier” you are? Do you love as unconditionally…care as deeply…act as kindly…empathize and seek ways to share Jesus with others as fervently when no one is looking? Or do you require an audience in order to feel “generous”?
In other words, do you have God’s energy deep within you…a true urge to be vigorous in your life of salvation – “reverent and sensitive before God”? Do you earnestly seek to do even more in Jesus’ name when nobody is looking? When was the last time you did something for someone else that nobody knew about except that person and God? Can you see that these acts of compassion and ministry done “in secret” are the ones that please God the most?
Get in on this! Redouble your efforts to serve God… especially when nobody else is looking. Be the “real deal” for Him in all things…at all times…even “in secret”. Serve God with every ounce of energy you can muster…and discover what “responsive obedience” truly means.
©2014 Debbie Robus
What I’m getting at, friends, is that you should simply keep on doing what you’ve done from the beginning. When I was living among you, you lived in responsive obedience. Now that I’m separated from you, keep it up. Better yet, redouble your efforts. Be energetic in your life of salvation, reverent and sensitive before God. That energy is God’s energy, an energy deep within you, God himself willing and working at what will give him the most pleasure.
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.
Our 18-month-old nephew Nathan is incredibly shy and does not like to interact with others. As his mother says, “He will charm the socks off you…but he’ll give you the evil eye while doing it!” And that’s if he will even look at you! When he finally learned to walk, he would only do so “in secret” for several months. If anyone spotted him walking…and certainly if we acknowledged it or praised him…he immediately sat down. Nathan truly proves the theory that every child is different. His personality is certainly not anything like that of Timothy and Zola – neither of whom ever meet a stranger!
When you think about it, little ones are often doing things “in secret” that they don’t want adults to see or hear. And I can tell you from my own teaching experience that children often behave in a totally different manner when they are at school or in public from how they act at home. And this speaks to the heart of what Paul is telling the Philippians in this scripture passage.
As disciples of Christ, it is important that we honor Him in our daily living. People are watching! But here’s the deal…we cannot drop our guard when we are in the privacy of our own home. We can’t smile and be kind to others when we meet them at school or in the grocery store…then make fun of them and/or curse them when we get in the car and drive away. We cannot be front and center at the latest community service or church mission project, and then refuse to help around the house – or act like we are entitled to special treatment with family and friends. The true measure of our faithfulness and devotion to Jesus Christ and His teachings is evidenced by how we live “in secret”.
When no one is around to tell you how wonderful you are, do you still pray for others…send them encouraging messages…offer to help – and follow through? Do you only serve in ministries with a high visibility? Are you just as eager to work “behind the scenes” in God’s army…or do you have to be “front and center” so that everyone can see what a wonderful, devoted “soldier” you are? Do you love as unconditionally…care as deeply…act as kindly…empathize and seek ways to share Jesus with others as fervently when no one is looking? Or do you require an audience in order to feel “generous”?
In other words, do you have God’s energy deep within you…a true urge to be vigorous in your life of salvation – “reverent and sensitive before God”? Do you earnestly seek to do even more in Jesus’ name when nobody is looking? When was the last time you did something for someone else that nobody knew about except that person and God? Can you see that these acts of compassion and ministry done “in secret” are the ones that please God the most?
Get in on this! Redouble your efforts to serve God… especially when nobody else is looking. Be the “real deal” for Him in all things…at all times…even “in secret”. Serve God with every ounce of energy you can muster…and discover what “responsive obedience” truly means.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 17, 2014
1 Peter 2:13-17
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In recent days, two friends of mine who are in law enforcement have both announced that they are stepping aside. One is our current county sheriff, who says he will not seek another term. The other, who has been involved in law enforcement off and on for decades, announced that he would seek the office of sheriff…then announced that he was halting his campaign. Both cited the ugliness of politics…and the toll it took – or could take – on their families. To me, this is a real shame, because I know both of these men to be conscientious, caring, Christian men who take their job very seriously and truly care about the people with whom they are involved. I have to wonder who will actually seek this position…and what type of law enforcement we can expect in our county in the coming years.
Let’s be clear… I know that there are “bad apples” in every organization…including governmental offices and law enforcement. And I really had a little bit of a discussion with God about using this scripture passage today. I honestly didn’t want to tackle this topic, because I’ll admit…we don’t always agree with every elected official. There are those who are not happy with certain law enforcement officers, for one reason or another. Maybe there is “talk” in your community that this officer or that one has no tolerance for those who exceed the speed limit…or that he/she is “hard-nosed” when it comes to kids who break the law. Maybe you passionately disagree with the platform and actions of your local government officials…your legislators or governor – or even the President and his cabinet. Perhaps you have had an unpleasant personal encounter with one of these officials - or a representative of his/her office.
I encourage you to read today’s scripture passage again. Nowhere does it say that we must like those in office. But we are told to be good citizens, to obey the law…and in doing so – to avoid confrontation with law enforcement! So maybe we should worry more about not speeding…and less about the ticket-happy officer who might pull us over!
We are admonished to treat everyone with dignity and respect the government. And we are reminded that these people are God’s creations – just like we are! They are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. They have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews…and friends. They are human, and they experience the same daily events – and accompanying emotions – that you and I do. They have joys, sorrows, illnesses and injuries, bills to pay, and a myriad of responsibilities. So while you may not agree with all politicians, it does not please God when we verbally attack them or speak disrespectfully about them, call them names, and encourage their unkind treatment – or even make them the butt of our jokes.
We must keep these thoughts foremost in our minds and hearts. Law enforcement officers and elected leaders truly are no different than anyone else we encounter. We don’t have to agree with them…we don’t have to like them and make them our personal friends. But we must respect those in authority. We must behave in a way that honors God…and in doing so, respects the laws and those who make them. We must let God serve as the judge of all others…while we “keep our noses clean” and behave as true disciples of Christ.
And while we’re at it, I believe that God is calling on us to pray for these leaders. When the scriptures say “Love your spiritual family” and “respect God,” it seems to me that this would include asking God to guide these people in their positions of leadership and authority. I believe that we are called to show compassion and concern for them, just as we would to anyone else. I know this may be asking a lot. But if we want to truly love and serve God – and honor Him – we will make every effort to show respect and care for others…without exclusion.
Let’s examine our “citizenship”…and our attitudes and behaviors toward those who are in authority. Let’s ask God to give us a sense of respect, tolerance, and understanding for each of them…especially those who rub us the wrong way. Let’s live in a way that glorifies and pleases God…even if/when we don’t feel like it! Let’s exercise our freedom by serving God…and trust Him to handle the rest.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God’s emissaries for keeping order. It is God’s will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you’re a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In recent days, two friends of mine who are in law enforcement have both announced that they are stepping aside. One is our current county sheriff, who says he will not seek another term. The other, who has been involved in law enforcement off and on for decades, announced that he would seek the office of sheriff…then announced that he was halting his campaign. Both cited the ugliness of politics…and the toll it took – or could take – on their families. To me, this is a real shame, because I know both of these men to be conscientious, caring, Christian men who take their job very seriously and truly care about the people with whom they are involved. I have to wonder who will actually seek this position…and what type of law enforcement we can expect in our county in the coming years.
Let’s be clear… I know that there are “bad apples” in every organization…including governmental offices and law enforcement. And I really had a little bit of a discussion with God about using this scripture passage today. I honestly didn’t want to tackle this topic, because I’ll admit…we don’t always agree with every elected official. There are those who are not happy with certain law enforcement officers, for one reason or another. Maybe there is “talk” in your community that this officer or that one has no tolerance for those who exceed the speed limit…or that he/she is “hard-nosed” when it comes to kids who break the law. Maybe you passionately disagree with the platform and actions of your local government officials…your legislators or governor – or even the President and his cabinet. Perhaps you have had an unpleasant personal encounter with one of these officials - or a representative of his/her office.
I encourage you to read today’s scripture passage again. Nowhere does it say that we must like those in office. But we are told to be good citizens, to obey the law…and in doing so – to avoid confrontation with law enforcement! So maybe we should worry more about not speeding…and less about the ticket-happy officer who might pull us over!
We are admonished to treat everyone with dignity and respect the government. And we are reminded that these people are God’s creations – just like we are! They are husbands, wives, fathers, mothers, sisters and brothers. They have children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews…and friends. They are human, and they experience the same daily events – and accompanying emotions – that you and I do. They have joys, sorrows, illnesses and injuries, bills to pay, and a myriad of responsibilities. So while you may not agree with all politicians, it does not please God when we verbally attack them or speak disrespectfully about them, call them names, and encourage their unkind treatment – or even make them the butt of our jokes.
We must keep these thoughts foremost in our minds and hearts. Law enforcement officers and elected leaders truly are no different than anyone else we encounter. We don’t have to agree with them…we don’t have to like them and make them our personal friends. But we must respect those in authority. We must behave in a way that honors God…and in doing so, respects the laws and those who make them. We must let God serve as the judge of all others…while we “keep our noses clean” and behave as true disciples of Christ.
And while we’re at it, I believe that God is calling on us to pray for these leaders. When the scriptures say “Love your spiritual family” and “respect God,” it seems to me that this would include asking God to guide these people in their positions of leadership and authority. I believe that we are called to show compassion and concern for them, just as we would to anyone else. I know this may be asking a lot. But if we want to truly love and serve God – and honor Him – we will make every effort to show respect and care for others…without exclusion.
Let’s examine our “citizenship”…and our attitudes and behaviors toward those who are in authority. Let’s ask God to give us a sense of respect, tolerance, and understanding for each of them…especially those who rub us the wrong way. Let’s live in a way that glorifies and pleases God…even if/when we don’t feel like it! Let’s exercise our freedom by serving God…and trust Him to handle the rest.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 16, 2014
Hebrews 2:18
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
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.
Yesterday, a schoolmate named Carol messaged me and asked if I would post a prayer request for her on Facebook. She was distraught over recent events involving her mother, an Alzheimer’s patient who lives in a nursing home and has experienced several falls and a broken hip in recent weeks. Carol lives 800 miles away in another state and is unable to be with her mother right now, and she was feeling incredibly frustrated, worried, and alone. I posted a prayer request for her and spelled out her needs, as well as those of Carol’s mother – and her brother who lives close by and serves as his mother’s guardian.
In no time at all, dozens of comments were posted. Many “tagged” Carol on Facebook and gave her words of encouragement and advice. Some had “been there, done that” with their own parents, and they were able to offer tremendous comfort to Carol because of their own “suffering and testing”. One person in particular described how she had cared for her own mother as she suffered from dementia. She made some constructive suggestions for how to handle this situation – and the accompanying emotions. It was a blessing to be able to petition prayers for this family…and even more so to read the responses and see how so many people stepped up to offer compassion and support.
This is what we are supposed to do. I was listening to a sermon recently by Pastor Joel Osteen, and he reminded us that God uses our trials and tribulations for His purposes. When He allows us to experience something that is difficult or unpleasant, we often question why these things happened. Many times we cannot see that God has plans to use these circumstances in some manner. It may happen 3 days from now…or 30 years down the road. But God will not waste these events. And it might just be that He is setting us up to help someone else.
So while you wonder why you are facing so many challenges with your aging parents, God might be planning to put you in a position to someday support and encourage someone else who is going through the same thing. If you struggled to get through a course in biology, God might put others in your path who face the same struggle, so that you can reassure them that they can handle this. If someone stole your credit card and racked up a huge bill, God might show you a way to warn others…or to share with someone what you did to recover – and how he/she can, also.
The bottom line is that God never wastes an opportunity to show us His love and compassion…and He expects us to do the same for others. Look around you. Who needs your compassion, encouragement, and reassurance? Where can you share a personal experience and give something that may have seemed truly horrible a positive spin…while helping someone else who is going through the same thing? How can you share God’s love and compassion with others and emulate Jesus Christ?
Are you ready to reach out to the people around you…to allow God to work in and through you and turn your suffering and testing into opportunities to minister to others? In the words of Pastor Osteen, will this be the day you become a “victor” in Christ instead of a “victim” of circumstances? Will you truly demonstrate the love of Jesus to others by sharing in their burdens? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.
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.
Yesterday, a schoolmate named Carol messaged me and asked if I would post a prayer request for her on Facebook. She was distraught over recent events involving her mother, an Alzheimer’s patient who lives in a nursing home and has experienced several falls and a broken hip in recent weeks. Carol lives 800 miles away in another state and is unable to be with her mother right now, and she was feeling incredibly frustrated, worried, and alone. I posted a prayer request for her and spelled out her needs, as well as those of Carol’s mother – and her brother who lives close by and serves as his mother’s guardian.
In no time at all, dozens of comments were posted. Many “tagged” Carol on Facebook and gave her words of encouragement and advice. Some had “been there, done that” with their own parents, and they were able to offer tremendous comfort to Carol because of their own “suffering and testing”. One person in particular described how she had cared for her own mother as she suffered from dementia. She made some constructive suggestions for how to handle this situation – and the accompanying emotions. It was a blessing to be able to petition prayers for this family…and even more so to read the responses and see how so many people stepped up to offer compassion and support.
This is what we are supposed to do. I was listening to a sermon recently by Pastor Joel Osteen, and he reminded us that God uses our trials and tribulations for His purposes. When He allows us to experience something that is difficult or unpleasant, we often question why these things happened. Many times we cannot see that God has plans to use these circumstances in some manner. It may happen 3 days from now…or 30 years down the road. But God will not waste these events. And it might just be that He is setting us up to help someone else.
So while you wonder why you are facing so many challenges with your aging parents, God might be planning to put you in a position to someday support and encourage someone else who is going through the same thing. If you struggled to get through a course in biology, God might put others in your path who face the same struggle, so that you can reassure them that they can handle this. If someone stole your credit card and racked up a huge bill, God might show you a way to warn others…or to share with someone what you did to recover – and how he/she can, also.
The bottom line is that God never wastes an opportunity to show us His love and compassion…and He expects us to do the same for others. Look around you. Who needs your compassion, encouragement, and reassurance? Where can you share a personal experience and give something that may have seemed truly horrible a positive spin…while helping someone else who is going through the same thing? How can you share God’s love and compassion with others and emulate Jesus Christ?
Are you ready to reach out to the people around you…to allow God to work in and through you and turn your suffering and testing into opportunities to minister to others? In the words of Pastor Osteen, will this be the day you become a “victor” in Christ instead of a “victim” of circumstances? Will you truly demonstrate the love of Jesus to others by sharing in their burdens? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 15, 2014
1 Peter 3:8-12
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say,
“Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.
The Lord watches over everyone who obeys him, and he listens to their prayers. But he opposes everyone who does evil."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent issue of ABC’s 20/20*, the story San Antonio kindergarten teacher, Cynthia Ambrose, was shared. The title given the story was “Did This Teacher Cross the Line?”. Ambrose had a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian. So when a fellow teacher came to her in May 2012 with 6-year-old Aiden Neely, who school officials at Salinas Elementary described as a playground bully, Ambrose decided to teach the child a lesson. She stood him before the class and asked her students if they would like to show Aiden what it felt like when he mistreated them.
Ambrose maintains that before she could even blink, a child approached Aiden and hit him, and then the others started taking their turn. Aiden and his mother claim that Ambrose asked all of her students to line up and take a turn at bullying him. And Aiden’s own teacher, Barbara Ramirez, substantiated this claim in court, saying that Ambrose told the children…"Come on boys and girls, let's line up and let's bully Aiden. Come on, let's hit him harder.” The court convicted Ambrose of “Official Oppression” – a Class-A misdemeanor in Texas. Ambrose was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation, which means that she won't be able to teach again in Texas until at least after this time frame. Aiden’s mother moved him to another elementary school, where he says the teachers and students are nicer.
As a former kindergarten teacher, I have so many problems with this story. It bothers me that a teacher was proudly recognized in her school for her “tough love”. It bothers me that another teacher took a student to this woman for disciplinary action. But more importantly, if Barbara Ramirez did indeed stand aside and let Ambrose line up the students to take a turn at bullying this child, she should be in just as much trouble as Cynthia Ambrose. The other thing that disturbs me is the child’s testimony in court, which was aired in part on the ABC broadcast. Ambrose insists that the children did not line up and taunt or bully this child. But this little boy testified that they did. When asked by the prosecutor how many kids hit him in the back, he promptly stated, “I think, like 21.” That sounds like a “coached” answer to me. I have seen this happen in my own teaching experience, where a parent was so eager for his/her child to be right that the “correct” answers were given to the child to be repeated when questioned.
The bottom line is that a lot of people were wrong in this sequence of events. Many of them were hateful and insulting. More than one person in this story acted without kindness and humility. This situation truly was wrong on countless levels. But this is not an isolated incident. We are all guilty to some degree of these behaviors on any given day. Hopefully we don’t bully others. Surely we do not stand someone before a group of their peers and suggest that they retaliate. But we may strike back in some way as an individual.
We may set about to “put someone in their place”. This can be as blatant and direct as a verbal insult…or as subtle as a quiet manipulation or “cold shoulder”. At least once in our lives, I bet we have all muttered the sentence, “I’ll show him a thing or two!” We all practice our own version of “tough love”… but our tactics are not necessarily pleasing to God.
This story left me feeling very sad for all involved. Perhaps Cynthia Ambrose really didn’t mean for this to escalate. Maybe she did think that the worst that would happen to little Aiden was that he would be shamed into behaving more kindly. Maybe Aiden’s teacher, Barbara Ramirez, was at her rope’s end and truly thought a colleague could help. Maybe Aiden is something of an innocent victim who was targeted and/or mistreated by his teachers and his peers. In the end, nobody “won”. And this is the case so often when we operate out of anything but love, concern, and a big dose of humility.
When we take matters into our own hands and fail to stop, breathe, and ask God to guide us, some pretty awful things can happen. When we find ourselves in a pit, the only way out often appears to be lies and deception. When our backs are against the wall, we frequently come out clawing and retaliating. And God is heartbroken by the messes we often make.
Most young children are taught to “Stop, look and listen.” Somehow, we seem to forget these instructions as we grow into adulthood! This is a good time to study this scripture passage and think about our own lives…to ask ourselves where we need to do a better job of operating in patience, kindness, humility…and turning the other cheek. Talk to God about the situations in your life that trouble you…ask Him to show you how to react and respond to them. Prayerfully consider your actions, and don’t get caught up in the heat of the moment. Follow the road to peace…and let God handle the “discipline”.
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/teacher-cross-line-22530010
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don’t be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God’s chosen ones, and he will bless you. The Scriptures say,
“Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.
The Lord watches over everyone who obeys him, and he listens to their prayers. But he opposes everyone who does evil."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent issue of ABC’s 20/20*, the story San Antonio kindergarten teacher, Cynthia Ambrose, was shared. The title given the story was “Did This Teacher Cross the Line?”. Ambrose had a reputation for being a strict disciplinarian. So when a fellow teacher came to her in May 2012 with 6-year-old Aiden Neely, who school officials at Salinas Elementary described as a playground bully, Ambrose decided to teach the child a lesson. She stood him before the class and asked her students if they would like to show Aiden what it felt like when he mistreated them.
Ambrose maintains that before she could even blink, a child approached Aiden and hit him, and then the others started taking their turn. Aiden and his mother claim that Ambrose asked all of her students to line up and take a turn at bullying him. And Aiden’s own teacher, Barbara Ramirez, substantiated this claim in court, saying that Ambrose told the children…"Come on boys and girls, let's line up and let's bully Aiden. Come on, let's hit him harder.” The court convicted Ambrose of “Official Oppression” – a Class-A misdemeanor in Texas. Ambrose was sentenced to 30 days in jail and two years of probation, which means that she won't be able to teach again in Texas until at least after this time frame. Aiden’s mother moved him to another elementary school, where he says the teachers and students are nicer.
As a former kindergarten teacher, I have so many problems with this story. It bothers me that a teacher was proudly recognized in her school for her “tough love”. It bothers me that another teacher took a student to this woman for disciplinary action. But more importantly, if Barbara Ramirez did indeed stand aside and let Ambrose line up the students to take a turn at bullying this child, she should be in just as much trouble as Cynthia Ambrose. The other thing that disturbs me is the child’s testimony in court, which was aired in part on the ABC broadcast. Ambrose insists that the children did not line up and taunt or bully this child. But this little boy testified that they did. When asked by the prosecutor how many kids hit him in the back, he promptly stated, “I think, like 21.” That sounds like a “coached” answer to me. I have seen this happen in my own teaching experience, where a parent was so eager for his/her child to be right that the “correct” answers were given to the child to be repeated when questioned.
The bottom line is that a lot of people were wrong in this sequence of events. Many of them were hateful and insulting. More than one person in this story acted without kindness and humility. This situation truly was wrong on countless levels. But this is not an isolated incident. We are all guilty to some degree of these behaviors on any given day. Hopefully we don’t bully others. Surely we do not stand someone before a group of their peers and suggest that they retaliate. But we may strike back in some way as an individual.
We may set about to “put someone in their place”. This can be as blatant and direct as a verbal insult…or as subtle as a quiet manipulation or “cold shoulder”. At least once in our lives, I bet we have all muttered the sentence, “I’ll show him a thing or two!” We all practice our own version of “tough love”… but our tactics are not necessarily pleasing to God.
This story left me feeling very sad for all involved. Perhaps Cynthia Ambrose really didn’t mean for this to escalate. Maybe she did think that the worst that would happen to little Aiden was that he would be shamed into behaving more kindly. Maybe Aiden’s teacher, Barbara Ramirez, was at her rope’s end and truly thought a colleague could help. Maybe Aiden is something of an innocent victim who was targeted and/or mistreated by his teachers and his peers. In the end, nobody “won”. And this is the case so often when we operate out of anything but love, concern, and a big dose of humility.
When we take matters into our own hands and fail to stop, breathe, and ask God to guide us, some pretty awful things can happen. When we find ourselves in a pit, the only way out often appears to be lies and deception. When our backs are against the wall, we frequently come out clawing and retaliating. And God is heartbroken by the messes we often make.
Most young children are taught to “Stop, look and listen.” Somehow, we seem to forget these instructions as we grow into adulthood! This is a good time to study this scripture passage and think about our own lives…to ask ourselves where we need to do a better job of operating in patience, kindness, humility…and turning the other cheek. Talk to God about the situations in your life that trouble you…ask Him to show you how to react and respond to them. Prayerfully consider your actions, and don’t get caught up in the heat of the moment. Follow the road to peace…and let God handle the “discipline”.
©2014 Debbie Robus
* http://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/teacher-cross-line-22530010
Daily Devotional for February 14, 2014
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.
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.
Fifteen minutes. That doesn’t seem like much time at all…until you commit to something for this duration. In the Walk to Emmaus community, a 72-hour prayer vigil is held during the specific events, called “walks”. Members of the group sign up to pray for the “pilgrims” and workers for a period of 30 minutes. When you are praying for a large number of people, 30 minutes goes by quickly. But what would happen if you committed to pray for ONE person for FIFTEEN minutes?
On this day when we celebrate love, a 24-hour prayer vigil was organized for Adam, a 40+ man who is battling Glioblastoma Multiforme, a.k.a. GBM…a deadly cancerous brain tumor. Adam has done better than many since his diagnosis…responding well to surgery, chemo and radiation for almost 18 months. Now “the beast” is raging…and Adam is fighting hard to be well for his wife, four sons (including newborn twin boys), and other family members and friends. Someone who obviously loves Adam and his family greatly organized this prayer vigil, and we were invited to sign up for 15-minute blocks of time to lift Adam and his family to God and cover them with intercessions.
Since I am a “night owl”, I took an early slot – 12:15 a.m. On the website where people committed to this endeavor, there were scriptures and suggested prayers, as well as ideas on how to prepare for the 15 minutes. Still, I found myself somewhat out of words by the 12-13 minute mark. And yet, I felt a tremendous joy and closeness to God as I petitioned Him on Adam’s behalf. I had also signed up for a 9:00 a.m. slot. This second time, the 15 minutes went by much more quickly. I found it easier to call on God for Adam and his family’s needs. Scriptures came to mind as I considered the myriad of thoughts and emotions that must come into play for them – not to mention the physical challenges. Before I realized it, more than a quarter of an hour had passed.
Interesting things came out of these two prayer times.
This would not take the place of our daily prayers. We would still pray for others. But each day, we would lift one particular person to God for a quarter of an hour and truly pour out our hearts for him/her. We would ask God to cover this person with His immeasurable blessings…we would mention specific needs if we knew them…we would call on God to do amazing, incredible, supernatural things in this person’s life.
Think about it. In the course of a year, we could each pray specifically and extensively for 365 people! Just as Paul says in this passage to the Philippians…I don’t count myself an expert…or even anyone particularly special in God’s eyes. But I did feel an incredible sense of “connection” as one believer interceding on the behalf of another. I was running toward God…and I could almost see Him standing before me with His arms open widely. If we all did this, imagine what the exponential effect could be for God’s kingdom and His children!
I’ve had a taste of how rewarding this practice can be…and how easily a 15-minute-habit could be developed. And I’ve decided to go for it! I can’t wait to see what God does in and through me as I reach out to Him and talk to Him so specifically. Next Valentine’s Day, I hope to look back at and marvel at how He worked in the lives of so many – including Adam - and how I have grown in my relationship with Him as a result of these daily conversations.
Fifteen minutes is really not a lot of time. But God can accomplish incredible things when we give Him a quarter-hour of our attention and petitions! Are you ready to see for yourself what He can do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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.
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.
Fifteen minutes. That doesn’t seem like much time at all…until you commit to something for this duration. In the Walk to Emmaus community, a 72-hour prayer vigil is held during the specific events, called “walks”. Members of the group sign up to pray for the “pilgrims” and workers for a period of 30 minutes. When you are praying for a large number of people, 30 minutes goes by quickly. But what would happen if you committed to pray for ONE person for FIFTEEN minutes?
On this day when we celebrate love, a 24-hour prayer vigil was organized for Adam, a 40+ man who is battling Glioblastoma Multiforme, a.k.a. GBM…a deadly cancerous brain tumor. Adam has done better than many since his diagnosis…responding well to surgery, chemo and radiation for almost 18 months. Now “the beast” is raging…and Adam is fighting hard to be well for his wife, four sons (including newborn twin boys), and other family members and friends. Someone who obviously loves Adam and his family greatly organized this prayer vigil, and we were invited to sign up for 15-minute blocks of time to lift Adam and his family to God and cover them with intercessions.
Since I am a “night owl”, I took an early slot – 12:15 a.m. On the website where people committed to this endeavor, there were scriptures and suggested prayers, as well as ideas on how to prepare for the 15 minutes. Still, I found myself somewhat out of words by the 12-13 minute mark. And yet, I felt a tremendous joy and closeness to God as I petitioned Him on Adam’s behalf. I had also signed up for a 9:00 a.m. slot. This second time, the 15 minutes went by much more quickly. I found it easier to call on God for Adam and his family’s needs. Scriptures came to mind as I considered the myriad of thoughts and emotions that must come into play for them – not to mention the physical challenges. Before I realized it, more than a quarter of an hour had passed.
Interesting things came out of these two prayer times.
- I felt a tremendous calm and peace afterward.
- I felt a sense of joy – not because of any “wonderful” thing that I had done…but because I had been given the privilege of talking to God about one of His children - and I knew that He had heard me. I also pictured Adam experiencing a sense of warmth and comfort as each person prayed for him. After all, this was about Adam - not about me!
- I felt incredibly close to God. I felt His presence. Many of the things for which I asked God to send to Adam…peace, courage, healing, calm, joy, hope…I felt being poured out on my own life, also.
This would not take the place of our daily prayers. We would still pray for others. But each day, we would lift one particular person to God for a quarter of an hour and truly pour out our hearts for him/her. We would ask God to cover this person with His immeasurable blessings…we would mention specific needs if we knew them…we would call on God to do amazing, incredible, supernatural things in this person’s life.
Think about it. In the course of a year, we could each pray specifically and extensively for 365 people! Just as Paul says in this passage to the Philippians…I don’t count myself an expert…or even anyone particularly special in God’s eyes. But I did feel an incredible sense of “connection” as one believer interceding on the behalf of another. I was running toward God…and I could almost see Him standing before me with His arms open widely. If we all did this, imagine what the exponential effect could be for God’s kingdom and His children!
I’ve had a taste of how rewarding this practice can be…and how easily a 15-minute-habit could be developed. And I’ve decided to go for it! I can’t wait to see what God does in and through me as I reach out to Him and talk to Him so specifically. Next Valentine’s Day, I hope to look back at and marvel at how He worked in the lives of so many – including Adam - and how I have grown in my relationship with Him as a result of these daily conversations.
Fifteen minutes is really not a lot of time. But God can accomplish incredible things when we give Him a quarter-hour of our attention and petitions! Are you ready to see for yourself what He can do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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