1 John 1:8-10
If we claim that we’re free of sin,
we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On
the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he
won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and
purge us of all wrongdoing. If we claim that we’ve never sinned, we
out-and-out contradict God—make a liar out of him. A claim like that
only shows off our ignorance of God.
Scripture
quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002
by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs,
CO. All rights reserved.
At the start of the summer,
my friend Melissa telephoned me one night with a dilemma. Her son
Ladd’s baseball pants had just arrived...and they were far too big. I
think this was maybe a Tuesday night – and his first game was on Friday.
“Do you think there is any way you could take them up for us?” she
asked. I told her that I would be glad to take a look and see what I
could do, and she and Ladd came over and brought his two baseball
uniforms. These pants were more than just a little too big...and as I
contemplated how to fix them – or IF I could fix them, 8-year-old Ladd
said, “It’s okay. I’ll just wear them like this. They’re not really
that bad.”
The pants really were “that bad”...particularly
one pair. They were too long, and the seat hung nearly to his knees. I
made some temporary adjustments and let Ladd try them on to see if I
was getting anywhere, and his little face just “lit up” when he saw how
much better the pants were fitting. Melissa said, “We hated to ask you
to do this, but we didn’t know who else to call.” I told her that I
would have been insulted if she had NOT called me. I’m not a
professional seamstress, but God blessed me with a grandmother and
mother who taught me to sew, and I am able to do a fairly decent job of
it. The thought that my little friend would have played baseball all
summer in those baggy, uncomfortable pants tugged at my heartstrings. I
was thrilled to be able to come to his rescue.
Have you ever
tried to help someone who you knew was in need...and this person would
not let you? It was clearly evident that the person required help...an
elderly man or woman who needed a ride to the store or to a doctor
visit...someone who was sick and refused to let you even bring over a
meal, much less do anything for them inside their house...or even a
friend or classmate who could use a ride to school, work, or church.
When people like this say, “I’m okay...I don’t need anything” – and you
know better - it’s enough to make you crazy...right?
Even worse
is when you learn later that the person you tried to help has told
someone either that “I managed all on my own”...or uttered the ultimate
insult...”No one cared enough to help me!” This may make you feel
misunderstood – as if you offered to help with ulterior motives or hopes
of “glory” and recognition, when you truly were just trying to offer
support or service. You may feel insulted...because in essence, the
person in need has just called you a “liar” as he/she discounted your
offers of love and assistance. You would have gladly come to their aid
any way you could...and asked nothing in return. And now, you’ve not
only been deprived of this opportunity...you have been somewhat
disrespected in the bargain.
Now think about God and how we treat
Him. He stands ready to help us...to lift us up and tackle our
burdens. He knows our needs even better than we do...yet we pretend
that we don’t need Him to help us with anything. We claim we are
“doing okay”...that if we have committed any sins, they really weren’t
that bad...and we relegate God to a back room for when things really go
wrong. We like to say that we are humble, but in truth, our inability
to acknowledge God’s grace and mercy and accept His help and forgiveness
– and often that of our friends and neighbors – is nothing more than
arrogance and/or pride – which are both sins in themselves.
If
you are one of those people who cannot accept help from others, get over
yourself. Quit robbing them of the blessing of serving you in Jesus’
name. If you have claimed to be sinless...or you have failed to give
God credit for His grace, mercy and forgiveness in your life, it’s time
you got busy figuring out who He really is – and getting better
acquainted!
When I delivered Ladd’s pants to him the day of his
first game, he was over-the-moon thrilled with the results. But he was
not any happier than I was. To see him so relieved and confident made
my heart swell. Too often, we don’t think about how we deprive God of
opportunities to be delighted and pleased with us. All He wants is for
us to turn to Him...to ask for His help...and to accept His grace and
mercy. What He pours out on us in return is truly astonishing...and
totally undeserved...but incredibly comforting nonetheless. Won’t you
allow God – and others – to help you? Aren’t you ready to come clean
and move forward? Will today be the day you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 30, 2014
1 Corinthians 13:3-10
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
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.
Only a precious friend...and a “sister in Christ” like my dear cousin Natalie...could truly understand how I worry about certain people and situations. For my birthday, she presented me with a leather bracelet that is tooled with this inscription, “only love today”. I am to wear it to remind me of God’s love for me – and for those people and circumstances over which I fret and stew - but cannot control. I’m not supposed to handle these things. I am supposed to remember that God’s got this!
So I’m wearing the bracelet...and looking at its words often throughout the day. I am reminded of tremendous love...the complete, all-encompassing, unselfish, unconditional and perfect love that God provides...and that of a beautiful, Godly cousin who totally “gets” me – and loves me anyway! I am reminded of all of the things in this scripture passage...and the power, grace and mercy of God’s love for me – and through me toward others.
You may not struggle so much with worry over situations and people. You may battle other issues...proper expression of your thoughts and feelings, gossip, jealousy, insecurities, depression, discord or judgment... or something else completely. It doesn’t matter what your challenge is...God’s love can cover it. He can graciously and mercifully wrap His arms around you and handle whatever causes you discomfort or distress. And because of His love...you can “pay it forward” to others.
Here’s your phrase to remember... “only love today”. Even if you don’t wear a leather bracelet inscribed with these words, you can remind yourself throughout the day that God truly IS love. You can vow to operate ONLY in His love today, and always. So let’s do this thing! Let’s fill our “bank accounts” with God’s love and keep it going. Are you in? Ready, set, GO!
©2014 Debbie Robus
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
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.
Only a precious friend...and a “sister in Christ” like my dear cousin Natalie...could truly understand how I worry about certain people and situations. For my birthday, she presented me with a leather bracelet that is tooled with this inscription, “only love today”. I am to wear it to remind me of God’s love for me – and for those people and circumstances over which I fret and stew - but cannot control. I’m not supposed to handle these things. I am supposed to remember that God’s got this!
So I’m wearing the bracelet...and looking at its words often throughout the day. I am reminded of tremendous love...the complete, all-encompassing, unselfish, unconditional and perfect love that God provides...and that of a beautiful, Godly cousin who totally “gets” me – and loves me anyway! I am reminded of all of the things in this scripture passage...and the power, grace and mercy of God’s love for me – and through me toward others.
You may not struggle so much with worry over situations and people. You may battle other issues...proper expression of your thoughts and feelings, gossip, jealousy, insecurities, depression, discord or judgment... or something else completely. It doesn’t matter what your challenge is...God’s love can cover it. He can graciously and mercifully wrap His arms around you and handle whatever causes you discomfort or distress. And because of His love...you can “pay it forward” to others.
Here’s your phrase to remember... “only love today”. Even if you don’t wear a leather bracelet inscribed with these words, you can remind yourself throughout the day that God truly IS love. You can vow to operate ONLY in His love today, and always. So let’s do this thing! Let’s fill our “bank accounts” with God’s love and keep it going. Are you in? Ready, set, GO!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 29, 2014
Hebrews 4:14-16
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
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 few nights ago, our power went off about 11:00...just as we were getting ready to go to bed. We really don’t realize two things: 1) how “lit up” our world is 24/7; and 2) how noisy life is now. We think we are in the dark, but with electronic devices and technology, there is still quite a lot of light in our house even after we “turn off the lights” at night! Even this night when the power went off, a smoke detector in the ceiling still blinked an intermittent flash of green light! But for the most part, the world was very dark...and very quiet. We do not realize how much noise the “hum” of our electronics, heaters and air conditioners and other devices create. And honestly, this “white noise” has become so much a part of our being that we don’t know what to do without it!
I was reminded of when I was a little girl and my siblings and I would spend the night at the farm with our Mam-ma and Pap-pa. They lived “in the country” – some five miles out of town on a dirt road. There were no street lights...not even a “night watchman” pole in the yard. When the lights went out at their house each evening, it was dark and very quiet. The only noise was the steady tick-tock of their mantle clock, which chimed the half hour and the hour. I had a terrible time going to sleep at their house. The clock seemed so loud in that stillness, and I remember tossing and turning in their unfamiliar four-poster bed...and longing to drift off to sleep.
I’ve reminded myself of this with Timothy...and especially with Zola and Nathan, who have not spent as many nights at our house as Timmy has. To expect a toddler to lie down in a somewhat unfamiliar place – in the dark – and close his/her eyes and go to sleep is asking a lot. So I’ve tried to be empathetic – at least to a point – while recognizing that they MUST get their rest! I know how hard it is to try to go to sleep...and be unable to do so. So I try to sit with them, stroke their hair, rock them, or do whatever I can to provide an environment that they feel is safe and comfortable. Sometimes they don’t want this help...probably because they have figured out the end result. Part of why these kids can’t sleep at our house is that they are afraid they will miss something!
Once in a while I will have one of the children say, “I don’t want to rock,” or “No, I don’t want you to lie with me.” They let mercy and help slip through their fingers. And this is what we often do with Jesus. We either fail to recognize His offers to help us...or we turn our backs on Him and try to do things on our own.
A prime example of this would be how we often react to grief or a fearful situation – ours or someone else’s. It’s as if we are ashamed to be sad and show our emotions...like we think this makes us appear weak or lacking in faith somehow. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, Lazarus. He sweated drops of blood as He pled with God to find another way besides the cross, if possible. He gets it when we grieve, are sad or afraid...because He.has.been.there! He wants to comfort us in our despair or trepidation. He wants to acknowledge our frustrations, our loneliness and our disappointments. Jesus wants to sit beside us, “stroke our hair” and soothe us through the rough spots - just as much as He wants to cheer for us when good things happen!
Too many of us have turned Jesus into “white noise” of our lives. We have shoved Him into the corner where He is nothing more than just the “battery-powered blinking” of a household security device or the hum of an electronic gadget. We have not fully embraced Him and all that He offers us. For whatever reason, we have neglected to take the mercy and accept His help. But we don’t have to stay stuck there. We can change. It starts with a simple prayer...”Come, Lord Jesus”. Isn’t it time you called on Him? Aren’t you ready for a good night’s rest in His love and care? Will this be the night that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Now that we know what we have—Jesus, this great High Priest with ready access to God—let’s not let it slip through our fingers. We don’t have a priest who is out of touch with our reality. He’s been through weakness and testing, experienced it all—all but the sin. So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.
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 few nights ago, our power went off about 11:00...just as we were getting ready to go to bed. We really don’t realize two things: 1) how “lit up” our world is 24/7; and 2) how noisy life is now. We think we are in the dark, but with electronic devices and technology, there is still quite a lot of light in our house even after we “turn off the lights” at night! Even this night when the power went off, a smoke detector in the ceiling still blinked an intermittent flash of green light! But for the most part, the world was very dark...and very quiet. We do not realize how much noise the “hum” of our electronics, heaters and air conditioners and other devices create. And honestly, this “white noise” has become so much a part of our being that we don’t know what to do without it!
I was reminded of when I was a little girl and my siblings and I would spend the night at the farm with our Mam-ma and Pap-pa. They lived “in the country” – some five miles out of town on a dirt road. There were no street lights...not even a “night watchman” pole in the yard. When the lights went out at their house each evening, it was dark and very quiet. The only noise was the steady tick-tock of their mantle clock, which chimed the half hour and the hour. I had a terrible time going to sleep at their house. The clock seemed so loud in that stillness, and I remember tossing and turning in their unfamiliar four-poster bed...and longing to drift off to sleep.
I’ve reminded myself of this with Timothy...and especially with Zola and Nathan, who have not spent as many nights at our house as Timmy has. To expect a toddler to lie down in a somewhat unfamiliar place – in the dark – and close his/her eyes and go to sleep is asking a lot. So I’ve tried to be empathetic – at least to a point – while recognizing that they MUST get their rest! I know how hard it is to try to go to sleep...and be unable to do so. So I try to sit with them, stroke their hair, rock them, or do whatever I can to provide an environment that they feel is safe and comfortable. Sometimes they don’t want this help...probably because they have figured out the end result. Part of why these kids can’t sleep at our house is that they are afraid they will miss something!
Once in a while I will have one of the children say, “I don’t want to rock,” or “No, I don’t want you to lie with me.” They let mercy and help slip through their fingers. And this is what we often do with Jesus. We either fail to recognize His offers to help us...or we turn our backs on Him and try to do things on our own.
A prime example of this would be how we often react to grief or a fearful situation – ours or someone else’s. It’s as if we are ashamed to be sad and show our emotions...like we think this makes us appear weak or lacking in faith somehow. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Jesus wept over the death of His friend, Lazarus. He sweated drops of blood as He pled with God to find another way besides the cross, if possible. He gets it when we grieve, are sad or afraid...because He.has.been.there! He wants to comfort us in our despair or trepidation. He wants to acknowledge our frustrations, our loneliness and our disappointments. Jesus wants to sit beside us, “stroke our hair” and soothe us through the rough spots - just as much as He wants to cheer for us when good things happen!
Too many of us have turned Jesus into “white noise” of our lives. We have shoved Him into the corner where He is nothing more than just the “battery-powered blinking” of a household security device or the hum of an electronic gadget. We have not fully embraced Him and all that He offers us. For whatever reason, we have neglected to take the mercy and accept His help. But we don’t have to stay stuck there. We can change. It starts with a simple prayer...”Come, Lord Jesus”. Isn’t it time you called on Him? Aren’t you ready for a good night’s rest in His love and care? Will this be the night that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 28, 2014
Hebrews 10:11-18
Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. The Holy Spirit confirms this:
This new plan I’m making with Israel
isn’t going to be written on paper,
isn’t going to be chiseled in stone;
This time “I’m writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts.”
He concludes,
I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve been helping my cousin Natalie with a makeover project on her kindergarten classroom. After 17 years of teaching, she was ready for a “room re-do.” She found several ideas that she liked online and in stores, and we melded them into a cohesive “look” using the graphic design and photo editing programs on my computer.
When I was teaching in the late ‘70s and early-to-mid ‘80s, we didn’t have computers that created labels and artwork with the click of a mouse. We didn’t know about fonts and Adobe Photoshop® and color printers. I spent days and weeks coloring individual name tags and characters that I had printed out in black and white...outlining with a Sharpie® marker, then carefully cutting, pasting and laminating everything together. We thought our results looked pretty good, but compared to the slick pieces that are possible today, our classrooms were downright crafty!
I stopped by the school to see Natalie’s progress, and she showed me her wall display for color words. Each color word was printed on a card – in that particular color – and outlined in a matching polka-dot border. But there was a gap. She said, “I realized when I hung them that there was not a card for the color brown. I messaged the person who designed these, and she said that she doesn’t have a template for brown. So I am going to print a black and white copy and color it in...then cut and paste letters to make the word ‘brown’ for the center.” I stopped her...”I can do all of that on the computer.” Her eyes lit up. “You can?” “I’m pretty sure I can make that all work,” I told her. She sent me her file, and I was able to do in a matter of minutes what would have otherwise taken her hours...if not a whole day.
In recent years, I’ve thought about the things that my fellow teachers and I spent hours and days working on that are accomplished now with the click of a button. I have asked myself how we did it all...and the short answer is that we gave up our nights, weekends, holidays and summers to prepare classroom materials and displays for our students. It’s a wonder we found time to teach! And quite frankly, there were times when we were drowning in mountains of paper work and “busywork” that we barely made a dent in the primary goal of presenting lessons and reaching academic objectives!
As I read this scripture passage, I thought about this...and about how many times we go around in circles, somewhat chasing our tail as we try to accomplish things that we do not have the adequate tools or skills to undertake. Like teachers everywhere, we spend a lot of energy trying to figure out a “work-around” that will suffice...and often, we are more than a little disappointed with the results – if not downright wearied by them. And nowhere is this more evident than in our attempts to muddle through life on our own...to do the same things over and over while hoping for different outcomes. We often think we know so much more than we really do...or feel that our way is sufficient, if not better, than God’s. And this is when we make a huge mess of things.
It’s MORE than a good thing that God is so merciful and tender with us. We truly have no clue just how blessed we are that He sent Jesus to pay for our sins...once and for all. I love the sentence...”It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people.” This sums up Jesus beautifully. This description grasps the essence of His grace and mercy over us...and demonstrates His love for us. He made us perfect...unblemished...pure and whole...and we could never have done this on our own, no matter how long or hard we tried.
I’m grateful for our present-day technology – even the vast array that I do not fully understand! I love how computers can make things look so neat and pretty. I am even more appreciative of the love and tender care of Jesus...how His single sacrifice accomplished what I never could. Now I am heaven bound, fully forgiven for my sins, and free to love others in His name and share the Good News that this gift extends to them, as well! I know that the price He paid was anything but simple...far more than the click of a button! And I recognize the tremendous love and commitment that He demonstrated on my behalf.
When I sent back the file to Natalie with the “brown” color card, she responded, “You saved the day!” In the scheme of things, this was not a big deal on my part. I just happened to have experience in pressing buttons and “cutting and pasting” on some pretty amazing and powerful computer programs! But Jesus wiped the slate clean with His own blood on the cross...once and for all...and truly saved us from a life of sin and eternity in Hell. Have you let Him know how grateful you are for this amazing sacrifice? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Every priest goes to work at the altar each day, offers the same old sacrifices year in, year out, and never makes a dent in the sin problem. As a priest, Christ made a single sacrifice for sins, and that was it! Then he sat down right beside God and waited for his enemies to cave in. It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people. By that single offering, he did everything that needed to be done for everyone who takes part in the purifying process. The Holy Spirit confirms this:
This new plan I’m making with Israel
isn’t going to be written on paper,
isn’t going to be chiseled in stone;
This time “I’m writing out the plan in them,
carving it on the lining of their hearts.”
He concludes,
I’ll forever wipe the slate clean of their sins.
Once sins are taken care of for good, there’s no longer any need to offer sacrifices for them.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve been helping my cousin Natalie with a makeover project on her kindergarten classroom. After 17 years of teaching, she was ready for a “room re-do.” She found several ideas that she liked online and in stores, and we melded them into a cohesive “look” using the graphic design and photo editing programs on my computer.
When I was teaching in the late ‘70s and early-to-mid ‘80s, we didn’t have computers that created labels and artwork with the click of a mouse. We didn’t know about fonts and Adobe Photoshop® and color printers. I spent days and weeks coloring individual name tags and characters that I had printed out in black and white...outlining with a Sharpie® marker, then carefully cutting, pasting and laminating everything together. We thought our results looked pretty good, but compared to the slick pieces that are possible today, our classrooms were downright crafty!
I stopped by the school to see Natalie’s progress, and she showed me her wall display for color words. Each color word was printed on a card – in that particular color – and outlined in a matching polka-dot border. But there was a gap. She said, “I realized when I hung them that there was not a card for the color brown. I messaged the person who designed these, and she said that she doesn’t have a template for brown. So I am going to print a black and white copy and color it in...then cut and paste letters to make the word ‘brown’ for the center.” I stopped her...”I can do all of that on the computer.” Her eyes lit up. “You can?” “I’m pretty sure I can make that all work,” I told her. She sent me her file, and I was able to do in a matter of minutes what would have otherwise taken her hours...if not a whole day.
In recent years, I’ve thought about the things that my fellow teachers and I spent hours and days working on that are accomplished now with the click of a button. I have asked myself how we did it all...and the short answer is that we gave up our nights, weekends, holidays and summers to prepare classroom materials and displays for our students. It’s a wonder we found time to teach! And quite frankly, there were times when we were drowning in mountains of paper work and “busywork” that we barely made a dent in the primary goal of presenting lessons and reaching academic objectives!
As I read this scripture passage, I thought about this...and about how many times we go around in circles, somewhat chasing our tail as we try to accomplish things that we do not have the adequate tools or skills to undertake. Like teachers everywhere, we spend a lot of energy trying to figure out a “work-around” that will suffice...and often, we are more than a little disappointed with the results – if not downright wearied by them. And nowhere is this more evident than in our attempts to muddle through life on our own...to do the same things over and over while hoping for different outcomes. We often think we know so much more than we really do...or feel that our way is sufficient, if not better, than God’s. And this is when we make a huge mess of things.
It’s MORE than a good thing that God is so merciful and tender with us. We truly have no clue just how blessed we are that He sent Jesus to pay for our sins...once and for all. I love the sentence...”It was a perfect sacrifice by a perfect person to perfect some very imperfect people.” This sums up Jesus beautifully. This description grasps the essence of His grace and mercy over us...and demonstrates His love for us. He made us perfect...unblemished...pure and whole...and we could never have done this on our own, no matter how long or hard we tried.
I’m grateful for our present-day technology – even the vast array that I do not fully understand! I love how computers can make things look so neat and pretty. I am even more appreciative of the love and tender care of Jesus...how His single sacrifice accomplished what I never could. Now I am heaven bound, fully forgiven for my sins, and free to love others in His name and share the Good News that this gift extends to them, as well! I know that the price He paid was anything but simple...far more than the click of a button! And I recognize the tremendous love and commitment that He demonstrated on my behalf.
When I sent back the file to Natalie with the “brown” color card, she responded, “You saved the day!” In the scheme of things, this was not a big deal on my part. I just happened to have experience in pressing buttons and “cutting and pasting” on some pretty amazing and powerful computer programs! But Jesus wiped the slate clean with His own blood on the cross...once and for all...and truly saved us from a life of sin and eternity in Hell. Have you let Him know how grateful you are for this amazing sacrifice? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
We Interrupt This Blog...
Let me say upfront that I was asked to review Interrupted ... the latest book by Christian speaker/author Jen Hatmaker. So this is a shameless plug. Let me also say that this book is one you don’t want to miss!
For quite some time now, I have felt “Spiritually
unsettled”. I became disillusioned with
the contemporary-style worship service we were attending, even though I served
on it’s “Praise Team” for eight years and found it to be the perfect fit at
that time in my life. This “season”
passed...and with it went my passion for this style of worship. As we became congregants, the music seemed to
get louder...those attending worship became almost hyperactive - with this one
getting up for a cup of coffee and that one going to the bathroom - and it happened all
throughout the service, including during the sermon. To say I was distracted would be an
understatement. More times than we could
count, Greg and I came away asking each other, “What just happened?” We certainly could not recall much of the
message...and I began to carry a “tension” about church, as Jen Hatmaker
describes it.
I’ve read countless books by “Spirit-filled motivators” and pastors...and I know that many say that we are not to attend a worship service expecting to “feel” something – or get something out of it. These people maintain that this is not the true purpose of worship. But I felt plenty...tension, angst, emptiness...and a deep longing to truly reconnect with God...on Sunday...in.His.house.
I’ve read countless books by “Spirit-filled motivators” and pastors...and I know that many say that we are not to attend a worship service expecting to “feel” something – or get something out of it. These people maintain that this is not the true purpose of worship. But I felt plenty...tension, angst, emptiness...and a deep longing to truly reconnect with God...on Sunday...in.His.house.
About the same time, our nephew Timothy
reached an age where I felt he should be attending church. The primary children’s Sunday School program at
our church was taught during the 11:00 a.m. hour, which coincided with our
traditional worship service (a service I lovingly referred to as “High Church”
because of the rituals and traditions).
So Greg and I made the decision to begin attending worship at this hour
while Timothy and his little sister Zola attended Sunday School (Zola goes to
the nursery, but she is loved and nurtured there and wouldn’t miss it!).
This has been great...we sing the old hymns. We hear beautiful anthems sung by the choir.. and incredible piano offertories presented by my former piano teacher touch our hearts. The sermons are delivered in peace and quiet...we can actually internalize what the pastor says. Everything is perfect...right?
Actually, it’s not. There is still this deep “tension” within my heart and soul. Don’t misunderstand me...I’m very attuned to God. I study His word daily as I read devotionals and write my own. I keep a running dialog with God about prayer concerns and praises. I listen for His voice...and I truly believe I am following His lead and serving as He directs. So why the struggle? What am I missing?
Enter Interrupted...the latest offering from Jen Hatmaker. As she puts it, “If you are plagued with tension or discontent or a nagging sense that there must be more – that there has to be a faith somewhere that rings true and hopeful and gracious, a faith other than this mean, ugly, partisan, judgmental, self-indulgent version of Christianity, which has to be total bunk – then get down on your knees and thank your lucky stars. God has blessed you with this inner conflict. He isn’t leaving you in complacency and boredom to check boxes and do church. He has enlisted you in the cause of your generation and is calling you forward. You lucky thing. You will not be left and lost, wondering what all the fuss is about, wishing things would never change.”
This has been great...we sing the old hymns. We hear beautiful anthems sung by the choir.. and incredible piano offertories presented by my former piano teacher touch our hearts. The sermons are delivered in peace and quiet...we can actually internalize what the pastor says. Everything is perfect...right?
Actually, it’s not. There is still this deep “tension” within my heart and soul. Don’t misunderstand me...I’m very attuned to God. I study His word daily as I read devotionals and write my own. I keep a running dialog with God about prayer concerns and praises. I listen for His voice...and I truly believe I am following His lead and serving as He directs. So why the struggle? What am I missing?
Enter Interrupted...the latest offering from Jen Hatmaker. As she puts it, “If you are plagued with tension or discontent or a nagging sense that there must be more – that there has to be a faith somewhere that rings true and hopeful and gracious, a faith other than this mean, ugly, partisan, judgmental, self-indulgent version of Christianity, which has to be total bunk – then get down on your knees and thank your lucky stars. God has blessed you with this inner conflict. He isn’t leaving you in complacency and boredom to check boxes and do church. He has enlisted you in the cause of your generation and is calling you forward. You lucky thing. You will not be left and lost, wondering what all the fuss is about, wishing things would never change.”
A little further, she writes, “The
interruption did not make us saintly or infallible or extra-incredible or above
reproach. It just made us raw. It made us hungry for justice, healing, God’s
loving-kindness released to the nations.
It made us humble, uber-aware of our selfishness – which wasn’t cured by
said awareness, by the way. You can
bring all your confusion, confliction, and hypocrisy to this conversation; I
will hold it all with careful hands as one who struggles with the same
tensions.”
I was hooked. I had to know what Jen Hatmaker was talking
about, because she was describing ME! As
I read through her book and studied what she outlined...as I read the inserts
written by her husband, Brandon, and contemplated their comments and ideas...I
began to get the picture. Here’s how Jen Hatmaker describes it...”The
world is increasingly uninterested in our Christian story. Our current presentation is just not
compelling. We launch public shame
grenades with abandon and claim to ‘love the sinner but hate the sin,’ which
translates to ‘we are enormous pompous jerks’.
Remarkably, most outsiders are not anti-church (our gospel isn’t
provocative enough to incite backlash anymore); they simply dismiss the church as
irrelevant to their real lives since it seems mostly irrelevant to the people
who go there.”
Have I struck a chord with anyone yet? Hatmaker maintains that Sunday “church” is not the be-all, end-all. This is not true “church”. Our gathering on Sundays to worship together has purpose and meaning...but it’s not what you think! REAL “church” takes place in our everyday lives. It is missional. Jesus has given us a mission...and we are to fulfill it. And Hatmaker says that this mission is clearly outlined in Matthew 25, where Jesus talks about ministering to the least...and in Isaiah 58, where verse 2 says, “For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways,
Have I struck a chord with anyone yet? Hatmaker maintains that Sunday “church” is not the be-all, end-all. This is not true “church”. Our gathering on Sundays to worship together has purpose and meaning...but it’s not what you think! REAL “church” takes place in our everyday lives. It is missional. Jesus has given us a mission...and we are to fulfill it. And Hatmaker says that this mission is clearly outlined in Matthew 25, where Jesus talks about ministering to the least...and in Isaiah 58, where verse 2 says, “For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what
is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just
decisions and seem eager for God to come near them.” Hatmaker says, “There is no ‘us’ and ‘them’
anymore.”
I’m on my second pass through this book of some 240 pages. I’m marking and highlighting...and studying the scripture references Hatmaker provides. I am seeking God’s guidance and asking Him to show me how and where to be “the church” to His people. And in discovering my “mission”...I am hopeful, and I feel the tension leaving. My “church” won’t necessarily look like yours...and it most certainly will not be the same as Brandon and Jen Hatmaker’s. God has a distinct and detailed mission plan for each of us...and collectively, we create His church.
Interrupted will not give you all of the answers. You will have to dig deeply and do your homework. But this book might be the catalyst to propel you to the next level...to alleviate your inner tension and stimulate a more profound relationship with Jesus...and with those you encounter on a daily basis. This might be just the tool you need to spark a change in yourself...your family...your neighborhood or community...or even the world at large. You can still attend worship on Sundays (or whatever days/nights your group gathers). This is not a substitute for corporate worship, Bible studies or prayer groups. This book is designed to make you think about what Jesus has called you to do for Him...and how you are accomplishing His goals.
I’m on my second pass through this book of some 240 pages. I’m marking and highlighting...and studying the scripture references Hatmaker provides. I am seeking God’s guidance and asking Him to show me how and where to be “the church” to His people. And in discovering my “mission”...I am hopeful, and I feel the tension leaving. My “church” won’t necessarily look like yours...and it most certainly will not be the same as Brandon and Jen Hatmaker’s. God has a distinct and detailed mission plan for each of us...and collectively, we create His church.
Interrupted will not give you all of the answers. You will have to dig deeply and do your homework. But this book might be the catalyst to propel you to the next level...to alleviate your inner tension and stimulate a more profound relationship with Jesus...and with those you encounter on a daily basis. This might be just the tool you need to spark a change in yourself...your family...your neighborhood or community...or even the world at large. You can still attend worship on Sundays (or whatever days/nights your group gathers). This is not a substitute for corporate worship, Bible studies or prayer groups. This book is designed to make you think about what Jesus has called you to do for Him...and how you are accomplishing His goals.
Are you ready to interrupt your life and
shake things up a little? Are you ready
to radically serve “the least” in Jesus’ name?
Click here to order your copy of Interrupted and get started. Order from NavPress through July 31, 2014,
and receive a 20% discount.
Daily Devotional for July 26, 2014
Galatians 6:1-3
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
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.
Speaker and author Jen Hatmaker has just released a revised version of her book Interrupted...subtitled
“When Jesus wrecks your comfortable Christianity”. Hatmaker maintains
that we should operate in a “Matthew 25” mentality, where Jesus says...”
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”(NIV)
She talks a lot about “the least” and says that many of us will stand
before Jesus someday and tell him that we loved the poor, we invited the
lonely into our homes, we clothed the naked and fed the hungry...and
“We did that all for You.” And she says Jesus will say that...”you did that unto Me.”
She explains...”It’s not surprising that He is pleased when we adopt
His bias toward the bottom. It’s startling that He is actually served.
We clearly don’t comprehend how personally Jesus takes it when we love
suffering people.”
This same principle applies to those who sin or offend us in some way. When we operate in forgiveness, grace and mercy to them...when we share their burdens and give them the benefit of the doubt...we are demonstrating the love of Christ for them – and pleasing Him immensely at the same time.
I don’t know about you, but I so want to please Jesus. I want to represent Him...and represent Him well! I want others to see His love and tender care in my actions and gestures...and to want to know Him intimately themselves. This cannot happen if we are critical and judgmental. It will not result from our indifference or downright disdain for “the least”. We have to toss aside all of our smug attitudes and “holier-than-thou” stances...and seek Jesus’ guidance as we live creatively...mercifully...graciously.
Hatmaker says, “As for me, I’m going to gamble on the fact that Jesus didn’t have much patience with believers who attempted to limit the scope of ‘who my neighbor is’ to the fewest possible people (see Luke 10:25-37). Jesus always colored outside the lines here, extending grace and healing to those well beyond His people group. He often healed people first; they believed second. If I’m wrong, the worst thing that could happen is that some desperate people are cared for, and I’m guessing Jesus will look the other way. He seems to favor unmerited grace. To me, this is a wheat-and-weeds issue, and since that’s not my call to make, I’ll just err on the side of mercy and let Jesus sort it out at the harvest.”
What about you? Are you willing to “err on the side of mercy”? Are you willing to show grace and compassion for “the least” and those who fall into sin? Have you fully recognized that YOU could be the one in need of grace and mercy...even within the next few minutes? Don’t you think it’s time we started to live out a Matthew 25 faith and complete Christ’s law? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Order your copy of Interrupted before July 31st and receive a 20% discount. Click here to order. The website says that this item is presently out of stock and will be available July 30. According to information I have been given, you should still be able to get the discount on that date!
Live creatively, friends. If someone falls into sin, forgivingly restore him, saving your critical comments for yourself. You might be needing forgiveness before the day’s out. Stoop down and reach out to those who are oppressed. Share their burdens, and so complete Christ’s law. If you think you are too good for that, you are badly deceived.
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.
Speaker and author Jen Hatmaker has just released a revised version of her book Interrupted...subtitled
“When Jesus wrecks your comfortable Christianity”. Hatmaker maintains
that we should operate in a “Matthew 25” mentality, where Jesus says...”
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of
the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”(NIV)
She talks a lot about “the least” and says that many of us will stand
before Jesus someday and tell him that we loved the poor, we invited the
lonely into our homes, we clothed the naked and fed the hungry...and
“We did that all for You.” And she says Jesus will say that...”you did that unto Me.”
She explains...”It’s not surprising that He is pleased when we adopt
His bias toward the bottom. It’s startling that He is actually served.
We clearly don’t comprehend how personally Jesus takes it when we love
suffering people.”This same principle applies to those who sin or offend us in some way. When we operate in forgiveness, grace and mercy to them...when we share their burdens and give them the benefit of the doubt...we are demonstrating the love of Christ for them – and pleasing Him immensely at the same time.
I don’t know about you, but I so want to please Jesus. I want to represent Him...and represent Him well! I want others to see His love and tender care in my actions and gestures...and to want to know Him intimately themselves. This cannot happen if we are critical and judgmental. It will not result from our indifference or downright disdain for “the least”. We have to toss aside all of our smug attitudes and “holier-than-thou” stances...and seek Jesus’ guidance as we live creatively...mercifully...graciously.
Hatmaker says, “As for me, I’m going to gamble on the fact that Jesus didn’t have much patience with believers who attempted to limit the scope of ‘who my neighbor is’ to the fewest possible people (see Luke 10:25-37). Jesus always colored outside the lines here, extending grace and healing to those well beyond His people group. He often healed people first; they believed second. If I’m wrong, the worst thing that could happen is that some desperate people are cared for, and I’m guessing Jesus will look the other way. He seems to favor unmerited grace. To me, this is a wheat-and-weeds issue, and since that’s not my call to make, I’ll just err on the side of mercy and let Jesus sort it out at the harvest.”
What about you? Are you willing to “err on the side of mercy”? Are you willing to show grace and compassion for “the least” and those who fall into sin? Have you fully recognized that YOU could be the one in need of grace and mercy...even within the next few minutes? Don’t you think it’s time we started to live out a Matthew 25 faith and complete Christ’s law? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Order your copy of Interrupted before July 31st and receive a 20% discount. Click here to order. The website says that this item is presently out of stock and will be available July 30. According to information I have been given, you should still be able to get the discount on that date!
Daily Devotional for July 26, 2014
Ephesians 4:31-32
Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our little 3-year-old niece, Zola, spent a couple of nights with us recently, and we enjoyed seeing what she has learned since her last visit...hearing how her speech has improved...and listening to her laugh. Her speech becomes clearer each week...and she has a LOT to say! One of the things she repeatedly told us this time is, “I can say nice words, but I can’t say bad words. Mommy says I can’t say bad words. I can say ‘Yes, Ma’am’ and ‘Yes, Tir (Sir)’...but I can’t say bad words.” A couple of times, she told me a word and said, “My mommy says I can’t say that word.” I would remind her, “If Mommy says you shouldn’t say that word, let’s not say it!”
Zola’s mother (my niece, Jasmine) is trying really hard to teach her children the important lessons of Ephesians 4:31-32. When we are with Timothy and Zola, they often tell on themselves...”I had an attitude,” or “I hit Zola because she made me mad,” or “I tore up Timmy’s book.” They don’t always share with their baby brother, Nathan...and they don’t like it when he bothers their things. I know that it is part of being two, three and five...and that the children do have to learn the proper behaviors. But the sad thing is that some of us are more than ten times their ages, and we still don’t get it! We yell, scream, curse and treat others terribly. We hold grudges, we retaliate, we get angry...and we are terribly spiteful and bitter. And the worst part of all is that we do this while claiming to be born-again believers in Jesus Christ!
We go to church on Sunday morning...and curse at the television while watching a sporting event on Sunday afternoon. We give God the glory for the “great things He has done”, as the hymn says...and then we take His name in vain as we rake someone over the coals for something that isn’t even all that significant in the scheme of things. We shake our fists at the guy who pulled out in front of us at the grocery store... and pretty well come unhinged over the little old lady who pulls into a parking space ahead of us. We have absolutely no patience for the young mother of two or more who is trying to sort her groceries at the check-out counter so that she can qualify for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) assistance. We do nothing to hide our disdain toward people who do not meet our standards for appearance...we judge everything from body piercings and tattoos to clothing, cleanliness, size, shape and hair color. And don’t even get me started on how we treat those whose race or ethnicity is different from ours!
We do not take into account what is happening in other people’s lives at any given time. We can’t possibly know everything...but we sure try to act like we do much of the time. The Apostle Paul does a great job in these verses of reminding us to remember well what Jesus did for us...how He treats us...and to treat others the same way. Offer them mercy and forgiveness...gentleness and kind talk...the benefit of the doubt. Take a lesson from a young mother trying to teach her preschoolers to say nice words and to regard others with kindness, courtesy, compassion and respect.
Stop and ask yourself what Jesus would do...and how He would have you respond. Remind yourself of the commitment you made when you accepted Jesus’ gift of Salvation on the cross in exchange for your sins. Start saying nice words instead of bad ones...and be kind and merciful toward others. If you really want to be Jesus’ disciple, you’ve got to act like one! When you interact with others, who do you truly represent? Are you a pre-school Christian disciple... or a bonafide grown-up?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude. Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our little 3-year-old niece, Zola, spent a couple of nights with us recently, and we enjoyed seeing what she has learned since her last visit...hearing how her speech has improved...and listening to her laugh. Her speech becomes clearer each week...and she has a LOT to say! One of the things she repeatedly told us this time is, “I can say nice words, but I can’t say bad words. Mommy says I can’t say bad words. I can say ‘Yes, Ma’am’ and ‘Yes, Tir (Sir)’...but I can’t say bad words.” A couple of times, she told me a word and said, “My mommy says I can’t say that word.” I would remind her, “If Mommy says you shouldn’t say that word, let’s not say it!”
Zola’s mother (my niece, Jasmine) is trying really hard to teach her children the important lessons of Ephesians 4:31-32. When we are with Timothy and Zola, they often tell on themselves...”I had an attitude,” or “I hit Zola because she made me mad,” or “I tore up Timmy’s book.” They don’t always share with their baby brother, Nathan...and they don’t like it when he bothers their things. I know that it is part of being two, three and five...and that the children do have to learn the proper behaviors. But the sad thing is that some of us are more than ten times their ages, and we still don’t get it! We yell, scream, curse and treat others terribly. We hold grudges, we retaliate, we get angry...and we are terribly spiteful and bitter. And the worst part of all is that we do this while claiming to be born-again believers in Jesus Christ!
We go to church on Sunday morning...and curse at the television while watching a sporting event on Sunday afternoon. We give God the glory for the “great things He has done”, as the hymn says...and then we take His name in vain as we rake someone over the coals for something that isn’t even all that significant in the scheme of things. We shake our fists at the guy who pulled out in front of us at the grocery store... and pretty well come unhinged over the little old lady who pulls into a parking space ahead of us. We have absolutely no patience for the young mother of two or more who is trying to sort her groceries at the check-out counter so that she can qualify for the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) assistance. We do nothing to hide our disdain toward people who do not meet our standards for appearance...we judge everything from body piercings and tattoos to clothing, cleanliness, size, shape and hair color. And don’t even get me started on how we treat those whose race or ethnicity is different from ours!
We do not take into account what is happening in other people’s lives at any given time. We can’t possibly know everything...but we sure try to act like we do much of the time. The Apostle Paul does a great job in these verses of reminding us to remember well what Jesus did for us...how He treats us...and to treat others the same way. Offer them mercy and forgiveness...gentleness and kind talk...the benefit of the doubt. Take a lesson from a young mother trying to teach her preschoolers to say nice words and to regard others with kindness, courtesy, compassion and respect.
Stop and ask yourself what Jesus would do...and how He would have you respond. Remind yourself of the commitment you made when you accepted Jesus’ gift of Salvation on the cross in exchange for your sins. Start saying nice words instead of bad ones...and be kind and merciful toward others. If you really want to be Jesus’ disciple, you’ve got to act like one! When you interact with others, who do you truly represent? Are you a pre-school Christian disciple... or a bonafide grown-up?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 25, 2014
Ephesians 4:1-6
As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My pastor called to tell me that one of our church members, Miss Ollie Fae Jackson, passed away. She was 92 and had lived in a local nursing home for some time now. Our pastor has only lived here for about six years, so he didn’t know much about Miss Jackson and hoped that I might be able to share some memories of her.
Miss Jackson was our high school business teacher for 30 years. She taught my mother and dad, my sister, brother and me - and countless other students – how to type. She also taught accounting, stenography (how to take dictation), and she managed the school newspaper and yearbook production. She was a very tiny woman who sort of reminded me of Popeye’s girlfriend, “Olive Oyl”. Miss Jackson zipped around the classroom and hallways in canvas “Redball Jets” tennis shoes...earning herself the nickname of “Jet Jackson”. She did not approve of this moniker...and many mischievous students reveled in whispering “Jet” within earshot and watching her bristle.
To say that students were not very nice to Miss Jackson at times would be an understatement. One could argue that they were just being kids...and that this was how they coped with her serious attitude and seemingly brusque demeanor. But what none of us realized was that Miss Jackson had a lot of responsibilities...and probably more than a few burdens, too. Her dad passed away in 1951...the year she began her teaching career at our high school. My mother remembers when she learned to drive, which was probably out of necessity to shuttle herself and her mother where they needed to go. Miss Jackson and her mother lived in a really tiny house in the heart of town. Her mother passed away in 1979, and Miss Jackson was her caregiver.
Miss Jackson was always faithfully devoted to her church, and after her retirement from teaching, she turned her attention to caring for family members and people in the community. She cooked and delivered countless meals to those who were sick or in need...and she did this well into her 80s! Very few people knew that she did these things. She was a quiet, humble servant and disciple.
I put a post on Facebook and asked fellow students to share their memories of Miss Jackson. Almost to a person, those who responded credited her with teaching them to type. Many shared stories of how she had helped them or been particularly lenient and kind. One woman shared that Miss Jackson helped her figure out how to type while accounting for the fact that she was missing a thumb!
My point in sharing all of this is to say that this precious servant demonstrated many of the traits of Ephesians 4:1-6. She may not have been particularly gentle with us...but she certainly operated in humility and patience. She put up with the antics and teasing of teenagers and did her best to live in peace with others. She continued to demonstrate love for others even when some did not act very lovingly toward her - and in spite of the hardships and struggles that her peppered her life. It is no surprise that teenagers often do not fully understand the adults who are part of their lives...or appreciate them as fellow human beings. But the grace and mercy of God is evident in people like Miss Jackson, who continue to faithfully pass on these gifts and blessings to others, regardless of how they are treated in return.
To many, it might appear that Miss Jackson didn’t have all that great of a life. She never married, lived in a teeny little house and cared for her aging mother, then lived there alone for almost 40 years as her siblings and other family members passed on and left her behind. But I would argue that Miss Jackson didn’t see it that way at all. In fact, I bet she would tell you how rich, wonderful...and blessed her life was. She recognized the ministry in her life’s work...and she was at peace with the circumstances. And we would do well to emulate her.
True Christian discipleship is not about where we live, how much we have, whether we marry and have children, or our physical appearance. A faith-filled servant demonstrates humility, gentleness, grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and love – and displays peace and joy in all circumstances. Miss Jackson projected all of these things...and in doing so, she was more of a teacher than even she realized. Many learned a whole lot more from her than merely typing and bookkeeping!
What have you learned from the “teachers” in your midst? Are you a “teacher” of the Good News of Jesus Christ? When your earthly life ends, how will others remember you? How do they know you now?
©2014 Debbie Robus
As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My pastor called to tell me that one of our church members, Miss Ollie Fae Jackson, passed away. She was 92 and had lived in a local nursing home for some time now. Our pastor has only lived here for about six years, so he didn’t know much about Miss Jackson and hoped that I might be able to share some memories of her.
Miss Jackson was our high school business teacher for 30 years. She taught my mother and dad, my sister, brother and me - and countless other students – how to type. She also taught accounting, stenography (how to take dictation), and she managed the school newspaper and yearbook production. She was a very tiny woman who sort of reminded me of Popeye’s girlfriend, “Olive Oyl”. Miss Jackson zipped around the classroom and hallways in canvas “Redball Jets” tennis shoes...earning herself the nickname of “Jet Jackson”. She did not approve of this moniker...and many mischievous students reveled in whispering “Jet” within earshot and watching her bristle.
To say that students were not very nice to Miss Jackson at times would be an understatement. One could argue that they were just being kids...and that this was how they coped with her serious attitude and seemingly brusque demeanor. But what none of us realized was that Miss Jackson had a lot of responsibilities...and probably more than a few burdens, too. Her dad passed away in 1951...the year she began her teaching career at our high school. My mother remembers when she learned to drive, which was probably out of necessity to shuttle herself and her mother where they needed to go. Miss Jackson and her mother lived in a really tiny house in the heart of town. Her mother passed away in 1979, and Miss Jackson was her caregiver.
Miss Jackson was always faithfully devoted to her church, and after her retirement from teaching, she turned her attention to caring for family members and people in the community. She cooked and delivered countless meals to those who were sick or in need...and she did this well into her 80s! Very few people knew that she did these things. She was a quiet, humble servant and disciple.
I put a post on Facebook and asked fellow students to share their memories of Miss Jackson. Almost to a person, those who responded credited her with teaching them to type. Many shared stories of how she had helped them or been particularly lenient and kind. One woman shared that Miss Jackson helped her figure out how to type while accounting for the fact that she was missing a thumb!
My point in sharing all of this is to say that this precious servant demonstrated many of the traits of Ephesians 4:1-6. She may not have been particularly gentle with us...but she certainly operated in humility and patience. She put up with the antics and teasing of teenagers and did her best to live in peace with others. She continued to demonstrate love for others even when some did not act very lovingly toward her - and in spite of the hardships and struggles that her peppered her life. It is no surprise that teenagers often do not fully understand the adults who are part of their lives...or appreciate them as fellow human beings. But the grace and mercy of God is evident in people like Miss Jackson, who continue to faithfully pass on these gifts and blessings to others, regardless of how they are treated in return.
To many, it might appear that Miss Jackson didn’t have all that great of a life. She never married, lived in a teeny little house and cared for her aging mother, then lived there alone for almost 40 years as her siblings and other family members passed on and left her behind. But I would argue that Miss Jackson didn’t see it that way at all. In fact, I bet she would tell you how rich, wonderful...and blessed her life was. She recognized the ministry in her life’s work...and she was at peace with the circumstances. And we would do well to emulate her.
True Christian discipleship is not about where we live, how much we have, whether we marry and have children, or our physical appearance. A faith-filled servant demonstrates humility, gentleness, grace, mercy, forgiveness, patience, and love – and displays peace and joy in all circumstances. Miss Jackson projected all of these things...and in doing so, she was more of a teacher than even she realized. Many learned a whole lot more from her than merely typing and bookkeeping!
What have you learned from the “teachers” in your midst? Are you a “teacher” of the Good News of Jesus Christ? When your earthly life ends, how will others remember you? How do they know you now?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 24, 2014
Ephesians 2:1-6
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I recently saw someone from a distance, and for a split second, I thought this person was someone I knew...a pastor friend who moved away several years ago. I began to think about how much I miss this friend...how important his support and nurture was to my spiritual growth. I still speak with him occasionally via e-mail, but there are times when I wish we could have one of our long heart-to-heart talks. There have been times in the last several years when I would have given anything if he had been here to advise me in person.
As I thought of my friend, I very clearly received this message...”If he had been here, you would have depended upon him instead of Me. You might not have grown as much in your faith.” Sometimes, I think God makes us go through some hard times...to “tough it out” (so to speak) in certain circumstances...so that we depend more on Him than we do on mere mortals. It’s not that my friend would not have given me excellent, Godly advice. But I needed to be somewhat alone, isolated and vulnerable. I needed to realize that all I had...and all I needed...was God – that HE could handle things for me, and that I had to trust Him to do so.
I am not the same person I once was...and you probably are not either. I am still a sinner, but I am not mired in the stagnant life of sin. More importantly, I am knee-deep or more in faith and trust in God...for everything. I’ve seen His grace in action. I’ve felt His mercy on more than one occasion. I am immersed in His love and have physical evidence of His miracles and power. And He did this for me all on His own, without human assistance or interference!
I don’t know where you are on your faith walk. I hope you have Godly friends and disciples to whom you can turn when things are tough. But I also hope you know that you are truly NEVER alone when you give your heart to Jesus. Our gracious, merciful, loving Heavenly Father is always, always available to us...always working on our behalf...and capable of handling anything and everything we throw at Him!
Sometimes, we need to bask in the unadulterated grace, mercy, compassion, power and love of God. We need to peel back the layers and “go it alone” with Him...and trust that He truly is enough! We say that we believe that Jesus is all we need...and He is! Now it’s time to act like it!
©2014 Debbie Robus
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I recently saw someone from a distance, and for a split second, I thought this person was someone I knew...a pastor friend who moved away several years ago. I began to think about how much I miss this friend...how important his support and nurture was to my spiritual growth. I still speak with him occasionally via e-mail, but there are times when I wish we could have one of our long heart-to-heart talks. There have been times in the last several years when I would have given anything if he had been here to advise me in person.
As I thought of my friend, I very clearly received this message...”If he had been here, you would have depended upon him instead of Me. You might not have grown as much in your faith.” Sometimes, I think God makes us go through some hard times...to “tough it out” (so to speak) in certain circumstances...so that we depend more on Him than we do on mere mortals. It’s not that my friend would not have given me excellent, Godly advice. But I needed to be somewhat alone, isolated and vulnerable. I needed to realize that all I had...and all I needed...was God – that HE could handle things for me, and that I had to trust Him to do so.
I am not the same person I once was...and you probably are not either. I am still a sinner, but I am not mired in the stagnant life of sin. More importantly, I am knee-deep or more in faith and trust in God...for everything. I’ve seen His grace in action. I’ve felt His mercy on more than one occasion. I am immersed in His love and have physical evidence of His miracles and power. And He did this for me all on His own, without human assistance or interference!
I don’t know where you are on your faith walk. I hope you have Godly friends and disciples to whom you can turn when things are tough. But I also hope you know that you are truly NEVER alone when you give your heart to Jesus. Our gracious, merciful, loving Heavenly Father is always, always available to us...always working on our behalf...and capable of handling anything and everything we throw at Him!
Sometimes, we need to bask in the unadulterated grace, mercy, compassion, power and love of God. We need to peel back the layers and “go it alone” with Him...and trust that He truly is enough! We say that we believe that Jesus is all we need...and He is! Now it’s time to act like it!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 23, 2014
Ephesians 1:7-10
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Recently, I did an online search for some free sheet music for piano arrangements of hymns. The search results included a site that sounded perfect. So when I visited the actual website, I was disappointed to see that each piano arrangement had a “click here to purchase” button. Where was the “free” stuff? Then I noticed that there was a button to click for “free information” about piano arrangements of hymns. Deceptive advertising? Yes...but sadly, not all that uncommon. These days, you truly have to read the fine print...on virtually everything!
But here’s the GOOD NEWS...there is no “fine print” when it comes to Jesus. His blood paid for our sins on the cross...ALL.OF.THEM. Just like this scripture passage tells us, God thought of absolutely everything and sent Jesus to handle it all for us. There is nothing that was left undone...no plans are incomplete. God loves us so much that He accounted for everything.
This does not give us license to go on our merry way and do whatever we please, confident that Jesus has us, quite literally...covered! This actually adds to our responsibilities and duties. Such a Gift as our salvation and the promise of eternal life begs for our devotion and discipleship in return! But God knows us...He knows we are human – and therefore imperfect. We will have days when things simply do not go well for us...or anyone else in our line of fire! And on those days, God says, “It’s paid for...I’ve got this! Jesus has already paid the price in full. Now go...and do better tomorrow.”
Isn’t this wonderful news? Aren’t you grateful to God for such an amazing sacrifice in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ? Doesn’t the very thought of this make you love Him even more...and desire to worship and serve Him with every fiber of your being? Will you stop today and affirm your promise to honor Jesus in everything you say and do...to give Him the glory and the reverence that He is due...and to show your respect with every single word and gesture?
Not all “free gifts” are truly free...but Jesus’ gift of salvation most certainly is! Isn’t it time we held this in the highest regard? Wouldn’t today be a perfect time to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Recently, I did an online search for some free sheet music for piano arrangements of hymns. The search results included a site that sounded perfect. So when I visited the actual website, I was disappointed to see that each piano arrangement had a “click here to purchase” button. Where was the “free” stuff? Then I noticed that there was a button to click for “free information” about piano arrangements of hymns. Deceptive advertising? Yes...but sadly, not all that uncommon. These days, you truly have to read the fine print...on virtually everything!
But here’s the GOOD NEWS...there is no “fine print” when it comes to Jesus. His blood paid for our sins on the cross...ALL.OF.THEM. Just like this scripture passage tells us, God thought of absolutely everything and sent Jesus to handle it all for us. There is nothing that was left undone...no plans are incomplete. God loves us so much that He accounted for everything.
This does not give us license to go on our merry way and do whatever we please, confident that Jesus has us, quite literally...covered! This actually adds to our responsibilities and duties. Such a Gift as our salvation and the promise of eternal life begs for our devotion and discipleship in return! But God knows us...He knows we are human – and therefore imperfect. We will have days when things simply do not go well for us...or anyone else in our line of fire! And on those days, God says, “It’s paid for...I’ve got this! Jesus has already paid the price in full. Now go...and do better tomorrow.”
Isn’t this wonderful news? Aren’t you grateful to God for such an amazing sacrifice in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ? Doesn’t the very thought of this make you love Him even more...and desire to worship and serve Him with every fiber of your being? Will you stop today and affirm your promise to honor Jesus in everything you say and do...to give Him the glory and the reverence that He is due...and to show your respect with every single word and gesture?
Not all “free gifts” are truly free...but Jesus’ gift of salvation most certainly is! Isn’t it time we held this in the highest regard? Wouldn’t today be a perfect time to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 22, 2014
Daniel 9:9
Lord God, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I sat at the table today with our nephew, Nathan, trying to coax him to eat. “Those are strawberries...Yum! Yum!” He would look away and hide his face. “Mmmmmm...chocolate milk! It’s goooooooooooood!” He would push away the sippy cup. I know Nathan is moody at times...and just shy of his 2nd birthday, he is still figuring us out! So I pretended not to notice him. I quietly ate my lunch...turned on a television show...even got my laptop and started to check e-mail. Of course, I was watching him intently...and at times I felt him watching ME! If he noticed that I noticed him, he would retreat...put his goldfish and strawberries back in the bowl, and hide his face. It was a game...and I caught on pretty fast!
Over the course of about 30 minutes, Nathan discovered that the food I had given him was really tasty...and it all disappeared into his tummy. No matter how many times I told him how delicious it was...it had to be HIS idea. So I quickly decided to be gracious and merciful and ignore him...to play HIS game and forgive his stubbornness.
This is not just the game of a toddler. We do it all the time with God. He shows us what to do...and what not to do...and we try to do things our way. We essentially say, “Don’t look at me right now!” and pretend that if God does not acknowledge what we are doing (or not doing), it doesn’t count. Then when things fall apart, where do we run? You’ve got it...we head straight for God - and want Him to forgive us and restore us. And usually He does just that!
If you read the next few verses of Daniel 9, you will see, however, that God has His limits! While He will never turn His back on us completely, God may “hang us out to dry” a little. There may come a day when He says, “That’s it...I’ve been patient with you long enough. I told you “not to touch the hot stove” and you kept inching closer and closer, so you will just have to get burned a little to learn your lesson!” Or we ask and ask for things that God doesn’t seem to deliver, and we wonder why He is silent...only to realize that we have failed to do something He asked of us – or we have disobeyed Him repeatedly in some area. God is loving, compassionate, merciful and gracious...but He is also just and fair.
So for today, I have allowed Nathan the leeway to eat at his pace and to decide whether he was hungry. When he is older, I may have to INSIST that he eat his veggies or drink his milk. But I will always love him, just the same. And God loves us. He wants to snuggle us in His arms like we would a 2-year-old who is learning the ropes. But He also wants us to grow up and mature in our faith and our discipleship.
How patient has God been with you lately? Are there areas where He has been more than lenient? Are there other situations where you are probably testing the limits of His mercy? Isn’t it time you grew up in your faith and started listening to God a little more closely? Will God have to lose His patience with you before you truly “get it”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Lord God, you are merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against you
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I sat at the table today with our nephew, Nathan, trying to coax him to eat. “Those are strawberries...Yum! Yum!” He would look away and hide his face. “Mmmmmm...chocolate milk! It’s goooooooooooood!” He would push away the sippy cup. I know Nathan is moody at times...and just shy of his 2nd birthday, he is still figuring us out! So I pretended not to notice him. I quietly ate my lunch...turned on a television show...even got my laptop and started to check e-mail. Of course, I was watching him intently...and at times I felt him watching ME! If he noticed that I noticed him, he would retreat...put his goldfish and strawberries back in the bowl, and hide his face. It was a game...and I caught on pretty fast!
Over the course of about 30 minutes, Nathan discovered that the food I had given him was really tasty...and it all disappeared into his tummy. No matter how many times I told him how delicious it was...it had to be HIS idea. So I quickly decided to be gracious and merciful and ignore him...to play HIS game and forgive his stubbornness.
This is not just the game of a toddler. We do it all the time with God. He shows us what to do...and what not to do...and we try to do things our way. We essentially say, “Don’t look at me right now!” and pretend that if God does not acknowledge what we are doing (or not doing), it doesn’t count. Then when things fall apart, where do we run? You’ve got it...we head straight for God - and want Him to forgive us and restore us. And usually He does just that!
If you read the next few verses of Daniel 9, you will see, however, that God has His limits! While He will never turn His back on us completely, God may “hang us out to dry” a little. There may come a day when He says, “That’s it...I’ve been patient with you long enough. I told you “not to touch the hot stove” and you kept inching closer and closer, so you will just have to get burned a little to learn your lesson!” Or we ask and ask for things that God doesn’t seem to deliver, and we wonder why He is silent...only to realize that we have failed to do something He asked of us – or we have disobeyed Him repeatedly in some area. God is loving, compassionate, merciful and gracious...but He is also just and fair.
So for today, I have allowed Nathan the leeway to eat at his pace and to decide whether he was hungry. When he is older, I may have to INSIST that he eat his veggies or drink his milk. But I will always love him, just the same. And God loves us. He wants to snuggle us in His arms like we would a 2-year-old who is learning the ropes. But He also wants us to grow up and mature in our faith and our discipleship.
How patient has God been with you lately? Are there areas where He has been more than lenient? Are there other situations where you are probably testing the limits of His mercy? Isn’t it time you grew up in your faith and started listening to God a little more closely? Will God have to lose His patience with you before you truly “get it”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 20, 2014
Colossians 3:12-14
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I used to watch a reality TV show about a professional stylist named Rachel Zoe. Fashion was her “thing”...and her job was to dress some of the world’s most famous people for events and appearances. She combed the world for just the right items of clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories to make her clients look their best...she tried to make them memorable! She wanted people to say, “Rachel Zoe” dressed me...and she ALWAYS makes me look good!
Now I will also have to say that there is often nothing humble about these celebrities...and their stylist is anything but even tempered and quick to forgive offenses! She takes her work personally, and every criticism is an affront to her sense of style - if not her personal self-worth!
I love how The Message translation depicts the fruits of the Spirit as our wardrobe...and how the Apostle Paul tells us that our basic, go-with-anything-never-leave-home-without-it garment is love. And while I may have appeared harshly critical of Rachel Zoe and how her work is ego-driven, I fully acknowledge that we are all exactly like her in many ways.
We are front and center to make the other guy look good or feel better about himself...as long as WE look good in the bargain! If we are honest, there are plenty of times when we reach out to others out of an effort to propel ourselves to the top of the heap and boost our own egos – more than a deep love and concern for anyone else. And heaven help the person who offends us or even attempts to one-up us in some way!
I can’t help but think about Jesus. The more I study Him and get to know Him, the more I see how effectively He operated in these very traits...compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline – and most certainly, LOVE! Yes, there were times when Jesus asserted His position... “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.” (Matthew 16:24) But His proclamation was in a factual context...not a show of arrogance. And let’s face it...Jesus could back up His claim with definitive actions and demonstrations.
I’ve been thinking for a long time that my “closet” needs a good cleaning...both literally, and spiritually. I need to take out the things that fit poorly or are worn and outdated. And maybe you need to do this, too. You may even have some “vanity items” in your closet that need to go...items that say, “Hey, look at me and how special I am!” Maybe you have some attitudes that need to go on the “discard” heap. Maybe you need to add a few things or upgrade your “basics”...especially love and humility.
To be completely truthful, many of the outfits Rachel Zoe assembles for her clients look pretty bad to me. I struggle to see where there is any “style” to them...or where they flatter the person who wears them. And when we do our own “styling” and leave God out of the mix, the results may not be all that attractive, either. There is no time like the present for cleaning up our wardrobes and making a fresh start. And the logical place to begin is with a simple prayer.
Ask God to be your “stylist”...to show you how to weed out the unnecessary garments and accessories... and to pare your “closet” down to His basic “love suit” and only the best accessories and enhancements. When we allow God to “dress” us, we are always in style...and others are blessed in the bargain. What are YOU wearing these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I used to watch a reality TV show about a professional stylist named Rachel Zoe. Fashion was her “thing”...and her job was to dress some of the world’s most famous people for events and appearances. She combed the world for just the right items of clothing, shoes, jewelry and accessories to make her clients look their best...she tried to make them memorable! She wanted people to say, “Rachel Zoe” dressed me...and she ALWAYS makes me look good!
Now I will also have to say that there is often nothing humble about these celebrities...and their stylist is anything but even tempered and quick to forgive offenses! She takes her work personally, and every criticism is an affront to her sense of style - if not her personal self-worth!
I love how The Message translation depicts the fruits of the Spirit as our wardrobe...and how the Apostle Paul tells us that our basic, go-with-anything-never-leave-home-without-it garment is love. And while I may have appeared harshly critical of Rachel Zoe and how her work is ego-driven, I fully acknowledge that we are all exactly like her in many ways.
We are front and center to make the other guy look good or feel better about himself...as long as WE look good in the bargain! If we are honest, there are plenty of times when we reach out to others out of an effort to propel ourselves to the top of the heap and boost our own egos – more than a deep love and concern for anyone else. And heaven help the person who offends us or even attempts to one-up us in some way!
I can’t help but think about Jesus. The more I study Him and get to know Him, the more I see how effectively He operated in these very traits...compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline – and most certainly, LOVE! Yes, there were times when Jesus asserted His position... “Anyone who intends to come with Me has to let Me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat; I am.” (Matthew 16:24) But His proclamation was in a factual context...not a show of arrogance. And let’s face it...Jesus could back up His claim with definitive actions and demonstrations.
I’ve been thinking for a long time that my “closet” needs a good cleaning...both literally, and spiritually. I need to take out the things that fit poorly or are worn and outdated. And maybe you need to do this, too. You may even have some “vanity items” in your closet that need to go...items that say, “Hey, look at me and how special I am!” Maybe you have some attitudes that need to go on the “discard” heap. Maybe you need to add a few things or upgrade your “basics”...especially love and humility.
To be completely truthful, many of the outfits Rachel Zoe assembles for her clients look pretty bad to me. I struggle to see where there is any “style” to them...or where they flatter the person who wears them. And when we do our own “styling” and leave God out of the mix, the results may not be all that attractive, either. There is no time like the present for cleaning up our wardrobes and making a fresh start. And the logical place to begin is with a simple prayer.
Ask God to be your “stylist”...to show you how to weed out the unnecessary garments and accessories... and to pare your “closet” down to His basic “love suit” and only the best accessories and enhancements. When we allow God to “dress” us, we are always in style...and others are blessed in the bargain. What are YOU wearing these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 20, 2014
Colossians 1:13-14
God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This afternoon, we took Timothy to see his first movie at a theater...Planes: Fire & Rescue. We had given the children a DVD of the original “Planes” movie for Christmas. So when this sequel came to our local theater, we decided it was time to take a certain 5-year-old for a “real” movie experience! And he loved this animated Disney production.
The star of the movies is “Dusty Crophopper,” a former crop-dusting plane. According to the synopsis provided by Disney for http://IMDb.com ...”When world-famous air racer Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his team, a bunch of all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.”
There are many twists and turns in this 84-minute feature, including a scene where Dusty takes on more than he can handle and crashes into the river rapids...and must be rescued by Blade Ranger. To say that Dusty finds himself in a pit is an understatement. The mercy and compassion of his fellow rescue vehicle are called into play more than once. Let’s just say that while Dusty Crophopper has a good heart and the best of intentions, he seems to have a penchant for bravado...and biting off more than he can chew!
Doesn’t this describe most of us? Aren’t we prone to think we know more than we really do...or that we can tackle things on our own without the assistance of others? How many of us jump into situations with both feet...and consider the ramifications later? More importantly, who among us really stops to spend time in consultation with God about countless choices and decisions each day – both those that seem rather insignificant, and the ones that matter greatly?
Is it any wonder that we often find ourselves in dead-end alleys, dark dungeons, and pits of desperation? Isn’t it also a wonder that God continues to extend HIS grace and mercy – and to rescue us?
Don’t you think it is time that we learned from some of our mistakes and shortcomings? Shouldn’t we turn to the One who loves us so much that He has prepared a whole Kingdom for us? Would you be willing to offer grace, mercy, and rescue to those in your midst, just as surely as God rescues you? When will we realize that God has our back...and we really, really need Him?
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that all turns out well for Dusty Crophopper and his “friends”. But our lives are not an animated Disney movie! All can work out well for us, if we will recognize how Jesus has paid the price for our sins and shortcomings. It’s time to stop repeating the same mistakes and acknowledge that we need a hefty dose of His daily wisdom as much as His grace and mercy. Jesus is the ultimate “Rescue Hero”...have you made Him yours? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
God rescued us from dead-end alleys and dark dungeons. He’s set us up in the kingdom of the Son he loves so much, the Son who got us out of the pit we were in, got rid of the sins we were doomed to keep repeating.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This afternoon, we took Timothy to see his first movie at a theater...Planes: Fire & Rescue. We had given the children a DVD of the original “Planes” movie for Christmas. So when this sequel came to our local theater, we decided it was time to take a certain 5-year-old for a “real” movie experience! And he loved this animated Disney production.
The star of the movies is “Dusty Crophopper,” a former crop-dusting plane. According to the synopsis provided by Disney for http://IMDb.com ...”When world-famous air racer Dusty learns that his engine is damaged and he may never race again, he must shift gears and is launched into the world of aerial firefighting. Dusty joins forces with veteran fire and rescue helicopter Blade Ranger and his team, a bunch of all-terrain vehicles known as The Smokejumpers. Together, the fearless team battles a massive wildfire, and Dusty learns what it takes to become a true hero.”
There are many twists and turns in this 84-minute feature, including a scene where Dusty takes on more than he can handle and crashes into the river rapids...and must be rescued by Blade Ranger. To say that Dusty finds himself in a pit is an understatement. The mercy and compassion of his fellow rescue vehicle are called into play more than once. Let’s just say that while Dusty Crophopper has a good heart and the best of intentions, he seems to have a penchant for bravado...and biting off more than he can chew!
Doesn’t this describe most of us? Aren’t we prone to think we know more than we really do...or that we can tackle things on our own without the assistance of others? How many of us jump into situations with both feet...and consider the ramifications later? More importantly, who among us really stops to spend time in consultation with God about countless choices and decisions each day – both those that seem rather insignificant, and the ones that matter greatly?
Is it any wonder that we often find ourselves in dead-end alleys, dark dungeons, and pits of desperation? Isn’t it also a wonder that God continues to extend HIS grace and mercy – and to rescue us?
Don’t you think it is time that we learned from some of our mistakes and shortcomings? Shouldn’t we turn to the One who loves us so much that He has prepared a whole Kingdom for us? Would you be willing to offer grace, mercy, and rescue to those in your midst, just as surely as God rescues you? When will we realize that God has our back...and we really, really need Him?
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that all turns out well for Dusty Crophopper and his “friends”. But our lives are not an animated Disney movie! All can work out well for us, if we will recognize how Jesus has paid the price for our sins and shortcomings. It’s time to stop repeating the same mistakes and acknowledge that we need a hefty dose of His daily wisdom as much as His grace and mercy. Jesus is the ultimate “Rescue Hero”...have you made Him yours? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 19, 2014
Acts 4:8-12
With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”
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 few weeks ago, I signed up to receive e-mails from Christian
author/speaker Jen Hatmaker. Several days ago, I was notified of the
opportunity to be one of 250 bloggers to review an advanced copy of
Hatmaker’s newest book, Interrupted*. This is actually a
rewrite of a Bible study by the same name. I submitted my contact
information...and I was selected to become one of the reviewers. I
received a downloaded copy of the book, and I will be sent a hard copy
in the mail later. In exchange for reading this book, I must post at
least one review of it on my blog (http://auntdebsattic.blogspot.com). I
am more than halfway through the book now, and I have already begun
sharing information to alert readers of a formal book release in August.
Interrupted tells the story of how Jen and Brandon Hatmaker came to redefine their idea of church...how God spoke to them and revealed new (to them) insights into what He wanted the church to be. In other words, God “Interrupted” their cozy “as-we-know-it” Christian faith and challenged them to think differently.
In one particular chapter, the Hatmakers refer to their epiphany as a discovery of “barefoot church”. The Hatmakers were invited to attend an Easter Sunday night service at a small church in a rough area of Austin, Texas. They nervously left their car in a roughshod parking lot and hurried past a weird-looking homeless guy (who turned out to be their speaker in disguise). During one of the opening songs, Brandon Hatmaker had a vision of a homeless guy yelling from the sidewalk, “Hey, give me your boots!”
It so happened that this was an unusually chilly evening in Austin, Texas, and the Hatmakers were both wearing cowboy boots...nice, expensive ones they had given each other for Christmas. As the service ended, the speaker told the group that he had ministered that morning to homeless people in San Antonio. He had asked the homeless what their biggest need was, and they told him...shoes. It seems that homeless people are on their feet a lot, and the shoes they receive from Goodwill and shelters are used – and often worn down. They do not offer adequate support for people who are walking or standing on their feet a lot.
So the speaker said to his group, “...if you want to, you can leave your shoes at the altar when you take Communion. Oh! And leave your socks, too. We’ll wash them and deliver them to the homeless community in San Antonio tomorrow.” Now imagine...there stand this young minister and his author/speaker wife, desperately seeking a closer walk with Jesus...wanting to go “all in” for Him...yet being asked to surrender some expensive, and admittedly treasured possessions – not to mention they would be stepping out into the cold night completely barefoot. But as Jen Hatmaker explains it, she felt Jesus telling her, “I want you and Brandon to figure out what it means to be a barefooted church.” And Brandon Hatmaker says of his earlier vision, “God had spoken loudly and very personally. ‘Yes, Brandon, I’m in this.’”
What does this story have to do with the disciples healing a sick man on the Sabbath? Pretty much everything. Because the disciples who had mercy on a sick man and healed him without any consideration for what day it was served the same Jesus who would have us give up our shoes and go barefooted so that homeless people - who have literally NOTHING - can at least walk more comfortably. Until we start to operate in the grace and mercy of Jesus rather than the ritualistic rules that have governed us for so long...until we step out of our comfort zone when Jesus calls us to do something and listen for HIS voice instead of others’...we won’t truly get it. As Brandon Hatmaker explained it, we need to take the focus off of ourselves and place it on others, specifically “the least of these” as described in Matthew 25 (specifically, verse 45).
Are we “all in” for Jesus? Is He truly our cornerstone...the foundation on which we do everything? Do others really see Him in us? Do they experience His grace and mercy through our words and actions? Or are we so busy keeping up appearances – both personally and as a church – that we have neglected to truly operate in the teachings of Jesus...much less represent Him to others?
How far are you willing to go for Jesus? Would you be able to give up a valuable pair of shoes for Him – much less something more significant? Are you prepared to be judged and ridiculed for your faith in action? Are you ready to be a “barefooted disciple” for the one Who gave His very life for yours? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Order your copy of Interrupted before July 31st and receive a 20% discount. Click here to order.
With that, Peter, full of the Holy Spirit, let loose: “Rulers and leaders of the people, if we have been brought to trial today for helping a sick man, put under investigation regarding this healing, I’ll be completely frank with you—we have nothing to hide. By the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, the One you killed on a cross, the One God raised from the dead, by means of his name this man stands before you healthy and whole. Jesus is ‘the stone you masons threw out, which is now the cornerstone.’ Salvation comes no other way; no other name has been or will be given to us by which we can be saved, only this one.”
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 few weeks ago, I signed up to receive e-mails from Christian
author/speaker Jen Hatmaker. Several days ago, I was notified of the
opportunity to be one of 250 bloggers to review an advanced copy of
Hatmaker’s newest book, Interrupted*. This is actually a
rewrite of a Bible study by the same name. I submitted my contact
information...and I was selected to become one of the reviewers. I
received a downloaded copy of the book, and I will be sent a hard copy
in the mail later. In exchange for reading this book, I must post at
least one review of it on my blog (http://auntdebsattic.blogspot.com). I
am more than halfway through the book now, and I have already begun
sharing information to alert readers of a formal book release in August.Interrupted tells the story of how Jen and Brandon Hatmaker came to redefine their idea of church...how God spoke to them and revealed new (to them) insights into what He wanted the church to be. In other words, God “Interrupted” their cozy “as-we-know-it” Christian faith and challenged them to think differently.
In one particular chapter, the Hatmakers refer to their epiphany as a discovery of “barefoot church”. The Hatmakers were invited to attend an Easter Sunday night service at a small church in a rough area of Austin, Texas. They nervously left their car in a roughshod parking lot and hurried past a weird-looking homeless guy (who turned out to be their speaker in disguise). During one of the opening songs, Brandon Hatmaker had a vision of a homeless guy yelling from the sidewalk, “Hey, give me your boots!”
It so happened that this was an unusually chilly evening in Austin, Texas, and the Hatmakers were both wearing cowboy boots...nice, expensive ones they had given each other for Christmas. As the service ended, the speaker told the group that he had ministered that morning to homeless people in San Antonio. He had asked the homeless what their biggest need was, and they told him...shoes. It seems that homeless people are on their feet a lot, and the shoes they receive from Goodwill and shelters are used – and often worn down. They do not offer adequate support for people who are walking or standing on their feet a lot.
So the speaker said to his group, “...if you want to, you can leave your shoes at the altar when you take Communion. Oh! And leave your socks, too. We’ll wash them and deliver them to the homeless community in San Antonio tomorrow.” Now imagine...there stand this young minister and his author/speaker wife, desperately seeking a closer walk with Jesus...wanting to go “all in” for Him...yet being asked to surrender some expensive, and admittedly treasured possessions – not to mention they would be stepping out into the cold night completely barefoot. But as Jen Hatmaker explains it, she felt Jesus telling her, “I want you and Brandon to figure out what it means to be a barefooted church.” And Brandon Hatmaker says of his earlier vision, “God had spoken loudly and very personally. ‘Yes, Brandon, I’m in this.’”
What does this story have to do with the disciples healing a sick man on the Sabbath? Pretty much everything. Because the disciples who had mercy on a sick man and healed him without any consideration for what day it was served the same Jesus who would have us give up our shoes and go barefooted so that homeless people - who have literally NOTHING - can at least walk more comfortably. Until we start to operate in the grace and mercy of Jesus rather than the ritualistic rules that have governed us for so long...until we step out of our comfort zone when Jesus calls us to do something and listen for HIS voice instead of others’...we won’t truly get it. As Brandon Hatmaker explained it, we need to take the focus off of ourselves and place it on others, specifically “the least of these” as described in Matthew 25 (specifically, verse 45).
Are we “all in” for Jesus? Is He truly our cornerstone...the foundation on which we do everything? Do others really see Him in us? Do they experience His grace and mercy through our words and actions? Or are we so busy keeping up appearances – both personally and as a church – that we have neglected to truly operate in the teachings of Jesus...much less represent Him to others?
How far are you willing to go for Jesus? Would you be able to give up a valuable pair of shoes for Him – much less something more significant? Are you prepared to be judged and ridiculed for your faith in action? Are you ready to be a “barefooted disciple” for the one Who gave His very life for yours? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Order your copy of Interrupted before July 31st and receive a 20% discount. Click here to order.
Daily Devotional for July 18, 2014
Acts 3:17-20
“Dear brothers, I realize that what you did to Jesus was done in ignorance; and the same can be said of your leaders. But God was fulfilling the prophecies that the Messiah must suffer all these things. Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord and send Jesus your Messiah back to you again.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
It happens every day...all over the world...in workplaces, among family members and friends, on social media, and yes – in even in our churches. People make snap judgments, say and do hurtful things, and mistreat others out of their own ignorance – or at best, a failure to collect all of the facts beforehand.
Here’s the thing...we would all do well to stop “shooting from the hip” so often. We would be better served to pause, look, listen...and PRAY before we pass judgment, open our mouths, or jump into action. We need to start at the top...and treat our relationship with Jesus more tenderly, reverently and respectfully...then ask Him to help us expand these mercies outwardly in our interactions and associations with others. We should remember that we are representatives of Jesus to the world at large...and when we fail to operate in grace and mercy, we project a false depiction of the love of Christ and the refreshing renewal that He offers to each of us through His blood on the Cross.
We have been given such an incredible gift in the form of salvation through Jesus. His mercies toward us are poured out new every single day – often many times! Now it is our time to share these mercies with others...to turn around and face His cleansing refreshment, receive His restoring love and care – and share it with the world.
Which direction are you facing today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“Dear brothers, I realize that what you did to Jesus was done in ignorance; and the same can be said of your leaders. But God was fulfilling the prophecies that the Messiah must suffer all these things. Now change your mind and attitude to God and turn to him so he can cleanse away your sins and send you wonderful times of refreshment from the presence of the Lord and send Jesus your Messiah back to you again.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
It happens every day...all over the world...in workplaces, among family members and friends, on social media, and yes – in even in our churches. People make snap judgments, say and do hurtful things, and mistreat others out of their own ignorance – or at best, a failure to collect all of the facts beforehand.
- “We wouldn’t need Food Stamps and other forms of public assistance if people would quit being so lazy and get a job.” There is no effort to understand how difficult some families and individuals find it to stretch a dollar while working at a minimum wage job.
- “He has such musical talent...if he really loved the LORD, he’d sing in the choir.” Perhaps this person has a “plate” already so full - and burdens so big - that there simply is not a spare minute to devote to such an activity, even if he wanted to do so!
- “She must not care about her aging mother...I never see her visit, and I’ve noticed that other people are always doing things for this dear woman that her daughter should be doing.” Maybe this person’s needs exceed what the daughter is medically qualified to handle...or maybe she visits at odd hours. Perhaps she has a spouse who is ill...or small children - and a job...and others have offered to step in and help her with these duties. Or perhaps her mother has told her that she does not want her care and “interference”.
- “I don’t understand why that child’s parents allow him/her to look/behave that way...they should try harder.” Perhaps this child has special needs that offer a challenge to everyone concerned with his/her care. Maybe the parents ARE trying...or maybe they need a loving, caring person to offer them gentle, concrete assistance and guidance.
- “Tell your mom that you all need to get to church on time...your family is always late!” Is this really the child’s fault? Does this help get the family to church sooner, or will it make the children feel badly – and irritate the parents that someone nagged them? Shouldn’t this person be glad the children actually came to church, rather than berate them for their tardiness?
- “That kid is just weird. He never does anything with other students. He isn’t all that friendly, and all he does is read or stare into space.” This kid lives with a single mom who has a drug addiction and an eating disorder. He never knows if she will be alive when he returns home. Or perhaps there is abuse and neglect in his home. His heart is heavy...and his mind is full. It’s all he can do to get back and forth to school each day.
Here’s the thing...we would all do well to stop “shooting from the hip” so often. We would be better served to pause, look, listen...and PRAY before we pass judgment, open our mouths, or jump into action. We need to start at the top...and treat our relationship with Jesus more tenderly, reverently and respectfully...then ask Him to help us expand these mercies outwardly in our interactions and associations with others. We should remember that we are representatives of Jesus to the world at large...and when we fail to operate in grace and mercy, we project a false depiction of the love of Christ and the refreshing renewal that He offers to each of us through His blood on the Cross.
We have been given such an incredible gift in the form of salvation through Jesus. His mercies toward us are poured out new every single day – often many times! Now it is our time to share these mercies with others...to turn around and face His cleansing refreshment, receive His restoring love and care – and share it with the world.
Which direction are you facing today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 17, 2014
Acts 10:42-43
God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were sitting at the VBS closing one night, and Timothy asked, “What does Jesus look like?” I explained that we really don’t know…because He lived a long, long time ago. But some people think Jesus had long hair and wore something called a robe…sort of like a man’s dress or a long shirt. His next question is, “But where IS Jesus?” I told him that Jesus lives in Heaven – with Mam-ma Polly – but His spirit lives in our heart…that He is always with us, sees everything we do and hears everything we say. “But we can’t SEE Him!” Timothy protested. No, I explained, He is with us like a spirit. I asked if he knew what a spirit was…sort of like a ghost. He nodded yes. “Well, this is how Jesus’ spirit lives in our heart with us.” “Okay!” Timothy said happily. He was more satisfied with my answers than I was!
Explaining Jesus to a small child is a challenge at best. You don’t want to say the wrong thing and make Jesus out to be some sort of cartoon character or magic fairy…but you have to describe Him in relatable terms that a child can understand. I’ll be honest…describing Jesus to grown-ups isn’t a whole lot easier!
What we can tell children of all ages is how much Jesus loves us. We can talk about His grace, mercy, compassion, and incredible sacrifice on our behalf. We can share His promises of being reunited in Heaven someday – of spending all eternity in His presence. And we can talk about how Jesus fills our heart and guides our steps each and every day.
Faith is an incredibly nebulous concept. People tell us to have faith that Jesus is with us…to trust that God will heal our bodies and those of our friends and loved ones…to have confidence that Jesus is coming back someday…to believe that Jesus died for our sins, and that all we have to do is invite Him to be our LORD and Savior, and we are guaranteed to spend Eternity in His presence. But all we have is the word of another…and the scriptures. We operate 100% on what we have been told by other people – and what we sense is true in our heart…our only visible example is that of believers and disciples among us who strive to emulate Jesus on a daily basis. It’s no wonder that we wonder…and sometimes doubt!
We must be merciful and tender toward those who question. We must demonstrate our own faithfulness to others. We must encourage them and give them reason to believe what they read and hear about Jesus as they observe how we demonstrate grace, mercy, forgiveness, love and compassion in His name. We must confidently declare that Jesus is real…and that His Holy Spirit is alive and well within us. And we must encourage child-like acceptance of these declarations and offerings.
Questions are normal…and necessary. But we Christians have to be ready with confident answers and a heavy dose of God’s grace and mercy. Are you prepared? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
God told us to announce clearly to the people that Jesus is the one he has chosen to judge the living and the dead. Every one of the prophets has said that all who have faith in Jesus will have their sins forgiven in his name.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We were sitting at the VBS closing one night, and Timothy asked, “What does Jesus look like?” I explained that we really don’t know…because He lived a long, long time ago. But some people think Jesus had long hair and wore something called a robe…sort of like a man’s dress or a long shirt. His next question is, “But where IS Jesus?” I told him that Jesus lives in Heaven – with Mam-ma Polly – but His spirit lives in our heart…that He is always with us, sees everything we do and hears everything we say. “But we can’t SEE Him!” Timothy protested. No, I explained, He is with us like a spirit. I asked if he knew what a spirit was…sort of like a ghost. He nodded yes. “Well, this is how Jesus’ spirit lives in our heart with us.” “Okay!” Timothy said happily. He was more satisfied with my answers than I was!
Explaining Jesus to a small child is a challenge at best. You don’t want to say the wrong thing and make Jesus out to be some sort of cartoon character or magic fairy…but you have to describe Him in relatable terms that a child can understand. I’ll be honest…describing Jesus to grown-ups isn’t a whole lot easier!
What we can tell children of all ages is how much Jesus loves us. We can talk about His grace, mercy, compassion, and incredible sacrifice on our behalf. We can share His promises of being reunited in Heaven someday – of spending all eternity in His presence. And we can talk about how Jesus fills our heart and guides our steps each and every day.
Faith is an incredibly nebulous concept. People tell us to have faith that Jesus is with us…to trust that God will heal our bodies and those of our friends and loved ones…to have confidence that Jesus is coming back someday…to believe that Jesus died for our sins, and that all we have to do is invite Him to be our LORD and Savior, and we are guaranteed to spend Eternity in His presence. But all we have is the word of another…and the scriptures. We operate 100% on what we have been told by other people – and what we sense is true in our heart…our only visible example is that of believers and disciples among us who strive to emulate Jesus on a daily basis. It’s no wonder that we wonder…and sometimes doubt!
We must be merciful and tender toward those who question. We must demonstrate our own faithfulness to others. We must encourage them and give them reason to believe what they read and hear about Jesus as they observe how we demonstrate grace, mercy, forgiveness, love and compassion in His name. We must confidently declare that Jesus is real…and that His Holy Spirit is alive and well within us. And we must encourage child-like acceptance of these declarations and offerings.
Questions are normal…and necessary. But we Christians have to be ready with confident answers and a heavy dose of God’s grace and mercy. Are you prepared? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 16, 2014
2 Timothy 2:22-26
Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
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.
Each night at Vacation Bible School (VBS), the leader talks to the children during the opening activities about our mission project. This year, we are collecting an offering to feed hungry families in Costa Rica. During the crafts class, we are coloring fabric tote bags that will hold food for distribution to these families. Our Costa Rica mission team will deliver these bags and distribute the food later this summer.
As leaders in countless VBS assemblies across the country probably do, ours has challenged the boys to out-give the girls in this mission fund raising. For the first two nights, the boys “out-gave” the girls by a margin of almost 2 to 1. Last night, the tables turned, and the girls donated almost twice as much as the boys. So our leader declared the girls the “winners”, and a shriek like only little girls can emit pierced the Family Life Center. Many of us - adults AND children - covered our ears in defense. And Timothy burst into tears.
“We’re LOSERS!” he cried. “She said the boys are LOSERS!” Big tears poured down his face as he buried his head in my lap. I tried to console him. I tried to explain that this was not what our leader meant. We are ALL winners because Jesus loves us, and we are doing a GOOD THING as we use our money to buy food for these hungry families. Timothy has been concerned for the Costa Rican children. Each night at VBS he has asked me about them…how will they manage without food (we’re going to feed them), aren’t they lonely and sad (no, they will be happy to get our bags filled with food, and they will know that someone loves them – that Jesus loves them). And now, he feels like a loser…a failure.
We’re working on this. I know that there will come a time when Timothy will understand that this is just a game. When he gets older, he will probably revel in this competition – and “beating” his sister at anything and everything! But for now, this little guy is truly disturbed to think that he and the other boys are “losers”. This breaks my heart…and opens my eyes.
As I read today’s scripture passage, I couldn’t help but replay this incident in my head. Where have we gotten involved in seemingly innocent conversations and activities that stir up trouble we didn’t ever imagine? Where have our thoughts and deeds been insensitive, sparked an argument, and truly been inane to begin with? In the case of our churches and money, it strikes me as rather curious that we tend to emphasize “giving” so much, while ministering to many people who barely have two nickels to rub together. We say we want the hungry, the homeless and the downtrodden to join us…to feel the love of Jesus in our midst. And then we tell them that they need them to “give until it hurts” - both figuratively and literally.
We “step on toes” in numerous ways…from promoting our own agendas to expounding on social and political views to gossip and discrimination of all kinds. Sometimes we don’t have a clue that we are doing this – or hurting someone else. Other times, I think we know it (at least a little bit)…and for some reason, we simply don’t seem to care. We go right ahead and do it anyway.
Last night when I took the children home, Timothy asked, “The boys will win tomorrow night…right?” I told him that honestly, I don’t know. But I reminded him that he is ALWAYS a winner…every single day…that in Jesus’ eyes, he can NEVER lose. I hope it was enough, should the little girls rally again tonight and pour on the pressure! But I know for sure that I will be more aware of the ways that I might be involved (even innocently) in controversies, judgments, words and actions that could be viewed as divisive or hurtful.
I will deliberately seek to operate in grace, mercy and compassion for others… to see things through their eyes…and to ask God to show me how to minister out of His abundance and mature righteousness. We can learn a lot from the tender heart of a 5-year-old. Maybe it’s time a lot of us returned to this perspective in our own lives and saw things a little more literally…with fewer gray areas. Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:14 that “God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” Are you childlike in your faith and discipleship? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Run away from infantile indulgence. Run after mature righteousness—faith, love, peace—joining those who are in honest and serious prayer before God. Refuse to get involved in inane discussions; they always end up in fights. God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the Devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.
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.
Each night at Vacation Bible School (VBS), the leader talks to the children during the opening activities about our mission project. This year, we are collecting an offering to feed hungry families in Costa Rica. During the crafts class, we are coloring fabric tote bags that will hold food for distribution to these families. Our Costa Rica mission team will deliver these bags and distribute the food later this summer.
As leaders in countless VBS assemblies across the country probably do, ours has challenged the boys to out-give the girls in this mission fund raising. For the first two nights, the boys “out-gave” the girls by a margin of almost 2 to 1. Last night, the tables turned, and the girls donated almost twice as much as the boys. So our leader declared the girls the “winners”, and a shriek like only little girls can emit pierced the Family Life Center. Many of us - adults AND children - covered our ears in defense. And Timothy burst into tears.
“We’re LOSERS!” he cried. “She said the boys are LOSERS!” Big tears poured down his face as he buried his head in my lap. I tried to console him. I tried to explain that this was not what our leader meant. We are ALL winners because Jesus loves us, and we are doing a GOOD THING as we use our money to buy food for these hungry families. Timothy has been concerned for the Costa Rican children. Each night at VBS he has asked me about them…how will they manage without food (we’re going to feed them), aren’t they lonely and sad (no, they will be happy to get our bags filled with food, and they will know that someone loves them – that Jesus loves them). And now, he feels like a loser…a failure.
We’re working on this. I know that there will come a time when Timothy will understand that this is just a game. When he gets older, he will probably revel in this competition – and “beating” his sister at anything and everything! But for now, this little guy is truly disturbed to think that he and the other boys are “losers”. This breaks my heart…and opens my eyes.
As I read today’s scripture passage, I couldn’t help but replay this incident in my head. Where have we gotten involved in seemingly innocent conversations and activities that stir up trouble we didn’t ever imagine? Where have our thoughts and deeds been insensitive, sparked an argument, and truly been inane to begin with? In the case of our churches and money, it strikes me as rather curious that we tend to emphasize “giving” so much, while ministering to many people who barely have two nickels to rub together. We say we want the hungry, the homeless and the downtrodden to join us…to feel the love of Jesus in our midst. And then we tell them that they need them to “give until it hurts” - both figuratively and literally.
We “step on toes” in numerous ways…from promoting our own agendas to expounding on social and political views to gossip and discrimination of all kinds. Sometimes we don’t have a clue that we are doing this – or hurting someone else. Other times, I think we know it (at least a little bit)…and for some reason, we simply don’t seem to care. We go right ahead and do it anyway.
Last night when I took the children home, Timothy asked, “The boys will win tomorrow night…right?” I told him that honestly, I don’t know. But I reminded him that he is ALWAYS a winner…every single day…that in Jesus’ eyes, he can NEVER lose. I hope it was enough, should the little girls rally again tonight and pour on the pressure! But I know for sure that I will be more aware of the ways that I might be involved (even innocently) in controversies, judgments, words and actions that could be viewed as divisive or hurtful.
I will deliberately seek to operate in grace, mercy and compassion for others… to see things through their eyes…and to ask God to show me how to minister out of His abundance and mature righteousness. We can learn a lot from the tender heart of a 5-year-old. Maybe it’s time a lot of us returned to this perspective in our own lives and saw things a little more literally…with fewer gray areas. Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:14 that “God’s kingdom is made up of people like these.” Are you childlike in your faith and discipleship? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 15, 2014
2 Samuel 24:14
“This is a hard decision,” David replied, “but it is better to fall into the hand of the Lord (for his mercy is great) than into the hands of men.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“I made a mistake.” “My bad.”
“I shouldn’t have said/done that.” “I messed up.”
“That was wrong of me.” “It was my fault.”
“I wish I could take that back.” “I was wrong.”
“May I have a second chance?” “I’m sorry.”
We’ve all uttered at least one (and probably ALL) of these phrases at one time or another. But that doesn’t mean we liked it! We often find it hard to admit that we were mistaken or made a mess of things. It’s embarrassing…sometimes shameful. And often, there are consequences.
In this chapter of 2 Samuel, we learn about a really poor choice that David made. He sent representatives to take a census…to number (count) the people of Israel. He specifically wanted to know how many men were of conscription age – old enough to join his army. God had not sanctioned any of this…He had not told David to do this. In fact, David knew that God was not in favor of such a show of human strength. Bottom line…David just wanted to brag about how many men he had available for war. And God was not the least bit pleased.
So God offered David three choices…7 years of famine, three months on the run from his enemies, or three days of plague. David chose the three days of plague, and 70,000 people lost their lives as a result. God could have allowed even a larger number of people to die, but He had mercy before the three days was up and ordered the death angel to retreat. The people of Jerusalem were spared.
I don’t know about you, but if God offered me those same three choices, I would be tempted to answer, “None of the above!” There was no good option for David. But notice that he responded that any punishment from a merciful God would be far better than the consequences of man. David had no clue that God would spare Jerusalem or lighten the punishment. But he trusted that God would be fair and just, no matter what.
I believe that the treatment David received from God in this instance made Him a better man and taught him priceless lessons about how to behave in the future…toward God AND toward his fellow man. We can take these lessons to heart, as well…
God could have just taken David out and washed His hands of him and his antics. But He didn’t…and He won’t do this with us, either. How will we respond to this much love, grace and mercy? How will you share these gifts with others?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“This is a hard decision,” David replied, “but it is better to fall into the hand of the Lord (for his mercy is great) than into the hands of men.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
“I made a mistake.” “My bad.”
“I shouldn’t have said/done that.” “I messed up.”
“That was wrong of me.” “It was my fault.”
“I wish I could take that back.” “I was wrong.”
“May I have a second chance?” “I’m sorry.”
We’ve all uttered at least one (and probably ALL) of these phrases at one time or another. But that doesn’t mean we liked it! We often find it hard to admit that we were mistaken or made a mess of things. It’s embarrassing…sometimes shameful. And often, there are consequences.
In this chapter of 2 Samuel, we learn about a really poor choice that David made. He sent representatives to take a census…to number (count) the people of Israel. He specifically wanted to know how many men were of conscription age – old enough to join his army. God had not sanctioned any of this…He had not told David to do this. In fact, David knew that God was not in favor of such a show of human strength. Bottom line…David just wanted to brag about how many men he had available for war. And God was not the least bit pleased.
So God offered David three choices…7 years of famine, three months on the run from his enemies, or three days of plague. David chose the three days of plague, and 70,000 people lost their lives as a result. God could have allowed even a larger number of people to die, but He had mercy before the three days was up and ordered the death angel to retreat. The people of Jerusalem were spared.
I don’t know about you, but if God offered me those same three choices, I would be tempted to answer, “None of the above!” There was no good option for David. But notice that he responded that any punishment from a merciful God would be far better than the consequences of man. David had no clue that God would spare Jerusalem or lighten the punishment. But he trusted that God would be fair and just, no matter what.
I believe that the treatment David received from God in this instance made Him a better man and taught him priceless lessons about how to behave in the future…toward God AND toward his fellow man. We can take these lessons to heart, as well…
- We need to question our motives. Are we making a choice because this is what we want…or are we certain that God agrees and sanctions this decision?
- When we make a mistake, we need to own it…and do whatever is necessary to make things right as quickly as possible.
- Staying in tune with God will help to ensure that we don’t make mistakes…but when we do, we need to be prepared to accept the consequences. We must trust that God will never desert us - even while we suffer for our sins - and that He will help us through these times with grace and mercy.
- We must offer others that same grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion. People will offend us…they will make mistakes that affect us in ways great and small. And when they own these wrongdoings and admit them, we must be prepared to offer them the same love and fair treatment that God offers us when we sin against Him.
God could have just taken David out and washed His hands of him and his antics. But He didn’t…and He won’t do this with us, either. How will we respond to this much love, grace and mercy? How will you share these gifts with others?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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