Daily Devotional for March 31, 2014

Psalm 86:11-17
Teach me to follow you,
and I will obey your truth.
    Always keep me faithful.
With all my heart I thank you.
    I praise you, Lord God.
Your love for me is so great
    that you protected me
    from death and the grave.

Proud and violent enemies,
    who don’t care about you,
    have ganged up to attack
    and kill me.
But you, the Lord God,
    are kind and merciful.
You don’t easily get angry,
    and your love
    can always be trusted.
I serve you, Lord,
    and I am the child
    of one of your servants.
Look on me with kindness.
    Make me strong and save me.
Show that you approve of me!
Then my hateful enemies
    will feel like fools,
    because you have helped
    and comforted me.

 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
All around us, people are hurting.  Even faith-filled Christians who trust God completely have a bad day now and again.  A dear friend of mine who has suffered great losses in the last year – including the deaths of her husband, her brother, and her beloved cat – lost her little dog over the weekend. The father of my cousin’s wife died suddenly a few weeks ago.  A few days after his burial, she had to undergo major surgery.  She has experienced other “stressors” in recent weeks…and yesterday, she was overwhelmed with emotion and could not stop crying.  Now she has a migraine.  Both of these women are incredibly strong in their Christian faith…but “life” and the devil’s “violent enemies” have ganged up on them.
 
I’ve said it before, but Satan often goes after those who are securely in God’s camp even more stringently than those who are filled with sin.  It’s like he figures that he has the latter group already…but he can’t stand to think he is losing a single soul to God’s Kingdom.  So he hits Christians pretty hard sometimes.  And that is when they need our prayers, our encouragement, and our strength to fight back and keep him on the run.
 
As Christians who believe what David says in this Psalm, we know that God can always be trusted…that He is kind, merciful, and working non-stop to strengthen and protect us.  Still, there are days when we are discouraged…frustrated...when we have a weak moment and fall to our knees in despair.  And that is when other believers must step in…with love, mercy, grace, compassion, prayers and encouragement. We must be on the lookout for those among us who are in great need of our support – whether they appear to be faith-filled believers or the worst sinner we can imagine!  We must reach out to them in the name of Jesus, remembering how He became accessible to the least of those among us – and offered hope, a better way…and a new life in Him.
 
Look around.  Who needs you today?  Where is Satan’s gang of enemies bearing down on someone?  How can you help?  Can you offer a prayer…a helping hand…a shoulder to cry on…or a rally cry of “Beat it, Devil!”?  Can you share with someone how God has helped you through a similar situation…how He met your needs even when you felt like everything was hopeless?  Because if we are honest…we’ve all “been there, done that”!
 
So what are you waiting for?  Who’s waiting on you to be the hands and feet of Jesus in their life today?  Isn’t it time you got to work?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 30, 2014

Psalms 86:1-7
Please listen, Lord,
and answer my prayer!
    I am poor and helpless.
Protect me and save me
    because you are my God.
    I am your faithful servant,
    and I trust you.
Be kind to me!
    I pray to you all day.
Make my heart glad!
    I serve you,
    and my prayer is sincere.
You willingly forgive,
and your love is always there
    for those who pray to you.
Please listen, Lord!
    Answer my prayer for help.
When I am in trouble, I pray,
    knowing you will listen.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

The “theme” of our morning worship service today centered on the woman “with the issue of blood” who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment and was made well.  This story comes from Mark 5:25-34, which says,

 
“In the crowd was a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years.  She had gone to many doctors, and they had not done anything except cause her a lot of pain. She had paid them all the money she had. But instead of getting better, she only got worse.

The woman had heard about Jesus, so she came up behind him in the crowd and barely touched his clothes.  She had said to herself, ‘If I can just touch his clothes, I will get well.’  As soon as she touched them, her bleeding stopped, and she knew she was well.

 
At that moment Jesus felt power go out from him. He turned to the crowd and asked, ‘Who touched my clothes?’”
 
Is this the Jesus you know?  Do you follow the One who can make you well simply because you dared to touch the hem of His robe?  Obviously I am not talking about us literally touching Jesus’ robe…clearly we cannot do this.  But do we believe so deeply that Jesus cares for us…that He has unending compassion for us…that His deepest desire is to make us “healthy” and “whole” in every way…that we never hesitate to call on Him to do so?  Do we operate in the confidence that…”When I am in trouble, I pray, knowing You will listen”?

Consider the courage and faith of this woman.  To push through the crowd just for the chance to touch the hem of a robe - believing that this would be sufficient for Jesus to know you needed His help - seems extraordinary.  And yet, what Jesus did for her…He stands ready, willing, and able to gladly do for each of us.  Do we have as much faith as this woman?  Do we truly believe that Jesus cares for us so deeply that simply calling on Him for help – and believing He will deliver it – is enough?

None of us contains the supernatural power of Jesus. We cannot instantly heal someone who touches our clothes and believes.  But we can be there for others when they call on us.  When others ask for our help, we can give it.  When we see people in need, we can operate in compassion, kindness, grace and mercy toward them.  Each of us can become a person who others know to be someone with integrity, honor, and reliability.  We can be known as someone who shows the love of Jesus for others…someone whose love is always there for others, in His name.

So where does this leave you?  Do you have faith in the love and compassion of Jesus that rivals that of the woman in Mark’s Gospel?  Do you call on Jesus to meet your every need…and trust Him to do so?  Are you known by others as a person who offers kindness, compassion, love, grace and mercy?  Can others count on you to share the love of Jesus with them?

How you answer these questions matters greatly!  If God is your GOD…and you truly are His faithful servant, you must be filled with faith and confidence in His power and ability to meet your needs.  And you must be willing to demonstrate Jesus’ love to others.  Have you “touched the hem of Jesus’ garment” lately?  Isn’t it time you did?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 29, 2014

Romans 12:14-21
Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you are smarter than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone.
 
Dear friends, don’t try to get even. Let God take revenge. In the Scriptures the Lord says, “I am the one to take revenge and pay them back.”
 
The Scriptures also say, “If your enemies are hungry, give them something to eat. And if they are thirsty, give them something to drink. This will be the same as piling burning coals on their heads.”
 
Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
When my sister, Suzanne, and I were little, we played “Beauty Pageant” a lot.  We would dress up in old gowns that belonged to Mom and our “Aunt” Martha, and we would have evening gown and talent competitions.  I don’t think we ever included swimsuits…but maybe.  For us, it was all about the gowns and the talent.  We were both in our first pageant at age five – a local “rite-of-passage” event that virtually every five-year-old girl in the county experienced.  We girls had fun…I think a lot of the moms and grandmothers were more cutthroat about the competitive side of things!
 
The year I entered, I was crowned the winner.  Suzanne entered the following year, and she was awarded one of the runners-up.  By all rights, I believe she should have won, too.  She played “Up a Lazy River” on the ORGAN, for goodness sake - and she was good enough to rival Jo Ann Castle on “The Lawrence Welk Show”! (Okay, I just dated myself big time!)  But just before the final evening gown parade, the mother of another contestant accidentally stepped on Suzanne’s gown backstage, and she tore a delicate netting ruffle.  Mom and others desperately tried to pin the ruffle back on the gown as the parade of contestants marched out onto the stage…but Suzanne was crying her eyes out when she hit the stage.  And the judges selected one of her classmates as “Queen”.
 
In high school, I participated in “beauty pageants”…mainly because I thought they were fun – although I’ll admit, there was a competitive edge to them.  I placed several times, but I never won…and that was okay with me.  I would have loved to win, but I was happy with a “runner-up” position.  But a fellow contestant – who actually did win once – was NOT a happy camper when she lost.  She declared that the contest had been rigged. She spoke to judges afterward and questioned the scoring system.  And she invited me to join her in trying to embarrass the winner the following year by outperforming her and “proving” that the girl had no talent.
 
I’ll be honest.  This girl probably shouldn’t have won.  The contest was most likely rigged.  But had someone else been crowned the queen, I’m not sure it would have been this unhappy runner-up who threw such a fit.  And honestly, the “winner” truly needed the win.  She needed the ego boost and all of the recognition, celebrations and accolades that came with winning.  So I was glad for her to have them.
 
Too many of us are so busy trying to even the score or “show somebody a thing or two” that we have almost forgotten what the issue was to begin with!  We are so mired in our own hurt that we cannot stop to consider the other person.  Did the contestant who didn’t truly “deserve” the win know that she was inadequate?  Did she feel realize that someone might have finagled the scores in order for her to win…and did this embarrass her?  Was she waiting for someone to come forward and say, “You cheated!”?  How did she feel toward those who finished behind her and accepted their “loss” graciously?  Was she grateful?
 
Have you ever stopped to think that the “other person” might need to be right more than you?  Have you ever considered that the person who hurt you so deeply – who wounded you in ways you can’t even describe – is hurting, too?  Maybe he/she feels deep remorse and doesn’t dare come to you for forgiveness because of a fear that you might withhold it…or tear into them!  Maybe this person is so deeply ashamed of what transpired that he/she cannot even speak of it now.  Or maybe you are letting grudges and perceived transgressions color your daily living and erode your heart…while the rest of the world moves ahead unaware of your pain and dissatisfaction.
 
My point is that of the Apostle Paul to the Romans.  We will never experience anything that Jesus hasn’t encountered…in spades!  We will never be mistreated, misunderstood, abused, ridiculed, humiliated, ignored, shamed and unloved as much as Jesus was…by countless people.  And yet, He never retaliated.  Jesus never looked upon a single one of them with anything but incredible love and compassion.  He never sought revenge…and even on the cross, He asked God to forgive those who didn’t fully comprehend what they were doing.
 
Now what makes us think that we have the right to harbor grudges…to seek revenge…to operate in anything but love, forgiveness, grace, mercy, kindness and compassion?  Don’t you get it?  We are all WINNERS in Jesus Christ!  There are no “runners-up” in His kingdom.  And yes, we’ve all had our dress stepped on a few times.  But let’s get over ourselves!  Let’s set aside our egos…give our deepest hurts and indignations to God…and ask, “LORD, where do I go from here?”  I’m betting you already have a pretty good idea how He will answer.  But ask Him anyway!
 
Let God handle the judgment – and the justice.  Trust Him to make things right.  Love even when it seems like the hardest thing in the world to do.  Believe me...I’m right there with you sometimes.  There are some really, really unlovable people in this world!  But love them anyway…in Jesus’ name.  You are a winner with Jesus.  He will crown you with His glory.  Now that’s a “win” I’m willing to fight for… aren’t you?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 28, 2014

Romans 12:9-13
Don’t just pretend to love others. Really love them. Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honoring each other. Never be lazy, but work hard and serve the Lord enthusiastically. Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.  When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
On a recent airing of the talk show “Katie”, host Katie Couric interviewed Marie Monville, the former wife of Charles Carl Roberts IV, who shot ten girls between the ages of 6 and 13 in an Amish schoolhouse in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania,* on October 2, 2006.  Five of these girls died before Roberts turned a gun on himself.  Monville, who has remarried, wrote a book about the events surrounding this horrific day, and she spoke with Katie Couric about the tragedy and how people in her community reacted.

Marie and Charles Roberts lost their first child shortly after her birth, and Marie believes that “Charlie” never overcame this loss. On the day of the massacre, Charles Roberts left his wife a note (which she found later) and told her that he was sorry for what he was doing to her and their children.  She saw no signs that Charlie might do something so heinous.  She says that she had no warnings or clues prior to this terrible day.
 
This is a story that belies rational thinking.  It’s hard to think about how a father could walk into a classroom and line little girls up against a chalkboard, bind them, and then systematically shoot them.  It is unfathomable to imagine the grief that these girls’ families have endured…or the grief and shame of Charles Roberts’ own wife and children.  And yet, something remarkable happened.  The very day that this tragedy occurred, parents of some of the victims went to the home of Marie Roberts Monville’s parents - where she had taken refuge – and reached out to her.
 
They visited with Marie’s father…hugged him…cried with him.  And they told him, “We forgive you…we support you…and we are here for you.”  Within hours of the massacre, Marie Monville says that she stood in her parents’ kitchen looking out the window …and watched as her dad went out to meet with the Amish men who approached the house.  She watched as they extended their arms and placed their hands on his shoulders.  She said, “Their gestures told me everything that my heart wanted to hear…but never dreamt that we would – especially not so quickly afterward.
 
Monville said that the Amish men told her father that they forgave Charlie…that they were extending grace to all of the family… and they asked about Marie and the children.  Monville noted that, “It was just shocking that they would be thinking of us in this time of tragedy in their lives.”  Additionally, Monville recounted how these Amish families – including parents and family members of some of the victims - attended Charles Roberts’ funeral and formed a human shield between her family and the news media.  Marie Monville and her family were able to enter the church without being photographed or questioned.  It is against the religious beliefs of the Amish to be photographed, so these families created a “wall” of solidarity - with their backs to the barrage of media representatives - and guarded Marie Monville and her family.  Marie said for these families to attend the funeral and put themselves in a place of protecting her and her family was more than she could comprehend.
 
Why did these families do such a compassionate and merciful thing?  They told Marie Monville that when they went home at night, they had each other for solace.  They knew that Marie had no one.  Monville said, “It was startling to me that they were able to see into a very private place of real pain in my life in the midst of all of the pain that they were going through in their lives.  I had never experienced love like that before.  To experience the love that they truly have…and the compassion they are so quick to share…and the richness of the grace they offered…really changed my world.”
 
Can you imagine yourself being able to offer this sort of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion to someone who directly – or by association – wounded you so deeply?  What is our capacity for loving others…for offering them “the richness of grace” in Christ Jesus?  Because you see, these people did not do this out of their own strength and resolve.  They clearly operated out of the depths of their love for Jesus…out of His demonstrations of love for them and the forgiveness He offered each of us, even as He hung on a cross.  This group of people exhibited Jesus Christ in action, as they set aside their own pain and suffering - or channeled these emotions into something positive and uplifting for someone else.  And in doing so, they honored God…they gave witness to His tremendous capacity to love and forgive us…and they sent this message into the world at large.
 
Katie Couric told Marie Monville that she was truly moved by this story and the gestures of love and compassion that were exhibited in the face of such horrific tragedy.  And it is a moving story.  But the “take-away” for us should be that what these people did in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, is a powerful example of what we should do in our own little corner of the world – each and every day.  I pray that you have not experienced a human tragedy of any kind…and certainly nothing that remotely compares to this horrific event!  But each of us has “gone through stuff”…we have our own baggage – our own hurts, insults, challenges – and our own people to forgive and offer grace, mercy and compassion.  If the folks of Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania, could do it…so can we.
 
Search your heart.  See where you need to truly love others more deeply…to offer the richness of God’s grace and mercy…to show genuine compassion and sympathy to others’ plight.  Learn to set aside your own feelings in order to meet the needs of God’s people…to help them to experience His healing and peace.  Ask God to equip you with His strength, wisdom, generosity of spirit…and peace.  I assure you, God will meet your own needs in the process.
 
In ways great and small, we are called on a daily basis to be God’s “human shield” of love, grace, and compassion for others.  Are you listening…and will you answer?

©2014 Debbie Robus

 
* http://katiecouric.com/videos/the-amish-communitys-forgiveness-in-the-face-of-tragedy/

Daily Devotional for March 27, 2014

Philippians 4:15-20
You Philippians well know, and you can be sure I’ll never forget it, that when I first left Macedonia province, venturing out with the Message, not one church helped out in the give-and-take of this work except you. You were the only one. Even while I was in Thessalonica, you helped out—and not only once, but twice. Not that I’m looking for handouts, but I do want you to experience the blessing that issues from generosity.

And now I have it all—and keep getting more! The gifts you sent with Epaphroditus were more than enough, like a sweet-smelling sacrifice roasting on the altar, filling the air with fragrance, pleasing God no end. You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus. Our God and Father abounds in glory that just pours out into eternity. Yes.

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’m busy.”
“I’m shy.”
“I’m sick/injured/disabled in some way.”
“I’m too old/young.”
“I’m not very smart.”
“I can’t even pay my own bills.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I’m the wrong color/gender/ethnicity…or my political party or sexual orientation are different.”
“I’m not good with people…I can’t write/speak well.”
"There are things in my past of which I am ashamed."
“That’s none of my business!”
“What’s in it for me?”


How many of these excuses have you used to keep from getting involved with others or generously showing them that you care?  If we are honest, each one of us has used some form of one or more of these throughout our lives in order to avoid full engagement in Christian service.  And as a result, we have not only missed out on blessing others…we’ve blocked our own blessings!

Read the passage again.  Note especially the part that says “You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.”  So every time you offer one of these excuses – or any other – you are essentially saying, “I don’t believe that God can equip me for His ministries and purposes!”  You are denying Him the opportunity to bless you as He meets the needs of others through your efforts.

Sharing compassion and care doesn’t have to cost money.  It doesn’t have to take HUGE chunks of your time.  You don’t have to be able-bodied – or even physically well to offer a prayer on the behalf of someone else…or to pick up the phone or your keyboard and express concern.  Young children can be taught to genuinely ask, “How are you doing?” and to be polite and kind to others.  Older adults can offer encouragement and mentoring to young people - to the best of their abilities.  Most people don’t care what color you are, who you vote for…or who you love – as long as you are showing them how much you care about them!  Your past may be the very thing that equips you to truly relate to - and encourage - someone else!

God equips each of us with special “gifts” for His ministries and service.  The choice to use them for His glory is ours.  But understand clearly that when you fail to show love and compassion to others in Jesus’ name, you are in many ways denying your Christian faith…and you are blocking the blessings that God wants to bring you.  I don’t know about you, but I’ll take every single blessing God has for me…because I am always strengthened, encouraged, uplifted and amazed!  Who wouldn’t want an abundance of these things in their life?!

Let’s all agree that the excuses stop today...here…NOW!  Let’s all get in on this “blessing” thing…let’s encourage and support one another - and glorify God in the process.  Let’s bask in the glow of His blessings and abundance in our own lives as a result.

Will this be the day that you drop the justifications and get busy with the work of the LORD?  Isn’t it time you did?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 26, 2014

Philippians 4:10-14
How I praise the Lord that you are concerned about me again. I know you have always been concerned for me, but you didn’t have the chance to help me. Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little.  For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Do you know someone who seems to be totally self-sufficient?  When you think of this person, you readily assume that he/she has everything under control, lacks for little to nothing, and seems to always manage quite nicely.  We all know people who seem to need lots of help.  But don’t we also know those who seem to always have all of their bases covered?
 
Here’s the thing…nobody’s life is THAT together all the time!  And while you may feel like there is very little you can do for some people, you must never underestimate the power of letting them know how much you care.  The person who seems so busy caring for others needs a little tender “caregiving” from time to time.  The friend or co-worker who never appears to have a bad day is probably putting on a good front.  Everyone gets sick once in a while.  At some point, every person will have troubles, grieve, or feel discouraged.  And even if we never see this side of a person, we must assume that these things happen in his/her life.
 
So what can you do?  Reach out to others.  The Apostle Paul says quite clearly that he is content…that all of his needs are met, and he has learned how to live with little – or a lot.  But at the same time, he is clearly grateful for the love and support of others.  In our own “ministry”, this support might come in the form of a phone call or note of encouragement.  It might mean just being friendly to others and offering a smile…asking “How is your day going?”…or saying, “I really appreciate how hard you are working on XYZ.”  It might mean asking, “Is there anything I could do for you?”… or just saying, “If you ever need anything – even just a friendly ear – I’m here for you.”
 
When given an opportunity to meet physical needs of someone else, we must be first in line to do so.  We must be ready, willing, and able to share a meal, a ride, a hand with a task, or even a few dollars when possible.  This goes beyond the obvious…the canned food drives…the mission projects at church and in our community...the public fundraisers for this cause or that.  I’m talking about meeting people on a personal level…sharing and caring…showing compassion and concern – even for those who seem to have no needs and are in fact busy meeting the needs of others.
 
Everyone gets weary.  Everyone has needs on any given day.  A good example is our pastors.  They are human beings with families and daily challenges just like the rest of us.  Yet we expect them to be superheroes that come to our rescue and minister to us at the drop of a hat!  So while this scripture passage is often referred to for other reasons…while the focus is usually on the verses about learning to be content in whatever situation we find ourselves…I want to emphasize other sentences today.
 
Let’s look at three phrases:
  • “I know that you have always been concerned for me.”  Do people know this about you?  Do they sense your concern and compassion for them?  Do they believe that you truly care?
  • “For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”  Do you trust God to give you the strength, courage, wisdom and compassion as you meet the needs of others each day?
  • “... you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.”  Have you modeled true Christian discipleship by sharing with others in their present difficulties?  Have you opened your eyes and ears to the needs of those in your midst…and done your best – with God’s help – to meet them?
Isn’t it time we started truly caring about one another and making an effort to show concern?  Will you offer those you encounter genuine care…and will they be able to recognize it?  Don’t you think you should?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 25, 2014

Philippians 4:8-9
And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
My paternal grandfather had a sister who lived on a small farm outside of our community.  She was unkempt and disheveled…and frankly, she scared us kids just a little.  Couple that with the fact that some of the adults did not speak very kindly of her, and we were quite convinced that she was not someone we wanted to be around for very long.  When we grew up, my Mam-ma Polly began to talk about this aunt in a manner that presented a totally different story. 
 
She told of a woman who lost a child in a tragic accident…and was never the same afterward. She described a relationship between my aunt and her husband that was troubled at best.  The uncle blamed my aunt for their child’s death.  And according to my grandmother…he never missed an opportunity to berate her for it or to tear down her resolve.  So my aunt became bitter, downtrodden, and even at times - dishonest…all in an effort to cope and survive.  My heart breaks to think of how tormented her life must have been.
 
It’s a sad story…but there is something of a happy result.  A grand-daughter of this aunt came to visit Mam-ma as she lay dying.  She mentioned something about her grandmother in the context of how fortunate I was to have such a wonderful woman as MY grandmother – and how horrible her own grandmother had been.  I said to her, “I don’t think that is the case.  You should really talk to my sister, because Mam-ma Polly shared more with her than with me.  But I’m quite sure she painted a very different picture of your grandmother and her life.”  At Mam-ma Polly's funeral visitation, my cousin asked my sister - and another cousin who was old enough to remember some facts - about  all of this.  And with tears in her eyes, she came to me to say “Thank you”. 
 
My cousin had learned that things were not as she had always been told.  It was bittersweet news, but she was thrilled to learn that her grandmother had aspects to her life that were true, honorable, right and pure…lovely and admirable.  She now sees her grandmother with a new “lens”, so to speak.  She realizes that like most of us, there can be an ugly side to our story…but God sees beyond this.  He can forgive us and redeem us from our sordid past…our life of sin…and He can bring the things that are excellent and worthy of His praise to the forefront.  And our job as Christian disciples is to emulate Jesus and look for the good in others… to focus on these things rather than the person’s shortcomings.
 
I am not meaning to excuse another person’s sins or past mistakes.  But this is not for us to judge.  We are to look at each and every person and see their heart…and the potential that lies therein for honor, truth, purity and goodness.  We are to see others as God sees them…with all the capacity in the world to be filled with decency, righteousness, and virtue…with every possibility to give honorable testament to the grace, mercy, love, forgiveness, power and peace we receive through salvation in Jesus Christ.
 
One of the marks of a mature Christian who is growing in his/her faith is the ability to look at another person and see that person's heart…and their potential in Christ Jesus.  When we come to a place where we can ache for the torment that others may endure because of past sins - and ask God to offer them forgiveness, healing, comfort and peace - we have reached a new level in our own faithfulness.
 
Are you there yet?  Do you look past the sinfulness of others and see their heart?  Do you care deeply about sharing the hope and promises of God with others and encouraging them toward a life that is honest, right, pure, lovely, admirable…and leaves their old, sinful life in the dust?
 
Are you willing to reach out to others and help them to “forget the past and look forward to what lies ahead…to press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us”*?  Will this be the day that you turn the corner in your own faith walk and begin to operate in the compassion of Christ?  Shouldn’t it?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus
 
*Philippians 3:14 (NLT)

Daily Devotional for March 24, 2014

Philippians 4:4-7
Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.
 
Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
I’ve said it before…I come from a long line of folks who could worry as a profession!  Recently, Timothy began testing the almost-5-year-old waters a bit with some antics at school and at home that displeased his parents.  As his mother told me about them one day, I asked, “Would you like for me to talk to him?”  She said, “Yes, PLEASE!”  So we had a little chat about learning to get along with others and how important it was to cooperate…share…and be kind to our friends and siblings.  I told Timothy that I would pray for him and ask God to help him learn to do these things.  And I said to him, “When you say your prayers, ask God to help you be good and get along with others.”
 
Timothy asked, “But God will still love me…right?”  I told him yes…God will love him – but God might not always approve of his behavior.  Timmy can be pretty dramatic at times, and his next comment (in his saddest voice) was, “But if God leaves me…I’ll be all alone!”  I assured him that God will never leave him…but God does want us to behave well and follow the rules. A few nights later, as Timothy said his prayers, he said (again, quite dramatically), “God, if I’m all alone, you’ll come and get me…right?”  Dramatically spoken or not, this obviously tugged at my heartstrings.  Afterward, I assured Timmy that God is ALWAYS with him, and he doesn’t need to worry about that!
 
One of my long-term goals with Timothy, Zola, Nathan – and other children who cross my path – is to continually assure them that God loves them…that He is ready, willing and more than able to handle their worries.  I want these children to grow up full of the confidence that God’s peace will guard their hearts and minds as they strive to live for Jesus.  And it all begins with me and how I demonstrate this in my own life.  If I am continually worried and upset… if I appear to be stressed out over things great and small…if I fail to physically model taking all things to God in prayer – and giving them to Him to handle – I cannot possibly expect these children to do any differently.
 
The same could be said for others whom we encounter.  What do we project to the people we meet?  Do we come across as someone who operates in “the peace that passes understanding”?  Or are we hand-wringers…unsettled people who call ourselves Christians and say one thing…while we act in a way that belies our words?  Are we people who pray about everything and truly give it to God…with thanks and complete confidence that He will answer in a manner that best meets our needs?  Are we at peace…and filled with joy in the LORD?
 
Isn’t it time we took stock of our lives and answered a few of these questions?  Will this be the day that you begin to work on the areas where you worry too much – the unsettled, anything-but-peaceful corners of your life?  Won’t you spend some time in contemplation and praise of a God who can handle EVERYTHING…even the “growing pains” of a sometimes-melodramatic pre-schooler?  God is waiting for us to stop our fretting and settle in with Him.  Will this be the day that you begin?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 23, 2014

Philippians 4:1
Dear friends, I love you and long to see you. Please keep on being faithful to the Lord. You are my pride and joy.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Sunday mornings are special for me, because we generally pick up Timothy and Zola and take them to church with us…and then out for a bite of lunch – usually at Burger King®.  The children burst through the door and run toward us…eager to get in the car and get going.  The chatter flows as they tell us about their week and speak with anticipation about the plans for our day.  Sometimes on pretty days, we go play in the park after lunch.  Occasionally, one of the children will have spent the night with us, and we are collecting the other sibling on our way to church.  And almost always, they are just as eager to stop and pick up “Grandma E” (Greg’s mother), who usually goes with us.
 
Regardless of the day or the hour, I always love to see these children and their brother, Nathan.  When more than a few days have passed between our visits, I long to see them.  They truly are my pride and joy in many ways…and I take great delight in spending time with each of them.  And perhaps you have someone who makes you feel this way…a friend, family member, significant other…or even a small child.
 
Can I tell you something?  This is how God feels about us!  He longs to spend time with us…to hear how our day/week has gone…to “catch up” and make plans…to share worship, a meal, or an adventure.  God even longs for our company when we engage in play.  Everything about us delights Him…in spite of our sinful nature and our penchant for misbehaving!
 
Just as importantly, God wants us to develop relationships with others…connections that bring us pride and joy.  He wants us to let others know how important they are to us…just as Paul expressed to the Philippians in this letter.  God wants us to truly desire relationships with others…and to know how to show it!  He wants us to get along…to share each other’s joys and sorrows…and to truly make others feel valued, precious, and appreciated.
 
How well do you accomplish this?  Are you fully engaged when you talk to others?  Do you make time in your day to visit with people…to minister to them…to celebrate their joys and triumphs…and to console them in their sorrows and sadness?  Do others truly know that you care?  Do they feel loved…important…as if you are proud and happy to know them and be a part of their lives?
 
Just how good are you at relationships?  Have you paid attention to the example of Jesus and implemented this in your discipleship?  People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.  What do others know about you?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 22, 2014

Ephesians 1:15-18
I have heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.  So I never stop being grateful for you, as I mention you in my prayers.  I ask the glorious Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ to give you his Spirit. The Spirit will make you wise and let you understand what it means to know God.  My prayer is that light will flood your hearts and that you will understand the hope that was given to you when God chose you. Then you will discover the glorious blessings that will be yours together with all of God’s people.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Timothy began to grow tired late one morning, and the litany began…”I’m thirsty!  I’m hungry!  I don’t want to lie down!  I want this…I need that!”  Greg said, “I don’t think he is any of those things…he knows he needs a nap, and these are diversions.”  And he was right.  As the protests grew louder and the tears came, I snuggled him with a cup of juice, and soon, he was calm…not quite asleep - but the food and other “demands” had been forgotten.
 
So often, we don’t really pay attention to what children are telling us.  We grow impatient with them when they have outbursts instead of stopping to determine the true root of the problem.  We stifle their and actions and miss the signals and messages they are trying to send us. And sadly, we devalue them by doing this.  We do the same thing with “children of God” in our daily living.
 
In Kathryn Stockett’s The Help, Aibileen Clark (played by Viola Davis in the movie version), tells her little charge, Mae Mobley… “You is kind.  You is good.  You is important!”  She reminds the chubby little girl of her value apart from the color of her skin and her family’s “standing” in the community.  She wants this child to understand that she is valued on her own merits…that what she says, does and thinks matters!  And this is the message I wish to convey to you today.
 
Regardless of the family into which you were born…your race…skin color…appearance…sexual orientation…socio-economic position…political leaning…or even your past…you are precious to God.  If you have asked Jesus to forgive your sins and received the Holy Spirit into your heart, you have the capacity for wisdom and the ability to understand what it means to truly know God.  If you are a born-again child of God, you carry His light in your heart and are filled with His hope.  In God’s eyes…“You is kind.  You is good.  You is important!”  And as your fellow “sister in Christ,” you are all of those things to me - and I am grateful for you.
 
It is our privilege to pray for fellow believers…members of our “Christian family”.  It is important that we let others know that they are important to us…that their joys, sorrows, triumphs and defeats matter - greatly!  As Christian disciples, we must always build up other Christians…we must always encourage them and offer heartfelt compassion for their feelings.  In this manner, we fortify the Kingdom of God by strengthening and boosting the spirits of one another.  We must be kind and loving toward non-believers, too.  But for today, I am concentrating on our Christian “family”, because so often we tend to take each other for granted…to look beyond fellow believers and concentrate only on the “unsaved”.
 
Today, I encourage you to stop and pay attention to your family members…those in your physical family as well as your spiritual “siblings”.  Are you treating them with the same value that God gives them?  Do you pay attention when they speak?  Do you really “get” what they are trying to share with you?  Do they know that you care for them…that your prayers on their behalf are frequent and heartfelt?  Do they feel like you believe them to be kind…good…important?
 
In essence, it boils down to this question…”Are you a good ‘relative’ in God’s ‘family’?”  Isn’t it time you made the necessary changes to become an effective supporter and encourager to others?  Could your discipleship use a little “spit and polish”?  You is kind. You is good. You is important...to God – and to me.  Do your “family” members know that you feel this way about them?  Shouldn’t they?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 21, 2014

1 Thessalonians 5:13-28
Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part. Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs. And be careful that when you get on each other’s nerves you don’t snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.
 
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
 
Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil.
 
May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it!
 
Friends, keep up your prayers for us. Greet all the followers of Jesus there with a holy embrace. And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don’t leave anyone out.
 
The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you!
 
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 new “group” has been started on Facebook for people in my “neck of the woods” who wish to share photos and information about the history of this area.  It’s been a lot of fun to look at old pictures and reminisce…to see the ancestors of others – and to discover in some instances that we are connected “down the line” in some manner.  And as with all things of this sort, there have been some mislabeled photos…some “data” that was not quite accurate…and more than one case of mistaken identity.
 
This page has sparked some new “friendships”, and for the most part it has been cordial.  On a similar site, someone asked the simple question, “Which of you are truly ‘from’ our city?”  This caused a firestorm of hurt feelings among people who were not truly “native”…but felt a deep connection to this community, nonetheless.  This was unfortunate and something that we must try to avoid.  Furthermore, these pages have somewhat rekindled my decades-long interest in family history.
 
I mentioned to my mom that I was considering spending the “big bucks” to rejoin a well-known genealogy website and get serious about this.  She asked, “Isn’t much of the info on that site dependent on the input of others?”  And she is right! So for now, I am going to glean what I can from friends and family members via Facebook and other avenues…ask questions…be cordial, and share my own info in the spirit of “good will”…and do my best to operate in accuracies, joy and encouragement of others.  At least we are all talking about something positive on Facebook, for a change…which is incredibly refreshing!
 
What does this have to do with the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians?  This “group” on Facebook is a microcosm of the world at large.  I do not know every person who is participating.  I do not recognize all of the family names presented…and many of the photographs are portraits of people I’ve never heard of or seen.  But they are important to someone…namely, the person who posted the photo!
 
Everything I say - and everything I post on this page – represents who I am as a person – and a Christian.  I must do all I can to get along with others…to make my comments positive, polite and pleasant – even when questioning someone’s sources or the accuracy of his/her data.  I must respond to others’ questions and posts with kindness and respect.  I must remind myself that each interaction is an opportunity to witness to others…to represent God and demonstrate my love for Jesus Christ.  And I must courteously and gently ask questions to ensure that we all exchange accurate information – for ourselves and for future generations.
 
In our daily living, we encounter people we know well…and those we only know casually.  But each one is important to someone…and especially to God - just as we are.  It is important that we treat others with love, compassion, and genuine kindness.  Whatever our circumstances or the challenges we are facing on any given day, we can offer a smile – and where appropriate, a hug - to someone else.  We can treat them with respect and convey to them a sense of value and worth.  We can ask ourselves, “How would Jesus treat me if we were chatting on Facebook or met at school, in church – or even at Wal-Mart?  How would He respond to me if He saw me at a restaurant – or a mutual friend introduced us?  How would I want Him to respond?”  THIS is the answer to how we should treat others!
 
Occasionally, I am contacted by someone who read one of these devotionals or saw something I posted on one of my blogs or Facebook.  I’m not talking about those annoying “spammers” who sometimes contact us pretending to be someone they aren’t.  God wants us to be cautious… to be able to determine when we are in danger of being scammed or mistreated.  It’s okay to block these people…or to politely cut conversations short and avoid interaction with those you feel reasonably certain are pursuing you to further their own advantage - or with underhanded motives.
 
I’m talking about real, honest-to-goodness people who are seeking encouragement or compassion…young people who are wrestling with the challenges of daily life… caregivers who are struggling to deal with a relative who is aging…a grandma who is looking for cute sewing ideas for her grandchildren…someone who is grieving and truly having a difficult time coping with his/her feelings.  I believe that God creates such encounters in order to provide us with an opportunity to share His love with others…and to give those whom we bless in His name the “good things” that they need to remain encouraged.  Each time I respond to one of these people or situations, I am representing my faith in God and how He has blessed me.  I am being obedient to God’s directives via Paul’s message in this scripture passage.  It matters greatly what I say, how I say it, and the attitude and demeanor I convey in the process.  And the same is true for you!
 
God never wastes an opportunity…and neither should we!  Let’s double our efforts to be vigilant in sharing His love, compassion, kindness and encouragement with others.  And let’s make sure that we do so with a smile, a hug or pat on the back when appropriate, accuracy, a kind word, and a positive attitude.  Let’s be guardedly friendly…and do our part to bring out the best in others.  In many cases, we will never truly realize the impact we have on those we encounter – both positively and negatively.  Make every effort to be a whole, holy and fit creation of God…and to make each and every gesture really count for Him!
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 20, 2014

2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! The Father is a merciful God, who always gives us comfort.  He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
I recently attended the funeral of a friend who died suddenly at the age of 63. This man was an only child who moved to California as an adult and built a career there as a landscape architect.  I only saw him in later life on occasions when he would return to visit his mother, who has been a friend of mine since I was a little girl.  This woman is probably somewhere close to 90 now, and in failing health.  She was absolutely devastated to lose her only son, and it broke my heart to see her so distraught at the funeral.
 
I have no firsthand knowledge of the profound grief that comes from losing a child. But I’ve witnessed it firsthand…my mother, my grandmother, the mothers and fathers of dear childhood friends, and even close friends about our age whose teenage son died in a car crash.  As I hugged this woman and tried to offer her some semblance of comfort, I thought of my then-87-year-old grandmother and recalled how devastated she was when my dad passed away – also at age 63. This woman is probably about the same age as my grandmother was then.  Remembering how God sent others to minister to us in our own grief, I felt confident in reassuring her that God would comfort her, too.  I believe that God reminded me of things that comforted my own grandmother in her grief…and showed me how to offer consolation to this friend in the same manner.
 
Like most 56-year-olds, I have experienced troubles in my lifetime…but I know many people who have endured far worse – and lived to tell about it!  Over and again, I have seen how God has given comfort to those in trouble…and used them to encourage and console many who are placed in their path.  There are two things that I have taken away from my own experiences:
  1. I firmly believe that God will place people in your path to whom you can offer His grace, mercy, encouragement, comfort and compassion.  OUR JOB is to be open and obedient to share out of our own life events…to demonstrate to others how God helped us…and to offer this same help to them in His name.
  2. I also believe that ANYONE who calls on God for help and comfort will receive it.  You may not feel like He answers in the way you desired.  You may think that God’s timing is slow or that He has allowed you to suffer too much.  But the bottom line is that God is truly a “merciful God, who always gives us comfort”.  God will never leave you…and when you call on Him for help, He will answer.
It’s hard to see this sometimes…hard to believe that God has not deserted us. I believe this is why He calls on fellow Christians to get up and get busy encouraging and comforting others.  Out of our own understandings, we can offer firsthand, believable encouragement and compassion to others. Call it the “been there – done that” system, if you will.  People truly don’t care what you know until they know that you care.  And once they realize that you speak from the heart – and your own experiences and knowledge base – they are more apt to accept what you are sharing.
 
Take stock of your own life.  Ask God to show you where you have experienced something that could aid you in comforting or encouraging someone else.  Use your life events to offer compassion and hope to others.  “Show and tell” them what God has done in your life – and assure them that He offers these same helps and blessings to them.
 
God never wastes an experience…and we shouldn’t either!  How is he leading you to encourage or comfort someone today?  Will you answer the call?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 19, 2014

1 Peter 5:1-5
I have a special concern for you church leaders. I know what it’s like to be a leader, in on Christ’s sufferings as well as the coming glory. Here’s my concern: that you care for God’s flock with all the diligence of a shepherd. Not because you have to, but because you want to please God. Not calculating what you can get out of it, but acting spontaneously. Not bossily telling others what to do, but tenderly showing them the way.

When God, who is the best shepherd of all, comes out in the open with his rule, he’ll see that you’ve done it right and commend you lavishly. And you who are younger must follow your leaders. But all of you, leaders and followers alike, are to be down to earth with each other, for —

God has had it with the proud,
But takes delight in just plain people.

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.

You know me and “reality TV” shows…especially if they pertain to sewing or cooking!  So I am currently watching a fashion design show called “Under the Gunn”.  Three winners from former seasons of “Project Runway” are mentoring up-and-coming fashion designers…and offering them advice and encouragement as they compete for cash and prizes each week.  One of the current mentors has had a terrible time restraining himself.  He doesn’t want to truly “mentor” his prodigies…he wants to design their garments, select the fabric, and tell them how to sew the garments!  He has had to be “reined in” by Tim Gunn, the show’s host…and Gunn has even had to specifically “call him out” for his over-zealous – and bossy – actions.

The designer feels like he knows best.  But he is does not allow the younger designers to grow and learn.  Gunn instructed him to ask more questions…to compliment when appropriate – and to encourage as needed by asking, “What do you think?  How do you feel that is really looking or fitting the challenge?”  Even asking “Have you considered trying another fabric, color, or construction method?” rather than saying, “Why don’t you do ABC?” would be acceptable.  The mentoring designer took this advice to heart, and the results were a vast improvement.  One of his designer-contestants even won the weekly competition!

Too many of us are “bossy Christians”.  Instead of loving and encouraging…and leading by example…we want to cut to the chase and tell others, “You’re wrong!” or “You need to pray harder”…or even “Get over yourself!”  I’ve been reading recently about how insensitive people have been to Pastor Rick and Kathy Warren, who lost their son to suicide almost a year ago.  Many have complained that this author of The Purpose Driven Life and his wife should be back at the church preaching and going on with their lives…that they have grieved long enough.  Kathy Warren wrote about this recently in a blog post, in which she said that there is no time limit on grief…and for the record, she and Rick will never, ever be the same people as a result of their tragic loss.  They are forever changed.  Friends have expressed to me in recent days how others have been insensitive to them as they grieved the loss of a loved one…and many of those critics were doing so under the guise of “Christian love”.

Being a Christian does not make us instant authorities about anything.  Being a pastor or church leader does not entitle one to boss others around, either.  We must think about what we say from the pulpit…in Sunday school classes and Bible studies…and yes – even in these devotionals.  I include myself when I say that we must all make a concerted, intentional effort not to hurt others with our words and actions…and hurt our Christian witness by default.  Think of Jesus…did He publicly condemn the woman at the well?  Did He chime in and admonish the prostitute who was about to be stoned?  Did he lecture and humiliate Zacchaeus…or Saul as he traveled on the road to Damascus? Did Jesus look down His nose at Judas…or Peter?  Who do we think we are to do such things in His name?

As you go about your day, think of Jesus.  I know it sounds cliché, but ask yourself…“What would Jesus do?”  Stop, take a breath, and say a quick prayer to seek guidance and wisdom before you react and respond to others.  Operate in love and compassion…not bossiness and arrogance.  Remind yourself that we are servants of the Most High God…even if He has placed you in a position of leadership.  Ask God to give you a hefty dose of humility as you serve Him…to help you to truly serve by example and demonstrate Jesus’ teachings – and love – to others.

When the mentoring designer’s “student” won the competition, he was ecstatic.  He saw that his kind and gentle approach had paid off in benefits both tangible and intrinsic.  And so it is for us, as we strive to emulate Jesus in our discipleship.  God will bless us…He will use us as “mentoring shepherds” for others…and we will feel the joy of His blessings and rewards for our obedience.  We are called to serve as witnesses, leaders and mentors for God…not bosses, critics and overseers.  How are you doing these days?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 18, 2014

2 Peter 1:3-8
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.
 
In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises. Supplement your faith with a generous provision of moral excellence, and moral excellence with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with patient endurance, and patient endurance with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love for everyone.
The more you grow like this, the more productive and useful you will be in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
When Timothy was a baby, I bought him this stacking toy that is fairly popular as an early baby toy.  It consists of a plastic base that will rock back and forth on a solid surface.  Atop the base is a “pole”.  There are five plastic rings in graduated sizes that the baby is supposed to stack on the “pole”.  If the rings are stacked in the right order, everything fits…and the last ring is filled with colorful swirling beads that move as the entire toy rocks back and forth.  If the rings are not stacked in the correct order, there is a problem.  It took Timothy a while to figure out how the rings have to fit.  But once he “got it,” he was a pro at the stacking game and really enjoyed naming the colors, stacking them appropriately…and then knocking it all over!
 
Sometimes I think we Christians are like the toddler with the stacking toy.  Until Timothy matured enough to fully understand the concept of stacking the rings in the appropriate order, he would mix them up.  And then he would be frustrated because they didn’t all fit.  I think this is a good illustration of how we are in our Christian living.  We sometimes try to do things out of order.  We want to serve God out of faith…but we still cling to some of our old – and possibly immoral – ways.  We want to live a morally upright life…but we have not fully committed to learning from fellow believers.  We aren’t ready to admit that someone else might know more than we do!
 
We want to act with self-control…but we don’t have the tools to do this, because we were not willing to listen and learn from others.  We want patience…but until we can learn to operate in self-control, this will be hard to achieve.  We desire to truly be a godly disciple…but we have not yet surrendered fully to God’s will for our lives - and taken the necessary steps to fully develop in His glory and excellence.  We want to love others as God loves us…but until we become more like Jesus, we cannot fully and genuinely operate in brotherly love for everyone.
 
Do you see how if you stack one of these “rings” in the wrong order, everything will not come together as it should?  Just as the stacking rings and a plastic “pole” on a rocking base look so simple…being a Christian may appear rather straightforward at first glance.  And truly, God doesn’t intend for a life in Christ to be complicated.  But there is an order to Christian discipleship.  Salvation may be instantaneous…but a full, rich, meaningful life in Christ Jesus takes time, effort, and a desire to grow and mature in God’s will.
 
If we are to be effective in sharing God’s love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion with others…we have to learn to “stack the rings” in the right order.  When Timothy learned to accomplish this successfully, we would clap and cheer for him…and he would squeal with delight.  Imagine how God will clap and cheer as you grow and learn to walk in His will and ways. Picture the thrill of accomplishment you will experience as you discover more about Him and how to share the love and Good News of Jesus with others.
 
Don’t you think it’s time we spent a while “in the floor with the rings and pole” of a life in Christ …practicing and developing our “discipleship skills and abilities”?  Will this be the day that you commit to building your skillset…and doing things in the proper order? Shouldn’t it?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 17, 2014

March 17 ~ 2 Corinthians 2:5-9
I don’t want to be hard on you. But if one of you has made someone feel bad, I am not really the one who has been made to feel bad. Some of you are the ones.  Most of you have already pointed out the wrong that person did, and that is punishment enough for what was done.
 
When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair.  You should make them sure of your love for them.
 
I also wrote because I wanted to test you and find out if you would follow my instructions.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Actor George Takei is known by many for his role as Hikaru Sulu, a helmsman on the Starship Enterprise in the long-running television series, “Star Trek”.  In recent years, Takei has made cameo appearances on several sitcoms and acted in a few movies.  He is better known today for his activist roles promoting gay rights and Japanese-American relations.  In 1942, Takei and his family were sent to the Rowher War Relocation Camp in Rowher, Arkansas, for internment. They were later transferred to an internment camp in California, where they remained until the end of World War II.  Takei’s family then returned to Los Angeles, where he ultimately graduated from UCLA and received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees in theater.
 
Today, many younger people know George Takei for his front-and-center presence on social media.  He makes frequent posts of funny pictures, humorous quotes, and inspirational thoughts.  And today was no exception.  Many of you may be familiar with the church group in Kansas that frequently shows up to conduct anti-gay protests at military funerals…often bearing signs that say “God Hates F**s" and “Thank God for 9/11”.  The church’s leader, Fred Phelps, is on Hospice and apparently doesn’t have long to live.
 
George Takei is exactly the kind of person who could become a target of this group’s hatred. It would seem plausible that Takei would have plenty of reasons to harbor un-forgiveness in his heart toward this man and his church.  But here’s what Takei had to say today on Facebook:
"I take no solace or joy in this man's passing. We will not dance upon his grave, nor stand vigil at his funeral holding "God Hates Freds" signs, tempting as it may be.
 
He was a tormented soul, who tormented so many. Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end."
This is exactly what Paul is talking about in his message to the Corinthians.  We need look no further than Jesus Christ as He was tortured and hung on a cross to see how true forgiveness looks.  It’s not about what was done to us…it’s about what we do in return.  People like George Takei would almost seem justified in harboring ill feelings.  To be taken from your home and placed in an internment camp just because of your family heritage would be reason enough…but to be part of a group who is the target of such incredible hatred and disgust because of your sexual orientation would only add fuel to the fire for many.
 
To be imprisoned – sometimes standing in human excrement up to your waist - for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and claiming that He is the Messiah would be justification for holding a grudge.  To be beaten, spit upon, and nailed to a cross for speaking the Truth and offering all who will follow You eternal life seems like justification for saying, “That’s it… forget it…you can all go to hell!”  But not for George Takei… not the Apostle Paul…and certainly not for Jesus Christ!
 
So what’s our excuse?  I will be the first to admit that forgiveness is not easy.  I’ll also tell you that the devil is going to make sure that you don’t forgive readily!  It takes work…sometimes hard, repetitive work…to truly forgive someone.  But all we have to do is think of Jesus.  That should make this easier.  How can we NOT forgive others, when He forgives us…when He has forgiven so many for so very much?!
 
Notice, too, that Paul points out that a failure to forgive others never hurts them as much as it hurts us.  It eats at our heart…un-forgiveness tears at our soul…and it contaminates our relationship with God. Takei is exactly right – hate never wins out in the end…and neither does a spirit of un-forgiveness. If we want to experience a genuine relationship with God…one in which we wholeheartedly trust Him for everything – and He uses us fully as Christian disciples…we must learn to forgive – completely and with a compassionate heart.  I know I have work to do in this area…what about you?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus