Aunt Deb's Attic

Daily Devotional for February 18, 2012

2012-02-18T13:47:00.000-06:00

1 Corinthians 2:1-10
You'll remember, friends, that when I first came to you to let you in on God's master stroke, I didn't try to impress you with polished speeches and the latest philosophy. I deliberately kept it plain and simple: first Jesus and who he is; then Jesus and what he did—Jesus crucified.

I was unsure of how to go about this, and felt totally inadequate—I was scared to death, if you want the truth of it—and so nothing I said could have impressed you or anyone else. But the Message came through anyway. God's Spirit and God's power did it, which made it clear that your life of faith is a response to God's power, not to some fancy mental or emotional footwork by me or anyone else.

We, of course, have plenty of wisdom to pass on to you once you get your feet on firm spiritual ground, but it's not popular wisdom, the fashionable wisdom of high-priced experts that will be out-of-date in a year or so. God's wisdom is something mysterious that goes deep into the interior of his purposes. You don't find it lying around on the surface. It's not the latest message, but more like the oldest—what God determined as the way to bring out his best in us, long before we ever arrived on the scene. The experts of our day haven't a clue about what this eternal plan is. If they had, they wouldn't have killed the Master of the God-designed life on a cross.

That's why we have this Scripture text:
No one's ever seen or heard anything like this,
Never so much as imagined anything quite like it—
What God has arranged for those who love him.

But you've seen and heard it because God by his Spirit has brought it all out into the open before 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.

I hadn’t really planned on watching the television coverage of singer Whitney Houston’s funeral, but as the hour drew near for the service to begin, I found myself listening to the choirs sing before the service began. The atmosphere of worship was so palpable that I could do nothing else. In the old-fashioned gospel music, the message rang loud and clear… that God loves each of us, regardless of our station in life. One person Tweeted the following… “look @ God! turning a time of grief and sorrow into one of worship, praise and celebration for ALL the world to see. amen.”

Celebrities truly are not born any different than the rest of us. Many grow up in ordinary circumstances… some grow up “in the church. More than a few have overcome incredible obstacles in their lives… poverty, abuse, addictions, illness. Sadly, some are overcome by these afflictions – even those who grew up learning about God. If you have ever known someone who struggled with addiction and other “life challenges,” you may have asked, “How could this happen? I thought they knew God!”

Here is the message of this passage for me – and you – today. Life is often messy. As I have shared in recent days, our heart often knows what God wants us to do… but the minute we seem to get on track, sin comes along to trip us up and try to knock us down. If you don’t believe that Satan has power, you’re living in a dream world! The key thing to understand is that God is more powerful. So yes, someone can love God and deeply desire to serve Him… yet struggle with addictions, financial troubles, illness (physical and/or mental), and much more. It doesn’t change God’s love for this person… it doesn’t change the fact that God’s “master stroke” in sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins includes those who struggle, also. Let’s be honest, our “sins” may not be as public… our struggles and failures as familiar to the masses… but they are just as profound… and just as forgiven, if we have called on Jesus to save us.

In his funeral remarks, Pastor T.D. Jakes reminded us that “Love is stronger than death” – GOD’s love. He noted that it looks like death won again… but 2000 years ago, Jesus showed us that His love is greater than death. And that is what we must remember today. Many of us have experienced grief over the death of someone who left us far too soon… but this was not because death won… or that God removed His love from us. This is the mysterious part… how - and when - GOD sometimes loves us enough to call us to Him and remove us from the challenges we are facing on this earth.

The message is simple, pure, and everlasting… God is love… He loved us long before we were formed, and His plans for us are perfect and amazing. And while we mourn the passing of those who have left us – whether their life struggles were quite visible and public, or they appeared to “have it all together” – we celebrate that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Through His spirit, God is able to use even a service of mourning to celebrate all that He is able to do in and through us. We may never know how God will use this worldwide public broadcast of a funeral service for His glory… but we must never underestimate the power of God to get His message to those who need to hear it.

To God be the glory for blessing Whitney Houston with such amazing talent. May He comfort her now as she rests in His arms… and may He comfort those who grieve her passing. More importantly, may He “turn a time of grief and sorrow into one of worship, praise and celebration for ALL the world to see.” In the midst of this public tragedy, may others come to know the amazing love and power of a relationship with the God who loves us so mysteriously… and completely.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 17, 2012

2012-02-17T18:41:00.000-06:00

Romans 7:21-23
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

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 my “reality TV” hobby… I was watching a show called “My 600-lb. Life” on TLC, and this morbidly obese man, Henry, had gastric bypass surgery. Initially weighing in at 715 lbs., Henry ultimately lost 500 pounds over the course of five years. Some of this came in the form of cosmetic surgery to remove excessive skin… but most was a result of eating less and burning body fat. However, this was a very difficult journey for Henry, as it is for so many… in large part because of the temptations that surrounded him.

Henry’s family continued to eat all the wrong things – in excessive quantities – directly in front of him. Once, when he returned home after a month in the hospital for “skin” surgery, his sister said something to the effect of… “We’ve got to stop and get Momma something to eat on the way home. She said she was hungry and not to come home without a sandwich or something.” The next scene was all of Henry’s family, chowing down on burgers, fries and more, while he looked on pitifully. He admitted that sometimes he wanted to throw up his hands and just go back to eating. The man who had overcome so much… lost at least two persons in body weight… acquired an entirely new, much smaller wardrobe – even down to underwear, socks and shoes… and rekindled his relationship with the love of his life… still wanted to eat whatever and whenever he pleased.

Surely this passage has it right… there are times when parts of us covertly rebel and take charge. And like Henry, this is when we have to stand up and leave the room or do whatever it takes to strengthen our resolve to stay on course. This is when we truly have to “speak of things that be not as though they are!” We must use our mouth to call on God to rescue us… and we must do so with confidence that He will do exactly this!

The point is that life is hard… there are always going to be challenges, and Satan is NEVER going away. The minute we think we have it all together is the very moment he will show up full force to try to derail us. We must speak against anything that comes between us and living in God’s will. We must declare that we will not give in – or fold up. We will persevere by the strength of God Almighty, and we will come out on top. You may only have 5 pounds you wish to lose, but temptations still abound. You may have a “habit” you are trying to kick, and temptations keep trying to reel you back in.

You may be working toward a goal, like a college degree, training for a job promotion, or just getting your life on track in general… and roadblocks may keep appearing. Don’t give up! Keep on working toward whatever God is trying to give you. Call on Him to help you – and declare that you know He is going to deliver!

We know that when we get on track, challenges are going to show up almost like clockwork. By God’s grace, we are bigger than those challenges… and we have His full force behind us. Tell whatever part of you that is listening to Satan to get on board or move over, because you are committed to God, and He will not allow you to fail! This is great news! This is worthy of a shout! Praise God… with Him all things are possible… with God, we cannot be defeated!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 16, 2012

2012-02-16T12:29:00.002-06:00

1 Peter 3:4
Be beautiful in your heart by being gentle and quiet. This kind of beauty will last, and God considers it very special.

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

The last few days, the remnants of a light snowfall have been evident on our lawns. There is something so quiet about a snowy day… as if the earth is nestled under a fluffy, white blanket. And as the snow melted and warmer temperatures have returned, the air has been filled with the chirping of birds… a red-winged blackbird, a Carolina wren, and other songbirds who are beckoning the return of spring. Where is God ever more evident than in these beautiful, quiet creations? Yet, so many of us miss them… we are looking for something louder and more profound.

If I weren’t learning to expect God in the most unexpected places, I would be amazed at what I am about to tell you. A few days ago, I visited with a friend in Wal-Mart, and she recommended a book to me… God Calling, a daily devotional book written by two British women in the early 1930s. I came home and downloaded the book onto my Kindle. A London newspaperman, A. J. Russell, edited the writings of these two ladies for publication, and the book has sold millions of copies worldwide. The book’s introduction states that these women always remained anonymous, and ... “’were poor, brave and courageously fighting against sickness and penury,’ in Russell’s words. They were facing a hopeless future and one of them even longed to be quit of this hard world for good. But then, God spoke to their hearts, and God Calling was born.”

God can speak through the quiet beauty
of fog rising over a river on a sunny morning.

The devotionals begin with a scripture passage, and then there is a commentary, written as if God is speaking directly to the reader. Here’s where it gets amazing… today’s commentary on Psalm 4:3-5 says in part…“if you only sat still and longed for Me, if you just drew hungering breaths for Me, as you do for the fresh pure air of the open. Be still, be calm. Wait before Me. Learn of Me patience, humility, peace.”

When I began writing this devotional to share with you, I opened my prayer journal to the sermon notes I’ve been using, and the scripture passage I was drawn to for today was once again the message… “be gentle and quiet.” Only God could tie together the scripture passages from Psalm 4:3-5 and 1 Peter 3:4. Clearly this is the word He has for us today… and it came in the “quiet” of reading from His Holy Word!

If we can only learn to be quiet… to listen for God… and then to let others “hear” Him through our peaceful, calm nature…great things can be accomplished. If we stop long enough to listen for a songbird and recognize that God cares as much for these tiny creatures as He does for each of us, we will be blessed beyond measure. If we can operate in the beauty and peacefulness of quiet, we can have far more impact than if we scream and shout!

We need to slow down… to look and listen for God in the most ordinary of places. We’ve become to “wired” for grandeur and “the bigger the better.” It’s time to dial it down a notch or two and let God work through a quieter, calmer, more peaceful approach. Stop, look, listen… breathe deeply… inhale all that God wants to give you this day… and exhale all the negative “noise.” Operate in peace and quiet for a change, and see for yourself how God can bless you… and others.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 15, 2012

2012-02-15T13:25:00.000-06:00

2 Corinthians 6:11-13
Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.

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

Telephone conversations with a toddler who is not quite three are challenging, to say the least! Timothy tries to “show” me what he is saying… and of course, I can’t “see” his nods and gestures in response to my questions and comments. So I try to keep things as simple as possible… questions he can answer with one word or two… singing one of his favorite songs… and lots of “I love yous!” In the most elementary way possible, my husband and I try to convey to him with words that there is more than enough room in our hearts for him. And I know from his responses that the feeling is mutual.

We can’t exactly get a physical hug from God, either. Yet, He shows us in ways great and small that there is room in His heart for us. But how do we show Him our heart? Is there room for God there? Do we speak and act in a way that exhibits love, respect, honor and glory to Him? Do we waste time trying to make lavish, grand gestures - or do we keep it as simple as possible… offering prayers of praise, living and serving in a way that pleases Him, speaking His truths and sharing the Good News with others, operating in love and kindness?

Timothy knows that we love him. Every time he gets pictures, coloring pages, or a toy or new clothes in the mail, he knows we are thinking of him. When we sing a song over the telephone, he is reminded of the hours we spent singing in the living room and playing together. When we tell him “I love you,” he remembers the hugs and kisses that accompanied those words. And every single day, God is showering us with love and hugs through all sorts of gestures… the warmth of a beautiful sunny day… health and healing… the smiles and kindness of others… and much more. All we have to do to feel God’s love is to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities He offers. We have to stop holding back… to “let go and let God” fill us with His love, grace, mercy and blessings.

What is the condition of your heart? Is it open wide, with room for God to enter and fill you? Or are you holding back - both in your ability to receive and to give love to God and others? Isn’t this a perfect time to open your heart… to allow God to fill you with His love… and to simply and profoundly share love and kindness with others? Do you know how much God loves you? Do others know how much you love them? Just how wide open is your heart these days?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 14, 2012

2012-02-14T11:06:00.000-06:00

James 3:13-16
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn't wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn't wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn't wisdom. It's the furthest thing from wisdom—it's animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you're trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others' throats.

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.

On ABC’s The View, Barbara Walters said she wished children did not take Valentines to school on Valentine’s Day. Several of her co-workers gasped and questioned her about this remark. She explained that there always seemed to be a few children who brought Valentines for everyone and had a big fancy box to collect those which they received in return. However, not all children could afford to bring Valentines for others. And just as hurtful, some children were excluded from the exchange on purpose. Walters’ own daughter experienced this as a tall-for-her-age, gawky 6th grader who took a Valentine for every classmate… yet some deliberately did not reciprocate and made her feel inferior and ugly.

We start early building competitive spirit - and downright arrogance, prejudice, and meanness – into our children. By the time they are in upper elementary school, many have drawn a line in the sand between the “Haves” and the “Have-nots”… the “pretty” and the “ugly”… the popular and the unpopular people. Some spend lot of time and energy trying to be in the former camps, rather than the latter… and they will do almost anything to belong.

In my adult life, I have found it interesting to reconnect with some of the people who were so busy talking, boasting, twisting the truth, conniving and bullying others in order to appear wise, popular, or more important. Often, their lives turned out anything but well… filled with heartaches, missteps, and disappointments – if not utter failure. Some of those who lived in the shadows, quietly and humbly minding their own business, have gone on to accomplish great success… to become wise, well-respected, honorable and productive human beings who glorify God and bless others in their path.

Today, I challenge you to spend a few minutes thinking about your actions – and reactions – toward others. What image are you projecting? Are you boastful, judgmental, prejudiced, conniving? Do you take whatever steps are necessary to get ahead, make yourself look better, appear wise and affluent, and get what you want… at the expense of anything or anyone in your way? Has this become so much a part of your psyche that you don’t even realize you behave this way?

Ask God to show you where – and how – you need to become more humble. Call on Him to help you control your mouth… and your actions. It’s never too late to grow in wisdom… to more closely resemble the person God has called you to be. You may not be able to go back to 6th grade and give every classmate a Valentine, but you can start to be a nicer person in your present circle of friends and acquaintances. Are you building a reputation for wisdom? Will this be the Valentine’s Day you truly begin to operate in God’s love for you and those around you?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 13, 2012

2012-02-13T11:09:00.000-06:00

Romans 3:1-6
So what difference does it make who's a Jew and who isn't, who has been trained in God's ways and who hasn't? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed. First, there's the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, these Holy Scriptures.

So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true; rejection doesn't faze you.

But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God's rightdoing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don't even make a dent in his good words, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening?

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Have you ever been “stood up”? Has someone ever told you they would call you, stop by and see you, or help you with something… then they either called and said they weren’t available – or you never heard from them at all? It stinks, doesn’t it? And honestly, don’t you know people who seldom – if ever – keep their word? I have said of more than one such person… “If their lips are moving, they are probably lying.” That’s a pretty sad commentary, isn’t it?

You may also know people who profess to be Christians… but they take great license with their salvation. It’s as if they feel that because they are saved by the blood of Jesus, they have a free ticket to do as they please without fear of any consequences. Clearly, this passage shows us that God is not happy by our assumptions. GOD’s words matter… OUR words matter… and so do the actions we put behind them!

God would never think of going back on His word… and neither should we! We should never “abandon our post” and dishonor Him by interpreting scripture to suit our own purposes…taking our salvation for granted… or speaking “bad words” to others. As Disciples of Christ, we are called to honor His sacrifice by speaking words that are true, hopeful, positive, kind, and reliable. When we say we will do something, we should do it. When we promise to call or help someone, we must follow through and show up. We must remember WHOSE we are – and what it cost for us to become heirs to His throne… and we must behave honorably even when all around us seem to have lost their heads!

There will be times when we become discouraged. We will feel that God’s promises of blessings, good health and prosperity must be meant for someone else. We will have struggles, challenges, and disappointments… and the natural tendency will be to blame God – or at least complain to Him loudly. We will be tempted to throw up our hands and ask, “What’s the point?” The short answer is that every word from God is true, whether it lines up with physical fact or not. We can’t always see what God is doing in our lives… so we live in faith that He is really at work in us.

Don’t become discouraged. Work hard to be more like Jesus every day. Make your word your bond… and believe that God’s word is infallible. Honor your commitments… to God and to others. In my notes, I have written… “You can’t expect things to come if you don’t call them. Call healing when you are sick… call prosperity when you are poor… call light when there is darkness. Keep asking… seeking… calling until it comes. Get violent (intense) faith.” What are you speaking today? Are your words your bond… or are you merely offering lip service - to God and others? Do you believe what God is speaking over your life? Can others believe your words, as well? What is God saying to you this day… and how will you respond?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 12, 2012

2012-02-12T13:35:00.000-06:00

1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for 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.

There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.

A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!

Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 11, 2012

2012-02-11T11:16:00.001-06:00

Romans 10:5-10
Moses wrote that anyone who insists on using the law code to live right before God soon discovers it's not so easy—every detail of life regulated by fine print! But trusting God to shape the right living in us is a different story— no precarious climb up to heaven to recruit the Messiah, no dangerous descent into hell to rescue the Messiah. So what exactly was Moses saying?

The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest. It's the word of faith that welcomes God to go to work and set things right for us. This is the core of our preaching. Say the welcoming word to God—"Jesus is my Master"—embracing, body and soul, God's work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead.

That's it. You're not "doing" anything; you're simply calling out to God, trusting him to do it for you. That's salvation. With your whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: "God has set everything right between him and me!"

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 years ago, I decided I wanted to read the entire Bible in a year. This was a noble goal… and there are dozens of “study guides” and books that will help a person accomplish this. So far, I’ve tried at least three times… and I once did pretty well until almost the end of May! I may still try this again, but for now, I’m learning that I get bogged down in the process and lose focus on the message! So I am letting God lead my study, as in rediscovering notes I made on sermons, and scripture passages that I jotted down… and He is reminding me of old messages – and new insights.

Having said all of this, I did learn from my attempts to study the entire Bible in one year. The study guide I used suggested reading a passage each day from the Old Testament, the New Testament, and one from Proverbs. And the profound lesson I got from this was how the laws and rituals of the Old Testament were virtually all made new by the coming of Jesus in the New Testament. No longer do we have to make living sacrifices to God for our sins… Jesus was the ultimate Living Sacrifice. We don’t need priests and prophets to intercede with God on our behalf… we can speak to Him directly. We don’t have to follow rituals and rites as laid down in the writings and teachings of the old rulers and leaders… all we have to do is open our mouth and our heart… and let Jesus enter and do His work in and through us.

We are told that the tongue holds the power over life and death… and this is incredibly true when we speak up – and out – for Jesus! His Holy Spirit is as close as a whisper… His presence is as near as calling, “Come, LORD Jesus… forgive me... fill me with your Holy Spirit, and make me whole.”

Whenever we have a problem, we don’t have to consult a book of laws. We don’t need to perform a hand or foot washing, sacrifice a newborn lamb, or hide in a closet for a week of purification. We simply need to open our mouth and ask God to help us. Remember the verse in this passage that says, “The word that saves is right here, as near as the tongue in your mouth, as close as the heart in your chest.” You are never alone… never helpless or hopeless… never forgotten. Your answers are a few well-chosen words away.

Call on God to give you the answers and wisdom you seek today. Ask Jesus to be the LORD of your life and fill you with His Holy Spirit. Carry Him closely in your heart… just a whisper away at all times… and when He answers, thank Him for setting things right.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 10, 2012

2012-02-10T15:08:00.000-06:00

Hebrews 2:1-3
So, my dear Christian friends, companions in following this call to the heights, take a good hard look at Jesus. He's the centerpiece of everything we believe, faithful in everything God gave him to do. Moses was also faithful, but Jesus gets far more honor. A builder is more valuable than a building any day. Every house has a builder, but the Builder behind them all is God. Moses did a good job in God's house, but it was all servant work, getting things ready for what was to come. Christ as Son is in charge of the house.

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 wrote this scripture passage down in notes I made on a sermon series entitled “The Mouth is the Master Key to Life.” If a builder created a mansion for you, but you trashed it on a daily basis, it wouldn’t be much of a mansion for long, would it? If you tore down the support beams and poked holes in the plumbing, the overall structure would soon begin to crumble into ruin.

Now think of your life as God’s building… the one He created for you. Suppose you speak negatively on a regular basis… “I’m no good… I’m sick all the time… I can’t do this or that… I’m not smart enough or rich enough or good looking enough to accomplish anything… I’m a failure.” Can you see that this is like poking holes in the plumbing or tearing down the support beams? Worse still, when we belittle ourselves and others, we are chipping away at GOD! We are saying He built something inferior… worthless… ugly… inept… sick. Remember… God does not make junk!

When we speak negatively, we in essence hire the devil as our “housekeeper,” and we keep him plenty busy! Proverbs 18:21 tells us that “Words kill, words give life; they're either poison or fruit—you choose.” What are your words accomplishing today? Your mouth IS a master key to life. It can also be a key to death… mentally, physically, emotionally… and spiritually. What are you speaking today? Are your words positive… encouraging… uplifting and full of hope and promise? Are you keeping God’s “house” in good order and recognizing what a wonderful “structure” He has created? Do you see the potential God has created in you… and are you doing all you can to speak it into existence?

The choice is ours. Who is keeping your “house” these days? Who controls your tongue… and what are you speaking – life or death? Ask God to show you where you have been using your mouth to “poke holes in His house.” Invite Him to give you strength and wisdom to start repairing the damage by speaking positively and recognizing all that He has placed within you. Give your “house” a bit of an update – or remodel – and make sure that Jesus Christ is your housekeeper from now on.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 9, 2012

2012-02-09T00:01:00.000-06:00

Galatians 5:16
If you are guided by the Spirit, you won't obey your selfish desires.

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

Dictionary.com defines the word “selfish” as… “devoted to or caring only for oneself; concerned primarily with one's own interests, benefits, welfare, etc., regardless of others.” My “daily humor” calendar quote for today was… “What do you get from a pampered cow? Spoiled milk!” Selfish people are often spoiled… and rotten in more ways than one!

Let’s be perfectly frank here… true Disciples of Christ do not have time to be selfish. At the same time, Satan has all the time in the world to try to con us into doing exactly this! He will tell us that it’s okay to think about ourselves for once. He will remind us that we deserve to be happy, pampered, at the top of the heap, given special treatment… or to do as we please, regardless of how it affects others. He will make whatever is tempting us so alluring and enticing that we will feel like we simply have to have it!

If you think for one minute that the devil doesn’t have a lot of power, you are sadly mistaken! And if you think that digging into the Word of God, cloaking yourself in prayer and growing closer to the Holy Spirit will make him go away, you are in for a rude awakening. As long as you are selfish and spoiled, the devil doesn’t really care… he’s got you right where he wants you. But start listening for God’s voice… start letting the Holy Spirit guide your heart… and your real challenges have just begun?

So why bother? Why not just be selfish and get what we want (or what we think we want), and forget about having to deal with all the mess that Satan will try to make of our lives if we stand up to him? Because Satan is no match for the power of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in faith and learn to live by the Holy Spirit… to walk the path that He shows us… we grow stronger in our ability to stand up to Satan’s challenges. We learn to lean more on God and less on ourselves… and we actually find that our desires become more like His and less selfish. And that… as they say… is where the magic happens!

One of the biggest and most selfish desires we have is to say whatever is on our mind as soon as we think it. In many ways, death and life are in the power of the tongue. We have the power to speak great joy into the lives of others… or great pain. And which do you think the devil prefers? By learning to listen to the Holy Spirit… by operating in His desires instead of ours… we learn to control our mouth… and all other actions and behaviors begin to change, as well.

Controlling our tongue is a very hard thing. Checking our words… stopping to think about what we say before we say it…does not come naturally for most of us. The only way we have any chance of accomplishing this is by allowing the Holy Spirit to guide us… by giving our selfish desires over to Him and working to fulfill His desires instead. The first step is to want to walk in the Holy Spirit… to choose to surrender selfish desires. Once we determine to do this, we are in the right mindset to ask God to help us accomplish it.

If we could begin to operate in the desires of the Holy Spirit… if we could begin to control the words we speak and make sure they are pleasing to Him… we could see great changes in our own lives and the lives of others. We could start to surrender our selfish desires in all areas of life for good. We would still be pampered… but when God does the pampering, the results are never spoiled. Isn’t it time we changed directions and began seeking the desires of the King of Kings… the One who can truly give us the deepest desires of His heart… and ours? Are you ready to go from “spoiled rotten” to “royally blessed”?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 8, 2012

2012-02-08T17:26:00.004-06:00

2 Peter 1:3-4
Everything that goes into a life of pleasing God has been miraculously given to us by getting to know, personally and intimately, the One who invited us to God. The best invitation we ever received! We were also given absolutely terrific promises to pass on to you—your tickets to participation in the life of God after you turned your back on a world corrupted by lust.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

In the 1980s and 1990s, my mom and dad went on several FAM tours. According to a document at www.latour.lsu.edu, a FAM tour is “a free or reduced-rate trip offered to travel professionals to acquaint them with what a destination, attraction or supplier has to offer.” In my mom’s case, these destinations and attractions (like resorts, theme parks and more) hoped that she would write a favorable review of their offerings for the magazines and newspapers in which her articles were published.

In the mid-1990s, my mother was offered a free cruise aboard The Big Red Boat… a “Looney Tunes”-themed cruise ship sailing from Florida to the Bahamas. For the cruise, my mom was told she could not only bring my dad… but also her children! Even though my siblings and I were grown, Mom invited me, my sister, and my niece to join them… and we did!

Because of my mother’s association with certain editors and publishers, she was invited to enjoy this opportunity. And because she passed on the invitation to us, we could enjoy this 4-day cruise, as well. My mother established this relationship and her reputation as a writer, and she enjoyed trips to several major cities and resorts… the nicest rooms, tickets to top events, gourmet meals, and much more. She and my dad could easily have taken the cruise by themselves, but they graciously extended an invitation to us to join them. Once we accepted the invitation, we had to purchase our own plane tickets and fly to Florida to meet them and board the boat. But once we got there, everything else was provided.

Do you see where I’m headed with this? God sent Jesus to earth with an offer of salvation – forgiveness of our sins and Eternal life – as well as blessings we can’t even count in this lifetime. All we have to do is accept the invitation… and agree to serve Him and share His Good News with others. And the best part is that we can bring others along with us! We can tell those we encounter about Jesus and invite them to enjoy the same promises and blessings that God has offered us.

Those who offer FAM tours have no guarantee that the attendees will produce glowing reviews and write dozens of articles that drum up plenty of new business. Yet they continue to offer the tours. And God offers His gift of salvation and Eternal Life, knowing that many of us will accept His invitation to follow… and then do the bare minimum as Christian believers. Still… He offers.

I’m not sure why so many of us are reluctant to operate in the lavish blessings of God. I can’t explain why we treat the One who has given us EVERYTHING so poorly… or with such ambivalence. I’m certainly not sure why He wants to bless such an ungrateful lot like us… but He does. The invitation from God is better than any FAM tour or free cruise. Accepting and showing appreciation should be a no-brainer.

Have you said “Yes!” to God’s invitation? How are you treating Him in return? Are you living in a way that glorifies and honors this lavish gift… and have you shared God’s invitation through Jesus Christ with others? Isn’t it about time you did?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 7, 2012

2012-02-07T10:48:00.000-06:00

Isaiah 42:1-4
"Take a good look at my servant. I'm backing him to the hilt. He's the one I chose, and I couldn't be more pleased with him. I've bathed him with my Spirit, my life. He'll set everything right among the nations. He won't call attention to what he does with loud speeches or gaudy parades. He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt and he won't disregard the small and insignificant, but he'll steadily and firmly set things right. He won't tire out and quit. He won't be stopped until he's finished his work—to set things right on earth. Far-flung ocean islands wait expectantly for his teaching."

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.

Those of you who know me well know that I am currently fascinated with repurposing objects and giving them a new life. I have turned the sleeves of shirts and dresses into leggings and pants for toddler girls. I’ve learned how to make vests and other garments from old t-shirts, and tired sweaters have become caps and mittens for babies. Vintage linens… doilies, tablecloths and bed sheets… have become dresses, jackets, collars, and bibs for babies and little ones. An old skirt became part of a bathrobe for my cousin Owen for Christmas, and I have a chenille bedspread that is begging to become several more robes!

And it’s not just fabric. A friend asked me for a piece of gum at the ballgame recently, and I opened my purse and whipped out a little plastic container that had once held Gerber baby food… now it houses my stash of gum! I melt leftover candle wax and pour it over wicks I bought at Hobby Lobby to make new candles and keep from wasting that last third of the jar of scented wax. An old box that held disposable coffee cups and lids was covered with paper and now holds my sewing patterns.

If I can figure out another use for something, I do not throw it away, no matter how small and insignificant it seems. That’s why I have a handy stash of fabric scraps and lace trims that are perfect for patching stains and holes… I almost always have a button when I need to replace one that is missing… and the rich chicken broth that I used to make soup last week came from boiling the leftover bones of our rotisserie chicken!

Have you ever considered that WE have been repurposed by God? Through the blood of Jesus, we are given a new life. In the scheme of things, we are each so seemingly insignificant and small… yet God sent His only Son to die for us and set things right! I like to imagine that God’s “craft room” is full of broken hearts and beaten-down spirits… sinners and downtrodden souls that He is repurposing into something wonderful for His glory!

We have very much become a “throw-away society.” Yes, I use disposable coffee cups on occasion – but only if I want to take coffee with me somewhere that it would not be convenient to rinse out a mug and stash it. And if I buy a cup of coffee at McDonald’s, I often bring the container home to wash and reuse a few times until the plastic lid disintegrates. The point is that God sees the potential in us. Recently I used a tiny piece of lace trim to cover a stain that threatened to ruin the leg of a pair of little girls’ leggings. That tiny scrap of trim turned something unlovely into something quite beautiful. In the same manner, God can use the tiniest “scrap” of a person to create something wonderful for His desires!

What is our “take-away” from this today? I believe there are two lessons:

God won’t brush aside the bruised and the hurt… he won't disregard the small and insignificant, and
God won’t quit… and neither should we.

Let’s look beyond our flaws and imperfections… and those of others. Let’s look at every situation with an eye toward how God can use us and others for a new purpose. Where is He at work in your life to patch the stains, to use something seemingly insignificant and small to create something wonderful and huge for His Kingdom? How have you limited God with your “throw-away” attitude… and how can you start to change? You may never carry your gum in a Gerber container or repurpose your clothing, but you can open your heart and mind to the possibilities for a “Spiritual repurposing” in God… and allow Him to make something truly beautiful and glorious. What will God create with you?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 6, 2012

2012-02-06T16:01:00.000-06:00

Psalm 9:7-10
God holds the high center, he sees and sets the world's mess right. He decides what is right for us earthlings, gives people their just deserts.

God's a safe-house for the battered, a sanctuary during bad times. The moment you arrive, you relax; you're never sorry you knocked.

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.

Think about a really stressful time in your life… where was your sanctuary? Where did you go to “let your hair down” and relax… what gave you comfort? When I was a little girl, my “sanctuary” was a mossy creek bank across the road from my grandparents’ farm. I still can “channel” the sound of the wind in the pines and feel the softness of that damp moss beneath me… and instantly, I feel calmer. If you are like me, you have dreamed of falling into your cozy bed and getting a good long nap or a night’s rest. Last Christmas Eve, when I was at my wits’ end with the care of my grandmother in the Emergency Room, I even found refuge in the hospital chapel. In that moment, God’s “house” was where I discovered a “safe-house” for my battered nerves!

Surely you have your own list of sanctuaries… places where you feel you can relax during bad times… where you are never sorry you knocked. But what if none of those physical refuges is available? What are you supposed to do then?

As wonderful and comforting as physical safe havens can be, I believe that we truly arrive as Christians when we can “center” ourselves in God any place… at any time. When we stop and focus on Him, we see that He is at work setting the world’s mess right, no matter where we are. I was talking with a friend recently and commented that I had a running joke with someone else that… “If God can fix this, He can fix anything.” My friend quickly retorted… “God CAN fix anything!” And he’s exactly right… but often we have not given Him room to do this!

Today, I want you to take a deep breath… or two or three. Relax and open your heart to God. Allow Him to come in and handle the messes of your day and give you sanctuary, wherever you may be. Learn to find refuge in Him while sitting in traffic, handling the latest crisis of the moment, or struggling with the worries of your day. Nothing is too big for God to handle… and there is no safer place than in His arms. When was the last time you knocked at His “safe-house?” Isn’t this a good time to visit?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 5, 2012

2012-02-05T15:35:00.001-06:00

Romans 8:5-8 Those who think they can do it on their own end up obsessed with measuring their own moral muscle but never get around to exercising it in real life. Those who trust God’s action in them find that God’s Spirit is in them – living and breathing God! Obsession with self in these matters is a dead end; attention to God leads us out into the open, into a spacious, free life. Focusing on the self is the opposite of focusing on God. Anyone completely absorbed in self ignores God, ends up thinking our about self than God. That person ignores who God is and what he is doing. And God isn’t pleased at being ignored.

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.

Evangelist Joyce Meyer tells a story about going to the grocery store one day and getting in the checkout line behind a woman who was struggling to come up with the change to pay her bill. She had a couple of small children clinging to her legs and she was clearly flustered and embarrassed as she counted the money in the bottom of her purse. Joyce heard God telling her to help the woman. At first, she argued… “No, LORD… that will only add to her embarrassment. I can’t get involved. This is not my problem.” But God would not stop troubling Joyce’s spirit, and she ended up handing over a couple of dollars (or whatever was needed). As the woman looked toward Joyce, her entire body seemed to relax in relief, and she thanked her profusely for helping.

There are several lessons here. First of all, every one of us hears that “inner voice” more often than we will admit. The trouble is… we’ve gotten pretty good at squelching or ignoring it! In my prayer journal, I found these sermon notes… “All the ‘gifts’ lie in a man’s spirit. Most of the time, people fear and aren’t willing to hear that Voice. It shuts down and Satan comes in to cause you to fear the word of the Spirit and operating in it.” So we argue with God… “No, LORD… I can’t do THAT! Please don’t ask me to speak to him/her. I can’t get involved… I’m too busy… shy… underdressed… lacking (in whatever area seems to fit at the moment).”

I’ve heard Joyce Meyer tell more than one story about God speaking to her and saying she should help someone else. On occasion, she ignored Him… and it gnawed at her. The times she listened, she not only blessed the other person, but God blessed her, as well. Blessings and prosperity are not about you… they are about God! He reaches us through our Spirit, who then reaches us through our mind. When you hear that “voice” telling you to do something, don’t let your intellectual fear hold you back. Too many of us are letting our head (intellect) lead us instead of our heart (the Holy Spirit).

I am trying to operate more from the heart than the head. It’s not easy, because Satan works hard to plant fear in our hearts and minds and make us think that what we are hearing is not really coming from God. But when I can’t shake a feeling that I am supposed to call someone… when I know somewhere deep within me that there is something I am supposed to do – especially for someone else - I am learning to step out in faith and lead with my heart. You’ve heard the saying, “Go with your gut!” I believe God often speaks to us from our “gut” – the very inner workings of our body. And yes… I’ve given a few pennies to someone at the checkout who was digging for change… and it felt great for both of us.

Don’t be afraid to do what God tells you to do. Don’t live in the defeat of intellectual fear. Don’t give Satan that satisfaction. Recognize that this is not about us… it’s about God. He is speaking to us each and every day… showing us how to serve, who to bless in His name, and how to live outside our own “self.” Don’t ignore Him! Focus on listening for His voice… and when He speaks, step up and out… then get ready to live in the blessings that will come for you and those you serve.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 4, 2012

2012-02-04T12:32:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 3:14-19
My response is to get down on my knees before the Father, this magnificent Father who parcels out all heaven and earth. I ask him to strengthen you by his Spirit—not a brute strength but a glorious inner strength—that Christ will live in you as you open the door and invite him in. And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you'll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ's love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness 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.

When I was in my twenties, I was a runner. I competed in 5k races and ran three to six miles nearly every day. I still remember the first time I finished five miles. My brother-in-law, who was running marathons at the time, told me that “If you can run three miles, you can run five.” In other words, I could push myself and do more… and I did. I was my own worst enemy... limiting my potential with fear, complacency, and a lack of focus. I ultimately gave up running for several reasons – including the number it did on my knees! Over the years, I satisfied myself with other exercises… primarily walking. There is nothing wrong with walking for exercise, but it doesn’t do much to build muscle strength – especially in the upper body. By limiting myself, I failed to maintain adequate physical strength, and made myself vulnerable to illness, fatigue, and more.

Not quite 18 months ago, I started a weight-lifting program, combined with workouts to strengthen my “inner core” and cardio training. Today, I feel physically stronger than I have ever felt in my adult life. In the last few years, I have also worked on my “inner strength.” I won’t say I came to this willingly, but God has allowed my faith to be tested in ways I could never have envisioned… and He has strengthened me by His Spirit. I have to tell you… if I had to choose between physical strength and “inner strength,” I would choose the latter every time.

As I grow physically stronger, I’ve learned a lot about my body and what it is capable of sustaining. I’ve discovered that I can do a lot of things I never dreamed possible… that I am often limited only by my own fears and lack of focus. And it’s exactly like that with my “heart,” as well. There are times when I begin to falter… to wonder if I can really do this… to question how I will handle challenges or endure struggles. This is when I need to plant both feet firmly, to reach out and experience the breadth of Christ’s love! I need to fully test the lengths… to plumb the depths and rise to the heights! I need to a full life - full in the fullness of God!

Truly, the dimensions of Christ’s love for me exceed anything I can ever imagine. The limits are all my doing. I need to maintain focus, to keep “working out” with Him each and every day. We all need to realize that exercising our heart muscle includes much more than a 20-minute workout routine with some cardio and a couple of hand weights. We have to strengthen the Spiritual heart muscle as well… through prayer, Bible study, exercising our faith when tests come along, and more.

My question for you today is this… how fit are you - physically AND Spiritually? Have you allowed your faith and strength to be limited by outside influences and your own fears and lack of focus? The devil is so pleased when we become complacent. He will fill us with a million reasons to skip our “workouts.” Do not listen! Never give up! Open the door… invite Jesus into your heart and do all you can to keep Him there! Exercise and build your glorious inner strength first. See how strong God makes you in all areas of life as a result.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 3, 2012

2012-02-03T13:40:00.000-06:00

2 Corinthians 4:16
So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace. These hard times are small potatoes compared to the coming good times, the lavish celebration prepared for us. There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever.

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 don’t know about you, but I have had a few life experiences that left me feeling as if things were falling apart on me. It was hard to say goodbye to loved ones… to bury my pets… to let our little Timothy go home after spending so much time with us. I was frustrated when I broke my ankle and had to spend three months sitting on the couch, asking for help with everything – even a shower! I was deeply disappointed when I truly believed I was in line for a new job… then I wasn’t selected. I’ve felt the sting of conceding that “enough is enough” and letting go of toxic relationships and unhealthy habits. There have been times when I spent a few days or longer merely going through the motions of getting through the day… and I bet you have been there, too!

I don’t like to compare myself to others. I believe God wants us to examine our own lives and consider how we stack up to His desires and expectations for us. However, in this instance, I think we should momentarily make an exception. If we look around, we can see examples in every life situation of people who are handling similar experiences… or far worse. We may grieve for loved ones who now live in Heaven, but that is nothing compared to those who grieve for loved ones who never professed to know Jesus. We may have lost a beloved pet… others have lost a child – or several children. We may not get the new job… others don’t have a job in the first place. We may have broken a bone or two - or suffered a temporary, treatable illness… others face a lifelong, chronic condition or an incurable disease.

We may have setbacks in relationships, challenges in the workplace and at school, or face a temporary separation from someone we love… others face complete estrangement from their families and friends, do not have the opportunity to work or study, or experience permanent banishment from their loved ones.

And if that isn’t enough… consider all that Jesus suffered - entirely on our behalf - and everything that is promised because of His suffering. No matter what we are facing… however difficult, sad, or disappointing life may seem today… we cannot wallow in self-pity. We must look to the cross, and beyond, and realize that even on our worst day, God is blessing us and equipping us in ways we can’t begin to imagine. We must realize that our hearts are not breaking – at least not in the way we think. While we feel like our heart is bursting open and everything is falling apart, God is at work… filling us with love, grace and new mercies – and mending our hearts in a way that strengthens us for another day.

I could cite countless examples of people who have lived with hope and courage in spite of incredible, seemingly impossible challenges and roadblocks. I could tell you about many persons I know who have endured one tragedy after another with a positive spirit that seems incredulous. I am guessing you could make your own list of inspiring individuals. Instead, I want to encourage you to work on adding your name to that list. Open your heart to all that God wants to give you… acknowledge that He is working behind the scenes and healing you in ways you can’t begin to fully understand. Live with hope and courage that a better day is coming… lavish celebrations are on the way… and God is making a new life for each of us.

When challenges come – and they will! – don’t allow them to completely sap your faith and courage. You may suffer a momentary setback. Grief and sadness - for a season - is perfectly normal. But ultimately, remember Who is at work in your heart - storing up blessings to last forever. Never give up. Examine the depths of your heart and see how God is working… and live from this abundance. There truly is far more here than meets the eye. What has God placed in your heart today?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 2, 2012

2012-02-02T15:34:00.000-06:00

Matthew 6:5-7
When you pray, don't be like those show-offs who love to stand up and pray in the meeting places and on the street corners. They do this just to look good. I can assure you that they already have their reward.

When you pray, go into a room alone and close the door. Pray to your Father in private. He knows what is done in private, and he will reward you.

When you pray, don't talk on and on as people do who don't know God. They think God likes to hear long prayers.

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

Yesterday on my Facebook wall, I saw this quote by evangelist Joyce Meyer... “What you do in front of people is nothing if you are not living the same life at home behind closed doors.” She referenced Matthew 6:5-7 in this post. When I read this, I was working on a devotional about living with an authentic heart for God. This post showed up right on time!

As we think about our heart – the “hidden inner man” – let’s think about how we share our faith with others. Do we let ego get in the way? Do we feel we are only effective as Christians and disciples when we make a lot of noise and draw attention to ourselves or our cause? Do we think God loves us more when we are grandiose? Maybe this explains those who protest a funerals or outside clinics. It could be that those who want to scream and shout about this “Christian” cause or that one have bought into the concept that bigger and louder is better!

Do we speak kindly to everyone we meet in public, then go home and treat our family like dirt? Do we pretend to be something or someone we are not and try to “keep up with the Joneses” when in truth, we are physically, morally and spiritually bankrupt? The truth is that God cares about what is in our heart… how we truly feel… what we genuinely think about Him, and our honest needs and desires. He doesn’t care about trappings… grand gestures… big displays of devotion or service… or how long we pray a single prayer. He doesn’t want us to say and do all the right things in public and shed these behaviors like a giant mask when nobody is looking.

God wants real, sincere, heartfelt love and service. He wants us to operate completely from the depths of our heart and a desire to be completely His disciple… whether we are passing the collection plate in a worship service, visiting someone who is sick, working with someone we find difficult to love, offering up a prayer… or interacting with our own family behind closed doors.

We should strive to be genuine and operate from our heart every single day. If God wants us to shout from the rooftops, He will place that in our heart. If God wants you to be Mr./Miss Personality, He will gift you with a genuine exuberance. If He wants us to work in the background, we will sense that, as well. God will make it our heart’s desire to treat everyone with love, grace and mercy – even at home – if we listen and follow Him.

As long as we listen to our “hidden inner man,” we will glorify and honor God with our outward appearance and behavior. Have you checked your heart today?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 1, 2012

2012-02-01T13:33:00.000-06:00

Romans 7:21-23
It happens so regularly that it's predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God's commands, but it's pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.

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.

Suppose you want to watch the Super Bowl at home, in your sweats, while eating a big bowl of popcorn or a frozen pizza. But your parents, significant other, or best friend want you to go with them to a Super Bowl party with lots of people – many of whom you don’t know all that well. You know you won’t be able to see much of the game… and the other guests may be rooting for the opposing team. You don’t want to get dressed up and socialize with others… but you don’t want to disappoint the person who is asking you to come along. So you “play nice,” squelch your true feelings and agree to go. Whether anyone else knows or not, your heart truly is not in this.

Let’s be honest… a lot of life is about compromises. And that often means doing something when our heart truly isn’t in it, because it’s the right thing to do… on several levels. But compromising in matters of faith is another story altogether. Concessions in the natural have to do with the body… compromises in our faith have to do with the spirit. In Spiritual terms, your heart is where God resides. He has given you the Holy Spirit to live in your heart… to guide you and help you to make choices that honor Jesus and your commitment to Him.

While agreeing to go to a party that really doesn’t interest you is more a gesture of cooperation, choosing to join in a conversation that includes gossip and disrespectful talk about someone else is a rebellion against the Holy Spirit. It may be fun or feel good at the time… but on some level, we usually know (or we should know!) that this is wrong. If your “heart isn’t in” working out and eating right, that’s one thing. But if you don’t have a heart for the obeying God’s word and seeking Him in prayer, that’s another.

So often, we want to pat ourselves on the back for the smallest of gestures toward our faith. We want “brownie points” for attending worship services or helping the needy. We ask God to give us guidance – or we pray for someone in need – and we read our Bible every day for a week… then we congratulate ourselves on how well we are demonstrating our faith and living for Jesus. Even worse… we compare ourselves to others and decide that we’re really doing pretty well. After all… they aren’t serving on a committee or in a leadership role at church. They don’t go on mission trips or work in local charities. Hey… they don’t even come to church very often!

The truth is that they may have more of a heart for God than we ever will. The heart is the “hidden, inner man” and shows us God’s definition of your spirit. No one can truly know what is in your heart except for you and God. But we both know that often, what we say is in our heart… and what is truly there… are two very different things.

It’s time to reconcile our Spiritual heart with the Holy Spirit. It’s time for us to truly focus on what God has placed in our heart… and to operate from that position. We need to be deeply aware of the devil’s attempt to creep in and lure us into a false sense of security… to convince us that his way is more enjoyable. Many of us operate on the premise that as long as we do “enough” to appease God, we can do whatever feels good the rest of the time.

Remember… God knows your heart. He knows when you are operating from a place of honor and glory to Him… and when someone else has captured your attention. Don’t live in this state of limbo. Choose to seek God… to believe and serve Him with your full heart - and never miss the mark. Ask Him to give you wisdom and courage to resist the temptations that will surely come… and to stay on course.

Renew your commitment to delight in God’s commands… and to defy the devil’s petition for your attention. Give your heart fully to God… and live in the confidence that He is always in charge. You still may not have your heart in attending a Super Bowl party. But if God is telling you to in your “Spiritual heart” go, He will equip you with an attitude of love and generosity… and the grace to smile all evening.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 31, 2012

2012-01-31T12:26:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 6:18
Never stop praying, especially for others. Always pray by the power of the Spirit. Stay alert and keep praying for God's people.

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

We never know where God will show up… or how He will speak to us. As we were driving home from junior-high basketball games in Conway recently, we passed a church in Guy, Arkansas. The lighted marquee on the front lawn had one simple message: Ephesians 6:18. I made a mental note to check this scripture passage when I got home. The verse fit perfectly with conversations I have been having with a few people recently about the power and effectiveness of prayer.

Someone commented to me that they had been reviewing prayer journals and discovered that their prayers for some people were for the same concerns over more than a decade… some for even twenty or thirty years or more. I’ve noticed much the same thing in my own prayer journals. The natural question to ask is… “Are my prayers going unheard? Why hasn’t God answered?”

The truth is that we have no clue how God has answered. We asked for one thing… God may have delivered another. We prayed for certain outcomes, but we have no idea how much God may have answered our prayers and protected and blessed those we lifted. And just as importantly… we do not dictate God’s timing. Our responsibility as faith-filled disciples is to never stop praying… especially for others. We are to continue to ask God to work in the lives of His children… and to trust Him to know the best way to do this.

For the record… there are plenty of entries in my prayer journals – and those of others – that God has clearly answered just as we requested. We can cite countless examples of healings, deliverance, restoration, and more. We must remember to focus on these… and to believe that in situations where we cannot physically see God’s answer, He is at also work.

In The Message, Ephesians 6:13-18 says “Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

There really is nothing to add. Prayer truly is essential… and effective. Our job is to keep praying… and to trust God to know how – and when – to answer perfectly.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 30, 2012

2012-01-30T12:01:00.000-06:00

1 Peter 3:8-11
Finally, all of you should agree and have concern and love for each other. You should also be kind and humble. Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you.

The Scriptures say, "Do you really love life? Do you want to be happy? Then stop saying cruel things and quit telling lies. Give up your evil ways and do right, as you find and follow the road that leads to peace.

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

If you have ever been on the receiving end of a hateful insult, you know how hurtful such expressions can be. Maybe someone put you down in an attempt to look better… maybe he/she didn’t have all the facts… or maybe the person hurling the insult was just mean-spirited. Regardless, our first – and most human – instinct is to retaliate with something equally insulting, if not more so.

We don’t have to look very far to see that insults have become so much a part of the fabric of our lives that many of us hardly even look up any more. I believe that one of the best illustrations of how serious these actions can be is found in toothpaste. Once the paste has been squeezed from the tube, there is virtually no way to return it. The same can be said for insults, unkind words and actions. You can apologize… ask for forgiveness…make excuses and promise never to allow something like this to happen again. But the sting has been delivered… the hurt has been inflicted… and this cannot be retracted.

What if you are on the receiving end of insulting or unkind behavior? How does God want us to react? We have Biblical instruction regarding this. Jesus has told us in Luke 6:27-31…”Love your enemies, and be good to everyone who hates you. Ask God to bless anyone who curses you, and pray for everyone who is cruel to you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, don't stop that person from slapping you on the other cheek. If someone wants to take your coat, don't try to keep back your shirt. Give to everyone who asks and don't ask people to return what they have taken from you. Treat others just as you want to be treated.”

I have literally had doors slammed while my foot was in the threshold. I’ve had lies told about me and unkind things spoken to my face. I’ve been the brunt of mean-spirited jokes, and I have been deliberately excluded or singled out in more than one instance. And I am fairly certain these things have all happened to you, also. We live in a world that frequently operates in lies, deceit, unkindness and insults… even among those who claim to be faith-filled Disciples of Christ. All of this is enough to make even the strongest and most devoted believer feel defeated. How in the world are we supposed to hold our heads up and stay positive?

The answer lies in one name… Jesus. For every insult and unkindness we have experienced, Jesus has endured gazillions. He was physically bruised, beaten, spit upon, and nailed to a cross. His name is slandered every day… and people deny Him, mock Him, and call Him a liar. Even so-called believers challenge Him constantly… “LORD, how could You allow this to happen? Who do You think You are? Where were You when I needed You?” All of these things are hurtful and deliver a punch to the gut. Yet Jesus continues to love us… to open His arms and say, “Come to me and let me have your burdens.” And the most important thing we need to remember is that He does this for those who insult us and treat us badly, too.

We must remember Jesus. We must act – and react – in a manner that honors His sacrifices on our behalf and glorifies His love, grace and mercy toward us. Is this easy? Not at all. Is it worth the effort? Absolutely! The next time you feel insulted, think of Jesus. When you feel like retaliating or acting unkindly or hurling an insult… think of the toothpaste. How will you retract your actions? How will you love someone who has hurt you in some manner… how will you treat them as you wish to be treated? Again, think of Jesus. In Him, we find the perfect model for this. After all… He’s already done the same for each of us!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Father, I thank you for the perfect example of Jesus… and even more so, His love, grace and mercy for each of us. I pray that you will help us to honor You in our actions and reactions toward others… that we will remember the road to peace lies in treating others with love and kindness… especially when we feel they don’t deserve it. Forgive us when we fall short in this area… and help us to always remember Jesus – and to commit ourselves to walking more closely with Him every day. Amen.

Daily Devotional for January 29, 2012

2012-01-29T17:43:00.000-06:00

Genesis 15:1-6
After all these things, this word of God came to Abram in a vision: "Don't be afraid, Abram. I'm your shield. Your reward will be grand!" Abram said, "God, Master, what use are your gifts as long as I'm childless and Eliezer of Damascus is going to inherit everything?" Abram continued, "See, you've given me no children, and now a mere house servant is going to get it all."

Then God's Message came: "Don't worry, he won't be your heir; a son from your body will be your heir." Then he took him outside and said, "Look at the sky. Count the stars. Can you do it? Count your descendants! You're going to have a big family, Abram!" And he believed! Believed God! God declared him "Set-Right-with-God."

Romans 4:17-18
We call Abraham "father" not because he got God's attention by living like a saint, but because God made something out of Abraham when he was a nobody. Isn't that what we've always read in Scripture, God saying to Abraham, "I set you up as father of many peoples"? Abraham was first named "father" and then became a father because he dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn't do but on what God said he would do. And so he was made father of a multitude of peoples. God himself said to him, "You're going to have a big family, Abraham!”

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

In October 2010, I bought a workout video and told myself that I would do this… I would get in shape and become more healthy. The first day, I put the DVD in the machine and did as much of the workout as I could… and I honestly thought I might die. My legs shook like jelly for about an hour. I could not get my breath, my heart pounded, and I hurt – everywhere. The trainer on the DVD said, “If you are on Day Six or Seven, these exercises are probably already a little easier than on Day One.” Yeah, right! I wondered if I would ever even see Day Six or Seven. But her words encouraged me, and I took a giant leap of faith and trusted that in time, I truly would be able to do the workout routine… and hopefully I would become healthier and more fit.

More than a year later, I am able to do things I never dreamed I could do –pushups, jogging and weight lifting. I can balance and flex in ways I never thought possible at my age, and I’ve lowered my cholesterol and other “numbers” while becoming more fit and healthy. I listened to the trainer and kept the faith that she would deliver on her promises of strength and stamina. Now, when I face an exercise that seems daunting – or impossible – I look at how far I have come, and I realize that maybe I can actually do this! I know it is at least worth my best shot!

So often in life, we consider the problem… and not the promise. We look at the obstacles in our life… age, heritage, home life, health, economic status, race, level of education, and more… and we say, “There’s no way I can overcome this. I can never do what God is asking of me. I can never be what He thinks I can be. This is totally hopeless.” In truth, whatever God desires for you is entirely possible… from serving others in His name to serving on a committee at church or in your community to being a leader in your community, state, or country.

If God wants you to be a parent, head a major corporation, or serve as a missionary in a foreign land… He will equip you for the task. If He wants you to be able to purchase your own home and vehicle, overcome an addiction, or even lose a few pounds and get in shape, He can help you accomplish this. Our job is to focus on the promise… not the problem. Satan will try to trip us up at every turn by telling us that we are not good enough… that our situation is hopeless… that the promises are too grand, out of our league, and completely unattainable.

God has created a covenant partnership with us, as believers in Jesus Christ. He has promised that all things are possible, according to His will, when we trust Him. God NEVER defaults on a promise. The best thing we can do is continue to trust God even when we can’t see how things are going to come together. Just as it took several weeks of huffing and puffing and only being able to do small portions of the daily workout routine before I began to see any results, we often have to huff and puff along with God for a while before we catch a glimmer of the work He is doing in our lives.

We must not stagger… we must not backslide… and we most certainly must not give up! Have faith that God will deliver on His promises… keep plugging away at whatever path He has placed before you. Live on the basis of what God has said He will do… not what you can’t accomplish on your own. Pay attention to the small gains you make along the way, and stop to thank God for even small victories. When everything looks hopeless, listen for God’s voice… and keep going. Strengthen your faith as you grow in God’s promises. Focus on the potential for days when your “workout” will become easier… and all that you strived to accomplish has been delivered.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 28, 2012

2012-01-28T12:09:00.000-06:00

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.

There is a long-standing joke in my family about how my grandmother never hesitates to tell us when she feels we are “getting too fat”… while she is simultaneously shoving sugar cookies, peanut brittle, candy of some sort, pie, or a hot homemade roll in our direction. We all know we could shed a few pounds, but the treats look so delicious! We fool ourselves into believing that “It’s Christmas – we’re supposed to indulge” or “One little bite/cookie/slice of pie won’t hurt” or “We’ll hurt Mam-ma’s feelings if we don’t eat this!” And we let “the world” tell us how to live and lull us into a false confidence that we are healthy and fit. Some of us have gotten to a point where we feel things are so far gone and hopeless that we no longer care… we just consume everything in sight (and I am not just talking food here!).

We are bombarded with commercials for all sorts of tantalizing fast food… burgers, steaks, ice cream treats, gourmet coffee concoctions, and more. We go to the doctor, and he/she tells us that our cholesterol, triglycerides and blood pressure are through the roof… then we stop on the way home and pick up a burger, fries and shake. We see ads at every turn for this gadget or that item that we simply have to have to be happy. We are told that we have to look like this celebrity or perform like that entertainer or athlete or operate in business like such-and-such executive in order to truly enjoy success and happiness. And yes, it’s a wonder God doesn’t just call us home and end the madness!

While good health is important- and we need to start exercising and eating a healthy diet from childhood – our “Spiritual health” is far more critical. We need to learn to say a polite “No” to a steady diet of fast food, sweet treats, inactivity and lethargy… and an even more emphatic “No!” to the lies and sins of this world. The problem many of us have with all of this is a level of commitment.

When we asked Jesus to forgive our sins and become LORD of our life, we entered into a “blood covenant” partnership with Him. We made a commitment and agreement to carry out His assignment… to love Him with all of our heart, mind, body and soul… to love others as we love ourselves… and to share His Good News throughout the world. This is not the same as a contract with Weight Watchers® or NutriSystem® to follow their plan. We are not signing up for a few weeks of fitness training at the local gym. We’re not promising to make payments on a house… car… boat or student loan. We have committed to a lifetime of service and obedience to God… with the promise of Eternal Life and the earthly presence of His Holy Spirit in the meantime.

My prayer for all of us today is that we would start to take commitments of all kinds more seriously… especially our commitment to Jesus Christ. God has so freely and extravagantly gifted us with His love, grace, mercy, and a new life in Jesus Christ. When we insult Him with our insolent, sinful lifestyles, we “violate the contract.” And often, we “shoot ourselves in the foot” and block the blessings He wants to give us, because of our own selfish actions.

If we will truly commit to God, He will show up in our lives in ways we never even expected. If we will honor our partnership by pledging love, loyalty, service and the abandonment of our sinful behaviors, God will bless us in areas we haven’t even considered… maybe even shedding a few pounds and becoming more fit! Just like the commitment to diet and exercise, a covenant with God will require hard work, time and energy. But the end results will be more than worth the effort. Are you ready to truly enter into a partnership with God and enjoy all that He has in store for you? How committed are you to God today?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 27, 2012

2012-01-27T12:04:00.000-06:00

Nehemiah 8:2
On the first day of the seventh month, the people came together in the open area in front of the Water Gate. Then they asked Ezra, who was a teacher of the Law of Moses, to read to them from this Law that the LORD had given his people. Ezra the priest came with the Law and stood before the crowd of men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand.

Philippians 1:1-7
From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all of God's people who belong to Christ Jesus at Philippi and to all of your church officials and officers. I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

Every time I think of you, I thank my God. And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.

You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work that God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail.

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

In my grandmother’s journal, she talks of getting together with other women who lived in her neck of the woods to make mattresses out of heavy fabric and cotton provided by the Red Cross. She writes… “We didn’t have mattresses, but we had straw beds and feather beds, until the Red Cross stepped in and started to furnish cotton to make mattresses and comforters. That was lots of fun. We made them in our front yard. Neighbors came in and we would make two or three a day till everyone had some good beds.” With today’s technology, we can order our “Sleep Number” bed online and have it delivered to our doorstep.

A few years ago, a local news reporter conducted an experiment. She rented an empty apartment, and with the aide of only a laptop and an Internet connection, she successfully purchased everything she needed – food, clothing, furnishings, and more – and had it all delivered directly to her. With a few keypad strokes, we can now order movies, concerts, sporting events, and more – and see them instantly on our TVs. We can ship and receive packages worldwide from our doorstep. Many of us can attend school online – or work from home via computer. We can socialize with our friends - and even worship - from the comforts of our easy chair. Think about this… it is entirely possible to go days, weeks – or even longer – without ever leaving home or physically “seeing” another person!

As a result, many of us have no clue how to really interact with others. We do not fully understand the meaning of true partnership and ministry… and how important this is to the body of Christ. Many of us get complacent and lazy as we retreat within ourselves and let our responsibilities as partakers in God’s anointing and favor fall by the wayside. We become self-absorbed and fail to look around at those directly in our path who need to hear from us... to know that we care – and more importantly - that God cares.

Now don’t misunderstand me… there are plenty of ways to serve God from your desk and the comfort of your own home. There are many who are unable to get out and make face-to-face contact with others for a number of reasons. These Disciples can be highly effective servants through prayer, sending notes and e-mail messages of encouragement, making phone calls, and more… doing their part as God directs them. But for many of us, serving God means getting up – and out – and working shoulder-to-shoulder with others.

We are all called to be partners in the ministry of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t know if God’s plan for you is to develop an e-mail prayer chain or to gather your friends to stuff mattresses for those who have no place to lay their head. I believe that God allowed us to create the technological advances that shape today’s world in great part to further His kingdom – and to enhance the ministries that involve actual physical interaction and labor. Our job is to figure out how to use all of the tools God has given us correctly to create partnerships with others… to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ… and to continue the good work He began in each of us. How successful is your partnership with God – and others - these days?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 26, 2012

2012-01-26T18:12:00.000-06:00

1 John 2:20-27
But you belong. The Holy One anointed you, and you all know it. I haven't been writing this to tell you something you don't know, but to confirm the truth you do know, and to remind you that the truth doesn't breed lies.

So who is lying here? It's the person who denies that Jesus is the Divine Christ, that's who. This is what makes an antichrist: denying the Father, denying the Son. No one who denies the Son has any part with the Father, but affirming the Son is an embrace of the Father as well.

Stay with what you heard from the beginning, the original message. Let it sink into your life. If what you heard from the beginning lives deeply in you, you will live deeply in both Son and Father. This is exactly what Christ promised: eternal life, real life!

I've written to warn you about those who are trying to deceive you. But they're no match for what is embedded deeply within you—Christ's anointing, no less! You don't need any of their so-called teaching. Christ's anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and him, uncontaminated by a single lie. Live deeply in what you were taught.

Joshua 1:8
And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

When I was a young girl learning to sew, I was taught to do a lot of hand-basting with needle and thread before sewing seams and top-stitches on the machine. This made for neater edges, more uniform “gathers,” and a nicer garment overall. It also took a lot longer. Over the years, I became convinced by articles I read and friends who sewed that a lot of this was not necessary. A steady hand with the steam iron would press open seams. Good pinning could eliminate the need for hand-basting and speed up the process.

After ripping out several seams that were not quite straight or even… and getting a less than stellar result several times, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to stay with what I was taught from the beginning… the original message.

In so many areas of life, the “shortcuts” are actually paths to a bad end. A lot of us want to cut corners… to have the blessings of God without doing the work… to pick and choose which of His commandments we follow… to follow the “in crowd” but also belong to the body of Christ – even if the two are completely divided. In other words, we buy into the world’s insistence that God will overlook our irregular stitches and wrinkled seams… and “good enough” is, indeed, good enough.

The truth is that God gave His very best – Jesus Christ – to pay for our sins… and He wants our very best in return. We don’t have to look far to find the truth… the Bible – the “Book of the Revelation” – tells us everything we need to know about how to live as Disciples of Christ. The trouble comes when we want to cut corners… to have things our way… to follow those who would try to convince us otherwise… and still count on God to bless and anoint us with all He stands ready to give.

Inviting Jesus to be LORD of your life and asking the Holy Spirit to dwell within your heart is vital… but living deeply in both Son and Father is critical. So many people take the first step, then rest on the promise of Eternal Life. They fail to truly live deeply in the Son and Father… to serve completely and humbly as God’s servants and to minister to others in His name. And often, the results are like many of the garments I’ve sewn… less than stellar. Don’t let this happen to you. Really study the Word of God. Dig deeply and live in what you were taught. Ponder and meditate on what you have learned… and communicate with God continually to be sure you always stay on the right track.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 25, 2012

2012-01-25T15:18:00.000-06:00

Ephesians 3:8-10
I am the least important of all God's people. But God was kind and chose me to tell the Gentiles that because of Christ there are blessings that cannot be measured. God, who created everything, wanted me to help everyone understand the mysterious plan that had always been hidden in his mind. Then God would use the church to show the powers and authorities in the spiritual world that he has many different kinds of wisdom.

Proverbs 2:6-7
All wisdom comes from the LORD, and so do common sense and understanding. God gives helpful advice to everyone who obeys him and protects all of those who live as they should.

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

Have you ever looked at “magic eye” books? You know the ones where you squint and stand back a bit, and suddenly a three-dimensional image comes into focus? Or maybe you enjoyed the hidden pictures in Highlights magazine when you were a child. Even as an adult, I have fun helping Timothy find the hidden pictures in this children’s magazine. The point is… the images were there all along. They weren’t truly hidden… we just needed extra “focus” or “understanding” to find them. The same can be said of God’s wisdom.

I have been reviewing notes that I made on various sermons I’ve heard preached over the past decade. On one page, I noted… “God has not hidden wisdom from us… He has hidden wisdom for us. Proverbs are the key to wisdom.” Recently I learned that Rev. Billy Graham has said that he reads a chapter in Proverbs every day, as well as one of the Psalms. He maintains that the Psalms teach him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs teaches him how to get along with his “fellow man.”

So what does this mean for us with regard to our Spiritual journey? We need to realize that the wisdom of God is within our grasp… all we have to do is maintain focus. Just as the “magic eye” pictures are used by some to sharpen their vision, we can grow in God’s wisdom through Bible study and prayer. If we listen for God as we study and pray, we can gain new concepts and thoughts… ideas, interpretation, and revelation.

Proverbs 3:13 says…” God blesses everyone who has wisdom and common sense.” Bible study and prayer will help us obtain both. By reading this devotional, you have begun to engage in Bible study. Hopefully you will be encouraged to dig deeper on your own… to get more of what God wants to give you through His word. Prayer is another vital component, and I hope you are talking with God each and every day. Make today the day you squint, focus and begin to unlock the wisdom that God is holding for you. The keys are in your hand… are you ready to use them?

Thank You, LORD, for your incredible wisdom. Today I pray that You will speak to us through Your word… that we will truly listen for Your voice… and that You will release all that You hold in store for us, according to Your will and what You determine we are able to handle. We praise You, LORD, for Your incredible gifts… Your grace, mercy and love. Amen.

Daily Devotional for January 24, 2012

2012-01-24T16:33:00.000-06:00

Acts 4:11-16
While the man kept holding on to Peter and John, the whole crowd ran to them in amazement at the place known as Solomon's Porch. Peter saw that a crowd had gathered, and he said: Friends, why are you surprised at what has happened? Why are you staring at us? Do you think we have some power of our own? Do you think we were able to make this man walk because we are so religious? The God that Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and our other ancestors worshiped has brought honor to his Servant Jesus. He is the one you betrayed. You turned against him when he was being tried by Pilate, even though Pilate wanted to set him free. You rejected Jesus, who was holy and good. You asked for a murderer to be set free, and you killed the one who leads people to life. But God raised him from death, and all of us can tell you what he has done. You see this man, and you know him. He put his faith in the name of Jesus and was made strong. Faith in Jesus made this man completely well while everyone was watching.

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

More than once, I’ve heard someone say to another person… “I know you have a direct line to heaven, so please pray for me,” or something to that effect. And I admit, I have said that a few times to someone who I thought was a strong disciple of Christ. The trouble with this concept is that the “direct line” to God is not exclusive to a select few people. God does not give more attention to one person over another. We all have the same “line” to God… the difference is in how we utilize it.

Honestly, most people probably say this to another person as a way of paying them a compliment or acknowledging the blessings of his/her faithfulness. But we really need to be careful what we say… even with the best of intentions. What makes the prayers of certain people seem more effective is a result of their level of faith and trust in God. In truth, their prayers are not heard more often than ours… ahead of ours… or instead of ours! But their trust in God to answer may trump ours any day of the week.

People who go to church every Sunday, sing in the choir, serve in leadership roles in the church, or do mission work do not have their prayers answered - or live a problem-free life - because of their actions. Your heart… and your faith… are what matters. The most powerful, faithful, devoted servant of God may be a little old lady in the nursing home who trusts God to meet her needs and prays daily – and faithfully – for the needs of others. The soldier stationed in a foreign country who trusts God for safety and “daily bread” – in the trenches and for his/her family back at home – may receive more of God’s blessings than the deacon or church leader who is always in “high profile” for his/her latest projects, missions, or acts of service. Some of the people you consider to be “strong Christians” may actually have fairly weak faith behind their public persona.

What makes a Christian strong, confident, able and blessed is a matter of faith, not specific actions or mere talk. We can say all the right things… work in the church and serve in our community… be a “good person” and a friend to everyone we encounter… and still not operate in faith. Until we develop a deep, abiding faith in God… until we trust Him completely and operate from this foundation rather than the expectations and standards of the world… we will never truly experience all that God has for us.

Do not misunderstand me. Service is important… Jesus commanded us to love one another and to serve in His name. Corporate worship is important… we are called to fellowship with others – to come together to praise God and study His word. A positive attitude and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with others is mandated by scripture. But all of these are fueled by a genuine faith in our Heavenly Father. Without a true faith in the promises of God, much of what we say and do is merely “lip service” to make us look good and feel better.

We cannot know for certain what is in another person’s heart… and we are not to judge anyway. We must cultivate our own relationship with God based entirely in faith that He will meet our every need, according to His will. We must trust Him to make us strong and well… and to always “take our calls.” People are watching… and they may see what appears to be a faith-filled Christian with a “direct line” to God. But God knows our hearts. He knows whether we are merely “religious” or truly operating in faith and trust. He hears our prayers… and more importantly, the intention behind them. What are your intentions… are you operating in faith, or merely “talking religion?”

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 23, 2012

2012-01-23T11:32:00.000-06:00

2 Chronicles 6:28-31
When disasters strike, famine or catastrophe, crop failure or disease, locust or beetle, or when an enemy attacks their defenses—calamity of any sort—any prayer that's prayed from anyone at all among your people Israel, their hearts penetrated by disaster, hands and arms thrown out for help to this Temple, listen from your home in heaven, forgive and reward us: reward each life and circumstance, for you know each life from the inside, (you're the only one with such inside knowledge!), so they'll live before you in lifelong reverence and believing obedience on this land you gave our ancestors.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

My maternal grandmother’s uncle, Sam Dial, operated the local livery, where he stabled horses, rented cars and wagons, and served as something of the “cab driver” of the day. When a devastating tornado ravaged our town on Thanksgiving Day 1926, my Uncle Sam and his wife, Lucy, took a truck to the western part of town to collect the dead and dying. In the book Time and the River by Evalena Berry, Aunt Lucy is quoted as saying, “I helped Sam, and we loaded them in those trucks. I carried their feet and he carried their head and we loaded them in there like cord wood. We took them to the Court House and laid them out. When I got home you couldn’t tell what my dress was but mud and blood. That was the ’26 tornado.”

In all, 19 people lost their lives that day. My grandmother was 17 years old when this tornado tore through Heber Springs. She stood on the street and watched her aunt and uncle pass with the truckload of bodies, and she never forgot the gruesome image. This partly explains why we spent much of our childhood hiding in a storm cellar at the first hint of a dark cloud on the horizon. My grandmother was forever changed by this horrific event.

Others have been transformed by involvement with a drunk driver, a catastrophic illness, the loss of a loved one, and more – calamities of any sort. And many have reached out to God with a heart penetrated by disaster. Some are only temporarily transformed, while others are changed for good. But only God can truly know the person’s heart. When we reach out to Him in a genuine spirit of humility and yearning for His help… comfort… rescue… restoration… He answers. God knows when we are sincere in our desire for His help – and for change - and He stands ready to deliver us.

I don’t know your heart. Some people experience disaster and devastation at a young age… some not at all… and some have a lifetime that seems to be filled with such events. Whatever your situation… regardless of your “stage” in life… God stands ready to hear your prayers and meet your needs. If your heart is pure… if you truly desire His answers, He will give them, according to His will for your life.

Psalm 56:8 says “You have kept record of my days of wandering. You have stored my tears in your bottle and counted each of them.”* Give your tears to God today… ask Him to forgive your sins and repair your heart. Humbly and reverently seek Him, and He will reward your life and its circumstances. Give God your devotion and trust, and walk in confidence that He is guiding your steps and rewarding your obedience.

©2012 Debbie Robus

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

Daily Devotional for January 22, 2012

2012-01-22T13:29:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 23:4-5
Give up trying so hard to get rich. Your money flies away before you know it, just like an eagle suddenly taking off.

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

About five years ago, we built a house overlooking the Little Red River. We enjoy watching an abundance of wildlife that inhabits the bluffs behind our house, and we are sometimes graced with the sighting of bald eagles. A couple of weeks ago, my husband started out for a walk and spotted two eagles flying up the river toward Greers Ferry Dam. He rushed back home to grab a video camera and returned to the point where he had spotted them. Both had landed in a tree, where they were in the process of eating a fish. One left, but the other continued eating… until the horn at the power house blew, signaling the start of the generators and warning fishermen below of quickly rising waters. The eagle abandoned his fish and flew away.

Generally our eagle sightings are quite brief. Sometimes these majestic birds will roost in a tree below our house for a while. But most often, they are flying by one minute… and totally out of sight the next. The analogy in this passage for how quickly money can disappear is a good one!

Please do not misunderstand me. Money is not bad. There is nothing wrong with working hard and aspiring to be successful. Almost all of us desire to have nice things… to live in a comfortable home, drive a good car, and have plenty of food and clothing. We all like to have a new pair of jeans once in a while… or go out for a delicious steak. Nobody wants to worry about how to pay bills, much less where he/she will find the next meal.

But when we define our lives by our level of wealth, we totally miss the mark. God doesn’t care about the balance in our checkbook. He measures the fullness of our heart. The richest person in the world can sit on his duff, hoard his wealth and never serve God or honor Him. The homeless man on the street who shares his cardboard box and a half a sandwich with someone else – or even a stray dog or cat – has served God better. I have observed people on both sides of this equation, and I can tell you with full confidence that those who serve out of their lack are the richest.

Many people are so focused on reaching the next rung in the ladder… making the big deal… or acquiring more “stuff” that they fail to truly experience the life that God desires for them. All of their “acquisitions” and aspirations can be gone in a day… but the real substance of a life in Christ lasts forever. Most likely you fall somewhere in the middle... not filthy rich (materially or monetarily)- but not homeless and on the street, either. But all of us can be incredibly rich in what matters most… the blessings and glory of God…and our efforts to serve Him according to His desires.

The majestic eagles that soar along the river are not concerned with abundance… yet God meets their every need. They may have to abandon a fish mid-meal, but God will provide another. Shouldn’t we take a page from the eagle’s book? Shouldn’t we work diligently to be all that God desires… in our job, our studies, our church ministries...as neighbors, family members and friends… and trust God to bless our efforts? If God cares so deeply for a mere bird, won’t He surely meet our needs, as well?

Where do you need to shift your focus? Where could you pay more attention to serving with the least of what you have than to obtaining more? If you lost all of your money and material possessions tomorrow, would you still be able to serve God? Would you have the knowledge and wisdom… the faith and confidence in His promises… to move forward? Isn’t it time you started filling your heart with the things that matter… and trusting God to handle the rest? Isn't today a good day to begin?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 21, 2012

2012-01-21T12:00:00.000-06:00

Proverbs 23:1-3
When you are invited to eat with a king, use your best manners. Don't go and stuff yourself! That would be just the same as cutting your throat. Don't be greedy for all of that fancy food! It may not be so tasty.

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

When I was in high school, my parents scraped together enough money to buy me a used car. My parents both worked, and my mom also commuted nearly every day to UCA to attend classes toward her degree in education, so their vehicles were always in use. We needed a way for me to get myself and my sister and brother to school and back – and anywhere else we needed to go. So my dad found a little pale green Dodge Lancer that he thought would fill the bill.

I can’t recall the exact year of my Lancer, but it was probably between 1962 and 1965… and it was in sad shape. We talked about how to fix it up… a new coat of paint would surely help wonders. So I began dreaming of the paint color… a nice blue, or maybe even white. I went to band camp for two weeks, and when I returned, my dad had painted the car… the same ugly pale green as the original color. I was crushed. His reasoning was that it was cheaper to repaint the same color than to choose a new one. So for the next year or so until I married and went off to college, I was stuck with what we dubbed, “The Green Weenie.”

That awful car got us back and forth to school. It carried me over the roads and back to UCA the summer I married, so that I could get a jump start on college. It had a “three on the tree” (for you youngsters, that means it had a manual transmission, and I shifted three forward gears with a gear stick on the steering column), and some days it didn’t want to start. But it got good gas mileage and served as fairly reliable transportation.

Today, I could probably buy virtually any car I want (within reason)… yet my vehicle of choice is now ten years old and has very few miles. Every time I think about buying a nice, new, shiny vehicle, I think of those who would give anything just to have a “Green Weenie,” and I can’t bring myself to do it. I have good, safe, reliable transportation. I’ve owned a sports car – and rarely drove it. Just as it is with lots of thing, the “new” wore off. Getting the car I’d dreamed of owning was almost as exciting as actually owning it.

What does this mean for us as Christians? So often, we are struck by the flash and sizzle of “things.” It’s like going to an all-you-can-eat-buffet and being so enamored of the beautiful array of food that we pile our plate completely full before we get past the salad options. We went into the restaurant needing to feed our body and satisfy our hunger, but we ended up stuffing ourselves miserable. A “Green Weenie” soup and sandwich would have fully nourished us, but we thought we had to have more.

And so it is with God. Often we overlook the wonderful – and more than ample – gift He has given us in salvation through Jesus and our daily blessings and abundance. We want more. We want “stuff” – and lots of it! We want big houses, high-paying jobs, fame and fortune and a chance to “run with the big dogs.” We even want to grow our churches to a membership of thousands… and we don’t have a clue how to handle such wealth. We come away full and miserable… confused and frustrated.

Today, I challenge you to settle in and sit for a while. Consider what you have… the richness in which you already live. Ask yourself, “Are my basic needs met? Do I have more than enough? What am I doing with the excess? How am I serving God out of my abundance? Will more of anything really satisfy me or make life better – for me and others?” Humbly ask God to show you where you already have enough… and how to use what is left over for His glory. If He blesses you with a “buffet” in any area of your life… ask Him to help you handle the riches according to His will. Know when to say “When!”… and how to manage whatever God gives you.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 20, 2012

2012-01-20T13:43:00.003-06:00

2 Chronicles 1:1,7-12
Solomon, David’s son, was securely established over his kingdom because the LORD his God was with him and made him very great.

That night God appeared to Solomon and said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I will give it to you.”

“You showed so much kindness to my father David,” Solomon replied to God, “and you have made me king in his place. Now, LORD God, let your promise to my father David be fulfilled because you have made me king over a people as numerous as the earth’s dust. Give me wisdom and knowledge so I can lead this people, because no one can govern this great people of yours without your help.”

God said to Solomon, “Since this is what you wish, and because you’ve asked for wisdom and knowledge to govern my people over whom I’ve made you king—rather than asking for wealth, riches, fame, victory over those who hate you, or even a long life— your request for wisdom and knowledge is granted. But I will also give you wealth, riches, and fame beyond that of any king before you or after you.”

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

In his book, Shepherding a Child’s Heart, author Ted Tripp talks about placing children in extra-curricular activities. He questions the parents’ motives, in many cases. Do we want kids to participate in sporting activities so that they will be physically fit, develop characteristics of good sportsmanship, and learn the value of working with others as a team… or do we want them to become star athletes in their own right and winners? He maintains that when we focus on the former benefits, we often get the latter… but they must not be our primary motive. Tripp also maintains that we must carefully examine any activity in which we or our children engage and ask, “Why are we doing this?” If the motives aren’t pure and based in developing the heart – physically and emotionally – we probably shouldn’t be doing them.

In the words of comedian Bill Engvall… “here’s your sign” in 2 Chronicles 1. Solomon’s motives were pure. He desired wisdom and knowledge so that he could better lead God’s people. And because he asked for help to utilize the gifts God gave him and didn’t ask for fame and fortune, he got that as a bonus.

Often, when we ask God for the right things, He blesses us with more. God has so much He wants to give us… but He wants to make sure our heart and motives are pure first. This is something most of us have to work on all the time. We need to be asking ourselves, “Why am I doing this? If I get the things I want, will they help me serve God better?” If God helps you get a college degree and a good job, will you do all you can in your work setting to serve Him? If you are blessed with a wonderful companion and a solid relationship, will you cherish him/her and work as a couple to serve God and bless others in His name? If you live in a comfortable house and drive a nice car, will you open your doors to show hospitality to others… or even offer an occasional ride to someone who needs one?

When we take the focus off of us and put it on GOD, He shows up in ways we didn’t expect. When we consider His desires and make them ours, we often experience blessings far beyond what we expected – or even imagined! And if we don’t, that’s okay, too… because getting more than we expected or receiving God’s blessings was not our primary motive to begin with.

Where is your focus today? What are you asking of God? And even if you are asking for the right things… is that what’s really in your heart? God knows the difference! Make sure that your heart’s desires line up with God’s… and prepare to be amazed by His answers to your prayers.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 19, 2012

2012-01-19T11:24:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 29:10-14, 16-17
Then David blessed the LORD before the whole assembly:

Blessed are you, LORD, God of our ancestor Israel, forever and always. To you, LORD, belong greatness and power, honor, splendor, and majesty, because everything in heaven and on earth belongs to you. Yours, LORD, is the kingship, and you are honored as head of all. You are the source of wealth and honor, and you rule over all. In your hand are strength and might, and it is in your power to magnify and strengthen all.

And now, our God, we thank you and praise your glorious name. Who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly? Since everything comes from you, we have given you that which comes from your own hand.

LORD, our God, all this abundance that we have provided to build you a temple for your holy name comes from your hand and belongs to you. Since I know, my God, that you examine the mind and take delight in honesty, I have freely given all these things with the highest of motives. And now I’ve been delighted to see your people here offering so willingly to you.

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

My husband and I recently watched an interesting documentary film called I Am by director Tom Shadyac. This man’s name might not be familiar to you, but I bet you know his work… Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, Bruce Almighty, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, and Patch Adams, to name a few. Shadyac was living “the American Dream” – cars, mansions, a private jet, and more. Then he was involved in a serious biking accident and suffered a head injury that left him with a condition known as “Post-concussion Syndrome,” or “PC.” One of the common symptoms of PC is severe depression, and some sufferers even become suicidal. As Shadyac considered his own death, he says he gained clarity and purpose in his own life. And he began to make some major changes.

Tom Shadyac’s father, Richard, was a board member and CEO of St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis, where children with life-threatening illnesses are treated free of charge. Through Richard Shadyac, Tom already had experience in “giving back.” But as a result of his injury and illness, he began to ask the question… ”What's wrong with our world, and what can we do about it?” In the film I Am, Shadyac consults philosophers, scientists, and spiritual leaders throughout the world. He concludes that a basic law of nature is to take only what you need. Clearly, we’ve lost sight of this in today’s world! By showing the connection all life forms have via DNA, argon gas, and much more, Shadyac illustrates how intricately God formed all of His creatures – and how important it is for us to operate from the heart rather than the head!

If you watch I Am expecting Shadyac to attribute all of his discoveries directly to God, you will be disappointed. But the film is still worth a look. It makes you think about how much “stuff” we have – and how important much of it has become to us. Hopefully you will be reminded that everything we have comes from God… and you will question what you are giving Him in return.

We can’t outgive God. We cannot “compete” in any way, shape, or form. And we are not supposed to… God doesn’t want us to serve or give to Him out of any sense of obligation. But He does want us to take all of the gifts, blessings, talents and abilities that He has so graciously showered on us and give back out of the abundance of our heart, with no hidden motives or expectations. In other words, if God has blessed you with intelligence and the means to attend college, you can “repay” Him by studying hard, doing your best, and making the most of whatever degree you earn… then serving others in your work.

If God has blessed you with a good job and the opportunity to make plenty of money, honor Him by helping others… giving to charities, ministering to the needy, and using your “wealth” to support programs and organizations that aide those less fortunate. If God has given you a talent, use it for His glory. Don’t “hide your light under a barrel” or use what He gave you merely to gain recognition and accolades for yourself.

Tom Shadyac sold his mansions, cars, and jet and moved into a much smaller home. He rides a bicycle to work. God gave him the ability to create movies that make us laugh… and now to make us think. As you look around at your life, ask yourself where you have used God’s gifts for your own purposes. What have you given back to Him? How have you taken the talents and abilities God gave you and used them to do things that bring glory and honor to Him? Where does your life need a tune-up… and a downsizing? What are you giving back to God… and how pleased is He with your offerings?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 18, 2012

2012-01-18T16:11:00.000-06:00

Acts 3:1-10
The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in.

The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!" The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.

At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.

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

Do you know someone who seems stuck in a rut… doing the same things over and over again? Maybe you know someone who has changed jobs numerous times… or started more than one job and quit after several weeks. Maybe you know someone who is in and out of one relationship after another, and each time, they declare that “This one is different!” Maybe you know someone who seems perfectly comfortable to move from one fiasco to the next… who thrives on chaos and never seems to get his/her life together. Maybe this person is you!

Can I tell you something? Often, each one of us is the lame beggar at the door. We are comfortable and complacent in our present situation… content to live on the sidelines of life and manage whatever comes our way as best we can. If we “catch a lucky break,” things might improve for a while. But soon we are back to old habits and the familiar struggles and conflicts - and nothing really ever changes. It doesn’t have to be this way!

What Peter and John offered the beggar at the temple is available to all of us. All we have to do is ask. I’m not saying that calling on Jesus to fill us with the Holy Spirit and deliver us will make all of our problems go away immediately. I’m not telling you that all you have to do is give your heart to Jesus, and the right job, the perfect companion, and a clean bill of health will magically be yours. But when you ask, Jesus will equip you with the tools and skills you need to better your situation. The Holy Spirit will guide you as you pull your life together and make improvements. The healing power of Jesus can help you to manage your daily living and any physical, mental, and emotional challenges you encounter.

In many instances, the choice is completely ours. We can continue to live like the beggar at the temple gates, or we can call on Jesus to live and breathe in us and help us navigate the challenges of daily living. At once, it is this simple - and this complicated - because we will still have to do much of the work to improve our situation. Jesus will show us how… and give us everything we need to get the job done.

Where are you today? Have you invited Jesus to work in your life? Or are you content to lie by the wayside and beg for scraps and a handout? What are you believing Jesus for today?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 17, 2012

2012-01-17T12:24:00.003-06:00

Acts 2:42-47
Everyone around was in awe—all those wonders and signs done through the apostles! And all the believers lived in a wonderful harmony, holding everything in common. They sold whatever they owned and pooled their resources so that each person's need was met.

They followed a daily discipline of worship in the Temple followed by meals at home, every meal a celebration, exuberant and joyful, as they praised God. People in general liked what they saw. Every day their number grew as God added those who were saved.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Last winter when I helped my grandmother move into an assisted living facility, I found a journal at her house in which she had written down some accounts of her life and recalled several experiences through the years. One account went like this… “We did some silly things, but they were fun. We had some friends, the Tounzens, who had moved to Kansas City, so we decided to visit them.” She lists who went… she and my grandfather, my dad, and some cousins and their two girls. This was probably in the early 1940s.

My grandmother continues… “We loaded the car with everything we could find to eat. That is… we had canned foods, potatoes, cooked food…and after the football game, we took off. Drove the rest of the night and got there in time to go to the big parade. I mean BIG! Then we went to the horse show… back to the Tounzens’. And we had a ball. There was seven of us and seven of them. We sure had lots of pallets on the floor, but we had a real family get-together.”

In case you missed it… my grandparents were nowhere near wealthy. They worked very hard - especially in the early years of their marriage and my dad’s childhood. They lived in what was virtually a one-room shack with newspaper for wallpaper, and my dad didn’t have his own crib or bed until he was probably three or four. Both my grandmother and my grandfather physically worked very hard every single day just to put food on the table and a roof over their heads. Yet they found joy in the simple fellowship of being with others… many of whom were just like them. They pooled what they had and “made do” – and experienced joy and fun in the process! They lived out the message of Acts 2 in so many ways… because they also celebrated their relationship with God and shared His love with others.

We are so spoiled nowadays. We think we have to have well-planned and executed meals, a nice cozy bed for sleeping, and plenty of “stuff” to be happy. Get-togethers are carefully organized “events” – not a spontaneous gathering of family and friends to share whatever is in the fridge. And in our desire to appear to have it so together, we miss out on the blessings of “making do.” We won’t go to an event because we think our clothes aren’t right. We don’t invite others to our dorm room, apartment, or church because we feel it’s not neat or pretty enough… or we don’t have the latest gadgets, the biggest TV screen, or the most up-to-date sound system. We would never think of asking someone to come home from church with us for a meal without days of planning, shopping, cleaning and preparation beforehand.

Can I tell you something? God wants us to be spontaneous… to live in the moment – HIS moment! He wants us to seize opportunities to fellowship with others and further His Kingdom. He wants us to “jump in the car and drive to Kansas City.” Where are you limiting God and His ability to work in and through you? How appearance conscious – or lazy – are you about this? We need to get up and get going – to seek opportunities to share God’s love with others at any time or place… and to recognize His nudge in this direction.

The biggest witness for the Good News of Jesus Christ will not come in our invitation to others to come to church and worship with us… it will be a result of how we treat others outside the walls of the sanctuary. Are you sharing God’s love with others, pooling your resources to meet their needs, and making even the smallest events an opportunity for celebration? Do people like what they see in your example? Do they feel the miracles and wonders of God in your day-to-day behavior and treatment of them? Are you a “jump-in-the-car” disciple… or are you stuck in Neutral? What is God nudging you to do for Him today? Are you really listening?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 16, 2012

2012-01-16T10:08:00.000-06:00

Acts 2:37-42
When the people heard this, they were very upset. They asked Peter and the other apostles, "Friends, what shall we do?"

Peter said, "Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit. This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live."

Peter told them many other things as well. Then he said, "I beg you to save yourselves from what will happen to all these evil people." On that day about three thousand believed his message and were baptized. They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.

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

Our little nephew, Timothy, is fascinated by the moon. Almost since he was born, I have read a “good-night” story to him that had a moon depicted on every page. When he learned to talk, “moon” was one of his first words. And I will never forget the first night he saw the actual moon in the sky and made the connection to the picture in his book. With wide eyes, he pointed and exclaimed in an excited voice, “MOON!”

We have spent many evenings looking at the moon. Last fall, my husband and I took Timothy outside several times at night to sit on our driveway and enjoy the moonlight. We would tell him, “Wherever you are, remember that you are seeing the same moon we see. Every time you look at the moon, you will know that Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg love you very much!” The moon connects us in a way that makes sense to a two-year-old.

There is a lot of important “meat” in this scripture passage. But one thing I don’t want you to miss is the part where Peter says, “This promise is for you and your children. It is for everyone our Lord God will choose, no matter where they live.” In other words, wherever you are, the God who loved me enough to send Jesus did the same thing for you… and your children - and those yet to come. The same Holy Spirit who dwells in my heart can dwell in yours… and in the hearts of those for generations yet to be born. This is HUGE, and I don’t want you to miss it!

Does this mean that my grandmother’s faith and devotion to Jesus “covers” me and “gets me in?” If your father is a devoted, Spirit-filled Christian, is Peter saying that you are also a Christian because of your kinship? Absolutely not! Every person must choose to follow Jesus for himself/herself. BUT… the gift of salvation through Jesus is offered – and available – to each of us.

Consider this… the moon that shines from the night sky now is the same moon that shone over Bethlehem when Jesus was born. The God who created the heavens and earth – and the moon – is the same God who wants to fill you with His Holy Spirit and dwell with you each and every day. This is a gift too amazing to ignore… love, grace, mercy and forgiveness just for me – yet offered equally to anyone else who will ask and accept! Just as people living halfway around the world see the same moon that we see…they can feel the presence of the Holy Spirit just like we do.

Don’t you want this? Doesn’t it give you joy and comfort to realize that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow… and He offers each of us the opportunity to know Him uniquely – yet collectively? Doesn’t it amaze you see the moon and realize that every person who looks at that shining orb is loved by the same God… and can experience His salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ? I don’t know about you, but I find this overwhelmingly awesome… incredible… and a blessing I would never want to miss!

As Timothy grows in his understanding of many things, we will tell him more and more about our Heavenly Father and His precious Son, Jesus Christ. I think a good start would be to amend our reminder to him that every time he sees the moon, he will know that he is loved – not only by his aunt and uncle – but especially by God. In time, I pray this will bring him great joy and peace, as he comes to know the LORD personally and feels His presence daily.

What about you? Do you have this personal relationship with Jesus? Do you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life? There is no better time to begin than today. Whether you are asking Jesus to forgive your sins and bring the Holy Spirit for the first time – or renewing your commitment – this is the perfect day to turn back to God. And the next time you look at the moon, remember how much you are loved – by those who surround you on earth… and most especially by the God who created it!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 15, 2012

2012-01-15T18:55:00.001-06:00

Acts 2:29-36
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.

David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!

Jesus was taken up to sit at the right side of God, and he was given the Holy Spirit, just as the Father had promised. Jesus is also the one who has given the Spirit to us, and that is what you are now seeing and hearing. David didn't go up to heaven. So he wasn't talking about himself when he said, "The Lord told my Lord to sit at his right side, until he made my Lord's enemies into a footstool for him." Everyone in Israel should then know for certain that God has made Jesus both Lord and Christ, even though you put him to death on a cross.

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

For a decade or longer, Barbara Walters has selected a group of the Ten Most Fascinating People to interview each year. The group includes celebrities, politicians, and maybe a “hero” or two, like General David Petraeus. I get the premise of Ms. Walters’ program, but I honestly have to ask myself, “What makes these people so fascinating?”

I’ll be honest… I find a lot of people – and things - interesting. I am impressed with the fortitude of some individuals… the struggles and adversities they overcame to achieve a level of success or fame. I appreciate the physical dedication and determination of certain athletes… the absolute resolve of someone like Gabrielle Giffords to recover from what should have been a deadly head trauma – or the incredible inner strength of those who survived such human injustices as the concentration camps of war or the civil rights movements in our own country. I am amazed and fascinated by the miracle of life… a newborn baby… how the feathers of a bird come together to create incredible color patterns…the beauty and intricacy of the tiniest wildflowers on a forest floor.

But in all of these people and things, I recognize the One who truly deserves our fascination. The truly fascinating Being is the Giver of Life… our Almighty God. Without Him, none of us would exist. Without God, there would be no plants or animals… no starry skies or blazing sunsets. The fortitude and inner strength… resolve and determination… courage and beauty… all come from our amazing God. Without the gift of Jesus and His blood on the cross, we would have to fear death… and the prospect of an eternity in hell.

The people we consider fascinating are nothing in and of themselves. Whether they realize it or not, they got where they are because of our Heavenly Father. Any success they enjoy… any great accomplishments they achieve… any accolades they receive… any horrific experiences they overcame… are all because of the blessings, goodness, grace and mercy of God Almighty.

For me, this scripture passage is screaming, “IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU… IT’S ABOUT JESUS!” We’ve put the focus on ourselves. Peter is pointing out that David knew that God would make one of his sons a king… but he would make HIS Son the King of Kings. David got it… he realized this was not about him or his family, but about God and His kingdom. The question is… do we get it now? Are we busy focusing on Jesus… or are we self-absorbed and focused on ourselves and what God can do for us?

We need to recognize that we are nothing apart from God. We need to understand that we desperately need the Holy Spirit to guide us each and every day. We need to acknowledge that it is not about us… it’s all about Him. Where is your focus? What – and who – really fascinates you? Is Jesus at the top of your list? Shouldn’t He be?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 14, 2012

2012-01-14T12:51:00.000-06:00

Acts 2:22-26
Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. What David said are really the words of Jesus…

"I always see the Lord near me, and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope.”

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

The other day, someone said to me, “Timothy must have gone home… you haven’t mentioned him as much lately in your devotionals.” Indeed, Timothy did go back to live with his mother in early December. But not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. A flip through the TV guide reminds me of NickJr. and the shows he loves on that channel. The pre-game warm-up music at the high school basketball game reminds me of how much he loves to dance. His toys, books, crib and stuffed animals make me think of how much he loves to play.

When we talk on the telephone, and I hear his happy little voice, I am filled with joy at how he is the same carefree child - whether he is at our house or his own some six-plus hours away… and my heart is glad. I know that I will see him again, and I truly do carry him in my heart in the meantime.

More importantly, I carry Jesus in my heart. He fills me with joy and gives me hope in all situations. And the more I learn to recognize His presence at my right side, the more I operate in joy and faith… and less in fear and negativity. I like to think that, because of Jesus and His power and presence, there is plenty of room in my heart for Timothy and so many others I love dearly. Because I acknowledge Jesus’ supreme existence and authority in my life, He has filled me with a sense of gratitude and joy for all of His gifts… including family and friends who help give my life a purpose. Because of Jesus, I can find joy even in the challenges of life, like missing a loved one who has gone to heaven – or a precious two-year-old little boy who has moved several hours away.

How important is your relationship with Jesus? Is He your daily Companion… always at your right side? Does He make your heart glad… your words joyful? Do you live in His hope? I will tell you that this is not an instantaneous thing. You can’t just magically snap your fingers and feel completely at peace and fulfilled in Jesus. It takes time… and work. You have to get to know Him… to study His word… to read about the promises and miracles of Jesus… and to trust them. You have to spend time in His presence and truly get comfortable and familiar with Him… and to build your faith. But the end result is so worth the effort.

I pray that today you will begin taking steps to grow closer to Jesus… to know Him in a way that brings hope and encouragement to everything about your life. I pray that you would know Him in such a profound way that your heart is glad, no matter what… your words are joyful… and He truly does expand your heart to encompass all that He wants to bring your way. Who stands at your right side these days?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 13, 2012

2012-01-13T14:12:00.000-06:00

Psalm 148:11-13
Every king and every ruler, all nations on earth, every man and every woman, young people and old, come praise the LORD! All creation, come praise the name of the LORD. Praise his name alone. The glory of God is greater than heaven and earth.

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

This morning, I visited my grandmother at the assisted living facility where she resides. She was in the Activities Room, creating a picture frame from Popsicle® sticks and all sorts of crafts items. Seated with her was a much younger woman who also resides at the facility. She was framing photos of her children. I had never realized that this woman was a mother. As we talked about her children and her husband, I learned that she is also a college graduate. She explained rather matter-of-factly to me how a series of events led to her move into this facility a few years ago. Suffice it to say, I was incredibly humbled by our conversation.

I had hurried to the facility today to check on my grandmother. For the second time this week, a dear friend of hers who also resided there had passed away. I had a zillion other things I wanted to do with my morning, but I felt I needed to spend this time with my grandmother. After I sat in the Activities Room for 30 minutes, I realized that I really had nothing more important to do… except maybe take a few extra minutes to praise God for the life I have. I was once again reminded that my life can change in a heartbeat… and many experience such dramatic changes every single day.

There are other “young” people at the assisted living facility who landed there because of various illnesses and “life events.” And for the most part, they are positive and upbeat, even though they have lots of reasons to feel otherwise. Oh, they will tell you they wish they could live a “normal” life, but by and large, they are making the best of their situation. They find their own set of reasons to praise the LORD, even in their less than perfect circumstances.

I commented to my grandmother that we never know what tomorrow will bring. You or I could be living at such a facility next week. And we would still have plenty of reasons to praise the LORD. But… would we? Do we stop and thank Him now for what we DO have? Are we truly grateful for where we are today… whether it’s stuck inside a classroom listening to a boring lecture, working at a job we don’t particularly like, doing laundry and changing diapers, or aimlessly surfing the channels looking for something to fill a boring evening? Do we find the joy and blessings in every circumstance of our life, or do we gripe and complain and throw ourselves a pity party?

Every single one of us has something to praise the LORD about today. It may be the fact that we are in an assisted living facility with arts and crafts projects and the “freedom” to come and go as we please, rather than confined to a bed in a nursing home. It may be that we are glad to have children and a spouse to care for … meals to cook, houses to clean, diapers to change and laundry to wash. We may be thankful for the old ugly clunker that gets us where we need to go, even though we would love to drive a shiny new sports car. Or we may be grateful to still live alone in our own home, even though our age and infirmities are telling us that soon we will need extra help. Whatever your station… wherever you are in your life… there is SOMETHING today for which you can give God praise. The question is… have you?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 12, 2012

2012-01-12T15:53:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 21:1-8
Now Satan entered the scene and seduced David into taking a census of Israel. David gave orders to Joab and the army officers under him, "Canvass all the tribes of Israel, from Dan to Beersheba, and get a count of the population. I want to know the number." Joab resisted: "May God multiply his people by hundreds! Don't they all belong to my master the king? But why on earth would you do a thing like this—why risk getting Israel into trouble with God?"

But David wouldn't take no for an answer, so Joab went off and did it— canvassed the country and then came back to Jerusalem and reported the results of the census: There were 1,100,000 fighting men; of that total, Judah accounted for 470,000. Joab, disgusted by the command — it, in fact, turned his stomach! — protested by leaving Levi and Benjamin out of the census-taking. And God, offended by the whole thing, punished Israel.

Then David prayed, "I have sinned badly in what I have just done, substituting statistics for trust; forgive my sin — I've been really stupid."

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 really stupid.” I bet every single one of us has said this at one time or another. Haven’t you gone against your better judgment at some point, then regretted it terribly? Remember, David was a KING… he was a man after God’s own heart… yet he still could be thrown off track by the devil. So why do we think we are any different?

If you read the rest of 1 Chronicles 21, you learn that God gave David three choices for punishment…three years of famine, three months of running from his enemies, or three days of an epidemic. David chose the epidemic, and seventy thousand Israelites died because of his sin.

When we listen to the devil, there are consequences. We may not be responsible for the death of 70,000 people, but our sin still upsets God. Jesus gave His very life for our sins. So every time you choose to listen to the devil, remember the blood of Jesus. Every time you start to go in the wrong direction, think of what it cost your LORD and Savior. Whenever you are tempted to judge others… to lie, cheat, steal, or do whatever Satan is taunting you to do… consider the cost, because there always is one.

Because of the blood of Jesus, God doesn’t so readily come to us with a list of consequences and make us choose, as He did with David. And aren’t we grateful for this? Isn’t Jesus’ blood more than enough? Isn’t His sacrifice on our behalf to pay a debt He didn’t owe the only motivation we should ever need to turn and run the other way when Satan approaches?

The next time you feel a tug on your heart that you know is not God… the next time you feel tempted to be really stupid… think of David and what such a decision cost him. More importantly, think of the cross and what your sins have already cost Jesus. Thank Him for this incredible, amazing, incomparable gift… and do everything you can to show your gratitude each and every day.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 11, 2012

2012-01-11T10:48:00.000-06:00

Acts 2:1-13
On the day of Pentecost all the Lord's followers were together in one place. Suddenly there was a noise from heaven like the sound of a mighty wind! It filled the house where they were meeting. Then they saw what looked like fiery tongues moving in all directions, and a tongue came and settled on each person there.

The Holy Spirit took control of everyone, and they began speaking whatever languages the Spirit let them speak. Many religious Jews from every country in the world were living in Jerusalem. And when they heard this noise, a crowd gathered. But they were surprised, because they were hearing everything in their own languages. They were excited and amazed, and said: Don't all these who are speaking come from Galilee? Then why do we hear them speaking our very own languages?

Some of us are from Parthia, Media, and Elam. Others are from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, parts of Libya near Cyrene, Rome, Crete, and Arabia. Some of us were bornJews, and others of us have chosen to be Jews. Yet we all hear them using our own languages to tell the wonderful things God has done.

Everyone was excited and confused. Some of them even kept asking each other, "What does all this mean?" Others made fun of the Lord's followers and said, "They are drunk.”

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

Suppose someone made a sarcastic or playful comment to you about swimming in a pool with sharks, and you didn’t understand. Your response was, “You have a pool?” That would be ridiculous, wouldn’t it?! But so often, we misinterpret what is said or done – not merely out of our own ignorance, but also because of a lack of proper communication or the inflection of someone else’s humor, sarcasm, or personal opinion. And sometimes, we jump to conclusions and make snap judgments. And we do this a lot when it comes to our faith.

So when I read this passage, I was not so focused on the fact that people were speaking in tongues as I was their reaction… and the rapid conclusion by some that the people were drunk. We are no different. We often judge quickly. We assume that someone is a fanatic because of how they speak about certain issues. We decide that others are either weak in their faith – or a lost cause altogether. We write people off because of how they dress, what they drive, and which political camp they favor. We categorize people according to who they select as friends, their personal lifestyle choices, and their economic status.

We don’t truly get to know other people… and often, we don’t truly get to know God. Why would it be out of the realm of possibilities for God to allow a room full of people from different countries to speak in their own language, while we hear them in English or whatever happens to be our native language? We’re talking about the God of the Universe! He can do anything… right? Why must everything be so cut and dried in our faith? Can’t the God who loves each of us as His own precious child love those who think, speak and act differently? Is our faith so “cookie-cutter” that there is no “wiggle room?” And if this is the case, have we removed God’s ability to work in and through each of us by being so rigid?

My challenge for each of us is to stop limiting God. Let’s stop setting up boundaries and jumping to conclusions about other people and situations, just because we may not clearly understand them. When we open our hearts and minds to the possibilities with God… when we allow Him room to work and an open invitation… amazing things can happen, just as they did at Pentecost.

Where have you made snap judgments lately? Where have you limited God? Isn’t it time you let go and let Him have control? Isn’t today a good day to begin?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 10, 2012

2012-01-10T09:21:00.000-06:00

Psalm 148:5-7
Let all things praise the name of the LORD, because they were created at his command. He made them to last forever, and nothing can change what he has done. All creatures on earth, you obey his commands, so come praise the LORD!

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

This week, my dear, precious 3rd-grade teacher - Mrs. Ruth Garner - passed away. She was not only my teacher and friend for more than 45 years…she was also a dear friend to my grandmother. In fact, she sat at the same dining table with my grandmother in the assisted living facility where they both resided, and I visited with her often. Two other lifelong friends of my grandmother and Ruth also sit at this table. And these ladies who are left are incredibly sad and upset.

As we talked after Ruth died, my grandmother and I discussed God’s timing. My grandmother so desires to be next to go to heaven. She told me, “I have prayed about this and asked the LORD to take me.” But we agreed that we obey God’s commands - and when He says, “Come home,” we will go… but not a minute sooner. In the meantime, I pointed out to my grandmother that God apparently still has plans for her on this earth, because I believe He creates each of us with a purpose. Her purpose may be to smile at a nurse or a nurse’s aide and encourage her. She may be here to greet those who visit and offer them a word of wisdom or a reason to get up and out of the house. I really don’t know what her purpose is for each day… but God knows. And like each one of us, when she has done all He created her to do, He will call her home to heaven.

I know Mrs. Ruth was ready to go to heaven. Almost all of these ladies have lived past age 95. They are tired and ready to reunite with loved ones who have gone before them… and rest in the arms of Jesus. But as tired as she probably was, I never heard Mrs. Ruth complain about anything - except being served white meat chicken when she preferred dark meat! She was joyful and positive. She remembered dozens of her students by name… and you could tell she was thankful for each one. She appreciated visits from “young people” like me and others… and she always smiled. She praised the LORD for His creation… and she trusted and obeyed His commands.

My 3rd-grade teacher was still teaching me things at nearly 97 years of age… as are all of these dear elderly ladies I visit. I wonder… will we be sharing the example of praising God’s creation and His command when we are older? Do we even do this now? If not… shouldn’t we get started?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 9, 2012

2012-01-09T11:47:00.002-06:00

Acts 1:22-26
"Judas must now be replaced. The replacement must come from the company of men who stayed together with us from the time Jesus was baptized by John up to the day of his ascension, designated along with us as a witness to his resurrection."

They nominated two: Joseph Barsabbas, nicknamed Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, "You, O God, know every one of us inside and out. Make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership that Judas threw away in order to go his own way." They then drew straws. Matthias won and was counted in with the eleven apostles.

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.

One of the most puzzling questions many have is, “How do you know when you’ve truly heard from God?” Few, if any of us, get a lightning bolt… much less an audible Voice that tells us how to proceed. So how do you know when you are really hearing from God? As I read this scripture passage, I had to laugh when I got to the part where the people prayed to God for an answer… and then “drew straws.”

Surely picking a name out of the hat or “drawing straws” is not how God communicates with us… or is it? If you go back and read the verses in Acts 1 leading up to this passage, you will see that the disciples were following God’s word from scripture… replacing Judas, who had fulfilled prophecy and betrayed Jesus, then killed himself on a farm he bought with the dirty money. There were about 120 people gathered together, including Jesus’ mother Mary, His brothers, the disciples, and other followers.

Two names were placed in nomination, and then they prayed before drawing a name of one of the nominees. The more I thought about this, the more I realized what the message of this passage is for us today. God shows up in amazing, unexpected places. And He very well may tell us to “draw straws” for our answer. But the KEY to the passage comes before the name was drawn. The most important part of the passage is the verse where the people ask God to “make plain which of these two men you choose to take the place in this ministry and leadership.”

As long as we are communicating with God and asking Him to guide or steps and our choices, He can utilize any tool or method to deliver our answer. If you have a hard choice to make, and God plainly directs you to “draw straws,” then do it. If He sends you an audible message in the form of advice from a trusted Christian brother or sister that you cannot shake… that’s probably what you are supposed to do. If you just know in your gut that one choice is right over another, God is probably giving you that physical nudge. If you have prayerfully sought God’s guidance, He can show up to answer in amazing ways that may even seem off-the-wall to some.

How do you know when you’ve heard from God? When you have spent time talking with Him and done all of the necessary preparation… then listened… God will show up. Whatever He is telling you to do… however He is reaching you and giving you the solution…don’t hesitate to follow through on His message. Have you consulted God about your decisions for today? Eenie, meenie, miney, moe… who has some straws to draw?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 8, 2012

2012-01-08T14:44:00.000-06:00

Psalm 148:1-4
Shout praises to the LORD! Shout the LORD's praises in the highest heavens. All of you angels, and all who serve him above, come and offer praise. Sun and moon, and all of you bright stars, come and offer praise. Highest heavens, and the water above the highest heavens, come and offer praise.

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

One year ago this day, my cousin J.D. and a woman named Angie were married. While all wedding anniversaries are milestones, what makes this one particularly worthy of mention lies in the story of how these two were brought together in the first place… and how God works in our lives each and every day. On his website at www.kingdomcallministries.org, J.D. tells his story… how he became consumed with both using and dealing drugs as a teenager… how he was in and out of rehabs and jails – and ultimately he was incarcerated in prison for more than three years. True to his nature and the pull of the devil on his heart, J.D. was rebellious and uncooperative, and he became a frequent visitor to “The Hole” – also known as solitary confinement.

J.D. writes that… “Being sent to prison relegates you to a low class. Being sent to a prison within in a prison places one in the top ranks of the biggest losers… that is where I was. Most, I’m sure, had given up on me ever becoming a productive human being. My life was a mess, my brain was shot, and my situation was hopeless.” J.D. got some of it right… a few people did give up on him. But others did not. We prayed, we encouraged… and God kept working. And one day while sitting alone in “The Hole,” J.D. had a visit from Jesus that totally transformed his life.

After his release from prison in 2007, J.D. returned home and found a job – and a church home. He grew in his faith and found that God was calling Him to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others… to be a living testament to His ability to make a way where none seems possible. It wasn’t easy… and Satan would not go away. In 2009, J.D. awoke in a hospital with virtually every bone in his face broken, and his jaws wired shut. He had been involved in a horrible logging accident where a pine tree fell directly onto his face. In his words…“Satan had tried to take me out with that pine tree and had come awfully close to succeeding.”

But J.D. recovered fully from his injuries, and he began to share the word of God wherever a church would invite him to speak. He spent his days immersed in prayer and studying God’s word. He trusted God to provide for his needs via “love offerings” and a small business he managed selling chainsaws and parts online. And one evening as he stopped to attend a tent revival near Romance, Arkansas, he greeted the evangelist and his assistant – a woman named Angie, who would soon become his wife.

In the past year, J.D. and Angie have begun their own ministry and shared the Gospel of Jesus Christ with others in churches and via tent revivals from Arkansas to Indiana. The young man who was hopeless and helpless is now using his own story of rescue and redemption to offer the hope and promise of a life in Christ to others. And at every turn, he and Angie are praising God for His faithfulness… and encouraging others to do the same.

J.D. and I have laughed and agreed that the God who can fix him can fix anybody! But really, this is no laughing matter… it’s the plain and simple truth. I don’t know what you are facing. I don’t know your challenges… your concerns… your needs and fears. But I know that God can accomplish ANYTHING. So I am asking you to hang on… to keep the faith… to never give up… and to always… ALWAYS, give Him the praise He so richly deserves. To God be the glory for rescuing J.D. and uniting Him with Angie. To God be the glory for the miraculous and wonderful things He is doing – and will continue – in each of our lives. Won’t you come and offer Him YOUR praise today?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 7, 2012

2012-01-07T14:24:00.000-06:00

Acts 1:6-8
While the apostles were still with Jesus, they asked him, "Lord, are you now going to give Israel its own king again?" Jesus said to them, "You don't need to know the time of those events that only the Father controls. But the Holy Spirit will come upon you and give you power. Then you will tell everyone about me in Jerusalem, in all Judea, in Samaria, and everywhere in the world."

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

Some friends and I were visiting about a particular situation, and one of them said, “I don’t know why it took so long to resolve this. Why didn’t God show us the solution sooner?” And surely we have all asked this question at one time or another. We wonder why God doesn’t open our eyes to some things or soften our hearts sooner in specific situations. To a person, we agreed that often, we simply do not understand – or accept - God’s perfect timing.

When we look back at certain events in our lives, we may ask, “How did I not see this? What took me so long?” What we should be asking is, “What was God showing me? How was I growing during this time? How did God specifically work in and through this to accomplish things I could not envision?” Just as importantly, we should now be asking, “What is God doing in this situation? How is He using me? How am I growing, and what am I learning?”

Trusting God’s timing is such a hard thing for us. We are all impatient and unwilling to release control – at least to some degree. We have a very hard time accepting that God will do a far better job with things than we ever could… and He really doesn’t need our meddling! At the same time, God may very well need our help to accomplish His will. If we will truly submit to Him completely, surrender our desires to offer our two-cents worth, and hear what He has to say… He can use us to work in amazing ways – and bless us in the bargain.

What do you need to give to God today? I know I have several things on my list, and if you are honest, you probably have a few of your own. What “if onlys” to you need to release and accept that God worked in and through those situations to accomplish great things? What is He preparing you to accomplish in the upcoming days/weeks/months? Are you attuned, humbled, and ready to listen – and serve? Shouldn’t you be?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 6, 2012

2012-01-06T13:41:00.000-06:00

Acts 1:1-5
Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but "must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon."

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.

During the holidays, I read a book called Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes. This little novel centered on Mary and Joseph and all of the controversy that surrounded not only their betrothal, but most certainly Mary’s pregnancy and the weeks and months that led to the birth of Jesus. It’s a great story, and Ms. Holmes does a great job of giving us insights into the lives of Mary and Joseph’s families… the religious laws and cultural customs of the day… and the waiting.

Waiting seems to be a frequent theme in the Bible. Joseph waited for Mary… and Mary waited for the birth of Jesus. Often in the Old Testament, we read where David, Moses, Abraham and others waited on a word or sign from the LORD. Mary, the mother of Jesus and others waited at Calvary as Jesus was crucified… and Mary Magdalene and others waited near the tomb after His body was placed there.

We spend a lot of time in life waiting. We wait on graduation from high school… and some wait again to finish college and graduate school. We wait on a wedding date, and the birth of our children. We wait for a call to say we got the job… or the house. We wait for loved ones to return from war… and we sit and wait with those who are dying. And let’s be honest, many of us are not very good at waiting. We lack patience… and faith. Even when we know that the day is coming when everything will be fulfilled, we have trouble trusting the promises and believing that it will truly arrive.

So it should come as no surprise that we have trouble waiting on the LORD. We have trouble waiting on His timing… and believing that He really hears our requests and plans to make good on His promises. But we have so much evidence that He does exactly what He says. The Bible is filled with one example after another where God made a promise to His children… and delivered. We ought to know by now that God keeps his promises… and when He tells us to wait, it’s with good reason!

I don’t know what you are waiting on these days, but I do know this… whatever God has promised you, He will bring. If you are waiting on healing…it’s coming. If you are waiting on rescue from personal or financial struggle, a relationship conflict, or a sense of peace and calm…hold on. The God who gave His only Son to save us from our sins… the same God who makes His Holy Spirit available to dwell in our hearts each and every day… will not keep us waiting forever.

Jesus’ teachings and instructions were a lot for His apostles to absorb in the forty days before his ascension into heaven. The words of the angel to Mary…that she - a virgin - would bear a son who would be the Savior of the world…were incredibly mind boggling. The promise of Eternity in heaven seems almost unfathomable to me. But I know that this promise is true… because I have seen evidence already of God’s faithfulness to keep His promises. And so I wait on the LORD… for His guidance, His direction, and His blessings and His constant care. Won’t you wait with me?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 5, 2012

2012-01-05T22:34:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 19:1-5
Some time later, King Nahash of Ammon died, and his son Hanun became king. David said, "Nahash was kind to me, so I will be kind to his son." He sent some officials to Ammon to tell Hanun how sorry he was that his father had died.

But when David's officials arrived at Ammon, the Ammonite leaders said to Hanun, "Do you really believe King David is honoring your father by sending these men to comfort you? He probably sent them to spy on our country, so he can come and destroy it."

Hanun arrested David's officials and had their beards shaved off and their robes cut off just below the waist, and then he sent them away. They were terribly ashamed. When David found out what had happened to his officials, he sent a message that told them, "Stay in Jericho until your beards grow back. Then you can come home.

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

In previous devotionals, I’ve cited the adage that “People don’t care what you know, until they know that you care.” And honestly, sometimes all we need is to know that someone else cares about us. In this instance, David was doing the right thing, but people questioned his motives. And that will happen… especially if you are not in the business of genuinely caring for others on a regular basis. We’ve probably all had someone do something nice for us at one time or another and wondered, “Why did that happen? What did he/she really want?”

The bottom line is that God calls us to genuinely care for others… to love them as He loves us. David demonstrated this… not only in sending officials to express his sympathy, but also in allowing those officials to stay away until their time of shame had ended and their beards had grown back. He not only showed great concern for his own men… but also for others.

I can see where the Ammonites might have thought David had selfish motives. After all, didn’t a king have more important things to think about than the grief of someone else? And don’t we have plenty to occupy our time and our thoughts? Do we really have time to think about the troubles and needs of others? The answer lies in another question… “How much do you want to serve and honor God and your commitment to Him?”

If you truly are God’s disciple and desire to serve Him with honor and glory, then you will find plenty of time to show love and concern to others for their needs. If you are “in it for yourself,” the outcome will be totally different… and any demonstration of concern may seem suspicious.

I challenge you to consider how you show your love for God by loving others. I suggest that you try to reach out to at least one person every day. You can write a note or mail a card… make a phone call or send an e-mail… visit someone… offer to run an errand or cook a meal… babysit or pet sit… send a gift or a flower…offer up a prayer… or simply and ask someone, “How are you today?” – and mean it! The end result must be that someone knows that you are thinking of them and genuinely care about their well-being.

You can choose family members and close friends… but why not expand your circle to include a church member, a classmate, or someone you haven’t been in contact with for a while. We find it easy to care about those in our immediate circle… and we do a fairly good job of showing our love and concern. But what if we broadened our horizons a little bit and reached out to those with whom we are not quite so close or don’t know as well?

I know this won’t be easy for many of us… especially not at first. But as we make it a daily habit and ask God to guide us, we will find that it gets easier… and more rewarding for everyone. People truly don’t care what we know until they know that we care. Who knows that you care… and who else needs to hear from you?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 4, 2012

2012-01-04T18:12:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 17:23-27
LORD God, please do what you promised me and my descendants. Then you will be famous forever, and everyone will say, "The LORD All-Powerful rules Israel and is their God

My kingdom will be strong, because you are my God, and you have promised that my descendants will be kings. That's why I have the courage to pray to you like this, even though I am only your servant.

You are the LORD God, and you have made this good promise to me. Now please bless my descendants forever, and let them always be your chosen kings. You have already blessed my family, and I know you will bless us forever.

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

Four days into this New Year, some of us are filled with high expectations for great accomplishments and abundant blessings. We have set some lofty goals, but we feel confident that we can reach them. Still others have already folded. The first couple of days of an exercise plan were just too hard… we’ve blown our diet… this month’s paycheck is already spent to cover our Christmas debt, and we feel completely defeated.

What makes the difference between confidence and defeat? Often, it boils down to a matter of focus… and where we have placed our trust. Too many of us do not believe that God wants us to live like kings. Mind you, I’m not talking about monetary wealth here… I’m talking about something far more important!

God wants us to give Him our praise and our loyalty… but He also wants us to share our burdens and needs – and to ask Him for help. More than this, God wants us to believe that He will answer and bless us. When we truly start to believe that all things are possible with God, we have the confidence to persevere through hard workouts. We try again another day to stick to a diet and get healthy and fit. We ask God to show us how to set up a budget – and stick to it – and to get out of the financial mess in which we find ourselves.

When we put God first and have the courage to pray to Him with the confidence of a king, He makes big things happen in our lives. If you don’t believe me, just try it. Sit down and have a real, honest conversation with God. Tell Him exactly what you think you need… express your goals and your heart’s desires to Him. Then ask God to help you meet these needs and goals, according to His will. Tell Him that you are placing your trust in Him to make a way where none seems possible… and mean it!

Make this the year that your primary resolution is to draw closer to God and trust Him to handle every single day of your life. Make this the year that you live in abundance and kick a spirit of defeat to the curb. Make this the year when you truly start to live like an heir to the throne of Almighty God… and give Him the glory for honoring His promises – and blessing you and your family. Trust God to make you strong and bless you like a king… and prepare to be amazed when He does exactly this!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 3, 2012

2012-01-03T16:21:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 17:16-20
David went into the tent he had set up for the sacred chest. He sat there and prayed: LORD God, my family and I don't deserve what you have already done for us, and yet you have promised to do even more for my descendants. You are treating me as if I am a very important person. I am your servant, and you know my thoughts. What else can I say, except that you have honored me? It was your choice to do these wonderful things for me and to make these promises. No other god is like you, LORD--you alone are God. Everything we have heard about you is true.

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

Imagine if someone came to you and said, “You are very important… so important that I am going to do wonderful things in your life and the lives of your family members – and even the lives of your unborn children. You will never want for anything. All of your needs will be met. I’m going to give you mansions and wealth and keep you safe and protected. You will never have to worry about another thing.” What would you think? Would you believe it? Supposed this came from someone you knew to be rich and famous – powerful – and able to easily afford to take care of you and your family. Would you believe it then?

Now imagine that God is telling you this… that He is promising to meet all of your needs, protect you from enemies, do wonderful things in your life and the lives of your family… and give you all mansions for all Eternity. Imagine that you are very important to God. Do you believe this?

The first scenario is pie in the sky. Oh, it might happen, but the odds are clearly not in your favor – and most likely there would be strings attached. But God has already been doing this for us… and you can take His promises all the way to the bank! Does this mean you never have to work another day? Absolutely not! God will see that your needs are met, but that probably means He will help you find a job to earn money and pay your bills. He will give you talents, skills and abilities that enable you to work and earn a living. He will keep you healthy – and heal you when you are ill. He may also allow you to struggle in order to keep you humble and faithful to Him.

Are there strings attached to the honor and blessings of God? Only one… God wants you to trust Him… to love Him… to serve Him wholeheartedly. In return, He pretty much gives us “the keys to the Kingdom.” I’ve never heard of anyone else who promises this. I don’t know any other gods who offer eternal mansions on streets paved with gold – and certainly no mere mortals who can deliver this! I haven’t heard about any other gods who can keep us safe and meet all of our needs every minute of the day. I don’t know any other gods who have chosen us for such blessings – and delivered them continually.

Truly, our God is an awesome God. Surely, He alone is God Almighty, and there is none other like Him. Have you recognized this? Have you thanked Him for loving you and honoring you with such great gifts? Have you given Him your heart and soul in return? Isn’t it about time you did?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 2, 2012

2012-01-02T18:32:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 16:34-36
Praise the LORD because he is good to us, and his love never fails. Say to him, "Save us, LORD God! Bring us back from among the nations. Let us celebrate and shout in praise of your holy name. LORD God of Israel, you deserve to be praised forever and ever."

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

For many of us, today was a reality check… a time to go back to our routine, put away the last of the Christmas decorations, and maybe sleep in one last time before returning to work. Christmas and New Year’s Day have come and gone… the parties are over… and soon we will go back to school or work and/or a regular routine. The celebrating is over for another year.

Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating the “Reason for the Season!” In fact, this is exactly the wrong thing to do! We have plenty to celebrate. We have more than enough reasons to continue to praise God… to thank Him each and every day for all He does for us. Christmas is not the end… it’s the beginning!

So let’s keep this going! Let’s remember to celebrate and shout in praise of the holy name of Jesus Christ! Let’s thank God each and every day for being so good to us… for His love that never fails… for continually meeting our needs. We can still smile at people in the halls and the checkout line. We can still give to charities and help those in need. We can still extend the love and peace of God to others. Just because we’re not saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year” doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the love of Christ and share with others.

Our God truly does deserve to be praised forever and ever. How will you celebrate Him in the coming months?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 1, 2012

2012-01-01T16:55:00.000-06:00

John 21:15-16
After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." He then asked a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" "Yes, Master, you know I love you." Jesus said, "Shepherd my sheep."

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.

If you are like most people, you have spent at least a few minutes thinking about the coming year… and what you will do with it. Many vow to get organized, lose weight and get in shape, take up a new hobby, or mark a few things off their “bucket list.” Probably very few of us vowed to do more to serve others in Jesus’ name… but this might be the most important resolution we could ever make.

It’s easy to get sidetracked… to become self-absorbed. After all, many of us have all we can handle just to keep our own heads above water… challenges like study, work, family, and paying the bills. Some of us have major health issues or physical challenges, while others struggle to meet the needs of family members and continue to keep their own lives in check. Let’s face it… most of us are already plenty busy!

But you notice that Jesus doesn’t ask us, “Do you have a minute?” He doesn’t say, “Can you pencil me in on the third week of the fourth month for an hour?” He says, “If you love me, feed my sheep.” In other words, if you love Jesus and truly want to be His disciple (and not just claim to be), you have to do whatever needs to be done. This means keeping your eyes and ears open and staying attuned to the needs of others. You can’t wait for someone to call you and say, “Jim needs a ride to class” – you have to notice that Jim is walking a lot and doesn’t appear to have transportation, then ask him, “Can I give you a ride?”

You have to start looking around and asking yourself, “Who have I not seen at church in a few weeks? Is everything okay?” and then call and ask. You have to send a note of encouragement, pick up the phone and check on someone who is sick – or the caregiver who is sitting with him/her, or drop off a casserole for someone you know is struggling to put food on the table. You have to offer to keep small children some afternoon so a frazzled mom can grocery shop – or take a nap – for a peaceful hour or two. You have to spend time with old people and reassure them that they are still important and not forgotten.

This may mean we have to give up watching a favorite TV show or surfing the web for an hour. We may have to step out of our comfort zone and speak to others, even though being an extrovert is not our nature. We may have to do something somewhat unpleasant – but necessary – to better the life of someone else, like carry out their garbage, help them clean up in the aftermath of a disaster, or sit and listen while they drone on about their ailments or troubles.

Whatever we are called to do in Jesus’ name, we must do. And we must do this without fanfare, complaint, the need for recognition, or even gratitude. We must do this because we love Jesus… and His sheep, who He has called us to feed.

As you make your New Year’s resolutions, consider putting Jesus at the top of the list. Ask Him to show you how and where to serve... and who to feed. Believe it or not, Jesus is calling on others to feed you in His name, as well. Resolve to give as good as you get… or better! Make serving others your number one resolution, and watch what happens in 2012!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 31, 2011

2011-12-31T12:35:00.003-06:00

John 21:1-14
Jesus later appeared to his disciples along the shore of Lake Tiberias. Simon Peter, Thomas the Twin, Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, and the brothers James and John, were there, together with two other disciples. Simon Peter said, "I'm going fishing!" The others said, "We will go with you." They went out in their boat. But they didn't catch a thing that night.

Early the next morning Jesus stood on the shore, but the disciples did not realize who he was. Jesus shouted, "Friends, have you caught anything?" "No!" they answered.

So he told them, "Let your net down on the right side of your boat, and you will catch some fish." They did, and the net was so full of fish that they could not drag it up into the boat.

Jesus' favorite disciple told Peter, "It's the Lord!" When Simon heard that it was the Lord, he put on the clothes that he had taken off while he was working. Then he jumped into the water. The boat was only about a hundred yards from shore. So the other disciples stayed in the boat and dragged in the net full of fish.

When the disciples got out of the boat, they saw some bread and a charcoal fire with fish on it. Jesus told his disciples, "Bring some of the fish you just caught." Simon Peter got back into the boat and dragged the net to shore. In it were one hundred fifty-three large fish, but still the net did not rip.

Jesus said, "Come and eat!" But none of the disciples dared ask who he was. They knew he was the Lord. Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave some of it to his disciples. He did the same with the fish. This was the third time that Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from death.

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

This is the time of year when we reflect on a lot of things… the events of the past year…what we accomplished – and what we wish we had gotten done…and what we hope to do in the coming twelve months. It is also a time when many of us wonder why we spent hours and days decorating… and wish it was all packed neatly away already. As I psyched myself out to get things back in “pre-holiday order,” I thought about why I decorated in the first place. And then I read this scripture passage.

There is a lot of “meat” in this passage - and a dozen or more lessons we can learn from it. But today, the part that struck me was the image of Jesus tending the fire on the beach. He had prepared a warm retreat… a haven of rest. He had laid the groundwork for a hearty meal. Surely the Disciples found great comfort in this. They were thrilled to see Jesus again, but they were also glad to have full nets of fish after a busted early attempt. They must have been exhausted – and hungry – and seeing Jesus with a fire of hot coals ready to cook their dinner must have totally rejuvenated them.

As I thought about this, I remembered the looks on the faces of Timothy and my little cousins, Olivia and Owen, as they walked around our house and looked at all of the decorations and twinkling lights. I thought of three little girls who helped me decorate for the holidays for a couple of years and are now teenagers who still talk about the “magic” and fun of coming to our house at Christmas time. I recalled the words of my mother’s sister, who found a festive, warm haven on Christmas Eve in the middle of the chaos that surrounded our afternoon as my grandmother fell and was injured. And I remembered how comforted I was to return home from hospital visits, shopping trips and more to find “candles” lighting the windows and sit among the reminders of this special season – and to reflect on God’s love for me. I found solace in the hot tea and cookies made from a recipe my family has enjoyed each Christmas since I was a child… reminded of the continual thread of love that binds us together.

More importantly, I was reminded that we always have a haven of rest in Jesus. He is always “waiting on the beach, tending a fire to warm us.” He always has a meal ready to feed us – body and soul. And He wants us to extend that same love and hospitality to others in His name. I’m not saying that Jesus wants us to turn into Clark Griswold and cover our homes in tacky, overdone holiday décor. But I do believe He wants us to live in a way that says, “You are welcome here… in my home, in my heart, and in my life. I am extending to you the same love that Jesus shows to me each and every day.”

I have no doubt that I will get busy and get things packed away soon… and that I will once again drag them out for the next Christmas. In the meantime, I will make every effort to extend the warmth and love of Jesus in everything I say and do… from smiling at the cashier to sending a get-well card or inviting friends and family over to share a meal to waving a flag on July 4th! I will do all I can to be the hands and feet of Jesus to those I encounter… and I will thank Him for the opportunity to share the blessings He has given to me with others.

How will you “decorate” in 2012? How inviting will your “home” be to others? Will they see the love of Jesus when they look at you, or have you packed away your “decorations” so deeply that they are almost non-existent? It’s time to re-examine our relationship with Christ and see where we need to polish a few things. As we close one year and begin another, let’s ask Him to show us where we need to beef up our efforts… and let’s get the fire started. People will be showing up in our lives every single day… needing to be nurtured, fed, encouraged and blessed. Will we be ready to serve them on Jesus’ behalf?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 30, 2011

2011-12-30T18:10:00.002-06:00

John 20:28-29
Thomas said, "My Master! My God!" Jesus said, "So, you believe because you've seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing."

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

Timothy loves to look at the moon. Ever since he first learned to say the word “moon” and realized that the yellow orb in his storybooks was the same moon we see in the sky, he has been mesmerized. He loves to go outside in “the dawk”, as he calls it, and look for the moon. On clear nights when the moon is readily visible, he will point and squeal, “There it is!” But on cloudy nights – or the days of the month when the moon rises during daylight hours – he has a hard time accepting that the moon is truly there. For a long time, he believed only because he had seen with his own eyes. As he grows and becomes able to understand more high-level concepts, he is learning to accept that the moon is still there, even when we cannot see it.

I believe that of the greatest milestones in our growth as a Christian is when we fully begin to accept God in the form of His only Son, Jesus, and to believe in all that He can accomplish in and through us, purely on faith. Certainly none of us has ever physically seen Jesus in human form. We weren’t here for His birth, death, or resurrection. But as surely as we know the moon is still in the sky, we should know that Jesus is real.

This is a hard concept for so many. How can we be so sure that Jesus exists if we’ve never seen Him? How can we be certain that He will usher us into His presence in Heaven someday? How can we know that He is working on our behalf? All of these questions can be difficult to answer, unless we are growing in our own relationship with Jesus on a daily basis.

I can tell you from firsthand experience that these questions are easier for me to answer today than they were yesterday – and next week the answers will come even more quickly. As I allow God to work in my life each and every day… as I open my eyes and ears to the countless ways He is orchestrating every breath I take and all of the circumstances that make up my existence… my “proof” is strengthened as my faith increases.

I can cite example after example where I know for a fact that God had His hand on me and a specific situation. I can say with certainty that the only way things could have happened as they did is because God was in control. I can give skeptics dozens of instances where there is no question that God did what mere man could not… fixed things I could never fix on my own… opened doors… healed and restored… and blessed abundantly!

I like to think that I am living proof that God exists… because He has brought me to this place in my life despite everything I have done to try and screw it up! And if you don’t believe MY testimony, I have Christian brothers and sisters who will be happy to share their own. I’ve seen God do some incredible things… yet I have never physically seen Him in the flesh. And I like what Jesus said in this passage…even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing! That sounds pretty good to me!

What about you? Do you believe? Have you “seen” the evidence of Jesus Christ in and around your own life? Are you paying attention… watching and listening for Him? Are you reaping the blessings of believing without seeing? Isn’t it time you did?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 29, 2011

2011-12-29T16:04:00.000-06:00

John 20:11-16
Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus' body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. The angels asked Mary, "Why are you crying?" She answered, "They have taken away my Lord's body! I don't know where they have put him."

As soon as Mary said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there. But she did not know who he was. Jesus asked her, "Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?" She thought he was the gardener and said, "Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him." Then Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him, "Rabboni." The Aramaic word "Rabboni" means "Teacher."

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

Recently, my grandmother’s friend told me about losing her car keys one morning. She looked for them frantically for over an hour. Finally, she called her son to come and get her, saying, “I simply cannot find my car keys.” She was wearing a “field jacket” – a type of hooded coat with lots of pockets and zippers, - and someone nearby asked, “Did you check your pockets?” She had looked in some of the pockets, but not two zippered compartments that were located about waist level. When she reached into one of these… there were her car keys. She said, “I’ve had this coat for over twenty years, and I never knew there were pockets there!”

I’m afraid a lot of us have had some sort of relationship with Jesus for a long time – if not more than twenty years – and we still don’t readily recognize Him. We don’t see the angels He sends to minister to us in all sorts of situations. We don’t hear His voice or feel His presence. If Jesus walked right up to us today and spoke, many of us would not readily recognize Him. It’s as if we have worn the “coat of Christianity” for many years and never known where all of the “pockets” were located. And unless we find all of the “pockets”, we will miss out on some of the richest experiences with Jesus Christ.

To a person, we would probably all agree that we want a vibrant, full relationship with Jesus. But we would probably all have to also admit that we don’t do enough to get to know Him… to keep Him at the forefront of our lives… and to fully recognize His presence or the work of angels on His behalf in each and every moment of our existence.

As we look toward the close of this year, I can’t think of a better time to resolve to become more familiar with Jesus. Let’s make every effort to put Him first… to communicate with Him continually… to know His voice and recognize His handiwork. Let this be the year when you don’t have to look for Jesus any longer, because you always see Him standing next to you. It’s time to find all of the “pockets” in our coat of faith… have you found yours?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 28, 2011

2011-12-28T12:58:00.002-06:00

John 20:3-10
Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. They ran side by side, until the other disciple ran faster than Peter and got there first. He bent over and saw the strips of linen cloth lying inside the tomb, but he did not go in.

When Simon Peter got there, he went into the tomb and saw the strips of cloth. He also saw the piece of cloth that had been used to cover Jesus' face. It was rolled up and in a place by itself. The disciple who got there first then went into the tomb, and when he saw it, he believed. At that time Peter and the other disciple did not know that the Scriptures said Jesus would rise to life. So the two of them went back to the other disciples.

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

We have all probably had a time in our life where we said, “If I had not seen this with my own eyes, I never would have believed it.” Many of us are pretty skeptical, and we want proof before we will accept what we are told. And in some cases, we are wise to demand proof. We want receipts to show we have paid for merchandise and transcripts to verify our course work and grades. We depend on x-rays and scans to show us if a bone is broken or to determine other ailments and illnesses.

Everyone from physicians and attorneys to teachers, barbers, hairdressers, builders, plumbers and many other professionals have a license that declares he/she is certified (and hopefully qualified) to perform their assigned tasks… and we somehow are comforted and reassured by these documents. When a mechanic tells us something is wrong with our car, we often want to be shown exactly where the problem is before we agree to pay to have it fixed. Indeed, our concerns over proof are often totally valid.

When it comes to our relationship with Jesus, there just isn’t a lot of cold, hard physical evidence for us to examine. We can’t visit the tomb. We never saw Him in the flesh in the first place, so looking at linens in a cave would do us very little good. We must rely almost totally on faith and trust in the word of others as documented in the Bible… and the inanimate proof of Jesus’ existence and performance on our behalf. And that is a hard thing for many of us to accept.

My confidence and trust in the word of God grows daily. I believe in His promises more today than I did yesterday, and I have no doubt tomorrow my faith will be just a little stronger. Where is my proof? I find proof of the hope and grace of Jesus in everyday activities… the way He meets my needs and “shows up” in my life even when I least expect Him. And I am learning to expect Him more often! Why not ask God to help with the seemingly trite and insignificant issues of your day? Why don’t we believe that God will come to our rescue and make a way where none seems possible? Who says Jesus isn’t alive and well - and living within our hearts? Can anyone prove differently?

Until someone can show me with 100% confidence that Jesus is not real… that He is not working in and through me every minute of the day… I’m going to believe that He is doing exactly that! And honestly, I’m not looking for anyone to tell me otherwise. Trusting God is too wonderful. Allowing Him to handle the details of my day is too comforting and amazing… and not something I want to surrender!

So I guess I am “the other disciple” – the one who believes, based on limited proof. What about you? How much do you trust Jesus these days? Are you taking Him at His word and believing He can handle anything and everything in your life… or are you still running to others for reinforcement and confirmation? When we start to stand on our own two feet and believe in Christ Jesus to strengthen us in all things, we are truly growing in faith and headed toward complete victory and peace. Where are you on this journey? Have you seen and believed?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 27, 2011

2011-12-27T21:31:00.000-06:00

John 20:1-2
Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, breathlessly panting, "They took the Master from the tomb. We don't know where they've put him."

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.

I don’t know about you, but I have had things scare me so badly that I ran for help, breathlessly panting in fear and panic. So I can easily get an idea of how Mary Magdalene felt when she approached Jesus’ tomb and realized that the massive, heavy stone had been rolled away from the entrance. All of us have probably known moments of panic so profound that we felt as if we couldn’t catch our breath. And in these moments, most of us run to someone we can trust… our parents, a spouse or significant other, a dependable relative, teacher or coach, our pastor, or perhaps our dearest friend.

Sometimes, when we are truly desperate and scared out of our wits, we run to our Heavenly Father. We fall to our knees (if only figuratively), and ask God to please rescue us and/or show us what to do. And God answers! Not only does He answer when we run directly to Him… He answers when we turn to a trusted friend or relative, as well. I believe that God uses others in those moments to guide us… to calm our fears… to speak rationally and calmly on His behalf and tell us what to do.

I am thankful that God meets our every need… especially when we are in a panic. I am so grateful to know that He will place people in my path to help me through the scariest, most breathless times of my life. When I don’t know where to turn or what to do… God knows. If I will only stop and listen for His voice, He will handle the rest.

Aren’t you glad that God is always busy looking out for us? Doesn’t it give you joy to know that even when you are in a breathless panic, God is putting people in front of you to help you figure out the best course of action? This is a good time to stop and thank God for all He does… for always loving us and having our back. Praise God for being available to us 24/7, and thank Him for always giving good gifts. Rest in the knowledge that you can run to Him anytime - with everything… joys, sorrows, accomplishments, dejections, excitements, fears and concerns… and He will always be there to respond.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 26, 2011

2011-12-26T20:34:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 16:23-25
Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD. Day after day announce, "The LORD has saved us!" Tell every nation on earth, "The LORD is wonderful and does marvelous things!

The LORD is great and deserves our greatest praise! He is the only God worthy of our worship.

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

Christmas Day has come and gone, and lots of people are very busy. There are gifts to exchange, holiday decorations to put away, and after-Christmas sales to attend. The focus has shifted to bowl games, New Year’s Eve celebrations, and what to do with the last week of Christmas break. In the blink of an eye, many of us have totally forgotten why we were celebrating the Christmas season in the first place.

But Christmas is about more than one day on the calendar. The true spirit of Christmas lies in the words of David… “Day after day, announce, ‘The LORD has saved us!’” We should live every single day of the year as if it were Christmas Day. We should be kind and loving toward others… ready to sing praises to the LORD and shout to all who will listen about the wonderful, marvelous things He does. Every day should be an opportunity to demonstrate to others how worthy God is of our praise, honor, glory… and absolute devotion.

I don’t have any gifts to exchange, but I do plan to hit a few post-holiday sales. I’m looking forward to watching “the ball” drop on New Year’s Eve and eating black-eyed peas and greens on New Year’s Day. But I’m also going to make sure I reflect each and every day this week - and in the year ahead - on God’s amazing grace. I’m going to do all I can to demonstrate to others in my path just how He has blessed me… and how worthy He is of my complete worship.

Enjoy the rest of your Christmas break and the days leading to New Year’s Eve. But remember Christmas and all of the hope and promises that surround the season. Keep the Spirit of Christmas alive by celebrating and praising God each and every day. Tell everyone you meet how incredible deserving He is of our continual honor and glory. Everyone on this earth, sing praises to the LORD!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 25, 2011

2011-12-25T20:14:00.000-06:00

Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

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

Our Christmas Eve meal was pretty well prepared and in the oven. We planned to eat at 3:30 p.m. My mother and her sister had picked up my grandmother at her assisted living facility, and I glanced up in time to see Mom’s Jeep pull into our driveway. Then I heard my mother yell for my husband to come quickly. My grandmother had fallen. I rushed outside to see her lying lifeless on the driveway. My husband rushed to call 911 as I hurried toward my Mam-ma. That’s when I saw the pool of blood forming under her head and trailing down our driveway.

I pressed a cloth tightly to her head, but the blood soaked through and poured on to the concrete underneath. The ambulance arrived, and my grandmother was transported to the hospital emergency room, where scans indicated no internal head or neck injury. Once the bandages were removed and everything was cleaned, she had a large hematoma (blood pocket) with a small puncture wound in the center. Her head was bandaged, and she was given pain medication, which made her woozy.

The doctor said there was no “medical justification” for admitting my grandmother to the hospital. I begged and pleaded, but he insisted he could not do this. I was at my wits’ end. I looked up and saw a sign beside a door where I was standing. It said “Chapel.” I stepped inside the chapel to call my husband and my mom. As we talked, I looked at plaques that hung on the wall. These contained scriptures, and the first thing I saw was Philippians 4:6-7. Then I read Lamentations 3:22-23, followed by Psalm 23, and finally... Jeremiah 29:11. I suggest you look these last three passages up and read them. I said a prayer before I left the chapel and asked God to handle this… to take my worries and fretting and give me peace about this situation.

When I stepped back into my grandmother’s exam room, I was visibly upset… and the nurse who had been treating my grandmother offered… “I can ask the ER doctor to call the doctor on duty upstairs and see if he will admit your grandmother - at least overnight.” She didn’t make any promises, but it was worth a shot. A few minutes later, the nurse returned to tell me that my grandmother was being admitted.

I cannot tell you the overwhelming peace and relief that flooded me when the nurse offered to talk with the doctors. I cannot begin to express how I felt when she returned to tell me that the doctor had agreed. I was so grateful to God for working out what I could not… and for directing me into that chapel for a few minutes. There, as I read those scripture passages, God gave me what I needed… peace and a sense of calmness, reassurance that He was in control… hope and love overflowing.

This is the gift of Christmas. It’s not found in the stockings, tinsel and beautifully wrapped packages. The love of our Heavenly Father, expressed by the birth, life and death of His only Son, surrounds us and meets our every need. All we have to do is open our heart and receive Him.

I was prepared to lose my grandmother on our driveway. I felt God’s peace and calm there in a way I cannot begin to describe. But I am grateful that He chose to wait for another place and time for this inevitable event. Meanwhile, I am reminded once again that God is in control… that I am His, and He blankets me with His love, grace and peace. My prayer for you this Christmas Day is that you feel His presence, too. I hope your holiday has been less “eventful,” and that you have celebrated the love of Christ with those most dear to you. Merry Christmas!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 24, 2011

2011-12-24T11:11:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 16:8-15
Praise the LORD and pray in his name! Tell everyone what he has done. Sing praises to the LORD! Tell about his miracles. Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart. Trust the LORD and his mighty power. Worship him always. Remember his miracles and all his wonders and his fair decisions.

You belong to the family of Israel, his servant; you are his chosen ones, the descendants of Jacob. The LORD is our God, bringing justice everywhere on earth. We must never forget his agreement and his promises, not in thousands of years.

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

It’s finally here… one of the days we wait for all year long - Christmas Eve! No doubt, there will be celebration and worship going on in every corner of the world, as we revel in the birth of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. And surely more than a handful of promises have been made… “I promise to be good so Santa will come”… “I promise to stop over to visit during the holidays”… “I promise I won’t eat or drink too much”… “I promise not to spend more than I can afford”… “I promise to focus more on Jesus this year and less on the commercialism of the holidays.”

Many promises will be made with the best of intentions, but more than a few of these will also be broken. Thankfully, we serve a God who is just and fair and always honors His commitments. The promises He gave us in the prophecy of the Old Testament were fulfilled over 2000 years ago… and still hold up today. Jesus came to earth to live among us as a human being and to show us how to love one another and serve God wholeheartedly. He died on a cross to pay for our sins… and we cling to the promise of spending Eternity in Heaven with Him someday.

In this season of tinsel and garland, twinkling lights and decadent food, gifts and festivities extraordinaire, we must remember WHOSE we are… and WHY we celebrate. This is a great time to reflect on the miracles in our own lives that were performed by the same God who sent His only Son to earth so long ago. Acknowledge how blessed you are and how fair God has been in your life. Recognize that He promises to continue to bless you and work in and through you to accomplish great things in His name. The birth of Jesus Christ was completely wrapped in the promises of God’s hope and glory… and these promises and agreements are as solid today as they ever were.

THIS is the real reason we celebrate. This is the reason we gather and shower each other with love, gifts, food and more. We are saying, “Jesus has come, by the power of God! He has showered us with blessings and miracles… and He will continue to do so. Praise be to God for His great love and kindness.” Never will there be another birthday celebration so grand. We are truly honored to be included in this party. Will your celebration be fit for the King of Kings?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 23, 2011

2011-12-23T12:50:00.000-06:00

1 Chronicles 9:28-33
Some of the Levites were responsible for the equipment used in worship at the temple, and they had to count everything before and after it was used. Others were responsible for the temple furnishings and its sacred objects, as well as the flour, wine, olive oil, incense, and spices. But only the priests could mix the spices. Mattithiah, Shallum's oldest son, was a member of the Levite clan of Korah, and he was in charge of baking the bread used for offerings. The Levites from the Kohath clan were in charge of baking the sacred loaves of bread for each Sabbath. The Levite family leaders who were the musicians also lived at the temple. They had no other responsibilities, because they were on duty day and night.

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

Each holiday season, I am reminded of family traditions. A lot of those in our family centered around food and big holiday dinners! When I was growing up, my Mam-ma Polly always made the hot rolls for our big potluck feasts and cooked green beans in her cast iron Dutch oven. My Aunt Altha made giblet gravy and the cornbread dressing as long as she could – then her daughter Betty Rhea took over. When Betty had a stroke and could no longer make the dressing, her grand-daughter, Natalie, took up the torch!

My mom always made an assortment of cookies to be eaten throughout the holidays - especially on Christmas morning. These included rolled cookies cut into the shape of Christmas trees, bells, and Santa Claus himself. Some were iced and decorated with “red hot” candies. Others were left plain. This year, I made holiday cookies – not the rolled and iced kind, but a family favorite nonetheless.

My Mam-ma Polly was somewhat known as the “peanut brittle lady” – making as much as 50 pounds of the candy to give to family and friends at Christmas time. Like clockwork, the tins would go out in December with an admonition that “I’ll need those back for next year!” When she moved into an assisted living facility last winter, I found peanuts and corn syrup stashed all over her house!

Men had traditions, too. My cousin Eddie always supplied my mother with fresh greenery from the woods for her planters… fragrant pine boughs that made everything smell fresh and woodsy! My dad was in charge of setting up card tables and chairs to accommodate our large family for the main meal, as well as other “manly” duties assigned by my mother - like carving the turkey and ham, and getting the Christmas tree on the stand and in the house!

Things have changed in my family. Now I make the green beans in the cast iron pot… the rolls are Sister Schubert’s, and my husband built a large wooden top that he assembles over our dining table to “stretch” it to accommodate all who gather there. He also assembles our tallest artificial Christmas tree in our great room each year. My mother decided a few years ago to enjoy our Christmas decorations instead of getting out hers, and her husband does most of their holiday baking. My mother-in-law made peanut brittle this year – in the microwave oven instead of an open sauce pan atop the stove!

Traditions are tricky things. Some are easily carried from one generation to the next for eons, while others rock along very nicely for a while before ending abruptly. I failed my grandmother’s peanut brittle making lessons miserably, so that “tradition” will not be carried on in my kitchen. I can make the delicious yeast rolls… but the heat-and-serve variety is so much easier. If you have not found your roles in life changing at least a little… you will at some point.

But what has not changed is our love for each other. We still get together and sit down to share a meal, although our number has dwindled by more than half. As I visited cousins recently to deliver Christmas gifts, I noticed that we each had some of the same ornaments on our Christmas trees… a “tie that binds” us together in a small, yet significant, way. We may do things a little differently these days, but the spirit of tradition is still there. I believe that God gives us traditions and the “keepers of certain duties” in order to create continuity, trust, and love among us.

There was something very comforting in knowing my Aunt Altha would always have the dressing and gravy. There was a love that flowed from my Mam-ma Polly through each buttery bite of peanut brittle. And as I look at my boxes of Christmas decorations each early December and consider whether to drag them all out again or not… I realize that creating a warm and cozy holiday home for my family is another way to share God’s love. Suddenly, I am rejuvenated for another season.

God has given each of us specific talents and abilities… designated responsibilities and “assignments” that are uniquely ours. He has put us directly in line to handle certain traditions… to carry them through to the next generation. And in doing so, He reminds us that His love is never-ending. He has called us to share these traditions with others to demonstrate our obedience and willingness to serve. Whether you are destined to be the family historian, the candy maker, the keeper of the cast iron Dutch oven, or the man in charge of turkeys, tables and chairs, and Christmas trees, God has set you in place for something. Ask Him to show you how and where He wants you to serve. It’s your job to find your spot and do your part. Will you?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 22, 2011

2011-12-22T12:05:00.000-06:00

Psalm 147:7-12
Celebrate and sing! Play your harps for the LORD our God. He fills the sky with clouds and sends rain to the earth, so that the hills will be green with grass. He provides food for cattle and for the young ravens, when they cry out.

The LORD doesn't care about the strength of horses or powerful armies. The LORD is pleased only with those who worship him and trust his love. Everyone in Jerusalem, come and praise the LORD your God!

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

Every one of us most likely knows the words to the Christmas carol, “The Little Drummer Boy.” In one verse, he says, “Baby Jesus…I am a poor boy, too. I have no gifts to bring… to lay before the King.” The only thing the drummer boy can offer is a song on his drum… and that is plenty. My grandmother recently recalled how wonderful it was to receive her Christmas stocking as a child… filled with walnuts, an apple, and an orange. In a family where money was more than a little tight, those were big treats to my grandmother and her siblings... and a tradition she continued into my own childhood. My fondest memories of Christmases past are not of the gifts received as much as the time spent with my family and friends.

In this season of extravagance… of blown paychecks and maxed-out credit cards used to buy gifts we can’t afford, we need to remember what is really important. God doesn’t care what Santa Claus brings you… what kind of car you drive or whether you have the latest smart phone. He is not impressed that you may be able to afford to give your family and friends the “Christmas of their dreams” and spend thousands of dollars on extravagant gifts.

God is more impressed when you spend time with loved ones, make a donation to a charity or someone in need, or visit a shut-in. He is more pleased when you offer to babysit for a stressed out mom, walk the dog of an elderly person when the weather is bad, or spend an hour in prayer for those who are in need of a special touch from Him. God beams with pride when you are patient and courteous to your checker and those in line with you in this busiest of retail seasons… when you knock on a neighbor’s door with a plate of holiday goodies or a beautiful plant - “just because”. In short, God cares more about what you give from the heart than how often you open your wallet. He wants you to share His love with your gifts… not show how much money you can spend. He wants you to impress HIM… and nobody else.

God can afford to give us everything and anything our heart desires. With a simple wiggle of His finger, God could make us billionaires… or bums. The point is… God gives us everything we need – and more – according to His will. We cannot outdo God. And frankly, we cannot impress Him! But we can praise God and shower Him with love and celebration. We can honor Him with everything we say and do… and give Him all the glory for every gift… no matter how large or small it seems.

This Christmas Season, let’s concentrate more on sharing God’s love and less on sharing what we can buy. Let’s be impressed with HIM… and less with ourselves. Let’s celebrate the One who always gives good, perfect gifts… and trust Him to always meet our needs – at Christmas and every day of the year.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 21, 2011

2011-12-21T08:54:00.000-06:00

Psalm 147:1-6
Hallelujah! It's a good thing to sing praise to our God; praise is beautiful, praise is fitting. God's the one who rebuilds Jerusalem, who regathers Israel's scattered exiles. He heals the heartbroken and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and assigns each a name. Our Lord is great, with limitless strength; we'll never comprehend what he knows and does. God puts the fallen on their feet again and pushes the wicked into the ditch.

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

We can’t talk about the joy and celebration of Christmas without talking about the difficulty of this season for so many. You may know someone who has recently lost a loved one and is grieving. Many are out of work and cannot afford to “celebrate” in the conventional sense of the word. Still others are sick and suffering, separated from family and friends by long distances, or struggling with personal issues that color every aspect of their lives.

In this season of such joy and festivity, we need to remind ourselves that the person standing next to us in line at Wal-Mart may be hurting or struggling to put one foot in front of the other. The whole point of Christmas should be to share God’s continual love and care in a profound way. We need to offer a smile, a handshake or a hug… or simply speak a kind word that might encourage.

So many people need to get the message of this scripture passage this week. They need to know that God loves them with limitless strength and stands ready to put them back on their feet. They need to comprehend that the same God who names every star loves them just as much. Where the future looks bleak and hopeless, they need to see a God who has endless possibilities on the horizon. And all of this begins with you and me.

We are God’s vehicles of hope. We can bless, comfort and encourage others – not just this month, but all throughout the year. And we are called to do exactly this! If we understand anything about the true meaning of Christmas, we must understand that we are to be the hands and feet of Jesus. He came to earth and demonstrated how to love others in His name… now it’s our turn. We find it easy to do for others in the Christmas season – and there’s nothing wrong with a good hearty practice session. But unless we keep the Spirit of Christmas in our hearts all year long and share it with others, we can’t truly claim to understand Christmas in the first place.

The next few days as you are out and about, look around and see who needs a smile, a word of encouragement, a hug… or a helping hand. Speak less of the parties, gifts and trappings of Christmas and more about the love of Christ. Remember your neighbors and friends, even if it’s with a simple card or e-mail message to say, “I’m glad God brought us together.” Take time to visit the elderly or to do something for someone who is ill or in need. Smile at that sad looking person behind you in line at the check-out. Offer to return a shopping cart to the store or the parking lot collection area. Offer to help your mom, dad, grandparent, spouse, sibling, or friend with holiday preparations. Then after Christmas, keep doing this! Remember to praise God for restoring us from even the greatest sorrows and hardships and helping us to find joy and hope once again. And in doing so, remind others that He will restore them, as well.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 20, 2011

2011-12-20T11:16:00.000-06:00

Psalm 146:6-10
God made heaven and earth; he created the sea and everything else. God always keeps his word. He gives justice to the poor and food to the hungry. The LORD sets prisoners free and heals blind eyes. He gives a helping hand to everyone who falls.

The LORD loves good people and looks after strangers. He defends the rights of orphans and widows, but destroys the wicked. The LORD God of Zion will rule forever!

Shout praises to the LORD!

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

Christmas Day was the one time of the year when my mom actually said, “Have a cookie for breakfast!” For most of us, we associate December 25th with something magical – a time to somewhat throw caution to the wind. We eat what we want, skip our workouts and diets, stay in our pajamas all day, get together with people we haven’t seen all year for a great big celebration, and more. Many of us drink too much, party to hearty, and spend far more than we have in the bank! For others, December 25th is a day they would just as soon skip altogether. They are lonely, poor, hungry, sick, grieving and downtrodden. A holiday that is supposed to be all about joy and “making merry and bright” is simply like a knife to the heart.

God understands all of this… and He stands ready to meet you right where you are this holiday season. He always keeps His word…and not just on December 25th. For this, we can shout praises to the Him, no matter where we find ourselves - this Christmas, and every day of the year.

We find it easy to focus on the joy of giving during the Christmas season. We also find it easy to focus on what we lack and feel rather sorry for ourselves. The truth is that we serve an awesome, amazing, powerful and loving God who is always there for us, every minute of every day of the year. And for this, we can continually celebrate and be grateful.

As we approach December 25th, stop and shout praises to the LORD for meeting you right where you are and always having your back. Celebrate all that He has created… and thank Him for showing up in our lives each and every day.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 19, 2011

2011-12-19T09:46:00.000-06:00

Psalm 146:1-5

Shout praises to the LORD! With all that I am, I will shout his praises. I will sing and praise the LORD God for as long as I live. You can't depend on anyone, not even a great leader. Once they die and are buried, that will be the end of all their plans.

The LORD God of Jacob blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him.

When I was a little girl, there was a man in our community everyone knew as “Preacher Mullen”. I knew him better as Santa Claus. Long before I came into this world, Otis “Preacher” Mullen began dressing as Santa Claus each winter. His long white beard and hair were the real deal. He drove a Jeep… and attached to the front were two real, mounted deer. I was quite sure that one of them was Rudolph, even if he didn’t have a red, shiny nose. We would see Santa Claus around town, and he usually made a visit to the school to pass out candy canes to all of us.

My last recollection of Santa Claus Mullen was 1977… my first year to teach after graduating from college. I am a little fuzzy on whether Santa Claus was making his annual visit to the school or whether I personally invited him to come to my classroom, but I do know he made a visit and passed out the candy canes. I have a picture to prove it! I was thrilled to be able to share the same fond memory of my own childhood with my little six-year-old students.

Preacher Mullen died in 1983 in a local nursing home. He had served as Santa Claus to a seven-county area for decades – and as the actual pastor to many congregations, as well. He truly believed that it was better to give than to receive… and he served his LORD well. I am amazed to consider how many lives he touched with the simple act of passing a candy cane to the hands of “children” of all ages. Santa Claus Mullen is being remembered on a local Facebook page by many generations of those children.

By my calculation, Preacher Mullen’s visit to my first-grade classroom was probably one of his last. We haven’t had such a “character” in our community since… and honestly, I don’t know if anyone could truly fill Preacher Mullen’s shoes, anyway. His was a service borne of a desire to share God’s deep abiding love with others. Santa Claus was merely his vehicle.

There is such an important message in this passage of scripture. Life is ever changing. People are here one day and gone the next. The person we depended on for so much… a parent, grandparent, spouse, relative, teacher, friend, or even our church leaders… live in earthly bodies that will eventually die. We have to put our everlasting faith in Someone who will never leave us… Jesus Christ. There is nothing wrong with trusting those in our circle… sharing our hopes, fears, joys and burdens. But unless we place an even deeper trust in Jesus, we stand to be perpetually discouraged and disappointed.

I miss seeing Preacher Mullen during the Christmas season. I miss his little red Jeep and the “reindeer”. But more than that, I miss his spirit… his hearty laugh, his ever-present smile, and the genuine love that he seemed to radiate. In thinking of him each Christmas, I am reminded of the unconditional, unending love of Jesus Christ for all of His children. I am pretty sure that Otis “Preacher” Mullen – a.k.a. “Santa Claus” – would tell us to put our faith and trust in HIM… to depend on His love, grace and mercy to truly sustain us… and to praise Him each and every day as long as we live.

We would also do well to try to emulate Santa Claus Mullen in some small way… to share God’s love with others in something as seemingly small as a candy cane - or whatever vehicle God gives us. The best way to honor the blessings of God is to share them with others, just as Otis “Preacher” Mullen did. How will you accomplish this? How will you praise God this Christmas season… and always?

Daily Devotional for December 18, 2011

2011-12-18T13:33:00.000-06:00

Psalm 145:10-19
Creation and creatures applaud you, God; your holy people bless you. They talk about the glories of your rule, they exclaim over your splendor, letting the world know of your power for good, the lavish splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office. God always does what he says, and is gracious in everything he does. God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time. Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures. Everything God does is right — the trademark on all his works is love.

God's there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. He does what's best for those who fear him — hears them call out, and saves 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.

The “Sunday paper” was full of circulars and ads for all kinds of “last-minute gift ideas.” Countless online retailers are offering free shipping and promising “You can still have this in time for Christmas!” Everywhere you look, someone is ready to lavish gifts and “stuff” upon us… to “play Santa Claus” and “make our Christmas merry and bright!”

What we really need is the favor of God. He stands ready to lavish His gifts upon us… but we often crave the things of this world instead. As we head into the last week before Christmas Day and rev up our holiday preparations and last-minute shopping, let’s stop to remember why we celebrate Christmas… and WHO is truly responsible. Let’s think a little less about what Santa Claus is bringing us and a lot more about what God does for us each and every day.

Let’s remember that God shows up right on time to meet our every need… to save us when we are down and out… to feed us body and soul… to lavish His goodness, grace, mercy and love on each one of us. How could we not love such an amazing God? How could we not offer Him our very best and put HIM at the top of our list of priorities?

It’s easy to get caught up in the tinsel and sparkle of the commercialism of Christmas… but it’s time we paid more attention to God and the gifts He offers us every day of the year. How will you spend the “home stretch” of this Christmas season?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 17, 2011

2011-12-17T15:14:00.000-06:00

Psalm 145:5-9

I will keep thinking about your marvelous glory and your mighty miracles. Everyone will talk about your fearsome deeds, and I will tell all nations how great you are. They will celebrate and sing about your matchless mercy and your power to save. You are merciful, LORD! You are kind and patient and always loving. You are good to everyone, and you take care of all your creation.

For the last few days, a cedar tree outside our window has been filled with bluebirds and pine warblers. The tree is loaded with tiny blue berries, and the bluebirds especially love them. So all of these little songbirds have had a feast!

Below the tree on a shepherd’s hook hangs a bird feeder that we keep filled this time of year with black sunflower seeds. The birds enjoy these seeds, but the bluebirds seem to prefer the cedar berries. I sat at the window for a long time one morning… mesmerized by these beautiful creatures. The males are much more brilliant in color than the females, but both have their own sweet beauty.

As I watched these little songbirds feed on the berries, I thought about how caring and loving God is… that He could care enough to provide blue berries on a gnarly, shaggy-barked tree to feed tiny creatures that wear coats in a rainbow of blues, oranges, greys and browns. He knit together each bird in perfection… just the right number of feathers in just the right arrangement to create their colorful, distinctive markings. Even if we never put out a single sunflower seed in winter, God would not let these little birds starve.

The God who takes care of these tiny birds is the same God who loves and cares for us. Surely He meets all of our needs and loves us just as much. This is a good time to stop and thank Him for being so merciful, powerful, gracious, and kind. It took a flock of tiny bluebirds on a dreary winter day to remind me just how special we are to God. And now I’m reminding you!

Take a few minutes today to look around and marvel at God’s glory and mighty miracles. Give Him a prayer of thanks and praise for being so meticulous and thorough. Tell God how much you appreciate He meets your needs so well… and remind someone else how much He cares for them. I just did!