April 14 ~ Ezekiel 34:11-16
"'God, the Master, says: From now on, I myself am the shepherd. I'm going looking for them. As shepherds go after their flocks when they get scattered, I'm going after my sheep. I'll rescue them from all the places they've been scattered to in the storms. I'll bring them back from foreign peoples, gather them from foreign countries, and bring them back to their home country. I'll feed them on the mountains of Israel, along the streams, among their own people. I'll lead them into lush pasture so they can roam the mountain pastures of Israel, graze at leisure, feed in the rich pastures on the mountains of Israel. And I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I myself will make sure they get plenty of rest. I'll go after the lost, I'll collect the strays, I'll doctor the injured, I'll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they're not exploited.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Do you remember that children’s story, The Little Red Hen? The Little Red Hen asks EVERYONE she knows to help her plant her wheat, harvest it, take it to the mill, and bake bread afterward. But nobody helps her. Everyone has their own excuses, and most of them just answer, “I can’t.” or “I won’t!” Some even say “Not me!” as if it is someone else’s problem. So The Little Red Hen does it all herself.
BUT… when the bread is ready to eat… all of those naysayers are back – and HUNGRY! Those who were not willing to help with any of the preparations or the work are more than willing to eat the rewards! And isn’t this us? Aren’t we so willing to let God do all the work, expecting every step of the way to feast at His table in Heaven just like we worked as hard as He did? Don’t we often assume that just because we accepted Jesus Christ as our Savior, we have a “free ticket to paradise?”
The truth is that inviting Jesus to live in our hearts is the BEGINNING… but there is so much more to it. Yes, He will welcome us into Heaven, but He will also review how we served Him on earth… and many of us may come up very short! I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that kind of Christian life. I don’t want to be like the characters in The Little Red Hen, letting God do all of the work and then expecting to feast like royalty. I have been given a gift of extraordinary value… I am a child of God! And so are YOU, hopefully. This gift came an amazingly high price, as we have just been reminded in the Easter season. So what I do in service, out of respect for my lineage, can never be enough… but it’s a start. “I can’t, I won’t, and not me” are not in my vocabulary when it comes to serving God. What about yours?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 13 ~ Ezekiel 34:1-6
God's Message came to me: "Son of man, prophesy against the shepherd-leaders of Israel. Yes, prophesy! Tell those shepherds, 'God, the Master, says: Doom to you shepherds of Israel, feeding your own mouths! Aren't shepherds supposed to feed sheep? You drink the milk, you make clothes from the wool, you roast the lambs, but you don't feed the sheep. You don't build up the weak ones, don't heal the sick, don't doctor the injured, don't go after the strays, don't look for the lost. You bully and badger them. And now they're scattered every which way because there was no shepherd - scattered and easy pickings for wolves and coyotes. Scattered - my sheep! - exposed and vulnerable across mountains and hills. My sheep scattered all over the world, and no one out looking for them!
(Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Does this describe us? I really wish not, but I’m afraid more times than we will admit, we are just like these shepherds. We stand ready to see “what’s in it for me?” but we never see the cost. It is so important that we look good, feel well, and have everything we want, but we forget about the guy down the street who just lost his job and can’t even feed his family.
We are so afraid we won’t do well on a test or run our fastest in a race, while forgetting that we are fortunate to be able to see and hear and think… and run! In the movie Seven Pounds Will Smith’s character berates a customer service representative for being slow… only to discover the man is blind… and he continues to berate him. He says this is a test of the man’s demeanor under pressure. In truth, this character is bullying and badgering someone whom he feels is week. Isn’t that us often? And how is our demeanor, pressure or not? Do we look out for the weak among us? Or are we so busy being concerned with our own welfare and interests that we don’t see anyone else?
I pray that this week, we would look for the sick to heal, the hungry to feed, the injured to “doctor,” the lost to redeem. I pray that this week, the focus would be on our weakness as witnesses… and the weaknesses of others who are truly in need. God IS looking out for the weak, but He is calling us to do the same.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 12 ~ Isaiah 40:27-31
Why would you ever complain, O Jacob, or, whine, Israel, saying,
"God has lost track of me. He doesn't care what happens to me"?
Don't you know anything? Haven't you been listening?
God doesn't come and go. God lasts.
He's Creator of all you can see or imagine.
He doesn't get tired out, doesn't pause to catch his breath.
And he knows everything, inside and out.
He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.
For even young people tire and drop out,
young folk in their prime stumble and fall.
But those who wait upon God get fresh strength.
They spread their wings and soar like eagles,
They run and don't get tired,
they walk and don't lag behind.
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Today is Easter Sunday… a day to celebrate that Christ is Risen! The grave could not hold Him! We serve a God so huge that death could not consume Him… a rock cave could not contain Him! How can we ever think He doesn’t care about us, when EVERYTHING about Christ’s life was for US? How can we ever complain or whine, when God NEVER stops working on our behalf?!
How can we ever get too tired to work for God, when He is always working for us? This is a great day to celebrate.
- Celebrate all that God has done in your life.
- Celebrate that He sent His Son to save us, and nothing mortal man or the devil did could stop this!
- Celebrate all that God is going to do in your life from this day forward! Be energized and excited!
Keep up… run and don’t grow weary… walk and don’t faint! Take a deep breath and hitch up your britches! God lasts… and He wants you to last with Him! Did you hear me? The GRAVE could not contain Him… and His fresh strength is ours!
Christ is Risen! Run and don’t get tired, walk and don’t fall behind. To gain the privilege of serving the “Creator of all you can see or imagine,” waiting upon God is so worth it!
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 11 ~ Psalm 72:9-14
Foes will fall on their knees before God,
his enemies lick the dust.
Kings remote and legendary will pay homage,
kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.
All kings will fall down and worship,
and godless nations sign up to serve him,
Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
the destitute who have run out of luck.
He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
he restores the wretched of the earth.
He frees them from tyranny and torture—
when they bleed, he bleeds;
when they die, he dies.
(Scripture from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Today is a good time for us to stop and think about how deeply God loves us. Yesterday was Good Friday… a day when we focused on the Cross and the Crucifixion of Jesus. Today, as we ponder all that Christ did for us – as we think back over the events that led to this point… the supper with the disciples, Judas’ betrayal, the prayers in the Garden of Gethsemane, the brutal beating and horrific abuse, and then the cross itself… let’s think also of God. Let’s remember that when Jesus cried and sweat drops of blood, God felt it. When Jesus was beaten and disfigured, God felt that. When the spikes were driven through His hands and feet, God felt every bit of that, too. When Jesus died, God’s heart was broken, and He suffered the loss.
Understand this… there is nothing… absolutely NOTHING that you can feel that God doesn’t feel, too. When you are ecstatic and filled with joy, so is He. But when you are hurting, so is God. When you are lonely, hungry, anxious, heartbroken, discouraged, sick, tortured, frustrated, or afraid, God understands everything you feel. And He stands ready to help us through whatever we are enduring… if we will only let Him. When troubles come, we tend to say, “God, this is how I am feeling.” What we don’t always hear is God answering… “I KNOW!”
Today is the perfect day to understand, finally, that God DOES know what we are going through – because He is there with us. The same God who endured the suffering and death of His Only Son on the cross is the God who walks with us each minute of every day. We just often fail to recognize His presence. Isn’t it time we changed this? Isn’t today the perfect time to start?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 10 ~ Psalm 41:1-3
Dignify those who are down on their luck; you'll feel good—that's what God does.
God looks after us all, makes us robust with life—
Lucky to be in the land, we're free from enemy worries.
Whenever we're sick and in bed, God becomes our nurse,
nurses us back to health.
(Scripture from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
If you were lucky enough to escape one of the nasty “bugs” that went around this winter, you are a rare bird! It seemed like this was a really bad winter for illnesses that put us in bed for several days, if not weeks. And I would bet that most of you had someone who came to your rescue and served as your “nurse”. You were probably too weak to do much except lie in bed and rest, but someone picked up the slack and took care of you until you felt better.
I believe that God literally nurses us back to health when we are sick. And this is a great thing. He heals us when we are sick, especially if we call on Him to do so. But even more importantly, when we are Spiritually sick… when we are filled with the “virus” of Satan and sin, God heals us. He nurtures us and nurses us back to health in Him. How does He do this?
- God surrounds us with Christian friends and family to share His love and His word.
- God feeds us from His word… the “Bread of Life” to nourish our souls
- God fights the devil for us, just as surely as antibiotics fight an infection
- God strengthens us through our relationship with Him – prayer, worship, Bible study and fellowship
- God blesses us in ways great and small – He encourages and gives us hope and promise of brighter days ahead – and an Eternity with Him
There is more, but you get the idea. God can help us heal when we are physically sick, but He is truly the GREAT HEALER when it comes to matters of Spiritual weakness and health. If you are still feeling unwell, I pray that God will heal your body soon. If you are Spiritually unhealthy, I pray even more that God will touch you and restore you in the days to come.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 9 ~ Psalm 12:5
Into the hovels of the poor,
Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:
"I've had enough; I'm on my way
To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
Recently I’ve watched several special programs on television about people who are losing their jobs and their homes. Many are ending up on the streets – some in tent cities… others in shelters. You and I cannot begin to imagine how their hearts must ache – and maybe their bellies. Many of them seem to have ended up this way through little or no fault of their own. Many are simply victims of circumstance… and one thing just led to another until there was no money to pay bills or buy groceries, and all was lost.
It is heartbreaking to watch these programs… but my heartbreak is nothing compared to how the people who are living it must feel. I believe God has had enough of this. He is working to correct these situations, even by allowing programs to be produced to make the public aware of them. It is not God’s will that we be hungry, homeless and hurting. This grieves Him.
For every person who is physically hungry, homeless and hurting, dozens more are Spiritually poor. They lack the Bread of Life, assurance of a home for eternity in Heaven, and the peace that passes all understanding – the comfort of the Holy Spirit and a relationship with God. THIS truly grieves God. While the awareness of the public is being raised about the plight of the hungry and homeless during the economic crisis, we must wake up to the crisis of a Spiritual magnitude. It is up to US, as believers, to reach out to those who need to feed on God’s word. It is up to US to obey God and allow Him to work in and through us to reach others for His kingdom. It is up to US to love others with the love of Christ and to heal the brokenhearted in His name.
Amazingly, I believe that as we work to rescue the Spiritually poor, God will manifest Himself in ways we can’t even imagine to rescue those who are physically in need. If each one of us will do our part to minister in God’s name, we’ll be astounded at what can happen. God will equip us with what we need to accomplish these things. I’m ready to be a part of His miraculous works… are you?
©2009 Debbie Robus
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April 8 ~ Job 12:13-25
"True wisdom and real power belong to God;
from him we learn how to live,
and also what to live for.
If he tears something down, it's down for good;
if he locks people up, they're locked up for good.
If he holds back the rain, there's a drought;
if he lets it loose, there's a flood.
Strength and success belong to God;
both deceived and deceiver must answer to him.
He strips experts of their vaunted credentials,
exposes judges as witless fools.
He divests kings of their royal garments,
then ties a rag around their waists.
He strips priests of their robes,
and fires high officials from their jobs.
He forces trusted sages to keep silence,
deprives elders of their good sense and wisdom.
He dumps contempt on famous people,
disarms the strong and mighty.
He shines a spotlight into caves of darkness,
hauls deepest darkness into the noonday sun.
He makes nations rise and then fall,
builds up some and abandons others.
He robs world leaders of their reason,
and sends them off into no-man's-land.
They grope in the dark without a clue,
lurching and staggering like drunks."
(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. For copies of The Message call (800) 366-7788.)
As we approach Easter weekend, many of us ponder the events that transpired when Jesus was crucified. We have heard WHY God allowed these horrible things to happen to Jesus, and we think we “get it,” but we don’t really. We can’t possibly comprehend the depths of God’s love for us and this sacrifice. But can we accept His power to do this and more? Can we “get” that God has ALL power and truly controls everything?
Even our free will is given to us by God. HE could change that and make us like little puppets that do nothing but His bidding, but He chooses to allow US to choose Him – or not. So why does God allow us to falter and fail sometimes? Read the first lines again. God shows us how to live… and what to live for. We are weak in and of ourselves… but in HIM, we are strong. His strength can be ours… He can give us power to overcome the devil and darkness in our lives - and to shine brightly with His love.
While you focus on Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection this weekend – and you consider all that God has done for us, remember His power. Remember that while we are weak, our Heavenly Father is strong – and He is in our corner! How ARE we living… and what ARE we living for these days? God has the power to change things… all we have to do is let Him.
©2009 Debbie Robus
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