Daily Devotional for December 4, 2016

James 1:16-18
Don’t be fooled, my dear friends. Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing. He wanted us to be his own special people, and so he sent the true message to give us new birth.

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

In a typical 7-year-old whine, Timothy lamented this weekend that “I don’t think I can wait three more weeks for Christmas!”  I told him to enjoy this month…to think of Christmas as a whole season - and Christmas Day as the culmination when many more gifts arrive. I have reminded myself to do this – especially in recent years.  I try to find joy in the events that lead up to December 25th.  Decorating, writing cards, baking, wrapping gifts…all of this is part and parcel of what “Christmas” is all about – or in my opinion, it should be.

These activities should not be thought of as “chores” to be accomplished…but rather, gifts to others – and to ourselves.  When Timothy and Nathan examined our holiday decorations this weekend and their faces lit up with joy and wonder, I felt like I had received a gift.  When I enjoy a holiday cookie or two and a cup of spiced tea, I feel as if God is saying, “Celebrate the season…every bit of it.”

When Greg, “Grandma E”, and I meet up with the children and their parents at the annual city Christmas parade – and watch the expressions on their faces as they review the entries, I feel as if God has blessed me with a gift of time spent creating happy memories. When we watch the children open gifts on Christmas Eve and hear them say, “It’s just what I wanted!”…I feel as if God is saying, “Now you know how *I* feel when I give you something that you really appreciate.”

My point is this…God’s gifts are all around us. Yes, we acknowledge the gift of Jesus during this holiday season.  But do we truly recognize all of the “good and perfect” little gifts that God is continually bestowing upon us?  Do we see the daily “gifts” of the Christmas season…or are we so narrowly focused on THE DAY that we miss everything else?  If all we can think about is December 24th and 25th, we will miss the true gifts of the “Christmas Season.”  And if we get tunnel vision about God’s gifts in general, we will miss more than a few of them.

Stop and “smell the roses” in the next few weeks. Give yourself the gift of an attitude adjustment, and acknowledge every single event and activity that culminates in “Christmas Day.”  Recognize – and appreciate – all of God’s good and perfect gifts…even shopping for Aunt Mary and untangling that aggravatingly twisted bundle of twinkling lights!  Take time to thank God…for Jesus – and for the amazing opportunities we have to serve and celebrate Him. All too soon, it will be a new year, and “Christmas” will have come and gone again.  We will look back and wish it hadn’t all flown by so quickly.  But will we have truly relished and respected God and his “good and perfect” gifts?  Isn’t it time we did?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 23, 2016

Psalm 138
Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!”
    Angels listen as I sing my thanks.
I kneel in worship facing your holy temple
    and say it again: “Thank you!”
Thank you for your love,
    thank you for your faithfulness;
Most holy is your name,
    most holy is your Word.
The moment I called out, you stepped in;
    you made my life large with strength.
When they hear what you have to say, God,
    all earth’s kings will say “Thank you.”
They’ll sing of what you’ve done:
    “How great the glory of God!”
And here’s why: God, high above, sees far below;
    no matter the distance, he knows everything about us.
When I walk into the thick of trouble,
    keep me alive in the angry turmoil.
With one hand
    strike my foes,
With your other hand
    save me.
Finish what you started in me, God.
    Your love is eternal—don’t quit on me now.

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.

“Life is short…and sugar is cheap!” – Jay Grelen, former “Sweet Tea” columnist for the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

I think of this phrase on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas… when we have a family dinner, and I make big pitchers of sweet tea. There is so much wisdom in this phrase.  Life IS short…as many of us know all too well. We don’t stop to take stock of the blessings we have in our lives…or to truly appreciate the presence of those around us.  We look up, and half the people in the room have their noses buried in a smart phone…or they are glued to a television. Or perhaps we don’t even bother to get together at all.

I shared a poignant video* on Facebook last week of an elderly man who was sitting at a holiday table, dining alone.  His children all made excuses for why they couldn’t come for a Christmas visit this year…how maybe next time, they would make it.  Then the video cuts to a scene of the children receiving devastating news. By their reactions, you conclude that the “poppa” has died. The children are shown arriving outside this man’s home. They are distraught…it seems their beloved father/grandfather has died.  But when they enter the home, a holiday meal is on the table. Candles are lit, and everything is perfect…and the father/grandpa emerges from the kitchen, and asks, “How else could I have brought you all together?”

I don’t know your situation and circumstances today. My own family has spent holidays together – and apart - for various reasons.  We’ve postponed holiday get-togethers because someone was ill or hospitalized…and we’ve buried loved ones on Christmas Eve.  And yes, we’ve made our share of excuses why we couldn’t make it to one or more events when there was nothing catastrophic to prevent such a gathering. Sometimes, this couldn’t be helped…but other times, we just didn’t try hard enough.

The point is that we do this with God, too.  We often make excuses or postpone our time with Him.  At best, we give God limited attention and a lot of “lip service.”  Sometimes, He has to shake up our world just to bring us together with Him for some intimate time!  We forget that life is short…and sugar is cheap. It doesn’t cost us anything to spend time with God…and yet, that time is some of the most precious we will ever have.

So this Thanksgiving, thank God with everything in you. Set aside everything and spend quality time with God and let Him know just how grateful you are that He makes your life large with strength…that no matter the distance, He knows everything about you - and keeps you alive in the thick of turmoil and trouble.  Thank God that His love is eternal and everlasting.

While you’re at it…thank God for the people that He has placed in your life.  Reach out to some of them and spend some quality time in conversation, if not personal contact.  Soak in the moments spent together, and relish in them.  Life is short, and sugar is cheap…so maybe drink a glass of sweet tea while you’re at it!  Remember how blessed you are to be loved by such a great and mighty God…and make the most of each blessing that He has given you – this week, and always.

©2016 Debbie Robus

* http://www.3lstories.com/people-are-calling-this-the-most-powerful-christmas-commercial-ever

Daily Devotional for October 19, 2016

Matthew 5:5-6
“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.
“You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.
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 had breakfast with some friends from high school a few weeks ago, and one of them told of a time when he was really poor.  He said he was very hungry, and all he had in the cupboard was a packet of biscuit mix and 2 packets of “Swiss Miss®” cocoa mix.  My friend had no milk or eggs, but he decided that he could mix the cocoa packets with water (milk?) and add it to the biscuit mix – and make pancakes!  He said, “I didn’t even have any syrup…but I didn’t go hungry!”

You can tell by looking at me that I am all about a good meal – and syrup on my pancakes!  I like “creature comforts”…and nice things…and I have more than my share of both.  But like many people, I have things that I wish I could change about myself…wrinkles and sags and extra “padding” in the wrong places.  I wish I could turn back the clock and have strong “runner’s knees” again…and no arthritis in my fingers.  I look at old pictures and long for another family gathering and be youth and energy to enjoy one another’s company.

Then I take our little ones swimming…or watch them play with abandon in our yard or living room.  I look at their happy faces as I make their favorite sandwiches…and I realize that the children don’t care what I look like.  They accept that I can’t run as fast as they can – or climb as high. But they know how much Greg and I love them…that they are always safe and nurtured when they are with us…that we always have their best interests at heart.  And this bond cannot be bought.

I share a sunrise with Greg…sit and enjoy coffee and conversation on our back porch…or laugh with him over one of our favorite sitcoms on television while our cat, Mabel, stretches out between us in “purrfect” contentment!  And I am reminded just how abundantly full my life is…how blessed we are to be able to have enjoyed rewarding careers that afforded us the luxury working together - and an early retirement.

I am reminded every day, in ways great and small, of what truly matters.  For us, it is faith and family – in that order. Without faith in God, we would not have the strength and wisdom to care for each other and our family as we should.  We would not fully appreciate how precious life and the people in it are…and how important it is to serve God by serving others.  Without our deep and abiding relationship with our Heavenly Father, we would probably be more focused on correcting wrinkles, grey hair – or no hair(!), and “stuff”…and we would miss the sunrises, laughter and wonder that is “life.”

Nobody is perfect…and I have my moments where I am less than satisfied with where I am in life or what I have.  But for the most part, I take heart in what the Apostle Paul noted in Philippians 4:11-13…”I’ve learned by now to be quite content whatever my circumstances. I’m just as happy with little as with much, with much as with little. I’ve found the recipe for being happy whether full or hungry, hands full or hands empty. Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the One who makes me who I am.”

I want this to be MY “recipe” – and the “syrup on my pancakes” as well.  What about you?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 7, 2016

John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to 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.

This morning, I read a harrowing newspaper account of the confession from a man who abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling on October 22, 1989, in a field near Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The assailant recently led authorities to the little boy’s remains, 27 years after the crime was committed. I tried to put myself in the shoes of Jacob’s parents, and I was moved to tears as I thought of them listening to this man’s confession and picturing their little boy…frightened and alone as a deranged man kidnapped and abused him, then put a gun to his head and pulled the trigger.

Whether we are eleven or one hundred and eleven, there will be things in life that happen to us that we cannot control. I realize that parents - and adults who love children like their own - cannot be with them 24/7.  I understand that there will be good AND bad things that will happen to those we love, and we won’t be there to revel in the joys…or to protect them from dangers – and even moments of fear and panic.  If you let your mind dwell on these things, it can become overwhelming.

Instead, I consider John 3:16-18, in which we are promised that God loved the world so much that He allowed HIS only Son to enter into it and be subjected to all sorts of encounters and experiences…both incredibly good – and unimaginably bad. But God never left Jesus. He was with Him through every single moment. And the GOOD NEWS is that because of this, God never leaves us. He is with us in the form of His Holy Spirit, now and forevermore.

Even when you or I cannot be with our children (of any age), God is there.  When a loved one draws his/her last breath – and there is nothing we can do about it – God is with them. God is with us for our highest highs…and our lowest lows…and everything in between.  He loves us SO much that He was willing to sacrifice HIS son in order that this might be the case.  We must learn trust Him and live in His presence.

I won’t pretend that this is an easy – or instant – “fix”…that once we invite Jesus into our hearts, we are immediately able to surrender every single thought, experience, and emotion to Him.  And certainly, for a child the age of Jacob Wetterling, it might be asking too much to hope that He had the spiritual maturity to call on God in this instance.  But I have to believe that God did flood this child’s heart with a supernatural calm and peace. I am confident that we are commissioned to instill in others the faith and assurance that God loves us so much that He is with us in every situation…and we must especially do this for our children.

Many will ask, “If God loves us so much, why does He allow suffering and the occurrence of horrific atrocities?”  My honest answer is that “I don’t know.”  But I know that God does not do this to be cruel…that He suffers with us in these things.  I also know that God rescues and redeems - and never wastes any experience.

In the case of Jacob Wetterling, his mother became a national advocate for missing children. And in 1994, a federal law, named after Jacob, was enacted that requires all states to establish registries for sex offenders.  If we really begin to look at the big picture, we see how God knits together all sorts of experiences for outcomes we couldn’t even imagine…because of His incredible love for us.

The best gift we will ever receive is salvation through Jesus Christ – and the continual presence of His Holy Spirit.  The best gift we can give another person is a demonstration of this love and presence in action in our own daily living.  We must demonstrate that God is with us in each circumstance…that He loves us SO much that He sent Jesus to take our sins and show us how to fully live with faith and hope in His promises.

Have you accepted God’s “love gift?”  Do you live in His presence on a daily basis?  Don’t you want to?  Are you ready to look for God in all situations and trust Him to surround you with His power and peace?  Will this be the day that you get started?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 19, 2016

James 1:19-21
Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry; for anger doesn’t make us good, as God demands that we must be.

So get rid of all that is wrong in your life, both inside and outside, and humbly be glad for the wonderful message we have received, for it is able to save our souls as it takes hold of our hearts.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
The last time Nathan visited, he did not like how I corrected him for being bossy, and he screamed at me in anger and frustration.  Remember…he is only four!  I quickly picked him up and carried him to our “Time Out/Naughty” chair.  He screamed the entire way…”I’m sorry!  I’m sorry! I’m SORRY!”  I sat him in the chair and held him there as he wriggled to free himself and get up. After a few seconds, he relaxed into the chair and began to sob. I calmly and quietly told him that he could get up when he could apologize and speak to me nicely…and after a couple of minutes, he did just that.

As we walked away from the “naughty chair,” Nathan said, “Debbie…you hurt my feelings!”  I told Nathan that he hurt MY feelings by screaming at me.  After hugs and kisses, we moved on with our day…both assured that we still love each other…and hopeful that a lesson had been learned!

One of the hardest things to do when a “child” (of any age) is throwing a tantrum is not to get caught up in it and retaliate in the same manner.  Raised voices, and screaming do not solve anything.  In my opinion, physical discipline doesn’t help, either.  I have found a “time out” to be the most effective remedy…especially when the adult can remain calm and objective and give the other person a chance to recognize his/her mistake and make a correction.

Isn’t this what God does for us all the time?  I don’t know about you, but I never feel that God is yelling and screaming at me!  I know there are times when I make mistakes – sometimes BIG ones – and I feel His disappointment.  But I never detect His anger. God never shames me or berates me.  Instead, He lovingly gives me a “Time Out” to consider my sins and shortcomings.

Because of the blood of Jesus, God allows us the opportunity to recognize my mistakes and make necessary corrections.  And then He showers us with the “hugs and kisses” of forgiveness and undeserved blessings. And this is how we are called to operate with each other.  Ugly retorts, yelling and screaming never solve anything.  Physical attacks do not prove a single point. Sometimes, the best response is none at all.  A lot of “learning” and reconciliation can occur in the silence.

I cannot imagine how awful it would feel to think that God was angry with me…to “feel” Him yelling and screaming, demeaning, or shaming me – much less physically attacking me to drive home His point.  And I would assume that He is pretty disappointed in us when we treat others this way.  Jesus took all of the anger, insults and physical punishment resulting from our sins, so that we can operate with humility, grace, mercy, forgiveness and reconciliation toward each other.  How are you honoring His great sacrifice?

Is God calling you to take a “Time Out” and consider how and where you could do better?  Will this be the day that you squelch your anger and start demonstrating His patience and goodness in your daily living?  Don’t you think it should be?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 2, 2016

Ephesians 4:1-4
As a prisoner of the Lord, I beg you to live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own. Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other. Try your best to let God’s Spirit keep your hearts united. Do this by living at peace. All of you are part of the same body. There is only one Spirit of God, just as you were given one hope when you were chosen to be God’s people.

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

For almost a year now, our soon-to-be-four-year-old nephew, Nathan, has spent Mondays and Fridays with us while his parents worked and his older siblings went to school.  We’ve had a lot of fun together…and in the course of this year, we developed our own little routine.  So when summer break happened, and Timothy and Zola started to come to our house on Mondays and Fridays along with Nathan, there were some definite adjustments to be made.  Have I mentioned that Nathan really doesn’t like to share?!

Just yesterday, Nathan would start a puzzle and insist that Greg or I sat with him…not to help – but to observe.  “Just watch me,” he would say. He knew that if we sat with HIM, we could not spend time with his sister, Zola. When Zola decided to take a bubble bath, Nathan said, “Let’s go to your office for some alone time, Debbie.  We need some alone time…right?”

For all of this little guy’s jealousy, he can also be patient and gentle with his sibs.  While Zola worked a jigsaw puzzle that Nathan had earned for good behavior, he encouraged her…”You’re doing a good job, Zo!”  Often, when I will have something for one child, he/she will ask, “Do you have something for the others?”  At the end of the day…far beyond typical sibling rivalry…the hearts of these children are united.

We can learn a LOT from observing the relationship of three young siblings.  We can see their struggles to have individual thoughts and ideas…to be validated in their own right.  But we can also see how they work out their difficulties with each other.  Often, with very little prodding from adults…they DO figure it all out and make amends.  So why can’t we keep doing that as we get older?

There is such a divisive spirit in our country right now.  It’s prevalent everywhere you turn – even in our churches.  Everyone wants to be right, as if we are vying for the front-row seat at the feet of Jesus, and we dare not allow another to get ahead of us in the “Praise and Recognition Department!”  We can never admit lack in any way. We cannot concede that we might be mistaken – or worse…that the other guy is right!  Apologies and petitions for forgiveness are NOT an option. Humility is seen as a sign of great weakness.

In the first four verses of Ephesians 4, we find a wonderful model for how to conduct our lives as Christians. The very first sentence tells us pretty much all that we need to know…”live in a way that is worthy of the people God has chosen to be his own.”  A big part of why we act as we do is our innate desire to be loved and accepted.  Let’s get one thing straight…if you have given your heart to Jesus and claimed Him as your Savior, you are forever loved and accepted by God Almighty!  You don’t need anything – or anyone – else!

Let’s all agree to spend some time in prayer – for each other and our world.  Let’s ask God to reveal to us where we are living selfishly…where we refuse to share and to speak and act with humility and respect for the other person.  Let’s figure out where we fail to acknowledge that God’s love is big enough to include ANYONE who wants in on it…and ask God to fix this!

There is nothing with a little “alone time” with God.  But when our heart is not united with the rest of God’s children…when we demand an exclusive relationship with Him – even at the expense of other people and their thoughts and feelings…we have missed the mark - and the essence of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  We can turn this around, with God’s help.  But we have to start the ball rolling by doing our part.  I’m in…are you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 25, 2016

1 Peter 3:18, 22    
Christ died once for our sins. An innocent person died for those who are guilty. Christ did this to bring you to God, when his body was put to death
and his spirit was made alive.

Christ is now in heaven, where he sits at the right side of God. All angels, authorities, and powers are under his control.

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

I keep replaying Timothy’s question to Greg and me the other day when we gave the children some new Play-doh®…”Why are you so NICE to us?”  It seems like I ask God this same question a LOT!  WHY do You bless me so often and abundantly?  WHY did You sacrifice Your only Son on the cross for MY sins – and those of others?”

Our answer to Timothy is that we love him and his siblings so much.  It is our joy and delight to do nice things for them.  And scripture tells us that this is God’s answer, too…although, for the life of me, I cannot comprehend that much love and care!  I do not think I could ever sacrifice a child – for anything or anyone!  I am profoundly moved by the sentence, “An innocent person died for those who are guilty.”  You and I are among those “guilty” parties.

So this makes God’s love even more profound.  This causes me to appreciate God even more to think that He would allow such horrific things to happen to Jesus – just for me…and for you!  Doesn’t this motivate you to serve better…to be more obedient…to go the second mile?  We serve the most amazing, mighty, powerful…and LOVING God.  No One could love us more than He does.  No One could have sacrificed more than God did, through Jesus Christ.

The next time you start to say or do something that dishonors such a great gift, ask yourself, “Is this a fitting way to show God my gratitude and appreciation?”  As you look at those in your midst and are tempted to criticize, judge, disparage or call them names, consider that EVERYTHING that God has done for you, He offers the other person, also.

WHY does God love us so much?  I really don’t know…but I know that He does.  And that is reason enough for me to love Him back as much as possible.  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 15, 2016

1 John 4:7-11
My dear friends, we must love each other. Love comes from God, and when we love each other, it shows that we have been given new life. We are now God’s children, and we know him. God is love, and anyone who doesn’t love others has never known him. God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life. Real love isn’t our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven. Dear friends, since God loved us this much, we must love each other.

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

Children and pets are great equalizers.  It is amazing to me how much we will overlook for both.  Did the dog chew up your favorite shoe? He’s just doing what puppies do.  Did the kids spill juice on your living room rug?  They didn’t mean it. For years, we had a chenille couch and love seat with arms that were perpetually shredded by our cat’s claws as they climbed aboard.  We just trimmed the strings with sharp scissors periodically. Thankfully, that was a most forgiving fabric that never went threadbare. But it somehow would not have mattered.

The house I thought had to look spotless at all times less than a decade ago now resembles Romper Room and/or the after-effects of a tornado – and often all at once!  And I am okay with that!  In both instances, these are “scars of love.”  They demonstrate that life took place…and love, tolerance and understanding were shared.

My point is that we are willing to overlook a lot of things for our pets and our children…because we love them unconditionally.  We understand the love of a cat snuggled on our lap – or a dog who faithfully nuzzles us for affection.  We relish the hugs and laughter of children…and their unsolicited expressions of love.

For all that we overlook with certain people and pets…we can surely be hard on others. I am amazed at how it appears that some of us would walk across hot coals for our children or pets…but we cannot even muster a smile or a kind word for others.  Our disdain – if not the downright hate that we feel toward some - is palpable.  There is a disconnect in our understanding that these are God’s creatures, too.  He loves them just as much as He loves US!

God overlooks a bazillion things we do each day that displease Him, out of nothing but pure love…and yet we cannot overlook even some of the simplest “slights” from others.  Still, we want to claim the name of Jesus and declare that we are God’s children…bathed in His love and offering it to the world!

It’s time to “get real.”  We’re not fooling God…and we’re probably not fooling most people, either.  And there is no way that we can please God and serve Him until we begin to truly operate in love, grace, mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and compassion – toward EVERYONE!  It will never be enough just to say that we love God and wish to serve Him.  We have to go the second mile and show it in our daily living and the way that we treat each and every one of Hi’s creatures.  Some of us have a lot of work to do in this area.  Don’t you think it’s time that we got started?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 8, 2016

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others.

What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others.

Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!

Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten.

We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn’t perfect will then disappear.

When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.

For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.

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

Our church’s Sunday school focus for this quarter is on “church”…what is it?  Who makes up the “church”?  How can we be the “church” to others?  There are a lot of people who think they are the church, because they “do all the right things.”  They attend worship services on Sundays…they participate in Bible studies and small groups…they wear the appropriate cross jewelry and t-shirts and/or have crosses, fish and bumper stickers on their vehicles.  They might even have a sign in their yard that says, “This family attends XYZ church.” And they hang out with other people who attend their “church.”

But check these folks on any given day, and you will see someone who does not seem to represent the “church” described in the Book of Acts  - in any way, shape or form.  Yesterday, I asked a group of 2nd-3rd graders how they could better represent the church that Jesus commissioned in the Book of Acts.  One child said, “I could watch my language and not say ugly words.”  Another said, “I could pray more and tell others about Jesus.”  Still another said, “I could control my temper."

All of the children in this class were sweet and sincere…they want to be loving servants.  But they are children…and they are human. 1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us that most children think and reason differently from us.  Unfortunately, we adults behave like children far too often.  We do not operate in love…and we do not represent Jesus. We may “look the part,” on the outside…but our hearts are certainly not filled with love for others.

I told the children what I often remind each of us in these devotionals…people are watching.  When they look at us, we want them to see the love of Jesus.  We want others to see behaviors and hear talk that represents His teachings…offers hope, demonstrates faith, and surrounds them with love and acceptance.  If we don’t truly have the love of Christ in our hearts…if we don’t carry His Holy Spirit with us…this will not be possible.

Examine your heart today.  See where you have become nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  Ask Jesus to fill you with His love…and to help you share His compassion tenderness, grace and mercy with others.  We are called to “feed His sheep” by our demonstrations of love, hope and faith.  How are you doing today?

©2016 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for January 24, 2016

Psalm 103:11, 17
How great is God’s love for all
    who worship him?
    Greater than the distance
    between heaven and earth!

The Lord is always kind
    to those who worship him,
and he keeps his promises
to their descendants

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

These days, heaven seems closer – and farther away – than ever!  So when I read Psalm 103:11, I thought of God’s love as both vast…and all-encompassing.  I envisioned God wrapping His arms around me and holding me closely as I settled in with Him and gave Him gratitude and glory for all that He has done for me.

As I read verse 17, I thought of my mother…the legacy of Christian faith that she left with her children and extended family.  And while it may not seem like the Lord has been very kind to us lately, I can assure you that He has indeed. He has not given us more than we can bear.  Oh, yes…there are moments when our hearts are so heavy and our minds cannot concentrate - and we think that we will surely fall apart completely.  But always…ALWAYS…God rescues us…and we thank Him for His grace and tender mercy.

Today, our respite came in the form of three little children – Timothy, Zola, and Nathan - who were eager to return to church and learn more about Jesus.  After lunch, we went to a local man-made “lake” to look at trumpeter swans that migrate here each winter.  The children fed the birds and ran along the fence that edges the big lake with the wild abandon of 3, 4, and 6-year-olds.  You cannot help but smile and laugh when you are with happy kids…and I know that God gave us that much-needed time of joy as a respite from our grief.

A young father of three elementary school-aged children is on the last leg of his journey with a 2-year cancer battle.  This dear friend is as ready as anyone ever is for God to call him home. It breaks our hearts to think that he will not be around to see his children grow up…to help his wife with all of the milestones and accomplishments…to nurture his family as its spiritual leader.  But as I look at the events of the last two years, I see much of what I observed with my own mother - a testament to God’s promises and glory…a person of tremendous faith and steadfast worship, even in the midst of great tribulation…an example for countless friends and acquaintances who are now surely closer to God because of His witness.

The lesson I have learned from my mother – and my friend – is that God’s love for each of us is vast AND all-encompassing, all at the same time.  We have seen amazing demonstrations of worship of the LORD in even the most trying circumstances…and we have seen the glory of His love rain down on those who were faithful…and their descendants.

This morning, Timothy got in the car and asked, “Why did Granny die?”  I told him that she got sick and could not get well, and God took her to heaven to live with Him.  He said, “She’s with Jesus now!”  “Yes,” I agreed…”and someday we will be with Jesus, too.  If you love Jesus and give Him your heart, you get to go to heaven someday.”  Timothy said, “Oh, I LOVE Jesus…even when I’m naughty and do bad things.”  I told him that Jesus loves HIM, too…even when he’s naughty. In my mother’s stead…I want to perpetuate the legacy of worship – and hope in God’s promises.  And as I get opportunities at church to share God’s love with my friend’s children, I hope to do that, also.

Look around…where can you demonstrate worship – and hope – that glorifies God and demonstrates His amazing love for each of us?  Where can you perpetuate to those around you – particularly future generations – how God’s love never fails?  Who has demonstrated this in your life?  Who has given you great examples for how it’s done?  Aren’t you ready to “carry the torch” and leave your own legacy of faith and love in Christ Jesus?  Isn’t it time you got started?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 10, 2016

Isaiah 43:1-7
But now the Lord who created you, O Israel, says: Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed you; I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up—the flames will not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, your Savior, the Holy One of Israel. I gave Egypt and Ethiopia and Seba to Cyrus in exchange for your freedom, as your ransom. Others died that you might live; I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me and honored, and I love you.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. I will gather you from east and west, from north and south. I will bring my sons and daughters back to Israel from the farthest corners of the earth. All who claim me as their God will come, for I have made them for my glory; I created them.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

My mother is mostly sleeping now, and several family members have gathered to sit with us and help as needed…including my niece, Jasmine.  This is her Granny…the woman who has nurtured and loved her unendingly for all of her 25+ years.  I found Jasmine in her Granny’s office, sitting at Mother’s desk and reading a book.  She said, “I knew this had to be here, and it was right on top of a stack of books.”  If you know my mother, you know that her desk is stacked and laden with books, papers, notes and all sorts of important “stuff!” (I should talk!  I am my mother’s daughter!)

The “book” that Jasmine found was her journal…or rather, a hand-written journal that my mother has kept for my niece since 1992.  She didn’t write in it EVERY day, but on a regular basis, Mother wrote her thoughts to Jasmine – about anything and everything – but especially about her Christian faith. And the entries are as recent as the end of October 2015. There is an entry for the day Mother learned that she had cancer…and another as she prepared for chemotherapy. 

There was also an entry for one day in October in which Mother stated that “you are not to worry.”  She cited these beginning verses in Isaiah 43. Through this journal, my mother is still comforting us…even today, as she slips away from us and can no longer speak directly to us.  And these words are comforting!

If I substitute my mother’s name – or my own – for the word “you,” the image is profound. “Don’t be afraid, for I have ransomed Arline; I have called Arline by name; she is mine. When Arline goes through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with her. When Debbie goes through rivers of difficulty, she will not drown! When Debbie walks through the fire of oppression, she will not be burned up—the flames will not consume her.”  Take these verses and insert your own name.  Let the comfort and assurance of God’s love and care penetrate the depths of your heart.  Listen to the words of my mother, and remind yourself that “you are not to worry.”

This morning, my cousin said “Good-bye” to my mother and traveled to his home, some four hours away. As he left, I hugged him closely and told him that we are going to be okay…that Jesus has us securely in His hands. “Remember this!” I told him.  His response was, “You, too!”  I assured him that I will…that my hope in Jesus is all that keeps me going.

I’m so glad that Jasmine found the journal.  I know that my mother has written from her heart…and that her thoughts and words were guided by the Holy Spirit.  They will have profound meaning for Jasmine and her children…just as my cousin’s visit with my mother will impact him from this day forward.

I pray that you will take these verses to heart and make them part of your hope…that you will trust in Jesus to see you through deep waters and great trouble.  Remember that “you are not to worry,” and trust God to hold you securely in His hands – this day…and always.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 23, 2015

John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.

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

Friends, this is shaping up to be some kind of week…and it’s only Wednesday!  Monday, my husband’s brother and sister-in-law were seriously injured in a car crash that resulted in the death of the other driver. For the third day in a row, Greg’s brother will undergo more surgery to repair internal injuries.  Hopefully today’s procedure will resolve everything.  My mother, who is battling ovarian cancer, was diagnosed with pneumonia yesterday.  She is receiving antibiotic treatment, and we anticipate that she will recover quickly.  Through all of this, we are praising God for His love and care…and marveling at how He is watching over us.

It would be easy to throw up our hands and ask, “Where have you gone, Lord?  What could possibly happen next?”  But instead, we find ourselves humbly thanking God for His unconditional love and protection.  We know that He has not sent these maladies to punish us.  But we believe that He is using them to say, “Draw closer to Me and let Me handle everything.”  And He IS doing this!

As Greg’s brother left our local hospital in an ambulance on Monday, headed for a trauma center at a Little Rock medical facility, the family gathered in the Emergency Department waiting room, held hands, and prayed.  We covered him in the blood of Jesus and called on God to protect all who would travel to be with him…the medical staff who would be responsible for his care…and those who would be anxiously awaiting information.  And God is delivering all of this and more, minute-by-minute.

I would dare say that a thousand people or more are praying for my mother…bringing her before God daily - and asking for His perfect healing.  I know that people are praying for each of us as family members and friends who support her in this journey.  I feel God’s love and care each and every day – and it is powerful and profound.

As we draw near to Christmas Eve and the celebration of God’s amazing gift of Jesus, let’s remind ourselves how much He loves us.  As we wrap gifts to put under the tree, think of the significance of God’s gift to us…His Only Son, who He knew we would disrespect and mistreat and ultimately try to destroy.  The Good News is that we have been totally ineffective! Jesus is ALIVE! He continues to heal us and protect us from harm.  He defeated death, so that even when our physical bodies are taken, we can continue to live with Him!

This is what fuels my family these days…the confidence that we belong to the Most High God – and nothing that is hurled our way can ultimately defeat us.  It is with this assurance that we prayed for healing for my brother-in-law and his wife.  It is with this determination that we believe that my mother and others who are battling cancer and other illnesses and injuries will be restored.  It is with complete trust that we let God determine what forms these healings and restorations will take - knowing that He loves us enough to give us perfect outcomes.

God loves you more than you can ever imagine or understand.  He wants you to love Him back with everything you have, regardless of how smoothly things are going in your life.  In fact, when “the chips are down,” your demonstration of steadfast love means even more to Him!  What are you showing Him this week?  How are you displaying your love and commitment to God – in every situation and circumstance?

A whole and lasting life is at our fingertips.  With God in control, we need not fear a single thing!  Are you operating in the confidence of a mutual, loving relationship with God?  Isn’t this the perfect week to stop and recommit your heart to Him and start walking in His daily assurances? What does God’s “Christmas Gift” mean for you?  Won’t you spend some time finding out today?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 9, 2015

Deuteronomy 8:1 and 6
Israel, do you want to go into the land the Lord promised your ancestors? Do you want to capture it, live there, and become a powerful nation? Then be sure to obey every command I am giving you.

Obey the commands the Lord your God has given you and worship him with fear and trembling.

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

The children have this little “board book” called The Story of the Ten Commandments*.  This book tells the story of Moses going to Mt. Sinai and receiving the stone tablets containing rules from God – written in language that young children can understand.  As I read this version of the Commandments, I decided they were pretty good for us “big kids,” too.  Sometimes we need to see things in a simpler perspective. 

Before you go getting all uppity because this is “not what the Bible says,” read this list and see if it doesn’t encompass everything in Deuteronomy 5…just in a simpler language.

1. There is only one God.
2. Bow down to no one but God.
3. Speak God’s name with respect.
4. Give one day each week to God.
5. Respect your parents.
6. Do not kill.
7. Be faithful to your family.
8. Do not steal.
9. Do not lie.
10. Do not want what others have.

I do not believe the reference to “fear and trembling” is meant to be taken literally.  God wants us to obey and serve Him out of love and respect…not out of a sense of true fear and obligation. The thing is…some of us have decided to pick and choose which of these commands to obey…and that’s where we get into trouble!

Look over this simple list as it is interpreted for children.  See where you fall in line with these commands…and where you come up short.  I’m thinking commandments #2, #7, and #10 in particular are probably a stretch for some of us!  Examine your heart and your daily living and see where you have failed to worship God “with fear and trembling” – a.k.a. reverence, respect…and your whole heart.

Make this the day that you recommit to complete service, so that you, too, can go “to the land of your ancestors” – or in our case, so that you can be assured of a seat in Heaven at God’s table.  More importantly, do this because you love God…the God who has loved us far beyond what we could ever deserve.  Obey His commands because it makes life better in every way – for all of us.  And give God praise and adoration for His amazing generosity and incomparable love and grace – to Moses’ people AND for generations to come!

©2015 Debbie Robus

*The Story of the Ten Commandments – Patricia Pingry/Stacy Venturi-Pickett
  ©1999 Ideals Publications, a division of Guideposts.

Daily Devotional for November 26, 2015

1 John 4:4, 7-8
Dear young friends, you belong to God and have already won your fight with those who are against Christ because there is someone in your hearts who is stronger than any evil teacher in this wicked world.

Dear friends, let us practice loving each other, for love comes from God and those who are loving and kind show that they are the children of God, and that they are getting to know him better. But if a person isn’t loving and kind, it shows that he doesn’t know God—for God is love.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Happy Thanksgiving!  This truly is a day to share God’s love with one another.  More importantly, this is the perfect day to thank GOD for all that He has given us. 

• God meets our every need.
• God gives us hope and courage.
• God calms our fears.
• God heals us.
• God gives us peace
• God answers our prayers.
• God plans for our future.
• God keeps His promises.
• God showers us with amazing and abundant love.
• God prepares us for Eternity in His presence.

Our complete well-being – mental, physical and spiritual – is God’s number one objective.  No one will ever love us like God does…and because of this, “no weapon formed against us can prosper” (Isaiah 54:17 paraphrased).  This is the perfect day to not only give thanks to God, but to share His love with others…to be loving and kind - and to demonstrate that we are getting to know Him better every single day. 

Let’s make this the day that we truly show our gratitude to God - and to each other - for love, care, friendship, and abundance.  Make a commitment to get to know God better and grow daily in knowledge and appreciation of His love and care.  There is no better day to “Give Thanks” than this one…ready…set…GO!

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 22, 2015

Romans 8:32
God did not keep back his own Son, but he gave him for us. If God did this, won’t he freely give us everything else?

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

This morning, I subbed in the 4th/5th grade Sunday school class.  The lesson was about God’s family – and how we can become a part of it for all Eternity.  The question was asked…”Why did God give His only Son for us?  Why not pick another way to cover our sins?”   Surely there were options.  After all, the God of the Universe could have chosen any number of ways to make us His children forever and absolve us of our sins.

We concluded that this was the only way that God could truly redeem us in a way that we would fully understand how much He loves us.  He had to sacrifice something (or in this case, Someone) so great that we could not even begin to comprehend it. God had to show us that He was willing to give up what was most precious to Him – His only Son – so that we might all be together in heaven someday. Jesus’ blood on the cross was the ultimate sacrifice. And then, to demonstrate His power, God raised Jesus from the dead after three days – and Jesus ultimately ascended into heaven and waits for us there. 

As long as I live, I will never fully be able to wrap my brain around this.  I know that I could never sacrifice a child…no matter what the “gain.”  I simply cannot fathom a love that great! And yet, I know that God loves me – and you – and all of His creatures with a love that is indescribable.  His deepest desire is for us to belong to His family…and He will do just about anything to make that happen.

The God who loves us this deeply also cares about our every need.  He deeply desires to meet us where we are at any given moment…to give us all that we require…to heal us and complete us mentally, physically – and spiritually. 

What does this all mean for us?  First, we must give our hearts to Jesus and ensure that we are a part of His family for all Eternity.  We must then trust our Heavenly Father to care for us…to fix the things that we cannot…to give us strength, courage, hope and confidence that He will never fail us – that all things are possible through Him.  And we must tell others of this Good News.  We must demonstrate our faith and encourage others to become our brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus – and enjoy all of the benefits that belong to those in God’s family.

I don’t know where you are in this journey, but I pray today that God is making a difference in your life…that you are trusting Him to handle everything and meet all of your needs.  And I pray that you are operating in the confidence of your “place” in His family…and living in such a way that others cannot help but want to join you.

I can’t think of a better time than the first day of “Thanksgiving week” to express my gratitude for God’s love and care…and for my place in His family – now and for all eternity.  What about you?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 12, 2015

Psalm 23:1-6

You, Lord, are my shepherd.
    I will never be in need.
You let me rest in fields
    of green grass.
You lead me to streams
    of peaceful water,
    and you refresh my life.
You are true to your name,
    and you lead me
    along the right paths.
I may walk through valleys
    as dark as death,
    but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me,
    and your shepherd’s rod
    makes me feel safe.
You treat me to a feast,
    while my enemies watch.
You honor me as your guest,
    and you fill my cup
    until it overflows.
Your kindness and love
    will always be with me
    each day of my life,
    and I will live forever
    in your house, Lord.

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

A couple of years ago, my brother’s childhood friend, Amy, died suddenly from a head injury that she suffered in a fall.  Her sister asked me to speak at her funeral…to offer some words of comfort to family members and friends.  God led me to the 23rd Psalm. 

We all know this passage.  You can probably recite at least most of it from heart.  “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.”  But look at how this translation explains that sentence. 

“YOU Lord, are my shepherd…I will never be in need.”  Let this concept “soak in” for a bit.

”I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod makes me feel safe.” Consider these words as you wrestle with the challenges and scary situations in your own life – or that of someone you love.
 
“Your kindness and love will always be with me each day of my life…” Imagine the arm of Jesus enveloping you as you take each and every daily step.  Feel His loving presence in each breath you take…welcome His kindness even when your world seems to be crumbling around you.

I went through “The 23rd Psalm” line by line at Amy’s funeral and detailed how the words related to God’s care for her – and for each of us.  In doing so, I gained a new perspective on these words and how much God loves us.  I was reminded to worry less, and trust God more…because He truly IS meeting our every need, whether we recognize it or not.

My prayer today is that we would embrace the words of Psalm 23 and take them to heart…that we really would begin to believe in God’s presence and care and grow in confidence that He will always be with us…that we have nothing to fear…that we are safe in the love and kindness of His powerful – yet gentle – arms.  The Lord IS my shepherd, and I will never be in need.  Do you believe this?  Isn’t it time you did?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 27, 2015

Psalm 91:9-12
The Lord Most High
    is your fortress.
Run to him for safety,
and no terrible disasters
    will strike you
    or your home.
God will command his angels
to protect you
    wherever you go.
They will carry you
    in their arms,
    and you won’t hurt your feet
    on the stones.

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

When I was a little girl, I spent a lot of time in my grandmother’s storm cellar.  We did not have sophisticated weather radar, so when the skies started to look threatening, the women and children of the neighborhood would gather in the storm cellar…and the men would stand on my grandparents’ screened porch and “watch the clouds”.  I don’t really know how long we were in that cellar at one stretch, but it seemed like hours…and often it was at night.

My dad and me - 1958.  I was almost a year old.

There would be times when my sister and I would need a bathroom break, and one of the men would be called to come and wrap us in a quilt and carry us inside...then return us to the cellar.  I remember the safety and comfort of my dad’s arms…and those of my cousin Jim (who was in high school).  Probably my cousin Eddie carried us some, too.  He would have been in high school at that time, and he was always doing something with us.  It is funny to me now to envision a big strapping high school football player spending so much time with little 4 and 5-year-old girls…but he did.  And we always felt safe and protected with our older cousin.

So when I think of God protecting me…I think of these “men” in my life who sheltered me and carried me as a child.  I am the 5-year-old little girl who needs to be wrapped in a quilt and shielded from the wind and rain of life’s storms…carried from one place to the next without my feet ever touching the ground.  God is strong, brave, and able to ensure my safety. In His arms, I am safe, loved, and nurtured.

This is a bittersweet, but comforting image for me. What I wouldn’t give to be that little girl one more time…to have my cousins and my dad standing on the porch at my grandmother’s…ready, willing and able to wrap their arms around me and shield me from harm.  The GOOD NEWS is that I can experience this each and every day with my Heavenly Father…and I do.  I imagine God carrying me…nestling me in His strong arms…telling me that I am safe, and that He will take care of me.  And He does this – and so much more - every single day!

Life’s storms will come for all of us.  But we can all enjoy the protection and comfort of God’s shelter and care.  His arms are always open…He is always ready to meet our needs.  God is standing beside you, “quilt” in hand…ready to wrap you up and carry you wherever you need to go.  Are you ready to let Him?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 20, 2015

Philippians 3:1
Whatever happens, dear friends, be glad in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you this, and it is good for you to hear it again and again.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

When I was teaching, my school district participated in something called PET…Program for Effective Teaching.  PET training was intense, and consisted of actual classroom instruction in this method for all teachers…followed by exercises where we taught lessons using this method while we were observed and critiqued by those trained to determine if we were implementing the concepts correctly.  So there was a lot of repetition…and some “trial and error” involved.

In PET, the concept is that each lesson has three components…the “set” – or quite literally, the set-up for the lesson…the lesson itself…and closure.  In the “set”, the teacher provides an activity, a relatable analogy, plays a game, or does something to engage the students and provide relevance…and then he/she explains what the students will be learning.  In the lesson, obviously the instruction and practice occur until the teacher is sure that the student understands the concept.  Finally, the closure reviews what was learned.  The objective is repeated during the closure to ensure that students remember it. 

Studies have shown that people best remember the first and last things they are told, so in order to remember that middle “lesson”, repetition on the front and back end is necessary.  Personally, I LOVED the PET method of teaching and have applied it to other areas of my life…from teaching a Sunday school lesson to writing these devotionals!

If you are still reading, you may be wondering what this has to do with the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Philippians – and feeling God’s presence in your life.  TV celebrity Dr. Phil and others like to say that “People don’t care what you know…until they know that you care!”  And this is what I want you to remember today…that God loves you!  He sent Jesus to die on the cross for you! 

God cares about every single thing that is happening in your life…from that test you struggled to pass to your relationship breakup to how the waiter mixed up your order at the restaurant!  He cares about your wayward child, your disagreeable spouse or aging parent(s), your health, your daily ups and downs – and even your struggle to lose a few pounds.  God numbers the hairs on your head…whether they are blond, brunette, red, grey or purple…long, short – or fairy sparse!

Until we understand how much God loves us – how much He cares for us – we will never fully understand how much He is involved with each and every detail of our lives.  We will miss out on blessings, comfort, wisdom, and peace, because we do not trust that God really IS with us…listening and loving us through every single experience of our lives.  But we can change that!  We can remind ourselves continually that “I am a child of God.  He loves me as I am.  God is always available to me…He is only a whisper away!”  And we can begin today!

Are you ready to fully recognize God’s presence…to understand how much He cares for you?  Will this be the day that you begin to operate differently…more completely in His wisdom and peace?  Don’t you think it should be?  Have you said “Hello” to God today?  Isn’t it time you did?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 18, 2015

Matthew 5:17-18
“Don’t suppose for a minute that I have come to demolish the Scriptures—either God’s Law or the Prophets. I’m not here to demolish but to complete. I am going to put it all together, pull it all together in a vast panorama. God’s Law is more real and lasting than the stars in the sky and the ground at your feet. Long after stars burn out and earth wears out, God’s Law will be alive and working.

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.

Yesterday, I attended the funeral of a man named Jerry - one of my parents’ lifelong friends. His children have been MY friends since childhood, and Jerry was even a pallbearer at my dad’s funeral nearly 16 years ago.  During the service, the pastor read from Ecclesiastes 3, where King Solomon talks about “seasons” of life – and a purpose for each one. He made the comment that sometimes things happen in life that seem perfectly horrible…terrible, painful, gut-wrenching things occur that we cannot fully understand.  But we see later that they were a “set-up” of sorts to prepare us to handle something else.  Had we not experienced the first situation, we would not have been adequately equipped to handle what happened next – or we might have missed out on understanding the joy and blessings of the latter event.

I have found this to be so true in my own life.  And if a specific experience did not help me directly…I was able to use it to help someone else at a later point.  As I read this scripture passage and Jesus’ claim that He did not come to negate what God had already said and done – but rather to enhance it – I thought of the words from yesterday’s service.  If we don’t understand the rituals and “living sacrifices” of the Old Testament…we cannot fully appreciate how Jesus’ death on the cross settled that for us – once and for all.  If we don’t grasp how God guided and cared for those who loved Him in the time before Jesus came to earth, we cannot begin to comprehend Jesus’ love and care for people He had never even met…like you and me!

There is something profound that happens in the life of a Christian when he/she begins to realize how completely God orchestrates everything…from the first day of our lives to the last – and beyond.  When we start to really understand how He “pulls it all together” – how today’s challenges and heartaches prepare us for tomorrow’s successes and joys – we begin to experience the fullness of God in a new way.  His constant presence becomes more real to us…and we are far more cognizant of how truly alive Jesus is…here…now…today…and always!

Yesterday, I sat between my mother and a dear “other mother figure”…and I considered the pastor’s words about our life experiences and “seasons”.  I thought of Jerry and these ladies…and other dear souls who were in attendance…and I was reminded of how this has “played out” in their lives over and again.  The same God who has guided and tended to these dear people of faith is doing these things in your life and mine.  Do you recognize His work?  Do you feel His presence?  Don’t you want to? 

Spend some time today talking to God about this.  Think over the events of your life and see if you don’t recognize some distinct circumstances where He has knit together the bigger picture for a blessed outcome.  Recognize God’s constant presence in your heart and mind…and trust Him to orchestrate each “season” perfectly.

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 13, 2015

Genesis 1:1-2
First this: God created the Heavens and Earth—all you see, all you don’t see. Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness. God’s Spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.

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 night, Timothy played for more than an hour with a box of mis-matched Legos® that I picked up several years ago at a yard sale.  Included in the box were little instruction booklets on how to construct quite a few objects.  The trouble is…this “bargain” assortment of pieces does not include everything necessary to construct even one of those things.  That did not stop Timothy from settling on a helicopter and asking, “Can you make this for me?”

He patiently showed me the steps in the booklet. ”We need this…and then this…” he noted, pointing to the photos and the required pieces. Some we found in the convoluted contents of the box…others we did not.  After almost an hour of digging and “creative modification,” we had a passable helicopter.  We stared into the “abyss” of that box of Legos® …and yes, we brooded a bit.  But we were determined - I was determined - to create SOMETHING that would make this little boy happy… and make me happy in the process.

God has always cared about us.  Even when He stared into the black abyss of nothingness that would become the earth, He envisioned a creation.  Would it be perfect?  Absolutely not…and God knew that!  But He longed to see us anyway…to behold our smiling faces and share in our lives – the good, the bad, and the ugly.  He was determined to do whatever He needed to make this happen, because He loves us so dearly. 

You probably have some understanding of what it means to love someone so much that you want to please them…to see their smile and share in their joy and well-being.  Now multiply that times a zillion…and you still don’t get how much God loves us…how deeply He desires great things for us.  He started with nothing…an inky blackness…a watery abyss…and He created our world – and us.  And He is here with us now, wherever – and in whatever condition we may find ourselves.  Don’t you feel His presence?!

©2015 Debbie Robus