Daily Devotional for December 3, 2016

December 3 ~ Genesis 28:20-22
And Jacob vowed this vow to God: “If God will help and protect me on this journey and give me food and clothes, and will bring me back safely to my father, then I will choose Jehovah as my God! And this memorial pillar shall become a place for worship; and I will give you back a tenth of everything you give me!”

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

We learn at an early age to “bargain.”  Little children tell adults, “Just let me have five more minutes…eat one cookie…do XYZ…and I will go straight to bed, brush my teeth, or whatever it is we are wanting them to do at the moment. On the flip side, we adults make promises to children if they will behave a certain way, clean their rooms, or simply brush their teeth and go to bed!

But we adults have truly mastered bargaining…particularly with God.  If only He will make life perfect for us, we will serve Him with our whole heart and give back to Him at least a tenth of all we have been given!  If only He will get us out of our current mess, we will serve Him with all we have for the rest of our earthly lives!  Sounds fair…right? 

I can see why Jacob bargained with God.  This was Old Testament times.  Jesus had not come to earth yet.  Jacob felt like this was a fair agreement…and perhaps for the time, it was.  But the God who loved us enough to send Jesus to die on the cross for our sins – before we were even born – deserves ALL that we can give Him.  Of course, everything we have came from God, so anything we give to Him will essentially be a “re-gift!”  But still, to put contingencies on these “gifts” seems as if we don’t believe in His promises.  Surely that is not the case!

How about we do this?  Why not just cut to the chase and lay it all out before God?  What if we simply say, “Lord…I give You my best…all that I can…whatever You desire.  You gave me a promise of eternal life with You in Heaven.  What can I give You while I’m still on this earth?”  Whatever God asks of you, He will equip you to accomplish.  Even if it seems impossible - like giving up a circle of “friends” who are not the right crowd for you…breaking a lifelong habit…or putting yourself “out there” in a way you would rather not - God will assure that everything comes together perfectly.  If GOD ordains it, you cannot fail.

So let’s quit bargaining with God, revel in His promise of Eternal Life, and serve Him on this earth with every ounce of energy and courage we can muster. Let’s put our faith into action and show the world that with God, anything and everything is possible.  And let’s give Him our very best each and every day without a single though about what is in it for us.  Are you with really ready to give?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 13, 2016

Matthew 25:14-30
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going into another country, who called together his servants and loaned them money to invest for him while he was gone.

“He gave $5,000 to one, $2,000 to another, and $1,000 to the last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities—and then left on his trip. The man who received the $5,000 began immediately to buy and sell with it and soon earned another $5,000. The man with $2,000 went right to work, too, and earned another $2,000.

“But the man who received the $1,000 dug a hole in the ground and hid the money for safekeeping.

“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to him to account for his money. The man to whom he had entrusted the $5,000 brought him $10,000.

“His master praised him for good work. ‘You have been faithful in handling this small amount,’ he told him, ‘so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Begin the joyous tasks I have assigned to you.’

“Next came the man who had received the $2,000, with the report, ‘Sir, you gave me $2,000 to use, and I have doubled it.’

“‘Good work,’ his master said. ‘You are a good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over this small amount, so now I will give you much more.’

 “Then the man with the $1,000 came and said, ‘Sir, I knew you were a hard man, and I was afraid you would rob me of what I earned,  so I hid your money in the earth and here it is!’

But his master replied, ‘Wicked man! Lazy slave! Since you knew I would demand your profit, you should at least have put my money into the bank so I could have some interest. Take the money from this man and give it to the man with the $10,000.  For the man who uses well what he is given shall be given more, and he shall have abundance. But from the man who is unfaithful, even what little responsibility he has shall be taken from him. And throw the useless servant out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
For several months now, Greg and I have kept our great-nephew, Nathan, on Mondays and Fridays while his parents work and his older siblings are at school.  Today, Timothy joined us, because he was sent home yesterday with a fever, and children cannot return to school until they are fever-free for 24 hours.  This also happens to be Timothy’s 7th birthday.  So we are spending the day playing with Legos® and other toys, watching movies, reading books, and eating pizza - and cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise and “no crust” (Timothy’s personal favorite!).

For today, this is my treasure.  I could choose to pretty well ignore the boys – to plant them in front of the TV and go on about my day.  I could pretend I didn’t hear them when they tell me they are hungry.  I could let 3-year-old Nathan take himself to the bathroom and trust him to wash his own hands afterward (not!) – and even take his own bath and wash his hair himself!  I could get out toys and crayons and set up movies for the children, put a slice of pizza or a cheese sandwich on a plate and say, “You’re on your own.” 

OR, I could spend time working puzzles and chasing the boys with toy airplanes…watching videos and movies on TV…reading books…making sure they have plenty to eat and drink…making them bubble baths and shampooing their hair, and generally letting them know how important they are to us and how much we love them.  The more we “sow into” these boys, the more they will develop into well-rounded children and adults.

My point is that every day, you and I are given responsibility for “treasure” – and today, ours is the nurture and care of these two little boys.  Yours may to be the best student, employee, boss, mom, dad, sister, brother, cousin, teacher or spouse that you can be.  You may be retired, and your “treasure” is the investment you sow into people and projects that further God’s kingdom.  You may be sick or injured, and your “treasure” is to uplift and motivate others by your own prayers, encouragement and demonstration of Christian discipleship.

God calls us to make the most of whatever “treasure” He gives us each day.  We are to recognize His gifts and be faithful stewards of them…to make the most of every single blessing and responsibility – even if it involves Legos®, pizza and cheese sandwiches.  So how are you doing today?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 30, 2016

Psalm 31:19
You are wonderful,
    and while everyone watches,
you store up blessings for all
    who honor and trust you.

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

Recent events have caused me to reflect on my life and the lives of those I love.  I found myself reading through some old prayer journals, and I realized once again just how blessed I have been.  Prayer after prayer has been answered.  Situations that seemed impossible have resolved – and perfectly.  Healings have taken place…people have turned their hearts to Jesus…and yes, some have been called to Heaven for all of eternity.

In each instance, I see how God worked.  I am blessed – and also humbled.  I am reminded how ridiculous it is to question Him…or to waste time on worry and fear.  I see how God has safely steered me through situations that I thought I could not handle…and comforted me when I thought that something in “life” was more than I could possibly bear.

As I read this passage, I had a mental image of a child stacking blocks.  I’ve done this countless times with Timothy, Zola and Nathan. I’ve watched the tower rise higher and higher into the air.  I also was reminded of the story of “Jack and the Beanstalk,” where the vine wound its way up into the heavens.  I couldn’t help but picture God stacking blessings and care…healings and resolutions…comfort and peace…and untold love – winding them higher and higher into the heavens on our behalf, while everyone stands and watches.

The trouble is…some of us are not paying attention!  We are not watching God do this for us, because we are busy tending to our own desires…wringing our hands in frustration, anger or worry…or throwing our own giant pity party.  It is time we shifted our focus and began to pay attention to what God is really doing in our lives…how He is meeting our every need. 

This is the day to begin to seek God in all things…to honor and trust Him for every single circumstance in our lives. Are you ready to do this?  Will this be the day that you your focus shifts to God and the plans that He has for you – the blessings He longs to stack on your behalf?  Don’t you think it’s time?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 2, 2015

2 Samuel 23:3-4
Our Mighty Rock,
    the God of Jacob, told me,
“A ruler who obeys God
    and does right
is like the sunrise
    on a cloudless day,
or like rain that sparkles
    on the grass.”

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
  
A dear friend of ours shared a story during a recent worship service about a foster child who is staying with his wife and four children.  Amy* arrived on a Tuesday evening before the first weekend of open season deer hunting.  My friend and his 10-year-old son had plans to go to “deer camp” and hunt – and they did this.  But when evening came, the father told his son that they had to pack up and go home.  “Can’t we spend the night?” the son asked.  They were having such a good time, and the “pull” to stay was strong.  But the boy’s father said, “No…this is Amy’s first week with us, and we need to go home and spend time with her and the rest of the family.”

When the father/son duo got home, the dad found a note from the new visitor.  She expressed how grateful she was to have been placed in such a wonderful, loving home…and she ended it by telling my friend, “I love you.”  After just a few days in his home, she had formed a bond and a respect for this Christian father and his leadership in the home.  This same little girl told my friend’s wife, “I knew you would be a nice mother, because your daughter is so kind.”

I share this to say that “leadership” and “rulers” come in many forms…even parents.  And the difference between the leadership of mothers and fathers who obey God and do right and those who don’t is critical.  In many ways, you and I are “leaders” or “rulers”.  We may not realize it, but we are.  Some of us are “leaders” at work or in a school setting among our peers.  Some of us “rule” our family and manage the household.  Others juggle responsibilities in the community, at church, and in personal relationships.  And we all have a choice…we can obey God and do right, or we can try things our way and deal with the consequences.

Some fear that operating in obedience to God will represent a surrender of control.  And they would be right - but not in the way that you think.  When we surrender to the rule of God and allow Him to be our Supreme Leader, our decisions and choices are guided by His hand.  And quite frankly, God does a far better job of this than we ever could!  So in essence, obedience to God and doing what is right FREES us to live with confidence, peace and joy.  We leave the “heavy lifting” to the One who can truly handle it…and we are released to move forward and do what needs to be done with a sense of certainty and conviction that we are on the right track.

My friend would have loved to stay in the “deer woods” with his son for another day.  But he knew that God wanted Him to go home and be a dad to his entire family.  And the rewards that resulted from his obedience were incredible.  We all feel the tug to go our own way and do things the way we want, from time to time. But when we listen for God’s voice – and follow His directives, the results are “like the sunrise on a cloudless day or the rain that sparkles on grass.”

When we show honor and respect to God, He blesses us immeasurably. Aren’t you ready to get in on some of this?

©2015 Debbie Robus

*name changed

Daily Devotional for October 14, 2015

Galatians 6:9
Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.

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

When my Mam-ma Polly was well into her nineties, she still did more for others than most people I knew.  There was always room for one more at her table.  She prayed for others and attended as many church services and events as possible.  I still remember one fall when I took silk flowers and “fall fabric” and decorations to her so that she and her friend Ruby (also in her nineties) could decorate a booth for their church’s fall festival/fundraiser.  She was forever “seeing after” a neighbor or friend.

Of course, because Mam-ma no longer could drive, she often asked me (or someone from her church) to make her deliveries for her.  I remember once when she made vegetable soup for a cousin who was not well, and I asked her why she thought SHE needed to do this.  She said, “Well, I think of all that this family has done for me, and I just have to do this for them.”  What goes around…comes around!

I find that a lot of the things that my grandmother did for other people are resulting in blessings for me and my family even now…some 2½ years after her passing.  People will comment about her generosity…her faith and strength…her goodness.  As they tend to us and do kind things for us…pray for us and encourage us in our daily living, I see the rewards that are a direct result of my grandmother’s perseverance to help others.  She left a legacy that has not gone unnoticed.

My grandmother taught me so much…but one of her unending lessons was that of doing for others.  My mother offers this same example in many ways, and they are being returned to her now, as she faces a major illness.  In the words attributed to John Wesley, these Godly examples have shown us how to… “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

These are sound words to live by, regardless of who said them…and my mother and grandmother – and other people of faith in my circle of influence – have given me plenty of examples of how to do this – and the rewards that are produced. Even if we were never rewarded (which is pretty impossible), we should do this because God has called us to serve in whatever way we can – whenever we can.  We should do this out of a deep desire to honor Him and all of the ways that He blesses us each and every day.

I am determined to push forward…to quit worrying about when it is “my turn” and focus on the missions at hand.  Perhaps those who come after me will reap the rewards of my efforts.  Either way, I know that God is calling me to never grow weary of helping others.  What about you?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 10, 2015

2 Corinthians 9:8-11
God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you’re ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done. As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds,
    giving to the needy in reckless abandon.
His right-living, right-giving ways
    never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals is more than extravagant with you. He gives you something you can then give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

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.

Have you ever had a morning when you woke up, and your first thought was, “How many hours is it until I can crawl back into this bed and sleep?”  There are days when we are so mentally and physical spent that even several hours of “sleep” are not enough. The first inclination is that this day will be wasted…we will be lazy and/or worthless.  But even on your most weary day, God is working behind the scenes…and He can use you to bless others.

How is this possible?  What does it cost you to pray?  Can you utter a petition for His love and care for another person?  Then you have been a blessing.  Can you send an e-mail of encouragement to someone?  BOOM!  You have blessed and served in God’s name?  Can you take care of yourself and rest, so that the next day, you have the energy and capacity to do more for yourself, others – and God’s Kingdom?  Then you have your “mission” for this day!

We underestimate the ways that God can use us…and we most certainly misjudge the ways that God works in our lives behind the scenes – and uses that for His glory.  The tiniest “seed” sown into us can blossom into something huge for the Kingdom of Heaven.  Our church’s Director of Children’s Ministries was rushed to a major hospital yesterday with a brain bleed.  Even from her hospital bed, we can see God’s hand at work in and through her, as countless friends and loved ones have rallied to exchange reports, share corporate and individual prayers for her – and pray for the dozens of unknown medical personnel who are involved in her care.  Imagine the ripple effect of these actions…the “seeds” that have been scattered in all directions as a result of this terrible event.  And the work - and God’s blessings and glory - continue by the minute!

So don’t sell yourself short.  Recognize how powerful God’s work is in each of our lives.  Realize that even in the midst of something as serious as a brain bleed, God can use you!  On your worst day when you want to roll over and pull the covers back over your head, you can still utter a prayer of healing, comfort and care for another – and God can do incredible things with that simple utterance!

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways…we just have to be open and receptive to His efforts.  Are you ready for anything…willing to be generous in any way that you can…and open to the work of God in and through your life?  Will this be the day that you begin to truly produce great praise for God?

Ask God to soften your heart – to open your eyes and ears to the ways that He wants to use you, regardless of your circumstances or condition.  Remind yourself that with God, all things are possible…and prepare to “scatter some seeds” and blessings in His name - every single day.

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 8, 2015

Matthew 5:5-9
“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.

“You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

“You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

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 Timothy was little, we watched a lot of NickJr.™ and PBS.  His family does not subscribe to cable TV…they watch movies and children’s programs via a streaming service.  So in the last few years, the children have had limited exposure to television commercials.  Only lately have they started to notice ads for toys, cereals, and other products and say, “I want that!” or “Will you get that for me?”  And even so, they are learning that the quantity of our “things” is not as important as we thought.  They are learning to value relationships…and the concept that we cannot instantly have everything we want - and that’s more than okay!

I want you to read this scripture passage again…and again…and again!  Let its message soak deeply into your heart and soul today.  You ARE blessed when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less.  God’s food and drink IS the best meal you will ever eat.

When you care for others, you find that others care for you.  When your heart and mind are “right,” you CAN see God in the outside world.  Life is not a competition…when you learn to cooperate rather than compete, you figure out who you really are – in the eyes of the world - and more importantly, in God’s eyes.

Because of Jesus, we truly are blessed.  Some of us are just a little too busy watching other people and the “commercials” of the world…and wishing our lives away.  Will this be the day that you start to operate more fully in God’s blessings and abundance and less in the things of this world?  Don’t you think it should be?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 7, 2014

Colossians 2:6-7
You have accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord. Now keep on following him. Plant your roots in Christ and let him be the foundation for your life. Be strong in your faith, just as you were taught. And be grateful.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
A cattle farmer purchased harvested timber land to develop for his farming operation.  The land had originally been covered in timber, which the previous owner sold and had cleared.  This left the ground littered with stumps – and ruts where the equipment had dragged the logs away.
 
The farmer had to do extensive work to get the soil in condition to produce grass for his cattle.  Once he removed all of the stumps and filled in the ruts, he had to treat the land with fertilizers and other nutrients, just to get it to a point where grass would grow.  In other words, a lot of work had to be done before the grass would actually take root and rise from the ground. It all began with the soil…a firm foundation for the vegetation that would ultimately feed and sustain his cattle and bring him good prices for them.
 
When Jesus came to earth and taught His disciples, healed the sick and the lame, and demonstrated how to serve and honor God – then died for our sins on the cross – He laid the foundation for our faith and salvation.  He also gave us the promise of spending Eternity with Him in God’s Heavenly home.  Jesus “worked the soil” so that we could confidently “plant our roots” in Him and be assured that they would grow and produce good fruit.
 
The farmer’s “soil reclamation” took a lot of time and hard work. I would venture to say that it also required some wisdom and understanding about just which mixture of nutrients would make the ground the most fertile and receptive to plants and grasses.
 
This is what Jesus did for us.  He invested His time and hard work…the incredible sacrifices that extended to His very life…so that we could be confident of a life in Him that would grow and bloom.  Try as we might, we can never calculate – or fully comprehend what this cost Jesus…and it was all done for each of us.  But we can offer Him our very best.  We can be grateful for His amazing and selfless grace, mercy, forgiveness and love…and we can honor Him with our thoughts, words and actions.
 
Are you a visible, grateful representation of Jesus’ “fertile soil” and all that He endured to establish a firm foundation for you?  Don’t you think it’s time you were?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 18, 2014

Luke 7:44-48
He turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Have you noticed this woman? When I came into your home, you didn’t give me any water so I could wash my feet. But she has washed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You didn’t even pour olive oil on my head, but she has poured expensive perfume on my feet. So I tell you that all her sins are forgiven, and that is why she has shown great love. But anyone who has been forgiven for only a little will show only a little love.”

Then Jesus said to the woman, “Your sins are forgiven.”

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

This morning, the mail lady honked her horn...our signal that she has a package for us.  We are blessed to have a mail carrier who will actually come to our doorstep with packages, rather than leave a notice for us to drive to the post office and retrieve them.  So I opened the door and watched her pull pretty large box from the back seat of her vehicle.  “I didn’t order anything,” I mused.  Then I recognized the handwriting on the mailing label.  This package was from Leslie...the wife of our nephew, John.  It was clothes that our great-niece Kelsey has outgrown, and Leslie wanted to share them with our little niece, Zola.

I opened the box of “goodies”...and it was like Christmas in August!  Now here’s the thing...I make most of Zola’s clothes, but occasionally, I purchase “clearance” items in stores and online.  It’s always fun when the package arrives in the mail and you take out all of the cute clothes and shoes for the kids.  But I have to tell you, that paled in comparison to a box like this.  Why?  The clothes are not brand-new.  Some of the colors are not quite as bright as they were when purchased in the store.

The difference is the love and thought with which these clothes were shared.  These items still have a lot of “life” in them...and some indeed look almost brand-spanking new.  Zola will be adorable in them...she will love the glittery red “Mary Jane” shoes...the fleecy flannel pajamas will keep her snug and warm this winter.  And there are even some “Hello Kitty®” items...which are always a hit!  What makes these clothes special is the attitude they represent...someone saying, “Hey, I have extra and would like to share.  I’m blessed – let me bless you, too!”

This is the difference in our spiritual lives, as well.  We often have the wrong set of priorities and perspectives.  If we view our sins as inconsequential or “small” in comparison to those of others, we may not be as grateful.  We don’t fully understand a) just how much our sins cost Jesus; and b) the significance of our outward demonstrations of gratitude to Jesus – by how we “pay it forward” with acts of mercy and kindness toward others.  When we are truly grateful for Jesus’ redemptive power in our lives, we “wash His feet” and “anoint them with oil” by demonstrating love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion toward others.  Even the simplest of acts...smiling at a disheveled, dirty person on the street, dropping a note of kindness or concern to someone who is “going through something”, or sharing a box of hand-me-down clothing becomes a way to say, “Thank You, Jesus,” for the blessings you have bestowed upon MY life.

I don’t think we truly understand just how costly our sins were/are.  We want to think that we’re not as bad as “the other guy”...that his/her sins are so much worse; therefore, he/she “owes” Jesus a bigger debt of gratitude.  That is simply not the case.  In Jesus’ eyes, we are all equal...He paid a tremendous price for ALL of our sins.  And in that regard, we should all be on our knees, washing His feet with our tears and drying them with our hair.

We can’t physically do this...but symbolically we can show our gratitude by sharing His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others.  We will each have countless opportunities to do this – even today.  You may not have a box full of children’s clothes to share with another lucky little girl...but I bet you have SOMETHING you can give away – even if it is a smile, hug, or a kind word.  Just as there are no small sins...there are no small acts of thankfulness.  Are you paying attention and looking for ways to show your love and appreciation to Jesus?  How will you demonstrate your gratitude this day?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 3, 2014

Proverbs 19:17
Mercy to the needy is a loan to God,
    and God pays back those loans in full.
 
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.
 
Johanna is a member of my church whose friend Peri is at the terminal stage of her fight with ovarian cancer.  Peri has five children between the ages of 6 and 21.  Her end-of-life goal is to leave a pictorial legacy for her children in the form of scrapbooks with narratives.  So Johanna organized scrapbook parties at our church’s Fellowship Hall and asked those who could spare a little time to come and crop/glue photos into scrapbooks. Peri will then journal the stories behind these pictures for her children.  There has already been one day of scrapbooking… and tomorrow, a group will gather for the second.
 
Most of the women who are helping with this have never met Peri.  I would venture to say that they all know Johanna… but there may be a few who don’t really know her very well. And I am quite certain that many of the women who will gather have plenty of other things they could do with their Saturday.  Most have children and families of their own.  But they see a need…to lend some of their time to a sister in Christ and her dear friend.  I have no doubt that their efforts and sacrifices will be repaid - with dividends.
 
Has someone ever given up something for you?  I don’t necessarily mean a material possession… or money itself.  Perhaps someone has dropped everything to help you with a project…or maybe they cancelled plans because you had a crisis and needed them.  Has it ever occurred to you that any time a person gives of their time, energy, possessions or money… they could easily have spent this on someone or something else?
 
Think about it.  The friend or relative who loaned you money to buy a new car could have spent those dollars on something for themselves… the person who knocks on your door when you are sick and says, “I brought you chicken soup” could easily use that time doing something for himself or another person. The friend who shows up at your loved one’s funeral or comes to visit you and support you while you grieve could be doing a myriad of other things with his/her time.  Those who offer to keep your kids while you have a break… for an hour or two – or even a few days… could surely have used this time doing something else, if even sitting and watching a movie or reading a book!  But YOU were chosen...your needs were important enough for someone to drop what they were doing… or reach into their pantry or pocket...and say, “Let me help you.”
 
This sounds like a simple thing, which is why we take so many kindnesses for granted.  We fail to recognize the sacrifices others make on our behalf.  We also may be unwilling to recognize the needs of others and meet them ourselves.  In other words, we are often pretty selfish and ungrateful.
 
My challenge to you today is to ask God to show you what needs He wants you to meet…then do it!  I’m not saying you have to loan someone money or make chicken soup, attend a funeral - or even help create scrapbooks for a dying mother to leave for her children.  But I am quite certain that today – and every day – there is at least one way you can “help the needy”.
 
By the same token, I am asking you to take a long hard look at your daily living and note where – and how – others are meeting YOUR needs in Jesus’ name.  Who is extending kindnesses, grace and mercy to you?  Who is coming to your rescue when you experience difficulties?  Who listens when you need a friendly ear?  Who is taking time to let you know that you are important?  Are you grateful?  Are you “paying it forward” by sharing empathy and kindness with someone else?  Do you at least say “Thank you!”?
 
Not every act of compassion will involve something as tangible as creating scrapbooks or making a sacrifice of some sort.  But all are important and represent a “loan” to God… which He always repays.  And honestly, it’s not about the restitution…it’s about the gratitude.  Are you grateful enough for everything that God has given you to be a good steward of His gifts…both as a “lender” and a recipient?  Isn’t it time you were?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 20, 2011

Psalm 109:21-31
Be true to your name, LORD God! Show your great kindness and rescue me. I am poor and helpless, and I have lost all hope. I am fading away like an evening shadow; I am tossed aside like a crawling insect. I have gone without eating, until my knees are weak, and my body is bony. When my enemies see me, they say cruel things and shake their heads.

Please help me, LORD God! Come and save me because of your love. Let others know that you alone have saved me. I don't care if they curse me, as long as you bless me. You will make my enemies fail when they attack, and you will make me glad to be your servant. You will cover them with shame, just as their bodies are covered with clothes. I will sing your praises and thank you, LORD, when your people meet. You help everyone in need, and you defend them when they are on trial.

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

I watched an episode of “Oprah” recently about a young man in Indiana named Clayton, who was locked in a 2-ft by 2-ft closet, wrapped in wire fencing material and bound with chains. Sometimes he wasn’t fed for days. Clayton was only six years old when this happened. His abusers were his own mother and stepfather. They did unbelievably cruel, horrible things to this child. Police estimate this went on for three to six months.

Clayton’s 14-year-old stepsister was kind to him. When the parents would leave, she would sometimes let him out of the closet, feed him and rub lotion on his body wounds caused by the fencing and chains. At some point, the stepsister ran away to Kentucky, and when police found her, she told them everything. An astute policeman contacted the parents and told them he had their daughter, but they must come and get her. He was hoping they would bring Clayton. They did… and the officer insisted on speaking with him privately. It was a hunch – one that paid off.

The officer in Kentucky really had no jurisdiction over a matter in Indiana. But he sat Clayton on his lap and fed him peanut butter and crackers. He said later to Clayton, “You ate a lot of peanut butter and crackers!” He realized quickly that Clayton loved his stepdad, in spite of the abuse… and even blamed himself for some of it. So the policeman said, “Your father wants you to tell me exactly what has happened.” Clayton replied, “He does?” The policeman does not regret the “white lie.” It worked. Clayton confirmed his stepsister’s story.

Clayton is now 18 years old. Since the rescue 12 years ago, he has been reared by a great-aunt, Patti, and her husband. The couple adopted Clayton and worked through the challenges of helping him overcome the nightmare of his confinement and abuse at the hands of his parents. Clayton’s stepfather and mother received the maximum sentence for their actions… four years each in prison. However, his mother only served two years and three months, and his stepfather was released from prison after 21 months. You can read more of Clayton’s story at http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Claytons-Survival-Story/7#ixzz1VXOutjdN

Clayton’s great-aunt, Patti, said she had married and moved away when Clayton was little, and she had no idea that any of this was happening. When she was told of it, she dropped to her knees in horror and despair. And I understood that completely… I can imagine how devastated I would be if something like this happened to a young child I loved. But at the same time, I began to count the ways God worked in this situation to conquer enemies and save the innocent.

God surely gave Clayton a stepsister who loved him enough to risk her own safety to let him out, tend his wounds, and feed him. I can’t help but believe that God gave that teenage girl the courage to run away and try to gain safety for herself… and for Clayton. God equipped the investigating officer with wisdom and quick thinking… and he was able to gain the confidence of the teenage sister – and then that of little Clayton. God gave Clayton to loving adoptive parents… his great-aunt Patti and her husband… and he gave them the wisdom, patience and courage to help Clayton overcome his experiences and become the productive, happy young man that he appears to be today.

Clayton has not seen his parents since he was rescued, but he has come to terms with his experiences – and grown from them. He says he tries to be especially kind to others as a result… to be better for what has happened to him. And I can’t help but believe that God orchestrated that, too.

I don’t know what you are enduring today. I don’t know what your “closet” is - or what may have caused you to lose hope. But I know Someone who can rescue you… Someone who is equipped to handle whatever you throw at Him – and He wants to do just that! I also am not going to dwell on why these horrible things happened to little Clayton. Instead, I am going to look at what God has done with this situation to bring about positive results… and how this can serve as a lesson for each of us.

Oprah first aired information about Clayton in 2000, but she didn’t use his name. She told his story, and at one point in the show, she looked into the camera and said something to the effect of, “If you or someone you know is being abused or mistreated, tell a parent. If you can’t tell a parent, go to school and tell a teacher.” A six-year-old girl who was watching did just that. She was being raped by her stepfather, and the next day, she told a teacher. The stepfather was prosecuted and sent to prison for his crime. Because of Clayton’s story – and Oprah’s sharing of it… this little girl was rescued.

My point is that God may be placing you in a situation to connect the dots about someone who is in trouble. It may not be child abuse… it could be some other form of abuse… or a struggle with alcoholism, drugs, or another addiction. Someone could be despondent or in deep trouble… desperately needing others to pick up on the signs and point them toward appropriate help. God may be counting on you to be the “stepsister in Indiana” or the “officer in Kentucky”… or you may be the “Aunt Patti.” The question is… are you paying attention? Are you tuned in to God and His calling for you? Are you ready and willing to do your part? Notice I didn’t say “able”… because if God wants you to do something, He will give you the necessary ability!

I know this message is long, but it is important that we recognize that God may be calling us to be His agents on this earth to bring about great changes… to rescue others from enemies we can’t even imagine. He may be giving us opportunities to physically demonstrate His amazing power and love… and to praise Him for the opportunity and the rescue afterward. Are you paying attention? Are you ready to do your part? Will you step up and be a rescuer in God’s name… and praise Him for the outcome?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 7, 2011

Psalm 103:17-22
The LORD is always kind to those who worship him, and he keeps his promises to their descendants who faithfully obey him. God has set up his kingdom in heaven, and he rules the whole creation. All of you mighty angels, who obey God's commands, come and praise your LORD! All of you thousands who serve and obey God, come and praise your LORD! All of God's creation and all that he rules, come and praise your LORD! With all my heart I praise the LORD!

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

A new “craze” has developed on Facebook, as people across the country are starting pages for their hometown… like “You know you’re from Heber Springs, Arkansas, when…” People post their memories, and others comment and add to them. So far, it’s been a lot of fun… and truly heartwarming. As a fifth-generation resident of this county, my “roots” run deep. I’ll admit, when someone speaks less than favorably about my home town… especially if something particularly critical or unkind is said… I bristle and get a little cranky!

I’m sure many could say the same thing about other “home towns,” but mine has served my family well. I feel a rich heritage here… my father-in-law and grandfather were both mayors of Heber Springs. My great-great-great-grandfather operated a general store near Wilburn well over 100 years ago… a great-grandfather was a barber in a downtown shop, and a second-great-uncle ran the local livery (all important businesses in their day!). My grandmother drove one of the three school buses in our district for about 12 years… before and after serving as a chair-side assistant to one of our town’s two or three dentists. I can’t begin to count how many people know my mother as “’Miss Arline,’ the woman who taught me piano, voice, and organ – or was my kindergarten teacher!”

More than this, I can scarcely go to Wal-Mart or a funeral in this town without seeing someone who was a Girl Scout leader, Sunday School teacher, or mentor to me in some way. I grew up in a time when every adult nurtured all the town’s children, to some extent. And in that regard, countless people modeled for me a faithful worship of our Heavenly Father. I certainly didn’t realize this at the time… and maybe they didn’t, either. But God was at work, building a legacy in the children of my home town through the adults who resided here. And as many of us grew into faith-filled Christians, God’s kindnesses and promises continued to us… and hopefully beyond to those in our own paths.

I am thankful to have grown up in such a wonderful, nurturing community. My home town was far from perfect, but the love for one another – and the abiding faith in God and His promises – was constant in ways both obvious and subtle. People are nostalgic for their home town in cities of all sizes. And surely God has worked in major urban metropolises and the smallest “holes in the road.” But I am grateful He chose to plant me in this location… and I am humbled to think that I have an opportunity to continue a legacy here… both in the community, and in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Are you a good steward of all God has given you? Are you building a legacy for your descendants… one that shows respect for your community and God’s Kingdom? Are you one who gripes and complains… or someone who praises and elevates - both the people in your circle and your community at large? Are you serving God with faith, obedience, and praise? When people reminisce about your community in years to come, will they recall the people and places God used to bless and nurture them… and will you be among them? Will you have helped to continue a legacy of faith and obedience that resulted in fulfilled promises and kindness from the LORD?

Take time today to thank God for planting you where He did… for giving you the opportunity to serve Him wherever you are… and to add to a foundation of faith and kindness – blessings and promises… for generations to come. Commit to being the best citizen of God’s kingdom – and your local community – that you can possibly become. And in all things… with all your heart… come and praise your LORD!

©2011 Debbie Robus