Daily Devotional for November 26, 2016

Psalm 34:1-10
I will always praise the Lord. With all my heart, I will praise the Lord. Let all who are helpless, listen and be glad. Honor the Lord with me! Celebrate his great name.

I asked the Lord for help, and he saved me from all my fears.  Keep your eyes on the Lord! You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame.

I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me from all my troubles. If you honor the Lord, his angel will protect you.

Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad.

Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.

Young lions may go hungry or even starve, but if you trust the Lord, you will never miss out on anything good.

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

This month the 2nd-3rd graders and I have studied “the truth about angels and devils”…and learned about prayer.  Tomorrow, we will learn about heaven.  During one of the lessons, we read James 4:8…”Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” My assistant, Susan, reminded the children that when they feel the devil near them, all they have to do is “turn their back” on him and whisper the name, “Jesus!”  Jesus will come to their aid, and the devil will flee.

A few nights ago, I awoke suddenly, and my mind started racing.  I could not stop thinking about several things, and it occurred to me…”This is the devil trying to steal my sleep.”  I remembered Susan’s suggestion, and I began to repeatedly whisper, “Jesus…Jesus!”  A sense of calm and peace washed over me, and I soon felt fast asleep.  I prayed…and the LORD saved me from all of my troubles.  His angels came to protect me as I slept.

So often, we “suffer” needlessly.  We fail to reach out to God, Who is waiting to come to us and offer protection…to save us from all of our troubles and fears. Yes, we were “nobodies,” but God loved us enough to send Jesus to rescue us.  And when we call on His name, He will draw near and protect us – and meet our every need. 

Psalm 34:10 talks of “young lions”…which is often a Biblical reference to Satan and his agents. At the very name of Jesus, these enemies wither and slink away in defeat.  Isn’t it time we whispered, “Jesus!” more often?  With all my heart, I will praise Him and celebrate His great name!

Honor the LORD with me…and learn to never be in need!  Let all who are helpless listen and be glad indeed! Kick the devil and his agents to the curb! Honor and praise the LORD…this day, and always.
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 24, 2016

Psalm 118:1-7; 27-28
Oh, thank the Lord, for he’s so good! His loving-kindness is forever.

Let the congregation of Israel praise him with these same words: “His loving-kindness is forever.” And let the priests of Aaron chant, “His loving-kindness is forever.” Let the Gentile converts chant, “His loving-kindness is forever.”

In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me and rescued me. He is for me! How can I be afraid? What can mere man do to me? The Lord is on my side; he will help me. Let those who hate me beware.

Jehovah God is our light. I present to him my sacrifice upon the altar, for you are my God, and I shall give you this thanks and this praise. Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for he is so good! For his loving-kindness is forever.

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

Last Thanksgiving Day, things were so different for my family.  Greg’s brother was alive and well and celebrating with his family.  My mother was battling ovarian cancer…but she was able to dine with us at our table and visit for a few hours afterward.  Now, both of these loved ones are feasting at God’s Heavenly Table…and that doesn’t seem possible – or right!

Last year, Mother wrote a Thanksgiving week blog post in which she noted: “This year, my 76th Thanksgiving, is totally different. I have cancer—an unwelcome and unexpected guest. I cannot host my family around my dining table. My Thanksgiving apron hung limp, not worn this year. However, my older daughter and her husband picked up the tradition. On Thanksgiving Day, we gathered around their dining table in their beautiful home perched on a bluff overlooking [the] Little Red River and Greers Ferry Dam that holds the water back in an expanse of clear blue water.”

“For the first time in my adult life, I was only expected to be present. I did not prepare the dressing, the pecan pie, or the turkey breast. But I am so thankful to have one more Thanksgiving with my loved ones; three little great-grandchildren who keep the holiday lively. A nephew and his wife traveled from Northwest Arkansas to be with us. Thanksgiving was a special day—one in which to give thanks to our Lord. Hopefully, next year, I can once again take my Thanksgiving apron from its hook and help to prepare our feast.”

Mother did not get to pick up that apron for this Thanksgiving…but the cousins drove down to be with us again.  And my immediate family is gathered together for a Thanksgiving feast and visit.  We are still standing…and we are incredibly grateful and thankful.

I lost count of the number of dear friends of ours who have lost a parent, spouse or sibling since this time last year.  Maybe I am more aware, but it seems like a lot of people are in the same boat as we are.  A few days ago, God gave me a beautiful vision.  I have been cooking for our meal for three days or more…and God showed me a lavish Thanksgiving table in heaven.  My parents were seated there, along with my brother, grandparents, my cousins, aunts, uncles, Greg’s dad and brother and HIS grandparents and extended family.

Neighbors, friends, and people from around our community and beyond who were an integral part of our lives were there, also.  There was such an abundance of food…and people lingered and laughed and visited.  Jesus moved in and among the group, sitting first one place and then another.  There was no sadness…and nobody was worried about calories – or anything else!  Did I mention that there was a lot of laughter?

I very plainly heard God tell me, “Someday, you will be here, too…and it will be glorious. Meanwhile, you have people to ‘feed’ where you are…things to do…and an important purpose.”  I was flooded with peace and comfort by this thought…and I have shared it with several loved ones who are missing their own “people” this holiday.

We have so much for which to be thankful…especially Jesus and the promise of heaven because of His sacrifice on the cross.  Someday, we WILL be there, too…and it WILL be glorious.  Meanwhile, God’s lovingkindness makes life on earth bearable – and pretty great most days – like this one!  For this, I give thanks – today, and always. What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Matthew 7:7-11
Ask, and you will receive. Search, and you will find. Knock, and the door will be opened for you. Everyone who asks will receive. Everyone who searches will find. And the door will be opened for everyone who knocks. Would any of you give your hungry child a stone, if the child asked for some bread? Would you give your child a snake if the child asked for a fish? As bad as you are, you still know how to give good gifts to your children. But your heavenly Father is even more ready to give good things to people who ask.

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

Things got a little hectic this past week, and I got behind on reading my daily devotionals from Jesus Calling*.  So I caught up this morning…and the thoughts for June 29th could not have paralleled better with this scripture.  In part, we were reminded to call on Jesus each morning…to whisper His name and invite Him to come into our thoughts. The writer reminds us that with Jesus on our minds, we don’t face anything alone…He is right beside us to handle anything that arises.

But here’s the thing…we have to ask!  We have to knock – and expect Jesus to answer!  As I have mentioned in recent days, sometimes our thoughts and feelings are so jumbled that we don’t even know what to ask…and a simple plea of “LORD, You know what I need…will you help me?” is sufficient.  I would caution you not to reduce your daily prayers to this on a regular basis.  God wants us to lay bare our hearts and define our needs to Him. I believe this helps us to recognize when and how He does answer each one of them.

But there will be times when we simply need to “ask” or “knock”…to invite Jesus to come and sit with us…and handle things.  And He will do exactly that!

Stop for a minute today and examine your life and the issues that are on your heart…the joys and the burdens.  Whisper the name of Jesus, and invite Him to come and “sit a spell.”  Give Him your anxieties…revel in your blessings…talk to Him about “things” and ask Him to give you exactly what you need for this day.

Philippians 4:13 tells us that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.”  Have you asked Him for strength today?

©2016 Debbie Robus

*www.JesusCalling.com