Luke 22:35-37
Then Jesus asked them, “When I
sent you out to preach the Good News and you were without money, duffle
bag, or extra clothing, how did you get along?”
“Fine,” they replied.
“But
now,” he said, “take a duffle bag if you have one and your money. And
if you don’t have a sword, better sell your clothes and buy one! For the
time has come for this prophecy about me to come true: ‘He will be
condemned as a criminal!’ Yes, everything written about me by the
prophets will come true.”
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
A couple of Sundays ago, my
friend Valerie and I taught 2nd-3rd grade Sunday school together. We
both had tan tote bags that looked very similar…and we both remarked
that we had each thought the other one’s purse was ours. Valerie showed
me how heavy her purse was…and I laughed, because mine was equally
heavy. It seems that we women try to carry the world in our purses…and
if there are small children involved, this is absolutely a necessity!
Once
in a while, Greg and I will go somewhere that I do not carry a purse.
Sometimes, I will slip a couple of things in the car…and I usually have a
pocket for my phone. But in general, the days of “traveling light”
pretty well disappeared for me years ago. Just as surely as I don’t
carry my purse, the children or I will need something – tissues or a
handkerchief…eyeglass cleaner…cream for some sort of bite, itch or
“boo-boo”…hand sanitizer…a pen…my extra set of keys or my wallet…the
kids’ sunglasses…and so much more. To go without these things might not
amount to a matter of life or death, but I would rather be prepared than
caught off guard!
How does this apply to our daily living as a
Christian? Jesus is telling us that we can’t just wander through life
and expect God to take care of everything for us. We can’t let our feet
hit the floor in the morning without our “duffel bag” by our side,
filled with the word of God (our sword), the presence of the Holy Spirit
(our currency), confidence and faith in our mission (extra clothing),
and direct communication with our Heavenly Father to assure that we are
on the right track! We have no clue what we will need in any given
minute, so we’d better be prepared for anything!
The battle is
real. The stakes are high. The days of venturing out into the world with
just the clothes on our back are gone. The devil’s enemies are waiting
and watching, and they will pick out those who are not prepared and
attack them with a vengeance. Many will never even see the “hit”
coming. Do not be among them!
Your “duffel bag” may seem so
heavy and cumbersome at times…and totally unnecessary at others. But I
assure you, it is worth the weight. There will be days when you want to
ask, “Why can’t I just ‘be’ today?” And the short answer is…”What if
Jesus had said this on the cross?” Our “burden” pales in comparison to
that of our Jesus. So pack your duffel bag and prepare for the
journey ahead. There is work to be done - and we don’t have a minute to
waste!
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label carrying Jesus in your heart. Show all posts
Showing posts with label carrying Jesus in your heart. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 5, 2015
John 14:2-3
There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I substituted for the teacher in the pre-K Sunday school class at our church. Eleven three- and 4-year-olds arrived in their Easter finery to hear this weeks’ Bible lesson. Our scripture verse was part of John 14:2…”I go to prepare a home for you.”[paraphrased for the little ones] The teacher’s guide instructed us to discuss the crucifixion and the resurrection and burial of Jesus. Our art project was to color a picture of a tomb/cave…and attach a “stone” with a little brass “brad”, so that the stone could be “rolled away.”
The hole in the cave – or “portal”, as one 4-year-old described it – contained the words, “He is risen.” This was a fairly heavy lesson for this age group, but some of the older children had a decent grasp of the story and helped to guide the conversation. And as I talked with Timothy, Zola and Nathan at lunch and thought about what they gleaned from their morning Sunday school classes, I asked myself…”What is the “take-away” for ALL of us on this Easter Sunday?”
The people who developed our church’s Sunday school curriculum seemed to want us to remember two things: 1)“Jesus Christ is risen”; and 2) He has gone to prepare a home for us – with Him – in Heaven. The children and I talked about how glorious heaven with Jesus will be. During our lunch, Timothy expressed concern about dying and going to heaven, and I assured him that it will be wonderful – that we will have a mansion to live in with Jesus, and all sorts of amazing things await us.
I told Timothy that we don’t know what all will be in heaven, but we might even have swimming pools, trampolines and skating rinks. He instantly replied, “Man, I bet those dogs and Mam-ma are having a GOOD time!” He was referring to my mom and sister’s dogs who both died within the last year…and my grandmother who left this earth two years ago. In his five-year-old thinking, Timothy instantly connected with the only breathing beings he knew who had died. And he pictured them in heaven with Jesus…”having a GOOD time.” He had trouble understanding why we cannot see Jesus if He is indeed alive. I told him that Jesus lives in our hearts, and we can feel Him with us each and every day…and he clutched his heart and said, “He’s right here!”
So today, as we celebrate how Christ rose from the grave…how He lives in our hearts and is preparing amazing rooms and mansions for us where we will live with Him for all eternity…let us be joyful. We should each picture Jesus and those loved ones who gave their hearts to Him and have gone to heaven ahead of us “having a GOOD time.” We must desire to live in such a way that we will be ready to join them when our “room” is ready!
The tomb was empty…the “portal” was open and angels had rolled away a stone so heavy that even Superman or Iron Man could not have moved it singlehandedly! Only Jesus – or one of God’s angels – could do such a thing! He suffered and died because He loves us…He rose because a mere grave for mortal men cannot hold Him…and He rose to heaven to live with God and prepare a place for us. It’s a lot to take in…almost too much to consider…but such an incredible message for each of us.
I’ve heard other people say this, but the longer I live, the sweeter the thoughts of heaven become…and the more I appreciate what Jesus did so that I can live there someday. Easter Sunday is a time to celebrate…and shout…and praise God for His amazing gift of Jesus. He is risen! Jesus is preparing a permanent home for those who give their hearts to Him and invite Him into their hearts. I am one of them…are you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
There are many homes up there where my Father lives, and I am going to prepare them for your coming. When everything is ready, then I will come and get you, so that you can always be with me where I am. If this weren’t so, I would tell you plainly.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I substituted for the teacher in the pre-K Sunday school class at our church. Eleven three- and 4-year-olds arrived in their Easter finery to hear this weeks’ Bible lesson. Our scripture verse was part of John 14:2…”I go to prepare a home for you.”[paraphrased for the little ones] The teacher’s guide instructed us to discuss the crucifixion and the resurrection and burial of Jesus. Our art project was to color a picture of a tomb/cave…and attach a “stone” with a little brass “brad”, so that the stone could be “rolled away.”
The hole in the cave – or “portal”, as one 4-year-old described it – contained the words, “He is risen.” This was a fairly heavy lesson for this age group, but some of the older children had a decent grasp of the story and helped to guide the conversation. And as I talked with Timothy, Zola and Nathan at lunch and thought about what they gleaned from their morning Sunday school classes, I asked myself…”What is the “take-away” for ALL of us on this Easter Sunday?”
The people who developed our church’s Sunday school curriculum seemed to want us to remember two things: 1)“Jesus Christ is risen”; and 2) He has gone to prepare a home for us – with Him – in Heaven. The children and I talked about how glorious heaven with Jesus will be. During our lunch, Timothy expressed concern about dying and going to heaven, and I assured him that it will be wonderful – that we will have a mansion to live in with Jesus, and all sorts of amazing things await us.
I told Timothy that we don’t know what all will be in heaven, but we might even have swimming pools, trampolines and skating rinks. He instantly replied, “Man, I bet those dogs and Mam-ma are having a GOOD time!” He was referring to my mom and sister’s dogs who both died within the last year…and my grandmother who left this earth two years ago. In his five-year-old thinking, Timothy instantly connected with the only breathing beings he knew who had died. And he pictured them in heaven with Jesus…”having a GOOD time.” He had trouble understanding why we cannot see Jesus if He is indeed alive. I told him that Jesus lives in our hearts, and we can feel Him with us each and every day…and he clutched his heart and said, “He’s right here!”
So today, as we celebrate how Christ rose from the grave…how He lives in our hearts and is preparing amazing rooms and mansions for us where we will live with Him for all eternity…let us be joyful. We should each picture Jesus and those loved ones who gave their hearts to Him and have gone to heaven ahead of us “having a GOOD time.” We must desire to live in such a way that we will be ready to join them when our “room” is ready!
The tomb was empty…the “portal” was open and angels had rolled away a stone so heavy that even Superman or Iron Man could not have moved it singlehandedly! Only Jesus – or one of God’s angels – could do such a thing! He suffered and died because He loves us…He rose because a mere grave for mortal men cannot hold Him…and He rose to heaven to live with God and prepare a place for us. It’s a lot to take in…almost too much to consider…but such an incredible message for each of us.
I’ve heard other people say this, but the longer I live, the sweeter the thoughts of heaven become…and the more I appreciate what Jesus did so that I can live there someday. Easter Sunday is a time to celebrate…and shout…and praise God for His amazing gift of Jesus. He is risen! Jesus is preparing a permanent home for those who give their hearts to Him and invite Him into their hearts. I am one of them…are you?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 17, 2014
Acts 10:37-38
“You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with 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.
When we think of “healing”, we think of some sort of physical illness or injury. But everywhere you look, people are in need of “healing” from all kinds of “ailments”. Students are struggling with homework assignments and concepts they can’t seem to grasp and retain. Parents are concerned about every aspect of the lives of their children. There are people struggling with bills, jobs, physical illnesses and injuries, loneliness, relationship issues, and grief. Seniors have a plethora of troubles related to aging and declining health. And we haven’t even mentioned those “sicknesses” that grip our headlines...abuse of children and spouses..., conflict and combat in American cities and on foreign soil...retaliatory beheadings and senseless brutality...and even natural disasters like drought, wildfires and flooding. We truly are a sick world in need of healing!
What struck me instantly about the scripture passage today was this sentence...”He was able to do all this because God was with him.” Even Jesus - the Great Healer and Physician - needed God’s power and presence. If Jesus Christ needed God with Him in order to be well and heal others, don’t you think we certainly need Him in our lives?
Let’s be honest...we can’t do this on our own or under our own power! The only way we even have a CHANCE is to embrace God and ask Him to wield His power in our lives. Our “healing” starts with a liberal dose of the anointing by God with the Holy Spirit - who will dwell in our heart and guide our steps. Again, if it was important for Jesus, it surely is vital for us!
Does this guarantee that we will have “smooth sailing?” Is this an instant “cure” for all that ails us? Yes...and NO! Think of it this way...if you have allergies, you take an antihistamine to alleviate the symptoms. This drug doesn’t remove your condition – but you are able to manage it. If something causes you pain - like a splinter in your hand or a broken toe - you determine the problem and take measures to address it. Sometimes these ailments or injuries can be fully cured and alleviated. At other times, we determine methods of coping with these challenges and relieving some of the symptoms.
This is how it is with God’s power and care. There are burdens and “ailments” that He will remove from you completely. In other cases, He will show you how to cope with your circumstances...and grow and learn from the experience. But God will never leave you to flounder and struggle without any hope of relief. He will never allow you to be completely beaten down by the devil.
So think about what “ails” you today. Consider the “sicknesses” of this world and how the devil attempts to beat us down each and every day. Then turn to God and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit...to “inoculate” you against Satan’s attempts to capture you and destroy your “health” – in every area of life. Trust God to know the right “prescription” for you and your circumstances...and never, ever let go of His power and presence! If Jesus needed God with Him...surely we do, as well. Who is your “Great Physician”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“You know the story of what happened in Judea. It began in Galilee after John preached a total life-change. Then Jesus arrived from Nazareth, anointed by God with the Holy Spirit, ready for action. He went through the country helping people and healing everyone who was beaten down by the Devil. He was able to do all this because God was with 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.
When we think of “healing”, we think of some sort of physical illness or injury. But everywhere you look, people are in need of “healing” from all kinds of “ailments”. Students are struggling with homework assignments and concepts they can’t seem to grasp and retain. Parents are concerned about every aspect of the lives of their children. There are people struggling with bills, jobs, physical illnesses and injuries, loneliness, relationship issues, and grief. Seniors have a plethora of troubles related to aging and declining health. And we haven’t even mentioned those “sicknesses” that grip our headlines...abuse of children and spouses..., conflict and combat in American cities and on foreign soil...retaliatory beheadings and senseless brutality...and even natural disasters like drought, wildfires and flooding. We truly are a sick world in need of healing!
What struck me instantly about the scripture passage today was this sentence...”He was able to do all this because God was with him.” Even Jesus - the Great Healer and Physician - needed God’s power and presence. If Jesus Christ needed God with Him in order to be well and heal others, don’t you think we certainly need Him in our lives?
Let’s be honest...we can’t do this on our own or under our own power! The only way we even have a CHANCE is to embrace God and ask Him to wield His power in our lives. Our “healing” starts with a liberal dose of the anointing by God with the Holy Spirit - who will dwell in our heart and guide our steps. Again, if it was important for Jesus, it surely is vital for us!
Does this guarantee that we will have “smooth sailing?” Is this an instant “cure” for all that ails us? Yes...and NO! Think of it this way...if you have allergies, you take an antihistamine to alleviate the symptoms. This drug doesn’t remove your condition – but you are able to manage it. If something causes you pain - like a splinter in your hand or a broken toe - you determine the problem and take measures to address it. Sometimes these ailments or injuries can be fully cured and alleviated. At other times, we determine methods of coping with these challenges and relieving some of the symptoms.
This is how it is with God’s power and care. There are burdens and “ailments” that He will remove from you completely. In other cases, He will show you how to cope with your circumstances...and grow and learn from the experience. But God will never leave you to flounder and struggle without any hope of relief. He will never allow you to be completely beaten down by the devil.
So think about what “ails” you today. Consider the “sicknesses” of this world and how the devil attempts to beat us down each and every day. Then turn to God and ask Him to fill you with the Holy Spirit...to “inoculate” you against Satan’s attempts to capture you and destroy your “health” – in every area of life. Trust God to know the right “prescription” for you and your circumstances...and never, ever let go of His power and presence! If Jesus needed God with Him...surely we do, as well. Who is your “Great Physician”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 24, 2014
2 Corinthians 2:14-15
But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, he has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, I made apple pies. I shared one with my cousins, and one of them said, “I bet your house smells amazing!” And yes, it did smell good as the aroma of freshly baked pie wafted through the rooms. We all associate certain thoughts and memories with smells – both good ones and those that are not so pleasant. If you have ever had a bad experience with a certain smell, unhappy memories will be triggered pretty much every time you encounter that aroma afterward…and you may be left feeling unsettled – or even agitated.
Perhaps you share fond memories associated with smells. For me, it is those little crumbly wafer-style ice cream cones. My grandmother kept them – along with ice cream (usually Neopolitan, so we could each choose our favorite flavor!) – and I think of her every time I smell those. Today, I keep them for our children, and each time we have an ice cream cone, I remember my grandmother.
I shared some baby clothes that Timothy had outgrown with my friend Melissa, and as she took them out of the sack, she asked her daughter Ada, “Do you know who gave us these clothes?” Ada replied, “Yes…Mrs. Devvie! They smell like her!” My cousin Natalie tells me that her little boy, Owen, has made the same comment – that the clothes I have made for him “smell like Aunt Debbie”. We think it must be the fabric softener I use. And speaking of fabric softener…I purchased dryer sheets last week while I was shopping. All the way home, my car smelled wonderful…the sweet, soothing fragrance from those boxes filled my vehicle and gave me a wonderful sense of calm and relaxation.
The Bible tells us that Christ’s presence within our hearts is a sweet fragrance…an aroma to savor. He gives us peace, calm, and rest as we let the cares of the world – and freedom from our sin – go by the wayside, and we simply bask in His love and care. His is not a palpable aroma in the physical sense – like that of dryer sheets, an apple pie or an ice cream cone. But the sweet perfume of Jesus is the most lasting fragrance…the most powerful and effective scent…the most peaceful and restful “aroma” we will ever experience.
Do you carry the sweet perfume of Jesus’ love and care with you? Is the aroma of His grace and mercy - and His sacrifice for your sins - filling your heart and soul today? Are you resting in the beautiful fragrance of Christ…relaxing in the bountiful and glorious aroma of His continual presence? Don’t you want to “smell like Jesus”? Isn’t this a good day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, he has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go he uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, I made apple pies. I shared one with my cousins, and one of them said, “I bet your house smells amazing!” And yes, it did smell good as the aroma of freshly baked pie wafted through the rooms. We all associate certain thoughts and memories with smells – both good ones and those that are not so pleasant. If you have ever had a bad experience with a certain smell, unhappy memories will be triggered pretty much every time you encounter that aroma afterward…and you may be left feeling unsettled – or even agitated.
Perhaps you share fond memories associated with smells. For me, it is those little crumbly wafer-style ice cream cones. My grandmother kept them – along with ice cream (usually Neopolitan, so we could each choose our favorite flavor!) – and I think of her every time I smell those. Today, I keep them for our children, and each time we have an ice cream cone, I remember my grandmother.
I shared some baby clothes that Timothy had outgrown with my friend Melissa, and as she took them out of the sack, she asked her daughter Ada, “Do you know who gave us these clothes?” Ada replied, “Yes…Mrs. Devvie! They smell like her!” My cousin Natalie tells me that her little boy, Owen, has made the same comment – that the clothes I have made for him “smell like Aunt Debbie”. We think it must be the fabric softener I use. And speaking of fabric softener…I purchased dryer sheets last week while I was shopping. All the way home, my car smelled wonderful…the sweet, soothing fragrance from those boxes filled my vehicle and gave me a wonderful sense of calm and relaxation.
The Bible tells us that Christ’s presence within our hearts is a sweet fragrance…an aroma to savor. He gives us peace, calm, and rest as we let the cares of the world – and freedom from our sin – go by the wayside, and we simply bask in His love and care. His is not a palpable aroma in the physical sense – like that of dryer sheets, an apple pie or an ice cream cone. But the sweet perfume of Jesus is the most lasting fragrance…the most powerful and effective scent…the most peaceful and restful “aroma” we will ever experience.
Do you carry the sweet perfume of Jesus’ love and care with you? Is the aroma of His grace and mercy - and His sacrifice for your sins - filling your heart and soul today? Are you resting in the beautiful fragrance of Christ…relaxing in the bountiful and glorious aroma of His continual presence? Don’t you want to “smell like Jesus”? Isn’t this a good day to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 21, 2014
1 John 1:7
If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My niece Jasmine, said that when Zola put on her Easter dress, she twirled around in the floor with excitement. Her older brother Timothy told her to “Stop that! You are NOT a hula girl!” Zola quickly replied, “Yes I AM! I AM a hula girl!” Trust me…this is not the first time that Big Brother has told Little Sister how to act…and it certainly won’t be the last!
The thing is…more than a few of us could use a “big brother or sister” to tell us to “Stop that!” We have claimed the name of Jesus…then gone right back to behaving like we always did. Nothing really changed. Many people made their annual “Easter appearance” at church on Sunday…and that will be about as “spiritual” as it gets for them until at least Christmas! A friend of mine calls these folks “Christmas-and-Easter-Christians”.
I still recall when one of my best friends was baptized into her husband’s church. We were both so excited for her new-found faith, and I asked her, “So what’s next?” She replied, “What do you mean?” I explained that I was wondering if there was going to be someone in her church family who would nurture her and encourage her as she studied the Bible and grew in her discipleship. She did not know of any such person. So we studied together and shared in our faith walk for the next few months/years…and I’m sure her husband and other family members encouraged her, as well.
But it did make me wonder…are we in a “numbers game” of sorts? Are we so focused on winning souls to Jesus that we fail to nurture and encourage them afterward? Where DO we go from the cross and the tomb? What really does happen after Easter? I pray that you will not put away your Bible and go back to your old ways. I pray that this will be the year that you truly find God…that you fully grasp that Jesus came to earth and taught us about love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…about the power of Almighty God and the lasting presence of His Holy Spirit…about the tremendous sacrifices that He made to wash away every one of our sins.
I pray that you will really internalize Jesus’ commandment to “Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.” It is my hope that you will know without any doubt His promise that “I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.”*
Easter is a time when we think of a rebirth…new life…a fresh start. Will this Easter season mark the beginning of your intimate journey with God and a shared life in His light? Has the blood of Jesus truly transformed you…or are you twirling like a “hula girl” and “playing Christian” when it suits you? Isn’t it time you became the “real deal” for Jesus? What are you waiting for?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Matthew 28:19-20
If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we’re obviously lying through our teeth—we’re not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God’s Son, purges all our sin.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My niece Jasmine, said that when Zola put on her Easter dress, she twirled around in the floor with excitement. Her older brother Timothy told her to “Stop that! You are NOT a hula girl!” Zola quickly replied, “Yes I AM! I AM a hula girl!” Trust me…this is not the first time that Big Brother has told Little Sister how to act…and it certainly won’t be the last!
The thing is…more than a few of us could use a “big brother or sister” to tell us to “Stop that!” We have claimed the name of Jesus…then gone right back to behaving like we always did. Nothing really changed. Many people made their annual “Easter appearance” at church on Sunday…and that will be about as “spiritual” as it gets for them until at least Christmas! A friend of mine calls these folks “Christmas-and-Easter-Christians”.
I still recall when one of my best friends was baptized into her husband’s church. We were both so excited for her new-found faith, and I asked her, “So what’s next?” She replied, “What do you mean?” I explained that I was wondering if there was going to be someone in her church family who would nurture her and encourage her as she studied the Bible and grew in her discipleship. She did not know of any such person. So we studied together and shared in our faith walk for the next few months/years…and I’m sure her husband and other family members encouraged her, as well.
But it did make me wonder…are we in a “numbers game” of sorts? Are we so focused on winning souls to Jesus that we fail to nurture and encourage them afterward? Where DO we go from the cross and the tomb? What really does happen after Easter? I pray that you will not put away your Bible and go back to your old ways. I pray that this will be the year that you truly find God…that you fully grasp that Jesus came to earth and taught us about love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…about the power of Almighty God and the lasting presence of His Holy Spirit…about the tremendous sacrifices that He made to wash away every one of our sins.
I pray that you will really internalize Jesus’ commandment to “Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you.” It is my hope that you will know without any doubt His promise that “I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.”*
Easter is a time when we think of a rebirth…new life…a fresh start. Will this Easter season mark the beginning of your intimate journey with God and a shared life in His light? Has the blood of Jesus truly transformed you…or are you twirling like a “hula girl” and “playing Christian” when it suits you? Isn’t it time you became the “real deal” for Jesus? What are you waiting for?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*Matthew 28:19-20
Daily Devotional for December 8, 2013
John 4:13-14
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I know that I’ve been talking for days now about the winter storm we’ve been having… but it’s a pretty big deal when your daytime high temperatures in central Arkansas for the first week of December are in the low to mid-twenties. It’s an even bigger deal when the night-time lows dip into the teens and single digits! So when I tell you it’s cold and icy here… baby, it’s cold and icy here!
A friend of ours posted a photo of her husband putting out water for the birds in their yard. Greg decided that our songbirds could probably use a drink as well… everything in sight is frozen solid as a rock! So he ventured out to the bird feeder and filled a 3-lb. plastic coffee can and a plastic lid from a large container with water. The birds flocked to these vessels and began to drink and splash. They were truly glad to have fresh water! Here’s the thing, though… that water froze pretty quickly. So Greg made more than one trip to the bird feeder yesterday to refresh the water supply for the birds.
Yes, we know that there are “heaters” you can purchase to keep the birds’ water from freezing. But we seldom have an outbreak of weather this cold for this long… and we have never gone so far as to purchase a “bird-bath heater”. If this weather trend continues into actual winter, we may have to re-think this! Meanwhile, our birds will have to make do with intermittent drinks as we manage to venture out into the cold and ice to replenish their supply.
Here’s the Good News… the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ never freezes or runs dry! We have ready access to an unending supply of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Even better, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience a continual fountain that flows from our heart and bubbles out like a freshwater spring. We can actually have more than we ever need… enough to share with everyone we encounter! This is far better than having a heater for the bird bath! Nothing compares to the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
What about you? Is your fountain flowing freely with the Living Water of Jesus? Or are you frozen… hard-hearted… or even altogether empty? The choice is totally yours. Jesus offers each of us hope, courage, confidence and joy through His Living Water. He gave His very life for ours so that we can spend Eternity with Him… and enjoy His blessings in the meantime. Are you living with hope and faith in His promises? Who supplies your “water” these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I know that I’ve been talking for days now about the winter storm we’ve been having… but it’s a pretty big deal when your daytime high temperatures in central Arkansas for the first week of December are in the low to mid-twenties. It’s an even bigger deal when the night-time lows dip into the teens and single digits! So when I tell you it’s cold and icy here… baby, it’s cold and icy here!
A friend of ours posted a photo of her husband putting out water for the birds in their yard. Greg decided that our songbirds could probably use a drink as well… everything in sight is frozen solid as a rock! So he ventured out to the bird feeder and filled a 3-lb. plastic coffee can and a plastic lid from a large container with water. The birds flocked to these vessels and began to drink and splash. They were truly glad to have fresh water! Here’s the thing, though… that water froze pretty quickly. So Greg made more than one trip to the bird feeder yesterday to refresh the water supply for the birds.
Yes, we know that there are “heaters” you can purchase to keep the birds’ water from freezing. But we seldom have an outbreak of weather this cold for this long… and we have never gone so far as to purchase a “bird-bath heater”. If this weather trend continues into actual winter, we may have to re-think this! Meanwhile, our birds will have to make do with intermittent drinks as we manage to venture out into the cold and ice to replenish their supply.
Here’s the Good News… the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ never freezes or runs dry! We have ready access to an unending supply of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Even better, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience a continual fountain that flows from our heart and bubbles out like a freshwater spring. We can actually have more than we ever need… enough to share with everyone we encounter! This is far better than having a heater for the bird bath! Nothing compares to the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
What about you? Is your fountain flowing freely with the Living Water of Jesus? Or are you frozen… hard-hearted… or even altogether empty? The choice is totally yours. Jesus offers each of us hope, courage, confidence and joy through His Living Water. He gave His very life for ours so that we can spend Eternity with Him… and enjoy His blessings in the meantime. Are you living with hope and faith in His promises? Who supplies your “water” these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 12, 2013
2 Thessalonians 3:5
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, we honored the 20+ graduating high school seniors who attend our church. Graduation takes place later this week. I would suspect that there are a lot of people – students and parents – who feel as though they have been undergoing an 18-year endurance test. I also expect a lot of them will be looking around the day after graduation and asking, “What now?!”
Believe it or not, I was in high school once! I remember the eagerness to get out of school and move ahead with “bigger and better things.” I remember the hard work and “patient endurance” of three FULL years (including summers) in college, followed by nights and summer days spent sitting in a graduate school classroom – all in anticipation of college degrees, better pay, and the personal satisfaction and accomplishment of obtaining a Master’s Degree.
I remember waiting for nieces and nephews to arrive… counting the days until we moved home to begin a new business venture – and into new houses that we had built. And I remember not-so-fun “endurance tests”… waiting for my casts to come off after broken bones – or healing to occur after a surgery…waiting and watching as a loved one suffered through his/her last days on this earth… dreading the time when a visit would end and we would have to say “Goodbye” to someone precious and dear. And in ALL of these instances, I had the perfect example of “patient endurance”… the infallible model of perseverance and fortitude…the comfort and serenity of knowing that Someone much bigger and more powerful than I was in complete control.
Whether you are 18 or 88, life is full of events and experiences that test our endurance and cause us to “hurry up and wait.” Having Jesus by your side can make the difference in whether you worry and fret your way through these situations… or whether you take them in stride with joy and confidence. As long as you have a “full understanding and expression of the love of God” in your heart, you will have the “patient endurance that comes from Christ.” This is an equation for joy and success in anyone’s book!
As you look ahead to a new week – or even a new chapter in your life – stop and take time to evaluate your relationship with Jesus. Is He “front and center” in everything you do… every decision you make? The importance you give Jesus in your life will directly correlate to how you answer the question “What now?” Is Jesus guiding your answer and giving you patient endurance? Isn’t it time He did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, we honored the 20+ graduating high school seniors who attend our church. Graduation takes place later this week. I would suspect that there are a lot of people – students and parents – who feel as though they have been undergoing an 18-year endurance test. I also expect a lot of them will be looking around the day after graduation and asking, “What now?!”
Believe it or not, I was in high school once! I remember the eagerness to get out of school and move ahead with “bigger and better things.” I remember the hard work and “patient endurance” of three FULL years (including summers) in college, followed by nights and summer days spent sitting in a graduate school classroom – all in anticipation of college degrees, better pay, and the personal satisfaction and accomplishment of obtaining a Master’s Degree.
I remember waiting for nieces and nephews to arrive… counting the days until we moved home to begin a new business venture – and into new houses that we had built. And I remember not-so-fun “endurance tests”… waiting for my casts to come off after broken bones – or healing to occur after a surgery…waiting and watching as a loved one suffered through his/her last days on this earth… dreading the time when a visit would end and we would have to say “Goodbye” to someone precious and dear. And in ALL of these instances, I had the perfect example of “patient endurance”… the infallible model of perseverance and fortitude…the comfort and serenity of knowing that Someone much bigger and more powerful than I was in complete control.
Whether you are 18 or 88, life is full of events and experiences that test our endurance and cause us to “hurry up and wait.” Having Jesus by your side can make the difference in whether you worry and fret your way through these situations… or whether you take them in stride with joy and confidence. As long as you have a “full understanding and expression of the love of God” in your heart, you will have the “patient endurance that comes from Christ.” This is an equation for joy and success in anyone’s book!
As you look ahead to a new week – or even a new chapter in your life – stop and take time to evaluate your relationship with Jesus. Is He “front and center” in everything you do… every decision you make? The importance you give Jesus in your life will directly correlate to how you answer the question “What now?” Is Jesus guiding your answer and giving you patient endurance? Isn’t it time He did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 27, 2012
John 14:18-20
I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you're going to see me because I am alive and you're about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I'm in my Father, and you're in me, and I'm in you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Years ago when I was a kindergarten teacher, my husband and I would talk on the phone more than once during the summer months when school was not in session. He would call me on his breaks, just to see how I was doing. This was nearly 30 years ago… before cell phones came along. During school hours, I did not usually get a break that coincided with his, so we were pretty well unable to communicate throughout the day. One day shortly before my summer break ended, we were talking, and my husband said, “When you go back to work, I’m going to miss being able to call you during the day.” Just knowing I was at home… and available… and that he could call me any time of day was important – to both of us.
Sometimes, I think we forget that Jesus is always with us. We may even begin to feel isolated and lonely, when in truth, He is always available. We can call on Jesus any time. This should give us tremendous comfort – and confidence. We never have to feel anxious or fearful… because Jesus goes with us everywhere. We don’t have to worry about our decisions… we can ask Jesus for help and guidance any time. We can face any challenge or obstacle... all we have to do is call on Jesus for wisdom and protection!
When we keep Jesus in our heart, we are never alone. And the best part is that we don’t even need a work break or a telephone to contact Him! We can call on Jesus with all of our questions and concerns… or even simply to say, “Hi!” - or to thank Him for loving us and to tell Him that we love Him, too! The question is… do we? Are you in constant contact with Jesus… or are there hours in the day where you “go it alone”… and treat Him as if you are unavailable? Have you truly given Jesus a place in your heart… and recognized His constant presence there? Isn’t it time to do exactly this… and never be alone again?
©2012 Debbie Robus
I will not leave you orphaned. I'm coming back. In just a little while the world will no longer see me, but you're going to see me because I am alive and you're about to come alive. At that moment you will know absolutely that I'm in my Father, and you're in me, and I'm in you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Years ago when I was a kindergarten teacher, my husband and I would talk on the phone more than once during the summer months when school was not in session. He would call me on his breaks, just to see how I was doing. This was nearly 30 years ago… before cell phones came along. During school hours, I did not usually get a break that coincided with his, so we were pretty well unable to communicate throughout the day. One day shortly before my summer break ended, we were talking, and my husband said, “When you go back to work, I’m going to miss being able to call you during the day.” Just knowing I was at home… and available… and that he could call me any time of day was important – to both of us.
Sometimes, I think we forget that Jesus is always with us. We may even begin to feel isolated and lonely, when in truth, He is always available. We can call on Jesus any time. This should give us tremendous comfort – and confidence. We never have to feel anxious or fearful… because Jesus goes with us everywhere. We don’t have to worry about our decisions… we can ask Jesus for help and guidance any time. We can face any challenge or obstacle... all we have to do is call on Jesus for wisdom and protection!
When we keep Jesus in our heart, we are never alone. And the best part is that we don’t even need a work break or a telephone to contact Him! We can call on Jesus with all of our questions and concerns… or even simply to say, “Hi!” - or to thank Him for loving us and to tell Him that we love Him, too! The question is… do we? Are you in constant contact with Jesus… or are there hours in the day where you “go it alone”… and treat Him as if you are unavailable? Have you truly given Jesus a place in your heart… and recognized His constant presence there? Isn’t it time to do exactly this… and never be alone again?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 15, 2012
2 Corinthians 6:11-13
Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Telephone conversations with a toddler who is not quite three are challenging, to say the least! Timothy tries to “show” me what he is saying… and of course, I can’t “see” his nods and gestures in response to my questions and comments. So I try to keep things as simple as possible… questions he can answer with one word or two… singing one of his favorite songs… and lots of “I love yous!” In the most elementary way possible, my husband and I try to convey to him with words that there is more than enough room in our hearts for him. And I know from his responses that the feeling is mutual.
We can’t exactly get a physical hug from God, either. Yet, He shows us in ways great and small that there is room in His heart for us. But how do we show Him our heart? Is there room for God there? Do we speak and act in a way that exhibits love, respect, honor and glory to Him? Do we waste time trying to make lavish, grand gestures - or do we keep it as simple as possible… offering prayers of praise, living and serving in a way that pleases Him, speaking His truths and sharing the Good News with others, operating in love and kindness?
Timothy knows that we love him. Every time he gets pictures, coloring pages, or a toy or new clothes in the mail, he knows we are thinking of him. When we sing a song over the telephone, he is reminded of the hours we spent singing in the living room and playing together. When we tell him “I love you,” he remembers the hugs and kisses that accompanied those words. And every single day, God is showering us with love and hugs through all sorts of gestures… the warmth of a beautiful sunny day… health and healing… the smiles and kindness of others… and much more. All we have to do to feel God’s love is to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities He offers. We have to stop holding back… to “let go and let God” fill us with His love, grace, mercy and blessings.
What is the condition of your heart? Is it open wide, with room for God to enter and fill you? Or are you holding back - both in your ability to receive and to give love to God and others? Isn’t this a perfect time to open your heart… to allow God to fill you with His love… and to simply and profoundly share love and kindness with others? Do you know how much God loves you? Do others know how much you love them? Just how wide open is your heart these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Friends in Corinth, we are telling the truth when we say that there is room in our hearts for you. We are not holding back on our love for you, but you are holding back on your love for us. I speak to you as I would speak to my own children. Please make room in your hearts for us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Telephone conversations with a toddler who is not quite three are challenging, to say the least! Timothy tries to “show” me what he is saying… and of course, I can’t “see” his nods and gestures in response to my questions and comments. So I try to keep things as simple as possible… questions he can answer with one word or two… singing one of his favorite songs… and lots of “I love yous!” In the most elementary way possible, my husband and I try to convey to him with words that there is more than enough room in our hearts for him. And I know from his responses that the feeling is mutual.
We can’t exactly get a physical hug from God, either. Yet, He shows us in ways great and small that there is room in His heart for us. But how do we show Him our heart? Is there room for God there? Do we speak and act in a way that exhibits love, respect, honor and glory to Him? Do we waste time trying to make lavish, grand gestures - or do we keep it as simple as possible… offering prayers of praise, living and serving in a way that pleases Him, speaking His truths and sharing the Good News with others, operating in love and kindness?
Timothy knows that we love him. Every time he gets pictures, coloring pages, or a toy or new clothes in the mail, he knows we are thinking of him. When we sing a song over the telephone, he is reminded of the hours we spent singing in the living room and playing together. When we tell him “I love you,” he remembers the hugs and kisses that accompanied those words. And every single day, God is showering us with love and hugs through all sorts of gestures… the warmth of a beautiful sunny day… health and healing… the smiles and kindness of others… and much more. All we have to do to feel God’s love is to open our hearts and minds to the possibilities He offers. We have to stop holding back… to “let go and let God” fill us with His love, grace, mercy and blessings.
What is the condition of your heart? Is it open wide, with room for God to enter and fill you? Or are you holding back - both in your ability to receive and to give love to God and others? Isn’t this a perfect time to open your heart… to allow God to fill you with His love… and to simply and profoundly share love and kindness with others? Do you know how much God loves you? Do others know how much you love them? Just how wide open is your heart these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 18, 2012
Acts 3:1-10
The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in.
The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!" The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.
At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who seems stuck in a rut… doing the same things over and over again? Maybe you know someone who has changed jobs numerous times… or started more than one job and quit after several weeks. Maybe you know someone who is in and out of one relationship after another, and each time, they declare that “This one is different!” Maybe you know someone who seems perfectly comfortable to move from one fiasco to the next… who thrives on chaos and never seems to get his/her life together. Maybe this person is you!
Can I tell you something? Often, each one of us is the lame beggar at the door. We are comfortable and complacent in our present situation… content to live on the sidelines of life and manage whatever comes our way as best we can. If we “catch a lucky break,” things might improve for a while. But soon we are back to old habits and the familiar struggles and conflicts - and nothing really ever changes. It doesn’t have to be this way!
What Peter and John offered the beggar at the temple is available to all of us. All we have to do is ask. I’m not saying that calling on Jesus to fill us with the Holy Spirit and deliver us will make all of our problems go away immediately. I’m not telling you that all you have to do is give your heart to Jesus, and the right job, the perfect companion, and a clean bill of health will magically be yours. But when you ask, Jesus will equip you with the tools and skills you need to better your situation. The Holy Spirit will guide you as you pull your life together and make improvements. The healing power of Jesus can help you to manage your daily living and any physical, mental, and emotional challenges you encounter.
In many instances, the choice is completely ours. We can continue to live like the beggar at the temple gates, or we can call on Jesus to live and breathe in us and help us navigate the challenges of daily living. At once, it is this simple - and this complicated - because we will still have to do much of the work to improve our situation. Jesus will show us how… and give us everything we need to get the job done.
Where are you today? Have you invited Jesus to work in your life? Or are you content to lie by the wayside and beg for scraps and a handout? What are you believing Jesus for today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in.
The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!" The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.
At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Do you know someone who seems stuck in a rut… doing the same things over and over again? Maybe you know someone who has changed jobs numerous times… or started more than one job and quit after several weeks. Maybe you know someone who is in and out of one relationship after another, and each time, they declare that “This one is different!” Maybe you know someone who seems perfectly comfortable to move from one fiasco to the next… who thrives on chaos and never seems to get his/her life together. Maybe this person is you!
Can I tell you something? Often, each one of us is the lame beggar at the door. We are comfortable and complacent in our present situation… content to live on the sidelines of life and manage whatever comes our way as best we can. If we “catch a lucky break,” things might improve for a while. But soon we are back to old habits and the familiar struggles and conflicts - and nothing really ever changes. It doesn’t have to be this way!
What Peter and John offered the beggar at the temple is available to all of us. All we have to do is ask. I’m not saying that calling on Jesus to fill us with the Holy Spirit and deliver us will make all of our problems go away immediately. I’m not telling you that all you have to do is give your heart to Jesus, and the right job, the perfect companion, and a clean bill of health will magically be yours. But when you ask, Jesus will equip you with the tools and skills you need to better your situation. The Holy Spirit will guide you as you pull your life together and make improvements. The healing power of Jesus can help you to manage your daily living and any physical, mental, and emotional challenges you encounter.
In many instances, the choice is completely ours. We can continue to live like the beggar at the temple gates, or we can call on Jesus to live and breathe in us and help us navigate the challenges of daily living. At once, it is this simple - and this complicated - because we will still have to do much of the work to improve our situation. Jesus will show us how… and give us everything we need to get the job done.
Where are you today? Have you invited Jesus to work in your life? Or are you content to lie by the wayside and beg for scraps and a handout? What are you believing Jesus for today?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 14, 2012
Acts 2:22-26
Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. What David said are really the words of Jesus…
"I always see the Lord near me, and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, someone said to me, “Timothy must have gone home… you haven’t mentioned him as much lately in your devotionals.” Indeed, Timothy did go back to live with his mother in early December. But not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. A flip through the TV guide reminds me of NickJr. and the shows he loves on that channel. The pre-game warm-up music at the high school basketball game reminds me of how much he loves to dance. His toys, books, crib and stuffed animals make me think of how much he loves to play.
When we talk on the telephone, and I hear his happy little voice, I am filled with joy at how he is the same carefree child - whether he is at our house or his own some six-plus hours away… and my heart is glad. I know that I will see him again, and I truly do carry him in my heart in the meantime.
More importantly, I carry Jesus in my heart. He fills me with joy and gives me hope in all situations. And the more I learn to recognize His presence at my right side, the more I operate in joy and faith… and less in fear and negativity. I like to think that, because of Jesus and His power and presence, there is plenty of room in my heart for Timothy and so many others I love dearly. Because I acknowledge Jesus’ supreme existence and authority in my life, He has filled me with a sense of gratitude and joy for all of His gifts… including family and friends who help give my life a purpose. Because of Jesus, I can find joy even in the challenges of life, like missing a loved one who has gone to heaven – or a precious two-year-old little boy who has moved several hours away.
How important is your relationship with Jesus? Is He your daily Companion… always at your right side? Does He make your heart glad… your words joyful? Do you live in His hope? I will tell you that this is not an instantaneous thing. You can’t just magically snap your fingers and feel completely at peace and fulfilled in Jesus. It takes time… and work. You have to get to know Him… to study His word… to read about the promises and miracles of Jesus… and to trust them. You have to spend time in His presence and truly get comfortable and familiar with Him… and to build your faith. But the end result is so worth the effort.
I pray that today you will begin taking steps to grow closer to Jesus… to know Him in a way that brings hope and encouragement to everything about your life. I pray that you would know Him in such a profound way that your heart is glad, no matter what… your words are joyful… and He truly does expand your heart to encompass all that He wants to bring your way. Who stands at your right side these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Now, listen to what I have to say about Jesus from Nazareth. God proved that he sent Jesus to you by having him work miracles, wonders, and signs. All of you know this. God had already planned and decided that Jesus would be handed over to you. So you took him and had evil men put him to death on a cross. But God set him free from death and raised him to life. Death could not hold him in its power. What David said are really the words of Jesus…
"I always see the Lord near me, and I will not be afraid with him at my right side. Because of this, my heart will be glad, my words will be joyful, and I will live in hope.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The other day, someone said to me, “Timothy must have gone home… you haven’t mentioned him as much lately in your devotionals.” Indeed, Timothy did go back to live with his mother in early December. But not a day goes by that I don’t think of him. A flip through the TV guide reminds me of NickJr. and the shows he loves on that channel. The pre-game warm-up music at the high school basketball game reminds me of how much he loves to dance. His toys, books, crib and stuffed animals make me think of how much he loves to play.
When we talk on the telephone, and I hear his happy little voice, I am filled with joy at how he is the same carefree child - whether he is at our house or his own some six-plus hours away… and my heart is glad. I know that I will see him again, and I truly do carry him in my heart in the meantime.
More importantly, I carry Jesus in my heart. He fills me with joy and gives me hope in all situations. And the more I learn to recognize His presence at my right side, the more I operate in joy and faith… and less in fear and negativity. I like to think that, because of Jesus and His power and presence, there is plenty of room in my heart for Timothy and so many others I love dearly. Because I acknowledge Jesus’ supreme existence and authority in my life, He has filled me with a sense of gratitude and joy for all of His gifts… including family and friends who help give my life a purpose. Because of Jesus, I can find joy even in the challenges of life, like missing a loved one who has gone to heaven – or a precious two-year-old little boy who has moved several hours away.
How important is your relationship with Jesus? Is He your daily Companion… always at your right side? Does He make your heart glad… your words joyful? Do you live in His hope? I will tell you that this is not an instantaneous thing. You can’t just magically snap your fingers and feel completely at peace and fulfilled in Jesus. It takes time… and work. You have to get to know Him… to study His word… to read about the promises and miracles of Jesus… and to trust them. You have to spend time in His presence and truly get comfortable and familiar with Him… and to build your faith. But the end result is so worth the effort.
I pray that today you will begin taking steps to grow closer to Jesus… to know Him in a way that brings hope and encouragement to everything about your life. I pray that you would know Him in such a profound way that your heart is glad, no matter what… your words are joyful… and He truly does expand your heart to encompass all that He wants to bring your way. Who stands at your right side these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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