Joel 2:28-32
“After I have poured out my rains
again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all of you! Your sons and
daughters will prophesy; your old men will dream dreams, and your young
men see visions. And I will pour out my Spirit even on your slaves, men
and women alike, and put strange symbols in the earth and sky—blood and
fire and pillars of smoke.
“The sun will be turned into darkness and the moon to blood before the great and terrible Day of the Lord shall come.
“Everyone
who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved; even in Jerusalem
some will escape, just as the Lord has promised, for he has chosen some
to survive.
The Living
Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission
of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All
rights reserved.
Have
you heard about the “Blood Moons?” According to information found at
EarthSky.org…” The first Blood Moon eclipse in a series of four happened
on the night of April 14-15, 2014. The second one took place on the
night of October 7-8, 2014. The third one is coming up on April 4, 2015
and will be visible to North American skywatchers. A series of four
total lunar eclipses is called a tetrad. We in astronomy had not heard
the term Blood Moon used in quite this way before this year, but now the
term has become widespread in the media.”*
Another lunar eclipse
is scheduled to occur on September 28, 2015. There are pastors and
others in the religious community who cite Joel 2:31 – and the rest of
this passage – and try to make a correlation between these events and
the Second Coming of Christ. Books have been written…seminars have been
held and attended…and a general state of unrest has been stirred among
some believers.
I do not mean to belittle anyone’s faith. But
here is my “take” on all of this. The “blood moons” (a phrase coined by
one of those “religious” authors) are beautiful. If you get a chance
to observe one, by all means, do so! But do not panic. If Jesus is just
about ready to return, so what? This is GREAT NEWS! As I told a
neighbor who wanted to talk to me about “End Times” recently…”Bring
‘em! I don’t plan on being here!”
See, I’ve already been
“bought and paid for” by the blood of Jesus. I surrendered my heart to
Him a long time ago, and whenever He is ready for me, I’m ready to go to
heaven. This could happen in the next 30 minutes…or I could still be
here when He returns for His church at large. Either way, I know that
this is not my final destination, but just an important stop along the
way. I have work to do on behalf of my Lord and Savior…and He is going
to provide me with signs, wonders, dreams, visions, and beautiful
phenomena like “blood moons” to enjoy during the journey.
I
don’t have an “exclusive” on salvation. What God has done for me
through Jesus Christ…He will gladly do for you. No one needs operate in
fear for even one minute. This is glorious…amazing…exciting! Embrace
it…embrace Jesus! And revel in the promise that you will LIVE with Him
for all eternity…whenever He decides to call for you!
And let’s
stop scaring folks about the “End Times”. Let’s talk about how
wonderful heaven is…how blessed we are to serve a Risen Savior…and how
glorious it will be to belong to Him for all eternity. We Christians
have operated in fear long enough…and it’s not working for us OR those
we wish to reach for Jesus! Let’s start showing others how joyful and
excited we are to be children of the Most High God…and demonstrate happy
anticipation of all that He has in store for us!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://earthsky.org
Showing posts with label celebrating Jesus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label celebrating Jesus. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 25, 2014
Luke 2:25-32
That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him—God’s anointed King. The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God.
“Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Here we are…Christmas Day 2014! For some of you, the tree is already back in the box! For others, this is a big day of celebration…with holiday activities scheduled for days to come.
Last night, I watched a Christmas Eve candlelight service on TV, and the pastor said that Christmas is a magnifier. If things are going great in our lives…then “Christmas” is even bigger and better. If things are not going well, then “Christmas” makes everything seem worse.
My prayer for each of us today is that we could utter the words of Simeon…that we could say, “I have seen Him as God promised. Jesus is the Light that will shine upon the nations…our glory…our Savior. He is all that I need! I am content!”
May Christmas be more than just a day on the calendar – or a season of the year. May you celebrate more than just the wonderful birth of Jesus on this day. Truly celebrate HIM…today, tomorrow, and always…and make EVERY day a Merry Christmas Day!
©2014 Debbie Robus
That day a man named Simeon, a Jerusalem resident, was in the Temple. He was a good man, very devout, filled with the Holy Spirit and constantly expecting the Messiah to come soon. For the Holy Spirit had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen him—God’s anointed King. The Holy Spirit had impelled him to go to the Temple that day; and so, when Mary and Joseph arrived to present the baby Jesus to the Lord in obedience to the law, Simeon was there and took the child in his arms, praising God.
“Lord,” he said, “now I can die content! For I have seen him as you promised me I would. I have seen the Savior you have given to the world. He is the Light that will shine upon the nations, and he will be the glory of your people Israel!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Here we are…Christmas Day 2014! For some of you, the tree is already back in the box! For others, this is a big day of celebration…with holiday activities scheduled for days to come.
Last night, I watched a Christmas Eve candlelight service on TV, and the pastor said that Christmas is a magnifier. If things are going great in our lives…then “Christmas” is even bigger and better. If things are not going well, then “Christmas” makes everything seem worse.
My prayer for each of us today is that we could utter the words of Simeon…that we could say, “I have seen Him as God promised. Jesus is the Light that will shine upon the nations…our glory…our Savior. He is all that I need! I am content!”
May Christmas be more than just a day on the calendar – or a season of the year. May you celebrate more than just the wonderful birth of Jesus on this day. Truly celebrate HIM…today, tomorrow, and always…and make EVERY day a Merry Christmas Day!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 24, 2014
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
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.
A few years ago, I made a “pact” with a few family members that we adults would NOT exchange Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts would only be given to the children. This year, my cousin’s wife broke, “the rule.” I was all prepared to put up a fuss, until I saw her gather the gift bag from under her Christmas tree. “Yours was the first gift I bought,” she said. “You are SO easy to shop for!” I don’t think anyone has EVER told me that before!
My cousin was practically giddy as I pulled the tissue from the sack and retrieved a gift that was so thoughtful…so practical…so ME! And in that moment, I realized how much thought she had given to this present…how she had really considered ME and what I would enjoy…and then she had purchased something that no one else in a million years would think to give me…beautiful new dish towels and a wonderful baking pan.
Here’s the thing…God has given each of us the Ultimate Gift…Jesus Christ. Jesus is that one-in-a-million Gift. God thoughtfully considered each of us…He designed Jesus perfectly to live among us - to teach us and to die for our sins. He gets totally giddy every time one of us accepts His gift and invites Jesus to be the LORD of our life. And He delights over and again in watching us live for Him, serve Him, and share the Good News of Jesus with others.
I told my cousin that I just might bake her something delicious in the new pan someday. But even if I don’t, she will take joy and delight in knowing that I am using her gift to prepare food for Greg and others. And she knows how much I love her. It’s the same with God. He doesn’t expect us to give Him anything in return except our love and devotion - and our very best Christian discipleship.
As you open packages in the next few days, consider the Ultimate Gift you have received from God. Jesus isn’t wrapped in a box or tucked into a gift bag under your Christmas tree…but He is the best gift you will ever receive. I thank God for His perfect present to me…and to you. I pray you have “opened” your heart to His love…and that He will be at the center of your celebration this Christmas season…and always.
©2014 Debbie Robus
May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
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.
A few years ago, I made a “pact” with a few family members that we adults would NOT exchange Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts would only be given to the children. This year, my cousin’s wife broke, “the rule.” I was all prepared to put up a fuss, until I saw her gather the gift bag from under her Christmas tree. “Yours was the first gift I bought,” she said. “You are SO easy to shop for!” I don’t think anyone has EVER told me that before!
My cousin was practically giddy as I pulled the tissue from the sack and retrieved a gift that was so thoughtful…so practical…so ME! And in that moment, I realized how much thought she had given to this present…how she had really considered ME and what I would enjoy…and then she had purchased something that no one else in a million years would think to give me…beautiful new dish towels and a wonderful baking pan.
Here’s the thing…God has given each of us the Ultimate Gift…Jesus Christ. Jesus is that one-in-a-million Gift. God thoughtfully considered each of us…He designed Jesus perfectly to live among us - to teach us and to die for our sins. He gets totally giddy every time one of us accepts His gift and invites Jesus to be the LORD of our life. And He delights over and again in watching us live for Him, serve Him, and share the Good News of Jesus with others.
I told my cousin that I just might bake her something delicious in the new pan someday. But even if I don’t, she will take joy and delight in knowing that I am using her gift to prepare food for Greg and others. And she knows how much I love her. It’s the same with God. He doesn’t expect us to give Him anything in return except our love and devotion - and our very best Christian discipleship.
As you open packages in the next few days, consider the Ultimate Gift you have received from God. Jesus isn’t wrapped in a box or tucked into a gift bag under your Christmas tree…but He is the best gift you will ever receive. I thank God for His perfect present to me…and to you. I pray you have “opened” your heart to His love…and that He will be at the center of your celebration this Christmas season…and always.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 21, 2014
Isaiah 11:1-5
Like a branch that sprouts from a stump,someone from David’s family will someday be king. The Spirit of the Lord will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight.
He will be powerful, and he will know and honor the Lord. His greatest joy will be to obey the Lord.
This king won’t judge by appearances or listen to rumors. The poor and the needy will be treated with fairness and with justice.
His word will be law everywhere in the land, and criminals will be put to death. Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There was a plum tree at my grandparents’ farm that stood near a rock building we called the “dry house”, and it produced wonderful plums for eating by the handful…and for making delicious plum jelly. By the time that Greg and I moved to the farm, this tree was in bad shape. So Greg reluctantly cut it down. But from the stump, a “shoot” grew…and now – more than 20 years later - the “new” tree once again produces fine fruit.
You would never have thought to look at that stump that anything good would ever come from it again…but I have eaten the plums. I have tasted the jelly made from their juice…and let me tell you – it is amazing - maybe even better than that of the original tree! And the yield is abundant!
Greg filled the bird feeders in our backyard, and the songbirds are everywhere…cardinals, finches, woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees and more. On the bluff at the edge of our yard, buzzards perch on tree branches…looking for food along the riverbank that curves below them. As I watch these birds, I keep hearing the words of John 6:11, where Jesus blessed the fish and the loaves, and everyone had “plenty to eat.”
I’ve also noticed that there is enough food to go around…that one bird is not favored over another. Well, okay, the blue jay seems to bully his way to the feeder on occasion…but everyone eats - from the stateliest cardinal to the tiniest junco or wren. Even the squirrels pick up the dregs that fall to the ground…and the buzzards feast like kings on dead carcasses.
Because of Jesus, we ALL have “plenty to eat”. Don’t misunderstand me…I’m not saying that people will never go hungry – that their bellies won’t rumble and ache with starvation for tangible food. But those who trust in Jesus will NEVER be hungry in a spiritual sense. They will never be judged on appearance and deemed unworthy. They will never be treated as less than equal to every other believer – in any manner. We WILL be judged someday – but not on these things.
As we celebrate Jesus’ birth this week, let’s revel in the amazing Blessing that came to us “from the root of Jesse”. Let’s remind ourselves to live as He did…to treat all people with fairness and kindness…to turn a deaf ear to rumors and judgments…to look to GOD for guidance and answers. Share the Good News with others this week…Jesus has come…there is “plenty to eat” - for everyone!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Like a branch that sprouts from a stump,someone from David’s family will someday be king. The Spirit of the Lord will be with him to give him understanding, wisdom, and insight.
He will be powerful, and he will know and honor the Lord. His greatest joy will be to obey the Lord.
This king won’t judge by appearances or listen to rumors. The poor and the needy will be treated with fairness and with justice.
His word will be law everywhere in the land, and criminals will be put to death. Honesty and fairness will be his royal robes.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There was a plum tree at my grandparents’ farm that stood near a rock building we called the “dry house”, and it produced wonderful plums for eating by the handful…and for making delicious plum jelly. By the time that Greg and I moved to the farm, this tree was in bad shape. So Greg reluctantly cut it down. But from the stump, a “shoot” grew…and now – more than 20 years later - the “new” tree once again produces fine fruit.
You would never have thought to look at that stump that anything good would ever come from it again…but I have eaten the plums. I have tasted the jelly made from their juice…and let me tell you – it is amazing - maybe even better than that of the original tree! And the yield is abundant!
Greg filled the bird feeders in our backyard, and the songbirds are everywhere…cardinals, finches, woodpeckers, wrens, chickadees and more. On the bluff at the edge of our yard, buzzards perch on tree branches…looking for food along the riverbank that curves below them. As I watch these birds, I keep hearing the words of John 6:11, where Jesus blessed the fish and the loaves, and everyone had “plenty to eat.”
I’ve also noticed that there is enough food to go around…that one bird is not favored over another. Well, okay, the blue jay seems to bully his way to the feeder on occasion…but everyone eats - from the stateliest cardinal to the tiniest junco or wren. Even the squirrels pick up the dregs that fall to the ground…and the buzzards feast like kings on dead carcasses.
Because of Jesus, we ALL have “plenty to eat”. Don’t misunderstand me…I’m not saying that people will never go hungry – that their bellies won’t rumble and ache with starvation for tangible food. But those who trust in Jesus will NEVER be hungry in a spiritual sense. They will never be judged on appearance and deemed unworthy. They will never be treated as less than equal to every other believer – in any manner. We WILL be judged someday – but not on these things.
As we celebrate Jesus’ birth this week, let’s revel in the amazing Blessing that came to us “from the root of Jesse”. Let’s remind ourselves to live as He did…to treat all people with fairness and kindness…to turn a deaf ear to rumors and judgments…to look to GOD for guidance and answers. Share the Good News with others this week…Jesus has come…there is “plenty to eat” - for everyone!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 17, 2014
Leviticus 23:23-25
The Lord told Moses to say to the people of Israel:
The first day of the seventh month must be a day of complete rest. Then at the sound of the trumpets, you will come together to worship and to offer sacrifices on the altar.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One September morning, the mother of one of my students came into my classroom and told me that her son would be absent from class for a few days later that week. The family would be celebrating their church’s “Feast of the Trumpets”. I will admit, I had never heard of this…but it was obviously a big deal to this family and their fellow church members in the Church of God – a Christian denomination. If you read all of Leviticus 23, you will see that there are several “Bible feasts” and celebrations throughout the year that were to be observed with certain rituals, foods, and periods of rest from all labors…and this student’s family attended many of them.
The “Feast of the Trumpets” is commonly known today as the Jewish New Year – or Rosh Hashanah. However, some Christian denominations still celebrate this and other “Bible feasts” marked in Leviticus 23. I honestly do not know what these entail fully…or whether celebrants literally forego all work during each of these celebrations. But the Apostle Paul referenced these events in Colossians 2:16-27…referring to them as a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. To paraphrase Paul…”Jesus is real and here with us…we don’t necessarily need to celebrate these rituals now.”
Do not misunderstand me. This doesn’t mean that we Christians shouldn’t have rituals, ceremonies and celebrations. I believe that these events serve to enhance our faith and fellowship…and often cause us to focus more specifically on Jesus and our relationship with Him. My particular denomination does not celebrate all of these “Feasts of the Bible”, but we do participate in Sunday worship services, Holy Communion, Advent, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and other Easter week services, to name a few.
The thing that struck me as I read the verses of Leviticus 23 was that the Old Testament Jews were pretty busy observing these festivals! During each one of these events, everyone was expected to stop all work and participate…and/or rest – and sometimes abstain from eating! Can you imagine us doing this today? “People weren’t as busy back then,” you may say. Really? Do you honestly think that the workload was lighter in a time without electricity, running water, motorized vehicles, computers, telephones, home appliances, and other modern conveniences we all take for granted? Yet these faithful people stopped what they were doing and rested…they made these celebrations to honor God a priority.
I wonder…do we make God a priority? Do we shift gears and set aside time to “rest in the LORD”? I’m not necessarily talking about literal, physical “rest”…I’m talking about something far more refreshing and renewing. I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t always make time to attend such services at my church as Ash Wednesday or Maundy Thursday. But when I do attend such a time of worship, I always come away profoundly affected…feeling closer to God…more “centered” in my faith. The time that I spend in Bible study and working on these daily devotionals is precious to me and helps me to align my thoughts and my focus for the day. When I take extended time to talk with God…to sit and listen for His voice…I am refreshed and energized - as if I had taken a two-hour nap! These “rests” often help me “get my head on straight”!
It amazes me that in spite of all of our technological advances, we seem to have become busier than ever! I still cannot get over how people can’t seem to pry themselves from a hand-held device long enough to share a meal with family or friends, watch their children participate in some activity…or have a genuine conversation with another human being. And this has more than carried over into our spiritual life. We’ve become so caught up in the “busyness” of life that we no longer have time to rest and celebrate Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him!
I’m not suggesting that we go back to the Old Testament rituals found in Leviticus…or that we completely rearrange our schedules to accommodate extended periods of worship, Bible study and prayer. I fully realize that we cannot always attend every event held at our church…or stop everything to sit for an hour in prayer and Bible study. But I do think there is room for us to seek a happy medium…a compromise of sorts (and that seems a silly word to use when we talk about Jesus!)… a way to incorporate periods of celebration, worship, rest and renewal in the LORD into our everyday lives.
Jesus IS alive and real…and here with us. Are we stopping long enough to acknowledge His presence? How long has it been since you really “rested” with Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The Lord told Moses to say to the people of Israel:
The first day of the seventh month must be a day of complete rest. Then at the sound of the trumpets, you will come together to worship and to offer sacrifices on the altar.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One September morning, the mother of one of my students came into my classroom and told me that her son would be absent from class for a few days later that week. The family would be celebrating their church’s “Feast of the Trumpets”. I will admit, I had never heard of this…but it was obviously a big deal to this family and their fellow church members in the Church of God – a Christian denomination. If you read all of Leviticus 23, you will see that there are several “Bible feasts” and celebrations throughout the year that were to be observed with certain rituals, foods, and periods of rest from all labors…and this student’s family attended many of them.
The “Feast of the Trumpets” is commonly known today as the Jewish New Year – or Rosh Hashanah. However, some Christian denominations still celebrate this and other “Bible feasts” marked in Leviticus 23. I honestly do not know what these entail fully…or whether celebrants literally forego all work during each of these celebrations. But the Apostle Paul referenced these events in Colossians 2:16-27…referring to them as a foreshadowing of the coming of Christ. To paraphrase Paul…”Jesus is real and here with us…we don’t necessarily need to celebrate these rituals now.”
Do not misunderstand me. This doesn’t mean that we Christians shouldn’t have rituals, ceremonies and celebrations. I believe that these events serve to enhance our faith and fellowship…and often cause us to focus more specifically on Jesus and our relationship with Him. My particular denomination does not celebrate all of these “Feasts of the Bible”, but we do participate in Sunday worship services, Holy Communion, Advent, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday and other Easter week services, to name a few.
The thing that struck me as I read the verses of Leviticus 23 was that the Old Testament Jews were pretty busy observing these festivals! During each one of these events, everyone was expected to stop all work and participate…and/or rest – and sometimes abstain from eating! Can you imagine us doing this today? “People weren’t as busy back then,” you may say. Really? Do you honestly think that the workload was lighter in a time without electricity, running water, motorized vehicles, computers, telephones, home appliances, and other modern conveniences we all take for granted? Yet these faithful people stopped what they were doing and rested…they made these celebrations to honor God a priority.
I wonder…do we make God a priority? Do we shift gears and set aside time to “rest in the LORD”? I’m not necessarily talking about literal, physical “rest”…I’m talking about something far more refreshing and renewing. I’ll be the first to tell you that I don’t always make time to attend such services at my church as Ash Wednesday or Maundy Thursday. But when I do attend such a time of worship, I always come away profoundly affected…feeling closer to God…more “centered” in my faith. The time that I spend in Bible study and working on these daily devotionals is precious to me and helps me to align my thoughts and my focus for the day. When I take extended time to talk with God…to sit and listen for His voice…I am refreshed and energized - as if I had taken a two-hour nap! These “rests” often help me “get my head on straight”!
It amazes me that in spite of all of our technological advances, we seem to have become busier than ever! I still cannot get over how people can’t seem to pry themselves from a hand-held device long enough to share a meal with family or friends, watch their children participate in some activity…or have a genuine conversation with another human being. And this has more than carried over into our spiritual life. We’ve become so caught up in the “busyness” of life that we no longer have time to rest and celebrate Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him!
I’m not suggesting that we go back to the Old Testament rituals found in Leviticus…or that we completely rearrange our schedules to accommodate extended periods of worship, Bible study and prayer. I fully realize that we cannot always attend every event held at our church…or stop everything to sit for an hour in prayer and Bible study. But I do think there is room for us to seek a happy medium…a compromise of sorts (and that seems a silly word to use when we talk about Jesus!)… a way to incorporate periods of celebration, worship, rest and renewal in the LORD into our everyday lives.
Jesus IS alive and real…and here with us. Are we stopping long enough to acknowledge His presence? How long has it been since you really “rested” with Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 21, 2013
1 Corinthians 15:16-20
So if the dead won’t be raised to life, Christ wasn’t raised to life. Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.
But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It seems like every year, the Christmas decorations come out a little earlier. I think I heard the first Christmas commercial (gee thanks, K-Mart!) somewhere around the end of September. I am certain that there were Christmas decorations on the shelves alongside the Halloween costumes at Wal-Mart. And several people I know put up their Christmas tree and decorations a few days ago! It’s like we don’t believe Christmas will ever come again, so we have to grab all of it we can this year and make it last! And how many people do you know who will walk around in something of a funk for the first half of January… bemoaning the fact that the holidays are over?
Yes…I decorate for Christmas right after Thanksgiving Day. Yes…I keep our tree and decorations up through New Year’s! And I enjoy all of the holiday festivities… baking…gathering gifts and making treats for the little ones…sending Christmas cards…watching holiday specials on television…and inviting people into our home to enjoy a warm fire and some hot tea and a cookie or two! But I am so looking forward to the Ultimate Christmas… one that lasts all year long…an unending feast that doesn’t pack on an ounce around the hips and music and laughter like we have never heard before. I’m looking forward to celebrating every day with Jesus and fellow believers…a Christmas Day that never ends! And I know that it is coming!
For this reason, I can pack away the decorations in January and continue to enjoy my earthly life. I know that Christmas Day will come again… one way or another. I honestly do not understand how people function without this hope. I cannot imagine what it would feel like to believe that this earthly life is all there is… that when you die, you die, and it’s all over. I refuse to believe that Jesus isn’t waiting for me… that my friends and loved ones who knew Jesus and loved Him on this earth and have “passed over” already are not there waiting, as well. I will not believe that this is the end… that there isn’t one continual celebration waiting for me “on the other side.” And I hope you cannot believe this, either!
There is an old hymn that says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” It ends with… “life is worth the living, just because He lives.” Is this true for you? Do you believe that Jesus lives… that He is waiting for you and will raise you to life in heaven for all eternity? Are you able to face tomorrow because He lives? Don’t you want to be? This is the day to ensure your spot at the Ultimate Christmas celebration. Now is the time to fall to your knees and say, “Jesus, I know that You rose again. I believe that You are alive and waiting for me… and I want to be with You forever.” We basically have two options…choose to live in the confidence that Christ rose again and waits for us… or live without any hope at all and be worse off than anyone else. Will your life be “worth the living” because of the hope and faith that Jesus lives? Or will you face the emptiness of living with the idea that your “Christmases” - and your life itself - are finite? The choice is totally yours…what will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
So if the dead won’t be raised to life, Christ wasn’t raised to life. Unless Christ was raised to life, your faith is useless, and you are still living in your sins. And those people who died after putting their faith in him are completely lost. If our hope in Christ is good only for this life, we are worse off than anyone else.
But Christ has been raised to life! And he makes us certain that others will also be raised to life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It seems like every year, the Christmas decorations come out a little earlier. I think I heard the first Christmas commercial (gee thanks, K-Mart!) somewhere around the end of September. I am certain that there were Christmas decorations on the shelves alongside the Halloween costumes at Wal-Mart. And several people I know put up their Christmas tree and decorations a few days ago! It’s like we don’t believe Christmas will ever come again, so we have to grab all of it we can this year and make it last! And how many people do you know who will walk around in something of a funk for the first half of January… bemoaning the fact that the holidays are over?
Yes…I decorate for Christmas right after Thanksgiving Day. Yes…I keep our tree and decorations up through New Year’s! And I enjoy all of the holiday festivities… baking…gathering gifts and making treats for the little ones…sending Christmas cards…watching holiday specials on television…and inviting people into our home to enjoy a warm fire and some hot tea and a cookie or two! But I am so looking forward to the Ultimate Christmas… one that lasts all year long…an unending feast that doesn’t pack on an ounce around the hips and music and laughter like we have never heard before. I’m looking forward to celebrating every day with Jesus and fellow believers…a Christmas Day that never ends! And I know that it is coming!
For this reason, I can pack away the decorations in January and continue to enjoy my earthly life. I know that Christmas Day will come again… one way or another. I honestly do not understand how people function without this hope. I cannot imagine what it would feel like to believe that this earthly life is all there is… that when you die, you die, and it’s all over. I refuse to believe that Jesus isn’t waiting for me… that my friends and loved ones who knew Jesus and loved Him on this earth and have “passed over” already are not there waiting, as well. I will not believe that this is the end… that there isn’t one continual celebration waiting for me “on the other side.” And I hope you cannot believe this, either!
There is an old hymn that says, “Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.” It ends with… “life is worth the living, just because He lives.” Is this true for you? Do you believe that Jesus lives… that He is waiting for you and will raise you to life in heaven for all eternity? Are you able to face tomorrow because He lives? Don’t you want to be? This is the day to ensure your spot at the Ultimate Christmas celebration. Now is the time to fall to your knees and say, “Jesus, I know that You rose again. I believe that You are alive and waiting for me… and I want to be with You forever.” We basically have two options…choose to live in the confidence that Christ rose again and waits for us… or live without any hope at all and be worse off than anyone else. Will your life be “worth the living” because of the hope and faith that Jesus lives? Or will you face the emptiness of living with the idea that your “Christmases” - and your life itself - are finite? The choice is totally yours…what will you decide?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 25, 2012
Revelation 21:6-7
Everything is finished! I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give water from the life-giving fountain to everyone who is thirsty. All who win the victory will be given these blessings. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband went out to check on a few folks this morning, and he stopped by my niece’s house to leave some things they had forgotten last night at our house. The children were dancing around amidst all of their Christmas gifts and the surprises Santa Claus left for them. Timothy stopped suddenly, commanded everyone’s attention and said, “I need to tell everybody… Grandma and Grandpa are bringing more presents!” My sister says that when they arrived and “more presents” were opened, Timothy was like virtually every other kid in the world on Christmas morning… he announced, “We need more presents!”
In many ways, a lot of us could say that everything is finished this Christmas. But in the most important way of all, this truly is the beginning rather than the end. We do need more - of Jesus - and we can have more of Him each and every day. Jesus truly is the Alpha and the Omega… for each believer, everything begins and ends with Him. But we’re by no means done! For us, every day is Christmas – or should be… a new beginning… another chance to share the Good News of Christ with others and to serve as His hands and feet on this earth.
So celebrate Christmas today. Open gifts, have an extra cookie or piece of pie, enjoy family and friends - and maybe watch a ballgame or two on TV or a holiday movie. But remember that we are not finished! Jesus will return someday. In the meantime, we have work to do. We must keep Him in our hearts every single day and share His message with others. We may not say “Merry Christmas” again for another eleven months or so… but we must share the Christmas spirit all year long.
Jesus is bringing more presents… freedom, victory and blessings for each of us…are you ready to receive them? Is your “Christmas” finished… or has it just begun?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Everything is finished! I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will freely give water from the life-giving fountain to everyone who is thirsty. All who win the victory will be given these blessings. I will be their God, and they will be my people.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband went out to check on a few folks this morning, and he stopped by my niece’s house to leave some things they had forgotten last night at our house. The children were dancing around amidst all of their Christmas gifts and the surprises Santa Claus left for them. Timothy stopped suddenly, commanded everyone’s attention and said, “I need to tell everybody… Grandma and Grandpa are bringing more presents!” My sister says that when they arrived and “more presents” were opened, Timothy was like virtually every other kid in the world on Christmas morning… he announced, “We need more presents!”
In many ways, a lot of us could say that everything is finished this Christmas. But in the most important way of all, this truly is the beginning rather than the end. We do need more - of Jesus - and we can have more of Him each and every day. Jesus truly is the Alpha and the Omega… for each believer, everything begins and ends with Him. But we’re by no means done! For us, every day is Christmas – or should be… a new beginning… another chance to share the Good News of Christ with others and to serve as His hands and feet on this earth.
So celebrate Christmas today. Open gifts, have an extra cookie or piece of pie, enjoy family and friends - and maybe watch a ballgame or two on TV or a holiday movie. But remember that we are not finished! Jesus will return someday. In the meantime, we have work to do. We must keep Him in our hearts every single day and share His message with others. We may not say “Merry Christmas” again for another eleven months or so… but we must share the Christmas spirit all year long.
Jesus is bringing more presents… freedom, victory and blessings for each of us…are you ready to receive them? Is your “Christmas” finished… or has it just begun?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 23, 2012
Ezra 4:4-6
Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.
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.
Lies… threats… bribery… gossip and rumors…the Bible says all of these things – and more – have gone on since the long before the time of King Cyrus of Persia, who lived from 576 B.C. to 530 B.C. Frustration is nothing new, dear friend!
What HAS changed is JESUS! In the time of King Cyrus, all of these things that discouraged, frightened and frustrated were a distraction at best… causing people to lose focus and wander away from God. In this particular instance, these actions were attempts to stop the building of a temple. But even today, it would be so easy for us to become mired in the problems of the “daily grind” and lose our way… were it not for Jesus.
If you read much of the Old Testament, you will see that people had to jump through some pretty big hoops to stay close to God. They were not able to communicate with Him directly and relied on priests and prophets to intercede on their behalf. They had to burn offerings and sacrifices in order to atone for their sins. You think we have laws now? You should read the Old Testament laws concerning every behavior and action under the sun!
When God sent Jesus, everything changed. Now, not only are we able to communicate directly with Him… Jesus paid for every single one of our sins. No more sacrifices or burnt offerings are needed… no more asking someone else to speak to God on our behalf is required… no more wondering where we stand need happen! Because of Jesus, we have a direct line to God! Today, when we are frustrated, we can tell God how we feel. His Holy Spirit helps us maneuver the challenges that arise in our lives each day and keeps us on track.
There will still be lies, threats, bribery, gossip and rumors… but when these are lodged in our direction, we can talk to God and ask Him to help us handle these things according to His will. And we most certainly do not have to engage in these behaviors ourselves! When we are discouraged, frightened, and distracted, we don’t have to wander away from God and wonder how we will ever manage. All we have to do is humbly ask Him to help us… and He will deliver answers, calm and peace.
People often say that the true celebration of Jesus lies in the Holy Week of Easter, when we remember His crucifixion, death and resurrection… how He took our sins on the cross. But since we are very near the celebration of Christmas, let’s fully revel in Christ’s birth… the fact that God did send Him to rescue us and give us great help - including coping skills for frustration and the devil’s attempts to distract us.
Let’s take time to stop and thank God for offering us such a tremendous sacrifice and opening the door for us to communicate with Him directly. Let’s praise God for loving us so much… for offering us grace, mercy and forgiveness. AND… let’s be sure we accept His great gift! If you have never invited Jesus Christ to be the LORD of your life and fill your heart with His Holy Spirit, I can’t think of a better time to do so!
Don’t waste another minute wandering around in confusion. Embrace the gift of Jesus and let Him help you handle everything. He can… He will. All you have to do is ask.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then the local residents tried to discourage and frighten the people of Judah to keep them from their work. They bribed agents to work against them and to frustrate their plans. This went on during the entire reign of King Cyrus of Persia and lasted until King Darius of Persia took the throne.
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.
Lies… threats… bribery… gossip and rumors…the Bible says all of these things – and more – have gone on since the long before the time of King Cyrus of Persia, who lived from 576 B.C. to 530 B.C. Frustration is nothing new, dear friend!
What HAS changed is JESUS! In the time of King Cyrus, all of these things that discouraged, frightened and frustrated were a distraction at best… causing people to lose focus and wander away from God. In this particular instance, these actions were attempts to stop the building of a temple. But even today, it would be so easy for us to become mired in the problems of the “daily grind” and lose our way… were it not for Jesus.
If you read much of the Old Testament, you will see that people had to jump through some pretty big hoops to stay close to God. They were not able to communicate with Him directly and relied on priests and prophets to intercede on their behalf. They had to burn offerings and sacrifices in order to atone for their sins. You think we have laws now? You should read the Old Testament laws concerning every behavior and action under the sun!
When God sent Jesus, everything changed. Now, not only are we able to communicate directly with Him… Jesus paid for every single one of our sins. No more sacrifices or burnt offerings are needed… no more asking someone else to speak to God on our behalf is required… no more wondering where we stand need happen! Because of Jesus, we have a direct line to God! Today, when we are frustrated, we can tell God how we feel. His Holy Spirit helps us maneuver the challenges that arise in our lives each day and keeps us on track.
There will still be lies, threats, bribery, gossip and rumors… but when these are lodged in our direction, we can talk to God and ask Him to help us handle these things according to His will. And we most certainly do not have to engage in these behaviors ourselves! When we are discouraged, frightened, and distracted, we don’t have to wander away from God and wonder how we will ever manage. All we have to do is humbly ask Him to help us… and He will deliver answers, calm and peace.
People often say that the true celebration of Jesus lies in the Holy Week of Easter, when we remember His crucifixion, death and resurrection… how He took our sins on the cross. But since we are very near the celebration of Christmas, let’s fully revel in Christ’s birth… the fact that God did send Him to rescue us and give us great help - including coping skills for frustration and the devil’s attempts to distract us.
Let’s take time to stop and thank God for offering us such a tremendous sacrifice and opening the door for us to communicate with Him directly. Let’s praise God for loving us so much… for offering us grace, mercy and forgiveness. AND… let’s be sure we accept His great gift! If you have never invited Jesus Christ to be the LORD of your life and fill your heart with His Holy Spirit, I can’t think of a better time to do so!
Don’t waste another minute wandering around in confusion. Embrace the gift of Jesus and let Him help you handle everything. He can… He will. All you have to do is ask.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 6, 2012
Romans 8:15-17 This resurrection life you received from God is not a timid, grave-tending life. It's adventurously expectant, greeting God with a childlike "What's next, Papa?" God's Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are. We know who he is, and we know who we are: Father and children. And we know we are going to get what's coming to us—an unbelievable inheritance! We go through exactly what Christ goes through. If we go through the hard times with him, then we're certainly going to go through the good times 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.
Lately, I’ve been exchanging messages with a friend from high school who will soon be transferring two foster children in her care back to the home of their mother. She has cared for these children for several months now, and her home has been a loving, stable environment for them… their longest “stability” ever. Naturally, she is dreading the day that they will leave her… for many reasons.
While my husband and I were not fulltime foster parents, we did spend a lot of time with my little nephew, Timothy, during his first 2½ years of life. Saying “Good-bye” to him when he moved to another state last December was truly heartbreaking. I understand on some level what my friend is experiencing… I know the dread of “the day” and the sadness of the actual “good-bye.” I also know that God has never left me… He has given me strength and courage when I sad and defeated. He has enabled me to smile, laugh and find joy… and given me a deeper appreciation for other children. And I am assuring my friend that He will do all of this – and more – for her.
The point of sharing this is not to make you feel sorry for my husband and me… or my friend. It is to show you that God not only shares our pain and heartaches… He shields us and lifts us, also. He never leaves us… and out of our most difficult circumstances, He sets us upright and enables us to ask, “What’s next?” Because of my experience, my friend knows that my words of encouragement are genuine and based in firsthand knowledge. And because of Jesus’ suffering, we can trust that He understands our own – and His comfort comes from a place of true empathy.
There are heartaches, challenges and sufferings of all kinds for each of us. Being a Christian doesn’t insulate us from these experiences… but it does insure us against a terminal suffering. In Psalm 30:5, we read that “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”(KJV) I like how The Message puts it… “The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.” Isn’t this great news? We should be deeply encouraged to know that a “new life in Christ” includes another day with a fresh start and a return of joy and laughter… and that Jesus is with us every step of the way.
Remember two things today: 1) God totally understands everything you are going through… your joys AND your sorrows… the good times AND those that are painful. When you suffer, He suffers with you, and… 2) God will restore your joy. I have no idea what your challenges, or heartaches are… but with God’s help, you WILL get through whatever it is you are suffering or grieving. God will see that you experience “good times” again.
Recognize the presence of Jesus and His Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His company… His grace, mercy, and blessings. Learn from God, and share the comfort you have received with others who have similar needs. Reach out and genuinely say, “I’ve been there… I understand… and you will get through this!” Because Jesus suffered on the cross, He can say, “I know how you feel… I understand what you are going through.” Remember the adage that “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” Because I know that Jesus cares, I care what He knows… and I want more of Him each and every day. Don’t you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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.
Lately, I’ve been exchanging messages with a friend from high school who will soon be transferring two foster children in her care back to the home of their mother. She has cared for these children for several months now, and her home has been a loving, stable environment for them… their longest “stability” ever. Naturally, she is dreading the day that they will leave her… for many reasons.
While my husband and I were not fulltime foster parents, we did spend a lot of time with my little nephew, Timothy, during his first 2½ years of life. Saying “Good-bye” to him when he moved to another state last December was truly heartbreaking. I understand on some level what my friend is experiencing… I know the dread of “the day” and the sadness of the actual “good-bye.” I also know that God has never left me… He has given me strength and courage when I sad and defeated. He has enabled me to smile, laugh and find joy… and given me a deeper appreciation for other children. And I am assuring my friend that He will do all of this – and more – for her.
The point of sharing this is not to make you feel sorry for my husband and me… or my friend. It is to show you that God not only shares our pain and heartaches… He shields us and lifts us, also. He never leaves us… and out of our most difficult circumstances, He sets us upright and enables us to ask, “What’s next?” Because of my experience, my friend knows that my words of encouragement are genuine and based in firsthand knowledge. And because of Jesus’ suffering, we can trust that He understands our own – and His comfort comes from a place of true empathy.
There are heartaches, challenges and sufferings of all kinds for each of us. Being a Christian doesn’t insulate us from these experiences… but it does insure us against a terminal suffering. In Psalm 30:5, we read that “…weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”(KJV) I like how The Message puts it… “The nights of crying your eyes out give way to days of laughter.” Isn’t this great news? We should be deeply encouraged to know that a “new life in Christ” includes another day with a fresh start and a return of joy and laughter… and that Jesus is with us every step of the way.
Remember two things today: 1) God totally understands everything you are going through… your joys AND your sorrows… the good times AND those that are painful. When you suffer, He suffers with you, and… 2) God will restore your joy. I have no idea what your challenges, or heartaches are… but with God’s help, you WILL get through whatever it is you are suffering or grieving. God will see that you experience “good times” again.
Recognize the presence of Jesus and His Holy Spirit. Thank Him for His company… His grace, mercy, and blessings. Learn from God, and share the comfort you have received with others who have similar needs. Reach out and genuinely say, “I’ve been there… I understand… and you will get through this!” Because Jesus suffered on the cross, He can say, “I know how you feel… I understand what you are going through.” Remember the adage that “people don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” Because I know that Jesus cares, I care what He knows… and I want more of Him each and every day. Don’t you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 2, 2012
1 Chronicles 16:34-36
Praise the LORD because he is good to us, and his love never fails. Say to him, "Save us, LORD God! Bring us back from among the nations. Let us celebrate and shout in praise of your holy name. LORD God of Israel, you deserve to be praised forever and ever."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For many of us, today was a reality check… a time to go back to our routine, put away the last of the Christmas decorations, and maybe sleep in one last time before returning to work. Christmas and New Year’s Day have come and gone… the parties are over… and soon we will go back to school or work and/or a regular routine. The celebrating is over for another year.
Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating the “Reason for the Season!” In fact, this is exactly the wrong thing to do! We have plenty to celebrate. We have more than enough reasons to continue to praise God… to thank Him each and every day for all He does for us. Christmas is not the end… it’s the beginning!
So let’s keep this going! Let’s remember to celebrate and shout in praise of the holy name of Jesus Christ! Let’s thank God each and every day for being so good to us… for His love that never fails… for continually meeting our needs. We can still smile at people in the halls and the checkout line. We can still give to charities and help those in need. We can still extend the love and peace of God to others. Just because we’re not saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year” doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the love of Christ and share with others.
Our God truly does deserve to be praised forever and ever. How will you celebrate Him in the coming months?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Praise the LORD because he is good to us, and his love never fails. Say to him, "Save us, LORD God! Bring us back from among the nations. Let us celebrate and shout in praise of your holy name. LORD God of Israel, you deserve to be praised forever and ever."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For many of us, today was a reality check… a time to go back to our routine, put away the last of the Christmas decorations, and maybe sleep in one last time before returning to work. Christmas and New Year’s Day have come and gone… the parties are over… and soon we will go back to school or work and/or a regular routine. The celebrating is over for another year.
Just because the holidays are over doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating the “Reason for the Season!” In fact, this is exactly the wrong thing to do! We have plenty to celebrate. We have more than enough reasons to continue to praise God… to thank Him each and every day for all He does for us. Christmas is not the end… it’s the beginning!
So let’s keep this going! Let’s remember to celebrate and shout in praise of the holy name of Jesus Christ! Let’s thank God each and every day for being so good to us… for His love that never fails… for continually meeting our needs. We can still smile at people in the halls and the checkout line. We can still give to charities and help those in need. We can still extend the love and peace of God to others. Just because we’re not saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy New Year” doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate the love of Christ and share with others.
Our God truly does deserve to be praised forever and ever. How will you celebrate Him in the coming months?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 24, 2011
1 Chronicles 16:8-15
Praise the LORD and pray in his name! Tell everyone what he has done. Sing praises to the LORD! Tell about his miracles. Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart. Trust the LORD and his mighty power. Worship him always. Remember his miracles and all his wonders and his fair decisions.
You belong to the family of Israel, his servant; you are his chosen ones, the descendants of Jacob. The LORD is our God, bringing justice everywhere on earth. We must never forget his agreement and his promises, not in thousands of years.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s finally here… one of the days we wait for all year long - Christmas Eve! No doubt, there will be celebration and worship going on in every corner of the world, as we revel in the birth of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. And surely more than a handful of promises have been made… “I promise to be good so Santa will come”… “I promise to stop over to visit during the holidays”… “I promise I won’t eat or drink too much”… “I promise not to spend more than I can afford”… “I promise to focus more on Jesus this year and less on the commercialism of the holidays.”
Many promises will be made with the best of intentions, but more than a few of these will also be broken. Thankfully, we serve a God who is just and fair and always honors His commitments. The promises He gave us in the prophecy of the Old Testament were fulfilled over 2000 years ago… and still hold up today. Jesus came to earth to live among us as a human being and to show us how to love one another and serve God wholeheartedly. He died on a cross to pay for our sins… and we cling to the promise of spending Eternity in Heaven with Him someday.
In this season of tinsel and garland, twinkling lights and decadent food, gifts and festivities extraordinaire, we must remember WHOSE we are… and WHY we celebrate. This is a great time to reflect on the miracles in our own lives that were performed by the same God who sent His only Son to earth so long ago. Acknowledge how blessed you are and how fair God has been in your life. Recognize that He promises to continue to bless you and work in and through you to accomplish great things in His name. The birth of Jesus Christ was completely wrapped in the promises of God’s hope and glory… and these promises and agreements are as solid today as they ever were.
THIS is the real reason we celebrate. This is the reason we gather and shower each other with love, gifts, food and more. We are saying, “Jesus has come, by the power of God! He has showered us with blessings and miracles… and He will continue to do so. Praise be to God for His great love and kindness.” Never will there be another birthday celebration so grand. We are truly honored to be included in this party. Will your celebration be fit for the King of Kings?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Praise the LORD and pray in his name! Tell everyone what he has done. Sing praises to the LORD! Tell about his miracles. Celebrate and worship his holy name with all your heart. Trust the LORD and his mighty power. Worship him always. Remember his miracles and all his wonders and his fair decisions.
You belong to the family of Israel, his servant; you are his chosen ones, the descendants of Jacob. The LORD is our God, bringing justice everywhere on earth. We must never forget his agreement and his promises, not in thousands of years.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It’s finally here… one of the days we wait for all year long - Christmas Eve! No doubt, there will be celebration and worship going on in every corner of the world, as we revel in the birth of our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. And surely more than a handful of promises have been made… “I promise to be good so Santa will come”… “I promise to stop over to visit during the holidays”… “I promise I won’t eat or drink too much”… “I promise not to spend more than I can afford”… “I promise to focus more on Jesus this year and less on the commercialism of the holidays.”
THIS is the real reason we celebrate. This is the reason we gather and shower each other with love, gifts, food and more. We are saying, “Jesus has come, by the power of God! He has showered us with blessings and miracles… and He will continue to do so. Praise be to God for His great love and kindness.” Never will there be another birthday celebration so grand. We are truly honored to be included in this party. Will your celebration be fit for the King of Kings?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 16, 2011
Psalm 145:1-4
I will praise you, my God and King, and always honor your name. I will praise you each day and always honor your name. You are wonderful, LORD, and you deserve all praise, because you are much greater than anyone can understand. Each generation will announce to the next your wonderful and powerful deeds.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my little cousins visited last weekend, they told us about the new elf they “adopted” this year and named Bells. Bells is one of Santa’s helpers, and he reports back to the North Pole and lets Santa know if Olivia and Owen are being nice. He’s also mischievous and fun… and if you touch him, he loses his magic! Just ask Owen and Olivia – they can tell you all about their elf, Bells!
Ask virtually any toddler who can say a few words who the man with the red suit and white beard is, and he/she can tell you, “Santa Claus!” Many of these children have never actually seen the man… they don’t have a personal relationship or experience with him… yet they know who he is. Even at two and a half, Owen told his daddy to leave Bells the Elf alone, or “… he’ll lose his magic and Santa won’t come!” And believe me… my little cousins do not want Bells to lose his magic!
I’m afraid far more children know about Santa Claus and the Elf on a Shelf than Jesus. Thankfully, my little cousins are not among them. From an early age they have been introduced to their “Forever Friend” and taught to honor Him. And I have sung “Jesus Loves Me” to Timothy, prayed over him, read books that speak of God and talked to him about Jesus since he was just a few months old. He, Owen, Olivia, and countless other children are already learning about the power and wonder of their Heavenly Father.
As we age, we often start to blur the lines. If we are not careful, the Elf on the Shelf and Santa Claus will have more importance in our lives than Jesus Christ! Especially in this holiday season, many will place more significance on getting the packages purchased, wrapped and under the tree than reflecting on the birth of Jesus and what His coming to earth meant for us. Many will spend more time hurrying to this party and that than stopping to spend a few minutes with someone who can no longer get out and go to parties – or anywhere else, for that matter. Many will celebrate the commercialism of the holiday season and never crack open a Bible or consider the true message, much less take advantage of this opportunity to begin telling a child about Jesus.
There is room for the Elf on a Shelf in the holiday celebrating. But a lot of us have pushed Jesus so far down the shelf that He’s just about to fall off… if He hasn’t already. And little ones who know all about Santa and the magic of Christmas are capable of learning about the real “Magic” of the season. Each of us started somewhere in our journey to get to know Jesus. In this season of wonder and excitement, let’s remember to stop and praise HIS love and power… and thank Him for the wonderful deeds He does for us every day of the year.
Someone took time to share Jesus with you… are you “paying it forward” and sharing Him with others? Isn’t this a great season to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I will praise you, my God and King, and always honor your name. I will praise you each day and always honor your name. You are wonderful, LORD, and you deserve all praise, because you are much greater than anyone can understand. Each generation will announce to the next your wonderful and powerful deeds.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my little cousins visited last weekend, they told us about the new elf they “adopted” this year and named Bells. Bells is one of Santa’s helpers, and he reports back to the North Pole and lets Santa know if Olivia and Owen are being nice. He’s also mischievous and fun… and if you touch him, he loses his magic! Just ask Owen and Olivia – they can tell you all about their elf, Bells!
Ask virtually any toddler who can say a few words who the man with the red suit and white beard is, and he/she can tell you, “Santa Claus!” Many of these children have never actually seen the man… they don’t have a personal relationship or experience with him… yet they know who he is. Even at two and a half, Owen told his daddy to leave Bells the Elf alone, or “… he’ll lose his magic and Santa won’t come!” And believe me… my little cousins do not want Bells to lose his magic!
I’m afraid far more children know about Santa Claus and the Elf on a Shelf than Jesus. Thankfully, my little cousins are not among them. From an early age they have been introduced to their “Forever Friend” and taught to honor Him. And I have sung “Jesus Loves Me” to Timothy, prayed over him, read books that speak of God and talked to him about Jesus since he was just a few months old. He, Owen, Olivia, and countless other children are already learning about the power and wonder of their Heavenly Father.
As we age, we often start to blur the lines. If we are not careful, the Elf on the Shelf and Santa Claus will have more importance in our lives than Jesus Christ! Especially in this holiday season, many will place more significance on getting the packages purchased, wrapped and under the tree than reflecting on the birth of Jesus and what His coming to earth meant for us. Many will spend more time hurrying to this party and that than stopping to spend a few minutes with someone who can no longer get out and go to parties – or anywhere else, for that matter. Many will celebrate the commercialism of the holiday season and never crack open a Bible or consider the true message, much less take advantage of this opportunity to begin telling a child about Jesus.
There is room for the Elf on a Shelf in the holiday celebrating. But a lot of us have pushed Jesus so far down the shelf that He’s just about to fall off… if He hasn’t already. And little ones who know all about Santa and the magic of Christmas are capable of learning about the real “Magic” of the season. Each of us started somewhere in our journey to get to know Jesus. In this season of wonder and excitement, let’s remember to stop and praise HIS love and power… and thank Him for the wonderful deeds He does for us every day of the year.
Someone took time to share Jesus with you… are you “paying it forward” and sharing Him with others? Isn’t this a great season to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 7, 2011
John 16:23-28
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
"I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."
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.
Several years ago, a new program was enacted that required everyone who is covered by Medicare to choose an insurance company to cover the cost of their prescription drugs. It’s called Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage… or “Part D” for short. Since I handle my grandmother’s business affairs, this decision for her coverage fell to me. As with all new programs, there were kinks and things that didn’t work like they should… and a huge learning curve.
After several weeks of frustration and getting passed from one person to another, I sent e-mail messages to all of my Congressmen and women… and my governor… to complain about the treatment I was receiving and the inefficiency of the system. Eventually I was given the number of a representative named Donna, who worked directly for Medicare. Donna was such a blessing, and by the time we had everything settled, I had her telephone number on speed dial in my phone! I could now go directly to Donna for answers… I didn’t have to contact agency after agency and get passed around like a hot potato. And for several years, I phoned Donna to get clarification about my decisions.
Imagine if we had to go through this agency and that person and someone else just to talk to God. What if we had to “leave a message” with our pastor or another church official, who would in turn talk to God and “get back to us” with a response. How much would you really try to communicate with God? Do you think your relationship with Him would be very strong?
I am so thankful for Jesus. Because He came to earth and lived among us… taught us how to live as His Disciples, and then died on the cross for our sins… we have DIRECT access to God any time we want! We don’t have to sacrifice an animal or burn an offering. We don’t have to talk to church leaders and ask them to intercede for us. We just have to open our heart – and our mouth – and say, “Hello, LORD… I’m back, and I need you!” Because of Jesus, we can ask, “LORD, please handle this for me, according to Your will,” and He will do it!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like having to leave messages and go through this person or that one to get my answers… and I surely would not like having this kind of relationship with God. Aren’t you glad we don’t have to do this? Isn’t it time you put God on your “speed dial” and talk with Him as often as you can?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"This is what I want you to do: Ask the Father for whatever is in keeping with the things I've revealed to you. Ask in my name, according to my will, and he'll most certainly give it to you. Your joy will be a river overflowing its banks!
"I've used figures of speech in telling you these things. Soon I'll drop the figures and tell you about the Father in plain language. Then you can make your requests directly to him in relation to this life I've revealed to you. I won't continue making requests of the Father on your behalf. I won't need to. Because you've gone out on a limb, committed yourselves to love and trust in me, believing I came directly from the Father, the Father loves you directly. First, I left the Father and arrived in the world; now I leave the world and travel to the Father."
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.
Several years ago, a new program was enacted that required everyone who is covered by Medicare to choose an insurance company to cover the cost of their prescription drugs. It’s called Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Coverage… or “Part D” for short. Since I handle my grandmother’s business affairs, this decision for her coverage fell to me. As with all new programs, there were kinks and things that didn’t work like they should… and a huge learning curve.
After several weeks of frustration and getting passed from one person to another, I sent e-mail messages to all of my Congressmen and women… and my governor… to complain about the treatment I was receiving and the inefficiency of the system. Eventually I was given the number of a representative named Donna, who worked directly for Medicare. Donna was such a blessing, and by the time we had everything settled, I had her telephone number on speed dial in my phone! I could now go directly to Donna for answers… I didn’t have to contact agency after agency and get passed around like a hot potato. And for several years, I phoned Donna to get clarification about my decisions.
Imagine if we had to go through this agency and that person and someone else just to talk to God. What if we had to “leave a message” with our pastor or another church official, who would in turn talk to God and “get back to us” with a response. How much would you really try to communicate with God? Do you think your relationship with Him would be very strong?
I am so thankful for Jesus. Because He came to earth and lived among us… taught us how to live as His Disciples, and then died on the cross for our sins… we have DIRECT access to God any time we want! We don’t have to sacrifice an animal or burn an offering. We don’t have to talk to church leaders and ask them to intercede for us. We just have to open our heart – and our mouth – and say, “Hello, LORD… I’m back, and I need you!” Because of Jesus, we can ask, “LORD, please handle this for me, according to Your will,” and He will do it!
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like having to leave messages and go through this person or that one to get my answers… and I surely would not like having this kind of relationship with God. Aren’t you glad we don’t have to do this? Isn’t it time you put God on your “speed dial” and talk with Him as often as you can?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 15, 2011
Psalm 98:1-2
Sing a new song to the LORD! He has worked miracles, and with his own powerful arm, he has won the victory. The LORD has shown the nations that he has the power to save and to bring justice.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You have probably seen news footage of the overtime “header” that USA women’s soccer forward Abby Wambach made on July 10 against Brazil to win the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup in Dresden, Germany. You may have even been watching the game on television at the time. After the score, Wambach let out a loud scream and slid into the corner, pumping her fists as she was mobbed by her teammates. While Wambach’s point may not have truly been miraculous, it definitely sealed the victory for the USA. ESPN even named this Wambach’s overtime point as its “Best Play” at the 2011 Espy awards.
When it comes to giving awards for miracles and power, Jesus wins every time… or at least, He should! For every time “our team” has shown others throughout the country – or even the world – how powerful and mighty we are, Jesus has demonstrated power and might “in spades!” And to top it all off, our LORD is fair! Justice and fairness are the end result of His power and might. The devil tries to defeat us at every turn… but Jesus sets things right again. He wins… and so do we, when we are members of His “team.”
There are probably thousands of little girls across America who are now aspiring to be like Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, or Lauren Cheney. They are probably dreaming of growing up to participate in games that leave the crowd breathless and receiving accolades from throughout the world. But I can tell you, the real winners are those on Team Jesus! The true miracles happen in the lives of people whose victories may not be as widely reported – but are far more significant in terms of life on this earth and into eternity. And at the center of all of this… the One who truly deserves our praise and adoration… is JESUS!
Sing a new song to the LORD! He has worked miracles… and with His own powerful arm, He has won the victory. Are you a member of His team?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Sing a new song to the LORD! He has worked miracles, and with his own powerful arm, he has won the victory. The LORD has shown the nations that he has the power to save and to bring justice.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
You have probably seen news footage of the overtime “header” that USA women’s soccer forward Abby Wambach made on July 10 against Brazil to win the quarterfinals of the Women’s World Cup in Dresden, Germany. You may have even been watching the game on television at the time. After the score, Wambach let out a loud scream and slid into the corner, pumping her fists as she was mobbed by her teammates. While Wambach’s point may not have truly been miraculous, it definitely sealed the victory for the USA. ESPN even named this Wambach’s overtime point as its “Best Play” at the 2011 Espy awards.
When it comes to giving awards for miracles and power, Jesus wins every time… or at least, He should! For every time “our team” has shown others throughout the country – or even the world – how powerful and mighty we are, Jesus has demonstrated power and might “in spades!” And to top it all off, our LORD is fair! Justice and fairness are the end result of His power and might. The devil tries to defeat us at every turn… but Jesus sets things right again. He wins… and so do we, when we are members of His “team.”
There are probably thousands of little girls across America who are now aspiring to be like Abby Wambach, Megan Rapinoe, or Lauren Cheney. They are probably dreaming of growing up to participate in games that leave the crowd breathless and receiving accolades from throughout the world. But I can tell you, the real winners are those on Team Jesus! The true miracles happen in the lives of people whose victories may not be as widely reported – but are far more significant in terms of life on this earth and into eternity. And at the center of all of this… the One who truly deserves our praise and adoration… is JESUS!
Sing a new song to the LORD! He has worked miracles… and with His own powerful arm, He has won the victory. Are you a member of His team?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 4, 2011
Proverbs 22:3
Respect and serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The days around July 4th are a time of great reflection for many Americans. We stop… if only momentarily… and think about the tremendous freedoms we enjoy in this country. We recognize the monumental sacrifices of so many fellow countrymen and women, so that we can enjoy these freedoms and privileges. We salute them with parades and fireworks displays… and the wearing of red, white and blue. We give them respect by hanging flags and singing patriotic songs in their honor.
We are able to muster up quite the celebration for the United States of America and its people, yet we don’t seem to be able to do the same for our LORD and Savior! Oh, sure, we have Christmas and Easter… and Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny! And yes, there are other activities and festivities on July 4th that take some of our focus – picnics, water activities, car races, baseball games and more. But it seems that for many of us, we are more fervent and enthusiastic about recognizing and celebrating our patriotism than we are our faith!
We need to stop and realize that the only reason we have the freedoms we do in this country is because of the grace of God. The ultimate gift of freedom came on the cross, when Jesus Christ died for our sins. If ever we are going to wave a flag and light a firecracker, it ought to be for HIM! And honestly, in the context of our faith walk, every single day should be the Fourth of July!
So today, as you celebrate, light a firework for Jesus. As it soars toward the heavens, pause and say, “Thank you, LORD!” Have your picnics, eat your ice cream and watermelon, and wave flags… and thank God for His gift of the great freedom we enjoy in America every single day. Give God the glory, honor and respect He deserves as you commemorate this holiday… and make every day your Independence Day in Christ!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Respect and serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The days around July 4th are a time of great reflection for many Americans. We stop… if only momentarily… and think about the tremendous freedoms we enjoy in this country. We recognize the monumental sacrifices of so many fellow countrymen and women, so that we can enjoy these freedoms and privileges. We salute them with parades and fireworks displays… and the wearing of red, white and blue. We give them respect by hanging flags and singing patriotic songs in their honor.
We are able to muster up quite the celebration for the United States of America and its people, yet we don’t seem to be able to do the same for our LORD and Savior! Oh, sure, we have Christmas and Easter… and Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny! And yes, there are other activities and festivities on July 4th that take some of our focus – picnics, water activities, car races, baseball games and more. But it seems that for many of us, we are more fervent and enthusiastic about recognizing and celebrating our patriotism than we are our faith!
We need to stop and realize that the only reason we have the freedoms we do in this country is because of the grace of God. The ultimate gift of freedom came on the cross, when Jesus Christ died for our sins. If ever we are going to wave a flag and light a firecracker, it ought to be for HIM! And honestly, in the context of our faith walk, every single day should be the Fourth of July!
So today, as you celebrate, light a firework for Jesus. As it soars toward the heavens, pause and say, “Thank you, LORD!” Have your picnics, eat your ice cream and watermelon, and wave flags… and thank God for His gift of the great freedom we enjoy in America every single day. Give God the glory, honor and respect He deserves as you commemorate this holiday… and make every day your Independence Day in Christ!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 2, 2011
Psalm 97:1-6
The LORD is King! Tell the earth to celebrate and all islands to shout. Dark clouds surround him, and his throne is supported by justice and fairness. Fire leaps from his throne, destroying his enemies, and his lightning is so bright that the earth sees it and trembles. Mountains melt away like wax in the presence of the LORD of all the earth. The heavens announce, "The LORD brings justice!" Everyone sees God's glory.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In a couple of days, we will celebrate Independence Day, but for many, the party has already started! We’ll hear the fireworks boom and pop… we will see the flash, and some will explode so brightly overhead that we may even tremble momentarily. But it will all be in good fun – we will have nothing to fear. This is a happy time for many as we celebrate our freedom and the privilege of living in America.
In the scheme of things, every day with God should be like the Fourth of July. We should be so exuberant and joyful that if we don’t literally shoot off fireworks to celebrate, we do so in our hearts! Most of all, we should live in such a way that God is glorified… and others see the difference He makes in our life each and every day.
Do others see the power of God in your life? Do you feel it for yourself? Do you celebrate all He has done – and is doing – for you? Isn’t this a great time to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD is King! Tell the earth to celebrate and all islands to shout. Dark clouds surround him, and his throne is supported by justice and fairness. Fire leaps from his throne, destroying his enemies, and his lightning is so bright that the earth sees it and trembles. Mountains melt away like wax in the presence of the LORD of all the earth. The heavens announce, "The LORD brings justice!" Everyone sees God's glory.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In a couple of days, we will celebrate Independence Day, but for many, the party has already started! We’ll hear the fireworks boom and pop… we will see the flash, and some will explode so brightly overhead that we may even tremble momentarily. But it will all be in good fun – we will have nothing to fear. This is a happy time for many as we celebrate our freedom and the privilege of living in America.
In the scheme of things, every day with God should be like the Fourth of July. We should be so exuberant and joyful that if we don’t literally shoot off fireworks to celebrate, we do so in our hearts! Most of all, we should live in such a way that God is glorified… and others see the difference He makes in our life each and every day.
Do others see the power of God in your life? Do you feel it for yourself? Do you celebrate all He has done – and is doing – for you? Isn’t this a great time to begin?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 14, 2011
Psalm 30
I will praise you, LORD! You saved me from the grave and kept my enemies from celebrating my death. I prayed to you, LORD God, and you healed me, saving me from death and the grave.
Your faithful people, LORD, will praise you with songs and honor your holy name. Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.
I was carefree and thought, "I'll never be shaken!" You, LORD, were my friend, and you made me strong as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was crushed. I prayed to you, LORD, and in my prayer I said, "What good will it do you if I am in the grave? Once I have turned to dust, how can I praise you or tell how loyal you are? Have pity, LORD! Help!"
You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD and my God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I asked a friend if her three-year-old daughter was excited about Valentine’s Day, and she said her child really didn’t know that this holiday existed. I replied, “Just wait… she will.” When I was teaching kindergarten, Valentine’s Day was almost a bigger deal for the children than Christmas. There is something about getting all of those colorful little cards and candies that delights young children. And even more, perhaps, they enjoy sending their own Valentines… picking out just the right one, painstakingly writing their name on them… and for possibly the first time, expressing love to someone else in a public manner.
If we’re honest, children of all ages enjoy Valentine’s Day. And like any other holiday, Valentine’s Day can get out of hand. Gifts and plans become grander with each year. We hear, “What will you do to top this next year?” And somewhere along the line, the true intent of this holiday becomes lost in the hearts, flowers, candy and more. Jesus commanded us to love one another… and to love others as we love ourselves. Somehow, if He commanded us to do a really bang-up job of this on February 14th, I missed it! Every day is supposed to be like Valentine’s Day if we love with the heart of Christ.
More importantly, we race around sharing our love and appreciation for everyone on the planet… and the One who truly deserves our lavish attention often gets very little, if anything. This Psalm is a tremendous “Valentine” to our Heavenly Father. The verses express how deeply the psalmist loves and appreciates God and all that He has done for us. And this would make a wonderful Valentine for us to pray to God… to read and study as we spend time sitting and thanking Him for loving us so well.
You will probably find this corny, but I like to tell my husband that every day with him is Valentine’s Day for me. I am blessed to have a husband, family and friends who love me so well. I hope I am loving them well in return… but most importantly, I hope I am loving my Heavenly Father well. Truly every day in His presence is Valentine’s Day… and today is a good day for us to start showing – and telling Him - just how much we love Him. We can use Psalm 30 as a starting point… or we can create our own “Valentine” for Him.
How will you express your love to the One who has loved you like no other? He lavishes us with Valentines every single day… what sort of Valentine have you selected for Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I will praise you, LORD! You saved me from the grave and kept my enemies from celebrating my death. I prayed to you, LORD God, and you healed me, saving me from death and the grave.
Your faithful people, LORD, will praise you with songs and honor your holy name. Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.
I was carefree and thought, "I'll never be shaken!" You, LORD, were my friend, and you made me strong as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was crushed. I prayed to you, LORD, and in my prayer I said, "What good will it do you if I am in the grave? Once I have turned to dust, how can I praise you or tell how loyal you are? Have pity, LORD! Help!"
You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD and my God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I asked a friend if her three-year-old daughter was excited about Valentine’s Day, and she said her child really didn’t know that this holiday existed. I replied, “Just wait… she will.” When I was teaching kindergarten, Valentine’s Day was almost a bigger deal for the children than Christmas. There is something about getting all of those colorful little cards and candies that delights young children. And even more, perhaps, they enjoy sending their own Valentines… picking out just the right one, painstakingly writing their name on them… and for possibly the first time, expressing love to someone else in a public manner.
If we’re honest, children of all ages enjoy Valentine’s Day. And like any other holiday, Valentine’s Day can get out of hand. Gifts and plans become grander with each year. We hear, “What will you do to top this next year?” And somewhere along the line, the true intent of this holiday becomes lost in the hearts, flowers, candy and more. Jesus commanded us to love one another… and to love others as we love ourselves. Somehow, if He commanded us to do a really bang-up job of this on February 14th, I missed it! Every day is supposed to be like Valentine’s Day if we love with the heart of Christ.
More importantly, we race around sharing our love and appreciation for everyone on the planet… and the One who truly deserves our lavish attention often gets very little, if anything. This Psalm is a tremendous “Valentine” to our Heavenly Father. The verses express how deeply the psalmist loves and appreciates God and all that He has done for us. And this would make a wonderful Valentine for us to pray to God… to read and study as we spend time sitting and thanking Him for loving us so well.
You will probably find this corny, but I like to tell my husband that every day with him is Valentine’s Day for me. I am blessed to have a husband, family and friends who love me so well. I hope I am loving them well in return… but most importantly, I hope I am loving my Heavenly Father well. Truly every day in His presence is Valentine’s Day… and today is a good day for us to start showing – and telling Him - just how much we love Him. We can use Psalm 30 as a starting point… or we can create our own “Valentine” for Him.
How will you express your love to the One who has loved you like no other? He lavishes us with Valentines every single day… what sort of Valentine have you selected for Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 21, 2010
Luke 2:13-17
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I love to decorate… and at Christmas, some would say I go nuts! I know there are many who do more than I, but over the years, my collection of Christmas decorations has grown quite a bit. No longer is one tree enough… we have “the big tree,” a smaller one on the piano, a lighted tree on outside on our bluff for others to enjoy… and now, a tree for Timothy that has ornaments with which he is allowed to play. I have Santas, snowmen, lots of greenery and lights… and more than 50 nativity sets that I display together as a collection. Over the years, my students, friends and family members have given me Christmas ornaments for the tree, and I proudly hang every one.
In 36 years of marriage, I think there has been one Christmas that we did not have a tree… and that was because I had undergone surgery, and we were spending the holidays with our parents. I keep many of our “winter” decorations out through much of February so the house doesn’t seem so bare in the cold, bleak months. A couple of years ago, I was packing away the decorations, and I became sad and frustrated. WHY did I do this? Putting it all away was no fun. It took several days. And let’s be honest… putting it out to start with took me two to three days, too. So WHY do it?
I said to myself, “Next year, I won’t do so much. I’ll go through my things and get rid of some of them and pare down.” But when the next year came, Timothy was here, and experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child is a whole new ball of wax. Even though he was too small to understand, he enjoyed the lights, the sparkle, and the color. My mom came to help me get the tree decorated.
This year, Timothy is old enough to begin to enjoy the ornaments and lights… the nativities, and more. So once again, I got out our decorations and transformed our house into a holiday wonderland. And again, Mom came to help with the big tree. She no longer puts up a tree, since all of our family festivities happen at our house. So we have started a new tradition of trimming the big tree together.
I know many people who no longer decorate, for a variety of reasons… and that’s okay. And yes, we have become too commercialized about Christmas. But look at these verses in Luke again… the angels were celebrating. The shepherds left the manger to celebrate the birth of Christ with others and share this good news. Let’s be honest… at that point, the ramifications of Christ’s birth were not totally clear. Most people did not realize the significance of this event until after Jesus had died on the cross and ascended into heaven.
The point is… as much as Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our risen Savior, it also serves as a reminder of what Jesus taught us – unconditional love for our fellow man, grace, mercy, generosity in giving to others, service, joy, faith, and so much more. And don’t we often seem to be better at putting these things into action during the holidays? We truly celebrate Jesus by making our homes festive… and inviting others to visit. We put up a tree and trim it with lights and sparkling ornaments and create a party atmosphere. We are kinder and gentler with others… more generous. We seem to find more time for parties, celebrations and writing cards… baking treats to share with others… shopping and wrapping gifts.
For a few days/weeks, we at least give ourselves the opportunity to more closely emulate some of the traits Jesus taught us. Oh, sure, some will become stressed and grumpy… some will become “Scrooges” and refuse to participate… but many will transform into totally different people. And maybe… just maybe… some will continue that spirit after the tree is taken to the curb and the decorations are packed away for another year. Maybe the joy and celebration of all that Jesus’ birth represents will be shared for months to come… or even all year long! The first step is to start the party… to deck the halls and celebrate. You don’t have to put up a tree or hang a wreath on the door… all you have to do is “deck your hall” with a smile and a warm heart for those around you!
How will you celebrate this year? Are you ready to “party hearty” in Jesus’ name? Will others notice a difference… and better yet, will you keep His joy going all year long?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I love to decorate… and at Christmas, some would say I go nuts! I know there are many who do more than I, but over the years, my collection of Christmas decorations has grown quite a bit. No longer is one tree enough… we have “the big tree,” a smaller one on the piano, a lighted tree on outside on our bluff for others to enjoy… and now, a tree for Timothy that has ornaments with which he is allowed to play. I have Santas, snowmen, lots of greenery and lights… and more than 50 nativity sets that I display together as a collection. Over the years, my students, friends and family members have given me Christmas ornaments for the tree, and I proudly hang every one.
In 36 years of marriage, I think there has been one Christmas that we did not have a tree… and that was because I had undergone surgery, and we were spending the holidays with our parents. I keep many of our “winter” decorations out through much of February so the house doesn’t seem so bare in the cold, bleak months. A couple of years ago, I was packing away the decorations, and I became sad and frustrated. WHY did I do this? Putting it all away was no fun. It took several days. And let’s be honest… putting it out to start with took me two to three days, too. So WHY do it?
I said to myself, “Next year, I won’t do so much. I’ll go through my things and get rid of some of them and pare down.” But when the next year came, Timothy was here, and experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child is a whole new ball of wax. Even though he was too small to understand, he enjoyed the lights, the sparkle, and the color. My mom came to help me get the tree decorated.
This year, Timothy is old enough to begin to enjoy the ornaments and lights… the nativities, and more. So once again, I got out our decorations and transformed our house into a holiday wonderland. And again, Mom came to help with the big tree. She no longer puts up a tree, since all of our family festivities happen at our house. So we have started a new tradition of trimming the big tree together.
I know many people who no longer decorate, for a variety of reasons… and that’s okay. And yes, we have become too commercialized about Christmas. But look at these verses in Luke again… the angels were celebrating. The shepherds left the manger to celebrate the birth of Christ with others and share this good news. Let’s be honest… at that point, the ramifications of Christ’s birth were not totally clear. Most people did not realize the significance of this event until after Jesus had died on the cross and ascended into heaven.
The point is… as much as Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our risen Savior, it also serves as a reminder of what Jesus taught us – unconditional love for our fellow man, grace, mercy, generosity in giving to others, service, joy, faith, and so much more. And don’t we often seem to be better at putting these things into action during the holidays? We truly celebrate Jesus by making our homes festive… and inviting others to visit. We put up a tree and trim it with lights and sparkling ornaments and create a party atmosphere. We are kinder and gentler with others… more generous. We seem to find more time for parties, celebrations and writing cards… baking treats to share with others… shopping and wrapping gifts.
For a few days/weeks, we at least give ourselves the opportunity to more closely emulate some of the traits Jesus taught us. Oh, sure, some will become stressed and grumpy… some will become “Scrooges” and refuse to participate… but many will transform into totally different people. And maybe… just maybe… some will continue that spirit after the tree is taken to the curb and the decorations are packed away for another year. Maybe the joy and celebration of all that Jesus’ birth represents will be shared for months to come… or even all year long! The first step is to start the party… to deck the halls and celebrate. You don’t have to put up a tree or hang a wreath on the door… all you have to do is “deck your hall” with a smile and a warm heart for those around you!
How will you celebrate this year? Are you ready to “party hearty” in Jesus’ name? Will others notice a difference… and better yet, will you keep His joy going all year long?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 25, 2010
Psalm 13:5
I trust your love, and I feel like celebrating because you rescued me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Some of you are too young to remember “Baby Jessica McClure,” the 18-month-old toddler who fell in a backyard well in Midland, Texas, in 1987. She was trapped there for over 58 hours, as rescuers worked to jackhammer a tunnel alongside her and facilitate a rescue. I can still see the rescue worker emerging from the tunnel as the cable is pulled, holding the little baby with the bandaged head and tiny body. The entire crowd erupted … and thanks to CNN, and other major television networks that covered the rescue, the world celebrated, too!
As dramatic as the rescue of Jessica McClure was in 1987, our rescue by the blood of Jesus from the bondage of sin is even more impressive. We should be celebrating every day, elated by the knowledge that we have been redeemed for all eternity because of the cross. Jesus is the ultimate hero... and just thinking about Him should be cause for applause and cheering.
We find it so easy to celebrate a zillion things, but often, the one thing that truly matters leaves us with our hands in our pockets. Let’s change this! Let’s trust the love of Christ and all that He promises us in it… and let’s truly celebrate Him. We don’t have to walk around clapping and cheering, but we can celebrate Him in the way we live, how we serve, the smile on our face and the joy in our hearts. Jesus rescued us … now THIS is a reason to celebrate!
©2010 Debbie Robus
I trust your love, and I feel like celebrating because you rescued me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Some of you are too young to remember “Baby Jessica McClure,” the 18-month-old toddler who fell in a backyard well in Midland, Texas, in 1987. She was trapped there for over 58 hours, as rescuers worked to jackhammer a tunnel alongside her and facilitate a rescue. I can still see the rescue worker emerging from the tunnel as the cable is pulled, holding the little baby with the bandaged head and tiny body. The entire crowd erupted … and thanks to CNN, and other major television networks that covered the rescue, the world celebrated, too!
As dramatic as the rescue of Jessica McClure was in 1987, our rescue by the blood of Jesus from the bondage of sin is even more impressive. We should be celebrating every day, elated by the knowledge that we have been redeemed for all eternity because of the cross. Jesus is the ultimate hero... and just thinking about Him should be cause for applause and cheering.
We find it so easy to celebrate a zillion things, but often, the one thing that truly matters leaves us with our hands in our pockets. Let’s change this! Let’s trust the love of Christ and all that He promises us in it… and let’s truly celebrate Him. We don’t have to walk around clapping and cheering, but we can celebrate Him in the way we live, how we serve, the smile on our face and the joy in our hearts. Jesus rescued us … now THIS is a reason to celebrate!
©2010 Debbie Robus
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