Luke 10:21-24
Then he was filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and said, “I praise you, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the intellectuals and worldly wise and for revealing them to those who are as trusting as little children. Yes, thank you, Father, for that is the way you wanted it. I am the Agent of my Father in everything; and no one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

Then, turning to the twelve disciples, he said quietly, “How privileged you are to see what you have seen. Many a prophet and king of old has longed for these days, to see and hear what you have seen and heard!”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
From the time Timothy was a baby, I have prayed that he would know Jesus at an early age and develop a strong, intimate relationship with Him.  When Zola and Nathan came along, my prayers expanded to include them.  I also pray this for the other “little ones” in our circle of family and friends – and all children really – but especially those with whom I have contact.  I consider it not only my obligation as a Christian disciple – but also my privilege – to share the love and teachings of Jesus with these children and offer them the opportunity to embrace Him for themselves.

What is gratifying – and somewhat amazing – is how readily most children accept the existence of God…and Jesus.  They sometimes question…”Where is God?” or “What does Jesus really look like?”  But when we talk about God and share stories of the Bible…when I tell them about Jesus and how “mean men” nailed Him to a cross, where He died because of our sins…they nod, agree and seem to readily accept and internalize this information.  They seem to grasp the concept of a “Forever Friend” (the Holy Spirit) who will live in their hearts and guide them each day - and help them make good choices. And my heart bursts with joy that they trust so eagerly.

Somewhere along the line, we become skeptical. I don’t know if the pressures of “the world at large” get to us or exactly what causes the shift…but we lose some of this innocent faith and start to crumble a bit. Some of us all but disintegrate!  We begin to question God…and His motives and methods. We let go of Jesus’ hand and close our hearts to the Holy Spirit…and we start to trust mere mortals instead.

We listen to the opinions of others, rather than the teachings of Jesus. Like Timothy, Zola and Nathan, some of us have heard the Word of God since we were tiny babies.  We have seen Christian faith in action through the role models and mentors in our lives. But when ungodly influences show up – and they always do – we are drawn to them as if they were irresistible shiny objects.  Remember, all the devil needs is the tiniest of openings, and he will sneak into our lives like the slimy creature that he is – and wreak havoc in our lives and the lives of those around us!

Jesus acts as God’s “Special Agent” and provides us with all of the information and tools that we need to live in accordance with His will – and to accomplish His missions for us on this earth.  For all of this to work as God ordained, we have to trust like little children.  Is this a leap of faith?  To some degree - yes. But don’t you know in your heart that this is how you should be living?  Don’t you realize how privileged we are to have Jesus as our Savior…and God as our Heavenly Father?

Isn’t it time we stopped acting like we are such high-brow intellectuals who know it all…and surrendered our hearts completely to Jesus?  Will this be the day that you “reconnect with your inner child” - and that level of innocence and faith - and let God have complete control in your life?  Aren’t you ready to be His kid again?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 15, 2015

Luke 9:46-48
They started arguing over which of them would be most famous. When Jesus realized how much this mattered to them, he brought a child to his side. “Whoever accepts this child as if the child were me, accepts me,” he said. “And whoever accepts me, accepts the One who sent me. You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.”
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
I learn so much from Timothy, Zola and Nathan.  And one of the biggest “examples” they have given me so far is tolerance and acceptance.  They don’t see size, color, ethnicity, economics and more.  Don’t get me wrong…they notice others.  But they notice in a way that we adults usually don’t. More than once, Timothy has remarked about someone’s beauty or attractiveness…or told the person, “I like your hairstyle or clothing (or some other physical accessory or attribute).”  They wave and greet total strangers when we are in public.  They have huge “spirits” in little bodies.
 
Whether I am “dressed to the nines” or in my pajamas with “bed hair” and no makeup…these children have never said one critical or unkind word about my appearance.  They notice that I am present in their lives.  They don’t care what I look like in a bathing suit…as long as we are swimming.  They readily accept all of the children in their classrooms and play circles.  They do not recognize differences in physical talent and ability.
 
Many years ago, I lay in a hospital bed awaiting surgery the next morning.  In the bed beside me was a woman who was awaiting the same surgery.  From our conversation, I gathered that she was neither well-educated…or financially stable.  And she was frightened, so we talked quite a bit to try and pass the time and ease her anxiety.  Lying in those beds in hospital-issued gowns, we were no different.  We were two women preparing for the same surgery.  I was struck by a profound sense of just how “equal” we were…and reminded that God didn’t care more about my outcome than hers – or vice versa.  We were both important to Him, and I knew that He would guide our care in the same way.
 
My prayer for each of us would be that we strip away whatever causes us to discriminate…that we would see others as God sees them. When you see someone who looks, speaks or acts differently, remind yourself how much God loves them.  When you start to get irritated because someone doesn’t see an issue in the same light as you, remember that Jesus died for their sins and offers them the same opportunity for salvation as He offers you.  When you start to judge someone for their size, shape, appearance in any manner, lifestyle preference, economics, politics, opinions…ANYTHING…remember Jesus’ words…”You become great by accepting, not asserting. Your spirit, not your size, makes the difference.” 
 
We need to “revert to our childhood”…and develop large, accepting hearts for Jesus and His children. I ask you…”How big is your spirit these days?”
 
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 15, 2014

Isaiah 55:8-11
This plan of mine is not what you would work out, neither are my thoughts the same as yours! For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than yours, and my thoughts than yours.
 
As the rain and snow come down from heaven and stay upon the ground to water the earth, and cause the grain to grow and to produce seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry, so also is my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It shall accomplish all I want it to and prosper everywhere I send it.
 
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
You’ve probably heard of “Elf on a Shelf”…the phenomenon that started a few years ago with a toy elf and a rhyming story about how he watches over children by day, then flies home to the North Pole to report to Santa each night. Each child names their elf, which gives him his “magic” and the ability to fly back and forth between Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.  If the child touches the elf, he loses his “magic” and cannot fly any more…at least for a few days.
 
Children have a unique and innocent way of accepting such things.  To them, the elf and his antics are real…and the fact that he can talk to Santa is hardly questioned for several years.  This usually happens when an older child begins to plant seeds of doubt and suggest that Santa doesn’t truly exist - and the elf doesn’t actually have magical powers.  I’m noticing that children often seem to do a better job than many adults do at accepting that God is real.  They readily hear the Bible stories and take them to heart.  They eagerly acknowledge that Jesus is who the Bible says He is…and that He came to earth and did all of the things the scriptures tell us that He did - until someone starts to plant doubts about this, as well.
 
This is a season of believing in the “magic” of Christmas, Santa Claus and elves.  More importantly, this is a time to bolster our confidence in the belief that Jesus Christ is real…that He truly did come to earth as a tiny baby and grow into a man who was called “Wonderful,” “Counselor,” “The Mighty God,” “The Everlasting Father,” “The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6)  This is the time when we reaffirm our belief that God sent Jesus to teach us His ways…and to die for our sins.  And the Christmas season is a wonderful time to share His message with the world.
 
The power of God trumps the “magical powers” of an elf and Santa Claus any day. With balance and care, there is room in our lives for both. Do YOU believe?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 23, 2014

Psalm 103:1-5
O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
When we took the children to church today, we told them that we had “surprises” in the back of the car that we would give them after lunch.  They tried to guess what the “surprises” were…but there was no dinosaur or crackers.  But there were books and videos – and a new (to them) board game to play.  There were also two bags of “Halos” - or as they called them, “baby oranges”!  Since this will be a short school week because of the Thanksgiving holidays, the children will have an extended “vacation” at home, and the snacks and videos will no doubt come in handy!
 
In her book, One Thousand Gifts*, Ann Voskamp talks about her aunt, who traveled the world as an airline attendant. The aunt would visit Voskamp and her children from time to time.  The aunt said that of all of the places she had visited…all of the things she had seen…one of the most joyful experiences had been that of rolling a ball back and forth on the floor with Voskamp’s toddler daughter.  She wrote Ann Voskamp a letter and told her that she had never seen such happiness in all her travels…that this simple experience had brought her a glimpse of “wild joy” that she would never forget.
 
Voskamp noted that the secret to such joy lies in perspective.  To a child, everything is large and wonderful.  As I watch our little nephews and nieces discover new things, I am reminded of how “wonder”-filled the simplest of joys used to be for most of us.  As we grow older, we seem to grow blind to many of the blessings that are right before our eyes.
 
So as we enter this week of Thanksgiving and begin to “count our blessings,” let’s read this scripture passage often and remind ourselves of all that God does for us.  Let’s remember that every one of our sins are forgiven…that every one of our diseases are healed.  Let’s never forget that Hell is not on our list of places to visit…that a “paradise crown” awaits us – and in the meantime, we wear His crowns of love and mercy.  Let’s remind ourselves that we are forever beautiful – and young in God’s presence (which is all that truly matters)!  We are clothed in His goodness.
 
God meets all of our needs…and He peppers our lives with incredible blessings.  As we count the more obvious gifts like those listed in this scripture passage...let’s also list some of the “baby oranges” and “videos” that surprise and delight us. Let’s thank God for the friend who showed up right when we needed him/her the most.  Let’s be grateful for a foggy, misty Sunday afternoon…or a glorious sunrise or sunset.  Let’s When we can thank God for moments when something or someone makes us laugh or smile…and for times when we experience sadness or sorrow – and live through it!
 
Let’s thank God for smelly socks to wash and a dirty house to clean…for a second job to go to that leaves us dog tired but gives us adequate money to pay the rent…for a boring and/or difficult classes to attend so that we can get a degree or learn a trade and become self-sufficient.  Let’s thank Him for caregivers who help us when we are no longer able to do things for ourselves…and for those who have “been there, done that” and can counsel us through the same experiences…for a few minutes spent in the floor rolling a ball to a toddler and listening to him/her squeal with excitement.
 
Go even deeper and thank God for the beauty of intricate patterns in your pet’s fur…that amazingly unique freckle on your kids’ nose…and the predictably irritating way that your sibling or friend is habitually late.  In other words, open your eyes and ears…use ALL of your senses to fully acknowledge God’s presence and blessings in even the most mundane parts of your everyday life - and offer a heartfelt “Thank You!”
 
A few years ago, there was a trend for some people to say, “Love you – mean it!” – as if those last two words gave credibility to the first two.  My challenge for all of us in the days to come is to offer God our gratitude…and to truly mean it!  Let’s tell Him - in words and actions - just how much we appreciate all that He does for us…how He blesses us from head to toe.  Let’s not miss a single blessing – or a chance to be grateful.  How is God blessing YOU these days?  Does He know that you appreciate His efforts?  Isn’t it time that He did?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com