Daily Devotional for November 21, 2016

Romans 5:6-8
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway.

We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to 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.

We’ve all heard stories of a parent who jumped into the water to save a drowning child…and ended up drowning instead.  I know of a woman who was killed when she pushed her child out of the way of an oncoming truck.  While none of us can say for certain we would do in such a situation, I’m pretty sure I would risk my life for that of one of our children. And you probably would, also.

Conversely, you may have said of someone, “I would not walk across the street to spit on him if he was on fire!”  Now, whether you meant this or not…it was a harsh statement, to be certain.  But sometimes, the devil whispers in our ear and causes us to feel this way about people.  And sometimes, we play the “stranger card.”  We say, “I don’t know him/her…what happens is none of my business.”

Here’s the thing…it’s ALL the business of Jesus!  And aren’t we glad?!  Jesus gave His very life for us before we were even formed!  He sacrificed His blood on the cross for the child who is so precious to you and me…the stranger…and even that person we would not venture to save!  JESUS will save them, if only they will call on Him.

This kinda puts things in perspective, doesn’t it?  Jesus died for ALL of us…even those we find despicable!  He didn’t pick and choose based on race, creed, color, gender, sexual orientation, politics, socio-economics, or even attitudes and opinions!  In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.”  He doesn’t specify WHO can come to Him…ALL are welcome!

As we approach Thanksgiving Day and reflect on our blessings, we must surely include Jesus among them.  We should all be grateful for how He welcomes each of us…and the incredible sacrifice that He made on our behalf.  There is nothing we can offer Jesus that is truly special…yet He died for us anyway.  We are all afforded equal opportunity to receive salvation in Him. We didn’t deserve it…we can’t earn it…but still, He laid down His life for each of us.

There might be someone, somewhere, who would be willing to lay down his/her life for you and me…and vice versa.  But only Jesus can say that He could do this for ANYONE and EVERYONE. Whether we accept Him as our Savior was not a deciding factor…He did it anyway.

Praise God for sending His precious Son – for His incredible, selfless gift.  My prayer is that you have embraced Jesus for yourself – that you have humbly and gratefully surrendered your heart to Him and asked that He forgive your sins – and fill your heart forever. ThisThanksgiving, can you count Jesus as your biggest blessing?  Isn’t it time you could?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 1, 2016

John 6:44
No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me makes them want to come. But if they do come, I will raise them to life on the last day.

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

This morning, I assisted in the nursery during our 11:00 worship service.  When I arrived near the end of the second service, there were 16 toddlers in the nursery!  By the time parents picked up little ones, we were left with four for the last hour. I’ve spent several Sundays in the nursery, so I am becoming familiar with many of these little ones…and they are getting to know me.

Toddlers are a lot like kittens and puppies…you can’t just pick one up and expect it to instantly like you!  Relationships have to be developed…familiarity has to be nurtured.  So when I arrived this morning, a few children who know me came with arms outstretched to be picked up for a hug.  Some even asked to be rocked.  And a couple who thought this might be a good idea decided otherwise when their eyelids began to droop!

Their “reward” was a snuggle and a kiss…a chance to play with the sparkly cross necklace I was wearing…and maybe to hear me sing a little song or two as we rocked in the rocking chair.  But again, they had to want to do all of this…or it would not have been pleasant for any of us!

Here’s how this works with Jesus...

God has given us opportunities to get to know Him…through scripture, worship, friendship and communion with believers, and more.  He has set the stage for us to discover just how much Jesus loves us – and how much He sacrificed for us.  God has shared His Only Son with us in such a way that we might desire to “climb up in His lap and rock for a while.”  But it is our choice…and the only way it will work for any of us is if we choose Jesus of our own free will.

The rewards for making this choice are far more numerous than I can outline in this devotional…but they include freedom and forgiveness from our sins…and the promise of Eternal Life in Heaven at the Lord’s Table - as well as the presence of His Holy Spirit to fill our heart and guide us through this earthly life.  Like the toddler who crawls down out of the rocking chair when he/she gets sleepy…we often turn away from the caring arms of Jesus – at least temporarily. But for those of us who have freely chosen Him, those arms are always outstretched for another hug, and Jesus delights in “snuggling” with us.

There are several questions we should ask ourselves today. Have we chosen Jesus?  Have we gotten to know Him well enough that we trust His outstretched arms and readily run into them?  What can we do to improve this relationship?  Where have we gotten down and tried to handle things on our own – without His care and assistance?  Isn’t it time to trust Jesus’ embrace again…to crawl back into His lap and settle in for the long haul? Will this be the day that we reconnect? 

God has made a way for us to get to know His Son, Jesus…to fully embrace all that He offers – and enjoy the blessings and rewards of this communion.  Now it is up to us to make the right choice.  What have you decided?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 15, 2016

John 10:1-6
I tell you for certain that only thieves and robbers climb over the fence instead of going in through the gate to the sheep pen. But the gatekeeper opens the gate for the shepherd, and he goes in through it. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice. He calls each of them by name and leads them out.

When he has led out all of his sheep, he walks in front of them, and they follow, because they know his voice. The sheep will not follow strangers. They don’t recognize a stranger’s voice, and they run away.

Jesus told the people this story. But they did not understand what he was talking about.

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

Today, I accompanied Timothy’s class on a field trip.  All of the first grade students at our elementary school rode the bus to our local community college to participate in activities to commemorate Earth Day and to learn about how to better care for our planet.

I arrived at the school early this morning to help Timothy’s teacher get all of the children dressed in color-coordinated t-shirts, so that we could more easily identify our 16 students.  Each child brought a sack lunch, and those had to be collected and placed in a cooler for a mid-day picnic. There was a lot to do in a short time frame.

Timothy’s classroom is located on the west end of the school building.  The front office is almost literally a city block away.  Each visitor to the school must stop at the office and “check in” before entering a classroom.  The office personnel then press a button to unlock a door, so that the visitor can gain access to the hallways and find his/her way to the designated classroom. 

I have to say, it’s a bit of an inconvenience to have to go through this procedure.  It would much easier to park near Timothy’s classroom and enter through doors there.  But I am glad that this safety measure is in place. This makes everyone feel secure. There is also resource officer on duty, and all of these safety measures make children and parents feel relatively certain that all persons who are in the building are authorized to be there.

The children were very good today about sticking together and listening to their teacher, me and another student’s mother. They did not respond to others in the crowd…they watched for us and followed our lead.  Since there were children from several area schools at this event, we watched our “brood” closely and made sure we kept them together – and safe.

I am so glad that our school goes to great measures protect our children…to give them an environment where they can relax and learn with confidence and faith that they are safe and loved.  And this is what Jesus does for us.  Because He is our Shepherd and controls the gate, we can be assured that when we follow Him, Jesus will guard us against evil and those who wish to “jump the fence” and get us into trouble.

There are plenty of “thieves, robbers, and strangers” who would love to grab our attention.  They lure us with all sorts of temptations…money, power, the promise of wealth, fame, or popularity - and more.  They tell us that we can trust them…that what they are saying is the truth. And sadly, some of us believe these lies.

Jesus is calling us to pay attention…to get to know Him so intimately that we always recognize His voice.  He wants us to be certain that we are following the Shepherd…and ONLY Him! When we know the voice of Jesus, we are able to drown out the noise of all the “wannabes” and those who would dare to try to steal our hearts from Him.  We are safe and secure under His guidance, and we can live with confidence and faith that He will meet our every need.

Where do you stand today?  Are you one of Jesus’ sheep?  Do you know His voice and listen for it above all others?  Is your faith and confidence in Jesus enabling you to resist the lure and temptation of the enemy’s voice and propositions?  Isn’t it time you figured this out, once and for all…and “put on the colored t-shirt” that designates you are one of His flock?

Will this be the day that you surrender to Jesus completely and begin to follow only Him?  Are you ready to feel secure with the Shepherd?
   
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 15, 2015

Romans 8:3-4
We aren’t saved from sin’s grasp by knowing the commandments of God because we can’t and don’t keep them, but God put into effect a different plan to save us. He sent his own Son in a human body like ours—except that ours are sinful—and destroyed sin’s control over us by giving himself as a sacrifice for our sins. So now we can obey God’s laws if we follow after the Holy Spirit and no longer obey the old evil nature within us.

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

This is a crazy hectic week at our house. Vacation Bible School started Sunday night.  I am leading “Junior Crafts” - which translates to 4-6-year-olds (pre-K, Kindergartners, and soon-to-be-first-graders). These are “my people,” and I am at home with them!  Timothy, Zola and Nathan are all attending VBS with me, and we’re having a great time.  Additionally, the children are spending Mondays and Fridays at our house this month…AND…we started daily swim lessons on Monday morning.  Yes, I know, I was crazy to schedule swim lessons the same week as VBS…but it was all our instructor had available.  So we are making it work!

I have to say, we have ALL been very tired.  Night-time VBS, which is the trend in recent years, is tough on already weary kids AND adults.  And though some of the children nap in the afternoons, some of the older ones like Timothy fight tooth and nail to stay awake and avoid the slumber that could relieve some of their weariness. And this can lead to some pretty frustrating “meltdowns” and pointless conversations.

Today, as we drove home from swim lessons, Timothy became very upset with his younger brother, Nathan...“because Nathan thinks that Batman and Superman aren’t friends…and everyone knows that good guy superheroes are all friends with each other and should be nice to each other.  He is making bad choices, and he needs to stop it!”  This went on for more than 5 minutes (but it seemed like 30!) before I convinced Nathan that perhaps it would be best if he agreed that his superheroes were friends with each other…and I redirected the children’s attention to another topic of discussion!

When the children get so tired that they are what I call “punch drunk”, i.e. rambling about nothing that makes sense and on the verge of a huge meltdown, I know that there is no way that they are going to be reasonable.  All bets are off!  Rules are out the window at this point, because I know that they are not going to be on board with following them.  And the ride home from swim lessons today was one of those times.  I knew that the best thing I could do was maintain some semblance of order and drive the children straight to their grandmother’s house, where they were spending the afternoon. 

As I read this scripture passage, I could almost hear God saying to His children (each of us), “Oh, good grief!  You children are never going to resolve this, so I best get on with it and send my Son to fix things.”  I love my niece and nephews with all my heart. Sometimes when they are tired and acting out, one of them will ask…“Are you mad at me?” or “Do you still love me?”  And the answer is always “No!” to the first question…and a resounding “Yes!” to the second.  And so it is with God.  In fact, He loves us SO much that He sacrificed His only Son - Jesus - to save us!

God knows that we can’t keep the rules…that sometimes life is so convoluted and challenging that we get “punch drunk” and teeter on the verge of a royal meltdown.  So He sent Jesus to die for our sins…to regain order and control for us and set us on the right course.  There will be times when we all get a little weary and fall short.  But those of us who choose to follow Jesus can be assured that He will always steer us in the right direction - and keep us safe from the harm of Satan and his agents.

I hope and pray that our little ones know how very much Greg and I – and so many others – love them…that they trust us never to steer them wrong…that they feel safe and secure – and protected.  Someday they will learn that the grownups in their lives don’t always have all of the answers – at least not the right ones.  But by then, I pray that they will know Jesus as their “Forever Friend”…and that they will have learned to rely on His Holy Spirit to control and conquer the evil nature that is present in each of us. And I pray that YOU have made this choice, too. 

Timothy was right about one thing this morning…we do need to make good choices…and the best choice that we can make is to follow Jesus.  Who have you chosen to follow and serve?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 28, 2015

John 14:6-7
Jesus said, “I am the Road, also the Truth, also the Life. No one gets to the Father apart from me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him. You’ve even seen 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.
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A large portion of the South is currently experiencing historic flooding.  One hour, roadways and fields are dry and open…and the next hour, they are submerged in water.  The surges have often come quickly and swiftly - and drastically changed the landscape significantly in a dangerous manner.  I saw a photo this week of some cattle stranded on a small area of pasture land that is now surrounded by rising floodwaters, creating an island of sorts.  This was an aerial photo that had been taken by a drone. 

There is no way to reach the cattle by car or truck…but I suppose they COULD be rescued by pontoon boat…although it would probably be an arduous project that would have to be accomplished one cow at a time!  Wouldn’t it be great if we could magically create a bridge to span the gap between that patch of dry land and another and walk the cows to safety?!  But that’s a pipe dream.  In truth, some sort of boat or large raft probably represents the only way to rescue the cattle.  So the farmer has two choices…try to perform this rescue – or leave the cows there and hope that the waters don’t rise so much that they drown.

In many ways, we are like the cattle on the island.  We are completely surrounded with only one way to safety…and that is salvation through Jesus Christ.  He stands in the gap between the island of sin on which we are standing and the safety of His grace, mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love.  We have two choices – stay where we are and hope for the best…or allow Jesus to rescue us.  And in choosing Jesus, we choose God, because as we are told in this passage, Jesus is God in flesh on this earth.  If we believe in Him and “see” Him…we “see” God, also.

I know this can be confusing, and I don’t mean to muddy the water here (pardon the corny flood reference!).  What you really need to understand is that you have two choices – to remain stuck on the island of sin, or to ask Jesus to rescue you and live in the safety and blessings of His love and protection.  Don’t be stubborn or foolish!  That island is NOT where you want to be!  Let go and let God have control…and enjoy the freedom and safety of “dry land” once and for all.  And pray for all whose lives have been turned upside down by these spring flood waters.  God knows their needs…but it doesn’t ever hurt to remind Him of them!

©2015 Debbie Robus

NOTE:  If you wish to help those who have been affected by the recent flooding, go to https://www.redcross.org/combined-donate.

Daily Devotional for May 3, 2015

Romans 5:6-8
Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn’t, and doesn’t, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn’t been so weak, we wouldn’t have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to 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.      
Yesterday while I was working out in the pool, a mother arrived with two toddlers.  The oldest was about 2½, and I am guessing his little sister was just past one.  Both children were wearing “puddle jumpers” – a type of flotation device that secures around the middle of the body and has additional flotation bands for each arm. Our kids have them, and they work great!

The older brother got right into the water and began paddling around.  Soon he got out and talked with his mother and baby sister, and then he moved to the edge of the pool and positioned himself to jump back into the water.  Except he didn’t jump.  He counted…”1…2…”  His mother counted…”1…2…3…JUMP!”  I watched this little guy as he tried so hard to make the leap.  He wanted to so badly, but there was a part of him that just wasn’t ready.  He even trembled a little.  And there was no one in the water to catch him.  I was positioned quite a distance away, and his mom and sister were sitting on the pool deck.

After a few seconds, the child did jump.  And everyone applauded.  Subsequently, he jumped in several times…demonstrating a little fear and trepidation each time.  But with every successive leap, he went a little farther a little sooner – and made a bigger splash.

As I read this passage today, I thought of the little boy.  Whether we will admit it or not, some of us have made up our minds to jump fully into a life with Christ – but something holds us back.  Let’s be honest…a lot of times, our sins are fun – or feel pretty good!  It’s tough to make that final leap and give it all up – even to the One who gave up EVERYTHING for us.  For whatever reason, we are quite often simply “not ready” – or “not ready enough”!

It is indeed a great thing that Jesus didn’t wait on us to make up our minds…that He didn’t say, “When Debbie…(or you…or that other guy) decides that she/he is ready to go all in for Me and surrender fully from sin, I will be ready to allow the soldiers to nail me to a cross.”  Jesus knew that this would never happen.  He knows how weak we humans are.  But the bigger thing is that our salvation is not based on when, where and how we are ready to live for Jesus. He has always been ready to live – and die - for us!

This is what makes Salvation in Jesus Christ so special and amazing…that He has been ready to sacrifice so much for us whether we were ready to live for Him and serve Him or not.  Because you see, we do have a choice…and sadly, there will be some who are never ready.  I cannot understand this…and you probably can’t either.  We must do all we can to demonstrate how glorious a life in Christ is…how amazing it is to love and serve a Risen Savior…how He makes every aspect of our lives better and more hopeful.  We must give others a reason to choose Jesus by living in a way that causes them to say, “I want what he/she has!”

I completely identify with the toddler learning to jump.  There are a lot of things in this big ole world that can be pretty scary!  And fully surrendering your life to Christ Jesus can be one of them.  But oh, the rewards are so amazing!  There may not be visible or audible applause and cheering – but I assure you that there is some clapping going on in heaven.  And as we learn to give God control and walk in His ways instead of our own, the “jumps” get easier…and the “splashes” get bigger!

My question for you today is…”Have you let go of the edge and ‘jumped in’ with Jesus?”  Whether you are “ready” or not…the time to take this leap is now!  Don’t look back…just jump!  Jesus will be waiting to catch you.

©2015 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for December 29, 2014

1 Peter 3:10-11
“Do you really love life?
    Do you want to be happy?
Then stop saying cruel things
    and quit telling lies.
Give up your evil ways
    and do right,
as you find and follow
the road that leads
    to peace.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Our 3-year-old niece, Zola, is a “runner”.  She loves to break free from holding the hand of an adult and run…into parking lots, out into the street, or across the yard.  It’s a problem that could have serious consequences, and we are all trying to impress upon her that she must not do this!  When she ran from me after church, I told her, “You cannot come to our house this week to spend the night if you are not going to mind us!”  She began to wail…”But I want to come!”  I reminded her that she must start doing right!  She is definitely a “work in progress”!
 
As we get older, the specifics of our “evil ways” may change…but the basic principle is the same.  There are temptations on all sides, and we succumb to them for a variety of reasons…ranging from a desire to fit in to the yearning to “be our own person” and exercise our independence!  It’s something of a “grown-up” version of running into the street!  Regardless of the reason, the results are often the same…hurt feelings, emotional and physical danger, disappointment, and unhappiness, to name a few.
 
In order to be truly happy and “free”, we must trust Jesus to help us release the “hold” of Satan…to help us rid our lives of evil – lying, cheating, gossip, criticism and insults, cruelty of any kind, and more.  We must strive to live more like Jesus each and every minute of the day.  As we begin to cling to Him and HIS ways…we will find that our lives are actually more carefree and joyful.
 
Do you really love life?  Do you truly want to be joyful and happy? Jesus is waiting to show you how.  Are you ready to take His hand and let Him?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 20, 2014

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me and I will give you rest—all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke. Wear my yoke—for it fits perfectly—and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.”

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 ever tried on clothing or a pair of shoes that didn’t feel quite right…then someone suggested that you try another size, and it felt so much better?  The fit was more “you”…in fact, it was perfect!  That’s exactly how it is with a life in Christ.  Jesus fits each of us perfectly. Notice that He doesn’t claim to give you a burden-free life.  Jesus promises us burdens that are lighter and easier to bear – because He does the heavy lifting!

Nobody likes to wear shoes or clothing that doesn’t fit. So why are you putting up with a life that is overly burdensome and uncomfortable?  Come to Jesus…let Him do the heavy lifting.  Wear His yoke instead of the ill-fitting one you’ve been dealing with…and find rest for your soul in the process. 

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 14, 2014

Matthew 10:32-33
If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers. But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don’t belong to me.

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

A couple of years ago, Greg and I went to a James Taylor concert.  A friend of ours who is almost 30 asked, “Who is James Taylor?”  Whoa, boy!  That made us feel really old!  James Taylor is such a musical icon that we assume that EVERYONE knows who he is!  While his music was popular when we were in high school and college...his songs are still sung and played frequently today.  James Taylor’s work has stood the test of time!

We joined the online James Taylor fan club…and when it came time to order concert tickets, we were given a two-day advance – and we receive preferential treatment...our seats were on the floor on the second row!  We felt like we could reach right up and touch James Taylor and the band members.  And at intermission, I was able to walk up to the edge of the stage, hand James Taylor my denim jacket and a marker, and get his autograph!  Every time I wear that jacket, I think of him.  I remember his songs and what they meant to my life…the times, people, places and things that the melodies and lyrics represent. 

During the concert, we were enjoying a particularly lively song, and the percussionist looked directly at Greg…then he pointed, and acknowledged him and how much he was appreciating the music. I know that James Taylor and his entourage do not know us personally, but they certainly acted like they did at the concert.  Taylor was cordial, friendly, and personable. He knows that those who attend his concerts and seek his autograph are fans…supporters…people who appreciate his work. I’m sure that anyone who approached James Taylor on the street would be greeted respectfully and cordially…but he wouldn’t truly know in that brief moment whether the person was a true fan or as an aficionado of his work, unless the person told him.

Here’s the thing…some of us “grew up on God”… like we “grew up on” James Taylor’s music.  Many of us have spent a great portion of our lives going to church, singing hymns, learning Bible verses, and even praying.  We were welcomed into the fellowship of the body of Christ when we professed our faith in Him.  We are entitled to a “good seat” in Heaven for all of eternity.  And when we step forward to meet Jesus face to face, He will know us by name!  In fact, He knows us now…and recognizes our every breath.  How wonderful it is to know that this will continue forever and ever!

But some of us have turned our back on God.  We have said, “Yeah, I’ve heard of Him…but I don’t much care for His ways…His rules…His message.  I find His teachings to be boring…constraining…more of a fairy tale…confusing… or simply not for me.”  And some have even acknowledged that they have never even heard of Jesus…at least not enough to be interested in what He offers them.   These folks are not assured a seat at all…much less a special assignment!  Jesus knows them…the Heavenly Father created them!  He knows their name and counts their breaths.  He will always treat them with kindness and cordiality.  But unless these persons become part of His “fan club”…unless they claim Him as their Savior and acknowledge Him in every way, He will not remember them to God in heaven.  They won’t receive admission to the biggest “concert” of all…much less preferential seating!

In August, we will attend another James Taylor concert…fifth row seats on the floor this time around!  We will enjoy every note, lyric, drum beat and strum of Taylor’s guitar.  And maybe James and the band members will wave at us and acknowledge our presence.  As much fun as that will be, it can’t hold a candle to what awaits us in heaven…or the relationship we have every day of our earthly lives with Jesus.  The real acknowledgement I want is His.  I want to think of Jesus every day…to be reminded of Him in people, places and things that fill my earthly life.  I cannot wait to be recognized by Him at the great party that will take place when I arrive in heaven.  Jesus’ “fan club” is the one that truly matters…HIS favor is what I desire…the privilege of a seat at HIS table is the one I’m after. 

We’ll enjoy the concert in August…spending a night listening to James Taylor singing his hits will be fantastic.  But spending every day with Jesus is better.  We know a bigger, far superior celebration awaits us someday in Heaven.  Will you be sitting next to us?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 11, 2014

Luke 14:33
“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple.

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.

In her book Just Give Me Jesus, author Anne Graham Lotz describes Jesus’ presence at the tomb of his dear friend Lazarus.  She notes that Jesus wept in grief…a reminder of how deeply He cares about all that we are experiencing and weeps with us when we are hurting.  She also recalls that Jesus had the stone rolled away.  She makes the point that Jesus did not do this personally - although He surely could have commanded the stone to be moved, and it would have been so!  Jesus had this done by others - many of whom protested.  Even Lazarus’ sister Martha objected, saying that after four days in the tomb, the body would smell to high heavens!  Still, Jesus had the stone rolled away, and He called for Lazarus to come forth.  And Lazarus did exactly that!

Graham-Lotz makes the point that often, we are like Martha…so “worried about the smell”, or what someone will think...concerned over what we might have to “give up”…busy holding onto old grudges or past mistakes…unwilling to compromise or concede…and we miss the bigger picture.  And the end result is catastrophic, because we miss Jesus!

We have to be willing to literally “lose everything in order to gain the world”…because without Jesus, nothing else really matters.  I know that is hard for us to imagine.  We hold many people, places, things and plans so very dear.  But the hard reality is that none of these can save us from sin…without Jesus, none of us is destined for an eternity in heaven.  You can have all of the earthly love and affection, material wealth, popularity and success, and what feels like pure joy that you can possibly muster.  But if you don’t have Jesus, it’s all worthless.

Graham-Lotz asks the question, “What ‘stone’ do you need to roll back today?”  And this is my question for us.  What have we made more important than Jesus?  What would we part with for Him…how far are we willing to go to have Him in our lives?  Isn’t it time we figured this out?  Will this be the day that you “roll away the stones” in your life and truly find God?  Don’t you think it should be?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 19, 2013

Romans 6:22-23
But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
 
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.
 
Someone posted a link on Facebook to a short video by Phil Robertson, creator of Duck Commander – now known by most via A&E’s television show, “Duck Dynasty”.  If you have a chance, go to http://vimeo.com/75972095 and view this video for yourself.  Robertson tells of the day when he answered his own phone, and the caller said he wanted to order a duck call.  The conversation went something like this…
 
The customer said he needed to order a duck call.  Robertson asked the guy, “Okay...What do you need?”  Phil says, “In process of guy ordering the duck call, he used God's name in vain about five times... just while ordering a duck call.”  He asked the man…”Why would you keep using God's name to curse this, that and the other... He's the only one who can save you from death... why invoke His name like that?”  There was silence.
 
The man ordered his duck call and hung up… then about 10 minutes later, he called back and told Robertson that he had never considered this question before… and he asked if he could come over and visit.  A week later, Robertson received a visit from this man and a friend, and the conversation continued. Robertson implies that the visit ended with an impromptu baptism in a nearby river.  Several years later, Robertson was speaking at an event in Alabama, where he discovered that this customer was now a leader in the church that was serving as hosts.
 
The point of the video is that Robertson used his marketplace as a ministry.  If you know anything at all about the Robertson family and “Duck Dynasty”, you know that they truly have built an empire.  They have catapulted a simple idea into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, and the “Duck Dynasty” brand is now on everything from books, videos, clothing and fleece throws… to jewelry and yes - duck calls!  There is even a “Duck Dynasty” department at Wal-Mart!  Still, the Robertsons make frequent appearances across the country to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  From all accounts, they are the “real deal” for Jesus…and their “wealth” in Him far outweighs any monetary gain or fame they might have acquired.
 
“But I won’t ever be rich and famous like the Robertsons,” you may be thinking.  “I won’t ever have the kind of national platform that they have… much less their wealth.”  And you might be right!  But don’t miss this… you are every bit as affluent as any one of the Robertsons when it comes to the riches of salvation!  You can share in God’s gift equally with anybody else on the planet!  And as someone who enjoys the “put-together life” in Christ, you have the ability to accomplish as much – or more - for the Kingdom of heaven as Phil Robertson and his family members!
 
But here’s the kicker… you have to choose to work hard for God’s real life instead of the life of sin… AND… you have to make a conscious effort to “share the wealth” with others. If you do this, you will be as “rich and famous” in God’s eyes as any of the “Duck Dynasty” clan ever thought about being.  You will be wealthy and influential in a way that truly matters.  If you turn every aspect of your life into a mission field, you won’t be able to spend all that God gives you!  But the choice is totally yours.  In the words of Phil Robertson, will you choose to be “Happy! Happy! Happy!” for Jesus?  Or will you end up being just another “dead duck”?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 18, 2013

Romans 3:23-26
But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we’ve compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we’re in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ.
 
God sacrificed Jesus on the altar of the world to clear that world of sin. Having faith in him sets us in the clear. God decided on this course of action in full view of the public—to set the world in the clear with himself through the sacrifice of Jesus, finally taking care of the sins he had so patiently endured. This is not only clear, but it’s now—this is current history! God sets things right. He also makes it possible for us to live in his rightness.
 
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.
 
One of my all-time favorite television shows is “I Love Lucy”.  Every episode, Lucy gets herself into some kind of mess… and she usually recruits Ethel to help her figure out how to get out of it!  She tries very hard to cover up her mistakes… she especially tries to keep her husband Ricky from finding out what has happened.  But in the end, she usually needs rescuing… and often it is at the hands and mercy of Ricky Ricardo!
 
Many of us are a lot like Lucy and Ethel.  We have these grand schemes of how we think everything ought to work out… or we see something we want – or want to happen – and we start plotting and planning how we can make it so.  We may involve others in our shenanigans… or we may try to do things completely on our own.  But in the end, we have one royal mess on our hands… and then we need someone to mercifully save us.
 
Lest you think this doesn’t apply to you, let me ask you a question or two.  Have you ever wondered how on earth you were going to pass a test for which you had not adequately studied and prepared?  Do you ever make big promises to someone that, going in, you know you will not be able to deliver…but you hope you can figure it all out later on and no one will be the wiser?  Do you ever lie… even a little or about seemingly small things… so that people will see you in a particular light – or things will go your way?  Have you ever cheated (or as Lucy might describe it “fibbed a little”) in order to achieve a desired outcome?  Have you ever tried to make yourself look good at another’s expense?
 
These are just some of the thousands of ways that we make messes of our lives each and every day…and then wonder how we will work our way out of them. Sometimes, we have a “go-to” person who helps us make amends and mop up the trouble. Other times, we have to muddle through on our own.  And more times than we care to admit, we just pretend it never happened and move on…never realizing that our disorder and disobedience accumulates into a cluttered jumble of a life.
 
And that’s where God comes into the picture.  He stands ready and able to help us fix things, once and for all.  God knows us and the sorry state of affairs we are capable of creating on our own.  Yet He loves us and desires to rescue us from a life that is so messy and chaotic.  He can equip us to right all of the wrongs… to ask forgiveness where necessary… and to set things right wherever possible.  More importantly, with God’s help – and because of His incredible love, grace, mercy and forgiveness – we don’t have to keep on repeating the same old mistakes.
 
Our lives are not perpetual episodes of “I Love Lucy”!  Without her continual escapades, the show would cease to exist.  But the end of our “antics” can be the beginning of our life in Christ… and it can be far better than anything we ever could imagine or create on our own.  We know what God offers… we know what He sacrificed through Jesus Christ in order for us to attain it.  The choice is ours whether to accept Him and allow Him to operate in and through us… or not.  How will you decide?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 25, 2013

John 6:61-69
Jesus knew that his disciples were grumbling. So he asked, “Does this bother you? What if you should see the Son of Man go up to heaven where he came from?  The Spirit is the one who gives life! Human strength can do nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are from that life-giving Spirit.  But some of you refuse to have faith in me.” Jesus said this, because from the beginning he knew who would have faith in him. He also knew which one would betray him.
 
Then Jesus said, “You cannot come to me, unless the Father makes you want to come. That is why I have told these things to all of you.”
 
Because of what Jesus said, many of his disciples turned their backs on him and stopped following him.  Jesus then asked his twelve disciples if they were going to leave him.  Simon Peter answered, “Lord, there is no one else that we can go to! Your words give eternal life.  We have faith in you, and we are sure that you are God’s Holy One.”
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
When I read this scripture passage today, I immediately thought, “I know just how Peter felt” [when he said there was no one else that they could go to]. Don’t misunderstand me… I do not consider Jesus a “last resort”…He is the ONLY choice for me. But that doesn’t mean that He has not called me (and you and countless other believers) to do some really hard things… to make some difficult choices and decisions!
 
If you are like me, there are times when you truly do not know what to do.  You don’t have a clue what the best option is in a particular situation… you see pros and cons to all available options.  In these instances, I have learned to say, “LORD… it’s up to you.  I have no wisdom and discernment about this issue.  I don’t even know what to ask You for - except YOUR WILL… so I leave it at that!”  Now here’s the tricky part… deep down inside your heart, you probably do have an opinion.  You probably know how you really wish things would go.  And when God decides differently, you may have to face some difficulties – and accept them.  That’s where faith comes into play!
 
We must follow Jesus…and believe in His life-giving Spirit.  We must trust Him to work things out in our best interest.  And when He allows our path to be tough and riddled with challenges, we must accept the tests and stick with Him.  We must do this not because He is our only hope… but because He is our only hope!  Do you see the difference?
 
I get it.  I understand how hard this can be.  I am a “git-r-done” kind of girl who likes to cross all the “t’s”, dot all the “i’s” and know exactly how things are going to go from the outset.  I like to have a plan, figure out the best way to achieve an outcome, and hop to it!  So I am really out of my comfort zone with this faith thing much of the time.  Learning to trust God and wait on His timing has not come easily for me… and on any given day, I am still a mess.  But I know that Jesus is God’s Holy One… that He is my Rock and my Redeemer – and my only hope.  Slowly but surely, I’m learning to rest in that… to trust Him to give me what I need – when I need it!  I’m learning to “let go and let God”… and it’s a wonderful thing!
 
Wherever you are in your journey, understand that there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong answer here...as long as you are trusting in God.  You will have days where everything seems peaceful and your confidence soars.  There will also be days where you say, “LORD, I don’t think I can do this.”  That’s when He will pick you up and carry you for a while.  Just do not turn your back on Him.  Focus on Jesus and trust Him to always operate in your best interest.  Bask in the comfort of feeling His life-giving Spirit deep in your heart!
 
The most important choice we can ever make is to allow Jesus to make all of the others.  Who is making the choices in your life today?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 24, 2013

John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to 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.
 
One of my former students posted a story on his blog about his trip to a local donut shop one recent Sunday.  An older man came in with two scrubbed and dressed-for-church children.  As he approached the counter, he told them that each could spend one dollar.  My student observed that the older child – a boy - headed for the “cold case” filled with bottled soft drinks.  The little girl, who my student guessed was about four years old, pointed to a tray of donuts – specifically a heavily sprinkled one near the back of the case - and said, “That one.”  The clerk selected a donut near the one to which the little girl pointed.  She said, “No, that one.”  Over the course of several exchanges, the clerk and the older man determined that the donut the clerk selected for her was… “fine.”  As the man put it, “They’re all the same.”
 
My student was beside himself as he watched this exchange.  The man and the clerk totally ignored the little girl’s pleas.  Yes, it was only a donut… but the two adults totally degraded the child’s self-worth by ignoring her preferences.  Her choice didn’t matter… it was all about what they wanted.  After all… how hard would it have been to put that donut back and get the one the child wanted?  In truth, it would have been faster and easier than the exchange that ensued.  My student concluded by saying that once the adults insisted the child take the first donut, she slumped down and said, “Now I’m not going to like my donut.”  The man then ordered himself a kolache with jalapenos.  My student said he secretly wished the clerk would hand him a plain kolache with the explanation that they were… “all the same.”
 
Here’s the thing…in life, we are often the four-year-old being told, “It’s all the same.”  In other words, it doesn’t really matter whether you choose Jesus – especially at a young age.  You have things to experience…a life to live… there is plenty of time for Jesus later.  Others will tell you that you don’t have to study the Bible or fellowship with other Christians… go fishing, climb a mountain or work out and “be one with nature”.  That’s spiritual enough!  Yes, you can discover God’s presence on a mountaintop or in your favorite fishing hole – or even through physical activity and meditation… but this is simply not enough.  Still others think that they can claim the name of Jesus in one breath, and berate or degrade others in the next.  They fail to recognize that as Disciples of Christ, we are to do our dead-level best to become like Him… and Jesus would never demean or attempt to humiliate anyone.
 
Jesus is the total package.  He’s the One and ONLY Savior…the only Son of God sent to earth in human form to freely and willfully die for our sins.  Whether we allow outside forces to influence our choices and actions - or listen to God’s commands - matters.  Whether we serve wholeheartedly matters… all service to God is NOT the same.  Whether we choose to worship possessions, a statue, another “god” of any sort …or to serve Jesus Christ… matters.  There is only one Jesus Christ… only one Holy Spirit… only one Almighty God.  We want THAT ONE!!!
 
Stop and ask yourself… “Am I living like an ‘all the same’ Christian?  Am I even truly a Christian in the first place?  Have I chosen THAT ONE… Jesus Christ… the one and only Savior who died for my sins so that he could be the LORD of my life?”  If you are not living singly for Jesus, you’re not there – yet.  But there is still time!  Unlike a four-year-old child whose voice is sometimes squelched, you need to stand up and loudly proclaim that “all the same” is not good enough…a life that isn’t “all in” for Jesus is no life at all!
 
We all need to stand up for Jesus Christ and say, “I want THAT ONE!” and accept no substitutes.  Are you ready and willing to do this?  Isn’t it time you were?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 12, 2013

Deuteronomy 30:9-10
“The Lord your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the Lord will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. The Lord your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction, and if you turn to the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
 
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.
 
Friends of ours have just sold their house and pretty much everything in it, bought a motorhome and car to tow behind, and made plans to “hit the road”!  Every day, countless people across the country sell or give away virtually all that they own, buy an RV (recreational vehicle) and begin traveling America’s highways.  At the very least, many of them downsize tremendously… pare their belongings to just what will fit into less than 350 square feet of living space… and trade a conventional lifestyle for the lure of travel, adventure, and a relatively simpler way of life.  This can be a daunting choice… but for some, it’s an easy one.  For others, the thought of giving up all of their “stuff,” leaving their home and virtually starting over is just too much.  It seems difficult, fraught with challenges, and downright fearful.
 
A lot of people go through the same struggles as they wrestle with the thought of giving up an old, sin-filled life and choosing to live for Jesus.  It’s tough to set aside deep-rooted lifestyles… long-time friends…and “fun” habits.  The fear of the unknown looms large on the horizon.  Will it be as good as promised?  Will there truly be abundance, blessings, and delights?  Or will serving God be boring, lonely, and sad?  This is a question thousands have asked… and one that exponentially more will ask in the days/weeks/years to come.  There is no “crystal ball” to see into the future and know for sure that what God has promised will come true.  That’s why it’s called “FAITH!”
 
So how do you know what to choose?  How do you know with anything in life?  In a lot of cases, you talk to people who have already made a choice.  You ask them about the challenges… the “pros and cons”… you get a “testimonial” for how their lives have been since they made the move.  This applies to everything from picking a college – or fraternity or sorority – to choosing a career, deciding who to marry, having children, buying a house and/or car… and yes… choosing whether to follow Jesus.  There is no shame in asking around and talking to those with experience.  Having all the facts before you make a choice is a wise move.
 
In the end, I hope you will find that those who have chosen to serve God shore up your confidence and build your faith.  I hope that those of us who have chosen Jesus serve as active examples of His abundance, blessings, and the joy of living for Him.  I pray that you decide to “downsize” your baggage and lighten your load… to step out and take a chance on Jesus and all that He offers.
 
Anyone who has ever owned an RV will tell you that, “the minute you leave your driveway, something will go wrong.”  It’s part of the lifestyle.  RVing, like most things in life, is not 100% smooth sailing.  There are challenges, breakdowns, limits to how much you can carry, and more.  But most take these in stride and rely on a strong support network in the RVing community and industry to keep the wheels turning… just as we Christians rely on our Heavenly Father to help us through any and all challenges we encounter.
 
So whaddya say?  Are you ready to take a giant leap of faith and serve God with your whole heart?  If you’re already a Christian, can you truly say you are “all in” for Jesus?  Do you need to recommit to serving Him completely – to say, “LORD, here I am, ready to give my heart fully to you and receive all that you are offering!”?  Isn’t this the perfect time to “hit the road” with God and see where He takes you?  Will this be the day you start your new adventure with Him?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 6, 2013

2 Corinthians 5:17This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
 
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.
 
Yesterday after pre-K, I took Timothy to get a haircut.  Our friend Tiger is a barber, and Timothy loves to go to his barber shop.  Tiger has a lot of pictures of tigers (go figure).  He is also a pilot, and he has a framed photograph of his plane hanging on the wall.  Timothy asked “Mr. Tiger” all about flying his plane while he got his haircut. He said to Tiger several times, “You’re gonna cut my hair too long, right?”  He meant, “You’re not going to cut off all my hair, are you?”!  Tiger assured him that he would leave plenty of hair… and that new hair would grow to replace what had been cut!
 
Timothy went in the door looking a little shaggy and ragged around the edges, and he emerged neatly trimmed.  I looked at him later as he played in the floor, and I could see the soft, round, still-little-boyish edges to his face. But in many ways, he looked like a new person. Out with the old… in with the new!
 
I don’t know about you, but I always feel a little like a “new person” when I get a haircut.  Everything seems crisper and neater…like a “weight” has been lifted.  It gives me a mental boost and makes me feel better about myself.  And on a much grander scale, this is what happens when we invite Jesus into our heart to be the LORD of our life!  But unlike the decision to get a haircut… our salvation is anything but temporary!
 
Life is filled with choices… none more important than when we choose to follow Jesus.  Our salvation is a game changer…it not only makes us feel like a new person – we truly are changed forever!  And the cool thing is that the changes are permanent.  We may need a “spiritual trim” from time to time, but this is one “makeover” that trumps all others.  We never have to go back to our “old life”… we don’t ever have to revisit the sins of our past or wrestle with the mistakes and poor choices we’ve made.  We’re done with all of that… or we should be!
 
A once-every-six-weeks haircut is about as close to a makeover as a 4-year-old comes.  But someday, he will be old enough to understand what it means to choose Jesus for himself.  Do you understand this choice?  Is your old life gone forever?  Have you chosen a new life in Christ?   Wouldn’t you like to leave your past behind and receive His salvation… to face the promise of Eternity in heaven with Him?  Are you living the life of one who has had a “Spiritual makeover?”  Isn’t it time you did?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 25, 2013

John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to 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.
 
Last week at Vacation Bible School, the children learned the Bible verse from John 3:16.  As I talked with the students who came through my crafts class (roughly ages 7-12), I asked them what this verse meant to them.  In the more traditional translation, they were told that whoever believes in Jesus will not perish.  What did the word “perish” mean to them?  You can’t tell a child that they will never die… because in the mortal sense, all of us will die someday.  So how do you explain this verse in a way that makes sense?
 
I believe this translation from The Message goes a long way toward doing exactly this!  God loved us to enough to sacrifice His one and only Son, Jesus Christ – to send Him into the world to fight the devil, and to suffer on the cross for our sins… to “stand in the crosshairs on our behalf”.  If we believe this and trust Jesus, we can have a whole and lasting life… help with all of our troubles…peace and comfort in every situation… and the promise of forever at His feet in heaven when our human bodies give out.  If we do not choose Jesus, we choose to perish, which means we ultimately choose the “death sentence” of hell – whether we say this out loud or not.
 
Children understand choices.  They make them every day.  We tell even smaller children, “You can choose to throw that temper tantrum and go to ‘Time Out,’ or you can choose to stop your screaming and play nicely.  You get to choose – eat your dinner and you get ice cream; don’t eat your dinner, and there will be no dessert!”  So when we tell them, “You can choose to believe that God loves you… that Jesus wants to be your ‘Forever Friend’ and help you with anything and everything.  When you get to heaven, Jesus will stand before God and tell Him that ‘I’ve covered his/her sins.  He is part of our family forever.’  Or, you can choose to trust the devil, and he will lie to you and tell you your life is good – but it will all end very badly someday.  When your earthly life ends, there will be nobody there to stand up for you.  This is what it means to ‘perish.’”
 
This is a hard reality… one we don’t like to think about…one that on the surface paints Christianity as cold and calculated – an “either/or” situation.  And in some ways, it is.  But don’t miss the beauty and peace of this passage.  God loved us SO MUCH that He was willing to send is one and only Son, Jesus Christ, to live among us, love us, and teach us how to get along… and then die a horrible, gruesome, agonizing death so that we can LIVE… FOREVER and EVER and EVER!  All we have to do is choose Jesus!  All we have to do is love Him back, and He takes care of absolutely, positively everything else!  Yes, the alternative is essentially a “death sentence.”  Yes, those who choose not to believe are destined for an eternity in hell… if not hell on earth.  But it doesn’t have to be this way.  The choice is so simple… and beautiful… and filled with peace and joy.  Choose Jesus.  Choose JESUS!  CHOOSE JESUS!!!
 
At the end of our VBS, I believe many of the children totally “got this”.  If little children can understand God’s words in John 3:16-18, why can’t we?  What is keeping us from believing with childlike faith?  The stakes are so high… the rewards are so great… the peace is indescribable.  Will you choose to perish with the devil… or will you choose to live with Jesus?  You’ve been given an amazing, incredible gift in Jesus Christ… won’t you accept Him and invite Him into your heart forever?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 4, 2012

October 4 ~ Ephesians 2:1-6
It wasn’t so long ago that you were mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah.

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.

One day as I walked my students across the school campus, one of them spotted a Coke bottle on the sidewalk. He picked it up and smashed it to the ground, watching it splinter into a bazillion pieces. I asked him why he did this, and he said, “They (meaning his classmates) told me to.” In the mind of a child somewhere around the age of six, this was a good enough reason. The other children could not comprehend the magnitude of this action. They had no clue that the glass could ricochet and cut them… that someone could step on the debris on the sidewalk and get hurt… that this was an irresponsible thing to do. It was a teachable moment… and even though the student was only a young child, there were consequences for his actions. I am quite certain that I spoke sternly to him about how he was never to do this again!

Don’t you know that God wants to yank us out of line and give us a stern talking to… or worse… when we disobey Him? Can’t you imagine that He would like to “knock a knot on our head” as you may have heard a grown-up say at some point? None of us are perfect. We all make mistakes. And on any given day, we’ve all “smashed the Coke bottle” because someone told us, “It won’t hurt anything!”

The most amazing part of this scripture passage to me is where it says, “It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us.” God didn’t pick us up by the collar and ask, “What do you think you’re doing?” He wrapped His arms around us and said, “Here you go… meet my Son who died for your poor choices and indiscretions. Because of Him, you are forgiven.” I have to tell you, this is deeply humbling for me. I know that I do not deserve such a gift… and quite frankly, neither do you. But that has not stopped God from swinging the doors wide open and inviting us to come directly to Him.

What happens next is totally up to us. We can continue to breathe in garbage and the lies of the devil and his posse, or we can cough up the sin, so to speak and clear our lungs once and for all. We can stop spinning our wheels and spiraling deeper into the mud of depravity… and we can reach for the extended hand of God Almighty, who waits to rescue us and give us a second chance.

Where do you see yourself? Are you drowning under the burdens of living to please others instead of the One who offers you hope and true redemption? Are you ready to accept His offer and make a fresh start, once and for all? Isn’t today the perfect time to give your burdens, misdeeds, lapses and disobedience to Jesus and allow Him to wipe them completely away… to fully restore you? Aren’t you ready to rest in the LORD… and to give Him thanks for such an amazing gift?

What are you waiting for? Let go… let God… and praise His grace and mercy forever.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 27, 2012

Ephesians 1:7-10

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we’re a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.

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.

Bill paying is a big deal with me. I have pop-up reminders and schedules to help me remember to pay each bill well before the due date. I am thankful that I have the funds to pay my bills, and I often check the balance in my accounts before making a purchase… just to be sure the money is there to cover my debts! I’ll be honest… a couple of times I thought an online payment “sent” and my connection apparently dropped. The bill became past due, penalties were incurred… and I was miserable at the thought of spending more money than necessary because of a failure to be even more diligent than I assumed was necessary! So I can imagine how this must be compounded for someone who gets caught in a vicious cycle of spending more than he/she has. The hopelessness and futility that must ensue as a person slides further down a spiraling tunnel of trouble simply boggles my mind.

Imagine for one minute how it would feel for someone to say, “I’m paying every one of your bills… you are debt free. You don’t have to pay back the money. Just “clean up your act” and do the right thing moving forward. Don’t buy more than you can afford. Live in a way that says, ‘I was worth rescuing!’ Pay the favor and blessings forward to others because of what I did for you.” As I read this passage today, I was struck by the hope and good news it brings to each of us. Because this is exactly what Jesus has done on our behalf.

We were drowning in the debt of sin. We had “bills” we could never pay, and they were growing exponentially every single day. Then Jesus stepped in and said, “I’m paying every single debt. You don’t owe a dime… you are completely free… totally released… no interest or penalties are incurred. Now go and share my Good News with others.” Can you feel the release of this burden? Are you somewhat overwhelmed by its impact? Does the gravity of what Jesus did for each of us shake you to your very core… humble you and fill you with a desire to be better for it? It should!

Thousands, if not millions of people in this country are drowning in debt they cannot repay. Because of a downturn in the economy, catastrophic events beyond their control, or even downright carelessness, many cannot ever begin think about paying down the debts they have incurred. We see lawyers, financial advisors and others advertising every day that they can help consolidate and reduce our debt... for a fee, of course! Aren’t you glad that there is ONE who can totally erase the biggest debt of all… our sins? The one debt that each of us has is totally reparable.

You may need help with your finances, but help for your soul is already here! Freedom in Jesus is the most important component… a critical first step toward becoming debt-free in all areas of life. Have you accepted Jesus’ offer of help today? Have you allowed Him to take control of your life, your liabilities, and your future? Are you operating in the abundant freedom from sin that He offers? This is a great day to allow Jesus to wipe the slate clean and give you a fresh start. Pray with me that this will be the first day of your true freedom. Make the commitment to clean up your debts and move forward in the abundant freedom a life in Christ offers. Are you abundantly free in Christ and living in His plan for your life? Isn’t it time you were?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 18, 2012

Acts 3:1-10
The time of prayer was about three o'clock in the afternoon, and Peter and John were going into the temple. A man who had been born lame was being carried to the temple door. Each day he was placed beside this door, known as the Beautiful Gate. He sat there and begged from the people who were going in.

The man saw Peter and John entering the temple, and he asked them for money. But they looked straight at him and said, "Look up at us!" The man stared at them and thought he was going to get something. But Peter said, "I don't have any silver or gold! But I will give you what I do have. In the name of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, get up and start walking." Peter then took him by the right hand and helped him up.

At once the man's feet and ankles became strong, and he jumped up and started walking. He went with Peter and John into the temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone saw him walking around and praising God. They knew that he was the beggar who had been lying beside the Beautiful Gate, and they were completely surprised. They could not imagine what had happened to the man.

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

Do you know someone who seems stuck in a rut… doing the same things over and over again? Maybe you know someone who has changed jobs numerous times… or started more than one job and quit after several weeks. Maybe you know someone who is in and out of one relationship after another, and each time, they declare that “This one is different!” Maybe you know someone who seems perfectly comfortable to move from one fiasco to the next… who thrives on chaos and never seems to get his/her life together. Maybe this person is you!

Can I tell you something? Often, each one of us is the lame beggar at the door. We are comfortable and complacent in our present situation… content to live on the sidelines of life and manage whatever comes our way as best we can. If we “catch a lucky break,” things might improve for a while. But soon we are back to old habits and the familiar struggles and conflicts - and nothing really ever changes. It doesn’t have to be this way!

What Peter and John offered the beggar at the temple is available to all of us. All we have to do is ask. I’m not saying that calling on Jesus to fill us with the Holy Spirit and deliver us will make all of our problems go away immediately. I’m not telling you that all you have to do is give your heart to Jesus, and the right job, the perfect companion, and a clean bill of health will magically be yours. But when you ask, Jesus will equip you with the tools and skills you need to better your situation. The Holy Spirit will guide you as you pull your life together and make improvements. The healing power of Jesus can help you to manage your daily living and any physical, mental, and emotional challenges you encounter.

In many instances, the choice is completely ours. We can continue to live like the beggar at the temple gates, or we can call on Jesus to live and breathe in us and help us navigate the challenges of daily living. At once, it is this simple - and this complicated - because we will still have to do much of the work to improve our situation. Jesus will show us how… and give us everything we need to get the job done.

Where are you today? Have you invited Jesus to work in your life? Or are you content to lie by the wayside and beg for scraps and a handout? What are you believing Jesus for today?

©2012 Debbie Robus