Daily Devotional for August 26, 2016

John 14:15-17    
“If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. I will talk to the Father, and he’ll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can’t take him in because it doesn’t have eyes to see him, doesn’t know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

Recently, I discovered a website called Power of Positivity (PoP)*, which describes as part of its focus…“the good in the world, how you can expand that good within you, and how that expansion from within can generate more good for others.”  While I don’t necessarily endorse everything shared on this website, the article that caught my attention was titled “9 Things You Should Say to Your Kids Every Day.”  These are:

• I love you
• I like it when you...
• You make me happy.
• I'm proud of you.
• You are special.
• I trust you.
• I believe in you.
• I know you can do this.
• I am grateful for you.

It seems odd to me that we would have to be reminded to tell our children some of these – especially “I love you!” As I read this list, I thought about not only how I speak to the children in my own circle…but also my relationship with our Heavenly Father – and how He speaks these things into me every day through His Holy Spirit.

These simple phrases can be incorporated into our daily “mission” to show others what Jesus has told us.  We can let someone know that we love them and care about them.  We can recognize the qualities and accomplishments of others. We have opportunities to convey to other people that we trust them…believe in them…are confident in their abilities…and that we are grateful for their lives.  By merely stopping to say “Hello” to an acquaintance at school, church, or in the aisle at Walmart, we can acknowledge the joy and pride our association with that person brings – and boost their confidence in the process.

We have grown so comfortable with criticism and ugliness.  We are ready, willing and eager to share a negative post or a condescending remark.  We can’t wait to laugh with others about someone’s mistakes and shortcomings.  We often mumble and grumble our way through the day. Quite frankly, if the Holy Spirit lives in our hearts, very few people would ever know it by the way we talk and act!

God calls us to change this…to look for positives and recognize the good things.  He wants us to cultivate our relationship with the Holy Spirit and radiate such hope and faith to others that those who know this Friend for themselves will readily recognize Him in us…and the rest will want to know Him.

It doesn’t take all that much effort to flip the switch from negative to positive.  Start with something as simple as whispering these three words…”Come, Holy Spirit.”  Shift your focus today and start operating in the message and mission of Jesus.  Concentrate on sharing His goodness with others - and offering them at least a glimpse of His glory through your spirit of faith and hope.

If you feel you are not hearing these positive affirmations frequently enough, there may be something that you need to change.  Do others see Jesus in your daily living?  Isn’t it time they did?

©2016 Debbie Robus

* https://www.powerofpositivity.com/

Daily Devotional for May 6, 2016

Luke 21:8-9
He said, “Watch out for the doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One,’ or, ‘The end is near.’ Don’t fall for any of that. When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history and no sign of the end.”

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 traveled with Timothy’s class to a goat farm today.  Yes…a goat farm!  We watched the farmer milk a goat and then make soap with the milk and other ingredients.  We toured the milking room and saw babies, yearlings, and full-grown Nubian goats.  We took a hayride and looked at beautiful cattle – including several newborn calves - grazing under a grove of trees.  The children ran relays on stick horses and got to pet a beautiful horse named Mercedes. 

We finished the morning with a picnic lunch.  The fields were full of buttercups.  Everything was crisp and green…the goats were adorable…the sky was deep blue, and there was lots of sunshine and a light breeze to keep things cool.  It was what my mother used to call a “Chamber of Commerce Day!”

The dad of one of Timothy’s classmates rode over to the farm with me. He moved to our state from New Jersey, and he marveled at the foliage and the landscape as we traveled.  He talked of living in a “concrete jungle” just a few miles from New York City, and how he was glad his children were growing up where nature was abundant.  Everything about the farm was as new and exciting to him as it was to any of the 6-and-7-year-olds who visited.

After we returned from the trip, I purchased a couple dozen farm fresh eggs and several quarts of just-picked strawberries from local vendors.  By the time I got home, I was tired from all of the fresh air, sunshine, and the day’s activities…but my heart was so full.  God had shown me firsthand just how blessed I am.

I grew up around farm animals, riding my own horse, and eating freshly grown food from my grandparents’ garden.  I have lived most of my 58+ years within 100 miles of my present location…and I have never lacked for greenery, changing seasons, or an abundance of wildlife. I looked around and realized just how blessed I am – and I was reminded how easy it is to become complacent – or negative…and to forget all of this!

My mother said over and over that there was nothing new about the wars and hatred of today.  If you study history at all…or if you read your Bible…you will learn more about torture and strife than you could ever imagine. You will see that negativity, bullying, and abuses of all kinds are anything but new.  You will also see that people have been saying that “the end is near” for centuries!  We all know that Matthew 24:36 tells us…“But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father knows.”  Yet many still want to try to predict what God is planning – and when!

Here’s the lesson for us…stop worrying about when Jesus will return – and start focusing on what God has given you!  Count your blessings…open your eyes and recognize the opportunities and possibilities in your midst.  Ask God what He wants you to do with each and every day…and then prepare to DO IT!  Trust that God has amazing plans for you.  Live with faith that Jesus will return at the right time…and meanwhile, He will handle ALL THINGS in your life.  I do not mean to belittle war and dissention – or to disrespect those who fight for our country or any of our leaders who are working to bring about resolution and peace.

But let’s be honest…the most important thing that you and I can do to eliminate strife in our own life – and our own circle of influence – is to operate in God’s will and honor His blessings in our lives.  Recognize a “good day” – and come to expect more of them.  Show others what it means to live fully in God’s abundance…fearless about the future and a victor rather than a victim of negativity and disagreement.  Don’t buy into the false message of those who would have you believe that everything is quite literally “going to hell in a hand basket.”  God is still on the throne!  He is still the King of Kings…large and in charge…calling the shots and blessing His people.  And you are among them!

Who are you listening to these days?  Do you see the hand of God upon your life?  Do you trust Him?  Have you counted your blessings lately?  Isn’t it time you did?

©2016 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for April 11, 2016

Isaiah 25:7-8
At that time he will remove the cloud of gloom, the pall of death that hangs over the earth; he will swallow up death forever. The Lord God will wipe away all tears and take away forever all insults and mockery against his land and people. The Lord has spoken—he will surely do 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.

I brought home all of my mother’s photo albums, and two LARGE containers of loose photos.  I’ve been sorting through these pictures…and scanning several.  A lot of them are not labeled, so I’ve shared some on Facebook…in hopes that friends and acquaintances in my area will recognize someone and help me put names with faces. Many of these photos are from the 1940-1950 era, and some from the 1960-70 time period.  Feedback is incredibly positive.  People LOVE to look at old photos and reminisce about “the good ole days.”  I joked lately that these photos are “the best thing on Facebook” right now!

All you have to do is listen to the nightly news to hear about people trading insults, mocking one another…or someone seeking revenge against a person who has “done him/her wrong.”  As a friend jokingly said recently, we’ve learned to “ask forgiveness instead of permission.”  And we have made a habit of justifying our actions to suit our personal agendas.

I admit, I am frequently dismayed these days by reports of how we are treating one another.  I have all but stopped listening to nightly news…and I skim the newspaper each day for accounts that interest me.  I slide right on past horrific “news stories” on my Facebook wall.  It’s not that I want to live in a bubble and pretend these things don’t happen.  But I simply feel I cannot become bogged down in the misery and disgust of some of these “human” behaviors and actions.

Is this naïve and apathetic on my part?  I don’t think so.  I prefer to dwell on positive stories…to spend my time encouraging others and offering them hope and joy.  I would rather share a happy photo from 40 years ago than to look at pictures of brutalized puppies or “the people of Walmart.”  I would rather read comments and recollections about my great-grandmother and her contemporaries than to hear about the latest round of name-calling between politicians.

I would rather spend my time thinking about how God pours out His grace and mercy on each of us…and how He will honor every promise He has made to “wipe away all tears and take away forever all insults and mockery against his land and people.”  I would rather share the Good News of Jesus with others - and assure them that He will make a way where none seems evident - than to wallow in the pit of frustration and anger over anything for even a second.

I don’t think this is immature or disingenuous on my part.  I believe God has promised to set all things right…and He is counting on us to demonstrate faith in His promise to others.  And we can start by living more positively…by stepping away from participation in much of the ugliness that is perpetuated in every arena of life – from the disgruntled parents on the little league fields to the bickering of politicians to the “Christians” who want to refuse the rights of ordinary citizens to do everything from voting to using a bathroom or sitting at a lunch counter.

Someday, God is going to wipe away every tear and settle every dispute in the lives of each of us. This may happen when He calls us to Heaven…or we may still be around for the return of Jesus.  Either way, it WILL happen!  Meanwhile, we have work to do as His disciples…and we need to get busy!  There is no time to waste on pettiness and disillusionment about things beyond our control.  We either trust God to handle these for us…or we don’t.  Which way are you leaning these days?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 14, 2015

Philippians 4:8-9
And now, brothers, as I close this letter, let me say this one more thing: Fix your thoughts on what is true and good and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely, and dwell on the fine, good things in others. Think about all you can praise God for and be glad about. Keep putting into practice all you learned from me and saw me doing, and the God of peace will be with you.

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

This morning as I skimmed through the posts on Facebook, I learned that the brother of one of my elementary school classmates has died.  I sent a note to this sister to offer my condolences…and to share that in just a few days, it will be 17 years since my own brother left this earth.  I recalled memories of  fun times we shared with her brother.  I wanted her to know that I understand the heartache of losing a sibling…and I told her that I am praying for her peace and comfort as she grieves. 

This is a lot of what Paul was talking about in this letter to the people of Philippi…that we are to offer others God’s “peace that passes all understanding.”  I cannot tell my friend how she will survive this and recover from the grief and sadness…but I can assure her that with God’s help, this IS possible.  I can share how He helped me through a similar situation…and I can offer her love and support in the name of Jesus.

I said that I skimmed Facebook, because honestly, that’s what I do now.  There is so much garbage on my wall…so many negative posts…such ugliness – particularly from “Christians” who believe that they are right and the rest of the world is wrong and destined for the fires of hell.  One of my friends has begun posting photos of beautiful art.  Someone else asked, “Why is he doing that?  He doesn’t even know this artist!”  I told her it was to counter all of the unloveliness that fills our screen…and I am grateful for it!

We don’t need to bury our heads in the sand and pretend that unpleasant things never happen.  I am not implying that we should ignore injustices…or that we should not stand up for the teachings of Jesus.  But what many are labeling “Christian values” are not from Christ…they are man-made rules and impositions that mere mortals want to see enacted – misinterpretations and downright manipulations of the words and commands of Jesus – and they are highly destructive to the creation of an atmosphere in which the peace of God can flourish.

Let’s take some time to study this scripture passage and fully grasp the message that God delivered to us via the Apostle Paul.  Let’s focus on the good, pure, lovely, fine things that God has done for us…the beautiful accomplishments of His people - in ways both tangible and understood.  Let’s reach out to others with a heart of peace and comfort...and let’s encourage one another and speak in hope, joy, and truth.  We must start to ignore much of the “junk” and negativity that clutters our minds via media and pessimistic (if not downright destructive) people.

Fix your thoughts on what is true, good and right – and operate in the joy and peace of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.   Let’s start a wave of positivity…and allow others to see the REAL Jesus in us.  Are you with me?
   
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 5, 2013

Philippians 4:8-9
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
 
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 I was nine years old, my great-grandfather died.  I remember sitting on my great-grandmother’s lap in their little farmhouse at Wilburn, Arkansas, and telling her how sorry I was.  She replied that everything would be okay… that we would all be okay.  I can still remember my mother saying, “Granny is a strong woman.”  In recent years, I learned that there was at least a time when Granny was anything but strong.  She “took to her bed”, as old-timers like to say - somewhere around 1920 - and stayed there for SEVENTEEN YEARS!  From what we can glean, we believe that Granny suffered a nervous breakdown after a bout with the flu – and possibly a miscarriage.  My paternal grandmother, who grew up with Granny’s children, always said that “Granny had some sort of ‘spell’ and just went to bed.”
 
One of Granny’s daughters told Mother that my great-grandfather tried everything to cheer her up… taking her on wagon rides on Sunday afternoons… even moving into town for a year so that Granny could drink local mineral waters that were said to have healing effects… doing virtually anything he thought might please her.  It was all to no avail.  Granny ran her family (my great-grandfather, my grandfather, his brother and a toddler sister) and her household from bed… and she even bore two more children during this time.  And as my grandfather and his older siblings grew up and left home, Granny gradually began to get up out of bed and take on a few household chores… and even some cooking.  She died in 1968, at the age of 79.  I was grown and married before I ever knew anything of this 17-year episode.
 
There are a lot of us who have figuratively “taken to our beds” – if not literally.  We mope around with an unpleasant look on our faces and an unhappy attitude.  We gripe and complain… about everything.  Many have even built a reputation for being a negative person… someone whom others don’t care to be around – at least for very long.  I know a few people like this, don’t you?  They are always mad or angry about something or someone…nothing is ever quite right…and every word from their mouth is tinged with a hint of displeasure and dissatisfaction.  The crazy thing is that some of these people even claim to be Spirit-filled Christians!
 
I GOOGLED the phrase “positive people”… hoping to find some inspirational personal stories of people who have remained positive and pleasant against all odds.  Instead, I found this list of 10 Essential Habits of Positive People at a website called Lifehack.org. (http://www.lifehack.org/articles/lifestyle/the-10-essential-habits-of-positive-people.html)  Please visit this site and read the commentary that expounds on each of these ten points.  It’s very good and highly enlightening.  But here are the 10 basic points…

1. Positive people don’t confuse quitting with letting go.
2. Positive people don’t just have a good day – they make a good day.
3. For the positive person, the past stays in the past.
4. Show me a positive person and I can show you a grateful person.
5. Rather than being stuck in their limitations, positive people are energized by their possibilities.
6. Positive people do not let their fears interfere with their lives!
7. Positive people smile a lot!
8. People who are positive are great communicators.
9. Positive people realize that if you live long enough, there are times for great pain and sadness.
10. Positive persons are empowered people – they refuse to blame others and are not victims in life.

Imagine if you substituted the words “Spirit-filled Disciples of Christ” for “positive people” in each of these points.  Don’t you see that these are great attributes for us as Jesus’ disciples? Yet we find it so easy to drop our guard… and in doing so, we give the devil room to work.  I believe this is what happened to my great-grandmother, and others like her.  She was truly not herself during this 17-year time frame.  I never knew her to be negative or downtrodden.  I have no doubt that some outside force consumed her during this period in her life.  It probably all started with a health-related depression…but it escalated from that point.  And many of us have allowed some event in our lives to serve as a turning point on which we have gone from being positive people - obedient Spirit-filled Disciples of Christ – to negative drains on others.
 
God doesn’t love us any less when we behave in this manner… but He surely would like to see us turn this around.  We can… and He will help us!  But here’s the deal… it’s our choice!  We can choose to call on the LORD and summon every ounce of strength and resolve necessary to overcome negative forces in our life… to become positive people who fill our minds and meditate on “things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.”  We can put into practice the teachings of Jesus… all that we have seen, heard and realized.  Or we can allow the devil to have a field day – to consume us with negative thoughts and attitudes, depression, disillusionment, and a general dissatisfaction with our life and everyone in it.
 
I know some of you will argue that there are extenuating circumstances… medical complications and mental disorders that cause some to behave this way.  And you are right.  But most of us use this as a crutch because we don’t want to accept our own choices.  Too many of us rather enjoy wallowing in self-pity and negativity… and we have chosen to stay there!
 
I don’t know about you, but this is an easy decision for me.  I want the joys and symple rhythms of a life in Christ… one where He helps me over the bumps in the road and through the difficult times – and there will always be difficult times – and moves me along toward heaven.  I want to operate in service that pleases Him… an attitude that says that my life in Christ can overcome any obstacles and hitches the devil tries to place in my path.  Like my Granny told me when I was ten, everything will be okay.  I believe that, because I believe that God will work everything together for His perfect harmonies in those who choose to love and serve Him.
 
What do you believe?  And how will you choose to operate?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus