Daily Devotional for December 26, 2016

Titus 2:7-8
And here you yourself must be an example to them of good deeds of every kind. Let everything you do reflect your love of the truth and the fact that you are in dead earnest about it. Your conversation should be so sensible and logical that anyone who wants to argue will be ashamed of himself because there won’t be anything to criticize in anything you say!

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

“So-and-So said a bad word!” Adults hear that a lot from children. I also hear, “We can’t say bad words, because we’re kids. When we’re grown-ups, we can say it.”  I’ve seen children snicker in the classroom over a word they perceived to be “bad”…and tattle on each other for what they deemed to be inappropriate words and deeds.

I try to tell all children that “bad” words/behaviors are just that…a bad idea.  Even grown-ups shouldn’t participate in their usage. It’s hard to navigate this subject without appearing to criticize other adults…especially a child’s parents or others who are something of an authority figure. And with so many in the public eye using profanities and unkind phrases, it is indeed a slippery slope!  So I try to tell children, “You are smart…you know lots of great words to use – and you know how to behave nicely. Always make good choices!”

None of us is immune. I was putting Timmy in the car at school recently, and he kept saying, “I can’t fasten my seatbelt.”  I looked in the back seat…and before I could think, I said, “Well, dummy…you’re wearing your backpack!”  Boy, did I have to do some backpedaling and apologizing…and I did!  I told him that was a terrible name to call him…and I was so very sorry…that I should never use that word.  I’ve also tried to tell the children not to use words like “stupid and idiot” – and then I’ve heard them expressed in “kid’s” movies like “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”  It’s a tough balancing act because so many unkind and inappropriate words and actions have become mainstream in media and personal conversation…and we HAVE become complacent about their usage.

So I have been reminded to stay on guard. My words to Timmy slipped out…but I need to be more careful.  A lot of things have a way of “slipping out” if we do not make a conscious effort to conduct ourselves in a manner that defies reproach.

God can help us with this.  We should take time every day to ask Him for guidance and guardianship over our words and actions.  We should steep ourselves in His word and the concept that “practice makes perfect”…and we should make concerted efforts to banish any hint of bad word usage or behavior that could be subject to criticism.  God has given us so much…the opportunity for salvation through Jesus Christ and the promise of Eternity in heaven…His love and care on this earth and forever at His feet…amazing blessings and abundances of all kinds.  How can we disrespect Him with words and behaviors that are untrue, inappropriate, or even downright shameful?

As we wind down this holiday season and look toward a New Year, let’s make a concerted effort to clean up our act…to be the kind of people spoken of in Titus 2:7-8.  The justification that we are earthly “grown-ups” doesn’t negate the fact that we will always be God’s “children,” so let’s remember this as we go about our day. Make sure that you strive to always represent our Heavenly Father in the best way possible.

We must never give anyone a reason to question our integrity - or our spiritual “lineage.”  Ask God to help you always make good choices – and never operate in bad ideas.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 17, 2016

Matthew 5:21-22
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.

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.

If ever there was a profound scripture passage for the present day, this is it!  I don’t know about you (and I don’t mean to hold a grudge), but there have been times when people have said things to me that cut me to the bone – and stayed with me.  More importantly, I am quite certain that there have been times that I have said things to another person that were like a knife to his/her heart.  The unavoidable truth is that “words can kill.”

So what are we to do?  Words are also like toothpaste…you can’t put it back in the tube – and you can’t retract what you have said. You can ask forgiveness…and pray that the other person is gracious and merciful enough to grant it.  But ultimately, once you have insulted someone or said something hurtful, those words are probably going to resonate for a good while – if not forever.

So we must redouble our efforts to be careful and thoughtful…to stop and measure what we are about to say before we say it!  We are to remember that we are speaking of another human being who is equally important in God’s eyes.  We must remind ourselves that - to some extent - an insult toward this person is an insult toward God, who created him/her.

This is a stark lesson for us today…a jolt that should make us really stop and think about what we are saying about others – and toward them personally.  We should ask God to give us the strength and courage to always operate in love – even when every fiber of our being wants to scream, shout, rant, rave, and call the other person terrible names.  Words have the power to kill.  How are you using yours?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 13, 2015

Ephesians 4:29
Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the right time and help others by what you say.

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

Acronyms are a strange phenomenon…particularly in the world of texting and social media.  More than a few people have thought they knew what certain sets of capital letters stood for…only to learn that the meaning was totally different.  I read an interesting blog post recently about how people have made OMG a common acronym – and phrase – to write or speak.  In reality, this oath takes the LORD’s name in vain and shows disrespect for God and His commandments.

We’ve grown complacent - and in some cases, sloppy – with our language.  More and more “curse words” have crept into common vernacular and are now readily “accepted” on mainstream television and radio.  I cringe every time I hear someone say, “Oh, my God!” – even when they are doing so in a show of empathy or concern toward another person.  I have made a point not to use OMG or some form of it in my own conversation.

But more than this, we need to guard EVERY word we say.  I’d be willing to bet that your mother taught me, as mine did, that “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all.”  Yet the temptation is there…to criticize…to be negative…to cut others down in retaliation for their own hurtful words.  We are sometimes moved to lash out and say ugly things when life takes a turn we don’t like and we feel that God has let us down. Even writing this, it sounds absurd.  God never fails us!

So our challenge today is to guard our heart – and our words.  We must guard against not only speaking the four-letter variety in haste or out of habit…we must also guard our everyday comments and language.  Make every word count…or don’t say a word!  In The Message translation, this verse says, “Say only what helps, each word a gift.”  Oh, that we would internalize this command and make it a part of our daily living.  I’m going to try…what about you?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 30, 2013

Matthew 5:21-26
You know that our ancestors were told, “Do not murder” and “A murderer must be brought to trial.” But I promise you that if you are angry with someone, you will have to stand trial. If you call someone a fool, you will be taken to court. And if you say that someone is worthless, you will be in danger of the fires of hell.
 
So if you are about to place your gift on the altar and remember that someone is angry with you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. Make peace with that person, then come back and offer your gift to God.
 
Before you are dragged into court, make friends with the person who has accused you of doing wrong. If you don’t, you will be handed over to the judge and then to the officer who will put you in jail.  I promise you that you will not get out until you have paid the last cent you owe.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
A friend shared a story about a woman who was standing in line at the grocery store, talking on her cell phone… in a foreign language.  When she finished, the man in front of her turned and said, “If you want to speak Spanish, go back to Mexico.  This is America…you should speak English – not Spanish.”  She replied, “I was speaking Navajo… if you want to speak English, go back to England.”  Okay, so it’s a silly joke… but it does make the point that we often choose to say things we shouldn’t – and frequently there are consequences for said comments.
 
Are we really so naïve as to think that we can harbor ill feelings toward someone else and still ask God to cut us some slack?  Do we truly believe that we can treat others unkindly and expect God to welcome us with open arms? What is wrong with us, people?!  Have we really sunk so lowly that we honestly believe we have some sort of “Golden Pass” when it comes to God’s favor?  I’ve got a news flash… Jesus says it just ain’t so!  And it would serve us well to listen to what He is telling us!
 
Before you start asking God for anything, make sure you “have your ducks in a row.”  Apologized to your kids for being short and ill-tempered with them?  Check!  Told your roommate you’re sorry you have been such a slob and promised to do better?  Check!  Forgiven your neighbor for playing his/her music too loudly or mowing the yard before dawn and disrupting your sleep?  Check!  Prayed for those who say and do things to ruffle your feathers on a daily basis?  Check!  Held your tongue in the checkout line when you wanted to say something unkind or derogatory?  CHECK!
 
We all sin… we all fall short.  People will offend us and wrong us – and some will treat us unkindly or unfairly.  But until we ask forgiveness of others, we cannot ask God for the same.  Until we forgive in our hearts those who wrong or offend us and make things right, we have no entitlement to ask God to forgive us and restore us to an authentic relationship with Him.  Remember… whatever we do to the least of His creatures, we do to Him. (Matthew 25:40)
 
Who do you have to forgive today – either personally or in your heart? Where do you need to ask for forgiveness and a second chance?  Are you coming before God with a “clean slate” and a pure heart?  Isn’t it time you did?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 17, 2013

April 17 ~ James 3:7-12
This is scary: You can tame a tiger, but you can’t tame a tongue—it’s never been done. The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image. Curses and
blessings out of the same mouth!
 
My friends, this can’t go on. A spring doesn’t gush fresh water one day and brackish the next, does it? Apple trees don’t bear strawberries, do they? Raspberry bushes don’t bear apples, do they? You’re not going to dip into a polluted mud hole and get a cup of clear, cool water, are 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.
 
This morning, Timothy said he was hungry.  I ran through a litany of items we had available, and none suited him.  Finally, he said he would like a scrambled egg.  When I sat it before him, he said, “That’s not the kind I wanted… it’s not white.”  I asked if he wanted a fried egg… he said yes.  So I fried him an egg.  That wasn’t right either.  I really think he wanted a hard-boiled egg.  But I had already eaten a scrambled egg and a fried egg… and he had returned to his blocks and toys… so we didn’t boil any eggs!
 
Eggs can take on several different forms, depending on how you cook them.  So you may be like Timothy and say, “No thanks!” when served a fried or scrambled egg.  Your excuse would be that you simply do not care for fried or scrambled eggs.  And while we all prefer our eggs prepared in different ways, nobody wants a raw or rotten egg.
 
When it comes to many of our words and actions, the “egg principle” directly applies.  Everyone has their own personality.  Some people are dry-witted or use a lot of sarcasm.  Others are loud and brash, talk a lot and always say what is on their mind.  Still others may be shy and hesitant… quiet and reserved.  All have a voice… they just exercise it differently.  But when those voices spew foul language, unkind words, disrespectful comments about someone else – or dishonorable talk against God – it’s the same as gushing raw or rotten eggs…distasteful and potentially harmful.  And God is not pleased.
 
There are a lot of acceptable choices in life.  There are plenty of instances where we are perfectly justified to say, “I prefer XYZ,” or “I do not care for fried or scrambled eggs.”  But there are even more instances in which our words and actions matter greatly… and no excuses are acceptable.  It is up to us to seek God’s will and wisdom and to check our behavior and our talk… to make sure we are pleasing Him at all times.  Have you done this lately?  Is it time for you to give yourself a “talk and action” tune-up?  What sort of “eggs” are you serving these days?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 15, 2012

Matthew 3:33-37
“If you grow a healthy tree, you’ll pick healthy fruit. If you grow a diseased tree, you’ll pick worm-eaten fruit. The fruit tells you about the tree.

“You have minds like a snake pit! How do you suppose what you say is worth anything when you are so foul-minded? It’s your heart, not the dictionary, that gives meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.”

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

Several years ago, the father of a friend of mine passed away suddenly. My friend was understandably devastated. He was in his twenties at the time, and his dad had died at a very young age. At the funeral, a fellow church member approached my grieving friend and said, “It’s going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.” I am fairly certain this person meant well… but those words rang in my friend’s ear… and some ten years later, I still remember the look on his face as he told me all of this. There are times when words truly can be our damnation. In other words, sometimes we should keep our thoughts to ourselves!

Whether this person meant to be helpful or not, his words were reckless. And we so often do this. Teachers ask children why they cannot make good grades or conduct themselves like their older brother or sister, not realizing the stress and pressure that this puts on a kid to live up to someone else’s expectations… real or imaginary. A single comment made to someone about an aspect of his/her appearance can scar them for life. Forever and a day that person will worry about his/her big nose, crooked teeth, crazy cow-lick, or toothpick legs. Unkind nicknames can haunt a person for years… or a lifetime.

Continual talk of sickness can actually make you sick. There are even those who believe that if you talk about getting a disease – like cancer – often and long enough, you can manifest this into your life. The late Rev. John Osteen, father to Joel Osteen, wrote a booklet entitled, “There is a Miracle In Your Mouth.” You can order a copy from http://amazon.com.  Rev. Osteen outlines through scripture how we speak both negativity and positive outcomes into our lives… and how our words have a profound effect on the direction we take each day.

Today, Joel Osteen is a champion of speaking good things into your life and the lives of others. He suggests that we get up every day, look in the mirror, and say, “I am valuable. I am loved. God has a great plan for my life.” Instead, most of us get up, look at our image in the mirror and groan at the new wrinkle, or the pimple that showed up overnight, our receding hairline, the extra strands of gray, or something that disappoints us. And let’s be honest, this sets in motion what is at least a subconscious negative attitude… if not an outright bad mood for the day.

My challenge for each of us is to consider our words. Do we speak as if we are valued by God and he has great plans for our life? Do we offer encouragement and hope to others? Or are we continually negative, careless, and hurtful with our words? Are our words those of salvation or damnation?

Joel Osteen says, “If you can change your words, you can change your world.” Are you willing to change today?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 19, 2012

James 5:12
And since you know that he cares, let your language show it. Don’t add words like “I swear to God” to your own words. Don’t show your impatience by concocting oaths to hurry up God. Just say yes or no. Just say what is true. That way, your language can’t be used against 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.

We’ve all heard the jokes about little kids who asked their mom or dad, “Where did I come from?” and the parent nervously delivered an explanation about reproduction and how babies are born – only to have the child follow with, “Well, Sarah said she came from Toledo, and I just wondered where I came from.” Sometimes, we give too much information!

By the same token, we’ve all heard someone say, “But you swore this wouldn’t happen,” or “You swore you’d never do that!” By adding to our words, we often set up a scenario for others to use them against us. I had never really thought much about the phrase “I swear” until I read this passage in this particular translation. But really, what are we doing when we add these words to a sentence? Are we giving our claim more credence? Do we feel that what we have said or committed to is not enough on its own and needs the bolster of an oath? Did it ever occur to any of us that this indicates impatience or an effort to “hurry up God?”

It is no secret that we need to be mindful of our words as much as our deeds. But how many of us have really considered that our language indicates how much we trust God’s care for us? Who among us has thoroughly pondered the implications of what we say on a regular basis? Do we weigh our words carefully? Do we think at all about how what we say might come back to trouble us at some point? Do we give consideration to who we know is listening… and who is listening that we may not realize?

We should carefully choose our comments and our actions. I have heard more than one person say, “If you wouldn’t say it in front of Mom or Grandma, don’t say it.” Unfortunately, there are a few moms and grandmas who have some pretty colorful language of their own…but you get the picture. Think of it this way…would you say these things in front of a group at your church? How would you feel if someone said these things to you? Does it make the promise or claim of anyone more believable and trustworthy if they add the words, “I swear!” or some off-color expletives to them for emphasis?

There is a lot of power in James 5:12. Please read this passage carefully, and apply it to your own language. Let your “yes” and “no” stand for themselves. You know that God cares for you… but can others tell it from your words and actions? Isn’t it time they did?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 8, 2012

James 3:3-6
A bit in the mouth of a horse controls the whole horse. A small rudder on a huge ship in the hands of a skilled captain sets a course in the face of the strongest winds. A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it can accomplish nearly anything—or destroy it!

It only takes a spark, remember, to set off a forest fire. A careless or wrongly placed word out of your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell.

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.

For most of the summer, our entire state – and much of the country - has been under a burn ban. A drought created conditions that were ripe for dangerous, deadly fires… and sadly, thousands of acres in our state and others have been left in char and ashes. Some in Arkansas lost their homes, but even more lost everything in the states of Colorado, Idaho, and Washington. In almost an instant, families went from living their everyday lives to being told to get out immediately. When they returned, nothing remained where only a few hours earlier they had gone about their day. In many of these instances, the tiniest spark started all of this. I know of more than one instance in Arkansas where the blade of a tractor or mower hit a rock, created a spark, and hundreds of acres were ruined.

One would think that such a tiny spark could be quickly and easily extinguished. Surely the person on the tractor could have jumped off and hurriedly put out the fire before it spread! In truth, this spark set off a firestorm that raged so quickly that nobody had the time or capability to stop it singlehandedly. Even if several people had been nearby to help, I am not sure that some of these fires could have been corralled. The damage was done – instantly. And while these fires were contained over time, the collateral destruction in some cases is almost immeasurable. Family homes can be rebuilt. Memories remain… but photos, personal papers, mementos and treasures – and even family – are gone forever in many cases.

When we speak, each of our words has the same potential as a spark. We can instigate good with our comments… or we can set off a firestorm of disastrous events. And as I have said before, words are like toothpaste – once they are “out of the tube,” I challenge you to put them back! So when we fly off the handle and speak without thinking, we can hurt a lot of people. We may “accidentally” pepper our language with four-letter words, but others see us as someone who has a “colorful” vocabulary (and I’m being nice here!).

When we tell someone how we really feel – and do so with blunt, stinging criticisms – we may be able to repair the damage and rebuild the relationship later… but it will take a lot of work and forgiveness – and maybe a generous heart or two. When we call people names, we have judged them. When we tell a kid, “You can’t do that!” – as in, “You can’t go to college,” or “You’ll never amount to anything,” we have spoken a wildfire of discouragement to that child that may have lifelong ramifications.

I know far too many people who feel that God doesn’t care about them because someone told them they were wrong to ask questions, their behavior was unforgivable, or they were simply not good enough. I know others who were called an ugly name, and it scarred them for life. In essence, our words have the potential to destroy. The structural framework of a person’s life may be rebuilt in time… but often, there are little snippets of the heart that never mend. And this breaks God’s heart.

Here’s the deal… what break’s God’s heart should break ours. We should impose our own “burn ban” on words that judge, offend, wound, and destroy others. We must continually be asking God for guidance before we speak, rather than asking Him to help us repair the damage afterward. We have to be thoughtful and careful about everything we say. Yes, we must always speak the truth… and sometimes this can be painful for others to hear. But we absolutely must consider our delivery and make sure that our tongue is not the spark for a firestorm of destruction… the catalyst for irreparable damage… and a huge disappointment to our Heavenly Father.

What are you speaking today? Are your words soothing and encouraging… or are they rapid-fire and potentially volatile, like a bottle rocket on the Fourth of July? Spend some time with God today, and ask Him to help you control your tongue. Make sure that what you say honors Him and builds up His children… and His Kingdom.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 10, 2012

Proverbs 15:4
Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.

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 am fifty-five years old, and I still remember how insulted I was by something my first grade teacher said to me in 1963. I shared a table with three to five other children, and the little boy sitting next to me threw up his morning milk one day… all over the table and the floor. Understandably, I scooted my chair to the side and moved away from this boy. I can still picture it all vividly. My teacher (whom I adored) came over and said, “Debra, if that is getting you goat, then MOVE!” I was crushed! It wasn’t as much what she said as her tone. It was as if I had done something wrong. She seemed to have no sympathy that I might be negatively impacted in any way by this event!

By the same token, I remember a totally different event on my first day of school. My mother says that I refused to let her to come with me. I can’t imagine that she allowed me to call the shots like that, but it was a different time… and the elementary school was practically in our back yard. And in my mother’s defense, she had a five-year-old and a two-year-old to tend to at home. So I walked to the school by myself. But when I got there, the signs that listed the class rosters were posted too high for me to read. I could not find my name. My friend Martha’s mother, Mrs. Duncan, offered to help me and said something like, “Oh, look! There it is! You and Martha are in the same class!”

I still love my first grade teacher – gone to heaven now. And I dearly love Mrs. Duncan, who has shown me innumerable kindnesses over a lifetime. But a comment I am sure my teacher considered quite innocent – and delivered out of frustration that I came to understand later as a teacher myself – cut me deeply at the time. And I never forgot it. I have to wonder what I have said to others over the years that has not been forgotten… what cutting, hurtful words I might have uttered - even flippantly, or without a second thought - that have resonated for years with someone else.

I cannot change the past… but I most certainly can be awake and alert moving forward. I can guard my heart and my tongue… and make sure that I do my very best not to utter words that are hurtful or offensive to someone else. God is more than willing and able to help me with this. He will help you, as well… if only you will call on Him to do so.

We never know what impact our words and actions have on another. I want mine to be as positive, healing and supportive as possible… and I am calling on God to help me ensure that this happens. What about you?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 13, 2012

Romans 3:1-6
So what difference does it make who's a Jew and who isn't, who has been trained in God's ways and who hasn't? As it turns out, it makes a lot of difference—but not the difference so many have assumed. First, there's the matter of being put in charge of writing down and caring for God's revelation, these Holy Scriptures.

So, what if, in the course of doing that, some of those Jews abandoned their post? God didn't abandon them. Do you think their faithlessness cancels out his faithfulness? Not on your life! Depend on it: God keeps his word even when the whole world is lying through its teeth. Scripture says the same: Your words stand fast and true; rejection doesn't faze you.

But if our wrongdoing only underlines and confirms God's rightdoing, shouldn't we be commended for helping out? Since our bad words don't even make a dent in his good words, isn't it wrong of God to back us to the wall and hold us to our word? These questions come up. The answer to such questions is no, a most emphatic No! How else would things ever get straightened out if God didn't do the straightening?

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.

Have you ever been “stood up”? Has someone ever told you they would call you, stop by and see you, or help you with something… then they either called and said they weren’t available – or you never heard from them at all? It stinks, doesn’t it? And honestly, don’t you know people who seldom – if ever – keep their word? I have said of more than one such person… “If their lips are moving, they are probably lying.” That’s a pretty sad commentary, isn’t it?

You may also know people who profess to be Christians… but they take great license with their salvation. It’s as if they feel that because they are saved by the blood of Jesus, they have a free ticket to do as they please without fear of any consequences. Clearly, this passage shows us that God is not happy by our assumptions. GOD’s words matter… OUR words matter… and so do the actions we put behind them!

God would never think of going back on His word… and neither should we! We should never “abandon our post” and dishonor Him by interpreting scripture to suit our own purposes…taking our salvation for granted… or speaking “bad words” to others. As Disciples of Christ, we are called to honor His sacrifice by speaking words that are true, hopeful, positive, kind, and reliable. When we say we will do something, we should do it. When we promise to call or help someone, we must follow through and show up. We must remember WHOSE we are – and what it cost for us to become heirs to His throne… and we must behave honorably even when all around us seem to have lost their heads!

There will be times when we become discouraged. We will feel that God’s promises of blessings, good health and prosperity must be meant for someone else. We will have struggles, challenges, and disappointments… and the natural tendency will be to blame God – or at least complain to Him loudly. We will be tempted to throw up our hands and ask, “What’s the point?” The short answer is that every word from God is true, whether it lines up with physical fact or not. We can’t always see what God is doing in our lives… so we live in faith that He is really at work in us.

Don’t become discouraged. Work hard to be more like Jesus every day. Make your word your bond… and believe that God’s word is infallible. Honor your commitments… to God and to others. In my notes, I have written… “You can’t expect things to come if you don’t call them. Call healing when you are sick… call prosperity when you are poor… call light when there is darkness. Keep asking… seeking… calling until it comes. Get violent (intense) faith.” What are you speaking today? Are your words your bond… or are you merely offering lip service - to God and others? Do you believe what God is speaking over your life? Can others believe your words, as well? What is God saying to you this day… and how will you respond?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 12, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:26-31
Take a good look, friends, at who you were when you got called into this life. I don't see many of "the brightest and the best" among you, not many influential, not many from high-society families. Isn't it obvious that God deliberately chose men and women that the culture overlooks and exploits and abuses, chose these "nobodies" to expose the hollow pretensions of the "somebodies"? That makes it quite clear that none of you can get by with blowing your own horn before God. Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ. That's why we have the saying, "If you're going to blow a horn, blow a trumpet for God."

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.

There is a new commercial airing for StraightTalk cell phone service that has people talking like they are rich and worldly, while they look for their clunker car in the parking lot. In this commercial, a lady is talking on her cell phone to someone about serving Cornish game hen versus chicken, because “everyone gets their own baby chicken on their own baby plate” and an endive salad. She then argues about the pronunciation of the word “endive” as she tries to open a very expensive car that is dubbed “the car of a hip-hop music mogul.” She asks her husband why her keyless remote will not open the car door, and he points across the lot and says, “… because we drive a station wagon.” The point of the commercial is that saving money on her cell phone bill has made the woman feel rich and important - and speak to others with arrogance.

A lot of us are trying to be something or someone we aren’t. Even more of us are failing to recognize who we truly are! We are the chosen heirs of God Almighty, which makes each a prince or a princess… our Father is the King of Kings! Too many of us make excuses… “I’m not smart enough… thin enough, rich enough… from the right family. I’m the wrong color or the wrong gender. I didn’t go to college. I’m different… people don’t like me. I’m ugly, my hair is too curly (or straight)… my nose is too big… I’m too short or too tall.” We give up quickly and let poor health, our social, economic, and educational status (or lack of one), and more limit what God can do with us. We fail to recognize the power of positive thinking and speaking… a need to change our words!

Today, let’s start speaking positively. Let’s “call things that be not as though they were.” In other words, try saying “I can,” instead of “I can’t.” Recognize that God wants to do amazing things in and through you… and if He believes you are good enough, this is all that matters. Don’t start talking like someone else and pretending to be more important than you already are. Realize that you are amazing, incredible, and perfectly formed by God Almighty… and that’s more than enough. Ask God to show you how and where to use what He has given you - for His glory. Blow a trumpet for God, and get ready for Him to knock your socks off with blessings.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 18, 2011

Proverbs 22:3
A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks; a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

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.

Timothy is tall for his age… nearly three feet in height at just 29 months. So when he started learning to walk and run, he would often pass near my piano or sofa table and wince. Sometimes he would actually bump into them, but he would make that “this is gonna hurt” face before he actually made contact. It was as if he knew he should duck or move away, but the circuit to complete that message from brain to body was not yet fully developed.

Even though most of us are a long way past two years of age, we still do this in so many ways. We get ourselves into some pretty big messes, knowing full well that we’re gonna get clobbered… yet we forge ahead anyway. We know we shouldn’t go to a party where there will be drinking and drugs. We understand on many levels the foolishness of speeding and/or drinking when driving. We often know we that we shouldn’t open our mouths and spark World War III. We are totally aware that we “don’t have a dog in the hunt,” but we stick our noses in where they don’t belong, say things that are hurtful or inappropriate… or fail to act when we know we should.

I will be the first to admit that I “open mouth, insert foot” more times than I care to count. I am often impulsive and reactionary. And yes, I often get clobbered! But I’m learning to stop and consult God first… to take a breath… count to ten… say a quick prayer… and let God lead me. Is it easy? Not always. Often I want to say, “But, God…” Yes, I am the “Burger King Christian” sometimes… I want to have things MY way. But I do get that trying to tell God how to run things is nothing short of ridiculous and absurd… and I’m working on this. Are you?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 2, 2011

Proverbs 20:25
An impulsive vow is a trap; later you'll wish you could get out of it.

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, a politician claimed that she would get gasoline prices down to $2 a gallon if elected President. No sooner had she made this claim than her staff began to backpedal and say, “What she really meant was… XYZ.” Politicians do this all the time. And honestly, we’ve become somewhat numb to it… to the point that we often don’t even hear what they are saying, much less pay attention to the “meat” of their message.

I’m not sharing this analogy to spark political debate. ALL politicians… all PEOPLE… make promises they can’t keep. But the point is that we often engage our mouths before our brains… then find that we surely wish we could retract what was just said!

My challenge for each of us today is to think more carefully before we make promises. Did you just tell Joe you would pick him up after work, when you know full well you have other obligations at that hour? Have you promised someone you will “do whatever you need”… knowing that you have appointments and other obligations to fulfill and can’t possibly be available on a moment’s notice? Did you vow to love another person and be faithful to him/her, even while you were looking around to see if someone better might come along? Did you promise God that you would love Him and serve Him… that He would be LORD of your life… and now you are living in a way you know does not please Him?

Vows are serious business. And like dishonesty, breaking seemingly insignificant or small “vows” leads to failure to deliver on bigger ones… and the cycle that is created can be vicious. Check your thoughts, your words… and your promises. Ask God to guide you as you make daily decisions and vows… and you will have no regrets.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 22, 2011

Proverbs 20:3
It makes you look good when you avoid a fight -- only fools love to quarrel.

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

Do you know someone who comes in the door trying to pick a fight? It’s really hard to even have a conversation with this person, because he/she takes everything you say the wrong way – or there is potential for this to happen. Those who love to quarrel often have a way of drawing you into their argument before you even realize what is happening.

Pretty soon, you notice that people are avoiding this person altogether, because it’s easier than risking getting into an argument… and the person who loves to argue starts to look rather foolish and sad.

Often we do find ourselves drawn into an argument before we realize what is happening. So the challenge is to stay on guard and to hold our tongue… to think before we speak, and to choose our words carefully. We’ve all heard the recommendation to “count to ten” before we speak in these situations. Just recently I read an article by an expert who suggested we needed to count longer – maybe even to 100! I’m not sure that is necessary, but give yourself a few seconds to collect your thoughts and calm your nerves… and quietly ask God to give you the right things to say and a loving demeanor.

I have not always chosen my words carefully in these situations… and regretfully, I’ve come off looking as foolish as the other guy. I have to tell you, there is a lot of satisfaction in knowing you walked away from a quarrel without losing your cool. In those situations, I am very quick to thank God… because I know I could never do that under my own steam.

I pray that we would all learn to control our emotions… and our words… as we grow in our walk with God. I pray that we would learn to stop more often and count to ten… or twenty or thirty… and give ourselves time to ask God for His strength and wisdom. I pray that we would “take the high road” and walk away with our integrity… claws retracted and reputation intact! I pray that God would work in each of us to develop this ability more thoroughly… and may your arguments and quarrels become less frequent… and far less foolish.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 18, 2011

Proverbs 18:20-21
Make your words good – you will be glad you did. Words can bring death or life! Talk too much, and you will eat everything you say.

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

A friend recently sent me a video from YouTube that portrayed a blind man sitting on a sidewalk with a sign that read, “I’m blind… please help.” People would pass him, and occasionally someone would toss a coin his way. Then a woman stopped, walked back, picked up the sign and scribbled something on the back of it. She turned the cardboard over and stood it up beside the man… and he began to be flooded with coins.

The woman returned, and the man asked, “What did you do to my sign?” She replied, “I wrote a sign… but with different words.” Her words were… “It’s a beautiful day, and I can’t see it.” You can see this video for yourself at http://youtu.be/Hzgzim5m7oU.

How often are we guilty of choosing the wrong words? Do you suppose you are more persuasive when you tell a child, “Don’t!” or “No!”… or when you say, “That stove is hot… if you touch it, you will get burned.”? When you tell a friend, “You’re turning into a jerk,” do you really think he/she will listen? But if you say, “You know I love you, but other people are starting to avoid you because of how you are acting,” you might get his/her attention.

When you tell someone, “You really need to be coming to church” – how do you suppose they feel? But if you say… “We have such a great time at church, and we’d love it if you would come with us” – you might have a chance of getting them there. If you tell someone, “God loves you so much and wants to bless you in ways you can’t imagine,” won’t that get you farther than saying, “You better turn to God… or else!”?

Often we say things out of love and care or concern… but that’s not how they are received. I’ve heard people (who usually are known for a rather sharp tongue and blunt attitude anyway) say, “Well, I told them that for their own good!” No… these people failed to choose good words… and in doing so, they did far more harm than any good they ever hoped to accomplish. The Bible tells us that the tongue holds the power of life or death… and the difference is often determined by how we choose our words.

What about you? Are you a blind man today… or is it a beautiful day and you can’t see it? The difference is all in a matter of words. Have you asked God to help you choose yours wisely today?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 27, 2011

James 1:26
If you think you are being religious, but can't control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and everything you do is useless.

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

Suppose someone posted a comment on Facebook and criticized a group of people who practice a certain lifestyle, or are of a certain race or ethnicity. And suppose that person was a teacher/nurse/community leader/Sunday-school teacher/self-professed Christian. For instance… what if one of these people posted a comment that “I’m tired of the way the people on XYZ dress so gay,” or “I won’t go to such-and-such part of town because that’s where the ABC (insert your ethnicity, race, or socio-economic group here) people live or hang out.” It’s certainly the right of anyone in America to post such comments… free speech, you know.


But how do you suppose this makes the person making the comment appear to others? If the comment was made by a nurse who works in a local clinic, do you suppose that the people to whom he/she referred will feel welcome and treated fairly there in the future? If the comment was made by a teacher, do you think his/her students will feel they receive respect and fair treatment in the classroom if they fall into the category about which this person “vented?” If this statement was made by a supposed Christian, will the people to whom he/she referred truly feel the love of Christ demonstrated by this person?


Think about it. When we wear a T-shirt that says “Abortion Kills” we very well may be making an accurate statement… and we may feel that we need to say something this shocking and to the point to get others’ attention. But consider how the teenage girl who has had an abortion feels when she encounters someone wearing one of these shirts. Will she feel that she is loved and accepted by this person… or will she feel condemned? Will she feel like she could ever be loved by Jesus Christ… or will she just feel like a hopeless murderer?


We are well within our rights to say lots of things… but that doesn’t mean we should say them. And it’s not because we are involved in a particular profession, working in a church, a parent/coach/political leader – or even a Christian. It’s not about being held to higher standards necessarily or being expected to behave better because of our “station” in life (although that’s not necessarily a bad thing). It’s about our example to others… the message we convey. Because we are Christians – disciples of Jesus Christ… we must carefully guard what we say at all times.


I know I’ve worn out the clichés that “People are always watching” and “Words are like toothpaste – once they are out, it’s hard to put them back!” But the truth is, sometimes our words – even if we feel they are right or it’s our moral obligation to share them – can hurt the cause for Christianity. And people are watching. We can often do more harm than good with the words we utter.


When we say something that causes another person to feel badly about himself/herself – particularly with regard to the love, grace and mercy offered by our Heavenly Father… if we plant even the slightest seed of doubt or question that God could love this person who practices an alternative lifestyle, is of a different race or ethnicity, or doesn’t fit our socio-economic standards… we have betrayed our own faith and truly served the wrong master. We’ve left the door wide open for Satan, and said, “You’re not good enough for Jesus… but there’s room for you in Hell.”


This may seem harsh and melodramatic. But I’ve seen the hurt and devastation in the hearts and lives of those at whom such seemingly “innocent” comments were directed. I’ve heard them say, “There’s no place for me in the church,” and watched them shrink from becoming part of a church family – or even accepting Christ as their Savior – because they felt unworthy, based on the attitudes and judgments of others. It breaks my heart to see this… but I can’t begin to imagine what it must do to Jesus. He gave so much for ALL of us… and we just don’t seem to get it much of the time. He told us clearly in the scripture to love others as we love ourselves… and HOW to love one another… and we still can’t seem to get it right.


All I am asking is that we guard our thoughts and take a deep breath before we speak – or post – or judge. Let’s ask ourselves… “Will this further the Kingdom of God… or will it do more harm than good?” It wouldn’t hurt to stop and utter a prayer and ask God to help us decide which way to go! Once we have a clear direction, we can proceed… confident that God is pleased with our words and actions… and that His will is being done. We won’t have to worry about retracting our words or deeds… if we just take a little time to prayerfully consider them in the first place.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 7, 2011

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six or seven kinds of people the LORD doesn't like: Those who are too proud or tell lies or murder, those who make evil plans or are quick to do wrong, those who tell lies in court or stir up trouble in a family.

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

Several months ago, the child of a friend of mine cut her brother’s hair. When my friend asked who had done the hair cutting, the child replied, “Not me!” My friend remarked, sarcastically that “Not Me” surely seemed to show up at their house often to stir up trouble!

I think a lot of us read scripture passages like this one and react like my friend’s child… that’s Not Me! We take this passage quite literally and don’t see that a lot of the things we do are hurtful, murderous, prideful, dishonest, and yes – evil.

I sometimes wonder about some of the “Letters to the Editor” I read in newspapers… comments I see on Facebook… and things I hear coming from the mouths of people who make no secret of their supposed faith in God… or even invoke His name to justify their ugly words. When I hear late-night talk show hosts on television joke about celebrities who are in rehab or make fun of someone who has been arrested, I wonder… “Does this square well with God?”

If you try to weasel your way out of a traffic ticket or juggle the numbers on your income taxes… if you bad-mouth your instructor online or grumble about your kid’s coaches to others… does this please God? Are you one who is always griping and complaining about something or someone? Do you think God wants a kingdom of “miserable and disgruntled Christians?”

I am not passing judgment. I am guilty of plenty of offenses myself. I am saying that we need to all check our behavior and our motives… to make sure we line up with God’s will and err on the side of caution in what we say and do. If we truly want to please God and honor His gift of salvation, we will pay close attention to how we conduct every faction of our lives. Even when we think what we say and do is innocent… we may actually be hurting someone else or displeasing our Heavenly Father. Stop… look… listen… think… PRAY… examine your thoughts, words and deeds, and be a Disciple whose behaviors are those which God likes.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 23, 2010

Proverbs 10:11
Stay away from stupid and senseless arguments. These only lead to trouble, and God's servants must not be troublemakers. They must be kind to everyone, and they must be good teachers and very patient.

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

Lately, it seems like I’ve had one stupid and senseless argument after another with my grandmother. And I admit, many of them are a direct result of my impatience. At almost 98 years of age, things in her world are changing rapidly, and everything I say is viewed as a direct challenge. But knowing when I should speak and when to keep quiet has been quite difficult… especially in recent years.

A few weeks ago, I was driving her to the beauty shop, and she was upset with me over something I had said. She told me, “Y’all never come to see me, so you don’t know anything about how I operate.” I began to remind her that someone – I, my husband, my sister … SOMEONE had been to visit her every day that week except one. She retorted, “No you haven’t!” As we got out of the car at the beauty shop, she said, “I’m frustrated,” and I told her, “I’m frustrated, too.” But I realized that arguing about this situation was not helping. Getting her to admit that someone – and often several “someones” - visits her every day was not going to make either of us feel any better.

It’s a lot like repeatedly telling Timothy he can’t touch the “pretties” that are his Aunt DebDeb’s… at some point, it is easier to put them in the closet or cabinet where he cannot reach them than to repeatedly argue over his touching them. And much the same can be said for our relationships with friends, family members and acquaintances. We have to “pick our battles,” and many of us often pick them poorly.

So we end up arguing or disagreeing over trivial, silly things that don’t matter. We get our feelings hurt over something that shouldn’t have been on our radar screen. We take things the wrong way and “make mountains out of molehills.” And all of this dishonors our role as God’s servants.

I know that my grandmother “pushes my buttons,” and she’s gotten really good at it. But I also know that I have to do better at exercising patience and holding my tongue. I must make prayerful decisions about when to speak up, and when to let something slide.

And this might be a good time for us to take stock of our lives and ask God to show us where to incorporate a lot of the lessons of these recent devos in order to serve Him better. Where and how do we need to distance ourselves from “friends” and acquaintances – and even family members – who “push our buttons?” If you can’t seem to keep from arguing with someone, then maybe you need to evaluate the time you spend with that person and see if you can make adjustments that help limit opportunities for conflict.

How can you incorporate prayer and communion with God to help diffuse troublesome situations before they even begin? Are you calling on God to guard your comments for you – to give you the right words (and the right tone of voice) to speak to others? Are you asking Him to hold your tongue when unpleasant, or argument-provoking thoughts dare to spill out in the form of a sentence? Who can mentor you in these situations? Have you asked God to direct you to wise, experienced counsel who can help you diffuse troublesome relationships – or those that have the potential for such trouble?

This is a very hard scripture passage for me to discuss, because I know I often act out of impatience… especially with my grandmother. I don’t mean to be unkind – or to argue. And sometimes, a confrontation over something like asking her to give up cooking on her stove, so that she is safe and doesn’t get burned, is inevitably going to lead to a heated discussion, at best. But there are plenty of times when I could let things go and avoid the argument… and I am working on doing so. As I’ve said many times, “I am a work in progress,” and I am grateful that we serve such a patient God will not give up on me – or any of us, if we seek His help.

Where do you need help today? Who – or what – is “pushing your buttons” and causing you to instigate needless trouble? Let’s be honest… all of this is the work of the devil, and it makes me furious to think he gets even a second of satisfaction out of my actions. So let’s agree today to keep in constant contact with God… and ask Him to guide our thoughts, our words, and our deeds. Let’s ask God to help us learn when the argument is worth it… and when we’re being stupid and senseless. Let’s pray for HUGE doses of patience and kindness… and the wisdom to be honorable servants who avoid stirring up trouble. And let’s be smart and sensible in our daily living.

©2010 Debbie Robus