Daily Devotional for November 25, 2016

Psalm 95:1-7    
Sing joyful songs to the Lord!
    Praise the mighty rock
    where we are safe.
Come to worship him
with thankful hearts
    and songs of praise.
The Lord is the greatest God,
    king over all other gods.
He holds the deepest part
    of the earth in his hands,
    and the mountain peaks
    belong to him.
The ocean is the Lord’s
    because he made it,
    and with his own hands
    he formed the dry land.
Bow down and worship
    the Lord our Creator!
The Lord is our God,
    and we are his people,
    the sheep he takes care of
    in his own pasture.

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

I saw a meme on Facebook today with a photo background that featured the silhouettes of three men hanging from crosses. The caption read, “Only one Black Friday offers eternal savings.” Greg and I spent a lazy “Black Friday” mostly relaxing and watching football. We visited some family members, ate leftovers and commented about what a good Thanksgiving Day we had with everyone. We didn’t fight the crowds to shop.  We didn’t start putting up Christmas decorations. We just rested and counted our blessings.

The view out our back windows is a panorama of somewhat dulled color, due to the fall drought…but there are some bursts of yellow and red here and there. Every few trees it seems like God dipped his paintbrush in some brilliant yellow or orange paint and said, “Let me show you what I can do!”  A maple tree in our front yard is filled with bright yellow leaves – and about three clusters that are an incredibly deep hue of red!  God did this…just because He can!  He is full of surprises!

As we take a moment between “holiday seasons” to catch our breath and regroup, let’s spend some time remembering WHO is really in charge.  Who made the mountains and gave us beautiful fall color?  Who is responsible for our abundance and the freedoms that we enjoy?  Who formed us and granted us family, friends, and blessings on every side?  Who takes care of His people in His own pasture like none other?

The answer to all of these questions is God Almighty – the Lord our Creator!  And we should at least pause for a few minutes to worship Him…to sing His praises and give thanks for the safety and protection of His love and care.  We should acknowledge our abundance in the very fact that we are His. And we should be grateful that we belong to the King of all gods…which makes us heirs to His Kingdom for all eternity!

Before you get caught up in the hoopla of the coming holiday season, take a few more minutes to be deliberately grateful for God and all that He has given us.  Bow down and worship the Lord our Creator!  On THIS “Black Friday,” thank Him for the Black Friday that gave us eternal savings…and for His gift of the One who made this all possible.

©2016 Debbie Robus

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 August 22, 2013

Psalm 73:25-28
You’re all I want in heaven!
    You’re all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
    God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
    Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
But I’m in the very presence of God—
    oh, how refreshing it is!
I’ve made Lord God my home.
    God, I’m telling the world what you do!
 
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 saw a story on CBS Sunday Morning about 30-year-old Nick Vujicic, an Australian man who was born with no arms and no legs.  Nick has small “feet” on which he hobbles around, yet he is able to do virtually everything you and I can do with fully functioning limbs.  He swims, plays soccer, and even golfs! Life has obviously not been easy for Nick Vujicic, and he will tell you that from ages 8-13, he was angry with God for allowing him to be created this way.  He was also bullied continually by his peers at school.  In fact, Nick tells in this interview about a day when he was 10 and his father helped him get into the bath tub.  Nick asked to be left alone. His father shut the door, and Nick turned himself over face down and “let go” in an effort to drown himself.  He could not go through with this, and the thought of hurting his mother, dad and brother in this way made him choose to live.
 
At age 15, Nick read John 9 and gave his heart to Jesus, and he says on his website, www.lifewithoutlimbs.org, that “I knew I had to make my life right with Him, but I blamed Him for my pain. I read how Jesus said that the blind man was born that way so that the works of God would be revealed through him. I said to God that if He had a plan for that man I certainly believed that He had one for me. I totally surrendered the ‘needing to know the plan’ idea and trusted in Him one day at a time.”  Today, Nick is married, the father of a perfectly “normal” little boy… and an international evangelist and motivational speaker whose message in part is that…”My faith in God and my personal relationship has given me the power, strength, humility and grace to ask Him to change me one day at a time. That if my circumstance doesn’t change, then I’d ask Him to change my heart, for all things come together for the good and for those who love Him.”  Nick Vujicic offers hope to others by reminding them that they are not alone…and that God will not allow them to go through more than they can handle.
 
As I read this passage, I’ll be honest… I was immediately struck by the verses that talk of skin that sags and bones that are brittle.  For many of you, these things are a long way off in your future… and others among you are right there with me!  I thought of the days when I look in the mirror and see another “age spot”… even more white hair… and a little more of me than there was when I was in college!  And yet, I also see someone who is refreshed, calm and peaceful, and oh-so-content!  How can this be?  I give you one word… Jesus!  On the days when the devil starts to remind me that I’m not as young as I once was… that I can’t physically do all I used to do in a day… that I walk into a room and forget why I am there, can’t recall familiar names, and lose simple objects like my phone and car keys – or the TV remote…I start humming a happy praise song or thanking God out loud for His ever present help and for meeting all of my needs (and helping me to find the missing object or recollection!).
 
I find that I don’t care as much about shopping these days… that “things” are not nearly as important as relationships… that I truly do have everything I need.  And when I hear about someone like Nick Vujicic, I am doubly humbled to think that God has blessed me so abundantly.  What’s the big deal about a head of hair that is quickly turning white and knees that seize up once in a while? In God’s eyes, our bodies and outward appearance do not define us… it’s all about the heart and soul!
 
I am grateful that I have two arms and legs… that I can walk upright and hug my loved ones… that I am still incredibly sound and healthy in a physical sense.  But I am even more grateful for a sound heart and mind.  Anyone who knows me well understands that I have become a serious “homebody.”  Thanks to technology and modern conveniences, I rarely have to leave the comforts of my house and venture out into the “real world”!  Virtually anything and everything I want or need can be delivered to my doorstep, phone or computer screen…even face-to-face conversations with friends and family (although “in-person” interaction with others is still important!). I am even more grateful that I am always “at home” in the LORD… that God is with me… always and everywhere… and that He is truly meeting all my needs.
 
I know that Nick Vujicic is right… God will not give me more than I can handle with His help… even the loss of limbs, memory, loved ones…or my hair color!  And He will do this for you, as well.  I am blessed to rest in the peace of God… to reside at home in Him…and to feel his ever present love and care.  Where is your home?  What matters most to you?  What struggles are keeping you from resting in the home of the LORD?  Nick Vujicic claims that “attitude is altitude.”  Our attitude – our faith, our values, our determination - govern how high we travel… what goals we accomplish, the levels of competence and satisfaction we achieve. 
 
How high are you aiming?  Is peace in God and a home with Him at the top of your list of goals and desires?  Are you doing everything you can to attain this?  Will today be the day you surrender to “needing to know the plan” and trust God to handle things for you?  Will this be the day you find your way “home” and rest in God’s peace?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 14, 2011

Psalm 144:3-4, 15
I wonder why you care, God — why do you bother with us at all? All we are is a puff of air; we're like shadows in a campfire.

How blessed the people who have all this! How blessed the people who have God 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.

We are experiencing periods of heavy fog this week. When this happens, Greers Ferry Dam completely disappears from view out our back window. The dense fog keeps us from seeing even the bright lights that line the sides of the dam’s roadway and guide drivers safely from one end to the other. A visitor would never know that a big concrete dam was holding back the water on the river below our house. And the fog can rise very quickly on the river. Often the dam is visible one minute and gone the next.

We like to think about living a long life… and how important each and every minute, day, and year of our lives is in the scheme of things. But truly, we are here one day and gone the next. If you don’t believe me, just think about the past year and what has happened. I remarked to my husband a few days ago that I had to remove the names of several dear friends and loved ones from my Christmas card list, because they have gone to heaven since this time last year. Our lives are very much like a vaporous fog.

So why does God bother with us? He is, after all, GOD! In the time continuum and scheme of things, how can one of us be that important? And yet we are! Each one of us matters greatly to God. Our life, however lengthy or brief, matters. What happens to us – our hopes, dreams, needs, desires, the way we conduct ourselves and how we serve Him – all has significance. And we truly are blessed to have such a God.

Sadly, we take God for granted so much of the time. Amazingly, we fail to honor the One who has done such great things for someone as small as we are in the overall picture. But we can change this… and we can start today. Begin by thanking God in your prayer time for all He does in your life. Then start to live in a way that shows Him you mean what you said. Seek out ways to serve Him… to show kindness and love to others… and to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ – in word and deed. Act like you are as important as God thinks you are… and praise Him for choosing us… and for being such a great and mighty God to each of His “vaporous puffs”!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Psalm 134
Everyone who serves the LORD, come and offer praises. Everyone who has gathered in his temple tonight, lift your hands in prayer toward his holy place and praise the LORD. The LORD is the Creator of heaven and earth, and I pray that the LORD will bless you from Zion.

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

Have you ever had someone call you out of the blue and be all nice and chatty and friendly… then say, “Listen, I really need a big favor.” You almost know as soon as you hear their voice that they must want something… why else would they be contacting you? We do this with God all the time, and I am as guilty as the next person of coming before Him with a list of my wants, needs, troubles and concerns, prefaced by a few seconds of requisite praise. It is easy to get into a rut of starting prayer time with a few off-the-cuff praises before getting to the heart of our request… “God, You are awesome! You have blessed me so much. Thank you for this and that and the other…now, here’s what I really needed to talk to you about today!”

Several of my Facebook friends have been posting each day this month about people and things for which they are thankful. This is the time of year when we naturally begin to think about giving thanks, culminating in our national day of Thanksgiving later this month. And while this holiday makes it somewhat easy for Americans to stop and consider their blessings, we must remember to be thankful the other eleven months of the year, too!

Today, I am challenging all of us to try praying at least once a day without asking God for a single thing! Don’t ask Him to heal your sick friend or family member… don’t ask Him to give you wisdom and courage… don’t ask Him to soften the hearts of unbelievers. Simply pray a prayer of praise. Pour out your heart in genuine gratitude for all God does for you every second of the day. There is no rule that says you can only pray once a day… in fact, the Apostle Paul told us to pray without ceasing! So make at least ONE prayer a day a genuine offering of praise. Get in a habit of praising God as much as – or more than – you ask Him for anything. We all like to be thanked and acknowledged… and God is no different. How will you praise Him today?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 27, 2011

Psalm 115:12-18
O God, remember us and bless us, bless the families of Israel and Aaron. And let God bless all  who fear God—bless the small, bless the great. Oh, let God enlarge your families—giving growth to you, growth to your children. May you be blessed by God, by God, who made heaven and earth. The heaven of heavens is for God, but he put us in charge of the 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.

Lately I have found myself torn in a dozen directions… hurrying here and there… spending time with Timothy… checking on my grandmother… taking care of my husband and our household… checking in with friends and other family members… grocery shopping, cleaning, and squeezing in a writing project or two here and there. The days are full… just like yours, perhaps! It’s easy to get caught up in the hectic bustle of daily living and forget to stop and count our blessings. But that is exactly what we need to do!

So today, while I bake banana bread, I will thank God for providing me with plenty to eat – and a beautiful, cozy kitchen in which to prepare our meals. While I drive to my grandmother’s apartment to visit her, I will thank God for blessing me with such faithful, Christian parents and grandparents. When I pick up Timothy at daycare, I will thank God for the loving teachers who care for him and help him grow and learn…and I will thank Him for the joy and laughter of children and how they enrich our lives.

All through the day, I will be thanking God for my wonderful husband and the abundance we share in our lives together. As I look around at the beauty of this glorious fall day, I will thank Him for blessing us with gorgeousautumn weather, bright sunshine, and cool, crisp mornings. I will praise God for blessing us with the gift of His Son – and the promise of eternity in Heaven.

Tomorrow, the world may seem to fall apart. There may be illnesses, death, disappointment, and certainly plenty of “busyness” to fill the day… all a part of life. But even then, I am going to make time to praise God for His blessings… because there will always be more blessings than challenges. What about you? Are you remembering to count your blessings… and to thank God for each of them? Isn’t today a good time to begin?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 23, 2011

August 23 ~ John 6:43-46
Jesus said, "Don't bicker among yourselves over me. You're not in charge here. The Father who sent me is in charge. He draws people to me—that's the only way you'll ever come. Only then do I do my work, putting people together, setting them on their feet, ready for the End. This is what the prophets meant when they wrote, 'And then they will all be personally taught by God.' Anyone who has spent any time at all listening to the Father, really listening and therefore learning, comes to me to be taught personally—to see it with his own eyes, hear it with his own ears, from me, since I have it firsthand from the Father. No one has seen the Father except the One who has his Being alongside the Father—and you can see me.

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.

My sister and her husband and I attended a funeral visitation recently for Leon McAnear, the father of our lifelong friends, Lesa and Laura. There was a huge crowd of people who came to visit with this family and pay their respects to a wonderful, Godly man. My little great-nephew Timothy came with his grandparents, and he was in awe of all of the people. As we sat on pews in the funeral home chapel, Timothy snuggled into the relative safety of my lap and watched the crowd. And when someone would come by and speak, he would smile and maybe say “Hi!” or “Bye!” When they would laugh, he would laugh. When someone waved, he waved. He was drawn into the activity and made an attempt to fit in by mimicking the behaviors of others.

We all do this, to some degree. Most of us have a deep desire to fit in… to be a part of things. And we are naturally drawn to those who seem to exhibit characteristics we like… or who appear to have what we want. God sent Jesus to teach us about Him. Part of God’s plan is for us to be drawn to Jesus… to want what He has… to mimic His behavior. And as Disciples of Christ, we are in turn agents for our Heavenly Father.

We are to live in such a way that others see Jesus in us… that they want what we have. I don’t mean this in a materialistic sense… or even that others want to be like us in terms of personality, mannerisms, or even how we think in general. But God does want others to see the glory and salvation offered through Jesus Christ… He wants others to look at us and say, “If that’s living for Jesus, sign me up!” He wants us to model Christian behavior... not with Oscar-winning performances, but out of a deep, genuine love for Him and a desire to live out our faith every single day.

Leon McAnear was one of the most faithful Christians I ever knew. At his service, a friend and fellow church member spoke about Leon’s life and demeanor. He said that in recent months, Leon visited his office, and this friend said he knew Leon was not well, yet he seemed happy and upbeat. The friend asked, “Leon, how do you do it? I never see you down. I know you don’t feel well, yet you are always so happy.” Mr. McAnear replied, “I choose to count my blessings every day.” The friend concluded that we were better for having known this faithful servant of God.

My question is… are people better for having known you? Do you count your blessings every day? Do others see Jesus in you and desire to experience for themselves the same relationship with Him that you enjoy? Have you truly seen the Father through Jesus Christ… and do others see Him through you?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 21, 2011

John 6:30-33
They replied, "What miracle will you work, so that we can have faith in you? What will you do? For example, when our ancestors were in the desert, they were given manna to eat. It happened just as the Scriptures say, `God gave them bread from heaven to eat.' "Jesus then told them, "I tell you for certain that Moses wasn't the one who gave you bread from heaven. My Father is the one who gives you the true bread from heaven. And the bread that God gives is the one who came down from heaven to give life to the world."

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

Most of us are probably familiar with the scene in the movie “Jerry Maguire” where Cuba Gooding, Jr. screams, “Show me the money!” Gooding portrays a pro football player who is disgruntled with his contract. As his agent (played by Tom Cruise) tries to appease him, Gooding’s character is totally dissatisfied with the explanation. He wants proof of what Cruise’s character is promising… he wants more… he wants Cruise to “show me the money!”

Isn’t this how we operate with God many times? If we are really honest, don’t we want God to “show me the money!”? Oh, I don’t mean we literally want money… though some do! We are not satisfied with the things God does for us every minute of the day… the subtle mercies He offers us… the way He loves us when we don’t deserve it… the grace He extends as we muddle through our lives. We want Him to bring lightning bolts and thunder and pull out the BIG guns and really do miraculous things that are clearly visible. Maybe then we will really recognize Him and give Him due credit!

Does this sound familiar? How many times have you said, “LORD, I need a miracle!”? We fail to recognize that the fact that God loves us in the first place is probably one of the biggest miracles ever! Beyond this, we don’t stop to acknowledge all of the countless ways He is present in our lives on a daily basis. In essence, we don’t really recognize GOD! Unless He “shows us the money” in a grand way that makes a spectacular production for the world to see, we aren’t interested.

Look around. Take a good, hard look at your life in the light of what God has done – and continues to do – for you every day. See His hand in the smallest of events, as well as those larger ones. Get a grip on how much God loves us, and understand that He really does “show you the money” every minute of the day. Now humble yourself and thank Him… really thank Him for His tender love, grace and mercy… and start to operate in a spirit of full awareness of His presence – and gratitude for His blessings.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 1, 2011

Psalm 100
Shout praises to the LORD, everyone on this earth. Be joyful and sing as you come in to worship the LORD! You know the LORD is God! He created us, and we belong to him; we are his people, the sheep in his pasture. Be thankful and praise the LORD as you enter his temple. The LORD is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.

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

Recently I visited my grandmother at the retirement center where she now lives. It was time for lunch, and I visited with the ladies at her table while they waited to be served… all women I’ve known most, if not all, of my life. The ladies were all excited about their lunch – chicken livers! But when the meals were served, they each had a boneless chicken breast… and they were not happy. It seems that they had misunderstood… they were served the “daily lunch special.” Chicken livers was an option for those who didn’t want the “special.” But the ladies got it backwards… and they were very disappointed.

The food the ladies were served looked delicious, and I encouraged them to give it a try. And later, when I phoned my grandmother, we talked about how fortunate these seniors are to have such a wonderful, comfortable, safe place to live… a place where they have great care, delicious food, air conditioning in summer and heat in winter… and so much more. And I began to think about how often we are so busy complaining about something that is wrong that we fail to recognize all that is right!

It should be enough that we belong to God… that we are His people and the sheep in His pasture. Just knowing that we belong to God and He is caring for our every need should fill us with joy and make us want to “shout praises to the LORD!” But we – and I am right smack in the middle of this group – tend to find the glass half empty and stew about the things that are wrong in our little worlds. We should be busy listing our blessings and thanking God for all He does for us.

There is an e-mail message that circulates from time to time that starts off: "If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep ... you are richer than 75% of this world. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish someplace ... you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness ... you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.” I do not know who to credit for these comments. But they are great thoughts.

We have so many reasons to be thankful and to give God praise… and truly, so very little about which to complain. Yet we are often far more eager to tell anyone who will ask what is wrong with our lives than what is right. It’s time to change this! We need to be busy counting our blessings and praising God for all He does for us.

We need to be thankful for the house that needs cleaning… the less-than-restful night of sleep in a clean, warm bed and the clothing on our backs that may have come from a thrift store… because even when things are not up to our “standards” or desires, we are still incredibly blessed. And when we finally get our “chicken liver dinner,”… as the ladies at the retirement center did the next day… we need to thank God for blessing us even when we gripe!

What has been your “chicken liver dinner” lately? What will you praise God for today?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 17, 2011

Proverbs 10:22
When the LORD blesses you with riches, you have nothing to regret.

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

Timothy Kodjo Owusu Frim, the little boy in Ghana whom we sponsor through Compassion International often writes that he is praying for us. How humbled I am by this! I recently read that in Ghana, most of the children who get an opportunity to go to school are those sponsored by people like my husband and me. And the schooling is slow… ten and twelve-year-olds are often just completing work in kindergarten and first grade. So when our ten-year-old Kodjo asks me to pray for him as he studies in school and at his church, I am very humbled and honored.

The average income in Kodjo’s village is around $32 a month… the amount my husband and I spend for his monthly sponsorship. We are allowed to send additional monetary gifts for Kodjo’s birthday and at Christmas… but there are dollar limits so that one child does not have more than his/her peers. We can send $25 to buy new clothes, a soccer ball, or a game Kodjo might like – and a little extra at Christmas time. Kodjo tells us that he loves our gifts. He also talks of time spent with family celebrating holidays and seasonal breaks from school, and he appears to feel quite blessed and “rich”, while by the world’s standards, he is living in abject poverty.

Pastor Rick Warren says in The Purpose Driven Life that… “you could reach all of your personal goals, become a raving success by the world’s standard, and still miss the purposes for which God created you.” This explains why some of the “richest” people in the world are some of those many of us would consider poor.

This is nothing new… the Apostle Paul spent much of his Christian life in prison – often in horrid, unthinkable conditions – and yet he was apparently happily praising God and sharing the Good News of Jesus with others… encouraging them and offering counsel and comfort. Mother Teresa had virtually nothing of her own, yet she devoted her life to giving to others… and apparently felt quite blessed by doing so.

It seems like this is a good time for all of us to take a good look at our lives and see what we value the most. What makes us “rich” – things and money, property and possessions? Or are we rich in relationships… first and foremost with Jesus Christ, and then with others, like family, friends, and members of our community? Are we blessed because of the generosity and love of others… or are we blessed because we are a blessing in Jesus’ name?

When you get to heaven, if all of the “riches” you accumulated were things that you left behind to gather dust or be haggled over by others, you really wasted your time. But if you have a heart filled with blessings… healthy relationships, wise use of your time and money to help others and share the love of Christ, a genuine effort to bless others and be a blessing… you will have no regrets. God will congratulate you on your faithful service, and He will assign you to greater positions than you ever imagined in His kingdom.

I wonder… when I get to heaven, will I be anywhere as rich as Kodjo and others like him? I hope so! I’m asking God to humble me and help me to use the earthly riches with which He entrusts me to make a difference with eternal ramifications, so that I have no regrets when I meet Him in person. Are you willing to do the same?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 31, 2010

Romans 1:11
I want to see you and share with you the same blessings that God's Spirit has given me. Then you will grow stronger in your faith.

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

This time of year, we often stop to reflect on all that has happened… and what lies ahead of us. For many, this is a time to count our blessings. We seem to have gotten pretty good at counting our blessings... but do we really appreciate how blessed we are?

When we get on the treadmill, do we really appreciate how blessed we are to have two good feet and strong legs to hold us up and propel us forward? When we open the refrigerator and look at that dish of leftover goulash, are we thankful we have food for our belly, unlike millions around the world who will go hungry another day? When we look in the closet and say, “I have nothing to wear,” have we considered those in Haiti and Pakistan and other locations where natural disasters have taken literally everything but the ragged clothes on their backs?

When we thank God for giving us His only Son to die for our sins on the cross, do we stop to truly contemplate what this means? Do we look at our own children and try to imagine letting them be beaten, tortured, and crucified to save people who don’t deserve it and won’t even be born for thousands of years?

This year, as we “ring out the old and ring in the new,” let’s stop for a few minutes, at least, and really count our blessings. Give some serious time to thinking about what God has done for you already – and what is yet to come. Evaluate how you are behaving in return… and where you can make improvements. Don’t just give lip service to counting your blessings this time… really acknowledge them. Then commit yourself to truly living well… to reflecting a blessed life to others and sharing the blessings that God’s Holy Spirit has given you. Grow stronger in your faith this year, and give God all the glory for His every blessing!

©2010 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 16, 2010

Isaiah 38:16-19
Your words and your deeds bring life to everyone, including me. Please make me healthy and strong again. It was for my own good that I had such hard times. But your love protected me from doom in the deep pit, and you turned your eyes none of those in the deep pit can hope for you to show them how faithful you are. Only the living can thank you, as I am doing today. Each generation tells the next about your faithfulness...

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

I started following the story of Job McCully from Bigelow, Arkansas, (his name is pronounced “JOBE” – like the man whose story is recorded in the Bible) in 2006. Job was diagnosed with leukemia and received a bone marrow transplant in 2002, at the age of four. He went into remission until the following year, but then he developed RSV pneumonia and other lung issues, and subsequently, his lungs deteriorated to the point that the only hope was a lung transplant. In 2006, Job was treated in children’s hospitals from Little Rock to Houston to St. Louis, logging more than 365 consecutive days in the hospital.

More than once during this time, doctors told Job’s parents, “He won’t make it. Sign papers to remove life support if needed. This is it.” Every time, Job’s parents walked away. Job’s mother would politely say something to the effect of, “When God tells me to sign, I will… but He has not told me to do so.” Job suffered so much and was so weary and weak… his little body was poked and prodded, and I have to tell you, I began to wonder if it wouldn’t be better to let him go to heaven and be with Jesus. The faith of this child never wavered, unlike mine.

On December 11, 2007, Job received new lungs. Truly, the “eleventh hour” had come, and this was his only hope of survival. Job’s mother Tina kept a journal throughout his ordeal on a website called CaringBridge, and she often wrote such notes as this: Dear Lord, please have mercy and compassion on Job and heal his little body. Restore him to perfect health. In Jesus’ name I ask. AMEN. I have to believe that every person who read Tina’s posts – and those of Job’s grandmother (who was enduring her own battle with breast cancer) – were lifted and given renewed hope and faith in God’s promises. And I know that I was humbled by their steadfast belief that God would heal this little boy.

Since the transplant, Job has survived Histoplasmosis (a lung disease the doctors didn’t know was in his transplanted organs), CMV, Adenovirus… and now he is diabetic. He is taking treatments for bone density… his bones are so weak that a knee gave out as he walked down the hall at school, and his foot broke in three places. The ABC Extreme Home Makeover team built Job’s family a new, safe, mold-free house in 2008.

Job is twelve now and in the seventh grade. His family is recovering from their ordeal, and they continue to be a source of inspiration to others as they share their story – and their faith. I am moved to tears as I read the journal entries and remember all that this family has endured… and how their faith remained steadfast. If you want to read this remarkable story for yourself, go to www.caringbridge.org/ar/job. And the next time you decide that your problems are too big, think of Job. Remember that the God who delivered this precious boy… gave him new lungs and new hopes and dreams… the God who pulled him from the pit of death and despair… can deliver you, too. Nothing is too big for God. Until He says it’s finished, there’s always hope and a fight worth continuing.

Think of Job this December… thank God for using a now-12-year-old boy to show us how to escape the deep pits of our lives…and for continuing to use him as he lives out his faithfulness and shares the message of hope in Jesus for generations to come.

©2010 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 25, 2010

Psalm 13:5
I trust your love, and I feel like celebrating because you rescued me.

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

Some of you are too young to remember “Baby Jessica McClure,” the 18-month-old toddler who fell in a backyard well in Midland, Texas, in 1987. She was trapped there for over 58 hours, as rescuers worked to jackhammer a tunnel alongside her and facilitate a rescue. I can still see the rescue worker emerging from the tunnel as the cable is pulled, holding the little baby with the bandaged head and tiny body. The entire crowd erupted … and thanks to CNN, and other major television networks that covered the rescue, the world celebrated, too!

As dramatic as the rescue of Jessica McClure was in 1987, our rescue by the blood of Jesus from the bondage of sin is even more impressive. We should be celebrating every day, elated by the knowledge that we have been redeemed for all eternity because of the cross. Jesus is the ultimate hero... and just thinking about Him should be cause for applause and cheering.

We find it so easy to celebrate a zillion things, but often, the one thing that truly matters leaves us with our hands in our pockets. Let’s change this! Let’s trust the love of Christ and all that He promises us in it… and let’s truly celebrate Him. We don’t have to walk around clapping and cheering, but we can celebrate Him in the way we live, how we serve, the smile on our face and the joy in our hearts. Jesus rescued us … now THIS is a reason to celebrate!

©2010 Debbie Robus