Daily Devotional for October 21, 2016

Matthew 5:10-12
“You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom.

“Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.

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.

Almost every day, there are posts and “memes” on social media encouraging us to “share this if you are a Christian.”  If Jesus Christ is your LORD and Savior, you are urged to change your status for an hour/day/week to declare this in some form.  There are bumper stickers to persuade fellow drivers to “Honk if you love Jesus,” and more “causes” that supposedly demonstrate to others just what good Christians we are than we could ever begin to take on.

At the risk of being ridiculed, judged – or even remotely persecuted – I do not share these posts/memes.  My Christian faith is not defined by whether or not I support petitions to “reinstate prayer in public schools,” or display copies of the Ten Commandments in public places.  It doesn’t matter whether I offer a prayer before meals in public (or elsewhere). How much I give to the church (time, talents and money) is no one else’s business.  But an awful lot of “Christians” seem to want to make these things – and our stance on other issues – an important part of their “assessment” of just how faithful and faith-filled many of us are.

We all know that this form of judgment is not true “persecution”…although it can feel pretty miserable at times.  Certainly, there are those who have literally suffered for their faith…who have been beaten, tortured, exiled, ostracized, and excluded.  And maybe on a much smaller scale, such things have happened to you.  Perhaps your faith cost you a friend or two... a job - or even a relationship with a relative.  Maybe your prayerfully considered stance on social issues caused others to label you as sinful – or fully in the devil’s camp.

Let me ask you something…”What does Jesus say?”  Have you checked in with Jesus daily to make sure that what you think, say, and do always lines up with His will over everyone else’s?  Have you boldly stepped out to serve as Christ’s disciple on this earth with faithful obedience…regardless of the potential for criticism, ridicule, and rejection from others?  What do the words, “Take up your cross and follow Me” mean to you?

Years ago, I sat in a room with a group of people attending a Walk to Emmaus and faced a primitive wooden cross.  A precious pastor friend sat beside me and asked some profound questions…”What are you going to do?  Are you going to leave your burdens at the cross and trust Jesus?  Or are you going to pick them up and carry them a while longer?”  To surrender everything to Jesus opens the door for blessings and abundance.  If you choose to do otherwise, you stand to miss out on receiving all that He wants to give you.

Too many of us are stubborn and rebellious at times…and I include myself into this category.  But I don’t want to miss out on the opportunity for a single blessing from Jesus. So I am doing all I can to strengthen my commitment to Him.  I know that when I stay in His will, there might be critics - and those who will try to tear me down.  But I know the power of Jesus Christ working in and through me…and I say, “Bring it on!” What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 24, 2013

Psalm 71:12-16
Come closer, God!
    Please hurry and help.
Embarrass and destroy
    all who want me dead;
    disgrace and confuse
    all who want to hurt me.

I will never give up hope. 
All day long I will tell
the wonderful things you do
    to save your people.

But you have done much more
    than I could possibly know.
I will praise you, Lord God,
    for your mighty deeds
    and your power to save.

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

When I was a child, a family who attended our church had three daughters.  The youngest was afflicted with cerebral palsy.  In the late 1950s and the 1960s, many children who had a “birth defect” were either kept at home behind closed doors… or placed in an institution where a professional staff cared for them.  But not Mary.  Her parents and sisters treated her as normally as any other person.  She did attend a school in a nearby community for a while, but her mother brought her home on weekends. Eventually, she had live-in care to help the family meet her needs… and she was a frequent attendee at church and community events.

Mary was confined to a wheelchair.  Her atrophied arms and legs did not work right.  She communicated with her eyes and facial gestures.  As a child, I often heard adults criticizing this family for treating Mary so normally.  They scoffed at the notion that Mary could communicate.  When the family claimed that Mary played a mean game of bridge, people secretly rolled their eyes and laughed… and I’m sure there were plenty who were bold enough to actually voice their opinions to this family.

Mary’s mother, Geraldine (whom I called MawMac), shared my birthday…and over the years, we exchanged birthday cake, cards and phone calls.  I considered MawMac my mentor and hero until her dying day.  For all of her 94 years, she fought through illnesses and injuries… criticisms, personal hardships and heartaches… so that she could care for Mary.  When the day came that MawMac was too old to physically care for Mary at home - even with the assistance of other caregivers - she reluctantly agreed to allow Mary to move to a skilled-care facility in a community some 40 miles away.  Until she had to give up driving because of her age and health (somewhere in her late 80s!), MawMac made the trip to visit Mary at least once a week.  Her end-of-life goal was to live longer than Mary.  She said, "The only person I want to outlive is Mary. I'm her mother, and I must be here to be sure she is always cared for."

MawMac was one of the Godliest women I ever knew. If the church doors were open… she was there.  She gave great advice!  Her faith and hope were an inspiration to many.  Eventually, she moved to an Assisted Living facility and became very ill.  One August day, her daughters visited Mary (who was just recovering from an illness of her own).  They told Mary how sick MawMac was…how hard it was for her to move and breathe.  And that night, Mary went to sleep… and woke up in heaven.  Less than 24 hours later, MawMac followed her.  These two ladies lived and breathed their hope in Jesus… they “walked” their faith in God to see them through anything and everything.  They looked past criticisms and ridicule - and what was probably outright hatred and disgust from some… and saw the love, grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.  And this is where they placed their focus.

I wonder if you and I can say the same thing in our own lives?  Surely there are times when we are snubbed… hurt… insulted… demeaned.  Maybe you are ridiculed for your faith…or judged unfairly because you choose to conduct yourself in a particular way. If you are steadfast in your faith and your love for Jesus, there will always be those who groan and roll their eyes behind your back.  I’ve noticed these are also some of the same people who are front and center to ask for help and prayers when the chips are down!  The conclusion I have drawn is that consistent, enduring hope and faith in God rubs off on others… and pays dividends!

And so we come to Christmas Eve and narrow our focus to that night over 2000 years ago when God sent a baby to earth to live and breathe among us as human flesh.  Let’s remind ourselves that He has done much more than we could possibly know.  Jesus has given us hope where ours was lost… He quiets the offenses and attacks of those who judge and belittle us (if only behind our backs)… and He will never leave us or cease in His efforts on our behalf!  This is truly GOOD NEWS… and God is surely worthy of our praise… and our unending hope!

One of MawMac’s daughters shared these thoughts with me, and I would like to pass them on to you…

“Something my mother used to do every Christmas Eve was take us outside before bedtime.  She'd say, ‘Now, look up in the sky and just feel the night.  You can tell Santa Claus is up there.’  She said this in her most dramatic voice and it really impressed us.  She continued until we were grown.  I did the same with my children.  I also continued after they were grown up.  I suspect that this Christmas Eve, I will be out there looking up at the sky, feeling the night and Santa.  The faith and excitement of all those millions of children makes it real and palpable.  Give it a whirl!”

While MawMac may very well have said that you can tell Santa Claus is up there… I’d be willing to bet she also reminded her children that GOD is up there, too.   MawMac’s hope was in God, who makes everything possible.  And so is mine!  So tonight, go outside and look up in the sky and “feel the night.”  Revel in God’s presence…receive His gift of Jesus… and embrace all of the hope that comes with it.  I dare you to "give it a whirl"!  Merry Christmas Eve… and may God bless and keep you!

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 13, 2012

Ephesians 4:2
Always be humble and gentle. Patiently put up with each other and love each other.

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

Our cat Lucy has this little routine she goes through almost every night. She eats her dinner then wanders down the hallway toward our bedroom. She sits and cries outside the bathroom doorway. She doesn’t want anything… I’ve checked. She is merely “announcing” that she is getting a drink from the water bowl we keep there for her. I’ll admit…it’s annoying sometimes. She can really get loud and persistent! But we love her so much, so we put up with the little quirks of hers and her sister Mabel’s.

In return, our cats forgive us when we let the food bowl sit empty for a while. They love us even when we don’t cater to their every whim… or when they think we don’t pay enough attention to them. And they actually remain pretty humble and gentle about it… although from time to time, they do give us a declawed swipe to say “Hey, YOU! Notice me!”

Sometimes we have a hard time tolerating the behaviors of our two-legged friends. We forget that they might also have trouble putting up with our faults. And yes… we do have our own imperfections! We get so busy pointing out the other guy’s defects that others might actually have a hard time believing we really love them!

Criticism is easy… loving someone “warts and all” is the hard part! But the role of a Christian is to love others as Jesus loves us… and that means we are going to have to sometimes bite our tongue and patiently overlook a few things. I’m not saying we can’t gently make suggestions when we see someone we love take what we consider to be a wrong turn. But more than a few of us offer advice and suggestions where none were solicited… or we gripe and complain about things that really don’t (or shouldn’t) matter all that much between good friends.

We need to take this passage to heart… and examine our own motives and behaviors. Where do we need to be more humble, gentle and patient? Where could we be more tolerant of another person’s opinions, style, or idiosyncrasies? How can we be more like Jesus in our daily living? Isn’t it time we began?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 27, 2012

Matthew 7:1-5
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

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

When I was in my late twenties, I got really sick and had to have some major surgery. My surgeon weighed 300 pounds if he weighed an ounce… and he was a chain smoker! Thankfully, he was a really good, well-respected surgeon, and everything turned out well. But I remember him sitting behind his desk one day, cigarette in hand, telling me, “Today’s runners are tomorrow’s arthritics.” I was running somewhere around six miles a day at the time.

While my knees tell me today that he was probably right, the words seemed a little ridiculous at the time as spoken by this man who was anything but the picture of health. And while I have not always been necessarily skinny myself, I find it hard to take medical advice from a physician who is clearly not taking care of himself/herself. Even if we know the advice to stay out of the sun, lose a few pounds, or stop eating so much red meat is sound… it’s a tough pill to swallow, when we hear it from someone who could obviously do better themselves.

To put this in perspective for us, consider telling a teenager not to smoke and drink while you are holding a cigarette in one hand and a cocktail in the other. How much stock do you think a young person would put in advice from adults to work hard and be responsible, pay their bills on time and live within a budget if those same adults are either barely getting by because of careless spending habits… or these folks won’t work and depend on handouts from others for survival?

What does it say to others when we claim to be Christians (which implies that we at least want to be like Jesus), and then we are critical of those who don’t believe as we do and treat people of other races, political leanings and/or lifestyles with open contempt and/or disgust? How can we expect God to bless us with His favor when we blatantly mistreat even one of His children or creations?

We often laugh (if only nervously) at those who are openly critical of us or others while they appear to be oblivious to the fact that they engage in many of the same behaviors or opinions. But it’s really not funny… and it displeases God. In the Contemporary English Version of this passage, Verse 1 says, “God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.” Let this soak in for a minute. Before you start to criticize, pity, or correct another person, take a good look in the mirror. It may be that you have plenty of work to do at home without dabbling in another’s business!

Ask God to show you how and where to be more compassionate, less cynical and critical… and more patient with others. Call on Him to remove the “speck in your eye”… and to temper your desire to do the same for others. Get your own house in order, and give God room to work in your life. Let Him handle the smudges on the other guy’s face!

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 24, 2012

Luke 6:38
"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don't condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you'll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you'll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity."

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 was talking with my neighbor the other day about a mutual friend who is the primary caregiver for her 103-year-old mother. Several years ago this friend and her husband moved her mother here from another community to share their home. The lady is now blind and virtually deaf… and wheelchair bound. You can imagine the stress this situation places on her daughter, son-in-law, and extended family… or maybe you can’t! But I said to my neighbor, “I think so often of Anne. As much as she loves her mother, I know this is a huge burden.”

The friend replied, “Oh… it’s not that bad… she has children who help her.” This is the same friend who only a couple of years ago was caring for her own mother… and telling me often how difficult and challenging it was! I am here to tell you that anyone who cares for an elderly loved one – especially those who do so at home – experiences challenges and a lot of stress! This woman may not openly share her frustrations and difficulties with her friends, but she surely has them! Others may see someone who seems to have it all together all the time… someone who is upbeat and positive. But on the inside, he/she may be anything but cheerful and confident.

On the other hand, we may make snap judgments about someone, based on an erratic action or a snippy comeback, missing completely that something is wrong in their life… that they are experiencing hardness. I have said this before, but I distinctly remember one weekend in February 1998, when my dad was gravely ill and at death’s door. I dashed into Wal-Mart to pick up a few groceries. People were cheerfully purchasing Valentines, candy and flowers. Everywhere I turned, “love was in the air.” People were smiling and laughing - talking about plans for their special holiday or something else fun. All I wanted to do is scream to anyone who would listen, “STOP the world! My daddy is dying!” But instead, I smiled in return and hurriedly left the store.

Before you pin on my medal for bravery and patience, be assured that I have made my fair share of brash, rude comments – and then some! – when life has been stressful and challenging. I am often critical, judgmental, and hard on people. There are plenty of times when I fail to consider the other person’s heart. I am just as guilty as the next guy of picking on people and jumping on their failures. But I am trying so very hard to do better – to be better.

There are a lot of people who have judged each of us unfairly. I’m sure there are those who wonder why I am not doing more… participating in more ministries in my church… getting more done with my days. I know there are those who think I don’t do enough for my own grandmother and family… or think I waste too much time on sewing and writing. There are plenty of people who are making similar judgments about you. They may be evaluating your character, your behavior, how you use your time and talents, and your attitude in general… all without having a clue about what is truly in your heart. They have no idea what God’s call is on your life… or how you are answering Him.

The point is this… if we want others to stop judging and criticizing us… we have to take the first step and do this for them. If we want others to go easy on us and lift us up, rather than kick us when we are down, we have to start the process by doing this for those in our circle and beyond. We have to stop paying attention to what others think… stop reacting to what others say about us or anyone else… and open our hearts and minds to the fact that we all have “issues.” Everybody is dealing with something… and how we treat each other can have a direct effect on the impact of these matters.

Be a humble, gentle person. Put on your “rose-colored glasses,” so to speak, and see others with a generous heart. Recognize that God loves us, warts and all, and we are to do the same for each other. Take the first step toward creating an atmosphere where God has room to build up His children in love and kindness and to use all of us to bless each other and strengthen His kingdom. When you have the urge to pick on someone… ask God to give you the courage and strength to give them a little slack.

Giving, not getting, is the way… and this begins with our attitude and how we treat others. Be the one who jump-start this process in your own circle of friends and influence. Always give as good as you wish to get… or better… and watch the blessings multiply for everyone.

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 5, 2011

Psalm 40:11-17
You, LORD, never fail to have pity on me; your love and faithfulness always keep me secure. I have more troubles than I can count. My sins are all around me, and I can't find my way. My sins outnumber the hairs on my head, and I feel weak. Please show that you care and come to my rescue. Hurry and help me! Disappoint and confuse all who want me dead; turn away and disgrace all who want to hurt me. Embarrass and shame all of those who say, "Just look at you now!"


Our LORD, let your worshipers rejoice and be glad. They love you for saving them, so let them always say, "The LORD is wonderful!" I am poor and needy, but, LORD God, you care about me, and you come to my rescue. Please hurry and help.

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

I don’t know about you, but more than once I have felt like… “I have more troubles than I can count.” And recently, this has certainly been true for actor Charlie Sheen. Everyone seems to be talking about him and his situation… made worse by his television interviews and insistence that there is nothing wrong with him! The truth is, we do not know his heart… but he appears to be very sick and, as described in verse 2 of this Psalm, stuck in “a lonely pit full of mud and mire.”

Hopefully we will never find ourselves in a pit of the mud and mire of drug addiction and accompanying mental illness (if only temporarily). But when we do find ourselves in trouble, we know THE WAY out… and His name is Jesus!

I know I often say, “People are watching”… and they are. But people are also talking… sometimes about things that are not totally true – or at the very least, none of their business. I have heard more than one person say that they felt like everyone was talking about them and their “scandal” of sorts. My response is that we all only get about 15 minutes, and then people are on to the next big story of the day. More importantly, if you have squared your situation with God… if you have confessed any sins and wrongdoing on your part and asked for His forgiveness, then the talk and judgment of others does not matter.

If you have ever felt that you were in a situation where others were judging you – wrongfully, or even with some merit – you know how awful this feels. Don’t be that person for others… not even Charlie Sheen or others in the limelight. Ask God to lift them from the mud and the mire. Call on Him to place people in their path who can introduce them to THE WAY out of their troubles and set their feet on the Rock that is Jesus Christ!

Thank God for coming to your rescue and setting you upright again… for His forgiveness, grace and mercy. Praise Him for loving us so much… especially when we are poor and needy… and standing by to help in a hurry. There IS hope for all of us… and He stands ready to save. He will not disappoint those of us who turn to Him. Where are you looking these days?

©2011 Debbie Robus