Daily Devotional for November 18, 2016

Romans 13:8-10
Pay all your debts except the debt of love for others—never finish paying that! For if you love them, you will be obeying all of God’s laws, fulfilling all his requirements. If you love your neighbor as much as you love yourself you will not want to harm or cheat him, or kill him or steal from him. And you won’t sin with his wife or want what is his, or do anything else the Ten Commandments say is wrong. All ten are wrapped up in this one, to love your neighbor as you love yourself. Love does no wrong to anyone. That’s why it fully satisfies all of God’s requirements. It is the only law you need.

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

Fridays have become a busy time for me.  I​ spend the morning and at least part of the afternoon helping in Timothy and Zola’s classrooms at school.  It is no secret that I love children.  I love getting to know them…teaching them and watching as their minds expand with knowledge.  I love “loving” them and seeing their faces light up when they receive a smile or a hug.  I love encouraging a child and seeing the joy that he/she experiences when the “light bulb” goes on and things improve or a concept is fully understood. I love the purity and innocence with which children give and receive love.

Sometimes, children have to be corrected.  After all, we do have work to do and academic goals to achieve!  I have to remind students to stay on task.  I have to tell children that I cannot give them the answers to the test…that I will help them all I can, but I can’t do their work for them. I must remind the children to stay quiet in the hallways  - and stay in their seats and listen to the teacher in the classroom - even though they have a bazillion things they feel they simply must tell me immediately!  But these moments of correction are peppered with love and kindness.  I may speak firmly…but hopefully I am never harsh.  I may give a child an answer that he/she doesn’t want to hear…but I never want to make anyone feel ashamed.

I found a blog called Swords&Snoodles*, written by a woman in the United Kingdom named Becci Nicholls.  She shared a meme on Pinterest that said…” Don't become preoccupied with your child's academic ability. But instead, teach them to sit with those sitting alone. Teach them to be kind. Teach them to offer their help. Teach them to be a friend to the lonely. Teach them to encourage others. Teach them to think about other people. Teach them to share. Teach them to look for the good.  This is how they'll change the world.”

At the end of the day…love is what matters. This scripture passage is right…”Love your neighbor as yourself” is the only law we need.  This one commandment encompasses everything else.  Love does no intentional wrong to anyone…ever. A lot of us seem to have forgotten this.  Don’t you think it’s time we were reminded?

Are you looking for the good and operating in love - at all times toward all people?  Isn’t it time you were?
          
©2016 Debbie Robus

* http://swordsandsnoodles.co.uk/

Daily Devotional for March 7, 2016

1 John 4:13-16
And he has put his own Holy Spirit into our hearts as a proof to us that we are living with him and he with us. And furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now tell all the world that God sent his Son to be their Savior. Anyone who believes and says that Jesus is the Son of God has God living in him, and he is living with God.

We know how much God loves us because we have felt his love and because we believe him when he tells us that he loves us dearly. God is love, and anyone who lives in love is living with God and God is living in him.

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

Sometimes when I tell Nathan “No,” he has started responding with “You don’t love me anymore.”  I laugh and assure him that indeed, I do love him very much.  It’s a manipulative ploy on his part to get me to change my mind.  We both know how much he is loved – by me and countless others! 

Whether the children can verbalize it or not, they recognize the love and care that many adults continually pour into their lives in dozens of ways.  From the personal notes Timothy’s mother puts in his lunch box…to the extra towels I roll up in their swim bags so they won’t be cold after we get out of the pool…to the sacks full of beautiful barely-worn clothes that a dear friend from church generously shared with Zola – these kids know that they are loved.  I am hopeful that they will grow to understand just how much they are loved…how much is done for them behind the scenes.  I am trusting that they will want to demonstrate their gratitude for such boundless kindness and affection…particularly by “paying it forward” to others.

I know it doesn’t always work out this way. Plenty of children who were loved madly grew up to be spoiled, unappreciative, and presumptive – as if the world owed them everything.  And there are all sorts of levels of this in between.  But our goal is to instill in others a healthy balance of unconditional love and acceptance – and a sense of respect and responsibility.

Jesus gave us the Holy Spirit so that we would always feel His presence, love and guidance. His intention is that we feel so safe and loved that we operate in confidence – not arrogance!  Jesus wants us to draw on the wisdom and loving guidance of the Holy Spirit as we move through our day – and to convey these gifts and blessings to others.

Yesterday, I told the 6th-grade Sunday school students that one of the best ways we can proclaim the love and Good News of Jesus to others is by our daily living…how we speak and act – and how we treat others.  If we are negative and critical…if we call others ugly names and talk about them disparagingly…if we discriminate, bully and condescend…others will certainly NOT see Jesus in us.  And when we do these things, we are not living in God.

So how are you living today?  Are you demonstrating the power and blessings of the Holy Spirit in your own life?  Are you offering others an example that makes them say, “I want the Holy Spirit to dwell in me!”…a model that makes others want your peace and joy in Jesus for themselves?  Isn’t it time you did?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 24, 2016

Matthew 16:17-18
Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.

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.

On July 12, 2010, F. Diane Barth, L.C.S.W., a psychotherapist and psychoanalyst in New York City wrote an article for PsychologyToday.com titled “Are You Turning Into Your Mother?”  In one paragraph, she noted…”when I was young and my family teased me about being like my mother (who I did not resemble physically), I felt criticized and resentful. I wanted to be different from her, to have my own personality, separate from hers, and besides, I did not like the things they were commenting on (for example, my bossiness!). But today I am grateful to her for having passed onto me numerous characteristics, including her love of books and her interest in writing, her empathy for others, and her incredible stores of energy.”

One of my mother’s dearest friends told me recently…”As long as you breathe, so does your mother.”  I know she meant this as a compliment. She implied that I remind her of all of the things she loved about my mother. And like the therapist, F. Diane Barth, I am also grateful to my mother for passing on to me the very  characteristics that Barth enumerated about her own mom…love of books and writing, empathy for others, and energy and enthusiasm for life.

More importantly, I am grateful to my mother for her tremendous demonstration of faith and trust in God.  In many ways, my mother was the “rock” of our family. Even in her last days, she stoically announced, “I know that I don’t have much time left, and it’s okay.”  And she made sure that she imparted last words of strength and wisdom to many family members and friends.  Just as Jesus explained to Peter, Mother didn’t develop this strength on her own…it came from God.  She listened for His voice, and He granted her insight into the secret of who He really is.

Jesus makes the point to Peter that his assignment is to be the “rock” for others…to spread the word and encourage those in his midst to seek their own “assignment” from God – and act on it.  As the “rock” of our family, my mother did a good job of encouraging others to act on their Godly “assignments” – to go forth and serve in the name of Jesus.  In this manner, she “fed His sheep”…and I am sure that she has now heard, “Well done!” from God Almighty.

OUR MISSION is clear.  We are to build upon the “rock” of Jesus Christ…to learn from the examples of those who have shared His Good News with us…to be a “rock” for others as we encourage them in their faith…and to busy ourselves furthering the church.  I’m not talking about building a “church facility”…or even adding to the number of people with whom you may worship on Sundays.  I’m talking about increasing God’s Kingdom – and nurturing those who come to know Him so that THEY can also share the Good News with others and continue building on this firm foundation.

As long as I breathe, I guess others really will see traces of my mother…my dad…my grandparents and other important influences in my life.  But I HOPE that what others see the most in me is Jesus…His kindness and compassion, grace, mercy - and hope for a future built on the ROCK of God’s love for all of His children.

Are you building on the “Rock” of Jesus and feeding His sheep? When others look at you, what – and WHO – do they see? We all have work to do in this area.  My prayer is that we will begin in earnest today.  Are you with me?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 8, 2016

1 Corinthians 13:1-13
What if I could speak all languages of humans and of angels? If I did not love others, I would be nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

What if I could prophesy and understand all secrets and all knowledge? And what if I had faith that moved mountains? I would be nothing, unless I loved others.

What if I gave away all that I owned and let myself be burned alive? I would gain nothing, unless I loved others.

Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn’t selfish or quick tempered. It doesn’t keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails!

Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten.

We don’t know everything, and our prophecies are not complete. But what is perfect will someday appear, and what isn’t perfect will then disappear.

When we were children, we thought and reasoned as children do. But when we grew up, we quit our childish ways. Now all we can see of God is like a cloudy picture in a mirror. Later we will see him face to face. We don’t know everything, but then we will, just as God completely understands us.

For now there are faith, hope, and love. But of these three, the greatest is love.

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

Our church’s Sunday school focus for this quarter is on “church”…what is it?  Who makes up the “church”?  How can we be the “church” to others?  There are a lot of people who think they are the church, because they “do all the right things.”  They attend worship services on Sundays…they participate in Bible studies and small groups…they wear the appropriate cross jewelry and t-shirts and/or have crosses, fish and bumper stickers on their vehicles.  They might even have a sign in their yard that says, “This family attends XYZ church.” And they hang out with other people who attend their “church.”

But check these folks on any given day, and you will see someone who does not seem to represent the “church” described in the Book of Acts  - in any way, shape or form.  Yesterday, I asked a group of 2nd-3rd graders how they could better represent the church that Jesus commissioned in the Book of Acts.  One child said, “I could watch my language and not say ugly words.”  Another said, “I could pray more and tell others about Jesus.”  Still another said, “I could control my temper."

All of the children in this class were sweet and sincere…they want to be loving servants.  But they are children…and they are human. 1 Corinthians 13:11 tells us that most children think and reason differently from us.  Unfortunately, we adults behave like children far too often.  We do not operate in love…and we do not represent Jesus. We may “look the part,” on the outside…but our hearts are certainly not filled with love for others.

I told the children what I often remind each of us in these devotionals…people are watching.  When they look at us, we want them to see the love of Jesus.  We want others to see behaviors and hear talk that represents His teachings…offers hope, demonstrates faith, and surrounds them with love and acceptance.  If we don’t truly have the love of Christ in our hearts…if we don’t carry His Holy Spirit with us…this will not be possible.

Examine your heart today.  See where you have become nothing more than a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  Ask Jesus to fill you with His love…and to help you share His compassion tenderness, grace and mercy with others.  We are called to “feed His sheep” by our demonstrations of love, hope and faith.  How are you doing today?

©2016 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for January 18, 2014

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.
 
We took Timothy and Zola to the park to play after church and lunch today.  While we were there, both children had “boomerang” experiences.  Timothy was pushing a teeter-totter up and down, and it caught him on the upswing and hit his ear, knocking him to the ground.  Zola was pushing a tire swing, and as the tire returned, it smacked her in the forehead, and she fell over, too.  Both children were okay, but they both got the  point that when you push, sometimes things push back!
 
We have all been hypocrites in one way or another.  We criticize when we should keep our mouths shut.  We readily see others’ faults…but turn a blind eye to our own.  And sometimes, this comes back to knock us off our feet!
 
Here’s the good news…Jesus loves us…warts and all.  And He loves that person you have criticized, too.  We should be mindful of this as we formulate our thoughts and opinions…and grateful that God is so merciful toward us!
 
If we want to be like Jesus, we have to learn to be more inclusive…more tolerant…more accepting and less critical.  If we want others to treat us in this manner, we have to first demonstrate these traits to them.  No one will ever want to hear what we have to say about Jesus until we demonstrate His love and non-judgmental stance…and who could blame them?!
 
This scripture passage says it all pretty well.  Just as Timothy and Zola must learn that pushing on these things will cause a direct – and uncomfortable – return “push”…we must learn that our critical and intolerant spirit has consequences, as well.  The last thing we should want is to dishonor our relationship with Jesus – or to misrepresent His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for all who trust in Him.  Yet this is what we do any time we are critical and overbearing toward someone else.
 
But we can change this…and we can start today.  Will you join me?  Will you examine your heart and see where you could operate with a more loving, tolerant spirit?  It’s time to kick nitpicking and fault-finding to the curb and operate in the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ.  What do you say…are you with me?
 
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 31, 2014

2 John 7-11
Many liars have gone out into the world. These deceitful liars are saying that Jesus Christ did not have a truly human body. But they are liars and the enemies of Christ. So be sure not to lose what we have worked for. If you do, you won’t be given your full reward. Don’t keep changing what you were taught about Christ, or else God will no longer be with you. But if you hold firmly to what you were taught, both the Father and the Son will be with you. If people won’t agree to this teaching, don’t welcome them into your home or even greet them. Greeting them is the same as taking part in their evil deeds.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Social media is wonderful for certain purposes…sharing photos of family members, keeping people updated when someone is sick and needs prayer, reveling in victories over decades-old football foes…and much more.  But this venue is also a hotbed of venomous attacks, untruths, malicious gossip, and other evils.  Because of the latter, I have had to “unfriend” a few people on Facebook.
 
This has cost me more than one “friendship”…and maybe you have had the same experience.  But here’s the thing…by allowing posts from those people to appear on my “feed”, I feel I am quietly condoning their sentiments.  If even one person sees these ugly things and thinks, “She must feel the same way”…I have failed in my Christian discipleship.
 
We cannot live our lives in a vacuum…and yes, associating with “deceitful liars” offers those folks a chance to see Jesus in us and the way we conduct our lives.  But they can observe this from a distance.  You can demonstrate a life filled with truth, grace, mercy, tolerance, love, compassion, respect, and redemption from sin through the blood of Jesus without hanging around those who behave differently.  The balance is delicate…but with prayerful consideration, you can be a loving Light for Christ – and turn your back to evil at the same time.
 
As 2014 comes to a close, this might be a good time to “clean up the list”…to evaluate our “friendships” and associations and see if we are holding tightly to the teachings of Jesus…or if we have taken part in evil deeds – if only by default.  Will 2015 be a year when we focus more on Jesus…and less on the world and its ways?  This is my resolution…what’s yours?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 12, 2014

Luke 11:4
Forgive our sins,
as we forgive everyone
    who has done wrong to us.
And keep us
    from being tempted.’”

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

“I used to think that the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone.” - Robin Williams as Lance Clayton in World’s Greatest Dad (2009)

Is there anyone over the age of 16 who doesn’t know at least some of the work of Robin McLaurin Williams?  When the 63-year-old actor/comedian was found dead yesterday...the victim of an apparent suicide...social media and cable news networks lit up with recollections of his life...and suppositions about its end.  One Facebook friend, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT), posted, “Who I feel sad for are his wife, children, friends and loved ones. Suicide is so pointless & selfish.”

Many years ago, an acquaintance of mine took her own life.  At her funeral, the pastor addressed this head-on.  He noted that many consider suicide to be a sin...an act of “murder”, so to speak. He also said that we naturally ask, “How could this person do this?  It’s so selfish...so hurtful and cruel to those left behind!” But he said of this person, “This was not the 'Jane' (not her real name) we knew and loved. She would never have done this were she in her right mind. Something was terribly wrong...she was so tormented in some way that her mental state was altered. Some people believe that even Christians who commit suicide go to hell. I believe that God understands their suffering and makes an allowance." 

Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone
who has done wrong to us.

Yes, suicide seems selfish to those of us who are left behind to grieve and wonder how we could have prevented it.  Did we miss obvious signs?  Were there things we could have done to prevent it?  Were we too busy...too disinterested...too self-absorbed?  We worry about our loved ones...in taking their own life, did they “sell their soul to the devil”?  Are they doomed to hell for all eternity for this?

Forgive our sins, as we forgive everyone
who has done wrong to us.

I don't think that anyone in their "right mind" would choose suicide...including Robin Williams. I don't believe that he would have purposely done this to his family and friends. Like my friend, I believe that Williams was so mentally tortured that he felt he had no other alternative. He may have believed that everyone else would be better off without him around to drag them down and cause them unnecessary worry and unhappiness.

Depression is insidious...and heartbreaking for everyone it affects...including onlookers. Couple depression with alcohol or drug addiction, and you potentially have the recipe for a ticking time bomb.  As distressing and tragic as this loss – and others like it – are for all of us, I believe our job as Christians is to extend mercy and compassion to everyone involved...including the victim.  Rather than impose our own selfishness and indignation that someone would “do this to us”...let’s consider the torment that may have overwhelmed this person and clouded his/her thoughts and actions. Like my former pastor, I believe that this is exactly what God does when a Christian succumbs to suicide.

Forgive our sins, as we forgive
everyone who has done wrong to us.

I pray that we find it in our hearts to offer mercy and forgiveness to those who “wrong” us in some way – or those whom we feel have wronged us, whether this was truly their intention or not.  May we be tenderhearted toward them and offer compassion for whatever pain and suffering may have plagued their hearts and minds. I pray that God will help us not to judge others...or to selfishly impose OUR hurts and indignations on them.

James Lipton, the host of a program called “Inside the Actors Studio,” once interviewed Robin Williams and asked him... “If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?”  Williams replied, “There’s seating near the front!” I trust that Robin Williams had a relationship with Jesus...and that God has welcomed him with open arms and taken every single heartache and burden from him...and filled him with complete peace and joy. 

Williams also told James Lipton that he hoped there was laughter in heaven. So do I! Maybe Robin Williams will be there - near the front, creating a few chuckles of his own!  Meanwhile, I pray that we will become more aware of the burdens and sufferings of others...that we will offer them love, compassion, grace and mercy.  I pray that Robin Williams’ death will serve as a reminder that “there is a heartache on every pew” – as my pastor tells us often.  May we act in such a way that we reflect the amazing love and mercy of Jesus to everyone we encounter...and share His message of hope with each of them.

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 21, 2014

Romans 10:14-17
How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”

No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.

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

Earlier this spring, our local Chamber of Commerce held a weekend festival.  As part of this event, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presented a performance of “The Engine That Thought It Could” in our city park.  A friend of mine felt that this would be a fun thing for Timothy to experience, so she personally sent me a message with all of the details about the date, time, and what the performance would entail.  My mom and I took Timothy to see the production…and he loved it.

Sadly, this event was not well publicized.  So a lot of families that would probably have enjoyed this performance did not attend.  Some happened to walk through the park as the play took place on an outdoor stage, and a few stopped to watch for a few minutes. Many had bewildered, “what’s-going-on-here?” looks on their faces.  It was really a shame that more people did not realize that this production was happening.  But many of them simply “didn’t get the memo.”

In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz maintains that with today’s technology, there is scarcely a soul on the planet who has not had at least the opportunity to hear about Jesus.  And maybe she is right.  But has the message truly been delivered in a way that everyone can understand?  I’d be willing to bet that almost all of the people who walked past this children’s play – or didn’t come to the park at all – have cell phones, Internet connections, televisions, radios and newspapers.  They probably shop locally and pass by bulletin boards and storefronts where posters announcing other events are hung.  Yet they did not realize that this event was scheduled.

It’s one thing to know who Jesus is…but quite another to truly know who He is!  Many people might have seen a poster or notice that listed the children’s play “The Engine that Thought It Could” as part of the spring festival.  But because this event was not “talked up” or highlighted more, a lot of them didn’t really pay attention.  They may have thought it was something else entirely…relatively unimportant or not of interest…or they may have completely glossed over it and missed it in a list of scheduled activities.

This is what happens sometimes with the message of Jesus Christ.  We grow complacent.  Jesus becomes one more thing in a list of things that are part of our life…but we don’t “talk Him up” or highlight our relationship with Him – or His message.  So a lot of people end up sort of knowing about Jesus…but not really knowing Him.  I don’t know if you fall into that category.  Perhaps you are one of those who mention your faith in passing – or assume that others will determine that you are a Christian by osmosis!  Regardless of where you fit in this scenario, it’s time we all paid more attention and took a more proactive approach to finding God in our own lives…and sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others.

Never let it be said of us that we “didn’t get the memo” about Jesus…or that we failed to spread the word!  No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.  Who do you need to tell today?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 16, 2014

Matthew 6:9
You should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,
help us to honor your name.

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

The “LORD’s Prayer…we probably all know it by heart.  Many of us recite it every Sunday during our weekly worship service.  Yet most of us rarely stop to consider the words we are speaking…the meaning they impart…the intention of their phrasing. We might as well be reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” or “Mary Had a Little Lamb”!  Many of the prayers, hymns – and even scripture verses – we learned as children have become nothing more than rote recitations.  We have gotten so complacent in our speaking of them that we no longer realize what we are saying!

Stop and read this scripture verse again.  Truly think about the words of this sentence...”Our Father in heaven, help us to honor Your name.”  What does this really imply?  How do we honor God’s name?

The first step is to find God and genuinely get to know Him…to understand who He is and what He desires for us – and from us.  We cannot do this by osmosis…merely sitting in a park and soaking up the sun and scenery won’t cut it.  We can’t assume that just because our parents, grandparents, friends and acquaintances know God…we know Him, too.  God cannot be the friend of a friend of a friend.  We have to become truly familiar with Him…we must get to know Him intimately. 

How do we do this?  How do you get to know anyone?  You spend time with them…you converse…you study their interests and behavior patterns and learn their likes and dislikes.  It’s no different with God…it’s just more important!  A relationship with God is the most critical bond you will ever cultivate.

Once you become familiar with God, you will better understand what is required to honor His name.  You will know what words, thoughts and actions please Him…and which ones break His heart.  You will understand what living for Him entails…you will discover how to recognize – and seize – opportunities to serve and minister on His behalf.  When you truly find God and develop a connection with Him, you will find that your desire to honor His name increases exponentially.  Hopefully this will eventually become second nature to you!

The “LORD’s Prayer” is rich with the message of Jesus…each line and phrase is important.  But we must start with getting to know God and learning to honor His name.  Once we have a good handle on this, the petitions that follow become even more profound and compelling.

Have YOU found God?  Do you know Him intimately? Do you have a strong, interactive relationship with Him?  Do you honor His name with the thoughts, words and actions of your daily living?  When you pray the “LORD’s Prayer,” do the words express your genuine intentions with regard to your faith…or are you merely reciting a lesson of your youth?  Isn’t it time to get to know God…and give power and meaning to your pledge to honor His name?  Will this be the day you get started?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 12, 2014

Luke 15:24
This son of mine was dead, but has now come back to life. He was lost and has now been found.” And they began to celebrate.

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

Forty-six-year-old Lacey Wildd has undergone 35 plastic surgeries, including 12 breast augmentations that have enlarged her to a size LLL.  Despite protests from her six children, she recently underwent surgery to remove fat from various places on her body – including her eyelids - and to inject four pounds of it into her backside.  She will now have to sleep on a specially designed mattress with a “cut-out” to accommodate her enlargements.  She also got a “nose job”.  Wildd makes public appearances for a living and said she hopes to become an “extreme adult Barbie”. 

After surgery, Wild’s daughter Tori, a college sophomore, tearfully said, “I just hope she can open her eyes.” Her 26-year-old son, Silas, stroked her hair and said, “You’ve really done it this time, Mom.”  He told an interviewer, “We kinda have to suffer through the consequences with her.”  Tori put her “battle” aside while her mom recuperates…but this woman’s antics are clearly taking a toll on the family.  One wonders how many times her children will go with her to the surgeries (because she does plan to have even more!)…and how long they will continue to welcome her back into their lives as she persists to make herself look even more extreme and cartoon-like.

Do you ever have a day when you truly want to give up?  Your friendship or relationship is in the pits, and you feel like it would be easier to throw up your hands, walk away and start over with new friends or another partner.  Maybe someone in your life keeps doing things you feel are really crazy (like Lacey Wildd), and you wonder how much longer you can support them. Your kids/parents/grandparents are driving you nuts with their comments and antics, and you feel like you just can’t take it any longer.  Perhaps you are like the man in this scripture passage whose brother wandered away and wasted his money (and potentially his very life) on “wild living”… you are fed up and disgusted – and maybe even done!

If you go back and start reading at Luke 15:11, you will see that the son realized his mistake and decided to go to his father and ask forgiveness.  And when the father saw this long lost son coming toward him, he dropped everything and ran to him with open arms.  He ordered the best calf to be killed for a feast, and he gave him new, clean clothes to wear.  He told everyone that his son had returned…that it was time for a celebration.

Could you do this?  If someone stole from you, hurt you deeply, or just went nuts and did things that were embarrassing and ridiculous – then came to you and humbly asked forgiveness - could you allow them back into your life?  Could you forgive so readily and even throw them a party?  Now let me ask this in a different way.  Think about your own life and the mistakes you have made.  What if you humbled yourself before God and asked for His forgiveness…and He refused you?  What if God ignored your sincere apologies and vows to turn over a new leaf and do better?  Can you even imagine it?

We take God’s grace, mercy, and forgiveness for granted.  We assume that God will always be there for us, no matter what!  And honestly, as born-again believers in Jesus Christ, this is true.  It doesn’t mean we should “test the waters” or take advantage of God’s love and kindness…but we do have the assurance that He will do this for us.  So we have the confidence that nothing can separate us from God’s love.

But do we offer this same level of love, forgiveness, grace and mercy to others…and in doing so, do we demonstrate God’s unconditional love and care to others?  Do we extend a welcoming hand…do we greet someone who is truly repentant with a hug and a kiss and celebrate their new beginning?  Are we willing to put the past in the past and move forward?  In this parable from Luke 15, you see that the older son actually protested all of the festivities.  He pointed out to his father how he had done everything right…how he had been obedient and trustworthy…and no party had ever been given on his behalf. 

Here’s my take on the point of his father’s response…God doesn’t give up on us, so we should not be so quick to give up on others.  God doesn’t love those who are obedient and faithful any more…or any less.  He does not take your loyalty and devotion for granted.  He loves you and relishes His relationship with you.  But God wants this same kind of relationship with your “brother” or “sister”, too.  Each one of us is incredibly important to God.  So when one of us “stinkers” comes back to Him, God is ready to open His arms, greet us with a hug, kiss and new beginning – and truly throw a party.

Let’s be real here…this is great news!  On any given day, you or I could be the wild and crazy person… or the “stinker”.  Let’s hope none of us goes off the deep end with plastic surgeries!  The children of this woman will have a big challenge ahead of them as they figure out how to live with their mother’s appearance - and how to love and accept her in spite of it.  But God can help them figure this out.  And He can help us persevere and walk in love, grace, mercy and forgiveness toward others. 

God can use us to reveal Himself to others…and even throw a party in their honor.  Are you at a point in your relationship with Him where this is possible?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 1, 2014

1 John 3:1-2
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don’t recognize that we are God’s children because they don’t know him. Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
We are so blessed to have so many people in our church who are willing to serve in the children’s ministries…people who truly love God – AND our children.  Last Sunday, Timothy told his Uncle Greg… “My teachers made me sad.”  Greg asked him why, and Timothy replied, “When I got there, they hugged me and told me they were so glad to see me…and when I left, they hugged me again.”  We explained to Timothy that these were good hugs…happy hugs…gestures of love from his teachers. I’m not sure why he associated hugs and affection from someone other than family members as a sad thing. But apparently, he doesn’t fully understand how much he is loved by so many people…and why!
 
Somehow I think that this is also the case for many of us in our relationship with God.  There are probably some who wonder what we are up to…what “ulterior motives” we have for showing them kindness, grace, mercy, love and compassion.  They don’t trust us…don’t see us as God’s children.  And truthfully, we may not fully understand our role as God’s children, either.  For some of us, expressing God’s love and care for others is more of a “chore” or an act of responsive obedience than something we have internalized and taken to heart.  If we have trouble with this, it should be easy to see that surely those less comfortable in their relationship with God – or those who have no relationship with Him – would find this confusing.
 
So what can we do?  First, I believe “practice makes perfect”.  Each day, we must ask God…”Where do you want me to serve today?”  We must call on Him to show us who needs to experience love, comfort, empathy or encouragement through us…and make it happen.  The more we do these things for others, the easier they become.  As we develop our “faith muscle” and become more comfortable demonstrating Jesus’ love and compassion, others will hopefully see that this is genuine.
 
There will always be skeptics…or those who label us “Jesus freaks” for expressing the love of Christ in our lives – and outwardly toward them.  And some days, it will be hard to do what God has called us to do…to “love the unlovely” in His name.  But we must trust that God is developing us in His image…making us more like Jesus.  Someday, this will all be clearly revealed to us when we meet Him face-to-face.
 
We have work to do! We have people to love in the name of Jesus!  We have hugs to give out to “children” of all ages…whether they fully understand why we are “hugging” them or not!  God has called you to be His child…this is who and what you are!  Others still don’t know Him…at least not in this way.  It’s our “job” to introduce them to Jesus…through our words, actions…and how we conduct our lives each and every day.  The more we practice this…the easier it gets – and the better we become at it.  Are you ready to roll up your sleeves and start “hugging” others for Jesus?  When people look at you, Who will they really see?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 13, 2014

Ephesians 5:8-10
You groped your way through that murk once, but no longer. You’re out in the open now. The bright light of Christ makes your way plain. So no more stumbling around. Get on with it! The good, the right, the true—these are the actions appropriate for daylight hours. Figure out what will please Christ, and then do 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.

A childhood friend of mine who teaches 3rd grade said that one of her students asked her if she has a disco ball at her house.  She asked, “How does he know what a disco ball is…and do I look like I have a disco ball at my house?”  Friends began to tease her about it, of course, and I told her and a mutual friend that there is no going back now…we all know what they really do together on “movie night”!

Of course, we were all having some harmless fun at my friends’ expense.  But this scripture passage did remind me once again that we truly do not know what goes on “behind closed doors”.  And for the most part, we should remind ourselves that as Christians, the “bright light of Christ” is always “on”…and people are watching!  Someone commented to the Facebook post and said that at one time, she truly did own a disco ball…but it she gave it away because she heard it could cause seizures.  Here’s the good news… the light of Christ is in no way harmful!  When you walk in Jesus’ light, you are not only “out in the open”…but you have no reason for stumbling around.  His light will direct your path in the best possible way.  You can count on Jesus’ love and light to illuminate the perfect plan for you…to show you how and where to serve Him, and what actions are appropriate.

I’m 99% sure my friend doesn’t really own a disco ball.  But if she does, I hope she dances to her heart’s content, because I know it would all be in harmless fun.  But I also hope that we will all stop and take a look at what is revealed in the bright light of Christ that illuminates our lives.  Do we represent Jesus well?  Do we share His love and compassion with others?  Do we tell them the Good News about salvation in Jesus and the opportunity to spend Eternity in His presence?  Are we caring, kind, honest, fair, merciful, gracious, forgiving, respectful, honest and genuine?  Do we show others an example of what pleases Jesus in our “walk” and our “talk”?

Isn’t it time we remembered that Jesus pulled us out of the murk and darkness of sin…and started acting like “children of the Light”?  Will this be the day that you begin?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 7, 2014

1 Thessalonians 5:11-14
That’s why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing.
 
My friends, we ask you to be thoughtful of your leaders who work hard and tell you how to live for the Lord.  Show them great respect and love because of their work. Try to get along with each other.  My friends, we beg you to warn anyone who isn’t living right. Encourage anyone who feels left out, help all who are weak, and be patient with everyone.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Less than a week ago, Greg and I helplessly watched out our living room windows as a house located on the ridge across the river from us burned to the ground.  I’m told that a family got out unscathed…but they lost everything.  I believe it!  The flames leapt above the treetops, and the fire seemed massive in size.  Later that same morning, our community – and virtually the entire state – was crippled by a winter storm. We were blanketed with about 4 inches of sleet and ice that still remains evident in grassy and shady areas – and covered most roadways for days…leaving many unable to travel anywhere.  Throughout this ordeal, our law enforcement officials…city, county and state road crews...power company linemen…and countless other emergency service and rescue personnel and government leaders worked around the clock to clear the mess, restore power and order…and reach those in dire need of aid and services.
 
On the heels of these challenges, there was a house fire in our community that left one person hospitalized with serious burns.  Then this morning, as area schools began to re-open after the winter storm, a 54-year-old woman rear-ended a school bus when it stopped to pick up the fourth passenger of the day.  The woman was killed…the infant riding in her mini-van and the driver and students on the bus were uninjured.  Witnesses say it was truly a tragic scene.
 
To say that our law enforcement, fire department and emergency service and rescue personnel have been through the wringer in the last week would be an understatement.  Some of these folks are friends of mine…others I don’t know at all.  I hear positive talk about some…and not-so-good things about others.  But at the end of the day, they have all been working hard for the people of my county and state…they have been risking their own lives, leaving their own families, withstanding sub-freezing temperatures and facing human suffering and tragedy that no one would wish on his/her own worst enemy.  And for this, they deserve our respect and compassion…as well as our gratitude and prayers.  More importantly, we are instructed in scripture to do this!
 
If we are going to call ourselves Christians, we simply must think about other people.  We must encourage those who struggle or feel left out…we must help the weak and be patient with everyone.  I reminded myself of the latter as I sat at my niece’s basketball game and listened to the roar of the fans for the opposing team when they took the lead.  Those parents, family members and friends loved their kids and wanted the win just as badly as we did.  It might be hard to stomach, but we were all truly in the same boat.  I thought of this as a lady whizzed down a grocery aisle at Wal-Mart and almost “t-boned” me when I turned the corner.  She was talking on her cell phone and not paying one bit of attention to where she was going.  There was a time when I would probably have at least wanted to give her a piece of my mind – and a lecture on the dangers of “talking and driving”!  Instead, I took a deep breath and smiled at her.
 
It really takes very little time and energy to stop and let someone know you care.  You can drop them a private message on Facebook and tell them… or send them a text or e-mail.  Here’s a novel idea… pick up the phone and actually talk to someone to tell them how much you are thinking of them or what they mean to you!  When you walk into a restaurant and see a table filled with law enforcement officers or emergency services personnel – or a power company crew who is working in your area to get your electricity working again, walk over and thank them for their service.  Tell them you appreciate how hard they work.  It doesn’t matter whether you know this to be true of each one of them individually.  The fact that you took time to thank them might be the incentive for those who are slacking off a bit to do better!  People will generally rise to expectations!
 
Finally, it costs you virtually nothing to smile at others.  Oh, you might use an extra facial muscle or two…but the results are so worth it!  Give it a whirl and see what happens!  Watch people respond in kind.  Thank the clerk at the grocery store as he/she hands your receipt to you…and offer a “Have a good day!”  Say this with a kind tone that indicates you are sincere, and watch their whole body language change.  We are often so busy looking for the BIG acts of kindness and compassion we can perform that we forget about the simplest of actions…such as a smile, a compliment, or a heartfelt “Thanks so much!”
 
If I had included verse 10 from 1 Thessalonians 5, you would hear the Apostle Paul reminding us how Christ died for our sins…so that we could all live with Him someday.   He didn’t do this just for you and me…he didn’t exclude law enforcement, government leaders, or the sanitation worker who never puts the lid back on your trash can when he collects your garbage.  His love, grace, mercy, kindness, forgiveness – and salvation – is freely offered to everyone.  We cannot directly save anyone, but we can offer them salvation in Jesus Christ…and we can demonstrate His qualities and character traits to others in His name.
 
If we really want to live for Jesus and carry His message to others…we must eagerly offer these things to everyone…not just a chosen few.  Just how serious are you about serving Jesus and sharing His message?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 4, 2014

Hebrews 1:1-3
Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Thirty-three-year-old actor Diogo Morgado, who was born in Portugal, portrayed Jesus in the television mini-series “The Bible”…and will also represent him in the upcoming full-length movie “Son of God”.  I found Morgado’s performance incredibly moving and compelling.
 
During an interview with YAHOO!TV*, Morgado said, “[Overall] I tried to bring out the humanity in Jesus … he knew who he was. He knew what he had to do, but he didn't know how or when it was going to happen. I would try to go to the source…I tried to go to what would be the energy and the feeling that would come up with [the] words, you know? Sometimes I [thought it would] play more strongly in what I didn't say than what I did say, because for me, what Jesus said was a consequence of who he was. So the words don't define Jesus. It's Jesus that defines the words.”
 
In my opinion, Morgado was successful in his efforts.  One of the things that struck me was the tenderness with which Morgado’s “Jesus” character approached others.  He cupped their faces…kissed their foreheads…gently cradled lepers and cripples in his arms…embraced children with obvious affection…and more. And in many scenes, it truly was not about what Jesus said…but all about what He did and how He reacted.  I remember thinking…”This really is how Jesus loves us.”  The endearment and compassion were profound...and unforgettable.
 
In the same interview, co-producer Mark Burnett noted…"We made a conscious choice that on television, people don't want to be told how to feel. You have to present the story and allow them to feel. And so we did that. Our hope was that people would start conversations and seek more. Had we been proselytizing on the series, I think it would have had the opposite effect. I think the fact that we have just shown the stories, and people get to make up their own opinions…it's a great discussion point."
 
As we read these scripture verses from Hebrews, we are reminded that God sent Jesus to earth for one purpose… to radiate His glory and cleanse us of our sins so that we could share Him with others.  And we have indeed received salvation through Jesus Christ…as well as His perfect example of how to love one another and present God’s glory and hope to others.  Yes…Jesus angrily overturned the money-changer’s tables in the temple.  Yes, He sometimes spoke frankly to those who challenged His authority or His teachings.  But Jesus was never unkind or unloving…He never gossiped to His disciples about others…He never cheated anyone or succumbed to temptation…He never took the easy way out to spare His own feelings – or those of anyone else. Jesus never deliberately harmed another human being.
 
Just as importantly, Jesus knew when to let His actions speak louder than words.  If you go back and read the Gospels again, you will see how calmly and rationally Jesus went about His day…whether fishing with the Disciples, healing the sick and lame - or making two fish and five loaves feed a crowd of thousands.  And this is the message for us…this is our model for serving God as Christ’s disciples.  We are to love others…to share the glory and promise of living as God’s children…to demonstrate the power – and unconditional care – of Jesus Christ…and to offer others an opportunity to receive His salvation.  We are also called to know when our actions speak louder than words.  If we truly model Jesus to others, we will set the stage for them to seek more.  We will offer them “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”…and allow God to do the rest.
 
How are you sharing Jesus with others?  Does your daily living demonstrate the love of Christ and God’s glory?  Is your discipleship quiet, tender, and compelling…or boisterous, sometimes harsh, and off-putting?  Are you expressing the very character of God to others?  Isn’t it time you did?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus
 
*http://tv.yahoo.com/news/-the-bible--crucifixion-scenes-brought-48-snakes-and-a-life-changing-experience-for-diogo-morgado-211712546.html