Ephesians 2:1-6
It wasn’t so long ago that you were
mired in that old stagnant life of sin. You let the world, which doesn’t
know the first thing about living, tell you how to live. You filled
your lungs with polluted unbelief, and then exhaled disobedience. We all
did it, all of us doing what we felt like doing, when we felt like
doing it, all of us in the same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his
temper and do away with the whole lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy
and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives
and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help
from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in highest heaven in
company with Jesus, our Messiah.
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 recently saw someone from a
distance, and for a split second, I thought this person was someone I
knew...a pastor friend who moved away several years ago. I began to
think about how much I miss this friend...how important his support and
nurture was to my spiritual growth. I still speak with him occasionally
via e-mail, but there are times when I wish we could have one of our
long heart-to-heart talks. There have been times in the last several
years when I would have given anything if he had been here to advise me
in person.
As I thought of my friend, I very clearly received
this message...”If he had been here, you would have depended upon him
instead of Me. You might not have grown as much in your faith.”
Sometimes, I think God makes us go through some hard times...to “tough
it out” (so to speak) in certain circumstances...so that we depend more
on Him than we do on mere mortals. It’s not that my friend would not
have given me excellent, Godly advice. But I needed to be somewhat
alone, isolated and vulnerable. I needed to realize that all I had...and all I needed...was God – that HE could handle things for me, and that I had to trust Him to do so.
I
am not the same person I once was...and you probably are not either. I
am still a sinner, but I am not mired in the stagnant life of sin.
More importantly, I am knee-deep or more in faith and trust in God...for
everything. I’ve seen His grace in action. I’ve felt His mercy on
more than one occasion. I am immersed in His love and have physical
evidence of His miracles and power. And He did this for me all on His
own, without human assistance or interference!
I don’t know
where you are on your faith walk. I hope you have Godly friends and
disciples to whom you can turn when things are tough. But I also hope
you know that you are truly NEVER alone when you give your heart to
Jesus. Our gracious, merciful, loving Heavenly Father is always, always available to us...always working on our behalf...and capable of handling anything and everything we throw at Him!
Sometimes,
we need to bask in the unadulterated grace, mercy, compassion, power
and love of God. We need to peel back the layers and “go it alone” with
Him...and trust that He truly is enough! We say that we believe that
Jesus is all we need...and He is! Now it’s time to act like it!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label developing Christian friendships. Show all posts
Showing posts with label developing Christian friendships. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 2, 2013
Psalm 55:12-14
This isn’t the neighborhood bully
mocking me—I could take that.
This isn’t a foreign devil spitting
invective—I could tune that out.
It’s you! We grew up together!
You! My best friend!
Those long hours of leisure as we walked
arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Several decades ago, Greg and I sold a house we owned to the brother of an acquaintance. Because we felt we knew this family fairly well, we provided owner financing. Pretty quickly, the monthly payments started showing up late… and then they stopped altogether. There was always an excuse… “the check was in the mail” and more. But in the end, we learned that the buyer had no intention of paying his bills and had pretty much moved on and left the house – and his family - behind. He had lied to his wife, and she apparently had no clue that the house payments were not being made on time each month – much less that they were not paid at all! As betrayed as we felt, I’m sure she felt even worse. The man she had married… the father of her children… had deceived her and put the livelihood of the entire family in jeopardy.
I am sure you can think of a time when a close friend or family member has betrayed your trust… and hurt you deeply. My hope would be that it was over something petty, like a bit of news you asked them to keep quiet… and they shared with the first person they met. But often, the hurts and betrayals are far worse. These are all prime examples of incredible disrespect. And when it comes at the hands of a close friend or family member, the pain and disappointment are greatly magnified.
Until I read a passage in Anne Graham Lotz’ book Just Give Me Jesus that referenced these scripture verses from Psalms 55, I had never realized that they foretell Jesus’ betrayal by Judas. Lotz maintains that Judas was one of Jesus’ best friends… a favored disciple who helped Him feed the masses with the fish and five loaves…a trusted companion who traveled with Him and ministered to countless people along the way… someone who prayed with Jesus, ate with Him, and no doubt shared incredibly intimate conversations about God and His plans for all of us. And yet, scripture tells us that Judas took his own life because of his mistake… and he ended up in hell for all of his transgressions.
Lotz explains that Judas asked forgiveness… of the priests and rulers. He threw the thirty silver coins at their feet after Jesus was arrested… and he begged their forgiveness. The problem was that Judas did not ask JESUS to forgive Him. We must confess our sins to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness in order to be absolved. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go to the person we have hurt or betrayed and ask for their mercy and understanding. And it certainly doesn’t mean we can live as we please, hurt whoever happens to be in the way, and apologize later!
We must think about our relationships… both earthly and heavenly. We must get our priorities straight and make every effort to honor these associations… to give them our utmost respect at all times. No lie or deception is acceptable…no words spoken disrespectfully or “out of turn” can be tolerated. We are called to a higher standard… we are expected to treat others as we would wish to be treated – at all times and in all places. This means we speak kindly, honor our commitments, and guard and value the integrity of our relationships! And it means that we answer to God first and foremost… which will often result in taking care of the rest of our associations!
I encourage you to think about your own relationships… not so much in terms of who has disrespected you, but more in the context of who YOU have disrespected. Do you need to spend some time at the feet of Jesus, baring your soul and confessing your indiscretions toward others – and toward Him? Do you have relationships you need to mend… people you owe an apology… circumstances where you should make a concerted effort to do better and try harder?
This is a month when we think a lot about gratitude and thanks. Isn’t this the perfect time to express yours by making amends where necessary? Are you certain you are truly forgiven… by others, and more importantly – by God? Isn’t it time you made sure of it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
This isn’t the neighborhood bully
mocking me—I could take that.
This isn’t a foreign devil spitting
invective—I could tune that out.
It’s you! We grew up together!
You! My best friend!
Those long hours of leisure as we walked
arm in arm, God a third party to our conversation.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Several decades ago, Greg and I sold a house we owned to the brother of an acquaintance. Because we felt we knew this family fairly well, we provided owner financing. Pretty quickly, the monthly payments started showing up late… and then they stopped altogether. There was always an excuse… “the check was in the mail” and more. But in the end, we learned that the buyer had no intention of paying his bills and had pretty much moved on and left the house – and his family - behind. He had lied to his wife, and she apparently had no clue that the house payments were not being made on time each month – much less that they were not paid at all! As betrayed as we felt, I’m sure she felt even worse. The man she had married… the father of her children… had deceived her and put the livelihood of the entire family in jeopardy.
I am sure you can think of a time when a close friend or family member has betrayed your trust… and hurt you deeply. My hope would be that it was over something petty, like a bit of news you asked them to keep quiet… and they shared with the first person they met. But often, the hurts and betrayals are far worse. These are all prime examples of incredible disrespect. And when it comes at the hands of a close friend or family member, the pain and disappointment are greatly magnified.
Until I read a passage in Anne Graham Lotz’ book Just Give Me Jesus that referenced these scripture verses from Psalms 55, I had never realized that they foretell Jesus’ betrayal by Judas. Lotz maintains that Judas was one of Jesus’ best friends… a favored disciple who helped Him feed the masses with the fish and five loaves…a trusted companion who traveled with Him and ministered to countless people along the way… someone who prayed with Jesus, ate with Him, and no doubt shared incredibly intimate conversations about God and His plans for all of us. And yet, scripture tells us that Judas took his own life because of his mistake… and he ended up in hell for all of his transgressions.
Lotz explains that Judas asked forgiveness… of the priests and rulers. He threw the thirty silver coins at their feet after Jesus was arrested… and he begged their forgiveness. The problem was that Judas did not ask JESUS to forgive Him. We must confess our sins to Jesus and ask for His forgiveness in order to be absolved. This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t go to the person we have hurt or betrayed and ask for their mercy and understanding. And it certainly doesn’t mean we can live as we please, hurt whoever happens to be in the way, and apologize later!
We must think about our relationships… both earthly and heavenly. We must get our priorities straight and make every effort to honor these associations… to give them our utmost respect at all times. No lie or deception is acceptable…no words spoken disrespectfully or “out of turn” can be tolerated. We are called to a higher standard… we are expected to treat others as we would wish to be treated – at all times and in all places. This means we speak kindly, honor our commitments, and guard and value the integrity of our relationships! And it means that we answer to God first and foremost… which will often result in taking care of the rest of our associations!
I encourage you to think about your own relationships… not so much in terms of who has disrespected you, but more in the context of who YOU have disrespected. Do you need to spend some time at the feet of Jesus, baring your soul and confessing your indiscretions toward others – and toward Him? Do you have relationships you need to mend… people you owe an apology… circumstances where you should make a concerted effort to do better and try harder?
This is a month when we think a lot about gratitude and thanks. Isn’t this the perfect time to express yours by making amends where necessary? Are you certain you are truly forgiven… by others, and more importantly – by God? Isn’t it time you made sure of it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 26, 2013
March 26 ~ Proverbs 20:7, 11
The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
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.
I recently heard a discussion about child rearing – and more specifically, methods of discipline. An “expert” was asked how she felt about spanking, and she stated that she did not feel it was appropriate. Others in the group noted that they were spanked as children, and this did not harm them in the long run. The “expert” explained her position by saying that things are different for today’s children. She said, “The world is teaching our children – through television, movies, the Internet and other outside influences. We need to give them wisdom and show them what is right.” She contended that now – more than ever – we need to teach our children how to live and behave with words and examples… not with physical discipline.
This example is not meant to stir a discussion on the pros and cons of spanking. But as I listened to this woman speak… and I read these verses from Proverbs… I was struck by the importance of our example to children in all things – especially in terms of today’s world. My cousin told me recently that she cannot allow her children to watch “regular TV,” because it is such a poor influence on them. We have become so numb to foul language, violence and inappropriate sexual situations on prime time and daytime television that we don’t even notice what our children are seeing and hearing… until we get into a public situation and the little ones spout some expletive (in correct context) or bring up a situation that we are appalled to realize is even on their radar screen! We have gotten so used to commercials for adult health and hygiene products during our nightly news that we don’t even notice them… until our kids come to us and want to know why we need XYZ product!
I’m afraid that there are far too many situations where we tell our children – and those who are not-so-young – to “do as I say, not as I do.” When I was teaching, I had a rule that “I won’t believe everything I hear from your child, if you don’t believe everything they come home and tell you.” And I stand by this statement, because I know that children have vivid imaginations and a propensity for embellishment. But at the same time, we must pay attention to the words and actions of children, because they tell us a lot about the purity of their upbringing and the integrity of their home.
I know I say this a lot, but people are watching! They notice what you say and do, and they assess your moral character – your integrity – according to your words and actions. They also gauge uprightness by how your children and those with whom you associate conduct themselves. If you accept the inappropriate or immoral behaviors of others, it speaks to your own values and integrity. We must walk away from inappropriate conversations… we must not share off-color jokes or bigoted comments – we must guard what our children see and hear and make a concerted effort to teach them to live with honesty and decency. We must mean what we say and do… and guard against hypocrisy.
When others look at your children… or your friends and associates… what do they see? What do their behaviors and attitudes say about you as their friend, parent, or mentor? Do you walk with integrity that extends to others in your “circle” of influence? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.
Even children are known by the way they act, whether their conduct is pure, and whether it is right.
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.
I recently heard a discussion about child rearing – and more specifically, methods of discipline. An “expert” was asked how she felt about spanking, and she stated that she did not feel it was appropriate. Others in the group noted that they were spanked as children, and this did not harm them in the long run. The “expert” explained her position by saying that things are different for today’s children. She said, “The world is teaching our children – through television, movies, the Internet and other outside influences. We need to give them wisdom and show them what is right.” She contended that now – more than ever – we need to teach our children how to live and behave with words and examples… not with physical discipline.
This example is not meant to stir a discussion on the pros and cons of spanking. But as I listened to this woman speak… and I read these verses from Proverbs… I was struck by the importance of our example to children in all things – especially in terms of today’s world. My cousin told me recently that she cannot allow her children to watch “regular TV,” because it is such a poor influence on them. We have become so numb to foul language, violence and inappropriate sexual situations on prime time and daytime television that we don’t even notice what our children are seeing and hearing… until we get into a public situation and the little ones spout some expletive (in correct context) or bring up a situation that we are appalled to realize is even on their radar screen! We have gotten so used to commercials for adult health and hygiene products during our nightly news that we don’t even notice them… until our kids come to us and want to know why we need XYZ product!
I’m afraid that there are far too many situations where we tell our children – and those who are not-so-young – to “do as I say, not as I do.” When I was teaching, I had a rule that “I won’t believe everything I hear from your child, if you don’t believe everything they come home and tell you.” And I stand by this statement, because I know that children have vivid imaginations and a propensity for embellishment. But at the same time, we must pay attention to the words and actions of children, because they tell us a lot about the purity of their upbringing and the integrity of their home.
I know I say this a lot, but people are watching! They notice what you say and do, and they assess your moral character – your integrity – according to your words and actions. They also gauge uprightness by how your children and those with whom you associate conduct themselves. If you accept the inappropriate or immoral behaviors of others, it speaks to your own values and integrity. We must walk away from inappropriate conversations… we must not share off-color jokes or bigoted comments – we must guard what our children see and hear and make a concerted effort to teach them to live with honesty and decency. We must mean what we say and do… and guard against hypocrisy.
When others look at your children… or your friends and associates… what do they see? What do their behaviors and attitudes say about you as their friend, parent, or mentor? Do you walk with integrity that extends to others in your “circle” of influence? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 12, 2011
Psalm 91:14-16
"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says GOD, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"
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.
One of my all-time favorite songs is James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” Actually, it was written by another of my all-time favorite musicians, Carole King. In part, the lyrics say, “You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am… I’ll come runnin’ to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall… all you have to do is call… and I’ll be there… yes, I will – you’ve got a friend.”
Isn’t that exactly what God is expressing in this Psalm? Isn’t he always just as close as our “call?” Doesn’t He answer in good times and bad… through every season. Isn’t He our truest Friend of all?
If you don’t know this song, Google it and have a listen. You’ll find that the words provide an almost perfect description of our relationship with God… or the relationship we should desire. “You just call out My Name… and you know wherever I am… I’ll come running to see you again.” God is waiting… the party is prepared… is He your closest friend? Have you called on Him lately?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says GOD, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!"
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.
One of my all-time favorite songs is James Taylor’s “You’ve Got a Friend.” Actually, it was written by another of my all-time favorite musicians, Carole King. In part, the lyrics say, “You just call out my name, and you know wherever I am… I’ll come runnin’ to see you again. Winter, spring, summer or fall… all you have to do is call… and I’ll be there… yes, I will – you’ve got a friend.”
Isn’t that exactly what God is expressing in this Psalm? Isn’t he always just as close as our “call?” Doesn’t He answer in good times and bad… through every season. Isn’t He our truest Friend of all?
If you don’t know this song, Google it and have a listen. You’ll find that the words provide an almost perfect description of our relationship with God… or the relationship we should desire. “You just call out My Name… and you know wherever I am… I’ll come running to see you again.” God is waiting… the party is prepared… is He your closest friend? Have you called on Him lately?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 9, 2011
Proverbs 18:24
Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Another favorite book of Timothy’s these days is titled Slobcat. It’s the story of a little girl and her cat. The family named him Slobcat because they think he is lazy. The story shows Slobcat doing all sorts of things – rescuing a baby kitten from deep water, scaring away snakes and predatory birds in the garden, batting a ball out of the way so that the mother doesn’t trip and fall, and much more. But in each instance, the family doesn’t notice the good things that Slobcat does.
Instead, they see a cat who is constantly under foot rather than one who protects them. They see a cat who is too lazy to come in out of the rain – not one who rescues kittens from deep water. Basically, the family fails to recognize what a good friend and companion Slobcat is to each of them.
What about us? Do we recognize our real friends? Do we realize who truly has our back through thick and thin… who cares about us and keeps our confidence? Have we chosen our friends wisely and acknowledged how important these good, true friends are in our lives?
So often, we are like the little girl in the story and her family. We go through life taking our truest friends for granted… or failing to recognize them in the first place. We run after people we want to be our friends… we seek relationships that are not in our best interest – and downright unhealthy in some cases - while foregoing the attention and devotion of those who genuinely care about our well-being. We fail to acknowledge the countless ways a true friend cares for us on a regular basis… and sometimes – just like Slobcat’s family – we assume the opposite.
Shouldn’t we take a look around and see if we have mistakenly labeled a genuine friend in our lives as a “Slobcat”? Can you identify your true friends these days? Have you thanked God for bringing them into your life… and have you thanked these individuals for their friendship and devotion? It only takes a few minutes to send an e-mail, make a phone call, or drop a note to your friends and let them know how blessed you feel that God has placed them in your life. Isn’t today a perfect time to do just that?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Some friends don't help, but a true friend is closer than your own family.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Another favorite book of Timothy’s these days is titled Slobcat. It’s the story of a little girl and her cat. The family named him Slobcat because they think he is lazy. The story shows Slobcat doing all sorts of things – rescuing a baby kitten from deep water, scaring away snakes and predatory birds in the garden, batting a ball out of the way so that the mother doesn’t trip and fall, and much more. But in each instance, the family doesn’t notice the good things that Slobcat does.
Instead, they see a cat who is constantly under foot rather than one who protects them. They see a cat who is too lazy to come in out of the rain – not one who rescues kittens from deep water. Basically, the family fails to recognize what a good friend and companion Slobcat is to each of them.
What about us? Do we recognize our real friends? Do we realize who truly has our back through thick and thin… who cares about us and keeps our confidence? Have we chosen our friends wisely and acknowledged how important these good, true friends are in our lives?
So often, we are like the little girl in the story and her family. We go through life taking our truest friends for granted… or failing to recognize them in the first place. We run after people we want to be our friends… we seek relationships that are not in our best interest – and downright unhealthy in some cases - while foregoing the attention and devotion of those who genuinely care about our well-being. We fail to acknowledge the countless ways a true friend cares for us on a regular basis… and sometimes – just like Slobcat’s family – we assume the opposite.
Shouldn’t we take a look around and see if we have mistakenly labeled a genuine friend in our lives as a “Slobcat”? Can you identify your true friends these days? Have you thanked God for bringing them into your life… and have you thanked these individuals for their friendship and devotion? It only takes a few minutes to send an e-mail, make a phone call, or drop a note to your friends and let them know how blessed you feel that God has placed them in your life. Isn’t today a perfect time to do just that?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 8, 2011
Proverbs 17:17
A friend is always a friend, and relatives are born to share our troubles.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend Marla Ann is four years older than I, and she grew up in the house catty-cornered from mine. When I married, she was already attending college, and we didn’t see each other very often for several years. She moved to Austin, Texas, with her family, and we would get together for a brief visit on holidays when she returned to spend time with her parents. Then she and her husband moved their family to Edgemont, and we saw each other quite often. We started spending time together at Christmas and other holidays… and we got together many times in between.
Now Marla and her husband, Bill, live in Fayetteville near their children and grandchildren, and we see them maybe twice a year. But Marla and I talk all the time – mostly by e-mail. She is more like a sister to me than a friend, and we have stuck by each other in all kinds of weather. We have been through a lot together… personal crises, the births of babies, the deaths of loved ones, and more. We know that we always have each other’s back.
I do not have a very large immediate family, but my extended family – much of whom lives in Heber Springs, or at least in Arkansas – is huge. And while I seldom see some of my cousins, there are more than a handful I would consider as very close. I know that whenever I need them, they are always there for me. In times of trouble, my family comes together and supports one another. And that’s as it should be… this is what we are taught in God’s word!
But there are times when people get cross with each other. Things are said or done, and the next thing you know, your best friend is no longer a friend at all… or you are not speaking to your siblings, your cousins, or even your parents. My maternal grandmother used to say, “Blood is thicker than water,” meaning that someday your family members will come back around and reconcile. But I know for a fact that this doesn’t always happen. And in these situations, everybody loses… and God is deeply disappointed.
Today, I pray that you will stop at some point and take time to consider ways to reach out to those you love – your friends, your family members… and especially your mom, if she is still alive. Don’t let old grudges and past history keep you from doing what is right… and what pleases God. Make the call… heal that wound… start to rebuild and rekindle old relationships. I’m so thankful for my friends and family. Keeping the lines of communication open with all of them requires effort… and sometimes it’s hard work! But in the end, it is so worth the trouble.
Who do you need to reach out to this day? Will you step up and honor God and make the first move?
©2011 Debbie Robus
A friend is always a friend, and relatives are born to share our troubles.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend Marla Ann is four years older than I, and she grew up in the house catty-cornered from mine. When I married, she was already attending college, and we didn’t see each other very often for several years. She moved to Austin, Texas, with her family, and we would get together for a brief visit on holidays when she returned to spend time with her parents. Then she and her husband moved their family to Edgemont, and we saw each other quite often. We started spending time together at Christmas and other holidays… and we got together many times in between.
Now Marla and her husband, Bill, live in Fayetteville near their children and grandchildren, and we see them maybe twice a year. But Marla and I talk all the time – mostly by e-mail. She is more like a sister to me than a friend, and we have stuck by each other in all kinds of weather. We have been through a lot together… personal crises, the births of babies, the deaths of loved ones, and more. We know that we always have each other’s back.
I do not have a very large immediate family, but my extended family – much of whom lives in Heber Springs, or at least in Arkansas – is huge. And while I seldom see some of my cousins, there are more than a handful I would consider as very close. I know that whenever I need them, they are always there for me. In times of trouble, my family comes together and supports one another. And that’s as it should be… this is what we are taught in God’s word!
But there are times when people get cross with each other. Things are said or done, and the next thing you know, your best friend is no longer a friend at all… or you are not speaking to your siblings, your cousins, or even your parents. My maternal grandmother used to say, “Blood is thicker than water,” meaning that someday your family members will come back around and reconcile. But I know for a fact that this doesn’t always happen. And in these situations, everybody loses… and God is deeply disappointed.
Today, I pray that you will stop at some point and take time to consider ways to reach out to those you love – your friends, your family members… and especially your mom, if she is still alive. Don’t let old grudges and past history keep you from doing what is right… and what pleases God. Make the call… heal that wound… start to rebuild and rekindle old relationships. I’m so thankful for my friends and family. Keeping the lines of communication open with all of them requires effort… and sometimes it’s hard work! But in the end, it is so worth the trouble.
Who do you need to reach out to this day? Will you step up and honor God and make the first move?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 21, 2011
Luke 3:7-10
Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, "You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying that you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire." The crowds asked John, "What should we do?"John told them, "If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Now that my grandmother has moved to an Assisted Living Facility, we are cleaning out her house and going through the things she did not take with her to the new apartment. I recently found a spiral notebook that my mother had given to my grandmother, in hopes that she would write down some information about her life – and maybe begin a journal. There are lots of gaps… and the “journal” stops abruptly right after the death of my brother… but my grandmother did indeed write a lot about her childhood experiences and the early years of her adult life.
She talks about her marriage to my grandfather in 1932, and how they had a three-room house – and that was too much space for the sparse furniture they had. She said they made up for furnishings with love and happiness. She also talks of the kindness and generosity of a German immigrant who hired my grandfather to work his fields and gave them a two-room “house” to inhabit. My grandmother says the house was in awful shape, but she worked and scrubbed and cleaned to make it better… and “Papa Stecker,” as she called him, was very generous to her. He supplied her with everything from a roof over her head to his fertilizer and chicken feed sacks for making her clothing, underwear, bed linens, curtains and more, to helping my grandparents later in life when their crops failed and a mortgage payment was due at the bank.
My grandmother talks a lot about the love and kindness of Papa Stecker – and others. She tells of countless times spent with neighbors and friends, sharing what they had… canning and drying food, making cotton mattresses to replace their straw and feather predecessors, and “sleeping four or more to a bed” in order to visit relatives and friends and attend church revival services and catch up on each others’ lives. She related that once when the families gathered, her uncle brought his cow so the family would have enough milk while they visited.
Truly, my grandmother and her circle of family and friends practiced sharing the love of Christ through sharing what they had. Today, many in her shoes would not even think of sharing an extra can of food, much less clothing or a milk cow! But there is something even more remarkable about this journal. On countless pages, in between the stories of hardship and back-breaking work and struggle, my grandmother says, “We had such fun,” or “Those were good times.” She also talks repeatedly about how “the Lord” saw her through… and truly, her faith has been the cornerstone of her existence.
On the first page of this “journal,” my grandmother wrote about her mother. She said that her family didn’t have much to do for entertainment or recreation, and when her mother had a free moment, she sat down and reached for her Bible. My great-grandmother read her Bible daily until pretty much the day she died. She instilled in her children the value of “producing good fruit” and she taught them about the things that truly bring happiness… family, friends, honesty, generosity, and a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, whom they almost always refer to as “the Lord.” Truly He was – and is – the Lord of their lives.
If we had to endure some of the things today that my grandmother has endured in her lifetime, we might very possibly collapse in a heap and concede defeat. But clearly, we have examples – from the time of the Bible on through history – of how God can strengthen His followers… give us deep roots and help us to produce good fruit. We have the models in place for how to do this. The question becomes… “Are we paying attention?”
©2011 Debbie Robus
Crowds of people came out to be baptized, but John said to them, "You bunch of snakes! Who warned you to run from the coming judgment? Do something to show that you really have given up your sins. Don't start saying that you belong to Abraham's family. God can turn these stones into children for Abraham. An ax is ready to cut the trees down at their roots. Any tree that doesn't produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into a fire." The crowds asked John, "What should we do?"John told them, "If you have two coats, give one to someone who doesn't have any. If you have food, share it with someone else."
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Now that my grandmother has moved to an Assisted Living Facility, we are cleaning out her house and going through the things she did not take with her to the new apartment. I recently found a spiral notebook that my mother had given to my grandmother, in hopes that she would write down some information about her life – and maybe begin a journal. There are lots of gaps… and the “journal” stops abruptly right after the death of my brother… but my grandmother did indeed write a lot about her childhood experiences and the early years of her adult life.
She talks about her marriage to my grandfather in 1932, and how they had a three-room house – and that was too much space for the sparse furniture they had. She said they made up for furnishings with love and happiness. She also talks of the kindness and generosity of a German immigrant who hired my grandfather to work his fields and gave them a two-room “house” to inhabit. My grandmother says the house was in awful shape, but she worked and scrubbed and cleaned to make it better… and “Papa Stecker,” as she called him, was very generous to her. He supplied her with everything from a roof over her head to his fertilizer and chicken feed sacks for making her clothing, underwear, bed linens, curtains and more, to helping my grandparents later in life when their crops failed and a mortgage payment was due at the bank.
My grandmother talks a lot about the love and kindness of Papa Stecker – and others. She tells of countless times spent with neighbors and friends, sharing what they had… canning and drying food, making cotton mattresses to replace their straw and feather predecessors, and “sleeping four or more to a bed” in order to visit relatives and friends and attend church revival services and catch up on each others’ lives. She related that once when the families gathered, her uncle brought his cow so the family would have enough milk while they visited.
Truly, my grandmother and her circle of family and friends practiced sharing the love of Christ through sharing what they had. Today, many in her shoes would not even think of sharing an extra can of food, much less clothing or a milk cow! But there is something even more remarkable about this journal. On countless pages, in between the stories of hardship and back-breaking work and struggle, my grandmother says, “We had such fun,” or “Those were good times.” She also talks repeatedly about how “the Lord” saw her through… and truly, her faith has been the cornerstone of her existence.
On the first page of this “journal,” my grandmother wrote about her mother. She said that her family didn’t have much to do for entertainment or recreation, and when her mother had a free moment, she sat down and reached for her Bible. My great-grandmother read her Bible daily until pretty much the day she died. She instilled in her children the value of “producing good fruit” and she taught them about the things that truly bring happiness… family, friends, honesty, generosity, and a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, whom they almost always refer to as “the Lord.” Truly He was – and is – the Lord of their lives.
If we had to endure some of the things today that my grandmother has endured in her lifetime, we might very possibly collapse in a heap and concede defeat. But clearly, we have examples – from the time of the Bible on through history – of how God can strengthen His followers… give us deep roots and help us to produce good fruit. We have the models in place for how to do this. The question becomes… “Are we paying attention?”
©2011 Debbie Robus
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