Daily Devotional for December 16, 2016

Matthew 25:1-13
“God’s kingdom is like ten young virgins who took oil lamps and went out to greet the bridegroom. Five were silly and five were smart. The silly virgins took lamps, but no extra oil. The smart virgins took jars of oil to feed their lamps. The bridegroom didn’t show up when they expected him, and they all fell asleep.

“In the middle of the night someone yelled out, ‘He’s here! The bride-groom’s here! Go out and greet him!’

“The ten virgins got up and got their lamps ready. The silly virgins said to the smart ones, ‘Our lamps are going out; lend us some of your oil.’

“They answered, ‘There might not be enough to go around; go buy your own.’

“They did, but while they were out buying oil, the bridegroom arrived. When everyone who was there to greet him had gone into the wedding feast, the door was locked.

“Much later, the other virgins, the silly ones, showed up and knocked on the door, saying, ‘Master, we’re here. Let us in.’

“He answered, ‘Do I know you? I don’t think I know you.’

“So stay alert. You have no idea when he might arrive.

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 went to Walmart this afternoon after I finished helping with Timothy’s class at school.  I know…Friday afternoon at Walmart = BAD IDEA!  But it was especially chaotic today, and I chalked it up to the fact that there are only 9 days left until Christmas.  Maybe people had decided, as had I, that along with our milk and bread, it would be a good idea to go ahead and pick up a few things for the holiday meal…last-minute gifts and stocking stuffers…and anything else we might need in the next week.  Hopefully, this would save us a return trip…or at least some of the hassle of a lengthy shopping trip.

When I entered the store, it was a miserable 37 degrees outside - with a pretty good wind.  When I left, there was also a fine mist in the air.  I didn’t know until I got home that freezing drizzle is just north of us in neighboring counties!  Let me tell you, nothing will send people to Walmart faster than a little precipitation and near-freezing temps or the mention of ice and/or snow in the forecast – and we have both!

Isn’t it funny that we are all about going to the store and getting milk and bread if we think there is even the slightest chance of frozen precipitation…but we are more than willing to play fast and loose with our Christian faith!  We’ll stockpile food, movies, and everything we need to be “snowed in” for a few days…but we won’t store up the things that draw us closer to God and prepare us for a face-to-face meeting with Jesus.  We’ve got all manner of time and energy to drop everything and gather our supplies for a “snowstorm”…but we don’t have time to open our Bibles or talk to God about anything and everything – much less share the Good News of Jesus with someone else.

We don’t have time to help a neighbor…stop and truly ask someone how he/she is doing – and stick around to hear the answer…or offer another person kindness and care.  We are too busy with WHATEVER to do the things that Jesus clearly says in scripture will make the difference for God’s Kingdom.  We may not know the hour of Jesus’ return, but we are in no hurry to “stock up on milk and bread” so that we are prepared.

Christmas IS coming in nine days…and most of us will be ready – for Santa, celebrations, and packages under the tree.  But will we be ready for Jesus?  Will we have “bought enough oil, milk and bread” and made provisions to ensure that we are not left “standing out in the cold?”  Don’t you think it’s time we did?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 12, 2016

John 4:25-30
The woman said, “I don’t know about that. I do know that the Messiah is coming. When he arrives, we’ll get the whole story.”

“I am he,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.”

Just then his disciples came back. They were shocked. They couldn’t believe he was talking with that kind of a woman. No one said what they were all thinking, but their faces showed it.

The woman took the hint and left. In her confusion she left her water pot. Back in the village she told the people, “Come see a man who knew all about the things I did, who knows me inside and out. Do you think this could be the Messiah?” And they went out to see for themselves.

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

There are several television shows now that feature “mediums” – people who claim they can talk to the spirits of our loved ones who have “passed over” and deliver messages to us. Skepticism abounds…but invariably, each “medium” is able to deliver information that at least seems so personal and tailored to us that no other living soul would know this.  We MUST be hearing from our departed friend or loved one.

Children love to role play – to pretend to be someone other than themselves.  And often, in order to be included in their game, they will say, “What’s the password?”  We have to provide the right word or clue in order for them to accept us.

I honestly don’t know if there are people who can communicate with the dead. And I will be the first to tell you that there have been several times when I have not known the proper “password” to be included in one of our kids’ games.  But when it comes to Jesus, neither of these vehicles are necessary.  And I am so glad, because I do NOT want to miss Him!

Do we really need so much proof?  Does Jesus have to appear to us like a psychic or medium and say, “You did ABC on this day” and “XYZ happened to you at some point in time!”?  Do we have to have signs and wonders or the presentation of stories and events about which no one else could possibly have knowledge in order to believe that Jesus really is with us?

How well do you know Jesus?  Do you readily recognize His presence in your daily living?  Are you fully aware of the Holy Spirit's existence within your heart? Have you invited Him to dwell there?  Do you need to gather friends, neighbors and relatives and examine physical “proof” in order to find Jesus in your life?  Or are you so attuned to His voice…the word of God…the Holy Spirit and how Jesus intricately orchestrates every second of your life that you KNOW that He is with you?

Just as importantly, do others see Jesus with you?  Do they readily recognize the presence of Jesus in everything from your facial expressions and body language to how you actually conduct the daily business of your life and treat each person you encounter?

Some of us have acknowledged Jesus, while others have walked right past Him.  Many are questioning His existence in some manner.  Jesus’ words to the woman at the well are equally true for you and me…we don’t have to wait any longer or look any further. He is HERE…Jesus is with us NOW - and for all eternity.  Do you see him?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 31, 2016

John 20:1-9
Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone was rolled aside from the entrance.

She ran and found Simon Peter and me and said, “They have taken the Lord’s body out of the tomb, and I don’t know where they have put him!”

We ran to the tomb to see; I outran Peter and got there first, and stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but I didn’t go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went on inside. He also noticed the cloth lying there, while the swath that had covered Jesus’ head was rolled up in a bundle and was lying at the side. Then I went in too, and saw, and believed that he had risen - for until then we hadn’t realized that the Scriptures said he would come to life again!

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
I saw a talk show interview with actor/comedian/filmmaker Mel Brooks in which he spoke of his dear friend, the late actor Gene Wilder.  Brooks said he knew that his friend was not well – that his time on earth was growing short.  But once Wilder passed, Mel Brooks said that he actually felt “shocked” for a while.  Brooks could not accept that he would never be able to call Wilder and speak to him again.  This this is a typical reaction for someone who is grieving…part of a normal process.

When American gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman took the gold and silver medals, respectively, in the 2016 Rio Olympics,  there were a few moments where the two young women and their coaches stood and hugged each other somewhat in disbelief.  The “talk” for days had been that these girls would win medals.  It was certainly no surprise that Biles took the gold.  But in the initial moments, there was a bit of surprise and excitement…and awe!  Again, this was a normal reaction.  The culmination of all that had happened was almost overwhelming.

Think of a time when someone told you something…but what they were saying didn’t really register.  Maybe you were not paying enough attention. Perhaps you simply did not comprehend what you were being told.  Or maybe, what you were hearing was so astounding that you didn’t think it could possibly be accurate or really happen.  So when you realized that this.was.real…you were “dazed and confused” – at least momentarily.

When I read this scripture passage, I asked myself…”What is our take-away?”  And the message I kept getting is…”pay attention!”  So often, we are caught up in a myriad of circumstances and emotions – many of them important, but some not so much – and we don’t really comprehend what we read or hear.  This is especially true when it comes to God’s word for our life.  So we can read a scripture passage over and again for decades…and one day, it all “clicks” and we realize…”THIS is what Jesus was saying!”  Or we move along through life and don’t realize that Scriptures told us plainly what would happen in this or that situation…and we simply didn’t grasp it!

The bottom line is that we must pay closer attention to God’s word for us…both written and whispered.  We must be awake and alert to His “signs and wonders”…in tune with His directives.  We must ask questions…dig deeper…and really GET what we are being fed!  The mission is too important…the message is unbelievably crucial.  We don’t have time to waste…and figuring things out after the fact – when “the tomb is empty” – is unacceptable.  God wants us to be so attuned to His word that we anticipate what is coming next…that we expect Him to show up…that we are never caught off guard.

I don’t know about you, but this means that I have work to do!  I have to get my act together and sharpen my focus.  I have to start seeking God more and living with confidence that He is always close at hand.  I have to be less shocked when God shows up and “shows out”…and better prepared for His miraculous presence and perfection.  I suspect it is much the same for you, as well.

Will you be like John and Peter at the empty tomb?  Or will this be the day that you sit up a little straighter, perk your ears, and zero in on what God is showing you?  Are you truly paying attention?  Don't you think you should be?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 11, 2016

Matthew 24:36
But no one knows the date and hour when the end will be—not even the angels. No, nor even God’s Son. Only the Father knows.
   
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

This morning, a photo memory of my niece and her three children, taken at a birthday/Mother’s Day celebration party two years ago, appeared on my Facebook wall.  The children were just turning 5, 3, and 2.  Also appearing this morning was a post from a friend I taught kindergarten with “many moons ago.”  Today, her son is 36.  I remember vividly the day he was born – Mother’s Day 1980.  A lot has happened in thirty-six years…and day for day, a lot has happened in just the last two!

As I thought about these events, I was reminded that we could not have predicted much of what happened.  Two years ago, I would never have dreamed that vital, healthy people we loved would no longer be with us.  We could not have predicted the births of new family members, the achievements and accomplishments of others, job changes for some, new homes for others, and a myriad of other life events.  There is so much about daily living that is unpredictable…there are so many things for which we cannot possibly plan.

And yet, God knows them all.  He knows what will happen…and when.  God knows how things will “play out” in our lives…and how we will react to them.  And for every event and possibility we are able to imagine, God knows dozens more that we never thought of – or could not envision.  He sees the big picture where we see only a small window of what will take place.

So we cannot possibly know when Jesus will return…or whether we will still be here.  We don’t know the hour and date of our death…and I am pretty sure we wouldn’t want to know.  But this “unknown” does come with some responsibilities.  We must be ready – for anything.  How can you be ready for sudden death or the loss of a loved one?  How can you be ready for job loss, the disintegration of a relationship, a major disappointment of some sort…or even a great surprise or blessing?  The short answer is, “You can’t!”

But we can live with expectation, faith and hope.  We can wake up every day and say, “I don’t know what You have planned for me today, Lord, but I know that you will equip me to handle it.”  We can get up with a sense of obligation to represent Jesus and His teachings to the best of our ability – with the help of the Holy Spirit.  And we can trust that whatever happens beyond this will be manipulated by God for His purposes.

God is more than able to “make lemons out of lemonade.”  He can take our joys and triumphs…our sorrows and heartaches…the good, the bad, and the ugly…and turn it into something beautiful for His glory.  Our job is to trust Him to do this…and live with hope and confidence in every circumstance that each day brings.  How are you doing so far?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 17, 2012

James 5:7-8
Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time.

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 will be the first to admit that waiting is not my strong suit. Last week, I walked out on our back porch and found a hummingbird, belly up in the seat of one of our patio chairs. I told my husband, “There is a dead hummingbird on our back porch… what should I do?” He replied, “Leave it alone.” The next morning, the bird was gone. I wondered aloud to my husband, “What kind of ‘critter’ took that bird?” He surmised… “It was probably just stunned… that’s why you leave them alone for a while.”

Birds fly into our picture windows all the time and fall to the ground in a temporary stupor. Hours later, they are gone. I’m amazed at their resilience. I’m also frustrated by my impatience and impulsiveness. So often, we shoot ourselves in the foot, so to speak… or we make things much harder and more complicated than they need to be… because we do not wait patiently.

For several months now, my grandmother has been indicating to me that she is ready to die. I can see that she is miserable… trapped in a body that no longer responds in the ways she wishes, with a severely limited ability to speak that leaves her frustrated and isolated. I have watched lately as young people who appeared to have so much to live for were called to heaven, while obedient, faithful, elderly servants linger – and often appear to suffer in the process. I admit… I am sorely tempted to question God, even though I know He has reasons I will never understand in this lifetime.

I have prayed for lives to be changed and trusted God to do exactly this… and then asked Him, “When, LORD… WHEN?” I have prayed with countless others for the drought to end this summer, knowing full well that God knew people were hurting, losing their crops and livelihood, facing higher prices at the store as a result, and suffering in dozens of other ways. I have wondered why this was allowed…and when it would end. And in His timing, God has answered with refreshing restorative rainfall. I know that God will answer my other requests… when the time is perfect.

I have waited... but only because there was nothing else I could do, in most cases. The lesson of the hummingbird is that there is purpose in waiting. Our job is to remain faithful, awake, and alert… because we truly do not know when or how God will answer – only that He will. My challenge for all of us is to wait patiently – and confidently… to trust that God is in control and will show up at exactly the right moment. We must prepare… stay strong… and be ready for God’s appearance. What about you? Do you wait on God faithfully and expectantly… or because you feel you have no other choice? Exactly how prepared are you for God to show up in your life? How well are you waiting?

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 12, 2012

Isaiah 64:3-4, 8-9
Your fearsome deeds have completely amazed us; even the mountains shake when you come down. You are the only God ever seen or heard of who works miracles for his followers.

You, Lord, are our Father. We are nothing but clay, but you are the potter who molded us. Don’t be so furious or keep our sins in your thoughts forever! Remember that all of us are your people.

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

In the songbook Then Sings My Soul, an account is given of the life of Adelaide A. Pollard, author of the well-known hymn “Have Thine Own Way, Lord.” Pollard was apparently healed of diabetes in the early 1900s, through the ministry of a Scottish-born faith healer, John Alexander Dowie. Years later, she sat in a prayer meeting… her heart heavy because she could not raise the necessary funds to travel to Africa as a missionary. Another lady attending the meeting prayed, “It doesn’t matter what you bring into our lives, LORD. Just have your own way with us.”

Pollard had recently read the story of the potter and the clay in Jeremiah 18, where in verse six, God says, “People of Israel, I, the Lord, have power over you, just as a potter has power over clay.” She used this verse and the woman’s prayer as inspiration to create the well-loved hymn. In the verses, she asks repeatedly, “Have Thine own way, LORD! Have Thine own way!” and she reminds God that “Thou art the Potter… I am the clay.” In the third verse she says, “Wounded and weary… help me, I pray! Power, all power, surely is Thine! Touch me and heal me, Savior divine!” And finally, she asks, “Hold o’er my being absolute sway! Fill with Thy Spirit till all shall see, Christ only, always… living in me!”

As someone who attends a contemporary worship service most Sundays, I have to tell you that I miss old hymns like this one. I didn’t fully appreciate them when I was young… and I remember thinking this one was particularly mournful… but that had more to do with the tune itself and the tempo than the words themselves. There is something truly beautiful about so many of the old hymns, and this one is no exception. In these verses, we are reminded that God is willing to reward those who step out and spend time with Him. “Hold o’er my being absolute sway,”… then “Touch me and heal me” with your power!... can there be a stronger statement of faith and commitment?

We all get discouraged from time to time… and clearly, Adelaide Pollard did, as well. Even after being healed of a life-altering disease, she still found the need to humble herself before God and ask for a miracle. But the key point here is that God did answer… and eventually, Pollard made it to Africa. However, World War I caused her to move to Scotland – and eventually back to America, where she spoke frequently to groups, ministered to others, and wrote poetry. She was on her way to a speaking engagement in Pennsylvania, when she was stricken with a seizure and later died.

Surely God worked in the life of Adelaide Pollard and “had His own way” with her heart. Clearly she trusted Him to fill her with the Holy Spirit… and to lean on His wisdom and plans for her life. I find it inspiring that examples of faith know no time limit… what worked for a woman in the early 1900s can work for us in 2012 – and beyond. All we have to do is to ask God to “Have Thine own way” and to trust Him to mold us and make us after His own will. If we will sincerely and humbly do this, I truly believe that “we ain’t seen nothin’ yet!” Are you ready to find out for yourself? Will this be the day you truly ask God to “Have Thine own way?”

©2012 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 4, 2012

Romans 5:3-5
There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!

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.

In a regional “lifestyles” section of our newspaper, I read an article today about Lorrie Thiel of Jacksonville, Arkansas, who was injured in a serious car wreck nearly 10 years ago. As a result, Lorrie suffers frequent seizures. She obtained a service dog named Schultzy to alert her when a seizure is about to occur. She and Schultzy later adopted Galahad from the local animal shelter and trained him to become Lorrie’s service companion.

Galahad can not only alert Lorrie when a seizure is forthcoming, he also wears a special backpack which contains her medications on one side, and her purse (hidden) on the other. When a seizure is eminent, Galahad lets Lorrie know so that she can find a safe, comfortable chair and sit down – and she can take medication to lessen the seizure’s effects. If Lorrie is unable to take her medications, and other people are present, Galahad will rub against someone’s leg with the side of the pack that contains the medication. If they don’t respond, he stops and starts this process until they look in his pack. He is also trained not to let anyone look in the side of his pack containing Lorrie’s purse unless they are wearing a police or paramedic uniform.

Lorrie now trains service dogs for others in need. She still suffers two to three seizures a week, but she has used the troubles that once hemmed her in to develop a passion for helping others who may be in a similar situation. She was alert for what God was going to do next in her life, and as a result, her blessings are abundant and have poured over into the lives of many others.

So often, we are so busy living in fear of what might or might not happen in our lives that we fail to recognize the opportunities God is presenting us with at this very moment. We impatiently anticipate big things from God at the expense of what He may be showing us… if only we would sit still and pay attention. When we are hemmed in by troubles on all sides, we panic. How could this happen to us? Where is God? What will become of us… how will we ever get past this?

I would be willing to bet that Lorrie Thiel didn’t dream that her life would take this turn. I feel pretty sure that this mother of two teenagers never saw herself experiencing such a life-changing event… or allowing God to use her to bless so many other people out of her own troubles. I don’t know what God has planned today, tomorrow, next week or next year – for any of us. But I know that through the Holy Spirit, He wants to generously pour into our lives an abundance of love, grace, mercy and blessings that we can’t possibly gather enough containers to hold!

We have two choices… 1) we can operate in fear and impatience, worrying continually about what will happen each day to us and those we love… we can allow Satan to fill us with dread and dissatisfaction and stay stagnant in our faith walk, or 2) we can take the daily experiences of life and steel ourselves with patience and passion as God pours into us. We can anticipate what amazing, incredible things He has in store for us… believe for them, watch and listen for them to arrive… and act on them to pay forward what He stands ready to deliver. The choice is 100% ours. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already started looking for bigger containers!

©2012 Debbie Robus