Daily Devotional for January 1, 2017

1 John 2:1-2
My children, I am writing this so that you won’t sin. But if you do sin, Jesus Christ always does the right thing, and he will speak to the Father for us. Christ is the sacrifice that takes away our sins and the sins of all the world’s people.

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

Happy New Year! I hope yours is off to a great start (and includes some black-eyed peas, greens, pork – and maybe big ole piece of cornbread!!!). Sweet tea is optional!

Okay, enough about our Southern traditions...but I do have a point in sharing them.  I saw a meme on Facebook this morning that offered an explanation for why we eat these foods on New Year’s Day.  Rather than go into detail about each dish, let me just say that the collective reason is – HOPE!  We hope that these foods will bring us good luck in the coming year.  Yes, it is a “superstition”…and okay, maybe it’s ridiculous.  But what is NOT silly is hope in Jesus…and that’s where these verses from 1 John 2 come into play.

When Jesus takes away our sins, we all know that this doesn’t mean we will never sin again…right?  We surrender our hearts to Jesus…He washes us clean…and we make every effort to stay that way.  But scripture tells us over and again that, as human beings, we will never be completely free of sin or a sinful nature.  Only Jesus can claim this perfection.

BUT...because of Jesus, we can humbly acknowledge our failures and shortcomings, and ask forgiveness...and Jesus will petition God on our behalf.  Because of Jesus, we always have hope.  HE is the assurance that we are claimed and sanctified before God…that our seat at the Heavenly Table is forever secure.

Just as I will probably never stop eating peas and greens on New Year’s Day, I will never stop depending on Jesus to stand in the gap for me and ask God to continually forgive my sins.  And He will do this for you – and all of the world’s people – just as surely.  All you have to do is genuinely and humbly surrender your sinful nature to Jesus…to beg His forgiveness and accept His generous gift of Salvation.  THEN…you must make every effort to live a holy and acceptable life…to serve Jesus and share His Good News with others.

Because we have the promise of salvation and an Eternal Home…we are free to live with hope and confidence…and encourage others to do the same.  Will this be the year that you fully let go and let God have control?  Will you live in expectation that Jesus has your back?  I pray that this is the case.

Old habits die hard, so I’ll probably keep eating peas and greens on New Year’s Day.  But I know that with Jesus standing in the gap for us, anything and everything is possible…with no “good luck” meals required!

©2017 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 26, 2016

Lamentations 3:21-26
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day. My soul claims the Lord as my inheritance; therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him, to those who seek for him. It is good both to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

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 is a tough day…the Second Day. If you have ever experienced the death of a loved one, you know what I mean.  The First Day…the day of death, there is something of an “adrenaline rush” – and not in a good way, of course.  You find yourself  caught up in all of the emotions that surround the actual passing…the release of the person to the angels…the anguish and heartache in the realization that he/she is really gone…the sudden “to-do list” of things that must be addressed. 

On the Second Day, we have time to actually unpack all that has happened. Reality sets in, and we are truly heartbroken for all that has happened.  So on this day, as we ponder what happened to Jesus on the “First Day,” we are saddened by everything…the agony of His torture and crucifixion…the helplessness we feel that He had to suffer this way…the shame of knowing that it was all done for us.  And as the title of this Bible chapter implies, we lament.

But hear the GOOD NEWS of these verses.  There is a ray of hope…Jesus’ compassion truly never ends.  His faithfulness is great…his mercies and loving-kindness are new every day.  If we seek Jesus, we will find Him…even on the Second Day.  He will show up in ways we never expected and remind us that all was accomplished because of His profound, inexplicable, unconditional love for each of us.

So as we endure this Second Day, let us remember that Jesus’ plan is “in the works.”  He has something in store for each of us…and it is more than we could ever imagine.  OUR JOB is to pay attention…to remain hopeful…to keep the faith.  The Third Day is coming!

Photo Credit: Lee Smith

My mother’s husband has been on a trip this week.  He returned home today and found a bed of beautiful red tulips in full bloom in the back yard.  My mother planted these bulbs last fall.  I am sure that she can see them from Heaven.  For me, they are a reminder that life continues…that beauty still exists even in the midst of grief and sorrow…that Jesus has not stopped blessing us and meeting our every need - that His faithfulness to each of us is indeed greater than we could ever hope for or comprehend. 

And so I take Him at His word.  I revel in the beauty of these bright red flowers and remind myself that because of the First Day – and the Second – there will be a Third Day.  And when Jesus’ earthly plans for me are accomplished, I will not only see my loved ones again, but I will get to meet Him face-to-face and revel in His glory forever and ever. 

There is a ray of hope…Jesus’ compassion NEVER ends!  How blessed are we who know and love Him…and how eternally grateful for this amazing gift!  On this “Second Day,” may you feel His love, experience His presence, and know His hope.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 28, 2015

John 16:33     
I have told you all this so that you will have peace of heart and mind. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world.”

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of TyndalePublishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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I will tell you, I have almost stopped watching the news.  Everywhere you turn, there are heartbreaks and heartaches…wars, mistreatment of others, and injustice and indignities that at least ought to curl our hair!  Just in the last few days, I have learned of the death of two 15-year-old football players in a nearby town – the result of a car accident that left four others injured (some critically).  I’ve heard about several people who have cancer or serious illnesses and injuries, the incredible mistreatment of a misbehaving teenage girl in a South Carolina classroom, and the ravages of war in the Middle East. 

It’s enough to make us nauseous…to cause us to throw up our hands and ask, “LORD…where have You gone?”  And the short answer is, “Nowhere!  I’m still right here.”  So this begs the question…”Why?”  And John 16:33 provides the answer.  Jesus has overcome the world.  The things that rattle our cages and upset us…the words and actions that dare to rip out our hearts and cause us to doubt and become discouraged…are all part and parcel of this earthly – and often evil – world.  And Jesus overcame them all.  He died on the cross and took sin upon Himself, so that we have the chance to leave all of this behind someday…and bask in His glory in Paradise.

I don’t mean to sound the “Gloom and Doom Alarm!”  There ARE good things happening in this earthly life.  We just have to dig a little deeper sometimes to find them.  Just today, I attended the adoption hearing for a toddler placed in foster care with a family who is “like family” to Greg and me.  In his closing statements, the judge noted that he and his co-workers see and hear terrible things in the courtroom…stories of abuse, neglect and horrific injustices.  And he stated that days like these are a joy to them.  To see a child who is so obviously loved and well-attended…who is thriving in her new environment and has every prospect of a wonderful and happy life…gives them hope and renews their efforts to serve all children.

And so it is with us. This verse in John 16 should serve to bolster our courage and our hope. Our faith should be renewed, and we should be reminded to worry less and pray more - to allow the Savior who has conquered this world to handle it and the challenges that are offered…because He truly can! 

I cannot say that I am not affected by the trials and sorrows of this earthly life, because as a human being, I simply am.  But I can give them to God to handle and trust Him to do so.  I can live in faith and joy that my future – the one that really matters – is secure, peaceful and perfect.  I can cheer up…and spread the Good News.  And so can you!

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 29, 2013

Titus 3:11-14
God’s readiness to give and forgive is now public. Salvation’s available for everyone! We’re being shown how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life. This new life is starting right now, and is whetting our appetites for the glorious day when our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, appears. He offered himself as a sacrifice to free us from a dark, rebellious life into this good, pure life, making us a people he can be proud of, energetic in goodness.
 
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.
 
Timothy is visiting us for three days and two nights… and as he put it, “I have a LOT of work to do.”  In the first 90 minutes, he ate two cheese sandwiches (NO crust!), drank a glass of orange juice, sampled his first eggnog (and loved it!), watched “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” and part of “Frosty the Snowman”, played with cars and planes, looked at the ornaments on the Christmas tree, made characters out of new Play-Doh®, and grabbed his “Christmas” blanket and a “soft” Santa Claus, headed upstairs to his Uncle Greg’s office, and piled up on the daybed for a “rest”!  Every time he visits, there are familiar toys and rituals… but he makes many of them see new and fresh… as if he is experiencing them for the very first time!  For him, there are lots of “do-overs” at our house!
 
New life… a second chance…starting over…even something as seemingly mundane as a new package of Play-Doh®…don’t we all long for this at one time or another?  Don’t we long for the slate to be wiped clean and anticipate a day when everything is perfect… or pretty darn close?
 
The GOOD NEWS is that the perfect day IS coming, for those of us who have hope in Jesus Christ.  We can eagerly await this day with the anticipation of a four-year-old boy who has just been told he gets an extended stay with his aunt and uncle in the “Playland” that is like heaven on earth for him.  We have each been granted a new life… a second chance… an opportunity to turn our backs on the godless, indulgent life of our past and fill our hearts and minds with the things of God.
 
Sound boring and un-exciting?  Let me assure you, this life is entirely the opposite.  Because of God’s grace, mercy, and blessings… because of the sacrifices of Jesus Christ for our sins… we have the opportunity to enjoy abundant life.  We can live free of the constraints of trying to conform to the standards of others.  Ours are clear cut…love God with all our heart, mind, and soul… and love others as God loves us!  If anything we are doing, saying, or thinking doesn’t line up with this… we know we are off track and need to get back on the right path.  The best part is that God stands ready to give and forgive… to help us start over - every day if necessary!  So just like Timothy, each day can be as new and fresh as the first time we visited… our first day as a disciple of Christ.
 
Do you need a “do-over” with Jesus?  Did you know that He is willing to grant this to you?  Have you placed your hope in Him to give you a pure life filled with energetic goodness?  Are you making Him proud in your service as His disciple? Do you have the child-like wonder in your relationship with Jesus that makes even a cheese sandwich with no crust and your first sips of eggnog seem glorious and refreshing?  Shouldn’t you?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 24, 2013

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 22, 2013

Psalm 43:5
Why am I discouraged?
    Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
    I will praise him again—
    my Savior and my God!
 
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.
 
A failing grade…a lost job…spending the holidays away from family and friends…grieving the loss of a loved one…no money to pay bills – much less buy Christmas gifts…illness or injury…a broken relationship…a house or other property that won’t sell…aging and all of the nuances that accompany this phase of life…disappointment of any kind…all of these are reasons to feel discouraged.  Any of it is enough to make your heart sad… and God understands this!
 
God also offers us hope… and redemption.  He will lift us out of our discouragement and sadness.  I cannot tell you exactly how… when… or where.  But I know that He will.  He’s done it for me… countless times… and I know that He will do it again.  And He will do this for YOU, as well!
 
“But I still have all of these problems and sadness!” you may be saying.  I’m sure you do!  I didn’t say that God would instantly fix everything for you and make life hunky-dory!  But I will tell you this… someday you will look back and reflect on this time.  If you have remained hopeful, sought God’s help - and trusted Him to deliver on His promises - you will look at this time and say, “Ohhhh… so that’s what He was showing me.  That’s why it took XYZ amount of time...God was working things out all along!”  Again, I cannot tell you how it will happen… or how quickly… but God will answer you - every time!
 
Today… as you experience life in whatever form it is presenting itself to you…feel God’s presence.  Put your hope in Him and believe that He is meeting your needs.  Praise Him for being with you in all circumstances… call Him your Savior and God and operate in full confidence that He will bring you joy and peace… today, and always.
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 21, 2013

Psalm 39:7
And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?
    My only hope is in you.
 
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.
 
Where did I put my _____?  You fill in the blank!  Each one of us probably asks this question several times a day.  We wonder where we put put our keys… our phone…our wallet…even our car (in a busy parking lot)!  It’s enough to drive a person batty at times… especially if we cannot find said item!
 
I wonder if you have ever asked yourself, “Where is my hope?”  Because you see, there are plenty of things in life that seem to cause people to lose theirs.  At any given moment, we may be stressing and fretting over a final exam…funding for a scholarship…bills we can’t seem to pay…not enough work - or sleep…the challenges of parenthood – or aging…too much to do – or too little…illness and/or injury…and more.  And let’s not even talk about grief and loneliness… a feeling of helplessness over things that are beyond our control!  I’m talking real, gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, anxiety-producing situations that reduce us to a blithering mess!  In these moments, many – if not all of us - will ask, “Where is my hope?”
 
C’mon now… you know the answer!  You’ve always known that your hope lies in Jesus Christ and what He did for you.  But you know what else?  God understands when we question this!  He gets it when we are despondent and heartsick and worry and fret.  See… in those moments, we are raw… broken… REAL!  And God gets a chance to truly show up and show out!  He stands in the wings, waiting for us to realize that He can fix this!  He can restore us… encourage us… give us new insights and a positive outlook.  And the sooner we realize this and recognize His power to help… the better!
 
So where did you put your hope today?  Have you momentarily lost it?  Has it actually been missing for a long, long time?  Isn’t today the perfect day to find it again… to rediscover God and what He does for us every day through His Son, Jesus Christ?  Will this be the moment that you heave a sigh of relief and say, “I’ve found my hope…His name is Jesus!”? He’s standing right beside you… isn’t it time you acknowledged Him?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 20, 2013

Psalm 31:24
So be strong and courageous,
    all you who put your hope in the Lord!
 
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.
 

Last night we attended Timothy’s pre-K Christmas program.  Children from three different classes (a 3-year-old pre-K group, and two classes of 4-and-5-year-olds) offered their renditions of familiar Christmas tunes.  Timothy’s group was one of the “older” ones, and they sang three tunes, “Jingle Bells”, “Christmas Colors”, and “Feliz Navidad”.
 
You never know what you will get with small children, and we were not disappointed.  The 3-year-olds were all dressed as angels… flowing white “robes” trimmed with silver tinsel… tinsel halos on their heads.  And each and every one of them sang well.  There were no “melt-downs”... no one looked frightened… all performed with strength and courage.
 
The second group contained about a half dozen 4-and-5-year-old boys and one little girl.  For the most part, they did well.  But one little boy was terribly upset.  He didn’t just cry… he sobbed.  And thankfully, someone came to his rescue and held him on the stage until this group completed their performance.
 
Then it was time for Timothy’s group. We did not know what to expect, but he did well… once he located his family in the audience.  We watched him walk down the aisle… searching every pew of the church sanctuary for us.  He was visibly concerned when he got to the stage, and we could see him mouth, “Where is my family?  I can’t find my family!”  We knew it would not go well if he didn’t locate us before the songs began.  And sure enough… he spotted us… and his face lit up as he smiled and waved and called out to us.  Then, he lifted his eyes to the ceiling, drew in a big breath, and heaved a giant sigh of relief.
 
To see such palpable consolation in that little boy just made me want to cry.  Timothy had put all of his hope in the love and support of his family.  He trusted them to be present for him… to observe him and encourage him in his performance…and he tried very hard to be strong and courageous.  And when he saw his mom, dad, grandmother, siblings… and his Aunt Debbie and Uncle Greg (who were surprise guests to him)…all of his fortitude and bravery were worth it!  He sang his little heart out…smiled, waved and gave a “thumbs up”… and even bowed at the end!
 
What about you?  Are you still seeking God as you walk down the “aisle of life”?  Are you wondering if God is there to support you?  Do you have hope that He is with you… meeting your needs and cheering you on?  Does God undergird everything you do?  Is He present in your life in a tangible, profound way?  Have you exhaled that all-important sigh of relief as you inhaled God’s goodness and power over your life?  Isn’t it time to do exactly that?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 19, 2013

Psalm 27:4-5
The one thing I ask of the Lord—
    the thing I seek most—
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
    delighting in the Lord’s perfections
    and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
    he will hide me in his sanctuary.
    He will place me out of reach on a high rock.
 
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.
 
“All I want for Christmas…” is a phrase that is uttered countless times by children of ALL ages every year.  This is the first year that Timothy has really understood about Santa Claus. And he has a list – a Spiderman pillow pal, cars and trucks, and “other stuff”!
Isn’t that how we are so much of the time?  We have a list of specific things that we want from God… and a lot of “other stuff”.  We are anything but single-minded, when in fact, all we need is to seek the house of the LORD all the days of our life… to delight in His perfections and meditate in His temple.  If we focus on God, He truly will conceal us in the sanctuary of His love, grace, wisdom and mercy when the troubles come…and they will come in this earthly lifetime!
 
In this season when our focus is scattered in a zillion different directions, let’s stop and take a minute to reel things in… to pull back on the festivities and plans and wishes and expectations and focus on God’s gift of Jesus Christ… the real reason for Christmas and so much more.  If we pin our hopes on Jesus… if we concentrate on living with Him as the center of our very being… everything else truly is “other stuff”… as it should be.
 
What are you asking for this Christmas?  Who are you seeking?  Are you hoping for – and expecting – to receive your heart’s desires… because they line up with those of God Almighty through His Son, Jesus Christ?  Will this be the season that you begin to seek the One Thing that matters and forget the “other stuff”?  Are you ready to rest in the safety of His love and care?  Will this be the day you start to make it happen?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 18, 2013

Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
 
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.
 
This is really a hard month for patience… especially if you are four!  Timothy is told virtually every day that he has to wait on something… “We have to wait to open presents until Christmas Day”… “We have to wait for the parade to start”… “We have to wait seven more ‘sleeps’ for Santa to visit”… “We have to wait until Christmas to see what Santa brings us” (to which he replies, “But it IS Christmas!”)…you get the idea.  We have tried to explain to Timothy and his two-year-old sister Zola that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday… that this is truly why we celebrate.  We’ve looked at dozens of nativities and talked about Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.  We have discussed the wise men and their gifts…the shepherds and the all-important-to-Timothy animals that they tend. 
 
We took the children to our community Christmas parade, and they were both so excited by the lights, cars, trucks, floats, marching band, horses, and more.  When the participants threw candy, Timothy’s little body literally shook all over with excitement!  The wonder and awe in both of their faces was incredibly heartwarming.  Everything about the night was magical for them. And when they came face-to-face with Santa Claus, Timothy stuck out his little hand and said, “Merry Christmas, Santa!” and then declared… “I have seen the real Santa!”
 
The children may not realize it, but they are already “waiting on the LORD!”  Whether they are waiting patiently is questionable at any given moment, but they are waiting, nonetheless.  Surely they are confident that Christmas Day will come… that we will celebrate the birth of Jesus (and open presents from Santa!).  But what about those of us who are old enough to fully comprehend everything that happened some 2046 years ago?  Do we fully operate in bravery, courage, and patience as we serve the LORD and wait on His return?
 
We should be able to understand the true meaning of Christmas…AND the earthly life of Jesus…His crucifixion and resurrection.  We should be trembling with excitement at the thought meeting “the real Jesus” face-to-face for the first time.  The idea of heaven should be as magical and invoke as much awe and wonderment in us as the Christmas lights, sights and sounds of a parade provided for countless children on a moonlit December night.
 
Even in our darkest, most despondent moment, we should be filled with hope that Jesus is waiting for us… that the best is yet to come!  I know there are plenty of sad situations… grief-stricken people whose hearts are broken, those who will lose their jobs the end of this month (if they haven’t already), many who cannot pay bills – much less provide Christmas gifts and meals for their loved ones... people who are sick and battling serious illnesses and injuries…lonely folks…people separated from loved ones by military deployment other constraints.  And these are legitimate concerns…plausible reasons to lose heart that God understands!  But He also provides an answer…His gift of Jesus Christ!  For this reason, we can be hopeful.  We can be brave and courageous… and patiently wait for Him to come to us – both as a Rescuer in this earthly life, and as our ultimate Savior for all eternity.
 
I can be as impatient as a four-year-old at times…but I’ve experienced enough of God’s grace, mercy and blessings in my life already to know that He is worth the wait. The thought of seeing Him in person makes my heart flutter and almost causes me to tremble as much as little Timothy did… and I am more than hopeful that this will happen – in God’s timing.  Can you say the same?  Are you ready to operate in the hope and patience of Jesus…this season and always? Isn’t this a great day to begin?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 14, 2013

Proverbs 24:14
In the same way, wisdom is sweet to your soul.
    If you find it, you will have a bright future,
    and your hopes will not be cut short.
 
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.
 
There is a lot of information available about the healing qualities of honey.  Those who are especially interested in “natural healing” tout honey as something of a “wonder drug” for boosting your immune system, killing bacteria, and more.  So when I saw a recipe on Pinterest for an “all-natural” tea made with honey, lemon and ginger root that was supposed to soothe sore throats and colds, I decided to make some.
 

The recipe said to slice fresh lemons and grate fresh ginger root.  Layer both in a clean fruit jar.  Cover the lemon and ginger root with honey, screw on a lid, and set the jar in the refrigerator.  The honey will mix with the lemon oils and juices and the ginger flavoring over the next several days.  The recipe suggested that you spoon some of this mixture into a heat-proof container and add very hot water, let it “steep”, then strain the mixture into a mug... and enjoy!
 
Last week, a friend visited us who was nursing the remnants of a cold and cough.  I offered her some lemon-ginger tea, and she drank TWO cups!  She said it was delicious… and that it did seem to soothe her throat.  We all voiced a hope that her cold would soon be gone… and that the tea with honey would play a part in getting her well quickly!
 
Okay, so maybe that’s a stretch!  But the wisdom of God is like honey.  In fact, several translations of this passage actually refer to this sweet nectar by name.  When we fill our hearts and minds with God’s wisdom, we also fill ourselves with hope that He will meet our needs… heal our bodies and souls…and create a promising future for us!  Just like the simple, unadulterated recipe that soothes our scratchy sore throat, God’s wisdom can be a balm for our weary soul - and give us confidence and hope for the days ahead.  It’s really not that much of a far-fetched notion, after all!
 
So if you have a sore throat or a cold, try some lemon-ginger-honey tea!  If you need a hefty dose of hope and the promises of God… seek His wisdom.  Picture Him standing at the door to your heart, holding a steaming hot mug of His love, grace, mercy, power, understanding… and hope.  Now THAT’S a recipe worth sharing!
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 10, 2013

Mark 5:35-36
While he was still speaking to her, messengers arrived from the home of Jairus, the leader of the synagogue. They told him, “Your daughter is dead. There’s no use troubling the Teacher now.”
 
But Jesus overheard them and said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid. Just have faith.”
 
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.
 
“It ain’t over til it’s over!”*  On November 30, 2013, the No. 1-ranked University of Alabama Crimson Tide and No. 4-ranked Auburn University Tigers met to play the “Iron Bowl”… an in-state football rivalry.  With one second left on the clock, Alabama attempted a 57-yard field goal to win the game.  The kick was a miss that Auburn Tiger Chris Davis returned 100 yards to win the game, 34-28.  It was a historical finish… one that sportscasters will talk about for decades… and one that has caused many people – myself included – to recognize that there is always hope… even in a football game!
 
And so we come to this scripture passage from Mark where a young girl has died, and the people are essentially saying, “There is no need to turn to Jesus… it’s too late.”  And the simple yet profound response from Jesus is that… “It is NEVER too late for Me!”
 
I have a little desktop book of quips and quotes that I flip the page each day…and for today, it said, “May the dazzling rays of the sunshine of God’s love reach through the clouds of your life and brighten up your skies.”  This expression of hope truly captures the essence of Christian faith.  No matter the “clouds of your life”… no matter how dismal and hopeless things appear, it is never too late with Jesus!  Nothing is settled… nothing is finished…His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness – and yes, HOPE… are eternal!
 
Many people need to hear this today.  For several - perhaps even YOU - there seems to be one second left on the clock and you are facing a seemingly insurmountable 100-yard, last-ditch effort.  And I am here to tell you that because of Jesus, all hope is not lost.  So won’t you spend a few minutes in prayer and communication with God… reaching out to Him and asking Him to fill you with hope where perhaps you have none?  Ask God to meet you on the “playing field of life” and give you the wisdom and courage for that last-second play…to fill you with hope in your darkest hour… to reach through the clouds of your life and brighten your skies with His incredible love.
 
With God, anything truly is possible…if only you will trust Him.  Do you have hope and faith in Him today?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus
 
*Quote attributed to Yogi Berra

Daily Devotional for December 8, 2013

John 4:13-14
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
 
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 know that I’ve been talking for days now about the winter storm we’ve been having… but it’s a pretty big deal when your daytime high temperatures in central Arkansas for the first week of December are in the low to mid-twenties.  It’s an even bigger deal when the night-time lows dip into the teens and single digits!  So when I tell you it’s cold and icy here… baby, it’s cold and icy here!
 
A friend of ours posted a photo of her husband putting out water for the birds in their yard.  Greg decided that our songbirds could probably use a drink as well… everything in sight is frozen solid as a rock!  So he ventured out to the bird feeder and filled a 3-lb. plastic coffee can and a plastic lid from a large container with water.  The birds flocked to these vessels and began to drink and splash.  They were truly glad to have fresh water!  Here’s the thing, though… that water froze pretty quickly.  So Greg made more than one trip to the bird feeder yesterday to refresh the water supply for the birds.
 
Yes, we know that there are “heaters” you can purchase to keep the birds’ water from freezing.  But we seldom have an outbreak of weather this cold for this long… and we have never gone so far as to purchase a “bird-bath heater”.  If this weather trend continues into actual winter, we may have to re-think this!  Meanwhile, our birds will have to make do with intermittent drinks as we manage to venture out into the cold and ice to replenish their supply.
 
Here’s the Good News… the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ never freezes or runs dry!  We have ready access to an unending supply of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness.  Even better, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience a continual fountain that flows from our heart and bubbles out like a freshwater spring.  We can actually have more than we ever need… enough to share with everyone we encounter!  This is far better than having a heater for the bird bath!  Nothing compares to the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
 
What about you?  Is your fountain flowing freely with the Living Water of Jesus?  Or are you frozen… hard-hearted… or even altogether empty?  The choice is totally yours.  Jesus offers each of us hope, courage, confidence and joy through His Living Water.  He gave His very life for ours so that we can spend Eternity with Him… and enjoy His blessings in the meantime.  Are you living with hope and faith in His promises?  Who supplies your “water” these days?

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 2, 2013

Hebrews 3:1-6
My friends, God has chosen you to be his holy people. So think about Jesus, the one we call our apostle and high priest!  Jesus was faithful to God, who appointed him, just as Moses was faithful in serving all of God’s people.  But Jesus deserves more honor than Moses, just as the builder of a house deserves more honor than the house.  Of course, every house is built by someone, and God is really the one who built everything.
 
Moses was a faithful servant and told God’s people what would be said in the future.  But Christ is the Son in charge of God’s people. And we are those people, if we keep on being brave and don’t lose hope.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
In 39+ years of marriage, Greg and I have moved more than ten times.  Two of those moves were into new houses that were constructed for us by the same builder… and another was a house he remodeled for us.  It would be safe to say that we are partial to Willie Stone Construction Co. This father/son duo and crew have built a reputation in our area for creating beautiful homes and doing quality work.
 
We’ve added our “touch” to every house in which we have lived.  Some were created by reputable builders who put quality work into every board and nail.  Others were less than they appeared and required constant upkeep and repairs.  So while we always made them look nice, the understructure was not always top notch!  We learned through experience and careful observation that who you choose as your builder matters! We also learned that it matters who is in charge of the crew.  Some sub-contractors worked very hard day in and out… while others worked far harder and faster when the boss was on the scene!  In the end, the house will only be as good as its designer and builder… only as sound as those who actually did the work and the person(s) who supervised them and checked the work.
 
So what does this have to do with our spiritual life and living with hope?  Why was this analogy even used in scripture to present this message?  Here’s how I see it.  God is the builder… Jesus is the supervising contractor… and we are the house.  We were designed and created by God. Jesus came to earth to show us how to live in the house God built for us… to “supervise” our growth and development as His disciples and to actually give us life through His death on the cross… and our lives as Christians are the end result.  If we pay attention, listen well, and live with hope and confidence in Jesus, our “structure” will be sound – and last into Eternity.  If we play fast and loose and allow shoddy workmanship in the form of sin and the devil’s tricks to factor into our lives, we’ll always need upkeep and repairs… our lives might very well crumble and fall into disrepair… and they might even become “uninhabitable.”
 
We must stay strong.  We must make wise choices.  We must seek the best “Builder” for our life (God) and put our faith in a “Supervisor” (Jesus Christ) who will create in us a quality product.  We must be on the lookout and guard our hearts against shoddy workmanship and shortcuts.  We must truly stay strong and selective and say, “I will only be a house built by God Almighty!”  We must claim that “on Christ the solid rock I stand,” as the old hymn says…and have hope and confidence that He will build nothing but the best in us.
 
Who have you chosen as your Ultimate Builder?  How firm is your foundation?  Are YOU built to last into Eternity?  Don’t you want to be? Isn’t it time you chose Jesus as your “supervisor” and placed your hope in Him?  Will this be the day you begin?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 1, 2013

Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
 
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.
 
This morning, the Facebook post of a friend reminded me that I had a few more Christmas decorations that I had not yet placed on display.  I know…hard to imagine, for those who know me… but I opened a drawer upstairs and found the miniature tree with “nativity” ornaments… a few decorations for Greg’s office… and one more item - a golden school bus ornament.  Last Christmas, my Mam-ma Polly’s pastor, Bro. JR – who was like a grandson to her – gave her a painted glass “school bus” ornament.  My grandmother was a school bus driver in our community for eleven years.  That bus was a nod to days when she was vibrant and active – and in my mind – able to do virtually anything! 
 
When Mam-ma died in March, we placed the school bus with her until after the funeral… and I brought it home to hang on our tree… fulfilling a promise I made to her last Christmas that I would hang it each year and think of her.  And hang it I did – this morning, alongside the handmade doily ornament that holds a photograph of my grandparents and my dad when he was a boy.
 
This was a bittersweet moment for me… but also one filled with hope.  Because I believe in the promises of God… because I operate fully in the faith that Jesus came to earth to live and die for me – and that I will be with Him forever in Heaven someday… because I know that my Mam-ma Polly and countless others who believed wait there for me… I can have hope.  I can anticipate a time that I truly cannot “see”… but most certainly am assured will happen.  And this fills me with joy.
 
We all know the “let-down” of realizing that another Christmas season has come and gone.  For many of us, the anticipation of Christmas Day will build over the next twenty-five days… until many of us are in nothing short of a total frenzy.  And by December 31st, Christmas will all but be a distant memory for most.  Decorations will come down, the gifts will be put away, diets will commence, and we will be “over it” and on to the next big event.
 
We can anticipate another holiday season in eleven months.  But ultimately, Christmas Days will cease for each of us – at least in the earthly sense.  I will admit that I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas.  Truthfully, I’m hanging my hopes and dreams on a “Christmas” that never ends… the promise I have been given of endless days in the presence of Jesus – celebrating Him with family members, friends, and “brothers and sisters in Christ” who will join me at His feet again and again.  I cannot see/touch/feel this… but I believe in it all the same.
 
Until my earthly days are over, I will celebrate Christmas in the traditional manner.  I will hang the school bus ornament and others…decorate for the holidays… bake and shop, wrap gifts, send cards, and sing Christmas carols.  And I will do my best to live in a manner that honors the promises of Jesus… the incredible sacrifices He has made for me.  I will share His Good News with others and encourage them to share in my confidence that an eternity in Jesus’ presence is a part of our future. In essence, I will try to live like each earthly Christmas might be my last… and I say this without sorrow or trepidation.
 
I have faith that heaven awaits me…hope that it will actually happen… and assurance about my eternal future. Do you?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 30, 2013

Hebrews 10:22-25
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  All rights reserved.
 
Every year of our 39+-year marriage – except maybe two of them – we’ve decorated our house for Christmas.  One year I had surgery right before Thanksgiving, and I don’t think we even put up a tree.  Another year, we were moving, and everything was in boxes.  But aside from that, I think we have put up at least a small tree and gotten out some lights and decorations every single year… even in years when we truly weren’t in the mood.
 
I can tell you… decorating for Christmas is a lot of work… especially at our house! (HUGE nod to Greg for carrying most of the heavy boxes and our big tree down the stairs!)  But it is also an act of love… for each other and for others who will visit our home this holiday season.  Call it a way of making ourselves “presentable inside and out”…because there is a whole lot more going on with Christmas decorating and festivities than putting up a tree and getting out some decorations.
 
My friend John Birdsong noted last night how he and his family had spent the day decorating… and reminiscing.  Each decoration held some memory or personal meaning for them.  His wife Belinda - a school teacher far longer than I was - hung ornaments she had been given by former students.  They put out nativities that they had purchased when the kids were little.  And they laughed and smiled and remembered the hows/wheres/whens of these precious mementos that warm their home and encourage love and goodwill.  And we’ve been doing the same thing.
 
There are sweet memories attached to many of our pieces.  And even some of the newer ones are taking on a special meaning.  As I sat out an inexpensive wooden snowman yesterday, I remembered how Timothy has loved to play with it these last few Christmases.  It was one of several decorations that I knew he couldn’t break and would enjoy, so I set them on a low shelf for him to reach.  I hung plastic and non-breakable ornaments on a little fiber-optic tree that twinkles and blinks.  I picked it up at an estate sale for a dollar… so it’s nothing special.  But when I remember how it makes the children’s eyes dance with delight, that tree is worth 100 times what I paid - or more.
 
There are ornaments on our tree that my Mam-ma Polly made – her felt birds, quilted “pillows” made from Santa faces I cross-stitched the Christmas my grandparents’ house burned, and a crocheted “doily” ornament that holds a picture of my grandparents and my dad when he was about four or five.  There are nativities I have collected over the years... several given to me by loved ones, and others purchased at estate sales of friends I knew and loved.  There is the trunk that belonged to Greg’s grandfather… laden with Christmas needlework I have done, vintage Santas, and a little ceramic Christmas tree that twinkles in the corner.  And before Christmas Eve, Greg will put out twinkling “reindeer” in the front yard… a gift to me one Christmas - now a promise to the children that the reindeer who “went back to the North Pole” would return again at Christmas time.  He’ll also set out a large plywood Santa that his dad cut out for us more than two decades ago.  We painted the features to create a replica of the Santa that stood in the Robus family’s yard when Greg was a child.
 
I could continue my description of holiday traditions that we will continue.  We could also just say, “Forget it!” and not do them!  But Christmas is the season of hope… and in that spirit, we decorate and celebrate all over again each year. As we enter into the days of Advent, hear this message…Christmas is not the end, but the beginning… the reminder many of us need to keep putting one foot ahead of the other and moving forward.  We were given a tremendous gift when Jesus Christ was born.  While the true meaning of His life on earth is revealed in the story of Easter and His resurrection…it starts with His birth.  God’s gift of Jesus on that starry night represents the promise of eternal salvation.  That’s enough to keep me going… wouldn’t you agree?
 
Moreover, we have an incredible opportunity in the coming days to practice demonstrating Christ’s love to others… being the “real deal” for Jesus inside and out…worshipping together… and being inventive as we encourage others and help them.  Then we can spend the other eleven months of the year putting our “practice” to good use.  Maybe… just maybe… we can keep a spirit of hope in Jesus Christ alive past our earthly “Big Day”!  Because you see… this is not where the story ends… it’s where it begins.  The ultimate BIG DAY still lies ahead… when we meet Jesus face-to-face and spend the rest of eternity with Him.
 
So let’s decorate… let’s celebrate… let’s encourage and assist and demonstrate Christ’s love with gusto!  Let’s operate in hope on the inside and outside… and make it as natural to our lives as breathing.  Pour a cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea…put on your Christmas music…and get busy spreading hope in Jesus Christ as you “decorate” your life for the BIG DAY!  He is coming… will you be ready?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 27, 2013

Ephesians 1:11-12
It’s in Christ that we find out who we are and what we are living for. Long before we first heard of Christ and got our hopes up, he had his eye on us, had designs on us for glorious living, part of the overall purpose he is working out in everything and everyone.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
When we were in high school, there was a big pep rally and bonfire the night before one of the football games.  I was a freshman… and a majorette in the marching band.   Greg was a senior…and a student assistant for the football team.  He says he spotted me in the firelight… and that after that night, he had his eye on me.  That was forty-two years ago!  I knew Greg’s name and who he was… I’d seen him at school and riding his motorcycle around town.  But I didn’t really know anything about him.  A few weeks later, we had our first date…and after that, we were pretty much inseparable.
 
I find it amazingly wonderful that long before we were even aware of each other, God was orchestrating our life together…that He had designs for “glorious living” for us as a couple.  Even more incredible is the realization that long before I was born, God had “designs for glorious living” for me… and an overall purpose that He was working out in everything and everyone around me.  And the coolest part of all is that He was doing the same things for you and countless others as well!  As this scripture tells us, long before we ever even were born - certainly well before we first heard about Jesus - He was thinking of us… planning for our future… orchestrating everything perfectly.
 
When you think about your relationship to Jesus in this manner, doesn’t it make sense to live with hope?  When you realize that long before you were even born God had His eye on you -  was planning for your glorious living - does it give you a reason to face whatever challenges and struggles you may be given… with confidence that He will work out everything for His overall perfect purpose?  Don’t you feel energized and encouraged to know that you are loved and cared for so deeply?  Doesn’t this give you hope for the future?
 
The God who can orchestrate the firelight so that the face of a 14-year-old girl catches the eye of a 17-year-old boy can surely shine a light on your future and the steps you need to take to accomplish His purpose.  The God who can plan so carefully for every aspect of your life… Who can even set your future mate in your path…can certainly line up the events of your days and show you the right choices to make.  The God who loved you enough to send Jesus Christ to earth to live and die for your sins close to 2000 years before you were born can surely handle whatever “life” tosses your way today… and in the days ahead.
 
This is GOOD NEWS… HOPEFUL news!  Do you know who you are and what you are living for in Jesus Christ?  Isn’t it time you figured it out?  Are you ready to face the future with hope and confidence that He has your back?  Will this be the day you begin?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 24, 2013

1 Peter 1:13-16
So roll up your sleeves, put your mind in gear, be totally ready to receive the gift that’s coming when Jesus arrives. Don’t lazily slip back into those old grooves of evil, doing just what you feel like doing. You didn’t know any better then; you do now. As obedient children, let yourselves be pulled into a way of life shaped by God’s life, a life energetic and blazing with holiness. God said, “I am holy; you be holy.”
 
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.
 
The Arkansas Razorbacks football team is not having a good year.  In fact, they have suffered a school-record eight straight losses.  This is the result of a number of things…including the residual fallout from an almost-two-year-old scandal that stood the athletic department on its ear for a while.  If you follow college football in general, you know that many fans are somewhat “rabid”… they love their team and want to win at all costs.  So it will come as no surprise that some would choose to go back to the “winning” program of a few years ago, headed by a dishonest and deceptive coach, rather than persevere to build something that has integrity and excellence over the long haul.
 
Let’s be honest… aren’t there times when we all want to throw up our hands and ask, “What’s the point?  Why am I even trying?”  Every one of us has times in our life when the old ways of doing just what we feel like doing sounds pretty good in comparison to the struggles and challenges of developing a life shaped by God’s life.  Nobody ever said being holy would be easy!
 
Hear the word of God from 1 Peter 2:18-26:

You who are servants, be good servants to your masters—not just to good masters, but also to bad ones. What counts is that you put up with it for God’s sake when you’re treated badly for no good reason. There’s no particular virtue in accepting punishment that you well deserve. But if you’re treated badly for good behavior and continue in spite of it to be a good servant, that is what counts with God.
 
This is the kind of life you’ve been invited into, the kind of life Christ lived. He suffered everything that came his way so you would know that it could be done, and also know how to do it, step-by-step.
 
He never did one thing wrong,
Not once said anything amiss.
 
They called him every name in the book and he said nothing back. He suffered in silence, content to let God set things right. He used his servant body to carry our sins to the Cross so we could be rid of sin, free to live the right way. His wounds became your healing. You were lost sheep with no idea who you were or where you were going. Now you’re named and kept for good by the Shepherd of your souls.

This should give us great hope. Because of Jesus, who has done so much for us, we can remain faithful…and filled with hope.  Surely we can persevere.  We.Can.Do.This!  We can keep working through all challenges and disappointments… and help build the Kingdom of Heaven.  We can strive to become more holy every single day… and in doing so, we can anticipate a life “energized and blazed with holiness” and blessings. 
 
Remember… in the end, God wins!  If we want to win with Him, we have to remain hopeful and holy.  The choice is ours… what will you do?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 7, 2013

Proverbs 12:20
Deceit fills hearts that are plotting evil;
    joy fills hearts that are planning peace!
 
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.
 
Recently, a man in Cleveland, Ohio, was sentenced to life in prison for the kidnapping and confinement of three young women who he held hostage and abused for more than a decade.  Captured between 2002 and 2004, when they were 14, 16, and 20, these women were freed in May 2013, when one of the women managed to escape and secure help.  During sentencing, the captor was given a chance to speak in court.  He launched into a lengthy “explanation” of how he was not a bad person… but rather a victim of his own sexual abuse - and subject to impulsive behavior.  He maintained that he was not a violent person, and he tried to claim that he and the women shared a “normal family” relationship.
 
What a perfect example this is of someone who plotted evil and filled his heart with deceit!  In fact, one of the victims spoke in court and labeled this man a hypocrite for attending church services every Sunday… and coming home to torture them afterward. Clearly, this is a sick, evil individual.  I cannot imagine that he has an ounce of peace in his heart.
 
As upsetting and disgusting as this story is, we must remember that horrible, evil incidents like this have occurred since even Old Testament times.  The devil is alive and well… and he loves to fill hearts with deceit.  Lest we start slinging mud too fast and far, we should stop and acknowledge that we all have a propensity for deceit.  Thankfully, most of us are not kidnappers and rapists… but we plot evil just the same.
 
When we “call in sick” so that we can do something fun, we are deceitful. When we make up excuses for friends, family members, co-workers, teachers, and others, we are devious, at best.  Many of us lie, cheat and steal in some form or another all week long, then attend church on Sunday like the most pious of believers!  Often, we tiptoe from one lie to the next… scared to death we will be “found out”… and stressed to the max as we try to juggle all of the deceptions we have created.  Think of the adage by Scottish author and novelist, Sir Walter Scott (1771 – 1832)… “Oh, what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.”  Where is the peace in this statement?
 
I have to believe that the women this man captured clung to the hope of peace someday… that they planned for it… dreamed of it… and believed that peace would once again be theirs.  If they experienced even the briefest moments of joy, these surely were found in thoughts of being free and reunited with family members and friends.  And I ask you… how do you plan for peace?  What do you anticipate… what is the focus of your hopes and dreams… where do you place your hope?  I have no clue how you answer these questions, but I can tell you that my ambitions and aspirations ultimately begin and end with Jesus.  I don’t know what my future holds… but I know that He holds my future.  I don’t know where or how joy will come, but I know that He will ensure that my heart is filled.
 
A dear friend of mine told me just today that “I am wondering now how anyone functions without being covered in the Peace of God. Thank goodness He is growing me daily, carries my burdens, and leads me with a growing clarity.”  My question for you today is this… “Who grows you daily, carries your burdens, and leads you with a growing clarity?  Are you covered in God’s peace?  Is your heart filled with His joy… or do you still make room there for the devil?”  Won’t you stop and think about this today?  Will you ask God to show you how and where you need to change your attitude… and your objectives?  Will this be the day you begin to fill your heart with God’s joy by planning peace?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 14, 2012

Isaiah 40:6-11
Someone told me to shout, and I asked, “What should I shout?”

We humans are merely grass, and we last no longer than wild flowers. At the Lord’s command, flowers and grass disappear, and so do we. Flowers and grass fade away, but what our God has said will never change. Your God Is Here!

There is good news for the city of Zion. Shout it as loud as you can from the highest mountain. Don’t be afraid to shout to the towns of Judah, “Your God is here!” Look! The powerful Lord God is coming to rule with his mighty arm. He brings with him what he has taken in war, and he rewards his people.

The Lord cares for his nation, just as shepherds care for their flocks. He carries the lambs in his arms, while gently leading the mother sheep.

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

The temperatures are mild here today… it’s a good day for “outside work.” So my husband is busy trimming shrubs and blowing leaves. We have beautiful pink “knock-out” roses in our front flower beds, and they have actually bloomed and been prettier this fall than they were all summer during drought conditions. So we had an autumn wreath and “fall” pillows on the front porch, flanked by bright pink roses!

With recent frosts and a bit of a “cold snap,” the roses finally began to wither and fade. So today, my husband is pruning them back for a winter’s rest. We know that they will return next spring with vigor and renewed beauty. The rose is still a beautiful flower… my husband is still caring for the bushes…but the momentary splendor and loveliness has faded.

As I read this passage and thought about the roses, I also thought of my grandmother, who appears to be finishing her earthly life in the coming days/weeks/months. Her former vigor and enthusiasm have waned and faded… her ability to “tell you what” or even get out a good “my land a livin’” is gone. But she can still smile when she sees a precious friend or loved one. She still belongs to God...and I know that He is still here! I cupped her face and tried to soothe her one day this week as she struggled to get comfortable, and I thought, “This must be how God comforts us!” When we are frustrated, sick, lonely, and fading, God must stroke our cheek and say, “There, there… I’m still here! I am carrying you and meeting your every need. Lean in closer and feel my love and care.”

Every life has ebbs and flows… ups and downs… times of great splendor and beauty – and times when the loveliness fades. But we must always remember that GOD IS HERE! He has not left. God never fades away… His word is still true… His love is still sure… His mercy and goodness endure forever. This is great news! This hope and promise are what will lift us to “bloom” another day. You may be experiencing a momentary or temporary pruning, but with God, all things are possible… and your future is bright.

So when you start to feel frustration creeping in… when you start to wither and fade… remember Who is holding you, stroking your face, giving you strength and courage. Say to yourself… and to anyone else who will listen… our God is still HERE!... and be encouraged.

©2012 Debbie Robus