Daily Devotional for January 9, 2017

1 Peter 3:13-18
Usually no one will hurt you for wanting to do good. But even if they should, you are to be envied, for God will reward you for it. Quietly trust yourself to Christ your Lord, and if anybody asks why you believe as you do, be ready to tell him, and do it in a gentle and respectful way.

Do what is right; then if men speak against you, calling you evil names, they will become ashamed of themselves for falsely accusing you when you have only done what is good. Remember, if God wants you to suffer, it is better to suffer for doing good than for doing wrong!

Christ also suffered. He died once for the sins of all us guilty sinners although he himself was innocent of any sin at any time, that he might bring us safely home to God. But though his body died, his spirit lived on...

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
    
You’ve heard the joke about “I had a drug problem…I was drug to church.”  That pretty well describes me and my siblings. We didn’t go EVERY time the church doors were open…mainly because I don’t think my parents could manage the logistics of working several jobs and getting us there on Wednesday nights. But if we missed a Sunday morning or evening service, somebody had better be on his/her deathbed! We weren’t the only kids in our church who attended that “faithfully.”  There were a few more in the same boat. And we were often labeled by others as the “goody-two-shoes” - or laughed at because we tried to abide by the lessons (and fear of burning in Hell) that were drilled into us!

There were a few sympathetic adults who tried to commiserate with us when our parents were strict…while defending them for being that way. And more than one mentor told me that someday, I would understand the benefits of my childhood “suffering” for Jesus by doing good. At the time, I thought these folks were nuts…or just feeding me a line.  But over the years, I’ve come to see that doing what is good…and right…is always best.

There have been times when I wanted to lash out…and there have been times when I did just that (and almost always regretted it later, if not immediately). But there have been times when I have managed to hold my tongue and suppress the desire to express my feelings toward someone who was unkind or unfair…and I have always been better for it.  Whether that person recognized his/her mistake or not…I knew that GOD knew.  Whether I ever get an apology or better treatment, I know that God will bless my efforts.

Many years ago, I was in a situation where some pretty unfair things happened in the workplace because of one particular person. One day, a senior supervisor and I were talking, and he noted that these things were happening. And then he said, “I’ve been watching you…and I have never heard you say one unkind thing about this person. I’ve never seen you act inappropriately or voice your disagreement…and I KNOW you had to have been extremely frustrated at times.  But it never showed…and I am truly impressed.”

I had no clue this person had been paying attention. I really thought nobody knew or cared.  To be honest, things didn’t really improve all that much after this conversation…but at least I knew that I had an ally. And I knew that God was blessing my efforts to do the right thing and contain my frustrations.

We will all be faced with opportunities to “be good” – and to yell, kick, scream and show out when others “do us wrong.”  But let’s remember Who we really need to serve – and impress.  Let’s remind ourselves Who truly matters.  More importantly, let us never forget how Jesus suffered and was ridiculed…all because of us. It’s amazing to think about…but Jesus would do all of this again for us in a heartbeat!

Now with this in mind, how can WE behave any differently toward others?  How can we acknowledge and appreciate Jesus’ gift while lashing out at others and doing the wrong things?  Isn’t it time we trust God to handle ALL things…even the words and actions of those who would criticize and mistreat us?  Are you willing to “suffer” for your faith - and demonstrate honor and glory for Jesus’ great gift of suffering for us?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2017 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 15, 2016

Romans 1:16-17
For I am not ashamed of this Good News about Christ. It is God’s powerful method of bringing all who believe it to heaven. This message was preached first to the Jews alone, but now everyone is invited to come to God in this same way. This Good News tells us that God makes us ready for heaven—makes us right in God’s sight—when we put our faith and trust in Christ to save us. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the Scripture says it, “The man who finds life will find it through trusting God.”

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’ve been having some serious conversations with God lately…peppered with several questions…”How? Why? When? Will we? Can we? What if?”  We all want to believe that everything will be okay…in a myriad of circumstances and situations.  But the head and heart often have a major disconnect.

For more than a few of us, there are people in our lives who have questions, also – especially children. As Christian disciples, it is somewhat our job to reassure them.  Just as God promises us that He has the power – and desire – to meet our every need (perfectly!)…we must assure those we encounter of this claim.  In order to make a good “sell,” we have to believe it for ourselves!

Read the last sentence of our scripture passage again…”The man who finds life will find it through trusting God.”  Don’t you want this?  Don’t you want to live in confidence and peace, rather than fear and an unsettled spirit?   I know I do…and I am working hard to fortify my trust in God.  I am studying His word…praying…and seeking encouragement in the everyday blessings He bestows upon me.

I am not ashamed of the Good News about Christ…and I am determined to build my faith and trust as God makes me ready for heaven – and demonstrate this to others.  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 22, 2016

Matthew 5:13-16
You are like salt for everyone on earth. But if salt no longer tastes like salt, how can it make food salty? All it is good for is to be thrown out and walked on.
You are like light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill cannot be hidden, and no one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lampstand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in heaven.

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

Last Sunday, I read the story of Moses and the plagues God sent to the Egyptians to the students in the 2nd-3rd grade Sunday school class.  I shared this passage from the Contemporary English Version…and it “read” like an action movie!  The children were totally engaged…and eager to hear what came next!  There is nothing wrong with other translations of the Bible…and you may have noticed that I use at least three in writing these daily messages.  But this particular translation gave the Old Testament story “salt and light” - and truly captured the attention of the children who heard it.

Many Sundays, I’ve passed out Bibles in the classroom and shared scripture passages with the children.  These Bibles are NIV (New International Version), which is often difficult for young children to understand…so there has to be a lot of added explanation, which is not a bad thing.  But often, when we have stop and explain what God is saying, we quickly lose the attention of those to whom we are speaking.

Think about this…it is so easy to hand someone a Bible and say, “Read this, and you’ll see what God is all about – and what He has to say to you.”  Now just how effective to you suppose this approach would be?  When we add the “salt and light” – our own personal experiences…an intimate explanation of how the God’s word has affected our own life…people pay closer attention.  God becomes “relatable.”  When we live in a way that demonstrates God’s wisdom, power, love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings in our own life, others take notice.

This is why we must not “hide our light under a barrel.”  We must seek ways to share God’s message with others…utilize understandable Biblical translations, both literal and through our own personal witness...offer demonstrations of the teachings of Jesus in action…and add ”salt” in our daily servings of Christian discipleship!

The challenge for each of us is to maintain exactly the right balance.  Too much salt can be just as bad as none at all.  We don’t want to come on too strongly. Jesus never forces Himself on anyone…and neither should we!  But we must never shy away from a chance to give others a glimpse of Jesus in our own daily living.  

Go…share…love…SHINE for Jesus!  Prayerfully find the balance of “salt and light” that He wants you to embody…and watch how others respond to your witness.

Are you “well-seasoned and illuminated” for Jesus?  Isn’t it time you were?
 
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 6, 2016

John 3:10-15  
Jesus replied: How can you be a teacher of Israel and not know these things? I tell you for certain that we know what we are talking about because we have seen it ourselves. But none of you will accept what we say. If you don’t believe when I talk to you about things on earth, how can you possibly believe if I talk to you about things in heaven?

No one has gone up to heaven except the Son of Man, who came down from there. And the Son of Man must be lifted up, just as that metal snake was lifted up by Moses in the desert. Then everyone who has faith in the Son of Man will have eternal life.

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

Several years ago, my mother gave me a little desktop flip calendar called “365 Days of Humor for Women.”  Today’s entry says…”Tell people that there are 400 billion stars, and they’ll believe you.  Tell them a bench has wet paint, and they’ll have to touch it.”  Talk about a perfect fit for today’s scripture passage!

Too many of us are running around wringing our hands and bemoaning this or that, when what we ought to be doing is “picking up the snake” and trusting God to make good on His promises!  We SAY we believe in Jesus…that He is the LORD of our lives…but we surely do not act like it or demonstrate this to others.  It’s like we went through the turnstile at a concert, but didn’t go on in for the show!  We are stuck!  We accepted Jesus…we received His forgiveness and redemption…but we’ve done nothing since then to share our newfound faith with others – or even demonstrate that we trust in an unseen God.

The crazy thing is that we readily accept everything from the posts we read on social media to the gossip we hear on the streets to those outlandish promises that if we just sign up for XYZ, we could win everything from a cruise or free airline tickets to millions of dollars!  But when it comes to Jesus, we need to “touch the bench” to make sure the paint is really wet!

I do not dare to judge others, but I do notice a lot of people who are ready to like a meme about Jesus, or one of those “If-you-really-love-Jesus-like-this-and-share-it” posts.  And right before or after this, they claim to the world that “My ‘ex’ is a jerk,” call a politician or someone who differs with them in some manner an ugly name, or declare that “I’m a Christian, so I am so much better than someone who believes such-and-such.”  This is what Jesus explained to Nicodemus…either you are “all in” with Him, or you are stuck at the “turnstile.”  Either you trust wholeheartedly that Jesus is ready, willing, and able to meet all of your needs, or you are touching the bench to see if the paint is really wet.

We need to pull it together and get real about our faith.  We need to understand that Jesus did not redeem us so that we could go on about our old ways of living and continue to doubt, gossip, or mistreat others. In short, we cannot continue to sin as much as more than we did before we supposedly gave our hearts to Him. Yes, Jesus’ love is unconditional…but His salvation comes with a mission! And it is time we got busy fulfilling our assignments!

Are you ready to believe Jesus for everything…and act like it?  Will you make this the day that you move forward and begin to truly live as Christ’s disciple?  Let others see your faith in action.  Stand up…step out – and boldly declare that you know who Jesus is - and what He can do for each of us. Are you ready to prove your confidence in Christ’s power? Are you ready to demonstrate unequivocally that when He says “the bench has wet paint,” you never have to touch it to be certain?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2016 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for September 5, 2016

John 3:5-8
Jesus answered:

I tell you for certain that before you can get into God’s kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don’t be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God’s Spirit gives new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going.

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

Last year after Halloween, I bought “super-hero” costumes off the clearance rack and  gave Timothy, Zola and Nathan each a costume for Christmas. The children have had capes and masks before…but this was the “whole shebang”…suit, mask, and accessories.  And all three kids have almost worn these costumes threadbare.  Ask Nathan who he is when in costume, and he will tell you, “I’m Batman®!” or “I’m Spiderman®!”  But ask about the well-known superheroes…especially Spiderman®…and these children can also readily tell you that he is the alter-ego of "Peter Parker."  Even though they believe that the costume makes them (at least temporarily) into someone else (if only in a pretend sense), they also grasp the concept of “human” – and “superhuman”.

I guess it should come as no surprise to me how readily these little ones accept God.  They know we cannot see Him…they understand that “God lives ‘up there’ in Heaven,” as Nathan puts it.  They will even tell you that God lives in our hearts, too…and they believe it!  We are working to establish the understanding that God is not just a “superhero” like Spiderman®, Iron Man® or Superman®…that He is REAL all the time – even if we cannot “see” Him – or an alter-ego - in the flesh.

I’m wondering at what point we change from being children who readily accept that God exists to the questioning beings that many of us are today.  When do we stop believing what God tells us and start to doubt Him?  Why do so many of us SAY we trust in Jesus, and then fail to act as if we do?  How can we possibly demonstrate Christian faith to others when our own confidence is so terribly lacking?

We need to buckle down and spend some time with God…both studying His word and in prayer and conversation.  We need to re-establish the connection of faith…and to truly grasp what it means to be “born of water and spirit” – and changed into a child of God.  Some of us have not made that leap of faith – and fully embraced the Holy Spirit.  We’re like a little kid who put on the superhero costume, then sat down and refused to play the part.  The costume adds nothing if we don’t put on the “spirit.” And once we take it off, we are no different than when we began.

The time is here to put on the “spirit” of God…to carry Him in our hearts every minute of the day.  We have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus…now it is time to put on His whole armor…and keep it on…to become the spirit-filled child of God that He has made us to be!  By the time God calls us to heaven, our “outfit” should be so threadbare that He can’t help but reward us with a new one!

My question to you today is, “Who are you?”  Have you truly been transformed into a spirit-filled child of God?  Can others readily see this?  Are you really ready to fully embrace your New Life in Christ – and His Holy Spirit - forever and ever?  Will this be the day that you make the change?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 3, 2016

John 20:24-29
But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”

But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”

Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”

Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”

Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”

Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”

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 recent television interview, Arkansas Razorbacks head football coach, Bret Bielema, shared the story of his 27-year-old sister Betsy’s death in 1990.  Betsy Bielema was in Seattle, Washington, working with underprivileged children. She broke her neck when she landed on her head after a horse she was riding encountered a snake and threw her.  Bret Bielema was understandably devastated by this shocking loss.  But he shared that after her passing, his pastor asked him, “What is something you will always remember about Betsy?”  Bielema noted that his sister LOVED donuts.

The pastor told Bret Bielema that from now on, whenever he sees donuts, he should stop and tell SOMEONE about his sister…that this will keep her memory alive.  Bielema asked the reporter [paraphrased]…”Do you know how many airports I’m in and how many Cinnabon® shops I pass?”  He added that he always stops and tells someone about Betsy - sometimes even complete strangers!  But Bielema admitted that talking about his sister and remembering keeps her “alive” in his heart and memories.

Even our little children understand that when someone dies, we cannot see them any longer – but they are still “with us.”  Just yesterday, four-year-old Nathan was telling me (more to reassure himself) that “God is in our hearts…just like Granny.  Granny died, but she is still in our hearts!” And he is so right.  We talk about my mother, look at pictures, and carry on some of her “traditions” in an effort to keep her memory strong - and recognize her “presence.”

Quite often, my mother hosted a birthday dinner for my niece, Jasmine.  She did this as recently as last year.  So this year…Greg and I hosted the dinner.  A cousin applauded our efforts to “keep the family strong” and noted that…”It would be way easier to let it all go.”  I thought about Coach Bielema…how busy he is and how it must be incredibly inconvenient at times to stop in an airport - or wherever he happens to encounter donuts – and tell someone about his sister.

But what if we just let go of these people?  More importantly, what if we just “let Jesus go?”  What if we didn’t carry on His work and “believe without seeing?” I still remember the first time I heard this scripture passage taught and realized that people who have never “seen” Jesus (like you and I) – yet believe in Him with our whole hearts – are extra precious to God.  It’s easy to love someone, talk about them, and share in their experiences when they are physically with us. But to keep them “alive” after they have passed takes effort…faith…hope…strength…and perseverance.

So this is our mission for today…to “Keep Jesus Alive!”  We must go the extra mile to do His work and share His message with others.  We must be willing to “stop people in an airport” and tell them about this amazing Prince of Peace that none of us can physically “see”…but Who is completely present with us at all times - in ways great and small.  We must honor the importance that God has given to each of us in His Kingdom. We must trust in an unseen Savior…and “make Him real” to others.

It would be way easier to let it all go…but then we would be left with absolutely nothing.  And I want no part of a life without Jesus…what about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 3, 2016

Romans 8:1-4
If you belong to Christ Jesus, you won’t be punished. The Holy Spirit will give you life that comes from Christ Jesus and will set you  free from sin and death. The Law of Moses cannot do this, because our selfish desires make the Law weak. But God set you free when he sent his own Son to be like us sinners and to be a sacrifice for our sin. God used Christ’s body to condemn sin. He did this, so that we would do what the Law commands by obeying the Spirit instead of our own desires.

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

I heard some talk show hosts debating the pros and cons of “cheat days”…days when people who are working hard to lose weight and get fit are allowed to “cheat” and eat whatever they want for just that one day.  Usually, this is only permitted once a week…and some fitness “experts” say it helps people stay on track and feel like they are not missing out on the foods they love. Others say it makes no sense – that people are not “wired” to stop with just a small sampling of these “forbidden” foods and will often consume so many calories in this day of cheating that they negate all of their efforts throughout the rest of the week. Either way, this “cheat day” represents the human inability of most of us to maintain a rigid regimen of some sort for an extended period of time…much less forever!

I share this to illustrate that a lot of us have the best of intentions.  We are determined to lose weight, stop smoking or some other addictive habit, keep our house/car/yard/workspace neater, spend more time in Bible study, visit friends and loved ones more often, read 100 books or more a year, watch less TV, and achieve countless other goals and aspirations.  And we start out great…for a day – or maybe even a few weeks.  Then we start to falter.  One slip here…another there…one missed workout this week, followed by two next week…a television show or two…you know the drill!  Pretty soon, we have an arsenal of excuses for why we failed - and an equal number of vows to do better – until we often give up and decide to just “be who we are” and suffer the consequences...even at the risk of death and personal danger to our health and well-being.

As serious as this can be (depending on what we are talking about ) it cannot compare to the severity of our attitude in this regard when it comes to sin.  In these verses from Romans 8, the Apostle Paul points out why we cannot be trusted to handle our own atonement for sin.  He clearly illustrates that our selfish desires – and our tons of excuses – make it impossible for God to merely set down His Law and expect us to follow it!  So God sent Jesus to stand in the gap…to do what we could not…to pay for our sins once and for all.

Understand that this is not a license to live as we please.  We cannot ask Jesus to die for our sins and then make every day a “cheat day.”  But because of Jesus, we do not have to worry that God will renege on His promise to write our name in the Lamb’s Book of Life and give us a seat at His table for all Eternity when we make a misstep. 

If we confess our sins and ask forgiveness, Jesus will wash us clean with His own blood.  He took our punishment on the cross.  We do not have to live in fear or the constant dread that we are going to fail in some way.  We are freed to live in His abundance…to do our very best every day because we want to honor and please Him – not because we are afraid to do otherwise.  I don’t know about you, but this seems like a far superior plan to trying to follow God’s Law on my own – or even a “cheat day.”  I may not have any willpower when it comes to diet and a consistent exercise routine, keeping clutter at bay, and other habits and behaviors I would like to change. But when it comes to Jesus, He has my heart – and my back – and it doesn’t get any better!  Can you say the same for yourself?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 10, 2016

Matthew 24:25
The sky and the earth won’t last forever, but my words will.

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

I read a column written by a comedienne about being a grandparent “then vs. now.”  She compared how things were when WE were children to present day with humorous observations like how our baby food was whatever the adults were eating – only mashed…and today, a lot of parents want only “organic and gluten-free.”  Or how we used to live by the “5-second rule” about food dropped on the floor and then eaten…and today, we’re all about baby wipes and hand sanitizer.

The point was that things change.  The pendulum swings from one generation to the next.  Every few years, an “expert” declares that we’ve been doing things all wrong, and there is some newfangled method that is foolproof.  When I was a child, there were certain topics we would never have considered discussing “in polite company,” and now, pretty much anything is deemed “fair game” by many.  Words I never thought I would hear uttered in public are now in the mainstream on prime time and daytime television…and nobody even looks up from their electronic device!

I do not necessarily endorse these changes.  I merely make note of them to point out that we humans are fickle.  What we wholeheartedly believe one year changes the next.  We are easily swayed and persuaded…and as a result, we often find it hard to trust anything or anyone.

But JESUS is the real deal.  He never changes.  When everything has totally dissolved into nothingness, His word will still stand.  The promise that He will always love us…that He will cleanse us of all sin if we ask Him to…that His peace is given to us and will never leave…that He is preparing a home for us in Heaven and will return for us someday…all of these are everlasting, steadfast, and unfailing.  We can “take them to the bank!”  His command to us to love others as He loves us will never change.  There will never be “exceptions to the rule” or qualifiers of any kind.

I don’t know about you, but in a sea of continual changes, this is a great comfort to me.  I serve a God whose message is timeless.  I surrendered my heart to a Savior who will NEVER alter His mission…never renege on a promise…never withhold His love.  We can’t ask for more than this!

As recipients of such amazing promises and their inherent benefits, we should be more than eager to glorify Jesus with our thoughts, words and actions.  We should strive to stand strong in our resolve to love Him and serve Him.  We should make every effort to carry out Jesus’ teachings…to demonstrate love and kindness to every person we encounter – and to recognize his/her worth in God’s eyes.  We should continually check our behavior and conversation and see where we speak negativity and disparity – or downright hatred – toward others. 

We are human. Our words will never hold the same promise and authority as those of Jesus.  But as we strive to be more like Him, our level of integrity should increase exponentially.  We should walk in truth and confidence that what Jesus taught us is infallible and endures forever…and we should do our best to emulate these truths in our own daily living. 

Do you believe that Jesus’ word endures forever?  Are you demonstrating this to others in your own words and actions?  Don’t you think it’s time you did? 

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 8, 2016

Mark 16:15
Then he told them:

Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world.

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

I Googled “Your mission, should you choose to accept it,” and I actually got about 77,700,000 results!  If you do not know this phrase, you’ve probably never seen a “Mission Impossible” movie or television show, because this is how they all begin…with a message to the agent about his assignment - and this phrase.

If you go back and read Mark 16:14, you will see that Jesus is talking to His disciples.  In fact, Jesus has just given them “what-for” because some of them did not believe those who saw Him after He was raised to life. He appears to the disciples and lays out their “mission”…to “Go and preach the good news to everyone in the world.”  And this is OUR mission, too.  Jesus follows this with an admonition in verse 16 that...”Anyone who believes me and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe me will be condemned.” 

The message is quite clear…but just in case you have any questions about what Jesus said, let’s break this down a bit.  First, we are called to believe in Jesus, even though we have never seen Him.  We are to surrender our heart, mind and soul to a God we have never seen in the flesh…to trust that He is the ultimate Authority in our lives…and to surrender completely to Him.  Then, we are to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ and what He did for us with everyone we encounter. We are to demonstrate our faith, behave in a way that honors His teachings to love others and treat them as we wish to be treated, and to trust God to handle every aspect of our daily living according to His will and in perfect fashion.

There are also a couple of things this passage does NOT say.  First, Jesus does not say that we must be baptized in order to be saved.  Yes, in verse 16, He says that those who believe in Him and are “baptized” will be saved, but those who refuse to believe in Him will be condemned.  But let’s be clear…this does not necessarily mean a “water baptism.”  If it did, the thief on the cross would not have been promised an Eternity with Jesus in heaven.  I believe that the word “baptized” in this context means that we must die to our sins and old way of life and be “washed clean” (or baptized), in the blood of Jesus.

Additionally, Jesus is not telling us that we have to go around the world as missionaries.  When He says to share His GOOD NEWS with the world…I believe He uses that word collectively.  Your “world” and mine may not be the same.  You may travel for recreation or work and encounter people, quite literally, around the world.  You may go on mission trips for this specific purpose.  Or you may be like me - pretty well a “homebody” who does not venture out of her community often…so your “world” is your own backyard.  I also feel blessed to be able to share Jesus with “the world” via the Internet and any and all who may read these devotionals.  Each one of us has a different “world,” and this is where Jesus has called us to share His message.

Ultimately, Jesus’ commission is for us to live out our faith - wherever we are and whoever we encounter.  Frankly, I’ve been concerned lately about how some of us are doing in this area.  As we become more aggressive and assertive in expressing our thoughts and opinions, I fear we are losing sight of Jesus’ message to us.  We are confusing the “mission” to share the Good News with our desire to impose our attitudes and judgments on others.  So we are comfortable with name calling – and accepting those who seem to effortlessly throw barbs, criticisms and judgments – and we claim the name of Jesus while acting like downright jerks and bullies at times!

We give people in our “world” the impression that “I’m right, you’re wrong,” and God said so!  We behave badly, laugh at ugly jokes and remarks, and give our children (and others who are watching), the impression that this is all okay – that this is how “good Christians” act.  And surely God must hang His head in shame at how His children attempt to carry out the “mission.”

• Let’s stop and take a hard look at what Jesus called us to do. 
• Let’s renew our commitment to love Him wholeheartedly and serve Him according to His will – not our own. 
• Let’s surrender our sins to Him and ask for baptism in His cleansing blood.
• Let’s resolve to carry out Jesus’ mission – not our own…and to behave in a manner that is befitting of our “station” as His precious and redeemed children. 
• Let’s share the GOOD NEWS with those in our “world” and make every effort to never contaminate this message with our words or actions.

Let’s demonstrate true Christian faith and discipleship to everyone God puts in our path…and bring honor and glory to His Kingdom at every turn.  And let’s begin today.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 22, 2016

John 14:23-24
Jesus replied:

If anyone loves me, they will obey me. Then my Father will love them, and we will come to them and live in them. But anyone who doesn’t love me, won’t obey me. What they have heard me say doesn’t really come from me, but from the Father who sent me.

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

We picked up the boys yesterday afternoon and brought them home for an overnight stay.  Timothy is out of school today, and this is Nathan’s regular Friday to stay with us while Mom and Dad are at work.  We took the boys for haircuts…then we went to see our niece, Erin, play her final regular conference softball game.  The boys played on an adjacent playground during the game.  Then we picked up pizza and headed for home, where the brothers ate, played with Legos® and other toys, and drew/colored pictures.
 
Both boys were sitting at the counter coloring after their baths, and I told them it was almost bedtime.  Timothy asked if they could watch television in bed.  I told him I was not sure there would be time for that.  I was in another room, and I heard him say, “You don’t love us anymore.”  This was echoed by Nathan.  I told him that we do love them – very much – and Timothy said, “Well, if you loved us, you would do what WE want to do!  We just are not going to share our love with you anymore!”

I couldn’t help but think of this when I read today’s scripture passage.  Jesus is telling us that anyone who truly loves Him will obey Him – and by default, they will obey God.  Jesus is God’s “vehicle” to deliver love and instruction to us.  The wonderful thing about Jesus is that those of us who belong to Him are called to show our love for Him with our obedience and faithfulness…but HIS love for us is not dependent upon this!

We will love Timothy, Nathan and Zola even when they disobey us…but we won’t be very happy with them at times.  We know that the children are being manipulative and “testing the waters” when they say, “You don’t love me anymore”…or “If you don’t give me what I want, I won’t share my love with you any longer.”  We also know they don't really mean it!  When we disobey Jesus, He will still love us.  But when we deliberately choose to withhold our love from Jesus...this is a serious thing!

Greg gently reminded the boys of all of the fun things we had done yesterday…all because we love them.  And we don’t have to look far at all to see the wonderful things that Jesus does for us every minute of the day.  What’s not to love?  How can we possibly fail to have faith that He will continue to meet our every need? Why would we NOT want to obey One who loves us so unconditionally? 

Do you love Jesus…I mean REALLY love Him?  Is your life demonstrating just how much you value His presence in your life each and every day? Do you trust Jesus to represent God’s love and care to you?  Are you making every effort to show Him your love by serving Him with faithfulness and obedience - or are you trying to manipulate Him into doing what YOU want?  The time has come to decide whether we are making a difference for Jesus...or still trying to make our own point.  Which way will you choose?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 27, 2016

Acts 2:29-32   
My friends, it is right for me to speak to you about our ancestor David. He died and was buried, and his tomb is still here. But David was a prophet, and he knew that God had made a promise he would not break. He had told David that someone from his own family would someday be king.

David knew this would happen, and so he told us that Christ would be raised to life. He said that God would not leave him in the grave or let his body decay. All of us can tell you that God has raised Jesus to life!

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

This morning, I awoke to a beautiful sunrise over the valley outside our window.  My first thought was one of great comfort and joy…“Jesus is Risen!” I looked around the room at all of the preparations that had been made for this day.  The table was set to serve lunch to eleven, and the ham and side dishes were in the oven.  There were “Easter sacks” on the hearth filled with gifts for Timothy, Zola and Nathan.  The children had new outfits to wear today, and there were plenty of gifts and “new” things from others, as well.

This also signaled a new chapter in the life of our family…our first holiday dinner since my mother died.  She is spending this Easter Sunday in Heaven with Jesus… my dad and brother, her own parents and in-laws, and countless cousins and other relatives and friends.  No doubt, theirs will be a huge meal, with all of the “family favorites”…and the fellowship will be unbelievable.  I cannot wrap my brain around literally sharing “family dinners” with Jesus…but I look forward to the day when I can!

The message of Easter is not death…but life! We sometimes miss this!  We get so bogged down in the events that led up to this day…and they are important.  But a friend shared a blog post yesterday in which the writer aptly reminded us that Jesus rose from the grave and spent the next 40 days telling us how to spread the Good News.  He didn’t talk about Heaven…Jesus talked about how we were to go…preach…love others…share the Gospel…and “make disciples.”

So as you attend worship today, enjoy a sumptuous meal, hide and hunt the eggs, and eat far more candy than one person ought to consume…consider WHY Jesus rose from the grave. Think of what He has called us to do…and all that this week means for us.  He saved us, cleansed us of our sins…and called us to do great things in His name.  All parts of this equation are important. 

We cannot accept salvation in Jesus, then sit down and wait to die.  We must get up and get going!  Jesus is Risen…what about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 23, 2016

Acts 1:6-8
When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”

He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

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.

“Now can we have a prize?” This is the question our children asked me after they had played together nicely for a few minutes earlier this week.  I explained that we had the whole day to spend together…and if they continued to behave well, I would indeed bring out the prize basket at some point.  The kids didn’t know when this would happen…but they knew what they had to do to earn a treat or toy!  And for the most part, they waited patiently and got along.  When they least expected it, I brought out the prize basket and let them choose a reward.

Okay, so this is a really simplified illustration to unpack the return of Jesus.  But there ARE some parallels.  1) We don’t know the hour or day for Christ’s return.  It could happen before you finish reading this devotional, or it could happen centuries from now.  We simply do not know. 2) We have been given a purpose…the “Great Commission” to witness for Jesus to all people throughout the world.  This is not a command for you to hop on a plane and travel to Africa to become a missionary.  It is a call for us to serve wherever and whenever God provides us with opportunities…to “be the hands and feet of Jesus” on this earth until He returns or calls us Home.

I’ve thought a lot about timing lately.  None of us knows how long we will be on this earth…or what the day will bring.  If you had told me three months ago what all would happen in our family alone, I’m pretty sure I would not have believed you.  Life is filled with surprises…and none of us is promised tomorrow…or even the next hour!

But what we ARE promised is that Jesus has sent His Holy Spirit to be with us every step of the way! We are promised Eternity in His presence, if we surrender our heart and our sins to Him.  We are offered the ultimate “prize”…and in the scheme of things, very little is required in return.  The question becomes, “Why wouldn’t we want to share this Good News with others?”  I don’t serve Jesus because I have to…but because I want to do this!  It seems like a no-brainer to me in light of Who He is in my life and the way that He cares for me every single minute!

My prayer this week is that you would take a hard look at what Jesus did…and what He DOES for you every single day.  Think about all that He has sacrificed just so we can be with Him forever…free of guilt and shame, sin and sickness.  How can we not share His message with others?  How can we not strive to live as He designed each and every day – and serve Him with our whole heart? 

How can we “celebrate” Holy Week and not understand what it means to truly be Christ’s disciple…and demonstrate this to the world – or our little corner of it?  Are YOU “all in” this week before Easter?  Will you continue to serve after the eggs and bunnies are packed away?  The question the Disciples asked Jesus about His return could be asked of us in regard to our Christian service.  So I ask you today…”Is this the time?”  Don’t you think it should be?
   
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 20, 2016

2 Corinthians 5:20-21
We are Christ’s ambassadors. God is using us to speak to you: we beg you, as though Christ himself were here pleading with you, receive the love he offers you—be reconciled to God. For God took the sinless Christ and poured into him our sins. Then, in exchange, he poured God’s goodness into us!

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, I asked a group of fourth graders a few thought-provoking questions…”If you were given a million dollars to spend as you pleased, what would you buy?  If you could change places with any person, who would it be? If you could be any animal in the world, what would you choose?”  The point of this exercise was to get the kids thinking about their choices.

The answers were interesting – and even sweet. Three of the seven children said they would give some of their $1 million to the poor…and then spend the rest on fun things like cars, houses and land.  Two boys said they would not trade places with anyone…they are perfectly content with who they are and the life they have.  And one girl (who said she would spend her money on land and horses) said she wished to be a horse.  But the best answer of the morning came when I asked the kids who among them had given his/her heart to Jesus…and every single hand in the class was raised.

We talked at length today about how Jesus was sinless…and how He chose to take OUR sins upon himself to free us of their burden.  We talked about what this cost Jesus…and whether or not we could have physically endured what Christ did.  We also talked about how giving our heart to Jesus is not enough…we “have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk,” as one student put it.

I have to say, I was humbled by how these mostly-10-year-old kids seemed to understand the story of “Good Friday” and its events…as well as the crucifixion and what this means for each of us.  The theme of our lesson was choices, and I stressed to each person present how important it is for us to choose to put our Christian faith into action.  And this is also the theme of this scriptural message from Paul to the Corinthians.

As I shared with the students this morning, there is a difference between giving your heart to Jesus and living for Him - and demonstrating Christian faith and the teachings of Christ afterwards.  Baptism doesn’t “save” us and is not a prerequisite for getting into heaven. The thief on the cross who believed in Jesus proved that.  But as Paul points out, Jesus exchanged our sin for God’s goodness…and we are expected to demonstrate this to others…every day, in every thought, word and action.  Will we make mistakes?  You betcha!  Must we strive to continually do better?  Absolutely. 

Are you ready to live out your faith and salvation in this manner?  I surely hope so! The start of Holy Week is the perfect time for us to renew our commitment to live for Jesus.  There is NO WAY we can ever repay Him for all that he has done for us…but we can make our best effort to live in God’s goodness and share Christ’s message with others. Scriptures tell us that Jesus humbled Himself on our behalf. Isn’t it time we swallowed our pride and did whatever He asks of us?  Will this be the week that you begin?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 21, 2016

John 3:16-17
God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent him to save them!

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

This morning, I taught the Sunday school lesson to 2nd and 3rd graders.  The topic was missions, based on the story in Acts 10 of Cornelius and his encounter with Simon Peter.  Although these 8-and-9-year-olds love to get off topic, we talked about two primary points this morning…1) that Jesus did not die for the sins of only the “clean” – or any particular race, ethnic group, skin or eye color, or other distinguishing characteristic; and 2) we are ALL missionaries!

In an effort to explain “clean” and “unclean,” I turned to the book of Leviticus and read the children a few of the laws of that day…how you were not to touch a dead body…how pigs were considered off limits (they were APPALLED that this meant no bacon!)…how people were not to handle certain animals that crawled on the ground (which meant one little boy would not have been able to go hiking this afternoon to search for lizards and snakes!).  One of the boys asked, “So what changed? Why don’t we have to follow these laws today?”  That was the perfect segue to a discussion about Christ’s death on the cross to pay for our sins, once and for all.  With the blood of Jesus, we were ALL given the opportunity to be “washed clean” forever!

The children and I talked about discrimination…how Salvation through Jesus is available to EVERYONE…not just a chosen few.  We talked about how we can demonstrate this to others – particularly by our words and actions.  And I emphasized to these young disciples that each of them is a “missionary”…that others are watching their words and actions to see if they line up with the teachings of Jesus. Some of the children are going with their families to Peru this summer on a “mission trip.”  I stressed to all of the children that you do not have to travel to a foreign country to do mission work for Jesus…there are plenty of opportunities in our own backyards. So we all have work to do!

Here’s the thing for you and me…God so loved the world that He gave His only Son for ALL of us… so that everyone who has faith in Him can have everlasting life.  This is the best news ever!  There is not a single person on this earth who cannot spend Eternity in heaven with Jesus if they call on Him to forgive their sins and cover them with His blood. 

AND…we are ALL missionaries.  You may not think of yourself in this manner, but you truly are “on a mission” for God…or you should be. When I asked the children what their “mission” was…they would say, “To tell others about Jesus.”  I told them repeatedly that this includes more than literally telling people about Jesus.  We minister to others and “witness” to them by our words and our actions…how we worship God – and particularly by how we treat others.  If we honor Jesus’ commandment to love others as He loves us – and as we love ourselves – He will be glorified.  Others will see the awesome power, grace and mercy of Jesus in our lives…and hopefully want this for themselves. 

I can think of nothing better than to hear someone say to me, “How do I get what you have?” (meaning the peace and joy of belonging to Jesus).  God loved us enough to send Jesus.  How will we share that love with others, as He desired?  Are you really ready to feed his sheep and be a “missionary” for Him?  Don’t you think it’s time you were?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 10, 2016

1 Peter 5:4
Then when Christ the Chief Shepherd returns, you will be given a crown that will never lose its glory.

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

There is a little cartoon that has circulated on the Internet that says, “My dentist told me I needed a crown…and I was like, ‘I know – right?!’”  It makes me laugh every time I see it.  I don’t know a little girl beyond the age of 3 who doesn’t covet a crown at some point.  Crowns are sold in the toy aisles, awarded at “beauty” pageants and other contests.  From the time we are able to recognize them, crowns are promoted as something to which we should aspire.

Boys aren’t left out either…it may not be a “crown” per se…but a trophy, sword, badge or medal…some tangible (and usually shiny) reward symbolizes success and accomplishment…and we have been conditioned to covet them.  Clearly, this is not totally a bad thing – 1 Peter 5:4 illustrates that crowns are “Biblical!”  The rub comes in what KIND of crown we seek…and this makes all the difference!

When I was a little girl, I won a pageant and received a “crown” that was made of cardboard covered in glitter.  I thought it was fantastic…but I was 5!  Later, when I was a majorette in the high school band, my uniform included a glittery rhinestone tiara purchased at the jewelry store.  It made me feel festive and special to wear that sparkling adornment.  And when I was finished with high school, the crown passed to the girl who replaced me. A friend posted a Facebook photo of her child wearing a store-bought toy crown that had been improved with extra flourishes and baubles…supposedly to enhance its glory.

Here’s the thing…all of these “crowns”, medallions, badges, trophies, and ribbons are wonderful in this earthly context.  They signify accomplishments and rewards – and there is nothing wrong with that.  But the crown we will receive when Christ returns will totally outshine any and all of these.  The “gifts and prizes” that await us in Heaven will make all others pale by comparison!

Those of us who have surrendered our hearts to Jesus are heirs to His throne!  The crown that God has waiting for us is not made of cardboard…it will not need any enhancements…it will never tarnish – and it is not temporary. Our job in the meantime is to behave in a manner worthy of such a crown…to demonstrate Jesus’ love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to others…and to encourage as many people as we can to get in on this “inheritance” for themselves. 

The only One I want to hear tell me, “You need a crown” is Jesus Himself.  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 5, 2015

Colossians 3:22
Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.

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.

My friend Shelton said the other day, “You are not wasting your retirement time, Deb…I am envious.”  Shelton still runs a printing business…and he does plenty in his “off hours” to see after his mother and several other family members and friends.  But it made me think about what we do with our time.  And I was once again reminded that every second belongs to God…and even the most mundane of “chores” deserve our best work.

I have said often that when I was teaching kindergarten, I wish that I had better realized how holy that work was…how important it was to be a light for Christ every minute of the day to each one of those precious children.  I know that I did my best at the time.  But as my relationship with Jesus has deepened over the years, I realize how much more I could have done.  Don’t let this be said of you!

In everything you do, give your all.  Do not allow yourself to “get by” with shoddy work.  Recognize that everything you do to keep your household afloat – from shopping to cooking, cleaning and laundry – is serving not only yourself and your family – but God, as well.  Whatever your “paid position” may be…work as if God Himself were paying you - because ultimately, He is.

Regardless of what you do with your day, do it to the glory of God.  Even when you rest, remember that you are storing up energy to be able to serve God better afterward. One section of this passage really resonated with me…“The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t cover up bad work.” 

Remember that as a faith-filled Christian, you are a representative of Jesus Christ…always, and in all ways.  Do your best to continually give Him “good work” and a joyful attitude - filled with gratitude for His blessings, humility for the privilege of serving Him, and confidence that He is using you to make a difference.  Examine your “work” and make sure it is never shoddy…and give God the glory for all that He is able to accomplish because of your faithfulness.

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 25, 2015

1 John 4:18
We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us.

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 am blessed to say that I am fully convinced of Greg’s love for me.  I know that not everyone can say this about their relationship…nor can every child say this about his/her parents.  Sadly, we live in a world where unconditional, perfect love is not the norm.  And I do not wear rose-colored glasses.  I know that sometimes I say/do things that aggravate Greg to no end.  But still, he loves me and always has my best interests at heart.  I do not take this for granted…but man, am I ever glad to be so loved. And I hope that he knows that I love him unconditionally, as well!

I also love Timothy, Zola and Nathan beyond description.  I would do almost anything for these children…yet there are times that they get on my last nerve!  They are, after all, normal children…so irritating adults is somewhat their job!  But they know that I love them…and as far as I can tell, they are not the least bit afraid of me!

None of this “human love” can compare to God’s affection for us.  Sure…we all aggravate Him immeasurably at times…but this does not diminish His love for us.  Yet some of us are scared to death of Him.  I will admit…for many years, I was afraid of God.  I operated in fear…I worried that every time I failed Him, I was destined to be rejected and tossed into the depths of hell.  Let me assure you…that was a miserable way to live – and it is NOT God’s desire for us in the least!

It is time for us to embrace God’s love for us – and accept Him completely.  This is not the same thing as taking Him for granted, which would be totally wrong.  Instead, we are to respect God and His power, care, grace, and mercy.  But we are also to graciously and honorably say, “Thank you!  I will gladly operate in Your love and care and do all I can to glorify such an amazing gift!”

This is the perfect week to shift from a relationship of fearful servanthood to discipleship based in love and gratitude. Are you fully convinced that God really loves you…and do you demonstrate this in your daily living?  Isn’t this a good time to begin?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 17, 2015

Psalm 48:9-14
Our God, here in your temple
    we think about your love.
You are famous and praised
    everywhere on earth,
    as you win victories
    with your powerful arm.
Mount Zion will celebrate,
and all Judah will be glad,
    because you bring justice.
Let’s walk around Zion
    and count its towers.
We will see its strong walls
    and visit each fortress.
Then you can say
    to future generations,
“Our God is like this forever
    and will always guide us.”

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

This morning as I prepared to write this devotional, I must admit that I was conflicted.  The world seems turned upside down…senseless terrorism and murder in Paris…displaced and orphaned people by the thousands in the Middle East…people closing their hearts and their “borders” to those who have nowhere to turn…illness and disease…those who are aging and declining – and there is nothing to do but watch it happen…humans in every corner of the world are suffering and troubled…orphans abound in our own back yard, where there are 2 beds for every three children in need.  And on top of it all, the weathermen are continually warning that a strong system is approaching with high winds and potentially flooding rains.  The list seems unending.

Then I opened my Bible to Psalm 48:9-14 and read these words about the love and power of God Almighty.  And I was humbled…and renewed…and encouraged.

• We don’t know what to do with all of the senseless violence and hatred in this world.  “Our God is like this forever and will always guide us.”
• We are fearful of helping those we do not know and trust.  We are powerless to control the weather.  Honestly, we are just a little afraid of virtually everything!  ”…You win victories with Your powerful arm.”
• We feel helpless to meet the needs of orphans, the elderly, those who are sick and suffering, the grieving, and those who are homeless and in need.  “We will see its [Zion’s] strong walls and visit each fortress…we think about Your love.”
• We are weary and do not know how to keep going.  Our faith and confidence have wavered in light of all that is happening, and we cannot see how things will ever improve.  “…all Judah will be glad, because You bring justice.”

It’s easy to get caught up in the worry, frustration and grief of current events.  We go from faith-filled prayer warriors to spineless wimps afraid of our own shadows in the blink of an eye!  And we should all be ashamed.  Where is our confidence in God?  Where is our affirmation that these claims in Psalm 48 about His power and strength are absolute and indisputable?  Are we telling our next generations the truth…or selling them a bill of goods?  Because if we do not truly believe – and internalize – what the Bible tells us about God, we really are failing as Christian witnesses and Disciples.

This is the day to “hitch up your britches”…to “pull yourself up by the bootstraps”…to rise up out of your “funk” and get it together in response to God’s call.  It’s time to truly honor our gift of Salvation through Jesus Christ by modeling His teachings and affirming that God is everything the scriptures tell us He is.  More importantly, it is time for us to live out what God has demonstrated over and again – in our lives and throughout history…to walk and breathe in the truth of His victories and His power, and to validate this to the world at large. 

Worry, fear, and a closed heart have no place in the lives of faith-filled Christians.  Today is the day to kick these attitudes to the curb, once and for all, and live out God’s truths.  Will you stand with me and make this a day of great renewal?  Are you really ready to represent our mighty God?  Isn’t it time you were?
©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 5, 2015

Matthew 6:34
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes."

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.

Greg and I watch “House of Cards” – a television series on Netflix.  In a recent story line, a potentially deadly hurricane was headed for the East Coast. It appeared poised to devastate at least seven coastal states.  The “powers that be” scrambled to appropriate funds for disaster relief…and in doing so, they “defunded” a vital program that aided millions of Americans.  All sorts of “drama” ensued as members of Congress and other powerful leaders finagled to move money from this program (which had been "engineered" by the President) to the coffers for emergency relief.  Each side worried and stewed about what would happen and how this would all end. They placed all of their focus on events in the future and what might or might not happen. 

At the last minute, the hurricane veered out to sea…and there was no disaster.  Doesn’t this just tell the tale for many of us and how we live our lives?  We worry, stew, argue, finagle, and stress to the max…and then the “storm” veers away, and we’re left looking foolish.  We neglect today’s business as we wrestle with the potential problems of tomorrow…and we often end up looking and feeling pretty foolish!

I know this is true, because I’ve done it for years!  I’ve lived in the “What ifs?” and the “How will we evers?” and the “How will we manage this challenge or that ones?” for YEARS!  And while I think I am getting better, I still “work my worries” and obsess about things far too often that I should give to God.

Instead of wrestling with even the most trivial of things – like “What will we eat tomorrow if I don’t make it to the grocery store today?”…what if we said, “LORD, I trust you to provide…and to handle tomorrow.  For today, I am going to do what I feel that You are leading me to do…and believe that You will take care of the days to follow.  I know that storms may come…but You will equip me to prepare for them perfectly.  There are so many things that I cannot fix…and I am not supposed to!  So I trust YOU to fix them for me.”

The more we learn to trust God as the “Great Fixer” and give Him our cares…the more we learn to operate in the rhythms of His grace and mercy…and the more effective we become as Christian disciples.  The Gillette Company used to have a slogan for an antiperspirant…”Never let them see you sweat!”  We would do well to adopt this phrase with regard to our Christian faith.  Better yet, let’s get so good at trusting God that we truly don’t perspire or worry – because we operate fully in the confidence that He is in complete control!

Storms may come our way…or they may veer out to sea.  Either way, let’s learn to live in God’s care and let Him handle their course – and our response. Are you in?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 6, 2015

2 Timothy 3:16-17
The whole Bible was given to us by inspiration from God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives; it straightens us out and helps us do what is right. It is God’s way of making us well prepared at every point, fully equipped to do good to everyone.

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

A friend posed the question, ” Just as the greeting card companies ‘created’ holidays...I think Facebook has created this whole ‘last day of school’ pic. I don't ever recall my mom taking a picture of me on the last day. First day...sure, but last day? Meh.”  She added that she felt that technology as a whole…Facebook, Pinterest, and more…has contributed to the documentation of so many activities and “memories” that were never captured before.  Several friends acknowledged that before the age of digital photos and social media, there were indeed fewer photos taken.

I’ve been scanning my parents’ old photo albums recently, and there is a photo of me on my first day of kindergarten, maybe a couple from first grade, and after that, it’s pretty well a birthday party or a Christmas here and there.  And so far, I have not unearthed any photos of my sister and brother on their first days of school. The cost and hassle of film, photo development, and more most certainly kept these efforts at “memory making” to a minimum! 

Someone made the comment that our parents and grandparents had their own version of Facebook and other social media for such documentation. She said, “…they're called scrapbooks, and parents have been doing them probably since the beginning of cameras. Technology has only made it easier for preserving memories and sharing!”  The advances in technology have perhaps allowed us to document too much – as my friend suggested – but this has also provided a vehicle for us to stay in touch with relatives and friends near and far…to allow them to keep up with family members and stay “in the loop.”

If we look at the Bible as a whole…most of us would agree that some of the Old Testament laws and rituals no longer have relevance, now that we have Jesus. We no longer have to sacrifice animals to atone for sins. We’re not too worried that touching a pig skin will make us unclean these days…or whether certain situations require us to perform a “purification ritual.”  But we must not “throw the baby out with the bathwater.” Even the passages in Leviticus that outline all of the “rules and rites” for serving God have meaning for us today – if only to remind us of all that Jesus has done for us…how He removed all of the rigmarole and simplified our faith, in many regards.

There is “meat” in the Psalms and Proverbs…wisdom, comfort and healing in the words of the kings and psalmists.  The stories of great rulers and soldiers, prophets, parents, families and strong men and women illustrate that there is truly nothing under the sun…that struggles have been around since Creation.  We talk a lot about how bad things are now…how much worse they are!  Read the Old Testament…you’ll find plenty of accounts of physical and mental abuse, alcoholism and drug abuse, abductions, murder, sexual immorality, incest, poverty, gluttony, crime and even “celebrities” of sorts.

If you read the Old Testament alongside the New Testament, you will clearly see how much Jesus has done for us.  You will better understand how we got here, and why Salvation in Jesus is SO important…and such a blessing!  You will grow in courage and strength as you read the sagas of many who struggled so mightily – yet remained so faithful to God.  They didn’t have the opportunity to know a Savior who could redeem them, once and for all, like we do.  Still, they persevered. 

Sometimes we have to look back at how things were…how far we’ve come…to appreciate what we have today.  Just as with the new technologies that have at least enhanced – if not improved – our daily living…we can see that Jesus has made everything better.  God has always been with us…we have always had the opportunity to know Him and serve Him…but Jesus is the ultimate “technological advancement” that allows us to live Godly lives with relative ease.  We can more readily share God’s love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others now.  We can reach more people, because Jesus showed us how to live unencumbered by our sins…to love others in His name…to serve God at every turn…to forget about our own desires and focus on His. 

Jesus showed us how to make a difference, instead of just a point.  God’s Word is our “scrapbook” of sorts that outlines where we’ve been…and illustrates where we are headed. And every page of it is important.  Each of us has the opportunity to share our own testimony as we live and serve in Jesus’ name.  Will your story be one of faith and progress? What sort of “memories” will you contribute?

©2015 Debbie Robus