December 19 ~ John 9:4-5
Look instead for what God can do. We need to be energetically at work for the One who sent me here, working while the sun shines. When night falls, the workday is over. For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.”
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 the mornings when I wake up, I have a routine that includes walking through our house and turning on lights. Right now, there are quite a few extra strands for the holidays…on the Christmas tree(s), in a couple of lighted holiday decorations, and even in a few unexpected locations. Lights adorn our front porch and some yard ornaments…and “candles” illuminate each dormer window. As each switch is turned or plug is inserted into an outlet, the rooms come alive with the bright sparkle of the tiny white lights…and a sense of warmth and coziness settle over me. These lights say to me, “Welcome! There is love in this house!”
Jesus is the world’s Light. God sent Him to earth to accomplish many things, including our salvation through His death on the cross. The light of His love and care wafts over us like an everlasting coat of warmth and coziness. Do you feel it? Do you recognize Jesus’ existence in your life? Is He an ever-present illumination? Do you allow Jesus to work in and through you to share His GOOD NEWS with others…and in turn, do you offer them the same brightness, confidence and hope that you enjoy because of Him?
Are the lights of the Christmas season a symbol to you of the amazing power and grace of Jesus…or merely another sparkly trinket to enjoy for a month and then pack away until next year? Isn’t it time we started sharing Jesus’ light all year long…saying, “Welcome! Jesus has enough love for all of us!”…and wouldn’t this be a great season in which to begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label keeping the light of Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label keeping the light of Christ. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 14, 2014
December 14 ~ Isaiah 60:19-22
You won’t need the light
of the sun or the moon.
I, the Lord your God,
will be your eternal light
and bring you honor.
Your sun will never set
or your moon go down.
I, the Lord, will be
your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow
will come to an end.
Your people will live right
and always own the land;
they are the trees I planted
to bring praise to me.
Even the smallest family
will be a powerful nation.
I am the Lord,
and when the time comes,
I will quickly do all this.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
All around the world, the Christmas season is being heralded in song and light. No doubt, thousands of churches presented special music this morning in honor of Jesus’ birthday. I know ours did…from preschool “Little Ringers” who rang bells to accompany “Silent Night” to elementary school children who sang about “David’s Dynasty” to our adult choir who presented their annual Christmas Cantata. Advent candles were lit, and there was a lighted Chrismon tree in our church’s sanctuary. Even Burger King was playing Christmas carols to accompany our lunch!
Obviously, there is something special about songs we only sing for one month out of the year. Lights and decorations that fill our homes, stores, churches and streets for these four weeks or so take on a magical air. But at the heart of these enhancements, we are celebrating something incredible…the carefully crafted and orchestrated plan of God to bring Jesus to Earth to be our eternal light!
The great thing about Christmas is that anyone can celebrate, because Jesus came to earth for everyone. Individuals, couples, small families, large families in every nation of the world can all participate. God sent Jesus to be the Light of the WORLD! This is reason to sing…to have parties, to light up our homes, and to exchange gifts in symbolic praise for the Ultimate Gift we have been given!
As you go about the coming days of this Christmas Season, consider the real message of lights, decorations and Christmas carols. Stop to praise God for sending an Everlasting Light to fill our hearts, save us from our sins, and prepare a place for us for all Eternity! Invite Jesus to dwell in your heart and celebrate His love and care every single day…and let these next eleven days be a giant revelry in His honor!
©2014 Debbie Robus
You won’t need the light
of the sun or the moon.
I, the Lord your God,
will be your eternal light
and bring you honor.
Your sun will never set
or your moon go down.
I, the Lord, will be
your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow
will come to an end.
Your people will live right
and always own the land;
they are the trees I planted
to bring praise to me.
Even the smallest family
will be a powerful nation.
I am the Lord,
and when the time comes,
I will quickly do all this.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
All around the world, the Christmas season is being heralded in song and light. No doubt, thousands of churches presented special music this morning in honor of Jesus’ birthday. I know ours did…from preschool “Little Ringers” who rang bells to accompany “Silent Night” to elementary school children who sang about “David’s Dynasty” to our adult choir who presented their annual Christmas Cantata. Advent candles were lit, and there was a lighted Chrismon tree in our church’s sanctuary. Even Burger King was playing Christmas carols to accompany our lunch!
Obviously, there is something special about songs we only sing for one month out of the year. Lights and decorations that fill our homes, stores, churches and streets for these four weeks or so take on a magical air. But at the heart of these enhancements, we are celebrating something incredible…the carefully crafted and orchestrated plan of God to bring Jesus to Earth to be our eternal light!
The great thing about Christmas is that anyone can celebrate, because Jesus came to earth for everyone. Individuals, couples, small families, large families in every nation of the world can all participate. God sent Jesus to be the Light of the WORLD! This is reason to sing…to have parties, to light up our homes, and to exchange gifts in symbolic praise for the Ultimate Gift we have been given!
As you go about the coming days of this Christmas Season, consider the real message of lights, decorations and Christmas carols. Stop to praise God for sending an Everlasting Light to fill our hearts, save us from our sins, and prepare a place for us for all Eternity! Invite Jesus to dwell in your heart and celebrate His love and care every single day…and let these next eleven days be a giant revelry in His honor!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 9, 2014
Isaiah 9:2-5
The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. For Israel will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won.
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned.
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 did quite a bit of shopping today…and by that, I mean I visited several stores. Everywhere I went, people were busily seeking that “just-right” Christmas gift, talking about how they wished they were done with their shopping, and generally stressing out over the holidays and all that they still have to do. One lady I’d never seen in my life turned to me on the baking supplies aisle and said, “Why does Christmas have to come so soon after Thanksgiving?!” She was lamenting how much food costs and how she has to prepare a dish for her church’s potluck!
Somehow, I am thinking this was not part of God’s plan when He sent Jesus to this earth. When the shepherds and scholars saw the bright light in the east that signaled the birth of our Messiah, I don’t figure their first thought was, “Great! Now they will want us to bring our specialty dish to a potluck!”…or even “What on earth will I get for Aunt Sue this year?”
My point is that we’ve gotten so caught up in the “busyness” of Christmas that we have totally forgotten the significance of this month and its celebrations. Even if we have considered the birth of the Christ Child…we have not really stopped to remember the impact that His earthly life had for each of us. Most certainly, we’ve given little thought to the chains of sin’s bondage that He broke for us…how He destroyed the hold of Satan over our lives and gave us salvation in Him… a gift that we can never deserve - much less repay.
We’re so busy rushing from one store to the next, marking things off our lists, and making sure that everyone has the perfect holiday that we have totally forgotten about Jesus. In one of the stores I visited this morning, I met a high school classmate who now lives in another community. I asked what brought her to our town, and she replied, “We came to visit my father-in-law, and I needed to lay flowers on family graves.” Her words caught my attention!
I noted that she had time in this busy season to visit an older person who might be lonely. She set aside her own agenda to think of others…something Jesus does for us every single day! I was reminded that there are those who need a visit from me. There are people who are sick and suffering – and Christmas is the farthest thing from their mind right now. There are others who aren’t celebrating the holidays…or at least not the birth of Jesus Christ. Many will enjoy the parties and festivities but never consider the real reason for our holiday.
So today, I encourage you to stop and consider the “Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death” – the Light of Jesus Christ. As you go about the holiday celebrations and rituals – the parties and the “chores of the season” – consider Jesus. How would He view these things? Would His “to-do” list look like yours? Are you truly remembering to do things for others, as Jesus would wish? Will the Light of Christ be visible in your actions and attitudes this season? Don’t you think it should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. For Israel will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won.
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned.
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 did quite a bit of shopping today…and by that, I mean I visited several stores. Everywhere I went, people were busily seeking that “just-right” Christmas gift, talking about how they wished they were done with their shopping, and generally stressing out over the holidays and all that they still have to do. One lady I’d never seen in my life turned to me on the baking supplies aisle and said, “Why does Christmas have to come so soon after Thanksgiving?!” She was lamenting how much food costs and how she has to prepare a dish for her church’s potluck!
Somehow, I am thinking this was not part of God’s plan when He sent Jesus to this earth. When the shepherds and scholars saw the bright light in the east that signaled the birth of our Messiah, I don’t figure their first thought was, “Great! Now they will want us to bring our specialty dish to a potluck!”…or even “What on earth will I get for Aunt Sue this year?”
My point is that we’ve gotten so caught up in the “busyness” of Christmas that we have totally forgotten the significance of this month and its celebrations. Even if we have considered the birth of the Christ Child…we have not really stopped to remember the impact that His earthly life had for each of us. Most certainly, we’ve given little thought to the chains of sin’s bondage that He broke for us…how He destroyed the hold of Satan over our lives and gave us salvation in Him… a gift that we can never deserve - much less repay.
We’re so busy rushing from one store to the next, marking things off our lists, and making sure that everyone has the perfect holiday that we have totally forgotten about Jesus. In one of the stores I visited this morning, I met a high school classmate who now lives in another community. I asked what brought her to our town, and she replied, “We came to visit my father-in-law, and I needed to lay flowers on family graves.” Her words caught my attention!
I noted that she had time in this busy season to visit an older person who might be lonely. She set aside her own agenda to think of others…something Jesus does for us every single day! I was reminded that there are those who need a visit from me. There are people who are sick and suffering – and Christmas is the farthest thing from their mind right now. There are others who aren’t celebrating the holidays…or at least not the birth of Jesus Christ. Many will enjoy the parties and festivities but never consider the real reason for our holiday.
So today, I encourage you to stop and consider the “Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death” – the Light of Jesus Christ. As you go about the holiday celebrations and rituals – the parties and the “chores of the season” – consider Jesus. How would He view these things? Would His “to-do” list look like yours? Are you truly remembering to do things for others, as Jesus would wish? Will the Light of Christ be visible in your actions and attitudes this season? Don’t you think it should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 25, 2013
Romans 12:11-13
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve been in the kitchen all morning, cooking for our family Christmas celebration this evening. There will be twelve us around the table, so I have two beef roasts baking in crock pots, a salad chilling in the refrigerator, two pies cooling on the counter… and seasoned green beans (with bacon and a few other family secret ingredients) simmering in my Mam-ma Polly’s cast iron “Dutch oven” atop the stove. There are other side dishes and several traditions that will be honored with this meal… but the green beans dish is certainly one of them.
When I smelled something unpleasant this morning, I realized that the flame under the Dutch oven had gone out… and propane gas was seeping into the air around the stove. It was a putrid smell that I quickly dispersed by relighting the flame and turning on an exhaust fan. Thankfully, I was nearby and discovered this quickly... and I am watching carefully to make sure that I do not turn the dial too low for that burner in the future!
Our hope and faith in God is a lot like the burner on my gas range. If we are not careful, we can reduce the control button on our faith and focus to a point where the fuel of God’s great love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings just leaks out and is squandered in our lives. And the results can really stink! More importantly, if left unchecked, this can create a potentially dangerous situation. We risk becoming cynical, hopeless, and ineffective as a Christian disciple.
God doesn’t want us to waste one drop of His love and care. He didn’t send Jesus to earth to live and die for us so that we could fritter away His gifts into thin air. God’s present of Jesus Christ is far too precious to leave unattended and un-nurtured. The last thing any of us should ever want is for our Discipleship to smell to the high heavens!
So today, on Jesus’ birthday, let’s redouble our efforts to keep the flame of His love burning in our hearts and minds. Amidst the food and the festivities, let’s remember how important it is to always be alert servants… cheerfully expectant. Let’s take time to pray… to help others… and to seek creative ways to be a light for Christ Jesus. May it always be said of us that we kept the faith…remained hopeful… and that our efforts to serve in Jesus’ name were like a pleasant aroma. God bless and keep you this day… and always. And have a very Merry Christmas!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve been in the kitchen all morning, cooking for our family Christmas celebration this evening. There will be twelve us around the table, so I have two beef roasts baking in crock pots, a salad chilling in the refrigerator, two pies cooling on the counter… and seasoned green beans (with bacon and a few other family secret ingredients) simmering in my Mam-ma Polly’s cast iron “Dutch oven” atop the stove. There are other side dishes and several traditions that will be honored with this meal… but the green beans dish is certainly one of them.
When I smelled something unpleasant this morning, I realized that the flame under the Dutch oven had gone out… and propane gas was seeping into the air around the stove. It was a putrid smell that I quickly dispersed by relighting the flame and turning on an exhaust fan. Thankfully, I was nearby and discovered this quickly... and I am watching carefully to make sure that I do not turn the dial too low for that burner in the future!
Our hope and faith in God is a lot like the burner on my gas range. If we are not careful, we can reduce the control button on our faith and focus to a point where the fuel of God’s great love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and blessings just leaks out and is squandered in our lives. And the results can really stink! More importantly, if left unchecked, this can create a potentially dangerous situation. We risk becoming cynical, hopeless, and ineffective as a Christian disciple.
God doesn’t want us to waste one drop of His love and care. He didn’t send Jesus to earth to live and die for us so that we could fritter away His gifts into thin air. God’s present of Jesus Christ is far too precious to leave unattended and un-nurtured. The last thing any of us should ever want is for our Discipleship to smell to the high heavens!
So today, on Jesus’ birthday, let’s redouble our efforts to keep the flame of His love burning in our hearts and minds. Amidst the food and the festivities, let’s remember how important it is to always be alert servants… cheerfully expectant. Let’s take time to pray… to help others… and to seek creative ways to be a light for Christ Jesus. May it always be said of us that we kept the faith…remained hopeful… and that our efforts to serve in Jesus’ name were like a pleasant aroma. God bless and keep you this day… and always. And have a very Merry Christmas!
©2013 Debbie Robus
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