Daily Devotional for November 11, 2016

Proverbs 15:1
A kind answer
    soothes angry feelings,
    but harsh words
    stir them up.
  
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

I have all but given up Facebook in the last few days, so if I have not “liked” something you posted – or commented – I am not trying to be a snob.  I am just tired of the ugliness and have decided I don’t need that poison infiltrating my heart and mind.  I’ve seen a meme circulating lately that says “Be kind…for everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”  I also saw one that said, “LISTEN and SILENT are spelled with the same letters…think about it!”  And then there is this quote from Mark Twain…”Kindness is a language that the deaf can hear and the blind can see.”

This week, a lot of unkindness and “harsh words” are circulating.  I’ve read some truly ugly comments that have been hurled at people who are disappointed about the election outcome, which pretty well sparked my decision to say “No!”to much participation in Facebook.  People who are genuinely grieving and/or frightened about losing such things as health care benefits - or even their home in this country – are being belittled and called all sorts of names, including “sore losers” (which is actually one of the nicer ones).  Some have said that it’s the “everybody gets a trophy syndrome.”  These judgments are unkind - and unfair.  There is beauty in losing graciously…but the same can be said for winning, as well.

Why don’t we all take off the gloves and focus on kindness for a change.  Why not look at those you meet and remember that they are fighting a battle of which you know nothing.  Why not recognize that we all have feelings…and the other person’s are just as real – and just as significant – as yours or mine.  We have all been on the losing end of something.  We’ve all had times when we were worried or concerned…and feeling unheard – or worse yet, put down – just makes it all that much worse.  And we haven’t even talked about how this grieves God.  When His children inflict pain on one another, He is NOT pleased!

Let’s take a collective breath.  Let’s look at “the other guy” with the eyes of Jesus and recognize that he/she has genuine feelings…joys, fears, victories, defeats, moments of elation and times of tremendous sorrow…and let’s be kind - and maybe even silent. In many cases, we are trying to fight a battle that really isn’t ours to engage. 

So let’s let go...and let God handle things for a while.  I’m pretty sure He’ll do a far better job, anyway.

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 6, 2016

Matthew 6:24-27    
“You cannot serve two masters: God and money. For you will hate one and love the other, or else the other way around.

“So my counsel is: Don’t worry about things—food, drink, and clothes. For you already have life and a body—and they are far more important than what to eat and wear. Look at the birds! They don’t worry about what to eat—they don’t need to sow or reap or store up food—for your heavenly Father feeds them. And you are far more valuable to him than they are. Will all your worries add a single moment to your life?"

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

Timmy and Nathan LOVE Legos®.  Zola can take ‘em or leave ‘em…but she will occasionally play with them, too.  If you have priced Lego® sets, you know they are not cheap! A simple “erector set” that creates a figure only a few inches square can cost almost $20.  And as the saying goes among adults with kids…”You can never have too many Legos®!”  So we have searched for ways to add to our collection without breaking the bank.  We will occasionally buy a brand-new set…but we “shop around” for the best deal and lowest price whenever possible.

Lately, I discovered several eBay sellers who offer Legos® by the pound…cleaned, sanitized used pieces that can spark the imagination of any junior creator and offer hours of fun.  For $20, I can get up to two pounds of these pieces and mini figures…literally thousands of new Legos®! I divide these up into plastic bags…and once in a while, I will surprise the boys (or reward good behavior) with a new assortment!

Today, Zola went to church with friends, so we just had Timmy and Nathan with us. When we got home from church, I gave each boy a bag of “new” Legos® to open while I prepared lunch.  You should have seen them!  They were beyond excited.  It was like Christmas Day.  They squealed with excitement as they discovered crystals, swords and other neat accessories…along with a couple of new, cool “mini-figs.”  They created characters and counted their “loot” and showed their Uncle Greg the neat things they were making.  They could not have cared less that these were not “boxed sets.”  They did not even ask whether these were new pieces or not.  They used their imagination rather than a booklet of instructions, and they had a great time!

When the children come to our house, they never worry that there won’t be food, toys, and plenty of fun and love. Occasionally they will see a commercial for some toy that they tell us they simply MUST have…but it’s rare.  They are generally worry-free…and life is great!  Do you remember those carefree days?

Sometimes, I think we need to return to the simplicity of our childhood.  I know we can’t really do this - that we have jobs to do…bills to pay…people counting on us for all sorts of things.  But we DO still have a Heavenly Father who is ready, willing and able to meet many of the needs that we waste time worrying about on a regular basis.

Lately, I’ve done my fair share of “working” my prayers…and turning them over and over in my mind.  This is completely ridiculous, and I know it.  But sometimes, we can’t seem to let go and trust God…and the devil absolutely DANCES when we do this!  I can almost feel God’s disappointment, as He politely stands in the corner and wonders why on earth I won’t trust Him.  I’m here to tell you, I am so ready to do this!!!

Stop and ask yourself what worries you these days.  Then consider if this is really how God wants you to expend your energy.  Isn’t it time you stopped worrying about so many things that are not really ours to handle…and let God have complete control?  Isn’t it time we got serious about operating in Christian faith?  We CAN be a carefree kid again in so many ways…God’s kid!  Will this be the day that we begin?

©2016 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for October 29, 2016

Matthew 5:48
“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”

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.

This fall as I have been spending time at the elementary school with Timmy and Zola – and in the Sunday school classes at our church -  I’ve realized that these classrooms are microcosms of the world at large…filled with many of the social issues and concerns that trouble the world at large.  I’ve observed children who are struggling (if only subconsciously) with discrimination because of their race, socio-economic level, or intellect. There are children in foster homes, broken homes, and homes that where the family dynamic is disintegrating.  There are children with special needs…and plenty of “drama” between both boys and girls.  This is all on top of the academic challenges that the children face each week in their classrooms!

These little lives and the struggles that befall them parallel those of their adult counterparts in many ways.  And I am reminded of how this broke my heart and troubled me when I left teaching 30 years ago.  I brought a lot of the heartaches home with me at night and “massaged” them over and over. I am trying not to do that now - and here’s why…I am making every effort to live out my faith.

“But wait a minute!” you might say.  “If you are living out your faith, shouldn’t you be concerned for these children?”  Absolutely…but I am confident that God is watching over them.  I ask Him to do this every day…and I trust that He will answer, because I know they are precious to Him.  This frees me to pass out love, hugs and encouragement…to smile and laugh with the children and to let them know how important they are to me – and especially to God. MY JOB as a Christian disciple is not to worry.  It is to live generously and graciously toward others and try my hardest to always give them a glimpse of God and how HE lives toward us.

I hope that I have learned a thing or two in the last few decades.  I’d like to say that I have grown up…but I am sure I still have work to do.  Still, I am doing my best to live like a Kingdom Subject…to quit wringing my hands and worrying over every little thing that happens in this world…to move past the drama, let go, and let God handle the details. This is my God-created identity…and I am trying to honor His gracious and generous gift.  What about you?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 24, 2016

John 1:8
God sent John the Baptist as a witness to the fact that Jesus Christ is the true Light. John himself was not the Light; he was only a witness to identify it.

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

I saw a meme online that said, “I am not a control freak…but can I show you the right way to do that?”  This pretty much sums up some of us and our Christian discipleship.  We are not Jesus…but we pretend that we are anyway!  Let us tell you how things should be…let us decide what is right and wrong in every situation – and declare it loudly.

Let us tell you how you ought to act and what you should believe.  And while we are at it…allow us to ride in on our white horse and save your day! While you are at it, be sure to remind us how wonderful we are…how wise and “spiritual” we are…how we must have a direct line to God, because we are just.that.good!

Here’s the thing…John the Baptist was “all that and a bag of chips” in the world of Christian discipleship.  And yet, he was humble…honorable…and respectful of his position.  John the Baptist was not Jesus…and he not only knew this – he made it abundantly clear to others.  John even tried to refuse to baptize Jesus, because he knew that He was unworthy of such an experience.

John the Baptist knew his place as a Christian disciple.  He knew the blessings and glory of serving Jesus…and he also knew that the spotlight was never to be on him.  I am afraid in too many areas of our own lives, we have put ourselves on pedestals.  We have declared that WE can fix things…that OUR opinions are the ones that matter…that we are so far superior to the other guy in every way that matters – and a few that don’t.  And we have pretty well obliterated our Christian witness in the process.

Make this the day that you humbly return to center…that you shift your focus away from yourself - and onto Jesus.  Do whatever it takes to get back into perfect alignment with God and find your rightful place as Christ’s disciple.  Identify His light…and allow it to shine brightly for the world to see.

Recognize that of all the things that you may control, the Light of Christ is not one of them. Step aside and truly serve.  Let others see Christ's glory…not yours…so that they might receive His precious gift of salvation and the Holy Spirit for themselves.  Never ever say or do anything that might be a hindrance to God’s Kingdom. The time to begin is now.  Are you ready to relinquish control?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 10, 2016

Proverbs 15:18
Losing your temper causes a lot of trouble, but staying calm settles arguments.

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

I don’t know how she did it.  I don’t know how Diamond Reynolds was able to remain calm and do a Facebook live stream of the aftermath from the shooting of her boyfriend, Philando Castille, who sat beside her in the front seat of her car in a Minneapolist/St. Paul suburb.  Reynolds’ four-year-old daughter was in the back seat.  And as the police officer shouted at this child’s mother to keep her hands visible, she politely said, “I will, sir.  No worries.  I will.”

I don’t know how Reynolds kept her composure as she cried out to God and asked that her boyfriend not die.  I have to believe that every fiber of her being wanted to scream and rail in agony at what was unfolding.  And while I do not mean to pass judgment on either party in this horrific incident…I do believe that this woman’s calm demeanor prevented further escalation – and maybe more injuries or casualties.

While I hope and pray that we are never on either side of a confrontation where one person is pointing a gun at another, there is a lesson here for all of us. Because you see, every single day, in many ways, we “point the gun” at someone and begin to scream our harsh words and loud protests.  Every day, someone rails against another person with vile language and loud rants…and that person has a choice about how to react.  He/she can join in and allow the yelling and screaming to escalate into a free-for-all and potential disaster.  Or the conscious choice can be made to remain calm and proceed with caution and measured reason.

You and I make choices every day about how we will react to others.  And often, those choices involve whether to “yell and scream” – or to ask God to fill us with calm, kindness and a rational demeanor in our responses. The outcome may not be literally a matter of life and death…but it has spiritual – and possibly eternal – consequences.  We simply cannot afford to risk such dire results…this is not God’s desire for us.

I have to believe that God surrounded Diamond Reynolds with a spirit of calm and resolve as chaos ensued all around her.  Today, ask God to give you this same spirit of calm – and a heart filled with kindness, mercy and compassion, even when others are “yelling and screaming” all around you.  Ask God to equip you with the wisdom and gentleness of spirit to moderate situations in which tempers could flare and chaos could erupt.  And ask Him to make you an instrument of peace for others.  God wants us to get this right.  Will this be the day that we begin?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 28, 2016

Matthew 7:1-2    
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults— unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging.

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 I was caring for my Mam-ma Polly, there were plenty of people who wanted to give me advice.  One night, Mam-ma got out of bed to adjust the air conditioner unit in her Assisted Living apartment, and she tripped over the bedspread and fell.  The result was a broken femur near the hip socket.  As she lay in bed after surgery, unable to even put a sentence together…much less stand or even sit up – we made the decision to place her on Hospice care.  Mam-ma was 99 years young at the time, and the therapy in a nursing home to try to rehabilitate her seemed torturous and futile.

The orthopedic surgeon came for a follow-up visit and mentioned “rehab,” and I explained why we were not doing this.  At first, he seemed surprised, but as I described the situation, he softened. We had not come to this decision lightly…the nurses and therapists had all agreed that my grandmother did not seem to be a likely candidate to walk again.

Mam-ma returned to her apartment, where she lived to the age of 100 years and 123 days. She managed to rehabilitate herself to the point that she could pedal around in a wheelchair (and occasionally walk herself to the bathroom when no one was looking!)…but for all practical purposes, she did not walk again.  I still believe that this was the best decision for her…and one of many options that “outsiders” criticized as we navigated the “senior aging” journey together.

It’s easy to be critical…until it happens to you.  I’ve had many people tell me, “I just had no idea what all is involved (in caring for elderly persons).”  My mother wrote a book about caring for her own parents as they aged (When Heads and Hearts Collide), and everyone who reads it asks, “How did she know what I was experiencing?”  It’s as if she wrote it just for them.  Many of those who criticized how she handled things have had to eat their words as it happened to them!

Here’s the thing…none of us is perfect.  I know I made mistakes in caring for my grandmother…and my mother said more than once that she would have done some things differently, given a “do-over.”  But when we criticize or berate others, we are saying, “I am better than you” …or even “I could have done better!”  We may think we are helping…but often, our comments are thinly veiled attempts to put down another person and build up ourselves.  And God is not amused.

We often fail to recognize how hurtful criticism, nagging, or disparaging treatment is until someone does it to us. So before YOU get hurt – or hurt someone else - take a mental walk in the other guy’s shoes. You don’t have to try to figure out WHY someone behaves a certain way…or what they could have done differently.  You just have to love them with the love of Christ…and leave the judgment to God.

Don’t be guilty of thinking more highly of yourself and your opinions than you ought.  Prayerfully ask God to guide your thoughts, words and actions.  Be known as someone who leaves the judging to God and loves people right where they are…and hopefully they will do the same for you.
      
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 12, 2016

June 12 ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14
…then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.

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 have to wonder if after a horrific event like the mass shooting in Orlando this morning whether God is asking, “What was I thinking?”  Yet again, someone thought he knew better how things ought to be in this world.  So he targeted – and killed - as many gay people as he could.  Apparently he vehemently disapproved of their sexual orientation.  At least we assume that this was his motivation for such a heinous crime.

As I began to gather my thoughts around 2 Chronicles 7:14, I once again felt like God must sometimes want to wipe the earth clean of each and every one of us. And yet, I heard His voice very clearly say…”As horrible as this is…as deeply as it grieves me…it is really nothing new.”  And surely, if you read the Bible or study history…or even pay attention to current events around the world…you know that senseless mistreatment of others – and even slaughter - happens more than we care to recognize.  The numbers may change…these tragic events may not take place in such  a public venue…or happen in the hometown of Disney World®…but people are murdered every day because someone thought he/she knew better than anyone else how things should go.

You can claim religious rights…you can try to excuse bigotry and hatred by hiding behind the name of Jesus.  You can criticize, belittle and mistreat those who do not think or behave like you.  You can declare them wicked, ignorant, or whatever adjective you choose.  But hear this…YOU ARE NOT GOD!  And your attempts to fill His shoes are not appreciated by anyone – especially Him!

Those who love God and have surrendered their hearts to Jesus do not try to control others.  They love them…just as we are loved.  They operate from a place of incredible humility, gratitude, and prayerfulness.  They allow God to have complete control, while they share the Good News of Jesus with others in a loving, gentle and nonjudgmental manner.  And here comes the big one…they forgive those who act otherwise.

So this day, as we mourn those lost in this senseless slaughter, we must pray for the families and friends of the victims.  But we must also pray for the family of the shooter.  We must ask God to have mercy on all of us…and to show us how to be the hands and feet of Jesus – even to those so filled with hatred that they would murder us.  When those who disagree with us show us unkindness, we must “fight back” with love, grace and mercy…and we must keep demonstrating these gifts from God over and again, no matter how others respond.

We must believe that God will heal us.  We must demonstrate that if we truly express to others the love of Christ - and serve Him with an unwavering level of faith and confidence…God will pour out His mercy on us and show us how to move forward.  And we must begin today…in our own back yards…and in the world at large.

You and I have a choice to make about how we react to this horrible event…and the world is watching.  Who will they see in our response?  Will they find people who serve a God who is vengeful and endorses retaliation in the form of discrimination and mistreatment of others…or will they find evidence of a loving God who desires to heal and restore us?  Pray for the people of Orlando – and throughout the world.  But ask God to begin the healing in your own heart.  Until we settle these issues for ourselves, we cannot possibly represent God’s love and care to others.  What is your heart condition today? 

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 17, 2015

Proverbs 11:1-3

God hates cheating in the marketplace;
    he loves it when business is aboveboard.
The stuck-up fall flat on their faces,
    but down-to-earth people stand firm.
The integrity of the honest keeps them on track;
    the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.

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 dad was a jack-of-all-trades who “wore several hats” in his lifetime.  He recapped tires, owned a welding shop and worked as a welder on construction projects across two states.  He was a licensed funeral director, a firefighter, and an EMT.  My dad owned and operated a cultured marble manufacturing business.  And somewhere in there, he worked as a fishing guide on the lake that surrounds our community.  I’ve probably even missed a few jobs that my dad performed, but you get the picture.  In each “occupation,” Daddy tried his best to conduct his business with integrity and humility.  My dad was anything but a phony!

Countless homes around our community are adorned to this day with wrought-iron railings, chimney caps, metal stairways and more that my dad made in his welding shop.  Dozens of houses feature cultured marble counter tops, showers, whirlpool tubs and more that Daddy created at “The Sink House.”

My dad worked with a lot of “high-end” clients…and many of them were plenty demanding.  The “swirl” of this marble piece didn’t track in the preferred direction (you get what you get when you create a piece of marble!), so Daddy would make another.  He would struggle and “cipher” and pound away at a piece of steel until he got the metal to look exactly as the client envisioned.  The customer was always right…even if the end result was that my dad almost paid THEM to create their “masterpiece!”

My dad was by no means a wealthy man in terms of money and possessions.  But on the day of his funeral, the chapel could not hold all who came to pay their respects.  He built a reputation for fairness and integrity.  His word was his bond. He served in his church - as a Sunday school teacher and on countless committees.  He comforted grieving families…and nurtured his own.  None of us is perfect…and neither was my dad.  But I learned from both of my parents that one of the most valuable assets we have is our integrity.

Life can deal each of us some pretty mean blows – and my parents have not received a “pass” in that department.  But their demonstrations of steadfast faith in God in the midst of challenges – and even a few dealings with crooked or dishonest people – have represented the tenets of these scripture verses well.  God didn’t promise to make us rich and famous – or to take away all of our problems and challenges.  But He did promise to stand beside us and soften the blows.

We are all facing challenges of some sort…maybe not today, but they will come at some point.  Difficult and dishonest people will enter our lives…stuck up “know-it-alls” will try to distract us, at best…and sometimes disrupt our course with their rhetoric and antics.  But we must remain faithful and focused on God and HIS will.  We must operate in His commands through Jesus Christ to “love others as God loves us – and as we love ourselves.”

Ultimately, God will deal with the crooks who lie, cheat and steal – and those who mistreat others along the way.  Let’s not be among them!  Let’s take the high road and stay focused on serving God according to His will. Our reputation as true Disciples of Christ is at stake.  I don’t want to risk any damage to mine…do you?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 6, 2015

Matthew 5:28-30
You know that you have been taught, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I tell you not to try to get even with a person who has done something to you. When someone slaps your right cheek, turn and let that person slap your other cheek. If someone sues you for your shirt, give up your coat as well.

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

We have all been saddened  and discouraged by recent tragic events…the shootings in Charleston, South Carolina; Roanoke, Virginia; and the senseless killings of policemen AND those committed by law enforcement officers, to name a few. We’re angered and disgusted over pictures that appear on social media of animals that have been abused.  We are outraged by the photos of hungry and homeless children and refugees in foreign lands.  And I don’t know about you, but  the latest heartbreak – the little body of Aylan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian child who washed ashore after drowning at sea as his family fled for Turkey (and ultimately to Europe) – has just about done me in.

“Somebody should pay,” we say!  But who – and how?  What would we deem the right recompense for some of these atrocities?  Oh, don’t tell me…because I have a feeling that many of us have a few mortal “answers.” But we need only look as far as the words of Jesus to know what we’re really supposed to say…how He intends for us to feel – and act.  The One who knew that His own disciple would betray Him…that He would be spit upon, beaten, bruised and bloodied – then crucified horrifically on a wooden cross…told us clearly and plainly what to do.  This One who had every right to seek revenge…to turn His back on the whole lot of us…said, “Don’t try to get even.” 

In fact, Jesus went further.  He said, “When someone takes your shirt…offer them your coat, too!”  In other words, when someone wrongs you, continue to treat them with love and kindness.  Even when it takes everything you can muster not to be rude  - or at best, distant - pull yourself together in the name of Jesus, and show the person who wronged you His loving image through your words and actions.

Tough to do?  You betcha!  It ranks right up there with forgiving others…and I’m not all that good at either one.  But I know that this is what is required of me.  And I cannot ask to do less than the One who did EVERYTHING for me…and neither can you!  So hitch up your britches, pray hard, and start living like Jesus!  Let God handle the judgment and revenge…and keep your eyes on the Cross.  We.can.do.this! Jesus will be with us every step of the way.  And He will make all the difference!

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 25, 2015

Luke 6:37-42
“Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.”

He quoted a proverb: “‘Can a blind man guide a blind man?’ Wouldn’t they both end up in the ditch? An apprentice doesn’t lecture the master. The point is to be careful who you follow as your teacher.

“It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, ‘Let me wash your face for you,’ when your own face is distorted by contempt? It’s this I-know-better-than-you mentality again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your own part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor.

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.

We’ve seen some pretty stark examples in the news media lately of people who criticized others with no regard to their own “ugly sneer.”  Sadly, you can probably name several…the list seems quite lengthy on any given day.

It is puzzling to me that we cannot seem to get over ourselves…that we have heard this passage of scripture all of our lives, yet criticism and judgment of others has almost become a global hobby. We seem to take delight in the misery and downfall of others. Perhaps it is because we think this makes us look better.  It doesn’t.

I can’t add a whole lot to these words in Luke 6.  Read them again and again until they are imprinted on your heart and mind.  The next time you start to bombast “the other guy,” stop and take a look in the mirror.  There but for the grace of God go you…and on any given day, the spotlight could easily shine a little brightly in your direction! 

Here is your exercise for today…sit quietly and think about Jesus.  Picture Him on the cross…or walking toward you – His soft-yet-strong, loving arms spread widely to receive you.  Imagine that you have just blown it – big time.  Still, He is there…embracing you…dying for you…forgiving you…loving you.  Now put that person you have just criticized or condemned in your place.  Yep!  Jesus is still there…what He offers to each of us, He also offers to that person you judged and discarded!

Let this message really soak into the depths of your soul today.  Learn to stop yourself mid-criticism, and remember that you serve a God who loves ALL of us – even that person.  Get so comfortable with this concept that you make love your all-purpose garment…that treating others with contempt becomes almost a foreign concept!  As you begin to go easier on people, discover how much more peaceful your own daily living becomes.  Treat others as you wish to be treated…as JESUS treats them. Operate in His love and peace…and trade the devil’s contempt for Christ's continual peace and blessings.

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for June 23, 2015

Luke 9:23
Then he said to all, “Anyone who wants to follow me must put aside his own desires and conveniences and carry his cross with him every day and keep close to me!

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 few days ago, I vacuumed the floors.  Allow me to explain why this is worth noting.  Vacuuming floors had been on my “to-do” list for several days. Things kept coming up that were more important – or more enjoyable – than vacuuming floors.  I should wait until after I did laundry and finished a sewing project, because there would be lint and dust and all of those tiny little threads all over the floors!  Then I needed to attend a funeral, so there was no time – the floors could wait another day!  And then I decided that I should wait again and do the floors closer to time for our young niece and nephews to visit, so that they would have a nice clean playing surface (and yes, I do know that once the children visit, the floors need another vacuuming!)

It gets to be a vicious cycle sometimes…and at some point I have to say, “Okay…this is it!  Today, I vacuum!”  Maybe you can relate to this silly analogy…but even if you cannot, consider this…we make up all sorts of excuses about following Jesus that are just as silly in the scheme of things.

It’s not convenient…or what He is asking us to do is “outside our comfort zone.”  We tell Him, “I’ll do this…tomorrow!”  And tomorrow never comes.  We straddle the fence in the presence of our peers…makes no sense to express a different opinion and risk alienating them!  We go along with the crowd six ways to Sunday.  We fall down, mess up, and promise to do better next time…but then we turn right around and repeat our mistakes. 

If you go back in Luke 9, some earlier verses talk about our desire to control things vs. God’s.  In The Message translation, it even says “Anyone who intends to come with me has to let me lead. You’re not in the driver’s seat—I am.”  But we don’t want to hear this…we want to “drive” and be in full control.  As my cousin Natalie says…we want to tell God how to do things, because we think our way is so much better.  Luke reminds us in this passage that this is clearly not the case!

So while it really doesn’t make that much difference which day I vacuum…or if I choose not to for a few days longer than I ought…it does matter when we ignore God.  We cannot claim to be Christ’s disciple and then insist on “driving the car.”  It simply does not work that way...and if we are arrogant enough to insist that it does, we’ve as much as said, “Lie down in the seat, LORD, so no one will see that You are with me!” (Remember when you tried to pull that with your mom?  You SURELY didn’t want her to sit right next to you in case you needed any sudden assistance!)

When we act embarrassed by Jesus…or insist on having control, we blow it – big time…and Jesus makes note.  It’s not so much that we will be “punished” in some way for this as much as it’s the fact that this is disrespectful…hurtful…and downright unbecoming of Christian disciples. We should want Jesus by our side.  We should crave His wisdom and guidance.  We should seek His answers and attention at every turn, simply because of Who He is and what He has done – and does – for us.

The question of the day is…”How are you treating Jesus – and your relationship with Him?”  Whose desires and conveniences are top priority – His, or your own? Your answer matters greatly.  Isn’t it time you figured out Who should drive…and let Him?  Will this be the day that you begin?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 25, 2015

Jeremiah 29:11-14
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

“When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen.

“When you come looking for me, you’ll find me.

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.

Anyone who knows me very well knows that I am a “git-r-done” kind of woman.  Okay, some would translate this as “impatient”…and I will admit, it’s in my genes to act quickly and with determination!  But over the years I have discovered the merits of waiting and exercising patience.  And this wisdom has been particularly valuable in matters that involve a major decision – or challenge my faith!

I am a work in progress, but I know more than ever that God’s timing is precious – and perfect.  So as I talk to Him about situations – over and over – and nothing seems to change…I try not to get discouraged or frustrated.  I remind myself that He must be working on something really good!  After all, God has promised that He has it all planned out – our care AND our future.  God assures us in this passage that He IS listening, and that when we look for Him, we will find Him.

Not only do we like to ask God “Why?”…we also spend a lot of time asking Him “When?”  My challenge for all of us today is that we would hear God’s words in this passage – and hear them well.  “I know what I am doing,” He tells us.  “I have it all planned out!”

We’ve read this passage – and others in which God assures us of His presence and power – a zillion times.  Now it’s time for us to move out of the way and let Him work!  I’m pretty sure we will be blown away by the results!  Are you with me?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 26, 2015

Romans 14:6-9
What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to—all the way from life to death and everything in between—not each other. That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other.


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 I was very young, there was a “shouting match” at our church service one evening.  At least one man sitting in our congregation began to try to “shout down” the pastor as he spoke while standing at the pulpit.


I was too little to understand why they were arguing, but my mother said it centered partly on comments the pastor had made to choir members who did not attend the Wednesday night prayer meetings.  This man told the choir members that when they came into the sanctuary on Sunday morning, and he saw the faces of those who had not attended prayer meeting, they were an “affront” to him.


Do you see a problem here?  Christian people who honored God by devoting their time and energy to participate in a church choir on Sundays were berated because they weren’t attending a prayer service on Wednesdays!  This offended the pastor – and obviously he judged their Christian faith and witness accordingly.


I’ll be the first to tell you that there is a LOT about the Bible that I do not know or understand.  But I honestly don’t know of any scripture that says you have to attend every service that your church holds each week.  Just because you have a lovely voice doesn’t mean you have to sing in the choir. We are supposed to read God’s word, but I’m not familiar with any scriptures that say, “You must go to Sunday school and attend organized Bible studies.”  I don’t recall Jesus sharing His last supper with the disciples and saying, “You can only do this in remembrance of Me at certain churches or in specific settings.”


We humans have created a plethora of rules about our Christian faith…and nothing could be more of a paradox.  A holy Christian relationship that encompasses grace, mercy, acceptance and love is often used as a justification for some of the worst judgments and persecutions of others. And I have to believe that God hangs His head in heartache and disappointment.


But we can change this…and it starts with you and me.  We can dig deeply into God’s word and spend some serious time in conversation with Him.  We can genuinely ask Him, “Where – and how – do you wish for me to serve and witness?”…and DO IT!  We can leave judgment and intolerance of others - and how THEY worship - out of our lives…and let every person work out his/her discipleship as God directs them.


As Paul explained to the Romans…Jesus died to release us from such “petty tyrannies”.  Isn’t it time we let them go once and for all?


©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for September 2, 2014

Psalm 86:1-7
Bend down and hear my prayer, O Lord, and answer me, for I am deep in trouble.

Protect me from death, for I try to follow all your laws. Save me, for I am serving you and trusting you. Be merciful, O Lord, for I am looking up to you in constant hope. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I worship only you. O Lord, you are so good and kind, so ready to forgive, so full of mercy for all who ask your aid.

Listen closely to my prayer, O God. Hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever trouble strikes, and you will help me.

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

We’re a couple of weeks into the school year...and already, you’re struggling to keep up in a class or two.  The doctor just told you that you have a major illness and gave you treatment options to consider.  You (or an elderly friend or loved one) are experiencing difficulty in managing your daily living on your own, and it may be time to consider getting some help or moving into a facility where assistance is available. Someone has betrayed you – at school, in the workplace, at church, or even at home – and you don’t quite know what to do with these feelings. Your aging pet is in constant pain or has become quite ill, and you must make a gut-wrenching choice about his/her life. A certain set of circumstances has resulted in your need to make major decisions that could potentially cost you dearly in terms of time, money, relationships, and more.

Every day, many of us face some pretty big challenges. They may not actually be “life or death” situations...but a lot of them will certainly feel like it! We will find ourselves at least whispering under our breath, “I am deep trouble.” We will call on God to help us...to relieve us of these issues and give us hope and happiness. And our merciful God hears our pleas...and He so wants to help.

Here’s the thing...we ask for help, and then we often tie God’s hands.  We do this by not completely trusting Him to do what we have asked – and what He has promised.  We say, “Lord, help me!”  And then we act in a way that says, “I need Your help, but I’m not sure you really can provide it.”  We wring our hands and wallow in our fears, disappointments, frustrations, and concerns...and God essentially folds His arms and asks, “Do you really want My help...or not?”

I get it!  I do this, too.  But I am determined to stop, because I am convinced that I block God’s answers and blessings, to some degree. I believe that there are times when we wonder why God has not given us clear answers or direction...and when you really take a hard look at the situation, you see that YOU were the roadblock.  Think of a time when you have asked God to help you with something, and then all you did was “worry the problem to death” with talk and thoughts that clearly indicated that you did not truly trust Him to handle things. 

We have to give God room to work. We have to step aside and let Him have control. Imagine that you are in one room, God is in another...and there is a door between you. God hears your pleas for help...but in order for Him to work, you have to step away from the doorway and allow Him to step through.  You continue to stand at the door holding onto the handle, crying for help and wondering aloud just how this situation could possibly be resolved...what would be the best option...who you should consult or how you should proceed.  All you have to do is step aside and let God come through the door, and He will handle everything – perfectly. But you have to move out of His way first.

Isn’t today the perfect day to step aside and allow God to “come through the door”?  Aren’t you ready to experience his mercy, grace and compassion...to truly operate in the hope and happiness of allowing God to offer help and protection? Will you “let go and let God”...and feel the joy and peace that comes from trusting Him completely?  Or will you continue to stand on “the other side of the door” and whisper, “Lord, I am in deep trouble.”?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for July 5, 2014

Psalm 37:7
Be patient and trust the Lord.
    Don’t let it bother you
when all goes well for those
    who do sinful things.

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

Probably every single one of us knows someone who seems to “get by with murder”.  We know people who slack off in their jobs – or treat coworkers, employees, students and friends terribly – and still seem to “always come out on top”.  We could probably all name someone who cheats and never seems to get caught…or someone who has spread gossip all over the place about every “friend” he/she claims…and still, these persons are lauded as “a wonderful person”.  We are familiar with situations where we feel like we work hard to work hard…and to do the right thing…and those who refuse to “play by the rules” seem to get ahead farther and faster than we ever can.

Here’s the thing…this is not our problem!  These people are not our responsibility…it is not our job to compare our own lives to theirs.  We don’t answer to them…we answer to God.  And sometimes, that can seem like a tough row to hoe!  Why does God allow things to be so difficult for those of us who are obedient and serve faithfully -  while others seem to be having all the fun (and getting all of the glory and benefits)?

Truthfully, nothing gets by God.  If you watch long enough and pay close attention, you will see that these people ultimately have some sort of “comeuppance” or failure of sorts.  AND…all of your own needs are continually met!  You may not be the richest, most prominent person in town.  You may not have even the semblance of a huge following of friends and hangers-on.  But you have something far more valuable…you have God’s favor!

If you continue reading in Psalm37:9-11, you will see that “All sinners will disappear, but if you trust the Lord, the land will be yours. Sinners will soon disappear, never to be found, but the poor will take the land and enjoy a big harvest.”  And in verses 16-19, it says, “It is better to live right and be poor than to be sinful and rich. The wicked will lose all of their power, but the Lord gives strength to everyone who is good. Those who obey the Lord are daily in his care, and what he has given them will be theirs forever. They won’t be in trouble when times are bad, and they will have plenty when food is scarce.”

In other words, God will reward your faithfulness.  He will meet your needs.  You can rest and relax, because you will never lack anything of significance!  Notice I didn’t say you will have EVERYTHING…but you will have everything you need, according to God’s will.  So focus on doing what is right and true…what you have prayerfully heard God tell you to do.  Make His will your priority…and quit worrying about what the other guy has – or what he/she is doing.  God is more than able to provide for your needs…and handle those who disobey and disrespect him.  Nobody truly “gets by with murder”…and focusing on those who try is a waste of our time and energy.  Are you busy doing the right thing and trusting God?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2014 Debbie Robus