Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
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 Purpose Driven Life, Pastor Rick Warren talks about how knowing your purpose simplifies your life. He says there is no way we can do all everyone wants us to do. We have a big enough challenge finding time to do God’s will! Pastor Warren says that if you can’t seem to get it all done, you’re probably trying to do too much! This sounds like a direct contradiction to the scripture passage you just read… right? Maybe not!
See, a lot of us aren’t necessarily sitting on our hands… but quite a few of us are strolling off down paths that go nowhere. We fill our lives with people who don’t encourage us or help us to grow in our faith. We spend too much time on meaningless activities. We start way too many projects that we never finish.
God wants us to figure out where to best spend our time… then get busy doing what He has called us to do. So rather than sign up for every activity at school, pick and choose those you feel God wants you to pursue… and really work hard to do your best. Instead of volunteering for every ministry at your church and not being able to serve well in any of them, ask God to show you where you can make the biggest impact for Him. Then pour your heart and soul into that ministry. Give 110% and be someone who is reliable, dependable, and accountable.
Too many people bite off more than they can chew. I know… I’ve spread myself too thinly and tried to do too much. It’s not that I chose to participate in more than was physically possible… but I wasn’t very effective in many of the activities. When you are trying to do too much – even if it is God’s work – you can’t possibly be fully helpful in every ministry. Think of the phrase “jack-of-all-trades… master of none.” God wants us to pour ourselves out for each other in acts of love as He directs… but He wants us to be able to physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually have the stamina to give our very best.
Won’t God equip us for such things? Yes. But God also gave us a brain… and He expects us to use it. He wants us to operate faithfully… to do His will. He also wants us to use the common sense that He gave us to know when to say “when.” We all know people who seem to have their finger in every pie… who seem to sign up for every committee, church and community project, hold down a fulltime class schedule or job (or both)… and maybe run a household, as well. But just how effective are they? Are they cutting corners and letting certain obligations or aspects of their ministries slide?
I encourage you to spend some time talking to God. Ask Him, “LORD, what is my purpose? Where do you want me to serve? What activities and ministries do I need to let go in order to be more successful at serving in your name? Where should I be focusing my efforts… and where have I strolled off down a path that goes nowhere?” Allow God to work in and through you. There is no shame in limiting your ministries, if you are giving your very best to those you keep and operating within the will of God. Where do you need to “trim the fat” or alter your course? Are you ready to run on the road God called you to travel?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ministry. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 5, 2012
Matthew 10:5-10
Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
“Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel 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.
Today marks a major milestone for my family. My grandmother – Mam-ma Polly – the matriarch of my family… is celebrating her 100th birthday. Imagine all she has seen and experienced since November 5, 1912. Some of it you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy… hardships, tragedies, and disasters of all kinds. But if you asked her what frames her life… she would probably list three things… her Heavenly Father, her family, and her friends.
My grandmother has “traveled light” all of her life. She never had much extra money in her pocket… she and my grandfather eked out a living on their meager farm by working “day jobs” – often more than one – in town. But when I was a little girl, I thought they were rich land barons! This was due in large part to their incredible charity and service to others. To say that my grandmother has lived generously would be an understatement.
My grandmother probably missed more than a meal or two in her lifetime, and she often had to purchase things “on credit”… but she never missed a payment. She was incredibly responsible in all things. She used her always-gloved “harvest hands” to reach those in her neighborhood. She ministered to the sick, lifted the sagging and dying spirits of those who were losing heart, and reached out to those many would consider “untouchable.” One of her first questions when she met new people was, “Where do y’all go to church?” This was often followed by “Would you like to come for dinner/supper?” or “Would you like a mess of turnip greens… some purple hull peas?”… or whatever extra produce she had grown in her garden.
I will be the first to tell you that my grandmother is something of a “character.” But she has also been a tremendous role model for the “harvest hands” of Jesus. She never left the country, but the effects of her missions and ministries were far-reaching. There are now days when she asks, “Why am I still here?” and I always tell her, “Because God is not done with you yet!”
I pray that I can be as effective as my grandmother in using my “harvest hands.” If each of us made a conscious effort to “travel light” and concentrate on doing the work of Jesus, we might find the road ahead of us a little easier, in many ways. When we shift the focus from ourselves and our own needs to those of Jesus and reaching out to others in His name, a lot of what we thought was important suddenly seems incredibly insignificant.
Where is your focus these days? Are you more concerned with what is in it for you and dramatically bursting on the scene to save the world for Jesus? Or are you humbly and generously meeting the needs of the lost, lonely, and needy in your own midst… and offering them a loving smile, a healing touch - or even food for their stomach or their soul? You don’t have to live 100 years to leave a legacy of “harvest hands” for Jesus. What is important is that you make the most of every year God gives you. How are you doing these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Jesus sent his twelve harvest hands out with this charge:
“Don’t begin by traveling to some far-off place to convert unbelievers. And don’t try to be dramatic by tackling some public enemy. Go to the lost, confused people right here in the neighborhood. Tell them that the kingdom is here. Bring health to the sick. Raise the dead. Touch the untouchables. Kick out the demons. You have been treated generously, so live generously.
“Don’t think you have to put on a fund-raising campaign before you start. You don’t need a lot of equipment. You are the equipment, and all you need to keep that going is three meals a day. Travel 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.
My grandmother has “traveled light” all of her life. She never had much extra money in her pocket… she and my grandfather eked out a living on their meager farm by working “day jobs” – often more than one – in town. But when I was a little girl, I thought they were rich land barons! This was due in large part to their incredible charity and service to others. To say that my grandmother has lived generously would be an understatement.
My grandmother probably missed more than a meal or two in her lifetime, and she often had to purchase things “on credit”… but she never missed a payment. She was incredibly responsible in all things. She used her always-gloved “harvest hands” to reach those in her neighborhood. She ministered to the sick, lifted the sagging and dying spirits of those who were losing heart, and reached out to those many would consider “untouchable.” One of her first questions when she met new people was, “Where do y’all go to church?” This was often followed by “Would you like to come for dinner/supper?” or “Would you like a mess of turnip greens… some purple hull peas?”… or whatever extra produce she had grown in her garden.
I will be the first to tell you that my grandmother is something of a “character.” But she has also been a tremendous role model for the “harvest hands” of Jesus. She never left the country, but the effects of her missions and ministries were far-reaching. There are now days when she asks, “Why am I still here?” and I always tell her, “Because God is not done with you yet!”
I pray that I can be as effective as my grandmother in using my “harvest hands.” If each of us made a conscious effort to “travel light” and concentrate on doing the work of Jesus, we might find the road ahead of us a little easier, in many ways. When we shift the focus from ourselves and our own needs to those of Jesus and reaching out to others in His name, a lot of what we thought was important suddenly seems incredibly insignificant.
Where is your focus these days? Are you more concerned with what is in it for you and dramatically bursting on the scene to save the world for Jesus? Or are you humbly and generously meeting the needs of the lost, lonely, and needy in your own midst… and offering them a loving smile, a healing touch - or even food for their stomach or their soul? You don’t have to live 100 years to leave a legacy of “harvest hands” for Jesus. What is important is that you make the most of every year God gives you. How are you doing these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 27, 2010
Matthew 28:19-20
Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Sometimes I think it would be so incredible to visit the Holy Lands. And if you know me very well, you know how much I dislike travel, so for me to say this is HUGE! But it has occurred to me that to walk where Jesus walked… to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane… to visit the places He visited and sense His presence there… would be an amazing, life-changing event.
Then I take a walk on the access road above the hiking trail near our house, and I look at the dozens, if not hundreds, of perfect leaf specimens that are pressed against the asphalt by a recent rain. And I realize that my notion that I would feel closer to Jesus in the Holy Lands is totally blown to bits.
We don’t have to go anywhere to experience Jesus… He is with us already, right where we are. He’s in every leaf, every stick, every rock… and the very air we breathe. If we are in tune with Him and listening for His voice, we can almost feel His pulse alongside ours. We can certainly experience the power of His presence as we boldly proclaim His Good News to others.
Being a disciple of Christ is heavy duty stuff! The commission given us by Jesus to make disciples, baptize in His name, and teach others what He has taught us is no small task… and certainly should not be taken lightly. But we have everything we need to accomplish this… right here, right now.
We don’t have to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands or anywhere else. Jesus lives in and through us… and He isn’t going anywhere! The question is… are we recognizing His presence? Are we acknowledging His power and tapping into His strength to accomplish incredible things? Isn’t it time we began?
What’s holding you back today? Ask God to empower you… to awaken you to His presence in your heart… and to give you the strength and courage to serve as His disciple. And take a look around and see where you can recognize His presence in even the “leaves and sticks” on your trail.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Go to the people of all nations and make them my disciples. Baptize them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and teach them to do everything I have told you. I will be with you always, even until the end of the world.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Sometimes I think it would be so incredible to visit the Holy Lands. And if you know me very well, you know how much I dislike travel, so for me to say this is HUGE! But it has occurred to me that to walk where Jesus walked… to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane… to visit the places He visited and sense His presence there… would be an amazing, life-changing event.
Then I take a walk on the access road above the hiking trail near our house, and I look at the dozens, if not hundreds, of perfect leaf specimens that are pressed against the asphalt by a recent rain. And I realize that my notion that I would feel closer to Jesus in the Holy Lands is totally blown to bits.
We don’t have to go anywhere to experience Jesus… He is with us already, right where we are. He’s in every leaf, every stick, every rock… and the very air we breathe. If we are in tune with Him and listening for His voice, we can almost feel His pulse alongside ours. We can certainly experience the power of His presence as we boldly proclaim His Good News to others.
Being a disciple of Christ is heavy duty stuff! The commission given us by Jesus to make disciples, baptize in His name, and teach others what He has taught us is no small task… and certainly should not be taken lightly. But we have everything we need to accomplish this… right here, right now.
We don’t have to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Lands or anywhere else. Jesus lives in and through us… and He isn’t going anywhere! The question is… are we recognizing His presence? Are we acknowledging His power and tapping into His strength to accomplish incredible things? Isn’t it time we began?
What’s holding you back today? Ask God to empower you… to awaken you to His presence in your heart… and to give you the strength and courage to serve as His disciple. And take a look around and see where you can recognize His presence in even the “leaves and sticks” on your trail.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 26, 2010
Acts 1:7-8
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.
Black Friday… a day when the opening of the stores comes earlier each year. Some opened at midnight – others at 3 a.m. Apparently, for many Christmas shoppers, timing is everything… and the earlier the starting hour, the better. Imagine if the stores didn’t give the opening time. Imagine if they just said, “We’ll open sometime early morning.” People would probably camp out in record numbers so that they could be sure and be there when things started to happen. Everyone wants to boast about the great bargains they got… and even how early they were in line to get them!
It’s funny how we will camp out for hours to wait for a store to open for a big sale, or tickets to go on sale for a concert that is incredibly popular… but we’re far less concerned with the timing of Jesus. We don’t seem to eagerly be about preparing for His return or what He needs done… and doing the things we should to be ready. We don’t seem to recognize that God is with us in the form of His Holy Spirit, equipping us to accomplish great things in His name… and we are commissioned to do so! We’re soldiers in God’s army, and the assignment is to be His witnesses!
So while we are busy with getting ready for Christmas… buying gifts, trimming the tree and decorating our houses and yards to the hilt... sending cards and throwing parties and eating and drinking way too much of all of the holiday goodies… let’s try to remind ourselves frequently of the real reason for this season. Do not forget our mission! Remember that we don’t know the hour of Christ’s return… but we do know what we’re supposed to do in the meantime. Are you properly prepared? On Whose time do you operate?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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.
Black Friday… a day when the opening of the stores comes earlier each year. Some opened at midnight – others at 3 a.m. Apparently, for many Christmas shoppers, timing is everything… and the earlier the starting hour, the better. Imagine if the stores didn’t give the opening time. Imagine if they just said, “We’ll open sometime early morning.” People would probably camp out in record numbers so that they could be sure and be there when things started to happen. Everyone wants to boast about the great bargains they got… and even how early they were in line to get them!
It’s funny how we will camp out for hours to wait for a store to open for a big sale, or tickets to go on sale for a concert that is incredibly popular… but we’re far less concerned with the timing of Jesus. We don’t seem to eagerly be about preparing for His return or what He needs done… and doing the things we should to be ready. We don’t seem to recognize that God is with us in the form of His Holy Spirit, equipping us to accomplish great things in His name… and we are commissioned to do so! We’re soldiers in God’s army, and the assignment is to be His witnesses!
So while we are busy with getting ready for Christmas… buying gifts, trimming the tree and decorating our houses and yards to the hilt... sending cards and throwing parties and eating and drinking way too much of all of the holiday goodies… let’s try to remind ourselves frequently of the real reason for this season. Do not forget our mission! Remember that we don’t know the hour of Christ’s return… but we do know what we’re supposed to do in the meantime. Are you properly prepared? On Whose time do you operate?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 1, 2010
Luke 6:38
If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In most kitchens, flour, sugar, and other “staples” like rice, beans, pasta, and coffee are kept in glass or plastic containers. We bring these products home from the store and empty them out of their paper sack or plastic bag into our canisters and storage compartments. Often, as we pour in these dry ingredients, we shake the container to settle everything and make room for more. And more than once, I have still overfilled my containers to the point that sugar, flour, rice or some other dry ingredient spilled onto the kitchen counter … or maybe onto the floor, if I wasn’t paying close enough attention!
Imagine receiving the blessings of God in this way. Your heart and soul are the “canister,” and God is heaping love, grace, mercy, joy, and more upon you. Sometimes, it pours so fast that you can’t contain it all, and it spills out all around you. Think of the “glow” you sometimes feel from a full and joyful heart as this abundance radiates outward. Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? We all would like to operate in overflow, right? We would all like God to pour His blessings into us … shake down … and make room for more.
In 1980, my husband’s grandfather died in Iowa. He was buried on Christmas Eve. This was my first Christmas away from my family, but we were where we needed to be. Christmas Day, my husband’s grandmother greeted us with a cheery “Merry Christmas!” She talked of her blessings and what a wonderful day it was to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
In 1981, my paternal grandparents’ house burned to the ground three days before Christmas. They lost virtually everything. People came from far and wide to help them recover and get re-established. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
In 1986, I had major surgery one week before Thanksgiving. We lived in Russellville then – ninety miles from our families. Friends and neighbors rallied around us and brought food and support. On Thanksgiving Day, our next-door neighbors delivered not one, but TWO Thanksgiving “dinners” – enough food to feed a small army. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
Throughout the “nineties,” we experienced many challenging events, including the loss of both our fathers, grandparents and beloved cousins and friends, precious pets, and my younger brother. Each time, people showed up in untold numbers to do amazing things for us … to share God’s love and comfort and to encourage us and do what we were emotionally and physically unable to accomplish. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
We are no different from anyone else. Everyone has troubles and sadness and times of need. But we took notice early on of the love and kindness shown to us by others … and we learned from it. We learned to look around and give back to others in need. We recognized that we had potential to turn inward, become self-absorbed, and concentrate on our own careers and acquiring the “stuff” of “The American Dream” … missing out on the incredible abundance of God’s blessings in the bargain. I believe that the reason we were so blessed by others during our times of need is because our parents and grandparents had been busy giving to others, and it came back exponentially. Pour in, shake down, make room for more. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
I don’t know where you are today … whether you are on the “giving” end or if you are finding yourself in need of love and care from others. But I do know this … none of us is too young to start giving back to others … pouring in out of the abundance of God’s blessings in our own lives. Even if you are still a high school or college student, a young parent, or someone just starting a career, you have something to offer to others. If you are a senior citizen living in a retirement facility, you have something to offer. Be a prayer warrior if you can’t physically get out and help. Make a phone call … send an e-mail message of love and encouragement. These things matter to God’s kingdom.
I cannot predict what lies ahead for me or my family. I am quite certain that there will be challenges, sadness and times of need. And I know that God will send people to bless us. The biggest lesson I have learned is that giving back to others is its own reward. If I ever operated under the motive of being a blessing in order to receive a blessing, I don’t any more. It’s not about what God will give me in return, but more about what I can give back to God. All the same, He continues to pour in, shake down, and make room for more, even when it seems my heart is full to overflowing.
How full is your “container” today? Have you allowed God to use you to pour out, shake down, and make room for more in others? Is He doing this in your life? I pray you will ask God to help you find at least one way each day to give to others. And may you always operate in the abundance of His overflow.
©2010 Debbie Robus
If you give to others, you will be given a full amount in return. It will be packed down, shaken together, and spilling over into your lap. The way you treat others is the way you will be treated.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In most kitchens, flour, sugar, and other “staples” like rice, beans, pasta, and coffee are kept in glass or plastic containers. We bring these products home from the store and empty them out of their paper sack or plastic bag into our canisters and storage compartments. Often, as we pour in these dry ingredients, we shake the container to settle everything and make room for more. And more than once, I have still overfilled my containers to the point that sugar, flour, rice or some other dry ingredient spilled onto the kitchen counter … or maybe onto the floor, if I wasn’t paying close enough attention!
Imagine receiving the blessings of God in this way. Your heart and soul are the “canister,” and God is heaping love, grace, mercy, joy, and more upon you. Sometimes, it pours so fast that you can’t contain it all, and it spills out all around you. Think of the “glow” you sometimes feel from a full and joyful heart as this abundance radiates outward. Sounds pretty great, doesn’t it? We all would like to operate in overflow, right? We would all like God to pour His blessings into us … shake down … and make room for more.
In 1980, my husband’s grandfather died in Iowa. He was buried on Christmas Eve. This was my first Christmas away from my family, but we were where we needed to be. Christmas Day, my husband’s grandmother greeted us with a cheery “Merry Christmas!” She talked of her blessings and what a wonderful day it was to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
In 1981, my paternal grandparents’ house burned to the ground three days before Christmas. They lost virtually everything. People came from far and wide to help them recover and get re-established. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
In 1986, I had major surgery one week before Thanksgiving. We lived in Russellville then – ninety miles from our families. Friends and neighbors rallied around us and brought food and support. On Thanksgiving Day, our next-door neighbors delivered not one, but TWO Thanksgiving “dinners” – enough food to feed a small army. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
Throughout the “nineties,” we experienced many challenging events, including the loss of both our fathers, grandparents and beloved cousins and friends, precious pets, and my younger brother. Each time, people showed up in untold numbers to do amazing things for us … to share God’s love and comfort and to encourage us and do what we were emotionally and physically unable to accomplish. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
We are no different from anyone else. Everyone has troubles and sadness and times of need. But we took notice early on of the love and kindness shown to us by others … and we learned from it. We learned to look around and give back to others in need. We recognized that we had potential to turn inward, become self-absorbed, and concentrate on our own careers and acquiring the “stuff” of “The American Dream” … missing out on the incredible abundance of God’s blessings in the bargain. I believe that the reason we were so blessed by others during our times of need is because our parents and grandparents had been busy giving to others, and it came back exponentially. Pour in, shake down, make room for more. Pour in … shake down … make room for more.
I don’t know where you are today … whether you are on the “giving” end or if you are finding yourself in need of love and care from others. But I do know this … none of us is too young to start giving back to others … pouring in out of the abundance of God’s blessings in our own lives. Even if you are still a high school or college student, a young parent, or someone just starting a career, you have something to offer to others. If you are a senior citizen living in a retirement facility, you have something to offer. Be a prayer warrior if you can’t physically get out and help. Make a phone call … send an e-mail message of love and encouragement. These things matter to God’s kingdom.
I cannot predict what lies ahead for me or my family. I am quite certain that there will be challenges, sadness and times of need. And I know that God will send people to bless us. The biggest lesson I have learned is that giving back to others is its own reward. If I ever operated under the motive of being a blessing in order to receive a blessing, I don’t any more. It’s not about what God will give me in return, but more about what I can give back to God. All the same, He continues to pour in, shake down, and make room for more, even when it seems my heart is full to overflowing.
How full is your “container” today? Have you allowed God to use you to pour out, shake down, and make room for more in others? Is He doing this in your life? I pray you will ask God to help you find at least one way each day to give to others. And may you always operate in the abundance of His overflow.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 19, 2010
1 Corinthians 1:17
Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the good news without using big words that would make the cross of Christ lose its power.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have to tell you … I am so grateful for www.BibleGateway.org and the numerous Bible commentaries and concordances I own. I can sort of tell you verses from the Bible and that “the Bible says so-and-so,” but I am terrible about remembering where particular scripture passages are located. But with keyword searches and indexes, I do pretty well. I’ve always admired people who can say, “You know, in Matthew 5:12, we read “xyz”, or Psalm 48 tells us …”abc”.
At the same time, I don’t think this makes me less of a Christian because I cannot do this. I may not know - off the top of my head - where certain scriptures are located in the Bible, but I know how to find them! And more importantly, I know how to apply the scriptures in the Bible to everyday situations and, hopefully, share the love of Christ in a way that is meaningful to others.
I know people who can recite scripture and verse all day long, but they honestly appear as if they could care less about really, truly serving others. I know preachers who can deliver a dandy sermon on Sunday … but they are lost as a goose when it comes to meeting the needs of those in attendance the rest of the week. I know Sunday School teachers who do a great job of delivering a Bible lesson, but the other six days of the week they just as well not know the members of their class, for all the time they spend thinking of them, praying for them, and truly leading them in their Christian growth.
You’ve probably been around people who appear to be “good Christians” because they tell you how much they know about the Bible, how often they pray and attend Bible studies, and how much they give to the church. But I believe a really “good” Christian is one who shares the Good News of Jesus Christ in a way that others can readily comprehend. I believe that true servants of Jesus minister and nurture because they “live by example.” In other words, they model the teachings and ministry of Jesus.
Head knowledge and heart knowledge are very different. There’s an old saying that “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” What do people know about you? Do they know that you can recite a lot of scripture … or do they know that you are willing to step in and help them with a moment’s notice? Do they know that you are a big financial supporter of the church … or do they know that when they are sick, injured or in trouble, you will be there to do whatever is needed to help them recover? Do they know that you are an excellent speaker who can deliver a devotional, testimony or Sunday School lesson in a heartbeat … or do they know from observation and the things you have shared that you truly “walk the walk” and follow Jesus through thick and thin?
How powerful is the cross of Christ in your witness? Is it masked by fancy words and big talk, or is it laid bare … pure, unadulterated, and holy … for others to truly see? Christ didn’t send most of us to baptize … but He did give us a purpose in ministry for Him. Have you discovered yours yet? Isn’t it time to do so?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Christ did not send me to baptize. He sent me to tell the good news without using big words that would make the cross of Christ lose its power.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have to tell you … I am so grateful for www.BibleGateway.org and the numerous Bible commentaries and concordances I own. I can sort of tell you verses from the Bible and that “the Bible says so-and-so,” but I am terrible about remembering where particular scripture passages are located. But with keyword searches and indexes, I do pretty well. I’ve always admired people who can say, “You know, in Matthew 5:12, we read “xyz”, or Psalm 48 tells us …”abc”.
At the same time, I don’t think this makes me less of a Christian because I cannot do this. I may not know - off the top of my head - where certain scriptures are located in the Bible, but I know how to find them! And more importantly, I know how to apply the scriptures in the Bible to everyday situations and, hopefully, share the love of Christ in a way that is meaningful to others.
I know people who can recite scripture and verse all day long, but they honestly appear as if they could care less about really, truly serving others. I know preachers who can deliver a dandy sermon on Sunday … but they are lost as a goose when it comes to meeting the needs of those in attendance the rest of the week. I know Sunday School teachers who do a great job of delivering a Bible lesson, but the other six days of the week they just as well not know the members of their class, for all the time they spend thinking of them, praying for them, and truly leading them in their Christian growth.
You’ve probably been around people who appear to be “good Christians” because they tell you how much they know about the Bible, how often they pray and attend Bible studies, and how much they give to the church. But I believe a really “good” Christian is one who shares the Good News of Jesus Christ in a way that others can readily comprehend. I believe that true servants of Jesus minister and nurture because they “live by example.” In other words, they model the teachings and ministry of Jesus.
Head knowledge and heart knowledge are very different. There’s an old saying that “People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” What do people know about you? Do they know that you can recite a lot of scripture … or do they know that you are willing to step in and help them with a moment’s notice? Do they know that you are a big financial supporter of the church … or do they know that when they are sick, injured or in trouble, you will be there to do whatever is needed to help them recover? Do they know that you are an excellent speaker who can deliver a devotional, testimony or Sunday School lesson in a heartbeat … or do they know from observation and the things you have shared that you truly “walk the walk” and follow Jesus through thick and thin?
How powerful is the cross of Christ in your witness? Is it masked by fancy words and big talk, or is it laid bare … pure, unadulterated, and holy … for others to truly see? Christ didn’t send most of us to baptize … but He did give us a purpose in ministry for Him. Have you discovered yours yet? Isn’t it time to do so?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 18, 2010
Philemon 1:6
As you share your faith with others, I pray that they may come to know all the blessings Christ has given us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One phone call … ultimately, the balance of two lives came down to a single phone call. Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were captured by North Korean military patrol on the North Korea/China border on March 17, 2009. The two were charged as spies and sentenced to hard labor for twelve years.
Efforts to rescue the women were largely unsuccessful until it was learned that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il desired a face-to-face meeting with former U.S. President Bill Clinton. It seems that when Kim Jong Il’s father died, then-President Clinton had been the first person to call him … even ahead of his own allies. Kim Jong Il wanted to meet the person who had been so kind and thoughtful, and an exchange was brokered … a meeting with Clinton led to the release of the two young reporters. In August, 140 days later, President Clinton met with Kim Jong Il … and Euna Lee and Laura Ling were set free.
I share this story with you today for two reasons. First, I want to emphasize the power of one gesture. When we reach out to someone else with a smile, a handshake, a kind word, a phone call, note of encouragement or even an e-mail message, we have no idea how we impact that person. A dear friend of mine once related to me how I had hugged her in line for Holy Communion one Sunday, and it made her day. I did not remember hugging her, specifically. Another lady told my mother-in-law, “When Debbie sees me, she always hugs me.” I didn’t realize I hugged this woman, either. But after that comment, I made sure I always did! A simple hug meant the world to her. So my first point is that our seemingly small gestures do matter. Just look at what a phone call to express sympathy did for two young women held captive in North Korea!
The second point is that we cannot begin to comprehend the power of sharing our faith with others, in ways great and small. We have no idea how even the simplest expressions of love for another person … a simple “God bless you” … can make a huge difference. I recently shared with you about telling my cousin, “I’m praying for you.” I don’t remember that at all … but he surely does! Inviting a friend or family member to church, sharing a copy of a really good inspirational book, or even commenting to someone on Facebook about your walk with God or telling them God cares about them can have a huge impact.
We need to pay closer attention to our day and how we conduct ourselves. We need to be more aware of those around us … their needs and the ways God is calling us to share His love with them. We need to smile, hug and love more. How hard is it to say, “I’m praying for you” (then be sure you really do pray for them!) or “God bless you”? What’s keeping you from asking, “Where do you go to church?” or saying, “We have a great youth group at our church, and we’d love for you to visit.”? Are you denying others the opportunity to know all of the blessings of Christ because you aren’t sharing your faith? Because honestly, that’s what it boils down to … it’s either apathy or indifference on our part, timidity, or plain old selfishness and an “it’s-all-about-me” attitude … and it grieves God.
I don’t think this truly describes most of us. I believe that we really want to share our faith, but maybe we’ve just lacked confidence or gotten bogged down in daily living and forgotten to look up and out at those around us. We can change this … with God’s help. Ask Him to show you how and where to share. Start with one call … one smile … one hug or blessing. The more you give, the easier it gets – and the more the blessings multiply. I pray that today is the day we all get busy sharing our faith. I can’t wait to see what happens … can you?!
©2010 Debbie Robus
As you share your faith with others, I pray that they may come to know all the blessings Christ has given us.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One phone call … ultimately, the balance of two lives came down to a single phone call. Journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee were captured by North Korean military patrol on the North Korea/China border on March 17, 2009. The two were charged as spies and sentenced to hard labor for twelve years.
Efforts to rescue the women were largely unsuccessful until it was learned that North Korean leader Kim Jong Il desired a face-to-face meeting with former U.S. President Bill Clinton. It seems that when Kim Jong Il’s father died, then-President Clinton had been the first person to call him … even ahead of his own allies. Kim Jong Il wanted to meet the person who had been so kind and thoughtful, and an exchange was brokered … a meeting with Clinton led to the release of the two young reporters. In August, 140 days later, President Clinton met with Kim Jong Il … and Euna Lee and Laura Ling were set free.
I share this story with you today for two reasons. First, I want to emphasize the power of one gesture. When we reach out to someone else with a smile, a handshake, a kind word, a phone call, note of encouragement or even an e-mail message, we have no idea how we impact that person. A dear friend of mine once related to me how I had hugged her in line for Holy Communion one Sunday, and it made her day. I did not remember hugging her, specifically. Another lady told my mother-in-law, “When Debbie sees me, she always hugs me.” I didn’t realize I hugged this woman, either. But after that comment, I made sure I always did! A simple hug meant the world to her. So my first point is that our seemingly small gestures do matter. Just look at what a phone call to express sympathy did for two young women held captive in North Korea!
The second point is that we cannot begin to comprehend the power of sharing our faith with others, in ways great and small. We have no idea how even the simplest expressions of love for another person … a simple “God bless you” … can make a huge difference. I recently shared with you about telling my cousin, “I’m praying for you.” I don’t remember that at all … but he surely does! Inviting a friend or family member to church, sharing a copy of a really good inspirational book, or even commenting to someone on Facebook about your walk with God or telling them God cares about them can have a huge impact.
We need to pay closer attention to our day and how we conduct ourselves. We need to be more aware of those around us … their needs and the ways God is calling us to share His love with them. We need to smile, hug and love more. How hard is it to say, “I’m praying for you” (then be sure you really do pray for them!) or “God bless you”? What’s keeping you from asking, “Where do you go to church?” or saying, “We have a great youth group at our church, and we’d love for you to visit.”? Are you denying others the opportunity to know all of the blessings of Christ because you aren’t sharing your faith? Because honestly, that’s what it boils down to … it’s either apathy or indifference on our part, timidity, or plain old selfishness and an “it’s-all-about-me” attitude … and it grieves God.
I don’t think this truly describes most of us. I believe that we really want to share our faith, but maybe we’ve just lacked confidence or gotten bogged down in daily living and forgotten to look up and out at those around us. We can change this … with God’s help. Ask Him to show you how and where to share. Start with one call … one smile … one hug or blessing. The more you give, the easier it gets – and the more the blessings multiply. I pray that today is the day we all get busy sharing our faith. I can’t wait to see what happens … can you?!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 17, 2010
1 John 1:6-7
If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I attended a bridal shower for a friend. I had never met the hostess before, but she was warm and friendly, and we found we instantly had quite a few things in common. The conversation turned to Facebook, and how some people utilize it to communicate with others. She noted a childhood friend who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. This friend is using Facebook to keep her “friends” updated on her condition … posting comments about chemotherapy treatments, sharing photos of her newest hair scarves, and more.
On the other hand, the woman had a co-worker who became ill with cancer last March, but she chose not to tell anyone except a very small number of close friends and family. She endured her illness in secret, not allowing most people to visit her or even be advised of her condition. And in May, she died. The woman related that she felt badly that she did not know her co-worker was ill and suffering virtually in secret.
I was reminded of a friend whose mother became ill and didn’t want anyone to know. I asked, “If people don’t know she is ill, how can they know to pray for her healing?” I respect a person’s right to privacy. But at the same time I am reminded of what a former pastor once told me … “I can’t visit someone who is sick if I don’t know about them.” Frankly, if I am ill, I want all of the prayers I can get … don’t you?!
Looking at this passage another way … if we are claiming to have faith in God, but we pretend we have no needs … or we make a concerted effort to hide our situation out of embarrassment or a sense that we should be able to handle things on our own – or that some aspect of our life is too dark or ugly to admit to anyone else - we are not living by the truth. And certainly, if we are acting smugly and giving others the impression they cannot be “real” with us for fear of judgment or retribution, we are lying and failing to share in life with each other.
When Jesus died for our sins, He gave us a new life in Him – a life in which He charges us to go into the world and be His light – to offer hope and healing to others in His name, and to love unconditionally, with grace and mercy. This means we must welcome opportunities to pray for others and to share their concerns. We must offer others the promise of help in Jesus … reconciliation and restoration because of the cross. It’s somewhat the “go big or go home” concept. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can no longer hide in the shadows and darkness and live a lie. We must step up and step out … live and love in the light of God.
What about you? Where do you stand today? How “big” are you going with your faith and ministry?
©2010 Debbie Robus
If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
But if we live in the light, as God does, we share in life with each other. And the blood of his Son Jesus washes all our sins away.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I attended a bridal shower for a friend. I had never met the hostess before, but she was warm and friendly, and we found we instantly had quite a few things in common. The conversation turned to Facebook, and how some people utilize it to communicate with others. She noted a childhood friend who is undergoing chemotherapy for cancer. This friend is using Facebook to keep her “friends” updated on her condition … posting comments about chemotherapy treatments, sharing photos of her newest hair scarves, and more.
On the other hand, the woman had a co-worker who became ill with cancer last March, but she chose not to tell anyone except a very small number of close friends and family. She endured her illness in secret, not allowing most people to visit her or even be advised of her condition. And in May, she died. The woman related that she felt badly that she did not know her co-worker was ill and suffering virtually in secret.
I was reminded of a friend whose mother became ill and didn’t want anyone to know. I asked, “If people don’t know she is ill, how can they know to pray for her healing?” I respect a person’s right to privacy. But at the same time I am reminded of what a former pastor once told me … “I can’t visit someone who is sick if I don’t know about them.” Frankly, if I am ill, I want all of the prayers I can get … don’t you?!
Looking at this passage another way … if we are claiming to have faith in God, but we pretend we have no needs … or we make a concerted effort to hide our situation out of embarrassment or a sense that we should be able to handle things on our own – or that some aspect of our life is too dark or ugly to admit to anyone else - we are not living by the truth. And certainly, if we are acting smugly and giving others the impression they cannot be “real” with us for fear of judgment or retribution, we are lying and failing to share in life with each other.
When Jesus died for our sins, He gave us a new life in Him – a life in which He charges us to go into the world and be His light – to offer hope and healing to others in His name, and to love unconditionally, with grace and mercy. This means we must welcome opportunities to pray for others and to share their concerns. We must offer others the promise of help in Jesus … reconciliation and restoration because of the cross. It’s somewhat the “go big or go home” concept. Because of the blood of Jesus, we can no longer hide in the shadows and darkness and live a lie. We must step up and step out … live and love in the light of God.
What about you? Where do you stand today? How “big” are you going with your faith and ministry?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 16, 2010
Hebrews 13:16
But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few months ago, we invited some friends over for a “soup supper” one evening. I made three “soups” – loaded baked potato, chili, and what I call “calico bean pot.” One of the guests in particular really liked my bean soup. He said, “I would like to have your recipe.” Now, I could have been really stingy and said, “Sorry, Bud … that’s a secret recipe.” I could reason that by keeping this recipe to myself, it would be all mine – somewhat one of my “signature dishes.” The only place for our family and friends to enjoy it would be at our table. But instead, I told this guest I would be glad to share the recipe with him.
Sometimes, we are like this as Christians. We don’t want to share what we have with others – from time and talent to material possessions to the blessings of an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. It’s like we think we will somehow diminish our self-worth or our own experience if we share with others. In truth, we all have more than we need of everything … material possessions, a few minutes of time for others, a helping hand, and even abundance in our relationship with God Almighty. If we share with others in God’s name, are we really afraid He will make us do without? Do you really believe that helping others and sharing your possessions with them will cause God to deplete your own supply?
Truly, the more we give, the more we get … although this should not be our motivation. We can find instance after instance in the Bible where someone tried to make a sacrifice, and God was so pleased that He blessed them abundantly. You can’t outdo God! So really, we have nothing to lose by giving to others. Whatever we give away, God will replace … in amounts we can’t even measure!
Don’t forget to help others and share your possessions with them … including your love and compassion. You will be amazed at what happens when you please God in this manner … and He will most surely bless you in return.
©2010 Debbie Robus
But don't forget to help others and to share your possessions with them. This too is like offering a sacrifice that pleases God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few months ago, we invited some friends over for a “soup supper” one evening. I made three “soups” – loaded baked potato, chili, and what I call “calico bean pot.” One of the guests in particular really liked my bean soup. He said, “I would like to have your recipe.” Now, I could have been really stingy and said, “Sorry, Bud … that’s a secret recipe.” I could reason that by keeping this recipe to myself, it would be all mine – somewhat one of my “signature dishes.” The only place for our family and friends to enjoy it would be at our table. But instead, I told this guest I would be glad to share the recipe with him.
Sometimes, we are like this as Christians. We don’t want to share what we have with others – from time and talent to material possessions to the blessings of an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit. It’s like we think we will somehow diminish our self-worth or our own experience if we share with others. In truth, we all have more than we need of everything … material possessions, a few minutes of time for others, a helping hand, and even abundance in our relationship with God Almighty. If we share with others in God’s name, are we really afraid He will make us do without? Do you really believe that helping others and sharing your possessions with them will cause God to deplete your own supply?
Truly, the more we give, the more we get … although this should not be our motivation. We can find instance after instance in the Bible where someone tried to make a sacrifice, and God was so pleased that He blessed them abundantly. You can’t outdo God! So really, we have nothing to lose by giving to others. Whatever we give away, God will replace … in amounts we can’t even measure!
Don’t forget to help others and share your possessions with them … including your love and compassion. You will be amazed at what happens when you please God in this manner … and He will most surely bless you in return.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 11, 2010
Matthew 25:21
"Wonderful!" his master replied. "You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a kid, I assumed my paternal grandparents were rich. They grew their own food on their farm – including Black Angus beef. My grandmother made beautiful clothes for herself, my sister and me - and our Barbies! We had a horse to ride, and twenty acres to explore. My grandparents always seemed to live in abundance.
What I could not see as a child was how hard they worked for the things they had. I knew they went to bed right after supper and rose early each morning. I knew my grandmother drove a school bus each day and then worked as a chairside assistant for a local dentist. I knew that each afternoon after she made the return trip in the school bus, she worked in her garden, quilted or sewed, and cooked wonderful meals … often alongside a big vat of dentures she was “setting” for a patient at work! I knew my grandfather got up early each day to feed his cattle … then operated heavy equipment - like road graders and bulldozers - for the county. After work, he came home and tended to his cattle and his crops.
With all of this work, my grandparents still managed to do for others. They were active members of their church. They shared their food with those who were hungry and ministered to sick and needy family members and friends. They always had time for their three grandchildren. And when their home of more than 25 years burned to the ground one December 20th, others came to their side and returned the favor.
Fellow church members who were traveling south for the winter offered their home to my grandparents. A local contractor agreed to put a “rush” on building a new house for them. The church members, family and friends opened their closets, wallets and hearts and “pounded” them with everything from staples for the kitchen to furniture, household items and more. People rallied around my grandmother when my grandfather died in 1984. Since that time, she has lived in the abundance of blessings from friends and family who “see after” her in ways great and small. And at almost 98 years of age, she still returns the blessings by doing for others as much as she can.
Early in their adult lives, God called my grandparents to serve Him … and they answered. God saw how well they did with so little, and He continued to heap blessings upon them. I’m not talking money, cars, lavish homes and opulent wealth. I’m talking about blessings that matter. Because I can tell you with confidence that I’ve been to enough estate sales to know it’s true that “you cannot take it with you!”
What is God asking you to do? Is He starting with something seemingly small? If so, are you stepping up and answering? I promise you, the “assignments” get bigger … but so do the blessings. Living in the abundance of a life spent serving God - in whatever manner He asks – will result in wealth you can’t even imagine … the kind that matters for all eternity. Don’t you want to hear God say, “I’m proud of you … you are a good and faithful servant!”? Don’t you want to share in His happiness? What are you doing today to make that happen?
©2010 Debbie Robus
"Wonderful!" his master replied. "You are a good and faithful servant. I left you in charge of only a little, but now I will put you in charge of much more. Come and share in my happiness!"
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a kid, I assumed my paternal grandparents were rich. They grew their own food on their farm – including Black Angus beef. My grandmother made beautiful clothes for herself, my sister and me - and our Barbies! We had a horse to ride, and twenty acres to explore. My grandparents always seemed to live in abundance.
What I could not see as a child was how hard they worked for the things they had. I knew they went to bed right after supper and rose early each morning. I knew my grandmother drove a school bus each day and then worked as a chairside assistant for a local dentist. I knew that each afternoon after she made the return trip in the school bus, she worked in her garden, quilted or sewed, and cooked wonderful meals … often alongside a big vat of dentures she was “setting” for a patient at work! I knew my grandfather got up early each day to feed his cattle … then operated heavy equipment - like road graders and bulldozers - for the county. After work, he came home and tended to his cattle and his crops.
With all of this work, my grandparents still managed to do for others. They were active members of their church. They shared their food with those who were hungry and ministered to sick and needy family members and friends. They always had time for their three grandchildren. And when their home of more than 25 years burned to the ground one December 20th, others came to their side and returned the favor.
Fellow church members who were traveling south for the winter offered their home to my grandparents. A local contractor agreed to put a “rush” on building a new house for them. The church members, family and friends opened their closets, wallets and hearts and “pounded” them with everything from staples for the kitchen to furniture, household items and more. People rallied around my grandmother when my grandfather died in 1984. Since that time, she has lived in the abundance of blessings from friends and family who “see after” her in ways great and small. And at almost 98 years of age, she still returns the blessings by doing for others as much as she can.
Early in their adult lives, God called my grandparents to serve Him … and they answered. God saw how well they did with so little, and He continued to heap blessings upon them. I’m not talking money, cars, lavish homes and opulent wealth. I’m talking about blessings that matter. Because I can tell you with confidence that I’ve been to enough estate sales to know it’s true that “you cannot take it with you!”
What is God asking you to do? Is He starting with something seemingly small? If so, are you stepping up and answering? I promise you, the “assignments” get bigger … but so do the blessings. Living in the abundance of a life spent serving God - in whatever manner He asks – will result in wealth you can’t even imagine … the kind that matters for all eternity. Don’t you want to hear God say, “I’m proud of you … you are a good and faithful servant!”? Don’t you want to share in His happiness? What are you doing today to make that happen?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 10, 2010
Isaiah 58:7
Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my maternal grandmother’s only remaining sister became very ill. She lives in a nursing home, and her two children both live on opposite coasts. Her daughter phoned my mom from New York and said she was coming to see her mother. She said she had asked the nursing home for a cot, so that she could stay in her mother’s room. My mom immediately said, “That’s not necessary … you can stay with us.”
Subsequently, Mom picked up her cousin at the airport, then again at a Little Rock hospital after her aunt was taken there for surgery. Then Mom’s husband returned the cousin to the Little Rock airport for her flight back to New York. He might have only met this woman once in his life before the weekend, but he graciously offered to drive her to the airport. This allowed my mom to work on an editing deadline for a book she is writing that must go to the publisher at the end of the week. Mom was already running behind because she took countless hours to spend with her aunt and cousin. She shrugged and said, “We don’t get to choose when we die.” She gets it that you “don’t turn away your relatives.”
Often, we are called upon to do things that are inconvenient. People don’t get sick or die on a schedule. Divorces, new babies, natural disasters, and much more happen at seemingly inopportune times. People find themselves needing a place to stay. I once observed my Mam-ma bake a wedding cake for a cousin who otherwise would not have had one, and when she came to get it, Mam-ma opened her dresser drawer, removed a brand new night gown, and handed it to the girl. Did I mention my grandparents were middle class farmers who barely made ends meet?
Many of us have become very comfortable. God has piled our blessings high, and we have somewhat become “hoarders.” It’s time to start giving away and sharing with others … not only our extras, but even the good stuff! I recently took a few articles of clothing to the local thrift shop. I have to admit, I had pulled out a couple of blouses a few weeks ago and then put them back in my closet, thinking they were too good to give away. The truth is, I don’t need them, won’t wear them, and someone else could. We all have these sorts of things. We could all share a meal with someone who needs one … or buy a sack of groceries for someone we know is struggling. We could anonymously purchase an Angel Food gift certificate for a family in need or offer to drive a relative to an appointment … or leave a package of diapers on the doorstep of young parents on a limited budget.
If you are a teenager, you could offer to do yard work for an elderly person, or give up some of your iTune downloads to buy a meal for a hungry friend. You could offer a ride to someone you know who needs one … or you could give away those extra t-shirts and your discarded-but-still-perfectly-good athletic shoes to someone who has little to none. Maybe you can help a friend or classmate who can’t afford the back-to-school supplies. The point is … WE CAN ALL DO MORE … and we should! I challenge you today to prayerfully look around and see who you can bless. Ask God to show you who needs to see Christian love in action, then share it! I guarantee you that YOU will receive the bigger blessing. That’s not the reason for doing so, but it’s a nice added bonus … and who doesn’t want to be blessed by the Lord!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Share your food with everyone who is hungry; share your home with the poor and homeless. Give clothes to those in need; don't turn away your relatives.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my maternal grandmother’s only remaining sister became very ill. She lives in a nursing home, and her two children both live on opposite coasts. Her daughter phoned my mom from New York and said she was coming to see her mother. She said she had asked the nursing home for a cot, so that she could stay in her mother’s room. My mom immediately said, “That’s not necessary … you can stay with us.”
Subsequently, Mom picked up her cousin at the airport, then again at a Little Rock hospital after her aunt was taken there for surgery. Then Mom’s husband returned the cousin to the Little Rock airport for her flight back to New York. He might have only met this woman once in his life before the weekend, but he graciously offered to drive her to the airport. This allowed my mom to work on an editing deadline for a book she is writing that must go to the publisher at the end of the week. Mom was already running behind because she took countless hours to spend with her aunt and cousin. She shrugged and said, “We don’t get to choose when we die.” She gets it that you “don’t turn away your relatives.”
Often, we are called upon to do things that are inconvenient. People don’t get sick or die on a schedule. Divorces, new babies, natural disasters, and much more happen at seemingly inopportune times. People find themselves needing a place to stay. I once observed my Mam-ma bake a wedding cake for a cousin who otherwise would not have had one, and when she came to get it, Mam-ma opened her dresser drawer, removed a brand new night gown, and handed it to the girl. Did I mention my grandparents were middle class farmers who barely made ends meet?
Many of us have become very comfortable. God has piled our blessings high, and we have somewhat become “hoarders.” It’s time to start giving away and sharing with others … not only our extras, but even the good stuff! I recently took a few articles of clothing to the local thrift shop. I have to admit, I had pulled out a couple of blouses a few weeks ago and then put them back in my closet, thinking they were too good to give away. The truth is, I don’t need them, won’t wear them, and someone else could. We all have these sorts of things. We could all share a meal with someone who needs one … or buy a sack of groceries for someone we know is struggling. We could anonymously purchase an Angel Food gift certificate for a family in need or offer to drive a relative to an appointment … or leave a package of diapers on the doorstep of young parents on a limited budget.
If you are a teenager, you could offer to do yard work for an elderly person, or give up some of your iTune downloads to buy a meal for a hungry friend. You could offer a ride to someone you know who needs one … or you could give away those extra t-shirts and your discarded-but-still-perfectly-good athletic shoes to someone who has little to none. Maybe you can help a friend or classmate who can’t afford the back-to-school supplies. The point is … WE CAN ALL DO MORE … and we should! I challenge you today to prayerfully look around and see who you can bless. Ask God to show you who needs to see Christian love in action, then share it! I guarantee you that YOU will receive the bigger blessing. That’s not the reason for doing so, but it’s a nice added bonus … and who doesn’t want to be blessed by the Lord!
©2010 Debbie Robus
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