John 15:7
Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few years ago on Valentine’s Day, my husband gave me a planter filled with beautiful red tulips. After the blooms had faded, I planted the bulbs in our yard. The following year, the flowers sprouted, and we once again enjoyed the bright red flowers… for about a day. One morning I walked out in the yard, and there were my tulip stems. It looked as if someone had taken scissors and snipped every single red bloom from atop its green stalk. The culprits were deer! Apparently deer LOVE tulip blooms, and they had neatly snipped away mine! I had a similar problem this past summer with a pesky squirrel and some begonias on my back porch. The squirrel wanted my ceramic pots full of dirt for his stash of hickory nuts, so he kept digging out the begonias and tossing them aside – and making a royal mess in the process!
Here’s my dilemma… I planted the seed, but apparently, I didn’t do enough to nurture and protect it. So these pesky backyard critters were able to have a field day! Isn’t this how we do in our Spiritual life? We join to Christ… we study His word and allow the seed of God’s wisdom to be planted in us… but then we don’t do enough to guard and nurture that seed. We allow pesky critters – a.k.a. the devil – to get into our heart and dig around… and often he creates a huge mess there.
In recent days, I’ve really tried to “pray the scriptures.” In other words, instead of asking for healing for my friend Joe, I’ve reminded God that Psalm 103:3 tells us…” The LORD forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick”… and I am asking Him to heal Joe according to His word. I have asked for strength and courage in my own life according to Philippians 4:13, which says that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything.” I have praised God with the words of Psalm 100:5…” The LORD is good! His love and faithfulness will last forever.”
By communicating with God in this manner, I am using the wisdom of His word to root the seeds of His promises deeply within my heart. I am not throwing God’s words back at Him… I am letting Him know that I am starting to “get it!” And I am asking Him to answer my prayers, because I have become a part of Him and trust that He will bless my faithfulness and commitment to Him.
I no longer try to grow tulips in the yard. Unlike my confidence in God to help me fight the devil, I don’t think I have the time and energy to guard a patch of flowers against persistent, hungry deer! I may take another stab this summer at growing begonias on the porch. If I do, I will be armed with some protective netting, or pepper spray… or maybe even a slingshot! After all, Ephesians 6:11 reminds us to…” Put on all the armor that God gives, so you can defend yourself against the devil's tricks.”
How deeply rooted is your “seed?” How fortified is your arsenal of tools to fight the devil? How confident are you that what you have planted comes from God’s word and will bear “good fruit” in the form of answers to your prayers? Our prayer life should be based on confidence that when we ask God for something, “it shall be done,” according to His will. When we plant the seed of God’s wisdom in our heart and keep it there, we should have no trouble accomplishing all that He desires for us… and more than we could ever imagine on our own!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label nurture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nurture. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for October 28, 2011
John 15:1-3
Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already clean because of what I have said to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, I brought home an African violet that belonged to my grandmother. The plant was root bound, and she wanted me to “divide” it and repot. So I took a sharp knife and sliced through the tender violet that overflowed from the tiny flower pot. As I tugged the 2 sections from the soil, several weak stems and leaves fell away… and I discovered there were at least five full-fledged violet plants all clumped together as one.
I carefully separated these plants, found some more planters and potting soil, and created five nice planters filled with violets. As I dug in the soil, I found dozens of mushy remnants of plant fertilizer stakes. It’s no wonder this plant was so prolific and healthy… my grandmother had carefully tended and nurtured the delicate flower each and every day and fertilized it to the nth degree!
My grandmother is a tough critic – and gardener extraordinaire – so I knew I had to return two really nice violets to her after the repotting. I carefully tended the two largest plants… trimming broken and weak looking leaves and stems… watering just the right amount… and making sure the soil supported the plants themselves. My husband delivered these pots to my grandmother, and she later telephone me and told me to bring her some more fertilizer stakes!
I’ll be the first to tell you that I did not inherit my grandmother’s green thumb. I get little to no pleasure out of digging in dirt and planting things. I do well to water the hardy house plants we own. But I have seen more than a half century of evidence of her love and care for botanicals of all kinds… fruits, vegetables, and especially flowers. The attention she pays to the tiny details makes the difference. And it’s the same way with God.
We are the “vine” – God is the “Vinedresser.” In other words, we are the plants and He is the gardener… and He carefully loves and nurtures each of us. Yes… when necessary, God snips and prunes… cuts away the “dead wood”. I like to think that as much as this could mean that God cuts away those who turn away from Him… it also means that when we sin and fall short, He prunes us back… clips our wings a little and reins us in, saying, “Hey there… you need to think about this!” Often we have to repot… prune… fertilize… in order to obtain maximum growth, in life and in our gardening.
My grandmother would rather cut off her right arm than give up on a plant… and I have to believe it is very much the same for God and His children. He doesn’t want to give up on a single one of us, so He continues to nurture, prune, and fertilize us with His love, grace, mercy, and constant care. And in the end - like my grandmother’s violet with its beautiful lilac blossoms - God expects “good fruit” from us.
What sort of “vine” are you these days? Are you producing good fruit for God? Are you allowing His nurture and care of you to take effect? Are there areas of your life that could use a good cleaning and pruning? Ask God to do what is necessary to make you the perfect “plant” in His garden. Thank Him for the amazing care He gives you every single day… then go and BLOOM for Him wherever He plants you!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts away every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit. But he trims clean every branch that does produce fruit, so that it will produce even more fruit. You are already clean because of what I have said to you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, I brought home an African violet that belonged to my grandmother. The plant was root bound, and she wanted me to “divide” it and repot. So I took a sharp knife and sliced through the tender violet that overflowed from the tiny flower pot. As I tugged the 2 sections from the soil, several weak stems and leaves fell away… and I discovered there were at least five full-fledged violet plants all clumped together as one.
I carefully separated these plants, found some more planters and potting soil, and created five nice planters filled with violets. As I dug in the soil, I found dozens of mushy remnants of plant fertilizer stakes. It’s no wonder this plant was so prolific and healthy… my grandmother had carefully tended and nurtured the delicate flower each and every day and fertilized it to the nth degree!
My grandmother is a tough critic – and gardener extraordinaire – so I knew I had to return two really nice violets to her after the repotting. I carefully tended the two largest plants… trimming broken and weak looking leaves and stems… watering just the right amount… and making sure the soil supported the plants themselves. My husband delivered these pots to my grandmother, and she later telephone me and told me to bring her some more fertilizer stakes!
I’ll be the first to tell you that I did not inherit my grandmother’s green thumb. I get little to no pleasure out of digging in dirt and planting things. I do well to water the hardy house plants we own. But I have seen more than a half century of evidence of her love and care for botanicals of all kinds… fruits, vegetables, and especially flowers. The attention she pays to the tiny details makes the difference. And it’s the same way with God.
We are the “vine” – God is the “Vinedresser.” In other words, we are the plants and He is the gardener… and He carefully loves and nurtures each of us. Yes… when necessary, God snips and prunes… cuts away the “dead wood”. I like to think that as much as this could mean that God cuts away those who turn away from Him… it also means that when we sin and fall short, He prunes us back… clips our wings a little and reins us in, saying, “Hey there… you need to think about this!” Often we have to repot… prune… fertilize… in order to obtain maximum growth, in life and in our gardening.
My grandmother would rather cut off her right arm than give up on a plant… and I have to believe it is very much the same for God and His children. He doesn’t want to give up on a single one of us, so He continues to nurture, prune, and fertilize us with His love, grace, mercy, and constant care. And in the end - like my grandmother’s violet with its beautiful lilac blossoms - God expects “good fruit” from us.
What sort of “vine” are you these days? Are you producing good fruit for God? Are you allowing His nurture and care of you to take effect? Are there areas of your life that could use a good cleaning and pruning? Ask God to do what is necessary to make you the perfect “plant” in His garden. Thank Him for the amazing care He gives you every single day… then go and BLOOM for Him wherever He plants you!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 22, 2011
John 6:34-40
The people said, "Lord, give us this bread and don't ever stop!"
Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty. I have told you already that you have seen me and still do not have faith in me. Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away.
I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A youth pastor friend of mine conducted an experiment recently. He asked all of the youth in his group to do without certain things each day for eight days, in order to get a feel for those who are less fortunate. Here was their schedule:
• Day one: No bed
• Day two: Eat rice only
• Day three: Beg for lunch
• Day four: No shower/hygiene products
• Day four part two: No relying on parents/No eating out (they must take care of themselves)
• Day five: No media (no cell phones, no radio, no computer, no TV)
• Day six: No cars (you can bum a ride with someone else, bike or walk, but no cars)
• Day seven: Wear the same clothes you wore yesterday
• Day eight: Fast all day
At best, this experiment was mildly uncomfortable for the participants… and maybe it opened a few eyes to the challenges that many face every day. We cannot fathom needing food and water. We do not understand the concept of needing water… we truly have plenty of food to eat and water to drink. It probably doesn’t occur to us often – if at all – that others clamor for even one cup of water, or a small bowl of mealy mush to eat each day.
The GOOD NEWS is that there is not a single person on the planet who cannot have plenty of the “Bread of Life” and “Living Water” offered by Jesus Christ. Whether lying on a bare church floor with no bedding…or on the hot dusty desert floor of Somalia… we can all be assured that Jesus will never turn us away. He loves all of us and cares deeply about us.
What we don’t grasp… and what eluded the people in this passage from John… is that physical needs and Spiritual needs are not the same. “Why,” we ask…”must people go hungry and thirsty? Why must there be poor and needy among us? Why do bad things happen to good people?” I don’t have the whole answer… and maybe we’re not supposed to understand this fully. But what I do know is that sometimes, through our physical needs and suffering, we are better able to see the Spiritual food and provisions that God offers us through Jesus. Let’s remember, Jesus suffered, too. He understood hunger, thirst, abuse, and murder… firsthand!
What I want you to take away from this message today is that God offers us “food and water” that defies physical man… the sustenance that permeates our soul and matters for all eternity. This life, no matter how many years we are granted, is truly only a blip on the screen. But life in the presence of Almighty God lasts forever. I want in on it… don’t you? And I want to take as many people with me as I possibly can! I am grateful that I will probably never know true physical hunger or thirst. But I am even more grateful that, by God’s grace, I won’t know these needs Spiritually. Can you say the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The people said, "Lord, give us this bread and don't ever stop!"
Jesus replied: I am the bread that gives life! No one who comes to me will ever be hungry. No one who has faith in me will ever be thirsty. I have told you already that you have seen me and still do not have faith in me. Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away.
I didn't come from heaven to do what I want! I came to do what the Father wants me to do. He sent me, and he wants to make certain that none of the ones he has given me will be lost. Instead, he wants me to raise them to life on the last day. My Father wants everyone who sees the Son to have faith in him and to have eternal life. Then I will raise them to life on the last day.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A youth pastor friend of mine conducted an experiment recently. He asked all of the youth in his group to do without certain things each day for eight days, in order to get a feel for those who are less fortunate. Here was their schedule:
• Day one: No bed
• Day two: Eat rice only
• Day three: Beg for lunch
• Day four: No shower/hygiene products
• Day four part two: No relying on parents/No eating out (they must take care of themselves)
• Day five: No media (no cell phones, no radio, no computer, no TV)
• Day six: No cars (you can bum a ride with someone else, bike or walk, but no cars)
• Day seven: Wear the same clothes you wore yesterday
• Day eight: Fast all day
At best, this experiment was mildly uncomfortable for the participants… and maybe it opened a few eyes to the challenges that many face every day. We cannot fathom needing food and water. We do not understand the concept of needing water… we truly have plenty of food to eat and water to drink. It probably doesn’t occur to us often – if at all – that others clamor for even one cup of water, or a small bowl of mealy mush to eat each day.
The GOOD NEWS is that there is not a single person on the planet who cannot have plenty of the “Bread of Life” and “Living Water” offered by Jesus Christ. Whether lying on a bare church floor with no bedding…or on the hot dusty desert floor of Somalia… we can all be assured that Jesus will never turn us away. He loves all of us and cares deeply about us.
What we don’t grasp… and what eluded the people in this passage from John… is that physical needs and Spiritual needs are not the same. “Why,” we ask…”must people go hungry and thirsty? Why must there be poor and needy among us? Why do bad things happen to good people?” I don’t have the whole answer… and maybe we’re not supposed to understand this fully. But what I do know is that sometimes, through our physical needs and suffering, we are better able to see the Spiritual food and provisions that God offers us through Jesus. Let’s remember, Jesus suffered, too. He understood hunger, thirst, abuse, and murder… firsthand!
What I want you to take away from this message today is that God offers us “food and water” that defies physical man… the sustenance that permeates our soul and matters for all eternity. This life, no matter how many years we are granted, is truly only a blip on the screen. But life in the presence of Almighty God lasts forever. I want in on it… don’t you? And I want to take as many people with me as I possibly can! I am grateful that I will probably never know true physical hunger or thirst. But I am even more grateful that, by God’s grace, I won’t know these needs Spiritually. Can you say the same?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 16, 2011
Proverbs 22:6
Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost.
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.
Put on your “thinking cap” and recall at least one positive “life lesson” you have learned from one of your parents or grandparents. Two come to mind for me… both from my grandmothers… “Blood is thicker than water,” and “The LORD will take care of me.” I’ve heard my grandmothers say these phrases countless times, and they resonate with me. My mom used to always tell us, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” All three of these phrases are good “life lessons” – ones that I have never forgotten!
I can also name a few negative “life lessons” that colored my thinking… though not necessarily in a negative way. I learned the hazards of cigarette smoking by watching more than one beloved adult in my family die from its effects. I learned not to judge a person by their appearance or the word of someone else by listening to elders do just that… and I learned later that the person of whom they spoke and thought poorly was really pretty nice! I discovered that not all Christians belong to the same denomination… and those who attend a church down the street are loved just as much by Jesus as those who worship in my own sanctuary!
If we think people in general are watching what we say and do… children are watching even more closely. A great case in point is my little cousin Owen and my nephew Timothy. We have observed both of them mimic our behaviors… from repeating what we say with the same tone and inflection to wearing their hats cocked at the same angle as their dad and Uncle Greg… and much more.
So what does this have to do with you? If you want to really make a difference in someone’s life – regardless of your age - spend some time with a child! If nothing else, be a good and Godly example for children who may cross your path. Watch your language, your habits, your behaviors. Think about what you say – and how you say it.
If you are given a chance to mentor a child, take it. That one morning you spend rocking babies in a church nursery… or the evening you take the neighbor kid out in the yard and throw a ball… may have lifelong ramifications. Send a greeting card to a child who is having a birthday, did well at the swim meet, or won a chess tournament at school. This child may not even know your name, but he/she might remember that someone loved and cared for them… if only for a few minutes. And it could make a huge difference.
God holds a special place in His heart for children… I’m convinced of this! And I believe any time we spend serving children pleases Him doubly. God knows that we are building future generations. We are sowing the seeds of His love in that child… we are creating the opportunity for growth in him/her… and into others exponentially. And while it may seem that our efforts were wasted or miniscule… we need to leave the depth and breadth of their effects up to God. It’s not our job to determine the outcome… just to take the first step.
So my challenge to you today is to find a child to love and nurture. You don’t have to become a foster parent… or volunteer to work in Vacation Bible School or an after-school program of some sort. You don’t have to become a Scout leader or coach Little League… although all of these are worthy projects! All you have to do is be the best role model, friend, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or neighbor God has called you to be. He will use you to inspire and influence the children in your lives.
God’s efforts are never wasted… and yours on His behalf won’t be, either!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Point your kids in the right direction— when they're old they won't be lost.
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.
Put on your “thinking cap” and recall at least one positive “life lesson” you have learned from one of your parents or grandparents. Two come to mind for me… both from my grandmothers… “Blood is thicker than water,” and “The LORD will take care of me.” I’ve heard my grandmothers say these phrases countless times, and they resonate with me. My mom used to always tell us, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” All three of these phrases are good “life lessons” – ones that I have never forgotten!
I can also name a few negative “life lessons” that colored my thinking… though not necessarily in a negative way. I learned the hazards of cigarette smoking by watching more than one beloved adult in my family die from its effects. I learned not to judge a person by their appearance or the word of someone else by listening to elders do just that… and I learned later that the person of whom they spoke and thought poorly was really pretty nice! I discovered that not all Christians belong to the same denomination… and those who attend a church down the street are loved just as much by Jesus as those who worship in my own sanctuary!
If we think people in general are watching what we say and do… children are watching even more closely. A great case in point is my little cousin Owen and my nephew Timothy. We have observed both of them mimic our behaviors… from repeating what we say with the same tone and inflection to wearing their hats cocked at the same angle as their dad and Uncle Greg… and much more.
So what does this have to do with you? If you want to really make a difference in someone’s life – regardless of your age - spend some time with a child! If nothing else, be a good and Godly example for children who may cross your path. Watch your language, your habits, your behaviors. Think about what you say – and how you say it.
If you are given a chance to mentor a child, take it. That one morning you spend rocking babies in a church nursery… or the evening you take the neighbor kid out in the yard and throw a ball… may have lifelong ramifications. Send a greeting card to a child who is having a birthday, did well at the swim meet, or won a chess tournament at school. This child may not even know your name, but he/she might remember that someone loved and cared for them… if only for a few minutes. And it could make a huge difference.
God holds a special place in His heart for children… I’m convinced of this! And I believe any time we spend serving children pleases Him doubly. God knows that we are building future generations. We are sowing the seeds of His love in that child… we are creating the opportunity for growth in him/her… and into others exponentially. And while it may seem that our efforts were wasted or miniscule… we need to leave the depth and breadth of their effects up to God. It’s not our job to determine the outcome… just to take the first step.
So my challenge to you today is to find a child to love and nurture. You don’t have to become a foster parent… or volunteer to work in Vacation Bible School or an after-school program of some sort. You don’t have to become a Scout leader or coach Little League… although all of these are worthy projects! All you have to do is be the best role model, friend, parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, cousin, or neighbor God has called you to be. He will use you to inspire and influence the children in your lives.
God’s efforts are never wasted… and yours on His behalf won’t be, either!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 22, 2011
Jeremiah 17:7-8
But I will bless those who trust me. They will be like trees growing beside a stream -- trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green. They bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is the time of year when we start to think about planting things and watching them grow. Everywhere you look, blooms are bursting open… green leaves are sprouting… the yards are filled with carpets of little white/yellow/purple flowers. Despite our harsh (by Arkansas standards) winter, the roots run deep to nurture plants and trees, and now many are bearing fruit. Even though we are still technically near drought conditions in our state, things are rising from the earth and “greening up” – taking nourishment from deep within the ground.
In my sun-room is a peace lily I have had for almost thirteen years… a gift from friends when my brother died. I have to admit, I am not the best “gardener” in the world, and I sorely neglect this plant. I’ve made a “Google reminder” to water my plants, but sometimes I still find this one drooped and sagging from lack of water. But without fail, a few cups of water (it’s a BIG plant) result in beautiful leaves – and cyclic blooms – that spring upward a few hours later. I can almost hear the plant heave a sigh… “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”
If we stop and think about it, we Christians are the “plants”… and God is the “Gardener.” When we trust God to reign in our life, we enjoy the benefits of deep roots. Because we have a strong core relationship with God, when bumps in the road bring us what seems like a “drought,” God continues to meet our needs and nourish us. And just like my peace lily plant or the dormant flowers and trees of winter, when we return to him and fully bask in His counsel and blessings, our “stems” are strong and sturdy… everything reaches upward or blooms… and welcomes the day!
There will be seasons to our life when it seems as if God has abandoned us… times when we don’t feel as close to Him, no matter how much we pray or study the scripture. These are normal, and God really hasn’t deserted us… but He will use these times to test our faith – to see how we react. If you are firmly rooted and confident in your relationship, you will continue doing what you believe God wants you to do… serving, studying, loving, witnessing, and staying faithful and positive. When God comes along with several cups of “Living Water” to refresh you, you will heave a big sigh of relief, take a deep breath, and say, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
Isn’t it wonderful to live in the blessings of God?! Doesn’t it feel great to know your roots are deep and strong… that He is nurturing you from the bottom up and feeding you well… meeting every need with perfect care?! When I water my peace lily and it revives – or I look outside and see the foliage of spring practically popping open before my very eyes – I feel like the plants are saying, “Thank you!” and acknowledging my presence and care. It’s the same with God when we allow Him to nurture and refresh us, isn’t it?! Are you acknowledging His presence in your life? Have you thanked Him for establishing deep roots in your soul and nourishing you upward?
©2011 Debbie Robus
But I will bless those who trust me. They will be like trees growing beside a stream -- trees with roots that reach down to the water, and with leaves that are always green. They bear fruit every year and are never worried by a lack of rain.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is the time of year when we start to think about planting things and watching them grow. Everywhere you look, blooms are bursting open… green leaves are sprouting… the yards are filled with carpets of little white/yellow/purple flowers. Despite our harsh (by Arkansas standards) winter, the roots run deep to nurture plants and trees, and now many are bearing fruit. Even though we are still technically near drought conditions in our state, things are rising from the earth and “greening up” – taking nourishment from deep within the ground.
In my sun-room is a peace lily I have had for almost thirteen years… a gift from friends when my brother died. I have to admit, I am not the best “gardener” in the world, and I sorely neglect this plant. I’ve made a “Google reminder” to water my plants, but sometimes I still find this one drooped and sagging from lack of water. But without fail, a few cups of water (it’s a BIG plant) result in beautiful leaves – and cyclic blooms – that spring upward a few hours later. I can almost hear the plant heave a sigh… “Ahhhhhhhhhhh!”
If we stop and think about it, we Christians are the “plants”… and God is the “Gardener.” When we trust God to reign in our life, we enjoy the benefits of deep roots. Because we have a strong core relationship with God, when bumps in the road bring us what seems like a “drought,” God continues to meet our needs and nourish us. And just like my peace lily plant or the dormant flowers and trees of winter, when we return to him and fully bask in His counsel and blessings, our “stems” are strong and sturdy… everything reaches upward or blooms… and welcomes the day!
There will be seasons to our life when it seems as if God has abandoned us… times when we don’t feel as close to Him, no matter how much we pray or study the scripture. These are normal, and God really hasn’t deserted us… but He will use these times to test our faith – to see how we react. If you are firmly rooted and confident in your relationship, you will continue doing what you believe God wants you to do… serving, studying, loving, witnessing, and staying faithful and positive. When God comes along with several cups of “Living Water” to refresh you, you will heave a big sigh of relief, take a deep breath, and say, “Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
Isn’t it wonderful to live in the blessings of God?! Doesn’t it feel great to know your roots are deep and strong… that He is nurturing you from the bottom up and feeding you well… meeting every need with perfect care?! When I water my peace lily and it revives – or I look outside and see the foliage of spring practically popping open before my very eyes – I feel like the plants are saying, “Thank you!” and acknowledging my presence and care. It’s the same with God when we allow Him to nurture and refresh us, isn’t it?! Are you acknowledging His presence in your life? Have you thanked Him for establishing deep roots in your soul and nourishing you upward?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 17, 2010
2 Corinthians 3:3-4
You are like a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are not written with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by the Spirit of the living God. We are sure about all this. Christ makes us sure in the very presence of God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1987, my husband and I quit our jobs and moved back to Heber Springs – our hometown – to begin a new business venture. Because we were just getting started and weren’t as busy as we would become in later years – and because we had vowed to find time to volunteer in our community – we delivered Meals on Wheels one day a week. We grew fond of the people on our little route… mostly elderly folks – some of whom were feeble and/or infirm in some manner.
The first winter, we had a major snowstorm. Fourteen inches of snow fell in a little more than a day. Virtually EVERYTHING came to a stop in our community. But as the snow began to pile up the first morning, the people who cooked the meals at the Senior Citizen center scrambled to prepare food for their clients – and even a little extra for the coming days. And they began to search for drivers who were willing to brave the elements to get these meals out to the people who needed them. Our car had front wheel drive, and we gladly offered to help.
It was cold… snow was blowing in a fierce wind… and we trudged through the deepening drifts to knock on the doors of homes where people were hunkered down trying to stay snug and warm. But they were so glad to see us. We made sure they had what they needed and asked if they could use anything extra. I don’t know how we thought we would have gotten back to them with it, but we would have tried.
We carried a lot more than hot food and a couple of cartons of milk to these people. We carried love and a smile… and in doing so, we carried the very presence of God. For the last few years, my husband has once again taken a route delivering Meals on Wheels at least one day a week – and sometimes more days if he is needed to substitute. And I tell him often that he is delivering so much more than food. He visits with his clients and makes sure they are well. He offers them a glimpse into the outside world… and the little ladies on his route love to see a handsome man come through the door!
But truly, his meal delivery is a blessing. The food he carries to these doorsteps feeds the body, but his smile and genuine care and concern carry the love of our Heavenly Father. His deliveries are a letter written on the hearts of these people by the Spirit of the Living God.
We take for granted the blessing of a hot meal, a warm house, and knowing we will have plenty if a major “snowstorm” befalls us. We also take for granted the opportunity to share a blessing with someone else… a “love letter” from God Almighty… in the form of something as simple as a hot meal and a carton of milk… a phone call… a note to say “thinking of you” or “I’m praying for you today”… or even a hug.
Somehow this comes a little easier to us at this time of year. We find it more moving to write the checks to charities, buy toys for needy children, or contribute canned goods to a food drive during the Christmas season. But honestly, we should be doing this all year long, wherever and whenever we can. If every single person bought an extra can of soup or tuna – an extra box of pasta or cereal – another tube of toothpaste or a bar of soap… and gave it to a food drive or an agency like Cleburne County Cares, countless people could have a “love letter from God” – and we would never miss the few pennies or dollars.
There are many ways we can deliver God’s love letter that don’t cost a dime… and a zillion ways that are more than affordable to most of us. All it takes is a prayer… all we have to do is ask God to show us where and how to deliver His love, and He will open doors and windows and flood us with opportunities. The question is… are you willing to be God’s messenger? Will you stand up and accept the challenge to deliver…and be the very presence of God to others? Will someone get a “love letter from God” this week because of you?
©2010 Debbie Robus
You are like a letter written by Christ and delivered by us. But you are not written with pen and ink or on tablets made of stone. You are written in our hearts by the Spirit of the living God. We are sure about all this. Christ makes us sure in the very presence of God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In 1987, my husband and I quit our jobs and moved back to Heber Springs – our hometown – to begin a new business venture. Because we were just getting started and weren’t as busy as we would become in later years – and because we had vowed to find time to volunteer in our community – we delivered Meals on Wheels one day a week. We grew fond of the people on our little route… mostly elderly folks – some of whom were feeble and/or infirm in some manner.
The first winter, we had a major snowstorm. Fourteen inches of snow fell in a little more than a day. Virtually EVERYTHING came to a stop in our community. But as the snow began to pile up the first morning, the people who cooked the meals at the Senior Citizen center scrambled to prepare food for their clients – and even a little extra for the coming days. And they began to search for drivers who were willing to brave the elements to get these meals out to the people who needed them. Our car had front wheel drive, and we gladly offered to help.
It was cold… snow was blowing in a fierce wind… and we trudged through the deepening drifts to knock on the doors of homes where people were hunkered down trying to stay snug and warm. But they were so glad to see us. We made sure they had what they needed and asked if they could use anything extra. I don’t know how we thought we would have gotten back to them with it, but we would have tried.
We carried a lot more than hot food and a couple of cartons of milk to these people. We carried love and a smile… and in doing so, we carried the very presence of God. For the last few years, my husband has once again taken a route delivering Meals on Wheels at least one day a week – and sometimes more days if he is needed to substitute. And I tell him often that he is delivering so much more than food. He visits with his clients and makes sure they are well. He offers them a glimpse into the outside world… and the little ladies on his route love to see a handsome man come through the door!
But truly, his meal delivery is a blessing. The food he carries to these doorsteps feeds the body, but his smile and genuine care and concern carry the love of our Heavenly Father. His deliveries are a letter written on the hearts of these people by the Spirit of the Living God.
We take for granted the blessing of a hot meal, a warm house, and knowing we will have plenty if a major “snowstorm” befalls us. We also take for granted the opportunity to share a blessing with someone else… a “love letter” from God Almighty… in the form of something as simple as a hot meal and a carton of milk… a phone call… a note to say “thinking of you” or “I’m praying for you today”… or even a hug.
Somehow this comes a little easier to us at this time of year. We find it more moving to write the checks to charities, buy toys for needy children, or contribute canned goods to a food drive during the Christmas season. But honestly, we should be doing this all year long, wherever and whenever we can. If every single person bought an extra can of soup or tuna – an extra box of pasta or cereal – another tube of toothpaste or a bar of soap… and gave it to a food drive or an agency like Cleburne County Cares, countless people could have a “love letter from God” – and we would never miss the few pennies or dollars.
There are many ways we can deliver God’s love letter that don’t cost a dime… and a zillion ways that are more than affordable to most of us. All it takes is a prayer… all we have to do is ask God to show us where and how to deliver His love, and He will open doors and windows and flood us with opportunities. The question is… are you willing to be God’s messenger? Will you stand up and accept the challenge to deliver…and be the very presence of God to others? Will someone get a “love letter from God” this week because of you?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 12, 2010
Proverbs 12:18
Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About a year ago, my husband and I went to the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock. One of the permanent exhibits there is a collection of knives and swords from around the world. Some are centuries old. I am not a big fan of swords, but the intricacy and detail presented in some of these specimens was truly amazing … particularly in light of their age and the methods that must have been employed to create them. Someone put a lot of time and energy into creating something meant to be used as a lethal weapon!
Conversely, many of us don’t spend much time and effort at all thinking about what we say to others, so our words are often painful, cutting, or even lethal, i.e. they destroy the heart and soul of the person who hears them. And we toss them out without any care for how they will affect the other person. Or maybe we do care … but not as we should. Sometimes, we mean for our words to be hurtful and “cut like a sword.”
Just recently, I received a message from a young woman to whom I had sent a note of sympathy and encouragement a few years ago when she miscarried. She told me…”The words were perfect and I still have it. I read it from time to time and cry every time. It brought me a lot of comfort.” Today, she and her husband are the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I think I acknowledged the pain of their loss and assured her that God understood … and that their unborn baby would be waiting for them in heaven. The point is that whatever God laid on my heart to say to this young woman helped her to heal from her grief.
God gives us wisdom in many forms – through our own life experiences, through His word, through prayer, through study and fellowship with others. And we can prayerfully use this wisdom to help others in their struggles and even their daily living. God can use our words of wisdom to heal others. But words of wisdom do not come easily – they require as much time and energy as is needed for the craftsmanship of ancient swords.
We have a choice… lethal words that cut like a knife, or healing words filled with the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. From time to time, we all choose both. My prayer is that we devote the time and energy necessary to gain wisdom and cultivate a life filled with healing words … not those that hurt. Ask God to help you in this area. Let’s start to build up a community of believers who speak positive, healing, wise, faith-filled messages of hope and promise. Let’s leave the sharp words in the past and move ahead with care and kindness.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Sharp words cut like a sword, but words of wisdom heal.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
About a year ago, my husband and I went to the Historic Arkansas Museum in downtown Little Rock. One of the permanent exhibits there is a collection of knives and swords from around the world. Some are centuries old. I am not a big fan of swords, but the intricacy and detail presented in some of these specimens was truly amazing … particularly in light of their age and the methods that must have been employed to create them. Someone put a lot of time and energy into creating something meant to be used as a lethal weapon!
Conversely, many of us don’t spend much time and effort at all thinking about what we say to others, so our words are often painful, cutting, or even lethal, i.e. they destroy the heart and soul of the person who hears them. And we toss them out without any care for how they will affect the other person. Or maybe we do care … but not as we should. Sometimes, we mean for our words to be hurtful and “cut like a sword.”
Just recently, I received a message from a young woman to whom I had sent a note of sympathy and encouragement a few years ago when she miscarried. She told me…”The words were perfect and I still have it. I read it from time to time and cry every time. It brought me a lot of comfort.” Today, she and her husband are the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl. I don’t remember exactly what I said, but I think I acknowledged the pain of their loss and assured her that God understood … and that their unborn baby would be waiting for them in heaven. The point is that whatever God laid on my heart to say to this young woman helped her to heal from her grief.
God gives us wisdom in many forms – through our own life experiences, through His word, through prayer, through study and fellowship with others. And we can prayerfully use this wisdom to help others in their struggles and even their daily living. God can use our words of wisdom to heal others. But words of wisdom do not come easily – they require as much time and energy as is needed for the craftsmanship of ancient swords.
We have a choice… lethal words that cut like a knife, or healing words filled with the wisdom of our Heavenly Father. From time to time, we all choose both. My prayer is that we devote the time and energy necessary to gain wisdom and cultivate a life filled with healing words … not those that hurt. Ask God to help you in this area. Let’s start to build up a community of believers who speak positive, healing, wise, faith-filled messages of hope and promise. Let’s leave the sharp words in the past and move ahead with care and kindness.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 2, 2010
James 4:11
My friends, don't say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God's Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched The Today Show as the parents of 13-year-old Texas middle school student, Asher Truong, spoke about their son’s suicide one week earlier. The boy was taunted and teased unmercifully because he was gay, and when he couldn’t take any more, he took his father’s gun into a closet and shot himself. Cruel things and condemning words were more than a teenage boy could handle. And Asher is not the only one. Other young people have taken their lives in recent weeks and months – or made an attempt – because of the cruelty of those around them.
This is not about being gay. And don’t tell me that these victims didn’t have enough faith or a strong enough relationship with God. I don’t discount the belief that God can give us strength to overcome tremendous pressures and challenges. But at the same time, this speaks to a very serious issue in our country … the cruelty and condemnation of our words and actions … and it’s running rampant.
We can scarcely turn on the television these days without hearing someone say cruel things about someone else. Condemnation of others has become almost a sport. So it isn’t all that surprising that bullies have upped the ante and escalated their tactics to aggravate and insult their targets. And as a result, we have an increase in suicides among our young people – some no older than upper elementary school age.
The thing I want us to think about today is that this is more than just a “moral issue.” This scripture passage tells us that this is clearly a violation of God’s Law! So when you condemn classmates, people in your community, public figures and others, you are violating the Law and putting yourself above it … which is a sin. When you write vile things in a letter to the editor of your local paper about a person or a group of people, you have effectively snubbed your nose at God. When you tell an off-color joke about a particular race, creed, or color of people … or make a snide comment about someone that alludes to their lifestyle or their ethnicity, you have sinned.
I’ll share two quick examples … I recently heard someone be publicly critical of an outfit our First Lady was wearing while during a television news report. The problem with the criticism was that this person rolled her eyes and “excused” Mrs. Obama’s fashion choices as being a result of her ethnicity. Several in the room laughed. I did not, and I quickly pointed out that her choices were actually the “in” thing at the moment. I could have said more, but I am fairly certain the lady got my point.
The other incident happened on a reality television show, in which a fashion designer created a new fabric with a pattern that included “plus signs” to reflect his status as HIV positive. He had been diagnosed ten years ago, but because of the stigma attached to his lifestyle and this disease, he had never told anyone – not even his parents … until now. He was truly frightened and lonely … but once he explained his fabric design, there were tears, hugs and kind words for him.
So what does this have to do with us? It goes back to the basic tenet that people are watching. They see how we react to unkind comments – even about a fashion choice. And if we behave badly, they sometimes get the idea this is acceptable … and it is perpetuated. The young man who was so scared to reveal his secret could have easily folded and gone the way of Asher Truong and others. And had his fellow contestants and the judges on this show reacted cruelly or with condemnation, he might have done just that.
We don’t realize how the smallest, simplest things – the miniscule gestures, thoughts and comments of our day – are just as important to God as the big stuff. We get that we shouldn’t kill, steal, worship other Gods, and more. But we don’t see how Satan uses the littlest things to do the biggest destruction.
We have to stop this. We have to ask ourselves each and every minute of the day if what we are saying and doing – how we are reacting to others – lines up with God’s Law. Do we really love others as we love ourselves? Do we truly live in a way that honors Jesus Christ, who loved us like no other? It’s time we started … and it begins today. Are you with me?
©2010 Debbie Robus
My friends, don't say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God's Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I watched The Today Show as the parents of 13-year-old Texas middle school student, Asher Truong, spoke about their son’s suicide one week earlier. The boy was taunted and teased unmercifully because he was gay, and when he couldn’t take any more, he took his father’s gun into a closet and shot himself. Cruel things and condemning words were more than a teenage boy could handle. And Asher is not the only one. Other young people have taken their lives in recent weeks and months – or made an attempt – because of the cruelty of those around them.
This is not about being gay. And don’t tell me that these victims didn’t have enough faith or a strong enough relationship with God. I don’t discount the belief that God can give us strength to overcome tremendous pressures and challenges. But at the same time, this speaks to a very serious issue in our country … the cruelty and condemnation of our words and actions … and it’s running rampant.
We can scarcely turn on the television these days without hearing someone say cruel things about someone else. Condemnation of others has become almost a sport. So it isn’t all that surprising that bullies have upped the ante and escalated their tactics to aggravate and insult their targets. And as a result, we have an increase in suicides among our young people – some no older than upper elementary school age.
The thing I want us to think about today is that this is more than just a “moral issue.” This scripture passage tells us that this is clearly a violation of God’s Law! So when you condemn classmates, people in your community, public figures and others, you are violating the Law and putting yourself above it … which is a sin. When you write vile things in a letter to the editor of your local paper about a person or a group of people, you have effectively snubbed your nose at God. When you tell an off-color joke about a particular race, creed, or color of people … or make a snide comment about someone that alludes to their lifestyle or their ethnicity, you have sinned.
I’ll share two quick examples … I recently heard someone be publicly critical of an outfit our First Lady was wearing while during a television news report. The problem with the criticism was that this person rolled her eyes and “excused” Mrs. Obama’s fashion choices as being a result of her ethnicity. Several in the room laughed. I did not, and I quickly pointed out that her choices were actually the “in” thing at the moment. I could have said more, but I am fairly certain the lady got my point.
The other incident happened on a reality television show, in which a fashion designer created a new fabric with a pattern that included “plus signs” to reflect his status as HIV positive. He had been diagnosed ten years ago, but because of the stigma attached to his lifestyle and this disease, he had never told anyone – not even his parents … until now. He was truly frightened and lonely … but once he explained his fabric design, there were tears, hugs and kind words for him.
So what does this have to do with us? It goes back to the basic tenet that people are watching. They see how we react to unkind comments – even about a fashion choice. And if we behave badly, they sometimes get the idea this is acceptable … and it is perpetuated. The young man who was so scared to reveal his secret could have easily folded and gone the way of Asher Truong and others. And had his fellow contestants and the judges on this show reacted cruelly or with condemnation, he might have done just that.
We don’t realize how the smallest, simplest things – the miniscule gestures, thoughts and comments of our day – are just as important to God as the big stuff. We get that we shouldn’t kill, steal, worship other Gods, and more. But we don’t see how Satan uses the littlest things to do the biggest destruction.
We have to stop this. We have to ask ourselves each and every minute of the day if what we are saying and doing – how we are reacting to others – lines up with God’s Law. Do we really love others as we love ourselves? Do we truly live in a way that honors Jesus Christ, who loved us like no other? It’s time we started … and it begins today. Are you with me?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 1, 2010
Psalm 32:8
You said to me, "I will point out the road that you should follow. I will be your teacher and watch over you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have had great instructors in my life … my mom and mother-in-law, my grandmothers, my piano teacher, a wonderful creative writing teacher in college, childhood Sunday School teachers and more than one pastor who have mentored me along the way. I can still hear their words of advice and direction as I go through daily activities. And many of these wonderful people still watch over me today.
Just last week I received a note from a lady who was my Sunday School teacher … when I was in second grade! While at the beauty shop with my grandmother recently, I shared a visit with another lady who has loved me and watched over me since childhood. I am truly blessed to have had so many mentors and caring people who surround me. A few days ago, I visited with a dear friend who has known me forever – taught my high school English class – and now we enjoy conversations about religion, politics, our families, good books and movies, local history, and more.
What is most important about all of these mentors and “instructors” in my life is that they have something in common … a love for Jesus and a faith in His promises. And they have conveyed this love to me over and over again. So ultimately, my Chief Instructor is God Almighty. He has pointed out which road I should follow – and sent agents to make sure I “get it!” He has given me His Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart, be my teacher and watch over me each and every day.
Let’s face it… none of us would make it in this world without good instruction … and great teachers. I’m betting you have been blessed with several of your own, and I know that God can guide you … if you will listen and pay attention. Who are your instructors these days? I ask, because there are good and bad teachers and role models/mentors, and we must choose those we will follow wisely.
Be sure that you listen first and foremost to the guidance given by God. Read your Bible and communicate openly with Him. Then ask God to give you anointed, holy, earthly mentors and instructors to help you navigate the challenges of everyday life … and to watch over you.
As you grow in wisdom and confidence in the Lord, look for opportunities He is providing for you to pay it forward and be a holy instructor for someone else. Open yourself to God’s instruction … and the chance to share what you have learned with others. Thank God for giving us wisdom and discernment – and good earthly mentors and role models. And the next time you see someone He chose to watch over you, give them a hug and say “Thanks!”
©2010 Debbie Robus
You said to me, "I will point out the road that you should follow. I will be your teacher and watch over you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have had great instructors in my life … my mom and mother-in-law, my grandmothers, my piano teacher, a wonderful creative writing teacher in college, childhood Sunday School teachers and more than one pastor who have mentored me along the way. I can still hear their words of advice and direction as I go through daily activities. And many of these wonderful people still watch over me today.
Just last week I received a note from a lady who was my Sunday School teacher … when I was in second grade! While at the beauty shop with my grandmother recently, I shared a visit with another lady who has loved me and watched over me since childhood. I am truly blessed to have had so many mentors and caring people who surround me. A few days ago, I visited with a dear friend who has known me forever – taught my high school English class – and now we enjoy conversations about religion, politics, our families, good books and movies, local history, and more.
What is most important about all of these mentors and “instructors” in my life is that they have something in common … a love for Jesus and a faith in His promises. And they have conveyed this love to me over and over again. So ultimately, my Chief Instructor is God Almighty. He has pointed out which road I should follow – and sent agents to make sure I “get it!” He has given me His Holy Spirit to dwell in my heart, be my teacher and watch over me each and every day.
Let’s face it… none of us would make it in this world without good instruction … and great teachers. I’m betting you have been blessed with several of your own, and I know that God can guide you … if you will listen and pay attention. Who are your instructors these days? I ask, because there are good and bad teachers and role models/mentors, and we must choose those we will follow wisely.
Be sure that you listen first and foremost to the guidance given by God. Read your Bible and communicate openly with Him. Then ask God to give you anointed, holy, earthly mentors and instructors to help you navigate the challenges of everyday life … and to watch over you.
As you grow in wisdom and confidence in the Lord, look for opportunities He is providing for you to pay it forward and be a holy instructor for someone else. Open yourself to God’s instruction … and the chance to share what you have learned with others. Thank God for giving us wisdom and discernment – and good earthly mentors and role models. And the next time you see someone He chose to watch over you, give them a hug and say “Thanks!”
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 15, 2010
James 2:1
My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won't treat some people better than others.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I saw a video recently that you may have seen, also. It was about two men whose ship wrecked, and they were the only survivors. They drifted to an island where each man took half. On one side of the island, the man prayed for food, clothing, shelter, companionship, and ultimately … rescue. And he got everything he asked for, while the man on the other side had none of these things. The man who received so much began to feel pretty smug, until he asked God why he got so much while his buddy didn’t. The bottom line was that the man who had “nothing” had asked God only to answer the prayers of his friend on the other side of the island.
We like to think that God hears our prayers because we are special to Him … and we are! But we’re no more special than anyone else. Nobody has an “inside track” or a “direct line.” It doesn’t work that way. So it follows that, as people who want to imitate Jesus, we should have no favorites on this earth, either.
That means we shouldn’t be willing to cook a meal for this family in crisis … but not that one. It means that the words, “they don’t attend our church” should never roll off our tongue in the context of helping someone. This means we should be willing to pray for others regardless of where they attend a church – or whether they attend at all. This means we should be willing to pray for – and care about – people in ALL political parties … people of all races, religions, genders, and lifestyles.
We must understand that God does not choose one football team to win over another on Friday night because He favors one more than the other. He doesn’t elect a president or the next American Idol based on favoritism. We need to be very careful about how we pray and what we ask from God in this regard. We need to remember to pray for His will … meaning what outcome will best serve God’s overall plans and purpose … not that God will choose one person or outcome over another out of favoritism. To do so would be the same as to declare that Jesus died on the cross for a chosen few … and that simply is not true. And we should never pray for God to harm another person or cause bad things to happen to him/her!
The bottom line is that we can easily get caught up in everyday vernacular and common talk, and before we know it, we’ve made statements that directly imply one thing or another about our faith … and may give others the wrong impression. We must be very careful to guard our heart, our thoughts, our speech, and our actions, so that others see the unconditional all-consuming love of Jesus in us. God does not “play favorites” … and when it comes to serving in His name - neither should we.
©2010 Debbie Robus
My friends, if you have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, you won't treat some people better than others.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I saw a video recently that you may have seen, also. It was about two men whose ship wrecked, and they were the only survivors. They drifted to an island where each man took half. On one side of the island, the man prayed for food, clothing, shelter, companionship, and ultimately … rescue. And he got everything he asked for, while the man on the other side had none of these things. The man who received so much began to feel pretty smug, until he asked God why he got so much while his buddy didn’t. The bottom line was that the man who had “nothing” had asked God only to answer the prayers of his friend on the other side of the island.
We like to think that God hears our prayers because we are special to Him … and we are! But we’re no more special than anyone else. Nobody has an “inside track” or a “direct line.” It doesn’t work that way. So it follows that, as people who want to imitate Jesus, we should have no favorites on this earth, either.
That means we shouldn’t be willing to cook a meal for this family in crisis … but not that one. It means that the words, “they don’t attend our church” should never roll off our tongue in the context of helping someone. This means we should be willing to pray for others regardless of where they attend a church – or whether they attend at all. This means we should be willing to pray for – and care about – people in ALL political parties … people of all races, religions, genders, and lifestyles.
We must understand that God does not choose one football team to win over another on Friday night because He favors one more than the other. He doesn’t elect a president or the next American Idol based on favoritism. We need to be very careful about how we pray and what we ask from God in this regard. We need to remember to pray for His will … meaning what outcome will best serve God’s overall plans and purpose … not that God will choose one person or outcome over another out of favoritism. To do so would be the same as to declare that Jesus died on the cross for a chosen few … and that simply is not true. And we should never pray for God to harm another person or cause bad things to happen to him/her!
The bottom line is that we can easily get caught up in everyday vernacular and common talk, and before we know it, we’ve made statements that directly imply one thing or another about our faith … and may give others the wrong impression. We must be very careful to guard our heart, our thoughts, our speech, and our actions, so that others see the unconditional all-consuming love of Jesus in us. God does not “play favorites” … and when it comes to serving in His name - neither should we.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 11, 2010
Philippians 2:1-4
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I don’t mean to pass judgment, but there seem to be a lot of Christians who need to read this scripture passage. What does it say to others when you talk one way and act another? How do others see Jesus and His ministries when they observe people who attend church and Bible studies, share their own thoughts and opinions “in the name of Christianity – or Jesus Himself” – and then have no heart for others. What does it say about us as disciples of Christ when we have time to do things for others – friends and members of our church family – but not for our own family members?
If you have time to belong to civic and social clubs, but you can’t spare an hour to help someone who is sick, injured, or in need, this message is for you! If you are more willing to help a good friend or acquaintance than you are your own brother, sister, mother, or father, you need to read this passage again. If you can’t turn off the television for 30 minutes to talk to a friend who is hurting or write a note or e-mail message to someone who needs to know how much God cares about them (as well as you), please read these scripture verses again.
Jesus did not come to save us from our sins so that we could pick and choose how and when to serve in His name. He did not offer love, grace, mercy, comfort, healing, and hope to us, so that we could decide who deserves the same from us in return. He did not accept us unconditionally, as we are … warts and all … so that we could decide that this one or that one is beneath us or “not our kind” and choose to ignore their needs – or that the feelings of someone who doesn’t agree with our thoughts and opinions do not matter.
I pray that every single one of us will go back and read this scripture passage again. Write it out and tape it to your mirror, your refrigerator, your car dashboard, your locker … somewhere that you will see it often. Remind yourself frequently what it truly means to be a servant of Jesus Christ … to be a “deep-spirited friend.” To do any less is downright phony and disrespectful, and does not honor your new life in Christ. Search your heart … see where you’ve gotten caught up in self-centered service, and put the spirit of Christ back into your heart and your actions. Make a difference to others by showing them the difference Christ has made for you.
©2010 Debbie Robus
If you've gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care — then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don't push your way to the front; don't sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don't be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I don’t mean to pass judgment, but there seem to be a lot of Christians who need to read this scripture passage. What does it say to others when you talk one way and act another? How do others see Jesus and His ministries when they observe people who attend church and Bible studies, share their own thoughts and opinions “in the name of Christianity – or Jesus Himself” – and then have no heart for others. What does it say about us as disciples of Christ when we have time to do things for others – friends and members of our church family – but not for our own family members?
If you have time to belong to civic and social clubs, but you can’t spare an hour to help someone who is sick, injured, or in need, this message is for you! If you are more willing to help a good friend or acquaintance than you are your own brother, sister, mother, or father, you need to read this passage again. If you can’t turn off the television for 30 minutes to talk to a friend who is hurting or write a note or e-mail message to someone who needs to know how much God cares about them (as well as you), please read these scripture verses again.
Jesus did not come to save us from our sins so that we could pick and choose how and when to serve in His name. He did not offer love, grace, mercy, comfort, healing, and hope to us, so that we could decide who deserves the same from us in return. He did not accept us unconditionally, as we are … warts and all … so that we could decide that this one or that one is beneath us or “not our kind” and choose to ignore their needs – or that the feelings of someone who doesn’t agree with our thoughts and opinions do not matter.
I pray that every single one of us will go back and read this scripture passage again. Write it out and tape it to your mirror, your refrigerator, your car dashboard, your locker … somewhere that you will see it often. Remind yourself frequently what it truly means to be a servant of Jesus Christ … to be a “deep-spirited friend.” To do any less is downright phony and disrespectful, and does not honor your new life in Christ. Search your heart … see where you’ve gotten caught up in self-centered service, and put the spirit of Christ back into your heart and your actions. Make a difference to others by showing them the difference Christ has made for you.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 10, 2010
2 Corinthians 1:4
He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, my mother wrote a book based on a journal she had kept about caring for her aging parents. It’s called When Heads and Hearts Collide, and I think it can best be summed up by her recollection of the day my grandmother stomped her foot at Mom and said, “I don’t want you to be my mother!” Believe me, my mom didn’t want that, either. You might be wondering, if the years spent caring for my grandparents were so difficult – and at times, painful – why write about it? The answer lies in 2 Corinthians 1:4.
I honestly cannot recall ever sharing my mom’s book with a single person who didn’t say, “I could have written that. This book helped me so much.” My mother used a troubling time in her life and shared her experiences so that others will find comfort when they are faced with the same or a similar situation. From time to time, I try to do this with these devotionals, by offering personal experiences and relating how God helped me through them, in case you ever experience something similar.
No matter who you are or what age you are, there is probably some “troubling time” through which God has comforted you. And others can use your experience to understand that God really will comfort them during their troubling times. I think one of the best examples of this for me has been in writing sympathy cards. I have been able to use the sadness and sorrow of losing loved ones – particularly my father and brother – to comfort others. They know from the words I write in their card that I truly do understand their grief. And when I tell them how God comforted me during these losses, they know I am sincere.
When I tell someone who has broken their ankle that God will give them the strength and courage to do the therapy and rehab … and patience to sit on their rear end for nearly three months while things heal, they know I speak from firsthand experience. When I tell someone I know how scary it is to sell your house and downsize … or to quit a good, steady job to start your own business … and God gave us the courage to do these things … they are given hope for their own situation. If you have experienced God’s comfort when you didn’t make the team, you lost the championship, you wrecked your car, or your personal relationship or friendship with someone ended, you can convey this to others who need to hear it.
The key is to recognize the ways God has comforted you in times of trouble … and to notice those around you who need to hear about them and be encouraged. You don’t have to give every single detail … you don’t have to “air your dirty laundry” to the world … but there are people who need to hear firsthand accounts of how God has comforted someone in a situation similar to theirs – and you just may be that person! Where will you testify to God’s comfort today? Who needs to know you care enough to share your own experience and be the vehicle for God to work? How will you serve … who will God bless and comfort because of you?
©2010 Debbie Robus
He comforts us when we are in trouble, so that we can share that same comfort with others in trouble.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several years ago, my mother wrote a book based on a journal she had kept about caring for her aging parents. It’s called When Heads and Hearts Collide, and I think it can best be summed up by her recollection of the day my grandmother stomped her foot at Mom and said, “I don’t want you to be my mother!” Believe me, my mom didn’t want that, either. You might be wondering, if the years spent caring for my grandparents were so difficult – and at times, painful – why write about it? The answer lies in 2 Corinthians 1:4.
I honestly cannot recall ever sharing my mom’s book with a single person who didn’t say, “I could have written that. This book helped me so much.” My mother used a troubling time in her life and shared her experiences so that others will find comfort when they are faced with the same or a similar situation. From time to time, I try to do this with these devotionals, by offering personal experiences and relating how God helped me through them, in case you ever experience something similar.
No matter who you are or what age you are, there is probably some “troubling time” through which God has comforted you. And others can use your experience to understand that God really will comfort them during their troubling times. I think one of the best examples of this for me has been in writing sympathy cards. I have been able to use the sadness and sorrow of losing loved ones – particularly my father and brother – to comfort others. They know from the words I write in their card that I truly do understand their grief. And when I tell them how God comforted me during these losses, they know I am sincere.
When I tell someone who has broken their ankle that God will give them the strength and courage to do the therapy and rehab … and patience to sit on their rear end for nearly three months while things heal, they know I speak from firsthand experience. When I tell someone I know how scary it is to sell your house and downsize … or to quit a good, steady job to start your own business … and God gave us the courage to do these things … they are given hope for their own situation. If you have experienced God’s comfort when you didn’t make the team, you lost the championship, you wrecked your car, or your personal relationship or friendship with someone ended, you can convey this to others who need to hear it.
The key is to recognize the ways God has comforted you in times of trouble … and to notice those around you who need to hear about them and be encouraged. You don’t have to give every single detail … you don’t have to “air your dirty laundry” to the world … but there are people who need to hear firsthand accounts of how God has comforted someone in a situation similar to theirs – and you just may be that person! Where will you testify to God’s comfort today? Who needs to know you care enough to share your own experience and be the vehicle for God to work? How will you serve … who will God bless and comfort because of you?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 9, 2010
Jeremiah 31:13
Young women and young men, together with the elderly, will celebrate and dance, because I will comfort them and turn their sorrow into happiness.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Everybody needs a little nurture and care once in a while, but two groups who are often overlooked are young people under the age of 30, and the elderly. Sometimes, we fail to realize how hard it is to be a kid, teenager, or young adult. These “youngsters” are in “the prime of their lives.” If you are in this age group, I bet at least one “adult” has told you, “You’ve got it made … things will never be easier than they are now.”
Conversely, we see elderly persons who are residing in assisted living facilities, retirement villages, and resort communities, and we think … “They are living the care-free life … enjoying their ‘Golden Years’.”
What we often don’t see are the heartaches and difficulties that young people face … from relationship issues to challenges with studies and extracurricular activities to peer pressure. We don’t pay attention to the worries and concerns of new college grads over getting a job, finding a place to live, and making a place for themselves in the world at large. We fail to see the stress and strain of newly married couples and parents who are trying to figure out their new roles and keep all the balls in the air.
As for the elderly, there are probably two major concerns: health (both physical and mental), and finances (will my pension and retirement funds cover all of my expenses?). Throw in worries and concerns about children and family, boredom, and the future … not to mention loneliness … and you have a recipe for great need.
Yes, everyone has worries, concerns and challenges that are unique to his/her particular age group. But often we go through life with blinders on and are so focused on our own lives that we fail to realize the needs of those around us, especially the young and the old … those on either end of the “employment spectrum,” so to speak.
My challenge today is for each of us to find a way to encourage and nurture at least two people – one “youngster” and one “senior.” This could be mailing a card, giving a hug, making a phone call, dropping off a hot loaf of bread or a plate of cookies, offering a ride home from school or to the grocery store, or sending an e-mail message to ask, “How ya doin’?” Ask God to direct you and show you how/where to reach out … who to place on your “radar screen.” Focus more on others than you do on yourself and see how God works to bring comfort and happiness to everyone … including you!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Young women and young men, together with the elderly, will celebrate and dance, because I will comfort them and turn their sorrow into happiness.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Everybody needs a little nurture and care once in a while, but two groups who are often overlooked are young people under the age of 30, and the elderly. Sometimes, we fail to realize how hard it is to be a kid, teenager, or young adult. These “youngsters” are in “the prime of their lives.” If you are in this age group, I bet at least one “adult” has told you, “You’ve got it made … things will never be easier than they are now.”
Conversely, we see elderly persons who are residing in assisted living facilities, retirement villages, and resort communities, and we think … “They are living the care-free life … enjoying their ‘Golden Years’.”
What we often don’t see are the heartaches and difficulties that young people face … from relationship issues to challenges with studies and extracurricular activities to peer pressure. We don’t pay attention to the worries and concerns of new college grads over getting a job, finding a place to live, and making a place for themselves in the world at large. We fail to see the stress and strain of newly married couples and parents who are trying to figure out their new roles and keep all the balls in the air.
As for the elderly, there are probably two major concerns: health (both physical and mental), and finances (will my pension and retirement funds cover all of my expenses?). Throw in worries and concerns about children and family, boredom, and the future … not to mention loneliness … and you have a recipe for great need.
Yes, everyone has worries, concerns and challenges that are unique to his/her particular age group. But often we go through life with blinders on and are so focused on our own lives that we fail to realize the needs of those around us, especially the young and the old … those on either end of the “employment spectrum,” so to speak.
My challenge today is for each of us to find a way to encourage and nurture at least two people – one “youngster” and one “senior.” This could be mailing a card, giving a hug, making a phone call, dropping off a hot loaf of bread or a plate of cookies, offering a ride home from school or to the grocery store, or sending an e-mail message to ask, “How ya doin’?” Ask God to direct you and show you how/where to reach out … who to place on your “radar screen.” Focus more on others than you do on yourself and see how God works to bring comfort and happiness to everyone … including you!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 8, 2010
Job 5:11
He protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you stop and think about Jesus’ ministry and teachings, the core of His message is found in Matthew 25:37-40, which says, “Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."
God protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced. How? By sending nurturing believers … caregivers … those who are filled with grace, love and mercy – and willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I hear so many people say, “Oh, when someone dies, I just don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to say to the family… it just makes me uncomfortable.” Others say, “I am no good at helping sick people,” or “I have my hands full with my own life … I have so much to do, and don’t have time to see about someone who is injured or help others with their chores and errands.” Others say, “I simply have no patience with people who whine and complain or are sick or depressed or can’t seem to get their life together.”
Can I tell you something? There is an epidemic of burned-out caregivers and nurturers in this country, because many are called, but few are stepping up to the plate. If you look around and listen, a whole lot of us have an arsenal of excuses ... and what it often boils down to is the fact that we don’t want to do anything that tests our patience, our comfort level, our “image,” or costs us a little bit of our time. And age is no excuse, either.
Not too long ago, a junior high student posted a prayer request on Facebook for a fellow classmate who was having serious surgery. An elementary school student spent many hours and days this summer with her friend during his ordeal with brain surgery. My friend Melissa is heading up The C.A.L.L. – a ministry to help foster children in our area – despite the fact that she is the busy mother of two very young children. Another friend, Ms. Peggy, who is an octogenarian, keeps a visitation calendar that would exhaust a 16-year-old. She cooks for others, visits, calls, sends cards and notes of encouragement, love and sympathy … and she prays for countless people on her list.
Let me tell you … caring for the hungry, the sick, the elderly, the injured, those in prison or down on their luck, the homeless and hopeless, and more… can be unpleasant, time-consuming, and personally draining. But consider this … when a woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, He felt the power of the Holy Spirit leave His body. The next time you help someone in the name of Jesus and feel drained afterward, maybe that is the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you! Maybe God is using you to protect the sorrowful and lift those who have been disgraced. Do you really want to risk missing this blessing?
There may very well come a day when you find yourself in need of nurture and care from others. How will you feel if nobody shows up to serve you? We have a lot of excuses – but none of them are good ones. You can say all you want that “I’m not very good at that,” or “I have no patience,” … or even “I don’t know what to do,” but I’m not buying it … and God most certainly isn’t! We weren’t called to only serve when it is pleasant or convenient or makes us look good. In fact, we are called to do just the opposite … to step outside our comfort zone and do what needs to be done, with grace, mercy, love and joy … and the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the words of comedian Bill Engvall, “Here’s your sign.” This is your wake-up call … your notice that it’s time to get up and get going and figure out how and where God is calling you to serve. Who are you supposed to lift from sorrow? Who are you to encourage to overcome disgrace? Who are you supposed to feed, clothe and assist? Are you praying for others and asking God to send you wherever He needs you to serve? How long has it been since you felt the power of the Holy Spirit flow from you to others – if ever? It’s time… now… today… to start serving in the name of the One who gave His very life for us. Where will you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
He protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you stop and think about Jesus’ ministry and teachings, the core of His message is found in Matthew 25:37-40, which says, “Then the ones who pleased the Lord will ask, "When did we give you something to eat or drink? When did we welcome you as a stranger or give you clothes to wear or visit you while you were sick or in jail?" The king will answer, "Whenever you did it for any of my people, no matter how unimportant they seemed, you did it for me."
God protects the sorrowful and lifts up those who have been disgraced. How? By sending nurturing believers … caregivers … those who are filled with grace, love and mercy – and willing to be the hands and feet of Jesus. I hear so many people say, “Oh, when someone dies, I just don’t know what to do… I don’t know what to say to the family… it just makes me uncomfortable.” Others say, “I am no good at helping sick people,” or “I have my hands full with my own life … I have so much to do, and don’t have time to see about someone who is injured or help others with their chores and errands.” Others say, “I simply have no patience with people who whine and complain or are sick or depressed or can’t seem to get their life together.”
Can I tell you something? There is an epidemic of burned-out caregivers and nurturers in this country, because many are called, but few are stepping up to the plate. If you look around and listen, a whole lot of us have an arsenal of excuses ... and what it often boils down to is the fact that we don’t want to do anything that tests our patience, our comfort level, our “image,” or costs us a little bit of our time. And age is no excuse, either.
Not too long ago, a junior high student posted a prayer request on Facebook for a fellow classmate who was having serious surgery. An elementary school student spent many hours and days this summer with her friend during his ordeal with brain surgery. My friend Melissa is heading up The C.A.L.L. – a ministry to help foster children in our area – despite the fact that she is the busy mother of two very young children. Another friend, Ms. Peggy, who is an octogenarian, keeps a visitation calendar that would exhaust a 16-year-old. She cooks for others, visits, calls, sends cards and notes of encouragement, love and sympathy … and she prays for countless people on her list.
Let me tell you … caring for the hungry, the sick, the elderly, the injured, those in prison or down on their luck, the homeless and hopeless, and more… can be unpleasant, time-consuming, and personally draining. But consider this … when a woman touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, He felt the power of the Holy Spirit leave His body. The next time you help someone in the name of Jesus and feel drained afterward, maybe that is the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through you! Maybe God is using you to protect the sorrowful and lift those who have been disgraced. Do you really want to risk missing this blessing?
There may very well come a day when you find yourself in need of nurture and care from others. How will you feel if nobody shows up to serve you? We have a lot of excuses – but none of them are good ones. You can say all you want that “I’m not very good at that,” or “I have no patience,” … or even “I don’t know what to do,” but I’m not buying it … and God most certainly isn’t! We weren’t called to only serve when it is pleasant or convenient or makes us look good. In fact, we are called to do just the opposite … to step outside our comfort zone and do what needs to be done, with grace, mercy, love and joy … and the power of the Holy Spirit.
In the words of comedian Bill Engvall, “Here’s your sign.” This is your wake-up call … your notice that it’s time to get up and get going and figure out how and where God is calling you to serve. Who are you supposed to lift from sorrow? Who are you to encourage to overcome disgrace? Who are you supposed to feed, clothe and assist? Are you praying for others and asking God to send you wherever He needs you to serve? How long has it been since you felt the power of the Holy Spirit flow from you to others – if ever? It’s time… now… today… to start serving in the name of the One who gave His very life for us. Where will you begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 6, 2010
1 Peter 4:11
If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am so in awe of singer/songwriter Michael W. Smith and others like him. Not only can he write amazing songs that glorify God … he can play and sing them beautifully, too! Sometimes songwriters can create beautiful music … for someone else to sing! But Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others like them can do it all.
Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg is hilarious to me. He has a knack for making even mundane everyday events sound so funny that you can’t help but laugh till your sides nearly split. I am impressed with the ability of Duff Goldman, the “Ace of Cakes,” to turn plain vanilla cakes into works of art, while I struggle to get icing on a cake without tearing it to pieces!
Artists who create beautiful masterpieces … athletes who can perform incredible physical feats … speakers like Joyce Meyer who can make the Good News of Jesus come alive in a real, relevant fashion for thousands … entrepreneurs who can create a concept and turn it into a profitable business that makes you ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?” … and even a landscape artist or gardener who can take a few plants and a patch of grass and create something incredibly inviting and Eden-like … ALL of these people have “found their niche” and made it work – for them and those around them.
What is your niche? Maybe you are still figuring it out … and maybe it will change and evolve throughout your lifetime. But for today, we all have something at which we excel … and this should be defining our ministry. If you are a good “friend” and get along well with others, your ministry may be inviting them to church and church activities – or simply being cheerful and friendly and sharing the love of Christ with others. If you make beautiful cards and like to scrapbook, maybe sharing notes and cards is your way of sharing God’s love. If you are good with finances, perhaps there is a place for you in the church or a church ministry as a treasurer or on the Finance Committee – or even managing your own money in such a way that you have extra to give to missions.
If you love children, you may be called to serve them in some way. If you are good with senior citizens, maybe this age group needs your help. Maybe you can serve as a driver for someone or for groups and individuals in your church and community. And for the record, not all ministries are associated with an organized church. Any time you are serving God by serving others – whether through your church or out in your community – you are honoring God and exercising your gift(s).
I encourage you to get busy determining where you excel. Discover your gift … your “niche”… and ask God to show you how/where to use it for His glory. We were not called to sit on our hands and waste the gifts God has given us. Figure out how and where you are supposed to be serving – and then make it happen to the glory of God!
©2010 Debbie Robus
If you have the gift of speaking, preach God's message. If you have the gift of helping others, do it with the strength that God supplies. Everything should be done in a way that will bring honor to God because of Jesus Christ, who is glorious and powerful forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I am so in awe of singer/songwriter Michael W. Smith and others like him. Not only can he write amazing songs that glorify God … he can play and sing them beautifully, too! Sometimes songwriters can create beautiful music … for someone else to sing! But Michael W. Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others like them can do it all.
Christian comedian Dennis Swanberg is hilarious to me. He has a knack for making even mundane everyday events sound so funny that you can’t help but laugh till your sides nearly split. I am impressed with the ability of Duff Goldman, the “Ace of Cakes,” to turn plain vanilla cakes into works of art, while I struggle to get icing on a cake without tearing it to pieces!
Artists who create beautiful masterpieces … athletes who can perform incredible physical feats … speakers like Joyce Meyer who can make the Good News of Jesus come alive in a real, relevant fashion for thousands … entrepreneurs who can create a concept and turn it into a profitable business that makes you ask, “Why didn’t I think of that?” … and even a landscape artist or gardener who can take a few plants and a patch of grass and create something incredibly inviting and Eden-like … ALL of these people have “found their niche” and made it work – for them and those around them.
What is your niche? Maybe you are still figuring it out … and maybe it will change and evolve throughout your lifetime. But for today, we all have something at which we excel … and this should be defining our ministry. If you are a good “friend” and get along well with others, your ministry may be inviting them to church and church activities – or simply being cheerful and friendly and sharing the love of Christ with others. If you make beautiful cards and like to scrapbook, maybe sharing notes and cards is your way of sharing God’s love. If you are good with finances, perhaps there is a place for you in the church or a church ministry as a treasurer or on the Finance Committee – or even managing your own money in such a way that you have extra to give to missions.
If you love children, you may be called to serve them in some way. If you are good with senior citizens, maybe this age group needs your help. Maybe you can serve as a driver for someone or for groups and individuals in your church and community. And for the record, not all ministries are associated with an organized church. Any time you are serving God by serving others – whether through your church or out in your community – you are honoring God and exercising your gift(s).
I encourage you to get busy determining where you excel. Discover your gift … your “niche”… and ask God to show you how/where to use it for His glory. We were not called to sit on our hands and waste the gifts God has given us. Figure out how and where you are supposed to be serving – and then make it happen to the glory of God!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 4, 2010
1 Peter 3:9
Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have to admit, I really struggle with this sometimes. Our human nature tells us to “fight fire with fire.” And while even the most patient, reserved person reaches his/her limit at one time or another, for some of us, the “fuse” is often pretty short. Don’t we all know someone who “tells it like it is” with seemingly little or no regard for the other person’s feelings? Are we that person?
Many years ago, I was doing contract publishing work for several area businesses. One morning, I had a company newsletter to deliver, and the manager to whom I reported greeted me with a smile and received the package of newsletters. He was always very kind and complimentary toward me, and this morning, his parting words were, “I hope you have a nice day.”
What this man could not possibly have known was that my grandfather had died the previous afternoon. Now, I could have made him feel horrible and offered some retort about how “nice” my day would be. But I knew that he had no idea about what was happening in my life, and he was offering a kind, pleasant send-off to me … and I appreciated his gesture for what it was.
But I also have never forgotten this incident, because I learned a valuable lesson from it. See, we never truly know what is happening with someone else. So we make a lot of assumptions and are quick to judge. And the person who seems hateful or insulting may very well be having the worst day ever. On the other hand, this person may be generally miserable pretty much every day. It really doesn’t matter. Our job, as Christians, is to be kind no matter what. Tall order? Absolutely! Hard to do? You bet!
Conversely, when we brush by people and ask casually, “How are you?” without really caring about the response, the person may reply, “I’m fine,” when the truth is something entirely different. A dear friend of mine who was battling cancer used to always tell me, “I’m fine.” I would say, “This is me (a close friend since childhood) you are talking to … how are you really?” and she would then tell me what was happening with her treatments and her life in general.
The point is that we don’t always take the other guy into consideration. We “judge the book by its cover,” and we miss a chance to truly share the love of Christ. We fail to act in a manner that represents our stature as God’s chosen ones … disciples of Christ. We are hateful and insulting – or uncaring. At the very least, we are insincere.
Our goal should be to always be genuine and kind. Think of Jesus. Was He hateful and insulting? If anyone had reason to be, it was He! But that was not the example we were given … so why do we think it’s okay now? Take the time to really look at people and listen. Tune in to what is really happening with them, and be as sensitive as you possibly can. Show kindness and sincerity, and try your hardest never to “act a fool!” Remember Who chose you … and act in a way that says, “He chose well!”
©2010 Debbie Robus
Don't be hateful and insult people just because they are hateful and insult you. Instead, treat everyone with kindness. You are God's chosen ones, and he will bless you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I have to admit, I really struggle with this sometimes. Our human nature tells us to “fight fire with fire.” And while even the most patient, reserved person reaches his/her limit at one time or another, for some of us, the “fuse” is often pretty short. Don’t we all know someone who “tells it like it is” with seemingly little or no regard for the other person’s feelings? Are we that person?
Many years ago, I was doing contract publishing work for several area businesses. One morning, I had a company newsletter to deliver, and the manager to whom I reported greeted me with a smile and received the package of newsletters. He was always very kind and complimentary toward me, and this morning, his parting words were, “I hope you have a nice day.”
What this man could not possibly have known was that my grandfather had died the previous afternoon. Now, I could have made him feel horrible and offered some retort about how “nice” my day would be. But I knew that he had no idea about what was happening in my life, and he was offering a kind, pleasant send-off to me … and I appreciated his gesture for what it was.
But I also have never forgotten this incident, because I learned a valuable lesson from it. See, we never truly know what is happening with someone else. So we make a lot of assumptions and are quick to judge. And the person who seems hateful or insulting may very well be having the worst day ever. On the other hand, this person may be generally miserable pretty much every day. It really doesn’t matter. Our job, as Christians, is to be kind no matter what. Tall order? Absolutely! Hard to do? You bet!
Conversely, when we brush by people and ask casually, “How are you?” without really caring about the response, the person may reply, “I’m fine,” when the truth is something entirely different. A dear friend of mine who was battling cancer used to always tell me, “I’m fine.” I would say, “This is me (a close friend since childhood) you are talking to … how are you really?” and she would then tell me what was happening with her treatments and her life in general.
The point is that we don’t always take the other guy into consideration. We “judge the book by its cover,” and we miss a chance to truly share the love of Christ. We fail to act in a manner that represents our stature as God’s chosen ones … disciples of Christ. We are hateful and insulting – or uncaring. At the very least, we are insincere.
Our goal should be to always be genuine and kind. Think of Jesus. Was He hateful and insulting? If anyone had reason to be, it was He! But that was not the example we were given … so why do we think it’s okay now? Take the time to really look at people and listen. Tune in to what is really happening with them, and be as sensitive as you possibly can. Show kindness and sincerity, and try your hardest never to “act a fool!” Remember Who chose you … and act in a way that says, “He chose well!”
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 3, 2010
Philippians 1:27
Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I know I sound like a broken record when I repeatedly tell you that people are watching, but it’s the truth. People are watching … and so is God. And I can assure you, they notice what you don’t do as much as what you do.
We are often so self-absorbed that we either don’t see the needs of others all around us … or we don’t care. At the very least, we have an arsenal of excuses for why the needs of others are not our problem. We’re so busy worrying about what we need to get done for ourselves or how things will affect us that we fail to think about the burdens of others. So children move across country (or across town) and don’t call their aging and ailing parents for several months or years. Young people would rather spend time and energy on “fun” friends than elderly relatives who could use a visit or a phone call. Taking care of babies and young children and being responsible parents is a drag compared to hanging out with friends and socializing.
“Friends” are so busy with their own lives that they fail to recognize that someone in their circle is in a downward spiral … until the person hits rock bottom or has some major crisis. Church members drift away and stop coming … or find another church home … because nobody seemed to genuinely care whether they stayed or their needs were met.
A lot of times we get caught up in “who you know” and “who you are,” and we only want to serve God in ways that satisfy our desire to be viewed as someone important or to be a part of the “in crowd.” The true servant is humble … gladly picking up garbage on the side of the road … caring for an elderly person who can no longer take care of basic personal needs … dispensing groceries at a local food pantry to needy, hungry patrons … or cleaning out stalls and kennels at the local animal shelter.
The true servant is willing to give a ride home to that kid in your class who looks like he sleeps in his clothes … the same ones day after day. The true servant is willing to go through his/her closet and find things that are hardly ever worn and share them with someone who has little to wear. The true servant is ready to walk across the aisle on a Sunday morning and sit with a fellow worshiper and ask “How have you been?” … and then stick around to truly hear their response. The true servant looks for ways to help others – to meet their needs in the name of the One who meets all needs.
It’s funny how we worry so much about what people see us do … but we seldom give a thought to what others might notice that we’ve left undone. What have you left undone for others today? How can you better serve others in Jesus’ name … even when nobody seems to notice? How can you make a difference for His kingdom and honor the Good News of Jesus Christ?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Above all else, you must live in a way that brings honor to the good news about Christ. Then, whether I visit you or not, I will hear that all of you think alike. I will know that you are working together and that you are struggling side by side to get others to believe the good news.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I know I sound like a broken record when I repeatedly tell you that people are watching, but it’s the truth. People are watching … and so is God. And I can assure you, they notice what you don’t do as much as what you do.
We are often so self-absorbed that we either don’t see the needs of others all around us … or we don’t care. At the very least, we have an arsenal of excuses for why the needs of others are not our problem. We’re so busy worrying about what we need to get done for ourselves or how things will affect us that we fail to think about the burdens of others. So children move across country (or across town) and don’t call their aging and ailing parents for several months or years. Young people would rather spend time and energy on “fun” friends than elderly relatives who could use a visit or a phone call. Taking care of babies and young children and being responsible parents is a drag compared to hanging out with friends and socializing.
“Friends” are so busy with their own lives that they fail to recognize that someone in their circle is in a downward spiral … until the person hits rock bottom or has some major crisis. Church members drift away and stop coming … or find another church home … because nobody seemed to genuinely care whether they stayed or their needs were met.
A lot of times we get caught up in “who you know” and “who you are,” and we only want to serve God in ways that satisfy our desire to be viewed as someone important or to be a part of the “in crowd.” The true servant is humble … gladly picking up garbage on the side of the road … caring for an elderly person who can no longer take care of basic personal needs … dispensing groceries at a local food pantry to needy, hungry patrons … or cleaning out stalls and kennels at the local animal shelter.
The true servant is willing to give a ride home to that kid in your class who looks like he sleeps in his clothes … the same ones day after day. The true servant is willing to go through his/her closet and find things that are hardly ever worn and share them with someone who has little to wear. The true servant is ready to walk across the aisle on a Sunday morning and sit with a fellow worshiper and ask “How have you been?” … and then stick around to truly hear their response. The true servant looks for ways to help others – to meet their needs in the name of the One who meets all needs.
It’s funny how we worry so much about what people see us do … but we seldom give a thought to what others might notice that we’ve left undone. What have you left undone for others today? How can you better serve others in Jesus’ name … even when nobody seems to notice? How can you make a difference for His kingdom and honor the Good News of Jesus Christ?
©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 27, 2010
Galatians 1:10
I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Probably every single one of us has heard our mom say, “If So-and-So told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?” in response to something we said or did “…because So-and-So said/did it.” We are driven by what others think much of the time. So we see a couple going through a divorce, and we think, “Oh, well… lots of people get divorced.” We hear that someone’s mother or father or another family member or friend passed away, and we think, “That’s too bad, but it happens every day.”
We hear that our friend didn’t make the cheer squad and we think, “Too bad, but there were only so many slots available.” We see someone who is dirty or smells bad, and we either think, “That’s not my problem,” or we turn and look the other way and pretend we didn’t notice.
We assume that because many elderly people in the nursing home are out of their mind and so sick and decrepit that they wouldn’t even know if we came to visit, much less be able to sit and talk with us. We take a look at someone who goes into the ER and is disheveled and acting erratically and supposedly in serious pain, and we think … “That person is probably on drugs and wanting more narcotics or a ‘quick fix’.” We drive right past the homeless people on the street or cut a wide berth for the dirty person in the aisle at the grocery store and pretend we didn’t see them … much less acknowledge they might have a need we can meet.
You don’t have to address what you don’t acknowledge… and the world says, “You don’t have to concern yourself with these people and situations … they are not your problem.”
The truth is that, while they are not literally our problem, as disciples of Christ, any person who is suffering or in need requires our attention on some level. We cannot turn and look the other way. We can’t pretend we are too busy, or the person is too crazy, or the situation is simply too unpleasant for us to handle. If we are going to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we have to act like it!
This doesn’t mean we have to become 100% involved and engrossed in the person’s problems. But we have to show compassion. We have to care that others are going through a divorce and offer to pray for them. We have to care when someone doesn’t make the team or the cheer squad and be kind and sympathetic toward them … listen if they need to talk, and encourage them to try again or to try out for something else. We have to visit those who are grieving, send cards, and yes – attend a few funerals.
We have to support missions for homeless people and smile kindly at others in the stores and on the streets, regardless of how they look or smell. We have to stop passing judgment based on appearances. We have to stop calling people names and discriminating against them. I don’t care if Sam does act like an idiot… we do not call him that to his face – or behind his back. I don’t care of Sue is wealthy and can afford “help” in a crisis … we must still offer ours, as well. Mr. Joe may very well be old and grumpy and can barely get around … but he still deserves our kindness.
Do you see what I mean by this? Our “world” – and the devil – has told us that it’s all about us, and we don’t have to concern ourselves with others. Jesus died on the cross for us. The other guy is on his own. But this is not entirely true. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for us … but He died for the other guy, too. And… he taught us that we are to love others as we love ourselves … and that’s not always a popular stand.
We have to stop caring what others think, because their ways are not always God’s ways. We have to be sure that our thoughts and our actions line up with the word of God and the teachings of Jesus. We can’t talk one way and walk another. How are your words and deeds lining up these days? Who are you pleasing… and to whom are you listening?
©2010 Debbie Robus
I am not trying to please people. I want to please God. Do you think I am trying to please people? If I were doing that, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Probably every single one of us has heard our mom say, “If So-and-So told you to jump off a cliff, would you do it?” in response to something we said or did “…because So-and-So said/did it.” We are driven by what others think much of the time. So we see a couple going through a divorce, and we think, “Oh, well… lots of people get divorced.” We hear that someone’s mother or father or another family member or friend passed away, and we think, “That’s too bad, but it happens every day.”
We hear that our friend didn’t make the cheer squad and we think, “Too bad, but there were only so many slots available.” We see someone who is dirty or smells bad, and we either think, “That’s not my problem,” or we turn and look the other way and pretend we didn’t notice.
We assume that because many elderly people in the nursing home are out of their mind and so sick and decrepit that they wouldn’t even know if we came to visit, much less be able to sit and talk with us. We take a look at someone who goes into the ER and is disheveled and acting erratically and supposedly in serious pain, and we think … “That person is probably on drugs and wanting more narcotics or a ‘quick fix’.” We drive right past the homeless people on the street or cut a wide berth for the dirty person in the aisle at the grocery store and pretend we didn’t see them … much less acknowledge they might have a need we can meet.
You don’t have to address what you don’t acknowledge… and the world says, “You don’t have to concern yourself with these people and situations … they are not your problem.”
The truth is that, while they are not literally our problem, as disciples of Christ, any person who is suffering or in need requires our attention on some level. We cannot turn and look the other way. We can’t pretend we are too busy, or the person is too crazy, or the situation is simply too unpleasant for us to handle. If we are going to be the hands and feet of Jesus, we have to act like it!
This doesn’t mean we have to become 100% involved and engrossed in the person’s problems. But we have to show compassion. We have to care that others are going through a divorce and offer to pray for them. We have to care when someone doesn’t make the team or the cheer squad and be kind and sympathetic toward them … listen if they need to talk, and encourage them to try again or to try out for something else. We have to visit those who are grieving, send cards, and yes – attend a few funerals.
We have to support missions for homeless people and smile kindly at others in the stores and on the streets, regardless of how they look or smell. We have to stop passing judgment based on appearances. We have to stop calling people names and discriminating against them. I don’t care if Sam does act like an idiot… we do not call him that to his face – or behind his back. I don’t care of Sue is wealthy and can afford “help” in a crisis … we must still offer ours, as well. Mr. Joe may very well be old and grumpy and can barely get around … but he still deserves our kindness.
Do you see what I mean by this? Our “world” – and the devil – has told us that it’s all about us, and we don’t have to concern ourselves with others. Jesus died on the cross for us. The other guy is on his own. But this is not entirely true. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for us … but He died for the other guy, too. And… he taught us that we are to love others as we love ourselves … and that’s not always a popular stand.
We have to stop caring what others think, because their ways are not always God’s ways. We have to be sure that our thoughts and our actions line up with the word of God and the teachings of Jesus. We can’t talk one way and walk another. How are your words and deeds lining up these days? Who are you pleasing… and to whom are you listening?
©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
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