Daily Devotional for March 17, 2014

March 17 ~ 2 Corinthians 2:5-9
I don’t want to be hard on you. But if one of you has made someone feel bad, I am not really the one who has been made to feel bad. Some of you are the ones.  Most of you have already pointed out the wrong that person did, and that is punishment enough for what was done.
 
When people sin, you should forgive and comfort them, so they won’t give up in despair.  You should make them sure of your love for them.
 
I also wrote because I wanted to test you and find out if you would follow my instructions.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Actor George Takei is known by many for his role as Hikaru Sulu, a helmsman on the Starship Enterprise in the long-running television series, “Star Trek”.  In recent years, Takei has made cameo appearances on several sitcoms and acted in a few movies.  He is better known today for his activist roles promoting gay rights and Japanese-American relations.  In 1942, Takei and his family were sent to the Rowher War Relocation Camp in Rowher, Arkansas, for internment. They were later transferred to an internment camp in California, where they remained until the end of World War II.  Takei’s family then returned to Los Angeles, where he ultimately graduated from UCLA and received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts Degrees in theater.
 
Today, many younger people know George Takei for his front-and-center presence on social media.  He makes frequent posts of funny pictures, humorous quotes, and inspirational thoughts.  And today was no exception.  Many of you may be familiar with the church group in Kansas that frequently shows up to conduct anti-gay protests at military funerals…often bearing signs that say “God Hates F**s" and “Thank God for 9/11”.  The church’s leader, Fred Phelps, is on Hospice and apparently doesn’t have long to live.
 
George Takei is exactly the kind of person who could become a target of this group’s hatred. It would seem plausible that Takei would have plenty of reasons to harbor un-forgiveness in his heart toward this man and his church.  But here’s what Takei had to say today on Facebook:

"I take no solace or joy in this man's passing. We will not dance upon his grave, nor stand vigil at his funeral holding "God Hates Freds" signs, tempting as it may be.
 
He was a tormented soul, who tormented so many. Hate never wins out in the end. It instead goes always to its lonely, dusty end."

This is exactly what Paul is talking about in his message to the Corinthians.  We need look no further than Jesus Christ as He was tortured and hung on a cross to see how true forgiveness looks.  It’s not about what was done to us…it’s about what we do in return.  People like George Takei would almost seem justified in harboring ill feelings.  To be taken from your home and placed in an internment camp just because of your family heritage would be reason enough…but to be part of a group who is the target of such incredible hatred and disgust because of your sexual orientation would only add fuel to the fire for many.
 
To be imprisoned – sometimes standing in human excrement up to your waist - for sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and claiming that He is the Messiah would be justification for holding a grudge.  To be beaten, spit upon, and nailed to a cross for speaking the Truth and offering all who will follow You eternal life seems like justification for saying, “That’s it… forget it…you can all go to hell!”  But not for George Takei… not the Apostle Paul…and certainly not for Jesus Christ!
 
So what’s our excuse?  I will be the first to admit that forgiveness is not easy.  I’ll also tell you that the devil is going to make sure that you don’t forgive readily!  It takes work…sometimes hard, repetitive work…to truly forgive someone.  But all we have to do is think of Jesus.  That should make this easier.  How can we NOT forgive others, when He forgives us…when He has forgiven so many for so very much?!
 
Notice, too, that Paul points out that a failure to forgive others never hurts them as much as it hurts us.  It eats at our heart…un-forgiveness tears at our soul…and it contaminates our relationship with God. Takei is exactly right – hate never wins out in the end…and neither does a spirit of un-forgiveness. If we want to experience a genuine relationship with God…one in which we wholeheartedly trust Him for everything – and He uses us fully as Christian disciples…we must learn to forgive – completely and with a compassionate heart.  I know I have work to do in this area…what about you?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 4, 2014

Ephesians 4:31-32
Stop being bitter and angry and mad at others. Don’t yell at one another or curse each other or ever be rude.  Instead, be kind and merciful, and forgive others, just as God forgave you because of Christ.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Virtually every day, each one of us has a reason to become bitter, angry, or mad at others.  I have dear friends who have endured so much in the last year that it would make your head spin…the loss of loved ones, the loss of pets, physical illness and/or injury – and I’m talking about all of this happening to the same person!  Others have endured insults, setbacks, and personal heartaches that boggle the mind.  Still, they manage to keep going…to love others, and to operate in grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion.
 
“Kudos to those people!” you may say.  “I don’t know how they do it.”  And let’s be real here…there are a lot of so-called “Christians” who walk around with a chip on their shoulder and cannot operate in compassion, grace and mercy.  You know what I mean.  We all could name people who are continually angry at someone or about something…who are mad at the world…who hold onto grudges and belittle others – or express disdain for certain people and/or their behaviors.  Their general attitude is one of superiority…or at best, gratitude that they are “not like that guy!”  They do not project an image of one who is kind, merciful, forgiving, and accepting of others.  And their behavior demonstrates clearly to others that God’s love is only for a select few…because if they belong to Christ, He surely would not want someone with the kind of flaws average people like you and I have!
 
I’m afraid there are more than a few Christian snobs in our midst…and it’s time for us to each examine our hearts and see if we fall into this category – even once in a while.  The Bible is clear that anger, bitterness and being mad at others are not hallmarks of a true Christian disciple.  Yelling, cursing, and rudeness of any kind have no place in the life of one of Christ’s followers.
 
My challenge to you today is to stop and take a hard look at yourself.  Examine your heart…your words…your body language…and your thoughts.  Think about your recent conversations and what you might have said or done that could be viewed by another as operating in anger, bitterness or rudeness.  If you can make amends…do so.  But vow to God – and to yourself – to do better.  Make this the day that you take this scripture passage to heart and incorporate it fully into your daily Discipleship.  Ask God to forgive you...knowing that He will…and then forgive others - and yourself.  Call on Him to give you the strength and the resolve to operate in love, grace, mercy, and compassion for everyone – all of the time!
 
Jesus died on the cross for all of our anger, bitterness, unkindness, and sin of every nature.  If we truly are His disciples, we will leave these things at the foot of the cross where they belong.  Have you done this?  Isn’t it time you did?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 3, 2014

Hebrews 5:2
And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
My Mam-ma Polly became something of a “personal spokeswoman” for her Assisted Living Facility.  Whenever a potential new resident toured the building, the administrator would ask Mam-ma if it was okay to show them Mam-ma’s room.  While she was still able to talk, Mam-ma would visit with the potential resident and tell them, “Moving here is the best thing I ever did.” I’m not sure she fully believed that statement, but she counseled and encouraged a lot of people in her two years there.  She understood their fears and apprehensions…how hard such a move and life change was - and the finality it represented.  She could commiserate.  My grandmother made a great ambassador for her Assisted Living Facility!
 
Who could better encourage an addict or alcoholic than someone who is recovering from the same affliction?  Who could possibly be a more effective minister to those in prison than someone who was once incarcerated?  Who knows more about the daily demands of dealing with a child with a disability than another mom or dad who is also the parent of a child with challenges?  Who understands the heartache and suffering of being a student who is bullied – or has a learning disability – than someone with the same experience?  We can commiserate with the athlete who suffers a career-ending injury…but we cannot possibly understand how he/she truly feels like another athlete who experienced the same thing.
 
The point is that we all have something…some life events that qualify us to “deal gently” or share compassion and encouragement with someone else.  God never wastes an opportunity!  And the very things we see as “baggage” or a burden…He may plan to use to help others - and bless us in the bargain.
 
When we fail to reach out to others and share our experiences, we potentially block God’s plans – and our own blessings.  God wants us to minister to others out of our own history…to say, “This is my story…and this is how God got me through it.  What He did for me, he will surely do for you!”  I can tell others all day long that an Assisted Living Facility is the right place for them to live at a certain life stage…but I’ve never had to make that decision, so what do I really know?!
 
I have never lost a spouse…or a child…I’ve never been divorced, been fired from a job, or experienced the overseas deployment of a loved one who was in the military.  But I know people who have…and they are ideal disciples for others in the same boat.  By the same token, I have my own set of experiences that give me insight into certain situations that others might be facing…and so do you.  We might be just the person to offer encouragement and compassion to these folks.
 
So what’s keeping you from doing this?  Are you “too busy”…lazy…ashamed…insecure?  What IS your excuse?  Do you understand that God wants each of us to reach out to others and share what He has done for us? Do you get that this is part of real Christian discipleship?
 
Take a good look at your life…your “skill set”…the experiences and events that mold and shape your life.  Think about how God has brought you to this point…how He has brought you through trials, tribulations, joys and sorrows.  Look around at the people in your circle and see who is going through a similar incident.  Aren’t you the perfect person to reach out to them?  Isn’t this what God is calling each of us to do?  God wants each of us to strengthen and encourage others through our own “weaknesses”.  Are you ready to be His ambassador and do your part?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for February 1, 2014

Matthew 5:9
“You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.”
 
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.
 
Go to any organized sporting event, and you will see coaches, players and fans who conduct themselves with poise…who never seem to get frustrated or lose their temper...who enjoy the game and their “role” in it with dignity and decorum.  They don’t overreact to “bad” calls or poor plays.  They let the event unfold and revel in their participation…whatever it may be.  Still others rant and rave and “show out” – and sometimes cause a scene.  Honestly, there have been nights lately when I told Greg that the opposing high school basketball teams’ coaches were more entertaining than the game itself!  You have to wonder who these people really are off the court.  What sort of student/teacher/parent are they?  How do they treat others when no winning score or title is on the line?
 
You are probably familiar with this scripture passage as part of a group of verses from Matthew known as “The Beatitudes”.  In many familiar translations of the Bible, Matthew 5:9 begins… “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.”  In his book The Sermon on the Mount*, author Emmet Fox suggests that the “peacemakers” Jesus refers to in this scripture are actually “those who make or bring about this true peace, or serenity, in their own souls, for it is they who surmount limitation and become actually, and not merely potentially, the children of God.”
 
Fox maintains that each time we offer a prayer, we return to our true communion with God.  As we pray, our character is changed, and we begin to get a more real awareness of the presence of God.  He further suggests that it is hard to be a “peacemaker” in the usual sense of the word, because we often interject our own opinions and/or make things worse.  Frequently, what we create is more a “compromise” than true peace and resolution.  But…Fox contends that once we discover the true power of prayer, we can really heal quarrels and make a difference…often without saying a word!  How is this possible?  Fox says it is because we allow the power of God to penetrate hearts, change minds, invoke wisdom and love, and create true forgiveness and understanding.
 
Think about it.  Consider those you know who seem to have a calming, loving presence. Think of the coaches, players, and fans who seem to be on an even keel pretty much all of the time…win or lose.  Contrast them with those who are “high-strung” and always up for a fight or a conflict of some sort…the coaches and parents who burst from their seat and yell at the referees or players…and the players who seem ready to challenge every call or pick a fight with their opponent.  Which ones strike you as having more peace and serenity in their heart?
 
This is not a judgment.  I am not suggesting that an excitable, unruly coach, parent, fan or player does not have true communion with God.  But it would seem logical that the two cannot fully co-exist.  When our head and heart are full of conflict and confrontation…or we are “carrying a chip on our shoulder” about something… it seems like there would be very little room left for the serenity of God.
 
So what can we do?  How can we become more “peaceful”?  I think Fox has given us the perfect starting point - prayer.  He admits that we will not achieve complete serenity overnight…or even with our first conversations with God.  Ours is a relationship that must be cultivated over several dialog exchanges.  The more we pray, the more the presence of God will permeate our heart and soul…and the more peaceful and serene we will become.  Those who achieve this level of contentment and confidence in the power of God Almighty are the ones who can best offer His compassion, understanding, and peace of mind to others.
 
Don’t you want to be one of the “peacemakers”?  Don’t you want to have that level of peace in your own heart and mind… and be able to convey this serenity to others – sometimes by your mere presence?  Are you ready to reach the point where God’s power flowing in and through you is so commanding that you can bring about peaceful resolutions simply by your prayers and calming influence? Are you ready to fully operate as a child of God?  Will this be the day you open the dialog and get started?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

*The Sermon on the Mount: The Key to Success in Life ©1934,1935, 1938 by Emmet Fox ~HarperCollins Publishers, New York, NY

Daily Devotional for January 31, 2014

1 John 5:13-15
My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.
 
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.
 
Timothy and our cousin Owen (who is six weeks younger than Timothy) both visited us one day last summer.  I had to laugh at them.  Owen has not spent nearly as much time at our house as Timothy has…and Timothy made sure Owen knew that!  He demonstrated his familiarity by helping himself to his “owie bags” from the freezer and more.  Timothy knew where we kept his favorite snacks…what items and areas of our house were off limits, and more.  And he felt quite comfortable making himself at home and asking for anything…confident that we were listening and would answer (and hopefully give him whatever he requested)!
 
Timothy wasn’t ugly about it, but he clearly let Owen knew that he “belonged” at our house…and this gave him special advantages!  He was kind and shared his toys (for the most part)…and in the end, I am sure Owen thought our house was a pretty neat place to visit, too.
 
What about us?  Do we let others know that a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is pretty neat?  Do we live in such a way that others see the “perks” of belonging to Jesus?  Do we share His gifts and blessings…love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and understanding with others?  Or are we selfish with them…even smug and arrogant about our salvation and the relationship we have with Jesus?  Do we let others know that they can enjoy the same bond with Christ that we have?
 
Do we demonstrate the power of prayer…by offering to pray for others and letting them know how God has answered us?  Or are we embarrassed – or even too lazy or ashamed – to share our faith with others?  Do we keep our blessings in Christ to ourselves?  Do others even know we are a Christian?
 
Isn’t it time that we started claiming God’s amazing gift and blessings in our life…and freely communicating with Him in full confidence that His will is perfect – and anything we ask for that aligns with His will, He will grant us?  Shouldn’t we be demonstrating our hope and confidence in Christ to others?  Shouldn’t they be readily able to discern Whose we are…and shouldn’t they desire this same salvation and access to God for themselves?
 
Just how familiar are you with God?  Are you comfortable making yourself at home with Him and asking for anything?  How often do you give others a reason to desire these same advantages for themselves?  Isn’t it time you started “representing” Jesus?  Will this be the day that you begin?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 29, 2014

2 Corinthians 5:16-20
Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
 
God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
My friend Tiger “lamented” (tongue-in-cheek) the “leisurely driver” in a recent Facebook post.  He said in part…”Today we salute you, mister leisurely driver…ye who could drive anytime…however choose to trek at rush hour and lunch time!! Go, you warrior of intersection indecision! We bow and pause for you…after all, what choice do we have - you're blocking the street! We know each stop sign is a major decision!”
 
I suggested to Tiger that he and I may very likely be that “leisurely driver” soon enough!  But I was also reminded of how we used to plead with my grandmother and great-aunt to run their errands at an earlier hour, when traffic wasn’t as heavy.  Instead, they chose to go to the grocery store at the busiest hour of the day…usually on Friday afternoon around 3:30, just as school closed for the weekend!  In truth, they did this so that they could see more people…and get in a good visit with a few of them.  Their “mission” was more about socializing than shopping!  They were not interested in hearing about traffic.  It never bothered them that others had to be extra watchful for their “senior driving” or poke along behind them at intersections.  They had a right to shop whenever they pleased… and they exercised it! And all of the talking in the world could not change their minds.
 
I still remember taking my Mam-ma Polly home from the beauty shop on Friday afternoons and unpacking the groceries that I had purchased for her while she got her hair done.  Then she and her best friend, Ruby, would practically beat me back to the store, where I had returned to purchase my own groceries!  Mam-ma would sometimes make up some excuse about picking up some item she forgot to put on the list when I shopped for her…but I knew the real reason these ladies were there at that hour!
 
My point in sharing this is two-fold …1) as I pointed out to Tiger, we very well may be this “leisurely driver” someday; and 2) we can encourage others to come around to our way of thinking… but the ultimate decision is theirs.  And it’s the same with our Christian faith.  As we share the love of Christ with others and demonstrate Christian discipleship and service, we must do so without judgment.  We must recognize that on any given day, we are all stubborn and rebellious – and maybe a “leisurely driver”…and none of us are perfect.  Still, God loves us!  And if we are new creatures in Christ, we are called to find a way to reconcile differences, overcome our desires to be critical and judgmental…and learn to get along.
 
Moreover, we must understand that our job is not to force Jesus on others…but to share His GOOD NEWS and love with others… then let Him do the heavy lifting of changing hearts and minds. If you really study this scripture passage, you will find that the message is loud and clear to “move over and let God run the show!”  So the next time you encounter a “leisurely driver” on the streets – or in the aisles at Wal-Mart – remember the words of Paul to the Corinthians.  Remind yourself that “we’re Christ’s representatives”…and we share His love by offering forgiveness, compassion and understanding to the other guy.
 
Try to “look inside” others’ hearts and see what God sees.  You are blessed to enjoy His friendship…offer the same to others.  Set the stage for God to work…then move over and “give Him the wheel”!
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 27, 2014

Galatians 5:22-23
But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity. We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people. We find ourselves involved in loyal commitments, not needing to force our way in life, able to marshal and direct our energies wisely.
 
Legalism is helpless in bringing this about; it only gets in the way.
 
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.
 
Recently, I spoke with several girls who are members of a “small group” ministry hosted by my church.  Since these girls are all high school seniors, the girls’ leaders had asked me to address the question, “What do you wish you had known when you were 18?”  The first thing I listed was how I wished I had understood more fully just how much God loves me…that I had truly comprehended His grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion for me.  While those who nurtured me in the first 18 years of my life loved God and meant well, much of my teaching was based in fear and an image of God – at least in my mind - as a strong disciplinarian (think lion tamer with a chair in one hand and a whip in the other!) who was watching and waiting to cast me into hell at the first misstep.  The girls got quite a laugh when I said that the phrase “You’ll go to hell for that!” rang in my head much of the time.
 
It wasn’t until much later in life that I truly learned just how much God loves me… even when I screw things up – as we all do from time to time.  I told the girls I wish I had understood that people make mistakes in life…it’s part of how we grown and learn.  While this is not a license to sin or do things we shouldn’t…it is important that we realize that God can forgive and restore us…He has no desire to see any of us punished…much less condemned to hell for all eternity.  By the same token, I didn’t have a clear understanding of how the Holy Spirit works.  Most of my childhood, we heard of the “Holy Ghost”…and it was in a vague, sometimes eerie context.  I did not understand that the Holy Spirit’s presence in our hearts equips us with compassion, holiness, affection for others, the ability to discern God’s wisdom…and so much more.
 
I shared with the girls how I have come to recognize the Holy Spirit’s presence… how He has calmed me in situations that almost literally took my breath…how He has shrouded me in peace and confidence when there was no “legal” – or human – explanation for the presence of either one!  And I tried to convey to them how helpful it would have been to fully understand – and acknowledge – the Holy Spirit’s manifestation in my life when I was their age.  It would have made a lot of situations easier…answered a lot of questions…and equipped me to handle many things far better than I did.
 
We talked about how so many people have opinions these days about what the girls should do with the rest of their lives…which college they should attend…what they should choose for a major…even which dress they should wear to the prom!  Everyone has an opinion…and while many are offered in love and genuine care, the ultimate decisions reside with these girls.  I encouraged them to think for themselves… to listen to the advice of others - but to lean on the Holy Spirit for guidance…and to understand that they don’t have all of the answers yet – and they aren’t supposed to at this age!
 
In short, my message to these girls is the same missive I give to each of you today…and serves as a reminder to myself, as well:  The “world” can tell you a lot of things.  The “legalism” of right and wrong can serve us just fine.  Etiquette and a societal “moral code” can help us figure out what to say and do in many situations.  But ultimately, the guidance that will supply us best comes from God…often through the manifestation of His Holy Spirit in our lives.  When we listen to the Holy Spirit and operate in God’s will, we don’t have to operate in fear or uncertainty.  We are equipped with a true sense of “affection for others, exuberance about life…and serenity.”  We truly develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of gentleness and compassion in the heart, and a true understanding of holiness and self-control.
 
While I wish I had fully understood some of these things when I was eighteen, I honestly have no regrets.  God has directed each day of my journey.  Even when I didn’t fully recognize His presence – or that of the Holy Spirit – He was with me.  But I could have been more compassionate and caring at times…I could have been less fearful and more confident…and “marshaled my energies” more wisely.  And this is my challenge for all of us…to take whatever time we have left on this earth and make the most of it as we live God’s way.
 
If we start every day by asking God to show us what He wants us to do…and call on His Holy Spirit to fill us and guide our steps…we can proceed with confidence that we are operating in His will – and producing “good fruit” in the process.
 
Whose “laws” are guiding you today?  Will you listen to the “legalism” of today’s society…or will you be guided by the gentle whisper of the Holy Spirit?  Will you operate in God’s grace, mercy, forgiveness, and compassion…and share these “fruits” with others?  Or will you strike out on your own…and take your chances?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 25, 2014

Matthew 6:14-15
“In prayer there is a connection between what God does and what you do. You can’t get forgiveness from God, for instance, without also forgiving others. If you refuse to do your part, you cut yourself off from God’s part.
 
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.
 
A few months ago, I got a serger…a “sewing machine” of sorts that is used to finish seams with an “overlock” stitch, so there is a neat appearance and no raveling.  Turn virtually any “store-bought” garment inside out and look at the seams, and you will see examples of serging.  Everyone talks about the number one drawback of sergers – they are terribly hard to thread.  In fact, it is recommended that you tie “new” threads onto “old” threads and gently pull them through the machine in order to prevent having to do this manually.  Sounds great in theory… but the very first time I tried it, at least one of the four threads broke – and I had no choice but to get out the manual and try to figure out how to thread this complicated contraption!
 
I tried several times to thread the machine…I followed all of the manual’s instructions (or so I thought)…and still the threads would break. Greg suggested I consult YouTube and see if there were any videos that could help. While there was nothing for my specific machine, I did find a video for a similar serger…and in just a few minutes, mine was properly threaded, and I was on my way!  There was one little missing step that the manual could not adequately describe.  A visual image on video was just what I needed.  That missing part of the puzzle made all the difference in the world…and today, I consider myself something of a pro when it comes to threading the serger!
 
In our life with Christ, a lot of us have MOST of the puzzle pieces figured out.  We think we pretty well know how to “thread the serger”.  We understand that we are called to love God and serve Him…and in fact, we truly WANT to do this!  We want to love others as we love God…to meet their needs in His name…to think more of other people than we do ourselves.  We want to forgive others in order to get forgiveness from God.  But there is still a “broken thread” for many of us…something that cuts us off from God’s part and keeps us from completing the circle between us.  For many of us, we have done all we need to do except for one thing…we have failed to forgive ourselves.
 
Think about how many times you say, “If only I had done such-and-such”… or “I really should have called So-and-so”…or “I should have been nicer to him/her – I should have spoken in the grocery store or in the hallway at school or church.”  Do you go over things like this in your mind wish you could have a “do-over”?  Are you painfully critical of yourself?  Do you beat yourself up for every little transgression…long after you have begged forgiveness from God and anyone else you might have offended?  Could this be the “missing step” that you have been unable to see?
 
You are not alone.  Many people don’t make this important connection.  We fail to see what God sees…His creation…His child…someone who He loves very much.  We do not recognize the full potential that God sees in us…and in essence, we don’t fully accept His forgiveness.  God wants us to be humble, obedient – and remorseful when we fall short – but He also wants us to come before Him and ask for restoration…then get over ourselves and get on with it!
 
Think of when adults say to little children, “Tell me what you did and why you had to go to time out!”  Then remind yourself that this is often followed by a hug and a “now go and play” as all is forgiven and the ugly business is over and done.  The child doesn’t stand around and say, “But I shouldn’t have hit my sister” or “I feel so bad for breaking that dish.”  The child moves on…and hopefully tries to do better…and the parents are pleased with the child’s “lesson”.
 
What is the “missing piece of the puzzle” in your life that causes you to have a “broken thread” in your relationship with God?  Could it be that you are able to ask for God’s forgiveness and that of others – and even fairly good at granting forgiveness to others…but when it comes to forgiving yourself, you’re all thumbs?  Isn’t it time to “properly thread the machine” and complete your circle with God?  Don’t you think this is a great time to begin?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 24, 2014

John 6:35-37
Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go.

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.

There is presently a Facebook challenge circulating where “friends” are posting: “To start this year off in a loving way I'm participating in the Pay-it-Forward initiative...The first FIVE people who comment on this status with ‘I'm in’ will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year…anything from a book, something homemade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy. These five people must make the same offer in their FB status and distribute their own joy.”

This idea sounds great…five people do something nice for five people who do something nice for five more people…you get the idea.  But why stop there? Why only do something nice for the first five people who comment?  Are they truly the ones who need a “nice surprise” in their life?  Why not look around your everyday situations and find people who could use a lift…a note of encouragement…a phone call “buddy check”…a meal…help with an errand or chore…or another gesture that says, “I care about you!”…and put Christian love and compassion into action?

In this scripture passage, Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.  The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.”  Jesus adds that once that person is with Him, He will hold on and never let go.  I keep hearing Jesus say, “I am for EVERYONE!  What I offer one, I offer ALL!  I will never EVER let you go…you can always count on me to love you and care about your every need! I know you don’t seem to always believe this, but I am telling you…take this to the BANK!”

Are we like Jesus?  Are we modeling His discipleship and compassion?  Are we offering His “Bread of Life” to others in the form of conscious efforts to make their day better introduce them to His love and care in action?  Or are we waiting for people to come to us and say, “I could use a hug…a handout…support in some manner…”?  Have we made a convincing demonstration of love and compassion to others?  Do they believe that we really care…or do we only meet the needs of those select few who raise their hands and voices and say, “I’m in!”?

Suppose Jesus said, “I will meet the needs of the first five people who come to Me and say, “I’m in”…and His efforts to “feed the sheep” stopped there?  Suppose He never expended any energy to pursue those “on the fringes”…those with great needs who never asked for help – for whatever reasons.  Suppose His salvation, love and care were not all-encompassing…or eternal!  Because we have been so blessed…because of the heritage we are given in Christ Jesus…we should be eager to share our gifts with others.  In doing so, we essentially say, “I love you and care for you with the love of Christ, which is fully and equally available to you!”

If you want to participate in this Facebook challenge, by all means… go for it!  I do not mean to criticize this concept.  But I dare you to go even further… to embrace the love of Christ that has been extended to you… and to “pay it forward” to those who may least suspect that someone else cares - but are the ones who need to know this the most!  In doing so, you will truly extend Jesus’ offering of the “Bread of Life”.  In return, you will “hunger and thirst no more” for His love and blessings.  Whaddya say…are you “in”?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 23, 2014

Matthew 7:12
“Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for you, then grab the initiative and do it for them. Add up God’s Law and Prophets and this is what you get.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
In her book The Glass Castle, author Jeanette Walls provides us with a vivid picture of her childhood.  Walls’ mother and father were somewhat the “poster children” for dysfunctional parenting.  If you read this book, you will wonder how Walls and her siblings ever wanted to have anything to do with their parents.  And yet, they cared for their father as he lay dying when the rigors of alcoholism ravaged his body – and ultimately took his life.  Walls opens her book with a description of pulling up alongside her mother, who was dumpster diving on the streets of New York City, and inviting her into the car for a conversation.
 
Many people would have looked the other way and pretended that this was not their mother…or they would have rushed her into the car and ridiculed her for embarrassing them in such a manner.  But Walls did neither.  She does not speak of a faith in Christ in her books, but surely she has developed an understanding of the basic tenet of what we know as “The Golden Rule” somewhere…somehow.  She is able to put aside her own humiliation…what would be understandable resentment for the way she, her brother and sister were reared – neglected and mistreated, if not downright abused.  Jeanette Walls is able to consider the person before her and ask a simple question, “How would I want to be treated?”  And this is how she responds.
 
Surely you have had at least one instance in your life where someone has essentially – if not literally – slapped you in the face.  You’ve been the brunt of an embarrassing or derogatory gesture…you’ve been called an ugly name, experienced a betrayal, or someone has treated you so unkindly that you felt like the breath was sucked from your lungs.  Maybe you have been lonely, sick or injured…and no one bothered to even call to check on you – much less visit and offer to help.  Maybe you have had to figure out how to manage what seemed like an impossible task all by yourself, while those around you acted like you were virtually invisible.  Either they were too busy, too disinterested, or truly didn’t care enough to help you…but the result was pretty much the same.  You were left feeling insignificant and unloved.
 
I could list other situations…but you get the picture.  We’ve all “been there, done that” at one time or another.  So we should all understand how terrible this feels.  We should all be ready to take a look at “the other guy” and ask, “How would I feel in his/her shoes?”  But time after time – for whatever reason – we seem to be too busy to exercise this “rule-of-thumb behavior” that sums up all of the laws and teachings of Jesus.
 
We can do better.  We MUST do better!  We should take a page from Jeanette Wall’s book (no pun intended!) and put aside our own feelings to consider the other person…to meet his/her needs as we feel led by the LORD… and to let HIM handle the rest.  We must get to a point in our own Christian discipleship where we focus on treating others as we would like to be treated (and as God directs us)…and we allow God handle how others treat us!  I get it…this is far easier said than done.  But again, nothing about being a disciple of Christ is necessarily easy!
 
So how do we proceed?  Leo Babauta, author of the blog “Zen Habits”, posted “18 Practical Tips for Living the Golden Rule”.* It’s worth a look, and I encourage you to click on the link and read through them.  There is so much more that each of us can do to share love and compassion with others…and to honor the teachings of Jesus and His amazing gift of grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion in our own lives.  This may not come easily at first, but practice truly does “make perfect”…and in time, we can become far more adept at exercising this tenet in our daily living.
 
Babauta encourages us to do this so that we will be happier and “a better person”…so that our community will be a better place.  I believe we must do this “because Jesus said so!”  He has demonstrated this principle for each and every one of us.  If we want to truly be His disciples, we will “pay it forward” to others...and trust Him to give us the wisdom, strength and courage to accomplish these things for His glory.  I know I’m in… what about you?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus
 
*http://zenhabits.net/18-practical-tips-for-living-the-golden-rule/

Daily Devotional for January 22, 2014

Romans 8:1-2
With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.
 
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Greg and I have been blessed with the good fortune to live on a bluff with a panoramic view to the east and northeast… across the river valley – and on a good day, into the next county.  So as the weather fronts pass through our area, we are sometimes treated to a stark - and literal - visual image of low-lying black clouds that are cleared away by strong winds.  I have stood at the windows and watched a dark cloud band literally be blown farther and farther east until it disappeared over the horizon.  When I read this passage, I immediately could picture this in my mind, and it gave me pause to consider my new life in Christ in this context.
 
If you backtrack to Romans 7 and read the last few verses, you see where Paul is wrestling with his human dilemma of wanting to be sinless and do what God desires…yet doing the opposite much of the time.  The sinful mind and the Christian heart seem to be locked in some sort of battle.  Paul says in Romans 7:21-23:  “It happens so regularly that it’s predictable. The moment I decide to do good, sin is there to trip me up. I truly delight in God’s commands, but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.”  In verse 24, he says, “I’ve tried everything and nothing helps. I’m at the end of my rope. Is there no one who can do anything for me? Isn’t that the real question?”  And in verse 25, we find the response…”The answer, thank God, is that Jesus Christ can and does. He acted to set things right in this life of contradictions where I want to serve God with all my heart and mind, but am pulled by the influence of sin to do something totally different.”
 
So in the first two verses of Romans 8, we are presented with the incredible compassion of God through Jesus Christ…so much love and empathy for us that he sacrificed Jesus and allowed Him to suffer “brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death” so that the “low-lying black cloud” of our sins could be blown away by the strong wind of Christ’s Holy Spirit!  If you really stop and think of it… if you truly form that mental image of the black storm cloud being forcefully blown away and completely out of view…this is almost overwhelming.  We are not truly capable of imagining a love such as this!  And yet…this is what Jesus offers to each of us.
 
Now here’s the thing…we are not Jesus.  We cannot possibly love like He does…nor are we as individuals capable of the powerful things that Christ accomplishes.  But with His power and through His Holy Spirit, we are able to offer grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion… and love…even when our sinful head says “That is the last thing you want to do!” So the question becomes…are you operating in the strong wind of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit?  Or are you allowing the sinful rationale of the devil’s dark cloud to control you?  Are you sharing the tremendous gift of compassion that Christ extends to you with others in your midst…and honoring your commitment and gratitude to Him in the process?
 
Many in your midst are operating under a dark cloud of some sort.  If Christ found you worth the sacrifice…worth the “redeeming wind” of His love and compassion…don’t you think you should pay this forward to others in His name?  Isn’t this a good day to stir up the breeze?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 19, 2014

1 Corinthians 9:19-23
Even though I am free of the demands and expectations of everyone, I have voluntarily become a servant to any and all in order to reach a wide range of people: religious, nonreligious, meticulous moralists, loose-living immoralists, the defeated, the demoralized—whoever. I didn’t take on their way of life. I kept my bearings in Christ—but I entered their world and tried to experience things from their point of view. I’ve become just about every sort of servant there is in my attempts to lead those I meet into a God-saved life. I did all this because of the Message. I didn’t just want to talk about it; I wanted to be in on it!

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

In a January 3, 2014, report for the DailyMail.com, correspondent Melissa Kite describes donning a “fat suit” made in the United States for the Peterborough City Hospital in England, to the tune of over $1600US.  Kite, a svelte 119 pounds (8½ stone in British terms), donned a “bariatric suit” that elevated her weight to 40 stone…or 560 pounds.  The hospital is using this suit to help provide nurses with empathy for the obese patients they treat in their facility.  Hite points out that over a million people are classified as “morbidly obese” in Great Britain.  Given the added health risks that come with obesity, it’s a sure bet that more than handful of these folks will visit the hospital for some sort of treatment.  I encourage you to read this thought-provoking report for yourself.*

I chose a fairly “mainstream” example of “putting yourself in someone else’s shoes”…but only because this is one we can physically imagine and envision.  We can also visualize simulating homelessness for a weekend, restraining an arm or leg or wearing a blindfold and trying to imagine what it would be like to function without a limb or our eyesight.  But how do we gain insight into the more “invisible” lives - and burdens - of others?  Are we able to imagine what it would be like to be bullied?  Can we truly understand the emotional anguish of someone who has suffered the loss of a child? Do you know what it feels like to be mistreated because of the color of your skin, your sexual orientation, something that happened to you in the past, your ethnicity, or your social status?

Can you possibly imagine what it is like to suffer from some form of mental illness?  Have you considered the challenges that come to the family members of those who do? Are you able to truly understand what it is to wake up hungry every day… and go to bed wondering whether you will survive another?  Can you relate to the terminally ill person who is facing his/her own mortality, and all of the worries and concerns for those left behind?  Do you have any idea the mental and emotional torment that may plague an addict, adulterer, prostitute, gang member, or psychopath?  Do you know firsthand the heartache of parents who are filled with worry and anguish over delinquent children or a child with mental, physical or emotional issues?  Have you personally been charged with responsibilities of caring for an aging loved one…and had to make difficult “life decisions” in the process?

I do not believe that Paul is calling on us to literally become one of these people…even for a short term experience.  But in essence, He is telling us to stop for just a minute and try to envision their world…to “put on their fat suit” in our minds and hearts…and to see what – and who – God sees.  Then…and only then…will we have a shot at truly sharing the compassion – and Good News – of Christ with them.  There is an adage that is attributed to several people that essentially says, “People don’t care what you know…until they know that you care.”  This is what Paul is trying to share with us in this passage of scripture.  So my question today for all of us is…do people know that we care?  Isn’t it time they did?

©2014 Debbie Robus
 
*Wearing fat suits can make you sympathise with the obese...

Daily Devotional for January 18, 2014

Matthew 9:35-38
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
 
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.
 
Like many other people across America, I’ve become a huge fan of the PBS Masterpiece Theater mini-series Downton Abbey.  I am intrigued with this program on many levels.  The writing is compelling…the costuming and set design are both like art in motion…and the character development is complex and compelling.  I find the “class structure” particularly interesting…how serving as a butler or footman – or working in the kitchen – is considered better than working as a clerk in a village shop…something that is spoken of with such disdain by the servants that you would think this type of work was unbelievably humiliating and degrading! Apparently in early 20th-Century England, the definition of an “honest day’s work” was relative!
 
Another thing that I find interesting is how the whole household panics when they are “short” a servant or two.  If one footman falls ill or gets injured and cannot serve dinner, there is a mad scramble to find someone to replace him.  When a “ladies maid” or valet moves to another house to serve another matriarch or “lord”, the whole place goes into a tailspin! They all fret and stew about how they will manage… who will dress Lady So-and-So?  How will they juggle the dinner service and attending to “Lord” Grantham?  In the little world of “Downton Abbey”, there are sometimes not enough “harvest hands”!
 
I know…this sounds ridiculous – and it is, to us.  But these were very real problems for these manors “back in the day”.  And while this was not a serious problem in the scheme of things, a true need for “harvest hand workers” is right under our noses – and many of us don’t even see it.  I could list several instances of people I know personally who are battling unimaginable problems…terminal illness…incredible struggles and worries of all sorts…bruised and hurt lives.  To all who observe them, there is often no outward indication that something is amiss.
 
A friend blogged that during a recent cab ride to an appointment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, the cabbie asked her and her husband, “Which one of you is the patient?”  See, they both looked so “normal” and well that he was unable to determine this.  And that’s the way it is for so many.  We cannot tell “which one is the patient” just by looking…but this doesn’t mean that there aren’t great needs.  The question is…are we even looking for these “lost sheep”?
 
When Jesus looked out over the crowds of bruised and hurting people, His heart broke.  Does ours?  Are we attuned to the problems around us…and do we really care about those who are confused, aimless, sick, injured and hurting?  Are we seeking those who need a “harvest” and ministering to them?  This goes well beyond reaching un-believers and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with them. Certainly there is a great need for this type of witness and ministry.  But winning souls to Christ is not enough.  It’s a “been there, done that…now what?” situation.  Are we leaving people in the dust and failing to share Jesus with them at the very core?  Are we saying, “You’ve been saved by the blood of Jesus…the rest is up to you!”…or are we saying, “Welcome to the family…how can I help you?”  There IS a difference!
 
Everywhere we turn, people are in need of something that only Jesus can offer.  But He is counting on each of us to serve as His vehicle for delivery.  Perhaps we could learn something from Downton Abbey and care a little more about having enough “servants” to handle the workload.  Unlike the characters in this mini-series, no task performed in the name of Jesus is beneath our “station”…no ministry and/or service is too great or small for us to gladly execute. 
 
Do you truly have Christian compassion for others?  Are you doing your part as a member of Christ’s body?  Look around…see who needs to feel the love of Christ through your “harvest hands”. It’s time for all of us to get busy and go to work!
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 17, 2014

2 Corinthians 10:3-6
The world is unprincipled. It’s dog-eat-dog out there! The world doesn’t fight fair. But we don’t live or fight our battles that way—never have and never will. The tools of our trade aren’t for marketing or manipulation, but they are for demolishing that entire massively corrupt culture. We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.
 
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 still cannot get over the news story this week about the young father of a three-year-old who was allegedly killed by a retired police officer in a movie theater. During the movie previews, this man refused to stop texting a message to his young daughter via the child’s babysitter. The former policeman sitting behind him apparently instigated an argument over this that escalated to his pulling out a gun and shooting this man, who later died.  The man’s wife was also shot and received a non-life-threatening wound to her hand.  The theater’s website lists prohibited items and actions…among them, any use of a cell phone inside the theater’s auditorium (including texting) - and possession of any weapons.
 
We rarely go to see a movie in the theater, because we inevitably are distracted by someone who is talking, eating too loudly, or otherwise creating a distraction.  However, we would never let things escalate to this level.  After all, it is just a movie.  And while a theater experience isn’t cheap these days…I cannot imagine any disruption that could present a cause for “war” – much less murder!  Yet these days, this seems to be where we have come to in the world as we know it.  To quote this scripture passage, “It’s dog-eat-dog out there!  The world doesn’t fight fair.”
 
The next sentence of this passage is incredibly profound and important:  “But we don’t live or fight our battles that way – never have and never will.”  As Christians, we are equipped with what this scripture passage refers to as “God-tools.”  Just what are some of our God-tools?  These include love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, acceptance, encouragement, and responsive obedience.  Does this mean that we sit back and let “the world” walk all over us?  Not at all!  But we are commanded to demonstrate a better way of solving problems and dealing with conflict.
 
We recently watched a documentary on our local PBS station about Woodruff Elementary School… a neighborhood institution of learning that was once part of the Little Rock School district. Woodruff was located in a truly dangerous part of the city…the principal and guidance counselor claimed that the “Crips” gang actually “met” on school grounds.  Violence and murder were familiar to the fabric of life in this neighborhood…even among the young children who were brought up in this culture.  The principal, Pat Higginbotham, and counselor Shirley Davis, developed a “plan” to challenge the children to go a set number of days without a single fight occurring at school.  At the end of this time period, there would be a reward.
 
It took a lot of setbacks and restarts, but the children finally made it twenty days without a fight…and they were rewarded with a huge “play day”.  From there, the school staff started again…and the time frame extended – eventually reaching 300 days without a single fight at school.  Along the way, victories were rewarded with field trips, play days, and more.  These administrators, and a subsequent principal, Janice Wilson, credited the children and teachers with making this concept work.  They claimed that as new children came into the school, the others would teach them that “we don’t behave like that here.”  Daily mantras were recited to remind the children to solve problems with words and cool-headed thinking…not heated actions and reactions.
 
Other educators repeatedly came to study the school and its success… and to “get a copy of the program.”  They were all told, “There is no ‘program’…we are simply instilling a sense of personal worth and values into these children and showing them that fighting is not the answer.”  Key in their approach was to emphasize to the children that the school was a “family”…and that families take care of each other, do not solve problems with fighting, and genuinely regard each other with respect.
 
Do you realize that we are a family in Christ Jesus?  As such, don’t you think we owe it to each other to get along without violence, unkindness, and disrespect?  How handy are your “God-tools”…and do you use them often?  Do you treat others with love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, acceptance, and encouragement?  Do you practice “responsive obedience” by putting God’s commands and the teachings of Jesus into practice in your daily living?  Are you quick to “fly off the handle” and make snap judgments about others…or worse yet, react in a way that belies your Christian faith and witness?  Do you let the little things in life get to you in such a way that you are ready to “pull the trigger and shoot somebody”… if only figuratively?
 
Does it make sense to you that we can use these “God-tools” (with the backing strength of God Almighty) to bring the thoughts and actions of others around without the senseless “spilling of blood”?  How long can YOU go without a fight…literally and figuratively?  Are you truly operating within the structure of a life shaped by Christ?  Isn’t it time you were?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 13, 2014

Hebrews 12:14-17
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
In Genesis 25 the story of the “Esau syndrome” is explained.  Esau was the firstborn son of Isaac.  One day he came in from the fields, and found his younger twin brother, Jacob, cooking a big stew.  Esau was starving, and he asked for a serving.  I don’t know if Jacob was teasing him at first, or if he was truly serious…but he basically said to Esau, “I’ll give you a bowl of stew in exchange for your rights as the firstborn.”  And Esau said, “Okay!”  In other words, Esau traded his lifelong heritage and the blessings that God and Isaac intended to be his for a belly full of food that satisfied an immediate appetite.
 
When we picked Timothy and Zola up after Sunday school yesterday, Timothy’s teacher handed him an empty toilet paper roll covered in cotton balls and said, “Don’t forget your ‘Esau arm’!”  All the way to the car, Timothy told his Uncle Greg, “Jacob LIED to his father!  He LIED!  We aren’t supposed to LIE!”  The Sunday school lesson had come from Genesis 27… a further development in the “Jacob and Esau saga”.  You should read the whole story for yourself, but here’s a quick synopsis.  Esau was a very hairy redhead.  Scripture doesn’t fully describe Jacob’s appearance, but it is assumed that he looked nothing like Esau.
 
Isaac was old, blind and dying, and he had told Esau that he would bless him and his future.  Scripture indicates that Isaac was partial to Esau.  Jacob and his mother Rebekah were jealous of this, and they concocted a scheme to cover Jacob’s arms in animal fur, so that he would feel and smell like Esau.  He would then go to Isaac and ask for the blessing, and Isaac would give it – thinking he was giving this sacred sign to Esau. Pick up your Bible and read the rest of the story to get a full account…but let’s just say that Jacob got himself into a huge heap of trouble!
 
This story made a big impact on Timothy.  He was very impressed with his “hairy arm”…and even more affected by the message that lying is NOT a good thing!  I am not sure that this lesson for 4-year-olds fully explored trading God’s lifelong gift for a short-term appetite…but the seeds were planted for learning more about this at a future date.  But it is most certainly time for us to understand this lesson and get the whole picture!
 
Here’s the thing…we cannot make ourselves look better in God’s eyes than the next guy.  All we do is end up hurting ourselves and others in the process.  Sibling rivalry is as old as Cain and Abel…and jealousy and the desire to satisfy human appetites is documented in the Garden of Eden!  Because of the devil and his power, we are vulnerable to sin…we lie, cheat, gossip, get caught up in jealousies, bicker, and plot “evil” against others in the form of deceptions – and even retributions. These are often the “weeds” in the “garden” that is our life.   But this is not God’s desire for us…and in Jesus, we find the perfect role model for how to treat others, regardless of our circumstances.
 
Every time I read the account of Jesus’ trial before the Romans and Pontius Pilate and the horrific beating He endured before a single nail was ever pounded into His flesh, I am reminded that the “indignities” and insults we experience are nothing by comparison.  And yet, Jesus did not retaliate – although He surely could have!  Instead, Jesus forgave…thieves on the cross, Roman soldiers who mocked Him…and ultimately, you and me!
 
I have to say, that little cardboard toilet paper roll with cotton balls made an impact on me, too.  I will think of it when I think about how I treat others…how I react – and respond – to them.  I will remind myself of the “Esau syndrome” and the “Esau arm”…and I will ask myself, “What would Jesus do?”  I so want to get at least a glimpse of God face-to-face someday… and the Bible tells me this is an important part of how it’s done!  Will you remember the “hairy arm” of Esau…and the compassion, grace and mercy of Jesus?  Will you choose the latter as your model for daily living?  Shouldn’t you?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 11, 2014

1 Corinthians 12:25-26
The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.
 
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.
 
A couple of times in the past week, our cat Mabel had a problem with one of her front paws.  We don’t know what was wrong. Greg examined her and pressed on the foot, but he found no cuts, swelling, or abrasions.  He had to press really hard to find the truly sore spot… still, Mabel limped terribly sometimes.  Then she would go a day or two and be just fine.  It’s a mystery to us, and we are watching her closely.
 
When Mabel limped through the house, she didn’t appear to be in any real pain, but we were pained just to observe her in this condition.  Even when our pets hurt, we hurt for them.  When they feel poorly, we are not 100% up to snuff.  It’s the same when either one of us isn’t well or has something that is bothersome…the other feels it, too. When a spouse, a child or another family member is ill or upset, these things generally affect everyone in the family.
 
What about our “church family”…or our friends, co-workers, and distant relatives…are we as tenderhearted toward people who are outside our “inner circle”?  Do we grieve and mourn with others who suffer loss?  Are we genuinely concerned about those who are sick or in need?  Do we celebrate victories and happy occasions other than our own?  Are we truly engaged in the work of sharing compassion, as Jesus modeled, or are we more interested in what is in it for us personally?
 
The life of a Christian is a delicate balance…and yes, this often requires a little effort on our part.  We have to prioritize…but we also have to be flexible.  We must make time for ourselves and our desires…but we must not get so caught up in our own little world that we neglect to notice the needs of someone else until the cat comes limping across the floor!
 
Where are you in this picture?  Are you holding up your end of the bargain as a Christian disciple?  Are you involved in the hurts – and the healings – of the other “parts” of Christ’s body?  Is your life in balance, with plenty of time for yourself AND for others?  Do you need to spend some time in prayer and consideration of this delicate harmony and God’s design for your role in it?  Wouldn’t today be the perfect time to begin?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus