Romans 5:15-17
Yet the rescuing gift is not exactly
parallel to the death-dealing sin. If one man’s sin put crowds of people
at the dead-end abyss of separation from God, just think what God’s
gift poured through one man, Jesus Christ, will do! There’s no
comparison between that death-dealing sin and this generous, life-giving
gift. The verdict on that one sin was the death sentence; the verdict
on the many sins that followed was this wonderful life sentence. If
death got the upper hand through one man’s wrongdoing, can you imagine
the breathtaking recovery life makes, sovereign life, in those who grasp
with both hands this wildly extravagant life-gift, this grand
setting-everything-right, that the one man Jesus Christ provides?
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.
On
June 1, 2016, at 3:45 a.m., a 28-year-old woman drove on to the
Interstate 430 bridge in Little Rock, Arkansas…traveling in the wrong
direction. She collided with 60-year-old Gary Digiuseppe, who was on
his way to work as an on-air news reporter for radio station KARN 102.9
FM. Both cars caught fire…both drivers were killed. A co-worker
actually reported this crash on-air before he knew that one of the
victims was his friend, Gary. At 3:45 a.m. on June 1, 2016, dozens of
lives were forever impacted – and changed – by this accident.
Police
and highway department officials note that traveling the wrong way on
an Interstate highway happens more often than we realize…people make an
errant turn and find themselves entering on an exit ramp. We will never
know why or how this young woman came to be on the wrong side of the
bridge on this fateful morning. But every day, countless events – and
the decisions of others - change our lives forever. And so it was with
Adam in the Garden of Eden. Because he ate the forbidden fruit
presented by Eve, death became a physical – and possibly spiritual -
reality for all of us today. I would say that this decision had
probably one of the biggest impacts on the most people – EVER!
But
here’s the thing…JESUS made an even bigger impact, because He reversed
the finality of spiritual death. Because of Jesus and His sacrifice on
the cross, our sins can be forgiven. We can enjoy Eternal Life in His
presence. Jesus Christ offers the greatest impact on the most people
forever and ever…hands down! And we can all get in on this and share in
His gift.
There are a lot of situations and circumstances that
we cannot change. We can’t stop the poor decisions of others. We cannot
prevent physical death. Things will happen, people will argue, and
relationships will be broken – possibly for the rest of our mortal
lives. We can’t prevent natural disasters or many illnesses and
injuries. In short, “life” just happens…and it has a tremendous – and
lasting – effect on many of us. But when we focus on Jesus and what He
offers us, we can handle these other “life impacts.” When we trust Him
for our salvation – and focus on serving Him and fulfilling His purpose
for our lives…we can put these other life-changing events into proper
perspective.
My heart breaks for the family and friends of the
two people who lost their lives…and I pray that they both reside in
Heaven with Jesus today. I thank God that because of Him and the blood
of Jesus, we have hope – even in the midst of a tragedy like this one. I
am reminded just how much impact the words, thoughts and actions of one
person can have on so many others…and I am even more determined to make
sure that mine glorify God’s amazing gift through His only Son to the
very best of my ability. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label promise of Eternal life in heaven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label promise of Eternal life in heaven. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for May 7, 2016
Luke 23:43
And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I am not going to lie…this is a tough stretch of days. Facebook is filled with photos of mothers. Everyone is talking about Mother’s Day…and some have sweetly posted comments on my wall to let them know that they are thinking of my sister and me on our first Mother’s Day without our own mother’s earthly presence. I celebrate ALL mothers…on this earth and in heaven – especially Greg’s mother, who is so very dear to me. I treasure memories of my own mother - and my grandmothers and great-grandmother. And I don’t know what I would do these days without my “other mothers,” who nurture me…advise me and love me unconditionally.
But at the end of the day, what will get me through this “rough patch” is what gets me through a lot of things…the “solemn promise” that Paradise is real. I am comforted, encouraged and sustained by the confidence that Jesus is waiting for me there, along with my loved ones who have gone before me. Because I have surrendered my sins – and my heart – to Him, He has assured me that my soul will live forever in His presence. There will be no more tears, no more struggles…no more worries about everything from world peace to whether or not I should eat that last cookie! It truly will be “all good.”
So I am going to focus on the mothers in my midst…with a respectful nod to those who have passed. I am going to thank Jesus for my own salvation - and His promise that I will be reunited with my parents and so many loved ones someday. I take great comfort in the confidence that we will sit at His feet and bask in His glory forever and ever. Meanwhile, I am going to honor this promise to the best of my ability by serving Him wholeheartedly and obediently. I will trust His amazing promise in exchange for my simple (yet powerful) act of surrender…and live with hope for the future. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
And Jesus replied, “Today you will be with me in Paradise. This is a solemn promise.”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
I am not going to lie…this is a tough stretch of days. Facebook is filled with photos of mothers. Everyone is talking about Mother’s Day…and some have sweetly posted comments on my wall to let them know that they are thinking of my sister and me on our first Mother’s Day without our own mother’s earthly presence. I celebrate ALL mothers…on this earth and in heaven – especially Greg’s mother, who is so very dear to me. I treasure memories of my own mother - and my grandmothers and great-grandmother. And I don’t know what I would do these days without my “other mothers,” who nurture me…advise me and love me unconditionally.
But at the end of the day, what will get me through this “rough patch” is what gets me through a lot of things…the “solemn promise” that Paradise is real. I am comforted, encouraged and sustained by the confidence that Jesus is waiting for me there, along with my loved ones who have gone before me. Because I have surrendered my sins – and my heart – to Him, He has assured me that my soul will live forever in His presence. There will be no more tears, no more struggles…no more worries about everything from world peace to whether or not I should eat that last cookie! It truly will be “all good.”
So I am going to focus on the mothers in my midst…with a respectful nod to those who have passed. I am going to thank Jesus for my own salvation - and His promise that I will be reunited with my parents and so many loved ones someday. I take great comfort in the confidence that we will sit at His feet and bask in His glory forever and ever. Meanwhile, I am going to honor this promise to the best of my ability by serving Him wholeheartedly and obediently. I will trust His amazing promise in exchange for my simple (yet powerful) act of surrender…and live with hope for the future. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 1, 2016
John 6:44
No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me makes them want to come. But if they do come, 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.
This morning, I assisted in the nursery during our 11:00 worship service. When I arrived near the end of the second service, there were 16 toddlers in the nursery! By the time parents picked up little ones, we were left with four for the last hour. I’ve spent several Sundays in the nursery, so I am becoming familiar with many of these little ones…and they are getting to know me.
Toddlers are a lot like kittens and puppies…you can’t just pick one up and expect it to instantly like you! Relationships have to be developed…familiarity has to be nurtured. So when I arrived this morning, a few children who know me came with arms outstretched to be picked up for a hug. Some even asked to be rocked. And a couple who thought this might be a good idea decided otherwise when their eyelids began to droop!
Their “reward” was a snuggle and a kiss…a chance to play with the sparkly cross necklace I was wearing…and maybe to hear me sing a little song or two as we rocked in the rocking chair. But again, they had to want to do all of this…or it would not have been pleasant for any of us!
Here’s how this works with Jesus...
God has given us opportunities to get to know Him…through scripture, worship, friendship and communion with believers, and more. He has set the stage for us to discover just how much Jesus loves us – and how much He sacrificed for us. God has shared His Only Son with us in such a way that we might desire to “climb up in His lap and rock for a while.” But it is our choice…and the only way it will work for any of us is if we choose Jesus of our own free will.
The rewards for making this choice are far more numerous than I can outline in this devotional…but they include freedom and forgiveness from our sins…and the promise of Eternal Life in Heaven at the Lord’s Table - as well as the presence of His Holy Spirit to fill our heart and guide us through this earthly life. Like the toddler who crawls down out of the rocking chair when he/she gets sleepy…we often turn away from the caring arms of Jesus – at least temporarily. But for those of us who have freely chosen Him, those arms are always outstretched for another hug, and Jesus delights in “snuggling” with us.
There are several questions we should ask ourselves today. Have we chosen Jesus? Have we gotten to know Him well enough that we trust His outstretched arms and readily run into them? What can we do to improve this relationship? Where have we gotten down and tried to handle things on our own – without His care and assistance? Isn’t it time to trust Jesus’ embrace again…to crawl back into His lap and settle in for the long haul? Will this be the day that we reconnect?
God has made a way for us to get to know His Son, Jesus…to fully embrace all that He offers – and enjoy the blessings and rewards of this communion. Now it is up to us to make the right choice. What have you decided?
©2016 Debbie Robus
No one can come to me, unless the Father who sent me makes them want to come. But if they do come, 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.
This morning, I assisted in the nursery during our 11:00 worship service. When I arrived near the end of the second service, there were 16 toddlers in the nursery! By the time parents picked up little ones, we were left with four for the last hour. I’ve spent several Sundays in the nursery, so I am becoming familiar with many of these little ones…and they are getting to know me.
Toddlers are a lot like kittens and puppies…you can’t just pick one up and expect it to instantly like you! Relationships have to be developed…familiarity has to be nurtured. So when I arrived this morning, a few children who know me came with arms outstretched to be picked up for a hug. Some even asked to be rocked. And a couple who thought this might be a good idea decided otherwise when their eyelids began to droop!
Their “reward” was a snuggle and a kiss…a chance to play with the sparkly cross necklace I was wearing…and maybe to hear me sing a little song or two as we rocked in the rocking chair. But again, they had to want to do all of this…or it would not have been pleasant for any of us!
Here’s how this works with Jesus...
God has given us opportunities to get to know Him…through scripture, worship, friendship and communion with believers, and more. He has set the stage for us to discover just how much Jesus loves us – and how much He sacrificed for us. God has shared His Only Son with us in such a way that we might desire to “climb up in His lap and rock for a while.” But it is our choice…and the only way it will work for any of us is if we choose Jesus of our own free will.
The rewards for making this choice are far more numerous than I can outline in this devotional…but they include freedom and forgiveness from our sins…and the promise of Eternal Life in Heaven at the Lord’s Table - as well as the presence of His Holy Spirit to fill our heart and guide us through this earthly life. Like the toddler who crawls down out of the rocking chair when he/she gets sleepy…we often turn away from the caring arms of Jesus – at least temporarily. But for those of us who have freely chosen Him, those arms are always outstretched for another hug, and Jesus delights in “snuggling” with us.
There are several questions we should ask ourselves today. Have we chosen Jesus? Have we gotten to know Him well enough that we trust His outstretched arms and readily run into them? What can we do to improve this relationship? Where have we gotten down and tried to handle things on our own – without His care and assistance? Isn’t it time to trust Jesus’ embrace again…to crawl back into His lap and settle in for the long haul? Will this be the day that we reconnect?
God has made a way for us to get to know His Son, Jesus…to fully embrace all that He offers – and enjoy the blessings and rewards of this communion. Now it is up to us to make the right choice. What have you decided?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 24, 2016
John 17:3
Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I subbed in the 2nd/3rd grade Sunday school class, and our scripture passage was from John 17. I gave the children a recap of earlier chapters of John, where Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, broke bread and shared the cup with them, and then gave them instructions for how to live after He returned to heaven. That brings us to John 17, where Jesus prayed. He asked God to glorify Him, that He (Jesus) might fully glorify the Father who sent Him. Jesus asked God to care for His believers…and then He prayed for non-believers.
This led to the next part of our discussion, which was about how well Jesus knows us…and how well we know Him! We talked about how important it is to really know God through Jesus Christ…how necessary it is to talk to Him about everything – and to listen for His voice. We discussed how critical it is that we demonstrate to others a positive Christian witness – and an abiding faith in God.
All of these things are direct indicators of how well we know God. One child asked where God came from…and who made GOD! I didn’t have a good answer for that…but I did stress to the students that what is important for us is that we believe that God is our Father, Shepherd, Protector, and LORD. On the way home, I asked our three little ones what they learned at Sunday school, and Zola began to tell us all about God in these terms…and how important it is that we know Him.
Timothy said, “Oh! I have known God since I was a little baby!” We smiled at that, because he has always seemed to have an amazing faith and understanding of God. But this is key for all of us. To know God is to trust Him…to fully believe that He is our LORD, Protector, Shepherd, and Father…and to accept this with confidence – even when we cannot explain where God came from or who birthed Him into existence. I know it’s confusing…and it’s REALLY hard for little kids to grasp…but they sometimes seem to accept this with faith and confidence that eludes many adults.
Today, let’s make sure we really know God…not in the same way that you know a good friend and his/her likes, dislikes, favorite foods and colors, and such. Let’s make sure we know God in terms of how He cares for us…how He loved us enough to send Jesus to save us from our sins – and to send the Holy Spirit to remain with us. Let’s know God in terms of who scriptures say He is, and how He protects us and guides us…forgives us when we fall short…heals and restores us…and gives us wisdom and comfort. Let’s know God for His incredible gift of Jesus…and the sacrifices that He made on the cross for our sins.
Let’s claim beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is only ONE GOD who could do all of this…only ONE LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because we know this to be true - and demonstrate that we have a deep and abiding knowledge of God through Jesus - we are assured a seat at the Lord’s table for all Eternity. Do YOU know God this well? Isn’t it time you do?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Eternal life is to know you, the only true God, and to know Jesus Christ, the one you sent.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I subbed in the 2nd/3rd grade Sunday school class, and our scripture passage was from John 17. I gave the children a recap of earlier chapters of John, where Jesus washed His disciples’ feet, broke bread and shared the cup with them, and then gave them instructions for how to live after He returned to heaven. That brings us to John 17, where Jesus prayed. He asked God to glorify Him, that He (Jesus) might fully glorify the Father who sent Him. Jesus asked God to care for His believers…and then He prayed for non-believers.
This led to the next part of our discussion, which was about how well Jesus knows us…and how well we know Him! We talked about how important it is to really know God through Jesus Christ…how necessary it is to talk to Him about everything – and to listen for His voice. We discussed how critical it is that we demonstrate to others a positive Christian witness – and an abiding faith in God.
All of these things are direct indicators of how well we know God. One child asked where God came from…and who made GOD! I didn’t have a good answer for that…but I did stress to the students that what is important for us is that we believe that God is our Father, Shepherd, Protector, and LORD. On the way home, I asked our three little ones what they learned at Sunday school, and Zola began to tell us all about God in these terms…and how important it is that we know Him.
Timothy said, “Oh! I have known God since I was a little baby!” We smiled at that, because he has always seemed to have an amazing faith and understanding of God. But this is key for all of us. To know God is to trust Him…to fully believe that He is our LORD, Protector, Shepherd, and Father…and to accept this with confidence – even when we cannot explain where God came from or who birthed Him into existence. I know it’s confusing…and it’s REALLY hard for little kids to grasp…but they sometimes seem to accept this with faith and confidence that eludes many adults.
Today, let’s make sure we really know God…not in the same way that you know a good friend and his/her likes, dislikes, favorite foods and colors, and such. Let’s make sure we know God in terms of how He cares for us…how He loved us enough to send Jesus to save us from our sins – and to send the Holy Spirit to remain with us. Let’s know God in terms of who scriptures say He is, and how He protects us and guides us…forgives us when we fall short…heals and restores us…and gives us wisdom and comfort. Let’s know God for His incredible gift of Jesus…and the sacrifices that He made on the cross for our sins.
Let’s claim beyond the shadow of a doubt that there is only ONE GOD who could do all of this…only ONE LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ. Because we know this to be true - and demonstrate that we have a deep and abiding knowledge of God through Jesus - we are assured a seat at the Lord’s table for all Eternity. Do YOU know God this well? Isn’t it time you do?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 18, 2016
John 14:1-4
Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I planned to take the children to the movie theater after church yesterday to see “The Jungle Book.” So on the way home, I told the kids I would bake them a pizza. Timothy wanted a cheese sandwich instead. Zola declared that she wanted pizza…and scrambled eggs. Nathan agreed that he wanted eggs with his pizza, too. I made sandwiches for Greg and me…so we had a full-service diner in operation. Two of the children wanted chocolate milk – the third wanted juice. And all three of them wanted ALL of this instantaneously. Nobody wanted to wait for the meal to be prepared.
Now here’s the thing…the kids KNOW that it takes time to bake a pizza – and even pour milk and juice. They KNOW that we are not about to let them starve – or be deprived in any way. Still, they tried to act like the world was falling apart because the food and drink did not magically appear at that exact moment! They demonstrated a total lack of faith in us to feed and care for them.
Now this was not our first rodeo. We both knew that a lot of this “drama” was an attempt to manipulate us…to see just how tightly they could wind us up. So we tried to ignore many of their comments and just “git-r-done.” But here’s where this applies to you and me…we all know that God has promised to meet our every need. We all have been told repeatedly – and read in scripture numerous times – that Jesus left His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us.
We have been given the assurance that we who have confessed our sins to Jesus Christ and surrendered our hearts to Him will be called to Heaven to live with Him when we die…or He will return for us someday and take us home at that time. Either way, we will be with Jesus for all Eternity! Yet many of us live such lives of worry and despair. We operate in hopelessness – and helplessness – at every turn. We act as if the world is falling apart around us and everyone is doomed. We need visible, tangible results of Jesus in our lives…and we need them NOW! In behaving this way, we deny our Christian faith…and people are taking notice!
We know better. And yes, some of us are simply being “drama queens” to some degree. But a lot of us are just plain weak in the trust department. We have not fully accepted Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith. We do not fully operate in confidence that Jesus is the Son of God – and He is not only preparing a room in His Heavenly mansion for us…He is also meeting our needs every minute of the day here on this earth.
When we make this mind shift and fully begin to operate in Christian faith, everything about our life – and our attitudes – will be different…and people will notice. When we “let go and let God” have control…and trust Him to meet our every need…we are filled with peace and confidence that defies explanation. The “food” is coming…Jesus is preparing everything…and He totally has our back. We can relax and spend our time doing the things that serve His Kingdom rather than worry about what will happen next.
I am convinced that this is a better way to operate…and I’m doing everything I can to grow in faith and kick the Enemy and his little “worry game” to the curb. My “Heavenly reservation” is made…I’m just waiting on Jesus to get the room ready. I don’t want to spend the time I have left wringing my hands and being frustrated and upset. Jesus has better things for me to be doing…and I need to be busy accomplishing them. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus said to his disciples, “Don’t be worried! Have faith in God and have faith in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s house. I wouldn’t tell you this, unless it was true. I am going there to prepare a place for each of you. After I have done this, I will come back and take you with me. Then we will be together. You know the way to where I am going.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Greg and I planned to take the children to the movie theater after church yesterday to see “The Jungle Book.” So on the way home, I told the kids I would bake them a pizza. Timothy wanted a cheese sandwich instead. Zola declared that she wanted pizza…and scrambled eggs. Nathan agreed that he wanted eggs with his pizza, too. I made sandwiches for Greg and me…so we had a full-service diner in operation. Two of the children wanted chocolate milk – the third wanted juice. And all three of them wanted ALL of this instantaneously. Nobody wanted to wait for the meal to be prepared.
Now here’s the thing…the kids KNOW that it takes time to bake a pizza – and even pour milk and juice. They KNOW that we are not about to let them starve – or be deprived in any way. Still, they tried to act like the world was falling apart because the food and drink did not magically appear at that exact moment! They demonstrated a total lack of faith in us to feed and care for them.
Now this was not our first rodeo. We both knew that a lot of this “drama” was an attempt to manipulate us…to see just how tightly they could wind us up. So we tried to ignore many of their comments and just “git-r-done.” But here’s where this applies to you and me…we all know that God has promised to meet our every need. We all have been told repeatedly – and read in scripture numerous times – that Jesus left His Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us.
We have been given the assurance that we who have confessed our sins to Jesus Christ and surrendered our hearts to Him will be called to Heaven to live with Him when we die…or He will return for us someday and take us home at that time. Either way, we will be with Jesus for all Eternity! Yet many of us live such lives of worry and despair. We operate in hopelessness – and helplessness – at every turn. We act as if the world is falling apart around us and everyone is doomed. We need visible, tangible results of Jesus in our lives…and we need them NOW! In behaving this way, we deny our Christian faith…and people are taking notice!
We know better. And yes, some of us are simply being “drama queens” to some degree. But a lot of us are just plain weak in the trust department. We have not fully accepted Jesus as the Author and Finisher of our faith. We do not fully operate in confidence that Jesus is the Son of God – and He is not only preparing a room in His Heavenly mansion for us…He is also meeting our needs every minute of the day here on this earth.
When we make this mind shift and fully begin to operate in Christian faith, everything about our life – and our attitudes – will be different…and people will notice. When we “let go and let God” have control…and trust Him to meet our every need…we are filled with peace and confidence that defies explanation. The “food” is coming…Jesus is preparing everything…and He totally has our back. We can relax and spend our time doing the things that serve His Kingdom rather than worry about what will happen next.
I am convinced that this is a better way to operate…and I’m doing everything I can to grow in faith and kick the Enemy and his little “worry game” to the curb. My “Heavenly reservation” is made…I’m just waiting on Jesus to get the room ready. I don’t want to spend the time I have left wringing my hands and being frustrated and upset. Jesus has better things for me to be doing…and I need to be busy accomplishing them. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 30, 2016
Acts 4:12
Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It has been a long, emotional day. I spent most of it at my mother’s house, sorting through her books and personal belongings. It’s all part of the process…but I have to admit, I’m weary of it – and more than a little ready to be at a point where I can at least take a breather. Right now, our house looks like a bomb went off, because I have boxes and bags of books, photos, and other “treasures” everywhere.
Greg and I spent more than 2 hours this afternoon sorting through two giant containers of photos. You know those 5-gallon tins in which flavored popcorn is sometimes sold? Mother had one of those filled with loose photos! She also had an old hat box filled with more of the same…not to mention envelopes, photo boxes…and probably 2 dozen or more photo albums, which are now on a shelf in one of our closets until we have the energy to peruse them.
We found some real gems…a few of which I will share on Facebook soon to see if others in our community can help me identify the persons photographed…or determine actual locations depicted. We laughed and reminisced, and it was actually fun. My mother was a pack rat, like her dad before her. And I admit, I have inherited many of those same traits. So as I look around my office at just a handful of the books I brought home and think of all I sorted through today, I see a constant and pervading theme…Jesus. I recall the countless booklets, programs and more that my mother saved in a box from Vacation Bible School, Training Union and other church-related events of my childhood and that of my siblings. I think of the notations she made in my “baby book” over the first seven years of my life, and how she made a special effort to mention when I first attended church and other church-related events.
My mother made sure that my siblings and I knew about Jesus. Even in her last days on this earth, she shared Jesus with others and encouraged them to give their hearts to Him. I am pretty sure that I would be a blithering idiot by this point if I didn’t have the peace and comfort of knowing without a doubt that my mother sits at the feet of Jesus for all Eternity, alongside countless other loved ones…and that not only will I join them someday, but so will my family members and those I love and hold dear. And I want even MORE people to join us!
The only way this can happen is for each person to commit his/her heart to Jesus…to recognize that He is the only One with the power to save…and to surrender completely to Him. If we will only ask Jesus to wash us clean of our sins and fill us with His Holy Spirit, He will do this. Don’t do it for a “ticket to Heaven.” Do this because of how much better everything about your earthly life will be if you make this choice.
There will still be heartaches…there will still be diseases, trials and challenges. People you love will still die, and life might not ever be easy. But with Jesus, all things will be more manageable. He will give you hope and courage, strength and perseverance. With Jesus, you can still have joy in the midst of sorrow and struggle. Because of Jesus, we could laugh and enjoy photos of my mother and dad and others who have left us, even though their passing makes us sad. Jesus makes EVERYTHING better! And I want you to know Him, just like I do.
I was blessed to have parents and grandparents who took me to church and taught me about Jesus at an early age. But it’s never too late to discover Jesus and start living for Him. And there is no time like today. Do you know the power and presence of Jesus? Isn’t it time you did?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Only Jesus has the power to save! His name is the only one in all the world that can save anyone.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It has been a long, emotional day. I spent most of it at my mother’s house, sorting through her books and personal belongings. It’s all part of the process…but I have to admit, I’m weary of it – and more than a little ready to be at a point where I can at least take a breather. Right now, our house looks like a bomb went off, because I have boxes and bags of books, photos, and other “treasures” everywhere.
Greg and I spent more than 2 hours this afternoon sorting through two giant containers of photos. You know those 5-gallon tins in which flavored popcorn is sometimes sold? Mother had one of those filled with loose photos! She also had an old hat box filled with more of the same…not to mention envelopes, photo boxes…and probably 2 dozen or more photo albums, which are now on a shelf in one of our closets until we have the energy to peruse them.
We found some real gems…a few of which I will share on Facebook soon to see if others in our community can help me identify the persons photographed…or determine actual locations depicted. We laughed and reminisced, and it was actually fun. My mother was a pack rat, like her dad before her. And I admit, I have inherited many of those same traits. So as I look around my office at just a handful of the books I brought home and think of all I sorted through today, I see a constant and pervading theme…Jesus. I recall the countless booklets, programs and more that my mother saved in a box from Vacation Bible School, Training Union and other church-related events of my childhood and that of my siblings. I think of the notations she made in my “baby book” over the first seven years of my life, and how she made a special effort to mention when I first attended church and other church-related events.
My mother made sure that my siblings and I knew about Jesus. Even in her last days on this earth, she shared Jesus with others and encouraged them to give their hearts to Him. I am pretty sure that I would be a blithering idiot by this point if I didn’t have the peace and comfort of knowing without a doubt that my mother sits at the feet of Jesus for all Eternity, alongside countless other loved ones…and that not only will I join them someday, but so will my family members and those I love and hold dear. And I want even MORE people to join us!
The only way this can happen is for each person to commit his/her heart to Jesus…to recognize that He is the only One with the power to save…and to surrender completely to Him. If we will only ask Jesus to wash us clean of our sins and fill us with His Holy Spirit, He will do this. Don’t do it for a “ticket to Heaven.” Do this because of how much better everything about your earthly life will be if you make this choice.
There will still be heartaches…there will still be diseases, trials and challenges. People you love will still die, and life might not ever be easy. But with Jesus, all things will be more manageable. He will give you hope and courage, strength and perseverance. With Jesus, you can still have joy in the midst of sorrow and struggle. Because of Jesus, we could laugh and enjoy photos of my mother and dad and others who have left us, even though their passing makes us sad. Jesus makes EVERYTHING better! And I want you to know Him, just like I do.
I was blessed to have parents and grandparents who took me to church and taught me about Jesus at an early age. But it’s never too late to discover Jesus and start living for Him. And there is no time like today. Do you know the power and presence of Jesus? Isn’t it time you did?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 29, 2016
Psalms 19:7-9
The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
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 was an estate sale in a neighborhood near my mother-in-law’s recently, and she found a box of Christmas ornaments there that interested her. She excitedly held up an old-looking ceramic Santa ornament and said, “Look! It says 1925!” I turned it over, and on the bottom, it said, “Made in China.”
My mother-in-law is a savvy buyer at estate sales and flea markets…she has been “in the business” for years. But even the most astute dealer can get tripped up sometimes…caught up in the moment…hopeful that this “find” is a good one that will net big profits. But in flea market/estate sale finds, there are few sure things. We have a favorite auctioneer who announces at the beginning of his sales that attendees are buying “as is, where is - no guarantees.”
Aren’t you glad that it isn’t this way with God? We may not always like the direction in which He steers us…we may not agree with His decisions. But God’s plans are always perfect…accurate “down to the nth degree”…leading us down the right road on the path to joy.
I know a lot of people who are hurting today…people who are questioning God’s plans and paths – and understandably so! It doesn’t seem “right” that a 45-year-old father of children ages 10, 8, and 4 should be taken to heaven. It doesn’t seem fair that a “Poppy” to children about to hit major milestones in their lives isn’t here to see those…or that the father of a toddler and an infant has to spend a year serving our country in the Middle East while they take first steps, lose a tooth, and learn to talk and read. It seems inconceivable to accept the ravages of war…the atrocities of torture and evil…orphans…famines…floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters…and so much more that seems to run counter to the goodness and generosity of God.
This is where we really have to exercise our faith muscle. This is where we have to say, “I believe in the ‘lifetime guarantee’ of God Almighty. I believe that His decisions truly are accurate down to the nth degree. I may not understand it all…but I accept that His path is the one to real joy and peace – and a life everlasting.” There will be some “raw deals” in our lives…some “genuine reproductions”…and plenty of disappointments. But “the signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.”
The life-maps of God truly are right – and show us way to joy. It is our job to hold on…to continue to trust…and to pay attention to His directions. How are you doing these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
The revelation of God is whole
and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
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 was an estate sale in a neighborhood near my mother-in-law’s recently, and she found a box of Christmas ornaments there that interested her. She excitedly held up an old-looking ceramic Santa ornament and said, “Look! It says 1925!” I turned it over, and on the bottom, it said, “Made in China.”
My mother-in-law is a savvy buyer at estate sales and flea markets…she has been “in the business” for years. But even the most astute dealer can get tripped up sometimes…caught up in the moment…hopeful that this “find” is a good one that will net big profits. But in flea market/estate sale finds, there are few sure things. We have a favorite auctioneer who announces at the beginning of his sales that attendees are buying “as is, where is - no guarantees.”
Aren’t you glad that it isn’t this way with God? We may not always like the direction in which He steers us…we may not agree with His decisions. But God’s plans are always perfect…accurate “down to the nth degree”…leading us down the right road on the path to joy.
I know a lot of people who are hurting today…people who are questioning God’s plans and paths – and understandably so! It doesn’t seem “right” that a 45-year-old father of children ages 10, 8, and 4 should be taken to heaven. It doesn’t seem fair that a “Poppy” to children about to hit major milestones in their lives isn’t here to see those…or that the father of a toddler and an infant has to spend a year serving our country in the Middle East while they take first steps, lose a tooth, and learn to talk and read. It seems inconceivable to accept the ravages of war…the atrocities of torture and evil…orphans…famines…floods, wildfires, earthquakes and other natural disasters…and so much more that seems to run counter to the goodness and generosity of God.
This is where we really have to exercise our faith muscle. This is where we have to say, “I believe in the ‘lifetime guarantee’ of God Almighty. I believe that His decisions truly are accurate down to the nth degree. I may not understand it all…but I accept that His path is the one to real joy and peace – and a life everlasting.” There will be some “raw deals” in our lives…some “genuine reproductions”…and plenty of disappointments. But “the signposts of God are clear and point out the right road.”
The life-maps of God truly are right – and show us way to joy. It is our job to hold on…to continue to trust…and to pay attention to His directions. How are you doing these days?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 30, 2015
Matthew 16:26
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I took the children swimming after church today. Afterwards, as I tried to distribute towels, remove life jackets and water shoes and sack everything wet before we went to the dressing room to change, I promised every child who stayed in his/her seat a Lifesaver ® candy when we got to the car. Every child sat motionless…and then one-by-one, each child popped out of the chair for some random distraction. By the time we got to the dressing room, nobody was in line for a piece of candy!
Oh, the remorse that can come from children ages 6, 4, and 3! They were SORRY! They would never do it again. PAH-LEASE??? Can’t we just have a Lifesaver®? So we started over. Okay…let’s see who can put on their clothes and sit quietly on the bench until we’re all dressed! It sorta worked…and the children redeemed themselves enough to get the candy when we got in the car.
Here’s the thing…you and I are not little kids…and we cannot bargain with God to gain entry into Paradise. All of the possessions and money in the world won’t buy us a ticket to Eternity at the feet of Jesus. Don’t we all know of at least one person who seems to have it all…or “has more money than sense”…yet this person has destroyed his/her life with drugs, alcohol, gambling, a sense of entitlement that ruined any and all personal relationships, and more – and essentially “blown it?” Don’t we know people who seem to have everything going for them…but they don’t appear to have any semblance of a relationship with God – and some downright disavow Him?
If you felt you had blown it completely with God, what would you do to get back your soul? Do you understand that there is only one thing that matters? Do you get it that the key to all of this is to love God with all your heart…to love others as He loves you – and as you love yourself…and to put serving Him above everything and everyone else? This is the “ticket to heaven.” Inviting Jesus into your heart, confessing your sins to Him and asking that He forgive you is the only way to ensure your Eternal Life with Him in Heaven.
We cannot just sit on the bench and promise to never get down again. We can’t say, “I didn’t mean it,” and trust that God will look the other way and let us have the “Lifesaver®.” We are not little kids, and our salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ are nothing to negotiate and treat in a cavalier manner. What if we gain the world and lose our soul? The world is NOTHING…Jesus is EVERYTHING! Without Him, the world doesn’t matter.
What would you give to get back your soul? Give your heart to Jesus! Commit fully to His will for your life…to sharing His message with others and loving them as He has commanded. This is the “Lifesaver®” worth achieving! Are you ready to do what is necessary to receive it?
©2015 Debbie Robus
What will you gain, if you own the whole world but destroy yourself? What would you give to get back your soul?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I took the children swimming after church today. Afterwards, as I tried to distribute towels, remove life jackets and water shoes and sack everything wet before we went to the dressing room to change, I promised every child who stayed in his/her seat a Lifesaver ® candy when we got to the car. Every child sat motionless…and then one-by-one, each child popped out of the chair for some random distraction. By the time we got to the dressing room, nobody was in line for a piece of candy!
Oh, the remorse that can come from children ages 6, 4, and 3! They were SORRY! They would never do it again. PAH-LEASE??? Can’t we just have a Lifesaver®? So we started over. Okay…let’s see who can put on their clothes and sit quietly on the bench until we’re all dressed! It sorta worked…and the children redeemed themselves enough to get the candy when we got in the car.
Here’s the thing…you and I are not little kids…and we cannot bargain with God to gain entry into Paradise. All of the possessions and money in the world won’t buy us a ticket to Eternity at the feet of Jesus. Don’t we all know of at least one person who seems to have it all…or “has more money than sense”…yet this person has destroyed his/her life with drugs, alcohol, gambling, a sense of entitlement that ruined any and all personal relationships, and more – and essentially “blown it?” Don’t we know people who seem to have everything going for them…but they don’t appear to have any semblance of a relationship with God – and some downright disavow Him?
If you felt you had blown it completely with God, what would you do to get back your soul? Do you understand that there is only one thing that matters? Do you get it that the key to all of this is to love God with all your heart…to love others as He loves you – and as you love yourself…and to put serving Him above everything and everyone else? This is the “ticket to heaven.” Inviting Jesus into your heart, confessing your sins to Him and asking that He forgive you is the only way to ensure your Eternal Life with Him in Heaven.
We cannot just sit on the bench and promise to never get down again. We can’t say, “I didn’t mean it,” and trust that God will look the other way and let us have the “Lifesaver®.” We are not little kids, and our salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ are nothing to negotiate and treat in a cavalier manner. What if we gain the world and lose our soul? The world is NOTHING…Jesus is EVERYTHING! Without Him, the world doesn’t matter.
What would you give to get back your soul? Give your heart to Jesus! Commit fully to His will for your life…to sharing His message with others and loving them as He has commanded. This is the “Lifesaver®” worth achieving! Are you ready to do what is necessary to receive it?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 23, 2015
Luke 22:19-20
Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.”
He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for 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.
Covenants are a part of our everyday life…from the loan agreement you signed with the bank for your car and/or house, to marriage vows, to enrolling in college or accepting a job. While some are more formal than others, we are constantly entering into “covenant” agreements to fulfill a commitment.
When we make a covenant, there are certain expectations on both sides. Your spouse expects you to be there “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health” – for the rest of your life – and you expect the same in return! Your boss expects you to show up for work every day and do what is required of you…and you anticipate fair treatment and a paycheck. When you enroll in college, you count on learning something that will help you to grow and develop in certain areas of expertise…and the school of higher learning assumes that you will pay your tuition and attend the classes!
There are traditional covenants, like marriage agreements, the Hippocratic Oath taken by physicians, and the “swearing in” of public officials, law enforcement and military personnel. Even elected officials and religious leaders take an “Oath of Office” and promise to uphold the tenets or bylaws of the group that they serve. But there are less formal covenants that are in many ways just as binding. If I join an organization, the group anticipates my support and participation in its activities – whether it is a club, a church, or a local softball team, exercise class, or Bible study!
Even more importantly, when we accept Salvation through Jesus Christ and invite Him to dwell in our heart, we have created a covenant - a “blood covenant” if you will. Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sins…and when we accept His gift of Salvation, we commit to honor Him…to love Him above all others…to serve Him with our whole heart, according to His will.
A lot of people seem to gloss over this part of the “covenant.” They willingly accept Jesus’ redemption…they are more than happy to claim to be a Christian and a pardon that assures reprieve from the fires of hell and promises eternal Paradise. But they give no consideration to holding up their end of the agreement.
When we default on a loan, break a covenant with our spouse, or fail to attend classes and pay tuition…or even when we don’t attend the meetings and actively participate in an organization to which we belong…there are consequences. We might even be removed from the group…”exiled” in some way. Thankfully, Jesus does not go this far…but He does hang His head in shame and disappointment. We can’t just SAY we are Christians and then go about our old, sinful, uncommitted lives…or we shouldn’t. This does not reflect the “blood covenant”…nor does it honor our Savior.
It’s not a matter of worrying about whether we will go to Heaven or Hell…this is about commitment to Jesus…honor and respect…love and appreciation for the One who has given us EVERYTHING. Have you truly made a “blood covenant” with Christ? Are you making a point…or making a difference? Did you just want the “get out of Hell” ticket…or are you all in with Jesus? There a huge difference between these two options…which one have you chosen?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory.”
He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for 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.
Covenants are a part of our everyday life…from the loan agreement you signed with the bank for your car and/or house, to marriage vows, to enrolling in college or accepting a job. While some are more formal than others, we are constantly entering into “covenant” agreements to fulfill a commitment.
When we make a covenant, there are certain expectations on both sides. Your spouse expects you to be there “for richer or poorer, in sickness and in health” – for the rest of your life – and you expect the same in return! Your boss expects you to show up for work every day and do what is required of you…and you anticipate fair treatment and a paycheck. When you enroll in college, you count on learning something that will help you to grow and develop in certain areas of expertise…and the school of higher learning assumes that you will pay your tuition and attend the classes!
There are traditional covenants, like marriage agreements, the Hippocratic Oath taken by physicians, and the “swearing in” of public officials, law enforcement and military personnel. Even elected officials and religious leaders take an “Oath of Office” and promise to uphold the tenets or bylaws of the group that they serve. But there are less formal covenants that are in many ways just as binding. If I join an organization, the group anticipates my support and participation in its activities – whether it is a club, a church, or a local softball team, exercise class, or Bible study!
Even more importantly, when we accept Salvation through Jesus Christ and invite Him to dwell in our heart, we have created a covenant - a “blood covenant” if you will. Jesus shed His blood to pay for our sins…and when we accept His gift of Salvation, we commit to honor Him…to love Him above all others…to serve Him with our whole heart, according to His will.
A lot of people seem to gloss over this part of the “covenant.” They willingly accept Jesus’ redemption…they are more than happy to claim to be a Christian and a pardon that assures reprieve from the fires of hell and promises eternal Paradise. But they give no consideration to holding up their end of the agreement.
When we default on a loan, break a covenant with our spouse, or fail to attend classes and pay tuition…or even when we don’t attend the meetings and actively participate in an organization to which we belong…there are consequences. We might even be removed from the group…”exiled” in some way. Thankfully, Jesus does not go this far…but He does hang His head in shame and disappointment. We can’t just SAY we are Christians and then go about our old, sinful, uncommitted lives…or we shouldn’t. This does not reflect the “blood covenant”…nor does it honor our Savior.
It’s not a matter of worrying about whether we will go to Heaven or Hell…this is about commitment to Jesus…honor and respect…love and appreciation for the One who has given us EVERYTHING. Have you truly made a “blood covenant” with Christ? Are you making a point…or making a difference? Did you just want the “get out of Hell” ticket…or are you all in with Jesus? There a huge difference between these two options…which one have you chosen?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 22, 2015
John 6:53-58
But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
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.
Several years ago, friends invited us to join several other couples for the sharing of a potluck meal in their home…and a visit afterward. We had all read a book called So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Any More*…and the hosts suggested that we discuss our thoughts on this book after dinner. We went around the living room, discussing the parts of the book that spoke to us the most…and sharing experiences and opinions. We also shared our “faith” – how we got from “Point A” to “Point B” in our journey with Christ…questions and concerns we still have…and how God works in and through us each day. It was a wonderful evening. At times, the feelings and expressions were raw, as we spoke openly and from the heart…but generally, it was a sweet time that bonded us as friends – and brothers and sisters in Christ.
At the end of the evening, the hosts produced a bottle of wine and some bread, and we shared in Holy Communion. This might sound sacrilegious or disrespectful to you, but I assure you, it was incredibly holy. We had shared such an amazing time of worship and reflection. We prayed…we held hands…we shed more than a few tears. And we felt the presence of Jesus. It was only natural that we would “eat and drink flesh and blood”…that we would “die to ourselves” and live in Jesus.
The service of Holy Communion is a profoundly humbling and meaningful time…or at least, it should be. Whether you kneel at the altar rail in a church sanctuary, are presented with bread and “wine” at your bedside or on a church pew, or even partake in the sacraments in a friend’s living room…this commitment to surrender your sin to the body and blood of Jesus is incredibly powerful.
Don’t just go through the motions of Holy Communion. The next time you are offered the “bread and wine,” really think about what you are doing. Remind yourself that the bread does indeed represent Jesus’ body…broken for you. When you eat the bread, you surrender your heart – and your sins – to Him. When you drink the “wine,” you are allowing Jesus’ blood to wash over you and remove every trace and blemish of your transgressions. You are committing to a New Life in Christ…and you are reminded of this covenant. This is a precious, sacred moment.
When you participate in Holy Communion, think about the piece of bread you are handed…and the “cup” you drink. Thank Jesus for His amazing sacrifice, and vow to honor Him with your daily living. We who share in the flesh and blood of the Son of Man with a heart of genuine commitment to serve Him are promised a life that never ends. The “exchange” is more than we could ever expect or deserve…but everything about the love of Christ is “too much.” And aren’t we glad and grateful for His gifts?!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
But Jesus didn’t give an inch. “Only insofar as you eat and drink flesh and blood, the flesh and blood of the Son of Man, do you have life within you. The one who brings a hearty appetite to this eating and drinking has eternal life and will be fit and ready for the Final Day. My flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. By eating my flesh and drinking my blood you enter into me and I into you. In the same way that the fully alive Father sent me here and I live because of him, so the one who makes a meal of me lives because of me. This is the Bread from heaven. Your ancestors ate bread and later died. Whoever eats this Bread will live always.”
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.
Several years ago, friends invited us to join several other couples for the sharing of a potluck meal in their home…and a visit afterward. We had all read a book called So You Don’t Want to Go to Church Any More*…and the hosts suggested that we discuss our thoughts on this book after dinner. We went around the living room, discussing the parts of the book that spoke to us the most…and sharing experiences and opinions. We also shared our “faith” – how we got from “Point A” to “Point B” in our journey with Christ…questions and concerns we still have…and how God works in and through us each day. It was a wonderful evening. At times, the feelings and expressions were raw, as we spoke openly and from the heart…but generally, it was a sweet time that bonded us as friends – and brothers and sisters in Christ.
At the end of the evening, the hosts produced a bottle of wine and some bread, and we shared in Holy Communion. This might sound sacrilegious or disrespectful to you, but I assure you, it was incredibly holy. We had shared such an amazing time of worship and reflection. We prayed…we held hands…we shed more than a few tears. And we felt the presence of Jesus. It was only natural that we would “eat and drink flesh and blood”…that we would “die to ourselves” and live in Jesus.
The service of Holy Communion is a profoundly humbling and meaningful time…or at least, it should be. Whether you kneel at the altar rail in a church sanctuary, are presented with bread and “wine” at your bedside or on a church pew, or even partake in the sacraments in a friend’s living room…this commitment to surrender your sin to the body and blood of Jesus is incredibly powerful.
Don’t just go through the motions of Holy Communion. The next time you are offered the “bread and wine,” really think about what you are doing. Remind yourself that the bread does indeed represent Jesus’ body…broken for you. When you eat the bread, you surrender your heart – and your sins – to Him. When you drink the “wine,” you are allowing Jesus’ blood to wash over you and remove every trace and blemish of your transgressions. You are committing to a New Life in Christ…and you are reminded of this covenant. This is a precious, sacred moment.
When you participate in Holy Communion, think about the piece of bread you are handed…and the “cup” you drink. Thank Jesus for His amazing sacrifice, and vow to honor Him with your daily living. We who share in the flesh and blood of the Son of Man with a heart of genuine commitment to serve Him are promised a life that never ends. The “exchange” is more than we could ever expect or deserve…but everything about the love of Christ is “too much.” And aren’t we glad and grateful for His gifts?!
©2015 Debbie Robus
*http://www.amazon.com/You-Dont-Want-Church-Anymore/dp/0964729229
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2015
John 6:47-51
“I’m telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self.”
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 am a “GRITS”…a Girl Raised In The South, and we “GRITS” love our cornbread! I have a little plaque that says, “Lord, thank you for letting me be born in the South – and for the cornbread and turnip greens in my mouth!” But here’s the thing…I have developed an allergy to corn…so the very “bread” I love could potentially kill me! Some of you may be gluten intolerant…or you’re diabetic…and bread is somewhat your “enemy.” I get it. We think of bread as life-sustaining…but that is not always the case – at least not in a physical sense!
But Bread – the Bread of Life that represents Jesus’ body given on the cross for you and me – is EVERYTHING! I love how this passage explains that when we believe in Jesus and commit our hearts to Him, we receive Bread that will sustain us FOREVER. I particularly like the sentence that says, “Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever.”
I don’t know about you, but these words really encourage me. Because of Jesus and the Bread of Life that I have in Him, nothing can ever truly harm me. Because of Jesus’ Bread of Life, I am “safe and secure from all alarms,” as it says in the old hymn.* The Bread of Life fills me, nurtures me, sustains me…and never ends!
Because of the Bread of Life, I am leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus in all things. I am not only a “GRITS”…I am also a “BOLCOG” (Bread of Life Child of God)! I get to enjoy this “Bread” every single day - as much as I want/need! But when I get to heaven, I’ll take mine with a slice of cornbread, please…and a big ole mess of turnip greens with a tall glass of sweet tea on the side! Will I see you there?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (public domain)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
“I’m telling you the most solemn and sober truth now: Whoever believes in me has real life, eternal life. I am the Bread of Life. Your ancestors ate the manna bread in the desert and died. But now here is Bread that truly comes down out of heaven. Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever. I am the Bread—living Bread!—who came down out of heaven. Anyone who eats this Bread will live—and forever! The Bread that I present to the world so that it can eat and live is myself, this flesh-and-blood self.”
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 am a “GRITS”…a Girl Raised In The South, and we “GRITS” love our cornbread! I have a little plaque that says, “Lord, thank you for letting me be born in the South – and for the cornbread and turnip greens in my mouth!” But here’s the thing…I have developed an allergy to corn…so the very “bread” I love could potentially kill me! Some of you may be gluten intolerant…or you’re diabetic…and bread is somewhat your “enemy.” I get it. We think of bread as life-sustaining…but that is not always the case – at least not in a physical sense!
But Bread – the Bread of Life that represents Jesus’ body given on the cross for you and me – is EVERYTHING! I love how this passage explains that when we believe in Jesus and commit our hearts to Him, we receive Bread that will sustain us FOREVER. I particularly like the sentence that says, “Anyone eating this Bread will not die, ever.”
I don’t know about you, but these words really encourage me. Because of Jesus and the Bread of Life that I have in Him, nothing can ever truly harm me. Because of Jesus’ Bread of Life, I am “safe and secure from all alarms,” as it says in the old hymn.* The Bread of Life fills me, nurtures me, sustains me…and never ends!
Because of the Bread of Life, I am leaning on the everlasting arms of Jesus in all things. I am not only a “GRITS”…I am also a “BOLCOG” (Bread of Life Child of God)! I get to enjoy this “Bread” every single day - as much as I want/need! But when I get to heaven, I’ll take mine with a slice of cornbread, please…and a big ole mess of turnip greens with a tall glass of sweet tea on the side! Will I see you there?
©2015 Debbie Robus
*Leaning on the Everlasting Arms (public domain)
What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
What a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Oh, how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
Leaning on the everlasting arms;
Oh, how bright the path grows from day to day,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
Leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
Safe and secure from all alarms;
Leaning, leaning,
Leaning on the everlasting arms.
Daily Devotional for October 30, 2014
Psalm 30:2-3
I prayed to you, Lord God,
and you healed me,
saving me from death
and the grave.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my mother got a virus on her computer. She phoned in something of a panic…hoping that I would know how to fix this. I determined that it might be easier to go to her house and assess the problem than to try to help her over the phone. I really thought she had gotten “malware” – malicious software that can somewhat “freeze” the computer and deny access to certain files and programs. Mother was really upset…the messages she received indicated that her files were “dead and gone” and that retrieval was impossible.
I wish it had been as simple as “malware”. My mom, her husband Lee and I determined that she had somehow gotten something called “CryptoWall Ransomware”…a really bad virus that arrives when the user clicks (sometimes inadvertently) on a file like a PDF or a “Word” document or a .zip file…and this malicious program begins a scan of the user’s hard drive and all of its files – plus any files that might be on a “peripheral” apparatus, like a flash drive or DVD. All of these files are also encrypted, so that they no longer can be opened conventionally. The “fix” the hacker proposes is for the user to pay a “ransom” that begins at $500 and increases to $1000 or more each day that the person who has been violated waits. In return for this ransom, a “key” is provided to decrypt the files.
This is hopefully not the only repair option for this virus. We are in the process if trying some suggestions from YouTube videos and information we Googled about “CryptoWall Ransomware” that will hopefully enable my mom to remove the virus and retrieve at least SOME of her files…or a previously stored version of them. Most certainly, this will not be a 100% solution. There will be collateral damage, probably in the form of lost files and photos that Mom worked on in the last week or so. But the goal is to repair the hard drive and contain the destruction.
What does this have to do with the healing power of God? For starters, I spent more than a few minutes in prayer for help as I sat at my mother’s computer and searched for a solution. I have prayed that these “remedies” will indeed work. But more importantly, I have been reminded of another “ransom”…one that was paid for my sins – and for yours!
The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus covered all of our sins…and restored us COMPLETELY in the eyes of God. We don’t have to worry about the loss of “important data”. We are “fixed”, complete, whole, even better than new in the eyes of God. And it’s all because of the “blood” of Jesus Christ. He paid the price in full, so that we could be totally well. We were on the brink of death, but Jesus rescued us. The only thing we “lost" was the burden of our sins and the potential to spend eternity in hell. And I don’t think any of us minds one little bit to give up either of these!
There are “take-aways” from these situations for all of us.
My “ransom” from sin has been paid, praise God! The “hard drive” of my heart is fully protected…my Eternity with Jesus Christ is secured. He paid for the “decryption key”…and I have accepted His offer of healing and deliverance. Can you say the same thing? Will this be the day that you do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I prayed to you, Lord God,
and you healed me,
saving me from death
and the grave.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, my mother got a virus on her computer. She phoned in something of a panic…hoping that I would know how to fix this. I determined that it might be easier to go to her house and assess the problem than to try to help her over the phone. I really thought she had gotten “malware” – malicious software that can somewhat “freeze” the computer and deny access to certain files and programs. Mother was really upset…the messages she received indicated that her files were “dead and gone” and that retrieval was impossible.
I wish it had been as simple as “malware”. My mom, her husband Lee and I determined that she had somehow gotten something called “CryptoWall Ransomware”…a really bad virus that arrives when the user clicks (sometimes inadvertently) on a file like a PDF or a “Word” document or a .zip file…and this malicious program begins a scan of the user’s hard drive and all of its files – plus any files that might be on a “peripheral” apparatus, like a flash drive or DVD. All of these files are also encrypted, so that they no longer can be opened conventionally. The “fix” the hacker proposes is for the user to pay a “ransom” that begins at $500 and increases to $1000 or more each day that the person who has been violated waits. In return for this ransom, a “key” is provided to decrypt the files.
This is hopefully not the only repair option for this virus. We are in the process if trying some suggestions from YouTube videos and information we Googled about “CryptoWall Ransomware” that will hopefully enable my mom to remove the virus and retrieve at least SOME of her files…or a previously stored version of them. Most certainly, this will not be a 100% solution. There will be collateral damage, probably in the form of lost files and photos that Mom worked on in the last week or so. But the goal is to repair the hard drive and contain the destruction.
What does this have to do with the healing power of God? For starters, I spent more than a few minutes in prayer for help as I sat at my mother’s computer and searched for a solution. I have prayed that these “remedies” will indeed work. But more importantly, I have been reminded of another “ransom”…one that was paid for my sins – and for yours!
The GOOD NEWS is that Jesus covered all of our sins…and restored us COMPLETELY in the eyes of God. We don’t have to worry about the loss of “important data”. We are “fixed”, complete, whole, even better than new in the eyes of God. And it’s all because of the “blood” of Jesus Christ. He paid the price in full, so that we could be totally well. We were on the brink of death, but Jesus rescued us. The only thing we “lost" was the burden of our sins and the potential to spend eternity in hell. And I don’t think any of us minds one little bit to give up either of these!
There are “take-aways” from these situations for all of us.
- We must tighten our security measures on our computers.
- We must be painfully careful about every click we make…every document we open.
- We must disconnect from the Internet when we are not using it…and disconnect “peripheral” devices when we are not using them.
- We must recognize the tremendous sacrifice that Jesus Christ made for us…the “ransom” that He paid for our sins.
- We must thank God for sending Jesus…and for providing us with a “fix” that ensures us of Salvation through the ransomed blood of Jesus – and the promise of spending time in His presence in Heaven - forever and ever.
- We must guard our hearts and the privilege of a ransomed life in Christ with as much fervor and attention as we give to caring for the files on our computer…maybe even more!
- We must recognize that at the end of the day, computers and files are just stuff…important though they may seem…but our salvation through Jesus is the most important “file” that we will ever have.
My “ransom” from sin has been paid, praise God! The “hard drive” of my heart is fully protected…my Eternity with Jesus Christ is secured. He paid for the “decryption key”…and I have accepted His offer of healing and deliverance. Can you say the same thing? Will this be the day that you do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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