Revelation 22:5
Never again will night appear, and
no one who lives there will ever need a lamp or the sun. The Lord God
will be their light, and they will rule forever. Jesus answered, “God
wants you to have faith in the one he sent.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Our
little ones have a hard time going to sleep at night when they visit
us. They want the light left on – or some form of illumination nearby -
and I get that. When I was a little girl, my siblings and I would go to
stay with our paternal grandparents at their farm “in the country.”
Their house sat on a dirt road, surrounded by thick forests…and the
darkness at night was beyond what I can describe. There were no street
lights. No digital clock on the night stand delivered the time in LED.
There was no blinking smoke alarm in the ceiling - or glow from so much
as the power light on a television set!
And the quiet was
amazing! The only noise was the steady tick-tock of my grandparents’
mantel clock as it counted down the minutes and chimed on the hour and
half-hour. So I lay there many nights, trying to “see” in the darkness -
and listening to that clock…totally unable to relax and fall asleep!
This
might have something to do with why I keep so many lights on in our
house today. We have twinkling lights that are plugged in each morning –
lamps on timers that go on and off different hours of the day and
night. And I leave a light on in our bathroom each night, so that we
are not stumbling around in the darkness. I am not afraid of the
dark…but I have to say that I prefer the light…and I am more than a
little glad to hear that there will be no darkness in heaven!
I
am also grateful that Jesus (and His Holy Spirit) illuminates my heart…
and for the most part, there is no room for the devil and his darkness.
I marvel sometimes at how sources of light have crept into our
contemporary lives…how we are never in a room that some gadget doesn’t
have a light source, like the LED display on digital clocks and the
alarms in our walls/ceilings. And we think nothing of it.
By contrast, I’m afraid that many of us have grown complacent and accepting of the intrusions of darkness
in our hearts - and the devil’s attempt to pepper the light with areas
of sin and iniquity. If we are not careful and diligent, we will allow
him to sneak in little areas of darkness that can grow over time – and
we’ll never even see it coming.
When I think of Jesus…and
Heaven…I think of bright light that never fades. I picture a light so
bright and pure that we shouldn’t be able to even handle it without
protective eyewear – and yet we bask in its brilliance with eagerness
and boundless joy. I want all of this Light that I can get – even now!
I have faith that Jesus is ALL that I need…and I trust Him to care for
me completely. So I am doubling down on my efforts to stay close to
Him…to listen for His voice and “keep the lights on” as much as
possible. What about you?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label promise of heaven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label promise of heaven. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for January 21, 2016
John 16:19-20
Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.
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 sister-in-law mailed me a book about grief, Experiencing Grief* by H. Norman Wright, and I began reading it last night. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of grief…I’ve lost my dad, my brother, my father-in-law, all of my grandparents – including my grandmother who was like a mother - beloved pets, and dear friends. But none of this prepared me for losing my own mother – particularly when coupled with the sudden death of Greg’s brother a few days earlier. I find that my grief comes in waves…I am sometimes okay for several hours in a row – or even a full day or two. And then something triggers the release, and I am overwhelmed. This book is helping me to process my thoughts and feelings.
I tried to get back to my “routine” this week…including my workouts at the local Aquatic Center. I had to admit that I was not ready to go back to the pool – a place I sometimes saw my mother and even shared a workout. Both Greg and I find that we are not quite ready to be around people…particularly in group settings, like church, local sporting events - and most certainly funerals. Two friends of ours also lost their mothers this week. I sent cards and messages of condolence and encouragement, but that was all that I could muster for now. We have strategically planned trips to the grocery store and other public places at times when we hope there will not be a lot of people around.
At the same time, we don’t want people to avoid or ignore us. It’s okay to hug me if you see me…just know that I might cry! Please don’t hesitate to ask, “How are you doing?” or to say, “I’m so sorry for what you are going through.” We need to know that others care. We just need to be able to feel whatever we are feeling in the moment without concern that others will be upset or become uncomfortable.
Why am I sharing this with you in a “devotional?” Grief comes to all of us. If you have not experienced the loss of a loved one yet, you will at some point. I want you to know that it is okay to feel your grief. Even Jesus told His disciples that they would be very sad…but that in time, the sadness would give way to joy. God understands our grief. He grieves with us…He is sad when His children are hurting. But He comforts us and brings us through the grief, if we will allow Him to do so. And this may involve a season of sadness, crying and dealing with our pain.
I also want to speak to you as a “comforter” of others. Don’t be afraid to approach those who are grieving…to speak of their departed loved one…to offer a hug and a smile and a kind word. I remember distinctly thinking when my dad and brother were both ill that the whole world was going on around me, and it was like I was on some carnival ride from which I could not depart. Don’t isolate others even more because you feel uncomfortable or fear saying/doing the wrong thing. Be brief, but do acknowledge those who are grieving. This, too, is part of what Jesus was talking about. He always encouraged His followers to “love one another”…and comfort in times of grief represents a tremendous expression of the love of Christ.
The GOOD NEWS is that joy does come again for those of us who trust Jesus. He has promised it is so. I know that my mother and Greg’s brother now both sit at the Heavenly table…that they bask in the continual glow of Jesus’ presence and haven’t a care in the world. All of the things that make up the “worries and concerns” of our days hold absolutely no significance for them. And someday, we will join them. This is my hope…my prayer…my reason to find joy in these days.
Someday, I will also sit face-to-face with Jesus…alongside all of those I love who are already there. I have God’s permission to miss them now…for as long as it takes for me to heal. My job is to live for Him every minute I am on this earth…to minister to others who are also grieving and in need…and to remind us all that “sadness will develop into gladness.” This is your job, too…how well are you doing?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus knew they were dying to ask him what he meant, so he said, “Are you trying to figure out among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘In a day or so you’re not going to see me, but then in another day or so you will see me’? Then fix this firmly in your minds: You’re going to be in deep mourning while the godless world throws a party. You’ll be sad, very sad, but your sadness will develop into gladness.
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 sister-in-law mailed me a book about grief, Experiencing Grief* by H. Norman Wright, and I began reading it last night. I thought I had a pretty good understanding of grief…I’ve lost my dad, my brother, my father-in-law, all of my grandparents – including my grandmother who was like a mother - beloved pets, and dear friends. But none of this prepared me for losing my own mother – particularly when coupled with the sudden death of Greg’s brother a few days earlier. I find that my grief comes in waves…I am sometimes okay for several hours in a row – or even a full day or two. And then something triggers the release, and I am overwhelmed. This book is helping me to process my thoughts and feelings.
I tried to get back to my “routine” this week…including my workouts at the local Aquatic Center. I had to admit that I was not ready to go back to the pool – a place I sometimes saw my mother and even shared a workout. Both Greg and I find that we are not quite ready to be around people…particularly in group settings, like church, local sporting events - and most certainly funerals. Two friends of ours also lost their mothers this week. I sent cards and messages of condolence and encouragement, but that was all that I could muster for now. We have strategically planned trips to the grocery store and other public places at times when we hope there will not be a lot of people around.
At the same time, we don’t want people to avoid or ignore us. It’s okay to hug me if you see me…just know that I might cry! Please don’t hesitate to ask, “How are you doing?” or to say, “I’m so sorry for what you are going through.” We need to know that others care. We just need to be able to feel whatever we are feeling in the moment without concern that others will be upset or become uncomfortable.
Why am I sharing this with you in a “devotional?” Grief comes to all of us. If you have not experienced the loss of a loved one yet, you will at some point. I want you to know that it is okay to feel your grief. Even Jesus told His disciples that they would be very sad…but that in time, the sadness would give way to joy. God understands our grief. He grieves with us…He is sad when His children are hurting. But He comforts us and brings us through the grief, if we will allow Him to do so. And this may involve a season of sadness, crying and dealing with our pain.
I also want to speak to you as a “comforter” of others. Don’t be afraid to approach those who are grieving…to speak of their departed loved one…to offer a hug and a smile and a kind word. I remember distinctly thinking when my dad and brother were both ill that the whole world was going on around me, and it was like I was on some carnival ride from which I could not depart. Don’t isolate others even more because you feel uncomfortable or fear saying/doing the wrong thing. Be brief, but do acknowledge those who are grieving. This, too, is part of what Jesus was talking about. He always encouraged His followers to “love one another”…and comfort in times of grief represents a tremendous expression of the love of Christ.
The GOOD NEWS is that joy does come again for those of us who trust Jesus. He has promised it is so. I know that my mother and Greg’s brother now both sit at the Heavenly table…that they bask in the continual glow of Jesus’ presence and haven’t a care in the world. All of the things that make up the “worries and concerns” of our days hold absolutely no significance for them. And someday, we will join them. This is my hope…my prayer…my reason to find joy in these days.
Someday, I will also sit face-to-face with Jesus…alongside all of those I love who are already there. I have God’s permission to miss them now…for as long as it takes for me to heal. My job is to live for Him every minute I am on this earth…to minister to others who are also grieving and in need…and to remind us all that “sadness will develop into gladness.” This is your job, too…how well are you doing?
©2016 Debbie Robus
*Experiencing Grief ~ ©2004 by H. Norman
Wright ~ B&H Publishing Group
Daily Devotional for January 17, 2016
Proverbs 14:26-27
Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security.
Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We all worried this last week about how our three little ones - Timothy, Zola and Nathan - would handle my mother’s death. Ever since my grandmother died in March 2013, Timothy has assumed that anyone who was sick or old would die. It happened to Mam-ma Polly…my mother’s dog, Spot…my sister’s dog, Wrinkles…and our cat, Lucy. So anytime someone is sick – or we mention that “I’m just old,” - Timothy asks, “Are you going to die?”
Given that reference, we really didn’t know what to expect with the children. They knew that Granny had been sick for a few months…but they had no clue what cancer was or how seriously ill she had become. My niece brought the children to visit Mother at home when she went on Hospice care, and they were apprehensive at first about approaching her hospital bed. But one-by-one, they “warmed up” and came around to talk to her. I think Zola even had someone lift her up to kiss my mother.
But what happened when Mother passed was a beautiful thing. The children were sad when their mother told them. But they did not fall apart. When we viewed Mother’s body, each child readily accepted that Granny was dead. They didn’t spend a lot of time with her, but they each patted her hand – and again, Zola gave her a kiss. They were not afraid at all.
In the days that followed, the children played in my mother's back yard – and at the cemetery - with the abandon of happy children. At the visitation and celebration service for her life, they sat quietly and respectfully. Once while we were greeting those in attendance, Timothy stood with me and held my hand. Several around us were standing arm-in-arm, and all of a sudden, I felt this little arm wrap around my legs, just under my backside. Timothy was putting HIS arm around me, also. I cannot count the times that little 6-year-old boy came to comfort me as I greeted people in the visitation line.
As Mother’s service drew to a close, Zola got down from the lap of a cousin and moved to the front pew, where she crawled into the lap of my mother’s husband, Lee. She snuggled against him, and then she turned, held his face in her hands, and gave him a kiss. I saw his entire demeanor completely soften and relax in that sweet moment. It was just what he needed.
My mother would have loved all of this. She would have readily agreed that we have created a place of refuge and security for these children in our demonstrations of respect and reverence for God. We have begun to lay a firm foundation for each of them about who God is and how He loves each of us. They know about heaven…and maybe even better than we grownups, they understand that it is a glorious place where we hope to all end up someday. There is nothing to fear…about death, heaven, or God. The children already understand how amazing He is…and we are teaching them to honor Him with admiration and esteem in all things.
Our three little ones are reminders that life goes on…that as much as we miss my mother and others who have received their heavenly reward, we know they wouldn’t come back for all the tea in China…and we wouldn’t want them to! The “death” that this scripture refers to is not our earthly passing into Eternity with Jesus…but rather that of ending up in the darkest pit of hell as far away from Him as possible. Our prayer is that this would never happen to anyone!
My mother left a legacy of faith, strength and reverence for God that will hopefully transfer to future generations…a promise of Eternity in the presence of God Almighty forever and ever. Our job is to live in such a way we perpetuate this legacy and give our children a secure refuge that offers them the hope of Heaven, as well.
My question to you this day is…how are you doing? What – and WHO – do others see when they look at you? Are you living in a way that demonstrates the joy and hope of Heaven? Are you showing others that a life in Christ represents a place of refuge and security? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Reverence for God gives a man deep strength; his children have a place of refuge and security.
Reverence for the Lord is a fountain of life; its waters keep a man from death.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
We all worried this last week about how our three little ones - Timothy, Zola and Nathan - would handle my mother’s death. Ever since my grandmother died in March 2013, Timothy has assumed that anyone who was sick or old would die. It happened to Mam-ma Polly…my mother’s dog, Spot…my sister’s dog, Wrinkles…and our cat, Lucy. So anytime someone is sick – or we mention that “I’m just old,” - Timothy asks, “Are you going to die?”
Given that reference, we really didn’t know what to expect with the children. They knew that Granny had been sick for a few months…but they had no clue what cancer was or how seriously ill she had become. My niece brought the children to visit Mother at home when she went on Hospice care, and they were apprehensive at first about approaching her hospital bed. But one-by-one, they “warmed up” and came around to talk to her. I think Zola even had someone lift her up to kiss my mother.
But what happened when Mother passed was a beautiful thing. The children were sad when their mother told them. But they did not fall apart. When we viewed Mother’s body, each child readily accepted that Granny was dead. They didn’t spend a lot of time with her, but they each patted her hand – and again, Zola gave her a kiss. They were not afraid at all.
In the days that followed, the children played in my mother's back yard – and at the cemetery - with the abandon of happy children. At the visitation and celebration service for her life, they sat quietly and respectfully. Once while we were greeting those in attendance, Timothy stood with me and held my hand. Several around us were standing arm-in-arm, and all of a sudden, I felt this little arm wrap around my legs, just under my backside. Timothy was putting HIS arm around me, also. I cannot count the times that little 6-year-old boy came to comfort me as I greeted people in the visitation line.
As Mother’s service drew to a close, Zola got down from the lap of a cousin and moved to the front pew, where she crawled into the lap of my mother’s husband, Lee. She snuggled against him, and then she turned, held his face in her hands, and gave him a kiss. I saw his entire demeanor completely soften and relax in that sweet moment. It was just what he needed.
My mother would have loved all of this. She would have readily agreed that we have created a place of refuge and security for these children in our demonstrations of respect and reverence for God. We have begun to lay a firm foundation for each of them about who God is and how He loves each of us. They know about heaven…and maybe even better than we grownups, they understand that it is a glorious place where we hope to all end up someday. There is nothing to fear…about death, heaven, or God. The children already understand how amazing He is…and we are teaching them to honor Him with admiration and esteem in all things.
Our three little ones are reminders that life goes on…that as much as we miss my mother and others who have received their heavenly reward, we know they wouldn’t come back for all the tea in China…and we wouldn’t want them to! The “death” that this scripture refers to is not our earthly passing into Eternity with Jesus…but rather that of ending up in the darkest pit of hell as far away from Him as possible. Our prayer is that this would never happen to anyone!
My mother left a legacy of faith, strength and reverence for God that will hopefully transfer to future generations…a promise of Eternity in the presence of God Almighty forever and ever. Our job is to live in such a way we perpetuate this legacy and give our children a secure refuge that offers them the hope of Heaven, as well.
My question to you this day is…how are you doing? What – and WHO – do others see when they look at you? Are you living in a way that demonstrates the joy and hope of Heaven? Are you showing others that a life in Christ represents a place of refuge and security? Isn’t it time you were?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 9, 2016
Proverbs 13:13
If you reject God’s teaching,
you will pay the price;
if you obey his commands,
you will be rewarded.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
People all over the country have “lottery fever” as the Powerball jackpot is approaching $900 million. Reporters from countless news outlets are interviewing ticket buyers who speculate on how they will “spend the reward!” The options run the gamut from “quit my job” to “buy my parents a new home” to “travel the world” and more!
It has now been a little better than a week since we took my mother to the hospital Emergency Department in what was a precarious condition, to put it mildly. And it’s pretty well gone downhill since. The days have been filled with all sorts of emotions and situations that we have had to “digest” and accept. In many ways, our worlds have each been turned upside down as we have adjusted to new schedules, reports from doctors and nurses, close quarters and new relationships with family members and friends, coping with a myriad of emotions that change each hour, and dealing with a bevy of unknowns.
It’s a lot…and we are all doing the best that we can. And when she has a lucid moment, my little mother will often say, “God will take care of this.” I know that she is right…because my mother never rejected God’s teaching. She has always obeyed His commands…and God is not about to desert her – especially now. A reward is coming…and probably fairly soon. It’s not of the $900 million variety – but quite frankly, it’s something even better!
We’ve all got “Lottery Fever” of the best kind around here…and soon, my mother will cash in her “ticket.” Obey God’s commands…surrender to His teaching, and know that when life on this earth is over, you really do have the winning ticket – to a “Heavenly Lottery” that provides Eternity in the presence of God Almighty! It truly doesn’t get any better than that!
Are you ready to be a “Heavenly winner?” Will this be the day that you begin to really follow God’s teaching and obey His commands? Aren’t you ready to get in the running for the best “Lottery” of all?
©2016 Debbie Robus
If you reject God’s teaching,
you will pay the price;
if you obey his commands,
you will be rewarded.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
People all over the country have “lottery fever” as the Powerball jackpot is approaching $900 million. Reporters from countless news outlets are interviewing ticket buyers who speculate on how they will “spend the reward!” The options run the gamut from “quit my job” to “buy my parents a new home” to “travel the world” and more!
It has now been a little better than a week since we took my mother to the hospital Emergency Department in what was a precarious condition, to put it mildly. And it’s pretty well gone downhill since. The days have been filled with all sorts of emotions and situations that we have had to “digest” and accept. In many ways, our worlds have each been turned upside down as we have adjusted to new schedules, reports from doctors and nurses, close quarters and new relationships with family members and friends, coping with a myriad of emotions that change each hour, and dealing with a bevy of unknowns.
It’s a lot…and we are all doing the best that we can. And when she has a lucid moment, my little mother will often say, “God will take care of this.” I know that she is right…because my mother never rejected God’s teaching. She has always obeyed His commands…and God is not about to desert her – especially now. A reward is coming…and probably fairly soon. It’s not of the $900 million variety – but quite frankly, it’s something even better!
We’ve all got “Lottery Fever” of the best kind around here…and soon, my mother will cash in her “ticket.” Obey God’s commands…surrender to His teaching, and know that when life on this earth is over, you really do have the winning ticket – to a “Heavenly Lottery” that provides Eternity in the presence of God Almighty! It truly doesn’t get any better than that!
Are you ready to be a “Heavenly winner?” Will this be the day that you begin to really follow God’s teaching and obey His commands? Aren’t you ready to get in the running for the best “Lottery” of all?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 31, 2014
Revelation 21:4
He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”
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’ve tried to think of a dozen different ways to talk about this scripture passage today, but I keep circling back around to one particular thought. So I am going to assume that this is what God wants me to talk about and run with it! I am a fan of a Bravo TV show called “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.” On this show, a young realtor named Josh Flagg is featured. Frequently, his grandmother, Edith, is also showcased. For a long time, Josh Flagg lived in the same apartment building as his grandmother Edith…she occupied the penthouse – he lived a few floors below. It was not uncommon for Josh to drop everything and visit Edith – even late at night, wearing his pajamas!
Edith Flagg survived the Holocaust in Germany and emigrated to the United States after the WWII, with $2 in her pocket. Through hard work and determination, she built a name for herself in the fashion industry. Her business acumen and reasoning were amazing, and she often advised her grandson about real estate deals with flair and a no-nonsense delivery.
Edith Flagg died on August 13, 2014, at the age of 94. Mention has been made of her physical decline during this season’s episodes, and news of her passing was incorporated into last night’s airing. In one segment, Josh talked tearfully of how his grandmother had broken a hip then developed pneumonia, and things did not look good. Then in another segment, he received “the call” to come quickly and be with Edith. He sat through the night with her before she died around 6:00 a.m. No effort was made to downplay this young man’s grief – nor to hide it from public view. And yet, I did not find his treatment by the network to be exploitive. We saw Josh Flagg sitting with his partner, tears pouring from his face as he talked of how important Edith had been in his life…studying pictures of the two of them together…and wondering how life could ever be happy again without her to guide and delight him.
I wanted to reach through the television screen and wipe his tears. I wanted to hold this young man’s hand and console him…to tell him that his grandmother’s legacy and the lessons she gave to him will live on…that happy times will come again someday…that everything will be alright. But of course, I could not do this. And there are plenty of times when we are not able to console another, for a myriad of reasons. Quite honestly, this is not our job!
We cannot promise that there will be no heartaches…no sorrows, pain or crying. We most certainly cannot promise that there will be no more death. In fact, death is one thing that is pretty well certain for all of us! The only One who can truly “wipe away our tears” and make these promises is God…and He offers us this hope through the blood of Jesus and the assurance that we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
God can often use us to console others…to wipe away their tears and make them feel better in any given moment. But understand that we are not the ones doing this…we are merely the vehicle for God’s love, care, healing and restoration. And in recognizing this, I realized that I can pray for this young man in Los Angeles – and his family – and ask God to send consolation for them. I can ask God to wipe away his tears and to fill him with hope and peace…to flood his heart with happy memories and sound advice…to help him to feel his grandmother’s hand guiding him each and every day.
We can all do this for others – many times each day, in a dozen different ways. We can stop and say a quick prayer for another person – even someone we only know from a television show. We can ask God to show us what to say and do to convey His healing power… to “wipe away the tears” in His name…and to offer the hope of a day when there truly will be no more sickness, sorrow, tears, grief and death. We can live with this hope in our own lives and demonstrate it to others, so that they might truly believe in God’s promises and claim them for themselves.
It’s a pretty sure bet that God has wiped your tears at one time or another. Now it’s your turn to pay it forward...to share His love and care with another and offer him/her the promise of a brighter day in Christ Jesus. Are you up for the challenge?
©2014 Debbie Robus
He will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”
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’ve tried to think of a dozen different ways to talk about this scripture passage today, but I keep circling back around to one particular thought. So I am going to assume that this is what God wants me to talk about and run with it! I am a fan of a Bravo TV show called “Million Dollar Listing Los Angeles.” On this show, a young realtor named Josh Flagg is featured. Frequently, his grandmother, Edith, is also showcased. For a long time, Josh Flagg lived in the same apartment building as his grandmother Edith…she occupied the penthouse – he lived a few floors below. It was not uncommon for Josh to drop everything and visit Edith – even late at night, wearing his pajamas!
Edith Flagg survived the Holocaust in Germany and emigrated to the United States after the WWII, with $2 in her pocket. Through hard work and determination, she built a name for herself in the fashion industry. Her business acumen and reasoning were amazing, and she often advised her grandson about real estate deals with flair and a no-nonsense delivery.
Edith Flagg died on August 13, 2014, at the age of 94. Mention has been made of her physical decline during this season’s episodes, and news of her passing was incorporated into last night’s airing. In one segment, Josh talked tearfully of how his grandmother had broken a hip then developed pneumonia, and things did not look good. Then in another segment, he received “the call” to come quickly and be with Edith. He sat through the night with her before she died around 6:00 a.m. No effort was made to downplay this young man’s grief – nor to hide it from public view. And yet, I did not find his treatment by the network to be exploitive. We saw Josh Flagg sitting with his partner, tears pouring from his face as he talked of how important Edith had been in his life…studying pictures of the two of them together…and wondering how life could ever be happy again without her to guide and delight him.
I wanted to reach through the television screen and wipe his tears. I wanted to hold this young man’s hand and console him…to tell him that his grandmother’s legacy and the lessons she gave to him will live on…that happy times will come again someday…that everything will be alright. But of course, I could not do this. And there are plenty of times when we are not able to console another, for a myriad of reasons. Quite honestly, this is not our job!
We cannot promise that there will be no heartaches…no sorrows, pain or crying. We most certainly cannot promise that there will be no more death. In fact, death is one thing that is pretty well certain for all of us! The only One who can truly “wipe away our tears” and make these promises is God…and He offers us this hope through the blood of Jesus and the assurance that we will spend eternity with Him in heaven.
God can often use us to console others…to wipe away their tears and make them feel better in any given moment. But understand that we are not the ones doing this…we are merely the vehicle for God’s love, care, healing and restoration. And in recognizing this, I realized that I can pray for this young man in Los Angeles – and his family – and ask God to send consolation for them. I can ask God to wipe away his tears and to fill him with hope and peace…to flood his heart with happy memories and sound advice…to help him to feel his grandmother’s hand guiding him each and every day.
We can all do this for others – many times each day, in a dozen different ways. We can stop and say a quick prayer for another person – even someone we only know from a television show. We can ask God to show us what to say and do to convey His healing power… to “wipe away the tears” in His name…and to offer the hope of a day when there truly will be no more sickness, sorrow, tears, grief and death. We can live with this hope in our own lives and demonstrate it to others, so that they might truly believe in God’s promises and claim them for themselves.
It’s a pretty sure bet that God has wiped your tears at one time or another. Now it’s your turn to pay it forward...to share His love and care with another and offer him/her the promise of a brighter day in Christ Jesus. Are you up for the challenge?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 12, 2014
1 Peter 1:3-5
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We live in an age where virtually everything we say and do has at least the possibility of being caught on camera. There are “security cameras” on city streets and sidewalks…in parking lots and shopping centers…and in virtually every store one enters. For as little as $200, you can own a “GoPro” camera…which “makes it easy to document and share your life’s most interesting experiences,” according to information on found at http://gopro.com. The company’s slogan is “Wear it. Mount it. Love it.™” With the advent of Google Glass (http://google.com/Glass), a wearable computer with OHMD (Optical Head-mounted Display), anyone you encounter can be capturing your every move while walking, riding a bike, driving a car, and more. We are a world that is watched over by others. Some of us would do well to remember this!
The “watchful eye” of a “GoPro” camera, Google Glass, or a security camera is significantly different from the “careful watch” of God. Yes, all of these can potentially note every move we make. But only One offers genuine care and protection – both now and into the future. Only the life-giving nurture and shield of God’s love – and salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ – can sustain us…on this earth and into Eternity! And care for us, He does!
I can see how life often wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense for those who don’t know Jesus. I’ll be honest…Greg and I have both started giving the “news” little more than a passing glance. He skims the “Sports” section of the newspaper…I check the obituaries (don’t judge!) and sometimes the “regional” sections. We listen for the weather forecast and sort of “half-listen” to the local news reports. It’s all so bleak and disheartening. And yes, we know that bad things happen. But these days, we are choosing to focus more on good things…happy events…blessings - and the hand of God in any and all circumstances. We are not burying our heads in the sand…we are trusting the One who makes a way where none seems evident!
We know that our future is secure in heaven…and that God wants us to enjoy our time on this earth – and to be productive while we are here. In the midst of war, pain, suffering, sickness, disagreement, natural disaster and so much more possible sadness and sorrow, there is great grace, mercy, hope, and delight. God supplies all of this AND the promise of eternity with Him in heaven! It really doesn’t get any better than that! So let the world watch and record our every move…and let them find us joyfully serving God out of His abundance for us – and our confidence that He is not only watching, but in full control.
Let us live out our faith each and every day…let’s show the world how happy we are to be saved by the blood of Jesus…and destined for the glory of Heaven. Let’s give others a picture of THAT for a change…and see how God works because of it! Are you in?
©2014 Debbie Robus
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now! God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
We live in an age where virtually everything we say and do has at least the possibility of being caught on camera. There are “security cameras” on city streets and sidewalks…in parking lots and shopping centers…and in virtually every store one enters. For as little as $200, you can own a “GoPro” camera…which “makes it easy to document and share your life’s most interesting experiences,” according to information on found at http://gopro.com. The company’s slogan is “Wear it. Mount it. Love it.™” With the advent of Google Glass (http://google.com/Glass), a wearable computer with OHMD (Optical Head-mounted Display), anyone you encounter can be capturing your every move while walking, riding a bike, driving a car, and more. We are a world that is watched over by others. Some of us would do well to remember this!
The “watchful eye” of a “GoPro” camera, Google Glass, or a security camera is significantly different from the “careful watch” of God. Yes, all of these can potentially note every move we make. But only One offers genuine care and protection – both now and into the future. Only the life-giving nurture and shield of God’s love – and salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ – can sustain us…on this earth and into Eternity! And care for us, He does!
I can see how life often wouldn’t make a whole lot of sense for those who don’t know Jesus. I’ll be honest…Greg and I have both started giving the “news” little more than a passing glance. He skims the “Sports” section of the newspaper…I check the obituaries (don’t judge!) and sometimes the “regional” sections. We listen for the weather forecast and sort of “half-listen” to the local news reports. It’s all so bleak and disheartening. And yes, we know that bad things happen. But these days, we are choosing to focus more on good things…happy events…blessings - and the hand of God in any and all circumstances. We are not burying our heads in the sand…we are trusting the One who makes a way where none seems evident!
We know that our future is secure in heaven…and that God wants us to enjoy our time on this earth – and to be productive while we are here. In the midst of war, pain, suffering, sickness, disagreement, natural disaster and so much more possible sadness and sorrow, there is great grace, mercy, hope, and delight. God supplies all of this AND the promise of eternity with Him in heaven! It really doesn’t get any better than that! So let the world watch and record our every move…and let them find us joyfully serving God out of His abundance for us – and our confidence that He is not only watching, but in full control.
Let us live out our faith each and every day…let’s show the world how happy we are to be saved by the blood of Jesus…and destined for the glory of Heaven. Let’s give others a picture of THAT for a change…and see how God works because of it! Are you in?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2014
Philippians 3:13-14
No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When I was in my twenties, I took up running as a form of exercise…and I competed in a few 5K and 10K races. Working toward the race gave me motivation and a goal. I had to train and prepare. I couldn’t just show up on Race Day and run 3.1 to 6.2 miles…I had to build up my stamina, endurance, and strength. So I would go on 3-to-6-mile runs every day to get my body (and my mind) ready for the actual event.
I’ll tell you, each day was different. Some “training days” were good…and others I’d just as soon forget! In fact, even within the run itself, I would tell myself, “Okay, you can’t think about the 4.5 miles you have already run and how tired you are…you have to focus on this last 1.5 miles and getting finished.” Honestly, there were lots of times that I wasn’t even all that concerned with how well I ran…I just wanted to be done! And for me, it wasn’t about the prize or medal on Race Day…it was about the personal satisfaction of knowing that I worked toward a goal and completed it. But there were indeed “prizes” and medals…and I did pick up a few - usually because in the early 1980s, there were so few women who ran competitively!
Most of us are working toward something…a high school diploma or college degree…a promotion at work…saving up enough money to buy a house or a car…finding the right partner and starting a family…saving for retirement…making it to the eligibility point for receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits…living to a certain age – or long enough to see our children or grandchildren grown…or getting to travel to a certain destination or experience things on a “bucket list”. Dreams and goals are important! They give our lives purpose…and the “prize” or reward we seek often motivates us to keep going.
I wonder…how motivated are we spiritually? Do we truly desire to be better today than we were yesterday? Do we really “press on toward the mark” and strive to do more for Jesus each day? Do we get bogged down in our past and use that as a crutch for failing to serve as faithfully or enthusiastically as we should? Are we as diligent in our efforts to be faithful Christian disciples as we are to save for a house or a car…or to achieve other personal goals? Do we work as hard for Jesus as we do for ourselves?
Is the “prize for which God is calling us up to Heaven” - the promise of Eternity in His presence - enough motivation for us to “bring all of our energies to bear” on what we do in this earthly lifetime? Shouldn’t it be? Are we giving all we can to the one who gave so much for us, so that we can rest with Him in Heaven someday? Or are we taking His “prize” for granted…and “resting on our laurels”?
How you answer these questions matters! Which “prizes” have caught your eye and garnered your attention? You will have plenty of time to rest when Jesus calls you “home” for good. What are you doing in the meantime?
©2014 Debbie Robus
No, dear brothers, I am still not all I should be, but I am bringing all my energies to bear on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God is calling us up to heaven because of what Christ Jesus did for us.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
When I was in my twenties, I took up running as a form of exercise…and I competed in a few 5K and 10K races. Working toward the race gave me motivation and a goal. I had to train and prepare. I couldn’t just show up on Race Day and run 3.1 to 6.2 miles…I had to build up my stamina, endurance, and strength. So I would go on 3-to-6-mile runs every day to get my body (and my mind) ready for the actual event.
I’ll tell you, each day was different. Some “training days” were good…and others I’d just as soon forget! In fact, even within the run itself, I would tell myself, “Okay, you can’t think about the 4.5 miles you have already run and how tired you are…you have to focus on this last 1.5 miles and getting finished.” Honestly, there were lots of times that I wasn’t even all that concerned with how well I ran…I just wanted to be done! And for me, it wasn’t about the prize or medal on Race Day…it was about the personal satisfaction of knowing that I worked toward a goal and completed it. But there were indeed “prizes” and medals…and I did pick up a few - usually because in the early 1980s, there were so few women who ran competitively!
Most of us are working toward something…a high school diploma or college degree…a promotion at work…saving up enough money to buy a house or a car…finding the right partner and starting a family…saving for retirement…making it to the eligibility point for receiving Social Security and Medicare benefits…living to a certain age – or long enough to see our children or grandchildren grown…or getting to travel to a certain destination or experience things on a “bucket list”. Dreams and goals are important! They give our lives purpose…and the “prize” or reward we seek often motivates us to keep going.
I wonder…how motivated are we spiritually? Do we truly desire to be better today than we were yesterday? Do we really “press on toward the mark” and strive to do more for Jesus each day? Do we get bogged down in our past and use that as a crutch for failing to serve as faithfully or enthusiastically as we should? Are we as diligent in our efforts to be faithful Christian disciples as we are to save for a house or a car…or to achieve other personal goals? Do we work as hard for Jesus as we do for ourselves?
Is the “prize for which God is calling us up to Heaven” - the promise of Eternity in His presence - enough motivation for us to “bring all of our energies to bear” on what we do in this earthly lifetime? Shouldn’t it be? Are we giving all we can to the one who gave so much for us, so that we can rest with Him in Heaven someday? Or are we taking His “prize” for granted…and “resting on our laurels”?
How you answer these questions matters! Which “prizes” have caught your eye and garnered your attention? You will have plenty of time to rest when Jesus calls you “home” for good. What are you doing in the meantime?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 14, 2014
Matthew 10:32-33
If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers. But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don’t belong to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A couple of years ago, Greg and I went to a James Taylor concert. A friend of ours who is almost 30 asked, “Who is James Taylor?” Whoa, boy! That made us feel really old! James Taylor is such a musical icon that we assume that EVERYONE knows who he is! While his music was popular when we were in high school and college...his songs are still sung and played frequently today. James Taylor’s work has stood the test of time!
We joined the online James Taylor fan club…and when it came time to order concert tickets, we were given a two-day advance – and we receive preferential treatment...our seats were on the floor on the second row! We felt like we could reach right up and touch James Taylor and the band members. And at intermission, I was able to walk up to the edge of the stage, hand James Taylor my denim jacket and a marker, and get his autograph! Every time I wear that jacket, I think of him. I remember his songs and what they meant to my life…the times, people, places and things that the melodies and lyrics represent.
During the concert, we were enjoying a particularly lively song, and the percussionist looked directly at Greg…then he pointed, and acknowledged him and how much he was appreciating the music. I know that James Taylor and his entourage do not know us personally, but they certainly acted like they did at the concert. Taylor was cordial, friendly, and personable. He knows that those who attend his concerts and seek his autograph are fans…supporters…people who appreciate his work. I’m sure that anyone who approached James Taylor on the street would be greeted respectfully and cordially…but he wouldn’t truly know in that brief moment whether the person was a true fan or as an aficionado of his work, unless the person told him.
Here’s the thing…some of us “grew up on God”… like we “grew up on” James Taylor’s music. Many of us have spent a great portion of our lives going to church, singing hymns, learning Bible verses, and even praying. We were welcomed into the fellowship of the body of Christ when we professed our faith in Him. We are entitled to a “good seat” in Heaven for all of eternity. And when we step forward to meet Jesus face to face, He will know us by name! In fact, He knows us now…and recognizes our every breath. How wonderful it is to know that this will continue forever and ever!
But some of us have turned our back on God. We have said, “Yeah, I’ve heard of Him…but I don’t much care for His ways…His rules…His message. I find His teachings to be boring…constraining…more of a fairy tale…confusing… or simply not for me.” And some have even acknowledged that they have never even heard of Jesus…at least not enough to be interested in what He offers them. These folks are not assured a seat at all…much less a special assignment! Jesus knows them…the Heavenly Father created them! He knows their name and counts their breaths. He will always treat them with kindness and cordiality. But unless these persons become part of His “fan club”…unless they claim Him as their Savior and acknowledge Him in every way, He will not remember them to God in heaven. They won’t receive admission to the biggest “concert” of all…much less preferential seating!
In August, we will attend another James Taylor concert…fifth row seats on the floor this time around! We will enjoy every note, lyric, drum beat and strum of Taylor’s guitar. And maybe James and the band members will wave at us and acknowledge our presence. As much fun as that will be, it can’t hold a candle to what awaits us in heaven…or the relationship we have every day of our earthly lives with Jesus. The real acknowledgement I want is His. I want to think of Jesus every day…to be reminded of Him in people, places and things that fill my earthly life. I cannot wait to be recognized by Him at the great party that will take place when I arrive in heaven. Jesus’ “fan club” is the one that truly matters…HIS favor is what I desire…the privilege of a seat at HIS table is the one I’m after.
We’ll enjoy the concert in August…spending a night listening to James Taylor singing his hits will be fantastic. But spending every day with Jesus is better. We know a bigger, far superior celebration awaits us someday in Heaven. Will you be sitting next to us?
©2014 Debbie Robus
If you tell others that you belong to me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you are my followers. But if you reject me, I will tell my Father in heaven that you don’t belong to me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A couple of years ago, Greg and I went to a James Taylor concert. A friend of ours who is almost 30 asked, “Who is James Taylor?” Whoa, boy! That made us feel really old! James Taylor is such a musical icon that we assume that EVERYONE knows who he is! While his music was popular when we were in high school and college...his songs are still sung and played frequently today. James Taylor’s work has stood the test of time!
We joined the online James Taylor fan club…and when it came time to order concert tickets, we were given a two-day advance – and we receive preferential treatment...our seats were on the floor on the second row! We felt like we could reach right up and touch James Taylor and the band members. And at intermission, I was able to walk up to the edge of the stage, hand James Taylor my denim jacket and a marker, and get his autograph! Every time I wear that jacket, I think of him. I remember his songs and what they meant to my life…the times, people, places and things that the melodies and lyrics represent.
During the concert, we were enjoying a particularly lively song, and the percussionist looked directly at Greg…then he pointed, and acknowledged him and how much he was appreciating the music. I know that James Taylor and his entourage do not know us personally, but they certainly acted like they did at the concert. Taylor was cordial, friendly, and personable. He knows that those who attend his concerts and seek his autograph are fans…supporters…people who appreciate his work. I’m sure that anyone who approached James Taylor on the street would be greeted respectfully and cordially…but he wouldn’t truly know in that brief moment whether the person was a true fan or as an aficionado of his work, unless the person told him.
Here’s the thing…some of us “grew up on God”… like we “grew up on” James Taylor’s music. Many of us have spent a great portion of our lives going to church, singing hymns, learning Bible verses, and even praying. We were welcomed into the fellowship of the body of Christ when we professed our faith in Him. We are entitled to a “good seat” in Heaven for all of eternity. And when we step forward to meet Jesus face to face, He will know us by name! In fact, He knows us now…and recognizes our every breath. How wonderful it is to know that this will continue forever and ever!
But some of us have turned our back on God. We have said, “Yeah, I’ve heard of Him…but I don’t much care for His ways…His rules…His message. I find His teachings to be boring…constraining…more of a fairy tale…confusing… or simply not for me.” And some have even acknowledged that they have never even heard of Jesus…at least not enough to be interested in what He offers them. These folks are not assured a seat at all…much less a special assignment! Jesus knows them…the Heavenly Father created them! He knows their name and counts their breaths. He will always treat them with kindness and cordiality. But unless these persons become part of His “fan club”…unless they claim Him as their Savior and acknowledge Him in every way, He will not remember them to God in heaven. They won’t receive admission to the biggest “concert” of all…much less preferential seating!
In August, we will attend another James Taylor concert…fifth row seats on the floor this time around! We will enjoy every note, lyric, drum beat and strum of Taylor’s guitar. And maybe James and the band members will wave at us and acknowledge our presence. As much fun as that will be, it can’t hold a candle to what awaits us in heaven…or the relationship we have every day of our earthly lives with Jesus. The real acknowledgement I want is His. I want to think of Jesus every day…to be reminded of Him in people, places and things that fill my earthly life. I cannot wait to be recognized by Him at the great party that will take place when I arrive in heaven. Jesus’ “fan club” is the one that truly matters…HIS favor is what I desire…the privilege of a seat at HIS table is the one I’m after.
We’ll enjoy the concert in August…spending a night listening to James Taylor singing his hits will be fantastic. But spending every day with Jesus is better. We know a bigger, far superior celebration awaits us someday in Heaven. Will you be sitting next to us?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 20, 2014
Matthew 28:1-10
The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.
The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.”
The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It almost never fails. When we go to see our nieces and nephews, Timothy and Zola run to us and cling to our legs. They are always delighted to see us…and they hold on as if to say, “I’m never going to let you go!” And honestly, there are several people who I would probably cling to if they came back from the dead…wouldn’t you?! So it’s no surprise that Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ Aunt Mary did this. They had suffered so much…they were so grief stricken…and all of a sudden, an angel had told them that He was alive – and then they SAW Him standing in the roadway. I would imagine that they were struck speechless…there was probably little else they could do but run to Him and fall on His feet! And I am quite certain they never, ever wanted to let go of Him again.
I honestly don’t think we fully grasp the concept of death…until someone is truly gone and does not come back. Even when we sit and hold vigil with a loved one who is critically ill…someone we have been told cannot possibly recover medically…we don’t fully comprehend the finality of death until the very moment they draw their last breath. In my own personal experiences, I have been so happy for the person who was ushered into heaven at that very moment…but the enormity of just how final death truly is has hit me like a ton of bricks.
So when someone says to you, “You’re never ready”…this is what they mean. No one can prepare for that moment when the angels of death come, Heaven’s gates open, and a person’s soul departs from his/her body. And here’s the thing…the only One who will ever return from this is Jesus, which makes His story all the more precious! Jesus is the only “human” the grave cannot hold. Jesus is the only One who is bigger and more powerful than death. And I am here to tell you, Jesus is ALIVE! He is walks among those of us who believe in Him each and every day!
The words of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” are just as powerful for us now…”Don’t be afraid.” Because of Jesus, we have no need to fear. Because of His crucifixion and death on the cross, our sins are forgiven. All we have to do is ask Him to include us…just like the thief who hung beside him…and it will be so forever and ever. Because the tomb is empty, we are assured of our place in Heaven with Christ someday…when God sends His angels for us. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we are promised new life in Him…and an eternity in His presence.
It’s been quite a week…from the jubilation and triumph of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem…to the “Last Supper” and the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane…to Christ’s mutilation, crucifixion, and death…and now His resurrection. And this truly IS the BEST day…we have received the GOOD NEWS that He is Risen!
We will celebrate Jesus today. We will dress up and attend worship services and sing His praises. And then many of us will go right back to our old lives on Monday…if not as soon as Sunday afternoon. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t forget what happened on “Holy Week” so long ago. Remember every minute of it…savor every single thing Jesus did for you…and for me…and for all who will believe in Him. Thank Him each and every day for the incredible sacrifices He made…for loving us with such abandon. And never – NEVER – forget that He is RISEN…the devil could not tempt Him…the tomb could not hold Him…and we WILL see Him again.
There is an old hymn, written in 1875 by Philip P. Bliss, called “Hallelujah, What a Savior”…or sometimes it is referred to as “Man of Sorrows.” In the hymn, the story of Holy Week is outlined…but the last line of each verse is…”Hallelujah, What a Savior!” Please take time to read this hymn. Think about the words and what they mean to you. Christ is Risen! He will come again for you…and for me. Hallelujah! What a Savior we serve! What a glorious day this is! Have a blessed Easter!
The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.
The angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid! I know you are looking for Jesus, who was nailed to a cross. He isn’t here! God has raised him to life, just as Jesus said he would. Come, see the place where his body was lying. Now hurry! Tell his disciples that he has been raised to life and is on his way to Galilee. Go there, and you will see him. That is what I came to tell you.”
The women were frightened and yet very happy, as they hurried from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and greeted them. They went near him, held on to his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said, “Don’t be afraid! Tell my followers to go to Galilee. They will see me there.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
It almost never fails. When we go to see our nieces and nephews, Timothy and Zola run to us and cling to our legs. They are always delighted to see us…and they hold on as if to say, “I’m never going to let you go!” And honestly, there are several people who I would probably cling to if they came back from the dead…wouldn’t you?! So it’s no surprise that Mary Magdalene and Jesus’ Aunt Mary did this. They had suffered so much…they were so grief stricken…and all of a sudden, an angel had told them that He was alive – and then they SAW Him standing in the roadway. I would imagine that they were struck speechless…there was probably little else they could do but run to Him and fall on His feet! And I am quite certain they never, ever wanted to let go of Him again.
I honestly don’t think we fully grasp the concept of death…until someone is truly gone and does not come back. Even when we sit and hold vigil with a loved one who is critically ill…someone we have been told cannot possibly recover medically…we don’t fully comprehend the finality of death until the very moment they draw their last breath. In my own personal experiences, I have been so happy for the person who was ushered into heaven at that very moment…but the enormity of just how final death truly is has hit me like a ton of bricks.
So when someone says to you, “You’re never ready”…this is what they mean. No one can prepare for that moment when the angels of death come, Heaven’s gates open, and a person’s soul departs from his/her body. And here’s the thing…the only One who will ever return from this is Jesus, which makes His story all the more precious! Jesus is the only “human” the grave cannot hold. Jesus is the only One who is bigger and more powerful than death. And I am here to tell you, Jesus is ALIVE! He is walks among those of us who believe in Him each and every day!
The words of Jesus to Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” are just as powerful for us now…”Don’t be afraid.” Because of Jesus, we have no need to fear. Because of His crucifixion and death on the cross, our sins are forgiven. All we have to do is ask Him to include us…just like the thief who hung beside him…and it will be so forever and ever. Because the tomb is empty, we are assured of our place in Heaven with Christ someday…when God sends His angels for us. Because of Jesus’ resurrection, we are promised new life in Him…and an eternity in His presence.
It’s been quite a week…from the jubilation and triumph of Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem…to the “Last Supper” and the arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane…to Christ’s mutilation, crucifixion, and death…and now His resurrection. And this truly IS the BEST day…we have received the GOOD NEWS that He is Risen!
We will celebrate Jesus today. We will dress up and attend worship services and sing His praises. And then many of us will go right back to our old lives on Monday…if not as soon as Sunday afternoon. Don’t let this happen to you. Don’t forget what happened on “Holy Week” so long ago. Remember every minute of it…savor every single thing Jesus did for you…and for me…and for all who will believe in Him. Thank Him each and every day for the incredible sacrifices He made…for loving us with such abandon. And never – NEVER – forget that He is RISEN…the devil could not tempt Him…the tomb could not hold Him…and we WILL see Him again.
There is an old hymn, written in 1875 by Philip P. Bliss, called “Hallelujah, What a Savior”…or sometimes it is referred to as “Man of Sorrows.” In the hymn, the story of Holy Week is outlined…but the last line of each verse is…”Hallelujah, What a Savior!” Please take time to read this hymn. Think about the words and what they mean to you. Christ is Risen! He will come again for you…and for me. Hallelujah! What a Savior we serve! What a glorious day this is! Have a blessed Easter!
©2014 Debbie RobusHallelujah! What a Savior!
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
When He comes, our glorious King,
All His ransomed home to bring,
Then anew His song we’ll sing:
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Daily Devotional for December 11, 2013
Micah 7:7
But me, I’m not giving up.
I’m sticking around to see what God will do.
I’m waiting for God to make things right.
I’m counting on God to listen to me.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This morning, I opened a letter from a friend who lives about 3 hours away, and she said she wished we lived close to each other so that we could share coffee, tea, and conversation. I replied that maybe someday that will happen… but we will surely do so in heaven! I’ll be honest… I’ve been thinking a lot about heaven lately. Maybe it’s the sudden passing of several friends close to my age. Or perhaps it’s the posts on Facebook from friends who are grieving the loss of their husbands, siblings and parents – and trying to figure out how to move forward without them. They are wondering what to do with their confusion, loneliness and sorrow.
While I assured my friend that we surely will share coffee and conversation in heaven someday, we are charged in the meantime with doing whatever God calls us to do in order to gather as many people as possible to join us there! And that is the message of hope I glean from this passage today. I know… I know… talk is cheap. If I suddenly lost Greg or my mother or mother-in-law…or a sibling or one of the children so dear to me… would I be as hopeful? I certainly trust that I would! But at the same time, I know that we are human… suffering and grief are real! So if you are one of those who is finding it hard today to move forward or find joy, I certainly understand… and more importantly, God empathizes with your pain!
For every person who is experiencing a time of tremendous joy, there is someone who is in the middle of a desperate heartache or a time of worry and distress. You may not have enough money to give your kids a “decent” Christmas – or even put food on the table. You may be stressing over finals and afraid you have wasted the entire semester. You may be recovering from an illness or surgery…anticipating the birth of a new baby…or trying to figure out how to save your marriage or another relationship. You might be battling an addiction, struggling with obesity, or simply trying to cope with the challenges of aging. And in each of these situations, the temptation might be to throw up your hands, crawl back into bed, and hide under the covers.
Hear God’s words through Micah again… “I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what God will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right.” Call on Him to help you, and believe that He truly is listening. Trust this promise…”I’m counting on God to listen to me.” And know that there are plenty of fellow believers who stand ready, willing, and able to support you… to surround you with the love of Christ… to pray with you, encourage you, and help you rebuild your hope and confidence.
Will this be the day that you reach out to God… and to one of His disciples? Will you invite someone to “share coffee and conversation” and infuse you with courage through the hope and promises of Jesus? God is listening… He will make things right, if only you will call on Him and trust His word. Don’t give up! I pray that you will remain hopeful… and stick around to see what God does next!
©2013 Debbie Robus
But me, I’m not giving up.
I’m sticking around to see what God will do.
I’m waiting for God to make things right.
I’m counting on God to listen to me.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This morning, I opened a letter from a friend who lives about 3 hours away, and she said she wished we lived close to each other so that we could share coffee, tea, and conversation. I replied that maybe someday that will happen… but we will surely do so in heaven! I’ll be honest… I’ve been thinking a lot about heaven lately. Maybe it’s the sudden passing of several friends close to my age. Or perhaps it’s the posts on Facebook from friends who are grieving the loss of their husbands, siblings and parents – and trying to figure out how to move forward without them. They are wondering what to do with their confusion, loneliness and sorrow.
While I assured my friend that we surely will share coffee and conversation in heaven someday, we are charged in the meantime with doing whatever God calls us to do in order to gather as many people as possible to join us there! And that is the message of hope I glean from this passage today. I know… I know… talk is cheap. If I suddenly lost Greg or my mother or mother-in-law…or a sibling or one of the children so dear to me… would I be as hopeful? I certainly trust that I would! But at the same time, I know that we are human… suffering and grief are real! So if you are one of those who is finding it hard today to move forward or find joy, I certainly understand… and more importantly, God empathizes with your pain!
For every person who is experiencing a time of tremendous joy, there is someone who is in the middle of a desperate heartache or a time of worry and distress. You may not have enough money to give your kids a “decent” Christmas – or even put food on the table. You may be stressing over finals and afraid you have wasted the entire semester. You may be recovering from an illness or surgery…anticipating the birth of a new baby…or trying to figure out how to save your marriage or another relationship. You might be battling an addiction, struggling with obesity, or simply trying to cope with the challenges of aging. And in each of these situations, the temptation might be to throw up your hands, crawl back into bed, and hide under the covers.
Hear God’s words through Micah again… “I’m not giving up. I’m sticking around to see what God will do. I’m waiting for God to make things right.” Call on Him to help you, and believe that He truly is listening. Trust this promise…”I’m counting on God to listen to me.” And know that there are plenty of fellow believers who stand ready, willing, and able to support you… to surround you with the love of Christ… to pray with you, encourage you, and help you rebuild your hope and confidence.
Will this be the day that you reach out to God… and to one of His disciples? Will you invite someone to “share coffee and conversation” and infuse you with courage through the hope and promises of Jesus? God is listening… He will make things right, if only you will call on Him and trust His word. Don’t give up! I pray that you will remain hopeful… and stick around to see what God does next!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 8, 2013
John 4:13-14
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
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.
I know that I’ve been talking for days now about the winter storm we’ve been having… but it’s a pretty big deal when your daytime high temperatures in central Arkansas for the first week of December are in the low to mid-twenties. It’s an even bigger deal when the night-time lows dip into the teens and single digits! So when I tell you it’s cold and icy here… baby, it’s cold and icy here!
A friend of ours posted a photo of her husband putting out water for the birds in their yard. Greg decided that our songbirds could probably use a drink as well… everything in sight is frozen solid as a rock! So he ventured out to the bird feeder and filled a 3-lb. plastic coffee can and a plastic lid from a large container with water. The birds flocked to these vessels and began to drink and splash. They were truly glad to have fresh water! Here’s the thing, though… that water froze pretty quickly. So Greg made more than one trip to the bird feeder yesterday to refresh the water supply for the birds.
Yes, we know that there are “heaters” you can purchase to keep the birds’ water from freezing. But we seldom have an outbreak of weather this cold for this long… and we have never gone so far as to purchase a “bird-bath heater”. If this weather trend continues into actual winter, we may have to re-think this! Meanwhile, our birds will have to make do with intermittent drinks as we manage to venture out into the cold and ice to replenish their supply.
Here’s the Good News… the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ never freezes or runs dry! We have ready access to an unending supply of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Even better, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience a continual fountain that flows from our heart and bubbles out like a freshwater spring. We can actually have more than we ever need… enough to share with everyone we encounter! This is far better than having a heater for the bird bath! Nothing compares to the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
What about you? Is your fountain flowing freely with the Living Water of Jesus? Or are you frozen… hard-hearted… or even altogether empty? The choice is totally yours. Jesus offers each of us hope, courage, confidence and joy through His Living Water. He gave His very life for ours so that we can spend Eternity with Him… and enjoy His blessings in the meantime. Are you living with hope and faith in His promises? Who supplies your “water” these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
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.
I know that I’ve been talking for days now about the winter storm we’ve been having… but it’s a pretty big deal when your daytime high temperatures in central Arkansas for the first week of December are in the low to mid-twenties. It’s an even bigger deal when the night-time lows dip into the teens and single digits! So when I tell you it’s cold and icy here… baby, it’s cold and icy here!
A friend of ours posted a photo of her husband putting out water for the birds in their yard. Greg decided that our songbirds could probably use a drink as well… everything in sight is frozen solid as a rock! So he ventured out to the bird feeder and filled a 3-lb. plastic coffee can and a plastic lid from a large container with water. The birds flocked to these vessels and began to drink and splash. They were truly glad to have fresh water! Here’s the thing, though… that water froze pretty quickly. So Greg made more than one trip to the bird feeder yesterday to refresh the water supply for the birds.
Yes, we know that there are “heaters” you can purchase to keep the birds’ water from freezing. But we seldom have an outbreak of weather this cold for this long… and we have never gone so far as to purchase a “bird-bath heater”. If this weather trend continues into actual winter, we may have to re-think this! Meanwhile, our birds will have to make do with intermittent drinks as we manage to venture out into the cold and ice to replenish their supply.
Here’s the Good News… the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ never freezes or runs dry! We have ready access to an unending supply of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Even better, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience a continual fountain that flows from our heart and bubbles out like a freshwater spring. We can actually have more than we ever need… enough to share with everyone we encounter! This is far better than having a heater for the bird bath! Nothing compares to the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
What about you? Is your fountain flowing freely with the Living Water of Jesus? Or are you frozen… hard-hearted… or even altogether empty? The choice is totally yours. Jesus offers each of us hope, courage, confidence and joy through His Living Water. He gave His very life for ours so that we can spend Eternity with Him… and enjoy His blessings in the meantime. Are you living with hope and faith in His promises? Who supplies your “water” these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 1, 2013
Hebrews 11:1
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
This morning, the Facebook post of a friend reminded me that I had a few more Christmas decorations that I had not yet placed on display. I know…hard to imagine, for those who know me… but I opened a drawer upstairs and found the miniature tree with “nativity” ornaments… a few decorations for Greg’s office… and one more item - a golden school bus ornament. Last Christmas, my Mam-ma Polly’s pastor, Bro. JR – who was like a grandson to her – gave her a painted glass “school bus” ornament. My grandmother was a school bus driver in our community for eleven years. That bus was a nod to days when she was vibrant and active – and in my mind – able to do virtually anything!
When Mam-ma died in March, we placed the school bus with her until after the funeral… and I brought it home to hang on our tree… fulfilling a promise I made to her last Christmas that I would hang it each year and think of her. And hang it I did – this morning, alongside the handmade doily ornament that holds a photograph of my grandparents and my dad when he was a boy.
This was a bittersweet moment for me… but also one filled with hope. Because I believe in the promises of God… because I operate fully in the faith that Jesus came to earth to live and die for me – and that I will be with Him forever in Heaven someday… because I know that my Mam-ma Polly and countless others who believed wait there for me… I can have hope. I can anticipate a time that I truly cannot “see”… but most certainly am assured will happen. And this fills me with joy.
We all know the “let-down” of realizing that another Christmas season has come and gone. For many of us, the anticipation of Christmas Day will build over the next twenty-five days… until many of us are in nothing short of a total frenzy. And by December 31st, Christmas will all but be a distant memory for most. Decorations will come down, the gifts will be put away, diets will commence, and we will be “over it” and on to the next big event.
We can anticipate another holiday season in eleven months. But ultimately, Christmas Days will cease for each of us – at least in the earthly sense. I will admit that I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas. Truthfully, I’m hanging my hopes and dreams on a “Christmas” that never ends… the promise I have been given of endless days in the presence of Jesus – celebrating Him with family members, friends, and “brothers and sisters in Christ” who will join me at His feet again and again. I cannot see/touch/feel this… but I believe in it all the same.
Until my earthly days are over, I will celebrate Christmas in the traditional manner. I will hang the school bus ornament and others…decorate for the holidays… bake and shop, wrap gifts, send cards, and sing Christmas carols. And I will do my best to live in a manner that honors the promises of Jesus… the incredible sacrifices He has made for me. I will share His Good News with others and encourage them to share in my confidence that an eternity in Jesus’ presence is a part of our future. In essence, I will try to live like each earthly Christmas might be my last… and I say this without sorrow or trepidation.
I have faith that heaven awaits me…hope that it will actually happen… and assurance about my eternal future. Do you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.
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.
This morning, the Facebook post of a friend reminded me that I had a few more Christmas decorations that I had not yet placed on display. I know…hard to imagine, for those who know me… but I opened a drawer upstairs and found the miniature tree with “nativity” ornaments… a few decorations for Greg’s office… and one more item - a golden school bus ornament. Last Christmas, my Mam-ma Polly’s pastor, Bro. JR – who was like a grandson to her – gave her a painted glass “school bus” ornament. My grandmother was a school bus driver in our community for eleven years. That bus was a nod to days when she was vibrant and active – and in my mind – able to do virtually anything!
When Mam-ma died in March, we placed the school bus with her until after the funeral… and I brought it home to hang on our tree… fulfilling a promise I made to her last Christmas that I would hang it each year and think of her. And hang it I did – this morning, alongside the handmade doily ornament that holds a photograph of my grandparents and my dad when he was a boy.
This was a bittersweet moment for me… but also one filled with hope. Because I believe in the promises of God… because I operate fully in the faith that Jesus came to earth to live and die for me – and that I will be with Him forever in Heaven someday… because I know that my Mam-ma Polly and countless others who believed wait there for me… I can have hope. I can anticipate a time that I truly cannot “see”… but most certainly am assured will happen. And this fills me with joy.
We all know the “let-down” of realizing that another Christmas season has come and gone. For many of us, the anticipation of Christmas Day will build over the next twenty-five days… until many of us are in nothing short of a total frenzy. And by December 31st, Christmas will all but be a distant memory for most. Decorations will come down, the gifts will be put away, diets will commence, and we will be “over it” and on to the next big event.
We can anticipate another holiday season in eleven months. But ultimately, Christmas Days will cease for each of us – at least in the earthly sense. I will admit that I am a big kid when it comes to Christmas. Truthfully, I’m hanging my hopes and dreams on a “Christmas” that never ends… the promise I have been given of endless days in the presence of Jesus – celebrating Him with family members, friends, and “brothers and sisters in Christ” who will join me at His feet again and again. I cannot see/touch/feel this… but I believe in it all the same.
Until my earthly days are over, I will celebrate Christmas in the traditional manner. I will hang the school bus ornament and others…decorate for the holidays… bake and shop, wrap gifts, send cards, and sing Christmas carols. And I will do my best to live in a manner that honors the promises of Jesus… the incredible sacrifices He has made for me. I will share His Good News with others and encourage them to share in my confidence that an eternity in Jesus’ presence is a part of our future. In essence, I will try to live like each earthly Christmas might be my last… and I say this without sorrow or trepidation.
I have faith that heaven awaits me…hope that it will actually happen… and assurance about my eternal future. Do you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 22, 2013
1 Peter 1:3-5
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!
God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
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.
The concept of a “future” is a funny thing. Many picture their “future” as… “when I graduate from high school – or college”… “when I get married”… “when I get my first car/house/job”…”when I get older”…”when the kids are grown and gone from home” …”when I retire”…”when I can no longer live alone and/or I have to have help with things”. You probably have a few ideas of your own about what constitutes the “future”.
But here’s the thing. Your “future” starts NOW. In fact, it started the day you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior… and this passage reminds us of this clearly. Everything about your life is part of your future, because every single day matters. The future is not some nebulous, far-away place or event. Your future with Christ includes whatever you are doing even in the next few minutes!
This should come as good news to us. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy His blessings. Because of Jesus, we can look forward to what lies ahead for us – here and now. Yes, things will be better and brighter there. Yes, we will have no worries about calories, illnesses, blemishes, and disabilities. But what we have today… here… now… can be as awesome and spectacular as we choose to make it – all because of Jesus and what He promises us in our “future” in Heaven.
So what are you waiting for? Are you living for a future far, far away in a distant galaxy? Or are you living the hopeful life of someone who knows that Jesus was raised from the dead and has given you everything to live for… including a future in Heaven that has already begun?
If Jesus is the author and creator of your future…isn’t it time you acted like it? If you have not yet secured your future in Heaven with Jesus, isn’t this the perfect time to fall to your knees, confess your sins, and invite Him to dwell in your heart forever? The future is NOW… or it can be…and the choice is totally up to you. Are you in?
©2013 Debbie Robus
What a God we have! And how fortunate we are to have him, this Father of our Master Jesus! Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we’ve been given a brand-new life and have everything to live for, including a future in heaven—and the future starts now!
God is keeping careful watch over us and the future. The Day is coming when you’ll have it all—life healed and whole.
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.
The concept of a “future” is a funny thing. Many picture their “future” as… “when I graduate from high school – or college”… “when I get married”… “when I get my first car/house/job”…”when I get older”…”when the kids are grown and gone from home” …”when I retire”…”when I can no longer live alone and/or I have to have help with things”. You probably have a few ideas of your own about what constitutes the “future”.
But here’s the thing. Your “future” starts NOW. In fact, it started the day you accepted Jesus Christ as your Savior… and this passage reminds us of this clearly. Everything about your life is part of your future, because every single day matters. The future is not some nebulous, far-away place or event. Your future with Christ includes whatever you are doing even in the next few minutes!
This should come as good news to us. Because of Jesus, we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to enjoy His blessings. Because of Jesus, we can look forward to what lies ahead for us – here and now. Yes, things will be better and brighter there. Yes, we will have no worries about calories, illnesses, blemishes, and disabilities. But what we have today… here… now… can be as awesome and spectacular as we choose to make it – all because of Jesus and what He promises us in our “future” in Heaven.
So what are you waiting for? Are you living for a future far, far away in a distant galaxy? Or are you living the hopeful life of someone who knows that Jesus was raised from the dead and has given you everything to live for… including a future in Heaven that has already begun?
If Jesus is the author and creator of your future…isn’t it time you acted like it? If you have not yet secured your future in Heaven with Jesus, isn’t this the perfect time to fall to your knees, confess your sins, and invite Him to dwell in your heart forever? The future is NOW… or it can be…and the choice is totally up to you. Are you in?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 14, 2013
Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, we celebrated the life of my grandmother, Willie Dove “Polly” Chandler… all 100 years, 123 days of it. My grandmother was by no means perfect, but if you could have heard all of the wonderful things said about her and how she served others, you would be tempted to argue this point! She was described by one speaker as a “Proverbs 31” woman (go look it up!)… and by many who passed by her casket as “such a loving, giving person who always had a smile and a word of encouragement for others.” She didn’t just walk down the road God called her to travel… she ran!
I learned so much from my grandmother… and emulating her will be no small challenge! Of all the things she taught me, the most important were summed up in one of her favorite mantras… “The LORD will take care of me” …and He did. Was her life easy? Absolutely not! I can’t begin to tell you everything she saw and did in more than a century, but I know the LORD took care of her through the abandonment by her father at around age 12… the loss of her first baby, who died at birth…the loss of her older brother in a car accident when he was about 18…the death of her mother and all of her other siblings, her husband, her only living son, and her grandson, as well as countless friends and relatives… the loss of virtually all of her earthly belongings in a house fire when she was in her early 70s… numerous surgeries, illnesses and physical challenges – including a wreck when she was driving the school bus that left her with whiplash and put her in a cervical collar and traction for months. Still… the LORD took care of her through each of these things… and many more.
My grandmother grew up with virtually nothing, and for most of her adult life, she lived meagerly on the modest earnings she and my grandfather were able to produce from working more than one job and growing almost all of their own food (and selling the excess). Still, the LORD took care of her, and she faithfully presented a regular tithe to her church. When I took over managing her affairs, I marveled at how her dollars could stretch… and I made sure to make her tithe the first check I wrote each month!
Yes, the LORD took good care of her. And my grandmother quickly gave Him all the credit. When she met someone new, she would ask, “Can you stay for dinner (lunch) or supper?” …followed quickly by “Where do y’all go to church?” If the answer was not satisfactory, she would invite them to join her – at her table… and for services the following Sunday. Hers was a life rich in the things of the LORD… not necessarily material objects or monetary wealth. Her focus was firmly fixed on a heavenly home, where I know she is dancing and shouting today… and feasting at the LORD’s table. You see…He is still taking good care of her!
What about us? What is our focus? Which road are we traveling, and at what speed? Are we quick to serve the LORD… and to trust Him to take care of us? Do we depend upon Him even when things get rough… or tragedy strikes? Or do we fold up and turn to take another path? What is our ultimate focus… where are we headed?
I’ll be honest…the “glue” that held my family together - our matriarch - has gone to be with Jesus, and we’re all just a little lost. But I can already hear my grandmother saying, “Dry it up (the tears) and get up from there! You’ve got work to do and there’s no sense wasting time. The LORD will take care of you… you just need to let Him. Get on, now! They’s lots worse things than dying.” And she is right. So c’mon… we’ve got work to do… let’s work on this together and stay on the right path until the LORD calls us to heaven. I’m in… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I learned so much from my grandmother… and emulating her will be no small challenge! Of all the things she taught me, the most important were summed up in one of her favorite mantras… “The LORD will take care of me” …and He did. Was her life easy? Absolutely not! I can’t begin to tell you everything she saw and did in more than a century, but I know the LORD took care of her through the abandonment by her father at around age 12… the loss of her first baby, who died at birth…the loss of her older brother in a car accident when he was about 18…the death of her mother and all of her other siblings, her husband, her only living son, and her grandson, as well as countless friends and relatives… the loss of virtually all of her earthly belongings in a house fire when she was in her early 70s… numerous surgeries, illnesses and physical challenges – including a wreck when she was driving the school bus that left her with whiplash and put her in a cervical collar and traction for months. Still… the LORD took care of her through each of these things… and many more.
My grandmother grew up with virtually nothing, and for most of her adult life, she lived meagerly on the modest earnings she and my grandfather were able to produce from working more than one job and growing almost all of their own food (and selling the excess). Still, the LORD took care of her, and she faithfully presented a regular tithe to her church. When I took over managing her affairs, I marveled at how her dollars could stretch… and I made sure to make her tithe the first check I wrote each month!
Yes, the LORD took good care of her. And my grandmother quickly gave Him all the credit. When she met someone new, she would ask, “Can you stay for dinner (lunch) or supper?” …followed quickly by “Where do y’all go to church?” If the answer was not satisfactory, she would invite them to join her – at her table… and for services the following Sunday. Hers was a life rich in the things of the LORD… not necessarily material objects or monetary wealth. Her focus was firmly fixed on a heavenly home, where I know she is dancing and shouting today… and feasting at the LORD’s table. You see…He is still taking good care of her!
What about us? What is our focus? Which road are we traveling, and at what speed? Are we quick to serve the LORD… and to trust Him to take care of us? Do we depend upon Him even when things get rough… or tragedy strikes? Or do we fold up and turn to take another path? What is our ultimate focus… where are we headed?
I’ll be honest…the “glue” that held my family together - our matriarch - has gone to be with Jesus, and we’re all just a little lost. But I can already hear my grandmother saying, “Dry it up (the tears) and get up from there! You’ve got work to do and there’s no sense wasting time. The LORD will take care of you… you just need to let Him. Get on, now! They’s lots worse things than dying.” And she is right. So c’mon… we’ve got work to do… let’s work on this together and stay on the right path until the LORD calls us to heaven. I’m in… are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 12, 2012
1 Corinthians 13:4-10
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the movie Jerry McGuire, Jerry (played by Tom Cruise) tells Dorothy (portrayed by Renee Zellweger)… “You complete me.” The truth is… no matter how much we love someone, we can never complete them. The only One who can complete us is God Almighty! When Jesus returns for us and all mysteries and wonders are revealed… when we finally have all the answers… we will be complete in Him.
Meanwhile, we must work toward the moment when we are reunited with Christ by striving to operate in His love each and every day. And the first seven verses of this passage tell us exactly how to do this. Read over them several times – carefully. Examine how you are doing in your quest to operate in the love of Jesus.
The verse that really gets me is – “put up with anything!” Does this truly describe your behavior? The King James Version translates this verse as “endureth all things.” The Apostle Paul is not telling us to tolerate injustice, cruelty, immorality or anything illegal. What he is saying is that we must trust God to get help us cope with these things… and we must continue operate in His love toward the offender – even as we seek justice or mete out consequences. This is hard. We are wired to seek revenge… and the devil works diligently to remind us of how good this would feel… and how “entitled” we are to do so!
In truth, the love of Christ is all we need. When we operate in His love, Jesus handles the rest. His blood was poured out on the cross for us and covers our sins… and His blood can also cover “the other guy.” We must pray for this… we must love others so that they will desire redemption through the unending love of Jesus. We must not fly off the handle, strut our stuff, or keep score. We must trust God, always look for the best, and never give up!
I am excited about the day when I become truly complete. But I know that I have a lot to do beforehand… and so do you. We are works in progress! I learn more about operating in the love of Christ each and every day… and I pray that the same is happening in your life. Where are you lacking today? What characteristics of operating in Christ’s love elude you? Will this be the day you start to work on them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have.
Love doesn't strut,
Doesn't have a swelled head,
Doesn't force itself on others,
Isn't always "me first,"
Doesn't fly off the handle,
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn't revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.
Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the movie Jerry McGuire, Jerry (played by Tom Cruise) tells Dorothy (portrayed by Renee Zellweger)… “You complete me.” The truth is… no matter how much we love someone, we can never complete them. The only One who can complete us is God Almighty! When Jesus returns for us and all mysteries and wonders are revealed… when we finally have all the answers… we will be complete in Him.
Meanwhile, we must work toward the moment when we are reunited with Christ by striving to operate in His love each and every day. And the first seven verses of this passage tell us exactly how to do this. Read over them several times – carefully. Examine how you are doing in your quest to operate in the love of Jesus.
The verse that really gets me is – “put up with anything!” Does this truly describe your behavior? The King James Version translates this verse as “endureth all things.” The Apostle Paul is not telling us to tolerate injustice, cruelty, immorality or anything illegal. What he is saying is that we must trust God to get help us cope with these things… and we must continue operate in His love toward the offender – even as we seek justice or mete out consequences. This is hard. We are wired to seek revenge… and the devil works diligently to remind us of how good this would feel… and how “entitled” we are to do so!
In truth, the love of Christ is all we need. When we operate in His love, Jesus handles the rest. His blood was poured out on the cross for us and covers our sins… and His blood can also cover “the other guy.” We must pray for this… we must love others so that they will desire redemption through the unending love of Jesus. We must not fly off the handle, strut our stuff, or keep score. We must trust God, always look for the best, and never give up!
I am excited about the day when I become truly complete. But I know that I have a lot to do beforehand… and so do you. We are works in progress! I learn more about operating in the love of Christ each and every day… and I pray that the same is happening in your life. Where are you lacking today? What characteristics of operating in Christ’s love elude you? Will this be the day you start to work on them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 23, 2012
Hebrews 11:11
Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was reading a story in Good Housekeeping magazine about a woman named Angie Hernandez, whose young adult son, Ryan, was in the end stages of kidney failure as a result of Goodpasture’s syndrome - a rare disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the lungs and kidneys. With hopes of receiving a kidney transplant dwindling, 23-year-old Ryan told his mother that he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. He was tired and unsure he could live long enough to get the transplant.
If you know anything about kidney disease and dialysis, you understand the toll it takes on the patient – and family members and friends. The daily struggle just to stay alive can be physically and emotionally draining. It’s not hard to see how someone in this position would long for the peace and healing of heaven and an end to this earthly suffering… especially if that person is a believer in Christ and anticipates eternity in His presence.
Like any mother, Angie Hernandez was not ready to lose her son. A cousin had created a three-minute video montage of Ryan’s life, set it to music, and posted it on YouTube. Angie asked her Facebook friends to share the video on their Walls… and to solicit potential kidney donors in doing so. Amazingly, Angie’s half-sister, whom she had not seen in more than a decade, contacted the family and offered to help. Her kidney was a match! Today, Ryan has recovered, and the splintered family has reconnected… blessings have multiplied!
The slant of this article is how social media is helping in many arenas, like the solicitation of medical information and organ donors. The article does not discuss Christian faith… and I am left to assume that this mother surely must have prayed and believed for a miracle. I can’t imagine enduring something like this without a constant conversation with God… and faith in Him to keep His promises to handle all of our worries and cares.
My point in sharing this story is that this mother did not give up. Abraham’s elderly wife, Sarah, did not give up… and neither should we! When everything seems impossible… when we do not understand the “whys and wherefores” of a situation, God does… and He has promised to handle everything for us. Our job is to trust Him… to believe in Him… and to never give up!
Healing may not come on this earth, but it will come. Our answers may not be evident in this lifetime… but someday, we will have them. Even when we cannot see, hear, or feel God at work… He is still on the clock, meeting our every need. Don’t give up! Don’t stop believing in God’s promises… never underestimate His power in your life and the lives of others.
In The Message*, Hebrews 11:11-12 says, “By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.” God may not give you millions of children, but He will meet your needs and fulfill His promises for your life. What do you believe God for today? Are you holding on and expecting Him to fulfill His promises? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
*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.
Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was reading a story in Good Housekeeping magazine about a woman named Angie Hernandez, whose young adult son, Ryan, was in the end stages of kidney failure as a result of Goodpasture’s syndrome - a rare disease that causes the body’s immune system to attack the lungs and kidneys. With hopes of receiving a kidney transplant dwindling, 23-year-old Ryan told his mother that he didn’t know how much longer he could hold out. He was tired and unsure he could live long enough to get the transplant.
If you know anything about kidney disease and dialysis, you understand the toll it takes on the patient – and family members and friends. The daily struggle just to stay alive can be physically and emotionally draining. It’s not hard to see how someone in this position would long for the peace and healing of heaven and an end to this earthly suffering… especially if that person is a believer in Christ and anticipates eternity in His presence.
Like any mother, Angie Hernandez was not ready to lose her son. A cousin had created a three-minute video montage of Ryan’s life, set it to music, and posted it on YouTube. Angie asked her Facebook friends to share the video on their Walls… and to solicit potential kidney donors in doing so. Amazingly, Angie’s half-sister, whom she had not seen in more than a decade, contacted the family and offered to help. Her kidney was a match! Today, Ryan has recovered, and the splintered family has reconnected… blessings have multiplied!
The slant of this article is how social media is helping in many arenas, like the solicitation of medical information and organ donors. The article does not discuss Christian faith… and I am left to assume that this mother surely must have prayed and believed for a miracle. I can’t imagine enduring something like this without a constant conversation with God… and faith in Him to keep His promises to handle all of our worries and cares.
My point in sharing this story is that this mother did not give up. Abraham’s elderly wife, Sarah, did not give up… and neither should we! When everything seems impossible… when we do not understand the “whys and wherefores” of a situation, God does… and He has promised to handle everything for us. Our job is to trust Him… to believe in Him… and to never give up!
Healing may not come on this earth, but it will come. Our answers may not be evident in this lifetime… but someday, we will have them. Even when we cannot see, hear, or feel God at work… He is still on the clock, meeting our every need. Don’t give up! Don’t stop believing in God’s promises… never underestimate His power in your life and the lives of others.
In The Message*, Hebrews 11:11-12 says, “By faith, barren Sarah was able to become pregnant, old woman as she was at the time, because she believed the One who made a promise would do what he said. That's how it happened that from one man's dead and shriveled loins there are now people numbering into the millions.” God may not give you millions of children, but He will meet your needs and fulfill His promises for your life. What do you believe God for today? Are you holding on and expecting Him to fulfill His promises? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
*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.
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2012
Ephesians 2:8-9
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you get a job and make enough money to buy a new car, you have every right to say… “I deserve this… I worked hard for it. I earned it!” If someone gives you a new car as a gift, you have nothing to brag about, except possibly to say, “Look what So-and-So gave me!” You did nothing to earn this car. It was all the doing of the person who gave it to you.
The same can be said of our salvation… our promise of Eternal Life in Heaven… or for that matter, any blessings we receive on this earth. They are gifts from God, and we didn’t do a single thing to earn them. We can’t… it’s impossible! Moreover, we don’t deserve any of these gifts… yet they are freely given.
We can earn enough money to buy a car, but we can never “earn” the gifts of God. This is the difference… what makes our Christian faith unique. We can’t be good enough, serve sufficiently, love amply, light an adequate number of candles, say abundant prayers, or atone in any way for our salvation. God gave this gift to us completely – without merit or any expectation of repayment. We cannot brag about this, but we can tell everyone else how generous and loving, gracious and merciful our God is… and we should do this at every turn.
From time to time, we need to be reminded of God’s incredible gifts… and humbled with regard to receiving them. We need to remember that we cannot out-give God… nor can we earn our salvation and His blessings. The only thing we can do is accept Jesus… receive God’s gifts… and respect His favor by living in a way that honors and glorifies Him.
In the 1960s, there was a television show called “The Guns of Will Sonnet.” The lead character was played by Walter Brennan, who liked to brag about his prowess with guns. In the first episode, he told someone that his grandson was a better shot than his son… and that he was better than both of them, adding, “no brag, just fact.” Our salvation is a glorious blessing… and something of which we should be proud and grateful. We should tell everyone we know how to get in on this amazing, incredible gift! But we should also tell them that a new life in Christ cannot be bought… nor will it ever be deserved. Our promise of Eternal Life truly is “no brag, just fact.” Have you thanked God lately for such a generous gift? Isn’t this a good day to start?
©2012 Debbie Robus
You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you get a job and make enough money to buy a new car, you have every right to say… “I deserve this… I worked hard for it. I earned it!” If someone gives you a new car as a gift, you have nothing to brag about, except possibly to say, “Look what So-and-So gave me!” You did nothing to earn this car. It was all the doing of the person who gave it to you.
The same can be said of our salvation… our promise of Eternal Life in Heaven… or for that matter, any blessings we receive on this earth. They are gifts from God, and we didn’t do a single thing to earn them. We can’t… it’s impossible! Moreover, we don’t deserve any of these gifts… yet they are freely given.
We can earn enough money to buy a car, but we can never “earn” the gifts of God. This is the difference… what makes our Christian faith unique. We can’t be good enough, serve sufficiently, love amply, light an adequate number of candles, say abundant prayers, or atone in any way for our salvation. God gave this gift to us completely – without merit or any expectation of repayment. We cannot brag about this, but we can tell everyone else how generous and loving, gracious and merciful our God is… and we should do this at every turn.
From time to time, we need to be reminded of God’s incredible gifts… and humbled with regard to receiving them. We need to remember that we cannot out-give God… nor can we earn our salvation and His blessings. The only thing we can do is accept Jesus… receive God’s gifts… and respect His favor by living in a way that honors and glorifies Him.
In the 1960s, there was a television show called “The Guns of Will Sonnet.” The lead character was played by Walter Brennan, who liked to brag about his prowess with guns. In the first episode, he told someone that his grandson was a better shot than his son… and that he was better than both of them, adding, “no brag, just fact.” Our salvation is a glorious blessing… and something of which we should be proud and grateful. We should tell everyone we know how to get in on this amazing, incredible gift! But we should also tell them that a new life in Christ cannot be bought… nor will it ever be deserved. Our promise of Eternal Life truly is “no brag, just fact.” Have you thanked God lately for such a generous gift? Isn’t this a good day to start?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 12, 2012
Luke 10:17-20
When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!” Jesus told them: I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, an actor or entertainer has stood before a crowd to accept an award and thanked numerous people… only to realize later they forgot to thank their spouse, family, parents, or someone else who was vital to their success. The excuse is always that they got caught up in the excitement of the moment. But the fact remains they failed to give credit where it was due.
As Christians, we do this a lot. We get so caught up in the “power trip” that we forget to credit the Power Source! We overcome a temptation or an addiction and we revel in our success. We praise God for His deliverance from difficult situations, trials and tribulations… and we should. But how often do we simply say, “LORD, thank You for saving me. Thank You for writing my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Thank You for preparing a place in Your kingdom for me for all Eternity!”?
I am as happy as anyone that the devil has no authority over me. He is a wannabe God, and he cannot hurt me. The devil is the last person I will fear or respect. And Satan is most certainly not the object of my focus! Offense is the devil’s number one tool… and distraction… and I am working diligently to remove all evidence of this menace from my life. At the same time, I am renewing my determination to totally live in Christ… to wake up every day grateful for what He has done for me… to recognize His beauty and blessings that surround me. Call it focusing on the positive more than the negative, if you will.
We have no trouble running to God when there is trouble or we are in need. But how often do we run to Him “just because?” Isn’t it time we focused more on what God does for us each and every day? Let’s acknowledge God’s power over the devil and his agents. But let’s leave the bragging and bravado behind in favor of a focus on genuine praise and appreciation for all that He has given us. Let’s concentrate on less on our victory over Satan and more on the promise of Heaven… and all that is yet to come!
©2012 Debbie Robus
When the seventy-two followers returned, they were excited and said, “Lord, even the demons obeyed when we spoke in your name!” Jesus told them: I saw Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. I have given you the power to trample on snakes and scorpions and to defeat the power of your enemy Satan. Nothing can harm you. But don’t be happy because evil spirits obey you. Be happy that your names are written in heaven!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
More than once, an actor or entertainer has stood before a crowd to accept an award and thanked numerous people… only to realize later they forgot to thank their spouse, family, parents, or someone else who was vital to their success. The excuse is always that they got caught up in the excitement of the moment. But the fact remains they failed to give credit where it was due.
As Christians, we do this a lot. We get so caught up in the “power trip” that we forget to credit the Power Source! We overcome a temptation or an addiction and we revel in our success. We praise God for His deliverance from difficult situations, trials and tribulations… and we should. But how often do we simply say, “LORD, thank You for saving me. Thank You for writing my name in the Lamb’s Book of Life! Thank You for preparing a place in Your kingdom for me for all Eternity!”?
I am as happy as anyone that the devil has no authority over me. He is a wannabe God, and he cannot hurt me. The devil is the last person I will fear or respect. And Satan is most certainly not the object of my focus! Offense is the devil’s number one tool… and distraction… and I am working diligently to remove all evidence of this menace from my life. At the same time, I am renewing my determination to totally live in Christ… to wake up every day grateful for what He has done for me… to recognize His beauty and blessings that surround me. Call it focusing on the positive more than the negative, if you will.
We have no trouble running to God when there is trouble or we are in need. But how often do we run to Him “just because?” Isn’t it time we focused more on what God does for us each and every day? Let’s acknowledge God’s power over the devil and his agents. But let’s leave the bragging and bravado behind in favor of a focus on genuine praise and appreciation for all that He has given us. Let’s concentrate on less on our victory over Satan and more on the promise of Heaven… and all that is yet to come!
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 25, 2012
Hebrews 11:11-16
Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach.
Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth. When people talk this way, it is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own. If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time. But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That's why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, my little cousins Olivia and Owen visited us. Owen wanted to play the piano, but he wanted company. “Come with me,” he said. When he played in the floor with toys, my husband sat on the fireplace hearth and watched. Owen looked up and said, “Play with me.” What he meant was, “get down here in the floor!” Like so many of us, Owen wanted someone with him. He wasn’t afraid of being alone necessarily; however, he felt more comfortable knowing someone else was along for the ride.
A few weeks ago, my cousin C.D. became gravely ill. He realized that he was dying, and he said so. Those closest to C.D. assured him that he was not dying… but they were in denial. C.D. knew the truth. The first time I visited him in the hospital, he told me, “I’m not going to be here much longer.” I asked, “Are you okay with that?” “Yes,” he replied. “Then so am I,” was my answer. And I meant it. Over the next two weeks, we had several conversations about heaven…who was waiting there for him…how it seemed like it was taking so long for God to get C.D.’s “mansion” ready… and how ready he was to get there.
My cousin was always the king of quips and great stories, and his quick with stayed with him until a day or so before he actually died. I would say, “I’ll see you again,” and he would answer, “If I’m still here!” He told me to give my grandmother a message… “I’m saving a place for you!” and I told him to save one for me, as well! We talked about how his wife, daughter and parents would be waiting for him with a big home-cooked meal… and how he would go to rodeos and watch bull riding with my dad (they have rodeos in heaven, don’t they?!). Only one time did he cry and indicate momentary sadness as he whispered, “Come with me.” I assured him that I still had work to do here… but the angels would gently carry him to heaven, and everything would be okay. And it happened just like that.
C.D. was 88 years old. He was ready to go to heaven… yet for a brief moment, he expressed a desire for company on his journey. I don’t believe he feared death, but it is human nature to have a little trepidation about death or any unfamiliar situation. Lest you think death is only for older people, consider Trayton Nabours, the 6-year-old boy in Russellville, Arkansas, who was killed in a car accident while being driven to school by his grandmother. Trayton is celebrating his seventh birthday today with Jesus. Remember 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, shot and killed in Sanford, Florida, last month while walking to the home of a relative. We don’t like to think about death… but its certainty for all of us at some point is undeniable… and the uncertainty of our “time” is equally real.
I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose a child of any age. We hope and dream so much for their future. And so does God! Even my 88-year-old cousin had hopes and dreams that were unfulfilled… trips in a new van and motorhome he had recently purchased… time spent with relatives and friends, and more. God wants us to dream big and work toward goals.
How do we resolve our inner conflict when lives are halted and dreams and potential seem to be unfulfilled? Look to this passage in Hebrews. Abraham dreamed of having many children… and he did. But he only lived to see a few of them. Still, God numbered Abraham’s ancestors more than stars in the sky or grains of sand on the beach! Even when we strive to line up our dreams and goals with God’s will, He may orchestrate them in a way we didn’t expect. This means we can find blessings and meaning in the sudden death of a six-year-old boy. We can turn the tragedy of a senseless shooting of a teenager into changes in thinking and legislation that will impact lives for decades to come. We can celebrate the life of an octogenarian who lived and died with dignity and demonstrated faith and confidence that a better home awaited him.
Our attitude toward death represents a pivotal point in our Christian faith. When we begin to explore and embrace the promises of heaven more than the disappointment of life’s earthly end, our relationship with God takes on a new meaning. No longer are we fearful or lonely… nor do we cling to the things of this earth. We recognize that God has grand plans for us, and it’s up to Him to decide whether they are realized in our earthly lifetime or after we get to heaven. When we begin to trust Him for the outcomes…and to look forward to whatever God has in store for us… we no longer need someone to come with us. We recognize the power and presence of God at all times… in all things.
When the Holy Spirit is truly in your heart… when you faithfully trust God for all things in your life, you are never alone. What do you believe God for this day? What hopes and dreams has He planted in your heart? Do you trust Him to deliver on His promises… in His own time? Have you made that faith-filled shift from earthly thinking to heavenly dreams? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Even when Sarah was too old to have children, she had faith that God would do what he had promised, and she had a son. Her husband Abraham was almost dead, but he became the ancestor of many people. In fact, there are as many of them as there are stars in the sky or grains of sand along the beach.
Every one of those people died. But they still had faith, even though they had not received what they had been promised. They were glad just to see these things from far away, and they agreed that they were only strangers and foreigners on this earth. When people talk this way, it is clear that they are looking for a place to call their own. If they had been talking about the land where they had once lived, they could have gone back at any time. But they were looking forward to a better home in heaven. That's why God wasn't ashamed for them to call him their God. He even built a city for them.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last week, my little cousins Olivia and Owen visited us. Owen wanted to play the piano, but he wanted company. “Come with me,” he said. When he played in the floor with toys, my husband sat on the fireplace hearth and watched. Owen looked up and said, “Play with me.” What he meant was, “get down here in the floor!” Like so many of us, Owen wanted someone with him. He wasn’t afraid of being alone necessarily; however, he felt more comfortable knowing someone else was along for the ride.
A few weeks ago, my cousin C.D. became gravely ill. He realized that he was dying, and he said so. Those closest to C.D. assured him that he was not dying… but they were in denial. C.D. knew the truth. The first time I visited him in the hospital, he told me, “I’m not going to be here much longer.” I asked, “Are you okay with that?” “Yes,” he replied. “Then so am I,” was my answer. And I meant it. Over the next two weeks, we had several conversations about heaven…who was waiting there for him…how it seemed like it was taking so long for God to get C.D.’s “mansion” ready… and how ready he was to get there.
My cousin was always the king of quips and great stories, and his quick with stayed with him until a day or so before he actually died. I would say, “I’ll see you again,” and he would answer, “If I’m still here!” He told me to give my grandmother a message… “I’m saving a place for you!” and I told him to save one for me, as well! We talked about how his wife, daughter and parents would be waiting for him with a big home-cooked meal… and how he would go to rodeos and watch bull riding with my dad (they have rodeos in heaven, don’t they?!). Only one time did he cry and indicate momentary sadness as he whispered, “Come with me.” I assured him that I still had work to do here… but the angels would gently carry him to heaven, and everything would be okay. And it happened just like that.
C.D. was 88 years old. He was ready to go to heaven… yet for a brief moment, he expressed a desire for company on his journey. I don’t believe he feared death, but it is human nature to have a little trepidation about death or any unfamiliar situation. Lest you think death is only for older people, consider Trayton Nabours, the 6-year-old boy in Russellville, Arkansas, who was killed in a car accident while being driven to school by his grandmother. Trayton is celebrating his seventh birthday today with Jesus. Remember 17-year-old Trayvon Martin, shot and killed in Sanford, Florida, last month while walking to the home of a relative. We don’t like to think about death… but its certainty for all of us at some point is undeniable… and the uncertainty of our “time” is equally real.
I cannot imagine what it would be like to lose a child of any age. We hope and dream so much for their future. And so does God! Even my 88-year-old cousin had hopes and dreams that were unfulfilled… trips in a new van and motorhome he had recently purchased… time spent with relatives and friends, and more. God wants us to dream big and work toward goals.
How do we resolve our inner conflict when lives are halted and dreams and potential seem to be unfulfilled? Look to this passage in Hebrews. Abraham dreamed of having many children… and he did. But he only lived to see a few of them. Still, God numbered Abraham’s ancestors more than stars in the sky or grains of sand on the beach! Even when we strive to line up our dreams and goals with God’s will, He may orchestrate them in a way we didn’t expect. This means we can find blessings and meaning in the sudden death of a six-year-old boy. We can turn the tragedy of a senseless shooting of a teenager into changes in thinking and legislation that will impact lives for decades to come. We can celebrate the life of an octogenarian who lived and died with dignity and demonstrated faith and confidence that a better home awaited him.
Our attitude toward death represents a pivotal point in our Christian faith. When we begin to explore and embrace the promises of heaven more than the disappointment of life’s earthly end, our relationship with God takes on a new meaning. No longer are we fearful or lonely… nor do we cling to the things of this earth. We recognize that God has grand plans for us, and it’s up to Him to decide whether they are realized in our earthly lifetime or after we get to heaven. When we begin to trust Him for the outcomes…and to look forward to whatever God has in store for us… we no longer need someone to come with us. We recognize the power and presence of God at all times… in all things.
When the Holy Spirit is truly in your heart… when you faithfully trust God for all things in your life, you are never alone. What do you believe God for this day? What hopes and dreams has He planted in your heart? Do you trust Him to deliver on His promises… in His own time? Have you made that faith-filled shift from earthly thinking to heavenly dreams? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 20, 2011
John 3:31-33
"The One who comes from above is head and shoulders over other messengers from God. The earthborn is earthbound and speaks earth language; the heavenborn is in a league of his own. He sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven. No one wants to deal with these facts. But anyone who examines this evidence will come to stake his life on this: that God himself is the truth.
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 a show on NBC called “Who Do You Think You Are?” that follows celebrities as they examine their family tree and learn about their ancestors. In one episode, actress and singer Vanessa Williams traced her roots and discovered that her great-great grandfather had fought in the Civil War as a free man. For a black man to travel into the South as a member of the Union Army took great courage. This was incredibly dangerous… the orders were to shoot these men on sight!
Another ancestor of Williams’ was a school teacher in Tennessee… and one of the first black legislators in that state, just after the end of the Civil War. Williams recognized that a common thread in her family’s legacy was education… both of her parents were also teachers.
Williams was able to “connect the dots” and learn a lot by tracing the lineage of her family. She discovered values and characteristics that were handed down through the generations…ethics that defined the generations who came before her – ethics that were deeply ingrained in her own personality. While visiting the room where her great-great grandfather made laws with fellow Tennessee legislators, she noted that she had made history as the first black Miss America… but her ancestors had already paved the way with history-making actions of their own. Williams was incredibly humbled by the accomplishments of her predecessors.
While our earthly ancestors may have helped to shape who we are today, we have another lineage with a far bigger impact. Jesus, the Son of our Heavenly Father, revealed the glory of Heaven. His time on earth gave us evidence of what lies ahead for those who take a leap of faith and believe in Him. We find it fairly easy to believe the data we uncover as we trace the lineage of our earthly ancestors… but we are often less eager to embrace what Jesus has to say. We sometimes seem more eager to listen to the teachings, promises and prophecy of human beings than those of God’s only Son.
As much as we long to know who we are in terms of our human lineage, it is more important for us to know who we are in Christ. As we read in this passage, Jesus is in a league of His own… His legacy is the one that really matters. Jesus represents our hope and a future for all eternity. There is nothing wrong with looking back at our past… learning about where we came from… but we must also look forward. We must study Jesus’ teachings and communicate with Him… learn all we can about what lies ahead… and strive to “make history” in the context of the Kingdom of God.
Truly, who we are only matters in terms of our heavenly lineage. What is your legacy? Are you working on building your family “Tree of Life in Christ?” Isn’t it time you began?
©2011 Debbie Robus
"The One who comes from above is head and shoulders over other messengers from God. The earthborn is earthbound and speaks earth language; the heavenborn is in a league of his own. He sets out the evidence of what he saw and heard in heaven. No one wants to deal with these facts. But anyone who examines this evidence will come to stake his life on this: that God himself is the truth.
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 a show on NBC called “Who Do You Think You Are?” that follows celebrities as they examine their family tree and learn about their ancestors. In one episode, actress and singer Vanessa Williams traced her roots and discovered that her great-great grandfather had fought in the Civil War as a free man. For a black man to travel into the South as a member of the Union Army took great courage. This was incredibly dangerous… the orders were to shoot these men on sight!
Another ancestor of Williams’ was a school teacher in Tennessee… and one of the first black legislators in that state, just after the end of the Civil War. Williams recognized that a common thread in her family’s legacy was education… both of her parents were also teachers.
Williams was able to “connect the dots” and learn a lot by tracing the lineage of her family. She discovered values and characteristics that were handed down through the generations…ethics that defined the generations who came before her – ethics that were deeply ingrained in her own personality. While visiting the room where her great-great grandfather made laws with fellow Tennessee legislators, she noted that she had made history as the first black Miss America… but her ancestors had already paved the way with history-making actions of their own. Williams was incredibly humbled by the accomplishments of her predecessors.
While our earthly ancestors may have helped to shape who we are today, we have another lineage with a far bigger impact. Jesus, the Son of our Heavenly Father, revealed the glory of Heaven. His time on earth gave us evidence of what lies ahead for those who take a leap of faith and believe in Him. We find it fairly easy to believe the data we uncover as we trace the lineage of our earthly ancestors… but we are often less eager to embrace what Jesus has to say. We sometimes seem more eager to listen to the teachings, promises and prophecy of human beings than those of God’s only Son.
As much as we long to know who we are in terms of our human lineage, it is more important for us to know who we are in Christ. As we read in this passage, Jesus is in a league of His own… His legacy is the one that really matters. Jesus represents our hope and a future for all eternity. There is nothing wrong with looking back at our past… learning about where we came from… but we must also look forward. We must study Jesus’ teachings and communicate with Him… learn all we can about what lies ahead… and strive to “make history” in the context of the Kingdom of God.
Truly, who we are only matters in terms of our heavenly lineage. What is your legacy? Are you working on building your family “Tree of Life in Christ?” Isn’t it time you began?
©2011 Debbie Robus
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