September 26 ~ Psalm 15:1-5
God, who gets invited
to dinner at your place?
How do we get on your guest list?
“Walk straight,
act right,
tell the truth.
“Don’t hurt your friend,
don’t blame your neighbor;
despise the despicable.
“Keep your word even when it costs you,
make an honest living,
never take a bribe.
“You’ll never get blacklisted
if you live like this.”
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 mother received the
devastating news this week that she probably has cancer. She meets with
an oncologist in a few days to review the results of a biopsy and
confirm a diagnosis, but all indications are that this is very serious.
I respectfully ask all of you to pray for my mother…and for us as we
support her in what may be a battle of major proportions.
Countless
friends and loved ones have reached out to us already with offers of
love, prayers, encouragement…and everything else under the sun. We
appreciate them all. One person said, “Your mother doesn’t deserve
this.” Well, no…she doesn’t. But then, no one deserves the
beast that is cancer – or any other disease or malady. And while we
know that God will use this experience for His glory, we do wish that
things were different.
But here’s the thing. My mother has a
permanent place on the “guest list” for dinner with God. She has served
Him well for decades. She lives out the “criteria” listed in these
verses from Psalm 15. And she has done her very best to instill these
same traits in her children and those around her. I’d like to think that
she has done a pretty good job on all accounts…but I know that I am
still a work in progress!
So as we turn the corner and start the
next leg of this earthly journey together, we do so with confidence that
our reservations are confirmed…that we are on the “guest list” for
perpetual dining with God at His bountiful table. I find this assurance
to be amazing…incredible…comforting and exciting.
Many who
clamor to nab a seat at a fine dining establishment are just glad to be
seated. But in most restaurants, some seats are better than others.
There are prime locations that provide ambience and garner impeccable
attention from the staff…and there are those near the kitchen door or
the restrooms, where the atmosphere is a little less hospitable. I want
to maintain a “good seat” at God’s table…next to my mother! This
scripture passage tells us in part how to achieve that.
Are you
on God’s “guest list?” Are you living for him in a way that garners a
“good seat” at the table? Frankly, too many people are content just to
be seated in the room somewhere. But we should be serving God in such a
way that He is constantly saying, “Come closer! Move on up nearer to
Me!” This is our goal as Christian brothers and sisters…or it should
be. Read the “criteria” in these verses again, and put them into action
in your daily discipleship.
Where is your “seat” at
God’s table these days? Are you hanging out in the corner of “Good
Enough?” Are you ready to serve Him in all areas of your life and enjoy
His offer of “fine dining” each and every day? Will this be the day
that you begin?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label serving God. Show all posts
Showing posts with label serving God. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for April 15, 2015
John 14:11-14
“Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see — these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.
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.
Arkansas Razorbacks basketball forward Bobby Portis announced that he will not return to college for his junior year. Instead, he has declared himself eligible for the NBA draft this summer. Portis weighed the pros and cons of this decision, and in the end, the need to provide for his family probably proved to be the tipping point. Portis has already done wonderful things in his college career. He set school records as a Razorback…received national accolades…and won the hearts of Arkansans in particular – and Razorbacks fans in general. I am sure that his mother would tell you that his accomplishments far exceed her own – or anyone else’s in the Portis family.
Parents will often say, “I want better for my own kids than I had.” I don’t think too many parents would say, “I want my children to be mediocre,” or even, “If they do half as well as I have done, I’ll be happy!” So when we read this scripture and think about what Jesus is saying, it seems to me that He isn’t expecting us to literally turn water into wine or cast out demons. He most certainly does not expect us to be nailed to a cross for the sins of man, because HE has already covered that detail! I believe that Jesus wants us to “take a page from His book”, so to speak…and do all that we can to continue His work.
What are the works of Jesus? I made a mental list of some of them…and I am sure I have missed many. But in part, Jesus: demonstrated honor and glory to God, humility, kindness, mercy and compassion, respect for others, tolerance and forgiveness…fed the hungry…healed the sick and the injured…ministered to the poor…consoled the grieving and “poor in spirit”…and taught us how to pray – and to love one another.
Clearly, we cannot literally heal the sick and injured (unless we are physicians and nurses)…but we can do our best to minister to those who are experiencing these conditions. We can meet their needs to the best of our ability – and with the strength and power of God Almighty. We can feed the hungry – both literally and figuratively…we can show respect, tolerance, forgiveness, humility, kindness, mercy, and compassion. We can minister to the poor…we can console and encourage those who are grieving and hurting. We can pray…and love one another as God loved us. And in all of these things, we can give glory and honor to God!
At the end of the day, we will be doing what is best for our “family” – the body that we are a part of as believers in Jesus Christ and children of the Most High God. If we humbly do the works of Jesus according to God’s guidance and wisdom…and we call on Him to equip us… we will “do greater things” – not because WE are so wonderful, but because God is empowering our efforts.
We cannot all be NBA players and support our families in this manner. But we can serve on “Team Jesus” and do great things for the family of God. This should be our daily goal…to trust God to equip us to do whatever He ordains. We should confidently ask Him to give us these abilities, knowing that whatever we ask for that He has sanctioned will be accomplished.
There is no doubt that Bobby Portis would have garnered many more accolades in the next two years as an Arkansas Razorbacks basketball star. And I am sure he will receive a lot of recognition in the NBA. But at the end of the day, Bobby had to decide whether to make a difference and provide for his family now…or to stick around and make more of a name for himself in his home state. We have to decide the same thing – in a different way. Will we focus on what feels good to us…what promotes OUR agenda…or will we do the work of Jesus, and give God the glory? Will we make a point…or will we make a difference?
©2015 Debbie Robus
“Believe me: I am in my Father and my Father is in me. If you can’t believe that, believe what you see — these works. The person who trusts me will not only do what I’m doing but even greater things, because I, on my way to the Father, am giving you the same work to do that I’ve been doing. You can count on it. From now on, whatever you request along the lines of who I am and what I am doing, I’ll do it. That’s how the Father will be seen for who he is in the Son. I mean it. Whatever you request in this way, I’ll do.
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.
Arkansas Razorbacks basketball forward Bobby Portis announced that he will not return to college for his junior year. Instead, he has declared himself eligible for the NBA draft this summer. Portis weighed the pros and cons of this decision, and in the end, the need to provide for his family probably proved to be the tipping point. Portis has already done wonderful things in his college career. He set school records as a Razorback…received national accolades…and won the hearts of Arkansans in particular – and Razorbacks fans in general. I am sure that his mother would tell you that his accomplishments far exceed her own – or anyone else’s in the Portis family.
Parents will often say, “I want better for my own kids than I had.” I don’t think too many parents would say, “I want my children to be mediocre,” or even, “If they do half as well as I have done, I’ll be happy!” So when we read this scripture and think about what Jesus is saying, it seems to me that He isn’t expecting us to literally turn water into wine or cast out demons. He most certainly does not expect us to be nailed to a cross for the sins of man, because HE has already covered that detail! I believe that Jesus wants us to “take a page from His book”, so to speak…and do all that we can to continue His work.
What are the works of Jesus? I made a mental list of some of them…and I am sure I have missed many. But in part, Jesus: demonstrated honor and glory to God, humility, kindness, mercy and compassion, respect for others, tolerance and forgiveness…fed the hungry…healed the sick and the injured…ministered to the poor…consoled the grieving and “poor in spirit”…and taught us how to pray – and to love one another.
Clearly, we cannot literally heal the sick and injured (unless we are physicians and nurses)…but we can do our best to minister to those who are experiencing these conditions. We can meet their needs to the best of our ability – and with the strength and power of God Almighty. We can feed the hungry – both literally and figuratively…we can show respect, tolerance, forgiveness, humility, kindness, mercy, and compassion. We can minister to the poor…we can console and encourage those who are grieving and hurting. We can pray…and love one another as God loved us. And in all of these things, we can give glory and honor to God!
At the end of the day, we will be doing what is best for our “family” – the body that we are a part of as believers in Jesus Christ and children of the Most High God. If we humbly do the works of Jesus according to God’s guidance and wisdom…and we call on Him to equip us… we will “do greater things” – not because WE are so wonderful, but because God is empowering our efforts.
We cannot all be NBA players and support our families in this manner. But we can serve on “Team Jesus” and do great things for the family of God. This should be our daily goal…to trust God to equip us to do whatever He ordains. We should confidently ask Him to give us these abilities, knowing that whatever we ask for that He has sanctioned will be accomplished.
There is no doubt that Bobby Portis would have garnered many more accolades in the next two years as an Arkansas Razorbacks basketball star. And I am sure he will receive a lot of recognition in the NBA. But at the end of the day, Bobby had to decide whether to make a difference and provide for his family now…or to stick around and make more of a name for himself in his home state. We have to decide the same thing – in a different way. Will we focus on what feels good to us…what promotes OUR agenda…or will we do the work of Jesus, and give God the glory? Will we make a point…or will we make a difference?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 1, 2015
2 Peter 2:1
But there were false prophets, too, in those days, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly tell their lies about God, turning against even their Master who bought them; but theirs will be a swift and terrible end.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Happy New Year! Today, we start with a “clean slate” as we welcome a new year…365 days of endless possibilities! Try as some might, no one can truly predict what will happen in the coming year. We really cannot accurately predict what type of weather we will have…how the economy will do or what the price of gas will be at the pump…or who will win the Final Four, the World Series, or the BCS Championship! But that will not stop many from trying. And sadly, more than a few will try to tell us that “the end is near”…that Jesus is returning and that there are “signs and symbols” which we must heed.
Here’s how I see it. When I leave this earth, I know where I am headed. I am not in any hurry to depart…but I am also not the least bit afraid of dying. I understand that there is work to be done…that there are souls yet to be saved…and that “the clock is ticking.” But the Bible clearly tells us we do not know the hour when Jesus will return. Even clearer is our mission in the meantime. We have been charged with telling others the Good News of Jesus Christ …and with emulating Him as much as we possibly can. If we are doing these two things, God will handle the rest.
Let’s make this the year that we stop listening to those false prophets and the people who want to scare us half to death…about death AND the return of Jesus. Let’s live every day like it may be our last (because that is very much a possibility)…and let’s fully represent Jesus in every breath we take.
Let’s make 2015 a year in which we can say that we served God with faith and fullness of heart, mind, body and soul. It’s a new day…and a new year…a gift that God has given each of us. What will you do with yours?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But there were false prophets, too, in those days, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly tell their lies about God, turning against even their Master who bought them; but theirs will be a swift and terrible end.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Happy New Year! Today, we start with a “clean slate” as we welcome a new year…365 days of endless possibilities! Try as some might, no one can truly predict what will happen in the coming year. We really cannot accurately predict what type of weather we will have…how the economy will do or what the price of gas will be at the pump…or who will win the Final Four, the World Series, or the BCS Championship! But that will not stop many from trying. And sadly, more than a few will try to tell us that “the end is near”…that Jesus is returning and that there are “signs and symbols” which we must heed.
Here’s how I see it. When I leave this earth, I know where I am headed. I am not in any hurry to depart…but I am also not the least bit afraid of dying. I understand that there is work to be done…that there are souls yet to be saved…and that “the clock is ticking.” But the Bible clearly tells us we do not know the hour when Jesus will return. Even clearer is our mission in the meantime. We have been charged with telling others the Good News of Jesus Christ …and with emulating Him as much as we possibly can. If we are doing these two things, God will handle the rest.
Let’s make this the year that we stop listening to those false prophets and the people who want to scare us half to death…about death AND the return of Jesus. Let’s live every day like it may be our last (because that is very much a possibility)…and let’s fully represent Jesus in every breath we take.
Let’s make 2015 a year in which we can say that we served God with faith and fullness of heart, mind, body and soul. It’s a new day…and a new year…a gift that God has given each of us. What will you do with yours?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 7, 2014
Luke 2:16-19
They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our family took in the community’s annual lighted Christmas parade recently… including our niece and her husband and children - Timothy, Zola and Nathan. Timothy was clutching a small drawing that he and his mother had made earlier in the day. There was a depiction of Santa Claus, a reindeer, and some writing. He was very proud of his picture and showed it to several people…but he never let go of it.
Timothy told a friend of ours that he was going to see Santa after the parade. She asked, “Are you going to tell him what you want for Christmas?” With a gentle shake of his head, he very politely, but definitively told her, “No…he already knows!”
After the parade, the children did indeed get to see Santa. And we learned that the picture had been prepared for HIM…for his refrigerator at the North Pole. All that Timothy wanted to do was to give Santa the drawing he made for him. When he saw Santa walking across the lawn, he shot out toward him like a rocket…and he presented him with the picture. Santa thanked him - and Zola and Nathan. And he said, “I’ll be seeing you again very soon!”
Now, I know that Jesus isn’t Santa…and I do not mean to draw that comparison, except to say that the childlike faith and confidence of trusting that Santa WILL come and knows what we want often eludes us in the context of our Christian faith and trusting God for the same things. It doesn’t occur to us to “give back” to Jesus…to “make something for Him” in words and deeds. And while some of us might SAY that we believe that He knows our every need…few of us operate with such confidence and assurance that “God’s got this!” in our daily lives.
With unwavering conviction, the shepherds rushed to the stable to greet the newborn King. With complete certainty, they returned to their village and surrounding pastures to tell everyone what they had seen…that Jesus - the Messiah - was HERE! They did their part to herald the birth of Christ and share the Good News with others.
Today, it’s our turn. What will YOU do to demonstrate your faith and confidence in Jesus? Do you fully believe that He knows what you need before you even speak of it? Isn’t it time for you to trust Him more fully? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our family took in the community’s annual lighted Christmas parade recently… including our niece and her husband and children - Timothy, Zola and Nathan. Timothy was clutching a small drawing that he and his mother had made earlier in the day. There was a depiction of Santa Claus, a reindeer, and some writing. He was very proud of his picture and showed it to several people…but he never let go of it.
Timothy told a friend of ours that he was going to see Santa after the parade. She asked, “Are you going to tell him what you want for Christmas?” With a gentle shake of his head, he very politely, but definitively told her, “No…he already knows!”
After the parade, the children did indeed get to see Santa. And we learned that the picture had been prepared for HIM…for his refrigerator at the North Pole. All that Timothy wanted to do was to give Santa the drawing he made for him. When he saw Santa walking across the lawn, he shot out toward him like a rocket…and he presented him with the picture. Santa thanked him - and Zola and Nathan. And he said, “I’ll be seeing you again very soon!”
Now, I know that Jesus isn’t Santa…and I do not mean to draw that comparison, except to say that the childlike faith and confidence of trusting that Santa WILL come and knows what we want often eludes us in the context of our Christian faith and trusting God for the same things. It doesn’t occur to us to “give back” to Jesus…to “make something for Him” in words and deeds. And while some of us might SAY that we believe that He knows our every need…few of us operate with such confidence and assurance that “God’s got this!” in our daily lives.
With unwavering conviction, the shepherds rushed to the stable to greet the newborn King. With complete certainty, they returned to their village and surrounding pastures to tell everyone what they had seen…that Jesus - the Messiah - was HERE! They did their part to herald the birth of Christ and share the Good News with others.
Today, it’s our turn. What will YOU do to demonstrate your faith and confidence in Jesus? Do you fully believe that He knows what you need before you even speak of it? Isn’t it time for you to trust Him more fully? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 7, 2014
Luke 13:15-16
But Jesus shot back, “You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?”
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.
As I began to write this
devo, I glimpsed out my office window to see a little turtle crawling
across the driveway. Unlike our image of turtles as slow-moving
creatures, this little guy was in a hurry. It was as if he thought, “I
shouldn’t be here...I better get a move on and get outta here!” By the
same token, I have a “to-do” list for this day that is longer than my
arm...but I found myself out on the driveway, photographing a turtle and
marveling at how intricately he is created. From the honey-comb
pattern of his hard-shelled back to the delicate little claws on the
tips of his toes that help him grip the land as he travels along - and
the ingenious way he can retreat inside his shell and protect himself
from prey – God packed a punch of beauty and intricate design in this
small package!
I grabbed my camera and headed for the window, and then the front porch as he scurried on toward the yard – and ultimately into the safety of an adjacent woods. Then I posted a few of these pictures on Facebook with the verse from Psalm 139:14...”I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...”(NIV).
Here’s the thing...a lot of the time, we would say, “It’s just a turtle. Why stop my day and go to the trouble to grab a camera and take pictures?! Surely I need to be doing something more responsible or meaningful with these few minutes.” In other words...this is just not done – or it shouldn’t be! Had I kept on writing, the turtle would have wandered away, and life would have gone on as usual. But I would have missed a moment of “eucharisteo” – a chance to recognize the intricacies and artistry of God...and to give thanks for His attention to detail. I would have squandered a chance to be reminded that the God who cares so much about the last element of how a turtle’s body is knit together and functions also cares that much about me!
God doesn’t really care about our timetables. He wants us to be attuned to His. He doesn’t care nearly as much about “convention”, ritual and tradition as we do. God would far rather we notice His presence in the brief encounter with a turtle. He would rather we take time to heal someone in Jesus’ name on the Sabbath than worry about what day it is. In other words, God would rather you worry less about “how things are supposed to be done” and more about what you are actually doing that honors and glorifies Him!
Look at it this way...we will often stop everything to check our e-mail messages or read through posts on Facebook – but we won’t stop to speak to someone in the grocery store or the hallway at school or church. We will spend an hour watching “The Real Housewives of Something”...or “Swamp People”...but we won’t take 30 minutes to call a friend, write a note of encouragement, or knock on our neighbor’s door and ask how he/she is doing. We have all manner of time to scour magazines or the Internet for the latest scouting report on our favorite team...or the photos of George Clooney’s wedding – but we can’t sit quietly and watch God paint a picture with His glorious sunsets or the rising of a harvest moon!
Don’t miss the “turtles” in your life. Don’t waste a single chance for “eucharisteo”. Forget about how things have traditionally been done and ask God to show you how He wants you to do things! Embrace all that He has planned for you. Make sure you are always in His will and experiencing His healing power in even the smallest moments. Quit worrying about what others think. Concentrate on finding – and sharing – God’s love and care...even in a brief encounter with a turtle.
©2014 Debbie Robus
But Jesus shot back, “You frauds! Each Sabbath every one of you regularly unties your cow or donkey from its stall, leads it out for water, and thinks nothing of it. So why isn’t it all right for me to untie this daughter of Abraham and lead her from the stall where Satan has had her tied these eighteen years?”
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 grabbed my camera and headed for the window, and then the front porch as he scurried on toward the yard – and ultimately into the safety of an adjacent woods. Then I posted a few of these pictures on Facebook with the verse from Psalm 139:14...”I will praise Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made...”(NIV).
Here’s the thing...a lot of the time, we would say, “It’s just a turtle. Why stop my day and go to the trouble to grab a camera and take pictures?! Surely I need to be doing something more responsible or meaningful with these few minutes.” In other words...this is just not done – or it shouldn’t be! Had I kept on writing, the turtle would have wandered away, and life would have gone on as usual. But I would have missed a moment of “eucharisteo” – a chance to recognize the intricacies and artistry of God...and to give thanks for His attention to detail. I would have squandered a chance to be reminded that the God who cares so much about the last element of how a turtle’s body is knit together and functions also cares that much about me!
God doesn’t really care about our timetables. He wants us to be attuned to His. He doesn’t care nearly as much about “convention”, ritual and tradition as we do. God would far rather we notice His presence in the brief encounter with a turtle. He would rather we take time to heal someone in Jesus’ name on the Sabbath than worry about what day it is. In other words, God would rather you worry less about “how things are supposed to be done” and more about what you are actually doing that honors and glorifies Him!
Look at it this way...we will often stop everything to check our e-mail messages or read through posts on Facebook – but we won’t stop to speak to someone in the grocery store or the hallway at school or church. We will spend an hour watching “The Real Housewives of Something”...or “Swamp People”...but we won’t take 30 minutes to call a friend, write a note of encouragement, or knock on our neighbor’s door and ask how he/she is doing. We have all manner of time to scour magazines or the Internet for the latest scouting report on our favorite team...or the photos of George Clooney’s wedding – but we can’t sit quietly and watch God paint a picture with His glorious sunsets or the rising of a harvest moon!
Don’t miss the “turtles” in your life. Don’t waste a single chance for “eucharisteo”. Forget about how things have traditionally been done and ask God to show you how He wants you to do things! Embrace all that He has planned for you. Make sure you are always in His will and experiencing His healing power in even the smallest moments. Quit worrying about what others think. Concentrate on finding – and sharing – God’s love and care...even in a brief encounter with a turtle.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 25, 2014
Proverbs 6:6-11
You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food;
at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
poverty your permanent houseguest!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my Mam-ma Polly was still living at home, I would take her to the beauty shop on Friday afternoons right after lunch. I would do her grocery shopping and other errands while she was getting her hair “done”. It almost never failed…when I picked her up, she would ask, “Well…what have you done today?” In fact, she asked me that a lot of days – often by mid-morning! This was not just a way to “make conversation”…she truly wanted to hear a list of what I had done. Once I retired, I have to admit that there were days when the answer was an uncomfortable – if not embarrassing - ”not much!” But if I asked her what she had done, she would rattle off this list that almost defied logic…especially for a 90-something-year-old woman!
My grandmother would often start with a 6:00 a.m. walk, followed by a breakfast (usually home-made to include eggs, sausage and a biscuit!), then maybe doing some laundry that she hung on the line to dry, tidying her house, and canning or freezing a seasonal fruit or vegetable or making a pie or some cookies! And this would all transpire before 10:00 a.m.! She made me tired just to listen to her litany of completed tasks! Even after she moved into the Assisted Living Facility, she stayed incredibly busy for as long as physically possible. Breakfast, exercise class, and sometimes a singing group and/or craft filled her mornings. Usually she managed to squeeze a shower and cleaning her room – or perhaps a little gardening - into this time span, as well!
When I was young, my Mam-ma rose most mornings around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. and cooked my Pap-pa a big hot breakfast, packed his lunch while he fed his cows, then saw him off to work at a job that started early and ran late. Then Mam-ma would dress and prepare for her workday - which started before 7:00 a.m. with driving a school bus…collecting the kids who lived in the countryside along her route to town. She then spent the day as a chair-side dental assistant before picking the kids up after school to return them to their homes.
Now most people would come home from that kind of day and plop down on the couch with a snack and “veg out” in front of the TV. But not my grandmother! She tended her garden, sewed or worked on a quilt, and cooked a big hot dinner for my grandfather. She did laundry and canned or froze fruits and vegetables. She took time to teach us how to sew and cook and work a garden and more.
It is important to note that my grandmother was even more diligent about her work for the LORD than her daily chores. Not only did she manage her household and her work away from the home…she cared for others. She cooked meals for those in need and served in various capacities in her church. She was a great “neighbor” – to people up and down the countryside. She took time to study her Bible…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with others.
Here’s the thing…my grandmother lived 100 years and 123 days. I have to believe that a big part of her longevity was due to her work ethic. But her goal was not to live a certain number of days…not even to that magical age of 100 years! My grandmother’s intention was to live a “rich” life…and I mean “rich” in the things that truly matter. Yes, it was important to my Mam-ma that we not sit around and do nothing and be “lazy bums”…but it was more important that we learn to love others and minister to them. She wanted us to meet a new next-door neighbor and immediately invite them in for a meal and ask, “Where do y’all go to church?”…to be ready to help with a ministry at the church - to prepare food for someone who was sick or grieving…or to pray for others.
My grandparents enjoyed their lives…they fished and played cards with friends and belonged to a “supper club”. After my grandfather died, Mam-ma traveled a little, enjoyed afternoon dominoes games with friends, and danced three nights a week! But she knew how to distinguish between leisure and laziness. And the latter didn’t have any place in her life.
We’re all “lazy” from time to time. We take vacations. We get a “day off”. But when this becomes a way of life for us – physically and/or spiritually – it can be a slippery slope. Yes, God wants us to rest…He is the GIVER of rest. But He wants us to figure out the difference between resting for rejuvenation…and making a “career” of it!
What is your ultimate goal? Are you determined to do all that God calls you to…physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Do you trust Him to give you the strength and stamina for this…and to help you to rest and refresh when needed? Or have you decided to do the bare minimum…to work only as much as necessary to get by…then prop up your feet the rest of the time and hope someone else picks up the slack? Are you stockpiling blessings in Heaven by your earthly service…or are your “Heavenly cupboards” going to be pretty bare?
Are you living a “rich” life…or one that is dirt poor? Is your “rest” one of rejuvenation and renewal in God’s strength…or an ongoing festival on the couch that is getting you nowhere? At the end of your life, where – and how – will you have “rested”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
You lazy fool, look at an ant.
Watch it closely; let it teach you a thing or two.
Nobody has to tell it what to do.
All summer it stores up food;
at harvest it stockpiles provisions.
So how long are you going to laze around doing nothing?
How long before you get out of bed?
A nap here, a nap there, a day off here, a day off there,
sit back, take it easy—do you know what comes next?
Just this: You can look forward to a dirt-poor life,
poverty your permanent houseguest!
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When my Mam-ma Polly was still living at home, I would take her to the beauty shop on Friday afternoons right after lunch. I would do her grocery shopping and other errands while she was getting her hair “done”. It almost never failed…when I picked her up, she would ask, “Well…what have you done today?” In fact, she asked me that a lot of days – often by mid-morning! This was not just a way to “make conversation”…she truly wanted to hear a list of what I had done. Once I retired, I have to admit that there were days when the answer was an uncomfortable – if not embarrassing - ”not much!” But if I asked her what she had done, she would rattle off this list that almost defied logic…especially for a 90-something-year-old woman!
My grandmother would often start with a 6:00 a.m. walk, followed by a breakfast (usually home-made to include eggs, sausage and a biscuit!), then maybe doing some laundry that she hung on the line to dry, tidying her house, and canning or freezing a seasonal fruit or vegetable or making a pie or some cookies! And this would all transpire before 10:00 a.m.! She made me tired just to listen to her litany of completed tasks! Even after she moved into the Assisted Living Facility, she stayed incredibly busy for as long as physically possible. Breakfast, exercise class, and sometimes a singing group and/or craft filled her mornings. Usually she managed to squeeze a shower and cleaning her room – or perhaps a little gardening - into this time span, as well!
When I was young, my Mam-ma rose most mornings around 3:30 or 4:00 a.m. and cooked my Pap-pa a big hot breakfast, packed his lunch while he fed his cows, then saw him off to work at a job that started early and ran late. Then Mam-ma would dress and prepare for her workday - which started before 7:00 a.m. with driving a school bus…collecting the kids who lived in the countryside along her route to town. She then spent the day as a chair-side dental assistant before picking the kids up after school to return them to their homes.
Now most people would come home from that kind of day and plop down on the couch with a snack and “veg out” in front of the TV. But not my grandmother! She tended her garden, sewed or worked on a quilt, and cooked a big hot dinner for my grandfather. She did laundry and canned or froze fruits and vegetables. She took time to teach us how to sew and cook and work a garden and more.
It is important to note that my grandmother was even more diligent about her work for the LORD than her daily chores. Not only did she manage her household and her work away from the home…she cared for others. She cooked meals for those in need and served in various capacities in her church. She was a great “neighbor” – to people up and down the countryside. She took time to study her Bible…and to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus with others.
Here’s the thing…my grandmother lived 100 years and 123 days. I have to believe that a big part of her longevity was due to her work ethic. But her goal was not to live a certain number of days…not even to that magical age of 100 years! My grandmother’s intention was to live a “rich” life…and I mean “rich” in the things that truly matter. Yes, it was important to my Mam-ma that we not sit around and do nothing and be “lazy bums”…but it was more important that we learn to love others and minister to them. She wanted us to meet a new next-door neighbor and immediately invite them in for a meal and ask, “Where do y’all go to church?”…to be ready to help with a ministry at the church - to prepare food for someone who was sick or grieving…or to pray for others.
My grandparents enjoyed their lives…they fished and played cards with friends and belonged to a “supper club”. After my grandfather died, Mam-ma traveled a little, enjoyed afternoon dominoes games with friends, and danced three nights a week! But she knew how to distinguish between leisure and laziness. And the latter didn’t have any place in her life.
We’re all “lazy” from time to time. We take vacations. We get a “day off”. But when this becomes a way of life for us – physically and/or spiritually – it can be a slippery slope. Yes, God wants us to rest…He is the GIVER of rest. But He wants us to figure out the difference between resting for rejuvenation…and making a “career” of it!
What is your ultimate goal? Are you determined to do all that God calls you to…physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually? Do you trust Him to give you the strength and stamina for this…and to help you to rest and refresh when needed? Or have you decided to do the bare minimum…to work only as much as necessary to get by…then prop up your feet the rest of the time and hope someone else picks up the slack? Are you stockpiling blessings in Heaven by your earthly service…or are your “Heavenly cupboards” going to be pretty bare?
Are you living a “rich” life…or one that is dirt poor? Is your “rest” one of rejuvenation and renewal in God’s strength…or an ongoing festival on the couch that is getting you nowhere? At the end of your life, where – and how – will you have “rested”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 22, 2014
Romans 12:4-5
Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.
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 have a Greater Roadrunner that lives in our yard – or close by – and I have to tell you…I love that funny bird! Not only is he entertaining to watch as he scurries across our yard or driveway…he’s a wonderful addition to our neighborhood. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website*, “… the Greater Roadrunner can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the Desert Southwest.” Between the Greater Roadrunner and the large black rat snake we sometimes see in our yard, I feel relatively comfortable that poisonous snakes are being kept at bay around here!
I’ll be honest… I generally operate by the philosophy that “the only good snake is a dead snake”…but I have learned in recent years to let the harmless, non-poisonous variety be, as everyone insists that they keep the “bad” snakes away. I am still scared half out of my wits by them sometimes, but I’ve decided that they do serve a purpose. Now, Greater Roadrunners don’t scare me (we humans probably scare THEM!)…but I understand their importance to our ecosystem…so I am always glad to see our little “Speedy Gonzales”!
As I read this scripture passage, I wondered…what if we had no roadrunners or “good” snakes to control the “bad” ones? I’ve been reading about the decimation of our bee population and how detrimental this is to us in so many ways. I read a quote by Albert Einstein that said something to the effect of “When the bees are all gone, we humans have about four years left.” So many of God’s creations are vital to our daily survival…creatures we never even consider - like a honeybee or a Greater Roadrunner!
By the same token, each one of us is vital to God’s grand plan. And as Christians, we have critical roles in furthering God’s Kingdom and spreading the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. When we sit on our hands or hang back in the shadows and fail to act, we’re at best making it hard on the others who have to pick up our slack …and we dishonor Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf - the precious gift of salvation. We are the “honeybee” in God’s plan who helps to sustain and develop new life in Christ! We are the “Great Roadrunner” or “King Snake” who keeps the devil’s “bad snakes” at bay. We were important to God already…but in terms of the body of Christ, we are even more significant!
Now don’t misunderstand me. God is all-powerful…all-knowing…perfectly capable of handling all of this on His own. But He has chosen us…Jesus rescued us…and in return, we are called to serve – and to “do our part”. Have you ever stubbed your toe…or maybe even broken it? If you have, you know that the pain of such a small body part can affect you profoundly. If you’ve ever injured an arm, leg, hand, foot, eye or ear and had to function without its use for a while, you understand that your whole lifestyle changes. You become focused in large part on what is missing…and how to accommodate getting along without it. In many cases, things probably don’t go so well as a result. It’s like this in the body of Christ, too!
We need to stop and thank God for our body and how well it works…to praise Him for orchestrating nature and how it functions so perfectly…and to glorify Him for giving us Jesus – and our new life in Him. We must pay close attention to our role as part of Christ’s body and make sure that we are pulling our share of the load…that we are functioning at peak performance…that everything we do honors and glorifies His name and shares in the proper functioning of the lives of fellow believers.
This is a good day to stop and look at a bumblebee or a roadrunner and remind ourselves that we all have a job to do…and to do ours to the best of our ability – and to the glory of God. How are you doing so far?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/greater_roadrunner/id
Just as there are many parts to our bodies, so it is with Christ’s body. We are all parts of it, and it takes every one of us to make it complete, for we each have different work to do. So we belong to each other, and each needs all the others.
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 have a Greater Roadrunner that lives in our yard – or close by – and I have to tell you…I love that funny bird! Not only is he entertaining to watch as he scurries across our yard or driveway…he’s a wonderful addition to our neighborhood. According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology website*, “… the Greater Roadrunner can outrace a human, kill a rattlesnake, and thrive in the harsh landscapes of the Desert Southwest.” Between the Greater Roadrunner and the large black rat snake we sometimes see in our yard, I feel relatively comfortable that poisonous snakes are being kept at bay around here!
I’ll be honest… I generally operate by the philosophy that “the only good snake is a dead snake”…but I have learned in recent years to let the harmless, non-poisonous variety be, as everyone insists that they keep the “bad” snakes away. I am still scared half out of my wits by them sometimes, but I’ve decided that they do serve a purpose. Now, Greater Roadrunners don’t scare me (we humans probably scare THEM!)…but I understand their importance to our ecosystem…so I am always glad to see our little “Speedy Gonzales”!
As I read this scripture passage, I wondered…what if we had no roadrunners or “good” snakes to control the “bad” ones? I’ve been reading about the decimation of our bee population and how detrimental this is to us in so many ways. I read a quote by Albert Einstein that said something to the effect of “When the bees are all gone, we humans have about four years left.” So many of God’s creations are vital to our daily survival…creatures we never even consider - like a honeybee or a Greater Roadrunner!
By the same token, each one of us is vital to God’s grand plan. And as Christians, we have critical roles in furthering God’s Kingdom and spreading the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ. When we sit on our hands or hang back in the shadows and fail to act, we’re at best making it hard on the others who have to pick up our slack …and we dishonor Jesus’ sacrifice on our behalf - the precious gift of salvation. We are the “honeybee” in God’s plan who helps to sustain and develop new life in Christ! We are the “Great Roadrunner” or “King Snake” who keeps the devil’s “bad snakes” at bay. We were important to God already…but in terms of the body of Christ, we are even more significant!
Now don’t misunderstand me. God is all-powerful…all-knowing…perfectly capable of handling all of this on His own. But He has chosen us…Jesus rescued us…and in return, we are called to serve – and to “do our part”. Have you ever stubbed your toe…or maybe even broken it? If you have, you know that the pain of such a small body part can affect you profoundly. If you’ve ever injured an arm, leg, hand, foot, eye or ear and had to function without its use for a while, you understand that your whole lifestyle changes. You become focused in large part on what is missing…and how to accommodate getting along without it. In many cases, things probably don’t go so well as a result. It’s like this in the body of Christ, too!
We need to stop and thank God for our body and how well it works…to praise Him for orchestrating nature and how it functions so perfectly…and to glorify Him for giving us Jesus – and our new life in Him. We must pay close attention to our role as part of Christ’s body and make sure that we are pulling our share of the load…that we are functioning at peak performance…that everything we do honors and glorifies His name and shares in the proper functioning of the lives of fellow believers.
This is a good day to stop and look at a bumblebee or a roadrunner and remind ourselves that we all have a job to do…and to do ours to the best of our ability – and to the glory of God. How are you doing so far?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/greater_roadrunner/id
Daily Devotional for December 23, 2013
Psalm 52
Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
All day long you plot destruction.
Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;
you’re an expert at telling lies.
You love evil more than good
and lies more than truth.
You love to destroy others with your words,
you liar!
But God will strike you down once and for all.
He will pull you from your home
and uproot you from the land of the living.
The righteous will see it and be amazed.
They will laugh and say,
“Look what happens to mighty warriors
who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.
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.
You know the song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. We’ve all sung it a zillion times. Remember the line where it says, “He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice”? We’ve all known people who were plenty “naughty”… and still seemed to manage to be on Santa’s “nice” list!
At some point, you have probably said of someone else… “If I did what he/she has done, I would be in jail… the poor house…big trouble…” (you fill in the blank). We all know people who seem to “get by with murder”. Maybe you know someone who never pays his/her bills, yet they always seem to get by somehow – and have nice things (like clothes, cars and homes) in the bargain. Or maybe you know someone who is dishonest…who makes promises and doesn’t keep them… someone who is unreliable or downright disruptive… yet people flock to this person and want him/her to be in their circle of friends and influences.
Perhaps you have worked very hard at school, at a job, for your team, or for a group in your church… and someone else who flies under the radar seems to take all of the glory and accolades. Or maybe you know those who waltz into a situation, toss around money and big talk, and make a big (and phony) splash to garner attention and credit, while the real workers were overshadowed on the sidelines. MAYBE…someone has lied about you – or to you – and somehow, he/she has managed to bully you and/or others into believing that you were actually the one who was “in the wrong” in a particular situation. It’s all enough to make you throw up your hands and claim that “Nice guys really DO finish LAST!”
But David is reminding all of us in this Psalm that no one gets by with anything! God is watching… and He is not amused by those who think they are above reproach. Like an olive tree (which is prized for its hard wood and durability - as well as its beauty), we are to remain strong and steady in our faith and our actions. We are to place our hope in God’s unfailing love… and trust His directives for our lives. We are to “keep on keepin’ on”… even when it seems like we are spinning our wheels.
Ultimately, God will take action. Those who have “misbehaved” will be reprimanded… there will be consequences for their actions. Those who have used wealth and influence to get ahead will have to answer for their actions… and those who have remained relentless and faithful in their trust and service will be rewarded.
I know it’s frustrating to sit on the sidelines and watch people cut corners and appear to skate by in life. But I also know that God will reward those who remain loyal and serve Him well. Don’t be distracted by the ones who play fast and loose with God’s gifts. Focus on Jesus and His teachings. Keep doing what you know is right… and never lose hope that God is noticing. GOD knows who is really naughty and nice…and His “list” is the only one that truly matters! The most important question is…in which column will He place your name?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Why do you boast about your crimes, great warrior?
Don’t you realize God’s justice continues forever?
All day long you plot destruction.
Your tongue cuts like a sharp razor;
you’re an expert at telling lies.
You love evil more than good
and lies more than truth.
You love to destroy others with your words,
you liar!
But God will strike you down once and for all.
He will pull you from your home
and uproot you from the land of the living.
The righteous will see it and be amazed.
They will laugh and say,
“Look what happens to mighty warriors
who do not trust in God.
They trust their wealth instead
and grow more and more bold in their wickedness.”
But I am like an olive tree, thriving in the house of God.
I will always trust in God’s unfailing love.
I will praise you forever, O God,
for what you have done.
I will trust in your good name
in the presence of your faithful people.
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.
You know the song, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”. We’ve all sung it a zillion times. Remember the line where it says, “He’s gonna find out who’s naughty or nice”? We’ve all known people who were plenty “naughty”… and still seemed to manage to be on Santa’s “nice” list!
At some point, you have probably said of someone else… “If I did what he/she has done, I would be in jail… the poor house…big trouble…” (you fill in the blank). We all know people who seem to “get by with murder”. Maybe you know someone who never pays his/her bills, yet they always seem to get by somehow – and have nice things (like clothes, cars and homes) in the bargain. Or maybe you know someone who is dishonest…who makes promises and doesn’t keep them… someone who is unreliable or downright disruptive… yet people flock to this person and want him/her to be in their circle of friends and influences.
Perhaps you have worked very hard at school, at a job, for your team, or for a group in your church… and someone else who flies under the radar seems to take all of the glory and accolades. Or maybe you know those who waltz into a situation, toss around money and big talk, and make a big (and phony) splash to garner attention and credit, while the real workers were overshadowed on the sidelines. MAYBE…someone has lied about you – or to you – and somehow, he/she has managed to bully you and/or others into believing that you were actually the one who was “in the wrong” in a particular situation. It’s all enough to make you throw up your hands and claim that “Nice guys really DO finish LAST!”
But David is reminding all of us in this Psalm that no one gets by with anything! God is watching… and He is not amused by those who think they are above reproach. Like an olive tree (which is prized for its hard wood and durability - as well as its beauty), we are to remain strong and steady in our faith and our actions. We are to place our hope in God’s unfailing love… and trust His directives for our lives. We are to “keep on keepin’ on”… even when it seems like we are spinning our wheels.
Ultimately, God will take action. Those who have “misbehaved” will be reprimanded… there will be consequences for their actions. Those who have used wealth and influence to get ahead will have to answer for their actions… and those who have remained relentless and faithful in their trust and service will be rewarded.
I know it’s frustrating to sit on the sidelines and watch people cut corners and appear to skate by in life. But I also know that God will reward those who remain loyal and serve Him well. Don’t be distracted by the ones who play fast and loose with God’s gifts. Focus on Jesus and His teachings. Keep doing what you know is right… and never lose hope that God is noticing. GOD knows who is really naughty and nice…and His “list” is the only one that truly matters! The most important question is…in which column will He place your name?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 3, 2013
Matthew 6:25-34
I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?
Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is “tax-free” weekend in Arkansas. For two days, parents can shop for back-to-school clothes and supplies and the state sales tax will be waived on certain purchases. This includes clothing selling for up to $100 per item, and purses and accessories retailing for up to $50 per item. My question is… “Do school-aged children really need $50 purses and clothing items that are $100 each?” Maybe I am just out of touch with the times… but I don’t pay this much for my own clothing and accessories. My experience with children and teenagers has taught me that most will not take care of said items well enough to merit these prices! I am sure some of my nieces, nephews and young friends – and maybe even you – would disagree… and that’s your business. But I honestly believe we have become so “appearance/label conscious” in this society that we have lost touch with reality in many instances.
As someone who sews, I’ve taken a look at high-priced items of clothing and discovered that many are poorly made. Materials are thin and the dyes fade quickly…the stitching is often less than secure and subject to raveling… and the quality just doesn’t match the price. And at the end of the day… are you really happier or more comfortable in a nearly $100 pair of designer jeans than a $20 pair of Levis from Wal-Mart – or even a good clean $2 pair from the local thrift store? Does that tee-shirt from the high end apparel shop clothe you better than one from a familiar name-brand department store? Is a $10 gourmet hamburger truly tastier and more filling than a $3-$5 Whopper® meal from Burger King? Our pastor shared with us recently that $10 can feed a family of four for ONE WEEK in Costa Rica. How far can you stretch $10? My point is this…we all tend to be far too concerned with things that don’t last and won’t bring us peace and happiness.
Before my husband and I married, we planned to attend college at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where he was already a student. I would major in Elementary Education there… he would finish a degree in Accounting. Then he took a course in statistics and realized that sitting behind a desk crunching numbers did not interest him as much as being outdoors in nature. After much prayerful consideration, he decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University and pursue a degree in Park Administration.
We had all of the paper work complete for my enrollment at UALR. We were already looking for housing and making plans. In a few short months, we would be married, so changing locations – and universities – was daunting at this juncture. But my husband-to-be did not come to this decision lightly, and one day he opened the Gideon Bible he had been given his freshman year of college and showed me this passage from Matthew 6. He explained that a career in the “Parks and Rec” field might never be as lucrative as one in accounting… that park rangers and school teachers might only “make ends meet” on comparatively small salaries. But he assured me that he would be much happier as a park ranger than an accountant… and that as long as we were together, “things” really didn’t matter. With God's help, we would make it work.
In that instant, I realized that I had the most important gift… someone who loved me – and not my possessions or my “earned income potential”. I began a mantra that I have repeated to my husband for nearly 40 years now… “I’d live in a pup tent, as long as you are with me.” And we have never lacked for anything.
On a far grander scale, we have a similar – yet greater – Gift. We have Someone who loves us… not for what we have or how we look… not for how we dress or whether we dine on gourmet meals and live in mansions. We have a God who loves us and wants to be with us… because of who we are – not what we have. And He is willing to see that all of our needs are met, just so we can be together. God really doesn’t care whether you carry a $50 purse or stuff your money into your pocket. He is not the least bit interested in whether your jeans have a designer label or came from the thrift store. What God desires is your obedience… your trust… and your devotion. He will handle the rest. You may not have much… but you will always have enough. This should give each of us a tremendous sense of peace!
If you shop this weekend, I hope you will think about what really matters… spend your “tax-free” money wisely… and make every dollar count. Start learning to focus on your relationship with God… and with others. Make God’s work your top priority. Evangelist Joyce Meyer tells of standing in front of the mirror one Sunday morning… stewing about which outfit to wear and what accessories to add. She clearly heard God say, “Oh for goodness’ sake, Joyce… just put on something and GO!” It’s time for us to do the same. We’ve kept God waiting long enough! Won’t you set your worries aside and get busy doing His work? God may never ask you to “live in a pup tent,” but if He did… how would you respond?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?
Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes. But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?” Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these. But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This is “tax-free” weekend in Arkansas. For two days, parents can shop for back-to-school clothes and supplies and the state sales tax will be waived on certain purchases. This includes clothing selling for up to $100 per item, and purses and accessories retailing for up to $50 per item. My question is… “Do school-aged children really need $50 purses and clothing items that are $100 each?” Maybe I am just out of touch with the times… but I don’t pay this much for my own clothing and accessories. My experience with children and teenagers has taught me that most will not take care of said items well enough to merit these prices! I am sure some of my nieces, nephews and young friends – and maybe even you – would disagree… and that’s your business. But I honestly believe we have become so “appearance/label conscious” in this society that we have lost touch with reality in many instances.
As someone who sews, I’ve taken a look at high-priced items of clothing and discovered that many are poorly made. Materials are thin and the dyes fade quickly…the stitching is often less than secure and subject to raveling… and the quality just doesn’t match the price. And at the end of the day… are you really happier or more comfortable in a nearly $100 pair of designer jeans than a $20 pair of Levis from Wal-Mart – or even a good clean $2 pair from the local thrift store? Does that tee-shirt from the high end apparel shop clothe you better than one from a familiar name-brand department store? Is a $10 gourmet hamburger truly tastier and more filling than a $3-$5 Whopper® meal from Burger King? Our pastor shared with us recently that $10 can feed a family of four for ONE WEEK in Costa Rica. How far can you stretch $10? My point is this…we all tend to be far too concerned with things that don’t last and won’t bring us peace and happiness.
Before my husband and I married, we planned to attend college at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where he was already a student. I would major in Elementary Education there… he would finish a degree in Accounting. Then he took a course in statistics and realized that sitting behind a desk crunching numbers did not interest him as much as being outdoors in nature. After much prayerful consideration, he decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University and pursue a degree in Park Administration.
We had all of the paper work complete for my enrollment at UALR. We were already looking for housing and making plans. In a few short months, we would be married, so changing locations – and universities – was daunting at this juncture. But my husband-to-be did not come to this decision lightly, and one day he opened the Gideon Bible he had been given his freshman year of college and showed me this passage from Matthew 6. He explained that a career in the “Parks and Rec” field might never be as lucrative as one in accounting… that park rangers and school teachers might only “make ends meet” on comparatively small salaries. But he assured me that he would be much happier as a park ranger than an accountant… and that as long as we were together, “things” really didn’t matter. With God's help, we would make it work.
In that instant, I realized that I had the most important gift… someone who loved me – and not my possessions or my “earned income potential”. I began a mantra that I have repeated to my husband for nearly 40 years now… “I’d live in a pup tent, as long as you are with me.” And we have never lacked for anything.
On a far grander scale, we have a similar – yet greater – Gift. We have Someone who loves us… not for what we have or how we look… not for how we dress or whether we dine on gourmet meals and live in mansions. We have a God who loves us and wants to be with us… because of who we are – not what we have. And He is willing to see that all of our needs are met, just so we can be together. God really doesn’t care whether you carry a $50 purse or stuff your money into your pocket. He is not the least bit interested in whether your jeans have a designer label or came from the thrift store. What God desires is your obedience… your trust… and your devotion. He will handle the rest. You may not have much… but you will always have enough. This should give each of us a tremendous sense of peace!
If you shop this weekend, I hope you will think about what really matters… spend your “tax-free” money wisely… and make every dollar count. Start learning to focus on your relationship with God… and with others. Make God’s work your top priority. Evangelist Joyce Meyer tells of standing in front of the mirror one Sunday morning… stewing about which outfit to wear and what accessories to add. She clearly heard God say, “Oh for goodness’ sake, Joyce… just put on something and GO!” It’s time for us to do the same. We’ve kept God waiting long enough! Won’t you set your worries aside and get busy doing His work? God may never ask you to “live in a pup tent,” but if He did… how would you respond?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 25, 2013
Luke 16:19-31
There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.”
Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.”
But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.”
Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.”
Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.”
So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For someone my age, the point of reference that comes to mind for this scripture passage is the decision we made with my grandmother to move her to an assisted living facility. My grandmother knew she needed to make the move… but actually committing to doing so was another story. Over and over I hear friends say, “I’ve tried to talk to Mom/Dad about giving up their home and moving into a retirement center, but they won’t even talk about it.” This is one of those things that pretty well has to be the idea of that particular individual. The relatives may say, “You talk to him/her.” Maybe if YOU say something, it will make a difference. But the truth is… this person knows all of the “pros and cons”… he/she has just not made the decision to move – or he/she may no longer be mentally capable of such a rational decision.
For younger people, the decision may be something like choosing to quit smoking. You know it’s bad for your health, expensive, and more and more unacceptable socially… but it’s a tough habit to kick. No matter how many people talk to you about this, you are not swayed. My grandfather fell over dead from a stroke one morning. He rolled his own “Prince Albert’s” and smoked like a haystack. After he died, I looked around my grandmother’s living room, and there sat no less than half a dozen relatives – including my dad, my sister and brother, and a great aunt… all smoking one cigarette after the other. All the talk in the world was not going to make them quit smoking… they had to want to do so for themselves.
What resonated with me about this scripture today is that there are many circumstances and situations in which I have done all I can humanly do to affect the outcome. The people involved know the right choice to make… now it is up to them to make it. I can continue to pray for them… love and encourage them…and serve as a Godly example in my own daily living. But the time for talk, begging and pleading is over. If they have not responded to my appeals already, it’s pretty clear that any further petitions would be a waste of good breath.
I am not suggesting you desert people… or give up on them. I am merely pointing out that sometimes the time for talking comes to an end. Often, the best thing we can do is sit back and let God work. In my grandmother’s case, she came to the decision on her own that she was no longer able to make it work by herself… she needed constant care and the security of an apartment in an Assisted Living Facility. For many others in her shoes, the decision becomes all too evident in short order… or an injury or illness facilitates a more sudden conclusion.
As for smoking and other addictive behaviors… all the talk in the world is not going to change those who are afflicted. We cannot make another person give up a bad habit… we can’t force a student to study hard and make good grades… we can’t coerce a young adult to grow up and behave responsibly… and we cannot impose our faith in God on another person. If you are like me, these are hard realizations. I am a person of action… a “fixer.” I want to do something to make things better. And God is telling me to step aside and let Him drive the car. I think it’s time I did exactly that. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
There was once a rich man who wore expensive clothes and every day ate the best food. But a poor beggar named Lazarus was brought to the gate of the rich man’s house. He was happy just to eat the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table. His body was covered with sores, and dogs kept coming up to lick them. The poor man died, and angels took him to the place of honor next to Abraham.
The rich man also died and was buried. He went to hell and was suffering terribly. When he looked up and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side, he said to Abraham, “Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water and touch my tongue. I’m suffering terribly in this fire.”
Abraham answered, “My friend, remember that while you lived, you had everything good, and Lazarus had everything bad. Now he is happy, and you are in pain. And besides, there is a deep ditch between us, and no one from either side can cross over.”
But the rich man said, “Abraham, then please send Lazarus to my father’s home. Let him warn my five brothers, so they won’t come to this horrible place.”
Abraham answered, “Your brothers can read what Moses and the prophets wrote. They should pay attention to that.”
Then the rich man said, “No, that’s not enough! If only someone from the dead would go to them, they would listen and turn to God.”
So Abraham said, “If they won’t pay attention to Moses and the prophets, they won’t listen even to someone who comes back from the dead.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For someone my age, the point of reference that comes to mind for this scripture passage is the decision we made with my grandmother to move her to an assisted living facility. My grandmother knew she needed to make the move… but actually committing to doing so was another story. Over and over I hear friends say, “I’ve tried to talk to Mom/Dad about giving up their home and moving into a retirement center, but they won’t even talk about it.” This is one of those things that pretty well has to be the idea of that particular individual. The relatives may say, “You talk to him/her.” Maybe if YOU say something, it will make a difference. But the truth is… this person knows all of the “pros and cons”… he/she has just not made the decision to move – or he/she may no longer be mentally capable of such a rational decision.
For younger people, the decision may be something like choosing to quit smoking. You know it’s bad for your health, expensive, and more and more unacceptable socially… but it’s a tough habit to kick. No matter how many people talk to you about this, you are not swayed. My grandfather fell over dead from a stroke one morning. He rolled his own “Prince Albert’s” and smoked like a haystack. After he died, I looked around my grandmother’s living room, and there sat no less than half a dozen relatives – including my dad, my sister and brother, and a great aunt… all smoking one cigarette after the other. All the talk in the world was not going to make them quit smoking… they had to want to do so for themselves.
What resonated with me about this scripture today is that there are many circumstances and situations in which I have done all I can humanly do to affect the outcome. The people involved know the right choice to make… now it is up to them to make it. I can continue to pray for them… love and encourage them…and serve as a Godly example in my own daily living. But the time for talk, begging and pleading is over. If they have not responded to my appeals already, it’s pretty clear that any further petitions would be a waste of good breath.
I am not suggesting you desert people… or give up on them. I am merely pointing out that sometimes the time for talking comes to an end. Often, the best thing we can do is sit back and let God work. In my grandmother’s case, she came to the decision on her own that she was no longer able to make it work by herself… she needed constant care and the security of an apartment in an Assisted Living Facility. For many others in her shoes, the decision becomes all too evident in short order… or an injury or illness facilitates a more sudden conclusion.
As for smoking and other addictive behaviors… all the talk in the world is not going to change those who are afflicted. We cannot make another person give up a bad habit… we can’t force a student to study hard and make good grades… we can’t coerce a young adult to grow up and behave responsibly… and we cannot impose our faith in God on another person. If you are like me, these are hard realizations. I am a person of action… a “fixer.” I want to do something to make things better. And God is telling me to step aside and let Him drive the car. I think it’s time I did exactly that. What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 15, 2013
Haggai 1:2-10
You say this isn’t the right time to build a temple for me. But is it right for you to live in expensive houses, while my temple is a pile of ruins? Just look at what’s happening. You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don’t keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes.
Think about what I have said! But first, go to the hills and get wood for my temple, so I can take pride in it and be worshiped there. You expected much, but received only a little. And when you brought it home, I made that little disappear. Why have I done this? It’s because you hurry off to build your own houses, while my temple is still in ruins. That’s also why the dew doesn’t fall and your harvest fails. And so, at my command everything will become barren—your farmland and pastures, your vineyards and olive trees, your animals and you yourselves. All your hard work will be for nothing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a story in our state newspaper today about a husband and wife whose 31-year-old daughter suffered from PTSD and drug addiction after serving our country for a year in Iraq, where she was wounded. Substance abuse had plagued Jennie Burrow in high school, but she seemed to get her life on track when she enlisted in the US Army in 2007. While deployed to Iraq, Jennie was shot during a rocket attack and firefight that occurred while she was on guard duty. She returned stateside for treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where she was given opiates for the pain. This led to a heroin addiction… an “other than honorable” discharge from the Army, and no Veteran’s benefits.
Jennie returned to Arkansas, where her parents did their best to help her… no doubt dropping everything on many occasions to rescue her from a bad situation. Such was the case on April 6th, when Jennie phoned her parents and asked them to come and get her in North Little Rock, where she found herself in an unsavory – and unsafe – neighborhood. The parents collected Jennie, helped her sober up, and then a friend came and got her. When she called the next day and asked for help, her dad told her that he was busy – headed to the hardware store – and that he would call her later. Jennie walked underneath a bridge on Cantrell Road in Little Rock, doused herself in gasoline, and set herself on fire. She suffered burns over 95% of her body and was airlifted to Springfield, Missouri, where she died a few hours later.
Jennie’s parents must now live forever with the thought that they did not stop what they were doing to see about her that day. The “what ifs” will haunt them for the rest of their lives. And in their defense, they had apparently gone to her rescue time after time… and Jennie had “cried wolf” more than once. Most likely, this is a sad case where drug addiction was more powerful than any and all efforts of two loving parents to help their daughter… and they truly did all they could do – and still it wasn’t enough.
On the other hand, many of us have “gone to the hardware store,” because that was simply what we had on our agenda. The needs of others could wait. Most certainly, God’s needs could go on the back burner. It’s like the “to-do list” that many of us make each day/week/month. We prioritize what absolutely has to be done… and if there is a moment to spare – and we feel like it – we might do something for someone else. So the notes to those who are sick, grieving and lonely never get written. The kind word spoken to a neighbor never happens because we hurriedly dash to and from our car with barely a wave of acknowledgment. The shut-ins don’t get visited, because let’s face it… that can be a real downer! You can’t attend an event to support your friend or family member - much less see after their pet while they take an important overnight trip. And heaven forbid if they ask you to watch their small children for a few hours! If no other excuse seems plausible … it’s simply not your problem. Let someone else do it!
This works pretty well… until something happens to shake us to our core… or we find that no one is coming to our rescue! Unlike Jennie Burrow’s parents, many of us cannot truly say that we did all we could do … that we had simply exhausted our avenues for help – and were exhausted in the process. We are in many ways a “good enough” people… as this scripture demonstrates… we “harvest” just enough (in every sense of the word). We put our discipleship on the back burner in favor of the things we want to accomplish. We work hard for our money… then squander a good portion of it on things that truly are unimportant. Many of us barely get buy in many areas of life. But since we don’t have to expend a lot of time and energy in the process, we figure we are doing okay. All the while, we short-change God and the purpose to which He has called us… and He is not pleased.
I am deeply saddened for the parents of this young mother who could not rid herself of the demons that plagued her. Hopefully she is at peace now. But I can use this sadness to energize my own efforts to get up and get going… to look around for those who need an encouraging word…a smiling face… a phone call… a helping hand or a little assistance of some sort. I can make an effort to reach out to people of all ages and all walks of life, because the love and Good News of Jesus Christ is for everyone. I can stop making excuses and thinking more about my own needs than those of others… and get busy building God’s temple. What about you… whose temple do you have time to build today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
You say this isn’t the right time to build a temple for me. But is it right for you to live in expensive houses, while my temple is a pile of ruins? Just look at what’s happening. You harvest less than you plant, you never have enough to eat or drink, your clothes don’t keep you warm, and your wages are stored in bags full of holes.
Think about what I have said! But first, go to the hills and get wood for my temple, so I can take pride in it and be worshiped there. You expected much, but received only a little. And when you brought it home, I made that little disappear. Why have I done this? It’s because you hurry off to build your own houses, while my temple is still in ruins. That’s also why the dew doesn’t fall and your harvest fails. And so, at my command everything will become barren—your farmland and pastures, your vineyards and olive trees, your animals and you yourselves. All your hard work will be for nothing.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There is a story in our state newspaper today about a husband and wife whose 31-year-old daughter suffered from PTSD and drug addiction after serving our country for a year in Iraq, where she was wounded. Substance abuse had plagued Jennie Burrow in high school, but she seemed to get her life on track when she enlisted in the US Army in 2007. While deployed to Iraq, Jennie was shot during a rocket attack and firefight that occurred while she was on guard duty. She returned stateside for treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, where she was given opiates for the pain. This led to a heroin addiction… an “other than honorable” discharge from the Army, and no Veteran’s benefits.
Jennie returned to Arkansas, where her parents did their best to help her… no doubt dropping everything on many occasions to rescue her from a bad situation. Such was the case on April 6th, when Jennie phoned her parents and asked them to come and get her in North Little Rock, where she found herself in an unsavory – and unsafe – neighborhood. The parents collected Jennie, helped her sober up, and then a friend came and got her. When she called the next day and asked for help, her dad told her that he was busy – headed to the hardware store – and that he would call her later. Jennie walked underneath a bridge on Cantrell Road in Little Rock, doused herself in gasoline, and set herself on fire. She suffered burns over 95% of her body and was airlifted to Springfield, Missouri, where she died a few hours later.
Jennie’s parents must now live forever with the thought that they did not stop what they were doing to see about her that day. The “what ifs” will haunt them for the rest of their lives. And in their defense, they had apparently gone to her rescue time after time… and Jennie had “cried wolf” more than once. Most likely, this is a sad case where drug addiction was more powerful than any and all efforts of two loving parents to help their daughter… and they truly did all they could do – and still it wasn’t enough.
On the other hand, many of us have “gone to the hardware store,” because that was simply what we had on our agenda. The needs of others could wait. Most certainly, God’s needs could go on the back burner. It’s like the “to-do list” that many of us make each day/week/month. We prioritize what absolutely has to be done… and if there is a moment to spare – and we feel like it – we might do something for someone else. So the notes to those who are sick, grieving and lonely never get written. The kind word spoken to a neighbor never happens because we hurriedly dash to and from our car with barely a wave of acknowledgment. The shut-ins don’t get visited, because let’s face it… that can be a real downer! You can’t attend an event to support your friend or family member - much less see after their pet while they take an important overnight trip. And heaven forbid if they ask you to watch their small children for a few hours! If no other excuse seems plausible … it’s simply not your problem. Let someone else do it!
This works pretty well… until something happens to shake us to our core… or we find that no one is coming to our rescue! Unlike Jennie Burrow’s parents, many of us cannot truly say that we did all we could do … that we had simply exhausted our avenues for help – and were exhausted in the process. We are in many ways a “good enough” people… as this scripture demonstrates… we “harvest” just enough (in every sense of the word). We put our discipleship on the back burner in favor of the things we want to accomplish. We work hard for our money… then squander a good portion of it on things that truly are unimportant. Many of us barely get buy in many areas of life. But since we don’t have to expend a lot of time and energy in the process, we figure we are doing okay. All the while, we short-change God and the purpose to which He has called us… and He is not pleased.
I am deeply saddened for the parents of this young mother who could not rid herself of the demons that plagued her. Hopefully she is at peace now. But I can use this sadness to energize my own efforts to get up and get going… to look around for those who need an encouraging word…a smiling face… a phone call… a helping hand or a little assistance of some sort. I can make an effort to reach out to people of all ages and all walks of life, because the love and Good News of Jesus Christ is for everyone. I can stop making excuses and thinking more about my own needs than those of others… and get busy building God’s temple. What about you… whose temple do you have time to build today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 13, 2012
Psalm 37:4
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
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.
As Christmas approaches, millions of children are trying their hardest to be nice so that Santa will bring them every present their heart desires. Yesterday, I listened to a grandmother go through the litany of toys that her grandchild had requested… and most of them are going to be under the tree on Christmas Day! I have to tell you, I am so glad that Timothy is still discovering Santa Claus. He understands that he and Zola must be good and get along so Santa will visit them. But at least for this year, these children have no clue that they can ask for things and expect them! They will be thrilled with whatever surprises are waiting under the tree… and we have all chosen things we feel they need and will enjoy.
Let’s be clear… God is not Santa Claus – or vice versa. I do not mean to make light of our relationship with our Heavenly Father by this analogy. And our relationship with God is not based on whether we are “naughty or nice.” But at the same time, we ask God for all sorts of things every day… and many of us assume that we are “good enough,” He will give them to us. That’s one reason I love this particular translation of Psalm 37:4. It doesn’t say, “Be a good boy or girl, and God will give you everything you want.” It says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” There is a huge difference.
To take delight in the LORD means to find joy and purpose in serving Him… to seek HIS will for your life and to be about the business of pleasing Him. In return, God will supply all of your needs. The “heart’s desires” of a Christian should be to operate in love, peace and happiness while sharing Christ’s love and GOOD NEWS with others. It’s not about wealth and fame… or even “success”… and it’s surely not about material possessions. God knows what we need and how to supply our heart’s desires. If we seek to delight in Him, He will gladly do this for us.
So by all means, be nice this Christmas season. Believe in Santa Claus and enjoy whatever he leaves under your tree. But stay close to God… especially in the coming days. Ask Him to relieve your stresses and frustrations, and to supply your heart’s desires as you seek to be His servant on this earth. Focus more on sharing God’s love and care with others than on asking Him for personal gifts. Then be amazed to see how He blesses you out of His deep and abiding love for you…His faithful servant. “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” Will you recognize – and appreciate - them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you your heart’s desires.
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.
As Christmas approaches, millions of children are trying their hardest to be nice so that Santa will bring them every present their heart desires. Yesterday, I listened to a grandmother go through the litany of toys that her grandchild had requested… and most of them are going to be under the tree on Christmas Day! I have to tell you, I am so glad that Timothy is still discovering Santa Claus. He understands that he and Zola must be good and get along so Santa will visit them. But at least for this year, these children have no clue that they can ask for things and expect them! They will be thrilled with whatever surprises are waiting under the tree… and we have all chosen things we feel they need and will enjoy.
Let’s be clear… God is not Santa Claus – or vice versa. I do not mean to make light of our relationship with our Heavenly Father by this analogy. And our relationship with God is not based on whether we are “naughty or nice.” But at the same time, we ask God for all sorts of things every day… and many of us assume that we are “good enough,” He will give them to us. That’s one reason I love this particular translation of Psalm 37:4. It doesn’t say, “Be a good boy or girl, and God will give you everything you want.” It says, “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” There is a huge difference.
To take delight in the LORD means to find joy and purpose in serving Him… to seek HIS will for your life and to be about the business of pleasing Him. In return, God will supply all of your needs. The “heart’s desires” of a Christian should be to operate in love, peace and happiness while sharing Christ’s love and GOOD NEWS with others. It’s not about wealth and fame… or even “success”… and it’s surely not about material possessions. God knows what we need and how to supply our heart’s desires. If we seek to delight in Him, He will gladly do this for us.
So by all means, be nice this Christmas season. Believe in Santa Claus and enjoy whatever he leaves under your tree. But stay close to God… especially in the coming days. Ask Him to relieve your stresses and frustrations, and to supply your heart’s desires as you seek to be His servant on this earth. Focus more on sharing God’s love and care with others than on asking Him for personal gifts. Then be amazed to see how He blesses you out of His deep and abiding love for you…His faithful servant. “Take delight in the LORD, and He will give you your heart’s desires.” Will you recognize – and appreciate - them?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 11, 2012
Joshua 24:14-18
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.
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.
For the person with an addictive personality, there is no middle ground. An alcoholic can’t have “just one drink.” The person addicted to nicotine cannot smoke a lone cigarette every month or two. Someone hooked on gambling is not able to play one slot machine and walk away. Even if we do not have an addictive personality, many of us have trouble drawing a line in the sand on certain things.
Some of us are permissive parents who cannot say “No” to our children. Others have trouble with budgets and making wise decisions about where and how to spend their money. Still others are so eager to be popular and accepted that they say one thing to one person and another to someone else – and hope the two never meet! The bottom line is that in many instances in life, we are all over the map with regard to who we associate with – and how… where our allegiances lie…and what matters to us!
Even worse, a lot of us cannot decide whether we are totally in with God or not. We want desperately to be “good Christians” – to live well and please God… and most certainly to be assured of an eternity in heaven. But we still want to dabble in sin… to share in juicy gossip or enjoy our “one little vice”… to occasionally slip a little slur or expletive into our conversation or behave badly and chalk it up to “too much to drink” or a “night out with the boys/girls.” You know the phrase… “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” We want to play fast and loose with our faith… and hope that no one (especially GOD) notices!
None of us is perfect, and there will certainly be slip-ups for each of us. But when we come to a place where we can boldly claim, “I am serving the LORD - I have decided to be totally in… to go whole hog… to make every effort to follow Him and live more like Jesus every day,” we have turned a HUGE corner in our Christian faith walk. When we make a concerted effort to lay down the vices and sins – even the most minor of infractions – we have stepped onto a higher plain. We have attained a deeper level of commitment and intimacy with God.
In a way, this passage is telling us to get off the fence. You’re either totally in, or you’re not in at all. You can’t be a recovering addict and still dabble in your addiction. You can’t be a follower of Jesus who desires a deep and meaningful relationship with Him then choose to fiddle with occasional sin or “little vices.” And honestly, if you are fully committed to Christ, you won’t want to do this! But it takes dedication, effort, and a concerted determination to do better – a steadfastness to live for Jesus each and every day.
I can’t adequately express how incredible this is. But I can tell you that the transformation is profound. Living with purpose and an “all-in” commitment to serve and obey God is a game changer! Everything about your life will feel different… better… more focused… and joyful! I know that many people feel that choosing to wholeheartedly serve God will mean giving up something “fun” or comfortable. But the truth is that this is liberation in its highest form!
Choose who you will serve… the choice IS yours! But as for me and my house, we are serving the LORD… and this has made all the difference! Are you ready to do the same?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
The people replied, “We would never abandon the Lord and serve other gods. For the Lord our God is the one who rescued us and our ancestors from slavery in the land of Egypt. He performed mighty miracles before our very eyes. As we traveled through the wilderness among our enemies, he preserved us. It was the Lord who drove out the Amorites and the other nations living here in the land. So we, too, will serve the Lord, for he alone is our God.
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.
For the person with an addictive personality, there is no middle ground. An alcoholic can’t have “just one drink.” The person addicted to nicotine cannot smoke a lone cigarette every month or two. Someone hooked on gambling is not able to play one slot machine and walk away. Even if we do not have an addictive personality, many of us have trouble drawing a line in the sand on certain things.
Some of us are permissive parents who cannot say “No” to our children. Others have trouble with budgets and making wise decisions about where and how to spend their money. Still others are so eager to be popular and accepted that they say one thing to one person and another to someone else – and hope the two never meet! The bottom line is that in many instances in life, we are all over the map with regard to who we associate with – and how… where our allegiances lie…and what matters to us!
Even worse, a lot of us cannot decide whether we are totally in with God or not. We want desperately to be “good Christians” – to live well and please God… and most certainly to be assured of an eternity in heaven. But we still want to dabble in sin… to share in juicy gossip or enjoy our “one little vice”… to occasionally slip a little slur or expletive into our conversation or behave badly and chalk it up to “too much to drink” or a “night out with the boys/girls.” You know the phrase… “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas!” We want to play fast and loose with our faith… and hope that no one (especially GOD) notices!
None of us is perfect, and there will certainly be slip-ups for each of us. But when we come to a place where we can boldly claim, “I am serving the LORD - I have decided to be totally in… to go whole hog… to make every effort to follow Him and live more like Jesus every day,” we have turned a HUGE corner in our Christian faith walk. When we make a concerted effort to lay down the vices and sins – even the most minor of infractions – we have stepped onto a higher plain. We have attained a deeper level of commitment and intimacy with God.
In a way, this passage is telling us to get off the fence. You’re either totally in, or you’re not in at all. You can’t be a recovering addict and still dabble in your addiction. You can’t be a follower of Jesus who desires a deep and meaningful relationship with Him then choose to fiddle with occasional sin or “little vices.” And honestly, if you are fully committed to Christ, you won’t want to do this! But it takes dedication, effort, and a concerted determination to do better – a steadfastness to live for Jesus each and every day.
I can’t adequately express how incredible this is. But I can tell you that the transformation is profound. Living with purpose and an “all-in” commitment to serve and obey God is a game changer! Everything about your life will feel different… better… more focused… and joyful! I know that many people feel that choosing to wholeheartedly serve God will mean giving up something “fun” or comfortable. But the truth is that this is liberation in its highest form!
Choose who you will serve… the choice IS yours! But as for me and my house, we are serving the LORD… and this has made all the difference! Are you ready to do the same?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 24, 2012
June 24 ~ Acts 2:7
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Scripture taken from the The King James Version present on BibleGateway.com, which matches the 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States.
This morning I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility. She wanted to go outside and sit on the porch, but it was already 93 degrees in the shade, so I suggested we go to the dining room. “Would you like to hear me play some hymns?” I asked. “YES!” she said enthusiastically. I positioned her beside the piano in the dining room and began to play some of her favorites. Soon, several residents had joined us, and one lady sang virtually every hymn I played. She sang strongly and knew all the words. I tried to play each hymn through at least twice to give her time to really recognize it and sing along.
As I played the hymns, I considered how some of them remind me of Holy Communion, as they are often played during this service. “Nearer My God to Thee,” “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds,” and “Faith of Our Fathers” come to mind as some of the “Communion hymns” I recall. So I asked my grandmother, “Would you be interested in taking Communion again?” The answer was “Yes!” and I talked with her and a table-mate, who belongs to my church, about receiving Holy Communion.
When I rose to leave, a man at a nearby table motioned for me to come to him. He asked, “If you are going to have Communion, are you going to serve it once a week, like the Bible says?” Another man at his table looked at him, perplexed, and said, “Where does it say that in the Bible?” The first man said he didn’t know the exact verse, but the Bible says that they gathered once a week at the church to “break bread.” “What else could that mean?” he asked. Man #2 and I almost simultaneously replied, “… to share a meal!” I can’t repeat what Man #1 said to that, but it was not nice… and he was not happy! I wished them a good day and left, feeling like I might have started a religious World War III!
After I got home, I did some Google searches for Bible translations of the phrase “break bread” – and the Greek meaning of these words. I discovered several websites that address this very question, but I particularly liked this one… http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx168.htm ... check it out if you like. I don’t know the author, Al Maxey - a Church of Christ pastor in New Mexico - but he addresses several verses in Acts that refer to the breaking of bread. He notes that many newer translations have decided that this means “Holy Communion.”
But Maxey concludes: "Thus, are we reading back into the text what we want it to say, or need it to say, in order to fit our practice?!" Sadly, I think that is very often exactly what is taking place…we impose our theology upon the text, rather than drawing our theology from the text.
The blunt reality is -- and many seem very reluctant to face this -- we simply have insufficient data with regard to the phrase "breaking bread" to insist upon any one interpretation or practice over another. Yes, we all have our personal convictions, and that is good. We have also embraced certain traditional practices based upon those shared convictions, and that also is fine. What we must never do, however, is assume that all those who differ with us are godless wretches with dishonest motives and darkened hearts who are bound straight for the torments of hell. This is the perspective of militant factionists and sectarians, and does not reflect the spirit of Christ Jesus. We need to rise above such ignorance and ignominy.
We are children of God ... we can do better than that! Love demands it; Unity demands it; our Witness to the world demands it. May God help us all to live and love outside the guarded gates of our dogma, for when we do so we enjoy the blessings of the expanded parameters of God's household of faith. ‘Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread’ (1 Cor. 10:17).”
I could not say this any better. We twist and turn the words of the Bible to suit our needs and our circumstances… and “breaking bread” is the tip of the iceberg! And as Rev. Maxey says, we are not serving as the hands and feet of Jesus by doing this! I honestly don’t believe that God is keeping a count of how frequently we take Holy Communion… particularly in comparison to how we behave the rest of the time! This experience reminded me to check my own thoughts and actions and see where I might be putting my desires and influences on God’s word for my life, rather than truly hearing what He is saying to me. I probably should do this more frequently… and I would invite you to do the same.
©2012 Debbie Robus
And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.
Scripture taken from the The King James Version present on BibleGateway.com, which matches the 1987 printing. The KJV is public domain in the United States.
This morning I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility. She wanted to go outside and sit on the porch, but it was already 93 degrees in the shade, so I suggested we go to the dining room. “Would you like to hear me play some hymns?” I asked. “YES!” she said enthusiastically. I positioned her beside the piano in the dining room and began to play some of her favorites. Soon, several residents had joined us, and one lady sang virtually every hymn I played. She sang strongly and knew all the words. I tried to play each hymn through at least twice to give her time to really recognize it and sing along.
As I played the hymns, I considered how some of them remind me of Holy Communion, as they are often played during this service. “Nearer My God to Thee,” “Blessed Be the Tie That Binds,” and “Faith of Our Fathers” come to mind as some of the “Communion hymns” I recall. So I asked my grandmother, “Would you be interested in taking Communion again?” The answer was “Yes!” and I talked with her and a table-mate, who belongs to my church, about receiving Holy Communion.
When I rose to leave, a man at a nearby table motioned for me to come to him. He asked, “If you are going to have Communion, are you going to serve it once a week, like the Bible says?” Another man at his table looked at him, perplexed, and said, “Where does it say that in the Bible?” The first man said he didn’t know the exact verse, but the Bible says that they gathered once a week at the church to “break bread.” “What else could that mean?” he asked. Man #2 and I almost simultaneously replied, “… to share a meal!” I can’t repeat what Man #1 said to that, but it was not nice… and he was not happy! I wished them a good day and left, feeling like I might have started a religious World War III!
After I got home, I did some Google searches for Bible translations of the phrase “break bread” – and the Greek meaning of these words. I discovered several websites that address this very question, but I particularly liked this one… http://www.zianet.com/maxey/reflx168.htm ... check it out if you like. I don’t know the author, Al Maxey - a Church of Christ pastor in New Mexico - but he addresses several verses in Acts that refer to the breaking of bread. He notes that many newer translations have decided that this means “Holy Communion.”
But Maxey concludes: "Thus, are we reading back into the text what we want it to say, or need it to say, in order to fit our practice?!" Sadly, I think that is very often exactly what is taking place…we impose our theology upon the text, rather than drawing our theology from the text.
The blunt reality is -- and many seem very reluctant to face this -- we simply have insufficient data with regard to the phrase "breaking bread" to insist upon any one interpretation or practice over another. Yes, we all have our personal convictions, and that is good. We have also embraced certain traditional practices based upon those shared convictions, and that also is fine. What we must never do, however, is assume that all those who differ with us are godless wretches with dishonest motives and darkened hearts who are bound straight for the torments of hell. This is the perspective of militant factionists and sectarians, and does not reflect the spirit of Christ Jesus. We need to rise above such ignorance and ignominy.
We are children of God ... we can do better than that! Love demands it; Unity demands it; our Witness to the world demands it. May God help us all to live and love outside the guarded gates of our dogma, for when we do so we enjoy the blessings of the expanded parameters of God's household of faith. ‘Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body; for we all partake of the one bread’ (1 Cor. 10:17).”
I could not say this any better. We twist and turn the words of the Bible to suit our needs and our circumstances… and “breaking bread” is the tip of the iceberg! And as Rev. Maxey says, we are not serving as the hands and feet of Jesus by doing this! I honestly don’t believe that God is keeping a count of how frequently we take Holy Communion… particularly in comparison to how we behave the rest of the time! This experience reminded me to check my own thoughts and actions and see where I might be putting my desires and influences on God’s word for my life, rather than truly hearing what He is saying to me. I probably should do this more frequently… and I would invite you to do the same.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 12, 2012
Deuteronomy 10:12-13
So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life.
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.
Over the weekend, my husband and I attended the wedding of one of my former Sunday School students, whose parents are good friends of ours. As we were seated, the girls who were presiding over the guest book handed us a card on which to sign our name. “Write out some advice for the couple,” they told us. I signed our names to the card and wrote, “Always put God first… and never go to bed angry.” Had I thought a little longer and harder, I could have possibly written something clever, but I’m not sure I could have written anything that will serve them better in life. I wish I had been able to quote Deuteronomy 10:12-13… because this passage says it all in a neat, concise form!
I could also have quoted Mark 12:30… “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (KJV) But truly, when we put God first, everything else falls into place, doesn’t it? Because to truly put Him first, we must follow the road He sets out for us… love Him… serve Him with everything we have in us… and obey His commandments and regulations. When we do this, we can’t help but live a good life.
When you think about your own life… and times when you feel like things weren’t going so well… just how close were you to God? Did you trust Him and praise Him even when you suffered illness or injury – loss of one kind of another – or something of a failed experience? Did you continue to look to God for strength when things were going extraordinarily well… or did you get cocky and decide you could handle things on your own? Do you stew and stress, argue and fight, criticize and complain… or do you “love one another” as outlined in 1 John 4:7-12? Do you look the other way and pretend not to hear when others rebuke God or take His name in vain? Do you truly respect and revere Him at all times?
In order to fully serve God, we have to live in His presence in both the big things and the little ones. We have to follow the road He sets out for us every day… not just when it feels good or we are in dire straits.
The more I think about it, the more I believe my advice to the newlyweds was solid. When we truly put God first in everything, the rest will follow. Life may not always be easy – or fun – but God will bless us in the end… and the results will all be good. Are you putting God first in everything? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
So now Israel, what do you think God expects from you? Just this: Live in his presence in holy reverence, follow the road he sets out for you, love him, serve God, your God, with everything you have in you, obey the commandments and regulations of God that I'm commanding you today—live a good life.
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.
Over the weekend, my husband and I attended the wedding of one of my former Sunday School students, whose parents are good friends of ours. As we were seated, the girls who were presiding over the guest book handed us a card on which to sign our name. “Write out some advice for the couple,” they told us. I signed our names to the card and wrote, “Always put God first… and never go to bed angry.” Had I thought a little longer and harder, I could have possibly written something clever, but I’m not sure I could have written anything that will serve them better in life. I wish I had been able to quote Deuteronomy 10:12-13… because this passage says it all in a neat, concise form!
I could also have quoted Mark 12:30… “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” (KJV) But truly, when we put God first, everything else falls into place, doesn’t it? Because to truly put Him first, we must follow the road He sets out for us… love Him… serve Him with everything we have in us… and obey His commandments and regulations. When we do this, we can’t help but live a good life.
When you think about your own life… and times when you feel like things weren’t going so well… just how close were you to God? Did you trust Him and praise Him even when you suffered illness or injury – loss of one kind of another – or something of a failed experience? Did you continue to look to God for strength when things were going extraordinarily well… or did you get cocky and decide you could handle things on your own? Do you stew and stress, argue and fight, criticize and complain… or do you “love one another” as outlined in 1 John 4:7-12? Do you look the other way and pretend not to hear when others rebuke God or take His name in vain? Do you truly respect and revere Him at all times?
In order to fully serve God, we have to live in His presence in both the big things and the little ones. We have to follow the road He sets out for us every day… not just when it feels good or we are in dire straits.
The more I think about it, the more I believe my advice to the newlyweds was solid. When we truly put God first in everything, the rest will follow. Life may not always be easy – or fun – but God will bless us in the end… and the results will all be good. Are you putting God first in everything? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 4, 2012
Philippians 3:7-11
But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, so that somehow I also may be raised to life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How do you measure success? When I was a little girl, I thought I wanted to be a nurse. (I didn’t realize that I don’t do well with needles – shots, IVs, etc.) My grandmother said, “If you’re going to be a nurse, become a doctor instead… they make more money!” My other grandmother said, “Marry a rich man!” To a large extent, both women viewed success in terms of dollars and cents. And that is not an uncommon opinion. Just turn on the television and look at how success is portrayed… fancy houses, sports cars, diamonds and designer clothes, jobs that pay six figures, and a high public profile.
Did it ever occur to you that when we talk to someone about his/her goals in life, we don’t encourage them to “Be the most humble, faithful servant of Christ you can be” – as if that were a noble calling? We may toss it casually into the conversation along with, “You need to get a college degree,” and “Pick a career that has good earning potential.” We don’t encourage others to pursue a degree or career in an area that will serve others – unless it pays well. We don’t look at what God might be able to do with a coach or teacher in a low-paying position… the social worker who works for the local welfare office or juvenile court… or the nurses’ aides who care for the elderly in a skilled care facility. When we go on vacation, we want our hotel room to be spotlessly clean, but we don’t consider the people who will make sure this is how we find it… or the wait staff who serves us at our favorite restaurant! We often fail to recognize the importance of stay-at-home moms or the daycare workers who nurture our children.
Maybe… just maybe… the people who serve others in low-paying, thankless jobs are right where God wanted them to be. Maybe they have discovered that the things the world thinks are important are like garbage compared to the joy of seeking and serving Christ in all things. Is it possible that the most successful people on earth are not necessarily those with tons of money… but rather, those who spend their time and energy getting closer to God and belonging totally to Him? It’s that old adage, “Bloom where you are planted” in action, coupled with a hefty challenge to get our priorities straight!
This is not to say that everyone in a low-paying, or blue collar job is there because he/she wants to be – or feels that this is where God wants them to serve. This also doesn’t mean you can’t get close to God and be well-educated, highly paid, popular, and prestigious. But wealth and status should not be the ultimate goals of a Christian disciple who has humbly committed himself/herself to Jesus and His service.
Regardless of your stage and station in life, it is never too late to stop and take stock… to re-evaluate your goals and aspirations. You may find that you have lost your passion for the things that once held such allure and excitement for you. If you are ready to really serve Jesus and be more like Him, you will probably find that your priorities are changing. And this could be the beginning of a total redefinition of your idea of success… one with Eternal and everlasting results. Make Jesus your passion… serve Him first and foremost… and see where He takes you. Get ready to be amazed at how “successful” you truly are.
©2012 Debbie Robus
But Christ has shown me that what I once thought was valuable is worthless. Nothing is as wonderful as knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I have given up everything else and count it all as garbage. All I want is Christ and to know that I belong to him. I could not make myself acceptable to God by obeying the Law of Moses. God accepted me simply because of my faith in Christ. All I want is to know Christ and the power that raised him to life. I want to suffer and die as he did, so that somehow I also may be raised to life.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
How do you measure success? When I was a little girl, I thought I wanted to be a nurse. (I didn’t realize that I don’t do well with needles – shots, IVs, etc.) My grandmother said, “If you’re going to be a nurse, become a doctor instead… they make more money!” My other grandmother said, “Marry a rich man!” To a large extent, both women viewed success in terms of dollars and cents. And that is not an uncommon opinion. Just turn on the television and look at how success is portrayed… fancy houses, sports cars, diamonds and designer clothes, jobs that pay six figures, and a high public profile.
Did it ever occur to you that when we talk to someone about his/her goals in life, we don’t encourage them to “Be the most humble, faithful servant of Christ you can be” – as if that were a noble calling? We may toss it casually into the conversation along with, “You need to get a college degree,” and “Pick a career that has good earning potential.” We don’t encourage others to pursue a degree or career in an area that will serve others – unless it pays well. We don’t look at what God might be able to do with a coach or teacher in a low-paying position… the social worker who works for the local welfare office or juvenile court… or the nurses’ aides who care for the elderly in a skilled care facility. When we go on vacation, we want our hotel room to be spotlessly clean, but we don’t consider the people who will make sure this is how we find it… or the wait staff who serves us at our favorite restaurant! We often fail to recognize the importance of stay-at-home moms or the daycare workers who nurture our children.
Maybe… just maybe… the people who serve others in low-paying, thankless jobs are right where God wanted them to be. Maybe they have discovered that the things the world thinks are important are like garbage compared to the joy of seeking and serving Christ in all things. Is it possible that the most successful people on earth are not necessarily those with tons of money… but rather, those who spend their time and energy getting closer to God and belonging totally to Him? It’s that old adage, “Bloom where you are planted” in action, coupled with a hefty challenge to get our priorities straight!
This is not to say that everyone in a low-paying, or blue collar job is there because he/she wants to be – or feels that this is where God wants them to serve. This also doesn’t mean you can’t get close to God and be well-educated, highly paid, popular, and prestigious. But wealth and status should not be the ultimate goals of a Christian disciple who has humbly committed himself/herself to Jesus and His service.
Regardless of your stage and station in life, it is never too late to stop and take stock… to re-evaluate your goals and aspirations. You may find that you have lost your passion for the things that once held such allure and excitement for you. If you are ready to really serve Jesus and be more like Him, you will probably find that your priorities are changing. And this could be the beginning of a total redefinition of your idea of success… one with Eternal and everlasting results. Make Jesus your passion… serve Him first and foremost… and see where He takes you. Get ready to be amazed at how “successful” you truly are.
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 4, 2012
Job1:6-12
One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?” Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.” Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.”
“Why shouldn’t he respect you?” Satan remarked. “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”
The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don’t harm Job.” Then Satan left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This has been a challenging week. But as many have pointed out, God is in control. All I have to do is rest in Him. And I really am trying to do that… hopefully pretty well! I know that God has a wall of protection around me, my grandmother, and my family. He has shown me this over and again. He can take away lots of material things. He can allow challenges and temporary setbacks. But ultimately, I believe He has said to Satan, “Do what you want with anything that belongs to her, but do not harm HER or her family!”
I believe that Satan knows who he can and cannot touch. And when God tells the devil to leave someone alone, I believe there is a covenant in place between them for this to happen. So I want to be extra certain that I operate within the wall of protection that God offers. I want to respect God and refuse to do evil. I want to serve Him – and serve well!
I’m not being arrogant when I say that I believe the devil can’t touch me! If you trust God, serve Him and respect Him - and seek His will - I think you can say the very same thing. I find this incredibly comforting… and I am at peace with so many decisions and outcomes that I have experienced – especially in the last few days. God has my back! Does He have yours?
©2012 Debbie Robus
One day, when the angels had gathered around the Lord, and Satan was there with them, the Lord asked, “Satan, where have you been?” Satan replied, “I have been going all over the earth.” Then the Lord asked, “What do you think of my servant Job? No one on earth is like him—he is a truly good person, who respects me and refuses to do evil.”
“Why shouldn’t he respect you?” Satan remarked. “You are like a wall protecting not only him, but his entire family and all his property. You make him successful in whatever he does, and his flocks and herds are everywhere. Try taking away everything he owns, and he will curse you to your face.”
The Lord replied, “All right, Satan, do what you want with anything that belongs to him, but don’t harm Job.” Then Satan left.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This has been a challenging week. But as many have pointed out, God is in control. All I have to do is rest in Him. And I really am trying to do that… hopefully pretty well! I know that God has a wall of protection around me, my grandmother, and my family. He has shown me this over and again. He can take away lots of material things. He can allow challenges and temporary setbacks. But ultimately, I believe He has said to Satan, “Do what you want with anything that belongs to her, but do not harm HER or her family!”
I believe that Satan knows who he can and cannot touch. And when God tells the devil to leave someone alone, I believe there is a covenant in place between them for this to happen. So I want to be extra certain that I operate within the wall of protection that God offers. I want to respect God and refuse to do evil. I want to serve Him – and serve well!
I’m not being arrogant when I say that I believe the devil can’t touch me! If you trust God, serve Him and respect Him - and seek His will - I think you can say the very same thing. I find this incredibly comforting… and I am at peace with so many decisions and outcomes that I have experienced – especially in the last few days. God has my back! Does He have yours?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 5, 2012
Romans 8:22-25
We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth. The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I begin to wonder why it is taking God so long to answer many of my prayers. I mentioned a few weeks ago that some of the names and concerns in my prayer journal are the same ones that have been on “the list” for decades! I keep hoping that things will change… that I will see evidence of God’s hand in these lives and circumstances. But I admit… sometimes it is hard to remain patient.
This passage reminds me that God’s answers sometimes involve pain and struggle. If God answered all of my prayers immediately, according to my desires, would I keep asking? If I saw His big picture clearly all at once and everything was easy as pie, would I be able to handle it? If I no longer had the promise of blessings and abundance yet to come, would I lose interest and focus? Without goals and hopes in the LORD, would I drift away from Him and become too comfortable in my own abilities?
I am no longer so much surprised by God as I am impressed! He continues to amaze and bless me in abundance every day. And the more I hope for in Him, the bigger my faith grows. Ultimately, God will answer many of my prayers, according to His will - not mine. And in the end, my hope in Him will be fulfilled when He calls me to heaven for all eternity.
Are you patiently anticipating God’s next move in your life? Do you hope for things not seen… and trust that God is always at work, even when we cannot see direct results? The waiting is hard… but it’s not killing me. In fact, waiting on God… staying hopeful and faithful… is making me stronger. I am growing and expanding in my faith every day, and someday God will give birth to great things as a result. How big are your hopes and dreams in the LORD these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
We know that all creation is still groaning and is in pain, like a woman about to give birth. The Spirit makes us sure about what we will be in the future. But now we groan silently, while we wait for God to show that we are his children. This means that our bodies will also be set free. And this hope is what saves us. But if we already have what we hope for, there is no need to keep on hoping. However, we hope for something we have not yet seen, and we patiently wait for it.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes I begin to wonder why it is taking God so long to answer many of my prayers. I mentioned a few weeks ago that some of the names and concerns in my prayer journal are the same ones that have been on “the list” for decades! I keep hoping that things will change… that I will see evidence of God’s hand in these lives and circumstances. But I admit… sometimes it is hard to remain patient.
This passage reminds me that God’s answers sometimes involve pain and struggle. If God answered all of my prayers immediately, according to my desires, would I keep asking? If I saw His big picture clearly all at once and everything was easy as pie, would I be able to handle it? If I no longer had the promise of blessings and abundance yet to come, would I lose interest and focus? Without goals and hopes in the LORD, would I drift away from Him and become too comfortable in my own abilities?
I am no longer so much surprised by God as I am impressed! He continues to amaze and bless me in abundance every day. And the more I hope for in Him, the bigger my faith grows. Ultimately, God will answer many of my prayers, according to His will - not mine. And in the end, my hope in Him will be fulfilled when He calls me to heaven for all eternity.
Are you patiently anticipating God’s next move in your life? Do you hope for things not seen… and trust that God is always at work, even when we cannot see direct results? The waiting is hard… but it’s not killing me. In fact, waiting on God… staying hopeful and faithful… is making me stronger. I am growing and expanding in my faith every day, and someday God will give birth to great things as a result. How big are your hopes and dreams in the LORD these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 27, 2012
Nehemiah 8:2
On the first day of the seventh month, the people came together in the open area in front of the Water Gate. Then they asked Ezra, who was a teacher of the Law of Moses, to read to them from this Law that the LORD had given his people. Ezra the priest came with the Law and stood before the crowd of men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand.
Philippians 1:1-7
From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all of God's people who belong to Christ Jesus at Philippi and to all of your church officials and officers. I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
Every time I think of you, I thank my God. And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.
You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work that God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my grandmother’s journal, she talks of getting together with other women who lived in her neck of the woods to make mattresses out of heavy fabric and cotton provided by the Red Cross. She writes… “We didn’t have mattresses, but we had straw beds and feather beds, until the Red Cross stepped in and started to furnish cotton to make mattresses and comforters. That was lots of fun. We made them in our front yard. Neighbors came in and we would make two or three a day till everyone had some good beds.” With today’s technology, we can order our “Sleep Number” bed online and have it delivered to our doorstep.
A few years ago, a local news reporter conducted an experiment. She rented an empty apartment, and with the aide of only a laptop and an Internet connection, she successfully purchased everything she needed – food, clothing, furnishings, and more – and had it all delivered directly to her. With a few keypad strokes, we can now order movies, concerts, sporting events, and more – and see them instantly on our TVs. We can ship and receive packages worldwide from our doorstep. Many of us can attend school online – or work from home via computer. We can socialize with our friends - and even worship - from the comforts of our easy chair. Think about this… it is entirely possible to go days, weeks – or even longer – without ever leaving home or physically “seeing” another person!
As a result, many of us have no clue how to really interact with others. We do not fully understand the meaning of true partnership and ministry… and how important this is to the body of Christ. Many of us get complacent and lazy as we retreat within ourselves and let our responsibilities as partakers in God’s anointing and favor fall by the wayside. We become self-absorbed and fail to look around at those directly in our path who need to hear from us... to know that we care – and more importantly - that God cares.
Now don’t misunderstand me… there are plenty of ways to serve God from your desk and the comfort of your own home. There are many who are unable to get out and make face-to-face contact with others for a number of reasons. These Disciples can be highly effective servants through prayer, sending notes and e-mail messages of encouragement, making phone calls, and more… doing their part as God directs them. But for many of us, serving God means getting up – and out – and working shoulder-to-shoulder with others.
We are all called to be partners in the ministry of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t know if God’s plan for you is to develop an e-mail prayer chain or to gather your friends to stuff mattresses for those who have no place to lay their head. I believe that God allowed us to create the technological advances that shape today’s world in great part to further His kingdom – and to enhance the ministries that involve actual physical interaction and labor. Our job is to figure out how to use all of the tools God has given us correctly to create partnerships with others… to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ… and to continue the good work He began in each of us. How successful is your partnership with God – and others - these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
On the first day of the seventh month, the people came together in the open area in front of the Water Gate. Then they asked Ezra, who was a teacher of the Law of Moses, to read to them from this Law that the LORD had given his people. Ezra the priest came with the Law and stood before the crowd of men, women, and the children who were old enough to understand.
Philippians 1:1-7
From Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus. To all of God's people who belong to Christ Jesus at Philippi and to all of your church officials and officers. I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!
Every time I think of you, I thank my God. And whenever I mention you in my prayers, it makes me happy. This is because you have taken part with me in spreading the good news from the first day you heard about it. God is the one who began this good work in you, and I am certain that he won't stop before it is complete on the day that Christ Jesus returns.
You have a special place in my heart. So it is only natural for me to feel the way I do. All of you have helped in the work that God has given me, as I defend the good news and tell about it here in jail.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In my grandmother’s journal, she talks of getting together with other women who lived in her neck of the woods to make mattresses out of heavy fabric and cotton provided by the Red Cross. She writes… “We didn’t have mattresses, but we had straw beds and feather beds, until the Red Cross stepped in and started to furnish cotton to make mattresses and comforters. That was lots of fun. We made them in our front yard. Neighbors came in and we would make two or three a day till everyone had some good beds.” With today’s technology, we can order our “Sleep Number” bed online and have it delivered to our doorstep.
A few years ago, a local news reporter conducted an experiment. She rented an empty apartment, and with the aide of only a laptop and an Internet connection, she successfully purchased everything she needed – food, clothing, furnishings, and more – and had it all delivered directly to her. With a few keypad strokes, we can now order movies, concerts, sporting events, and more – and see them instantly on our TVs. We can ship and receive packages worldwide from our doorstep. Many of us can attend school online – or work from home via computer. We can socialize with our friends - and even worship - from the comforts of our easy chair. Think about this… it is entirely possible to go days, weeks – or even longer – without ever leaving home or physically “seeing” another person!
As a result, many of us have no clue how to really interact with others. We do not fully understand the meaning of true partnership and ministry… and how important this is to the body of Christ. Many of us get complacent and lazy as we retreat within ourselves and let our responsibilities as partakers in God’s anointing and favor fall by the wayside. We become self-absorbed and fail to look around at those directly in our path who need to hear from us... to know that we care – and more importantly - that God cares.
Now don’t misunderstand me… there are plenty of ways to serve God from your desk and the comfort of your own home. There are many who are unable to get out and make face-to-face contact with others for a number of reasons. These Disciples can be highly effective servants through prayer, sending notes and e-mail messages of encouragement, making phone calls, and more… doing their part as God directs them. But for many of us, serving God means getting up – and out – and working shoulder-to-shoulder with others.
We are all called to be partners in the ministry of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t know if God’s plan for you is to develop an e-mail prayer chain or to gather your friends to stuff mattresses for those who have no place to lay their head. I believe that God allowed us to create the technological advances that shape today’s world in great part to further His kingdom – and to enhance the ministries that involve actual physical interaction and labor. Our job is to figure out how to use all of the tools God has given us correctly to create partnerships with others… to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ… and to continue the good work He began in each of us. How successful is your partnership with God – and others - these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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