Genesis 1:1-5
When God began creating the heavens
and the earth, the earth was a shapeless, chaotic mass, with the Spirit
of God brooding over the dark vapors.
Then God said, “Let there
be light.” And light appeared. And God was pleased with it and divided
the light from the darkness. He called the light “daytime,” and the
darkness “nighttime.” Together they formed the first day.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
If you want to have your
“disciple muscle” tested, try to explain God to a 3½-year-old! I was
reading a children’s Bible story to Nathan a few days ago about Jesus’
last days on earth. Nathan always asks a zillion questions when we read
books. But this time, as he looked at the pictures he asked, “Is THAT
God? Is THAT God? Well…where IS God?”
At first I told him
that “God is in Heaven,” and he would nod and say, “Granny is in Heaven
with God.” “Yes,” I would agree…that’s right.” But then he asked more
insistently, “But where IS God? Can’t we see Him?” I tried to explain
that we cannot see God in the same way that we see each other – or even
that people saw Jesus. But Nathan didn’t seem satisfied with this.
Finally, I said, “God is in your heart.” “God is in my HEART?” “Not IN
your heart,” I tried to explain again…”but we can feel God with us.
His spirit is in our heart and helps us…He loves us and we love HIM.”
This
will have to be revisited often. I have a sneaky feeling that right
now, Nathan thinks that God is like a little battery pack that
physically resides in his heart. But over time, I hope that “the lights
will go on” and he will understand more fully. This was how it
happened for Timothy – and it was a remarkable transformation to
observe. I am not sure how firm a grasp Zola has yet, but I know that
she does have some understanding of who God is.
I cannot put into
words what it means to know that these three little ones know God – at
least as well as their young intellectual minds will allow. More
importantly, they have a HEART for God. They understand that He loves
and cares for them like no other. They are learning about how God
created the heavens and earth…day and night…the land, sea and sky…and
all of the plants and animals that inhabit our world.
It is
humbling to think that God created ALL of this for ALL of us…including
me and my family. I am honored to be able to share the love of Christ –
and His message – with others, especially young children. I am so
privileged to be able to have a front-row seat to observe how these
little ones are transforming in their relationship with God and growing
to know and love Him more each day. I am honored to be able to share the
love of Christ – and His messages for us – with others each and every
day.
It started with darkness…murky, shapeless, vapor. But oh,
what God has done with that abyss! And He’s not finished! We are
called to share His love and light with others…to tell them of the
amazing sacrifices that He made for us in the form of Jesus…and to
encourage them to make a space in their own hearts for His spirit to
permanently reside. Where IS God for you today…and how will you share
Him with others? Isn’t it time you found the answer?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label sharing God with others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sharing God with others. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for February 24, 2016
Matthew 16:17-18
Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On July 12, 2010, F. Diane Barth, L.C.S.W., a psychotherapist and psychoanalyst in New York City wrote an article for PsychologyToday.com titled “Are You Turning Into Your Mother?” In one paragraph, she noted…”when I was young and my family teased me about being like my mother (who I did not resemble physically), I felt criticized and resentful. I wanted to be different from her, to have my own personality, separate from hers, and besides, I did not like the things they were commenting on (for example, my bossiness!). But today I am grateful to her for having passed onto me numerous characteristics, including her love of books and her interest in writing, her empathy for others, and her incredible stores of energy.”
One of my mother’s dearest friends told me recently…”As long as you breathe, so does your mother.” I know she meant this as a compliment. She implied that I remind her of all of the things she loved about my mother. And like the therapist, F. Diane Barth, I am also grateful to my mother for passing on to me the very characteristics that Barth enumerated about her own mom…love of books and writing, empathy for others, and energy and enthusiasm for life.
More importantly, I am grateful to my mother for her tremendous demonstration of faith and trust in God. In many ways, my mother was the “rock” of our family. Even in her last days, she stoically announced, “I know that I don’t have much time left, and it’s okay.” And she made sure that she imparted last words of strength and wisdom to many family members and friends. Just as Jesus explained to Peter, Mother didn’t develop this strength on her own…it came from God. She listened for His voice, and He granted her insight into the secret of who He really is.
Jesus makes the point to Peter that his assignment is to be the “rock” for others…to spread the word and encourage those in his midst to seek their own “assignment” from God – and act on it. As the “rock” of our family, my mother did a good job of encouraging others to act on their Godly “assignments” – to go forth and serve in the name of Jesus. In this manner, she “fed His sheep”…and I am sure that she has now heard, “Well done!” from God Almighty.
OUR MISSION is clear. We are to build upon the “rock” of Jesus Christ…to learn from the examples of those who have shared His Good News with us…to be a “rock” for others as we encourage them in their faith…and to busy ourselves furthering the church. I’m not talking about building a “church facility”…or even adding to the number of people with whom you may worship on Sundays. I’m talking about increasing God’s Kingdom – and nurturing those who come to know Him so that THEY can also share the Good News with others and continue building on this firm foundation.
As long as I breathe, I guess others really will see traces of my mother…my dad…my grandparents and other important influences in my life. But I HOPE that what others see the most in me is Jesus…His kindness and compassion, grace, mercy - and hope for a future built on the ROCK of God’s love for all of His children.
Are you building on the “Rock” of Jesus and feeding His sheep? When others look at you, what – and WHO – do they see? We all have work to do in this area. My prayer is that we will begin in earnest today. Are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Jesus came back, “God bless you, Simon, son of Jonah! You didn’t get that answer out of books or from teachers. My Father in heaven, God himself, let you in on this secret of who I really am. And now I’m going to tell you who you are, really are. You are Peter, a rock. This is the rock on which I will put together my church, a church so expansive with energy that not even the gates of hell will be able to keep it out.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
On July 12, 2010, F. Diane Barth, L.C.S.W., a psychotherapist and psychoanalyst in New York City wrote an article for PsychologyToday.com titled “Are You Turning Into Your Mother?” In one paragraph, she noted…”when I was young and my family teased me about being like my mother (who I did not resemble physically), I felt criticized and resentful. I wanted to be different from her, to have my own personality, separate from hers, and besides, I did not like the things they were commenting on (for example, my bossiness!). But today I am grateful to her for having passed onto me numerous characteristics, including her love of books and her interest in writing, her empathy for others, and her incredible stores of energy.”
One of my mother’s dearest friends told me recently…”As long as you breathe, so does your mother.” I know she meant this as a compliment. She implied that I remind her of all of the things she loved about my mother. And like the therapist, F. Diane Barth, I am also grateful to my mother for passing on to me the very characteristics that Barth enumerated about her own mom…love of books and writing, empathy for others, and energy and enthusiasm for life.
More importantly, I am grateful to my mother for her tremendous demonstration of faith and trust in God. In many ways, my mother was the “rock” of our family. Even in her last days, she stoically announced, “I know that I don’t have much time left, and it’s okay.” And she made sure that she imparted last words of strength and wisdom to many family members and friends. Just as Jesus explained to Peter, Mother didn’t develop this strength on her own…it came from God. She listened for His voice, and He granted her insight into the secret of who He really is.
Jesus makes the point to Peter that his assignment is to be the “rock” for others…to spread the word and encourage those in his midst to seek their own “assignment” from God – and act on it. As the “rock” of our family, my mother did a good job of encouraging others to act on their Godly “assignments” – to go forth and serve in the name of Jesus. In this manner, she “fed His sheep”…and I am sure that she has now heard, “Well done!” from God Almighty.
OUR MISSION is clear. We are to build upon the “rock” of Jesus Christ…to learn from the examples of those who have shared His Good News with us…to be a “rock” for others as we encourage them in their faith…and to busy ourselves furthering the church. I’m not talking about building a “church facility”…or even adding to the number of people with whom you may worship on Sundays. I’m talking about increasing God’s Kingdom – and nurturing those who come to know Him so that THEY can also share the Good News with others and continue building on this firm foundation.
As long as I breathe, I guess others really will see traces of my mother…my dad…my grandparents and other important influences in my life. But I HOPE that what others see the most in me is Jesus…His kindness and compassion, grace, mercy - and hope for a future built on the ROCK of God’s love for all of His children.
Are you building on the “Rock” of Jesus and feeding His sheep? When others look at you, what – and WHO – do they see? We all have work to do in this area. My prayer is that we will begin in earnest today. Are you with me?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 22, 2016
John 5:20-23
“But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses. Neither he nor the Father shuts anyone out. The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son so that the Son will be honored equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father, for it was the Father’s decision to put the Son in the place of honor."
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.
Every family has traditional meals or foods…”family favorites”…signature dishes. My mother had her share – many given to her by my grandmothers, other relatives, and friends. She passed these along to me and my sister…and to my niece, Jasmine – her grand-daughter. Just this morning, Jasmine told me of finding a recipe book this weekend at my Mother’s that was clearly meant for her. It was filled with hand-written recipes – many with notations as to who shared them or how they were specially prepared. There were even hand-written recipe cards from my grandmothers tucked in between the pages.
My sister and I also have recipe books from my mother – a Christmas gift several years ago. I treasure the hand-written recipes and the notes about a favorite dessert for my grandmother to serve to her coffee klatch – or a dish that Mother remembered her grandmother serving at holiday time. We will save these books – and prepare the dishes – and make sure that our little ones know about them and create them for generations to come. There are no “secret recipes” in this collection. We will gladly share every one of them with anyone who asks.
Here’s where I am headed with this. God gave Jesus the authority to give Eternal life to anyone He chooses…to judge who has truly committed to follow Him… and to create new Disciples to carry on the work of furthering God’s Kingdom. When we share the Good News of Jesus, we are carrying out the desires of God and perpetuating His message to future generations. In a manner of speaking, God left us a “recipe book” for how to live and follow Him – through Jesus Christ. We are to share these “recipes” with the world at large.
There are to be no secrets…we are not to stockpile the Good News of Jesus for ourselves. Eternal Life is available to all who call on the name of Jesus and carry His Holy Spirit in their hearts. We should be ready, willing and able to tell anyone who asks us about Jesus and what He has done for us. We should be prepared to demonstrate His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion at a moment’s notice. True Christian disciples should have no trouble showing others how to walk in faith – or offering them hope in the promises of God through His Son, Jesus.
The other day, I made my grandmother’s “Orange Refrigerator Cake” recipe. My mother prepared this countless times for us when I was growing up. With every bite, I was transported back in time. Childhood memories of life with relatively few cares or worries flooded my mind and heart…and I was reminded of how much I was loved. As we love others with the love of Christ and “feed His sheep,” we are reminded of how much God loves us. We are flooded with hope and joy – peace and comfort – and assurance that Heaven will be a glorious place!
Are you doing your part to share the love of Jesus with others? Are you perpetuating the “traditions” and sharing the “recipe” for Eternal Life in Christ? Are you “feeding His sheep”…or are you selfishly keeping His Good News to yourself? Will this be the day that you start “making memories” and “sharing recipes” for Eternal Life with others? Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
“But you haven’t seen the half of it yet, for in the same way that the Father raises the dead and creates life, so does the Son. The Son gives life to anyone he chooses. Neither he nor the Father shuts anyone out. The Father handed all authority to judge over to the Son so that the Son will be honored equally with the Father. Anyone who dishonors the Son, dishonors the Father, for it was the Father’s decision to put the Son in the place of honor."
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.
Every family has traditional meals or foods…”family favorites”…signature dishes. My mother had her share – many given to her by my grandmothers, other relatives, and friends. She passed these along to me and my sister…and to my niece, Jasmine – her grand-daughter. Just this morning, Jasmine told me of finding a recipe book this weekend at my Mother’s that was clearly meant for her. It was filled with hand-written recipes – many with notations as to who shared them or how they were specially prepared. There were even hand-written recipe cards from my grandmothers tucked in between the pages.
My sister and I also have recipe books from my mother – a Christmas gift several years ago. I treasure the hand-written recipes and the notes about a favorite dessert for my grandmother to serve to her coffee klatch – or a dish that Mother remembered her grandmother serving at holiday time. We will save these books – and prepare the dishes – and make sure that our little ones know about them and create them for generations to come. There are no “secret recipes” in this collection. We will gladly share every one of them with anyone who asks.
Here’s where I am headed with this. God gave Jesus the authority to give Eternal life to anyone He chooses…to judge who has truly committed to follow Him… and to create new Disciples to carry on the work of furthering God’s Kingdom. When we share the Good News of Jesus, we are carrying out the desires of God and perpetuating His message to future generations. In a manner of speaking, God left us a “recipe book” for how to live and follow Him – through Jesus Christ. We are to share these “recipes” with the world at large.
There are to be no secrets…we are not to stockpile the Good News of Jesus for ourselves. Eternal Life is available to all who call on the name of Jesus and carry His Holy Spirit in their hearts. We should be ready, willing and able to tell anyone who asks us about Jesus and what He has done for us. We should be prepared to demonstrate His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion at a moment’s notice. True Christian disciples should have no trouble showing others how to walk in faith – or offering them hope in the promises of God through His Son, Jesus.
The other day, I made my grandmother’s “Orange Refrigerator Cake” recipe. My mother prepared this countless times for us when I was growing up. With every bite, I was transported back in time. Childhood memories of life with relatively few cares or worries flooded my mind and heart…and I was reminded of how much I was loved. As we love others with the love of Christ and “feed His sheep,” we are reminded of how much God loves us. We are flooded with hope and joy – peace and comfort – and assurance that Heaven will be a glorious place!
Are you doing your part to share the love of Jesus with others? Are you perpetuating the “traditions” and sharing the “recipe” for Eternal Life in Christ? Are you “feeding His sheep”…or are you selfishly keeping His Good News to yourself? Will this be the day that you start “making memories” and “sharing recipes” for Eternal Life with others? Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 6, 2014
2 Corinthians 2:14-17
In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.
This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
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.
Greg and I used to live about twenty miles from a community that was home to a paper mill. When the wind was just right, the emissions from that plant settled over our town with an acridity that was unmistakable. We now live in a community that is home to a decorative room fragrance manufacturer, and the aroma that fills our town much of the time is equally unmistakable…but contrastingly sweet and pleasing.
Given the choice, I daresay any of us would choose “The Smell of Christmas®”, “Amaretto Nog”, or “The Smell of Gardenia®” over the sulphurous “rotten-egg” aroma of wood pulp being turned into paper products. To think of our Christian witness as a sweet scent causes us to picture people being drawn to us…wanting some of what we offer. But when we picture a stench like processed wood pulp following us, it’s easy to see how people would be repulsed and turn away or treat us badly.
The thing is…people react to smells differently. What pleases one person might very well be distasteful to another. So while we present the sweet “gardenia” fragrance of Jesus Christ, those who are disinterested or unwilling to hear what we have to say might sense the stench of decomposing wood pulp. There is nothing we can do about this…and we are not called to change God’s message or how we present it in order to please those who rebel against God and the teachings of Jesus.
Let me unpack this for you…through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven and granted unswerving access to God Almighty. He speaks to us directly and covers us in the sweet fragrance of Salvation through Christ Jesus. We’re not to apologize for our faith or pretend to be something else to those who disagree with our message. For them, our “smell” may be a little “off”…but that is for God to sort out. Our job is to stay faithful…to listen to God and follow His lead – always and in all ways.
Scripture tells us that this is not always easy. And I will admit that there are times when it does seem hard – especially when we experience ridicule and mistreatment from others. But for the most part, wearing the “exquisite fragrance” of a life in Christ Jesus makes everything easier…better…less complicated. We know what we are to do…how we are to live…Who we are to serve and represent – we just have to do so!
I am grateful for the sweet aroma of Jesus. I am so humbled and honored to be able to speak to God directly – anytime, anywhere. I proudly wear His perfume and pray that my representation of Jesus will be a pleasing scent to others. Essentially, our discipleship will either be like a sweet-smelling decorative room fragrance that has others saying, “Tell me about that wonderful smell” – or the “rotten-egg” odor of processed wood pulp that has them running for the hills. Which one represents your relationship with Jesus? Which “perfume” are you wearing these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse.
This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
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.
Greg and I used to live about twenty miles from a community that was home to a paper mill. When the wind was just right, the emissions from that plant settled over our town with an acridity that was unmistakable. We now live in a community that is home to a decorative room fragrance manufacturer, and the aroma that fills our town much of the time is equally unmistakable…but contrastingly sweet and pleasing.
Given the choice, I daresay any of us would choose “The Smell of Christmas®”, “Amaretto Nog”, or “The Smell of Gardenia®” over the sulphurous “rotten-egg” aroma of wood pulp being turned into paper products. To think of our Christian witness as a sweet scent causes us to picture people being drawn to us…wanting some of what we offer. But when we picture a stench like processed wood pulp following us, it’s easy to see how people would be repulsed and turn away or treat us badly.
The thing is…people react to smells differently. What pleases one person might very well be distasteful to another. So while we present the sweet “gardenia” fragrance of Jesus Christ, those who are disinterested or unwilling to hear what we have to say might sense the stench of decomposing wood pulp. There is nothing we can do about this…and we are not called to change God’s message or how we present it in order to please those who rebel against God and the teachings of Jesus.
Let me unpack this for you…through the blood of Jesus Christ, we have been forgiven and granted unswerving access to God Almighty. He speaks to us directly and covers us in the sweet fragrance of Salvation through Christ Jesus. We’re not to apologize for our faith or pretend to be something else to those who disagree with our message. For them, our “smell” may be a little “off”…but that is for God to sort out. Our job is to stay faithful…to listen to God and follow His lead – always and in all ways.
Scripture tells us that this is not always easy. And I will admit that there are times when it does seem hard – especially when we experience ridicule and mistreatment from others. But for the most part, wearing the “exquisite fragrance” of a life in Christ Jesus makes everything easier…better…less complicated. We know what we are to do…how we are to live…Who we are to serve and represent – we just have to do so!
I am grateful for the sweet aroma of Jesus. I am so humbled and honored to be able to speak to God directly – anytime, anywhere. I proudly wear His perfume and pray that my representation of Jesus will be a pleasing scent to others. Essentially, our discipleship will either be like a sweet-smelling decorative room fragrance that has others saying, “Tell me about that wonderful smell” – or the “rotten-egg” odor of processed wood pulp that has them running for the hills. Which one represents your relationship with Jesus? Which “perfume” are you wearing these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 7, 2014
Isaiah 55:6-7
Turn to the Lord!
He can still be found.
Call out to God! He is near.
Give up your crooked ways
and your evil thoughts.
Return to the Lord our God.
He will be merciful
and forgive your sins.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few days ago, a friend of mine posted a video of a baptism she performed in her church. She wrote... “God has truly blessed us through this church and her people. Had a steeple dedication this morning and baptized a couple that has been married 73 years. Met on the lawn of the church. He is 94 and she is 90. They have been attending for years and joined the church today. Words cannot express my joy....Thank you Jesus.”
This reminded me of my grandmother’s “companion”, whom she met after my grandfather died in 1984. My grandparents were married almost 52 years. When my grandfather left us, Mam-ma Polly was incredibly lonely. She “kissed a few toads” before she began “keeping company” with Delbert, who everyone called “Deb”. Mam-ma Polly and Deb were inseparable for about seven years. They never married and maintained their own homes...but they did everything together. She cooked breakfast for him at one of their houses, and then they would “garden” or visit others, shop together, and more for much of each day. They both returned to their respective houses many afternoons for a nap before sharing dinner and “Wheel of Fortune” or “Lawrence Welk” together...and three nights a week, they danced at a local social hall. On Sundays they attended church services together.
Deb became like a second grandfather to us. He endeared himself to all of us, and we grew to love him. He was tremendously supportive to Mam-ma Polly when my brother Tim died...and again 13 months later when my dad – her only son – left us for heaven. And then Deb got sick. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Over the course of several weeks, he took some radiation treatments that left him weak and tired, and Mam-ma “nursed” him as best she could.
Here’s the kicker...this sweet, generous, kind and loving man had never given his heart to Jesus. He attended church services with Mam-ma on Sundays, but he really didn’t know much about the Bible...or how much God loved him. He did not have any understanding of spending eternity in heaven at the feet of Jesus. I’m pretty sure Deb knew he had sins in his life...but he did not realize that Jesus could – and would – forgive him of them. Mam-ma Polly set in to change this!
My grandmother began talking to Deb about Jesus...and heaven. She told me that one night as she and Deb sat on the couch, she fell to her knees and - through her tears - she told him, “I don’t think I can bear it if I get to heaven and you’re not there.” She shared with Deb once more how easy it was to ask Jesus to forgive his sins and invite Him to live in his heart...and Deb did exactly that.
This 87-year-old man had served in the Army in Germany during WWII, where he found himself behind enemy lines for several days at one point - and once related to Greg how he felt the “whoosh” of a German bullet as it passed by his ear. Deb had lived all these years without the peace of Jesus in his heart. He had married, reared three children, faced the death of his wife and countless loved ones, and endured a myriad of life experiences...all without the confidence that Jesus was guiding his steps. I am convinced that Jesus poured out His grace and mercy over Deb...that He had His hand on this situation all along...that He placed my grandmother in this man’s path to lead him into a relationship with Jesus – and assured that we will all see him again someday in heaven.
Even though he was sick, Deb was like a “new man”...because he truly was. I bought him a Bible, and as his body betrayed him, he read the scriptures and was renewed. As I sat with him on his last earthly day and held his hand, I knew that Jesus was there...holding him tenderly and ushering him fully into His presence. And as I read my friend’s post about the 90-something couple in her congregation, I was once again reminded...as long as we draw breath, it.is.never.too.late. God can still be found. He will be merciful and forgive our sins, through the blood of Jesus.
My prayer today is two-fold...1) that we would not spend decades without Jesus...that we would turn to Him sooner, rather than later, and walk in His amazing grace and mercy; and 2) that we would take a page from my Mam-ma Polly’s book...that we would “fall to our knees” and make every effort to bring those in our midst into their own personal relationship with Jesus. I pray that we would make sure that heaven is FILLED to overflowing with God’s children...that we would never waste an opportunity to extend the grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and kindness of Jesus Christ to others.
Take some time today to look around you and see who needs to feel the grace and mercy of Jesus...and where He needs you to be the vehicle to convey this. Turn to the LORD...seek His wisdom...share His love with others. It is never too late!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Turn to the Lord!
He can still be found.
Call out to God! He is near.
Give up your crooked ways
and your evil thoughts.
Return to the Lord our God.
He will be merciful
and forgive your sins.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A few days ago, a friend of mine posted a video of a baptism she performed in her church. She wrote... “God has truly blessed us through this church and her people. Had a steeple dedication this morning and baptized a couple that has been married 73 years. Met on the lawn of the church. He is 94 and she is 90. They have been attending for years and joined the church today. Words cannot express my joy....Thank you Jesus.”
This reminded me of my grandmother’s “companion”, whom she met after my grandfather died in 1984. My grandparents were married almost 52 years. When my grandfather left us, Mam-ma Polly was incredibly lonely. She “kissed a few toads” before she began “keeping company” with Delbert, who everyone called “Deb”. Mam-ma Polly and Deb were inseparable for about seven years. They never married and maintained their own homes...but they did everything together. She cooked breakfast for him at one of their houses, and then they would “garden” or visit others, shop together, and more for much of each day. They both returned to their respective houses many afternoons for a nap before sharing dinner and “Wheel of Fortune” or “Lawrence Welk” together...and three nights a week, they danced at a local social hall. On Sundays they attended church services together.
Deb became like a second grandfather to us. He endeared himself to all of us, and we grew to love him. He was tremendously supportive to Mam-ma Polly when my brother Tim died...and again 13 months later when my dad – her only son – left us for heaven. And then Deb got sick. He was diagnosed with bladder cancer. Over the course of several weeks, he took some radiation treatments that left him weak and tired, and Mam-ma “nursed” him as best she could.
Here’s the kicker...this sweet, generous, kind and loving man had never given his heart to Jesus. He attended church services with Mam-ma on Sundays, but he really didn’t know much about the Bible...or how much God loved him. He did not have any understanding of spending eternity in heaven at the feet of Jesus. I’m pretty sure Deb knew he had sins in his life...but he did not realize that Jesus could – and would – forgive him of them. Mam-ma Polly set in to change this!
My grandmother began talking to Deb about Jesus...and heaven. She told me that one night as she and Deb sat on the couch, she fell to her knees and - through her tears - she told him, “I don’t think I can bear it if I get to heaven and you’re not there.” She shared with Deb once more how easy it was to ask Jesus to forgive his sins and invite Him to live in his heart...and Deb did exactly that.
This 87-year-old man had served in the Army in Germany during WWII, where he found himself behind enemy lines for several days at one point - and once related to Greg how he felt the “whoosh” of a German bullet as it passed by his ear. Deb had lived all these years without the peace of Jesus in his heart. He had married, reared three children, faced the death of his wife and countless loved ones, and endured a myriad of life experiences...all without the confidence that Jesus was guiding his steps. I am convinced that Jesus poured out His grace and mercy over Deb...that He had His hand on this situation all along...that He placed my grandmother in this man’s path to lead him into a relationship with Jesus – and assured that we will all see him again someday in heaven.
Even though he was sick, Deb was like a “new man”...because he truly was. I bought him a Bible, and as his body betrayed him, he read the scriptures and was renewed. As I sat with him on his last earthly day and held his hand, I knew that Jesus was there...holding him tenderly and ushering him fully into His presence. And as I read my friend’s post about the 90-something couple in her congregation, I was once again reminded...as long as we draw breath, it.is.never.too.late. God can still be found. He will be merciful and forgive our sins, through the blood of Jesus.
My prayer today is two-fold...1) that we would not spend decades without Jesus...that we would turn to Him sooner, rather than later, and walk in His amazing grace and mercy; and 2) that we would take a page from my Mam-ma Polly’s book...that we would “fall to our knees” and make every effort to bring those in our midst into their own personal relationship with Jesus. I pray that we would make sure that heaven is FILLED to overflowing with God’s children...that we would never waste an opportunity to extend the grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and kindness of Jesus Christ to others.
Take some time today to look around you and see who needs to feel the grace and mercy of Jesus...and where He needs you to be the vehicle to convey this. Turn to the LORD...seek His wisdom...share His love with others. It is never too late!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 21, 2014
Romans 10:14-17
How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”
No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Earlier this spring, our local Chamber of Commerce held a weekend festival. As part of this event, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presented a performance of “The Engine That Thought It Could” in our city park. A friend of mine felt that this would be a fun thing for Timothy to experience, so she personally sent me a message with all of the details about the date, time, and what the performance would entail. My mom and I took Timothy to see the production…and he loved it.
Sadly, this event was not well publicized. So a lot of families that would probably have enjoyed this performance did not attend. Some happened to walk through the park as the play took place on an outdoor stage, and a few stopped to watch for a few minutes. Many had bewildered, “what’s-going-on-here?” looks on their faces. It was really a shame that more people did not realize that this production was happening. But many of them simply “didn’t get the memo.”
In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz maintains that with today’s technology, there is scarcely a soul on the planet who has not had at least the opportunity to hear about Jesus. And maybe she is right. But has the message truly been delivered in a way that everyone can understand? I’d be willing to bet that almost all of the people who walked past this children’s play – or didn’t come to the park at all – have cell phones, Internet connections, televisions, radios and newspapers. They probably shop locally and pass by bulletin boards and storefronts where posters announcing other events are hung. Yet they did not realize that this event was scheduled.
It’s one thing to know who Jesus is…but quite another to truly know who He is! Many people might have seen a poster or notice that listed the children’s play “The Engine that Thought It Could” as part of the spring festival. But because this event was not “talked up” or highlighted more, a lot of them didn’t really pay attention. They may have thought it was something else entirely…relatively unimportant or not of interest…or they may have completely glossed over it and missed it in a list of scheduled activities.
This is what happens sometimes with the message of Jesus Christ. We grow complacent. Jesus becomes one more thing in a list of things that are part of our life…but we don’t “talk Him up” or highlight our relationship with Him – or His message. So a lot of people end up sort of knowing about Jesus…but not really knowing Him. I don’t know if you fall into that category. Perhaps you are one of those who mention your faith in passing – or assume that others will determine that you are a Christian by osmosis! Regardless of where you fit in this scenario, it’s time we all paid more attention and took a more proactive approach to finding God in our own lives…and sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others.
Never let it be said of us that we “didn’t get the memo” about Jesus…or that we failed to spread the word! No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ. Who do you need to tell today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
How can people have faith in the Lord and ask him to save them, if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear, unless someone tells them? And how can anyone tell them without being sent by the Lord? The Scriptures say it is a beautiful sight to see even the feet of someone coming to preach the good news. Yet not everyone has believed the message. For example, the prophet Isaiah asked, “Lord, has anyone believed what we said?”
No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Earlier this spring, our local Chamber of Commerce held a weekend festival. As part of this event, the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre presented a performance of “The Engine That Thought It Could” in our city park. A friend of mine felt that this would be a fun thing for Timothy to experience, so she personally sent me a message with all of the details about the date, time, and what the performance would entail. My mom and I took Timothy to see the production…and he loved it.
Sadly, this event was not well publicized. So a lot of families that would probably have enjoyed this performance did not attend. Some happened to walk through the park as the play took place on an outdoor stage, and a few stopped to watch for a few minutes. Many had bewildered, “what’s-going-on-here?” looks on their faces. It was really a shame that more people did not realize that this production was happening. But many of them simply “didn’t get the memo.”
In her book, Just Give Me Jesus, Anne Graham Lotz maintains that with today’s technology, there is scarcely a soul on the planet who has not had at least the opportunity to hear about Jesus. And maybe she is right. But has the message truly been delivered in a way that everyone can understand? I’d be willing to bet that almost all of the people who walked past this children’s play – or didn’t come to the park at all – have cell phones, Internet connections, televisions, radios and newspapers. They probably shop locally and pass by bulletin boards and storefronts where posters announcing other events are hung. Yet they did not realize that this event was scheduled.
It’s one thing to know who Jesus is…but quite another to truly know who He is! Many people might have seen a poster or notice that listed the children’s play “The Engine that Thought It Could” as part of the spring festival. But because this event was not “talked up” or highlighted more, a lot of them didn’t really pay attention. They may have thought it was something else entirely…relatively unimportant or not of interest…or they may have completely glossed over it and missed it in a list of scheduled activities.
This is what happens sometimes with the message of Jesus Christ. We grow complacent. Jesus becomes one more thing in a list of things that are part of our life…but we don’t “talk Him up” or highlight our relationship with Him – or His message. So a lot of people end up sort of knowing about Jesus…but not really knowing Him. I don’t know if you fall into that category. Perhaps you are one of those who mention your faith in passing – or assume that others will determine that you are a Christian by osmosis! Regardless of where you fit in this scenario, it’s time we all paid more attention and took a more proactive approach to finding God in our own lives…and sharing the message of Jesus Christ with others.
Never let it be said of us that we “didn’t get the memo” about Jesus…or that we failed to spread the word! No one can have faith without hearing the message about Christ. Who do you need to tell today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for May 2, 2014
Jeremiah 29:13
You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Through no fault of their own, countless animals found themselves displaced in the April 27th tornados that ravaged central Arkansas. My Facebook wall is littered with photos of pets that have been found…and some who are still lost. I am thrilled every time I read a post about a happy reunion – and there have been many. People are earnestly seeking pets – and their owners – and there are quite a few “success stories”.
A few months ago, we took Timothy and Zola to the park to play after church one Sunday, and Timothy wandered away from the swings and went on an “exploration”. He was walking farther and farther away from us, but I had my eye on him the entire time. At one point, I could hear him yelling, “HELP! HELP! I’m LOST! Somebody save me!”…but of course, he was not lost at all! He would hold his hands to his face and wail, “WHY! Oh, WHY? Why won’t somebody save me?!” So we pretended to “rescue” him, and he came running to our open arms.
Now here’s the thing…we are never lost to God. Whether we have been tossed about in an actual tornado, the “storms of life”, or the pretend melodrama of a 4-year-old, God knows exactly where we are…and He is there with us. He is there in the rescues…but He is also with us when it seems that no help will ever come. If we look for Him, we will find Him. The trouble is that too many of us aren’t truly looking.
It’s a pretty safe bet that God is not going to literally tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, I’m right here!” So how DO you find God? Start by making Him a part of your daily routine. Talk to Him – often. Read the scriptures and think about the words in terms of your own life. How do they relate to what is happening at this very moment. How can they guide you and give you insights, hope and encouragement? I am confident that you will find that the scriptures are far more relevant and in tune with your life today than you ever imagined. Associate with fellow believers, and learn to share your thoughts and ideas about God…where He is, and how He shows up in your life in all kinds of circumstances.
The next time you feel “lost”…remember that you really aren’t. God is always with you. If you look for Him in earnest, you will find Him. If you make God a part of the very fabric of your life, you will find that He seems to show up more often! He has been there all along…you just didn’t know where to look. And now you do!
©2014 Debbie Robus
You will find me when you seek me, if you look for me in earnest.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Through no fault of their own, countless animals found themselves displaced in the April 27th tornados that ravaged central Arkansas. My Facebook wall is littered with photos of pets that have been found…and some who are still lost. I am thrilled every time I read a post about a happy reunion – and there have been many. People are earnestly seeking pets – and their owners – and there are quite a few “success stories”.
A few months ago, we took Timothy and Zola to the park to play after church one Sunday, and Timothy wandered away from the swings and went on an “exploration”. He was walking farther and farther away from us, but I had my eye on him the entire time. At one point, I could hear him yelling, “HELP! HELP! I’m LOST! Somebody save me!”…but of course, he was not lost at all! He would hold his hands to his face and wail, “WHY! Oh, WHY? Why won’t somebody save me?!” So we pretended to “rescue” him, and he came running to our open arms.
Now here’s the thing…we are never lost to God. Whether we have been tossed about in an actual tornado, the “storms of life”, or the pretend melodrama of a 4-year-old, God knows exactly where we are…and He is there with us. He is there in the rescues…but He is also with us when it seems that no help will ever come. If we look for Him, we will find Him. The trouble is that too many of us aren’t truly looking.
It’s a pretty safe bet that God is not going to literally tap you on the shoulder and say, “Hey, I’m right here!” So how DO you find God? Start by making Him a part of your daily routine. Talk to Him – often. Read the scriptures and think about the words in terms of your own life. How do they relate to what is happening at this very moment. How can they guide you and give you insights, hope and encouragement? I am confident that you will find that the scriptures are far more relevant and in tune with your life today than you ever imagined. Associate with fellow believers, and learn to share your thoughts and ideas about God…where He is, and how He shows up in your life in all kinds of circumstances.
The next time you feel “lost”…remember that you really aren’t. God is always with you. If you look for Him in earnest, you will find Him. If you make God a part of the very fabric of your life, you will find that He seems to show up more often! He has been there all along…you just didn’t know where to look. And now you do!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 18, 2011
Psalm 78:1-4
My friends, I beg you to listen as I teach. I will give instruction and explain the mystery of what happened long ago. These are things we learned from our ancestors, and we will tell them to the next generation. We won't keep secret the glorious deeds and the mighty miracles of the LORD.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For as long as I can remember, my grandparents have told me about “way back when” – their own history… and that of their ancestors. They have passed on a legacy to me of good and bad times… of heartaches and struggles – and great accomplishments. I know how hard my Grand-dad worked to get a high school diploma, coming to Heber Springs from Wilburn when he was 19 and boarding “in town” – stoking the stove at the high school each night with coal while his classmates slept snugly in warm beds at home, so that he could afford to attend school alongside them. I have his high school diploma, Senior Class photo and other memorabilia from the Class of 1930… framed and hanging on my office wall.
I’ve heard countless stories about how my mother-in-law and her sisters boarded in Iowa City, miles from their country farm, so that they could attend U-High – the high school associated with the University of Iowa – in the early 1940s. She has told me how many of her instructors were authors of the textbooks from which she studied… how she had access to indoor swimming and all of the amenities of the college… and how she and her sisters worked for pennies to buy food to supplement the home-canned goods her mother sent with them every weekend or two when they would return home for a visit. We’ve visited the campus with her and even walked through classrooms where she and her sisters once sat for lectures.
Were it not for the oral histories of our parents and grandparents, teachers and others, we would not know how we got here. We wouldn’t know the hard work and struggles, the heartaches and hardships that were endured to pave the way. We would not know the achievements and accomplishments of those who came before us. And all of this information does matter.
But none of this holds a candle to the legacy of our Heavenly Father and the servants and saints who paved the way for us to be able to worship God as we do today. What if nobody had shared the Good News of Jesus Christ? What if no one took the time to tell children and young people about God and His mighty works? What if the message of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection three days later were never told? What if nobody ever shared how God had worked in their life and blessed them? What if we never did this for anyone else?
Verse 7 of this Psalm says “Never forget the works of God, but keep His commands to the letter.” Don’t keep God a secret! Share His work within you with others. Keep the Spiritual history alive in every sense of the word. Pass along to the next generation the marvelous fame and fortune of God Almighty! Share what He has done – and is doing – in your life with others and be a part of His legacy.
©2011 Debbie Robus
My friends, I beg you to listen as I teach. I will give instruction and explain the mystery of what happened long ago. These are things we learned from our ancestors, and we will tell them to the next generation. We won't keep secret the glorious deeds and the mighty miracles of the LORD.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
For as long as I can remember, my grandparents have told me about “way back when” – their own history… and that of their ancestors. They have passed on a legacy to me of good and bad times… of heartaches and struggles – and great accomplishments. I know how hard my Grand-dad worked to get a high school diploma, coming to Heber Springs from Wilburn when he was 19 and boarding “in town” – stoking the stove at the high school each night with coal while his classmates slept snugly in warm beds at home, so that he could afford to attend school alongside them. I have his high school diploma, Senior Class photo and other memorabilia from the Class of 1930… framed and hanging on my office wall.
I’ve heard countless stories about how my mother-in-law and her sisters boarded in Iowa City, miles from their country farm, so that they could attend U-High – the high school associated with the University of Iowa – in the early 1940s. She has told me how many of her instructors were authors of the textbooks from which she studied… how she had access to indoor swimming and all of the amenities of the college… and how she and her sisters worked for pennies to buy food to supplement the home-canned goods her mother sent with them every weekend or two when they would return home for a visit. We’ve visited the campus with her and even walked through classrooms where she and her sisters once sat for lectures.
Were it not for the oral histories of our parents and grandparents, teachers and others, we would not know how we got here. We wouldn’t know the hard work and struggles, the heartaches and hardships that were endured to pave the way. We would not know the achievements and accomplishments of those who came before us. And all of this information does matter.
But none of this holds a candle to the legacy of our Heavenly Father and the servants and saints who paved the way for us to be able to worship God as we do today. What if nobody had shared the Good News of Jesus Christ? What if no one took the time to tell children and young people about God and His mighty works? What if the message of Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection three days later were never told? What if nobody ever shared how God had worked in their life and blessed them? What if we never did this for anyone else?
Verse 7 of this Psalm says “Never forget the works of God, but keep His commands to the letter.” Don’t keep God a secret! Share His work within you with others. Keep the Spiritual history alive in every sense of the word. Pass along to the next generation the marvelous fame and fortune of God Almighty! Share what He has done – and is doing – in your life with others and be a part of His legacy.
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 13, 2011
Psalm 66:16-20
All who worship God, come here and listen; I will tell you everything God has done for me. I prayed to the Lord, and I praised him. If my thoughts had been sinful, he would have refused to hear me. But God did listen and answered my prayer. Let's praise God! He listened when I prayed, and he is always kind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we see a friend or family member and ask, “What’s new?”… we often get an earful. People are ready to share their latest ailments, challenges, mishaps, and more… and I am as guilty as the next person. Wouldn’t we be surprised if we asked “What’s new?” and someone replied, “God is meeting all my needs… He blessed me with a good night’s rest and I’m feeling great. All of my bills are paid and I have plenty to eat… and best of all, He’s got a mansion waiting for me when I get to heaven!”?!
Honestly, we would probably 1) take a step backward, and 2) wonder if the person speaking was thinking clearly! We are just not accustomed to hearing such good news… people simply do not express their blessings as frequently as they detail their misfortunes and the negative aspects of their lives. It’s as if we think people either won’t be interested in hearing that we have no complaints… or they will think we are bragging.
The truth is that we have no basis for this thinking… because most of us have never tried speaking positively – at least not without peppering in negative comments, as well. The late TV broadcaster Paul Eells said that he tried to make every person he encountered feel like they were the only person in the room. He did this, in part, by focusing on that person and his/her needs rather than his own. And I can’t help but believe that when Paul did share about himself with others, it was more often positive in nature than negative.
We really do need to change our attitude in this area. We need to start making a concerted effort to speak positively… to share Good News and talk about the great things God is doing for us each and every minute of the day. This is not a denial that you have problems… everyone does! But what if instead of sharing your problem… you shared how God is solving it?! The difference is simply a shift in attitude. Surely our great God deserves this… and more. Isn’t it time we started speaking of His power and how He answers our prayers? Are you willing to give this a try?
©2011 Debbie Robus
All who worship God, come here and listen; I will tell you everything God has done for me. I prayed to the Lord, and I praised him. If my thoughts had been sinful, he would have refused to hear me. But God did listen and answered my prayer. Let's praise God! He listened when I prayed, and he is always kind.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When we see a friend or family member and ask, “What’s new?”… we often get an earful. People are ready to share their latest ailments, challenges, mishaps, and more… and I am as guilty as the next person. Wouldn’t we be surprised if we asked “What’s new?” and someone replied, “God is meeting all my needs… He blessed me with a good night’s rest and I’m feeling great. All of my bills are paid and I have plenty to eat… and best of all, He’s got a mansion waiting for me when I get to heaven!”?!
Honestly, we would probably 1) take a step backward, and 2) wonder if the person speaking was thinking clearly! We are just not accustomed to hearing such good news… people simply do not express their blessings as frequently as they detail their misfortunes and the negative aspects of their lives. It’s as if we think people either won’t be interested in hearing that we have no complaints… or they will think we are bragging.
The truth is that we have no basis for this thinking… because most of us have never tried speaking positively – at least not without peppering in negative comments, as well. The late TV broadcaster Paul Eells said that he tried to make every person he encountered feel like they were the only person in the room. He did this, in part, by focusing on that person and his/her needs rather than his own. And I can’t help but believe that when Paul did share about himself with others, it was more often positive in nature than negative.
We really do need to change our attitude in this area. We need to start making a concerted effort to speak positively… to share Good News and talk about the great things God is doing for us each and every minute of the day. This is not a denial that you have problems… everyone does! But what if instead of sharing your problem… you shared how God is solving it?! The difference is simply a shift in attitude. Surely our great God deserves this… and more. Isn’t it time we started speaking of His power and how He answers our prayers? Are you willing to give this a try?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 22, 2011
Mark 4:24-25
Listen carefully to what you hear! The way you treat others will be the way you will be treated--and even worse. Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose what little they have.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine posted this quote on Facebook recently: “To get what you want, help others get what they want first.” A few days later, I was reading Joel Osteen’s book, Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You*, and I read this… “If you want your life to increase, if you want your life to get better, then you need to help improve somebody else’s life. If you will help somebody else become successful, God will make sure that you are successful.”
You may be wondering… “What do I have to give? I’m just a kid… I’m broke…I’m old… I’m disabled or handicapped in some way… I’m busy… I’m shy… I’m unattractive… I need help myself!” The truth is, you are a precious child of the Most High God, and as the saying goes, “God don’t make junk!” You have something to offer to someone that he/she desperately needs! It may be a smile… a kind word…your compassion and forgiveness. It may be a word of encouragement or a helping hand with something you see as insignificant.
I still remember an experience with my dear friend Betty Ray, who now rests with Jesus. She told me once that a hug I gave her in line for Holy Communion one Sunday had been just what she needed at that moment – it made her day! The hug did not cost me anything… and honestly, it was a spontaneous gesture rather than an intentional one. But so many things we can offer to others are just that – free, spontaneous, heartfelt gestures that could make all the difference.
We need to start operating in positives. Instead of finding fault with others… we need to look for good things… and actually encourage them. Remind yourself often that “the other guy” is just as precious to God as you are… no different whatsoever! What God does for you, He wants to do for that person, and vice versa. Don’t miss out on God’s blessings for either of you. Don’t stand in the way of your own portion by failing to give to others.
Start looking for ways to bless others in Jesus’ name. Get so comfortable doing this that it becomes second nature. Don’t do this simply so that you get more blessings from God, but because His blessings are more than enough to go around, and you want others to enjoy what you have. Share the wealth, and watch God’s blessings multiply – in your life and the lives of others.
©2011 Debbie Robus
*©2008 Joel Osteen - Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You - Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Listen carefully to what you hear! The way you treat others will be the way you will be treated--and even worse. Everyone who has something will be given more. But people who don't have anything will lose what little they have.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine posted this quote on Facebook recently: “To get what you want, help others get what they want first.” A few days later, I was reading Joel Osteen’s book, Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You*, and I read this… “If you want your life to increase, if you want your life to get better, then you need to help improve somebody else’s life. If you will help somebody else become successful, God will make sure that you are successful.”
You may be wondering… “What do I have to give? I’m just a kid… I’m broke…I’m old… I’m disabled or handicapped in some way… I’m busy… I’m shy… I’m unattractive… I need help myself!” The truth is, you are a precious child of the Most High God, and as the saying goes, “God don’t make junk!” You have something to offer to someone that he/she desperately needs! It may be a smile… a kind word…your compassion and forgiveness. It may be a word of encouragement or a helping hand with something you see as insignificant.
I still remember an experience with my dear friend Betty Ray, who now rests with Jesus. She told me once that a hug I gave her in line for Holy Communion one Sunday had been just what she needed at that moment – it made her day! The hug did not cost me anything… and honestly, it was a spontaneous gesture rather than an intentional one. But so many things we can offer to others are just that – free, spontaneous, heartfelt gestures that could make all the difference.
We need to start operating in positives. Instead of finding fault with others… we need to look for good things… and actually encourage them. Remind yourself often that “the other guy” is just as precious to God as you are… no different whatsoever! What God does for you, He wants to do for that person, and vice versa. Don’t miss out on God’s blessings for either of you. Don’t stand in the way of your own portion by failing to give to others.
Start looking for ways to bless others in Jesus’ name. Get so comfortable doing this that it becomes second nature. Don’t do this simply so that you get more blessings from God, but because His blessings are more than enough to go around, and you want others to enjoy what you have. Share the wealth, and watch God’s blessings multiply – in your life and the lives of others.
©2011 Debbie Robus
*©2008 Joel Osteen - Daily Readings from Becoming a Better You - Free Press, a division of Simon & Schuster, Inc.
Daily Devotional for February 14, 2011
Psalm 30
I will praise you, LORD! You saved me from the grave and kept my enemies from celebrating my death. I prayed to you, LORD God, and you healed me, saving me from death and the grave.
Your faithful people, LORD, will praise you with songs and honor your holy name. Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.
I was carefree and thought, "I'll never be shaken!" You, LORD, were my friend, and you made me strong as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was crushed. I prayed to you, LORD, and in my prayer I said, "What good will it do you if I am in the grave? Once I have turned to dust, how can I praise you or tell how loyal you are? Have pity, LORD! Help!"
You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD and my God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I asked a friend if her three-year-old daughter was excited about Valentine’s Day, and she said her child really didn’t know that this holiday existed. I replied, “Just wait… she will.” When I was teaching kindergarten, Valentine’s Day was almost a bigger deal for the children than Christmas. There is something about getting all of those colorful little cards and candies that delights young children. And even more, perhaps, they enjoy sending their own Valentines… picking out just the right one, painstakingly writing their name on them… and for possibly the first time, expressing love to someone else in a public manner.
If we’re honest, children of all ages enjoy Valentine’s Day. And like any other holiday, Valentine’s Day can get out of hand. Gifts and plans become grander with each year. We hear, “What will you do to top this next year?” And somewhere along the line, the true intent of this holiday becomes lost in the hearts, flowers, candy and more. Jesus commanded us to love one another… and to love others as we love ourselves. Somehow, if He commanded us to do a really bang-up job of this on February 14th, I missed it! Every day is supposed to be like Valentine’s Day if we love with the heart of Christ.
More importantly, we race around sharing our love and appreciation for everyone on the planet… and the One who truly deserves our lavish attention often gets very little, if anything. This Psalm is a tremendous “Valentine” to our Heavenly Father. The verses express how deeply the psalmist loves and appreciates God and all that He has done for us. And this would make a wonderful Valentine for us to pray to God… to read and study as we spend time sitting and thanking Him for loving us so well.
You will probably find this corny, but I like to tell my husband that every day with him is Valentine’s Day for me. I am blessed to have a husband, family and friends who love me so well. I hope I am loving them well in return… but most importantly, I hope I am loving my Heavenly Father well. Truly every day in His presence is Valentine’s Day… and today is a good day for us to start showing – and telling Him - just how much we love Him. We can use Psalm 30 as a starting point… or we can create our own “Valentine” for Him.
How will you express your love to the One who has loved you like no other? He lavishes us with Valentines every single day… what sort of Valentine have you selected for Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
I will praise you, LORD! You saved me from the grave and kept my enemies from celebrating my death. I prayed to you, LORD God, and you healed me, saving me from death and the grave.
Your faithful people, LORD, will praise you with songs and honor your holy name. Your anger lasts a little while, but your kindness lasts for a lifetime. At night we may cry, but when morning comes we will celebrate.
I was carefree and thought, "I'll never be shaken!" You, LORD, were my friend, and you made me strong as a mighty mountain. But when you hid your face, I was crushed. I prayed to you, LORD, and in my prayer I said, "What good will it do you if I am in the grave? Once I have turned to dust, how can I praise you or tell how loyal you are? Have pity, LORD! Help!"
You have turned my sorrow into joyful dancing. No longer am I sad and wearing sackcloth. I thank you from my heart, and I will never stop singing your praises, my LORD and my God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I asked a friend if her three-year-old daughter was excited about Valentine’s Day, and she said her child really didn’t know that this holiday existed. I replied, “Just wait… she will.” When I was teaching kindergarten, Valentine’s Day was almost a bigger deal for the children than Christmas. There is something about getting all of those colorful little cards and candies that delights young children. And even more, perhaps, they enjoy sending their own Valentines… picking out just the right one, painstakingly writing their name on them… and for possibly the first time, expressing love to someone else in a public manner.
If we’re honest, children of all ages enjoy Valentine’s Day. And like any other holiday, Valentine’s Day can get out of hand. Gifts and plans become grander with each year. We hear, “What will you do to top this next year?” And somewhere along the line, the true intent of this holiday becomes lost in the hearts, flowers, candy and more. Jesus commanded us to love one another… and to love others as we love ourselves. Somehow, if He commanded us to do a really bang-up job of this on February 14th, I missed it! Every day is supposed to be like Valentine’s Day if we love with the heart of Christ.
More importantly, we race around sharing our love and appreciation for everyone on the planet… and the One who truly deserves our lavish attention often gets very little, if anything. This Psalm is a tremendous “Valentine” to our Heavenly Father. The verses express how deeply the psalmist loves and appreciates God and all that He has done for us. And this would make a wonderful Valentine for us to pray to God… to read and study as we spend time sitting and thanking Him for loving us so well.
You will probably find this corny, but I like to tell my husband that every day with him is Valentine’s Day for me. I am blessed to have a husband, family and friends who love me so well. I hope I am loving them well in return… but most importantly, I hope I am loving my Heavenly Father well. Truly every day in His presence is Valentine’s Day… and today is a good day for us to start showing – and telling Him - just how much we love Him. We can use Psalm 30 as a starting point… or we can create our own “Valentine” for Him.
How will you express your love to the One who has loved you like no other? He lavishes us with Valentines every single day… what sort of Valentine have you selected for Him?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 9, 2011
Exodus 15:1-15
The LORD is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. I praise and honor the LORD -- he is my God and the God of my ancestors. The LORD is his name, and he is a warrior! He threw the chariots and army of Egypt's king into the Red Sea, and he drowned the best of the king's officers. They sank to the bottom just like stones. With the tremendous force of your right arm, our LORD, you crushed your enemies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We never know where or when we will get an opportunity to share with someone just how powerful God is. Recently I walked in to a local office to drop off some papers, and as soon as I opened the door, I was blasted by the smell of cigarettes. I’m not talking the faint smell of smoke, as if someone snuffed a cigarette in the parking lot as they entered the building. I’m talking the smell of a dozen or more people sitting in a crowded room, all lit up and puffing away.
The cigarette smell belonged to one man who was standing at the counter, and he appeared to be in his late forties. He was talking to the receptionist about his paper work. He was animated and friendly, and when he turned and saw me standing off to the side awaiting my turn, he graciously stepped aside and gestured for me to “come on over.” I walked up to the window. Then he moved in toward me and began to chat. What did I think about the snow we’re having? Who was the man in the photo hanging on the wall? (Governor Beebe – it was a state office.) The receptionist was busy copying the man’s papers, so we had a few minutes to stand in line together.
The man then began to talk about how much we needed the snow, because the drought last summer really hurt the trees in his yard. Then he asked me, “You don’t know anyone who would like to buy a beautiful home, do you? Because I think I’m selling mine and leaving this place. There just aren’t many opportunities for a guy my age to meet someone here.” And he winked and nudged my arm. I smiled, not knowing quite what to say… and he continued, “I tried going to church, but that didn’t work, so I’m not going back.”
Very clearly, I felt my opportunity present itself… “Why would you not go back to church?” I asked. He replied, “I don’t figure God would like it too much if I came to church to find a woman.” I asked him, “How do you know? What if you thought you were only going to church to meet someone, but God was leading you to church so He could do other things for you?” He stopped and looked at me with a puzzled look, and asked, “So you’re saying I’m selling God short?” “Maybe,” I told him. “You might be underestimating the power of God… and you are surely underestimating how much He cares about you.”
The man seemed a bit caught off guard by my comments. He smiled and said, “So in other words, I should give God another chance?” “Probably,” I said with a smile… “there are a lot of wonderful churches around here… you should check them out and give God another try.” I did not invite him to my church… I planted a seed, and I thought I’d let God handle the rest. This was not a “sales pitch” for my own church.
The receptionist came back to the window and finished her business with this man. He thanked me and said, “You’ve given me a new way to look at all of this.” He smiled and walked away.
I thought about the brief encounter, and I know that the outcome was totally God’s doing. Because of the strong cigarette smell, I was maintaining a wide berth. When the man stepped aside and gestured for me to approach the window, I could have waved him off and stayed where I was, but I stepped up, signed in, and stood beside him. And when he started to talk to me and get chummy, I could have given him one-word answers, nods of the head, and generally let him know I was not interested in what he had to say. I kept reminding myself, “He’s God’s child, too… he’s God’s child, too. Get past this.”
I felt God was saying, “Okay, I’m giving you an opportunity to speak for me… what are you going to do with it?” I believe we get many of these opportunities… often several times a day. And most of the time, we either fail to recognize them… or we fail to accept them.
Later in the day, another incident reminded me of an encounter I had years ago with my cousin, J.D. Mired in all sorts of personal struggles, J.D. attended my dad’s funeral, and he tells me that I approached him at the cemetery and said, “I’m praying for you.” I have absolutely no recollection of this. I do know I was praying for J.D. – and today he is a totally new person. The road to recovery was a long, difficult one, but he now travels several states conducting worship services and tent revivals. His focus every day is living for Jesus Christ and bringing others to a relationship with Him. And in recent months, J.D. actually did meet a Christian woman at a revival service – and they were married a month ago!
I’m not saying that the man I met in the local office will find his soul mate in church - or become a minister. But what I am saying is that we do sell God short. We underestimate His love for us… and His power to make the impossible happen. I told the man yesterday that the Bible tells us, “With God, all things are possible.” I hope he understood what I was saying to him in so many words… that we are each and every one precious and incredibly important to God. He knows us… He knows our needs, our desires, our hopes and dreams – and our talents and abilities. He understands what we can accomplish – for ourselves and for His kingdom. He can free us of addictions, debt, emotional baggage, sinful attitudes and behaviors, and more. And the kicker is… He wants to do this for us!
My prayer today is that we would all start to recognize the little opportunities God provides us each day to share His message with others. I also pray that we would look past appearances, smoky jackets and overly-talkative personalities and see the person inside that God sees… and recognize that he/she has incredible value to God – just like we do!
I have to admit, I have griped and grumbled (at least to myself) every time I have had to set foot in this local office for something. But now I see that God gave me an opportunity in the very spot I didn’t want to be... and I could easily have missed it. Are you recognizing how important you are to God… and the chances He offers you to serve Him? Are you paying attention to God these days? Shouldn’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
The LORD is my strength, the reason for my song, because he has saved me. I praise and honor the LORD -- he is my God and the God of my ancestors. The LORD is his name, and he is a warrior! He threw the chariots and army of Egypt's king into the Red Sea, and he drowned the best of the king's officers. They sank to the bottom just like stones. With the tremendous force of your right arm, our LORD, you crushed your enemies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We never know where or when we will get an opportunity to share with someone just how powerful God is. Recently I walked in to a local office to drop off some papers, and as soon as I opened the door, I was blasted by the smell of cigarettes. I’m not talking the faint smell of smoke, as if someone snuffed a cigarette in the parking lot as they entered the building. I’m talking the smell of a dozen or more people sitting in a crowded room, all lit up and puffing away.
The cigarette smell belonged to one man who was standing at the counter, and he appeared to be in his late forties. He was talking to the receptionist about his paper work. He was animated and friendly, and when he turned and saw me standing off to the side awaiting my turn, he graciously stepped aside and gestured for me to “come on over.” I walked up to the window. Then he moved in toward me and began to chat. What did I think about the snow we’re having? Who was the man in the photo hanging on the wall? (Governor Beebe – it was a state office.) The receptionist was busy copying the man’s papers, so we had a few minutes to stand in line together.
The man then began to talk about how much we needed the snow, because the drought last summer really hurt the trees in his yard. Then he asked me, “You don’t know anyone who would like to buy a beautiful home, do you? Because I think I’m selling mine and leaving this place. There just aren’t many opportunities for a guy my age to meet someone here.” And he winked and nudged my arm. I smiled, not knowing quite what to say… and he continued, “I tried going to church, but that didn’t work, so I’m not going back.”
Very clearly, I felt my opportunity present itself… “Why would you not go back to church?” I asked. He replied, “I don’t figure God would like it too much if I came to church to find a woman.” I asked him, “How do you know? What if you thought you were only going to church to meet someone, but God was leading you to church so He could do other things for you?” He stopped and looked at me with a puzzled look, and asked, “So you’re saying I’m selling God short?” “Maybe,” I told him. “You might be underestimating the power of God… and you are surely underestimating how much He cares about you.”
The man seemed a bit caught off guard by my comments. He smiled and said, “So in other words, I should give God another chance?” “Probably,” I said with a smile… “there are a lot of wonderful churches around here… you should check them out and give God another try.” I did not invite him to my church… I planted a seed, and I thought I’d let God handle the rest. This was not a “sales pitch” for my own church.
The receptionist came back to the window and finished her business with this man. He thanked me and said, “You’ve given me a new way to look at all of this.” He smiled and walked away.
I thought about the brief encounter, and I know that the outcome was totally God’s doing. Because of the strong cigarette smell, I was maintaining a wide berth. When the man stepped aside and gestured for me to approach the window, I could have waved him off and stayed where I was, but I stepped up, signed in, and stood beside him. And when he started to talk to me and get chummy, I could have given him one-word answers, nods of the head, and generally let him know I was not interested in what he had to say. I kept reminding myself, “He’s God’s child, too… he’s God’s child, too. Get past this.”
I felt God was saying, “Okay, I’m giving you an opportunity to speak for me… what are you going to do with it?” I believe we get many of these opportunities… often several times a day. And most of the time, we either fail to recognize them… or we fail to accept them.
Later in the day, another incident reminded me of an encounter I had years ago with my cousin, J.D. Mired in all sorts of personal struggles, J.D. attended my dad’s funeral, and he tells me that I approached him at the cemetery and said, “I’m praying for you.” I have absolutely no recollection of this. I do know I was praying for J.D. – and today he is a totally new person. The road to recovery was a long, difficult one, but he now travels several states conducting worship services and tent revivals. His focus every day is living for Jesus Christ and bringing others to a relationship with Him. And in recent months, J.D. actually did meet a Christian woman at a revival service – and they were married a month ago!
I’m not saying that the man I met in the local office will find his soul mate in church - or become a minister. But what I am saying is that we do sell God short. We underestimate His love for us… and His power to make the impossible happen. I told the man yesterday that the Bible tells us, “With God, all things are possible.” I hope he understood what I was saying to him in so many words… that we are each and every one precious and incredibly important to God. He knows us… He knows our needs, our desires, our hopes and dreams – and our talents and abilities. He understands what we can accomplish – for ourselves and for His kingdom. He can free us of addictions, debt, emotional baggage, sinful attitudes and behaviors, and more. And the kicker is… He wants to do this for us!
My prayer today is that we would all start to recognize the little opportunities God provides us each day to share His message with others. I also pray that we would look past appearances, smoky jackets and overly-talkative personalities and see the person inside that God sees… and recognize that he/she has incredible value to God – just like we do!
I have to admit, I have griped and grumbled (at least to myself) every time I have had to set foot in this local office for something. But now I see that God gave me an opportunity in the very spot I didn’t want to be... and I could easily have missed it. Are you recognizing how important you are to God… and the chances He offers you to serve Him? Are you paying attention to God these days? Shouldn’t you?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 19, 2011
2 Corinthians 5:1-10
Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked.
These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. So always be cheerful!
As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. But we live by faith, not by what we see. We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a child, there was a series of books that I loved about “The Boxcar Children”… described on Wikipedia.org as “the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They had been staying at a bakery but ran away when they heard the baker's wife say she will take all of them in but Benny, leaving Benny with no option but to go back to the orphanage. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.” I was reminded of these books as I watched an episode of Undercover Boss in which a woman who was clearly filled with joy told her boss, the undercover executive, how she had once been homeless. She had actually lived in a boxcar as a child, and she said her grandmother cared for her and siblings there… boiling water for their baths and other needs and keeping them warm and safe… until she was about 7 years of age.
Life has been hard for this woman. She now works as a part of a cleaning crew for a company that does home restoration after a fire, flood, or wind storm. The particular day this episode was filmed, the woman and her undercover boss were cleaning the smoke damage left from a kitchen fire at the home of an elderly woman. Later, when the boss revealed his true identity to this woman - who admitted to being uneducated and “not talking right” - he told her [paraphrasing]… “Don’t ever change. Always be the kind, loving, joy-filled person you are now.” He recognized that this woman was not who she appeared to be “on the outside.” Her appearance, language, demeanor and circumstances were all just the outward “tent.” The real person was within… and she radiated positive energy and love for her family, her life, other people. And while she didn’t speak it on camera, I suspect she has a deep abiding faith in God, as well.
While living in a boxcar as a child most assuredly affected this woman, she didn’t let it define her. She didn’t let her lack of education, the fact she was about to lose her home to foreclosure, or any other negative influences control her life. She is living now like she is already clothed by her heavenly home.
How are we living? Are we groaning from the heavy burden of our “earthly tents?” Have we let the circumstances of our lives get us down and make us less than we should be for Jesus? Do we lean on these circumstances like a crutch and say, “I would do better if it weren’t for this … or that… or something else.” Do we blame our childhood, our level of education, lack of income, where we live, or other outside factors for how we are serving (or not) in God’s army? What defines us… our “earthly tents” or our Heavenly home?
How we answer matters. If we are living only for Heaven and the day when we get “new clothes,” we’re missing the whole point. God wants us to do all we can in His name while we are alive. He wants us to be cheerful because of what lies ahead… and to share this joy and His Good News with other. For Christians, our life on earth is not the end… but we shouldn’t be just marking time, either. Our “earthly tent” may have some rips and tatters, but people should see joy, hope and faith inside. What do others see inside your “tent”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home. We want to put it on like clothes and not be naked.
These tents we now live in are like a heavy burden, and we groan. But we don't do this just because we want to leave these bodies that will die. It is because we want to change them for bodies that will never die. God is the one who makes all of this possible. He has given us his Spirit to make us certain that he will do it. So always be cheerful!
As long as we are in these bodies, we are away from the Lord. But we live by faith, not by what we see. We should be cheerful, because we would rather leave these bodies and be at home with the Lord. But whether we are at home with the Lord or away from him, we still try our best to please him. After all, Christ will judge each of us for the good or the bad that we do while living in these bodies.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
When I was a child, there was a series of books that I loved about “The Boxcar Children”… described on Wikipedia.org as “the story of four orphaned children, Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny. They had been staying at a bakery but ran away when they heard the baker's wife say she will take all of them in but Benny, leaving Benny with no option but to go back to the orphanage. They create a home for themselves in an abandoned boxcar in the forest.” I was reminded of these books as I watched an episode of Undercover Boss in which a woman who was clearly filled with joy told her boss, the undercover executive, how she had once been homeless. She had actually lived in a boxcar as a child, and she said her grandmother cared for her and siblings there… boiling water for their baths and other needs and keeping them warm and safe… until she was about 7 years of age.
Life has been hard for this woman. She now works as a part of a cleaning crew for a company that does home restoration after a fire, flood, or wind storm. The particular day this episode was filmed, the woman and her undercover boss were cleaning the smoke damage left from a kitchen fire at the home of an elderly woman. Later, when the boss revealed his true identity to this woman - who admitted to being uneducated and “not talking right” - he told her [paraphrasing]… “Don’t ever change. Always be the kind, loving, joy-filled person you are now.” He recognized that this woman was not who she appeared to be “on the outside.” Her appearance, language, demeanor and circumstances were all just the outward “tent.” The real person was within… and she radiated positive energy and love for her family, her life, other people. And while she didn’t speak it on camera, I suspect she has a deep abiding faith in God, as well.
While living in a boxcar as a child most assuredly affected this woman, she didn’t let it define her. She didn’t let her lack of education, the fact she was about to lose her home to foreclosure, or any other negative influences control her life. She is living now like she is already clothed by her heavenly home.
How are we living? Are we groaning from the heavy burden of our “earthly tents?” Have we let the circumstances of our lives get us down and make us less than we should be for Jesus? Do we lean on these circumstances like a crutch and say, “I would do better if it weren’t for this … or that… or something else.” Do we blame our childhood, our level of education, lack of income, where we live, or other outside factors for how we are serving (or not) in God’s army? What defines us… our “earthly tents” or our Heavenly home?
How we answer matters. If we are living only for Heaven and the day when we get “new clothes,” we’re missing the whole point. God wants us to do all we can in His name while we are alive. He wants us to be cheerful because of what lies ahead… and to share this joy and His Good News with other. For Christians, our life on earth is not the end… but we shouldn’t be just marking time, either. Our “earthly tent” may have some rips and tatters, but people should see joy, hope and faith inside. What do others see inside your “tent”?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 12, 2011
Matthew 17:2
There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I like to sell some of my antiques and treasures online through websites like Etsy and eBay. One of the keys to making a sale is posting good pictures of your products. Antique glassware, jewelry, and similar objects are hard for amateurs like me to photograph well. I’ve researched and practiced, and I’ve learned a lot… and one of the keys to a great photo is proper lighting.
Direct lighting is too harsh and often distorts the true coloring of the object. Back lighting may create shadows and dark areas. The trick is to almost make the object look as if the light comes from within. You want to illuminate all of the beauty and the best assets of the piece… to showcase the item in all its glory and cause those who see it to say, “I have to have this!”
Now stick with me… think about your spiritual relationship. Not everyone has the “heavenly moment” we see depicted on television and in the movies, where choirs of angels sing and we are bathed in bright white light. I know that many people would love for their salvation experience to be this dramatic, but just because we don’t see bright light and hear choirs doesn’t mean we have not been transformed.
And that’s not the point. See, it’s not about the light… or the drama of our transformation. It’s about what we do with our salvation. Just like the antiques that may not benefit or “show well” in bright light or back lighting, our Christian witness is best presented when the “Light” comes from within. When we demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives, we have the most impact for Jesus. We allow HIS light and glory to shine.
Peter, James, and John got to witness “the glory of the Lord.” We get to experience it as His Holy Spirit dwells within us and radiates outward. Just how brightly the Light shines is, in large part, up to us. Are you living in such a way that others see your witness and what God is doing in your life and say, “I have to have that for myself?” How much “glory” are others seeing in you these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
There in front of the disciples, Jesus was completely changed. His face was shining like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I like to sell some of my antiques and treasures online through websites like Etsy and eBay. One of the keys to making a sale is posting good pictures of your products. Antique glassware, jewelry, and similar objects are hard for amateurs like me to photograph well. I’ve researched and practiced, and I’ve learned a lot… and one of the keys to a great photo is proper lighting.
Direct lighting is too harsh and often distorts the true coloring of the object. Back lighting may create shadows and dark areas. The trick is to almost make the object look as if the light comes from within. You want to illuminate all of the beauty and the best assets of the piece… to showcase the item in all its glory and cause those who see it to say, “I have to have this!”
Now stick with me… think about your spiritual relationship. Not everyone has the “heavenly moment” we see depicted on television and in the movies, where choirs of angels sing and we are bathed in bright white light. I know that many people would love for their salvation experience to be this dramatic, but just because we don’t see bright light and hear choirs doesn’t mean we have not been transformed.
And that’s not the point. See, it’s not about the light… or the drama of our transformation. It’s about what we do with our salvation. Just like the antiques that may not benefit or “show well” in bright light or back lighting, our Christian witness is best presented when the “Light” comes from within. When we demonstrate the power of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives, we have the most impact for Jesus. We allow HIS light and glory to shine.
Peter, James, and John got to witness “the glory of the Lord.” We get to experience it as His Holy Spirit dwells within us and radiates outward. Just how brightly the Light shines is, in large part, up to us. Are you living in such a way that others see your witness and what God is doing in your life and say, “I have to have that for myself?” How much “glory” are others seeing in you these days?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 27, 2010
1 Corinthians 12:25-26
He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last year, my niece and our great-nephew Timothy got sick a couple of weeks before Christmas with stomach flu. This “bug” was running rampant through our community, and by the week of Christmas, my sister and her husband had succumbed. On December 22nd, my sister called me and weakly asked, “Can you come and get Timothy? His mother is working, and we [meaning she and her husband] are too sick to care for him.” I went right away and collected Timothy, who was still fairly sick himself.
Over the course of the next few days, Timothy got better and began to drink his bottles again and keep down liquid Jello and a drink designed to restore the electrolytes in infants. By Christmas Eve, my sister and my niece seemed to be feeling better, too. Everyone gather at our home for a Christmas Eve lunch and an afternoon of opening gifts and visiting.
I noticed that my husband distanced himself from the group, but since not everyone could fit at the dining table anyway, I didn’t think much about it. But when he told me he had a headache and disappeared to an upstairs bedroom, I knew all was not well. By the end of the evening, he was too sick to move… and sometime after midnight, I woke up feeling just as badly. When the weekend was over, everyone in the family had gotten some version of this “bug” except my mother. My husband and I felt so badly that we postponed opening our Christmas gifts to each other.
While this was not funny at the time, we later laughed about “Timothy’s first Christmas” and how we all were so sick. We took the admonition of Paul to share one another’s hurts to a whole new level – and not by choice! I knew when I picked up the baby and brought him to our house that we would most likely catch his virus. But on that day, a tiny sick baby needed someone to care for him… and we were the only ones available to do so. There was no way we would have refused.
But here’s the deal… so often, we focus so much on ourselves that we don’t consider the other person’s feelings. We say, “I cannot get involved in that… I have my own problems.” Or we decide that “This is really none of my concern.” We look at the person who is hurting in some way… someone with great need… and we either pass judgment and determine that they got into this mess on their own and should get out of it the same way – or we declare that “this is simply not my problem.”
But Paul says otherwise. He tells us in this passage that when one of our sisters or brothers in Christ is hurting or in need, we should feel this deeply ourselves. “I feel your pain,” should not be a cliché… it should be the way Christians behave toward others. I’m not saying that there are never situations and circumstances that are none of our business. But the Christian servant prayerfully knows how to tell the difference.
Where has God given you opportunities to share in others’ needs, yet you turned and went in another direction? Where have you stepped up and answered the call? Can you do more? Shouldn’t you? Ask God to show you how and where to empathize with others in your daily life… to make a difference when possible… and to operate with wisdom and discernment in choosing when and where to get involved. Start looking for new ways to make the entire body of Christ happy, and see how greatly everyone is blessed by your efforts.
©2010 Debbie Robus
He did this to make all parts of the body work together smoothly, with each part caring about the others. If one part of our body hurts, we hurt all over. If one part of our body is honored, the whole body will be happy.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Last year, my niece and our great-nephew Timothy got sick a couple of weeks before Christmas with stomach flu. This “bug” was running rampant through our community, and by the week of Christmas, my sister and her husband had succumbed. On December 22nd, my sister called me and weakly asked, “Can you come and get Timothy? His mother is working, and we [meaning she and her husband] are too sick to care for him.” I went right away and collected Timothy, who was still fairly sick himself.
Over the course of the next few days, Timothy got better and began to drink his bottles again and keep down liquid Jello and a drink designed to restore the electrolytes in infants. By Christmas Eve, my sister and my niece seemed to be feeling better, too. Everyone gather at our home for a Christmas Eve lunch and an afternoon of opening gifts and visiting.
I noticed that my husband distanced himself from the group, but since not everyone could fit at the dining table anyway, I didn’t think much about it. But when he told me he had a headache and disappeared to an upstairs bedroom, I knew all was not well. By the end of the evening, he was too sick to move… and sometime after midnight, I woke up feeling just as badly. When the weekend was over, everyone in the family had gotten some version of this “bug” except my mother. My husband and I felt so badly that we postponed opening our Christmas gifts to each other.
While this was not funny at the time, we later laughed about “Timothy’s first Christmas” and how we all were so sick. We took the admonition of Paul to share one another’s hurts to a whole new level – and not by choice! I knew when I picked up the baby and brought him to our house that we would most likely catch his virus. But on that day, a tiny sick baby needed someone to care for him… and we were the only ones available to do so. There was no way we would have refused.
But here’s the deal… so often, we focus so much on ourselves that we don’t consider the other person’s feelings. We say, “I cannot get involved in that… I have my own problems.” Or we decide that “This is really none of my concern.” We look at the person who is hurting in some way… someone with great need… and we either pass judgment and determine that they got into this mess on their own and should get out of it the same way – or we declare that “this is simply not my problem.”
But Paul says otherwise. He tells us in this passage that when one of our sisters or brothers in Christ is hurting or in need, we should feel this deeply ourselves. “I feel your pain,” should not be a cliché… it should be the way Christians behave toward others. I’m not saying that there are never situations and circumstances that are none of our business. But the Christian servant prayerfully knows how to tell the difference.
Where has God given you opportunities to share in others’ needs, yet you turned and went in another direction? Where have you stepped up and answered the call? Can you do more? Shouldn’t you? Ask God to show you how and where to empathize with others in your daily life… to make a difference when possible… and to operate with wisdom and discernment in choosing when and where to get involved. Start looking for new ways to make the entire body of Christ happy, and see how greatly everyone is blessed by your efforts.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 25, 2010
Philippians 2:3
Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
NBC Nightly News recently reported on Tracy Hall, a woman in Silver Spring, Maryland, who came up with an idea called “The Gift Tree,” which provides gifts to the children of soldiers who are stationed at Walter Reed. Hall’s own husband, an Army physician, is now deployed in Afghanistan. She created a gift registry through Target.com and Amazon.com, where people can purchase gifts or gift cards to provide items on the wish lists of the soldiers’ children, who register through a secure online application form.
The Walter Reed Auxiliary goes through the applications and lists the items on The Gift Tree for people to purchase. Each gift is wrapped and placed in a box for that particular child. Then parents stop by Hall’s home and retrieve their child’s gift box in time for Christmas. Hall said donations come largely from people in the metro Washington, DC, area… but they have had purchases by people in Arkansas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania – all over the country.
Aside from the massive scope of this operation… the large number of volunteers who catalog, wrap, and coordinate all of these gifts… I was struck by something else about Tracy Hall. When Christmas is over, she personally writes a thank-you note to everyone who donated. We have to be talking hundreds of people. She said it was the least she could do for those who were so generous.
Here’s the thing… we tend to think we have really outdone ourselves if we write a check to a local charity or bake an extra loaf of banana bread for a neighbor during the holidays. I’ll be the first to tell you that I have been guilty of having good intentions… but not acting on them. So that elderly person who has no family or close friends to visit them at Christmas time sits at home alone… it’s just another day/week/month for them. The young single mother who can barely feed her family and keep the lights and heat on has to explain to her children why their classmates got all these wonderful things on Christmas morning… and they got their same old bowl of cold cereal.
As we buy our Christmas presents and drive to Grandma’s to celebrate the holidays in style, we don’t think about those who worked to check our groceries, clean the motel room in which we will stay or sell us a cup of coffee as we travel… all for little more than minimum wage. We don’t think of their families and how they will manage to provide a merry Christmas for them.
Yet this young mother with a small son, whose husband is deployed to Afghanistan, opened her own home to become “Santa Central” for the children and families of other soldiers. Surely she must be tired. She had decked the halls of her house with holiday décor, and she greeted those who visited warmly. But you know she has plenty to do to care for her own household and young child. Still, she thought of others. She said, “I know how I would feel if I couldn’t do the extra little things for my own son.” She put herself in others’ shoes.
The story of Christmas is not just for today… it is for every day of the year. Whose shoes are you wearing? Do you hunker down and take care of yourself and let others fend for themselves? Do you look around for needs to meet… and then do something about them? We need more “Tracy Halls” in this world who consider others to be more important than themselves. Are you willing to step up and be one?
©2010 Debbie Robus
To learn more about The Gift Tree at Walter Reed, go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40153870/. For more inspiring “Making a Difference” stories, go to http://www.makingadifference.msnbc.com/.
Don't be jealous or proud, but be humble and consider others more important than yourselves.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
NBC Nightly News recently reported on Tracy Hall, a woman in Silver Spring, Maryland, who came up with an idea called “The Gift Tree,” which provides gifts to the children of soldiers who are stationed at Walter Reed. Hall’s own husband, an Army physician, is now deployed in Afghanistan. She created a gift registry through Target.com and Amazon.com, where people can purchase gifts or gift cards to provide items on the wish lists of the soldiers’ children, who register through a secure online application form.
The Walter Reed Auxiliary goes through the applications and lists the items on The Gift Tree for people to purchase. Each gift is wrapped and placed in a box for that particular child. Then parents stop by Hall’s home and retrieve their child’s gift box in time for Christmas. Hall said donations come largely from people in the metro Washington, DC, area… but they have had purchases by people in Arkansas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania – all over the country.
Aside from the massive scope of this operation… the large number of volunteers who catalog, wrap, and coordinate all of these gifts… I was struck by something else about Tracy Hall. When Christmas is over, she personally writes a thank-you note to everyone who donated. We have to be talking hundreds of people. She said it was the least she could do for those who were so generous.
Here’s the thing… we tend to think we have really outdone ourselves if we write a check to a local charity or bake an extra loaf of banana bread for a neighbor during the holidays. I’ll be the first to tell you that I have been guilty of having good intentions… but not acting on them. So that elderly person who has no family or close friends to visit them at Christmas time sits at home alone… it’s just another day/week/month for them. The young single mother who can barely feed her family and keep the lights and heat on has to explain to her children why their classmates got all these wonderful things on Christmas morning… and they got their same old bowl of cold cereal.
As we buy our Christmas presents and drive to Grandma’s to celebrate the holidays in style, we don’t think about those who worked to check our groceries, clean the motel room in which we will stay or sell us a cup of coffee as we travel… all for little more than minimum wage. We don’t think of their families and how they will manage to provide a merry Christmas for them.
Yet this young mother with a small son, whose husband is deployed to Afghanistan, opened her own home to become “Santa Central” for the children and families of other soldiers. Surely she must be tired. She had decked the halls of her house with holiday décor, and she greeted those who visited warmly. But you know she has plenty to do to care for her own household and young child. Still, she thought of others. She said, “I know how I would feel if I couldn’t do the extra little things for my own son.” She put herself in others’ shoes.
The story of Christmas is not just for today… it is for every day of the year. Whose shoes are you wearing? Do you hunker down and take care of yourself and let others fend for themselves? Do you look around for needs to meet… and then do something about them? We need more “Tracy Halls” in this world who consider others to be more important than themselves. Are you willing to step up and be one?
©2010 Debbie Robus
To learn more about The Gift Tree at Walter Reed, go to http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40153870/. For more inspiring “Making a Difference” stories, go to http://www.makingadifference.msnbc.com/.
Daily Devotional for December 23, 2010
Luke 6:35
But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I can’t let this day pass without acknowledging two influential women in my life… my cousin, Betty Rhea – whom we later called Granny Betty – and my great-Aunt Zula. Both of these ladies loved with big hearts and had generosity to spare. Granny Betty was a “character” – larger than life with a boisterous, bubbly personality. She never met a stranger, and everyone adored her. Family was top priority with Granny Betty, and she doted on everyone, especially her grandchildren. Aunt Zula was a quiet, orderly school teacher. She devoted her time to her students, her family, and her church… and not necessarily in that order. She was a hard-working Ozark woman with Southern grace and genteel beauty.
While Granny Betty had a quick wit and snappy comebacks that left you laughing and smiling, Aunt Zula had the patience of Job and a low-key – but no less fun - personality. Only once did I ever see her halfway irritated… she felt a cousin had tried to take advantage of her… something that totally ran counter to her moral fortitude.
So what do these two ladies have in common, aside from their love of family, their connection to me, and their Christian faith? In the mid-1990s, Granny Betty suffered a stroke. After her husband died and she could no longer live at home, she lived in a nursing home for nine years, slowly declining until her death on December 21, 2005. Her funeral was held on December 23rd. Aunt Zula’s adult home was in Quitman, Arkansas, and she lived minutes from the school where she taught fourth grade for decades. Old age took its toll on her in recent years, claiming her eyesight, her hearing, and generally wearing out her 91-year-old body. And on December 23, 2009, she became seriously ill. She was rushed to the emergency room at our hospital, where my mom visited with her briefly. Doctors determined there was nothing left to do but keep her comfortable, so she was transported to her home a few hours later. My mom phoned to tell me that Aunt Zula barely got back into her own bed before she passed into Heaven.
If you have ever lost a loved one at Christmas time, you understand that it is almost surreal. People are hurrying and bustling here and there. Most are jolly and upbeat. Many don’t know how to respond to you in your grief… especially at what is supposed to be such a celebratory time. Truthfully, you don’t know what you are supposed to feel, either.
But I have my own theory…
This is the "Season of Giving." And honestly, what greater gift could any of us receive than to get to sit at the feet of Jesus in Heaven?! So my thinking is that Granny Betty and Aunt Zula… and others who have gone before them in the Christmas season… got an extra special Christmas gift! I know they wouldn’t come back for a thousand trees with a zillion gifts piled underneath. I know that they were good to the people around them – they lived big and loved big – and they earned their reward in heaven.
I am not sad as I think of my loved ones who have passed during the holidays… or any of my loved ones who have passed. I know that EVERY day is Christmas for them, because they spend their days with Jesus. My prayer is that we would live in such a way that we are pleasing to God… that we would ove our enemies and be good to all people. We can’t earn the reward of heaven with good deeds, but I would much rather sit at the feet of Jesus knowing I served Him well, wouldn’t you?
Today, thank God for the “Granny Bettys” and “Aunt Zulas” in your life. Thank Him for the love and influence of those who have shown you the example of being good to everyone and “loving big”. Thank Him for the gift of Heaven. And say a prayer for those who are saying a final “Goodbye” to loved ones this holiday season. Ask God to give them His comfort and peace … and to fill their hearts with happy memories of their loved one for Christmases to come.
©2010 Debbie Robus
But love your enemies and be good to them. Lend without expecting to be paid back. Then you will get a great reward, and you will be the true children of God in heaven. He is good even to people who are unthankful and cruel.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I can’t let this day pass without acknowledging two influential women in my life… my cousin, Betty Rhea – whom we later called Granny Betty – and my great-Aunt Zula. Both of these ladies loved with big hearts and had generosity to spare. Granny Betty was a “character” – larger than life with a boisterous, bubbly personality. She never met a stranger, and everyone adored her. Family was top priority with Granny Betty, and she doted on everyone, especially her grandchildren. Aunt Zula was a quiet, orderly school teacher. She devoted her time to her students, her family, and her church… and not necessarily in that order. She was a hard-working Ozark woman with Southern grace and genteel beauty.
While Granny Betty had a quick wit and snappy comebacks that left you laughing and smiling, Aunt Zula had the patience of Job and a low-key – but no less fun - personality. Only once did I ever see her halfway irritated… she felt a cousin had tried to take advantage of her… something that totally ran counter to her moral fortitude.
So what do these two ladies have in common, aside from their love of family, their connection to me, and their Christian faith? In the mid-1990s, Granny Betty suffered a stroke. After her husband died and she could no longer live at home, she lived in a nursing home for nine years, slowly declining until her death on December 21, 2005. Her funeral was held on December 23rd. Aunt Zula’s adult home was in Quitman, Arkansas, and she lived minutes from the school where she taught fourth grade for decades. Old age took its toll on her in recent years, claiming her eyesight, her hearing, and generally wearing out her 91-year-old body. And on December 23, 2009, she became seriously ill. She was rushed to the emergency room at our hospital, where my mom visited with her briefly. Doctors determined there was nothing left to do but keep her comfortable, so she was transported to her home a few hours later. My mom phoned to tell me that Aunt Zula barely got back into her own bed before she passed into Heaven.
If you have ever lost a loved one at Christmas time, you understand that it is almost surreal. People are hurrying and bustling here and there. Most are jolly and upbeat. Many don’t know how to respond to you in your grief… especially at what is supposed to be such a celebratory time. Truthfully, you don’t know what you are supposed to feel, either.
But I have my own theory…
This is the "Season of Giving." And honestly, what greater gift could any of us receive than to get to sit at the feet of Jesus in Heaven?! So my thinking is that Granny Betty and Aunt Zula… and others who have gone before them in the Christmas season… got an extra special Christmas gift! I know they wouldn’t come back for a thousand trees with a zillion gifts piled underneath. I know that they were good to the people around them – they lived big and loved big – and they earned their reward in heaven.
I am not sad as I think of my loved ones who have passed during the holidays… or any of my loved ones who have passed. I know that EVERY day is Christmas for them, because they spend their days with Jesus. My prayer is that we would live in such a way that we are pleasing to God… that we would ove our enemies and be good to all people. We can’t earn the reward of heaven with good deeds, but I would much rather sit at the feet of Jesus knowing I served Him well, wouldn’t you?
Today, thank God for the “Granny Bettys” and “Aunt Zulas” in your life. Thank Him for the love and influence of those who have shown you the example of being good to everyone and “loving big”. Thank Him for the gift of Heaven. And say a prayer for those who are saying a final “Goodbye” to loved ones this holiday season. Ask God to give them His comfort and peace … and to fill their hearts with happy memories of their loved one for Christmases to come.
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 22, 2010
Acts 2:42
They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There have always been people in my “extended family” who were no blood relation. When my sister, brother and I were small, my parents were almost inseparable from another couple with two children our same ages. They were like a brother and sister to us, as were several other children whose parents were in my parents’ close inner circle of friends. And my mother’s childhood friend was forever my “Aunt Martha,” although we were not related by blood. Our close neighbors were like family members, and they shared our joys and our sorrows through the years.
My husband’s family had similar “extended family members”… friends, neighbors… people who were likely to show up at family gatherings, holiday dinners, or any other time when we were all gathered together. And as an adult, some of our dear friends have become “extended family,” as well. For many years, our Christmas festivities included a childhood next-door neighbor who is like a sister to me, her husband and their children. Also often present was a friend of my mother-in-law who had no family members living in this area. And for many years, my parents’ Christmas Eve celebration included friends of ours who had few, if any, relatives living nearby. We made them part of our family.
As years passed, some of my relatives moved away. Many others passed away, and the number of attendees at our holiday gatherings dwindled. But then we began to look around at those who had no relatives – and nowhere to go – and we started to include them in our celebration. We didn’t actively go out looking for “recruits” – it sort of happened naturally… or Supernaturally! And now, our holiday celebrations often include one or two people who are part of our extended family. We don’t love them any less, and we enjoy sharing our table, our gifts, and our company with them.
Our bonds have strengthened over the years, and the extended family members have become special to us. They know that they always have a place at our table and in our homes – during the holidays or any other time. And I am quite sure that this practice will continue in the years ahead. We’ve discovered that we are blessed far more than our guests when we open our hearts – and our homes – to them.
Who in your circle of friends have you overlooked this Christmas? Who has nowhere to go… no Christmas dinner to attend… no stocking on the mantel or even the tiniest package waiting under a tree somewhere? Who could you include in your festivities and offer a few hours of your hospitality – and the love of Christ – this holiday? Have you learned from the apostles and opened your heart and your home to others? Isn’t this a perfect time to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
They spent their time learning from the apostles, and they were like family to each other. They also broke bread and prayed together.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There have always been people in my “extended family” who were no blood relation. When my sister, brother and I were small, my parents were almost inseparable from another couple with two children our same ages. They were like a brother and sister to us, as were several other children whose parents were in my parents’ close inner circle of friends. And my mother’s childhood friend was forever my “Aunt Martha,” although we were not related by blood. Our close neighbors were like family members, and they shared our joys and our sorrows through the years.
My husband’s family had similar “extended family members”… friends, neighbors… people who were likely to show up at family gatherings, holiday dinners, or any other time when we were all gathered together. And as an adult, some of our dear friends have become “extended family,” as well. For many years, our Christmas festivities included a childhood next-door neighbor who is like a sister to me, her husband and their children. Also often present was a friend of my mother-in-law who had no family members living in this area. And for many years, my parents’ Christmas Eve celebration included friends of ours who had few, if any, relatives living nearby. We made them part of our family.
As years passed, some of my relatives moved away. Many others passed away, and the number of attendees at our holiday gatherings dwindled. But then we began to look around at those who had no relatives – and nowhere to go – and we started to include them in our celebration. We didn’t actively go out looking for “recruits” – it sort of happened naturally… or Supernaturally! And now, our holiday celebrations often include one or two people who are part of our extended family. We don’t love them any less, and we enjoy sharing our table, our gifts, and our company with them.
Our bonds have strengthened over the years, and the extended family members have become special to us. They know that they always have a place at our table and in our homes – during the holidays or any other time. And I am quite sure that this practice will continue in the years ahead. We’ve discovered that we are blessed far more than our guests when we open our hearts – and our homes – to them.
Who in your circle of friends have you overlooked this Christmas? Who has nowhere to go… no Christmas dinner to attend… no stocking on the mantel or even the tiniest package waiting under a tree somewhere? Who could you include in your festivities and offer a few hours of your hospitality – and the love of Christ – this holiday? Have you learned from the apostles and opened your heart and your home to others? Isn’t this a perfect time to begin?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 21, 2010
Luke 2:13-17
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I love to decorate… and at Christmas, some would say I go nuts! I know there are many who do more than I, but over the years, my collection of Christmas decorations has grown quite a bit. No longer is one tree enough… we have “the big tree,” a smaller one on the piano, a lighted tree on outside on our bluff for others to enjoy… and now, a tree for Timothy that has ornaments with which he is allowed to play. I have Santas, snowmen, lots of greenery and lights… and more than 50 nativity sets that I display together as a collection. Over the years, my students, friends and family members have given me Christmas ornaments for the tree, and I proudly hang every one.
In 36 years of marriage, I think there has been one Christmas that we did not have a tree… and that was because I had undergone surgery, and we were spending the holidays with our parents. I keep many of our “winter” decorations out through much of February so the house doesn’t seem so bare in the cold, bleak months. A couple of years ago, I was packing away the decorations, and I became sad and frustrated. WHY did I do this? Putting it all away was no fun. It took several days. And let’s be honest… putting it out to start with took me two to three days, too. So WHY do it?
I said to myself, “Next year, I won’t do so much. I’ll go through my things and get rid of some of them and pare down.” But when the next year came, Timothy was here, and experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child is a whole new ball of wax. Even though he was too small to understand, he enjoyed the lights, the sparkle, and the color. My mom came to help me get the tree decorated.
This year, Timothy is old enough to begin to enjoy the ornaments and lights… the nativities, and more. So once again, I got out our decorations and transformed our house into a holiday wonderland. And again, Mom came to help with the big tree. She no longer puts up a tree, since all of our family festivities happen at our house. So we have started a new tradition of trimming the big tree together.
I know many people who no longer decorate, for a variety of reasons… and that’s okay. And yes, we have become too commercialized about Christmas. But look at these verses in Luke again… the angels were celebrating. The shepherds left the manger to celebrate the birth of Christ with others and share this good news. Let’s be honest… at that point, the ramifications of Christ’s birth were not totally clear. Most people did not realize the significance of this event until after Jesus had died on the cross and ascended into heaven.
The point is… as much as Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our risen Savior, it also serves as a reminder of what Jesus taught us – unconditional love for our fellow man, grace, mercy, generosity in giving to others, service, joy, faith, and so much more. And don’t we often seem to be better at putting these things into action during the holidays? We truly celebrate Jesus by making our homes festive… and inviting others to visit. We put up a tree and trim it with lights and sparkling ornaments and create a party atmosphere. We are kinder and gentler with others… more generous. We seem to find more time for parties, celebrations and writing cards… baking treats to share with others… shopping and wrapping gifts.
For a few days/weeks, we at least give ourselves the opportunity to more closely emulate some of the traits Jesus taught us. Oh, sure, some will become stressed and grumpy… some will become “Scrooges” and refuse to participate… but many will transform into totally different people. And maybe… just maybe… some will continue that spirit after the tree is taken to the curb and the decorations are packed away for another year. Maybe the joy and celebration of all that Jesus’ birth represents will be shared for months to come… or even all year long! The first step is to start the party… to deck the halls and celebrate. You don’t have to put up a tree or hang a wreath on the door… all you have to do is “deck your hall” with a smile and a warm heart for those around you!
How will you celebrate this year? Are you ready to “party hearty” in Jesus’ name? Will others notice a difference… and better yet, will you keep His joy going all year long?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”
When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”
So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child…
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I love to decorate… and at Christmas, some would say I go nuts! I know there are many who do more than I, but over the years, my collection of Christmas decorations has grown quite a bit. No longer is one tree enough… we have “the big tree,” a smaller one on the piano, a lighted tree on outside on our bluff for others to enjoy… and now, a tree for Timothy that has ornaments with which he is allowed to play. I have Santas, snowmen, lots of greenery and lights… and more than 50 nativity sets that I display together as a collection. Over the years, my students, friends and family members have given me Christmas ornaments for the tree, and I proudly hang every one.
In 36 years of marriage, I think there has been one Christmas that we did not have a tree… and that was because I had undergone surgery, and we were spending the holidays with our parents. I keep many of our “winter” decorations out through much of February so the house doesn’t seem so bare in the cold, bleak months. A couple of years ago, I was packing away the decorations, and I became sad and frustrated. WHY did I do this? Putting it all away was no fun. It took several days. And let’s be honest… putting it out to start with took me two to three days, too. So WHY do it?
I said to myself, “Next year, I won’t do so much. I’ll go through my things and get rid of some of them and pare down.” But when the next year came, Timothy was here, and experiencing Christmas through the eyes of a child is a whole new ball of wax. Even though he was too small to understand, he enjoyed the lights, the sparkle, and the color. My mom came to help me get the tree decorated.
This year, Timothy is old enough to begin to enjoy the ornaments and lights… the nativities, and more. So once again, I got out our decorations and transformed our house into a holiday wonderland. And again, Mom came to help with the big tree. She no longer puts up a tree, since all of our family festivities happen at our house. So we have started a new tradition of trimming the big tree together.
I know many people who no longer decorate, for a variety of reasons… and that’s okay. And yes, we have become too commercialized about Christmas. But look at these verses in Luke again… the angels were celebrating. The shepherds left the manger to celebrate the birth of Christ with others and share this good news. Let’s be honest… at that point, the ramifications of Christ’s birth were not totally clear. Most people did not realize the significance of this event until after Jesus had died on the cross and ascended into heaven.
The point is… as much as Christmas is a celebration of the birth of our risen Savior, it also serves as a reminder of what Jesus taught us – unconditional love for our fellow man, grace, mercy, generosity in giving to others, service, joy, faith, and so much more. And don’t we often seem to be better at putting these things into action during the holidays? We truly celebrate Jesus by making our homes festive… and inviting others to visit. We put up a tree and trim it with lights and sparkling ornaments and create a party atmosphere. We are kinder and gentler with others… more generous. We seem to find more time for parties, celebrations and writing cards… baking treats to share with others… shopping and wrapping gifts.
For a few days/weeks, we at least give ourselves the opportunity to more closely emulate some of the traits Jesus taught us. Oh, sure, some will become stressed and grumpy… some will become “Scrooges” and refuse to participate… but many will transform into totally different people. And maybe… just maybe… some will continue that spirit after the tree is taken to the curb and the decorations are packed away for another year. Maybe the joy and celebration of all that Jesus’ birth represents will be shared for months to come… or even all year long! The first step is to start the party… to deck the halls and celebrate. You don’t have to put up a tree or hang a wreath on the door… all you have to do is “deck your hall” with a smile and a warm heart for those around you!
How will you celebrate this year? Are you ready to “party hearty” in Jesus’ name? Will others notice a difference… and better yet, will you keep His joy going all year long?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 18, 2010
2 Peter 1:5-8
Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In December 1932, a young man and woman made plans to marry in the community of Hiram, Arkansas. On the appointed wedding day, a heavy snow fell, and it was impossible for the groom and the pastor to get to the bride, so the wedding was postponed. The groom, almost 22, had a new suit. Because he was walking in the heavy snow, he wore his “regular” clothes over to the bride’s home and changed into his [clean and dry] “wedding suit” there. The 20-year-old bride had a new blue dress and new shoes – a luxury for this special occasion. And on December 18, 1932, my paternal grandparents “tied the knot.”
My grandfather died in 1984, culminating a nearly 52-year marriage to my grandmother. My grandparents were by no means perfect, and I have no doubt there were difficult times in their relationship. Like all of us, they both made their fair share of mistakes. I know there were extremely lean times financially and physically, and they both worked very hard from the time they were young children… picking cotton, digging potatoes, working in the fields… whatever they could do to earn a few dollars or some extra food for the table.
For as long as I can remember, my grandparents kept a Bible on their coffee table… and it didn’t just sit there and gather dust. They both were faithful members of their church. The sound of gospel music from the radio and television often resonated through their home, and they were both active, productive citizens in their community. My grandparents exercised the qualities outlined in 2 Peter 1: goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. They were both as generous as the day was long… and my grandmother continues to give all she can – and then some – to as many as she can.
Each year on this date, I think of my grandparents and how they leaned on God for guidance, strength, and courage. I always thought my grandparents were “wealthy ranchers.” In truth, they were regular farmers who struggled to make ends meet. But they always shared whatever they had with anyone who crossed their path. They knew that God blessed those who served Him… and they served well. They continually sought ways to improve their faith - and this was a good thing, because their faith was surely tested over the decades… loss of a baby, financial struggles…failed crops… the illnesses and deaths of family members - including my great-grandmother and my grandfather’s brother within days of each other… their own physical challenges… and a fire that claimed their home of 47 years one December morning.
Each time, my grandparents dusted themselves off and kept going. They never seemed to ask “Why me?” They just looked toward heaven and asked, “What’s next?” I know a lot of folks from their generation and the one that followed who experienced similar trials and challenges, and maybe you or your relatives have endured the same. Let’s take a look at these people and how they handled the challenges of life. Did they work at finding ways to build their faith? Did they follow the tenets outlined in 2 Peter 1?
Can we learn from the examples of our elders? Are we building our faith and exhibiting the characteristics that will guide future generations? Shouldn’t we? Ask God to help you to develop these character traits… to build your faith and grow in His wisdom and grace. If you grab this concept and start to work diligently to increase your faith, this could be the best Christmas present you will ever receive. Are you ready to begin strengthening your faith?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Do your best to improve your faith. You can do this by adding goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. If you keep growing in this way, it will show that what you know about our Lord Jesus Christ has made your lives useful and meaningful.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In December 1932, a young man and woman made plans to marry in the community of Hiram, Arkansas. On the appointed wedding day, a heavy snow fell, and it was impossible for the groom and the pastor to get to the bride, so the wedding was postponed. The groom, almost 22, had a new suit. Because he was walking in the heavy snow, he wore his “regular” clothes over to the bride’s home and changed into his [clean and dry] “wedding suit” there. The 20-year-old bride had a new blue dress and new shoes – a luxury for this special occasion. And on December 18, 1932, my paternal grandparents “tied the knot.”
My grandfather died in 1984, culminating a nearly 52-year marriage to my grandmother. My grandparents were by no means perfect, and I have no doubt there were difficult times in their relationship. Like all of us, they both made their fair share of mistakes. I know there were extremely lean times financially and physically, and they both worked very hard from the time they were young children… picking cotton, digging potatoes, working in the fields… whatever they could do to earn a few dollars or some extra food for the table.
For as long as I can remember, my grandparents kept a Bible on their coffee table… and it didn’t just sit there and gather dust. They both were faithful members of their church. The sound of gospel music from the radio and television often resonated through their home, and they were both active, productive citizens in their community. My grandparents exercised the qualities outlined in 2 Peter 1: goodness, understanding, self-control, patience, devotion to God, concern for others, and love. They were both as generous as the day was long… and my grandmother continues to give all she can – and then some – to as many as she can.
Each year on this date, I think of my grandparents and how they leaned on God for guidance, strength, and courage. I always thought my grandparents were “wealthy ranchers.” In truth, they were regular farmers who struggled to make ends meet. But they always shared whatever they had with anyone who crossed their path. They knew that God blessed those who served Him… and they served well. They continually sought ways to improve their faith - and this was a good thing, because their faith was surely tested over the decades… loss of a baby, financial struggles…failed crops… the illnesses and deaths of family members - including my great-grandmother and my grandfather’s brother within days of each other… their own physical challenges… and a fire that claimed their home of 47 years one December morning.
Each time, my grandparents dusted themselves off and kept going. They never seemed to ask “Why me?” They just looked toward heaven and asked, “What’s next?” I know a lot of folks from their generation and the one that followed who experienced similar trials and challenges, and maybe you or your relatives have endured the same. Let’s take a look at these people and how they handled the challenges of life. Did they work at finding ways to build their faith? Did they follow the tenets outlined in 2 Peter 1?
Can we learn from the examples of our elders? Are we building our faith and exhibiting the characteristics that will guide future generations? Shouldn’t we? Ask God to help you to develop these character traits… to build your faith and grow in His wisdom and grace. If you grab this concept and start to work diligently to increase your faith, this could be the best Christmas present you will ever receive. Are you ready to begin strengthening your faith?
©2010 Debbie Robus
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