John 10:14-18
“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my
own sheep and my own sheep know me. In the same way, the Father knows
me and I know the Father. I put the sheep before myself, sacrificing
myself if necessary. You need to know that I have other sheep in
addition to those in this pen. I need to gather and bring them, too.
They’ll also recognize my voice. Then it will be one flock, one
Shepherd.
This is why the Father loves me: because I freely lay
down my life. And so I am free to take it up again. No one takes it from
me. I lay it down of my own free will. I have the right to lay it down;
I also have the right to take it up again. I received this authority
personally from my Father.”
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.
It’s Valentine’s Day…the day
when expressions of love flow freely between almost all of us.
Flowers, candy, jewelry and more cards than can be counted are exchanged
between people of all ages. According to an article at Money.com, the
average amount many will spend on Valentine’s Day this year is nearly
$150. And the words written on Valentine cards run the gamut from the
silly to the sappy…but the general gist of most is that the recipient
has captured our hearts!
In this scripture passage, Jesus is
telling us that He has captured God’s heart…and God has captured His.
More than that…WE have captured His heart…and He wants to capture ours.
Jesus knows us intimately – and He wants us to know Him just as well.
Going one step further…Jesus wants us to share this love with others…to
develop a deep, abiding affection for others that mimics His love for
us. In this manner, we can demonstrate to them how much God loves us -
and create in them a desire to become part of the flock.
If God
sent us a Valentine, I imagine it might feature Jesus gathering His
flock of sheep, with Ephesians 3:18 written across the front…” And I ask
him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take
in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s
love.”
God wants us to be His …and to so clearly demonstrate to
the world how special this relationship is that others can’t help but
want to join in, also. His love is incredible and vast - and there is
room for all of us. This is GREAT NEWS!
1 John 4:19 reminds us
that…”First we were loved, now we love. He loved us first.” Who do you
love…and how will you show it? Will you demonstrate your love for God
today…and will you share His love with others? You don’t have to spend
$150 to do this. There are countless ways to express your affection and
appreciation for God and others. Which ones will you choose today?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label sharing Gods love with others. Show all posts
Showing posts with label sharing Gods love with others. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for November 16, 2015
Isaiah 46:1-3
God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
in times of trouble.
And so, we won’t be afraid!
Let the earth tremble
and the mountains tumble
into the deepest sea.
Let the ocean roar and foam,
and its raging waves
shake the mountains.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several days a week, superheroes reign supreme at our house – namely Batman, Spiderman, and Superman. There is no evil they cannot avenge…no mountain too high to climb nor ocean too deep to swim. The sky really IS the limit as they soar high above the buildings and earth below and stamp out crime and troubles of all kinds! Often, three-year-old Nathan wears a Batman cape and mask much of his day…even to eat and nap!
I know this is a rite of passage. For people my age, the “heroes” included cowboys like the Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers and the Rifleman…Mighty Mouse…and Daniel Boone. For many young boys, a “coonskin cap” or a cowboy hat, holster and pistols was as much a part of the daily attire as underwear!
But I think we realized – even as children – that these characters were not real…that they couldn’t really “leap tall buildings in a single bound”…that their powers would not truly save us in times of trouble. So even at the young ages of six, four, and three, we are trying to make a distinction with our little ones about the “powers” of these imaginary characters…and the TRUE powers of God Almighty.
I sometimes wonder if we “grown-ups” really get it. Do we honestly know and trust the “super-powers” of our amazing God? Do we believe that He is our mighty fortress in times of trouble…able to protect us from every difficulty and tribulation? Do we live with confidence in God’s ability to still the “ocean’s roar and foam” in our lives…to stop the “raging waves” and “shake the mountains?” Equally important, do we demonstrate this level of trust and faith to those we encounter in our everyday living?
These are all questions worth asking and giving prayerful consideration. This is a powerful passage of scripture that covers a lot of ground about our Christian faith - and speaks volumes for what we should believe and how we should act. Will you spend some time pondering its words today and imprinting them on your heart? Is God your ultimate super-hero…and do you demonstrate this in your own life? Isn’t it time you did?
© Debbie Robus
God is our mighty fortress,
always ready to help
in times of trouble.
And so, we won’t be afraid!
Let the earth tremble
and the mountains tumble
into the deepest sea.
Let the ocean roar and foam,
and its raging waves
shake the mountains.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Several days a week, superheroes reign supreme at our house – namely Batman, Spiderman, and Superman. There is no evil they cannot avenge…no mountain too high to climb nor ocean too deep to swim. The sky really IS the limit as they soar high above the buildings and earth below and stamp out crime and troubles of all kinds! Often, three-year-old Nathan wears a Batman cape and mask much of his day…even to eat and nap!
I know this is a rite of passage. For people my age, the “heroes” included cowboys like the Lone Ranger, Roy Rogers and the Rifleman…Mighty Mouse…and Daniel Boone. For many young boys, a “coonskin cap” or a cowboy hat, holster and pistols was as much a part of the daily attire as underwear!
But I think we realized – even as children – that these characters were not real…that they couldn’t really “leap tall buildings in a single bound”…that their powers would not truly save us in times of trouble. So even at the young ages of six, four, and three, we are trying to make a distinction with our little ones about the “powers” of these imaginary characters…and the TRUE powers of God Almighty.
I sometimes wonder if we “grown-ups” really get it. Do we honestly know and trust the “super-powers” of our amazing God? Do we believe that He is our mighty fortress in times of trouble…able to protect us from every difficulty and tribulation? Do we live with confidence in God’s ability to still the “ocean’s roar and foam” in our lives…to stop the “raging waves” and “shake the mountains?” Equally important, do we demonstrate this level of trust and faith to those we encounter in our everyday living?
These are all questions worth asking and giving prayerful consideration. This is a powerful passage of scripture that covers a lot of ground about our Christian faith - and speaks volumes for what we should believe and how we should act. Will you spend some time pondering its words today and imprinting them on your heart? Is God your ultimate super-hero…and do you demonstrate this in your own life? Isn’t it time you did?
© Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 18, 2014
Luke 10:5-6
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been there. You’re in your most comfortable – but somewhat ratty – pajamas or sweats…your hair is a mess…and maybe you need a shower. And someone knocks on your door. Delivery people like my mail carrier and the drivers for UPS and FedEx must think “That poor woman needs help!” when I answer their call. Worse yet is when a family member, friend or acquaintance drops by and catches you off guard. I’m pretty sure that in each case, we don’t exactly promote an air of peace!
Perhaps you have been on the “receiving end” of this experience. And maybe you have visited someone who was cordial, at best…but cool – or in some cases, quite short and rude. They did not make you feel welcome in their home, for whatever reason. Perhaps they were uncomfortable about their appearance…or you just caught them at a truly inconvenient time. Or maybe they really didn’t want to spend time with you…much less entertain you in their home for even the briefest of moments.
And that’s the point…there are all sorts of reasons for a reception that is less than welcoming. I have learned that most people are not noticing my appearance or the neatness and cleanliness of my house nearly as much as I am. I have also learned that I can’t possibly know everything that was happening right before I rang someone’s doorbell or approached them on the street or in a hallway at school, work or church…or in the grocery store or other public venue.
Think back to the old movies and television shows we watched when we were younger. Do you remember those where a stranger would approach a person or a group of people and say, “I come in peace!” This person was saying, “No need to be uneasy…I am not here to harm you or judge you in any way. I just want to talk.” In this passage, Jesus is instructing His disciples to let others know that “I come in peace!”
If we project a sense of acceptance and peace – and a lack of judgment and condemnation – we have a far better chance of getting a good reception. If we behave in this manner and offer the peace of God (if only in our demeanor and a silent prayer) and we are treated poorly, we’ve not really lost anything. It’s a “no-harm-no-foul” situation of sorts.
I’ll have to say, I have the best delivery people in the world. They treat me the same whether I look like I just rolled out of bed or I am dressed for a church service! I don’t know if they actually say, “Peace to this house” before they knock on my door…or if it just seems like it. I do know that one FedEx delivery man always says, “It’s been a pleasure to serve you” as he walks away. Whether he means that (and I think he does!) or not…this comment leaves me with a warm feeling.
When others come to your door, do they feel like it was a pleasure to be in your presence? When you visit others…do they know that you “come in peace”? Do you trust God to make the difference as you interact with others and offer His love, grace, mercy, peace, understanding – and the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ – to them? Do you rest in the peace of God, regardless of how others treat you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
“When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ If someone who promotes peace is there, your peace will rest on them; if not, it will return to you.”
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been there. You’re in your most comfortable – but somewhat ratty – pajamas or sweats…your hair is a mess…and maybe you need a shower. And someone knocks on your door. Delivery people like my mail carrier and the drivers for UPS and FedEx must think “That poor woman needs help!” when I answer their call. Worse yet is when a family member, friend or acquaintance drops by and catches you off guard. I’m pretty sure that in each case, we don’t exactly promote an air of peace!
Perhaps you have been on the “receiving end” of this experience. And maybe you have visited someone who was cordial, at best…but cool – or in some cases, quite short and rude. They did not make you feel welcome in their home, for whatever reason. Perhaps they were uncomfortable about their appearance…or you just caught them at a truly inconvenient time. Or maybe they really didn’t want to spend time with you…much less entertain you in their home for even the briefest of moments.
And that’s the point…there are all sorts of reasons for a reception that is less than welcoming. I have learned that most people are not noticing my appearance or the neatness and cleanliness of my house nearly as much as I am. I have also learned that I can’t possibly know everything that was happening right before I rang someone’s doorbell or approached them on the street or in a hallway at school, work or church…or in the grocery store or other public venue.
Think back to the old movies and television shows we watched when we were younger. Do you remember those where a stranger would approach a person or a group of people and say, “I come in peace!” This person was saying, “No need to be uneasy…I am not here to harm you or judge you in any way. I just want to talk.” In this passage, Jesus is instructing His disciples to let others know that “I come in peace!”
If we project a sense of acceptance and peace – and a lack of judgment and condemnation – we have a far better chance of getting a good reception. If we behave in this manner and offer the peace of God (if only in our demeanor and a silent prayer) and we are treated poorly, we’ve not really lost anything. It’s a “no-harm-no-foul” situation of sorts.
I’ll have to say, I have the best delivery people in the world. They treat me the same whether I look like I just rolled out of bed or I am dressed for a church service! I don’t know if they actually say, “Peace to this house” before they knock on my door…or if it just seems like it. I do know that one FedEx delivery man always says, “It’s been a pleasure to serve you” as he walks away. Whether he means that (and I think he does!) or not…this comment leaves me with a warm feeling.
When others come to your door, do they feel like it was a pleasure to be in your presence? When you visit others…do they know that you “come in peace”? Do you trust God to make the difference as you interact with others and offer His love, grace, mercy, peace, understanding – and the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ – to them? Do you rest in the peace of God, regardless of how others treat you? Isn’t it time you did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 31, 2014
1 John 5:13-15
My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy and our cousin Owen (who is six weeks younger than Timothy) both visited us one day last summer. I had to laugh at them. Owen has not spent nearly as much time at our house as Timothy has…and Timothy made sure Owen knew that! He demonstrated his familiarity by helping himself to his “owie bags” from the freezer and more. Timothy knew where we kept his favorite snacks…what items and areas of our house were off limits, and more. And he felt quite comfortable making himself at home and asking for anything…confident that we were listening and would answer (and hopefully give him whatever he requested)!
Timothy wasn’t ugly about it, but he clearly let Owen knew that he “belonged” at our house…and this gave him special advantages! He was kind and shared his toys (for the most part)…and in the end, I am sure Owen thought our house was a pretty neat place to visit, too.
What about us? Do we let others know that a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is pretty neat? Do we live in such a way that others see the “perks” of belonging to Jesus? Do we share His gifts and blessings…love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and understanding with others? Or are we selfish with them…even smug and arrogant about our salvation and the relationship we have with Jesus? Do we let others know that they can enjoy the same bond with Christ that we have?
Do we demonstrate the power of prayer…by offering to pray for others and letting them know how God has answered us? Or are we embarrassed – or even too lazy or ashamed – to share our faith with others? Do we keep our blessings in Christ to ourselves? Do others even know we are a Christian?
Isn’t it time that we started claiming God’s amazing gift and blessings in our life…and freely communicating with Him in full confidence that His will is perfect – and anything we ask for that aligns with His will, He will grant us? Shouldn’t we be demonstrating our hope and confidence in Christ to others? Shouldn’t they be readily able to discern Whose we are…and shouldn’t they desire this same salvation and access to God for themselves?
Just how familiar are you with God? Are you comfortable making yourself at home with Him and asking for anything? How often do you give others a reason to desire these same advantages for themselves? Isn’t it time you started “representing” Jesus? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
My purpose in writing is simply this: that you who believe in God’s Son will know beyond the shadow of a doubt that you have eternal life, the reality and not the illusion. And how bold and free we then become in his presence, freely asking according to his will, sure that he’s listening. And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy and our cousin Owen (who is six weeks younger than Timothy) both visited us one day last summer. I had to laugh at them. Owen has not spent nearly as much time at our house as Timothy has…and Timothy made sure Owen knew that! He demonstrated his familiarity by helping himself to his “owie bags” from the freezer and more. Timothy knew where we kept his favorite snacks…what items and areas of our house were off limits, and more. And he felt quite comfortable making himself at home and asking for anything…confident that we were listening and would answer (and hopefully give him whatever he requested)!
Timothy wasn’t ugly about it, but he clearly let Owen knew that he “belonged” at our house…and this gave him special advantages! He was kind and shared his toys (for the most part)…and in the end, I am sure Owen thought our house was a pretty neat place to visit, too.
What about us? Do we let others know that a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is pretty neat? Do we live in such a way that others see the “perks” of belonging to Jesus? Do we share His gifts and blessings…love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion and understanding with others? Or are we selfish with them…even smug and arrogant about our salvation and the relationship we have with Jesus? Do we let others know that they can enjoy the same bond with Christ that we have?
Do we demonstrate the power of prayer…by offering to pray for others and letting them know how God has answered us? Or are we embarrassed – or even too lazy or ashamed – to share our faith with others? Do we keep our blessings in Christ to ourselves? Do others even know we are a Christian?
Isn’t it time that we started claiming God’s amazing gift and blessings in our life…and freely communicating with Him in full confidence that His will is perfect – and anything we ask for that aligns with His will, He will grant us? Shouldn’t we be demonstrating our hope and confidence in Christ to others? Shouldn’t they be readily able to discern Whose we are…and shouldn’t they desire this same salvation and access to God for themselves?
Just how familiar are you with God? Are you comfortable making yourself at home with Him and asking for anything? How often do you give others a reason to desire these same advantages for themselves? Isn’t it time you started “representing” Jesus? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 30, 2014
Ephesians 5:15-16
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A short twenty-seven years ago, my husband and I embarked on a new business venture. We purchased a state-of-the-art Apple Macintosh computer and a couple of printers, including a laser printer that cost $4000 on its own. Today the same printer would probably cost a little more than $100! There was no cell phone…or World Wide Web…certainly nothing like Skype or FaceTime. Yes…things have certainly changed in a short period of time! We had plenty of opportunities for distraction…but they didn’t include playing “Candy Crush” or “Angry Birds” on a smart phone, communicating via social media, or texting. And none of these are bad past-times, if conducted wisely and in moderation.
Facebook is the perfect example. This social media vehicle can become a time waster…or a wonderful medium for sharing friendship, love and concern with others. A good case in point came in recent weeks when Buffy, a woman with whom I attended school and church as a teenager, became ill with the flu and double pneumonia. Her family members began to post prayer requests on Facebook. In turn, I shared these requests with my Facebook friends – many of whom had also been classmates and friends. Buffy died earlier this week. As her brother said to me, “thru your posts, thousands of folks prayed for Buff.” He thanked me for contributing to “this avalanche of love that's covered all of us.”
Every day, we have opportunities to spend our time wisely… or to waste it. Our choices matter…more than we may ever realize. The thirty minutes you spend writing cards of encouragement to someone or visiting with a friend or acquaintance on the phone may give them exactly the lift they needed to get through another day. The hour you turn off the computer or television and take a walk with your spouse, family member or friend… play in the floor with a child…or visit a neighbor…may generate results and blessings beyond your wildest imagination – for that person AND for you! The time you spend reading this devotional may give God an opportunity to provide you with insights you had not considered…and help you to serve more fully and effectively as one of Christ’s disciples!
The point is that everyone has the same amount of time each day. The difference comes in how we choose to use our time…where we place priorities…our ability to create balance between the demands of others and the world, our own desires, and God’s will. The best way to accomplish a successful equilibrium is to earnestly seek God each day…to start with the question, “What do YOU want from me in the next 24 hours?” We must listen to God’s voice and direction and schedule our activities accordingly. We must leave room on our calendar for the unexpected…and not fill our days so chock full that we are totally thrown into a tizzy when something happens that we did not anticipate and/or could not predict.
Opportunities to serve others…to share the love and compassion of Jesus with them…are all around us. I don’t know what new gadgets, gizmos and inventions the coming years will bring - or what means they will offer for serving others (and potential distractions) will accompany them. But I do know that God can show us how to keep balance in our lives and spend our time wisely. Are you willing to listen and let Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
A short twenty-seven years ago, my husband and I embarked on a new business venture. We purchased a state-of-the-art Apple Macintosh computer and a couple of printers, including a laser printer that cost $4000 on its own. Today the same printer would probably cost a little more than $100! There was no cell phone…or World Wide Web…certainly nothing like Skype or FaceTime. Yes…things have certainly changed in a short period of time! We had plenty of opportunities for distraction…but they didn’t include playing “Candy Crush” or “Angry Birds” on a smart phone, communicating via social media, or texting. And none of these are bad past-times, if conducted wisely and in moderation.
Facebook is the perfect example. This social media vehicle can become a time waster…or a wonderful medium for sharing friendship, love and concern with others. A good case in point came in recent weeks when Buffy, a woman with whom I attended school and church as a teenager, became ill with the flu and double pneumonia. Her family members began to post prayer requests on Facebook. In turn, I shared these requests with my Facebook friends – many of whom had also been classmates and friends. Buffy died earlier this week. As her brother said to me, “thru your posts, thousands of folks prayed for Buff.” He thanked me for contributing to “this avalanche of love that's covered all of us.”
Every day, we have opportunities to spend our time wisely… or to waste it. Our choices matter…more than we may ever realize. The thirty minutes you spend writing cards of encouragement to someone or visiting with a friend or acquaintance on the phone may give them exactly the lift they needed to get through another day. The hour you turn off the computer or television and take a walk with your spouse, family member or friend… play in the floor with a child…or visit a neighbor…may generate results and blessings beyond your wildest imagination – for that person AND for you! The time you spend reading this devotional may give God an opportunity to provide you with insights you had not considered…and help you to serve more fully and effectively as one of Christ’s disciples!
The point is that everyone has the same amount of time each day. The difference comes in how we choose to use our time…where we place priorities…our ability to create balance between the demands of others and the world, our own desires, and God’s will. The best way to accomplish a successful equilibrium is to earnestly seek God each day…to start with the question, “What do YOU want from me in the next 24 hours?” We must listen to God’s voice and direction and schedule our activities accordingly. We must leave room on our calendar for the unexpected…and not fill our days so chock full that we are totally thrown into a tizzy when something happens that we did not anticipate and/or could not predict.
Opportunities to serve others…to share the love and compassion of Jesus with them…are all around us. I don’t know what new gadgets, gizmos and inventions the coming years will bring - or what means they will offer for serving others (and potential distractions) will accompany them. But I do know that God can show us how to keep balance in our lives and spend our time wisely. Are you willing to listen and let Him?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 29, 2014
2 Corinthians 5:16-20
Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My friend Tiger “lamented” (tongue-in-cheek) the “leisurely driver” in a recent Facebook post. He said in part…”Today we salute you, mister leisurely driver…ye who could drive anytime…however choose to trek at rush hour and lunch time!! Go, you warrior of intersection indecision! We bow and pause for you…after all, what choice do we have - you're blocking the street! We know each stop sign is a major decision!”
I suggested to Tiger that he and I may very likely be that “leisurely driver” soon enough! But I was also reminded of how we used to plead with my grandmother and great-aunt to run their errands at an earlier hour, when traffic wasn’t as heavy. Instead, they chose to go to the grocery store at the busiest hour of the day…usually on Friday afternoon around 3:30, just as school closed for the weekend! In truth, they did this so that they could see more people…and get in a good visit with a few of them. Their “mission” was more about socializing than shopping! They were not interested in hearing about traffic. It never bothered them that others had to be extra watchful for their “senior driving” or poke along behind them at intersections. They had a right to shop whenever they pleased… and they exercised it! And all of the talking in the world could not change their minds.
I still remember taking my Mam-ma Polly home from the beauty shop on Friday afternoons and unpacking the groceries that I had purchased for her while she got her hair done. Then she and her best friend, Ruby, would practically beat me back to the store, where I had returned to purchase my own groceries! Mam-ma would sometimes make up some excuse about picking up some item she forgot to put on the list when I shopped for her…but I knew the real reason these ladies were there at that hour!
My point in sharing this is two-fold …1) as I pointed out to Tiger, we very well may be this “leisurely driver” someday; and 2) we can encourage others to come around to our way of thinking… but the ultimate decision is theirs. And it’s the same with our Christian faith. As we share the love of Christ with others and demonstrate Christian discipleship and service, we must do so without judgment. We must recognize that on any given day, we are all stubborn and rebellious – and maybe a “leisurely driver”…and none of us are perfect. Still, God loves us! And if we are new creatures in Christ, we are called to find a way to reconcile differences, overcome our desires to be critical and judgmental…and learn to get along.
Moreover, we must understand that our job is not to force Jesus on others…but to share His GOOD NEWS and love with others… then let Him do the heavy lifting of changing hearts and minds. If you really study this scripture passage, you will find that the message is loud and clear to “move over and let God run the show!” So the next time you encounter a “leisurely driver” on the streets – or in the aisles at Wal-Mart – remember the words of Paul to the Corinthians. Remind yourself that “we’re Christ’s representatives”…and we share His love by offering forgiveness, compassion and understanding to the other guy.
Try to “look inside” others’ hearts and see what God sees. You are blessed to enjoy His friendship…offer the same to others. Set the stage for God to work…then move over and “give Him the wheel”!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other.
God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My friend Tiger “lamented” (tongue-in-cheek) the “leisurely driver” in a recent Facebook post. He said in part…”Today we salute you, mister leisurely driver…ye who could drive anytime…however choose to trek at rush hour and lunch time!! Go, you warrior of intersection indecision! We bow and pause for you…after all, what choice do we have - you're blocking the street! We know each stop sign is a major decision!”
I suggested to Tiger that he and I may very likely be that “leisurely driver” soon enough! But I was also reminded of how we used to plead with my grandmother and great-aunt to run their errands at an earlier hour, when traffic wasn’t as heavy. Instead, they chose to go to the grocery store at the busiest hour of the day…usually on Friday afternoon around 3:30, just as school closed for the weekend! In truth, they did this so that they could see more people…and get in a good visit with a few of them. Their “mission” was more about socializing than shopping! They were not interested in hearing about traffic. It never bothered them that others had to be extra watchful for their “senior driving” or poke along behind them at intersections. They had a right to shop whenever they pleased… and they exercised it! And all of the talking in the world could not change their minds.
I still remember taking my Mam-ma Polly home from the beauty shop on Friday afternoons and unpacking the groceries that I had purchased for her while she got her hair done. Then she and her best friend, Ruby, would practically beat me back to the store, where I had returned to purchase my own groceries! Mam-ma would sometimes make up some excuse about picking up some item she forgot to put on the list when I shopped for her…but I knew the real reason these ladies were there at that hour!
My point in sharing this is two-fold …1) as I pointed out to Tiger, we very well may be this “leisurely driver” someday; and 2) we can encourage others to come around to our way of thinking… but the ultimate decision is theirs. And it’s the same with our Christian faith. As we share the love of Christ with others and demonstrate Christian discipleship and service, we must do so without judgment. We must recognize that on any given day, we are all stubborn and rebellious – and maybe a “leisurely driver”…and none of us are perfect. Still, God loves us! And if we are new creatures in Christ, we are called to find a way to reconcile differences, overcome our desires to be critical and judgmental…and learn to get along.
Moreover, we must understand that our job is not to force Jesus on others…but to share His GOOD NEWS and love with others… then let Him do the heavy lifting of changing hearts and minds. If you really study this scripture passage, you will find that the message is loud and clear to “move over and let God run the show!” So the next time you encounter a “leisurely driver” on the streets – or in the aisles at Wal-Mart – remember the words of Paul to the Corinthians. Remind yourself that “we’re Christ’s representatives”…and we share His love by offering forgiveness, compassion and understanding to the other guy.
Try to “look inside” others’ hearts and see what God sees. You are blessed to enjoy His friendship…offer the same to others. Set the stage for God to work…then move over and “give Him the wheel”!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 15, 2013
Psalm 103:1-5
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
and with all that I am
I praise his holy name!
With all my heart
I praise the Lord!
I will never forget
how kind he has been.
The Lord forgives our sins,
heals us when we are sick,
and protects us from death.
His kindness and love
are a crown on our heads.
Each day that we live,
he provides for our needs
and gives us the strength
of a young eagle.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was watching a video of my former pastor, John Miles, who is conducting a sermon series on “the hard sayings of Jesus.” On this particular day, Bro. John was talking about a passage from Matthew 19 (verses 7-11), in which the Pharisees tried to trip Jesus up by asking Him about whether divorce was okay. As Bro. John unraveled these verses and dug deeper, he suggested that Jesus spoke past these opponents and addressed a far broader issue. In this case, he maintains that Jesus was demonstrating how we objectify people and things. In other words, we put the focus on “marriage” and “divorce” instead of the people who are involved.
Several examples were given of how we objectify people… how lust, infidelity, and pornography – or even labels like “my husband”, “my wife” [rather than by their first name] - objectify those involved, and we don’t see them as real people with a heart and soul. He talked about how we seem to enjoy arguing about abortion, homosexuality, and other hot-button issues – to the point that we are focused on the label, not the people involved. One person tearfully mentioned to my pastor as they debated a particularly hot topic… “You just don’t know.” Clearly, this person had firsthand knowledge of the issue that my pastor did not possess. And in that moment, he saw a human being – a child of God who was struggling and in need of love and acceptance.
So what does this have to do with our scripture verses in Psalm 103? Everything! If you don’t believe me, go back and read the second half of the passage. The Lord forgives our sins… heals us when we are sick…provides for our needs… gives us the strength of a young eagle… and crowns us with His kindness and love. How can we do any less for those in our midst? The pastor concluded his sermon by noting that none of us are perfect… we all have fallen short in one area or another… yet we are all welcome at God’s table. And we should be welcome among fellow believers! He said several people had come to him over the years and confessed to one sin or another and asked… “Can I still receive Communion?” His answer is… “If God will allow me to serve it… you are allowed to receive it.”
Shouldn’t this be our continual thought? If God allows us to receive his love, kindness, care, protection, strength and healing… who are we to offer any less to others? What gives us the right to objectify – or judge – another creature? When we criticize – or exclude – another person, have we considered our own faults and shortcomings… and the grace and mercy God extends to us? Isn’t it time to drop the piety and pretense… to humbly and gratefully give God the praise for loving us all so incredibly… and to offer this same love to others? Will this be the day that we find true peace in God’s acceptance… and extend it to others in our midst?
©2013 Debbie Robus
With all my heart
I praise the Lord,
and with all that I am
I praise his holy name!
With all my heart
I praise the Lord!
I will never forget
how kind he has been.
The Lord forgives our sins,
heals us when we are sick,
and protects us from death.
His kindness and love
are a crown on our heads.
Each day that we live,
he provides for our needs
and gives us the strength
of a young eagle.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was watching a video of my former pastor, John Miles, who is conducting a sermon series on “the hard sayings of Jesus.” On this particular day, Bro. John was talking about a passage from Matthew 19 (verses 7-11), in which the Pharisees tried to trip Jesus up by asking Him about whether divorce was okay. As Bro. John unraveled these verses and dug deeper, he suggested that Jesus spoke past these opponents and addressed a far broader issue. In this case, he maintains that Jesus was demonstrating how we objectify people and things. In other words, we put the focus on “marriage” and “divorce” instead of the people who are involved.
Several examples were given of how we objectify people… how lust, infidelity, and pornography – or even labels like “my husband”, “my wife” [rather than by their first name] - objectify those involved, and we don’t see them as real people with a heart and soul. He talked about how we seem to enjoy arguing about abortion, homosexuality, and other hot-button issues – to the point that we are focused on the label, not the people involved. One person tearfully mentioned to my pastor as they debated a particularly hot topic… “You just don’t know.” Clearly, this person had firsthand knowledge of the issue that my pastor did not possess. And in that moment, he saw a human being – a child of God who was struggling and in need of love and acceptance.
So what does this have to do with our scripture verses in Psalm 103? Everything! If you don’t believe me, go back and read the second half of the passage. The Lord forgives our sins… heals us when we are sick…provides for our needs… gives us the strength of a young eagle… and crowns us with His kindness and love. How can we do any less for those in our midst? The pastor concluded his sermon by noting that none of us are perfect… we all have fallen short in one area or another… yet we are all welcome at God’s table. And we should be welcome among fellow believers! He said several people had come to him over the years and confessed to one sin or another and asked… “Can I still receive Communion?” His answer is… “If God will allow me to serve it… you are allowed to receive it.”
Shouldn’t this be our continual thought? If God allows us to receive his love, kindness, care, protection, strength and healing… who are we to offer any less to others? What gives us the right to objectify – or judge – another creature? When we criticize – or exclude – another person, have we considered our own faults and shortcomings… and the grace and mercy God extends to us? Isn’t it time to drop the piety and pretense… to humbly and gratefully give God the praise for loving us all so incredibly… and to offer this same love to others? Will this be the day that we find true peace in God’s acceptance… and extend it to others in our midst?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 13, 2013
Isaiah 9:2-6
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. Our Lord, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken.
You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian. The boots of marching warriors and the blood-stained uniforms have been fed to flames and eaten by fire.
A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
As I read over this passage in Isaiah, I felt a sense of encouragement. Isaiah foretold the coming of Jesus… the “Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God…Eternal Father and Prince of Peace”. We have all that we need in Him… we just have to tap into His power… grace…mercy… forgiveness… and abounding love. Because of Jesus, we can set our own feelings and opinions aside and operate in His love. We can try to see people and situations as Jesus sees them. We can go to work to erase hatred and unkindness… to lead with Christ’s love in everything we think, feel, say and do.
There are no winners in this situation. As is often the case, every person involved has lost in some way. We must turn to Jesus and find our victories in Him…discover triumph in the knowledge that Christ sacrificed His very life that we might live – abundantly and peacefully. We must focus on the love of Jesus and incorporate it into every single minute of our day. We must see each person as God’s creation, precious in His sight and fully entitled to the same love and care that He affords us. Only then can we fully experience peace and confidence.
I cannot imagine what it must be like for either family involved in this case… for the parents of these two men – both the son who was killed, and the one who has been acquitted. But we must not let disappointments and even perceived injustices define and disrupt us and take our focus off of sharing Jesus’ love. We must allow God to handle vengeance and serve as the Ultimate Judge. And we must ask God to fill us with His love and peace. Pray for God’s peace today and in the days ahead… for yourself and for our nation and the world at large.
“A Sunday Prayer” – Bishop Gary Mueller, Arkansas Conference – The United Methodist Church
Those who walked in the dark have seen a bright light. And it shines upon everyone who lives in the land of darkest shadows. Our Lord, you have made your nation stronger. Because of you, its people are glad and celebrate like workers at harvest time or like soldiers dividing up what they have taken.
You have broken the power of those who abused and enslaved your people. You have rescued them just as you saved your people from Midian. The boots of marching warriors and the blood-stained uniforms have been fed to flames and eaten by fire.
A child has been born for us. We have been given a son who will be our ruler. His names will be Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God, Eternal Father and Prince of Peace.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
“I am praying with everything I’ve got -Our church’s bishop, Gary Mueller, wrote this prayer as part of his morning devotional titled “A Sunday Prayer”. In his writing, he noted the court decision handed down late last night acquitting a man who shot and killed Florida teenager… claiming he felt his life was in danger. There is great controversy on both sides of this case, and the Bishop began his note with the comment that there is once again a huge divide in our nation. He also noted that this breaks his heart… but it break’s God’s even more. So he begged God to send more and more of His love to us today… to bind us together and once again strengthen our nation.
Send your love today.
Then send it more and more and more.
Not just to others. But to me.
So I can do what I often feel incapable of doing.
Lead with your love in everything I think, feel, say and do.
Walk a mile in others’ shoes.
Understand in new ways.
Get on board with you.
Change in the ways I need to. And go to work -
Until your will is as real on earth as it already is in heaven.
So children can walk the streets safely.
And there’s no need to carry guns.
And no one will die from hunger.
And hatred is erased from human hearts.
Hear my prayer, Lord.
Hear our prayer, Lord.
Hear your prayer, Lord.
Amen.”
As I read over this passage in Isaiah, I felt a sense of encouragement. Isaiah foretold the coming of Jesus… the “Wonderful Advisor and Mighty God…Eternal Father and Prince of Peace”. We have all that we need in Him… we just have to tap into His power… grace…mercy… forgiveness… and abounding love. Because of Jesus, we can set our own feelings and opinions aside and operate in His love. We can try to see people and situations as Jesus sees them. We can go to work to erase hatred and unkindness… to lead with Christ’s love in everything we think, feel, say and do.
There are no winners in this situation. As is often the case, every person involved has lost in some way. We must turn to Jesus and find our victories in Him…discover triumph in the knowledge that Christ sacrificed His very life that we might live – abundantly and peacefully. We must focus on the love of Jesus and incorporate it into every single minute of our day. We must see each person as God’s creation, precious in His sight and fully entitled to the same love and care that He affords us. Only then can we fully experience peace and confidence.
I cannot imagine what it must be like for either family involved in this case… for the parents of these two men – both the son who was killed, and the one who has been acquitted. But we must not let disappointments and even perceived injustices define and disrupt us and take our focus off of sharing Jesus’ love. We must allow God to handle vengeance and serve as the Ultimate Judge. And we must ask God to fill us with His love and peace. Pray for God’s peace today and in the days ahead… for yourself and for our nation and the world at large.
"Hear our prayer, LORD… Hear our prayer."©2013 Debbie Robus
“A Sunday Prayer” – Bishop Gary Mueller, Arkansas Conference – The United Methodist Church
Daily Devotional for July 11, 2013
Isaiah 55:8-12
The Lord says:
“My thoughts and my ways are not like yours.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.
“Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don’t return without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat.
That’s how it is with my words.
They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.”
When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace.
Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been to a concert or the ballgame where entertainers, celebrities, and/or athletes appear, and the crowd goes wild with excitement. The enthusiasm is palpable… contagious… and for a time, at least, we leave the event feeling uplifted and joyful. We travel home in peace. God wants us to experience Him in this manner. He wants us to be so filled with His presence that we are exhilarated, yet serene… all at once confident and calm.
There are about a dozen people that I often encounter who truly make me a better person every time I am with them. They seem to exude joy and faith in God. No matter what is happening in their lives, they have a smile and a positive attitude… and I know it is because of their close relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Truly, after I am with these people, I feel like the mountains and hills sing and the trees clap as I pass by.
Do you know people like this? Are you one of them? Do you know that God wants us to be so filled with His thoughts, words and ways that we cannot help but experience incredible peace and joy in Him? Can you see that God wants us to be so full of faith and enthusiasm for His truths that we move the mountains and hills to sing and the trees to clap in celebration?
Most of us will never attain celebrity status or be professional athletes or entertainers. We will never enter arenas or stages to the rousing applause and celebration of an adoring throng. But this really isn’t important anyway. What matters is that we live in the applause and celebration of God… of belonging completely to Him, surrendering to His ways, and sharing His love with others. When we settle into the complete peace and freedom of a life in Christ… with the Holy Spirit as our constant companion… mountains and hills will indeed sing, trees will clap, and these will be all of the accolades we could ever need.
Whose applause are you seeking these days? Where are you searching for peace? Give God room to work in your life… make a place for the Holy Spirit in your heart. Look for joy and contentment in the right places. Attune your heart to the higher ways and words of God… and get ready to “travel home in peace”.
©2013 Debbie Robus
The Lord says:
“My thoughts and my ways are not like yours.
Just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
my thoughts and my ways are higher than yours.
“Rain and snow fall from the sky.
But they don’t return without watering the earth
that produces seeds to plant and grain to eat.
That’s how it is with my words.
They don’t return to me without doing everything I send them to do.”
When you are set free, you will celebrate and travel home in peace.
Mountains and hills will sing as you pass by, and trees will clap.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We’ve all been to a concert or the ballgame where entertainers, celebrities, and/or athletes appear, and the crowd goes wild with excitement. The enthusiasm is palpable… contagious… and for a time, at least, we leave the event feeling uplifted and joyful. We travel home in peace. God wants us to experience Him in this manner. He wants us to be so filled with His presence that we are exhilarated, yet serene… all at once confident and calm.
There are about a dozen people that I often encounter who truly make me a better person every time I am with them. They seem to exude joy and faith in God. No matter what is happening in their lives, they have a smile and a positive attitude… and I know it is because of their close relationship with Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Truly, after I am with these people, I feel like the mountains and hills sing and the trees clap as I pass by.
Do you know people like this? Are you one of them? Do you know that God wants us to be so filled with His thoughts, words and ways that we cannot help but experience incredible peace and joy in Him? Can you see that God wants us to be so full of faith and enthusiasm for His truths that we move the mountains and hills to sing and the trees to clap in celebration?
Most of us will never attain celebrity status or be professional athletes or entertainers. We will never enter arenas or stages to the rousing applause and celebration of an adoring throng. But this really isn’t important anyway. What matters is that we live in the applause and celebration of God… of belonging completely to Him, surrendering to His ways, and sharing His love with others. When we settle into the complete peace and freedom of a life in Christ… with the Holy Spirit as our constant companion… mountains and hills will indeed sing, trees will clap, and these will be all of the accolades we could ever need.
Whose applause are you seeking these days? Where are you searching for peace? Give God room to work in your life… make a place for the Holy Spirit in your heart. Look for joy and contentment in the right places. Attune your heart to the higher ways and words of God… and get ready to “travel home in peace”.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for June 24, 2013
Galatians 3:28-29
In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This morning I worked on some baby bibs for my little nephew, Nathan. I thought about all of the cute clothes I make for my nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. While clothes shouldn’t matter all that much… they do. In our culture, children are judged by other children – and adults – even at an early age. The child who is dirty and always dressed in stained, tattered or worn-out clothing is not valued (or treated as nicely) by some as much as children who look like they just stepped out of Baby Gap or even Old Navy! This morning I also thought of another child of “ours” – Timothy Kodjo Owusu Frim, who lives in Ghana. My husband and I have sponsored “Kodjo” through Compassion International since May 2006.
Kodjo will be 13 in October. We exchange letters somewhere around once a month, and each year, we receive an updated picture of our guy. I wish I could share the pictures with you. Each time, Kodjo is dressed in clothing that is either undersized, oversized… or simply what many would consider a fashion faux pas. I am pretty sure the jeans he was wearing in the last photo we received were designed for girls. Yet he appears grateful to have this clothing… and I figure in his poor fishing village in Ghana, this is the norm rather than the exception. Still, it breaks my heart… and I sometimes wish I could hop a plane to Africa and scoop this little man up and bring him home to live with us!
I know that this would not solve the world’s problems – or even be the right thing for Kodjo, who has a family (albeit a somewhat disjointed one) in Ghana. But here’s what I know…at the end of the day, this tall, very-dark skinned brown-eyed child is just as precious as our little fair-skinned, blue-eyed Timothy and his brother Nathan. This little boy holds the same importance in God’s eyes as our brown-eyed, curly-headed Zola. The drawings from Kodjo that started out as stick figures and progressed over the years to detailed renderings of race cars and people demonstrate a mind that is growing and developing just like the creative brain of my red-headed, freckled-faced cousin Olivia.
When thinking of all of these children, the most important thing to remember is that they are all members of Christ’s family. God doesn’t see them as black, white, male, female, poor, rich, intelligent or intellectually challenged, creative or “less-than-average.” God loves each and every one of them equally. I try to remind each of these children as often as possible how much I love them… and that God loves them even more! I know that most of them are still too young to fully comprehend this… but someday, I pray that this concept will give each of them a tremendous sense of peace.
Take a minute to consider just how important you are to God. Reflect upon the incredible sacrifices He made for you through the blood of His only Son – Jesus Christ. Remind yourself that God planned for you from before the time of Abraham and Moses… He thought about you centuries before you were ever a living, breathing soul. Let it soak in just how much God loves you…how deeply He cares about you and your every need. If this doesn’t give you a sense of peace and calm even in the midst of whatever may be happening in your life today… I can’t imagine what will.
At the end of the day, I cannot truly change how I - or anyone I know and love - will be treated by others, based on appearance, race, gender, ethnicity, social or economic status, and more. But I can take comfort in knowing that God sees none of this. All He sees are His precious creations. All He wants is to be loved by each one of us… and to grant us blessings, salvation and peace in return. He wants us to “put on blinders” when we look at others … to only see members of His family and not the “labels” placed on them by man.
Whenever you feel you are being judged unfairly, remind yourself Whose you are. Thank God for such amazing, unconditional love. Find peace and comfort in knowing that you belong to Him. Look past the “outer coverings” of others and uncover the intrinsic value that God sees within them, as well. Offer His grace and peace to each person you encounter…and allow harmony a chance to prosper in all of us.
©2013 Debbie Robus
In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
This morning I worked on some baby bibs for my little nephew, Nathan. I thought about all of the cute clothes I make for my nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. While clothes shouldn’t matter all that much… they do. In our culture, children are judged by other children – and adults – even at an early age. The child who is dirty and always dressed in stained, tattered or worn-out clothing is not valued (or treated as nicely) by some as much as children who look like they just stepped out of Baby Gap or even Old Navy! This morning I also thought of another child of “ours” – Timothy Kodjo Owusu Frim, who lives in Ghana. My husband and I have sponsored “Kodjo” through Compassion International since May 2006.
Kodjo will be 13 in October. We exchange letters somewhere around once a month, and each year, we receive an updated picture of our guy. I wish I could share the pictures with you. Each time, Kodjo is dressed in clothing that is either undersized, oversized… or simply what many would consider a fashion faux pas. I am pretty sure the jeans he was wearing in the last photo we received were designed for girls. Yet he appears grateful to have this clothing… and I figure in his poor fishing village in Ghana, this is the norm rather than the exception. Still, it breaks my heart… and I sometimes wish I could hop a plane to Africa and scoop this little man up and bring him home to live with us!
I know that this would not solve the world’s problems – or even be the right thing for Kodjo, who has a family (albeit a somewhat disjointed one) in Ghana. But here’s what I know…at the end of the day, this tall, very-dark skinned brown-eyed child is just as precious as our little fair-skinned, blue-eyed Timothy and his brother Nathan. This little boy holds the same importance in God’s eyes as our brown-eyed, curly-headed Zola. The drawings from Kodjo that started out as stick figures and progressed over the years to detailed renderings of race cars and people demonstrate a mind that is growing and developing just like the creative brain of my red-headed, freckled-faced cousin Olivia.
When thinking of all of these children, the most important thing to remember is that they are all members of Christ’s family. God doesn’t see them as black, white, male, female, poor, rich, intelligent or intellectually challenged, creative or “less-than-average.” God loves each and every one of them equally. I try to remind each of these children as often as possible how much I love them… and that God loves them even more! I know that most of them are still too young to fully comprehend this… but someday, I pray that this concept will give each of them a tremendous sense of peace.
Take a minute to consider just how important you are to God. Reflect upon the incredible sacrifices He made for you through the blood of His only Son – Jesus Christ. Remind yourself that God planned for you from before the time of Abraham and Moses… He thought about you centuries before you were ever a living, breathing soul. Let it soak in just how much God loves you…how deeply He cares about you and your every need. If this doesn’t give you a sense of peace and calm even in the midst of whatever may be happening in your life today… I can’t imagine what will.
At the end of the day, I cannot truly change how I - or anyone I know and love - will be treated by others, based on appearance, race, gender, ethnicity, social or economic status, and more. But I can take comfort in knowing that God sees none of this. All He sees are His precious creations. All He wants is to be loved by each one of us… and to grant us blessings, salvation and peace in return. He wants us to “put on blinders” when we look at others … to only see members of His family and not the “labels” placed on them by man.
Whenever you feel you are being judged unfairly, remind yourself Whose you are. Thank God for such amazing, unconditional love. Find peace and comfort in knowing that you belong to Him. Look past the “outer coverings” of others and uncover the intrinsic value that God sees within them, as well. Offer His grace and peace to each person you encounter…and allow harmony a chance to prosper in all of us.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 23, 2013
Romans 15:1-2
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
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.
Someone shared with me that her friend was really hurting after the loss of a close family member. This person said, “It’s all just family drama… but she has a LOT of problems right now.” Knowing both parties well, I quickly pointed out… “She has no more problems than you have… they are just different.” And the truth is that all of us have problems. While it may seem that some have more than others – or that one person’s problems are more insurmountable than those of another – each one of us is dealing with something. And often, the true measure comes not in how many tribulations or troubles a person has… but more in how they handle them.
So when you have your own “heapin’ helpin’ of troubles”… or you have overcome tremendous obstacles through faith in God… and you see another who is struggling to cope…share your story. Say to him/her, “I know this is not the same thing, but when XYZ happened to me, this is how God helped me handle it.” Or tell the person, “I can see that you are hurting, and I get it. I’ve been tested. And I can tell you that God is still on your side.” Show the person whose faith is faltering that God does answer prayers… that He does bring us out of tests, trials, and great big messes… that nothing is impossible with God – or too difficult for Him to handle.
Be prepared to “put your money where your mouth is.” Don’t be one of those people who asks, “How are you?” as you walk away or start talking about something else. Ask…and wait around for the answer! Be engaged and present in the conversation. When you offer to help someone else, mean it. Show up! Be ready to work! Say what you mean and mean what you say! You may have had other plans… you may be in a hurry at the grocery store when you encounter someone who wants to tell you a litany of troubles. But you may be the very presence of God for that person in the moment. Convenience is not always a part of the mature Christian’s vocabulary.
Almost two decades ago, I wrote a book called What to Say and Do… When You Don’t Know What to Say and Do. This book was born out of more than one situation where I heard the sentence, “I just didn’t know what to say or do” uttered… and the person chose to say and do nothing. Even a simple “I’m sorry,” or “I’m here” – or even better… “I’m praying” beats that! I discovered that a lot of loving, kind, well-meaning Christians simply didn’t know how to handle a lot of situations in everyday life… but I’d met several who did. So I wrote a book and shared what I observed in others that worked… and what works for me.
The point is that we have to be prepared to stand up and be accountable to God by being available to help others. We have to offer grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and encouragement to those who truly need it… and we often have to be awake and alert to spot them! We must be willing to set aside our own agendas in order to help a friend. In doing so, we are saying, “LORD… I’m here… send me!” You can see that to do nothing gives God the opposite message!
So what will you do? Will you sit back and do nothing? Will you “rest on your laurels”… bask in your own salvation and let someone else see to the needs of others? Or will you step up and share the tremendous gift of Jesus Christ by lending a helping hand to those in need? Your problems may be huge… you may need help yourself. Sometimes, in order to receive help for ourselves, we must first be willing to give a hand to others. Are you willing to do this? Are you looking after the good of others in Jesus’ name? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?”
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.
Someone shared with me that her friend was really hurting after the loss of a close family member. This person said, “It’s all just family drama… but she has a LOT of problems right now.” Knowing both parties well, I quickly pointed out… “She has no more problems than you have… they are just different.” And the truth is that all of us have problems. While it may seem that some have more than others – or that one person’s problems are more insurmountable than those of another – each one of us is dealing with something. And often, the true measure comes not in how many tribulations or troubles a person has… but more in how they handle them.
So when you have your own “heapin’ helpin’ of troubles”… or you have overcome tremendous obstacles through faith in God… and you see another who is struggling to cope…share your story. Say to him/her, “I know this is not the same thing, but when XYZ happened to me, this is how God helped me handle it.” Or tell the person, “I can see that you are hurting, and I get it. I’ve been tested. And I can tell you that God is still on your side.” Show the person whose faith is faltering that God does answer prayers… that He does bring us out of tests, trials, and great big messes… that nothing is impossible with God – or too difficult for Him to handle.
Be prepared to “put your money where your mouth is.” Don’t be one of those people who asks, “How are you?” as you walk away or start talking about something else. Ask…and wait around for the answer! Be engaged and present in the conversation. When you offer to help someone else, mean it. Show up! Be ready to work! Say what you mean and mean what you say! You may have had other plans… you may be in a hurry at the grocery store when you encounter someone who wants to tell you a litany of troubles. But you may be the very presence of God for that person in the moment. Convenience is not always a part of the mature Christian’s vocabulary.
Almost two decades ago, I wrote a book called What to Say and Do… When You Don’t Know What to Say and Do. This book was born out of more than one situation where I heard the sentence, “I just didn’t know what to say or do” uttered… and the person chose to say and do nothing. Even a simple “I’m sorry,” or “I’m here” – or even better… “I’m praying” beats that! I discovered that a lot of loving, kind, well-meaning Christians simply didn’t know how to handle a lot of situations in everyday life… but I’d met several who did. So I wrote a book and shared what I observed in others that worked… and what works for me.
The point is that we have to be prepared to stand up and be accountable to God by being available to help others. We have to offer grace, mercy, love, forgiveness and encouragement to those who truly need it… and we often have to be awake and alert to spot them! We must be willing to set aside our own agendas in order to help a friend. In doing so, we are saying, “LORD… I’m here… send me!” You can see that to do nothing gives God the opposite message!
So what will you do? Will you sit back and do nothing? Will you “rest on your laurels”… bask in your own salvation and let someone else see to the needs of others? Or will you step up and share the tremendous gift of Jesus Christ by lending a helping hand to those in need? Your problems may be huge… you may need help yourself. Sometimes, in order to receive help for ourselves, we must first be willing to give a hand to others. Are you willing to do this? Are you looking after the good of others in Jesus’ name? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 19, 2013
February 19 ~ Philippians 2:1-4
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was listening to a segment on NBC’s The TODAY show about sticky social situations. A woman wrote in and said that she and her husband live in Vermont - where it snows a lot, of course. Every time it snows, this woman’s husband blows off the driveway of an elderly neighbor when he cleans his own driveway. The neighbor has never acknowledged that the man does this… never thanked him… nothing. And he has been doing this for years. The wife asked, “How does he stop?” The panel had several suggestions, including asking the woman if she would like for him to continue – or had she made other arrangements… the wife telling her in private that it would be nice if she spoke to the husband about this once in a while and expressed gratitude… and my favorite – keep blowing off the driveway and say nothing!
When I read this scripture passage, I was reminded of the question on this television segment. The whole purpose in clearing the elderly woman’s driveway should not be to get a “thank you” or to be a hero in any way. In life, there will be a lot of things that we do for others that are never acknowledged or don’t appear to be appreciated. But this is not the point! We should be willing to put ourselves aside… to forget about our own gratification and accolades long enough to help others.
There will be a lot of “thankless jobs” in life. If you are truly serving God in doing them, you won’t care. Stop and think about your own life. Where have you made certain things about you that should really be about God? Where are you acting out of selfishness, jealousy, or an obsession with gaining your own advantage? Have you really gotten anything out of your pursuit of a life in Christ? Is your mission truly to be more like Him and to share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others… or are you more interested in what you He can do for you?
Go back and read this again… if you have really gotten anything out of your journey with Christ, you will pay it forward. If you are more concerned with what’s in it for you than what you can give, maybe it’s time to take a breather and fully examine your discipleship and your commitment. If you are waiting for the elderly lady next door to thank you for clearing her driveway, so to speak, you probably need a “discipleship makeover.” Today seems like a pretty good day to begin… doesn’t it?!
©2013 Debbie Robus
If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was listening to a segment on NBC’s The TODAY show about sticky social situations. A woman wrote in and said that she and her husband live in Vermont - where it snows a lot, of course. Every time it snows, this woman’s husband blows off the driveway of an elderly neighbor when he cleans his own driveway. The neighbor has never acknowledged that the man does this… never thanked him… nothing. And he has been doing this for years. The wife asked, “How does he stop?” The panel had several suggestions, including asking the woman if she would like for him to continue – or had she made other arrangements… the wife telling her in private that it would be nice if she spoke to the husband about this once in a while and expressed gratitude… and my favorite – keep blowing off the driveway and say nothing!
When I read this scripture passage, I was reminded of the question on this television segment. The whole purpose in clearing the elderly woman’s driveway should not be to get a “thank you” or to be a hero in any way. In life, there will be a lot of things that we do for others that are never acknowledged or don’t appear to be appreciated. But this is not the point! We should be willing to put ourselves aside… to forget about our own gratification and accolades long enough to help others.
There will be a lot of “thankless jobs” in life. If you are truly serving God in doing them, you won’t care. Stop and think about your own life. Where have you made certain things about you that should really be about God? Where are you acting out of selfishness, jealousy, or an obsession with gaining your own advantage? Have you really gotten anything out of your pursuit of a life in Christ? Is your mission truly to be more like Him and to share His love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness with others… or are you more interested in what you He can do for you?
Go back and read this again… if you have really gotten anything out of your journey with Christ, you will pay it forward. If you are more concerned with what’s in it for you than what you can give, maybe it’s time to take a breather and fully examine your discipleship and your commitment. If you are waiting for the elderly lady next door to thank you for clearing her driveway, so to speak, you probably need a “discipleship makeover.” Today seems like a pretty good day to begin… doesn’t it?!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 4, 2013
James 5:19-20
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I bumped into an old friend of mine at Wal-Mart, and we struck up a “pick-up-where-you-left-off” conversation. We both realized that it had been a long time since we had last spoken – too long for such good friends to fail to communicate. The busyness of life, kids, family and work obligations has taken us in opposite directions. But more importantly, we’ve stopped trying so hard to make regular connections. So life happens and friendships change… what’s the big deal? The problem I see is that this friend and I used to regularly encourage each other… emotionally and spiritually. This was an important bond for both of us… and helped to keep us in check, even in our daily walk with Christ.
As I read this scripture passage today, I thought of those we lose contact with – for whatever reason. I particularly thought of those who drop off our radar screen and seem to take a different path completely. Maybe they once sat beside us several Sundays a month at church… and now they never go at all. It could be that they were so on fire for Jesus a few years ago… and now they are enamored with the latest round of self-help gurus. Or perhaps you have hardly seen this person in months – or years… and when you do, he/she avoids you. What could have passed between you to cause even a minor tiff?
Stop and think about the people you encounter… and those who are central to your daily living. Has the makeup of your “inner circle” changed? Ask yourself what happened. If you find that you have allowed disagreements or something petty to create distance, ask God to show you how to at least try to repair the damage. People get busy… interests change… friendships come and go. But if you have allowed relationships to wither… or neglected others because of your own self-centeredness or personal agenda, you probably need to take a second look at this situation.
Do you notice who is absent from your life… and do you know why? Has it been months since you visited your grandparents or that cousin who was so important to you when you were kids? When was the last time you picked up the phone and called your good friend from high school who lives across town? How long would it take you to write and send a note, e-mail message, or text to someone you have not seen at church in a while and tell them they are missed? What sort of dialog do you suppose you might spark with these simple actions? Could your small gesture of care, concern, grace, mercy and/or forgiveness be the catalyst for some sort of rescue?
Has anyone ever said to you…“Your call/note/hug came at just the right time!”? We can’t possibly know what is happening in others’ lives every minute of the day… but God does. Ask Him to direct you… to show you who needs your pursuit. Position yourself to facilitate a “relationship rescue.” Go after those who have wandered away. Let them know that they matter – to you, and more importantly, to God. Preventing the “epidemic of wandering away” begins with one step… will you be the one to take it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them. Get them back and you will have rescued precious lives from destruction and prevented an epidemic of wandering away from God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I bumped into an old friend of mine at Wal-Mart, and we struck up a “pick-up-where-you-left-off” conversation. We both realized that it had been a long time since we had last spoken – too long for such good friends to fail to communicate. The busyness of life, kids, family and work obligations has taken us in opposite directions. But more importantly, we’ve stopped trying so hard to make regular connections. So life happens and friendships change… what’s the big deal? The problem I see is that this friend and I used to regularly encourage each other… emotionally and spiritually. This was an important bond for both of us… and helped to keep us in check, even in our daily walk with Christ.
As I read this scripture passage today, I thought of those we lose contact with – for whatever reason. I particularly thought of those who drop off our radar screen and seem to take a different path completely. Maybe they once sat beside us several Sundays a month at church… and now they never go at all. It could be that they were so on fire for Jesus a few years ago… and now they are enamored with the latest round of self-help gurus. Or perhaps you have hardly seen this person in months – or years… and when you do, he/she avoids you. What could have passed between you to cause even a minor tiff?
Stop and think about the people you encounter… and those who are central to your daily living. Has the makeup of your “inner circle” changed? Ask yourself what happened. If you find that you have allowed disagreements or something petty to create distance, ask God to show you how to at least try to repair the damage. People get busy… interests change… friendships come and go. But if you have allowed relationships to wither… or neglected others because of your own self-centeredness or personal agenda, you probably need to take a second look at this situation.
Do you notice who is absent from your life… and do you know why? Has it been months since you visited your grandparents or that cousin who was so important to you when you were kids? When was the last time you picked up the phone and called your good friend from high school who lives across town? How long would it take you to write and send a note, e-mail message, or text to someone you have not seen at church in a while and tell them they are missed? What sort of dialog do you suppose you might spark with these simple actions? Could your small gesture of care, concern, grace, mercy and/or forgiveness be the catalyst for some sort of rescue?
Has anyone ever said to you…“Your call/note/hug came at just the right time!”? We can’t possibly know what is happening in others’ lives every minute of the day… but God does. Ask Him to direct you… to show you who needs your pursuit. Position yourself to facilitate a “relationship rescue.” Go after those who have wandered away. Let them know that they matter – to you, and more importantly, to God. Preventing the “epidemic of wandering away” begins with one step… will you be the one to take it?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 27, 2013
1 Peter 4:7-11
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, when I visited my niece and her family, I noticed a box of homemade cookies sitting on their kitchen table. My niece said her husband brought them home from a handyman job he had done for a lady who belongs to my church. It was such a simple act…baking a box of cookies for a young couple and their three small children. But I can tell you for certain… that box was filled with a whole lot more than cookies! This woman is a generous, loving person who sees the big picture. She knows the impact of a single act of love and kindness. It wasn’t about the cookies at all… it was about saying, “I love you and care about you… you matter… remember this with every bite!” Even at 3½, Timothy was talking about Mrs. Pierce, the nice lady who had made cookies for them – and they had CHOCOLATE kisses! He felt her love… and he won’t forget it!
Think about the possibilities if each and every believer loved others as if their very lives depended on it… giving meals to the hungry and beds to the homeless – not because there was a church program in place to do this, but because a need existed and a believer met it. And let’s not be as literal as a meal or a bed. What if you see a young mother struggling in line at the store to fish out another dollar for the cashier while two little kids tug on her and whimper… and you are standing there with an extra dollar in your open wallet? Have you considered the impact you might make if you handed the cashier YOUR dollar?
Suppose you notice a friend wearing the same clothing virtually every single day, and you have more clothes in your closet than you can possibly wear. Imagine what might happen if you handed him a t-shirt or an extra pair of sneakers and said, “I almost never wear these, and I thought you might be able to put them to good use.” Do you have half a dozen jackets and coats that you rarely put on? Could you share one with someone who has nothing? When was the last time you spoke to your neighbor? Have you ever called an elderly friend or relative, just to ask how they are getting along and see if there is anything they need? How often do you offer others a spontaneous hug when you greet them?
I don’t know what opportunities you will have to serve. I have no clue whether your schedule will permit you to get involved in organized ministries at your church… or if you are tapped out already and in need of a little ministry for yourself! But I do know that we all miss out on opportunities each and every day to offer love to others. I’m not talking about huge, grand gestures… but small, seemingly insignificant ones. They don’t necessarily take a lot of time or energy, but their impact packs a wallop! In essence, we need to be sure we are plugged in to God and His incredible capacity to forgive us…His astounding desire to shower us with love.
When you lay your head on the pillow tonight, ask yourself how you showed love to someone else today. Did you grab opportunities to be generous with the gifts God gave you… to make His presence known to another by your gesture of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness – or a combination of all of these? Did you love as if your life depended on it… and did Jesus get the credit? Are you attuned to God’s voice? Do you hear Him leading you to opportunities to love others on His behalf? Just how connected are you with God? Isn’t it time you plugged in again?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Everything in the world is about to be wrapped up, so take nothing for granted. Stay wide-awake in prayer. Most of all, love each other as if your life depended on it. Love makes up for practically anything. Be quick to give a meal to the hungry, a bed to the homeless—cheerfully. Be generous with the different things God gave you, passing them around so all get in on it: if words, let it be God’s words; if help, let it be God’s hearty help. That way, God’s bright presence will be evident in everything through Jesus, and he’ll get all the credit as the One mighty in everything—encores to the end of time. Oh, yes!
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, when I visited my niece and her family, I noticed a box of homemade cookies sitting on their kitchen table. My niece said her husband brought them home from a handyman job he had done for a lady who belongs to my church. It was such a simple act…baking a box of cookies for a young couple and their three small children. But I can tell you for certain… that box was filled with a whole lot more than cookies! This woman is a generous, loving person who sees the big picture. She knows the impact of a single act of love and kindness. It wasn’t about the cookies at all… it was about saying, “I love you and care about you… you matter… remember this with every bite!” Even at 3½, Timothy was talking about Mrs. Pierce, the nice lady who had made cookies for them – and they had CHOCOLATE kisses! He felt her love… and he won’t forget it!
Think about the possibilities if each and every believer loved others as if their very lives depended on it… giving meals to the hungry and beds to the homeless – not because there was a church program in place to do this, but because a need existed and a believer met it. And let’s not be as literal as a meal or a bed. What if you see a young mother struggling in line at the store to fish out another dollar for the cashier while two little kids tug on her and whimper… and you are standing there with an extra dollar in your open wallet? Have you considered the impact you might make if you handed the cashier YOUR dollar?
Suppose you notice a friend wearing the same clothing virtually every single day, and you have more clothes in your closet than you can possibly wear. Imagine what might happen if you handed him a t-shirt or an extra pair of sneakers and said, “I almost never wear these, and I thought you might be able to put them to good use.” Do you have half a dozen jackets and coats that you rarely put on? Could you share one with someone who has nothing? When was the last time you spoke to your neighbor? Have you ever called an elderly friend or relative, just to ask how they are getting along and see if there is anything they need? How often do you offer others a spontaneous hug when you greet them?
I don’t know what opportunities you will have to serve. I have no clue whether your schedule will permit you to get involved in organized ministries at your church… or if you are tapped out already and in need of a little ministry for yourself! But I do know that we all miss out on opportunities each and every day to offer love to others. I’m not talking about huge, grand gestures… but small, seemingly insignificant ones. They don’t necessarily take a lot of time or energy, but their impact packs a wallop! In essence, we need to be sure we are plugged in to God and His incredible capacity to forgive us…His astounding desire to shower us with love.
When you lay your head on the pillow tonight, ask yourself how you showed love to someone else today. Did you grab opportunities to be generous with the gifts God gave you… to make His presence known to another by your gesture of love, grace, mercy, forgiveness – or a combination of all of these? Did you love as if your life depended on it… and did Jesus get the credit? Are you attuned to God’s voice? Do you hear Him leading you to opportunities to love others on His behalf? Just how connected are you with God? Isn’t it time you plugged in again?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 22, 2013
Matthew 5:43-47
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, we inaugurated Barack Obama for a second term as our 44th President of the United States. During the inauguration ceremonies, Myrlie Evers-Williams delivered an invocation. On June 12, 1963, Myrlie Evers-Williams’ then husband, Medgar Evers, was gunned down on the front lawn of their Mississippi home. Myrlie and her three children were inside when a sniper shot Medgar in the back as he got out of his car and walked toward the house. The bullet ricocheted and entered the home, as the children dove for cover. Myrlie ran outside to attend to her dying husband. Medgar died less than an hour later at a local hospital.
After her husband’s murder, Myrlie Evers continued to fight for civil rights, and she lodged a more-than-30-year battle to bring her husband’s killer to justice. She went back to college and got a degree in sociology, and she worked diligently for the NAACP. She also co-wrote For Us, the Living, a book that chronicled the life and work of her civil-rights-activist husband, Medgar.
I am deeply touched by the story of Medgar and Myrlie Evers. They lived with such conviction and concern for the rights of men and women who felt powerless to speak out themselves. The image of this daddy lying in his own front yard, bleeding to death while his small children cowered inside in complete terror brings tears to my eyes. Yet Myrlie Evers got up and got going… and she let her enemies bring out the best in her… not the worst.
I think of people who rub me the wrong way… those who get on my last nerve and really are unpleasant to be around… and I am ashamed of my attitude toward them. This scripture passage is a really hard one for me. I hear myself saying, “But, God…! Do you know how irritating this person is? Do you know what he/she has said/done to me or someone I care about? Do you know how unkind and unloving this individual is… the ugly, distasteful way he/she treats others and behaves in general?” And I hear God, through this scripture, saying… “Love him/her anyway. I love you, don’t I? You’re not so nice yourself on any given day. Yet I continue to meet your needs. Should I not offer the same to this person? Love them anyway.”
We have no time to waste. Life is short, and the first thing you know, that person you treated poorly or failed to love out of your true self… to pray for and be kind to even when it was truly a challenge… will be gone. At the end of the day, you want to be able to say, “That person gave me a hard time or was really difficult to love… but I did it anyway. With God’s strength behind me, and because He loves even me, I chose to love the unlovable in His name.” Serve the LORD obediently... and with no regrets.
Today is a good day to take inventory. Look around at the people you encounter and ask yourself who is lovable… and who isn’t. Are you treating all of these people equally? Are you merely offering run-of-the-mill-sinner lip service to those you find difficult to love – or to even be around? Isn’t it time to put your Christian faith and love into action… to show them kindness beyond what you feel they deserve? My prayer is that we will never have to face challenges on the same scale as Myrlie Evers-Williams… but that we will live with the same courage and conviction. I pray that we will love our enemies and always give our best in the name of Jesus. He gave us the ultimate example of how to love the unlovely. How well have you demonstrated His lesson?
©2013 Debbie Robus
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Yesterday, we inaugurated Barack Obama for a second term as our 44th President of the United States. During the inauguration ceremonies, Myrlie Evers-Williams delivered an invocation. On June 12, 1963, Myrlie Evers-Williams’ then husband, Medgar Evers, was gunned down on the front lawn of their Mississippi home. Myrlie and her three children were inside when a sniper shot Medgar in the back as he got out of his car and walked toward the house. The bullet ricocheted and entered the home, as the children dove for cover. Myrlie ran outside to attend to her dying husband. Medgar died less than an hour later at a local hospital.
After her husband’s murder, Myrlie Evers continued to fight for civil rights, and she lodged a more-than-30-year battle to bring her husband’s killer to justice. She went back to college and got a degree in sociology, and she worked diligently for the NAACP. She also co-wrote For Us, the Living, a book that chronicled the life and work of her civil-rights-activist husband, Medgar.
I am deeply touched by the story of Medgar and Myrlie Evers. They lived with such conviction and concern for the rights of men and women who felt powerless to speak out themselves. The image of this daddy lying in his own front yard, bleeding to death while his small children cowered inside in complete terror brings tears to my eyes. Yet Myrlie Evers got up and got going… and she let her enemies bring out the best in her… not the worst.
I think of people who rub me the wrong way… those who get on my last nerve and really are unpleasant to be around… and I am ashamed of my attitude toward them. This scripture passage is a really hard one for me. I hear myself saying, “But, God…! Do you know how irritating this person is? Do you know what he/she has said/done to me or someone I care about? Do you know how unkind and unloving this individual is… the ugly, distasteful way he/she treats others and behaves in general?” And I hear God, through this scripture, saying… “Love him/her anyway. I love you, don’t I? You’re not so nice yourself on any given day. Yet I continue to meet your needs. Should I not offer the same to this person? Love them anyway.”
We have no time to waste. Life is short, and the first thing you know, that person you treated poorly or failed to love out of your true self… to pray for and be kind to even when it was truly a challenge… will be gone. At the end of the day, you want to be able to say, “That person gave me a hard time or was really difficult to love… but I did it anyway. With God’s strength behind me, and because He loves even me, I chose to love the unlovable in His name.” Serve the LORD obediently... and with no regrets.
Today is a good day to take inventory. Look around at the people you encounter and ask yourself who is lovable… and who isn’t. Are you treating all of these people equally? Are you merely offering run-of-the-mill-sinner lip service to those you find difficult to love – or to even be around? Isn’t it time to put your Christian faith and love into action… to show them kindness beyond what you feel they deserve? My prayer is that we will never have to face challenges on the same scale as Myrlie Evers-Williams… but that we will live with the same courage and conviction. I pray that we will love our enemies and always give our best in the name of Jesus. He gave us the ultimate example of how to love the unlovely. How well have you demonstrated His lesson?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 3, 2013
Exodus 15:2
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
As an online seller, I can tell you that positive feedback is vital. I’ve worked hard to build up a base of good feedback. The trouble is… less than half of all buyers take the time to provide any response. This is really frustrating to us sellers… and it has made me more aware of the importance of providing feedback when I purchase something – especially if it was from an individual, like a seller on Etsy, eBay or from an independent retailer on Amazon.
“What’s the big deal about feedback?” you may ask. Positive feedback tells potential buyers that this person had a good experience… that the customer got what he/she paid for… that the shipping was reasonable and quick… that the overall service was good. One customer who purchased vintage earrings from me wrote, “These are beautiful! I will cherish them! Thank you so much!” Another said of an antique table runner…“Very beautiful! It’s in great vintage condition as advertised. I LOVE it! Thanks for the careful packaging and super fast shipping!”
I wonder… what sort of feedback do we give for God? Do we let others know what wonderful things He has done for us? Are we quick to point out how amazing God is… the power He brings to our life and how beautifully He orchestrates every detail? Do we sing His praises and tell the world that He is worthy of our devotion…more than enough to meet our every need… our joy and our strength? Do we give God credit for a victorious life over sin and death? Do we acknowledge that He is preparing a mansion for us in heaven, where the streets are paved with gold?
Are we like those who buy online and never bother to let anyone know whether they had a good experience or not? Do we take all that God will give us without so much as a word or a gesture to show our appreciation? Isn’t it time we stopped and took a good hard look at how we treat our Most High God? Don’t you think He deserves to be heralded… to hear our song of praise… to feel our acknowledgment? Shouldn’t we tell everyone in sight how much God has done for us and offer them a chance to experience His incredible strength in their own life?
What are you waiting for? Make this the day that you begin to give daily positive feedback to Almighty God. Make Him not only your strength, but your song… and exalt Him to the best of your ability. We can never repay God for all He does for us… for all He will do for us in the future. But we can give Him our best effort and continual feedback. God wants to hear from us… He wants us to tell others about Him. When was the last time you sang His praises?
©2013 Debbie Robus
The Lord is my strength and my song; he has given me victory. This is my God, and I will praise him—my father’s God, and I will exalt him!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
As an online seller, I can tell you that positive feedback is vital. I’ve worked hard to build up a base of good feedback. The trouble is… less than half of all buyers take the time to provide any response. This is really frustrating to us sellers… and it has made me more aware of the importance of providing feedback when I purchase something – especially if it was from an individual, like a seller on Etsy, eBay or from an independent retailer on Amazon.
“What’s the big deal about feedback?” you may ask. Positive feedback tells potential buyers that this person had a good experience… that the customer got what he/she paid for… that the shipping was reasonable and quick… that the overall service was good. One customer who purchased vintage earrings from me wrote, “These are beautiful! I will cherish them! Thank you so much!” Another said of an antique table runner…“Very beautiful! It’s in great vintage condition as advertised. I LOVE it! Thanks for the careful packaging and super fast shipping!”
I wonder… what sort of feedback do we give for God? Do we let others know what wonderful things He has done for us? Are we quick to point out how amazing God is… the power He brings to our life and how beautifully He orchestrates every detail? Do we sing His praises and tell the world that He is worthy of our devotion…more than enough to meet our every need… our joy and our strength? Do we give God credit for a victorious life over sin and death? Do we acknowledge that He is preparing a mansion for us in heaven, where the streets are paved with gold?
Are we like those who buy online and never bother to let anyone know whether they had a good experience or not? Do we take all that God will give us without so much as a word or a gesture to show our appreciation? Isn’t it time we stopped and took a good hard look at how we treat our Most High God? Don’t you think He deserves to be heralded… to hear our song of praise… to feel our acknowledgment? Shouldn’t we tell everyone in sight how much God has done for us and offer them a chance to experience His incredible strength in their own life?
What are you waiting for? Make this the day that you begin to give daily positive feedback to Almighty God. Make Him not only your strength, but your song… and exalt Him to the best of your ability. We can never repay God for all He does for us… for all He will do for us in the future. But we can give Him our best effort and continual feedback. God wants to hear from us… He wants us to tell others about Him. When was the last time you sang His praises?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 10, 2012
James 3:13-16
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
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.
One of our niece’s high school classmates is a pediatrician at a hospital in Little Rock, where she also teaches at a university hospital. She is also a newlywed whose husband was diagnosed this summer with a very serious form of brain cancer – a highly aggressive malignancy known as glioblastoma. Through surgery, radiation and chemo treatments, this young woman has kept family and friends updated via a CaringBridge journal. In recent posts, she has noted that she doesn’t know how people without her knowledge and expertise navigate the unbelievable maze of medical jargon, paperwork, diagnoses, and treatment directives.
While this ordeal is incredibly heartbreaking, this woman also notes that she has become a better physician as a result of her experience. Many of us have been in a situation where medical staff threw big words, acronyms, numbers and data at us in rapid-fire succession – assuming we understood what they were telling us… while we wondered, “What in the world does this all mean?” – or our mind raced in a thousand other directions. Our niece’s friend writes …”I have become a more compassionate doctor for my families that turn up in the ED (Emergency Department) because they just didn't know what else to do. And while I can rarely solve their problem, I can sit and let them vent about the mess that for-profit medicine has created.”
We can’t merely point to the medical community as the only example of this, because we all act this way, to some degree. We set ourselves up on a pedestal and offer our supreme wisdom to others… often with a hefty dose of condescension or pride in our own capabilities. We lord it over others who really only needed to vent or – as this physician put it – just didn’t know what else to do. We operate in arrogance… that we are better at our job, our sport, parenting our children, being a good friend – and worst of all, being a Christian. By operating in mean-spirited ambition or superiority, we are anything but wise.
Each one of us needs to take a good look at our own life and how we act toward others. Ask yourself, “Am I operating in humility and wisdom… or arrogance and selfish ambition? Am I more concerned with how I appear and stroking my own ego… or sharing my God-given blessings with others? Do others come to me because they know I will offer humble, non-judgmental wisdom and comfort… or am I avoided because of my know-it-all attitude and hypercriticism?”
Won’t you ask God today to grant you true wisdom… and a spirit of honesty, generosity, and humility – as you interact with others? Ask God to make you a person others actually want to be around. Be the humble Christian witness who shares the love of Christ without cramming your vast Bible knowledge or “direct line” arrogance down the throats of others. Build a reputation as someone who lives well, wisely, and humbly. And while you are at it… please pray for this young woman and her husband – and their two young sons – who continue to fight “the beast,” as she describes glioblastoma.
As the adage goes…“People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” What do others know about you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here’s what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It’s the way you live, not the way you talk, that counts. Mean-spirited ambition isn’t wisdom. Boasting that you are wise isn’t wisdom. Twisting the truth to make yourselves sound wise isn’t wisdom. It’s the furthest thing from wisdom—it’s animal cunning, devilish conniving. Whenever you’re trying to look better than others or get the better of others, things fall apart and everyone ends up at the others’ throats.
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.
One of our niece’s high school classmates is a pediatrician at a hospital in Little Rock, where she also teaches at a university hospital. She is also a newlywed whose husband was diagnosed this summer with a very serious form of brain cancer – a highly aggressive malignancy known as glioblastoma. Through surgery, radiation and chemo treatments, this young woman has kept family and friends updated via a CaringBridge journal. In recent posts, she has noted that she doesn’t know how people without her knowledge and expertise navigate the unbelievable maze of medical jargon, paperwork, diagnoses, and treatment directives.
While this ordeal is incredibly heartbreaking, this woman also notes that she has become a better physician as a result of her experience. Many of us have been in a situation where medical staff threw big words, acronyms, numbers and data at us in rapid-fire succession – assuming we understood what they were telling us… while we wondered, “What in the world does this all mean?” – or our mind raced in a thousand other directions. Our niece’s friend writes …”I have become a more compassionate doctor for my families that turn up in the ED (Emergency Department) because they just didn't know what else to do. And while I can rarely solve their problem, I can sit and let them vent about the mess that for-profit medicine has created.”
We can’t merely point to the medical community as the only example of this, because we all act this way, to some degree. We set ourselves up on a pedestal and offer our supreme wisdom to others… often with a hefty dose of condescension or pride in our own capabilities. We lord it over others who really only needed to vent or – as this physician put it – just didn’t know what else to do. We operate in arrogance… that we are better at our job, our sport, parenting our children, being a good friend – and worst of all, being a Christian. By operating in mean-spirited ambition or superiority, we are anything but wise.
Each one of us needs to take a good look at our own life and how we act toward others. Ask yourself, “Am I operating in humility and wisdom… or arrogance and selfish ambition? Am I more concerned with how I appear and stroking my own ego… or sharing my God-given blessings with others? Do others come to me because they know I will offer humble, non-judgmental wisdom and comfort… or am I avoided because of my know-it-all attitude and hypercriticism?”
Won’t you ask God today to grant you true wisdom… and a spirit of honesty, generosity, and humility – as you interact with others? Ask God to make you a person others actually want to be around. Be the humble Christian witness who shares the love of Christ without cramming your vast Bible knowledge or “direct line” arrogance down the throats of others. Build a reputation as someone who lives well, wisely, and humbly. And while you are at it… please pray for this young woman and her husband – and their two young sons – who continue to fight “the beast,” as she describes glioblastoma.
As the adage goes…“People don’t care what you know until they know that you care.” What do others know about you?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 4, 2012
James 2:19-20
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
The late radio commentator and author, Paul Harvey, was known for telling “the rest of the story.” He would weave interesting tales for his listeners that contained a twist or something peculiar or unique at the end… and he would utter his trademark phrase, “… and now you know the rest of the story.”
As Christians, we often fail to tell “the rest of the story.” We stop short by claiming to believe in God… we are ready and willing to tell others what God is capable of doing – and we may even share personal examples of how God has blessed and cared for us. But this is where we begin and end… with talk. We don’t “live by example.” We judge others – often unfairly. We are exclusive in our social circles and display negative attitudes and stereotypes. We gripe about how bad things are getting in our country – and the world at large – and we blame everything on someone else.
How often do you hear someone say, “I’ve been asking God to turn this economy around, and I believe He is answering,” or “I thank God for my freedoms, and I know He is blessing me at every turn.” When was the last time you posted something positive on Facebook… or offered someone who was struggling a little hope for the future? How often to you speak encouraging words to someone else, based on your own hope and faith in Jesus Christ to “do all things?”
There are far too many “Christians” in this world who are sitting on the sidelines, judging each and every person they encounter according to a personal agenda, and offering little to nothing that would make the next guy say, “If he/she is the example of what life holds for those with Christian faith, sign me up!” Instead, there are plenty who are claiming the name of Jesus and turning off others at every turn. In a nutshell, if these folks are the epitome of a faith-filled Christian, forget it! They don’t want any part of it… and who could blame them?!
We have to stay awake and alert… and we simply must examine our hearts – and our faith – on a daily basis. Are we truly sharing “the rest of the story” with others? Or are we giving lip service to the love and power of Jesus Christ and then sitting on our hands? Worse yet, do we say one thing and demonstrate another? The time has come for us to be “the real deal” for Jesus. It will require hard work, dedication, and continual effort… but nothing less is acceptable. What is your level of commitment? How much of the story are telling these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Do I hear you professing to believe in the one and only God, but then observe you complacently sitting back as if you had done something wonderful? That's just great. Demons do that, but what good does it do them? Use your heads! Do you suppose for a minute that you can cut faith and works in two and not end up with a corpse on your hands?
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
The late radio commentator and author, Paul Harvey, was known for telling “the rest of the story.” He would weave interesting tales for his listeners that contained a twist or something peculiar or unique at the end… and he would utter his trademark phrase, “… and now you know the rest of the story.”
As Christians, we often fail to tell “the rest of the story.” We stop short by claiming to believe in God… we are ready and willing to tell others what God is capable of doing – and we may even share personal examples of how God has blessed and cared for us. But this is where we begin and end… with talk. We don’t “live by example.” We judge others – often unfairly. We are exclusive in our social circles and display negative attitudes and stereotypes. We gripe about how bad things are getting in our country – and the world at large – and we blame everything on someone else.
How often do you hear someone say, “I’ve been asking God to turn this economy around, and I believe He is answering,” or “I thank God for my freedoms, and I know He is blessing me at every turn.” When was the last time you posted something positive on Facebook… or offered someone who was struggling a little hope for the future? How often to you speak encouraging words to someone else, based on your own hope and faith in Jesus Christ to “do all things?”
There are far too many “Christians” in this world who are sitting on the sidelines, judging each and every person they encounter according to a personal agenda, and offering little to nothing that would make the next guy say, “If he/she is the example of what life holds for those with Christian faith, sign me up!” Instead, there are plenty who are claiming the name of Jesus and turning off others at every turn. In a nutshell, if these folks are the epitome of a faith-filled Christian, forget it! They don’t want any part of it… and who could blame them?!
We have to stay awake and alert… and we simply must examine our hearts – and our faith – on a daily basis. Are we truly sharing “the rest of the story” with others? Or are we giving lip service to the love and power of Jesus Christ and then sitting on our hands? Worse yet, do we say one thing and demonstrate another? The time has come for us to be “the real deal” for Jesus. It will require hard work, dedication, and continual effort… but nothing less is acceptable. What is your level of commitment? How much of the story are telling these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 28, 2012
James 1:26-27
If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and everything you do is useless. Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In our community, an old Post Office building has housed our Municipal Court for the last few years. This building is located directly on Main Street, where traffic passes back and forth all day long in a fairly steady stream. In recent years, the Municipal Judges have started sentencing those who are convicted of theft to parade up and down the sidewalk in front of the court building and wear a sign that says, “I’m a thief.” The judge probably gives these folks a choice between this and going to jail. But more than a few have chosen this public shame as punishment for the crime.
Understand that I am not condoning theft… not in the least. But on more than one occasion, I have driven past one of these people and had a strong urge to stop the car, walk over and put my arm around them and ask, “Do you know how much God loves you?” I know… crazy… right? And no, I have never done this… but maybe I should!
See, it’s not about how these people got where they are. Sure, they committed a crime, were convicted, and are rightly sentenced to “do the time.” But they are still God’s children. And maybe more than most of us, they need to know that somebody cares… and that God still loves them!
As I said, I have not stopped… yet! But I have started praying for this person when I pass the court building. On any given day, this could be someone we know standing there. How would you feel if that were your brother, sister, friend, mother, father, cousin, child? Wouldn’t it break your heart to think others were passing and judging… clucking their tongues and saying, “That shameful person” – or worse! Don’t you think it breaks God’s heart, too?
If we are not very careful, we give Satan an opening. We let the evil thinking of this world creep into our minds and hearts, and we begin to judge others. Our tongue gets out of control, and we become critical of those less fortunate…we start to think more highly of ourselves than others - or just more highly of ourselves than we should in general. And we stop being Godly servants. We cancel out any good we might have done, and it becomes virtually a wash.
Stop for a minute today, and examine your heart. Think about your attitudes… and what you say to others – and about others. Consider how you judge the people you see… and how you truly treat God’s children – all of them. Are you picking and choosing? Do you love unconditionally with grace and mercy? Are you willing to pray for the thief on the street who is wearing a sandwich board… to ask God to work in his/her life? Are your efforts to serve God counting for something…or is everything you do useless? Are you truly a Disciple of Christ… or are you merely “religious?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
If you think you are being religious, but can’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and everything you do is useless. Religion that pleases God the Father must be pure and spotless. You must help needy orphans and widows and not let this world make you evil.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In our community, an old Post Office building has housed our Municipal Court for the last few years. This building is located directly on Main Street, where traffic passes back and forth all day long in a fairly steady stream. In recent years, the Municipal Judges have started sentencing those who are convicted of theft to parade up and down the sidewalk in front of the court building and wear a sign that says, “I’m a thief.” The judge probably gives these folks a choice between this and going to jail. But more than a few have chosen this public shame as punishment for the crime.
Understand that I am not condoning theft… not in the least. But on more than one occasion, I have driven past one of these people and had a strong urge to stop the car, walk over and put my arm around them and ask, “Do you know how much God loves you?” I know… crazy… right? And no, I have never done this… but maybe I should!
See, it’s not about how these people got where they are. Sure, they committed a crime, were convicted, and are rightly sentenced to “do the time.” But they are still God’s children. And maybe more than most of us, they need to know that somebody cares… and that God still loves them!
As I said, I have not stopped… yet! But I have started praying for this person when I pass the court building. On any given day, this could be someone we know standing there. How would you feel if that were your brother, sister, friend, mother, father, cousin, child? Wouldn’t it break your heart to think others were passing and judging… clucking their tongues and saying, “That shameful person” – or worse! Don’t you think it breaks God’s heart, too?
If we are not very careful, we give Satan an opening. We let the evil thinking of this world creep into our minds and hearts, and we begin to judge others. Our tongue gets out of control, and we become critical of those less fortunate…we start to think more highly of ourselves than others - or just more highly of ourselves than we should in general. And we stop being Godly servants. We cancel out any good we might have done, and it becomes virtually a wash.
Stop for a minute today, and examine your heart. Think about your attitudes… and what you say to others – and about others. Consider how you judge the people you see… and how you truly treat God’s children – all of them. Are you picking and choosing? Do you love unconditionally with grace and mercy? Are you willing to pray for the thief on the street who is wearing a sandwich board… to ask God to work in his/her life? Are your efforts to serve God counting for something…or is everything you do useless? Are you truly a Disciple of Christ… or are you merely “religious?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for August 9, 2012
1 Peter 3:15-18
If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My brother was what we called a “husky boy” when we were little. I was tall and gangly… he was shorter – and stout! Even though I was four years older, Tim could take me down on any given day. And so it was one day when he tackled me in our front yard and started to pummel me, as siblings sometimes do. My dad stepped to the front door and said, “Hit him back!” I looked up and tearfully said, “I can’t!” I was always a softie when it came to my brother… but even in that childhood moment, I also knew that retaliation was not the answer!
I have to wonder at those who insist that biting a baby who bites is the solution to get him/her to stop. What part of hitting a child tells them it is not okay to hit others? Like many siblings who fought, I “suffered through” the growing pains with my little brother – and the frequent tussles we had over virtually nothing. And in his last days, I also apologized profusely to him for the times when I was not so virtuous… and even let him take the blame – and the punishment – for things I had done. To his credit, he graciously forgave me.
As children, we have to learn that slinging mud on another person is not the answer to our problems. Sadly, many of us not only fail this lesson… we actually perfect our technique! There are times when we all want to lash out at someone… when we want to stomp our foot and throw something and say, “Wait just one minute!” In Christ we find the perfect example of suffering for doing good… taking the High Road…and living with the utmost courtesy. Often, we make a much bigger statement by turning and walking away from a fight than staying to participate.
We must all ask the question…“Is this how God wants me to respond? Does He want me to get into this fight… or should I politely go about my business and let my behavior speak for itself?” I am as guilty as the next person of speaking up and lashing out when I shouldn’t. A lot of things we get involved are really not our battles. I’ve been asking God to help me with this… to give me wisdom and the good sense to bite my tongue and walk away when necessary.
At the same time, there will be people who may question your actions… those who feel they need to understand why you are not speaking up on a particular issue or getting involved in certain situations. This is the perfect opportunity for you to share your faith… and to explain how you communicate with God. Don’t be smug about it… but do take these moments as openings for a dialog about how God is working in your life. Convey how He gives you grace, mercy and forgiveness… and how He helps you to extend this to others.
God does not want us to be doormats on His behalf… but He didn’t call us to fight His battles either. It is up to us to know when and where to “hold ‘em or fold ‘em.” We must do all that we can to always represent God and honor Him - and sometimes that means suffering for the good. What about you? Are you able to resist the mud that is thrown in your direction… or has some of it managed to stick? Make today the day you come clean and begin to operate in God’s wisdom and grace. Be certain that your demeanor reflects His… and your heart remains in adoration to Christ. God will handle everything else!
©2012 Debbie Robus
If with heart and soul you're doing good, do you think you can be stopped? Even if you suffer for it, you're still better off. Don't give the opposition a second thought. Through thick and thin, keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master. Be ready to speak up and tell anyone who asks why you're living the way you are, and always with the utmost courtesy. Keep a clear conscience before God so that when people throw mud at you, none of it will stick. They'll end up realizing that they're the ones who need a bath. It's better to suffer for doing good, if that's what God wants, than to be punished for doing bad. That's what Christ did definitively: suffered because of others' sins, the Righteous One for the unrighteous ones. He went through it all—was put to death and then made alive—to bring us to God.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
My brother was what we called a “husky boy” when we were little. I was tall and gangly… he was shorter – and stout! Even though I was four years older, Tim could take me down on any given day. And so it was one day when he tackled me in our front yard and started to pummel me, as siblings sometimes do. My dad stepped to the front door and said, “Hit him back!” I looked up and tearfully said, “I can’t!” I was always a softie when it came to my brother… but even in that childhood moment, I also knew that retaliation was not the answer!
I have to wonder at those who insist that biting a baby who bites is the solution to get him/her to stop. What part of hitting a child tells them it is not okay to hit others? Like many siblings who fought, I “suffered through” the growing pains with my little brother – and the frequent tussles we had over virtually nothing. And in his last days, I also apologized profusely to him for the times when I was not so virtuous… and even let him take the blame – and the punishment – for things I had done. To his credit, he graciously forgave me.
As children, we have to learn that slinging mud on another person is not the answer to our problems. Sadly, many of us not only fail this lesson… we actually perfect our technique! There are times when we all want to lash out at someone… when we want to stomp our foot and throw something and say, “Wait just one minute!” In Christ we find the perfect example of suffering for doing good… taking the High Road…and living with the utmost courtesy. Often, we make a much bigger statement by turning and walking away from a fight than staying to participate.
We must all ask the question…“Is this how God wants me to respond? Does He want me to get into this fight… or should I politely go about my business and let my behavior speak for itself?” I am as guilty as the next person of speaking up and lashing out when I shouldn’t. A lot of things we get involved are really not our battles. I’ve been asking God to help me with this… to give me wisdom and the good sense to bite my tongue and walk away when necessary.
At the same time, there will be people who may question your actions… those who feel they need to understand why you are not speaking up on a particular issue or getting involved in certain situations. This is the perfect opportunity for you to share your faith… and to explain how you communicate with God. Don’t be smug about it… but do take these moments as openings for a dialog about how God is working in your life. Convey how He gives you grace, mercy and forgiveness… and how He helps you to extend this to others.
God does not want us to be doormats on His behalf… but He didn’t call us to fight His battles either. It is up to us to know when and where to “hold ‘em or fold ‘em.” We must do all that we can to always represent God and honor Him - and sometimes that means suffering for the good. What about you? Are you able to resist the mud that is thrown in your direction… or has some of it managed to stick? Make today the day you come clean and begin to operate in God’s wisdom and grace. Be certain that your demeanor reflects His… and your heart remains in adoration to Christ. God will handle everything else!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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