Daily Devotional for September 25, 2015

Proverbs 28:27
Giving to the poor
    will keep you from poverty,
but if you close your eyes
to their needs,
    everyone will curse you.

Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.

As Pope Francis has made his way through several American cities, he has repeatedly referenced the plight of the poor in our world. Speaking before a joint session of Congress in Washington, D.C., on September 24th, Pope Francis said, “…I would encourage you to keep in mind all those people around us who are trapped in a cycle of poverty. They too need to be given hope. The fight against poverty and hunger must be fought constantly and on many fronts, especially in its causes.” Pope Francis acknowledged “the spirit of enterprise”…but he noted that it must be used for the common good.

I’ve watched countless children play with toys.  It’s not unusual to see a child who has more items than he/she can manipulate and enjoy reach and grab for more…at the expense of other children who have very few spread before them. Human nature seems to dictate an urge in many of us to hoard at a very early age…and the devil “takes that ball and runs with it!”

How can giving to the poor keep us from poverty?  I can almost guarantee that every person who reads these words has access to more food than he/she can eat.  We would likely never miss half a dozen garments from our closet…and we surely would not go naked.  If we passed up downloading a couple of songs or apps…or we made a pot of coffee at home and put it an insulated drink container instead of purchasing a gourmet version at a coffee shop for $3-5…we could feed several people on the money saved.  We think nothing of paying $50-$300 or more for a ticket to watch a 3-hour football game or attend a 2-hour concert…yet we often cringe at the thought of “giving up” 50¢ a day to provide water for a thirsty child – or $10 to buy a mosquito net* to “protect a family and save a life.”

If we conserve energy, recycle, and pay attention to greenhouse emissions, we can create an environment that is more conducive to the growth of plants and animals that will sustain the world.  As Pope Francis has so beautifully expressed, all of our efforts matter…and they add up in the scheme of things!  Too many people want to say, “Let the other guy do this.  It’s not my problem.”  In truth, this is our problem…and not only are we reminded of this by political and religious leaders of the world…the scripture speaks to this quite plainly!

We have no excuse.  There is something that each of us can do.  There are local charities that need your help.  If you need a place to begin, there are probably more than a few ministries and missions sponsored by your own church or that of a friend.  You can search online for organizations that champion world hunger, clean water, adequate health care for children, and more.  There are even websites that will “vet” these charities to tell you which ones spend the largest share of your contribution(s) on actually helping those in need.

We cannot put this off any longer.  God has called us to be good stewards of His many blessings…and the time to do so is NOW!  Where – and how - will you begin?

©2015 Debbie Robus

*http://nothingbutnets.org

Daily Devotional for August 4, 2014

1 Peter 3:8-12
Summing up: Be agreeable, be sympathetic, be loving, be compassionate, be humble. That goes for all of you, no exceptions. No retaliation. No sharp-tongued sarcasm. Instead, bless—that’s your job, to bless. You’ll be a blessing and also get a blessing.

Whoever wants to embrace life
    and see the day fill up with good,
Here’s what you do:
    Say nothing evil or hurtful;
Snub evil and cultivate good;
    run after peace for all you’re worth.
God looks on all this with approval,
    listening and responding well to what he’s asked;
But he turns his back
    on those who do evil things.

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.

Lots of nights, Greg and I settle in to watch the 10:00 p.m. news broadcast, and we ask each other, “What is your day like tomorrow?”  Sometimes, we have no concrete plans...other days are chock-full of activities and a mile-long “to-do” list.  Mondays are often busy for Greg...he delivers Meals on Wheels and has lunch with his mom...and sometimes he runs errands for her or helps her with a project – or he works in her yard.  Mondays are often cleaning days for me...both household chores and laundry duty! But sometimes, we have no clue what the day will bring...or who we will encounter or what activities will present themselves.  And we know that “life” is subject to change, so we try to always be flexible.

I will tell you, I don’t know anyone who is more appreciative of my efforts than my husband.  He always thanks me for clean laundry, hot meals, and the things I do around the house.  And I try to express my appreciation for HIS efforts too...how well he manages our bills and finances, takes care of the maintenance and upkeep of our house, yard and vehicles - and all of the countless things he does for our nieces and nephews and me!  We are blessed by his efforts, and I know it!  I will also be the first to say that Greg does a better job of “living agreeably” than I do.  He is more thoughtful and careful about his words...and rarely - if ever - offers sarcasm or a retaliatory comment to anyone.  He operates so fully in grace and mercy...and others notice!

I was struck by a couple of sentences in this scripture passage...particularly the one that talked about no retaliation or sarcasm...and especially when Peter says, “...bless...that’s your job, to bless”!  So whether I am folding our laundry or responding to e-mail messages, I am to bless.  Whether Greg is mowing the yard, washing our car, or delivering a hot meal to a homebound elderly person, he is to bless.  Whether you are sitting in a classroom amongst your peers or working at a summer job, staying at home all day with babies and toddlers, working at a job you don’t particularly enjoy, or living alone as a single senior, your job is to bless – however, wherever, and whenever you can.

If we focused on just this one phrase, imagine how our lives could change.  If we reminded ourselves that we were to bless others and be a blessing to them in every situation, our language, thought process and actions would surely change in many instances.  If we responded to others totally in the context of how we could bless them, rather than raise our hackles over their demeanor, words or actions, we might see amazing, unexpected changes.  And truthfully, it doesn’t matter how they respond, as long as we are obediently serving God by blessing them in His name.  I’m not talking about becoming doormats for others’ abuse...I’m talking about showing them grace, mercy, humility and compassion in the name of Jesus.

So let’s see where this takes us.  Let’s start here...now...today...and make our primary focus – our main job – to bless.  Let’s embrace life and see the day fill up with good.  Let’s avoid hurtful talk and actions, snub evil, and run after peace for all we are worth...and let’s let God handle the rest!  If we start looking at every day, ordinary activities as opportunities to bless others in Jesus’ name, the possibilities are absolutely endless...and so are the potential rewards – for everyone involved.  Whaddya say?  Are you with me?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 24, 2014

John 6:35-37
Jesus said, “I am the Bread of Life. The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever. I have told you this explicitly because even though you have seen me in action, you don’t really believe me. Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don’t let go.

Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.

There is presently a Facebook challenge circulating where “friends” are posting: “To start this year off in a loving way I'm participating in the Pay-it-Forward initiative...The first FIVE people who comment on this status with ‘I'm in’ will receive a surprise from me at some point in this calendar year…anything from a book, something homemade, a postcard, absolutely any surprise! There will be no warning and it will happen when the mood comes over me and I find something that I believe would suit you and make you happy. These five people must make the same offer in their FB status and distribute their own joy.”

This idea sounds great…five people do something nice for five people who do something nice for five more people…you get the idea.  But why stop there? Why only do something nice for the first five people who comment?  Are they truly the ones who need a “nice surprise” in their life?  Why not look around your everyday situations and find people who could use a lift…a note of encouragement…a phone call “buddy check”…a meal…help with an errand or chore…or another gesture that says, “I care about you!”…and put Christian love and compassion into action?

In this scripture passage, Jesus says, “I am the Bread of Life.  The person who aligns with me hungers no more and thirsts no more, ever.”  Jesus adds that once that person is with Him, He will hold on and never let go.  I keep hearing Jesus say, “I am for EVERYONE!  What I offer one, I offer ALL!  I will never EVER let you go…you can always count on me to love you and care about your every need! I know you don’t seem to always believe this, but I am telling you…take this to the BANK!”

Are we like Jesus?  Are we modeling His discipleship and compassion?  Are we offering His “Bread of Life” to others in the form of conscious efforts to make their day better introduce them to His love and care in action?  Or are we waiting for people to come to us and say, “I could use a hug…a handout…support in some manner…”?  Have we made a convincing demonstration of love and compassion to others?  Do they believe that we really care…or do we only meet the needs of those select few who raise their hands and voices and say, “I’m in!”?

Suppose Jesus said, “I will meet the needs of the first five people who come to Me and say, “I’m in”…and His efforts to “feed the sheep” stopped there?  Suppose He never expended any energy to pursue those “on the fringes”…those with great needs who never asked for help – for whatever reasons.  Suppose His salvation, love and care were not all-encompassing…or eternal!  Because we have been so blessed…because of the heritage we are given in Christ Jesus…we should be eager to share our gifts with others.  In doing so, we essentially say, “I love you and care for you with the love of Christ, which is fully and equally available to you!”

If you want to participate in this Facebook challenge, by all means… go for it!  I do not mean to criticize this concept.  But I dare you to go even further… to embrace the love of Christ that has been extended to you… and to “pay it forward” to those who may least suspect that someone else cares - but are the ones who need to know this the most!  In doing so, you will truly extend Jesus’ offering of the “Bread of Life”.  In return, you will “hunger and thirst no more” for His love and blessings.  Whaddya say…are you “in”?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for January 7, 2014

Deuteronomy 16:17
The bigger the harvest the Lord gives you, the bigger your gift should be.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
As a child, I thought my paternal grandparents were rich.  What I did not realize until adulthood was that they were anything BUT rich in terms of money… they simply managed well. My grandparents lived from paycheck to paycheck, grew their own food and lived very frugally, in comparison to others. Mam-ma Polly made virtually everything she wore… and much of what my sister and I wore, as well.  She worked at least two jobs on top of her household duties.  In my lifetime, my Pap-pa worked long hours as part of the county road crew…and shouldered that job with time spent each morning and evening tending to black angus cattle and row crops that helped put food on our tables – both literally and via the cash he earned from selling his cows and yields from the earth.
 
I never realized how hard my grandparents were working to provide things for us – in part because they were so generous to my family and everyone else. For decades, I heard my grandmother recant stories of this person or that who helped her family when she was a child.  One man gave her and my Aunt Babe a job picking up potatoes and limbs/twigs for firewood… and allowed them to take home the excess.  An older aunt and her husband took in my grandmother, aunt and great-grandmother when they needed a place to live.  As Greg and I drove Mam-ma to a nearby town for medical appointments in later years, she would point to one field or homestead after another and comment about who had lived there… how that person helped her family with one thing and the next…and how “good” life was because of these blessings.
 
When we moved Mam-ma to the Assisted Living Facility, I found a journal she had kept, in which she chronicled how hard life was for her, my grandfather and my dad - especially in the early years of their marriage.  She documented all of this with joy rather than malice or self-pity.  Her entries were peppered with “Oh, but we had fun!”  Even gathering with other ladies in the area to create feather mattresses or to can the excess bounty of their gardens for off-season consumption was a cause for celebration.  And always, my grandmother was generous… with her possessions, her time and her talents.  When I think of my Mam-ma Polly, one of the first words that come to mind is “time”… she always had room for others in her day.
 
As we look at this verse from Deuteronomy, a lot of people let their thoughts go straight to money.  This passage has been used to illustrate that those who have been blessed with “plenty” should give more.  But if we stop there, we miss the bigger message.  Regardless of our income level… our “station” in life… the circumstances of our daily existence… we have all been blessed in some way.  And God is calling us to reach out to others above and beyond what has been given to us.  In other words, if someone has given you an hour of their time to listen to your problems… give two hours to someone else.
 
If a person shares a meal with you, offers you a coat or sweater that no longer fits them, or spends their last dollar to buy you a cup of coffee, pay it forward.  Look for ways to bless that person… but also seek ways to bless others because of what was given to you.  If someone sends you a birthday greeting or a get-well card, find a way to send good wishes or encouragement to at least two other people!  Be grateful…say “Thank you”… and more importantly, express your gratitude in the form of blessings that you extend to others.  Your “gifts” do not have to be lavish or expensive.  All you have to do is recognize opportunities to show kindness, grace, mercy and compassion… and then do this to the fullest of your ability.
 
I am just now beginning to fully realize how much my grandparents sacrificed for others…how they honed making room for one more at their table (literally and figuratively) to a fine art.  And I am hoping that I can be half as successful at this as they were.  God has blessed me in tremendous ways…and my “gifts” to Him for the harvest must be grand as a result. I know that He has blessed you, also.  I encourage you to give some thought and consideration to how and where you have received a “harvest” in your life.  Ask God to reveal His desires for you to give to others out of your “abundance”… and make sure these “gifts” are the biggest and best you can assemble.
 
“The bigger the harvest the Lord gives you, the bigger your gift should be.”  What are you giving to God – and to others – these days?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus