Daily Devotional for November 26, 2016

Psalm 34:1-10
I will always praise the Lord. With all my heart, I will praise the Lord. Let all who are helpless, listen and be glad. Honor the Lord with me! Celebrate his great name.

I asked the Lord for help, and he saved me from all my fears.  Keep your eyes on the Lord! You will shine like the sun and never blush with shame.

I was a nobody, but I prayed, and the Lord saved me from all my troubles. If you honor the Lord, his angel will protect you.

Discover for yourself that the Lord is kind. Come to him for protection, and you will be glad.

Honor the Lord! You are his special people. No one who honors the Lord will ever be in need.

Young lions may go hungry or even starve, but if you trust the Lord, you will never miss out on anything good.

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

This month the 2nd-3rd graders and I have studied “the truth about angels and devils”…and learned about prayer.  Tomorrow, we will learn about heaven.  During one of the lessons, we read James 4:8…”Come near to God, and he will come near to you.” My assistant, Susan, reminded the children that when they feel the devil near them, all they have to do is “turn their back” on him and whisper the name, “Jesus!”  Jesus will come to their aid, and the devil will flee.

A few nights ago, I awoke suddenly, and my mind started racing.  I could not stop thinking about several things, and it occurred to me…”This is the devil trying to steal my sleep.”  I remembered Susan’s suggestion, and I began to repeatedly whisper, “Jesus…Jesus!”  A sense of calm and peace washed over me, and I soon felt fast asleep.  I prayed…and the LORD saved me from all of my troubles.  His angels came to protect me as I slept.

So often, we “suffer” needlessly.  We fail to reach out to God, Who is waiting to come to us and offer protection…to save us from all of our troubles and fears. Yes, we were “nobodies,” but God loved us enough to send Jesus to rescue us.  And when we call on His name, He will draw near and protect us – and meet our every need. 

Psalm 34:10 talks of “young lions”…which is often a Biblical reference to Satan and his agents. At the very name of Jesus, these enemies wither and slink away in defeat.  Isn’t it time we whispered, “Jesus!” more often?  With all my heart, I will praise Him and celebrate His great name!

Honor the LORD with me…and learn to never be in need!  Let all who are helpless listen and be glad indeed! Kick the devil and his agents to the curb! Honor and praise the LORD…this day, and always.
©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 25, 2015

1 John 4:18
We need have no fear of someone who loves us perfectly; his perfect love for us eliminates all dread of what he might do to us. If we are afraid, it is for fear of what he might do to us and shows that we are not fully convinced that he really loves us.

The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I am blessed to say that I am fully convinced of Greg’s love for me.  I know that not everyone can say this about their relationship…nor can every child say this about his/her parents.  Sadly, we live in a world where unconditional, perfect love is not the norm.  And I do not wear rose-colored glasses.  I know that sometimes I say/do things that aggravate Greg to no end.  But still, he loves me and always has my best interests at heart.  I do not take this for granted…but man, am I ever glad to be so loved. And I hope that he knows that I love him unconditionally, as well!

I also love Timothy, Zola and Nathan beyond description.  I would do almost anything for these children…yet there are times that they get on my last nerve!  They are, after all, normal children…so irritating adults is somewhat their job!  But they know that I love them…and as far as I can tell, they are not the least bit afraid of me!

None of this “human love” can compare to God’s affection for us.  Sure…we all aggravate Him immeasurably at times…but this does not diminish His love for us.  Yet some of us are scared to death of Him.  I will admit…for many years, I was afraid of God.  I operated in fear…I worried that every time I failed Him, I was destined to be rejected and tossed into the depths of hell.  Let me assure you…that was a miserable way to live – and it is NOT God’s desire for us in the least!

It is time for us to embrace God’s love for us – and accept Him completely.  This is not the same thing as taking Him for granted, which would be totally wrong.  Instead, we are to respect God and His power, care, grace, and mercy.  But we are also to graciously and honorably say, “Thank you!  I will gladly operate in Your love and care and do all I can to glorify such an amazing gift!”

This is the perfect week to shift from a relationship of fearful servanthood to discipleship based in love and gratitude. Are you fully convinced that God really loves you…and do you demonstrate this in your daily living?  Isn’t this a good time to begin?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 3, 2014

Luke 1:39-45
A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her.
 
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth.  Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
 
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. Why should the mother of my Lord come to me?  As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
I don’t know where he got it, but when someone is leaving – our home or some gathering we are attending - Timothy has developed a habit of saying, “Goodbye!  Thanks for coming!  Have a great day!”  At the very least, he makes the person who is leaving feel special – and possibly a little blessed!
 
The scriptures tell us that Mary hurried to Judea to visit Elizabeth and revel in the news that both women had received.  I have to think that Mary’s parents may have sent her to Judea, to reduce talk in the village - and buy a little time to figure out how to deal with the unexpected dilemma of her unwed pregnancy.  And isn’t this what we often do when God sends us in a direction that is not what we expected…or when we feel Him calling us to do something we really don’t want to do or think others might criticize?  Sometimes it seems easier to run and hide from God than to say, “Thanks for coming!”
 
This is another reason I love these verses and the faith and courage of these two women – one old and wise…the other young and naïve.  Both accepted – and embraced – this news from the angels. They took on the challenge that these pregnancies would surely bring - and recognized God’s blessing in them.  Essentially, they said to God…”Thanks for coming!”
 
So often, God shows up in our lives, and rather than thank Him for coming, either we run and hide…or we question His authenticity.  Was that really God?  Is this truly a blessing from Him…or is the “other shoe” about to drop?  Is this too good to be true?  Are there hidden motives and agendas?  We ask God to work in our lives…and when He does, we are often dubious or apprehensive!  Sometimes, all we really need to do is say, “God, if this is really Your doing…show me.  I’m here…I’m listening…and I’m ready to follow Your lead.  Oh, and ‘Thanks for coming!’”  It’s that simple – and that complicated – all at once!
 
The next time you feel God’s presence, what will you do?  Will you run and hide…or will you embrace Him and follow His lead?  Are you truly glad that God appears in your life?  Are you ready to say, “Thanks for coming!”…and accept the His blessings and any challenges and assignments He presents?  Isn’t it time you were?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 29, 2014

Romans 8:28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
 
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.
 
A few weeks ago, the Arkansas Razorbacks football team beat the LSU Tigers 17-0 to snap a 17-game losing streak in Southeastern Conference play.  The following Saturday, the team shut out then-8th-ranked Ole Miss, 30-0. I wish I could say the streak continued with a win over the University of Missouri, but this was not to be. However, the basketball team was able to secure a win on the same day against North Texas State that gave the squad their first 5-0 start since 2006-2007.
 
In both cases, the coaches have been quoted in the media as saying, essentially, that “wins will come – when they are supposed to.”  Coach Bret Bielema has said often that his team would win when they earned it.  Both coaches are relatively new to the University of Arkansas – and there has been a “learning curve” for all involved.  Now, things seem to be starting to “jell”.
 
I’ve heard a lot of people who have endured hardships or difficult times say that they would not trade them for an easier time.  I’ve heard amputees say that the loss of a limb taught them how to appreciate life – and God’s hand in theirs.  I’ve known countless people who looked back on troublesome or unpleasant experiences and said, “This is where God helped me”…or “God really worked in this situation”…or even, “This was a huge turning point for me.”  And I am among them.
 
You may be in the fight of your life.  You may simply be in a 17-0 losing streak.  But wherever you are…whatever is happening…God is with you - working out every detail for His perfect purposes.  OUR JOB is to recognize Him…to give Him room to work…and to be grateful for His presence.  He will do the rest…I promise.  Will it be easy and painless?  Probably not…but any day or experience with God is far better than a single minute without Him!
 
Keep this scripture passage handy.  Read it often, and remind yourself of God’s presence in your life – and how He is perfectly orchestrating all of the details.  Keep the faith...stay humble and grateful.  Allow God to be GOD in your life…and watch what amazing things He brings to bear.
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 26, 2014

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
 
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Twenty-four hours.  We all get the same amount of time in each and every day.  Yet how we choose to live in those 24 hours differs greatly.  Some of us will live with joy and purpose…some of us will gripe and grumble our way through the day.  Others will sleep away a big chunk of it…after all, the “Thanksgiving Holiday break” has already begun for many!
 
Almost 30 years ago, I had major surgery a few days before Thanksgiving. I remember getting a phone call from my parents on Thanksgiving Day, as family members gathered at their house some 90 miles away for feasting and fun. I have to admit that I felt a little sorry for myself and Greg as I heard the laughs and chatter of family members arriving for that special get-together. But our precious neighbors brought huge plates of food to us from their family feast…and they returned with MORE full plates that evening from another family dinner! Our hearts – and our bellies – were FULL!  We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
 
About a decade later, my mother ate her Thanksgiving Dinner in a hospital cafeteria in another city, as she sat with my dad, who was too sick from renal failure to even smell food.  At their insistence, we carried on with the traditional “family dinner” at our house…and we made the best of things, given the circumstances.  We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
 
This year, our “Thanksgiving Holiday break” will include visits with family and friends…including the squeals and giggles of several little children, which always add to the fun.  We will have our traditional favorite foods…and honor those who have gone before us - and the role they played in holiday gatherings of the past.  And in all of it, we will recognize that the LORD made this day – and every day – and we will “rejoice and be glad in it”.
 
I don’t know what your next 24 hours will be like…or how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day – or IF you will even celebrate. But when you know and love Jesus, every day is part of a “Thanksgiving Holiday break”…or at least, it should be.  Whatever your circumstances…wherever “life” takes you today and in the days ahead…will you recognize that this is the day that the Lord has made?  Will you thank Him for His love and care for every single minute of it?  Will you find a way to “rejoice and be glad”?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 23, 2014

Psalm 103:1-5
O my soul, bless God.
    From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
    don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
    He heals your diseases—every one.
    He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
    He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
    He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
    He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
 
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.
 
When we took the children to church today, we told them that we had “surprises” in the back of the car that we would give them after lunch.  They tried to guess what the “surprises” were…but there was no dinosaur or crackers.  But there were books and videos – and a new (to them) board game to play.  There were also two bags of “Halos” - or as they called them, “baby oranges”!  Since this will be a short school week because of the Thanksgiving holidays, the children will have an extended “vacation” at home, and the snacks and videos will no doubt come in handy!
 
In her book, One Thousand Gifts*, Ann Voskamp talks about her aunt, who traveled the world as an airline attendant. The aunt would visit Voskamp and her children from time to time.  The aunt said that of all of the places she had visited…all of the things she had seen…one of the most joyful experiences had been that of rolling a ball back and forth on the floor with Voskamp’s toddler daughter.  She wrote Ann Voskamp a letter and told her that she had never seen such happiness in all her travels…that this simple experience had brought her a glimpse of “wild joy” that she would never forget.
 
Voskamp noted that the secret to such joy lies in perspective.  To a child, everything is large and wonderful.  As I watch our little nephews and nieces discover new things, I am reminded of how “wonder”-filled the simplest of joys used to be for most of us.  As we grow older, we seem to grow blind to many of the blessings that are right before our eyes.
 
So as we enter this week of Thanksgiving and begin to “count our blessings,” let’s read this scripture passage often and remind ourselves of all that God does for us.  Let’s remember that every one of our sins are forgiven…that every one of our diseases are healed.  Let’s never forget that Hell is not on our list of places to visit…that a “paradise crown” awaits us – and in the meantime, we wear His crowns of love and mercy.  Let’s remind ourselves that we are forever beautiful – and young in God’s presence (which is all that truly matters)!  We are clothed in His goodness.
 
God meets all of our needs…and He peppers our lives with incredible blessings.  As we count the more obvious gifts like those listed in this scripture passage...let’s also list some of the “baby oranges” and “videos” that surprise and delight us. Let’s thank God for the friend who showed up right when we needed him/her the most.  Let’s be grateful for a foggy, misty Sunday afternoon…or a glorious sunrise or sunset.  Let’s When we can thank God for moments when something or someone makes us laugh or smile…and for times when we experience sadness or sorrow – and live through it!
 
Let’s thank God for smelly socks to wash and a dirty house to clean…for a second job to go to that leaves us dog tired but gives us adequate money to pay the rent…for a boring and/or difficult classes to attend so that we can get a degree or learn a trade and become self-sufficient.  Let’s thank Him for caregivers who help us when we are no longer able to do things for ourselves…and for those who have “been there, done that” and can counsel us through the same experiences…for a few minutes spent in the floor rolling a ball to a toddler and listening to him/her squeal with excitement.
 
Go even deeper and thank God for the beauty of intricate patterns in your pet’s fur…that amazingly unique freckle on your kids’ nose…and the predictably irritating way that your sibling or friend is habitually late.  In other words, open your eyes and ears…use ALL of your senses to fully acknowledge God’s presence and blessings in even the most mundane parts of your everyday life - and offer a heartfelt “Thank You!”
 
A few years ago, there was a trend for some people to say, “Love you – mean it!” – as if those last two words gave credibility to the first two.  My challenge for all of us in the days to come is to offer God our gratitude…and to truly mean it!  Let’s tell Him - in words and actions - just how much we appreciate all that He does for us…how He blesses us from head to toe.  Let’s not miss a single blessing – or a chance to be grateful.  How is God blessing YOU these days?  Does He know that you appreciate His efforts?  Isn’t it time that He did?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com

Daily Devotional for November 22, 2014

Psalm 100:1-5
Shout praises to the Lord,
    everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
    to worship the Lord!
You know the Lord is God!
He created us,
    and we belong to him;
    we are his people,
    the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord
    as you enter his temple.
The Lord is good!
    His love and faithfulness
    will last forever.

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

My friend put up a Christmas tree and let her three young grandchildren (a boy and two girls - ages 5 and under) decorate it.  One of the little girls methodically hung ornaments while singing, “O Mistmas Twee, O MISTmas Twee!”  It was adorable.  She sang her heart out for the joy of Christmas and decorating the tree in her Honey’s bedroom.

I’ve often said that we can learn so much from little children.  They are truly pure and unadulterated…able to find the joy in little things like decorating a “Mistmas twee” with cousins at Grandma’s house.  They get excited over presents…sometimes as much about the box as what was inside.  For the most part, they have no doubt that they are loved and belong to someone…and in their own way, they are thankful.

Somehow, as we grow up, we seem to somewhat “outgrow God”.  We’re not nearly as unabashed in our singing of His praises.  We question who we are, where we fit in – and sometimes, WHOSE we are!  We take God for granted…and when we do thank Him, it’s often hurried or superficial.  We fail to truly acknowledge His gifts…and when we do, we’re much more concerned with what is given than the packaging or the Deliverer.

I have to wonder…are our “songs of praise” to God as sweet and dear to Him as the humbly offered “Oh, Mistmas Twee” of a toddler?  Are our words of gratitude a “joyful noise” in His ears, or the same old “yadda, yadda, yadda” we’ve offered Him for ages?  Isn’t it time we got this right?  Wouldn’t this be a great day to begin?

Make a joyful noise. Serve the LORD with gladness.  Come before His presence with Thanksgiving. For the LORD is good…His mercies are everlasting…and His truth endures forever.  If that doesn’t merit a grown-up “O Mistmas tree” praise, I don’t know what will…do you?

©2014 Debbie Robus 

Daily Devotional for November 17, 2014

Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or—worse!—stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it’s safe from moth and rust and burglars. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being."
 
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’ve been watching episodes of a show on the FYI network called “Tiny House Nation”.  The “concept” offered in the show’s introduction is that all across the nation, people are rethinking their housing and downsizing from homes that average 2300 square feet to something that only has a few HUNDRED feet of space!  Each show features the construction of one “tiny house” that is created for a family or an individual.
 
The builders assess the homeowner’s needs and wants and then produce a “tiny house” that hopefully addresses these in an esthetically pleasing manner – and somewhere around 400 square feet or less!  One of the hosts also works with the homeowner(s) to downsize clothing and other possessions and whittle the number of these items to an amount that will fit inside the new abode.  The theory is that the “tiny house” owners will focus more on other things in life - and less on material possessions – while they trim their expenses and save money in the process.
 
It’s a novel – and perhaps noble – concept. Let’s be honest.  Try as we might to be less materialistic, I bet any one of us could open a closet or cabinet right now, and we would have to admit that we have plenty…if not a little more than we truly need.  I get it…having extra underwear so you don’t have to do laundry as often is convenient.  Extra cans of soup in the pantry come in handy when we have an ice storm and you can’t get to the store.  That ricer you store in your cupboard and use twice a year is a nifty gadget when you need it!  It’s fun to have “stuff”!  I love my home – and everything in it!
 
I understand that people have to work to pay bills…sometimes more than one job and crazy hours and/or schedules.  I realize that a lot of people work at jobs they don’t particularly enjoy just so said bills can be paid…while others love their jobs so much that they don’t want to stop working! But when we begin to focus on material wealth and possessions…when making money to buy more “stuff” is more important to us than spending time with family and friends - or God…this is a problem.
 
When it is more important to us to play with our “toys” or “do something fun” than to fellowship with others and worship God, things are out of whack.  When we have time for movies, television programs, sporting events, video games, bridge club and Bunco, hunting, fishing, golfing and more…but we don’t have time to pick up our Bibles and study God’s word or to talk with Him about what He desires for us, there is an issue.  When we have all manner of time to Google everything under the sun, but we can’t look up the number of someone who hasn’t shown up at church or in our other “circles” for awhile and ask “How are you doing?”…we’ve pretty well gotten our priorities out of balance.  When we are more focused on “growing” our churches – in membership numbers and facilities – than we are in nurturing those who are on the rolls and filling every chair and pew in our present space, something is terribly wrong.
 
God wants us to enjoy our lives.  And I am grateful for every single material thing He has allowed me to acquire.  But I am more thankful that He taps me on the shoulder quite often and says, “Hey!  Remember ME!  Include ME in your list of treasures and work on what’s in your ‘heavenly closet’ for a change!”
 
I don’t want to live in a “tiny house” anytime soon…and I hope that is not what God has planned for me. But I am really trying to store up more in heaven…and less here on earth.  Aren’t you?

©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 15, 2014

Lamentations 3:21-23
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction.  Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day.
 
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
My sister was going through some things she had stored away, and she found our maternal great-grandmother Hassell’s family Bible.  Tucked into the pages was a small envelope of photograph negatives and a couple of tiny pictures of my mom as a toddler.  My sister asked me to scan the negatives and invert them for printing.  I have done this before with other old negatives we found amongst family photos, and the “reveal” is always fascinating.
 
This set was no exception and provided us with a couple of new photos of my favorite uncle, Frank…husband to my great-aunt Altha.  My mother refers to little blessings like this as a “silver box”…and mine for today was new pictures of my Uncle Frank, my mom as a small girl, and the houses that made up my grandparents’ neighborhood only a block from the home in which I was reared.  Today, the land where these houses once sat is cleared…a vacant lot offers little to no evidence that three homes and a garage once occupied that particular plot of land.
 
I have to admit, when I look out on that bare parcel and remember when there were houses there - filled with people who shaped my childhood - I can get a little sad.  Yet here today was this “silver box” of photos and memories…confirmation that there was once “life” on that block…that people lived, loved, and no doubt “cussed and discussed” in those tiny homes that seemed so big back then…that little girls and collie dogs stood in the street or sat on porch steps and had their picture snapped for posterity…that their memory lives on, thanks to photographs and those of us who are old enough to remember them and tell the next generation.
 
As I looked at these photos and read this scripture passage, I thought of the biggest “silver box” of all…God’s faithfulness.  I considered His mercies and compassion – new every day for each of us.  I thought about how these gifts keep us from complete destruction and give us hope and courage to live another day, no matter what is happening in our immediate world – or the world at large.  And I was filled with a heart of gratitude.
 
See, God didn’t have to do any of this for you and me.  He doesn’t have to keep picking us up and setting us back on track day after day.  There is no reason for Him to care so deeply about us other than an amazing, abiding, unconditional love that we cannot even begin to comprehend.  The least we can do is to offer Him our thanks and praise.  It’s all we have…because we can never match Him…not in any way, shape or form.
 
So I want you to think about your day and figure out where you might have overlooked a “silver box”.  Consider how God has blessed you and refreshed your hope and energy today…how He has granted you His mercy and compassion, lifted you out of a mess, or soothed your weary and broken soul in some situation.  Spend some time telling God how much this means to you…how full your heart is at the very thought of His love and care…how grateful you are that He loves you this much.
 
Like images that come to life when negatives are inverted and edited, God has refreshed us this very day with His amazing and capable handiwork.  Don’t you think He deserves a few minutes of our time spent in gratitude and praise?  Won’t you stop and thank Him for His fresh and tender mercies this day…and in every day to come?  Isn’t it time you thanked God for His “silver boxes” in your life?  Wouldn’t this be a perfect time to start?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 11, 2014

Hebrews 12:28
We should be grateful that we were given a kingdom that cannot be shaken. And in this kingdom we please God by worshiping him and by showing him great honor and respect.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
Today is Veteran’s Day in America…a day to salute all who have served our country in some branch of the military.  A lot of people want to gripe and complain about what is wrong with our country…but at the end of the day, we’re still standing!  And thousands of people have sacrificed greatly so that we can enjoy the blessings and freedoms that are ours as Americans.  So it is fitting that we should stop on this day and “thank a vet!”  In fact, we should thank these men and women more than once per year…but as a nation, we pause to show our appreciation on this specific day each November.
 
In essence, God is our Army/Navy/Marine Corps/Air Force/Coast Guard/National Guard of ONE.  Through the blood of Jesus Christ, He has secured for us a “kingdom that cannot be shaken”.  God does battle with the devil on our behalf every minute of the day.  He doesn’t get “leave”…there is no end to His enlistment…He has no TDY (temporary duty).  God fights for us every single day of every single year.  He never rests.
 
This passage from Hebrews in The Message* reads… “Do you see what we’ve got? An unshakable kingdom! And do you see how thankful we must be? Not only thankful, but brimming with worship, deeply reverent before God. For God is not an indifferent bystander.”  Do we truly see what we’ve got?  Are we really, genuinely thankful for all that God does for us?  Do we show great honor and respect?  Isn’t it time we did?
 
Every day should be “Veterans Day” for God.  We should be thanking Him and demonstrating our profound appreciation – in our words, thoughts and actions – each minute of the day.  We should be keenly aware of what God has done for us…and He should know that we are truly grateful.
 
It’s easy to stop for one day and thank someone for their service…but it is quite another thing to be genuinely and humbly thankful all the time. God deserves no less than this from each of us.  Are you truly grateful to God for all that He has done for you? Does He know it?  Don’t you think He should?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 2, 2014

1 Chronicles 23:30
Each morning and evening they stood before the Lord to sing thanks and praise to him.
 
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

I am really trying to be more intentionally grateful.  Ann Voskamp writes in her book, One Thousand Gifts* that the more we operate in gratitude, the less room we will have in our hearts and minds for other things…like a bad attitude, hatefulness, self-pity or self-loathing, and sinful thoughts of all kinds.  She maintains that a heart of gratitude cannot co-exist with these things…at least not for very long.
 
With this thought in mind, the suggestion offered in this scripture verse to “sing thanks and praise” to the LORD each morning and evening makes perfect sense.  Were we to stop for a few minutes at the beginning and end of our day and note a few reasons to be grateful, this might set the tone for the rest of our waking moments.  As we learn to operate more in gratitude to God for all that He has done for us, this attitude spills over into other areas of our life…how we interact with other people…what triggers moments of stress…how we react to every situation and circumstance in our day.
 
We truly owe God more than two times of “intentional gratitude” each day…but it’s a good start.  Let’s try this…let’s take just a minute or two each morning and evening to note a handful of things for which we are grateful.  This is not the time to talk to God about your worries and concerns...but rather, let’s give God just a couple of minutes twice a day in which we really, truly notice some of the things that He has done for us.  Let’s thank Him for some of the ways that He has blessed us…little nuances and gifts that make a difference – but we often take them for granted.  Let’s enumerate the oft-unnoticed blessings God presents to us – and thank Him for them.
 
If we make twice-daily exercises in gratitude a part of our routine, we might just find that they become more prevalent at other times of our day.  As we give God glory and praise for all that He has done in our lives, we may start to see Him more clearly in everyday, ordinary experiences.  As we practice “intentional gratitude”, we may draw closer to God in ways we never expected. And this is a very good thing.  Are you ready and willing to get started?  What will you thank Him for first?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus
 
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com

Daily Devotional for October 25, 2014

Psalm 103:1-5
I bless the holy name of God with all my heart. Yes, I will bless the Lord and not forget the glorious things he does for me.
 
He forgives all my sins. He heals me. He ransoms me from hell. He surrounds me with loving-kindness and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things! My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!
 
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
In the book One Thousand Gifts*, author Ann Voskamp reminds us repeatedly of the importance of gratitude...something she calls "eucharisteo".  She makes the point that it's hard to be unhappy when you are busy being grateful...that you can truly draw closer to God by taking note of the blessings all around you than by enumerating your troubles...that the real path to a deeper relationship with God comes from learning to praise Him and express appreciation - even when with every fiber of your being, you don't feel like doing so.
 
I started making a list of 1,000 gifts or blessings...although I will admit that I have not been as diligent as I should in noting things each day. A few years ago, I read a book called 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life**, written by John Kralik. Over the course of a year, I actually wrote and sent more than 365 "thank-you" notes.  I did this as an experiment at first...inspired by this book to be more grateful - and to tell others how they had blessed me.  But as I wrote the notes, I began to seek more opportunities to send them.  It wasn't a burden, as in "Oh, no...it's day #125, and I don't have anyone to thank!"  It was often a case of having several people who deserved a note of appreciation...and I found myself increasingly recognizing opportunities to let someone know how humbled I was by their kindness, concern, assistance, and love.
 
It's funny how we find it so easy to go to God with our troubles...concerns...needs and desires.  But we really spend very little time telling Him how grateful we are for all He does for us.  You really should go back and read all of Psalm 103.  David has done a beautiful job of listing many ways in which God has blessed and cared for him.  He has enumerated many of the LORD's qualities...wisdom, a sympathetic and merciful heart, tenderness, the ability to "forgive and forget", His love and steadfast faithfulness toward us and the promises that He has made.
 
Like the "365 days of Thank Yous"...I believe that making note (mentally and/or physically) of daily blessings could change our thinking - AND our relationship with God.  As we begin to focus more on the thousands of ways that He shows up in our lives each and every minute, we will find that we have less time for sin and the things of this world.  When we are busy noting the beauty of fall leaves or the laugh of a child, we don't really have time to bother with what someone said or did (or didn't do), how lonely and neglected we are, or how many burdens and problems we may be facing.
 
In noting the "gifts" and blessings of our day, we are reminded just how incredible and amazing God's love is for us...and how blessed we are by this. And as our relationship with Him begins to change and deepen in "eucharisteo," we can change our earthly relationships and attitudes as well. Clearly God deserves this kind of attention.  And if joy and a strengthened bond with Him are the by-products, then I am all in!  What about you?

©2014 Debbie Robus
 
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
 
** 365 Thank Yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life ~ © 2010 John Kralik  ~ Hyperion ~ All right reserved.

Daily Devotional for November 11, 2011

Psalm 133
How wonderful, how beautiful, when brothers and sisters get along! It's like costly anointing oil flowing down head and beard, Flowing down Aaron's beard, flowing down the collar of his priestly robes. It's like the dew on Mount Hermon flowing down the slopes of Zion. Yes, that's where God commands the blessing, ordains eternal life.

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

Today is Veteran’s Day in the USA… Remembrance Day in Canada. This is a day when we salute all veterans for their service to our country. It is a noble and honorable holiday… a time to say “Thank You” to those who have served around the globe to protect us and the freedoms we enjoy.

We cannot ignore the fact that military troops are needed because “brothers and sisters” cannot get along. This is nothing new… remember Cain and Abel? Still, God desires peace among His children. He commands us to love one another and live in harmony. So we keep trying… and let’s be honest, it all begins at home.

How are you getting along with your “brothers and sisters” these days… those related to you by blood and those you interact with every day as a child of God? Are you prayerfully doing all you can to live in peace and harmony with others… to love even those who think differently or are “hard to love?” God will reward your efforts, even when others do not reciprocate. If you are obedient to His command to love others as you love yourself, He will pour out an anointing of blessings on your life. Will this be easy? Not always. Will it be worth the effort? Absolutely!

As we pause today to honor our veterans, let’s remember to thank God for loving us even when we are unlovely toward others. Let’s ask Him to guide our thoughts and actions… to make us more tolerant of others… and to anoint our efforts with His blessings. Thank God for promising us eternal life, where harmony will reign supreme… and ask Him to guard our thoughts and actions in the meantime.

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 14, 2011

Psalm 118:21-24
I praise the LORD for answering my prayers and saving me. The stone that the builders tossed aside has now become the most important stone. The LORD has done this, and it is amazing to us. This day belongs to the LORD! Let's celebrate and be glad today.

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

This morning when I woke up, I saw sunlight streaming across a hickory tree in our back yard. Its leaves are turning a brilliant yellow in the cool air of fall. This is not the greatest tree in the world… it “forked” somewhere above our second story, and a recent strong wind blew the dead section out, leaving an even more off-balance looking tree standing on the bluff.

Still, dozens of squirrels feed on hickory nuts from this tree… evidence of their buffet covers the ground around the trunk. The tree still delights us with its brilliance in the fall – and shade in spring/summer. Flying squirrels still live in a hole in the side, and woodpeckers of several varieties enjoy feasting on bugs in the bark… and our suet cakes in the winter!

Others would probably declare this tree unimportant and in need of cutting. And someday, we very well may lose this tree… either to a strong wind, or we may decide it should not stand so close to our house in its weakened condition. But for now, the tree still has value to us – and to the little creatures that live on our bluff. It is still very much an “important stone” in our yard. And God showed me the beauty of this tree in the morning sunlight.

Later in the morning, we took a 30-mile drive to Searcy to shop, and I marveled at the beauty God is giving us with his “paintbrush,” in the form of brilliant red sumac, yellow goldenrod, lavender wildflowers, brilliant leaves in a variety of hues, and a bright blue sky with wispy white clouds to accent it all. I thought of how He cares as much about a tiny patch of goldenrod as He does for you and me… and how no stone is unimportant to Him. And I was humbled… and grateful.

When we feel discouraged… unsettled, disappointed, insignificant, misunderstood, disrespected, or even worthless… we must remember that we are still vitally important to God. We mean so much to Him that He sent His Son to save us… to ensure that we have a way to Him – and that He will always be there for us. And for this, we should be incredibly grateful and thankful.

Today, I am humbled by God’s love and care… and incredibly appreciative. I am taking extra time to stop and tell Him how much I love Him, and I encourage you to do the same. Let’s celebrate and be glad for all God does for us… and let’s be sure He knows how grateful we are!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 6, 2011

Psalm 117
Praise GOD, everybody! Applaud GOD, all people!
His love has taken over our lives; GOD's faithful ways are eternal.
Hallelujah!

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 day recently, I picked up my great-nephew Timothy at daycare and told him, “We’re going to see your cousins, Owen and Olivia!” He was thrilled and began to tell me how he was going to give “big hugs” and kisses when he saw them. Then as we drove along, he said, “DebDeb, I so happy! Are Oooo happy?” I assured him that when he is happy… yes, I am very happy! This little 2-year-old caught me off guard with his “applause.” Quite often, without any prompting, he will say “Thank you” for everything from handing him a toy to a cup of milk or juice to “letting” him brush his teeth. At such a young age, Timothy already knows how to lavish love on us… how to praise us and make us feel like we are on top of the world.

As I thought about our traveling conversation, I wondered… “How often do I lavish love on God? When was the last time I told Him how happy I am that His love has taken over my life… that His faithful ways are eternal, and I praise Him for this? How long has it been since I applauded God for His presence in my life and His mighty works in general?” I have to admit, I find plenty of time to tell God what I need… but far less to tell Him how glad I am that He shows up every minute of the day for me.

When was the last time you praised God for His presence in your life… or anything else, for that matter? Have you, in essence, said, “Father, I’m so happy… are You happy with me?” Isn’t today a good day to take a page from a toddler? Isn’t it time we fully acknowledged and glorified the One who makes everything possible in our lives?

Today is a great day to give God a big round of applause. The collective roar of our praise should be deafening to His ears! Let’s all stand and clap together now… shall we?

©2011 Debbie Robus