Daily Devotional for December 24, 2015

Joshua 24:14
“So revere Jehovah and serve him in sincerity and truth. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Worship the Lord alone.

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

Here we are…Christmas Eve!  As I look around, I once again see how God is orchestrating the details of our lives…how He has had His hand on us continually…and I am eternally grateful for His amazing care.  Somehow, everything got done on time - or even a little early - this year.  The house was decorated in a record two days, and the cards were sent.  Gifts were purchased, and stockings were filled. Cookies were baked and menus were planned.

We had all the “makings” of a “picture-perfect Christmas.”  But I have learned that Christmas is not truly in the decorations and the wrappings…the food and fun – or even the carols and Candlelight services. In my 58 years, I have spent Christmas Eve tending to sick and injured loved ones who were hospitalized.  I have stood at an incredibly frigid graveside in Iowa as we buried Greg’s grandfather.  I have sat by and watched others do all of the “busy work” as I recovered from a November surgery.  I have consoled grandparents who lost everything in a devastating house fire only days before Christmas.  I have celebrated without loved ones who were either in a distant city – or celebrating in Heaven with Jesus.  And I can tell you that in these particular years, the worship was somehow sweeter and more profound.

This year, my family is gathering at our house to celebrate together this evening.  This will be a bit of an unconventional Christmas Eve for us.  Because I have been nursing a cold, the “ham dinner with all the trimmings” has been postponed in favor of a pizza party (and thank you, Pizza Hut, for staying open on Christmas Eve!).  Because my mother is battling cancer and pneumonia, she will be an honored guest without a single duty other than to be present and let us enjoy her company.  Because my brother-in-law is still battling critical injuries suffered in a car accident earlier in the week, we will spend at least part of Christmas Day at the hospital in Little Rock with him and other family members - and we are on “stand-by” in case we are needed sooner.

Church friends of ours lost their patriarch a couple of nights ago. The family of the man whose car hit my brother-in-law and his wife is mourning his passing.  A former Sunday school student of mine is in Kuwait on a one-year tour of duty with the National Guard.  The flight of friends who were traveling to Argentina to visit family for Christmas got delayed – and then cancelled – stranding them in Chile!  A Facebook friend who is a single mother lost her job yesterday.

DO NOT feel sorry for us!  We are probably feeling closer to God these last few days than ever.  We will delight in watching Timothy, Zola and Nathan open presents this afternoon and in the merriment of their innocence and excitement.  We will treasure the memories made…and cherish the fact that we are able to gather as a family for this time.  Those who are mourning will hopefully feel God’s presence in a profound way.  The young father in Kuwait – and his family and friends who are stateside – will talk to God about his safety and ask for Jesus to be present with him in a special way this holiday.  The travelers, hospital sitters, and those who wonder how they are going to pay their bills will hopefully lean on Jesus a little extra – and find Him in a new way in the process.

Our church’s Bishop shared a video this morning that illustrated a wide variety of people in unconventional places and situations, with the tag line…”Jesus is Here.”  And truly, today, Jesus is HERE!  As you unwrap presents and stuff yourself silly – whether with a ham dinner or pizza – may Jesus be with you.  May you worship Him alone – and not all of the trappings and trimmings of this holiday season.  And may this be the Christmas that you say with new conviction, “Jesus is HERE!” – and truly mean it! 

Jesus is HERE!  God bless you…Merry Christmas Eve!

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 16, 2015

Isaiah 66:2
I have made everything;
that’s how it all came to be.
    I, the Lord, have spoken.

The people I treasure most
    are the humble—
they depend only on me
    and tremble when I speak.

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

Have you ever gone into a room and forgotten why you were there?  I know I have.  I will stop and stand still and say to myself, “Now, I know I came in here for something!” In my case, it might be a bit of simple forgetfulness that comes with age! But often, the problem is that we are trying to do too much at once.

I know it sounds cliché, but this is one of the busiest times of the year.  We are consumed with decorations, parties, gifts and festivities…musical programs and parades…food galore and opportunities at every turn for revelry.  And in the midst of all of this, we find it very easy to forget “why we came into the room.”  In other words, we get so caught up in the merriment and celebration that we forget WHO we are celebrating.

This scripture passage from Isaiah reminds us that God treasures most those who are humble…the ones who depend on Him and “tremble when I speak.”  In other words, God treasures the ones who maintain focus…listen for His voice…and pay attention to His message.  God treasures those who are more interested in what He thinks and has to say than what the world says…the ones who care more about seeking Him in the everyday, ordinary things of life than making sure everything is just perfect in their holiday celebrations and décor.  He values those who care more about meeting the physical, mental and spiritual needs of others than buying the perfect gift for Aunt Sue.

At the end of the day…we need to stop, take a breath, and refocus.  Two weeks from Friday (if not sooner) a lot of people will pack away the decorations, undress the tree, and close the book on Christmas for another eleven months.  And more than a few will pack away their relationship with Jesus, too.

Let’s promise right now that we won’t do this!  Let’s get our priorities straight now…today…December 16th.  Let’s humble ourselves before God and thank Him for all that He has made…for everything that He has given us.  And let’s ask Him to show us what is most important…”why we came into the room” in the first place! 

I want to be among those whom God treasures most…don’t you?  Are you taking the necessary steps to make it so?  Don’t you think it’s time you did?

© Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 24, 2014

1 Corinthians 1:3-9
May all the gifts and benefits that come from God our Father, and the Master, Jesus Christ, be yours.
 
Every time I think of you—and I think of you often!—I thank God for your lives of free and open access to God, given by Jesus. There’s no end to what has happened in you—it’s beyond speech, beyond knowledge. The evidence of Christ has been clearly verified in your lives.
 
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 years ago, I made a “pact” with a few family members that we adults would NOT exchange Christmas gifts.  Christmas gifts would only be given to the children.  This year, my cousin’s wife broke, “the rule.”  I was all prepared to put up a fuss, until I saw her gather the gift bag from under her Christmas tree.  “Yours was the first gift I bought,” she said.  “You are SO easy to shop for!”  I don’t think anyone has EVER told me that before!
 
My cousin was practically giddy as I pulled the tissue from the sack and retrieved a gift that was so thoughtful…so practical…so ME!  And in that moment, I realized how much thought she had given to this present…how she had really considered ME and what I would enjoy…and then she had purchased something that no one else in a million years would think to give me…beautiful new dish towels and a wonderful baking pan.
 
Here’s the thing…God has given each of us the Ultimate Gift…Jesus Christ.  Jesus is that one-in-a-million Gift.  God thoughtfully considered each of us…He designed Jesus perfectly to live among us - to teach us and to die for our sins. He gets totally giddy every time one of us accepts His gift and invites Jesus to be the LORD of our life.  And He delights over and again in watching us live for Him, serve Him, and share the Good News of Jesus with others.
 
I told my cousin that I just might bake her something delicious in the new pan someday.  But even if I don’t, she will take joy and delight in knowing that I am using her gift to prepare food for Greg and others.  And she knows how much I love her.  It’s the same with God.  He doesn’t expect us to give Him anything in return except our love and devotion - and our very best Christian discipleship.
 
As you open packages in the next few days, consider the Ultimate Gift you have received from God.  Jesus isn’t wrapped in a box or tucked into a gift bag under your Christmas tree…but He is the best gift you will ever receive. I thank God for His perfect present to me…and to you.  I pray you have “opened” your heart to His love…and that He will be at the center of your celebration this Christmas season…and always.
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 22, 2014

Zephaniah 3:16-17
Jerusalem, the time is coming,
    when it will be said to you:
“Don’t be discouraged
    or grow weak from fear!
The Lord your God
wins victory after victory
    and is always with you.
He celebrates and sings
    because of you,
and he will refresh your life
    with his love.”
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
We’re in the “home stretch”!  Timothy held up three fingers today (meaning three more “sleeps”) and said, “Thursday is Christmas…and we come to YOUR house!” All over the world, thousands of people have a lot left to do in those “three sleeps”.  My cousin has a 7-foot trampoline on his carport that has to be assembled.  People were scrambling up and down the aisles at Wal-Mart today to purchase food for holiday meals.  Others have presents to wrap, turkeys and hams to cook…and no doubt, more than a few parents have toys with hundreds of parts to assemble before Christmas morning.
 
As you “race toward the Finish Line” of this Christmas week, stop to take a few minutes and reflect on what is really important.  Take time to put some coins in the red kettle as you exit the store.  Spend a few minutes in conversation with someone you meet in the parking lot…or a shut-in who could really use a visit in the next few days.  Do something wonderful for someone – not because it is Christmas, but “just because”.  Call someone you have not talked to in a while…if only to say, “Merry Christmas!”
 
Don’t get bogged down in the “busyness” of this week.  Stop and celebrate the victories that Jesus wins for you.  Revel in the confidence that He is always with you – that He truly does celebrate and sing - because of YOU.  Feel His refreshment, His love, and His presence.  Be filled with joy that Jesus loves you…now and forever!
 
Make a concerted effort to celebrate Jesus these next few days.  He truly IS the reason for the season!
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 16, 2014

Romans 10:15
And how will anyone go and tell them unless someone sends him? That is what the Scriptures are talking about when they say, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace with God and bring glad tidings of good things.” In other words, how welcome are those who come preaching God’s Good News!
 
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
 
Greg and I took a walk today on a trail near our house.  We trekked some  2+ miles along a forested trail and enjoyed the late-afternoon sunshine, birds and squirrels chirping overhead, and the gentle trickle of water that washed across a creek bed. On the last stretch of the walk, I thanked God for two strong feet that get me where I need to go…and then some!  My feet may not be small or dainty in appearance, but they do amazing things – like walk, run, hop, jump, and paddle in the water!  In this regard, my feet are truly quite beautiful!  Hopefully, your feet enable you to do these same things - and are equally “gorgeous”!
 
This particular scripture passage is a reference to Isaiah 52:7.  So “beautiful feet” are spoken of twice in the Bible…once in the Old Testament – and again in the New Testament.  These are not the “feet” that physically carry you from one place to another.  This scripture refers to the “feet” of a messenger who brings God’s Good News to others.  Now THOSE are some beautiful feet!
 
This is a time of year when we hear a lot about the message of Christ…how angels heralded His arrival…how shepherds and kings visited the manger and returned to their farms and villages to share this news with family and friends.  But the message of this season serves as a reminder to us to spread this Good News to those in OUR midst…to share the glad tidings of all that Jesus has done for us - and will continue to do - with everyone we meet!
 
As Christians, every single one of us has a pair of “beautiful feet”.  How do you use yours?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 11, 2014

Romans 8:38-39
For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can’t, and life can’t. The angels won’t, and all the powers of hell itself cannot keep God’s love away. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, or where we are—high above the sky, or in the deepest ocean—nothing will ever be able to separate us from the love of God demonstrated by our Lord Jesus Christ when he died for 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 have been invited to come to Timothy’s kindergarten class to play the guitar and sing Christmas songs with the children.  This ole kindergarten teacher can’t think of anything more joyful than to spend 30 minutes celebrating Christmas with 5-year-olds by singing familiar carols like “Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer” and “Feliz Navidad”!  Some of you are returning home from college for Christmas break.  Others are busy preparing your homes for the arrival of family and friends to celebrate the season.
 
Christmas is a joyful time.  But for some, it is also a sad time. Sickness doesn’t stop in December.  Death doesn’t take a holiday.  I have friends who are hospitalized and facing surgery…others who are recuperating and in rehab following a medical procedure…and some who are nursing the flu or a bad cold.  I know others who are in mourning - including a cousin whose father-in-law was killed two days ago in a collision with a drunk driver.  A lot of these people are having a hard time finding anything to celebrate right now.
 
I’ve been on at both ends of this “holiday spectrum”.  And I am here to attest that the words of Romans 8:38-39 are 100% perfect and true.  NOTHING can separate us from the love of God.  The love with which He sent Jesus to earth as a tiny baby is the same love that He exhibited when He sacrificed His only Son on the cross for our sins.  The love and joy He blesses us with in the singing of Christmas tunes with 5-year-olds is no stronger than the love and compassion He wraps around us when we are grieving or in need of His healing touch.
 
I am printing out this scripture and taping it over my desk so that I see it every day.  I don’t know about you, but I need a constant reminder of just how much God loves me.  The meaning and message of Christmas lie in these words from Paul to the Romans.  They are words of hope, love, celebration, comfort, and peace…and we could all use a hefty dose of each these days.  Wherever you are…whatever is happening to you this Christmas season…remember that God is with us.  His love never fails.  That is reason enough for me to celebrate…what about you?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 10, 2014

Acts 10:4-6
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: “It’s God’s own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites! It makes no difference who you are or where you’re from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. The Message he sent to the children of Israel—that through Jesus Christ everything is being put together again—well, he’s doing it everywhere, among everyone.
 
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, a Facebook friend posted a “video” about a man who died and was summoned for judgment by God.  To his horror and shame, his life and all of the mistakes he had made – every sin he had committed - was reviewed.  Then an angel looked in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and the man’s name was nowhere to be found. The man was thrown into the "lake of fire" known as Hell. 
 
The video concluded with a look at how things could have gone, had the man only surrendered his heart to Jesus and asked for His forgiveness.  2 Corinthians 5:17 reminded us that…”Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new.”  And the words of Isaiah 1:18 were presented to assure us…”This is God’s Message: ‘If your sins are blood-red, they’ll be snow-white.  If they’re red like crimson, they’ll be like wool.’”
 
My friend accompanied this post with these words…”Powerful, hopefully by sharing this I can inspire someone, just as I was!!!”  I hope so, too…because the real message of Christmas is not found in the tinsel and the garlands, the packages and the parties.  The true message of Christmas lies in the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ…our promise and hope that God sent to earth in the form of a tiny baby.  The message of Christmas really lies in the story of Easter…the crucifixion, death and resurrection of the Christ Child – all to pay for OUR sins and mistakes.
 
The real gift of Christmas is the anticipation of eternity spent in the presence of God.  This gift is open to all of us who will freely choose to follow Jesus.  As we read Peter’s words to the church in Acts, we are reminded that the door is open to any and ALL who choose to accept this gift.  God plays no favorites, indeed!  If you have received the gift of salvation in Jesus, every other gift is just fluff…something nice to tide you over until heaven – but made all the more enjoyable because of that confidence.
 
What is the message of Christmas for you this year?  Have you received the ultimate Gift?  Jesus is standing at the door…holding it open for you to enter into an eternal relationship with Him and live in His presence forever.  Aren’t you ready to cross the threshold?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 9, 2014

Isaiah 9:2-5
The people who walk in darkness shall see a great Light—a Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death. For Israel will again be great, filled with joy like that of reapers when the harvest time has come, and like that of men dividing up the plunder they have won.
 
For God will break the chains that bind his people and the whip that scourges them, just as he did when he destroyed the vast host of the Midianites by Gideon’s little band. In that glorious day of peace there will no longer be the issuing of battle gear; no more the bloodstained uniforms of war; all such will be burned.
 
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 did quite a bit of shopping today…and by that, I mean I visited several stores.  Everywhere I went, people were busily seeking that “just-right” Christmas gift, talking about how they wished they were done with their shopping, and generally stressing out over the holidays and all that they still have to do.  One lady I’d never seen in my life turned to me on the baking supplies aisle and said, “Why does Christmas have to come so soon after Thanksgiving?!”  She was lamenting how much food costs and how she has to prepare a dish for her church’s potluck!
 
Somehow, I am thinking this was not part of God’s plan when He sent Jesus to this earth.  When the shepherds and scholars saw the bright light in the east that signaled the birth of our Messiah, I don’t figure their first thought was, “Great!  Now they will want us to bring our specialty dish to a potluck!”…or even “What on earth will I get for Aunt Sue this year?”
 
My point is that we’ve gotten so caught up in the “busyness” of Christmas that we have totally forgotten the significance of this month and its celebrations.  Even if we have considered the birth of the Christ Child…we have not really stopped to remember the impact that His earthly life had for each of us.  Most certainly, we’ve given little thought to the chains of sin’s bondage that He broke for us…how He destroyed the hold of Satan over our lives and gave us salvation in Him… a gift that we can never deserve - much less repay.
 
We’re so busy rushing from one store to the next, marking things off our lists, and making sure that everyone has the perfect holiday that we have totally forgotten about Jesus.  In one of the stores I visited this morning, I met a high school classmate who now lives in another community.  I asked what brought her to our town, and she replied, “We came to visit my father-in-law, and I needed to lay flowers on family graves.”  Her words caught my attention!
 
I noted that she had time in this busy season to visit an older person who might be lonely.  She set aside her own agenda to think of others…something Jesus does for us every single day!  I was reminded that there are those who need a visit from me.  There are people who are sick and suffering – and Christmas is the farthest thing from their mind right now.  There are others who aren’t celebrating the holidays…or at least not the birth of Jesus Christ.  Many will enjoy the parties and festivities but never consider the real reason for our holiday.
 
So today, I encourage you to stop and consider the “Light that will shine on all those who live in the land of the shadow of death” – the Light of Jesus Christ.  As you go about the holiday celebrations and rituals – the parties and the “chores of the season” – consider Jesus.  How would He view these things?  Would His “to-do” list look like yours?  Are you truly remembering to do things for others, as Jesus would wish?  Will the Light of Christ be visible in your actions and attitudes this season?  Don’t you think it should?
 
©2014 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 18, 2013

Psalm 27:14
Wait patiently for the Lord.
Be brave and courageous.
Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.
 
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.
 
This is really a hard month for patience… especially if you are four!  Timothy is told virtually every day that he has to wait on something… “We have to wait to open presents until Christmas Day”… “We have to wait for the parade to start”… “We have to wait seven more ‘sleeps’ for Santa to visit”… “We have to wait until Christmas to see what Santa brings us” (to which he replies, “But it IS Christmas!”)…you get the idea.  We have tried to explain to Timothy and his two-year-old sister Zola that Christmas is Jesus’ birthday… that this is truly why we celebrate.  We’ve looked at dozens of nativities and talked about Mary, Joseph and the baby Jesus.  We have discussed the wise men and their gifts…the shepherds and the all-important-to-Timothy animals that they tend. 
 
We took the children to our community Christmas parade, and they were both so excited by the lights, cars, trucks, floats, marching band, horses, and more.  When the participants threw candy, Timothy’s little body literally shook all over with excitement!  The wonder and awe in both of their faces was incredibly heartwarming.  Everything about the night was magical for them. And when they came face-to-face with Santa Claus, Timothy stuck out his little hand and said, “Merry Christmas, Santa!” and then declared… “I have seen the real Santa!”
 
The children may not realize it, but they are already “waiting on the LORD!”  Whether they are waiting patiently is questionable at any given moment, but they are waiting, nonetheless.  Surely they are confident that Christmas Day will come… that we will celebrate the birth of Jesus (and open presents from Santa!).  But what about those of us who are old enough to fully comprehend everything that happened some 2046 years ago?  Do we fully operate in bravery, courage, and patience as we serve the LORD and wait on His return?
 
We should be able to understand the true meaning of Christmas…AND the earthly life of Jesus…His crucifixion and resurrection.  We should be trembling with excitement at the thought meeting “the real Jesus” face-to-face for the first time.  The idea of heaven should be as magical and invoke as much awe and wonderment in us as the Christmas lights, sights and sounds of a parade provided for countless children on a moonlit December night.
 
Even in our darkest, most despondent moment, we should be filled with hope that Jesus is waiting for us… that the best is yet to come!  I know there are plenty of sad situations… grief-stricken people whose hearts are broken, those who will lose their jobs the end of this month (if they haven’t already), many who cannot pay bills – much less provide Christmas gifts and meals for their loved ones... people who are sick and battling serious illnesses and injuries…lonely folks…people separated from loved ones by military deployment other constraints.  And these are legitimate concerns…plausible reasons to lose heart that God understands!  But He also provides an answer…His gift of Jesus Christ!  For this reason, we can be hopeful.  We can be brave and courageous… and patiently wait for Him to come to us – both as a Rescuer in this earthly life, and as our ultimate Savior for all eternity.
 
I can be as impatient as a four-year-old at times…but I’ve experienced enough of God’s grace, mercy and blessings in my life already to know that He is worth the wait. The thought of seeing Him in person makes my heart flutter and almost causes me to tremble as much as little Timothy did… and I am more than hopeful that this will happen – in God’s timing.  Can you say the same?  Are you ready to operate in the hope and patience of Jesus…this season and always? Isn’t this a great day to begin?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 25, 2011

Philippians 4:6-7
Don't worry about anything, but pray about everything. With thankful hearts offer up your prayers and requests to God. Then, because you belong to Christ Jesus, God will bless you with peace that no one can completely understand. And this peace will control the way you think and feel.

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

Our Christmas Eve meal was pretty well prepared and in the oven. We planned to eat at 3:30 p.m. My mother and her sister had picked up my grandmother at her assisted living facility, and I glanced up in time to see Mom’s Jeep pull into our driveway. Then I heard my mother yell for my husband to come quickly. My grandmother had fallen. I rushed outside to see her lying lifeless on the driveway. My husband rushed to call 911 as I hurried toward my Mam-ma. That’s when I saw the pool of blood forming under her head and trailing down our driveway.

I pressed a cloth tightly to her head, but the blood soaked through and poured on to the concrete underneath. The ambulance arrived, and my grandmother was transported to the hospital emergency room, where scans indicated no internal head or neck injury. Once the bandages were removed and everything was cleaned, she had a large hematoma (blood pocket) with a small puncture wound in the center. Her head was bandaged, and she was given pain medication, which made her woozy.

The doctor said there was no “medical justification” for admitting my grandmother to the hospital. I begged and pleaded, but he insisted he could not do this. I was at my wits’ end. I looked up and saw a sign beside a door where I was standing. It said “Chapel.” I stepped inside the chapel to call my husband and my mom. As we talked, I looked at plaques that hung on the wall. These contained scriptures, and the first thing I saw was Philippians 4:6-7. Then I read Lamentations 3:22-23, followed by Psalm 23, and finally... Jeremiah 29:11. I suggest you look these last three passages up and read them. I said a prayer before I left the chapel and asked God to handle this… to take my worries and fretting and give me peace about this situation.

When I stepped back into my grandmother’s exam room, I was visibly upset… and the nurse who had been treating my grandmother offered… “I can ask the ER doctor to call the doctor on duty upstairs and see if he will admit your grandmother - at least overnight.” She didn’t make any promises, but it was worth a shot. A few minutes later, the nurse returned to tell me that my grandmother was being admitted.

I cannot tell you the overwhelming peace and relief that flooded me when the nurse offered to talk with the doctors. I cannot begin to express how I felt when she returned to tell me that the doctor had agreed. I was so grateful to God for working out what I could not… and for directing me into that chapel for a few minutes. There, as I read those scripture passages, God gave me what I needed… peace and a sense of calmness, reassurance that He was in control… hope and love overflowing.

This is the gift of Christmas. It’s not found in the stockings, tinsel and beautifully wrapped packages. The love of our Heavenly Father, expressed by the birth, life and death of His only Son, surrounds us and meets our every need. All we have to do is open our heart and receive Him.

I was prepared to lose my grandmother on our driveway. I felt God’s peace and calm there in a way I cannot begin to describe. But I am grateful that He chose to wait for another place and time for this inevitable event. Meanwhile, I am reminded once again that God is in control… that I am His, and He blankets me with His love, grace and peace. My prayer for you this Christmas Day is that you feel His presence, too. I hope your holiday has been less “eventful,” and that you have celebrated the love of Christ with those most dear to you. Merry Christmas!

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 19, 2011

Psalm 146:1-5

Shout praises to the LORD! With all that I am, I will shout his praises. I will sing and praise the LORD God for as long as I live. You can't depend on anyone, not even a great leader. Once they die and are buried, that will be the end of all their plans.

The LORD God of Jacob blesses everyone who trusts him and depends on him.

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

When I was a little girl, there was a man in our community everyone knew as “Preacher Mullen”. I knew him better as Santa Claus. Long before I came into this world, Otis “Preacher” Mullen began dressing as Santa Claus each winter. His long white beard and hair were the real deal. He drove a Jeep… and attached to the front were two real, mounted deer. I was quite sure that one of them was Rudolph, even if he didn’t have a red, shiny nose. We would see Santa Claus around town, and he usually made a visit to the school to pass out candy canes to all of us.

My last recollection of Santa Claus Mullen was 1977… my first year to teach after graduating from college. I am a little fuzzy on whether Santa Claus was making his annual visit to the school or whether I personally invited him to come to my classroom, but I do know he made a visit and passed out the candy canes. I have a picture to prove it! I was thrilled to be able to share the same fond memory of my own childhood with my little six-year-old students.

Preacher Mullen died in 1983 in a local nursing home. He had served as Santa Claus to a seven-county area for decades – and as the actual pastor to many congregations, as well. He truly believed that it was better to give than to receive… and he served his LORD well. I am amazed to consider how many lives he touched with the simple act of passing a candy cane to the hands of “children” of all ages. Santa Claus Mullen is being remembered on a local Facebook page by many generations of those children.

By my calculation, Preacher Mullen’s visit to my first-grade classroom was probably one of his last. We haven’t had such a “character” in our community since… and honestly, I don’t know if anyone could truly fill Preacher Mullen’s shoes, anyway. His was a service borne of a desire to share God’s deep abiding love with others. Santa Claus was merely his vehicle.

There is such an important message in this passage of scripture. Life is ever changing. People are here one day and gone the next. The person we depended on for so much… a parent, grandparent, spouse, relative, teacher, friend, or even our church leaders… live in earthly bodies that will eventually die. We have to put our everlasting faith in Someone who will never leave us… Jesus Christ. There is nothing wrong with trusting those in our circle… sharing our hopes, fears, joys and burdens. But unless we place an even deeper trust in Jesus, we stand to be perpetually discouraged and disappointed.

I miss seeing Preacher Mullen during the Christmas season. I miss his little red Jeep and the “reindeer”. But more than that, I miss his spirit… his hearty laugh, his ever-present smile, and the genuine love that he seemed to radiate. In thinking of him each Christmas, I am reminded of the unconditional, unending love of Jesus Christ for all of His children. I am pretty sure that Otis “Preacher” Mullen – a.k.a. “Santa Claus” – would tell us to put our faith and trust in HIM… to depend on His love, grace and mercy to truly sustain us… and to praise Him each and every day as long as we live.

We would also do well to try to emulate Santa Claus Mullen in some small way… to share God’s love with others in something as seemingly small as a candy cane - or whatever vehicle God gives us. The best way to honor the blessings of God is to share them with others, just as Otis “Preacher” Mullen did. How will you accomplish this? How will you praise God this Christmas season… and always?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 18, 2011

Psalm 145:10-19
Creation and creatures applaud you, God; your holy people bless you. They talk about the glories of your rule, they exclaim over your splendor, letting the world know of your power for good, the lavish splendor of your kingdom.

Your kingdom is a kingdom eternal; you never get voted out of office. God always does what he says, and is gracious in everything he does. God gives a hand to those down on their luck, gives a fresh start to those ready to quit.

All eyes are on you, expectant; you give them their meals on time. Generous to a fault, you lavish your favor on all creatures. Everything God does is right — the trademark on all his works is love.

God's there, listening for all who pray, for all who pray and mean it. He does what's best for those who fear him — hears them call out, and saves them.

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 “Sunday paper” was full of circulars and ads for all kinds of “last-minute gift ideas.” Countless online retailers are offering free shipping and promising “You can still have this in time for Christmas!” Everywhere you look, someone is ready to lavish gifts and “stuff” upon us… to “play Santa Claus” and “make our Christmas merry and bright!”

What we really need is the favor of God. He stands ready to lavish His gifts upon us… but we often crave the things of this world instead. As we head into the last week before Christmas Day and rev up our holiday preparations and last-minute shopping, let’s stop to remember why we celebrate Christmas… and WHO is truly responsible. Let’s think a little less about what Santa Claus is bringing us and a lot more about what God does for us each and every day.

Let’s remember that God shows up right on time to meet our every need… to save us when we are down and out… to feed us body and soul… to lavish His goodness, grace, mercy and love on each one of us. How could we not love such an amazing God? How could we not offer Him our very best and put HIM at the top of our list of priorities?

It’s easy to get caught up in the tinsel and sparkle of the commercialism of Christmas… but it’s time we paid more attention to God and the gifts He offers us every day of the year. How will you spend the “home stretch” of this Christmas season?

©2011 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for December 12, 2011

John 19:31-37
The next day would be both a Sabbath and the Passover. It was a special day for the Jewish people, and they did not want the bodies to stay on the crosses during that day. So they asked Pilate to break the men's legs and take their bodies down. The soldiers first broke the legs of the other two men who were nailed there. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, and they did not break his legs. One of the soldiers stuck his spear into Jesus' side, and blood and water came out. We know this is true, because it was told by someone who saw it happen. Now you can have faith too. All this happened so that the Scriptures would come true, which say, "No bone of his body will be broken" and, "They will see the one in whose side they stuck a spear."

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

For the last week, I’ve been sitting with my grandmother, who is in the hospital. Thankfully, she is doing well and should go home soon. But down the hall in one direction, people line up to receive chemotherapy and other medical treatments. In the other direction, a family grieves as one of their loved ones spends her last days on Hospice. A friend posted on Facebook that he and his wife are taking turns sitting with his mother-in-law who is nearing the end of her life. I know people who can't find a job, and others who can't pay their bills or provide their family with "a big Christmas" this year. All around us, many people are anything but joyful this Christmas season.

The hospital is tastefully festive with beautifully decorated Christmas trees and other holiday decorations. On the lawn outside sits a large lighted Nativity scene, and a lighted wreath adorns the building’s exterior. Everywhere we look, there are signs of the season, and cheerful people. This is meant to be a happy time. But we can’t talk about the joy and excitement of Christmas and the birth of Jesus Christ without also remembering the ugliness of His death. While there is plenty to celebrate this season… and there are lessons of faith and hope galore in the story of Jesus’ birth… the true message comes in the crucifixion. If Jesus had come to earth and walked among us then died of old age, disease or even a tragic accident, He would have still been a great man… but His most ultimate purpose would not have been fulfilled. In order to receive the Good News, you have to get through “the bad and the ugly” first.

So as we celebrate Christmas, smile at our neighbors, sing jolly songs and shout “Ho! Ho! Ho!”, let’s also remember that this is not such a Merry Christmas for some. Their joy is diminished this season by illness…death and loss…lack of income – or food, clothing and shelter… abuse…loneliness, and more. But the HOPE of Christmas can belong to ALL of us… because our Hope lies in the cross of Calvary and the blood of Jesus’ shed there. You can’t have Christmas without the cross… but because of Jesus and everything He did for us, we have the promise of Eternal Life.

This is the message we really should share this season. As we greet people with the cheerful salutations of the holiday season, we should also remind them of the HOPE this season represents. We should be sensitive to the needs and feelings of those around us and temper our holiday cheer with words of encouragement and the promise of God’s unfailing love for His children. One of the reasons Jesus came to earth was to cultivate disciples who would share His message… and WE are those disciples – or at least we should be!

So wish others a Merry Christmas… but never forget the cross. Offer more than a happy greeting to those you meet. Take time to offer hope to those who need it and to share the Good News of the cross, as well. Be a disciple for Christ in this season – and always. Celebrate Jesus’ birth… and thank Him for what He did for us at Calvary.

©2011 Debbie Robus