Daily Devotional for December 15, 2016

Matthew 19:21-23
Jesus replied, “If you want to be perfect, go sell everything you own! Give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven. Then come and be my follower.” When the young man heard this, he was sad, because he was very rich.

Jesus said to his disciples, “It’s terribly hard for rich people to get into the kingdom of heaven!

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

Greg and I cleaned our closets yesterday.  It was long overdue.  We will donate the purged items to a local clothes closet that helps people in need…many who have nothing due to a house fire, domestic violence, job loss, or other unfortunate circumstances.  For the record, I am a bit of a clothes hoarder.  I’ve cleaned my closet countless times and put pretty much everything back on the racks and in the drawers.  I tell myself that I might actually be able to wear the jeans that fit when I was 40…or that I really need a shirt I bought for a song – in 1994!

This time, I tried to be ruthless…and I have to say, I did better than expected.  Because I asked myself one question…”Who needs this worse?”  And if you looked at my closet today, you might ask if I really removed anything.  See, I still have plenty…but now, the person who really needs a good pair of Levis® will be able to have them.  The warm jacket that I have not worn in at least five years will keep someone cozy this winter instead of taking up space in our closet.  Those shoes that pinched my toes might be just the right size for a woman who is looking for a job and wants to look professional.  And honestly, these days, my need for “office attire” is pretty well nil.

I inherited this “clothes hoarding” gene from my mother and grandmother.  I know that to be a fact, because I cleaned out their closets!  And I am not criticizing them…they were careful bargain shoppers.  And after decades of scrimping and scraping so that we kids could have nice things, they deserved to have beautiful garments.  But I also know that “you can’t take it with you.” Even after my purging, I could pretty well wear a different outfit every day for a month and not repeat myself!  In view of the fact that some have NOTHING to wear – at least nothing that is decent – this makes no sense.

So I’ve made a small step toward sharing my “riches.”  I have not sold or given away everything that I own, but I’ve started letting go of an unreasonable attachment to clothes that clutter my closet and could actually benefit someone else.

A couple of years ago, I went through every closet and drawer and purged and organized what was in them…and it’s time to do that again.  This may not seem like a huge deal in the realm of God’s Kingdom, but it is. When we let go of our “things,” we focus more on what is really necessary and important.  When we part with something because we realize that another person has a bigger need for it than we do, we’re making progress.  And I have to believe that this makes God smile.

I don’t want to hinder my journey to heaven with clutter and “stuff”…and I’m betting you don’t either.  This small step could lead to bigger ones - and point us in the right direction, once and for all.  Are you ready to start gleaning?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for November 4, 2016

Matthew 6:19-21
“Don’t store up treasures here on earth where they can erode away or may be stolen. Store them in heaven where they will never lose their value and are safe from thieves. If your profits are in heaven, your heart will be there too."

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

Since 1990, I have been directly involved in sorting through the personal belongings of others at least five times - and I’m here to tell you…it’s just STUFF!  I’ve commiserated with friends who are having a similar experience, and I’ve shared MY perspective on issues related to inheritances and “estates.” In the end, I’ve asked more than one person, “Why is this so important?  You have been fine all of these years without an inheritance or these ‘treasures,’ so why wouldn’t you continue to be okay if you’re left out of the will?”

I have sorted through a lot of my mother’s things in the last 10 months…and we still have a long way to go!  But I have become even more cognizant of how important it is to de-clutter my life and re-align my priorities. First, I do not want to burden others with having to dispose of an excess of my “stuff,” and secondly, I don’t want anyone to think that these things define me in any way.  When I am gone, I don’t want people to say, “She surely had pretty things.” I want them to say, “She was always busy serving Jesus and others…she gave Him her all.”

I have also begun to give away things that are important to me…to people that I want to “inherit” them.  I would far rather be able to explain to that person WHY it is important to me to hand down an item - what the “treasure” means on a personal level.  Besides, I would like to be able to see someone else enjoy something that had special meaning to me – and now to him/her.  If I wait until I’m gone, I’ll never really know what happened to these items.

I will tell you that I have a long way to go.  I still have far too much “stuff”…and some of it I value more than I should.  I look at all of the things that were so important to those who have left for heaven…and I remind myself that they could care less today about any of it.  The real treasure is waiting for us there!  It is accrued by how we serve in Jesus’ name.

We cannot earn our salvation, but I am convinced that when we build a legacy of loving others…treating them with kindness…going out of our way to do whatever we can to be the hands and feet of Jesus for others…and serving God at every turn, our Heavenly Father takes notice. I believe there is a direct correlation between humble, genuine Christian discipleship – emulating Jesus and demonstrating His teachings – and the bounty that awaits us in Heaven. We can’t take this “stuff” with us…but we can stockpile God’s blessings and favor for Eternity.  Now which would you really rather have?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 16, 2016

James 1:9-11
A Christian who doesn’t amount to much in this world should be glad, for he is great in the Lord’s sight. But a rich man should be glad that his riches mean nothing to the Lord, for he will soon be gone, like a flower that has lost its beauty and fades away, withered—killed by the scorching summer sun. So it is with rich men. They will soon die and leave behind all their busy activities.

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 our daily newspaper, I read the heart-wrenching story by New York Times reporter Liz Alderman of a 28-year-old Syrian woman and her four young children who are detained in a refugee camp in Idomeni, Greece.  The family spends their days foraging for food and begging for help for this mother and her dusty, mosquito-bite-covered children.  They are dirty, hungry, tired, and frustrated.  Promises of aid have not materialized…and this mother told Alderman that she would have stayed in Syria and taken her chances, had she known it would be like this. The tone of despair in this report was palpable…and I have to tell you, I was somewhat ashamed of my own material “wealth.”

Just by virtue of where we live, most of us are “rich” by much of the world’s standards.  And yet, many of us perpetually crave more. We measure our wealth – and our worth – in dollars and cents.  We constantly compare ourselves to others…and we work pretty hard to keep up with them!

Today, Greg and I have been married for 42 years. We celebrated by going out to breakfast at a local diner – and we took Greg’s mother with us!  We enjoyed every bite of the meal – and the company – as we reminisced about the years we’ve shared. God has blessed us with more than our portion of “creature comforts” throughout our marriage…but He has also given us a strong bond with our family.  We are rich in His love…and in our relationships with family members and friends.  We try to accumulate memories and special experiences together rather than material possessions and expendable resources.  Don’t misunderstand…we have more than plenty materially.  But “things” do not matter nearly as much as they once did…and we have learned to appreciate the joy and comfort in simple pleasures.

We are both keenly aware how quickly life can change.  We look in the mirror and recognize that youth surely fades…and “beauty” takes on a whole new meaning!  We look around at those who appear to have a good grasp on what makes a person truly “rich”…and we notice that they are busy seeking God and serving Him rather than worrying about their own “wealth” or appearance.  They exude a joy and peace that is captivating – and enviable – and we want this for ourselves!!

I pray that we would never take our “wealth” for granted…both the gift of God’s grace, mercy, and salvation through the blood of Jesus – AND, the physical possessions that we have accumulated.  I pray that God would keep us humble – and grateful for His abundance and the freedoms that we enjoy…that we would never grow complacent about anything or anyone for even one minute!

Should God see fit to give Greg and me more years together, I pray that we will always recognize how rich we are in His love and blessings…and always see each other through the “lens of love” that overlooks wrinkles, age spots and gray hair.  I pray that we would be busy sharing God’s love rather than trying to make ourselves look younger or impressive.

I pray that you would discover for yourself what makes you “rich” in God’s eyes…that you would think of the young refugee mother who just wants her children to be safe and fed - and thank God that you enjoy these comforts every single day.  This automatically makes you richer than a large percentage of the world’s population, praise God!  Do you recognize how “wealthy” He has made you in all things?  Do your words and actions demonstrate your appreciation and gratitude for His gifts and blessings?  Isn’t it time they did?

How “rich” are you today in the things that truly matter for all Eternity?  Aren’t you ready to find out, once and for all?  Will this be the day that you get started?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for May 25, 2016

May 25 ~ Matthew 6:30-33   
“If God gives such attention to the appearance of wildflowers—most of which are never even seen—don’t you think he’ll attend to you, take pride in you, do his best for you? What I’m trying to do here is to get you to relax, to not be so preoccupied with getting, so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don’t worry about missing out. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.”

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.

If I have learned anything in the last several months, it’s that we worry far too much about a lot of things that really don’t matter.  For several months, I feel like I have just gone through the motions in our home…housekeeping chores have been neglected…the Christmas tree stayed up until almost the end of January…we’ve eaten a lot of take-out meals.  And it has not mattered.  We have been focused on family and attending to “business” matters that had to be handled…and the rest could wait.

When Greg and I started Workamper News in 1987, we carefully budgeted every penny.  For the first few years, we documented every dime we spent, until we were sure that the business was going to succeed enough to pay all of the bills.  If we ended up with a surplus in the budget at month’s end, we treated ourselves to Sonic® burgers.  Those were some of our happiest years as business owners!

I remember tough times as a child.  My parents were working multiple jobs to pay the bills and put food on the table for themselves and three children.  I know what it feels like to struggle and worry about how budgets will be met…and how goals will be accomplished.  I’ve stressed over college courses, business plans, the challenges and heartaches of loved ones, health concerns, and more.  And I have wasted more than my fair share of time on worry and preoccupation with the outcomes.

This is a profound scripture passage for almost all of us…because there is something innate in us as humans that keeps us asking, “What is in it for me?” and thinking about how we can acquire more…money, time, possessions, friends - or even physical fitness and attractiveness.  And Jesus is telling us to get a grip – literally – on the love and grace of God Almighty!

You might be temporarily happier with an extra couple hundred dollars in your pocket.  You could feel better for a while if you lost a few pounds, put on a new outfit and got your hair done.  You might feel a momentary thrill to drive a shiny new car…move into a big, fancy, perfectly decorated house…or mingle with the rich and famous as their equal.  But in the end, none of these things lasts – or matters.  What is important is to “steep our lives in God-reality, God-initiative, and God-provisions”…which are always more than enough.

Are you still worried about missing out?  Or are you trusting God to meet every one of your needs?  Will this be the day that you get your priorities in line with His and start to truly live in His peace and abundance?  Don’t you want it to be?

©2016 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 5, 2016

Exodus 20:5
You must never bow or worship it in any way; for I, the Lord your God, am very possessive. I will not share your affection with any other god!

“And when I punish people for their sins, the punishment continues upon the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of those who hate me;
 
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 have been in “purge mode” of late…sorting through closets and cleaning out the clutter.  There is nothing like the death of a loved one – and the necessity to sort through THEIR belongings and decide what to keep – to motivate one to clean out his/her own “stuff!”  So as I have been spending a good deal of time sorting through my mother’s things and deciding what is important to me to keep – and what to pass on for someone else to sort – I have come to some (for me) stark realizations.

Here’s the first one…anything can become an idol…including our “stuff!”  We hang onto all sorts of things and place far too much importance on them for what are sometimes irrational reasons.  Realizing this has helped me to let go of Valentines and birthday cards from my toddler years…old newspaper clippings…and more.  Innovations like scanners and digital cameras that can preserve an image of some of the more historical and sentimental pieces has revolutionized this process – and helped me to let go of a lot of things I would otherwise cling to as a “treasure” with which I could not part.

Additionally, I’ve had to ask myself…”Will I really use this?  Will I read this book, or will it collect dust on my shelf?  Could someone else enjoy this sheet music that I have no interest in – other than the fact that it belonged to my family?”  If the answer is negative in any way, the items have to go!  A dear friend who has “inherited” in recent years made the comment that [paraphrased] “My house is filled with the past rather than the future.”  And the past – or relics from it – can also become our “idol.”

We are not to worship the belongings of others…and as I am learning, the memories such items evoke are still there, even when the “treasure” has been discarded.  This is not disrespectful to the person who cherished or accumulated these things.  And if the truth be told…many of the items I have sorted through lately were buried like a time capsule for 50 years or more – and nobody had given them a second thought!  So why are they suddenly so important again?  Let’s enjoy the memory…snap a photo or two – or make a scanned image – then let it go!

I come from a long line of certified pack rats!  If you could have seen my maternal grandfather’s desk (and I literally mean, if you could have SEEN it!) – then my mother’s office – you would understand why Mother always said that my messy desk “is so neat and organized!” (It’s not!)  So I totally get the part of this passage about “curses” continuing to future generations!

What does this mean for us in a Spiritual context?  Again, I must say…ANYTHING can become an idol.  It can be money, possessions, work, another person, our hobby…or even our STUFF and that of other people who are/were significant to us!  We get so caught up in all of these things – and the “idol worship” – that we lose focus on God.  My Jesus Calling* entry for today talked about seeking Jesus – and how He runs after those who run after Him. Let’s be honest…if we are busy pursuing other “idols,” there won’t be time and energy – much less a desire – to run after God.

When we put our relationship with Jesus Christ first – and seek His will and word for our lives, other things fall into place.  The priorities tend to order themselves properly – and we have time for work, relationships, hobbies, and even relaxation.  It becomes apparent what clutter and “junk” are necessary and significant – and what needs to find a new home (maybe even the dumpster!). 

As you go about your day, seek Jesus at every turn.  Talk to Him…ask Him if you are on the right course.  Make your conversation/relationship with Jesus the most important part of your day, and everything else will come into focus with amazing clarity.  Figure out what you have made into an idol…and ask God to help you re-align your priorities.  Jesus seeks those who seek Him and worship HIM above all else.  Are YOU one of those?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2016 Debbie Robus

*www.JesusCalling.com

Daily Devotional for November 2, 2015

Luke 12:32-34
Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.

“Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. 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.

Each day, I get an e-mail notice from an online clearinghouse called Zulily.  This is somewhat like an “Overstock.com” site for (supposed) “good deals” on clothing, toys, and more.  The e-mail message showcases different brands each day.  Today, one of them was for a fashion design company that sells clothing, purses and shoes.  For the price of a bunk bed set with mattresses for Timothy and Nathan, I could purchase a designer purse!  Which do you think would be high on my list?

We could go to Ghana and visit Kodjo, the boy we have sponsored through Compassion, International for ten years and counting.  We could spend a whole day with him!  The cost of the trip for each of us would total about $8000.  For that amount, we could sponsor TWENTY-TWO needy children for a year and provide them with the opportunity to attend school…uniforms…food and health care…school supplies…the opportunity to learn about Jesus, and more.  As much as I would love to meet Kodjo and give him a big ole hug, I cannot justify this.  To do so would be to store my treasure in momentary pleasure rather than doing big things for God.

I saw an essay on what to expect when rearing boys, and one of the points was that a whole lot of fancy, expensive toys are unnecessary.  Just give a boy a stick, some dirt and the outdoors, and he is a happy camper!  And I have to agree.  I’ve watched our children get as excited – or more – over the box and wrapping paper that surrounded a gift than they were about the actual contents.  We play music on make-believe “drums” that are really a set of nested metal tins – or a recycled oatmeal box.  We have lots of second-hand toys and repurposed items that fill our toy baskets…and nobody cares!

There are so many opportunities each and every day to get it right…to line up our priorities with God’s.  But instead, we worry about whether our purse and shoes look right with our outfit…or whether our “adopted son or daughter” will know that we love them and care about them if we don’t hug them in person.  We stress over appearances on countless levels…and we “store up treasure” in all the wrong places.  We think we have to have brand-new everything, when repurposed/refreshed items are often just as good – and leave us with enough money to minister to the truly needy.

We justify $100+ tickets to concerts and sporting events and “cannot afford” to contribute to a local fundraiser to help needy families during the holidays.  Candidates spend millions of dollars for a chance to be the new leader of the free world – or a lawmaker in some capacity - while promising to enact legislation to create jobs, improve health care coverage and care for the elderly and those in low-income brackets.  We dress up and attend “charity fundraisers” with our friends, spending far more on our outfits, food, and party itself than we actually raise for those in need!  Do you see the irony?

Don’t misunderstand me…God has not called us to be martyrs…to never have any fun or spend any time or money on ourselves. There is nothing wrong with making an effort to look nice and be stylish.  But God has commanded that we listen to Him and serve when and where He directs…to make His ministries our top priority…and think a little more infrequently about our own desires.  God has called us to worry a little less about what others think of us in terms of possessions and appearances – and to care more about what they see us do in His name.

We all can do better in this area.  This passage is about a whole lot more than dollars and cents…Jesus is talking about how we serve as His disciples with everything we’ve got!  This is the day to “get over yourself” and start serving…to “put your money where your mouth is” with regards to your Christian faith and how you spend your time, talents and resources…to really serve God first, and yourself second. 

This is the day that we need to quit worrying so much about what others think - and concentrate on God’s opinion!  His is the only one that truly matters.  So what do you say?  Ready…set…GO!

©2015 Debbie Robus

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 22, 2015

Leviticus 19:19-10
“‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God.'"

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

More than once, I’ve observed a child play with more toys than he/she could possibly use.  But if you asked him/her, “Are you using that?” or “Are you about done with ABC?”…the child would say, “I need ALL of this!”  When kids are little, we try to teach them not to “hog” all of the toys…to leave something for their siblings, friends, or classmates.  But somehow, as we grow up, this concept often flies right out the window.  We pretty much want it all – even the excess – and we’ll do just about anything to make that happen! 

We want all of our money…we don’t want to share any with the poor or needy, and we grumble about paying taxes and charitable giving.  Woe to the person who asks us for a few bucks to help XYZ!  We pile our plates high with food and think nothing of leaving half of it to be thrown out…but we give little or no thought to feeding the hungry among us.

We are territorial…it is our land…our “stuff”…our country…and we don’t want to share even a postage-stamp-sized corner of it with anyone else!  Even worse is how greedy and selfish we are with our church.  We don’t want anyone moving in on our territory there, either…from our “positions” of leadership and participation to our friendships with fellow members.  We greet those we know and love on Sunday mornings…and have nothing left for a stranger or visitor.

There is a lot of “meat” in this scripture passage from Leviticus about how we operate in greed and selfishness…often without even thinking.  Let’s take some time today to examine our hearts and minds and see where we operate in excess.  Ask yourself where you might be stockpiling more than you need with no consideration of the person who could really use it…everything from tangible possessions to a friendly smile. 

God has blessed us with such abundance.  There is no need to be stingy!  How we treat these gifts speaks volumes about our faith.  This greatly defines our relationship with God and demonstrates our confidence that His love is for EVERYONE…and that He will always meet our every need. 

What are your attitudes and behaviors saying to others – and to God – about your Christian faith?  Are you ready to leave some of the “gleanings of your harvest” for someone else?  Don't you think it's time you did?

©2015 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for October 19, 2013

Romans 6:22-23
But now that you’ve found you don’t have to listen to sin tell you what to do, and have discovered the delight of listening to God telling you, what a surprise! A whole, healed, put-together life right now, with more and more of life on the way! Work hard for sin your whole life and your pension is death. But God’s gift is real life, eternal life, delivered by Jesus, our Master.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
Someone posted a link on Facebook to a short video by Phil Robertson, creator of Duck Commander – now known by most via A&E’s television show, “Duck Dynasty”.  If you have a chance, go to http://vimeo.com/75972095 and view this video for yourself.  Robertson tells of the day when he answered his own phone, and the caller said he wanted to order a duck call.  The conversation went something like this…
 
The customer said he needed to order a duck call.  Robertson asked the guy, “Okay...What do you need?”  Phil says, “In process of guy ordering the duck call, he used God's name in vain about five times... just while ordering a duck call.”  He asked the man…”Why would you keep using God's name to curse this, that and the other... He's the only one who can save you from death... why invoke His name like that?”  There was silence.
 
The man ordered his duck call and hung up… then about 10 minutes later, he called back and told Robertson that he had never considered this question before… and he asked if he could come over and visit.  A week later, Robertson received a visit from this man and a friend, and the conversation continued. Robertson implies that the visit ended with an impromptu baptism in a nearby river.  Several years later, Robertson was speaking at an event in Alabama, where he discovered that this customer was now a leader in the church that was serving as hosts.
 
The point of the video is that Robertson used his marketplace as a ministry.  If you know anything at all about the Robertson family and “Duck Dynasty”, you know that they truly have built an empire.  They have catapulted a simple idea into a multi-million-dollar enterprise, and the “Duck Dynasty” brand is now on everything from books, videos, clothing and fleece throws… to jewelry and yes - duck calls!  There is even a “Duck Dynasty” department at Wal-Mart!  Still, the Robertsons make frequent appearances across the country to share the gospel of Jesus Christ.  From all accounts, they are the “real deal” for Jesus…and their “wealth” in Him far outweighs any monetary gain or fame they might have acquired.
 
“But I won’t ever be rich and famous like the Robertsons,” you may be thinking.  “I won’t ever have the kind of national platform that they have… much less their wealth.”  And you might be right!  But don’t miss this… you are every bit as affluent as any one of the Robertsons when it comes to the riches of salvation!  You can share in God’s gift equally with anybody else on the planet!  And as someone who enjoys the “put-together life” in Christ, you have the ability to accomplish as much – or more - for the Kingdom of heaven as Phil Robertson and his family members!
 
But here’s the kicker… you have to choose to work hard for God’s real life instead of the life of sin… AND… you have to make a conscious effort to “share the wealth” with others. If you do this, you will be as “rich and famous” in God’s eyes as any of the “Duck Dynasty” clan ever thought about being.  You will be wealthy and influential in a way that truly matters.  If you turn every aspect of your life into a mission field, you won’t be able to spend all that God gives you!  But the choice is totally yours.  In the words of Phil Robertson, will you choose to be “Happy! Happy! Happy!” for Jesus?  Or will you end up being just another “dead duck”?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for August 3, 2013

Matthew 6:25-34
I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing?  Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?
 
Can worry make you live longer? Why worry about clothes? Look how the wild flowers grow. They don’t work hard to make their clothes.  But I tell you that Solomon with all his wealth wasn’t as well clothed as one of them. God gives such beauty to everything that grows in the fields, even though it is here today and thrown into a fire tomorrow. He will surely do even more for you! Why do you have such little faith?
 
Don’t worry and ask yourselves, “Will we have anything to eat? Will we have anything to drink? Will we have any clothes to wear?”  Only people who don’t know God are always worrying about such things. Your Father in heaven knows that you need all of these.  But more than anything else, put God’s work first and do what he wants. Then the other things will be yours as well.
 
Don’t worry about tomorrow. It will take care of itself. You have enough to worry about today.
 
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
 
This is “tax-free” weekend in Arkansas.  For two days, parents can shop for back-to-school clothes and supplies and the state sales tax will be waived on certain purchases.  This includes clothing selling for up to $100 per item, and purses and accessories retailing for up to $50 per item.  My question is… “Do school-aged children really need $50 purses and clothing items that are $100 each?”  Maybe I am just out of touch with the times… but I don’t pay this much for my own clothing and accessories.  My experience with children and teenagers has taught me that most will not take care of said items well enough to merit these prices!  I am sure some of my nieces, nephews and young friends – and maybe even you – would disagree… and that’s your business.  But I honestly believe we have become so “appearance/label conscious” in this society that we have lost touch with reality in many instances.
 
As someone who sews, I’ve taken a look at high-priced items of clothing and discovered that many are poorly made.  Materials are thin and the dyes fade quickly…the stitching is often less than secure and subject to raveling… and the quality just doesn’t match the price.  And at the end of the day… are you really happier or more comfortable in a nearly $100 pair of designer jeans than a $20 pair of Levis from Wal-Mart – or even a good clean $2 pair from the local thrift store?  Does that tee-shirt from the high end apparel shop clothe you better than one from a familiar name-brand department store?  Is a $10 gourmet hamburger truly tastier and more filling than a $3-$5 Whopper® meal from Burger King?  Our pastor shared with us recently that $10 can feed a family of four for ONE WEEK in Costa Rica.  How far can you stretch $10?  My point is this…we all tend to be far too concerned with things that don’t last and won’t bring us peace and happiness.
 
Before my husband and I married, we planned to attend college at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, where he was already a student.  I would major in Elementary Education there… he would finish a degree in Accounting.  Then he took a course in statistics and realized that sitting behind a desk crunching numbers did not interest him as much as being outdoors in nature. After much prayerful consideration, he decided to transfer to Arkansas Tech University and pursue a degree in Park Administration.
 
We had all of the paper work complete for my enrollment at UALR.  We were already looking for housing and making plans.  In a few short months, we would be married, so changing locations – and universities – was daunting at this juncture.  But my husband-to-be did not come to this decision lightly, and one day he opened the Gideon Bible he had been given his freshman year of college and showed me this passage from Matthew 6.  He explained that a career in the “Parks and Rec” field might never be as lucrative as one in accounting… that park rangers and school teachers might only “make ends meet” on comparatively small salaries.  But he assured me that he would be much happier as a park ranger than an accountant… and that as long as we were together, “things” really didn’t matter.  With God's help, we would make it work.
 
In that instant, I realized that I had the most important gift… someone who loved me – and not my possessions or my “earned income potential”.  I began a mantra that I have repeated to my husband for nearly 40 years now… “I’d live in a pup tent, as long as you are with me.”  And we have never lacked for anything.
 
On a far grander scale, we have a similar – yet greater – Gift.  We have Someone who loves us… not for what we have or how we look… not for how we dress or whether we dine on gourmet meals and live in mansions.  We have a God who loves us and wants to be with us… because of who we are – not what we have.  And He is willing to see that all of our needs are met, just so we can be together.  God really doesn’t care whether you carry a $50 purse or stuff your money into your pocket.  He is not the least bit interested in whether your jeans have a designer label or came from the thrift store.  What God desires is your obedience… your trust… and your devotion.  He will handle the rest.  You may not have much… but you will always have enough. This should give each of us a tremendous sense of peace!
 
If you shop this weekend, I hope you will think about what really matters… spend your “tax-free” money wisely… and make every dollar count.  Start learning to focus on your relationship with God… and with others.  Make God’s work your top priority.  Evangelist Joyce Meyer tells of standing in front of the mirror one Sunday morning… stewing about which outfit to wear and what accessories to add.  She clearly heard God say, “Oh for goodness’ sake, Joyce… just put on something and GO!”  It’s time for us to do the same.  We’ve kept God waiting long enough!  Won’t you set your worries aside and get busy doing His work?  God may never ask you to “live in a pup tent,” but if He did… how would you respond?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus