October 3 ~ Matthew 11:10-11
For John is the man mentioned in
the Scriptures—a messenger to precede me, to announce my coming, and
prepare people to receive me.
“Truly, of all men ever born, none
shines more brightly than John the Baptist. And yet, even the lesser
lights in the Kingdom of Heaven will be greater than he is!
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
We seem to be wired to be
“awestruck” by people who have public recognition…across all platforms.
And while I do not mean any disrespect, they are truly just regular
folk like you and me. I appreciate the work that people like Billy
Graham, Mother Teresa, and Pope Francis have done to further God’s
kingdom. But I also know some ordinary, everyday people who are quietly
doing incredible work every single day to disciple and minister to
others in the name of Jesus.
My own grandmother was about as
plain and simple as they come. She didn’t live in a fancy house…she
drove an Army-green 1965 Chevy Impala that resembled a tank. She made
most of her own clothing and did not have expensive jewelry – or
anything else of much monetary value. But she was ready and willing to
share everything she had with others. Her first question to a stranger
was usually, “Where do y’all go to church?” And quite often, she
followed that with an invitation to join her for a meal.
My
grandmother was not perfect. She could spit out some real zingers from
time to time…and her opinions had little to no filter. You knew where
you stood with her at all times. She could give you life advice as
quickly and easily as she told you how to give your heart to Jesus and
get to heaven! And I honestly believe that her “mansion” there is
probably bigger than many…certainly as fine as that of many “women of
the Bible” – and the likes of Mother Teresa and John Wesley! She
continually heralded Jesus to any and all she met, through word and
deed.
What does this all mean for us? You and I are just as
precious and important to Jesus as John the Baptist…maybe even more! I
don’t mean that to sound arrogant or disrespectful…but God sent John to
herald Jesus’ coming. John was physically WITH Jesus…he saw firsthand
who Jesus was – and why God sent Him. You and I do not have that
luxury…yet we have our own missions to accomplish based on sheer faith.
And as we obediently do so, we are building “equity” in our heavenly
mansion.
Every word we speak…every gesture of kindness…every
time we speak the name of Jesus to another – or demonstrate His power,
strength, love, grace, kindness, mercy, compassion and forgiveness to
someone – we are ensuring that our light will shine brightly in Heaven.
God notes all that we do…nothing is wasted. As anointed and redeemed
believers in Jesus, the “bad” is forgiven and scattered “as far as East
is from West”…and the “good” things are noted for all Eternity.
It’s
not about who we are…what matters is WHOSE we are – and how we share
Jesus with others. At my grandmother’s funeral, I stated that I learned
a LOT from her in our 56 years together. SHE is my role model for
ministering to others in Jesus’ name…and I hope that someday, we are
“next-door-neighbors” in heaven…right down the street from John the
Baptist! My prayer is that your house would be in our “neighborhood,”
too. Will we see you there?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label who we are in Christ. Show all posts
Showing posts with label who we are in Christ. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for August 30, 2016
John 18:33-37
Meanwhile, the apostles were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”
Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”
“My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”
Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”
Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
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.
Last night, we had a birthday dinner for my niece, Jasmine. Timothy was running around in a “dress-up” costume, pretending to be some imaginary character. He said, “You can call me Dr. Evil…or just ‘E’…but don’t call me XYZ (I cannot remember the other name).” I’ll be honest, I had no clue who he was…or whether he was really “evil” - or a good guy. And he did little to give me any insight beyond what names I should use to address him.
Who are you? Who do people think you are? Do they know you by the reputation others have assigned to you…and is it a favorable one? Are you known as a “good person” or someone who is “nice”? Conversely, have others heard that you are NOT a decent person…that you are unkind, arrogant, pretentious, judgmental, dishonest, or self-serving - and not to be trusted? Have people formed opinions about you based on your demeanor – and have these sometimes been unfair or inaccurate? Do others have any CLUE that you are a follower of Jesus?
Here’s the thing…people ARE watching – and forming instant opinions. Right or wrong, we all pay attention the opinions of others…and sometimes, these color OUR thoughts. Each of us has a set of criteria by which we evaluate others…and quite often, there is no room on this list for actual truth. I think on some level, Pilate knew who Jesus really was…but he would not allow himself to go against the opinion of others and stand up for the truth. There was no attempt by Jesus to deceive…He never hides the truth of Who He is – or His message. But I think that there are times when we “put on a costume,” so to speak…and show others who we want them to see, rather than who we truly are – much less who Christ calls us to be!
We downplay – or even belie – our faith in Jesus in favor of a more popular demeanor and stance. We hide the truth of Christ. We laugh at the offensive joke… show up where we know we shouldn’t…look the other way when we know something wrong is being said or done - and even step over others to make ourselves look better. We gossip, judge, discriminate, glorify people and actions that are anything BUT worthy of any credit or recognition. And worst of all…we do a lot of these things while calling ourselves Christians and claiming the name of Jesus!
We are not seven-year-olds in a costume pretending to be some imaginary character. Many of us are saved and sanctified believers who are supposed to be Disciples of Christ who share His truth with others. We are supposed to be transparent, unabashed proclaimers of Jesus’ message who leave no question about Who we serve…representatives of the King who doesn’t belong to this world but came to save it for God’s Heavenly Kingdom. People should be able to recognize us readily as Christians…as followers of Christ who know His voice - and willingly obey Him.
Who ARE you…and who do others think you are? Are you in need of an “identity makeover?” Will this be the day that you take off your “dress-up costume” and ask God to help you become the person He designed - and Christ redeemed? Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Meanwhile, the apostles were meeting regularly at the Temple in the area known as Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”
Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”
“My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”
Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”
Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
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.
Last night, we had a birthday dinner for my niece, Jasmine. Timothy was running around in a “dress-up” costume, pretending to be some imaginary character. He said, “You can call me Dr. Evil…or just ‘E’…but don’t call me XYZ (I cannot remember the other name).” I’ll be honest, I had no clue who he was…or whether he was really “evil” - or a good guy. And he did little to give me any insight beyond what names I should use to address him.
Who are you? Who do people think you are? Do they know you by the reputation others have assigned to you…and is it a favorable one? Are you known as a “good person” or someone who is “nice”? Conversely, have others heard that you are NOT a decent person…that you are unkind, arrogant, pretentious, judgmental, dishonest, or self-serving - and not to be trusted? Have people formed opinions about you based on your demeanor – and have these sometimes been unfair or inaccurate? Do others have any CLUE that you are a follower of Jesus?
Here’s the thing…people ARE watching – and forming instant opinions. Right or wrong, we all pay attention the opinions of others…and sometimes, these color OUR thoughts. Each of us has a set of criteria by which we evaluate others…and quite often, there is no room on this list for actual truth. I think on some level, Pilate knew who Jesus really was…but he would not allow himself to go against the opinion of others and stand up for the truth. There was no attempt by Jesus to deceive…He never hides the truth of Who He is – or His message. But I think that there are times when we “put on a costume,” so to speak…and show others who we want them to see, rather than who we truly are – much less who Christ calls us to be!
We downplay – or even belie – our faith in Jesus in favor of a more popular demeanor and stance. We hide the truth of Christ. We laugh at the offensive joke… show up where we know we shouldn’t…look the other way when we know something wrong is being said or done - and even step over others to make ourselves look better. We gossip, judge, discriminate, glorify people and actions that are anything BUT worthy of any credit or recognition. And worst of all…we do a lot of these things while calling ourselves Christians and claiming the name of Jesus!
We are not seven-year-olds in a costume pretending to be some imaginary character. Many of us are saved and sanctified believers who are supposed to be Disciples of Christ who share His truth with others. We are supposed to be transparent, unabashed proclaimers of Jesus’ message who leave no question about Who we serve…representatives of the King who doesn’t belong to this world but came to save it for God’s Heavenly Kingdom. People should be able to recognize us readily as Christians…as followers of Christ who know His voice - and willingly obey Him.
Who ARE you…and who do others think you are? Are you in need of an “identity makeover?” Will this be the day that you take off your “dress-up costume” and ask God to help you become the person He designed - and Christ redeemed? Don’t you think it should be?
©2016 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 26, 2015
Colossians 3:8-10
But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.
Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There was a time not so long ago when I could hardly bear to look at pictures of myself as a younger woman. I saw the “girl” in photos with long blond hair, a slender figure and tanned skin, and I wondered, “What in the world happened?!” Despite Greg’s best efforts to assure me that this 58-year-old version of “me” is totally fine, these pictures made me a little sad.
But I have come to terms with embracing the young woman in those pictures…and also the “older model” in more recent ones. Because you see, I hope that the woman I am today is more and more in step with who Jesus wants me to be. And that is the goal – or at least, it should be!
The more I know about Jesus – and the more I KNOW Him…the more I want to let go of things like judgment, anger, jealousy, gossip, bad attitudes, frustration, impatience, cynicism, skepticism, discrimination, and more…and emulate Him as closely as possible. I want to focus on finding joy in Him…trusting in His promises…and in the delight of sharing His message with others. I understand that I will miss the mark often…probably daily! But I keep trying!
There are still traces of the young woman in this older model…but I hope they are the better qualities! I am grateful that God has blessed me with good health and energy, so that I can be the wife, daughter, aunt, sister and friend that He has called me to be. I am thankful for opportunities to serve Him – at home, in my church and community…and in the world at large. I pray that He will continue to work in me so that I am constantly evolving and changing…for the better.
What about you? Are you stuck in a rut…still mired in the same ways and habits of your old, sinful life? Or have you fully committed to becoming a new creature in Christ? Have you embraced who Jesus is calling you to be…and are you working becoming that person? Are you making every effort to know Jesus better and to operate under the guidance of His Holy Spirit? Do you like who you are today…and more importantly, does Jesus like this “model” of you? Will this be the day that you let go of old ways and habits and go “all in” for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
But now you must stop doing such things. You must quit being angry, hateful, and evil. You must no longer say insulting or cruel things about others. And stop lying to each other. You have given up your old way of life with its habits.
Each of you is now a new person. You are becoming more and more like your Creator, and you will understand him better.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
There was a time not so long ago when I could hardly bear to look at pictures of myself as a younger woman. I saw the “girl” in photos with long blond hair, a slender figure and tanned skin, and I wondered, “What in the world happened?!” Despite Greg’s best efforts to assure me that this 58-year-old version of “me” is totally fine, these pictures made me a little sad.
But I have come to terms with embracing the young woman in those pictures…and also the “older model” in more recent ones. Because you see, I hope that the woman I am today is more and more in step with who Jesus wants me to be. And that is the goal – or at least, it should be!
The more I know about Jesus – and the more I KNOW Him…the more I want to let go of things like judgment, anger, jealousy, gossip, bad attitudes, frustration, impatience, cynicism, skepticism, discrimination, and more…and emulate Him as closely as possible. I want to focus on finding joy in Him…trusting in His promises…and in the delight of sharing His message with others. I understand that I will miss the mark often…probably daily! But I keep trying!
There are still traces of the young woman in this older model…but I hope they are the better qualities! I am grateful that God has blessed me with good health and energy, so that I can be the wife, daughter, aunt, sister and friend that He has called me to be. I am thankful for opportunities to serve Him – at home, in my church and community…and in the world at large. I pray that He will continue to work in me so that I am constantly evolving and changing…for the better.
What about you? Are you stuck in a rut…still mired in the same ways and habits of your old, sinful life? Or have you fully committed to becoming a new creature in Christ? Have you embraced who Jesus is calling you to be…and are you working becoming that person? Are you making every effort to know Jesus better and to operate under the guidance of His Holy Spirit? Do you like who you are today…and more importantly, does Jesus like this “model” of you? Will this be the day that you let go of old ways and habits and go “all in” for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2015 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 9, 2014
Romans 15:13
I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was reading some Beth Moore devotionals today, and she talked about living successfully versus living victoriously. Moore pointed out that many people manage to skate through life relatively unscathed…to be what most consider “successful”. They appear to have a great life…do well in business, live comfortably, and have and do all of the things we associate with “success”. Often, these folks have managed somehow to avoid very much conflict or struggle in their lives. But just because these people have glided along pretty smoothly does not mean that they have lived victoriously.
What’s the difference? A victorious person is one who has grabbed hold of the promises of God and held them tightly, even when “the chips were down”. This person trusts that God is in control, no matter what. He/she believes God when He says in His word that we are important to Him…precious treasures for whom He wants only the best. Regardless of what is happening in the lives of people who live victoriously, they are filled with complete happiness and peace through Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that victorious people are never sad…that they never have bills to pay – or get into debt…lose a job…get sick…grieve…or have struggles or tragedies in their lives? Absolutely not! But because they are filled with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit, victorious people know that they can handle whatever comes their way. God understands grief and suffering. He knows that when we are sick or injured, we are not necessarily at our best. He knows that people lose jobs and struggle to pay bills. He feels our pain when relationships sour and people frustrate or dishearten us. But He also offers us the hope of a better day…and those who trust Him to deliver this are never disappointed.
Not all successful people are victorious…but those who are filled with hope in Jesus are both! Where are you in this picture? Where would you like to be? Anyone who puts his/her hope and trust in the LORD…and truly internalizes the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish all things in and through them…will enjoy the complete happiness, peace and rest of a victorious life. And this is the ultimate example of success…don’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I pray that God, who gives hope, will bless you with complete happiness and peace because of your faith. And may the power of the Holy Spirit fill you with hope.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was reading some Beth Moore devotionals today, and she talked about living successfully versus living victoriously. Moore pointed out that many people manage to skate through life relatively unscathed…to be what most consider “successful”. They appear to have a great life…do well in business, live comfortably, and have and do all of the things we associate with “success”. Often, these folks have managed somehow to avoid very much conflict or struggle in their lives. But just because these people have glided along pretty smoothly does not mean that they have lived victoriously.
What’s the difference? A victorious person is one who has grabbed hold of the promises of God and held them tightly, even when “the chips were down”. This person trusts that God is in control, no matter what. He/she believes God when He says in His word that we are important to Him…precious treasures for whom He wants only the best. Regardless of what is happening in the lives of people who live victoriously, they are filled with complete happiness and peace through Jesus Christ.
Does this mean that victorious people are never sad…that they never have bills to pay – or get into debt…lose a job…get sick…grieve…or have struggles or tragedies in their lives? Absolutely not! But because they are filled with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit, victorious people know that they can handle whatever comes their way. God understands grief and suffering. He knows that when we are sick or injured, we are not necessarily at our best. He knows that people lose jobs and struggle to pay bills. He feels our pain when relationships sour and people frustrate or dishearten us. But He also offers us the hope of a better day…and those who trust Him to deliver this are never disappointed.
Not all successful people are victorious…but those who are filled with hope in Jesus are both! Where are you in this picture? Where would you like to be? Anyone who puts his/her hope and trust in the LORD…and truly internalizes the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish all things in and through them…will enjoy the complete happiness, peace and rest of a victorious life. And this is the ultimate example of success…don’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 8, 2013
John 4:13-14
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
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.
I know that I’ve been talking for days now about the winter storm we’ve been having… but it’s a pretty big deal when your daytime high temperatures in central Arkansas for the first week of December are in the low to mid-twenties. It’s an even bigger deal when the night-time lows dip into the teens and single digits! So when I tell you it’s cold and icy here… baby, it’s cold and icy here!
A friend of ours posted a photo of her husband putting out water for the birds in their yard. Greg decided that our songbirds could probably use a drink as well… everything in sight is frozen solid as a rock! So he ventured out to the bird feeder and filled a 3-lb. plastic coffee can and a plastic lid from a large container with water. The birds flocked to these vessels and began to drink and splash. They were truly glad to have fresh water! Here’s the thing, though… that water froze pretty quickly. So Greg made more than one trip to the bird feeder yesterday to refresh the water supply for the birds.
Yes, we know that there are “heaters” you can purchase to keep the birds’ water from freezing. But we seldom have an outbreak of weather this cold for this long… and we have never gone so far as to purchase a “bird-bath heater”. If this weather trend continues into actual winter, we may have to re-think this! Meanwhile, our birds will have to make do with intermittent drinks as we manage to venture out into the cold and ice to replenish their supply.
Here’s the Good News… the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ never freezes or runs dry! We have ready access to an unending supply of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Even better, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience a continual fountain that flows from our heart and bubbles out like a freshwater spring. We can actually have more than we ever need… enough to share with everyone we encounter! This is far better than having a heater for the bird bath! Nothing compares to the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
What about you? Is your fountain flowing freely with the Living Water of Jesus? Or are you frozen… hard-hearted… or even altogether empty? The choice is totally yours. Jesus offers each of us hope, courage, confidence and joy through His Living Water. He gave His very life for ours so that we can spend Eternity with Him… and enjoy His blessings in the meantime. Are you living with hope and faith in His promises? Who supplies your “water” these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”
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.
I know that I’ve been talking for days now about the winter storm we’ve been having… but it’s a pretty big deal when your daytime high temperatures in central Arkansas for the first week of December are in the low to mid-twenties. It’s an even bigger deal when the night-time lows dip into the teens and single digits! So when I tell you it’s cold and icy here… baby, it’s cold and icy here!
A friend of ours posted a photo of her husband putting out water for the birds in their yard. Greg decided that our songbirds could probably use a drink as well… everything in sight is frozen solid as a rock! So he ventured out to the bird feeder and filled a 3-lb. plastic coffee can and a plastic lid from a large container with water. The birds flocked to these vessels and began to drink and splash. They were truly glad to have fresh water! Here’s the thing, though… that water froze pretty quickly. So Greg made more than one trip to the bird feeder yesterday to refresh the water supply for the birds.
Yes, we know that there are “heaters” you can purchase to keep the birds’ water from freezing. But we seldom have an outbreak of weather this cold for this long… and we have never gone so far as to purchase a “bird-bath heater”. If this weather trend continues into actual winter, we may have to re-think this! Meanwhile, our birds will have to make do with intermittent drinks as we manage to venture out into the cold and ice to replenish their supply.
Here’s the Good News… the “Living Water” of Jesus Christ never freezes or runs dry! We have ready access to an unending supply of His love, grace, mercy and forgiveness. Even better, through the Holy Spirit, we can experience a continual fountain that flows from our heart and bubbles out like a freshwater spring. We can actually have more than we ever need… enough to share with everyone we encounter! This is far better than having a heater for the bird bath! Nothing compares to the Living Water of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!
What about you? Is your fountain flowing freely with the Living Water of Jesus? Or are you frozen… hard-hearted… or even altogether empty? The choice is totally yours. Jesus offers each of us hope, courage, confidence and joy through His Living Water. He gave His very life for ours so that we can spend Eternity with Him… and enjoy His blessings in the meantime. Are you living with hope and faith in His promises? Who supplies your “water” these days?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 30, 2013
Hebrews 10:22-25
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Every year of our 39+-year marriage – except maybe two of them – we’ve decorated our house for Christmas. One year I had surgery right before Thanksgiving, and I don’t think we even put up a tree. Another year, we were moving, and everything was in boxes. But aside from that, I think we have put up at least a small tree and gotten out some lights and decorations every single year… even in years when we truly weren’t in the mood.
I can tell you… decorating for Christmas is a lot of work… especially at our house! (HUGE nod to Greg for carrying most of the heavy boxes and our big tree down the stairs!) But it is also an act of love… for each other and for others who will visit our home this holiday season. Call it a way of making ourselves “presentable inside and out”…because there is a whole lot more going on with Christmas decorating and festivities than putting up a tree and getting out some decorations.
My friend John Birdsong noted last night how he and his family had spent the day decorating… and reminiscing. Each decoration held some memory or personal meaning for them. His wife Belinda - a school teacher far longer than I was - hung ornaments she had been given by former students. They put out nativities that they had purchased when the kids were little. And they laughed and smiled and remembered the hows/wheres/whens of these precious mementos that warm their home and encourage love and goodwill. And we’ve been doing the same thing.
There are sweet memories attached to many of our pieces. And even some of the newer ones are taking on a special meaning. As I sat out an inexpensive wooden snowman yesterday, I remembered how Timothy has loved to play with it these last few Christmases. It was one of several decorations that I knew he couldn’t break and would enjoy, so I set them on a low shelf for him to reach. I hung plastic and non-breakable ornaments on a little fiber-optic tree that twinkles and blinks. I picked it up at an estate sale for a dollar… so it’s nothing special. But when I remember how it makes the children’s eyes dance with delight, that tree is worth 100 times what I paid - or more.
There are ornaments on our tree that my Mam-ma Polly made – her felt birds, quilted “pillows” made from Santa faces I cross-stitched the Christmas my grandparents’ house burned, and a crocheted “doily” ornament that holds a picture of my grandparents and my dad when he was about four or five. There are nativities I have collected over the years... several given to me by loved ones, and others purchased at estate sales of friends I knew and loved. There is the trunk that belonged to Greg’s grandfather… laden with Christmas needlework I have done, vintage Santas, and a little ceramic Christmas tree that twinkles in the corner. And before Christmas Eve, Greg will put out twinkling “reindeer” in the front yard… a gift to me one Christmas - now a promise to the children that the reindeer who “went back to the North Pole” would return again at Christmas time. He’ll also set out a large plywood Santa that his dad cut out for us more than two decades ago. We painted the features to create a replica of the Santa that stood in the Robus family’s yard when Greg was a child.
I could continue my description of holiday traditions that we will continue. We could also just say, “Forget it!” and not do them! But Christmas is the season of hope… and in that spirit, we decorate and celebrate all over again each year. As we enter into the days of Advent, hear this message…Christmas is not the end, but the beginning… the reminder many of us need to keep putting one foot ahead of the other and moving forward. We were given a tremendous gift when Jesus Christ was born. While the true meaning of His life on earth is revealed in the story of Easter and His resurrection…it starts with His birth. God’s gift of Jesus on that starry night represents the promise of eternal salvation. That’s enough to keep me going… wouldn’t you agree?
Moreover, we have an incredible opportunity in the coming days to practice demonstrating Christ’s love to others… being the “real deal” for Jesus inside and out…worshipping together… and being inventive as we encourage others and help them. Then we can spend the other eleven months of the year putting our “practice” to good use. Maybe… just maybe… we can keep a spirit of hope in Jesus Christ alive past our earthly “Big Day”! Because you see… this is not where the story ends… it’s where it begins. The ultimate BIG DAY still lies ahead… when we meet Jesus face-to-face and spend the rest of eternity with Him.
So let’s decorate… let’s celebrate… let’s encourage and assist and demonstrate Christ’s love with gusto! Let’s operate in hope on the inside and outside… and make it as natural to our lives as breathing. Pour a cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea…put on your Christmas music…and get busy spreading hope in Jesus Christ as you “decorate” your life for the BIG DAY! He is coming… will you be ready?
©2013 Debbie Robus
So let’s do it—full of belief, confident that we’re presentable inside and out. Let’s keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps his word. Let’s see how inventive we can be in encouraging love and helping out, not avoiding worshiping together as some do but spurring each other on, especially as we see the big Day approaching.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. All rights reserved.
Every year of our 39+-year marriage – except maybe two of them – we’ve decorated our house for Christmas. One year I had surgery right before Thanksgiving, and I don’t think we even put up a tree. Another year, we were moving, and everything was in boxes. But aside from that, I think we have put up at least a small tree and gotten out some lights and decorations every single year… even in years when we truly weren’t in the mood.
I can tell you… decorating for Christmas is a lot of work… especially at our house! (HUGE nod to Greg for carrying most of the heavy boxes and our big tree down the stairs!) But it is also an act of love… for each other and for others who will visit our home this holiday season. Call it a way of making ourselves “presentable inside and out”…because there is a whole lot more going on with Christmas decorating and festivities than putting up a tree and getting out some decorations.
My friend John Birdsong noted last night how he and his family had spent the day decorating… and reminiscing. Each decoration held some memory or personal meaning for them. His wife Belinda - a school teacher far longer than I was - hung ornaments she had been given by former students. They put out nativities that they had purchased when the kids were little. And they laughed and smiled and remembered the hows/wheres/whens of these precious mementos that warm their home and encourage love and goodwill. And we’ve been doing the same thing.
There are sweet memories attached to many of our pieces. And even some of the newer ones are taking on a special meaning. As I sat out an inexpensive wooden snowman yesterday, I remembered how Timothy has loved to play with it these last few Christmases. It was one of several decorations that I knew he couldn’t break and would enjoy, so I set them on a low shelf for him to reach. I hung plastic and non-breakable ornaments on a little fiber-optic tree that twinkles and blinks. I picked it up at an estate sale for a dollar… so it’s nothing special. But when I remember how it makes the children’s eyes dance with delight, that tree is worth 100 times what I paid - or more.
There are ornaments on our tree that my Mam-ma Polly made – her felt birds, quilted “pillows” made from Santa faces I cross-stitched the Christmas my grandparents’ house burned, and a crocheted “doily” ornament that holds a picture of my grandparents and my dad when he was about four or five. There are nativities I have collected over the years... several given to me by loved ones, and others purchased at estate sales of friends I knew and loved. There is the trunk that belonged to Greg’s grandfather… laden with Christmas needlework I have done, vintage Santas, and a little ceramic Christmas tree that twinkles in the corner. And before Christmas Eve, Greg will put out twinkling “reindeer” in the front yard… a gift to me one Christmas - now a promise to the children that the reindeer who “went back to the North Pole” would return again at Christmas time. He’ll also set out a large plywood Santa that his dad cut out for us more than two decades ago. We painted the features to create a replica of the Santa that stood in the Robus family’s yard when Greg was a child.
I could continue my description of holiday traditions that we will continue. We could also just say, “Forget it!” and not do them! But Christmas is the season of hope… and in that spirit, we decorate and celebrate all over again each year. As we enter into the days of Advent, hear this message…Christmas is not the end, but the beginning… the reminder many of us need to keep putting one foot ahead of the other and moving forward. We were given a tremendous gift when Jesus Christ was born. While the true meaning of His life on earth is revealed in the story of Easter and His resurrection…it starts with His birth. God’s gift of Jesus on that starry night represents the promise of eternal salvation. That’s enough to keep me going… wouldn’t you agree?
Moreover, we have an incredible opportunity in the coming days to practice demonstrating Christ’s love to others… being the “real deal” for Jesus inside and out…worshipping together… and being inventive as we encourage others and help them. Then we can spend the other eleven months of the year putting our “practice” to good use. Maybe… just maybe… we can keep a spirit of hope in Jesus Christ alive past our earthly “Big Day”! Because you see… this is not where the story ends… it’s where it begins. The ultimate BIG DAY still lies ahead… when we meet Jesus face-to-face and spend the rest of eternity with Him.
So let’s decorate… let’s celebrate… let’s encourage and assist and demonstrate Christ’s love with gusto! Let’s operate in hope on the inside and outside… and make it as natural to our lives as breathing. Pour a cup of hot cocoa or spiced tea…put on your Christmas music…and get busy spreading hope in Jesus Christ as you “decorate” your life for the BIG DAY! He is coming… will you be ready?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 22, 2013
Jude 1:3-4
Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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.
Over the weekend, Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, for disorderly conduct. Witherspoon’s husband, Jim Toth, was stopped for driving erratically, given a field sobriety test, and subsequently booked on DUI charges. Witherspoon would not stay in the car, as instructed by the police officer. She reportedly asked him, “Do you know my name? You are about to find out who I am!” Witherspoon has now apologized for her actions, saying in part… “I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many, and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police, and I'm very sorry for my behavior.”
We may not have been arrested for disorderly conduct or DUI, but we are all guilty of claiming entitlement at one time or another. Because of our accomplishments, our position, or our pedigree, we decide that our words and actions are above reproach. The other guy simply “has no idea who he/she is dealing with!” We shouldn’t have to wait in line, abide by certain rules or laws that were clearly created for “the other guy.” The concert tickets may have said “no cameras,” but this didn’t mean we couldn’t snap one picture with our phone! The city-wide alert may have said, “Everyone stay in your homes and lock your doors,” but one little peak outside won’t hurt! Curfews are for someone else... speed limits aren’t for “good drivers” like us… and it is understood that the sign on the door that said, “Don’t enter if you have flu-like symptoms” implies that “if you’re sick, but your family member is housed here, this doesn’t apply to you!”
Moreover, because you gave your heart to Jesus when you were twelve, you are “covered” forever. You are now free to do as you please without concern for repercussions. If anyone checks you on this, you can ask them, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” Of course, you realize I am being facetious! Just as claiming to be an Academy-Award-winning actress does not allow you to be disorderly and disrespectful to a police officer, being a born-again Christian does not entitle you to live as you please for the rest of your time on earth!
Jesus made an incredible sacrifice for us on the cross… one that entitles all who accept the gift of salvation to spend Eternity with Him in heaven. But too many of us forget what came after the cross! In essence, Jesus said, “I did this for you… now here’s what you need to do for Me in return.” He doesn’t ask much… just that we love Him with all our hearts, love others as we love ourselves, and spread His Good News with the world. Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus say, “I bought and paid for you on the cross… now go do as you please!”
I know you may be thinking that the Bible also doesn’t specifically say “Don’t drink and drive or exceed the speed limit… you are not entitled to special treatment… and the rules always apply to everyone.” But actually, it does. Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” He tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated. Jesus commands us to love Him with all our heart, mind, body and soul. If you “drill it down,” you would have to agree that being a born-again disciple of Christ entitles you to the Kingdom of heaven… but this does not put you above the rules and order of this earth!
I firmly believe that we who claim salvation through Jesus Christ are entitled… just not in the way you think! I believe that we have been freely given a Gift we cannot even comprehend, much less ever deserve. But with this endowment comes incredible responsibility. We must check our words and actions at all times and make sure they are 100% respectful to God. We must live in such a way that we truly can ask, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” – not to excuse our behavior… but rather, because we are glorifying His name.
How are you doing these days? Are you claiming the name of Jesus as your “excuse” – or as your heritage? Do others know who – and Whose – you are… for all the right reasons?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Dear friends, I had been eagerly planning to write to you about the salvation we all share. But now I find that I must write about something else, urging you to defend the faith that God has entrusted once for all time to his holy people. I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
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.
Over the weekend, Oscar-winning actress Reese Witherspoon was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia, for disorderly conduct. Witherspoon’s husband, Jim Toth, was stopped for driving erratically, given a field sobriety test, and subsequently booked on DUI charges. Witherspoon would not stay in the car, as instructed by the police officer. She reportedly asked him, “Do you know my name? You are about to find out who I am!” Witherspoon has now apologized for her actions, saying in part… “I do want to say, I clearly had one drink too many, and I am deeply embarrassed about the things I said. It was definitely a scary situation and I was frightened for my husband, but that is no excuse. I was disrespectful to the officer who was just doing his job. I have nothing but respect for the police, and I'm very sorry for my behavior.”
We may not have been arrested for disorderly conduct or DUI, but we are all guilty of claiming entitlement at one time or another. Because of our accomplishments, our position, or our pedigree, we decide that our words and actions are above reproach. The other guy simply “has no idea who he/she is dealing with!” We shouldn’t have to wait in line, abide by certain rules or laws that were clearly created for “the other guy.” The concert tickets may have said “no cameras,” but this didn’t mean we couldn’t snap one picture with our phone! The city-wide alert may have said, “Everyone stay in your homes and lock your doors,” but one little peak outside won’t hurt! Curfews are for someone else... speed limits aren’t for “good drivers” like us… and it is understood that the sign on the door that said, “Don’t enter if you have flu-like symptoms” implies that “if you’re sick, but your family member is housed here, this doesn’t apply to you!”
Moreover, because you gave your heart to Jesus when you were twelve, you are “covered” forever. You are now free to do as you please without concern for repercussions. If anyone checks you on this, you can ask them, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” Of course, you realize I am being facetious! Just as claiming to be an Academy-Award-winning actress does not allow you to be disorderly and disrespectful to a police officer, being a born-again Christian does not entitle you to live as you please for the rest of your time on earth!
Jesus made an incredible sacrifice for us on the cross… one that entitles all who accept the gift of salvation to spend Eternity with Him in heaven. But too many of us forget what came after the cross! In essence, Jesus said, “I did this for you… now here’s what you need to do for Me in return.” He doesn’t ask much… just that we love Him with all our hearts, love others as we love ourselves, and spread His Good News with the world. Nowhere in Scripture does Jesus say, “I bought and paid for you on the cross… now go do as you please!”
I know you may be thinking that the Bible also doesn’t specifically say “Don’t drink and drive or exceed the speed limit… you are not entitled to special treatment… and the rules always apply to everyone.” But actually, it does. Jesus says, “If you love Me, keep My commandments.” He tells us to treat others as we would like to be treated. Jesus commands us to love Him with all our heart, mind, body and soul. If you “drill it down,” you would have to agree that being a born-again disciple of Christ entitles you to the Kingdom of heaven… but this does not put you above the rules and order of this earth!
I firmly believe that we who claim salvation through Jesus Christ are entitled… just not in the way you think! I believe that we have been freely given a Gift we cannot even comprehend, much less ever deserve. But with this endowment comes incredible responsibility. We must check our words and actions at all times and make sure they are 100% respectful to God. We must live in such a way that we truly can ask, “Do you know my name? I am a Disciple of Jesus Christ!” – not to excuse our behavior… but rather, because we are glorifying His name.
How are you doing these days? Are you claiming the name of Jesus as your “excuse” – or as your heritage? Do others know who – and Whose – you are… for all the right reasons?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for April 5, 2013
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| Would you believe this little girl's dress and pants was once a ladies' beaded knit shirt? |
Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you know anything about me, you know that I love to take old pieces of clothing and repurpose them into new garments. I cut around holes and stains… I pick out the best parts of the garment… and I make something fresh and new that often barely resembles the previous piece – if at all. You might see a jeans pocket here or be able to discern a t-shirt there. But generally, the former “life” of the garment is totally forgotten. I am somehow able to see beyond a discarded piece of clothing and find the good that still lies there… and to restore it to something clean and up-to-date.
As people who have committed our lives to Christ, we are like repurposed garments. All of the old excuses… our stains, our sins – our past – are exactly that… in the past! God has seen beyond those things that wore us down and made us tired and unlovely. He has cut out the best parts and fashioned them into something totally different – and often unrecognizable. Some of us just needed a little sprucing and updating… others needed a major overhaul. But in the end, we are all new creatures… and Jesus Christ is the King of repurposing!
So the next time you start to make excuses… when you begin to say that God can’t use you or won’t want you because of this or that – your past mistakes or a present flaw in your makeup – remember these repurposed garments. Let Jesus put His creativity and power to work to design a totally new you… one who is fresh, pristine, and beautiful in His glory. If you don’t yet belong to Jesus, this should be reason enough to choose to live for Him. You have the opportunity for a clean slate… a new beginning…a chance to create a completely different life!
Doesn’t this sound exciting? Wouldn’t you like to change your “old garments” for new ones? Do you truly get it that this is possible in Jesus Christ? Isn’t today a great day to change your wardrobe and lose the excuses?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 5, 2013
Colossians 3:9-11
Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
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 love to find old garments at the thrift store and repurpose them into new things… especially children’s clothing. I look at a colorful ladies t-shirt and see a cute sundress with leggings for my nieces, Zola and Kelsey. I buy brightly colored, extra-large t-shirts and use them to make cute pants, shorts and more. Denim dresses and jeans have become everything from clothing to window coverings to a blanket to cover a brick fireplace hearth…and even a new high-chair seat cover! Old, discarded, possibly ill-fitting clothing becomes a new wardrobe…and more!
Recently, my friend Melissa gave me a designer-label dress that she no longer wore because it had a stain on the front. She said, “Do something fun and creative with it.” This was a really nice dress… high quality fabric, well made - and I’m sure it was quite expensive. The dress is now an Easter frock for my niece, Zola, and a colorful blouse for Melissa’s daughter, Ada. I used the scraps to make hair bows for both of the girls. As I worked on the scraps, I took a chance and bleached the stained area, and I was able to clean it “white as snow” and use it, as well.
The “old life” of the dress is done and gone, but the new life is customized. The old dress was stained… the new dresses are crisp and clean. While this dress bore a designer label, I don’t put an actual tag on the new things I create. But the children know that I made them with love and care… thinking especially of that particular child as I sewed… and my little friend, Ada, has told her mom several times that her new clothes “smell like ‘Miss Devvie!’”
As the Ultimate Designer, God created each of us. We were high quality…well-made out of the best materials… and so valuable that Jesus gave His very life for ours on the cross. As we grew, we became stained by sin. And Jesus refashioned us into new creatures when he exchanged His life for ours. Now we are crisp and clean. No “designer labels” are necessary if we walk with Jesus, because people will know Who we are “wearing” by the way we talk and act. Honesty and integrity are our trademarks… along with grace, mercy, humility, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, and love. When we wear the new wardrobe given to us in Christ, people recognize that His fragrant aroma all over us!
Here’s the thing… some of us have a closet filled with the “designer label” clothing of Jesus Christ… but we still prefer to wear our old rags. We are trying to live in two different worlds. When we lie, cheat, steal, mistreat others, gossip, act unkindly, fail to conduct ourselves honorably, or ignore God, we totally negate our testimony of salvation and grace by faith to others. It would be like putting on designer jeans or shoes with a dirty, ill-fitting shirt that was tattered and missing buttons. The two do not belong together… and the “look” would not be impressive or desirable to anyone.
Through the blood of Jesus, God has blessed you with a beautiful new wardrobe that never goes out of style. Be “all in” for God. Don’t deface and disrespect His gift by operating in the things of your old life. Strive to live with integrity each and every minute of the day. Continually ask yourself, “Am I representing Jesus… or the devil? Are my actions and behaviors those that He desires… or am I acting selfishly and/or sinfully?” I can tell you, when you take a few minutes to stop and consider this before you speak or act, you will often find that you were about to “put on an old rag.” The more you take a moment to consider your behavior, the easier and more natural these choices will become. You will begin to feel so comfortable in the “new clothing” of Christ that you no longer desire to “wear” the things of your old life.
Take a good look at your “Spiritual closet” today and see what you are wearing. Who is your Designer of choices these days? Are you in need of “repurposing?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Don’t lie to one another. You’re done with that old life. It’s like a filthy set of ill-fitting clothes you’ve stripped off and put in the fire. Now you’re dressed in a new wardrobe. Every item of your new way of life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions are now obsolete. Words like Jewish and non-Jewish, religious and irreligious, insider and outsider, uncivilized and uncouth, slave and free, mean nothing. From now on everyone is defined by Christ, everyone is included in Christ.
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 love to find old garments at the thrift store and repurpose them into new things… especially children’s clothing. I look at a colorful ladies t-shirt and see a cute sundress with leggings for my nieces, Zola and Kelsey. I buy brightly colored, extra-large t-shirts and use them to make cute pants, shorts and more. Denim dresses and jeans have become everything from clothing to window coverings to a blanket to cover a brick fireplace hearth…and even a new high-chair seat cover! Old, discarded, possibly ill-fitting clothing becomes a new wardrobe…and more!
Recently, my friend Melissa gave me a designer-label dress that she no longer wore because it had a stain on the front. She said, “Do something fun and creative with it.” This was a really nice dress… high quality fabric, well made - and I’m sure it was quite expensive. The dress is now an Easter frock for my niece, Zola, and a colorful blouse for Melissa’s daughter, Ada. I used the scraps to make hair bows for both of the girls. As I worked on the scraps, I took a chance and bleached the stained area, and I was able to clean it “white as snow” and use it, as well.
The “old life” of the dress is done and gone, but the new life is customized. The old dress was stained… the new dresses are crisp and clean. While this dress bore a designer label, I don’t put an actual tag on the new things I create. But the children know that I made them with love and care… thinking especially of that particular child as I sewed… and my little friend, Ada, has told her mom several times that her new clothes “smell like ‘Miss Devvie!’”
As the Ultimate Designer, God created each of us. We were high quality…well-made out of the best materials… and so valuable that Jesus gave His very life for ours on the cross. As we grew, we became stained by sin. And Jesus refashioned us into new creatures when he exchanged His life for ours. Now we are crisp and clean. No “designer labels” are necessary if we walk with Jesus, because people will know Who we are “wearing” by the way we talk and act. Honesty and integrity are our trademarks… along with grace, mercy, humility, forgiveness, compassion, empathy, and love. When we wear the new wardrobe given to us in Christ, people recognize that His fragrant aroma all over us!
Here’s the thing… some of us have a closet filled with the “designer label” clothing of Jesus Christ… but we still prefer to wear our old rags. We are trying to live in two different worlds. When we lie, cheat, steal, mistreat others, gossip, act unkindly, fail to conduct ourselves honorably, or ignore God, we totally negate our testimony of salvation and grace by faith to others. It would be like putting on designer jeans or shoes with a dirty, ill-fitting shirt that was tattered and missing buttons. The two do not belong together… and the “look” would not be impressive or desirable to anyone.
Through the blood of Jesus, God has blessed you with a beautiful new wardrobe that never goes out of style. Be “all in” for God. Don’t deface and disrespect His gift by operating in the things of your old life. Strive to live with integrity each and every minute of the day. Continually ask yourself, “Am I representing Jesus… or the devil? Are my actions and behaviors those that He desires… or am I acting selfishly and/or sinfully?” I can tell you, when you take a few minutes to stop and consider this before you speak or act, you will often find that you were about to “put on an old rag.” The more you take a moment to consider your behavior, the easier and more natural these choices will become. You will begin to feel so comfortable in the “new clothing” of Christ that you no longer desire to “wear” the things of your old life.
Take a good look at your “Spiritual closet” today and see what you are wearing. Who is your Designer of choices these days? Are you in need of “repurposing?”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 4, 2013
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.
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.
For all of the cooking shows I watch each week, I ought to be Julia Child's twin! I’ve learned a lot of useful… and some not-so-helpful… information from these shows. (I don’t think I will be cooking fish heads for a rich broth any time soon!) I’ve discovered how to turn ordinary ingredients in my pantry into amazingly tasty and creative dishes… to “make something from nothing,” as it were. I’ve learned about flavors… how delicious food not only looks good but is filled with taste and aroma from the right blends of spices, stocks and sauces. I now know several tips, tricks and techniques that could not only help me be a better cook… but also a more efficient and confident one.
The thing is… I still gravitate toward the same handful of dishes I’ve brought to our table for nearly 40 years. I would rather grab a pizza from the freezer and give it less than 20 minutes in a hot oven… or open a can of chicken noodle soup and serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich than spend an hour creating something from scratch. And let’s not forget take-out! In other words…I have acquired all of this knowledge and ability… I know how to make the food “sing.” But on most days, I’m complacent and lazy in the kitchen!
Over and over on these shows, the judges and experts refer to the depth of flavor that chefs are able to create within their dishes. They talk a lot about how various ingredients are “infused” into the food by cooking in a rich stock… marinating in sauces, oils and rubs… and blending ingredients in a way that produces something marvelous, sometimes unexpected, and chock full of flavor! Still, many of us have become quite comfortable substituting a plateful of “fast and easy” for a beautiful portion of savory deliciousness!
Are we like this in our Spiritual life? Do you see that God has cleared the road for us… then poured out his love on each of us and everyone in our circle? Do you get that He offers to infuse us with His strength, purity and confidence… and to “pretty us up” to others – to make us appealing and delightful like a beautiful plate of food? The question is… are we “cooking creatively” with all of the ingredients God has given us? Or are we lazy and complacent… content to get by with a quick fix or the least effort that will get the job done and satisfy appetites?
Let’s be honest… a frozen pizza or take-out from our favorite restaurant will often fill our bellies quite heartily. And it may even taste pretty good in the bargain. But these “quick fixes” can’t hold a candle to a well-prepared and served gourmet meal that gratifies all of our senses and leaves us feeling loved and sated through and through. And it’s the same in our relationship with God. We may be able get by on minimal effort… and a few of us will skirt through life relatively unscathed. But this is not really a “gourmet life” in Christ.
I don’t know about you, but I want the “full course meal!” I want all that God stands ready to splash over me and every “flavor” He desires to infuse into my soul. I want to take all of the mismatched items in the “pantry” of my life and allow God to show me how to transform them into an incredible “dish!” I want to be a vehicle of the incredible “meal” God delights in serving to others… to be a reflection of the love, strength, purity, confidence, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion He offers to each of us. Now this sounds like a flavorful plate of “soul food!”
What have you done with God’s ingredients? Is your “dish” pleasing to Him, or could you use a little polish and finesse? God will help you become a better “cook.” If you will only ask, He will show you how to tweak your “recipes” for a life in Christ and come up with something delectable and incredible. It’s time to stretch beyond a life of frozen pizza and take-out discipleship. What are you serving today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.
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.
For all of the cooking shows I watch each week, I ought to be Julia Child's twin! I’ve learned a lot of useful… and some not-so-helpful… information from these shows. (I don’t think I will be cooking fish heads for a rich broth any time soon!) I’ve discovered how to turn ordinary ingredients in my pantry into amazingly tasty and creative dishes… to “make something from nothing,” as it were. I’ve learned about flavors… how delicious food not only looks good but is filled with taste and aroma from the right blends of spices, stocks and sauces. I now know several tips, tricks and techniques that could not only help me be a better cook… but also a more efficient and confident one.
The thing is… I still gravitate toward the same handful of dishes I’ve brought to our table for nearly 40 years. I would rather grab a pizza from the freezer and give it less than 20 minutes in a hot oven… or open a can of chicken noodle soup and serve it with a grilled cheese sandwich than spend an hour creating something from scratch. And let’s not forget take-out! In other words…I have acquired all of this knowledge and ability… I know how to make the food “sing.” But on most days, I’m complacent and lazy in the kitchen!
Over and over on these shows, the judges and experts refer to the depth of flavor that chefs are able to create within their dishes. They talk a lot about how various ingredients are “infused” into the food by cooking in a rich stock… marinating in sauces, oils and rubs… and blending ingredients in a way that produces something marvelous, sometimes unexpected, and chock full of flavor! Still, many of us have become quite comfortable substituting a plateful of “fast and easy” for a beautiful portion of savory deliciousness!
Are we like this in our Spiritual life? Do you see that God has cleared the road for us… then poured out his love on each of us and everyone in our circle? Do you get that He offers to infuse us with His strength, purity and confidence… and to “pretty us up” to others – to make us appealing and delightful like a beautiful plate of food? The question is… are we “cooking creatively” with all of the ingredients God has given us? Or are we lazy and complacent… content to get by with a quick fix or the least effort that will get the job done and satisfy appetites?
Let’s be honest… a frozen pizza or take-out from our favorite restaurant will often fill our bellies quite heartily. And it may even taste pretty good in the bargain. But these “quick fixes” can’t hold a candle to a well-prepared and served gourmet meal that gratifies all of our senses and leaves us feeling loved and sated through and through. And it’s the same in our relationship with God. We may be able get by on minimal effort… and a few of us will skirt through life relatively unscathed. But this is not really a “gourmet life” in Christ.
I don’t know about you, but I want the “full course meal!” I want all that God stands ready to splash over me and every “flavor” He desires to infuse into my soul. I want to take all of the mismatched items in the “pantry” of my life and allow God to show me how to transform them into an incredible “dish!” I want to be a vehicle of the incredible “meal” God delights in serving to others… to be a reflection of the love, strength, purity, confidence, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion He offers to each of us. Now this sounds like a flavorful plate of “soul food!”
What have you done with God’s ingredients? Is your “dish” pleasing to Him, or could you use a little polish and finesse? God will help you become a better “cook.” If you will only ask, He will show you how to tweak your “recipes” for a life in Christ and come up with something delectable and incredible. It’s time to stretch beyond a life of frozen pizza and take-out discipleship. What are you serving today?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for March 1, 2013
1 John 1:5-6
Jesus told us that God is light and doesn’t have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you.
If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In El Paso, Texas, a developmentally disabled student at Coronado High School named Mitchell Marcus serves as the basketball team’s manager. As the squad suited up to play Franklin High, Coach Peter Morales told Marcus to suit up, too. The game was winding down when Morales signaled for Marcus to take the court. The crowd chanted, “Mitchell! Mitchell” as the young man attempted several shots… all unsuccessful in producing a score. Down by some 10 points, the ball was inbounded by Franklin High’s senior, Jonathon Montanez, who yelled out Mitchell’s name and passed the ball to him directly under the basket. Mitchell scored, and the crowd went wild. After the game, Montanez said, "I was raised to treat others how you want to be treated…I just thought Mitchell deserved his chance - deserved his opportunity."
This selfless act did not change the game’s outcome… Franklin High won by 15 points. But that’s not the point. Jonathon Montanez demonstrated integrity, which www.dictionary.com describes as “soundness of moral character.” Granted, his decision did not cost his team the game. But I have to wonder how many players in Montanez’ position would have even considered this – much less done it! This seems like a small gesture. But it demonstrates this young man’s capacity to think of someone other than himself…to see the bigger picture…to do the right thing.
We all know people with big hearts who seem to have a penchant for always acting with honor and decency. We also know people who claim the name of Jesus and then operate in the dark… the person who will tell you how much he/she loves the LORD while “twisting the knife in someone’s back,” so to speak. We’ve seen the posts on social media outlets by those who say they love God and desire to serve Him… then speak with such unkindness – and sometimes downright hatred – that you can’t begin to believe they truly have ANY light – much less the light of God - within them!
What about you? When others look at you…what do they see? Are you known as someone who lives in the light of God and shares it with others? Or are you lying – to others and to yourself? Do you live by the truth… or do you twist things to suit your needs? You can’t have it both ways. We truly are either “in” or “out!” God is seeking believers who will operate with complete integrity… impeccable soundness of moral character…who always tell the truth and act honestly, fairly, and in the best interest of all concerned.
Each of us needs to do an “integrity inventory” to make sure our moral character is not lacking in any aspect. We have claimed the name of Jesus… we must now be willing to treat others as we wish to be treated… to throw the ball to the opponent and give him/her a moment in the sun. We must remove all darkness from our lives and step into God’s light, once and for all. Are you ready?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Jesus told us that God is light and doesn’t have any darkness in him. Now we are telling you.
If we say that we share in life with God and keep on living in the dark, we are lying and are not living by the truth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
In El Paso, Texas, a developmentally disabled student at Coronado High School named Mitchell Marcus serves as the basketball team’s manager. As the squad suited up to play Franklin High, Coach Peter Morales told Marcus to suit up, too. The game was winding down when Morales signaled for Marcus to take the court. The crowd chanted, “Mitchell! Mitchell” as the young man attempted several shots… all unsuccessful in producing a score. Down by some 10 points, the ball was inbounded by Franklin High’s senior, Jonathon Montanez, who yelled out Mitchell’s name and passed the ball to him directly under the basket. Mitchell scored, and the crowd went wild. After the game, Montanez said, "I was raised to treat others how you want to be treated…I just thought Mitchell deserved his chance - deserved his opportunity."
This selfless act did not change the game’s outcome… Franklin High won by 15 points. But that’s not the point. Jonathon Montanez demonstrated integrity, which www.dictionary.com describes as “soundness of moral character.” Granted, his decision did not cost his team the game. But I have to wonder how many players in Montanez’ position would have even considered this – much less done it! This seems like a small gesture. But it demonstrates this young man’s capacity to think of someone other than himself…to see the bigger picture…to do the right thing.
We all know people with big hearts who seem to have a penchant for always acting with honor and decency. We also know people who claim the name of Jesus and then operate in the dark… the person who will tell you how much he/she loves the LORD while “twisting the knife in someone’s back,” so to speak. We’ve seen the posts on social media outlets by those who say they love God and desire to serve Him… then speak with such unkindness – and sometimes downright hatred – that you can’t begin to believe they truly have ANY light – much less the light of God - within them!
What about you? When others look at you…what do they see? Are you known as someone who lives in the light of God and shares it with others? Or are you lying – to others and to yourself? Do you live by the truth… or do you twist things to suit your needs? You can’t have it both ways. We truly are either “in” or “out!” God is seeking believers who will operate with complete integrity… impeccable soundness of moral character…who always tell the truth and act honestly, fairly, and in the best interest of all concerned.
Each of us needs to do an “integrity inventory” to make sure our moral character is not lacking in any aspect. We have claimed the name of Jesus… we must now be willing to treat others as we wish to be treated… to throw the ball to the opponent and give him/her a moment in the sun. We must remove all darkness from our lives and step into God’s light, once and for all. Are you ready?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 16, 2013
Romans 12:16
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy and I were at the park, and a group of children had shown up to play. Timothy was in heaven to have “friends” to run and climb with – a partner on the see-saw – and someone else to enjoy the swings with him. But when the children all suddenly turned and headed for the merry-go-round, Timothy yelled, “Hey! Wait for me.” Then under his breath, he said something about “idiots.” I stopped him and explained that this was not nice… that we could not call people an ugly name like that. I made sure he understood that this was not acceptable. A few days later, we were watching the Dr. Seuss movie “Horton Hears a Who” on video, and one of the characters stormed into an “office” and said to his “secretary”… “I’m not an idiot! Do I look like an idiot?” In that moment, I knew where my little nephew had learned about “idiots”… and I knew that a lifelong battle with parroting what he sees and hears had begun.
My point is that it’s easy to get caught up in this. We hear people say all sorts of things on television, in the movies, and in our daily living… and unkind things creep into our vocabulary. Innocent children who gleefully play together on a playground with no socio-economic boundaries will soon enough learn that this child’s parents can afford more than that one’s… and that some children wear nicer clothes than others and get to do things that are out of reach for others. Just this week, my cousin texted me a picture of her child’s Valentine’s Day box… a darling hand-made creation. I wondered, “How many children in this little girl’s class will not have a beautiful box for their Valentines? Will they feel like the “great nobody” because of this? It starts early!
So what can we do? Certainly we cannot make fancy Valentine’s boxes for every elementary school child. We can’t take every kid to Disneyworld or make sure that everyone has designer clothing, fancy cars and lives in a big, expensive house. But we can treat others fairly and equally. We can check our language… and even our thoughts… and make sure that we make a concerted effort to get along with everybody. We can teach our children that nobody is better than another person… we can model humility, acceptance of others, and genuine friendship. We can refrain from criticizing or belittling others… even in the privacy of our own homes. We can ask God to help us love others as Jesus loves us… and to accept each of His children as precious in His sight.
We can live in a way that demonstrates our gratitude that Jesus died for Nobodies like each of us… and turned us into Somebodies. We can recognize that not only are we heirs to His throne… but so are all who have given their hearts to Him… and all who will accept Him. My cousin recently lost his 42-year-old wife, Angie, to breast cancer. I can’t tell you how many people commented that Angie loved everybody… and she truly did. Angie didn’t see race, creed or color. She did not care if you were dressed in diamonds and furs… or covered from head to toe in tattoos and piercings. It didn’t matter to her if you smelled like a million bucks… or like you hadn’t showered in days. She really didn’t notice whether you were drop-dead gorgeous – or missing most of your teeth. Angie only cared that you knew Jesus… and everyone who met her knew this. We need more “Angies” in the world. We need to be so busy letting others know how much Jesus loves them – and how much we love them in His name – that nothing else matters.
None of us have the excuse of being three years old any longer. We will continue to watch Dr. Seuss movies at my house… but I will make sure that the children understand that what we see in movies is not always acceptable or proper in our relationships with others. It’s time to take responsibility for our actions… and for our role as Disciples of Christ. We need to be truthful, kind, patient, loving, genuine, and humble. We need to treat others fairly… and to shower them with the same love and acceptance that Jesus offers to us. This won’t be easy for some of us. We’ve been operating according to the world’s standards for a long time now. But we really don’t have a choice. This is what God has called us to do… and truly, nothing else matters. I know that I have work to do in this area… but I’m ready and willing to do whatever it takes. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath. Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Timothy and I were at the park, and a group of children had shown up to play. Timothy was in heaven to have “friends” to run and climb with – a partner on the see-saw – and someone else to enjoy the swings with him. But when the children all suddenly turned and headed for the merry-go-round, Timothy yelled, “Hey! Wait for me.” Then under his breath, he said something about “idiots.” I stopped him and explained that this was not nice… that we could not call people an ugly name like that. I made sure he understood that this was not acceptable. A few days later, we were watching the Dr. Seuss movie “Horton Hears a Who” on video, and one of the characters stormed into an “office” and said to his “secretary”… “I’m not an idiot! Do I look like an idiot?” In that moment, I knew where my little nephew had learned about “idiots”… and I knew that a lifelong battle with parroting what he sees and hears had begun.
My point is that it’s easy to get caught up in this. We hear people say all sorts of things on television, in the movies, and in our daily living… and unkind things creep into our vocabulary. Innocent children who gleefully play together on a playground with no socio-economic boundaries will soon enough learn that this child’s parents can afford more than that one’s… and that some children wear nicer clothes than others and get to do things that are out of reach for others. Just this week, my cousin texted me a picture of her child’s Valentine’s Day box… a darling hand-made creation. I wondered, “How many children in this little girl’s class will not have a beautiful box for their Valentines? Will they feel like the “great nobody” because of this? It starts early!
So what can we do? Certainly we cannot make fancy Valentine’s boxes for every elementary school child. We can’t take every kid to Disneyworld or make sure that everyone has designer clothing, fancy cars and lives in a big, expensive house. But we can treat others fairly and equally. We can check our language… and even our thoughts… and make sure that we make a concerted effort to get along with everybody. We can teach our children that nobody is better than another person… we can model humility, acceptance of others, and genuine friendship. We can refrain from criticizing or belittling others… even in the privacy of our own homes. We can ask God to help us love others as Jesus loves us… and to accept each of His children as precious in His sight.
We can live in a way that demonstrates our gratitude that Jesus died for Nobodies like each of us… and turned us into Somebodies. We can recognize that not only are we heirs to His throne… but so are all who have given their hearts to Him… and all who will accept Him. My cousin recently lost his 42-year-old wife, Angie, to breast cancer. I can’t tell you how many people commented that Angie loved everybody… and she truly did. Angie didn’t see race, creed or color. She did not care if you were dressed in diamonds and furs… or covered from head to toe in tattoos and piercings. It didn’t matter to her if you smelled like a million bucks… or like you hadn’t showered in days. She really didn’t notice whether you were drop-dead gorgeous – or missing most of your teeth. Angie only cared that you knew Jesus… and everyone who met her knew this. We need more “Angies” in the world. We need to be so busy letting others know how much Jesus loves them – and how much we love them in His name – that nothing else matters.
None of us have the excuse of being three years old any longer. We will continue to watch Dr. Seuss movies at my house… but I will make sure that the children understand that what we see in movies is not always acceptable or proper in our relationships with others. It’s time to take responsibility for our actions… and for our role as Disciples of Christ. We need to be truthful, kind, patient, loving, genuine, and humble. We need to treat others fairly… and to shower them with the same love and acceptance that Jesus offers to us. This won’t be easy for some of us. We’ve been operating according to the world’s standards for a long time now. But we really don’t have a choice. This is what God has called us to do… and truly, nothing else matters. I know that I have work to do in this area… but I’m ready and willing to do whatever it takes. Are you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for February 9, 2013
James 1:12
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I read a post on Facebook from the mother of two small children, both of whom are very sick. One is in the PICU at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock… the other is at home with his dad, battling pneumonia. These two 4-year-olds have literally fought for their lives since birth. Their sister didn’t make it to her first birthday and spent all 10 months of her life in the hospital. In the last few days, one of these children lost some teeth and had a visit from the tooth fairy. Both siblings now attend “school”… their name for Mother’s Day Out. Life was starting to feel a little “normal” for this family… now things have changed drastically in a matter of days.
As I thought about this family, I was reminded of another mother whose adult son is undergoing radiation treatments following the removal of a cancerous brain tumor. This woman balances daily 60-mile-round-trip shuttles of her son to his radiation treatments with the care of herself, her husband, and her household. I know another woman who is struggling with decisions about the future of her elderly mother… and wrestling with the possibility of placing her in a skilled care facility. I know from personal experience that this is a daunting test of faith.
Just a few days ago, I read about a friend on Facebook whose dog has gone blind and appeared to be in constant pain, so they took him to have his eyes removed. There are all sorts of things that test our faith each and every day. I know that you can probably tell me half a dozen stories of your own. Like those whose situations I have described, I hope the people you call to mind have not given up. On any particular day, our tests can seem more than a little overwhelming.
Perhaps YOU are struggling with a situation in your own life. Maybe your challenge is not of a physical nature… but more a test of character and emotional fortitude. Maybe you are dealing with an overbearing professor or a relationship issue… and your feelings are raw. Perhaps someone has disappointed or betrayed you. Forgiveness may seem like the last thing you want to consider… but to fail to do so would be the same as giving up. And I’ll be honest…some days, this seems like a good option! But we know better… and scripture tells us that we must press on toward the mark…look to Jesus… trust Him to number our steps, and love Him for making a way where we can see none.
Forgiveness takes courage… and often requires a lot of faith. Today may very well bring tests of both for you... how well will you perform?
©2013 Debbie Robus
God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I read a post on Facebook from the mother of two small children, both of whom are very sick. One is in the PICU at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock… the other is at home with his dad, battling pneumonia. These two 4-year-olds have literally fought for their lives since birth. Their sister didn’t make it to her first birthday and spent all 10 months of her life in the hospital. In the last few days, one of these children lost some teeth and had a visit from the tooth fairy. Both siblings now attend “school”… their name for Mother’s Day Out. Life was starting to feel a little “normal” for this family… now things have changed drastically in a matter of days.
As I thought about this family, I was reminded of another mother whose adult son is undergoing radiation treatments following the removal of a cancerous brain tumor. This woman balances daily 60-mile-round-trip shuttles of her son to his radiation treatments with the care of herself, her husband, and her household. I know another woman who is struggling with decisions about the future of her elderly mother… and wrestling with the possibility of placing her in a skilled care facility. I know from personal experience that this is a daunting test of faith.
Just a few days ago, I read about a friend on Facebook whose dog has gone blind and appeared to be in constant pain, so they took him to have his eyes removed. There are all sorts of things that test our faith each and every day. I know that you can probably tell me half a dozen stories of your own. Like those whose situations I have described, I hope the people you call to mind have not given up. On any particular day, our tests can seem more than a little overwhelming.
Perhaps YOU are struggling with a situation in your own life. Maybe your challenge is not of a physical nature… but more a test of character and emotional fortitude. Maybe you are dealing with an overbearing professor or a relationship issue… and your feelings are raw. Perhaps someone has disappointed or betrayed you. Forgiveness may seem like the last thing you want to consider… but to fail to do so would be the same as giving up. And I’ll be honest…some days, this seems like a good option! But we know better… and scripture tells us that we must press on toward the mark…look to Jesus… trust Him to number our steps, and love Him for making a way where we can see none.
Forgiveness takes courage… and often requires a lot of faith. Today may very well bring tests of both for you... how well will you perform?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 17, 2012
Philippians 1:6
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
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’m reading Pastor Joel Osteen’s book, Become a Better You, and the passage I read this morning dealt with how we think of ourselves… our personal criticisms. He pointed out that (hopefully) we would never consider telling someone else, “You’re dumb… you’re fat… you are ugly… you’re worthless and a major disappointment…you don’t matter…” or making other unkind statements. Yet many of us look in the mirror every day and say these very same things – or a derivation of them – to ourselves. Osteen points out that, as Christians, this is just plain “stinkin’ thinkin’!"
God sees every fault and flaw we have… but He sees the “good work begun in us”… He sees our potential. God is not mad at us or disappointed by our failures when He knows that we are continually trying to do better. Is this a license to sin? That was the question posed to Osteen, who answered by saying that we can all sin any time we please. The difference is that those of us who are striving to serve God to the best of our ability should not have any desire to sin. The temptations are still there… the frustrations and opportunities for misbehaving still exist… but our desires and focus have changed. And as long as we center our lives on God and keep “pressing toward the mark” of serving Him in all things, we will be able to manage our temptations and beat back the lure of sin.
So the next time you start to get down on yourself… or someone else… ask a very simple question… “Am I doing my best and pressing toward the mark? Is this person I am so upset with or critical of trying to the best of his/her ability?” When someone is giving his/her best effort, God is please and blesses that effort. And if God is satisfied with the work being done, we surely have no room to complain!
You may not be where you want to be – or even where you ought to be this day. But if you are focused on God and giving Him your very best, the “good work” continues… and a “better you” is in production! This is a reason to praise God and give Him thanks! Has God begun a good work in your life today? Have you taken time to be grateful?
©2012 Debbie Robus
There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
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’m reading Pastor Joel Osteen’s book, Become a Better You, and the passage I read this morning dealt with how we think of ourselves… our personal criticisms. He pointed out that (hopefully) we would never consider telling someone else, “You’re dumb… you’re fat… you are ugly… you’re worthless and a major disappointment…you don’t matter…” or making other unkind statements. Yet many of us look in the mirror every day and say these very same things – or a derivation of them – to ourselves. Osteen points out that, as Christians, this is just plain “stinkin’ thinkin’!"
God sees every fault and flaw we have… but He sees the “good work begun in us”… He sees our potential. God is not mad at us or disappointed by our failures when He knows that we are continually trying to do better. Is this a license to sin? That was the question posed to Osteen, who answered by saying that we can all sin any time we please. The difference is that those of us who are striving to serve God to the best of our ability should not have any desire to sin. The temptations are still there… the frustrations and opportunities for misbehaving still exist… but our desires and focus have changed. And as long as we center our lives on God and keep “pressing toward the mark” of serving Him in all things, we will be able to manage our temptations and beat back the lure of sin.
So the next time you start to get down on yourself… or someone else… ask a very simple question… “Am I doing my best and pressing toward the mark? Is this person I am so upset with or critical of trying to the best of his/her ability?” When someone is giving his/her best effort, God is please and blesses that effort. And if God is satisfied with the work being done, we surely have no room to complain!
You may not be where you want to be – or even where you ought to be this day. But if you are focused on God and giving Him your very best, the “good work” continues… and a “better you” is in production! This is a reason to praise God and give Him thanks! Has God begun a good work in your life today? Have you taken time to be grateful?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 8, 2012
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
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’m trying very hard to keep the same “rules” at our house that Timothy and Zola (and someday, their baby brother Nathan) have at home. So even though I hung my least fragile Christmas ornaments on the lower 3 feet of my tree, I reminded the children today to… “Remember, we look, but we don’t touch.” I find myself thinking… “It wouldn’t really hurt anything if they touched those ornaments.” But I know we must be consistent, so we don’t allow this.
Toddlers and three-year-olds (and sometimes older “children”) do not understand why they hear the word “No!” so much. It’s hard to explain to them that our reasons are sound. Often, they try to pull the wool over our eyes… and sometimes, they succeed. They have no idea how much we love them… and that we will never stop!
My husband took a picture of me today sitting under the tree with Zola… an almost exact replica of a pose I have with Zola’s mother, when she was just a few months older than Zola is now. And while I know that Timmy and Zola’s mother did not understand all of our rules (I still remember a Christmas when she insisted she had to open her gifts on December 23rd because “I just can’t stand to wait any longer!)… we stuck by them. Still, we’ve never stopped loving her… and we never will.
As faith-filled Christians, God wants us to follow the Apostle Paul’s advice to the Corinthians and stay awake and alert to those who would try to deceive us… to stand up for our convictions and “stick to our guns”… to always give all we have as His disciples… and to never stop loving – Him and one another. That’s a tall order… but then, so is being a Christian!
I know that God has modeled all of this in my life… and in yours, as well. We can’t fool God…even though many of us have tried – or will someday. He is always “awake and alert!” God has stuck to His word and upheld His promises… given EVERYTHING (including His Only Son)…loved us unconditionally…and never faltered. That’s “amazing grace” in action! This should give us tremendous hope and courage. Here is our perfect example of how to live – and serve – well. Are you modeling these traits in your own life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.
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’m trying very hard to keep the same “rules” at our house that Timothy and Zola (and someday, their baby brother Nathan) have at home. So even though I hung my least fragile Christmas ornaments on the lower 3 feet of my tree, I reminded the children today to… “Remember, we look, but we don’t touch.” I find myself thinking… “It wouldn’t really hurt anything if they touched those ornaments.” But I know we must be consistent, so we don’t allow this.
Toddlers and three-year-olds (and sometimes older “children”) do not understand why they hear the word “No!” so much. It’s hard to explain to them that our reasons are sound. Often, they try to pull the wool over our eyes… and sometimes, they succeed. They have no idea how much we love them… and that we will never stop!
My husband took a picture of me today sitting under the tree with Zola… an almost exact replica of a pose I have with Zola’s mother, when she was just a few months older than Zola is now. And while I know that Timmy and Zola’s mother did not understand all of our rules (I still remember a Christmas when she insisted she had to open her gifts on December 23rd because “I just can’t stand to wait any longer!)… we stuck by them. Still, we’ve never stopped loving her… and we never will.
As faith-filled Christians, God wants us to follow the Apostle Paul’s advice to the Corinthians and stay awake and alert to those who would try to deceive us… to stand up for our convictions and “stick to our guns”… to always give all we have as His disciples… and to never stop loving – Him and one another. That’s a tall order… but then, so is being a Christian!
I know that God has modeled all of this in my life… and in yours, as well. We can’t fool God…even though many of us have tried – or will someday. He is always “awake and alert!” God has stuck to His word and upheld His promises… given EVERYTHING (including His Only Son)…loved us unconditionally…and never faltered. That’s “amazing grace” in action! This should give us tremendous hope and courage. Here is our perfect example of how to live – and serve – well. Are you modeling these traits in your own life? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 25, 2012
Galatians 6:9
Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere around 1980, when I was teaching kindergarten, the principal asked me if a first-grade boy could spend most of his day in my classroom, because he was not able to function properly in his own. The child was evaluated and deemed to perform on the level of a child of about age 3. So I agreed to let Chuckie play in my classroom. And he did spend most of his day quietly playing with toys, puzzles and games. The other children even accepted that this was what Chuckie did all day - that is…when he wasn’t eating.
I could not feed this little boy enough. Clearly, the only time Chuckie really ate was when he was at school. The cafeteria manager gave him double helpings. I fed him “snacks” for breakfast and again before the last bell rang. I knew that he might not eat again until the next morning. He would tell me that he and his sister ate “pasketti” (spaghetti)… but all they got was what was left after his mother ate. Chuckie’s dad was determined to keep Mom happy, so she ate first.
The Department of Human Services was notified of this situation, and a caseworker was assigned. And the more she did for this family, the more the parents demanded. One day, the father was listing his “needs” to the caseworker, and he ended with… “Oh, and we need a car.” The caseworker replied, “What color would you like?” She said, “This was such a preposterous request that I figured it deserved a similar response!”
Ultimately, most everyone who tried to help this family came together in a court of law, where a judge was prepared to sign adoption papers for the children to be placed with a loving, stable couple. The parents were ready to sign, until the judge told them they would never get their children back. The parents reneged. And a local pediatrician bought the entire family bus tickets to Pennsylvania, where other relatives lived. Those in the courtroom had reached the end of their rope… they had given all the help they could… they were exhausted and exasperated.
I don’t know whatever happened to Chuckie and his family. I probably don’t want to know. I don’t fault those who made the decision to stop trying to help, because they had given all they had to give… and more. Their efforts were better served helping children whose families were more cooperative. But I do wonder about Chuckie…and others like him. And I think about people in our own circles who exhaust and exasperate us - so we throw up our hands and move away. What happens to them? Do they find other benefactors? More importantly, what if God threw up His hands and walked away from us?
Here’s what I have concluded. When you are tired and fed up… when you don’t have anything left to give to others…you can still love them and pray for them… and that is something. But don’t close the door completely. Don’t shut them out of your heart and stop caring. There is always hope. You don’t have to spend yourself into bankruptcy. You don’t have to give of your physical time and energy until you are literally sick and tired. But you must continue to care. And prayer is a powerful tool…often the only one we really need.
I am grateful to know that God never gives up on me… even when I exhaust and exasperate Him (which must be a dozen times a day or more!). And I must remind myself not to give up on others. I am not looking for a tangible “reward” – and neither should you. It should be payment enough to know that we are doing what God does for us… that we are serving Him as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth – and showing His love to others in the bargain. In my heart, I am believing that God sent another loving group of people to minister to Chuckie and his sister. And I am thankful for the opportunity I had to look after this child, if only for a few brief months. I was greatly blessed by this experience… and forever changed.
How and where is God using you in the life of someone who needs help? And how are you answering His call?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Don’t get tired of helping others. You will be rewarded when the time is right, if you don’t give up.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Somewhere around 1980, when I was teaching kindergarten, the principal asked me if a first-grade boy could spend most of his day in my classroom, because he was not able to function properly in his own. The child was evaluated and deemed to perform on the level of a child of about age 3. So I agreed to let Chuckie play in my classroom. And he did spend most of his day quietly playing with toys, puzzles and games. The other children even accepted that this was what Chuckie did all day - that is…when he wasn’t eating.
I could not feed this little boy enough. Clearly, the only time Chuckie really ate was when he was at school. The cafeteria manager gave him double helpings. I fed him “snacks” for breakfast and again before the last bell rang. I knew that he might not eat again until the next morning. He would tell me that he and his sister ate “pasketti” (spaghetti)… but all they got was what was left after his mother ate. Chuckie’s dad was determined to keep Mom happy, so she ate first.
The Department of Human Services was notified of this situation, and a caseworker was assigned. And the more she did for this family, the more the parents demanded. One day, the father was listing his “needs” to the caseworker, and he ended with… “Oh, and we need a car.” The caseworker replied, “What color would you like?” She said, “This was such a preposterous request that I figured it deserved a similar response!”
Ultimately, most everyone who tried to help this family came together in a court of law, where a judge was prepared to sign adoption papers for the children to be placed with a loving, stable couple. The parents were ready to sign, until the judge told them they would never get their children back. The parents reneged. And a local pediatrician bought the entire family bus tickets to Pennsylvania, where other relatives lived. Those in the courtroom had reached the end of their rope… they had given all the help they could… they were exhausted and exasperated.
I don’t know whatever happened to Chuckie and his family. I probably don’t want to know. I don’t fault those who made the decision to stop trying to help, because they had given all they had to give… and more. Their efforts were better served helping children whose families were more cooperative. But I do wonder about Chuckie…and others like him. And I think about people in our own circles who exhaust and exasperate us - so we throw up our hands and move away. What happens to them? Do they find other benefactors? More importantly, what if God threw up His hands and walked away from us?
Here’s what I have concluded. When you are tired and fed up… when you don’t have anything left to give to others…you can still love them and pray for them… and that is something. But don’t close the door completely. Don’t shut them out of your heart and stop caring. There is always hope. You don’t have to spend yourself into bankruptcy. You don’t have to give of your physical time and energy until you are literally sick and tired. But you must continue to care. And prayer is a powerful tool…often the only one we really need.
I am grateful to know that God never gives up on me… even when I exhaust and exasperate Him (which must be a dozen times a day or more!). And I must remind myself not to give up on others. I am not looking for a tangible “reward” – and neither should you. It should be payment enough to know that we are doing what God does for us… that we are serving Him as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth – and showing His love to others in the bargain. In my heart, I am believing that God sent another loving group of people to minister to Chuckie and his sister. And I am thankful for the opportunity I had to look after this child, if only for a few brief months. I was greatly blessed by this experience… and forever changed.
How and where is God using you in the life of someone who needs help? And how are you answering His call?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 7, 2012
Matthew 10:21-23
“When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
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.
Early on Election Day, my friend John posted a graphic on Facebook that said, “No matter who is President, Jesus is King!” John also posted this comment from one of his “good Christian friends,” as he described him… "No matter who wins tomorrow, God still reigns. As Christians, our politics should never be filled with hatred or poisonous division. My prayer is that Wednesday morning, Christians all over this great nation will be in prayer for our President to seek wisdom, and that we will love him in the same way that Christ loves us. May the world know we are Christians by our love. And that by doing so may we reflect the fact that God still reigns.”
I was so struck by the sentence in this scripture passage that says, “There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate!” A lot of “Christians” on both sides of the aisle want to talk about how much they love Jesus while spewing venom and hatred that could corrode heavy metal. I have to ask, “Where is their faith? What part of ‘love one another’ was unclear?”
This is not a commentary on the election… this is about more than politics. We must stop and examine our hearts and determine whether we are truly focused on serving God as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth… or whether we have shaped our faith in an image of our making – turned it into something that suits our personal agenda. In the course of our lifetime, we will win some and lose some – in political elections, job opportunities, relationships, and more. And we can allow these to define us…or we can choose to focus on pleasing God and seeking His will.
If you choose the former, you will be setting yourself up for a lot of disappointments and heartaches… and opening the door for Satan to move in and fill you with hatred and bitterness. If you choose to trust God – no matter what – life may not always be a bed of roses, but you will be able to handle whatever comes your way.
I’ve talked a lot lately about “turning points,” and I think this is a big one. Making the commitment to humbly serve God in every single aspect of your life… to trust and obey Him in all things… and to believe that His will shall come to pass represents a critical obligation – and a significant leap of faith. But genuinely committing to God – completely – will make the difference. He will sustain you in hard times and give you courage to face those who turn on you.
As Christians, we must serve God and obey His commands with everything we have, which means to love others as He loves us… and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those in our midst and to be His hands and feet on this earth. If we keep our own behavior in check… if we are certain that we are obediently honoring God with our service… what others do and say makes no difference. It’s not about us – or them… it’s about Jesus.
Where is your focus? Are you defined by your faith and service… or by your defeats and those who disparage you? Do you trust God to work in and through you… and are you trustworthy? Are you truly operating in God’s will and believing Him for perfect outcomes in all things? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“When people realize it is the living God you are presenting and not some idol that makes them feel good, they are going to turn on you, even people in your own family. There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate! But don’t quit. Don’t cave in. It is all well worth it in the end. It is not success you are after in such times but survival. Be survivors! Before you’ve run out of options, the Son of Man will have arrived.
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.
Early on Election Day, my friend John posted a graphic on Facebook that said, “No matter who is President, Jesus is King!” John also posted this comment from one of his “good Christian friends,” as he described him… "No matter who wins tomorrow, God still reigns. As Christians, our politics should never be filled with hatred or poisonous division. My prayer is that Wednesday morning, Christians all over this great nation will be in prayer for our President to seek wisdom, and that we will love him in the same way that Christ loves us. May the world know we are Christians by our love. And that by doing so may we reflect the fact that God still reigns.”
I was so struck by the sentence in this scripture passage that says, “There is a great irony here: proclaiming so much love, experiencing so much hate!” A lot of “Christians” on both sides of the aisle want to talk about how much they love Jesus while spewing venom and hatred that could corrode heavy metal. I have to ask, “Where is their faith? What part of ‘love one another’ was unclear?”
This is not a commentary on the election… this is about more than politics. We must stop and examine our hearts and determine whether we are truly focused on serving God as the hands and feet of Jesus on this earth… or whether we have shaped our faith in an image of our making – turned it into something that suits our personal agenda. In the course of our lifetime, we will win some and lose some – in political elections, job opportunities, relationships, and more. And we can allow these to define us…or we can choose to focus on pleasing God and seeking His will.
If you choose the former, you will be setting yourself up for a lot of disappointments and heartaches… and opening the door for Satan to move in and fill you with hatred and bitterness. If you choose to trust God – no matter what – life may not always be a bed of roses, but you will be able to handle whatever comes your way.
I’ve talked a lot lately about “turning points,” and I think this is a big one. Making the commitment to humbly serve God in every single aspect of your life… to trust and obey Him in all things… and to believe that His will shall come to pass represents a critical obligation – and a significant leap of faith. But genuinely committing to God – completely – will make the difference. He will sustain you in hard times and give you courage to face those who turn on you.
As Christians, we must serve God and obey His commands with everything we have, which means to love others as He loves us… and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those in our midst and to be His hands and feet on this earth. If we keep our own behavior in check… if we are certain that we are obediently honoring God with our service… what others do and say makes no difference. It’s not about us – or them… it’s about Jesus.
Where is your focus? Are you defined by your faith and service… or by your defeats and those who disparage you? Do you trust God to work in and through you… and are you trustworthy? Are you truly operating in God’s will and believing Him for perfect outcomes in all things? Isn’t it time you did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 6, 2012
Matthew 10:12-15
“When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.
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.
According to an article on www.ehow.com titled “What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?”… “A court processor serves legal documents. He delivers them to the person to whom the document is intended. The documents can include complaints, subpoenas, summons, writs, order to show cause and various other legal documents. A person can try to evade a court processor, but they're trained, they know every trick in the book, and they will find you eventually. Even if you refuse to accept the documents, you have still been technically served.” Read more: What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8394480_rights-court-processor.html#ixzz2BPoqjp5r
I don’t think I’d be very good at this job! Clearly, a court processor cannot become emotionally invested. His/her job is to deliver the documents. Whether the recipient is happy about it is truly none of the court processor’s concern. I would imagine that he/she must develop the ability to stay calm and not overreact… to do the job, deliver the papers, and be on his/her way.
We Christians are essentially “court processors” for Jesus. Our job is to deliver His Good News… to tell others about Him, to serve in His name, and to model love of others, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. We are to be diligent in our ministry…but comport ourselves in a kind, calm manner. We are to quietly go about our business – which is the business of representing Jesus to others. We are not to make a scene. If people are receptive to us and our message, that’s wonderful. If not, we must lovingly and quietly retreat. Our only responsibility is to “serve the documents” – not to act as judge and jury… or try to force Jesus on anyone - in any way.
This is not easy for many Christians. We want to go in, “guns blazing,” and save the world for Jesus! We cram our faith and morals down others’ throats, quote scripture, act all high and mighty and “holier than thou”… and then we wonder why people don’t want to be around us! We are quick to judge those who don’t agree with us. We are overbearing in our presentation of a life in Christ, and basically, we give others the impression (if not the outright claim) that “it’s pretty much my way or the highway!”
This is not the way to win friends and influence people, much less add to the Kingdom of Heaven! Remember… our “job guidelines” as Christians are very specific. We are to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with others in a calm, quiet, graceful manner, and then we are to step aside and allow God room to work. If we are mistreated or given a poor reception, this is not an invitation to press harder. We are to move on… to say, “LORD, I’ve been obedient… I’ve planted the seeds… I’m trusting you for the outcome.”
What about you? Are you a gentle witness… a respectable “court processor” for Jesus Christ? Or are you pushy and overbearing… and as a result, fairly ineffective? Ask God to show you where you have allowed your personal feelings and emotions get in the way of truly serving Him… and serving well. Call on Him to reveal where – and how – you can improve your “processing” skills. Cultivate your ability to effectively deliver the message of Jesus to others… and then to faithfully move on with confidence that the outcome is not up to you. This is the “let go and let God” thing again! If people answer your knock at the door, will they be glad that they did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
“When you knock on a door, be courteous in your greeting. If they welcome you, be gentle in your conversation. If they don’t welcome you, quietly withdraw. Don’t make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and be on your way. You can be sure that on Judgment Day they’ll be mighty sorry—but it’s no concern of yours now.
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.
According to an article on www.ehow.com titled “What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?”… “A court processor serves legal documents. He delivers them to the person to whom the document is intended. The documents can include complaints, subpoenas, summons, writs, order to show cause and various other legal documents. A person can try to evade a court processor, but they're trained, they know every trick in the book, and they will find you eventually. Even if you refuse to accept the documents, you have still been technically served.” Read more: What Are My Rights With a Court Processor?
eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8394480_rights-court-processor.html#ixzz2BPoqjp5r
I don’t think I’d be very good at this job! Clearly, a court processor cannot become emotionally invested. His/her job is to deliver the documents. Whether the recipient is happy about it is truly none of the court processor’s concern. I would imagine that he/she must develop the ability to stay calm and not overreact… to do the job, deliver the papers, and be on his/her way.
We Christians are essentially “court processors” for Jesus. Our job is to deliver His Good News… to tell others about Him, to serve in His name, and to model love of others, grace, mercy, forgiveness and compassion. We are to be diligent in our ministry…but comport ourselves in a kind, calm manner. We are to quietly go about our business – which is the business of representing Jesus to others. We are not to make a scene. If people are receptive to us and our message, that’s wonderful. If not, we must lovingly and quietly retreat. Our only responsibility is to “serve the documents” – not to act as judge and jury… or try to force Jesus on anyone - in any way.
This is not easy for many Christians. We want to go in, “guns blazing,” and save the world for Jesus! We cram our faith and morals down others’ throats, quote scripture, act all high and mighty and “holier than thou”… and then we wonder why people don’t want to be around us! We are quick to judge those who don’t agree with us. We are overbearing in our presentation of a life in Christ, and basically, we give others the impression (if not the outright claim) that “it’s pretty much my way or the highway!”
This is not the way to win friends and influence people, much less add to the Kingdom of Heaven! Remember… our “job guidelines” as Christians are very specific. We are to share the GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ with others in a calm, quiet, graceful manner, and then we are to step aside and allow God room to work. If we are mistreated or given a poor reception, this is not an invitation to press harder. We are to move on… to say, “LORD, I’ve been obedient… I’ve planted the seeds… I’m trusting you for the outcome.”
What about you? Are you a gentle witness… a respectable “court processor” for Jesus Christ? Or are you pushy and overbearing… and as a result, fairly ineffective? Ask God to show you where you have allowed your personal feelings and emotions get in the way of truly serving Him… and serving well. Call on Him to reveal where – and how – you can improve your “processing” skills. Cultivate your ability to effectively deliver the message of Jesus to others… and then to faithfully move on with confidence that the outcome is not up to you. This is the “let go and let God” thing again! If people answer your knock at the door, will they be glad that they did?
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 4, 2012
Matthew 9:35-38
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, NBC news reporter Anne Curry interviewed a woman on Staten Island who looked into the camera and said, “…you need to come here and help us. We need assistance…PLEASE!” Even though thousands of people were either helping already… or headed to the East Coast to give a hand… more were needed. The President and many on his staff were on-site, doing their job… but “harvest hands” were needed to carry out the directives and provide necessary aid and “ground support.”
Truly, the people who live on America’s East Coast are bruised and hurting. Many are indeed aimless… like sheep with no shepherd. But help has arrived…and amazingly in many cases, life is returning to normalcy. Lights are coming on, water is receding or being pumped out, debris is being shoveled up and hauled away, and helping hands are on scene to see that everything is repaired, restored, and renewed.
Can I tell you something? We have a bit of a “Spiritual disaster” on our hands… and it’s happening in our own back yards! Everywhere you look, people are sick, hungry, bruised and hurting. Many are confused and aimless. Others just need to know that someone cares. And the “disastrous” part of this is that few “harvest hands” are answering the call. We are all too busy with our own lives – or our own agendas – to bother with the needs of others. We have decided to let the church or community (i.e. a handful of people who seem to answer EVERY call) handle these issues. Or we have written these people off as simply unworthy of time and attention… most certainly ours!
This is really a sore spot with me. There seem to be plenty of people who are concerned with numbers… how many names are on membership rolls…how much money is in the coffers… how much we are able to afford to purchase (houses, cars, clothes, entertainment, and more)…where our team ranks in the standings…how well our children or grandchildren are doing in school, sports and more…or even how significant our latest ailment/illness was - or what he said/she said. But when it comes to helping the needy… whether the sick and infirm, the poor, the elderly or the orphans, or just the neighbor or fellow church member whose problems are weighing on them like a ton of bricks, most of us simply do not have the time, energy or inclination to do anything.
We are collectively a group who is mostly talk… and very little action. And this is NOT what Jesus expects of His disciples. This.has.to.stop! We have to start caring, at least… and praying for “harvest hands”… our own, and those of fellow Disciples. If you have ever felt neglected or needy in any way and wondered where the “hands and feet of Jesus” were, you can understand in some small way how significant this must be for others in similar situations. How are we ever to add to God’s Kingdom if we show others a body of Christ who is self-centered, disinterested and uncaring?
Jesus has called us to fall to our knees and pray for “harvest hands”… and the first sets to report for duty should be our own. Who needs to hear from you today? Where are the needs in your neighborhood, church, community, and at large? What are you doing to meet these needs? How worn are your “work gloves?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Then Jesus made a circuit of all the towns and villages. He taught in their meeting places, reported kingdom news, and healed their diseased bodies, healed their bruised and hurt lives. When he looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd. “What a huge harvest!” he said to his disciples. “How few workers! On your knees and pray for harvest hands!”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
In the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, NBC news reporter Anne Curry interviewed a woman on Staten Island who looked into the camera and said, “…you need to come here and help us. We need assistance…PLEASE!” Even though thousands of people were either helping already… or headed to the East Coast to give a hand… more were needed. The President and many on his staff were on-site, doing their job… but “harvest hands” were needed to carry out the directives and provide necessary aid and “ground support.”
Truly, the people who live on America’s East Coast are bruised and hurting. Many are indeed aimless… like sheep with no shepherd. But help has arrived…and amazingly in many cases, life is returning to normalcy. Lights are coming on, water is receding or being pumped out, debris is being shoveled up and hauled away, and helping hands are on scene to see that everything is repaired, restored, and renewed.
Can I tell you something? We have a bit of a “Spiritual disaster” on our hands… and it’s happening in our own back yards! Everywhere you look, people are sick, hungry, bruised and hurting. Many are confused and aimless. Others just need to know that someone cares. And the “disastrous” part of this is that few “harvest hands” are answering the call. We are all too busy with our own lives – or our own agendas – to bother with the needs of others. We have decided to let the church or community (i.e. a handful of people who seem to answer EVERY call) handle these issues. Or we have written these people off as simply unworthy of time and attention… most certainly ours!
This is really a sore spot with me. There seem to be plenty of people who are concerned with numbers… how many names are on membership rolls…how much money is in the coffers… how much we are able to afford to purchase (houses, cars, clothes, entertainment, and more)…where our team ranks in the standings…how well our children or grandchildren are doing in school, sports and more…or even how significant our latest ailment/illness was - or what he said/she said. But when it comes to helping the needy… whether the sick and infirm, the poor, the elderly or the orphans, or just the neighbor or fellow church member whose problems are weighing on them like a ton of bricks, most of us simply do not have the time, energy or inclination to do anything.
We are collectively a group who is mostly talk… and very little action. And this is NOT what Jesus expects of His disciples. This.has.to.stop! We have to start caring, at least… and praying for “harvest hands”… our own, and those of fellow Disciples. If you have ever felt neglected or needy in any way and wondered where the “hands and feet of Jesus” were, you can understand in some small way how significant this must be for others in similar situations. How are we ever to add to God’s Kingdom if we show others a body of Christ who is self-centered, disinterested and uncaring?
Jesus has called us to fall to our knees and pray for “harvest hands”… and the first sets to report for duty should be our own. Who needs to hear from you today? Where are the needs in your neighborhood, church, community, and at large? What are you doing to meet these needs? How worn are your “work gloves?”
©2012 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 2, 2012
Matthew 8:18-22
When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.
Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”
Another follower said, “Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father’s funeral to take care of.”
Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue 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.
Priorities matter. Whether you are choosing to do your homework or study for a test before you go out with friends… electing to get a job, show up for work, and support yourself and your family before you spend money on non-essentials…or going on a diet before you buy smaller clothes… it matters what you choose to do first! And our Christian Discipleship is no different!
Most of us seem to comprehend that we have to work and earn money before we can spend it – and that doing our school work and studying really do help us pass the tests and make the grades. I think we all have enough “smaller” clothes hanging in the closet by default to know that this is not a reasonable incentive to lose the weight! The trouble is… fewer of us seem to grasp the importance of putting God and our service to Him ahead of our own desires and pleasures. So when we would rather go out with friends than show up for mission work, we give ourselves a pass. When we don’t feel all that great or we’re in a bad mood, we say, “I’m not well… God will understand!” Who among us wouldn’t say, “I have to bury my father before I do anything else.”? Yet the correct answer depends totally on WHO ELSE is doing the asking!
God expects us to get this right. He calls on us to order our priorities wisely… to put “first things first!” So you may have to ask Him if going to a party or sporting event with friends trumps staying home and helping a family member who is sick. You might have to choose between an afternoon on the lake… or attending the funeral of your buddy’s grandpa. It’s possible that the mission trip you think God wants you to go on might not be as important as staying home and helping your own family, church family, or community!
The key to setting your priorities straight is to take yourself out of the equation. Ask God, “What do YOU want me to do? How do I serve YOU best?” Notice that nowhere in those questions did I mention what WE want or what is best for US! I’ll admit… asking God for this level of honesty – and committing to do whatever He proposes – is sometimes daunting! We might not like God’s answers! But if we are really “all in,” we’ll agree to them anyway.
God’s business is the business of life… a life in Christ – being His hands and feet to others. Which business are you in these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
When Jesus saw that a curious crowd was growing by the minute, he told his disciples to get him out of there to the other side of the lake. As they left, a religion scholar asked if he could go along. “I’ll go with you, wherever,” he said.
Jesus was curt: “Are you ready to rough it? We’re not staying in the best inns, you know.”
Another follower said, “Master, excuse me for a couple of days, please. I have my father’s funeral to take care of.”
Jesus refused. “First things first. Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue 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.
Priorities matter. Whether you are choosing to do your homework or study for a test before you go out with friends… electing to get a job, show up for work, and support yourself and your family before you spend money on non-essentials…or going on a diet before you buy smaller clothes… it matters what you choose to do first! And our Christian Discipleship is no different!
Most of us seem to comprehend that we have to work and earn money before we can spend it – and that doing our school work and studying really do help us pass the tests and make the grades. I think we all have enough “smaller” clothes hanging in the closet by default to know that this is not a reasonable incentive to lose the weight! The trouble is… fewer of us seem to grasp the importance of putting God and our service to Him ahead of our own desires and pleasures. So when we would rather go out with friends than show up for mission work, we give ourselves a pass. When we don’t feel all that great or we’re in a bad mood, we say, “I’m not well… God will understand!” Who among us wouldn’t say, “I have to bury my father before I do anything else.”? Yet the correct answer depends totally on WHO ELSE is doing the asking!
God expects us to get this right. He calls on us to order our priorities wisely… to put “first things first!” So you may have to ask Him if going to a party or sporting event with friends trumps staying home and helping a family member who is sick. You might have to choose between an afternoon on the lake… or attending the funeral of your buddy’s grandpa. It’s possible that the mission trip you think God wants you to go on might not be as important as staying home and helping your own family, church family, or community!
The key to setting your priorities straight is to take yourself out of the equation. Ask God, “What do YOU want me to do? How do I serve YOU best?” Notice that nowhere in those questions did I mention what WE want or what is best for US! I’ll admit… asking God for this level of honesty – and committing to do whatever He proposes – is sometimes daunting! We might not like God’s answers! But if we are really “all in,” we’ll agree to them anyway.
God’s business is the business of life… a life in Christ – being His hands and feet to others. Which business are you in these days?
©2012 Debbie Robus
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