Daily Devotional for March 25, 2013

Proverbs 2:6-8

For the Lord grants wisdom! From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. He grants a treasure of common sense to the honest. He is a shield to those who walk with integrity. He guards the paths of the just and protects those who are faithful to him.

 

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

 

This morning, I found a Facebook post from my friend Mich that said… “Had an amazing weekend of class at OU. The moment I'll remember... I hung my bumper on the curb outside Cheddars, and when I backed up I tore the darned thing off! It was hanging by a corner. I tried to reattach it, but it just wouldn't cooperate. So I walked away to the Target next door to buy some duct tape. Did I mention it was freezing and the North wind was strong? I had abandoned all dignity and was determined to just tape the darned thing to my car and drive it. When I got back to my car I discovered someone had reattached my bumper! I only needed to put on a little tape and it was OK to drive. I continue to give thanks for Good Samaritans and Invisible Angels who act when we need them.”

 

I know that Mich is a man of integrity, and his path was definitely guarded.  He was certainly protected this weekend.  Would Mich have had the same experience if he didn’t walk in the wisdom and understanding of the LORD?  It’s possible… I’m not saying that God will not look after those who lack common sense and honesty.  I do believe that God extends love and care to all who need it, whether they realize this or not.  But in what measure?  Does God allow us to experience a certain level of discomfort and insecurity in order to persuade us to trust Him more and to seek His wisdom?

 

Yesterday, our Sunday school leader posed the question, “Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday for you?  We each shared our thoughts on this… and many mentioned that they did not feel they would be where they are today without Jesus and the sacrifices He made on that original “Holy Week.”  Others said that knowing the sacrifices Jesus made for them gave them confidence that He loved them and cared for them in all situations… that He was guiding their steps and protecting them and the outcomes of all circumstances… that He offered the promise of heaven and an eternity spent in His presence.  Still another response was that we might be blessed with a wonderful spouse, a beautiful family and many incredible things and experiences in life… but Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem fills us with hope and confidence in His promises.”

 

So what does this mean for us with regard to Proverbs 2:6-8?  Does the wisdom and understanding we receive from a relationship with God really matter?  Would Good Samaritans and Invisible Angels minister to us even if we didn’t operate with integrity?  Would we be where we are today without the guidance and protection of God?  Perhaps… but wouldn’t you rather know for sure?  Without Jesus’ sacrifices, we surely would not have hope and the confidence of His promises to return for us… to be with us forever and in all things.  Wouldn’t you rather live with confidence that God cares for your every situation and circumstance?

 

Duct tape is an amazing product… and no doubt, my friend Mich could have patched his bumper enough to get home.  But I have every confidence that God took a look at his predicament and said, “Here, buddy… let Me give you a hand.  I’ve got this one!”  What God does for those who honor Him and walk with integrity, He will surely do for you.  All you have to do is trust Him… to surrender to His will and operate in His common sense and wisdom. Don’t you want to live with the confidence that God always has your back?  Why did Jesus ride into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday for you?

 

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 24, 2013

March 24 ~ Psalm 101:1-2
I will sing of your love and justice, Lord. I will praise you with songs. I will be careful to live a blameless life—when will you come to help me? I will lead a life of integrity in my own home.
 
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.
 
In 1973, country music artist Charlie Rich recorded a song called “Behind Closed Doors.”  Essentially, this song tells of a woman who behaves one way in public – and another at home “behind closed doors.”  The tag line to the chorus is, “…no one knows what goes on behind closed doors.”  Sadly, I’m afraid this could be the tag line for a lot of us.  We “play nice” in public and project the persona of someone who is polite, kind, morally upright, fair… and honest to a fault.  Then we go home, and “the gloves come off” so to speak… along with our sense of propriety and decorum.
 
We treat our family members poorly… we use foul language and deride others.  We gossip… we connive… we lie to others – and to ourselves.  We think nobody else will find out how we really are, as long as we go to church on Sundays and act nicely at work, school, among our friends and/or when we are in public.  But David tells us in this Psalm that integrity begins at home… where we think no one is looking.  The truth is that GOD is always watching.  And whether we want to believe it or not, others are watching, too.
 
You may think you are doing pretty well.  You don’t curse… you try never to gossip… and you are kind and loving at all times.  But let me ask you this… do you claim to trust Jesus in all things, then go home and wring your hands, worry and wrestle over challenges and concerns?  Are you all about telling others how “the LORD will provide” as you question the very circumstances of your own life?  Do you attend worship services and Bible studies and then blow up and get upset over the least of things that don’t go your way?
 
As human beings, there is no way we can sustain a “split personality” forever.  We will slip up at some point, and the four-letter words we let fly at home will pepper our language in public.  We’ll find it easy to say something we shouldn’t have or lash out at someone in the heat of the moment.  If we mistreat our siblings, our spouse, our children or our pets, this behavior will carry over into our “public” lives… or someone will realize our secret.  Others will discover what we really think about them… how we truly talk and act… or how weak our faith in God to meet our needs truly is…and our “Christian” witness will be tarnished.
 
God wants to equip us to operate with integrity at all times… in all places. He wants to help us control our thoughts and actions on every front. Through His love and justice, we are each able to come before Him and receive the help we need.  Because of the blood of Jesus on the cross, our sins can be forgiven.  We can ask God to enable us to live a more blameless life… and to trust Him more fully.
 
Jesus stands at the door and knocks, fully aware of what goes on inside your home… and your heart.  Does what is on the inside match the outside?  Have you entrusted Him to help you live with integrity?  Have you given Him glory and praise for His love and justice?  Isn’t this Holy Week a great time to renew your commitment to living a more blameless life in Christ and sharing His amazing love with others?  Operating with complete integrity seems like such a small gesture of respect for the One who sacrificed so much.  Will you praise the LORD in song and action - and glorify Him in your daily living… regardless of who is looking?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 23, 2013

March 23 – Proverbs 2:20-22
So—join the company of good men and women, keep your feet on the tried-and-true paths. It’s the men who walk straight who will settle this land, the women with integrity who will last here. The corrupt will lose their lives; the dishonest will be gone for good.
 
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson.  Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO.  All rights reserved.
 
This morning, I read “The Three Little Bears” to my almost-two-year-old niece, Zola.  You know the story… Momma Bear makes porridge for herself, Poppa Bear and Baby Bear, and while it cools, they take a walk.  A little girl named Goldilocks comes along while out for a walk in the woods.  She knocks on the door, and when no one answers… she goes right in and helps herself to food, seating, and a bed for a nap!  She even breaks Baby Bear’s chair when she sits in it.
 
When the bears return, they discover the intruder.  Goldilocks wakes up, sees the bears, lets out a yell and runs out of the house… and the story says she was gone for good, because she never went for a walk in the woods again.
 
Clearly, nobody explained integrity to Goldilocks!  She thought nothing of entering someone else’s home, eating their food, sitting in their chairs, or sleeping in their beds.  And a lot of us are very much like her!  We do what we please… when we please… and take whatever we want as if we are entitled.  We say things we shouldn’t.  We step off the “straight-and-narrow path” and dance to the beat of our own drummer… or that of the devil himself.  And ultimately, our dishonesty and brazenness catch up with us, and we are “gone for good.”  Nobody wants anything to do with us… and who could blame them?!
 
Too many of us have our sights fixed on instant gratification… a “what’s-in-it-for-me-now” mentality.  We need to focus on the things of God… His will for our lives and what He wants us to accomplish in His name for the long haul.  We need to think more about eternity and how we get there than on a temporary gratification… a warm bowl of porridge, a chair and a comfortable bed, so to speak!
 
What about you?  Are you sticking to a path that leads to lasting rewards and eternity with Jesus… or are you living as if you are on a walk through the woods – hoping to find momentary pleasure in the things of this world?  Are you treating others with respect and dignity… do you value their property and their feelings?  Have you asked God to show you the path you should take in order to fulfill His purpose for your life?  Have you prayed for moral character and integrity… have you asked God to reveal His plan for your life?  Isn’t today a great day to do all of this?
 
Even if you started down another path, there is still time to turn back and regroup.  You don’t have to be like Goldilocks and never take a walk in the woods again.  You just have to stay on the right trail and let God lead the way.  Who is guiding your steps these days?  Whose path are you following… and where are you ultimately headed?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 22, 2013

March 22 ~ Proverbs 19:1
Better to be poor and honest than a rich person no one can trust.
 
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.
 
Suppose someone offered you a million dollars, and all you had to do in return was deliver a package for them.  You didn’t know what was in the package, and you didn’t ask.  But you were pretty sure that what was happening was illegal… or at best, shady in some way.  Would you do it?  Now suppose your boss told you, “If you don’t lie for me about XYZ, you’re fired.”  What would you do?  After all, you have a family counting on your income… you have bills to pay…and all that you’re being asked to do is issue one simple, false statement or perform a single dishonest act.  Maybe you’re being asked to say you saw a vehicular accident happen in a certain way – to place the blame on another driver.  Or perhaps you are being asked to provide an alibi… “He was with me the whole time.”  What could it hurt?
 
What if you could cheat on a test and score high enough for a scholarship… or you could shift one number and pocket some extra dollars that no one else would ever miss?  If being honest about something meant you might actually suffer some sort of material loss… would you tell the truth?  Let’s say you know there is something shifty going on with your friends or family members… or in the business in which you work… and reporting this could get a lot of people in trouble and/or cost you friendships and your job.  How would you react?  Suppose you were encouraged to pass off shoddy work… to cut corners in order to increase profits or speed up production.  Could you keep quiet?
 
Let’s face it… life is not totally “black and white.”  But too many of us are more concerned with “What’s in it for me?” than doing the right thing.  Do you really want to work for a dishonest boss?  Do you truly value friends who lie, cheat and steal?  Are you doing family members a favor by keeping their secrets and allowing harm to come to them – and others?  How would you feel if you were treated this way?  Are you totally honest in all things?  Are you willing to compromise your principles for personal gain?  Are you more worried about how these things will affect you than in operating with integrity?
 
Being completely honest often requires a leap of faith and a heavy dose of courage.  God will supply you with both.  You may not always be the most popular person in some circles… or the wealthiest in terms of money and “stuff.”  But you will be rich beyond measure in the things that truly matter… the blessings of God and His favor.  Does this mean that all “rich” people are dishonest?  Absolutely not!  But in our culture, we have become so jaded by material wealth and “things,” that many of us often gauge our credibility and success in terms money and possessions instead of how well we love and serve others… and God.
 
Take a good hard look at your life and see where you have lost focus.  Figure out what really matters to you and see where you have been willing to compromise your values in favor of a quick fix or something that seems to have value…but might actually be rather hollow.  Fix your attention on God and the things that matter to Him.  Make these the center of your life, and allow Him to determine your course.  Let God show you how to do great things with less “stuff” and more integrity.  Learn to value the things that He prizes.  You may find that you are richer than you ever dreamed possible… in ways that truly matter.
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 21, 2013

Proverbs 11:3
The integrity of the honest keeps them on track; the deviousness of crooks brings them to ruin.
 
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.
 
Believe it or not, there is an organization called the National Association for Shoplifting Prevention.  According to information found at www.shoplifters.org, approximately 1 in 11 persons in our country today is a shoplifter.  The reasons for shoplifting are varied, but many do not need the items and/or can afford to purchase them outright.  These people get a “lift” from getting “something for nothing.”  This “high” is more important to the shoplifter than the merchandise being stolen.  Others steal to make up for a “loss” in their life…illness, job loss, the death of someone significant in their lives, a relationship breakup or dissolution, and more.  Shoplifting may often make the person feel temporarily more in control.
 
Still others shoplift to relieve tension, anxiety, sadness or boredom, while others consider shoplifting a justifiable compensation for something lacking in their lives… payback for all they have given to others, how they feel they have been mistreated, or a specific experience. While many shoplifters fully expect to get caught at some point, they are often appalled to be placed in jail with “hardened criminals” for such a “petty crime.”
 
I used shoplifting as an example of dishonesty, but there are parallels for many areas of our life.  You may be patting yourself on the back and saying, “Thank goodness this isn’t me!”  But I ask you to take a good hard look at yourself.  Are there other areas where you “shoplift?”  Do you engage in other dishonest or deceptive behaviors in order to temporarily give yourself a “lift” or to compensate for some wrong you feel has been done against you?  Do you embellish the truth to make yourself look better to others?  Do you brag about how fast you drove to XYZ and didn’t get caught?  Do you participate in illegal activities like underage drinking… or drug abuse?  Do you cheat on your taxes… or even take extra condiments from the fast-food place “because they are ‘free’?”
 
Do you put on a good front in public to make everyone think that your life is hunky-dory, then conduct yourself in a totally different manner at home in front of your family and close friends?  Do you pretty well thumb your nose at the world because some things have happened in your life and you feel entitled to do so?  Are you one of those people who fumbles in his/her pocket for money when it comes time to pay the bill - then lets someone else pay… or “borrows” from others and never gives the items back…or pretends to be busy and lets someone else do all the work – then shares in the credit?  Have you become comfortable with gossip, “white lies” and other “harmless petty crimes?"
 
There are countless ways in which we are all capable of dishonesty, if we are not careful and on constant guard.  The adage that you can “give him enough rope and he’ll hang himself” often applies and our sins are discovered… and we have to “come clean” – at least temporarily.  But it really shouldn’t matter whether we are ever caught in a lie or not.  GOD knows!  He sees how incorrigible we often are, and this breaks His heart.  There really is no excuse… not the circumstances of our life, our childhood or upbringing, or our “innocence.”  We all must strive to operate with more integrity if we want to be like Jesus.
 
Stop what you are doing today and talk to God.  Tell Him that you know there may be areas of your life where even YOU are not aware that you are dishonest or lack integrity.  Ask God to shine a bright light on your heart and reveal the places where you need to improve.  Don’t risk even the slightest opportunity for ruin.  Humbly call upon God to help you with this… and make every effort to stay on track and operate with honesty and integrity - in all things… and at all times.
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 20, 2013

Proverbs 10:9
People with integrity walk safely, but those who follow crooked paths will slip and fall.
 
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.
 
In the beautiful Arkansas Ozarks where we live, there are dozens of hiking trails, scenic vistas, and breathtaking landscapes.  And the only way to enjoy many of them involves a hike!   In the immediate area surrounding my community, there are at least three designated hiking areas that lead to some incredible scenery… much of it along bluffs and steep trails.  As long as you stay on the designated - and well-worn - pathways, you should have no problem.  But more than one person has decided to make his/her own way… and more than a few accidents have resulted. 
 
At one particular landmark, there is a crevice in a steep rock formation commonly known as “Fat Man’s Squeeze.”  The rocks have been worn slick by the thousands of climbers who have traversed them over time. Still, this is the recognized path to the top of “Sugarloaf Mountain.”  But there will be those who decide to find another route to the top.  This may be the result of arrogance, a sense of daring and adventure, or ignorance.  But more than one person has fallen… there have been broken bones, and no doubt more than few bumps, scrapes and/or harrowing experiences.
 
I grew up visiting many of these local landmarks.  People who were older and wiser than I showed me the safest paths to take… and how to navigate them successfully.   As I visit these places now, I often wonder how those unfamiliar with this area manage to visit safely.  Who shows them the ropes?  Who tells them which crevice is “Fat Man’s Squeeze” (because there is more than one crevice!) and who reminds them to stay on the worn footpaths to avoid slipping and sliding? How do they know that there are potential dangers and pitfalls along the less-worn trails that lead to nowhere?
 
In our daily living, we need the same sort of guidance.  There are designated pathways… but there are also potential dangers and pitfalls.  Who shows us the ropes?  And who will show others?  Are we people of integrity who walk safely… or are we on crooked paths that leave us subject to a fall?  Are we paying attention to the signs and operating in honesty, morality and faithfulness?  Are we treating others as we would like to be treated?  Are we setting the best example possible in our daily living? Or are we on a collision course with disaster… wandering willy-nilly through life doing as we please and hoping for the best?
 
God put these beautiful vistas and scenic landmarks in our midst for us to enjoy…just as He wants us to enjoy our life in general.  But He also gave us clear pathways to follow… a moral compass… Biblical guidelines and Jesus’ example of how to conduct our lives and walk safely.  It is up to us to pay attention and stay on course.  How are you doing? Are you safely walking on the path to integrity… or are you headed up a crooked trail toward destruction?  Now is the time to turn around… to alter your course and get back on track.  Don’t risk your neck – physically, emotionally, or spiritually – for a thrill, a whim, or an attempt to exercise your independence!  Stay on the pathway…walk safely in all matters… and see what amazing vistas God shows you!
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 19, 2013

March 19 ~ Luke 16:10-13
For unless you are honest in small matters, you won’t be in large ones.  If you cheat even a little, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.  And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?  And if you are not faithful with other people’s money, why should you be entrusted with money of your own?  “For neither you nor anyone else can serve two masters.  You will hate one and show loyalty to the other, or else the other way around – you will be enthusiastic about one and despise the other.  You cannot serve both God and money.”
 
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.
 
When you get your credit card or utility bills… or your bank statement… you probably go over every line with a fine-toothed comb – or you should!  I often hear people talk about hidden charges they discovered – and had removed.  Or maybe you have discovered a charge on your bill that you did not authorize.  Sometimes, we simply didn’t read the “fine print.”  But there are times when I have to wonder whether some corporations figure you will never notice that little surcharge buried in the details.  Over time, these amounts add up!  Let’s say you or I had a small business where we tucked in little “incidental” charges that we did not disclose to our clients.  Do you think we would have repeat customers if this were discovered?  Could our reputation for honesty, fairness and integrity be compromised?
 
I think we understand the ramifications of cheating on a large scale.  Most of us get it that we cannot borrow money from a bank, or even a friend or relative – and fail to repay the loan, without some serious consequences.  But we fail to recognize that the impact of our failures to follow through on the smaller things in life can be just as critical.  A local news station has been sponsoring a multi-week fitness program for a group of out-of-shape moms.  Each week, a news report charts their progress.  This week, the headline was a report that several of the moms are not showing up for the workouts.  They are not honoring their commitment to the program.  Not only are they failing to reach their goals and achieve the desired level of fitness, but their lack of commitment has been “outed” to their families, friends and co-workers on state-wide television!  One has to wonder how these women treat other commitments if they fail to meet one with such a public view!
 
Do you see where I am headed with this?  Jesus tells us in this passage that we “cannot serve two masters.”  I would suggest that those of us who are unable to keep our word… or to be honest and honorable in seemingly small and insignificant things… are probably not capable of doing any better with big matters.  If you lie (even to yourself) and say, “Nobody else will know if I eat this extra piece of cake”… or “Sue will forget that I owe her that $50”…how likely are you lie to your spouse about the new pair of shoes you bought, where you really went when you said you were having dinner with a friend, or how committed you are to your marriage?”
 
If you can pick up pens and paper clips at work and carry them home for personal use… or “borrow” a friend’s t-shirt and keep it to wear as your own… how will others ever believe that you can be trusted not to help yourself to their personal property - as an employee, or even as a friend or acquaintance?  If you say one thing and do another, how will anyone ever believe you when you profess to be a faith-filled disciple of Christ?
 
This passage is about so much more than money.  Jesus used this as His example, because so many of us do seem to worship the almighty dollar, so He knew we would easily relate to this analogy.  But we all have moments each and every day to make a choice about whether to be honorable and trustworthy with seemingly insignificant issues and situations that have substantial and widespread ramifications… and speak directly to our moral and spiritual character.
 
What about you?  Are you faithful in the small stuff?  Are you honest and aboveboard in all things… are you truly honest with yourself?  Do you understand how important integrity is in the life of a Christian?  How authentic are you?  Which “Master” will you serve today?
 
©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 18, 2013

March 18 ~ Job 31:4-8
Doesn’t he see everything I do and every step I take? “Have I lied to anyone or deceived anyone? Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity. If I have strayed from his pathway, or if my heart has lusted for what my eyes have seen, or if I am guilty of any other sin, then let someone else eat the crops I have planted. Let all that I have planted be uprooted.

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.

It is a well-documented fact in the world of caregiving that the person receiving care often “bites the hand that feeds them.”  In other words, the primary caregiver bears the brunt of this person’s frustrations, unkind comments and gestures, and more.  It’s not that the person receiving care is necessarily ungrateful.  Experts say this happens because he/she knows that the primary caregiver probably cannot – or will not – desert them…so they feel safe to “vent” or treat them however they please.  I’ve heard more than one caregiver say, “I can do nothing right… but let XYZ come to visit, and the heavens seem to open!”  Or a distant relative will show up for a day or two and get the royal treatment… and maybe the family heirlooms… then be gone like a vapor!

All of this is enough to make caregivers throw up their hands and say, I’m done!  I’m no longer going to care as much, visit as often, or be as nice!  In your world, this may translate to, “Why should I work so hard in school when Jim never has to do anything, and he seems to get by?”  Or maybe you feel like it doesn’t matter how much work you do in your job or your church, someone else is going to receive the accolades or be the “favorite.”  Maybe you have been diligent to work hard, pay your bills on time, and follow the letter of the law, and you know someone who skirts the edge of all of these things and seems to breeze through life driving a nicer car, wearing better clothes, and living in a bigger house… seemingly living “the good life.” You may wonder, “What’s the point?”  I know there have been times when I have observed others and said, “If I did what they were doing, I would have been bankrupt and in the ‘pokey’ years ago!”

I get it… this is enough to make us crazy at times…to frustrate us that we try so hard to do all we are supposed to do, and those who snub their nose at convention sometimes seem to get a free pass.  But here’s the deal… it’s all about integrity.  We can sum up the reason to “keep on keepin’ on” in the first line of this scripture passage… “Doesn’t He see everything I do and every step I take?”  The professor may not ever know you cheated on a test… the police officer may not catch you speeding… the bill collectors may write off your debt… your friends may never know you lied to them or betrayed them to others… but God will know all of this – and more.

The question becomes… “Who do you serve?”  Are you concerned with getting away with things or doing just enough to get by? Are you proud of the fact that you duped the system, your friends or family members and “they didn’t even know what hit them?”  Or are you willing to say, “I have done what God asked of me… I have lived in a way that honors Him and my commitment to serve as a disciple of Christ. I have worked hard and earned everything I have received ‘the old fashioned way.’  If God can find fault with how I did this, He is welcome to give all I have to someone else!”?

At the end of the day, our goal should be to walk in the confidence that we have served faithfully, honestly, and earnestly. It should not matter what the other guy is doing or how he/she is or isn’t behaving.  Integrity is a hallmark in the life of a committed, faith-filled Christian.  God will give us the strength and courage to conduct our lives with honor, if we will only ask Him and trust His lead.  You are not accountable to God for anyone else…and accountability to God is really all that matters.  How are you doing?  When God sees everything you do and every step you take, is He pleased?  Are you a person of true integrity?  Shouldn’t you be?

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 17, 2013

March 17 ~ Job 27:1-5
Job said: I am desperate because God All-Powerful refuses to do what is right. As surely as God lives, and while he gives me breath, I will tell only the truth. Until the day I die, I will refuse to do wrong by saying you are right…

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

As I flipped through my prayer journal this morning, I found several instances where I have made the same requests to God… day after day, week after week.  I asked Him many times, “Aren’t you ready for my Mam-ma Polly yet?” because I saw how miserable she was.  I asked Him to intervene in other situations, and it seemed things never really got any better.  I prayed for healing for a precious friend with breast cancer… and it came all right – when God suddenly called her home to heaven.

I have repeatedly brought the same requests before God, even though it appeared He was refusing to answer me.  But the one thing I have not done is to blame God or to give up on believing for an outcome.  If anything, I have learned to trust Him more than ever.  Even as I would write, “Can’t Mam-ma come Home yet?” I knew he was gently laughing and shaking His head at me in a fatherly way.  He was saying, “Oh, sweetie… I hear you… but we’re on MY time – not yours.”  So I refused to say (even to myself), “God is so mean for leaving my grandmother here in a failing body without the ability to speak and communicate.”  I would not let the devil have the pleasure of knowing that even for one minute I questioned God.  Yes, I asked for mercy for her… but I trusted God’s impeccable timing and outcome.  And even this week as I looked at how the last days, weeks and hours of my grandmother’s life unfolded, I see God’s hand in the minute details - as well as the big picture.

As I pray for other people and situations, I learn more every day how important it is for me to step aside and let God work.  He wants us to bring our petitions before Him.  He doesn’t mind that I make the same requests virtually every day for certain persons and circumstances.  But God expects me to lift my concerns to Him… then trust Him to handle them.  Believe me, on some fronts it would be incredibly easy to throw up my hands and say, “Go ahead, devil! Take this (or them)… I’m done, and it looks like maybe God is, too!”  But this is not my call.  Throwing in the towel and living as we please because we didn’t exactly get our way with God is not the mark of integrity… or of a faith-filled Christian!

Yes, there are days when we feel a little desperate.  But Christians do not abide by the tenet that “desperate times call for desperate measures.”  To the contrary, desperate times call for a renewed resolve to trust in God and maintain our faith… and our integrity.  If you feel a little desperate today, stop and think about Job and how he was tested.  Consider all that Jesus endured on the cross for your sins… and the promise of eternity with Him in heaven.  Then ask yourself whether giving up – or giving in – are really viable options.

God is still God.  He still sits on the throne and is still very much in charge.  Will you recognize this?  Will you behave as if it were so?  Will others always see in you a person of integrity… at all times and in all situations?  Will you allow God complete control of your life and all outcomes?  Will you demonstrate to others God’s power in your life to reject the devil’s advances…to refuse to concede defeat?  How principled are you?  Whose camp are you really in… and is it apparent to others?

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 16, 2013

March 16 ~ Job 2:9
His wife said to him, “Are you still trying to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die.”

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.

In his book When Bad Things Happen to Good People, author Harold S. Kushner tells the story of Martin Gray, who survived the horrors of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Holocaust.  He married, built a successful life, and raised a family.  One day his wife and children were killed in a forest fire that destroyed their home in the south of France.  Some demanded an inquiry as to whether there was negligence or someone was at fault.  But Gray refused.  He said that accusing others for your misery only makes you lonelier.  He maintained that life has to be lived for something, not against it.

An awful lot of us are living our lives against something.  We are seeking blame or making excuses.  Basically, we are ready to “curse God and die.”  I once knew someone who turned her back on God after her father’s death.  In her words, “What kind of God would allow my daddy to suffer like that?!”  Indeed, it does often seem hard to comprehend the hardships some face.  But giving situations a purpose and meaning often makes them more bearable Kushner points out that soldiers who lose a limb fighting for something have a better outlook than those who suffered the same in jury in a car or boating accident.

It often seems that in order to maintain our integrity, we must find the purpose for everything… and it had better be a good one!  In other words, when troubles come, we give up on God and take whatever means necessary to survive and/or feel good.  We are easily persuaded to “curse God and die” – inwardly, at least, if not literally.

My prayer for each of us today is that we would not sit back and wait on God to show us His purpose for our lives in each situation… but that we would endeavor to find it and to create good outcomes out of even seemingly bad situations.  THIS is the mark of integrity… to consistently maintain our values, principles, and expectations… to never waiver in our faith - even when things are crumbling around us.  The person of integrity doesn’t ask, “Why me, LORD?”  He/she asks, “Where do I go from here?  What are You showing me?”

These are the questions for today… “What is God showing you?  And what are you doing with it?”  Will you give meaning to the things that happen in your life - with God’s help - or are you ready to curse Him and die?  Are you living your life for something… or against it?  The choice is yours.  Our reactions to people, situations and circumstances gives them meaning – either positive or negative.  What are yours saying about you… and your faith in God to handle all things?

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 15, 2013

March 15 ~ Job 2:1-5
One day when the angels came to report to God, Satan also showed up. God singled out Satan, saying, “And what have you been up to?” Satan answered God, “Oh, going here and there, checking things out.” Then God said to Satan, “Have you noticed my friend Job? There’s no one quite like him, is there—honest and true to his word, totally devoted to God and hating evil? He still has a firm grip on his integrity! You tried to trick me into destroying him, but it didn’t work.”

Satan answered, “A human would do anything to save his life. But what do you think would happen if you reached down and took away his health? He’d curse you to your face, that’s what.”

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

When I was teaching kindergarten, one of my five-year-olds fell out in the hallway as our “lunch line” of students snaked its way to the cafeteria one morning.  A severe diabetic, this child’s sugar level plummeted, and she collapsed.  I heard the loud clank of her metal lunchbox, looked back, and saw her limp body… and I knew she was in trouble.  I rushed her to the nearby nurse’s station, and we called an ambulance.  Several suggested we give her something to eat or drink, but I was afraid she would choke. Her mother had said, “If anything happens, call an ambulance.” So that’s what we did.  I rode with the child to medical clinic where her pediatrician practiced… located across town.  There, she was given saltine crackers and a Coke.  The sugar level rose, and thankfully, all was well.  After that, we began checking her urine each day before lunch to make sure her sugar levels were within acceptable range.

After this episode, my then-assistant principal drove to the clinic to retrieve me.  We were both shaken by the incident, and as she drove away from the clinic, she said, “What do you need, besides a good stiff drink?”  We both laughed.  But for many, this… or a cigarette…a pint of rich delicious ice cream… an extravagant shopping spree…a wild, reckless drive in a motorized vehicle of some sort…or some other “balm” would be the answer.  See, when the going gets tough, a lot of us fold up or surrender to temptation.  We find solace in things like food, nicotine, alcohol, drugs, overspending, and irresponsible behaviors.  After all, we deserve to be a little crazy for all of our trouble… right?

When trouble comes… when tragedy strikes… when “bad things happen to good people,” the devil takes great delight in the fact that a lot of us turn from God – or at least turn toward the things that displease Him.  Unlike Job, we turn away from the God who has supplied all of our needs and claim that “we’re entitled to go a little crazy.”  Integrity, schmegrity!  It’s time for us to have a pity party and/or get a little wild!  We’ve had a lot of hardship in our life… we deserve to shirk our responsibilities for a change.  Things have not gone well for us in any way/shape/form… it’s time we spat on the world!  And this is exactly what many of us do.

We blame our illness, our employer, our teachers and coaches – or our parents – our church our past disappointments, or our childhood for all of the things that have happened to us.  And we essentially say to God…”You let these things happen to us, and we’re not going to tolerate it!”  In truth, all we are doing is saying, “I’d rather dance with the devil than trust God to help me through whatever struggles and challenges I’m facing.”  It’s not easy to “keep your cool.” And often, doing the right thing is the hardest choice in the world.  But I believe many of us know what we choices we should make… we just choose poorly.

So my challenge to each of us today is to take courage… to stay faithful… and to kick the devil to the curb.  No matter what comes your way, say, “I’m not budging.  God will see me through.  It may be messy – even ugly at times – but He will never desert me.”  I promise, you cannot say the same for the devil… a stiff drink, that shopping spree, or even a pint of ice cream (although it may stick around a little longer than you’d like!).  The one constant… the only sure thing… is God Almighty.  Stick with Him…choose to keep your integrity and behave in a way that pleases God.  Live with the confidence that He is in charge and will never give you more than you can handle.  Tell the devil to “Bring it!  I’m serving a God who is big enough to help me handle all that you’ve got!”  Then claim this for yourself… take it to heart…and make it so.

Never give up – or in – to the devil.  Stick with God, preserve your integrity, and steer clear of any potential for destruction.

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 14, 2013

Ephesians 4:1-3
In light of all this, here’s what I want you to do. While I’m locked up here, a prisoner for the Master, I want you to get out there and walk—better yet, run!—on the road God called you to travel. I don’t want any of you sitting around on your hands. I don’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere. And mark that you do this with humility and discipline—not in fits and starts, but steadily, pouring yourselves out for each other in acts of love, alert at noticing differences and quick at mending fences.

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.

Yesterday, we celebrated the life of my grandmother, Willie Dove “Polly” Chandler… all 100 years, 123 days of it. My grandmother was by no means perfect, but if you could have heard all of the wonderful things said about her and how she served others, you would be tempted to argue this point! She was described by one speaker as a “Proverbs 31” woman (go look it up!)… and by many who passed by her casket as “such a loving, giving person who always had a smile and a word of encouragement for others.” She didn’t just walk down the road God called her to travel… she ran!

I learned so much from my grandmother… and emulating her will be no small challenge! Of all the things she taught me, the most important were summed up in one of her favorite mantras… “The LORD will take care of me” …and He did. Was her life easy? Absolutely not! I can’t begin to tell you everything she saw and did in more than a century, but I know the LORD took care of her through the abandonment by her father at around age 12… the loss of her first baby, who died at birth…the loss of her older brother in a car accident when he was about 18…the death of her mother and all of her other siblings, her husband, her only living son, and her grandson, as well as countless friends and relatives… the loss of virtually all of her earthly belongings in a house fire when she was in her early 70s… numerous surgeries, illnesses and physical challenges – including a wreck when she was driving the school bus that left her with whiplash and put her in a cervical collar and traction for months. Still… the LORD took care of her through each of these things… and many more.

My grandmother grew up with virtually nothing, and for most of her adult life, she lived meagerly on the modest earnings she and my grandfather were able to produce from working more than one job and growing almost all of their own food (and selling the excess). Still, the LORD took care of her, and she faithfully presented a regular tithe to her church. When I took over managing her affairs, I marveled at how her dollars could stretch… and I made sure to make her tithe the first check I wrote each month!

Yes, the LORD took good care of her. And my grandmother quickly gave Him all the credit. When she met someone new, she would ask, “Can you stay for dinner (lunch) or supper?” …followed quickly by “Where do y’all go to church?” If the answer was not satisfactory, she would invite them to join her – at her table… and for services the following Sunday. Hers was a life rich in the things of the LORD… not necessarily material objects or monetary wealth. Her focus was firmly fixed on a heavenly home, where I know she is dancing and shouting today… and feasting at the LORD’s table. You see…He is still taking good care of her!

What about us? What is our focus? Which road are we traveling, and at what speed? Are we quick to serve the LORD… and to trust Him to take care of us? Do we depend upon Him even when things get rough… or tragedy strikes? Or do we fold up and turn to take another path? What is our ultimate focus… where are we headed?

I’ll be honest…the “glue” that held my family together - our matriarch - has gone to be with Jesus, and we’re all just a little lost. But I can already hear my grandmother saying, “Dry it up (the tears) and get up from there! You’ve got work to do and there’s no sense wasting time. The LORD will take care of you… you just need to let Him. Get on, now! They’s lots worse things than dying.” And she is right. So c’mon… we’ve got work to do… let’s work on this together and stay on the right path until the LORD calls us to heaven. I’m in… are you?

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 10, 2013

John 14:1-4
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. And you know the way to where I am going.”

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.

Thursday morning (March 8th) at 7:00, our phone rang. The nurse at my grandmother’s Assisted Living Facility told my husband that the aides went in to wake Mam-ma Polly for breakfast and found her unresponsive. We quickly dressed and rush to the facility, where she lay with her eyes shut…breathing heavily. I had suspected for a few days she might be developing pneumonia, but upon examination, the Hospice nurse felt certain that she had suffered a stroke. It did not look good.

We sat all day Thursday and through the night… into Friday morning. Many came and went, and all told her how much she was loved. Some told her “Good-bye” … that her heavenly home would be ready soon. Indeed, a group of men and women came to play gospel music for the residents, and they dedicated “Heaven Is My Home” to Mrs. Polly… then followed it with “I’ll Fly Away.”

The Hospice nurses encouraged me to talk to Mam-ma, to gently encourage her to let go and “fly away” to Jesus. During the day on Thursday, I read scripture passages to her from her own Bible… many she had marked in some way, underlined, or noted in the margins. One of the passages I read to her from the King James Version – her personal favorite – was John 14:1-4…

Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

I talked to my grandmother about heaven… about all who waited there… the glory of meeting Jesus face-to-face…the beauty of having a new, young, healthy body… no more pain or sorrow or tears. Sheer joy awaited in a mansion made especially for her. I sang an old hymn, “Softly and Tenderly,” which says in part… “See on the portals He’s waiting and watching… watching for you and for me. Come home… come home… ye, who are weary come home. Earnestly, tenderly, Jesus is calling… calling, oh, sinner…come home.” And Friday night, my grandmother did exactly that. Jesus extended His arms and said, “Your mansion is ready… and she took His hand and went Home for good.”

I told Mam-ma over and again, “We’ll be along after you soon. We’ll see you again. We’re coming, too… just not yet.” I believe that completely. I look forward to the day when my mansion is ready and I can truly see the face of Jesus. Meanwhile, I know I have work to do here. My grandmother gave me an incredible example in 100 years, 123 days of how it’s done…how to live for Jesus and put Him first… how to serve others and love them with grace, mercy and forgiveness… and how to never stop living and fulfilling God’s purpose for your life. As I have prepared for her funeral and read countless messages and memories from those who knew and loved her, I am sure that she found God’s will and purpose for her life and fulfilled it. I pray that I can be a good servant and model her faith. I pray that you are working on your mansion, as well.

I know it’s been a couple of days since I posted a devotional… and now you know why. I pray that God will bless and keep you… and that He will give me strength, courage and wisdom as I resume these writings in the next few days. Love others more than yourself… figure out God’s purpose for your life – and fulfill it… and live well on this earth in preparation for your Heavenly mansion. God bless and keep you…until you fly away Home.

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 6, 2013

Deuteronomy 23:21-23
“When you make a vow to the Lord your God, be prompt in fulfilling whatever you promised him. For the Lord your God demands that you promptly fulfill all your vows, or you will be guilty of sin. However, it is not a sin to refrain from making a vow. But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.

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.

There is a saying that some people will often lie when the truth would have been better. I bet you know at least one person who is always saying they will come to your party, help you with a project, or be a certain place at a certain time… and none of this ever happens. I don’t know about you, but I would almost rather this person just say, “I’m not doing that,” or “I can’t be there.” Suppose you volunteered to help at a soup kitchen, and then you didn’t show. Wouldn’t that be worse than not volunteering in the first place? What if you told someone, “I will do this!” and then did as you pleased instead. How do you think that person would feel about you? Would you be considered trustworthy and honest? Would this person feel insulted or disappointed? You would essentially be saying to this person, “You are foolish to believe me.”

Sounds rather harsh and distasteful, doesn’t it? But this is exactly what we do to people… and worse yet… to GOD! We make all sorts of promises and commitments… and then blow off the person. “I got busy,” we say, or “I just couldn’t get it all done.” So don’t commit in the first place! With God, we make incredible promises… “LORD, I promise I am going to stop staying out all night drinking and partying”… until we get the next invitation. Or we say, “Father, if you will just help me get out of a jam this one time, I promise, this will never happen again!” Or even, “God, You have blessed me so much… I’m going to tell everyone how much you mean to me. I’m going to be at church every Sunday… I’m going to be kind, gentle, filled with grace and forgiveness toward others, and I’m going to serve You like never before!” Then we head out the door to a Sunday golf game or dinner and a gossip session with our best friends.

If we are brutally honest, each one of us is guilty of breaking our vows to the LORD, because we humans seem to be wired to make promises we cannot keep! But we can do better. I’m not saying we can ever completely stop this, but we CAN make improvements. We must make a concerted effort to think about our promises… to God and to others… and to remember that it’s always better to tell the truth. If we are uncertain about fulfilling a commitment, say, “I’m not sure I can make it,” or “I would love to help, but I don’t believe my schedule will allow for this now,” or even “I’m sorry, but this is not something I want to do.”

When it comes to serving God, we must be equally careful. If we are not fully committed to a volunteer position, it would be better if we didn’t volunteer in the first place. I am not saying that this gives us an “out” when it comes to volunteering. But we must be very certain that any commitments we make are 100% fulfilled… or we should not offer to help in the first place. As for promising things to God… He already knows what we are capable of handling and what offers mere lip service, and He does not appreciate the latter. Be honest with God… tell Him, “LORD… I’m trying. I may not get there every Sunday… I may have times when my mouth engages before my brain… but I desperately want to serve you and to operate in your will – and not in sin. I am asking You to help me… to show me how to always give You my very best.” Then mean it!

If you only make one vow, let it be to try your very hardest to serve God according to His will. This means you will have to be more awake and alert… and there will be times when not speaking up is better than biting off more than you can chew. Ask God to strengthen you in these areas, and always give Him your very best. The truth is always better. Always mean what you say… and say what you mean.

©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

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

Daily Devotional for March 3, 2013

1 Timothy 2:1-4
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth.

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.

Today I visited my grandmother at her Assisted Living Facility, and for the third time in two weeks, her clothing and laundry were in disarray. I have tried to remain calm and be nice, but I’ve firmly let those in charge know that I am not happy about this. I’ve asked myself, “How hard could it be to fold a person’s laundry and put it in the proper drawers? Can’t they hang up her house dresses and blouses…and match her socks in pairs in the sock drawer?” As I drove home, I thought about how a lot of the work in nursing homes and assisted living facilities is not very pleasant. But the Apostle Paul tells us that whatever we are doing, we should do it to the best of our ability. Doesn’t this include a job that involves handling other people’s laundry?

I turned off the highway toward our neighborhood, and I very clearly heard, “You must pray for them.” Now I have to tell you, I’ve prayed for individuals who work at my grandmother’s facility…and most certainly for many of the residents there. I have prayed for the nurse whose mother is in her last months of a battle with cancer and the administrator whose husband died unexpectedly… the family of the young housekeeper killed in a car wreck on her way home from work one evening… and the aide who was widowed last year and is helping to rear two young grandchildren. But I can’t say for certain that I have collectively prayed for all of the staff who care for my grandmother and her neighbors… that I have asked God to meet their needs in their personal lives and as they serve those in their care. Yet today, I distinctly heard, “You must pray for them.” And I will.

A few years ago, we moved into a house very near the hospital. Several times a week, we hear helicopters landing at the emergency room… transports for persons who are seriously ill and need expedient medical attention – or a higher-level care than is offered at our local facility. One night as the helicopter landed, I began to pray… for the person in need of medical attention… for the staff on the ground and the flight crew… for those at the other hospital who were waiting to receive this patient… and for the family and friends who might be frightened and stressed. I asked God to touch each person… to offer strength, comfort and care… to meet all needs of everyone involved, according to His will.

I don’t know why I decided this was important. But since then, I’ve made this a practice. One late December night I prayed as the helicopter landed, and I later learned the person being transported was my cousin, JD. A tree had fallen full force across his face, breaking nearly every bone there. I never know who might be in the helicopter, and it doesn’t matter… I try to always pray whenever I hear the choppers fly overhead. After all, we are called to pray for all people. And if praying for those involved in a medical emergency flight is important… wouldn’t it be just as important to pray for those who care for my grandmother each day?

Moreover, we don’t often think to pray for our municipal workers, our sheriff and his deputies, the judges in our courts, or our lawmakers and governmental leaders… but we should. Much of what happens in our everyday lives is directly affected by these people and their decisions and actions. We don’t take time to pray for our teachers and coaches… or even our pastor. But these folks help to mold lives and shape the future of our children and those in our churches and communities…and world at large. Don’t they deserve our prayers of intercession?

I’m still not happy with how my grandmother’s laundry is being handled… and we won’t always approve of how our leaders manage things… how we’re treated medically… or the decisions of our teachers and coaches. We won’t like every single person we pray for… but still, we must pray for them – all of them. I told my mother the other day that my prayer list is getting mighty long these days… and yours probably is, too. But that’s okay. Break it down throughout the day. Remember one person or group to God in this breath and someone else in the next. You don’t have to have a “sit-down” prayer session where you list each and every person… although this is okay, too. It really doesn’t matter HOW you pray for all people… but it does matter that you do so.

Prayer is powerful. Prayer draws us closer to God. Our prayers humble us and honor God in the process. When we pray, we operate in obedience. When we pray for others, we operate with integrity. Is prayer for all people an integral part of your life these days? Don’t you think it should be?

©2013 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for March 2, 2013

1 Kings 9:4-5
“As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, obeying all my commands, decrees, and regulations, then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘One of your descendants will always sit on the throne of Israel.’”

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.

When I was in high school, I truly enjoyed math… probably in large part because of my teacher, Mrs. Marilyn Berry. She really cared about her students – inside and outside of the classroom- and I loved her dearly. Now don’t get me wrong… on plenty of days, Mrs. Berry frustrated my classmates and me by giving us tests that didn’t seem to fit what we had just studied – especially in geometry. I loved geometry… there was a “method” to it. Geometry was not so much about finding the right answer as showing how we arrived at it… our “proof.” And as Mrs. Berry would review where we went wrong on the tests and point out the flaws in our “proofs,” the right path would reveal itself.

The heart of geometry lies in hypothesis and conclusion – or proof. According to information at http://hstutorials.net, the geometry definition of hypothesis is explained this way… “A conjecture is something believed to be true, but not yet proved true. We usually state these as if...then statements. The "if" part is the hypothesis...the "then" part is the conclusion.” For us as Christians, life is a lot like geometry. We have been promised eternal life in Jesus Christ. If we have truly committed our hearts to Him (which is the hypothesis)… our place in heaven is secured (which would be the conclusion). But the proof of our devotion and commitment lies in how we get there – which path we take.

God has made great promises over our lives and the lives of our descendants. He has shown us the right path to choose. He has offered us things we could never earn, much less deserve. If we truly want to prove that we appreciate His generosity, we have to operate in obedience, humility, faithfulness… and with integrity. Our word and actions have to be our bond.

People have to know that when we say we will show up… we will show up. When we tell someone we will keep their secret… we must keep it and not go blabbing to everyone we know. When someone asks us to pray for them, we should do so. We need to show up for work, school, church services and activities - even dates with friends or significant others – on time… if not a little bit early. We must be where we are supposed to be, when we are supposed to be there. When we are at work, we should be working… when we are engaged in any task or activity, we should be fully committed to it. We should be genuine, attentive, and responsible in our relationships with friends, family members, co-workers, church members and acquaintances.

As Christians, we must be fully committed to God. We promised to love Him and to love others as ourselves. How are you doing with that? We promised to serve Him and tell others about the amazing life He offers… the incredible sacrifices He made for all of us through Jesus Christ…the love, care, grace, mercy and forgiveness He provides for us each and every day. Are you doing these things? Are you truly a person of integrity? What is your proof? God has said, “If you will do these things, then I will bless and keep you.” I believe God’s promises (conclusion) to be true… and my “proof” will not be finished until I get to heaven. But I plan to work on it every single day. What about you?

©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