Matthew 2:1-4
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem village, Judah territory— this was during Herod’s kingship—a band of scholars arrived in Jerusalem from the East. They asked around, “Where can we find and pay homage to the newborn King of the Jews? We observed a star in the eastern sky that signaled his birth. We’re on pilgrimage to worship him.”
When word of their inquiry got to Herod, he was terrified—and not Herod alone, but most of Jerusalem as well. Herod lost no time. He gathered all the high priests and religion scholars in the city together and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
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.
Greg and I watched a sitcom recently in which a teenager found himself caught in a lie. His older sister convinced him that the best way to get out of it was to tell even BIGGER lies until people began to buy into the story and believe them to be truthful. Of course, this ultimately backfired, and the boy had to “come clean” about what had really happened.
Every single one of us has heard some news that had us scrambling to find out the details…to ask around and “get the skinny” on what was really going to happen. At the heart of the matter, we wanted to know what effect it would have on our own lives. Would this be good news for us…or bad news? When things are rocking along pretty well in our world, we don’t like to think about a change…especially one that might cause us some trouble!
Hopefully, such news has never left us terrified…at least not for the same reasons as Herod! Most assuredly, let’s hope that we never believe that the way to correct misinformation is with more untruths. At the heart of the matter, Herod was operating in fear and pride. His ego would not allow him to consider another king…not even one sent from God. So when he heard news that the Messiah had been born, all he could think about was figuring out a way to find Him and kill Him – or to convince his soldiers to do this! Now that’s some fear and pride at work!
I would hope that none of us plots evil things to cover our own sins – or to deal with our fears and the things that we believe will disrupt life as we know it! But just in case, let me leave you with this thought. Jesus is the light of the world. He tells us in John 10:10 that “I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.” There is nothing to fear about Jesus! With Him, ALL things are possible.
When a sense of fear or dread comes upon you, remember the Good News of Jesus Christ. Say a prayer and ask Him to help you squarely face whatever is in your path…and to give you wisdom and faith as you follow His lead. Like Herod and the “scholars”, we have two paths from which to choose. Make the right decision…follow Jesus, the King of Kings! Worship Him and walk in His ways, and you’ll never have to worry about the outcome.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 7, 2014
Luke 2:16-19
They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our family took in the community’s annual lighted Christmas parade recently… including our niece and her husband and children - Timothy, Zola and Nathan. Timothy was clutching a small drawing that he and his mother had made earlier in the day. There was a depiction of Santa Claus, a reindeer, and some writing. He was very proud of his picture and showed it to several people…but he never let go of it.
Timothy told a friend of ours that he was going to see Santa after the parade. She asked, “Are you going to tell him what you want for Christmas?” With a gentle shake of his head, he very politely, but definitively told her, “No…he already knows!”
After the parade, the children did indeed get to see Santa. And we learned that the picture had been prepared for HIM…for his refrigerator at the North Pole. All that Timothy wanted to do was to give Santa the drawing he made for him. When he saw Santa walking across the lawn, he shot out toward him like a rocket…and he presented him with the picture. Santa thanked him - and Zola and Nathan. And he said, “I’ll be seeing you again very soon!”
Now, I know that Jesus isn’t Santa…and I do not mean to draw that comparison, except to say that the childlike faith and confidence of trusting that Santa WILL come and knows what we want often eludes us in the context of our Christian faith and trusting God for the same things. It doesn’t occur to us to “give back” to Jesus…to “make something for Him” in words and deeds. And while some of us might SAY that we believe that He knows our every need…few of us operate with such confidence and assurance that “God’s got this!” in our daily lives.
With unwavering conviction, the shepherds rushed to the stable to greet the newborn King. With complete certainty, they returned to their village and surrounding pastures to tell everyone what they had seen…that Jesus - the Messiah - was HERE! They did their part to herald the birth of Christ and share the Good News with others.
Today, it’s our turn. What will YOU do to demonstrate your faith and confidence in Jesus? Do you fully believe that He knows what you need before you even speak of it? Isn’t it time for you to trust Him more fully? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
They ran to the village and found their way to Mary and Joseph. And there was the baby, lying in the manger. The shepherds told everyone what had happened and what the angel had said to them about this child. All who heard the shepherds’ story expressed astonishment, but Mary quietly treasured these things in her heart and often thought about them.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Our family took in the community’s annual lighted Christmas parade recently… including our niece and her husband and children - Timothy, Zola and Nathan. Timothy was clutching a small drawing that he and his mother had made earlier in the day. There was a depiction of Santa Claus, a reindeer, and some writing. He was very proud of his picture and showed it to several people…but he never let go of it.
Timothy told a friend of ours that he was going to see Santa after the parade. She asked, “Are you going to tell him what you want for Christmas?” With a gentle shake of his head, he very politely, but definitively told her, “No…he already knows!”
After the parade, the children did indeed get to see Santa. And we learned that the picture had been prepared for HIM…for his refrigerator at the North Pole. All that Timothy wanted to do was to give Santa the drawing he made for him. When he saw Santa walking across the lawn, he shot out toward him like a rocket…and he presented him with the picture. Santa thanked him - and Zola and Nathan. And he said, “I’ll be seeing you again very soon!”
Now, I know that Jesus isn’t Santa…and I do not mean to draw that comparison, except to say that the childlike faith and confidence of trusting that Santa WILL come and knows what we want often eludes us in the context of our Christian faith and trusting God for the same things. It doesn’t occur to us to “give back” to Jesus…to “make something for Him” in words and deeds. And while some of us might SAY that we believe that He knows our every need…few of us operate with such confidence and assurance that “God’s got this!” in our daily lives.
With unwavering conviction, the shepherds rushed to the stable to greet the newborn King. With complete certainty, they returned to their village and surrounding pastures to tell everyone what they had seen…that Jesus - the Messiah - was HERE! They did their part to herald the birth of Christ and share the Good News with others.
Today, it’s our turn. What will YOU do to demonstrate your faith and confidence in Jesus? Do you fully believe that He knows what you need before you even speak of it? Isn’t it time for you to trust Him more fully? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 6, 2014
Luke 2:8-12
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In our day and age, we have become pretty skeptical…and rightly so. We receive telephone calls from someone at our “credit card company” or our “insurer” saying he/she needs to verify our account data. Someone in my area recently had a knock at the door from a person who insisted he was with the utility company - and if she did not pay $500 right away, her power would be turned off! Friends and grandparents get calls from someone pretending to be us…in serious trouble and needing money wired right away. You probably know of other scams that have occurred in your community – or even to you or someone you know.
So if I were minding my own business in my yard and someone appeared and told me that I needed to go into town and see the newborn Messiah, I might not believe them. Granted, if they appeared in the aura of a bright light and brought “backup singers”, I might give them a second consideration! But still…haven’t we all heard news reports of someone who supposedly saw a “bright light” and maybe some “life forms” within it? And didn’t we laugh and shake our heads and wonder about their sanity!
Let me be clear…I do not expect our Heavenly Father to send angels to stand before me and herald any revelation in the near future. But I do know that God will show up…today…in the next few minutes and hours…someway…somehow. He will guide me…plant thoughts in my head about tasks I need to accomplish and people I need to address in some manner. He will direct my path and reveal opportunities to bless - and to be blessed. I hope I recognize all of them. I don’t want to miss out on a single thing that God has in store for me!
Thankfully, the shepherds had not become cynical and dubious. They had probably not been the victims of scam artists…and most assuredly, there had been no telemarketers to disrupt their dinner hour or the baby’s nap time! But they must have certainly been astounded by the news they received…not to mention the method with which it was delivered. And yet, they recognized the presence of God…and heeded His call. Can you say the same in your own life? Isn’t it time you could?
©2014 Debbie Robus
That night some shepherds were in the fields outside the village, guarding their flocks of sheep. Suddenly an angel appeared among them, and the landscape shone bright with the glory of the Lord. They were badly frightened, but the angel reassured them.
“Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you the most joyful news ever announced, and it is for everyone! The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born tonight in Bethlehem! How will you recognize him? You will find a baby wrapped in a blanket, lying in a manger!”
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
In our day and age, we have become pretty skeptical…and rightly so. We receive telephone calls from someone at our “credit card company” or our “insurer” saying he/she needs to verify our account data. Someone in my area recently had a knock at the door from a person who insisted he was with the utility company - and if she did not pay $500 right away, her power would be turned off! Friends and grandparents get calls from someone pretending to be us…in serious trouble and needing money wired right away. You probably know of other scams that have occurred in your community – or even to you or someone you know.
So if I were minding my own business in my yard and someone appeared and told me that I needed to go into town and see the newborn Messiah, I might not believe them. Granted, if they appeared in the aura of a bright light and brought “backup singers”, I might give them a second consideration! But still…haven’t we all heard news reports of someone who supposedly saw a “bright light” and maybe some “life forms” within it? And didn’t we laugh and shake our heads and wonder about their sanity!
Let me be clear…I do not expect our Heavenly Father to send angels to stand before me and herald any revelation in the near future. But I do know that God will show up…today…in the next few minutes and hours…someway…somehow. He will guide me…plant thoughts in my head about tasks I need to accomplish and people I need to address in some manner. He will direct my path and reveal opportunities to bless - and to be blessed. I hope I recognize all of them. I don’t want to miss out on a single thing that God has in store for me!
Thankfully, the shepherds had not become cynical and dubious. They had probably not been the victims of scam artists…and most assuredly, there had been no telemarketers to disrupt their dinner hour or the baby’s nap time! But they must have certainly been astounded by the news they received…not to mention the method with which it was delivered. And yet, they recognized the presence of God…and heeded His call. Can you say the same in your own life? Isn’t it time you could?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 5, 2014
Luke 2:1-5
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
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 not making this up…Google the phrase “hissy fit” and you will find links to all sorts of websites – including retail outlets for products that say, “Never underestimate the power of a hissy fit!” Apparently, a lot of people think this is a viable strategy!
According to info at JesusTrail.com*, Mary and Joseph probably traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem in a caravan with other travelers. There was a shorter, but more treacherous route…and a longer, flatter trek along the Jordan River Valley. We don’t know which one Mary and Joseph selected, but either way, the journey of almost 100 miles would have taken the couple 8-10 days on foot and donkey. I cannot imagine that they weren’t both more than a little nervous and apprehensive.
Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. The ruler had ordered all people to register for the census in their birth city. And if we are learning anything at all about Joseph and Mary, we must certainly agree that they were obedient people. They respected the law of the land – whether they agreed with it or not. Both Joseph and Mary also respected God’s authority. Surely it was not their choice to be in this predicament, but a series of events had placed them here…on this road…in these conditions. And they accepted their assignment(s) and trusted God to handle the details. Nowhere in scripture is there any indication that either Mary or Joseph threw a “hissy fit”!
Do you see the lesson here for each of us? We are often called to do things that we don’t want to do. We are presented with a challenge and/or an obstacle and have to figure out how to make everything work. And more often than we even realize, we have to trust God to pull all of the details together and orchestrate an outcome. Sometimes we kick and stomp and throw a little “hissy fit”…and hope against hope that it actually works! But deep down, I think that we all know better! And certainly, the Bible demonstrates to us via many examples that this is not a viable option!
There will be a lot of times when we are called to do something that we don’t want to do…something difficult, or unpleasant…something that certainly is not our choice. But when we know in our heart that this is the right thing to do…we have to “hitch up our britches” and get on with it…and proceed with the confidence that God is right there with us every step of the way. It’s a tall order that requires incredible faith and conviction.
A “hissy fit” may make you feel better for the moment. But at best, it’s a short-term solution. Learn from Joseph and Mary, and “get on your donkey and head for Bethlehem”! God will handle the details – and reward your faithfulness. The message of Christmas is about so much more than the birth of our Savior. It’s also about obedience, trust and confidence in our discipleship. How well are you demonstrating these traits in your Christian walk?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jesustrail.com/blog/hiking-the-nativity-trail-from-nazareth-to-Bethlehem
About that time Caesar Augustus ordered a census to be taken throughout the Empire. This was the first census when Quirinius was governor of Syria. Everyone had to travel to his own ancestral hometown to be accounted for. So Joseph went from the Galilean town of Nazareth up to Bethlehem in Judah, David’s town, for the census. As a descendant of David, he had to go there. He went with Mary, his fiancée, who was pregnant.
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 not making this up…Google the phrase “hissy fit” and you will find links to all sorts of websites – including retail outlets for products that say, “Never underestimate the power of a hissy fit!” Apparently, a lot of people think this is a viable strategy!
According to info at JesusTrail.com*, Mary and Joseph probably traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem in a caravan with other travelers. There was a shorter, but more treacherous route…and a longer, flatter trek along the Jordan River Valley. We don’t know which one Mary and Joseph selected, but either way, the journey of almost 100 miles would have taken the couple 8-10 days on foot and donkey. I cannot imagine that they weren’t both more than a little nervous and apprehensive.
Mary and Joseph had to go to Bethlehem. The ruler had ordered all people to register for the census in their birth city. And if we are learning anything at all about Joseph and Mary, we must certainly agree that they were obedient people. They respected the law of the land – whether they agreed with it or not. Both Joseph and Mary also respected God’s authority. Surely it was not their choice to be in this predicament, but a series of events had placed them here…on this road…in these conditions. And they accepted their assignment(s) and trusted God to handle the details. Nowhere in scripture is there any indication that either Mary or Joseph threw a “hissy fit”!
Do you see the lesson here for each of us? We are often called to do things that we don’t want to do. We are presented with a challenge and/or an obstacle and have to figure out how to make everything work. And more often than we even realize, we have to trust God to pull all of the details together and orchestrate an outcome. Sometimes we kick and stomp and throw a little “hissy fit”…and hope against hope that it actually works! But deep down, I think that we all know better! And certainly, the Bible demonstrates to us via many examples that this is not a viable option!
There will be a lot of times when we are called to do something that we don’t want to do…something difficult, or unpleasant…something that certainly is not our choice. But when we know in our heart that this is the right thing to do…we have to “hitch up our britches” and get on with it…and proceed with the confidence that God is right there with us every step of the way. It’s a tall order that requires incredible faith and conviction.
A “hissy fit” may make you feel better for the moment. But at best, it’s a short-term solution. Learn from Joseph and Mary, and “get on your donkey and head for Bethlehem”! God will handle the details – and reward your faithfulness. The message of Christmas is about so much more than the birth of our Savior. It’s also about obedience, trust and confidence in our discipleship. How well are you demonstrating these traits in your Christian walk?
©2014 Debbie Robus
*http://jesustrail.com/blog/hiking-the-nativity-trail-from-nazareth-to-Bethlehem
Daily Devotional for December 4, 2014
Matthew 1:18-21
These are the facts concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of stern principle, decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her.
As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning ‘Savior’), for he will save his people from their sins.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There is a program on ABC called “What Would You Do?”…hosted by John Quinones. Actors are engaged to create “ethical situations”, such as bullying, public attacks and humiliation, neglect or abuse, and social and racial prejudice. Hidden cameras document how the people in the surrounding vicinity react to what is happening. At some point, Quinones comes in and tells the people that this was all a set-up. I have to say, it is quite interesting to see how many people say, “This is none of my concern”…and equally interesting to see that there are those who are willing to step up – and out – and take action!
Now consider this…Joseph, a carpenter in a small village, was engaged to be married. I would suspect that a lot of his work relied on word-of-mouth recommendations and his reputation. We know how this works…someone says, “I know ‘Bob the Builder’…he’s a good carpenter and a fine Christian man. You will be pleased with his work.” You rarely hear someone say, “Joe is a heavy drinker and his work is passable, but you should hire him to work for you.” So it is understandable – especially given the setting and the time in history – that Joseph would want to end this engagement.
Scripture indicates that Joseph considered Mary’s feelings and made plans to dissolve the relationship quietly and discreetly. I have to believe that he truly loved Mary and wanted to consider HER feelings and reputation, also. But more importantly, when God’s angel-agent appeared in Joseph’s dream and told him to go ahead with the wedding plans, Joseph listened!
Now I’m not saying that we should begin reading a lot into our dreams…or that reputation and “appearances” do not matter. But I believe there are far too many times when we worry more about what others will think than what God is calling us to do. There are times when we get a message from God – maybe not in the form of an angel who comes to us in a dream, but a clear message all the same - and we blow it off and discount its significance.
The call to each of us today is to wake up! Pay attention! Be on the lookout for God’s messages – and anticipate them. Prepare to be amazed and astounded by His call on your life – and be ready to take action! It took tremendous leaps of faith for Zachariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary and others to accept that these angel visits were truly sanctioned by God…and to trust the directives they received. I am convinced that God is still reaching out today…that He uses angels and other methods to deliver messages to us all the time. Are we receiving them? More importantly…are we acting on them with faith and obedience?
Obviously, God will not call us to give birth to the Savior of the World…or even His forerunner. But our mission(s) will be significant and sanctified, all the same. Others ARE watching to see how you will respond…Who and HOW you will serve. When God shows up in your life and gives you an assignment, what will you do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
These are the facts concerning the birth of Jesus Christ: His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But while she was still a virgin she became pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Then Joseph, her fiancé, being a man of stern principle, decided to break the engagement but to do it quietly, as he didn’t want to publicly disgrace her.
As he lay awake considering this, he fell into a dream, and saw an angel standing beside him. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “don’t hesitate to take Mary as your wife! For the child within her has been conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a Son, and you shall name him Jesus (meaning ‘Savior’), for he will save his people from their sins.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
There is a program on ABC called “What Would You Do?”…hosted by John Quinones. Actors are engaged to create “ethical situations”, such as bullying, public attacks and humiliation, neglect or abuse, and social and racial prejudice. Hidden cameras document how the people in the surrounding vicinity react to what is happening. At some point, Quinones comes in and tells the people that this was all a set-up. I have to say, it is quite interesting to see how many people say, “This is none of my concern”…and equally interesting to see that there are those who are willing to step up – and out – and take action!
Now consider this…Joseph, a carpenter in a small village, was engaged to be married. I would suspect that a lot of his work relied on word-of-mouth recommendations and his reputation. We know how this works…someone says, “I know ‘Bob the Builder’…he’s a good carpenter and a fine Christian man. You will be pleased with his work.” You rarely hear someone say, “Joe is a heavy drinker and his work is passable, but you should hire him to work for you.” So it is understandable – especially given the setting and the time in history – that Joseph would want to end this engagement.
Scripture indicates that Joseph considered Mary’s feelings and made plans to dissolve the relationship quietly and discreetly. I have to believe that he truly loved Mary and wanted to consider HER feelings and reputation, also. But more importantly, when God’s angel-agent appeared in Joseph’s dream and told him to go ahead with the wedding plans, Joseph listened!
Now I’m not saying that we should begin reading a lot into our dreams…or that reputation and “appearances” do not matter. But I believe there are far too many times when we worry more about what others will think than what God is calling us to do. There are times when we get a message from God – maybe not in the form of an angel who comes to us in a dream, but a clear message all the same - and we blow it off and discount its significance.
The call to each of us today is to wake up! Pay attention! Be on the lookout for God’s messages – and anticipate them. Prepare to be amazed and astounded by His call on your life – and be ready to take action! It took tremendous leaps of faith for Zachariah, Elizabeth, Joseph, Mary and others to accept that these angel visits were truly sanctioned by God…and to trust the directives they received. I am convinced that God is still reaching out today…that He uses angels and other methods to deliver messages to us all the time. Are we receiving them? More importantly…are we acting on them with faith and obedience?
Obviously, God will not call us to give birth to the Savior of the World…or even His forerunner. But our mission(s) will be significant and sanctified, all the same. Others ARE watching to see how you will respond…Who and HOW you will serve. When God shows up in your life and gives you an assignment, what will you do?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 3, 2014
Luke 1:39-45
A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know where he got it, but when someone is leaving – our home or some gathering we are attending - Timothy has developed a habit of saying, “Goodbye! Thanks for coming! Have a great day!” At the very least, he makes the person who is leaving feel special – and possibly a little blessed!
The scriptures tell us that Mary hurried to Judea to visit Elizabeth and revel in the news that both women had received. I have to think that Mary’s parents may have sent her to Judea, to reduce talk in the village - and buy a little time to figure out how to deal with the unexpected dilemma of her unwed pregnancy. And isn’t this what we often do when God sends us in a direction that is not what we expected…or when we feel Him calling us to do something we really don’t want to do or think others might criticize? Sometimes it seems easier to run and hide from God than to say, “Thanks for coming!”
This is another reason I love these verses and the faith and courage of these two women – one old and wise…the other young and naïve. Both accepted – and embraced – this news from the angels. They took on the challenge that these pregnancies would surely bring - and recognized God’s blessing in them. Essentially, they said to God…”Thanks for coming!”
So often, God shows up in our lives, and rather than thank Him for coming, either we run and hide…or we question His authenticity. Was that really God? Is this truly a blessing from Him…or is the “other shoe” about to drop? Is this too good to be true? Are there hidden motives and agendas? We ask God to work in our lives…and when He does, we are often dubious or apprehensive! Sometimes, all we really need to do is say, “God, if this is really Your doing…show me. I’m here…I’m listening…and I’m ready to follow Your lead. Oh, and ‘Thanks for coming!’” It’s that simple – and that complicated – all at once!
The next time you feel God’s presence, what will you do? Will you run and hide…or will you embrace Him and follow His lead? Are you truly glad that God appears in your life? Are you ready to say, “Thanks for coming!”…and accept the His blessings and any challenges and assignments He presents? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
A short time later Mary hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea. She went into Zechariah’s home, where she greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, her baby moved within her.
The Holy Spirit came upon Elizabeth. Then in a loud voice she said to Mary:
God has blessed you more than any other woman! He has also blessed the child you will have. Why should the mother of my Lord come to me? As soon as I heard your greeting, my baby became happy and moved within me. The Lord has blessed you because you believed that he will keep his promise.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I don’t know where he got it, but when someone is leaving – our home or some gathering we are attending - Timothy has developed a habit of saying, “Goodbye! Thanks for coming! Have a great day!” At the very least, he makes the person who is leaving feel special – and possibly a little blessed!
The scriptures tell us that Mary hurried to Judea to visit Elizabeth and revel in the news that both women had received. I have to think that Mary’s parents may have sent her to Judea, to reduce talk in the village - and buy a little time to figure out how to deal with the unexpected dilemma of her unwed pregnancy. And isn’t this what we often do when God sends us in a direction that is not what we expected…or when we feel Him calling us to do something we really don’t want to do or think others might criticize? Sometimes it seems easier to run and hide from God than to say, “Thanks for coming!”
This is another reason I love these verses and the faith and courage of these two women – one old and wise…the other young and naïve. Both accepted – and embraced – this news from the angels. They took on the challenge that these pregnancies would surely bring - and recognized God’s blessing in them. Essentially, they said to God…”Thanks for coming!”
So often, God shows up in our lives, and rather than thank Him for coming, either we run and hide…or we question His authenticity. Was that really God? Is this truly a blessing from Him…or is the “other shoe” about to drop? Is this too good to be true? Are there hidden motives and agendas? We ask God to work in our lives…and when He does, we are often dubious or apprehensive! Sometimes, all we really need to do is say, “God, if this is really Your doing…show me. I’m here…I’m listening…and I’m ready to follow Your lead. Oh, and ‘Thanks for coming!’” It’s that simple – and that complicated – all at once!
The next time you feel God’s presence, what will you do? Will you run and hide…or will you embrace Him and follow His lead? Are you truly glad that God appears in your life? Are you ready to say, “Thanks for coming!”…and accept the His blessings and any challenges and assignments He presents? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 2, 2014
Luke 1:34-38
Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!”
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you think Elizabeth and Zachariah were surprised to learn that “they were pregnant” in their advanced years…imagine how little Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel visited her with news that SHE was going to deliver a baby! Historians believe Mary could have been as young as twelve or thirteen. She lived with her parents, who are not mentioned by name in the Bible. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter in Nazareth.
I know we live in a very different time. But for the life of me, I cannot wrap my brain around an angel appearing to a teenage girl – even one who was engaged to be married – and telling her, “You are blessed…and even though you are a virgin, you are pregnant with a son.” I most certainly cannot fathom that same angel telling this girl that the baby would be the holy Son of God! I picture her initial reaction being one of fear…followed by total shock and disbelief…and then maybe even more fear and a hefty dose of embarrassment or shame! How would she ever explain this to her parents…much less Joseph? You can “do the math” and figure out pretty quickly what they would all assume.
Now picture this happening in a very small town…where reputation was EVERYTHING…especially to a young carpenter trying to establish himself in business. In a split second, Mary must have felt like her life was over – and just beginning at the same time. So her reaction as recorded in the Gospels moves me greatly. Some might say, “She was so young and naïve…her response was that of a gullible little girl.” But others will recognize the depth of faith and devotion to God that Mary’s reaction contained. In that instant, Mary recognized the hand of God upon her life. And when He spoke…she listened – and humbly obeyed.
Can we say the same about our own relationship with God? We have all entertained “angels unaware” at some point in our lives. The hand of God has touched us…maybe even rescued us from some trouble - or even a disaster. We have heard God call to us in some fashion – maybe not as boldly as the form of an angel named Gabriel who appeared in a bright light – but He has spoken to us. How have we responded? Are we so bold – and childlike – in our faith that we readily answer, “I am the Lord’s servant!” and accept what God asks of us?
Isn’t it time we took a second look at the courage and faithfulness of Mary and incorporated more of it into our own lives? If God can entrust a teenage girl with the delivery and motherhood of the Savior of the World…what might He be calling us to do? Will we be ready, willing and able to accept His assignment(s)? Don’t you think we should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Mary asked the angel, “How can this happen? I am not married!”
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come down to you, and God’s power will come over you. So your child will be called the holy Son of God. Your relative Elizabeth is also going to have a son, even though she is old. No one thought she could ever have a baby, but in three months she will have a son. Nothing is impossible for God!”
Mary said, “I am the Lord’s servant! Let it happen as you have said.” And the angel left her.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
If you think Elizabeth and Zachariah were surprised to learn that “they were pregnant” in their advanced years…imagine how little Mary must have felt when the angel Gabriel visited her with news that SHE was going to deliver a baby! Historians believe Mary could have been as young as twelve or thirteen. She lived with her parents, who are not mentioned by name in the Bible. Mary was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter in Nazareth.
I know we live in a very different time. But for the life of me, I cannot wrap my brain around an angel appearing to a teenage girl – even one who was engaged to be married – and telling her, “You are blessed…and even though you are a virgin, you are pregnant with a son.” I most certainly cannot fathom that same angel telling this girl that the baby would be the holy Son of God! I picture her initial reaction being one of fear…followed by total shock and disbelief…and then maybe even more fear and a hefty dose of embarrassment or shame! How would she ever explain this to her parents…much less Joseph? You can “do the math” and figure out pretty quickly what they would all assume.
Now picture this happening in a very small town…where reputation was EVERYTHING…especially to a young carpenter trying to establish himself in business. In a split second, Mary must have felt like her life was over – and just beginning at the same time. So her reaction as recorded in the Gospels moves me greatly. Some might say, “She was so young and naïve…her response was that of a gullible little girl.” But others will recognize the depth of faith and devotion to God that Mary’s reaction contained. In that instant, Mary recognized the hand of God upon her life. And when He spoke…she listened – and humbly obeyed.
Can we say the same about our own relationship with God? We have all entertained “angels unaware” at some point in our lives. The hand of God has touched us…maybe even rescued us from some trouble - or even a disaster. We have heard God call to us in some fashion – maybe not as boldly as the form of an angel named Gabriel who appeared in a bright light – but He has spoken to us. How have we responded? Are we so bold – and childlike – in our faith that we readily answer, “I am the Lord’s servant!” and accept what God asks of us?
Isn’t it time we took a second look at the courage and faithfulness of Mary and incorporated more of it into our own lives? If God can entrust a teenage girl with the delivery and motherhood of the Savior of the World…what might He be calling us to do? Will we be ready, willing and able to accept His assignment(s)? Don’t you think we should?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for December 1, 2014
Luke 1:21-25
Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.
When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said.
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.
Imagine it…this elderly priest and his equally aged wife who never gave birth discover that she is pregnant. When an angel appears to Zachariah and tells him that Elizabeth is going to have a baby, he basically says, “You’ve got to be kidding! At OUR ages?” And for his lack of faith, the angel “strikes him dumb” until the baby is born. The priest goes into the temple to pray …and comes out unable to speak!
Elizabeth apparently took the news a little better. In fact, she was beyond thrilled with the news that she would finally have a baby. Two people exhibited two different reactions – both of them understandable. In the end, God entrusted this couple with a son named John, who would set the stage for the ministries of Jesus. Zachariah and Elizabeth could not possibly have known what a huge responsibility – and honor – had been given them. But I like to think that they embraced it to the best of their understanding.
The question for us is this…if God sent an angel and gave us news that was far-fetched, hard to swallow, frightening, or just plain crazy, how would we react? Would we shake our heads, laugh, and say, “God surely showed me!”? Or would we respond like Zachariah and ask, “How can this possibly be?” Do you see the difference? One response demonstrates tremendous faith…the other, quite frankly, insults God. And God let Zachariah know this by removing his ability to speak for the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
If you go back and study the Gospels and the history of the time when Jesus was born, you will see that the faith and trust of Elizabeth, Zachariah and others was sorely tested – in ways that could potentially cause questions from family and friends – if not downright ridicule or banishment from the community at large. Yet they stood firm in their confidence that God knew what He was doing…and they went along for the ride.
I can’t say what I would have done in their shoes. I would like to think that I would graciously accept God’s plan and embrace it fully. But I also know how strong the pressure can be from others to conform and behave in a certain manner. My prayer is that we would study these amazing role models and learn from them…that we would become more faith-filled and obedient in our own daily walk with God…and that when He “sends an angel” to give us a message, we would listen and act in a way that pleases Him. God got Zachariah’s attention in a profound way. What will He have to do to get yours?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.
When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said.
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.
Imagine it…this elderly priest and his equally aged wife who never gave birth discover that she is pregnant. When an angel appears to Zachariah and tells him that Elizabeth is going to have a baby, he basically says, “You’ve got to be kidding! At OUR ages?” And for his lack of faith, the angel “strikes him dumb” until the baby is born. The priest goes into the temple to pray …and comes out unable to speak!
Elizabeth apparently took the news a little better. In fact, she was beyond thrilled with the news that she would finally have a baby. Two people exhibited two different reactions – both of them understandable. In the end, God entrusted this couple with a son named John, who would set the stage for the ministries of Jesus. Zachariah and Elizabeth could not possibly have known what a huge responsibility – and honor – had been given them. But I like to think that they embraced it to the best of their understanding.
The question for us is this…if God sent an angel and gave us news that was far-fetched, hard to swallow, frightening, or just plain crazy, how would we react? Would we shake our heads, laugh, and say, “God surely showed me!”? Or would we respond like Zachariah and ask, “How can this possibly be?” Do you see the difference? One response demonstrates tremendous faith…the other, quite frankly, insults God. And God let Zachariah know this by removing his ability to speak for the duration of Elizabeth’s pregnancy.
If you go back and study the Gospels and the history of the time when Jesus was born, you will see that the faith and trust of Elizabeth, Zachariah and others was sorely tested – in ways that could potentially cause questions from family and friends – if not downright ridicule or banishment from the community at large. Yet they stood firm in their confidence that God knew what He was doing…and they went along for the ride.
I can’t say what I would have done in their shoes. I would like to think that I would graciously accept God’s plan and embrace it fully. But I also know how strong the pressure can be from others to conform and behave in a certain manner. My prayer is that we would study these amazing role models and learn from them…that we would become more faith-filled and obedient in our own daily walk with God…and that when He “sends an angel” to give us a message, we would listen and act in a way that pleases Him. God got Zachariah’s attention in a profound way. What will He have to do to get yours?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 30, 2014
Ruth 2:10-11
She thanked him warmly. “How can you be so kind to me?” she asked. “You must know I am only a foreigner.”
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied, “and I also know about all the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother in your own land and have come here to live among strangers.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Boaz didn’t really know Ruth. She was little more than a foreigner who had moved into town – and she asked Boaz’s foreman if she could tag along to the wheat fields and pick up the leftovers. Yet something about Ruth intrigued Boaz. He told her to stay close to the other women – and he told the men to stay away from Ruth. And Boaz made sure that she had plenty of wheat to take home at the end of the day.
There are two things happening in this scripture passage that are noteworthy…1) Boaz was moved by the way Ruth sacrificed her own desires and happiness for that of her mother-in-law, Naomi - how she gave up her homeland and her family to move from Moab to Bethlehem; and 2) Boaz extended his gratitude to Ruth for her dedication by treating her kindly and generously.
Here’s how we can apply these things to our own life. First, we can ask God to make us more aware of what is happening in our midst. We can look for opportunities to be kind to others – even when we don’t know them or they are a “foreigner” or different in some way. Additionally, we can make a concerted effort to show our gratitude to those who do things for us and for those we care about – just to let them know that we notice – and appreciate - their efforts. And finally, we can thank God for blessing us – so that we might be a blessing to others.
I believe God placed Ruth and Boaz together. The Bible tells us that their marriage and the birth of a son, Obed, was a blessing not only to them – but also to Naomi and others. We have no clue who God might be putting in our path on any given day – or for what purpose. Don’t miss a chance to bless them…and to show gratitude to God – and to others – in the process. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that God provides for us to be kind and show gratitude – and for the “foreigners” who may deliver them!
©2014 Debbie Robus
She thanked him warmly. “How can you be so kind to me?” she asked. “You must know I am only a foreigner.”
“Yes, I know,” Boaz replied, “and I also know about all the love and kindness you have shown your mother-in-law since the death of your husband, and how you left your father and mother in your own land and have come here to live among strangers.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Boaz didn’t really know Ruth. She was little more than a foreigner who had moved into town – and she asked Boaz’s foreman if she could tag along to the wheat fields and pick up the leftovers. Yet something about Ruth intrigued Boaz. He told her to stay close to the other women – and he told the men to stay away from Ruth. And Boaz made sure that she had plenty of wheat to take home at the end of the day.
There are two things happening in this scripture passage that are noteworthy…1) Boaz was moved by the way Ruth sacrificed her own desires and happiness for that of her mother-in-law, Naomi - how she gave up her homeland and her family to move from Moab to Bethlehem; and 2) Boaz extended his gratitude to Ruth for her dedication by treating her kindly and generously.
Here’s how we can apply these things to our own life. First, we can ask God to make us more aware of what is happening in our midst. We can look for opportunities to be kind to others – even when we don’t know them or they are a “foreigner” or different in some way. Additionally, we can make a concerted effort to show our gratitude to those who do things for us and for those we care about – just to let them know that we notice – and appreciate - their efforts. And finally, we can thank God for blessing us – so that we might be a blessing to others.
I believe God placed Ruth and Boaz together. The Bible tells us that their marriage and the birth of a son, Obed, was a blessing not only to them – but also to Naomi and others. We have no clue who God might be putting in our path on any given day – or for what purpose. Don’t miss a chance to bless them…and to show gratitude to God – and to others – in the process. Be thankful for all of the opportunities that God provides for us to be kind and show gratitude – and for the “foreigners” who may deliver them!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 29, 2014
Romans 8:28
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, the Arkansas Razorbacks football team beat the LSU Tigers 17-0 to snap a 17-game losing streak in Southeastern Conference play. The following Saturday, the team shut out then-8th-ranked Ole Miss, 30-0. I wish I could say the streak continued with a win over the University of Missouri, but this was not to be. However, the basketball team was able to secure a win on the same day against North Texas State that gave the squad their first 5-0 start since 2006-2007.
In both cases, the coaches have been quoted in the media as saying, essentially, that “wins will come – when they are supposed to.” Coach Bret Bielema has said often that his team would win when they earned it. Both coaches are relatively new to the University of Arkansas – and there has been a “learning curve” for all involved. Now, things seem to be starting to “jell”.
I’ve heard a lot of people who have endured hardships or difficult times say that they would not trade them for an easier time. I’ve heard amputees say that the loss of a limb taught them how to appreciate life – and God’s hand in theirs. I’ve known countless people who looked back on troublesome or unpleasant experiences and said, “This is where God helped me”…or “God really worked in this situation”…or even, “This was a huge turning point for me.” And I am among them.
You may be in the fight of your life. You may simply be in a 17-0 losing streak. But wherever you are…whatever is happening…God is with you - working out every detail for His perfect purposes. OUR JOB is to recognize Him…to give Him room to work…and to be grateful for His presence. He will do the rest…I promise. Will it be easy and painless? Probably not…but any day or experience with God is far better than a single minute without Him!
Keep this scripture passage handy. Read it often, and remind yourself of God’s presence in your life – and how He is perfectly orchestrating all of the details. Keep the faith...stay humble and grateful. Allow God to be GOD in your life…and watch what amazing things He brings to bear.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
A few weeks ago, the Arkansas Razorbacks football team beat the LSU Tigers 17-0 to snap a 17-game losing streak in Southeastern Conference play. The following Saturday, the team shut out then-8th-ranked Ole Miss, 30-0. I wish I could say the streak continued with a win over the University of Missouri, but this was not to be. However, the basketball team was able to secure a win on the same day against North Texas State that gave the squad their first 5-0 start since 2006-2007.
In both cases, the coaches have been quoted in the media as saying, essentially, that “wins will come – when they are supposed to.” Coach Bret Bielema has said often that his team would win when they earned it. Both coaches are relatively new to the University of Arkansas – and there has been a “learning curve” for all involved. Now, things seem to be starting to “jell”.
I’ve heard a lot of people who have endured hardships or difficult times say that they would not trade them for an easier time. I’ve heard amputees say that the loss of a limb taught them how to appreciate life – and God’s hand in theirs. I’ve known countless people who looked back on troublesome or unpleasant experiences and said, “This is where God helped me”…or “God really worked in this situation”…or even, “This was a huge turning point for me.” And I am among them.
You may be in the fight of your life. You may simply be in a 17-0 losing streak. But wherever you are…whatever is happening…God is with you - working out every detail for His perfect purposes. OUR JOB is to recognize Him…to give Him room to work…and to be grateful for His presence. He will do the rest…I promise. Will it be easy and painless? Probably not…but any day or experience with God is far better than a single minute without Him!
Keep this scripture passage handy. Read it often, and remind yourself of God’s presence in your life – and how He is perfectly orchestrating all of the details. Keep the faith...stay humble and grateful. Allow God to be GOD in your life…and watch what amazing things He brings to bear.
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 28, 2014
Psalm 136:1-3
Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits
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.
No sooner did we swallow the last bites of turkey and pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving Day than the Christmas frenzy began…including the seasonal televisions programs. There is no need to record them at our house…we’ve probably watched “Frosty the Snowman” at least once every month (or more) for the last two or years. And last Christmas season, we recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”, also. Greg likes to say that “It’s always Christmas at the Robus house!
I would have to say that we are pretty “up” on our “Frosty” around here…and from where I stand, “Frosty the Snowman” is anything but a quitter! He does everything possible to stay alive…but not at the expense of others. He is quite concerned with a little friend, Karen, who gets too cold. He worries about her feelings – and her health. Frosty is kind and loving to the children in the village…and he is even nicer than most would be to the evil magician who wants to steal his magic hat!
Now, I know what you are thinking…surely she isn’t comparing “Frosty the Snowman” to God! Absolutely not! But here’s the deal…we have little to no problem accepting that a make-believe snowman can do these things. We readily accept that he can be kind to others and see after their needs – sometimes at the expense of his own. We trust that Frosty really will come to life again someday…and with childlike wonder, we swallow this hook, line, and sinker.
But when it comes to all that God does for us…all of the gazillions of ways that He NEVER quits on our behalf…the tremendous sacrifice that He made for us in giving us Jesus to die for our sins…it seems like we often more readily trust in “Frosty the Snowman”! We certainly do not treat God with the respect and care that He deserves - much less give Him the gratitude.
This holiday season – and throughout the coming year – let’s focus more on the unending love and care that God provides for us. Let’s remind ourselves often how He never quits on our behalf. And let’s be grateful…really, truly, genuinely, visibly grateful. Doesn’t the One who named and numbered the stars - yet has time to hear and answer our every prayer - deserve our thanks and praise?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Thank God! He deserves your thanks.
His love never quits.
Thank the God of all gods,
His love never quits.
Thank the Lord of all lords.
His love never quits
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.
No sooner did we swallow the last bites of turkey and pumpkin pie from Thanksgiving Day than the Christmas frenzy began…including the seasonal televisions programs. There is no need to record them at our house…we’ve probably watched “Frosty the Snowman” at least once every month (or more) for the last two or years. And last Christmas season, we recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” and “Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer”, also. Greg likes to say that “It’s always Christmas at the Robus house!
I would have to say that we are pretty “up” on our “Frosty” around here…and from where I stand, “Frosty the Snowman” is anything but a quitter! He does everything possible to stay alive…but not at the expense of others. He is quite concerned with a little friend, Karen, who gets too cold. He worries about her feelings – and her health. Frosty is kind and loving to the children in the village…and he is even nicer than most would be to the evil magician who wants to steal his magic hat!
Now, I know what you are thinking…surely she isn’t comparing “Frosty the Snowman” to God! Absolutely not! But here’s the deal…we have little to no problem accepting that a make-believe snowman can do these things. We readily accept that he can be kind to others and see after their needs – sometimes at the expense of his own. We trust that Frosty really will come to life again someday…and with childlike wonder, we swallow this hook, line, and sinker.
But when it comes to all that God does for us…all of the gazillions of ways that He NEVER quits on our behalf…the tremendous sacrifice that He made for us in giving us Jesus to die for our sins…it seems like we often more readily trust in “Frosty the Snowman”! We certainly do not treat God with the respect and care that He deserves - much less give Him the gratitude.
This holiday season – and throughout the coming year – let’s focus more on the unending love and care that God provides for us. Let’s remind ourselves often how He never quits on our behalf. And let’s be grateful…really, truly, genuinely, visibly grateful. Doesn’t the One who named and numbered the stars - yet has time to hear and answer our every prayer - deserve our thanks and praise?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 27, 2014
November 27 ~ Psalm 118:28-29
Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
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 visited Greg’s brother and sister-in-law in another city. Their son and his family came from Tennessee for Thanksgiving, so we got to play with our great-nieces, Kelsey Lynn and Ellie Grace. Our sister-in-law had filled the house from top to bottom with Thanksgiving décor. Today, we will have lunch at my mother’s house, and I am sure there will be a few pumpkins and turkeys sitting around – and maybe a cornucopia or two!
I also got the “holiday decorating gene”, and I have sprinkled quite a bit of fall décor throughout our home. In a few days, our house will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland (or as my other sister-in-law put it last year, it will look “like someone threw up Christmas” around here!). There will be “garlands and banners” of sorts…mini Christmas lights, a tree – or three!...snowmen and Santas…and dozens of nativity scenes on display throughout our house.
Not everyone decorates for the holidays - certainly not to the extent that I do! And I have a feeling that my efforts pale in comparison to those of many! The reasons for over-the-top decorating and festivities are varied. Some may understandably ask, “Why do people make themselves crazy at Thanksgiving and Christmas with cooking, decorating, shopping and ‘getting out the good stuff’ to set a holiday table?” Why do people fly halfway across the country …endure crowded lines, packed-like-sardines aircraft, buses and highways…and put up with lost luggage, delayed or cancelled flights, and unbelievable traffic jams – just to get to Grandma’s house?
At the core of it all, I believe the answer is…love. Our homes are “festooned” in holiday finery to say, “Welcome! Love abounds amidst this cozy chaos!” I would HOPE that these decorations and festivities celebrate the love of God for His people…and that this is the focus rather than commercialism. If this is not the case, it should be. We should decorate and celebrate our gratitude for God’s amazing, incredible, perfect gift of Jesus. And while every day should be Thanksgiving Day…on this particular one, we should pause somewhere between the turkey and the pumpkin pie to count our blessings…and to thank God for every one of them!
Whether you hang a banner or garland - or not…remember to celebrate God’s blessings in your life. Thank Him for giving us Jesus…and for covering us in His unfailing love and care each and every day. From my house to yours…may God bless you this Thanksgiving Day - and in each day of the coming year! May you be bathed in His light and love today – and always. Happy Thanksgiving!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Blessed are you who enter in God’s name—
from God’s house we bless you!
God is God,
he has bathed us in light.
Festoon the shrine with garlands,
hang colored banners above the altar!
You’re my God, and I thank you.
O my God, I lift high your praise.
Thank God—he’s so good.
His love never quits!
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 visited Greg’s brother and sister-in-law in another city. Their son and his family came from Tennessee for Thanksgiving, so we got to play with our great-nieces, Kelsey Lynn and Ellie Grace. Our sister-in-law had filled the house from top to bottom with Thanksgiving décor. Today, we will have lunch at my mother’s house, and I am sure there will be a few pumpkins and turkeys sitting around – and maybe a cornucopia or two!
I also got the “holiday decorating gene”, and I have sprinkled quite a bit of fall décor throughout our home. In a few days, our house will be transformed into a Christmas wonderland (or as my other sister-in-law put it last year, it will look “like someone threw up Christmas” around here!). There will be “garlands and banners” of sorts…mini Christmas lights, a tree – or three!...snowmen and Santas…and dozens of nativity scenes on display throughout our house.
Not everyone decorates for the holidays - certainly not to the extent that I do! And I have a feeling that my efforts pale in comparison to those of many! The reasons for over-the-top decorating and festivities are varied. Some may understandably ask, “Why do people make themselves crazy at Thanksgiving and Christmas with cooking, decorating, shopping and ‘getting out the good stuff’ to set a holiday table?” Why do people fly halfway across the country …endure crowded lines, packed-like-sardines aircraft, buses and highways…and put up with lost luggage, delayed or cancelled flights, and unbelievable traffic jams – just to get to Grandma’s house?
At the core of it all, I believe the answer is…love. Our homes are “festooned” in holiday finery to say, “Welcome! Love abounds amidst this cozy chaos!” I would HOPE that these decorations and festivities celebrate the love of God for His people…and that this is the focus rather than commercialism. If this is not the case, it should be. We should decorate and celebrate our gratitude for God’s amazing, incredible, perfect gift of Jesus. And while every day should be Thanksgiving Day…on this particular one, we should pause somewhere between the turkey and the pumpkin pie to count our blessings…and to thank God for every one of them!
Whether you hang a banner or garland - or not…remember to celebrate God’s blessings in your life. Thank Him for giving us Jesus…and for covering us in His unfailing love and care each and every day. From my house to yours…may God bless you this Thanksgiving Day - and in each day of the coming year! May you be bathed in His light and love today – and always. Happy Thanksgiving!
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 26, 2014
Psalm 118:24
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Twenty-four hours. We all get the same amount of time in each and every day. Yet how we choose to live in those 24 hours differs greatly. Some of us will live with joy and purpose…some of us will gripe and grumble our way through the day. Others will sleep away a big chunk of it…after all, the “Thanksgiving Holiday break” has already begun for many!
Almost 30 years ago, I had major surgery a few days before Thanksgiving. I remember getting a phone call from my parents on Thanksgiving Day, as family members gathered at their house some 90 miles away for feasting and fun. I have to admit that I felt a little sorry for myself and Greg as I heard the laughs and chatter of family members arriving for that special get-together. But our precious neighbors brought huge plates of food to us from their family feast…and they returned with MORE full plates that evening from another family dinner! Our hearts – and our bellies – were FULL! We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
About a decade later, my mother ate her Thanksgiving Dinner in a hospital cafeteria in another city, as she sat with my dad, who was too sick from renal failure to even smell food. At their insistence, we carried on with the traditional “family dinner” at our house…and we made the best of things, given the circumstances. We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
This year, our “Thanksgiving Holiday break” will include visits with family and friends…including the squeals and giggles of several little children, which always add to the fun. We will have our traditional favorite foods…and honor those who have gone before us - and the role they played in holiday gatherings of the past. And in all of it, we will recognize that the LORD made this day – and every day – and we will “rejoice and be glad in it”.
I don’t know what your next 24 hours will be like…or how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day – or IF you will even celebrate. But when you know and love Jesus, every day is part of a “Thanksgiving Holiday break”…or at least, it should be. Whatever your circumstances…wherever “life” takes you today and in the days ahead…will you recognize that this is the day that the Lord has made? Will you thank Him for His love and care for every single minute of it? Will you find a way to “rejoice and be glad”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Twenty-four hours. We all get the same amount of time in each and every day. Yet how we choose to live in those 24 hours differs greatly. Some of us will live with joy and purpose…some of us will gripe and grumble our way through the day. Others will sleep away a big chunk of it…after all, the “Thanksgiving Holiday break” has already begun for many!
Almost 30 years ago, I had major surgery a few days before Thanksgiving. I remember getting a phone call from my parents on Thanksgiving Day, as family members gathered at their house some 90 miles away for feasting and fun. I have to admit that I felt a little sorry for myself and Greg as I heard the laughs and chatter of family members arriving for that special get-together. But our precious neighbors brought huge plates of food to us from their family feast…and they returned with MORE full plates that evening from another family dinner! Our hearts – and our bellies – were FULL! We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
About a decade later, my mother ate her Thanksgiving Dinner in a hospital cafeteria in another city, as she sat with my dad, who was too sick from renal failure to even smell food. At their insistence, we carried on with the traditional “family dinner” at our house…and we made the best of things, given the circumstances. We found a way to “rejoice and be glad” for God’s love and care on that day.
This year, our “Thanksgiving Holiday break” will include visits with family and friends…including the squeals and giggles of several little children, which always add to the fun. We will have our traditional favorite foods…and honor those who have gone before us - and the role they played in holiday gatherings of the past. And in all of it, we will recognize that the LORD made this day – and every day – and we will “rejoice and be glad in it”.
I don’t know what your next 24 hours will be like…or how you will celebrate Thanksgiving Day – or IF you will even celebrate. But when you know and love Jesus, every day is part of a “Thanksgiving Holiday break”…or at least, it should be. Whatever your circumstances…wherever “life” takes you today and in the days ahead…will you recognize that this is the day that the Lord has made? Will you thank Him for His love and care for every single minute of it? Will you find a way to “rejoice and be glad”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 25, 2014
November 25 ~ Psalm 107:1
Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I went to Timothy’s elementary school to watch the kindergarten “Pow-wow Parade”. Approximately 100 kindergarten students and their teachers and helpers paraded through the school’s hallways in full “Indian” regalia. The children wore brown paper “ponchos” that they had decorated, along with headbands lined in paper “feathers”. Each child had selected an Indian name, which was written across the front of their poncho. Timothy chose “Black Horse”! The children shook noise makers and whooped and hollered as they rustled past us. The event was over in a matter of minutes, but the memories will last for years to come.
Timothy and his siblings have been so excited about Thanksgiving Day. They have been learning about the holiday and its traditions. Even at 2 years old, Nathan has made hats in his pre-school class to depict pilgrims, Indians, and a turkey. Timothy gave us a long “lesson” about Indians and pilgrims as we drove home from church on Sunday.
And speaking of church…the children are learning valuable lessons there, also. They are loved and nurtured as they learn about Jesus and how much HE loves them. Each Sunday when we get back into the car, I ask them, “What did you learn today?” Sometimes, they will recite the Bible verse (or a form of it) or the “phrase of the day” – like “God loves us all the time.” Other times, Zola will shout “Jesus!” in response to my inquiry! It’s all good!
I am thankful for all of the people who love and nurture children. I am grateful that God has placed it on the hearts of many to spend time with little ones…to tell them about His love for them…and to spend each weekday teaching them to read, write, sing, play and discover countless wonders. As a former kindergarten/first grade teacher, I am especially appreciative of the efforts of those who exercise patience with children as they rattle in paper “Indian ponchos” and headdresses…who understand the importance of these experiences – and including family members in the celebration. I am grateful for those who truly care about the mental, physical, and spiritual growth and development of young people.
So today, I thank God for being so good to me and to these precious children…for being so loving and kind. I thank Him for school - and for Sunday school - and the nurture that each of our children receives there. I see His orchestration in these blessings, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. What are you especially thankful for today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Say thank you to the Lord for being so good, for always being so loving and kind.
The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
This morning, I went to Timothy’s elementary school to watch the kindergarten “Pow-wow Parade”. Approximately 100 kindergarten students and their teachers and helpers paraded through the school’s hallways in full “Indian” regalia. The children wore brown paper “ponchos” that they had decorated, along with headbands lined in paper “feathers”. Each child had selected an Indian name, which was written across the front of their poncho. Timothy chose “Black Horse”! The children shook noise makers and whooped and hollered as they rustled past us. The event was over in a matter of minutes, but the memories will last for years to come.
Timothy and his siblings have been so excited about Thanksgiving Day. They have been learning about the holiday and its traditions. Even at 2 years old, Nathan has made hats in his pre-school class to depict pilgrims, Indians, and a turkey. Timothy gave us a long “lesson” about Indians and pilgrims as we drove home from church on Sunday.
And speaking of church…the children are learning valuable lessons there, also. They are loved and nurtured as they learn about Jesus and how much HE loves them. Each Sunday when we get back into the car, I ask them, “What did you learn today?” Sometimes, they will recite the Bible verse (or a form of it) or the “phrase of the day” – like “God loves us all the time.” Other times, Zola will shout “Jesus!” in response to my inquiry! It’s all good!
I am thankful for all of the people who love and nurture children. I am grateful that God has placed it on the hearts of many to spend time with little ones…to tell them about His love for them…and to spend each weekday teaching them to read, write, sing, play and discover countless wonders. As a former kindergarten/first grade teacher, I am especially appreciative of the efforts of those who exercise patience with children as they rattle in paper “Indian ponchos” and headdresses…who understand the importance of these experiences – and including family members in the celebration. I am grateful for those who truly care about the mental, physical, and spiritual growth and development of young people.
So today, I thank God for being so good to me and to these precious children…for being so loving and kind. I thank Him for school - and for Sunday school - and the nurture that each of our children receives there. I see His orchestration in these blessings, and I am overwhelmed with gratitude. What are you especially thankful for today?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 24, 2014
Psalm 106:1
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
We will celebrate
and praise you, Lord!
You are good to us,
and your love never fails.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Today, I thought about a dear lady in our community who was laid to rest yesterday. Mrs. Wanda was beautiful…inside and out. Yet every time I encountered her, she would say, “You look so pretty” and make me feel like a million bucks! I actually tried to “beat her to the punch” a couple of times…but you had to be pretty darn quick! And she didn’t just toss out compliments to be friendly…she always went on to express genuine interest…she really wanted to know how I was doing and what was new in my life. So when I thanked God this morning for my blessings, encounters with Mrs. Wanda were among them.
At the other end of the spectrum…I also thanked God today for a newborn baby boy named Max. His parents, Courtney and Aaron, brother Clark and sister Chloe welcomed him into this world today, and I know that he will be blessed – and a blessing. Max’s parents are Sunday school teachers for our niece, Zola…and last year our nephew Timothy was in their class. Courtney and Aaron are so kind and loving – and I know they love God and want to share Him with the little ones. So I know that Max will grow up in a Christian home and become a wonderful asset to our church family. And I thanked God for healthy babies and loving parents who nurture them…and their peers.
I also thanked God today for a lady who has been something of “another mother” to me for most of my life. I shared a phone visit with “Dot” – the mother of my childhood friend, Martha. Dot was one of my Girl Scout leaders, and she has just always been in my corner. We see each other at church, and we visit by phone every couple of months to “catch up” on what is happening in our lives and the community at large. She is one of my “go-to” people for advice on everything from cooking and sewing to ministry…and her demonstration of faithfulness and service to others truly encourages and motivates me.
There’s no place like your local Wal-Mart to meet up with old friends and share a few minutes of conversation…and today was no exception for me. I not only bumped into my mother-in-law, but I also visited with Kathryn, another classmate’s mother who is a long-time friend…a former co-worker - Ramona…and a lady named Tommie, who was one of my Sunday school teachers when I was a child – and who has been another one of those “go-to” friends for as long as I can remember. A lady from the water aerobics class I used to attend stopped me to say “Hi” and to tell me that I am missed – and that I am welcome to join them again any time.
I waved and said “Hello” to probably a half dozen other acquaintances and friends, exchanged pleasantries with the clerk who checked my groceries – and wished me a Happy Thanksgiving - and I left with a spring in my step and a smile on my face. There was a cold, brisk wind, but the sun was shining brightly as I loaded groceries into the car. I thanked God for dear friends, for money to buy the things that I had purchased, for a good car to get me where I needed to go – and gas to power it – and a zillion other things, both named and unspoken.
The bottom line is that in life and death and every season in between…from year to year and one holiday to the next…we have so much to celebrate – so many reasons to praise God. Not every day is filled with extraordinary blessings. Some days, we move along with our routine, and everything seems to be fairly “normal” – maybe even mundane. Sometimes, our days are filled with troubles, headaches and heartaches at every turn, and it’s hard to even SEE the blessings! But they are always there…just the same.
Every day, there is some reason to celebrate and praise God. Some days, you may have to dig a little deeper than others…but the reasons for gratitude are there. And if you think about it a little, I bet you can name more than a few people who God has placed in your life to bless, encourage and nurture you in some way…not because you are a family member and/or they feel an obligation – but because God has filled them with a deep and abiding love and care for you.
I challenge you to find someone and/or something to thank God for every single day. I’m talking about the extras…the blessings that you might not even consider all that often that enrich your life in ways you don’t even realize. Thank God for these, along with the things you normally list…but this time, ponder each blessing and truly offer up genuine gratitude. Let Him know that you appreciate how deeply He cares for you…profoundly enough to put these people and experiences in your life for enhancement and added “oomph”! Celebrate just how good God is to you…how unfailing His love is…and how He is always working on new ways to fill your life with blessings and joy.
We tend to rattle off a list of things for which we are grateful with little to no real consideration for them. Let’s change that today. Let’s examine our blessings – all of them – a little more closely…and truly celebrate God with some genuine praise. It’s about time…wouldn’t you agree?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 23, 2014
Psalm 103:1-5
O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we took the children to church today, we told them that we had “surprises” in the back of the car that we would give them after lunch. They tried to guess what the “surprises” were…but there was no dinosaur or crackers. But there were books and videos – and a new (to them) board game to play. There were also two bags of “Halos” - or as they called them, “baby oranges”! Since this will be a short school week because of the Thanksgiving holidays, the children will have an extended “vacation” at home, and the snacks and videos will no doubt come in handy!
In her book, One Thousand Gifts*, Ann Voskamp talks about her aunt, who traveled the world as an airline attendant. The aunt would visit Voskamp and her children from time to time. The aunt said that of all of the places she had visited…all of the things she had seen…one of the most joyful experiences had been that of rolling a ball back and forth on the floor with Voskamp’s toddler daughter. She wrote Ann Voskamp a letter and told her that she had never seen such happiness in all her travels…that this simple experience had brought her a glimpse of “wild joy” that she would never forget.
Voskamp noted that the secret to such joy lies in perspective. To a child, everything is large and wonderful. As I watch our little nephews and nieces discover new things, I am reminded of how “wonder”-filled the simplest of joys used to be for most of us. As we grow older, we seem to grow blind to many of the blessings that are right before our eyes.
So as we enter this week of Thanksgiving and begin to “count our blessings,” let’s read this scripture passage often and remind ourselves of all that God does for us. Let’s remember that every one of our sins are forgiven…that every one of our diseases are healed. Let’s never forget that Hell is not on our list of places to visit…that a “paradise crown” awaits us – and in the meantime, we wear His crowns of love and mercy. Let’s remind ourselves that we are forever beautiful – and young in God’s presence (which is all that truly matters)! We are clothed in His goodness.
God meets all of our needs…and He peppers our lives with incredible blessings. As we count the more obvious gifts like those listed in this scripture passage...let’s also list some of the “baby oranges” and “videos” that surprise and delight us. Let’s thank God for the friend who showed up right when we needed him/her the most. Let’s be grateful for a foggy, misty Sunday afternoon…or a glorious sunrise or sunset. Let’s When we can thank God for moments when something or someone makes us laugh or smile…and for times when we experience sadness or sorrow – and live through it!
Let’s thank God for smelly socks to wash and a dirty house to clean…for a second job to go to that leaves us dog tired but gives us adequate money to pay the rent…for a boring and/or difficult classes to attend so that we can get a degree or learn a trade and become self-sufficient. Let’s thank Him for caregivers who help us when we are no longer able to do things for ourselves…and for those who have “been there, done that” and can counsel us through the same experiences…for a few minutes spent in the floor rolling a ball to a toddler and listening to him/her squeal with excitement.
Go even deeper and thank God for the beauty of intricate patterns in your pet’s fur…that amazingly unique freckle on your kids’ nose…and the predictably irritating way that your sibling or friend is habitually late. In other words, open your eyes and ears…use ALL of your senses to fully acknowledge God’s presence and blessings in even the most mundane parts of your everyday life - and offer a heartfelt “Thank You!”
A few years ago, there was a trend for some people to say, “Love you – mean it!” – as if those last two words gave credibility to the first two. My challenge for all of us in the days to come is to offer God our gratitude…and to truly mean it! Let’s tell Him - in words and actions - just how much we appreciate all that He does for us…how He blesses us from head to toe. Let’s not miss a single blessing – or a chance to be grateful. How is God blessing YOU these days? Does He know that you appreciate His efforts? Isn’t it time that He did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
O my soul, bless God.
From head to toe, I’ll bless his holy name!
O my soul, bless God,
don’t forget a single blessing!
He forgives your sins—every one.
He heals your diseases—every one.
He redeems you from hell—saves your life!
He crowns you with love and mercy—a paradise crown.
He wraps you in goodness—beauty eternal.
He renews your youth—you’re always young in his presence.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
When we took the children to church today, we told them that we had “surprises” in the back of the car that we would give them after lunch. They tried to guess what the “surprises” were…but there was no dinosaur or crackers. But there were books and videos – and a new (to them) board game to play. There were also two bags of “Halos” - or as they called them, “baby oranges”! Since this will be a short school week because of the Thanksgiving holidays, the children will have an extended “vacation” at home, and the snacks and videos will no doubt come in handy!
In her book, One Thousand Gifts*, Ann Voskamp talks about her aunt, who traveled the world as an airline attendant. The aunt would visit Voskamp and her children from time to time. The aunt said that of all of the places she had visited…all of the things she had seen…one of the most joyful experiences had been that of rolling a ball back and forth on the floor with Voskamp’s toddler daughter. She wrote Ann Voskamp a letter and told her that she had never seen such happiness in all her travels…that this simple experience had brought her a glimpse of “wild joy” that she would never forget.
Voskamp noted that the secret to such joy lies in perspective. To a child, everything is large and wonderful. As I watch our little nephews and nieces discover new things, I am reminded of how “wonder”-filled the simplest of joys used to be for most of us. As we grow older, we seem to grow blind to many of the blessings that are right before our eyes.
So as we enter this week of Thanksgiving and begin to “count our blessings,” let’s read this scripture passage often and remind ourselves of all that God does for us. Let’s remember that every one of our sins are forgiven…that every one of our diseases are healed. Let’s never forget that Hell is not on our list of places to visit…that a “paradise crown” awaits us – and in the meantime, we wear His crowns of love and mercy. Let’s remind ourselves that we are forever beautiful – and young in God’s presence (which is all that truly matters)! We are clothed in His goodness.
God meets all of our needs…and He peppers our lives with incredible blessings. As we count the more obvious gifts like those listed in this scripture passage...let’s also list some of the “baby oranges” and “videos” that surprise and delight us. Let’s thank God for the friend who showed up right when we needed him/her the most. Let’s be grateful for a foggy, misty Sunday afternoon…or a glorious sunrise or sunset. Let’s When we can thank God for moments when something or someone makes us laugh or smile…and for times when we experience sadness or sorrow – and live through it!
Let’s thank God for smelly socks to wash and a dirty house to clean…for a second job to go to that leaves us dog tired but gives us adequate money to pay the rent…for a boring and/or difficult classes to attend so that we can get a degree or learn a trade and become self-sufficient. Let’s thank Him for caregivers who help us when we are no longer able to do things for ourselves…and for those who have “been there, done that” and can counsel us through the same experiences…for a few minutes spent in the floor rolling a ball to a toddler and listening to him/her squeal with excitement.
Go even deeper and thank God for the beauty of intricate patterns in your pet’s fur…that amazingly unique freckle on your kids’ nose…and the predictably irritating way that your sibling or friend is habitually late. In other words, open your eyes and ears…use ALL of your senses to fully acknowledge God’s presence and blessings in even the most mundane parts of your everyday life - and offer a heartfelt “Thank You!”
A few years ago, there was a trend for some people to say, “Love you – mean it!” – as if those last two words gave credibility to the first two. My challenge for all of us in the days to come is to offer God our gratitude…and to truly mean it! Let’s tell Him - in words and actions - just how much we appreciate all that He does for us…how He blesses us from head to toe. Let’s not miss a single blessing – or a chance to be grateful. How is God blessing YOU these days? Does He know that you appreciate His efforts? Isn’t it time that He did?
©2014 Debbie Robus
* One Thousand Gifts ~ ©2010 Ann Morton Voskamp ~ One Zondervan Press ~ www.zondervan.com
Daily Devotional for November 22, 2014
Psalm 100:1-5
Shout praises to the Lord,
everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
to worship the Lord!
You know the Lord is God!
He created us,
and we belong to him;
we are his people,
the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord
as you enter his temple.
The Lord is good!
His love and faithfulness
will last forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend put up a Christmas tree and let her three young grandchildren (a boy and two girls - ages 5 and under) decorate it. One of the little girls methodically hung ornaments while singing, “O Mistmas Twee, O MISTmas Twee!” It was adorable. She sang her heart out for the joy of Christmas and decorating the tree in her Honey’s bedroom.
I’ve often said that we can learn so much from little children. They are truly pure and unadulterated…able to find the joy in little things like decorating a “Mistmas twee” with cousins at Grandma’s house. They get excited over presents…sometimes as much about the box as what was inside. For the most part, they have no doubt that they are loved and belong to someone…and in their own way, they are thankful.
Somehow, as we grow up, we seem to somewhat “outgrow God”. We’re not nearly as unabashed in our singing of His praises. We question who we are, where we fit in – and sometimes, WHOSE we are! We take God for granted…and when we do thank Him, it’s often hurried or superficial. We fail to truly acknowledge His gifts…and when we do, we’re much more concerned with what is given than the packaging or the Deliverer.
I have to wonder…are our “songs of praise” to God as sweet and dear to Him as the humbly offered “Oh, Mistmas Twee” of a toddler? Are our words of gratitude a “joyful noise” in His ears, or the same old “yadda, yadda, yadda” we’ve offered Him for ages? Isn’t it time we got this right? Wouldn’t this be a great day to begin?
Make a joyful noise. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before His presence with Thanksgiving. For the LORD is good…His mercies are everlasting…and His truth endures forever. If that doesn’t merit a grown-up “O Mistmas tree” praise, I don’t know what will…do you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Shout praises to the Lord,
everyone on this earth.
Be joyful and sing
as you come in
to worship the Lord!
You know the Lord is God!
He created us,
and we belong to him;
we are his people,
the sheep in his pasture.
Be thankful and praise the Lord
as you enter his temple.
The Lord is good!
His love and faithfulness
will last forever.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My friend put up a Christmas tree and let her three young grandchildren (a boy and two girls - ages 5 and under) decorate it. One of the little girls methodically hung ornaments while singing, “O Mistmas Twee, O MISTmas Twee!” It was adorable. She sang her heart out for the joy of Christmas and decorating the tree in her Honey’s bedroom.
I’ve often said that we can learn so much from little children. They are truly pure and unadulterated…able to find the joy in little things like decorating a “Mistmas twee” with cousins at Grandma’s house. They get excited over presents…sometimes as much about the box as what was inside. For the most part, they have no doubt that they are loved and belong to someone…and in their own way, they are thankful.
Somehow, as we grow up, we seem to somewhat “outgrow God”. We’re not nearly as unabashed in our singing of His praises. We question who we are, where we fit in – and sometimes, WHOSE we are! We take God for granted…and when we do thank Him, it’s often hurried or superficial. We fail to truly acknowledge His gifts…and when we do, we’re much more concerned with what is given than the packaging or the Deliverer.
I have to wonder…are our “songs of praise” to God as sweet and dear to Him as the humbly offered “Oh, Mistmas Twee” of a toddler? Are our words of gratitude a “joyful noise” in His ears, or the same old “yadda, yadda, yadda” we’ve offered Him for ages? Isn’t it time we got this right? Wouldn’t this be a great day to begin?
Make a joyful noise. Serve the LORD with gladness. Come before His presence with Thanksgiving. For the LORD is good…His mercies are everlasting…and His truth endures forever. If that doesn’t merit a grown-up “O Mistmas tree” praise, I don’t know what will…do you?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 21, 2014
Psalm 35:9
I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No doubt you have watched at least one football game where a player broke free from the blocks and tackles of defenders and sprinted down the field for a touchdown…perhaps with an opponent or two hot on his heels - yet unable to catch him. When the ball carrier realizes that he is going to make it safely into the end zone, you can almost read the sense of “wild abandon” in his body language. It is as if he sees an imaginary “savior” waiting for him…arms outstretched…saying, “Come to Poppa!” The runner scores…the crowd goes wild with celebration and exuberance…and the opponents lick their wounds and regroup for another play!
Maybe it’s because we’re in the throes of football season, but this was the image I got as I read this verse from Psalm 35. I pictured myself running toward God… arms outstretched to receive me…the worries and pressures of the world nipping at my heels from behind – yet unable to take me to the ground. I know that the “enemy” is continually regrouping…plotting and planning his next move. But I also know that God is always several steps ahead of the opponent!
So I celebrate my rescue and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God for His wisdom, protection, grace, mercy, love and care…for planning for my future and always keeping me safe from the schemes and snares of the devil and his cohorts. For me, every day represents “touchdowns” and “extra points”…a veritable “party in the end zone” with God Almighty!
Recently, the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrated a victory over the LSU Tigers…breaking a 17-game losing streak in conference play. When the game ended, Razorback fans stormed the field, reveling in the joy, relief and release of this monumental win. If only we could celebrate God’s victories in our lives half as much!
It says something about us as Christians that we can’t seem to muster even a portion of this excitement over something so precious and vital in our lives. We will talk about a big sports play for days/weeks/months. We will replay it on “highlight reels” for years to come. Yet we can hardly mention God’s name and acknowledge His importance in our lives…much less give Him even a portion of the praise and recognition that He so richly deserves.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good football game…or with celebrating a great play. These happy moments are blessings from God just as much as any other. But we need to take inventory of our priorities and make sure that God is at the forefront…that in our jubilation over things of this world, we don’t neglect our gratitude for Him.
Sometimes only the length of an outstretched arm separates us from a tackle by the devil…and the grip of God’s grace. Won’t you thank God today for giving you that last burst of energy to sprint toward the “end zone” and the safety of His love and care? Isn’t it time to celebrate our victory in Jesus Christ? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
I will celebrate and be joyful
because you, Lord,
have saved me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
No doubt you have watched at least one football game where a player broke free from the blocks and tackles of defenders and sprinted down the field for a touchdown…perhaps with an opponent or two hot on his heels - yet unable to catch him. When the ball carrier realizes that he is going to make it safely into the end zone, you can almost read the sense of “wild abandon” in his body language. It is as if he sees an imaginary “savior” waiting for him…arms outstretched…saying, “Come to Poppa!” The runner scores…the crowd goes wild with celebration and exuberance…and the opponents lick their wounds and regroup for another play!
Maybe it’s because we’re in the throes of football season, but this was the image I got as I read this verse from Psalm 35. I pictured myself running toward God… arms outstretched to receive me…the worries and pressures of the world nipping at my heels from behind – yet unable to take me to the ground. I know that the “enemy” is continually regrouping…plotting and planning his next move. But I also know that God is always several steps ahead of the opponent!
So I celebrate my rescue and redemption by the blood of Jesus Christ. I thank God for His wisdom, protection, grace, mercy, love and care…for planning for my future and always keeping me safe from the schemes and snares of the devil and his cohorts. For me, every day represents “touchdowns” and “extra points”…a veritable “party in the end zone” with God Almighty!
Recently, the Arkansas Razorbacks celebrated a victory over the LSU Tigers…breaking a 17-game losing streak in conference play. When the game ended, Razorback fans stormed the field, reveling in the joy, relief and release of this monumental win. If only we could celebrate God’s victories in our lives half as much!
It says something about us as Christians that we can’t seem to muster even a portion of this excitement over something so precious and vital in our lives. We will talk about a big sports play for days/weeks/months. We will replay it on “highlight reels” for years to come. Yet we can hardly mention God’s name and acknowledge His importance in our lives…much less give Him even a portion of the praise and recognition that He so richly deserves.
There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good football game…or with celebrating a great play. These happy moments are blessings from God just as much as any other. But we need to take inventory of our priorities and make sure that God is at the forefront…that in our jubilation over things of this world, we don’t neglect our gratitude for Him.
Sometimes only the length of an outstretched arm separates us from a tackle by the devil…and the grip of God’s grace. Won’t you thank God today for giving you that last burst of energy to sprint toward the “end zone” and the safety of His love and care? Isn’t it time to celebrate our victory in Jesus Christ? Will this be the day that you begin?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 20, 2014
Psalm 92:1-3
What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
the full-bodied music of strings.
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 sitting in my office, and he was watching “Wubbzy” videos on my computer. The TV was on, but I was not paying any attention. A NASCAR race was about to begin, and they sang the “Star Spangled Banner”. Timothy suddenly shouted, "BOW YOUR HEAD!" I looked over, and he had his head bowed. A minister was praying at the race venue. So I bowed my head, and when the minister was done, Timothy said, "A-MEN!" Then he muttered, "Man…that was a long one!”
It was a precious moment, and I have to admit that I was proud that our little 5-year-old nephew respected a prayer enough to bow his head – even one offered over the television airwaves! But here’s the thing…we wouldn’t think of attending a sporting event and not singing the national anthem before it began. A lot of public sporting events also begin with a prayer. MANY of us don’t give this a second thought…unless it doesn’t happen!
I don’t know about you, but when I place my hand across my heart and listen to – or sing along with – “The Star Spangled Banner”, something is stirred in my heart. I am reminded of the privileges we enjoy in this country…and the unity of standing as a group and singing an anthem for the nation we love and the freedoms we enjoy. I am humbled by how blessed we are.
But I wonder…how many of us are as concerned about singing an anthem to God each day? How many of us stop to consider the awesome privilege it is to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ – to belong to God for all eternity and rest in the assurance of spending Eternity with Him in heaven? How many of us are humbled and stirred by the tremendous blessings we enjoy because of Jesus…and how often are we moved to sing out to Him in gratitude?
Somehow, I have a feeling we are more diligent about singing the national anthem and offering a prayer at a sporting event than we are about praising God for His incredible love and care. And as kids like to say, “that’s messed up!” And there is no time like the present to start making amends.
Stop today and look around you. Thank God for ALL that He does for you 24/7/365. Give Him some of your time. BOW YOUR HEAD and tell Him just how grateful you are for His love and care…for His wisdom and power…for JESUS! God deserves our songs of gratitude and praise…our prayers of love and allegiance. Will this be the day that you begin to sing an anthem for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks,
to sing an anthem to you, the High God!
To announce your love each daybreak,
sing your faithful presence all through the night,
Accompanied by dulcimer and harp,
the full-bodied music of strings.
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 sitting in my office, and he was watching “Wubbzy” videos on my computer. The TV was on, but I was not paying any attention. A NASCAR race was about to begin, and they sang the “Star Spangled Banner”. Timothy suddenly shouted, "BOW YOUR HEAD!" I looked over, and he had his head bowed. A minister was praying at the race venue. So I bowed my head, and when the minister was done, Timothy said, "A-MEN!" Then he muttered, "Man…that was a long one!”
It was a precious moment, and I have to admit that I was proud that our little 5-year-old nephew respected a prayer enough to bow his head – even one offered over the television airwaves! But here’s the thing…we wouldn’t think of attending a sporting event and not singing the national anthem before it began. A lot of public sporting events also begin with a prayer. MANY of us don’t give this a second thought…unless it doesn’t happen!
I don’t know about you, but when I place my hand across my heart and listen to – or sing along with – “The Star Spangled Banner”, something is stirred in my heart. I am reminded of the privileges we enjoy in this country…and the unity of standing as a group and singing an anthem for the nation we love and the freedoms we enjoy. I am humbled by how blessed we are.
But I wonder…how many of us are as concerned about singing an anthem to God each day? How many of us stop to consider the awesome privilege it is to be saved by the blood of Jesus Christ – to belong to God for all eternity and rest in the assurance of spending Eternity with Him in heaven? How many of us are humbled and stirred by the tremendous blessings we enjoy because of Jesus…and how often are we moved to sing out to Him in gratitude?
Somehow, I have a feeling we are more diligent about singing the national anthem and offering a prayer at a sporting event than we are about praising God for His incredible love and care. And as kids like to say, “that’s messed up!” And there is no time like the present to start making amends.
Stop today and look around you. Thank God for ALL that He does for you 24/7/365. Give Him some of your time. BOW YOUR HEAD and tell Him just how grateful you are for His love and care…for His wisdom and power…for JESUS! God deserves our songs of gratitude and praise…our prayers of love and allegiance. Will this be the day that you begin to sing an anthem for Him? Don’t you think it should be?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for November 19, 2014
Philippians 4:13
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine took her ten-year-old dog to the vet for extensive knee surgery. She posted pictures on Facebook of the little dog cowering under a chair in the clinic waiting room. My friend expressed concern over the safety and well-being of her beloved pet – and relief when the procedure was over and all was well.
If you have ever had surgery – or any medical procedure that required anesthesia – you probably know those moments of trepidation right before they “put you under”. There is a sense of apprehension and dread…maybe even a “Wait a minute! I’m not ready!” instant of panic! The next thing you know, the drugs take effect, and you wake up in a recovery room. At least that is how it’s supposed to work! Nothing is certain, and surgery is a risky proposition under even the best of circumstances.
Whether this happened to you – or to someone you know and love (even a pet) – you most likely understand what I am describing…that “gentle fear” (or maybe it wasn’t so gentle?) that grips us in moments when we know that something is coming…and we cannot stop it. And if we are honest, we will admit that this can scare the pants off us! Here’s what I tell myself…”You (or they) will wake up – either here or in heaven.”
Now you may be thinking…”That’s pretty dramatic!” Yes…but it’s the truth. Because I know that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything!” And if you go back and read the last part of verse 11, you will see that Paul says…”I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little.” What I hear in this passage is the additional message that “Wherever I am…Christ is with me.” And I take that to include on this earth AND in heaven!
If I could only learn to apply these thoughts to every situation of my life, I would be so much more settled. If only I could say in every worrisome or “hard” situation, “Christ gives me the strength to handle this,” I would find such a peace and calm. And I can do this…and so can you! We can learn to fully embrace the confidence that Jesus will help us through those mid-terms. He will get us through the holidays – the meal planning and preparation, gift-giving, rushing around, entertaining of guests, grief over the absence of loved ones, and general “stress” of the season.
Jesus will help us figure out how to make ends meet. He will care for our health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus will guard our hearts and strengthen us in wisdom and courage as we serve Him and witness to others. He will make us bold in places where we feel terribly week and inadequate.
Wherever we “wake up”…Jesus will be there. The question is…will we recognize His presence? Will we trust Him to give us the strength to face anything? Are we truly grateful for such a magnificent and extravagant gift? Do you understand that the best way to acknowledge and honor this blessing is to accept it and believe in it daily? Are you ready to dive into life with the confidence – and gratitude – that Jesus is always with you…ready to handle anything? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Christ gives me the strength to face anything.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A friend of mine took her ten-year-old dog to the vet for extensive knee surgery. She posted pictures on Facebook of the little dog cowering under a chair in the clinic waiting room. My friend expressed concern over the safety and well-being of her beloved pet – and relief when the procedure was over and all was well.
If you have ever had surgery – or any medical procedure that required anesthesia – you probably know those moments of trepidation right before they “put you under”. There is a sense of apprehension and dread…maybe even a “Wait a minute! I’m not ready!” instant of panic! The next thing you know, the drugs take effect, and you wake up in a recovery room. At least that is how it’s supposed to work! Nothing is certain, and surgery is a risky proposition under even the best of circumstances.
Whether this happened to you – or to someone you know and love (even a pet) – you most likely understand what I am describing…that “gentle fear” (or maybe it wasn’t so gentle?) that grips us in moments when we know that something is coming…and we cannot stop it. And if we are honest, we will admit that this can scare the pants off us! Here’s what I tell myself…”You (or they) will wake up – either here or in heaven.”
Now you may be thinking…”That’s pretty dramatic!” Yes…but it’s the truth. Because I know that “Christ gives me the strength to face anything!” And if you go back and read the last part of verse 11, you will see that Paul says…”I have learned to be satisfied with whatever I have. I know what it is to be poor or to have plenty, and I have lived under all kinds of conditions. I know what it means to be full or to be hungry, to have too much or too little.” What I hear in this passage is the additional message that “Wherever I am…Christ is with me.” And I take that to include on this earth AND in heaven!
If I could only learn to apply these thoughts to every situation of my life, I would be so much more settled. If only I could say in every worrisome or “hard” situation, “Christ gives me the strength to handle this,” I would find such a peace and calm. And I can do this…and so can you! We can learn to fully embrace the confidence that Jesus will help us through those mid-terms. He will get us through the holidays – the meal planning and preparation, gift-giving, rushing around, entertaining of guests, grief over the absence of loved ones, and general “stress” of the season.
Jesus will help us figure out how to make ends meet. He will care for our health – physically, mentally, and emotionally. Jesus will guard our hearts and strengthen us in wisdom and courage as we serve Him and witness to others. He will make us bold in places where we feel terribly week and inadequate.
Wherever we “wake up”…Jesus will be there. The question is…will we recognize His presence? Will we trust Him to give us the strength to face anything? Are we truly grateful for such a magnificent and extravagant gift? Do you understand that the best way to acknowledge and honor this blessing is to accept it and believe in it daily? Are you ready to dive into life with the confidence – and gratitude – that Jesus is always with you…ready to handle anything? Isn’t it time you were?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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