Daily Devotional for April 30, 2019 – Nothing is impossible for God!

Luke 1:37
“Nothing is impossible for God!”

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

On the surface, this sentence seems almost too simple. “Nothing is impossible for God.” Luke presents this thought amid the story of Elizabeth’s late-in-life pregnancy with her son, John, who was the forerunner and cousin of Jesus. And while the recounting of this exchange between Elizabeth and Mary is an excellent example of the fact that nothing is impossible for God, we all have proof of this in our own lives – every single day.

• Worried about your kids, your job, your marriage, your bills? “Nothing is impossible for God!”
  
• Struggling with your health or fitness?  “Nothing is impossible for God!”
  
• Battling profound grief and wondering how you’ll ever feel happy again? “Nothing is impossible for God!”
  
• Wondering how you will manage your future and the challenges of aging – your own or that of loved ones?  “Nothing is impossible for God!”
  
• Concerned about current events or the state of our world?  “Nothing is impossible for God!”
  
• Questioning whether we will ever learn to get along? “Nothing is impossible for God!”
  

For every single question you can imagine, this is a viable answer.  Particularly if your queries start with “Why can’t I?”…”How do I?”…“What if?”…or “Why?”…the perfect answer lies in these five words – “Nothing is impossible for God!”

Stop and examine your own life today. Think about the people and events that make up your world, then “ripple out” from there. Consider each person and situation in the context of God and His impact on each of them. Remind yourself that “Nothing is impossible for God!” Then make this your “mantra”. Breathe deeply of it and internalize the hope and confidence that is exclaimed in this one small sentence. No words need to be added…the intention is clear – and true.

“Nothing is impossible for God!”  Make this your mantra today – and always. Fill your head and heart with the hope and promise of these words…and demonstrate them daily to others. And take time to stop and thank God for granting us this amazing gift! Because of His love and mercy over each of us, nothing is impossible!

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 29, 2019 – “There is one ray of hope: God’s compassion never ends.”

John 3:16-18
Yet there is one ray of hope: his compassion never ends. It is only the Lord’s mercies that have kept us from complete destruction. Great is his faithfulness; his loving-kindness begins afresh each day. My soul claims the Lord as my inheritance; therefore I will hope in him. The Lord is wonderfully good to those who wait for him, to those who seek for him. It is good both to hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.

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

I’ve talked before about my student who was so hungry every day. I can’t even count how many people were involved in trying to rescue him and his sister from an unhealthy home environment. The case worker assigned to this family received daily demands from the child’s father, and one day, he ended his list with, “Oh, yes, and I want a car.”  The case worker flatly asked him, “What color would you like?”  I was astounded at her response, but she shrugged and said, “It’s a ridiculous demand…one that he’s not getting…so why not give him an equally ridiculous response?!”

Ultimately, we were unable to help these children. In frustration, the juvenile court judge allowed a local benefactor to pay for bus tickets for the entire family to return to live near family members in another state. To this day, many of us feel that we failed these children, even though we knew that our hands were legally tied.

What if God did this?  What if He threw up His hands and said, “This is the day that I am done with you. That last request was just too ridiculous. You’re on your own!” What if there was a limit to God’s patience, compassion, and mercy?  Now, don’t misunderstand me…this is not a license to try God’s last nerve…or to sin and expect God to look the other way. In fact, because God is so merciful and compassionate, we should want to honor Him with our words and actions – and treat His great kindness and care with utmost respect.

Stop and think about the claim that God’s love and mercy “begins afresh each day.”  This is incredible.  There is no time limit…no “quota” on God’s love and care! He doesn’t throw up His hands and say, “That’s it! I’m done…here’s your bus ticket!”  God never gives up on us…so how can we possibly give up on Him?  Moreover, how can we stop loving others?  I understand that there are times when we have to back away from a situation. I understand “tough love” – and I believe that God practices this, too!

But the bottom line is that God never discards a single one of us and completely cuts us off from His love…and we must not do this to Him – or to others.  We must wake up every day with a new resolve to live in the hope and promise of God’s amazing compassion and mercy…and do our dead-level best to honor His great gift of Jesus by loving others as He loves us – and treating them as He would.

The Lord is indeed wonderfully good to those who wait for him and seek Him. Are you waiting quietly for His salvation and mercy – and honoring His amazing gifts of unending love and care? Isn’t it time you were?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 28, 2019 – God sent Jesus for ALL of us – even those in need of “merciful acceptance”

John 3:16-18
“This is how much God loved the world: He gave his Son, his one and only Son. And this is why: so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn’t go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. Anyone who trusts in him is acquitted; anyone who refuses to trust him has long since been under the death sentence without knowing it. And why? Because of that person’s failure to believe in the one-of-a-kind Son of God when introduced to him.”

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 thought about how many times that I have used John 3:16 and surrounding verses as the jump-start for a devotional.  Each time this passage comes up in my “idea outline”, there seems to be a new reason to use it – and today is no exception.  This morning, my teaching partner and I shared the story of Zacchaeus with eight 2nd and 3rd-graders. Our lesson topic was “merciful acceptance”.

You know the story of Zacchaeus…the “little man” who climbed in a tree to see Jesus when He visited Jericho.  You may also remember that Zacchaeus was a tax collector…and a corrupt one for sure. Yet Jesus walked over to the tree where he was perched and said, “Zacchaeus, hurry down. Today is my day to be a guest in your home.”  Of course others in the crowd were astounded…and even insulted!  Why on earth would the Son of God want to dine in the home of such a dishonest thief? Yet this simple gesture by Jesus was the catalyst to a complete life change for Zacchaeus.

Zacchaeus vowed on the spot to give half of his money to the poor – and to repay four times as much to those he had swindled as what he had taken. A simple act of kindness and “merciful acceptance” had made this incredible difference.  We posed the question to the children, “What if there is someone in your class that you don’t like or has treated you unkindly? And what if you smiled at that person and treated him/her with kindness that is undeserved?”

This is the question I am posing to all of us today…”Where do we need to operate in merciful acceptance?” Where do we need to treat others better than they deserve and actually offer a kind word or gesture to someone – regardless of his/her reputation, attitude, or actions?  What would happen if we smiled more, spoke more kindly, let an insult slide, or helped someone who we knew had been dishonest or disrespectful in some manner? What if we chose to treat all others as we wish to be treated – and as Jesus treats us?

What if we stopped thinking about revenge or restitution and started thinking more about redemption?  You and I are not capable of accomplishing this in another person on our own…but our acts of merciful acceptance might open the door for Jesus to work – and for changes to take place. The scriptures are full of instances where Jesus turned around others with merciful acceptance…so it’s pretty clear that He wants us to continue this approach in our own missions and ministries.

So where will you begin? Who will be the first recipient of your “merciful acceptance?” God so loved the world that He sent Jesus, His Only Son, for all of us…even the conniving “tax collectors” like Zacchaeus. Each and every one of us has the potential for redemption…some just haven’t realized it yet.  Will your “merciful acceptance” be their catalyst to change?  Isn’t it worth a try?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 27, 2019 – Respect for God’s “roar” – and hope in His promises

Joel 3:16
From the heart of Jerusalem
the Lord roars like a lion,
shaking the earth and sky.
But the Lord is a fortress,
a place of safety
for his people Israel.

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

I went in search of “fun facts” about lions in hopes of drawing an analogy to this scripture passage…and I got more than I expected.  It turns out that a lion’s roar can be heard for as much as 8 kilometers (5 miles) away.  But I also learned that male lions often eat the cubs in order to free up the mother to mate again!

So here’s the conclusion – and analogy – that I drew from the “lion” reference of Joel 3:16.  God “roars like a lion” and demonstrates His power and might!  We are to respect His power and prowess. But unlike the self-serving male lions of the African savannas, our all-powerful God is also a gentle, loving Father who offers us refuge and a place of safety and security.  We can trust God in all things!

This gives me a great sense of hope and courage.  My Heavenly Father is like a commanding beast…ready to protect me at every turn – and worthy of respect and honor.  He is also a “Gentle Giant”, waiting with outstretched arms to embrace, comfort, guide, and bless me.  Nothing – and no one – compares to God…and the GREAT NEWS is that He loves each one of us as His beloved, precious children!

I know that we serve a Mighty God.  I know that God is not only my strength…He is my hope. There is nothing that God cannot handle…nothing that He will not make right on my behalf. And this builds my faith and strengthens my courage.  I will hear the “roar” of my Almighty Father…and give Him the respect and honor that He so richly deserves. I will also cling to His hand and trust in His love and care – and the promises He offers for my earthly life and my eternal future.  What about you?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 26, 2019 – “Why NOT me?” Learning to trust God’s plans and live with hope and faith

Job 13:15
God may kill me, but still
I will trust him
and offer my defense.

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

When my childhood friend, Becky, was battling breast cancer, she would often note that people kept asking why this was happening to her. She always responded, “Why NOT me?”  Her point was that she saw no reason for God to give her special favor over someone else…to single her out and say, “I won’t allow you to go through anything – even if it might be an excellent vehicle for demonstrating your faith in Me.” My mother had much the same attitude.  Her mantra in her last weeks of life became, “God has other plans.”

Both of these women demonstrated faith and hope in God even while their earthly bodies were failing them. If you read the verses surrounding Job 13:15, you will see that Job was facing some huge challenges. He was being hit on all sides with physical, emotional and spiritual battles. In fairness, he very much must have felt like God was trying to kill him.  And maybe there are times when you feel this way, too…or at least you want to ask, “God, what are You trying to do to me?”

But notice what Job said…”I will trust Him, and offer my defense.” It is one thing to say to God, “I’ve done XYZ and followed you in this or that, so why are you doing this to me?”  It is quite another to say, “LORD, I’ve tried to serve You with faithful obedience, but I surrender to You and Your will. Whatever You have planned for me, I will trust.”  In other words, when we serve God to the best of our ability and troubles still come, we need to be able to ask, “Why NOT me?”

I will tell you…I’m not sure I am there yet.  I can readily admit that there are times when I get discouraged and my hope falters momentarily. But I understand that this is a human characteristic…and fodder for the devil. I quickly seek encouragement and restoration to right thinking through prayer, scripture reading, and conversations with fellow believers. This is not indicative of who I am as a redeemed Disciple of Christ, and I am learning to lean on Him more each and every day.

We all know that God is all-powerful. His decisions are infallible. It is up to us to submit to His will in all things, to trust His plans, and to be ready, willing and able to say, “Why NOT me?” when His path for us is not of our own choosing.  In complete surrender to God’s will, we find our hope and peace.  Job 13:16-18 says, “This may be what saves me, because no guilty person would come to his court. Listen carefully to my words! I have prepared my case well, and I am certain to win.”

Have you prepared YOUR case with Christ well? Are you living in a way that demonstrates complete submission to God’s will for your life and complete hope and trust in His plans?  Isn’t it time you were?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 25, 2019 – Putting your past behind you…living in the moment with hope and courage

Job 11:13-19
“Before you turn to God and stretch out your hands to him, get rid of your sins and leave all iniquity behind you. Only then, without the spots of sin to defile you, can you walk steadily forward to God without fear. Only then can you forget your misery. It will all be in the past. And your life will be cloudless; any darkness will be as bright as morning!

“You will have courage because you will have hope. You will take your time and rest in safety. You will lie down unafraid, and many will look to you for help.

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

A few weeks ago, Greg and I took the children on a “sight-seeing” adventure around our home town. It was the last weekday of their Spring Break, and we made the most of it.  We visited two museums, a local park and hiking trail, and finished with lunch and playtime at a fast food restaurant.

We spent the day enjoying each other’s company, learning new things, appreciating nature, and soaking up sunshine. We were not worried about social media or cable news.  We barely checked our watches. We didn’t think about anything except having fun together and appreciating this day.  And it truly was a glorious day for all of us.

Had we constantly checked our phones or been preoccupied in some manner, we would have missed much of the joy of this day. If we had spent the time wondering what was happening elsewhere or how we were going to address this issue or that one, we would not have been fully engaged in what was happening right in front of us. We would have lost out on cute comments and actions, sweet hugs and squeals of laughter, the beauty of God’s handiwork, and more. And don’t think for one minute that the children would not have noticed. They are watching our every word and action – and often take their cues directly from us.

Do you see where I am going?  God wants us to lay down our burdens…to hand over our sins to Jesus – and forget about them, once and for all.  We can, you know. Psalm 103 tells us that God scatters our sins as far as East is from West!  It can all be in the past, and we can move forward, unencumbered, and ready to live with hope, peace, security, and joy.

Will there be bumps in the road?  Absolutely!  But we will know how to manage them…we will have God’s help to safely get us past them, without fear or trepidation. Even in the darkest times of our lives, we will find that we have more “glorious days” than tough ones. When we ditch the baggage of sin and move forward unencumbered, we will find that our hope and faith are multiplied…our courage is bolstered…and our strength and stamina are increased. And people will take notice of how we handle “life” as an “all-in” Disciples of Christ Jesus.

Don’t you want this for your own life?  I know I surely do!  It’s sometimes hard to lay down the baggage – and leave it forever, but this is what God is calling on us to do.  He wants us to seize the day without restraint…to put one foot in front of the other…to live each and every moment to the fullest as we work to further His Kingdom.  We cannot do this if we are loaded down with the burden of sin and the accompanying hopelessness this brings.

Surrender EVERYTHING to Jesus, once and for all!  Go “all in” and learn to practice God’s rhythms of life…to live in His hopefulness…to honor Him with your faithfulness…and to operate in the glory and peace of His constant care. Make this the day you let go of the baggage of sin forever…and rest in Christ’s safety and hope.

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 24, 2019 – Who is your “Family Planner”?

Jeremiah 29:11
I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

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.

Sunday, we were trying to find a restaurant to enjoy an Easter lunch as a family. We had planned to go to a particular local restaurant. But by the time we got finished with the egg hunt, that establishment was full. We tried another – and it was closed. The children and I were driving between destinations, and I pulled over to answer a call from a family member to coordinate where we should meet next.  When I hung up, Timmy noted that I had somewhat become the “leader” of the family since his Granny died…that “you have to get everything planned and organized and make sure everyone gets where they are supposed to be – and take care of all of us.”

I think my nephew probably overestimates my “role” in all of this. There are plenty of times when I simply make things up “on the fly” and hope they work. I do not have any idea how people are going to react…or what the outcomes will be. In short, I often make a rough plan – and hope for the best. And as was demonstrated on Easter Sunday, my plans don’t always work as designed.

As I read Jeremiah 29:11, I thought of how God truly is the “Leader”. He knows exactly what He is doing…and how we will respond. He understands precisely what we need…and what is best for us – and how to make those two things align perfectly. While we cannot see the future…God surely can – even into Eternity! God’s plans never fail. In short, God has everything planned and organized – and makes sure everyone gets where they are supposed to be.  He takes care of all of us!

This scripture is filled with hope.  God’s plans are perfect…and He never abandons us.  His deepest desire is for each of us to experience joy, prosperity and a general sense of well-being. God does not want us so suffer or come to any harm. God knows exactly what He is doing!

Every family needs a “coordinator” of sorts who can be depended upon to organize events and keep the family connected. GOD is the Ultimate Leader…and the only One who is perfect! We can trust His plans – and the way He implements them. When we stay in His will and follow His lead, we can rest assured that our future is secure – forever and ever. Who is your “Family Planner” these days?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 23, 2019 – Trusting God with hope and confidence…are you getting in on the “good stuff”?

Jeremiah 17:7
But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.

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

I couldn’t help but remember again a time a couple of years ago when Timmy was having a bad day. He really wanted to wallow in self-pity, but I tried to reassure him that things would improve.  He stormed upstairs to tell on me to his Uncle Greg!  I overheard him saying, “Don’t tell me that God will fix this…because He won’t!  Don’t tell me to ‘trust in the LORD’ about everything…because that’s just not true!”

Now, in his heart, this little guy knew better. In fact, I would venture to say that all three of our little ones have an amazingly profound understanding of hope and confidence in Jesus for their present ages. But I shared this story to say that a lot of us are like unhappy 8-year-old boys at times. We are all subject to momentary lapses in our trust, hope and confidence in Christ. This simply means we are human – not bad Christians.

But we must not hang out in the land of doubt and self-pity. Our God is so big…so powerful…so loving…and so real!  We can take what He promises to the bank! God has given us His very best…Jesus Christ, His Only Son, who died on the cross for our sins.  Why would anyone believe that He would offer anything less to us in any aspect of life…earthly or eternal?

I don’t mean to imply that all we have to do is say, “I trust You, LORD,” and every single minute of our lives will be sunshine and roses. I cannot tell you that there will never be challenges, heartaches, illness, injury, disappointment, or troubles…because that is simply not true.  But what I WILL tell you is that when we trust in the Lord and make Him our hope and confidence, we are far better able to face such issues.

I’ve watched people handle “life” with Jesus – and without…and I can tell you, things always go better for those who place their hope and confidence in Christ.  God is ready, willing, and able to bless you.  His hands are outstretched to welcome you.  All you have to do is surrender…and commit.  Isn’t this the perfect day to begin to live in God’s abundant blessings and care?

Whether you’re having a momentary bad day – or you truly agree with an upset 8-year-old boy that “God won’t fix this” – it is possible to have a change of heart and a better outcome. This is the perfect day to “let go and let God” have control of your life…and to begin to dwell more fully in His blessings and abundance.  Are you ready?

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 22, 2019 – A message of hope and promise this “Day After Easter”

Isaiah 41:10
Fear not, for I am with you. Do not be dismayed. I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

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

It’s the day after Easter.  Children are back in school…people have gone back to work…the Easter decorations and baskets are being put away for another year. Enough candy to get the kids to Halloween is being hidden in hopes of doling it out in small increments over the next few weeks.

“Life” after Easter is moving forward. And for some, today will be a hard day. This day will mean a hospital stay, chemo treatments, divorce court, or mailboxes filled with more bills than there is money in the bank to pay them. People will tour skilled care facilities and juggle the question of how to care for an aging loved one…and caregivers will struggle to get it all done and take care of themselves in the process. Teachers will pray for strength and courage to get through these last few busy weeks of school. Parents will prepare for graduations…and “empty nests”.

The people of Paris will try to figure out how to move forward with restoring their beloved Notre Dame, while the people of Sri Lanka will struggle to figure out where to begin to put lives back together after the bombings that killed almost 300 people. People around the world will wonder, “Will I survive this day?” – and you may be one of them.  With all of the challenges and struggles, you might be thinking, “Goodness! This is a hopeless message!” But I beg to differ.

This “Day after Easter”, we are reminded by the prophet Isaiah that God is still with us. He will strengthen us, help us, and uphold us with His victorious right hand.  Jesus Christ is ALIVE!  His Holy Spirit is available to dwell within each of us. No matter what we are facing today, we can do so with hope and faith. God is with us!

I pray that you feel the presence of the Holy Spirit today. I pray that whatever is happening in your life this “Day After Easter” – and in the days to come – that you feel the strength and help that comes from God Almighty!  I pray that the message of Easter resonates with you…that Jesus is ALIVE and well…and He is holding you close and watching over your ever breath. He is preparing a home for us in Heaven, where there will be no tears, heartaches, struggles, bills, illness, or impairment – and we will never grow old. I pray that you live this day and all days with hope and confidence in the promises and power of Jesus Christ to do all things.

The “Day After Easter” is not just another day. It is a day to live with gratefulness for God’s blessings – and hope for the future. Fear not, for God is with you!  Jesus is ALIVE!  May you rest firmly in His grip – this day and always.

©2019 Debbie Robus

Daily Devotional for April 21, 2019 – Getting our “second wind” with Jesus…finding renewed strength and hope in His promises

Isaiah 40:31
But those who trust the Lord
will find new strength.
They will be strong like eagles
soaring upward on wings;
they will walk and run
without getting tired.

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

Our church held an Easter egg hunt today after the last worship service. After that, Greg and I took the three children to lunch at Pizza Hut. By the time we got home, I was ready for a nap. But I changed clothes, sat down and rested a bit, and soon my weariness had passed.  I “got my second wind.”

Sometimes, we can renew our strength by taking a short nap. Other times, a cup of coffee, a sugary drink – or even a “Power Bar” can re-energize us. There are also times when we are bone weary…and we wonder if we will ever feel truly rested and energized again.

The message of Easter Sunday is one that energizes…or should. Because of Jesus and the sacrifice of His own blood on the cross, you and I are forgiven – or we can be. Because Jesus was more powerful than death and rose from the grave, you and I have the promise of Eternal Life with Him in Heaven. This means it will last forever! When we think of Jesus and all that He did for us…all that He is doing for us…we should be renewed, rejuvenated, energized, and excited.  Even on the days when we are physically bone weary, we should be strengthened, encouraged…and hopeful! The hope of a life in Christ should give us “a second wind”!

Jesus Christ conquered the grave…for you, for me…for all who will believe in Him and call upon His name.  This is reason enough to be excited…to be strengthened and motivated to “run and not be weary” – to “walk and not faint”. Our physical bodies sometimes wear out. But that doesn’t mean that we have to lose our enthusiasm – much less our hope. We can always, ALWAYS, find strength and courage in Jesus…and today is the perfect day to acknowledge Him.

He is Risen!  Christ is Risen Indeed!  Let us all soar upward as on the wings of eagles…and be strengthened in His Holy Name!

©2019 Debbie Robus