October 2020 – Daily Devo Time

Daily Devotional for October 31, 2020 – Are your ears awake?

Revelation 3:1-6
Write this to Sardis, to the Angel of the church. The One holding the Seven Spirits of God in one hand, a firm grip on the Seven Stars with the other, speaks:

“I see right through your work. You have a reputation for vigor and zest, but you’re dead, stone-dead.

“Up on your feet! Take a deep breath! Maybe there’s life in you yet. But I wouldn’t know it by looking at your busywork; nothing of God’s work has been completed. Your condition is desperate. Think of the gift you once had in your hands, the Message you heard with your ears—grasp it again and turn back to God.

“If you pull the covers back over your head and sleep on, oblivious to God, I’ll return when you least expect it, break into your life like a thief in the night.

“You still have a few followers of Jesus in Sardis who haven’t ruined themselves wallowing in the muck of the world’s ways. They’ll walk with me on parade! They’ve proved their worth!

“Conquerors will march in the victory parade, their names indelible in the Book of Life. I’ll lead them up and present them by name to my Father and his Angels.

“Are your ears awake? Listen. Listen to the Wind Words, the Spirit blowing through the churches.”

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 heard a medical expert on ABC News recommend a free meditation app recently, and I downloaded it onto my phone. It’s called “Insight Timer”, and there are mindful meditations for a variety of situations – and times of day. Just so you know, this is not “hoodoo-voodoo” – these are thoughtful suggestions that I use to center myself with God and truly listen for His voice. One that I have used a couple of mornings reminds me to focus on gratitude…and to think about my day and what I want to do with it. I am directed to focus on images of sharing love and grace with others – and to picture myself sharing Light (which I consider the Light of Christ) as I do this.

As I read this passage in Revelation 3, I thought of the “busywork” we all place in our day. Do we leave room for God’s work? Are our ears awake to what He wants us to do with this day…week…month…year…and our very lives? Are we truly alive in Christ and sharing the Light of His grace and love with others? Do we live with prayerful attentiveness to God’s directives? Do we live in a way that secures us a spot in the ultimate “Victory Parade”?

Whether you practice mindful meditations or not, now is the time to decide to live with attentiveness to God’s will…and intention to complete His missions. Are your ears awake? Is your heart open? Will your name be in the Lamb’s Book of Life as one who was alive in Christ Jesus? Our condition is indeed desperate…it’s time to prove to God that we were worth saving. Make this the day that you settle these things and get busy.

Daily Devotional for October 30, 2020 – God’s new name for us…what will yours be?

Revelation 3:12
Everyone who wins the victory will be made into a pillar in the temple of my God, and they will stay there forever. I will write on each of them the name of my God and the name of his city. It is the new Jerusalem that my God will send down from heaven. I will also write on them my own new name.

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

A few months ago, I was texting with my nephew, Timothy. I don’t remember what I said to him, but he replied to the effect of, “Okay, DEBRA!” I knew that Timothy was aware of my given name…but he had never really used it before, and in this context, it made me laugh out loud. When the children were toddlers, I was “DebDeb”…and now, they just call me “Debbie” or “Aunt Debbie”.

The way I know that someone has known me since childhood is if they refer to me as “Debra”. I used this given name all throughout my childhood, as a college student – and into my first years of teaching. But “Debra Robus” was a mouthful…and my kindergarten students and their parents could never seem to get it right. So I just became “Mrs. Debbie”. My family has always called me “Debbie” or “Deb” – and now, most people know me by these nicknames.

Recently, I was discussing our cat, Mabel, with someone – specifically how we came to name her this, and how we chose the name “Lucy” for her sister. As their “parents”, we chose the names for our cats…just as our own parents gave us the names by which we are known. When I read this scripture passage today, I thought about the new name that God will give me…His name for me. This is the name that will be written in God’s temple forever and ever…the name I will know for all Eternity.

I have to say, this humbled and excited me. God cares so deeply for you and me that He is going to give us new, everlasting names that will be written on the pillars of the temple of New Jerusalem. Even more amazing – our name will be written right beside the name of God! I want my name written on a temple pillar. I want to be included on God’s list of those who are given a new name!

How does this happen? Read the first few words of this verse again…”Everyone who wins the victory will be made into a pillar in the temple of my God…” We “win the victory” by surrendering our sinful nature to God’s will and following Jesus Christ. We “win the victory” by listening to God, praying His will, and serving with faithful obedience. Today, my name is “Debbie”, “Debra”, “DebDeb”, or just “Deb”. But someday, God will give me a new name. It will be perfect, singular, and everlasting. Hallelujah!

Daily Devotional for October 29, 2020 – It’s a matter of choice!

Revelation 21:6-8
It is finished! I am the A and the Z—the Beginning and the End. I will give to the thirsty the springs of the Water of Life—as a gift! Everyone who conquers will inherit all these blessings, and I will be his God and he will be my son. But cowards who turn back from following me, and those who are unfaithful to me, and the corrupt, and murderers, and the immoral, and those conversing with demons, and idol worshipers and all liars—their doom is in the Lake that burns with fire and sulphur. This is the Second Death.”

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

Every day, you and I face choices. I have lived long enough to know that there are times when we choose wisely…and times when we do not. There are instances where we say – if only to ourselves – “I simply cannot do this.” There are other times that we say, “Maybe it won’t hurt this one time”…or even “So what?! I’m going for it!” Every choice comes with an end result – ranging from a blessing or gift to a dire consequence.

You can choose to skip the seatbelt for even a short trip and suffer a car accident that leaves you terribly injured – or kills you. You can choose to “shelter in place” as authorities and experts advise you to flee an impending hurricane or wildfire…and lose your life in the process. You can choose to say, “I cannot attend this family event or that community function because of COVID19” and protect your health. You can make the difficult decision to leave a toxic relationship or job – or a group of friends who are making poor choices – and truly find a happier life in the process.

My point is that God is continually showing us what to choose – and how to live. It is up to us to listen and follow His directives. The end result may be one of incredible blessings and gifts – or dire consequences. Or your choices may not have an outcome that seems all that dramatic. Remember that every choice you make is either leading you closer to the Kingdom of Heaven and Eternal Life in the presence of Jesus Christ…or farther away from God – and ever nearer to the depths of hell.

Someday, the words “It is finished!” will apply to each and every one of us. On that day, how you have chosen to live and serve will matter. Everyone who conquers…who listened and chose to follow God…will inherit all of His blessings. This is the day to begin to watch and pray – and to make a concerted effort to always choose God. Truly, your very life depends on it!

Daily Devotional for October 28, 2020 – If you have ears…LISTEN for God’s voice!

Revelation 2:11, 17
If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Whoever wins the victory will not be hurt by the second death.

If you have ears, listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. To everyone who wins the victory, I will give some of the hidden food. I will also give each one a white stone with a new name written on it. No one will know that name.

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

I have begun to listen to daily meditation exercises on a phone app in an effort to reduce stress and tension in my life. I feel like the events of the day are taking a toll on me, and these exercises help me to clear my mind and relax, so that even my prayer life is enriched and more intentional. One of the things that the “guides” on these meditations say frequently is, “listen!” Listen for your breath…listen for your heartbeat…listen for the sounds in the room and distinguish them.

As we listen intentionally, we are unable to focus on other things. The distractions of other thoughts and outside stimuli fade away. As we listen intentionally, we can truly clear our heads and hearts to hear what God wants us to hear. As we listen, we can hear God saying, “I’m in complete control. You belong to me…I have written a name on a clean white tablet that only you and I will know. Be confident that our covenant is secured, and you are safe.”

I have trepidation about the things that are happening in our world. Any sane human being would, I suppose. But I do not dwell on these, because I am listening to the voice of my Master. He assures me that victory is His…and mine by default as a committed believer in Jesus Christ. I will listen for God’s directions and try to make wise decisions as I navigate the uncertain waters of these trying times. I will do this with confidence that as I still myself and hear God’s voice, He is giving me sound directives – and perfect peace.

Sit quietly, close your eyes, and listen for your breath. Listen for your heartbeat and the sounds around you. As you relax and settle your heart and mind, truly listen for God’s voice. He has a lot to say that we need to hear – and it’s all important information. Hallelujah!

Daily Devotional for October 27, 2020 – Beating the devil at his own game…staying awake and alert with the Holy Spirit

Revelation 12:7-12
Then there was war in heaven; Michael and the angels under his command fought the Dragon and his hosts of fallen angels. And the Dragon lost the battle and was forced from heaven. This great Dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down onto the earth with all his army.

Then I heard a loud voice shouting across the heavens, “It has happened at last! God’s salvation and the power and the rule, and the authority of his Christ are finally here; for the Accuser of our brothers has been thrown down from heaven onto earth—he accused them day and night before our God. They defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony; for they did not love their lives but laid them down for him. Rejoice, O heavens! You citizens of heaven, rejoice! Be glad! But woe to you people of the world, for the devil has come down to you in great anger, knowing that he has little time.”

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

Each year on Halloween, we entertain the children of several friends and family members. For the last several years, 14 children and their parents have visited us on October 31st. They have come in their costumes, and we’ve made photos, eaten candy, and shared a good visit. For some families, this is the one time each year that we really sit down and catch up on their lives. The rest of the busy year, we pass each other in the church hallways or have brief visits here and there. Halloween has become a yearly highlight for all of us.

This year, Halloween will be different. Hopefully, our “core group” will still visit. But we will be sitting on the driveway to greet them…treat bags at the ready – and chairs spaced at a distance of six feet or more. The weather forecast looks good, so far…cool, crisp, and partly sunny.

As I prepared the treat bags and looked back at pictures of past holidays, I thought about how much has changed. This time last year, none of us had a clue what lay ahead. Yes, I know…we are never quite certain of the future and must be prepared for everything. Still, we anticipated years of holiday get-togethers, attending events with our children as we watched them grow and learn, celebrating milestones, and more. We didn’t know that the devil would rob us of such activities – or at the very least, change how we accomplished them.

I’ve asked myself…”If I had known last October what I now know, would I have done things differently? Would I have changed how I acted and reacted? Would I have spent more time on this activity – and less on that one?” The short answer is…”Yes.” While I cannot reclaim that time or change how things transpired, I can surely redouble my efforts to live more intentionally in the present and future. I can pay close attention to the devil’s attempts to derail me…and even closer attention to the presence of the Holy Spirit and what He is directing in my life.

I can listen to that “still small Voice” that tells me to…”slow down and savor this”…or “step away from that pitfall.” I can recognize that Satan is not backing down…and he delights in making life difficult for us. More importantly, I can remember that I am armed to the teeth with the most powerful Weapon against his attempts…the strength and power of Jesus Christ to enable me to do all things in His name and conquer all enemies. When we stay focused on Jesus and call on Him to undergird everything we say and do, there is no contest!

We will trick-or-treat with love, energy and enthusiasm this weekend. We will thumb our noses at the devil and say, “Take THAT, you ole dragon!” We will listen for Jesus’ guidance through the Holy Spirit, and we will delight in knowing that whatever Satan tries to destroy is no match for what is accomplished through our faithful obedience. I have told our children for years that when we even whisper the name of Jesus, Satan shrinks away in fear and defeat. So here goes…I’m whispering – and listening! Come, LORD Jesus!

Daily Devotional for October 26, 2020 – Take a walk – and reconnect with God!

Revelation 1:4-6
From: John

To: The seven churches in Turkey.

Dear Friends:

May you have grace and peace from God who is, and was, and is to come; and from the sevenfold Spirit before his throne; and from Jesus Christ who faithfully reveals all truth to us. He was the first to rise from death, to die no more. He is far greater than any king in all the earth. All praise to him who always loves us and who set us free from our sins by pouring out his lifeblood for us. He has gathered us into his Kingdom and made us priests of God his Father. Give to him everlasting glory! He rules forever! Amen!

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

Recently, Greg and I saw a news report that suggested that we take “slow walks” where we walk with intention and really look at what is around us. These are designed to help us “center” and de-stress – and to reconnect with our surroundings and recognize the beauty and intricacy that is right in front of us, but often overlooked. Yesterday afternoon, I set out to walk in our neighborhood – and around our yard. I took my camera and photographed the colorful leaves, a few wildflowers – and even some rogue honeysuckle blooms on a vine that climbs a shepherd’s hook in our back yard. The temperature was a crisp 52 degrees with a light “spit” of rainy mist…and God’s artistry and handiwork was in abundance.

I thought about a walk I took in March 2020, shortly after we were “shut down” for two weeks in an effort to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The leaves that are now every color of the rainbow were just beginning to bud. I don’t recall seeing any flowers then, but the late-winter foliage had a beauty all its own. I marveled at the intricacy of God’s plans for trees and plants – and how we can see His love and care for the smallest details, even in a pandemic.

Seven months later, I am still awed by God. I am still amazed by Jesus and all that He did for us – and how He loves us even now. No matter what season we are in – or what “season” we are in – Jesus is still with us. He is still all-powerful and all-loving. If you doubt this even for a second, take a walk in your yard or neighborhood and really look at what is in front of you. God is with us…He is working in our lives – and in our world. Let us take time each and every day to give Him glory and praise, and to humbly submit to His will. “He has gathered us into his Kingdom”…Hallelujah and Amen!

Daily Devotional for October 25, 2020 – Shifting our focus and finding God’s grace…lessons from the prayer of a four-year-old

Matthew 6:6
“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.

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.

The mother of Levi, a darling little boy I know from church, posted his meal-time prayer on Facebook. This precious tow-headed child pressed his hands together, bowed his head, closed his eyes, and said…”Jesus, thank you for the food. We really love you. We hope you take good care of us while we’re still alive, and we hope – we pretty please wanna stay alive as long as you can keep us…and Amen!” This prayer from an almost-five-year-old packed a PUNCH!

Some might say that putting your child’s mealtime prayer on Facebook belies the admonition of Jesus in Matthew 6:6 to find a quiet, secluded place (or in some translations – go into a closet) to pray in private. I am more focused on the simple honesty of this little boy…and the lesson it gives to all of us. Levi isn’t “putting on airs”…he is pouring out his heart as best he can. In the purity and “wisdom” of a small child, he thanks Jesus for protection and provision. He tells Jesus that he loves Him. Rather than go into great detail about his worries and concerns, Levi simply asks Jesus to keep us alive and care for us according to His plans and purposes.

The brief, heartfelt, innocent petitions of a little boy serve as the perfect model of how to shift our focus to God and sense His grace. In these times when we have so much on our hearts and minds, perhaps what we really need to do is just sit alone in the quiet, and pray a version of little Levi’s prayer as our own…”Jesus, we thank you, and we love you. We hope You take good care of us for as long as we are alive, and we pray that you will care for us every day that You give us on this earth. Amen!” Throwing in a “pretty please” is optional.

Daily Devotional for October 24, 2020 – “Run down the hallway” to God – and tell Him what you need

Matthew 6:7-13
“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:

Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.

This morning, a friend shared an illustration on Facebook that included a “dialog” between God and someone who was expressing worries and concerns. God said to this person (paraphrased), “Remember when your daughter was scared the other night, and as she ran down the hallway toward your bedroom, you called to her and said, ‘I’m here!’?” God reminded this person that “I’m here! It’s okay! I know what you are feeling – and I know the rest of the story. We will work through it together.”

Here’s the thing…God does indeed know “the end of the story”. He knows what we need before we even express this in prayer. God wants us to run to Him…to pour out our hearts and tell Him everything. But we don’t have to try to flatter Him with grandiose, lengthy prayers that attempt to make us sound impressive or “high and mighty”! We simply need to tell God what is on our heart. And some days, we need to merely whisper, “Come LORD Jesus. I cannot even put this into words, but YOU KNOW what I am feeling.”

We’ve all recited “The LORD’s Prayer” since we were children. But let’s reconsider the components of it today. Let’s pray this modeled prayer from Jesus with fresh eyes and a renewed mind – put it in the context of our present needs and concerns – and give God plenty of room to work in the process. Let’s “run down the hallway” to our Heavenly Father with complete confidence that His arms are open wide, and He will hear our petitions. “Our Father in Heaven…reveal who You are.”

Daily Devotional for October 23, 2020 – Don’t get “caught napping”!

Mark 14:37-38
When Jesus came back and found the disciples sleeping, he said to Simon Peter, “Are you asleep? Can’t you stay awake for just one hour? Stay awake and pray that you won’t be tested. You want to do what is right, but you are weak.”

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

Every single one of us has had at least one incident (and probably thousands) where we had something we needed to do – or were asked to do – and we let other things get in the way. Maybe we knew we had to be somewhere at an appointed time…but we got sidetracked by something more interesting. Perhaps we said we were going to rest for “a few minutes” – and we fell asleep for an hour or more. Or we decided to watch a television show – and the next thing we knew, we’d seen two or three programs. How often do you declare that you are going to quickly check your e-mail, text messages, or social media…and hours later, you are still looking at your computer or electronic device?

This passage in Mark 14 is about so much more than a nap. Jesus has asked His disciples to pray with Him about a monumental event. He has told them that serious things are about to happen, and He has asked them to “watch and pray” with Him. The disciples simply cannot seem to do this. They may very well have been exhausted. We have all had times when we simply could not hold open our eyes! But have you ever been “dog tired” and something happened that snapped you awake and alert? I believe if my Master told me that dire things were about to happen and He needed me to stay awake and pray, I could do it!

What seems to be at play here is weakness, as Jesus points out to Simon Peter. I would also suggest that this involves skewed priorities, which is often the case for many of us. What we are asked to do – or tasked to do – is not nearly as interesting or pleasant as what we want to do in that moment. In other words, we just want to close our eyes and rest for a few minutes. But this is often dangerous territory when it comes to the things God is asking of us.

If we “sleep” while people are hungry and hurting, God’s children suffer. If we look the other way while people gossip, lie, cheat and disparage people, we have not served as faithful, obedient disciples. If we “nap” while the work of serving others in the name of Jesus goes undone, we have failed to build God’s Kingdom. If we choose to do what makes us happy and fulfills our desires – and take our eyes off of Jesus and what He commands and teaches – we have basically said, “Lord, you don’t really matter that much.”

Stop and consider all that Jesus does for each of us, and you will see that there is no room for excuses. Do not get “caught napping” in your discipleship. Stay awake and alert…watch and pray. The stakes are high…and the consequences of complacency can be deadly. When it comes to serving Jesus, our priorities matter. If He asks us to do something, nothing should get in our way.

Daily Devotional for October 22, 2020 – Still standing in a heap of rubble…staying awake and alert to God’s message

Mark 13:1-2
As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”

Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.”

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 months ago, a woman contacted me on Facebook and said her father was pastor at the First Baptist Church in my community in the early 1950s. She had home movies and still photos that she wanted to share in a local history group. I remember my grandparents and my mother talking about her father, Rev. Leland Hall. I have thoroughly enjoyed looking at the old photos of the church campus where I worshipped as a child. Many of the buildings are gone now – replaced with newer, more modern structures…the parsonage, the “education building”…and even the sanctuary where Greg and I were married!

We laugh that after our wedding, the building was torn down. It might not be quite so funny if we had not been married for 46 years and counting! Still, I look at those old photos and think of all that happened there…the worship services, weddings, funerals, VBS sessions, church dinners and more. I remember my grandmother telling of how she and other ladies made tamales to sell to pay the “note” on the building. I have a vague recollection of a ceremony to burn a “note” in a trash can on the altar of the sanctuary. While all of these occasions were significant…the buildings were just that – physical structures.

I have thought about this a lot in recent months, as many churches have paused in-person worship because of COVID-19. More than a few of my friends have agreed with me that we are closer to God now than perhaps at any other time in our lives. We are worshipping in private, online, and via television. On any given Sunday, I might watch as many as four different worship services. I study scripture and pray diligently every day. I feel like I am in tune with what God is telling me in this season. Many activities I enjoyed this time last year have been stripped away and “reduced to rubble”…but what truly matters has not changed.

I am still finding ways to stay in touch with loved ones. I am still seeking (and finding) ways to serve God by serving others – even while staying socially distant and wearing a mask. I am still hopeful and encouraged by the love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, compassion, strength and wisdom of God Almighty…and I know that He is working in and through me even now.

When the “buildings” crumble around us, Jesus is still standing. When a deadly virus ravages our world, Jesus is still there. When it looks like all hope is lost, Jesus is still there! Will we crumble into a heap of rubble, or will we still be there with Him? Christ is counting on us to stay awake and alert – to watch and pray – and to keep on “keepin’ on”…in all situations and circumstances. Now is the time for us to take a deep breath and double down on our resolve. We are more than a “building” as Christ’s Disciples. With God’s help…we.can.do.this! Amen!

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