John 15:5
I am the vine, and you are the branches. If
you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce
lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This
morning, I went and got my outdoor potted plants out of my niece’s
basement, where they have spent the winter. It’s warm enough now to set
them out on our back porch again. Over the last few months, these
plants grew spindly…and some even developed dead wood. So I first set
them out on the driveway and gave them all a good pruning before placing
them in their spots for the summer.
As I cut away thick, leggy
begonia stems, I saved a couple of sprouts to put back into the dirt and
hopefully add a little fullness to the pot. But many of the branches
went into the trash can. Without soil and water, they will wither and
die there. Apart from the vine that sustained them, these stems are
pretty much worthless. Now here’s the thing about begonia plants in
particular. These cut sprigs can do fairly well for a while apart from
the vine. They are hardy (or are they stubborn?)...and I could probably
keep them in a vase with just a little water for several days – or even
weeks. But to really thrive, they need the vine…and the soil.
If
you back up and read the first few verses of John 15, you hear him talk
about how God prunes back the branches that are not producing good
fruit…much as I pruned back the wiry twigs of these house plants. In
just a few short weeks, what was left after the pruning will fill out
and flourish – and be better than ever!
This is how it is with us
and God. We are like the begonia plant that has a lot of “useless
fruit” – or “spindly legs” that take us nowhere. Apart from God, we
might manage okay for a while…or at least we will think we are
doing okay! But eventually, we will start to realize that we are not
reaching our full potential…that things are not going as well as we
hoped…or maybe even that our lives are falling apart. We may stubbornly
attempt to persevere on our own…but this will never work for long.
We
need the Vine. In order to thrive, we need God’s nurture and
ever-present care and attention. With God, all things are possible.
Without Him…our efforts are no more valuable than the discarded begonia
stems I threw in the trash. What we accomplish on our own will never
measure up. It won’t satisfy…and more importantly, it won’t please
God. We either stay joined to Him, or we waste our time and energy…and
God’s.
I’ll be honest…it pained me a little to cut those vines
and blossoms from my plants. And it pains God to cut out the “dead
wood”, too. But I know what is coming. I have done this before, and I
know that the results will soon be beautiful and lush and delightful.
And God knows this, too. He is ready to support you and watch you
soar. Are you ready to cling to Him and produce “good fruit”?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label allowing God to sustain us. Show all posts
Showing posts with label allowing God to sustain us. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for December 5, 2013
If you do not hear from me again for a few days, it will be because of the ice storm we are expecting - and a loss of Internet service and/or power. God bless and keep you ... stay safe and warm!
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December 5 ~ Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If you live anywhere in the “Ark-La-Tex”, you probably know that weather forecasters are predicting that we will experience a major winter storm in the next several days… with the primary culprits being freezing rain and ice accumulation…and pipe-freezing cold temperatures (lows in single digits several nights). We have been warned for days to prepare… to get plenty of food, water, cash (in case there is no power for the ATMs), and gasoline for our vehicles. People have polished and serviced their generators and kerosene heaters…tree limbs have been trimmed away from power lines in many areas… road crews are already pre-treating certain areas…and the bread shelves at the local supermarkets look like the Apocolypse is approaching!
This morning when I awoke, I began to think about all of the “issues” we would have if we lost power. We have a gas range, but our heat requires electricity. We could huddle around a wood fireplace, but if we get the single digit temps that are forecast, that would not provide much warmth. Greg’s mother is elderly and lives alone… what if she lost power, too? My niece and her husband have three small children… what if they lost power? As I wrote in my prayer journal, I expressed my concerns to God… but I also told Him that I trust Him to handle these things and the other concerns I have.
Greg awoke early this morning and began to think about the winter storm. He researched portable generators and kerosene heaters…then he left home as soon as he thought stores were open to do a little shopping. When I realized he was doing this, I thanked God for taking care of my needs almost before I spoke of them! I thanked Him for giving me perfect peace. I know the storm is coming. I realize that we very well may still lose power. But God has provided for us… and He will continue to do so. I don’t think it is any accident that Greg purchased the last kerosene heater at one store… or that an ample supply of the very portable generator he preferred was available at another.
This is just one more reminder for me to trust in God… to keep my thoughts fixed on Him… to relax a little and rest in the knowledge and peace of knowing that He is meeting my every need. There are times when things look like they are falling to pieces. But honestly, this is when God truly “shows out” and does His best work in my life. I am learning more every day about living in God’s perfect peace. He is my strength… He most certainly fills me with hope! What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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December 5 ~ Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace
all who trust in you,
all whose thoughts are fixed on you!
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
If you live anywhere in the “Ark-La-Tex”, you probably know that weather forecasters are predicting that we will experience a major winter storm in the next several days… with the primary culprits being freezing rain and ice accumulation…and pipe-freezing cold temperatures (lows in single digits several nights). We have been warned for days to prepare… to get plenty of food, water, cash (in case there is no power for the ATMs), and gasoline for our vehicles. People have polished and serviced their generators and kerosene heaters…tree limbs have been trimmed away from power lines in many areas… road crews are already pre-treating certain areas…and the bread shelves at the local supermarkets look like the Apocolypse is approaching!
This morning when I awoke, I began to think about all of the “issues” we would have if we lost power. We have a gas range, but our heat requires electricity. We could huddle around a wood fireplace, but if we get the single digit temps that are forecast, that would not provide much warmth. Greg’s mother is elderly and lives alone… what if she lost power, too? My niece and her husband have three small children… what if they lost power? As I wrote in my prayer journal, I expressed my concerns to God… but I also told Him that I trust Him to handle these things and the other concerns I have.
Greg awoke early this morning and began to think about the winter storm. He researched portable generators and kerosene heaters…then he left home as soon as he thought stores were open to do a little shopping. When I realized he was doing this, I thanked God for taking care of my needs almost before I spoke of them! I thanked Him for giving me perfect peace. I know the storm is coming. I realize that we very well may still lose power. But God has provided for us… and He will continue to do so. I don’t think it is any accident that Greg purchased the last kerosene heater at one store… or that an ample supply of the very portable generator he preferred was available at another.
This is just one more reminder for me to trust in God… to keep my thoughts fixed on Him… to relax a little and rest in the knowledge and peace of knowing that He is meeting my every need. There are times when things look like they are falling to pieces. But honestly, this is when God truly “shows out” and does His best work in my life. I am learning more every day about living in God’s perfect peace. He is my strength… He most certainly fills me with hope! What about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for October 13, 2013
Psalm 139:1-6
You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting
or when I am working,
and from heaven
you discover my thoughts.
You notice everything I do
and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,
and with your powerful arm
you protect me
from every side.
I can’t understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
is far above me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We recently attended a high school reunion, where we visited with fellow students and alumni. I greeted my cousin, Jim, who is about 8 years older than I. As he gave me a hug, someone snapped our picture, and Jim said, “I used to sit on the couch at her grandmother’s on stormy nights and hold her in a blanket.” Indeed, I remember those nights and snuggling in my cousin’s lap.
Like countless children throughout the South, I spent many night-time hours of my childhood sheltered in my grandparent’s storm cellar. The women and children would hunker down in the cellar as a storm approached, while the men stood on my grandparents’ screened porch and “watched the clouds”. Those summer nights got long and tiresome, and the cellar was cool and damp.
My sister, brother and I had to make a few trips inside to use the restroom, and often, my cousin Jim was recruited to wrap one of us in a quilt or blanket and carry us inside and back. Jim was in high school then, and I thought he was the bravest, most handsome guy around. I especially loved it when he would sit on the couch with me for a while and delay my return to the dark, dank cellar! All Jim had to do was hold out his arms, and I was ready to crawl up in his lap and snuggle!
When you are little, the powerful arms of someone older and stronger are comforting… and most of us readily accepted this protection. But here’s the thing… we understood the security firsthand. We felt it. We could reach out and physically touch these people. We knew them in the flesh… we fully trusted them because we could literally be in their presence and under their care.
God offers us a love and protection that far exceeds anything a precious cousin, parent, grandparent or other caring human being could offer. He knows us – inside and out – and He knows everything about us. His powerful arms are outstretched to embrace and protect us, and He wants to be there for us in all things. But we have a choice. He stands with his arms open wide… but we decide whether to crawl into His lap and snuggle there.
The amazing, incredible, inexplicable fact is that God has chosen us! He wants to give us His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, protection… and even Eternal Life in His presence! But the question is…will we choose Him in return? Do we fully trust Him… and are we willing to let go and allow Him to love us in this manner? It sounds like an easy question to answer… but in truth, many find the choice difficult to make. What about you? Are you ready to surrender to God and allow Him to fully love and protect you? Is today the day you truly “let go and let God”? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
You have looked deep
into my heart, Lord,
and you know all about me.
You know when I am resting
or when I am working,
and from heaven
you discover my thoughts.
You notice everything I do
and everywhere I go.
Before I even speak a word,
you know what I will say,
and with your powerful arm
you protect me
from every side.
I can’t understand all of this!
Such wonderful knowledge
is far above me.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We recently attended a high school reunion, where we visited with fellow students and alumni. I greeted my cousin, Jim, who is about 8 years older than I. As he gave me a hug, someone snapped our picture, and Jim said, “I used to sit on the couch at her grandmother’s on stormy nights and hold her in a blanket.” Indeed, I remember those nights and snuggling in my cousin’s lap.
Like countless children throughout the South, I spent many night-time hours of my childhood sheltered in my grandparent’s storm cellar. The women and children would hunker down in the cellar as a storm approached, while the men stood on my grandparents’ screened porch and “watched the clouds”. Those summer nights got long and tiresome, and the cellar was cool and damp.
My sister, brother and I had to make a few trips inside to use the restroom, and often, my cousin Jim was recruited to wrap one of us in a quilt or blanket and carry us inside and back. Jim was in high school then, and I thought he was the bravest, most handsome guy around. I especially loved it when he would sit on the couch with me for a while and delay my return to the dark, dank cellar! All Jim had to do was hold out his arms, and I was ready to crawl up in his lap and snuggle!
When you are little, the powerful arms of someone older and stronger are comforting… and most of us readily accepted this protection. But here’s the thing… we understood the security firsthand. We felt it. We could reach out and physically touch these people. We knew them in the flesh… we fully trusted them because we could literally be in their presence and under their care.
God offers us a love and protection that far exceeds anything a precious cousin, parent, grandparent or other caring human being could offer. He knows us – inside and out – and He knows everything about us. His powerful arms are outstretched to embrace and protect us, and He wants to be there for us in all things. But we have a choice. He stands with his arms open wide… but we decide whether to crawl into His lap and snuggle there.
The amazing, incredible, inexplicable fact is that God has chosen us! He wants to give us His love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, protection… and even Eternal Life in His presence! But the question is…will we choose Him in return? Do we fully trust Him… and are we willing to let go and allow Him to love us in this manner? It sounds like an easy question to answer… but in truth, many find the choice difficult to make. What about you? Are you ready to surrender to God and allow Him to fully love and protect you? Is today the day you truly “let go and let God”? Shouldn’t it be?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 16, 2013
Hebrews 11:24-28
By faith, Moses, when grown, refused the privileges of the Egyptian royal house. He chose a hard life with God’s people rather than an opportunistic soft life of sin with the oppressors. He valued suffering in the Messiah’s camp far greater than Egyptian wealth because he was looking ahead, anticipating the payoff. By an act of faith, he turned his heel on Egypt, indifferent to the king’s blind rage. He had his eye on the One no eye can see, and kept right on going. By an act of faith, he kept the Passover Feast and sprinkled Passover blood on each house so that the destroyer of the firstborn wouldn’t touch them.
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 still remember when a lifelong friend of mine telephoned his wife from another state, where he had traveled on business, to tell her that he was quitting his lucrative job as a sales manager for a five-state area in order to return to college and earn a teaching degree. He became a second grade teacher… one of the best I’ve ever known. He took a lot of flak for this decision, but quite frankly, we don’t have enough male teachers in elementary classrooms, where many children need a strong, positive masculine influence.
I recall the words of 17-year-old Cassie Bernall, a senior at Columbine High School, who was reportedly asked, “Do you believe in God?” by one of two deranged shooters who killed 15 people and injured twenty-four more. Observers report that when Bernall answered, “Yes,” she was shot and killed. Some claim that several students were asked this same question - not just Bernall - but the story of her supposed encounter and response has circulated the world and caused more than one person to choose to follow Jesus.
We are not all called to make noble sacrifices. We will not all be faced with choosing to stay stuck in a career we don’t enjoy or “changing gears” and going in a different direction. Most of us will not face the decision of whether to sign up to serve our country in the military, as countless men and women have before us – and more will in the future. I pray that none of us will ever be asked at gunpoint whether we love Jesus. But we will each face choices and decisions that frame our lives and define us... and how we respond will have lifelong - if not eternal - impact.
If you have not chosen a life partner and/or spouse, you probably will. You may be faced with the decision to have children – or not… to change majors – or universities… to change jobs or move to another area of the country (or another country altogether)…to end – or drastically alter – friendships, lifestyles, and more. At every turn, we face choices… and there will be plenty of people just like the Egyptian king who are unhappy with your decisions – if not reduced to blind rage, as this scripture mentions. Not every choice we make will be popular, and we will have to endure the ramifications and consequences. Just because we listen to God and choose to do what He directs does not ensure smooth sailing.
As this scripture passage indicates, this all comes down to a matter of faith. When we trust God and listen to His voice, our choices may be difficult… they may raise eyebrows among family and friends…and they may cause our heart to race as we commit to God and believe in Him for the desired outcome. But like Moses, we will be looking ahead to a bigger payoff… we will have our eye on the One no eye can see. And HE will make the ultimate difference.
Whatever decisions you face today, prayerfully consider your options and LISTEN for God’s voice. Follow His direction…trust His plans… choose faithfully… and trust Him to handle the rest.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for September 11, 2013
Psalm 121:1-2
I look to the hills!
Where will I find help?
It will come from the Lord,
who created the heavens
and the earth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We cannot ignore the historical significance of this day… and frankly, we must talk about it. Every year on this anniversary, people recall exactly where they were when the Twin Towers fell in New York City. Social media is filled today with photo montages and video tributes. We will all pause for today and feel sad and talk about where we were twelve years ago and how horrible this event was for so many.
But what we don’t ponder – at least for very long – is how the victims and their families have endured the ramifications of this tragedy every day for twelve years. We don’t stop to consider how Veronica Glascoe Squef, a mother of two with a third baby on the way, put one foot in front of the other… so that she dropped off boys for 10th, 8th, and 6th grades this week. She wrote a love note to her husband, Keith Glascoe (a NYC firefighter with Ladder Co. 21 who perished on 9-11) on her Facebook page that says in part…
I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating… shortly after 9-11, I reached out to the families of the NYC firefighters in Ladder Company 21 who lost a loved one on that fateful day. A music minister in our community had visited New York with a touring choir a few weeks after the tragic event, and he returned with a list of names and addresses for firefighters from Ladder Co. 21 in the “Hell’s Kitchen” area of NYC. He suggested that we drop these families a note of sympathy and encouragement. I did this, and three families responded. Over the years, I lost touch with the family of William Krukowski; the correspondence became sparse with Ed and Alice Henry…parents to 25-year-old Joe, whose remains were never recovered. Ed was also a NYC firefighter, as were some of Joe’s brothers, uncles, and other family members.
To this day, I still correspond with Veronica Squef and keep up with her three boys… mostly via Facebook. I am continually impressed with how she has managed… how happy and vibrant the boys appear… how she shuttles them to football and baseball practices and games… takes them fishing and to other events in their area…and how she and the boys even travel to Argentina to visit her family. We have never had an in-depth conversation about her faith, but I’ve seen the countless posts on her Facebook page from others who are praying for Veronica and her boys – and I am among them.
I have to believe that Veronica is one of many directly affected by this tragedy who “look to the hills” for strength from the LORD on a daily basis. I also have to believe that they have made a conscious choice to allow God to help them get through this. How else could they survive it? Family and friends can offer a certain amount of encouragement and support… but Who makes the real difference? Who sends these “earthly angels”? Who fills in the gaps and does the supernatural things that are necessary to survive such an ordeal?
I pray that you and I never have to endure a tragedy and challenge of this magnitude. But let’s be honest… we are all faced with life-changing trials and events. We all have decisions to make… choices that can change the course of our life. And at the end of the day, we can choose to “look to the hills” and call on the LORD for strength, wisdom, courage, comfort and peace… or we can “wing it” and hope for the best. The latter is not an option for me…what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I look to the hills!
Where will I find help?
It will come from the Lord,
who created the heavens
and the earth.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
We cannot ignore the historical significance of this day… and frankly, we must talk about it. Every year on this anniversary, people recall exactly where they were when the Twin Towers fell in New York City. Social media is filled today with photo montages and video tributes. We will all pause for today and feel sad and talk about where we were twelve years ago and how horrible this event was for so many.
But what we don’t ponder – at least for very long – is how the victims and their families have endured the ramifications of this tragedy every day for twelve years. We don’t stop to consider how Veronica Glascoe Squef, a mother of two with a third baby on the way, put one foot in front of the other… so that she dropped off boys for 10th, 8th, and 6th grades this week. She wrote a love note to her husband, Keith Glascoe (a NYC firefighter with Ladder Co. 21 who perished on 9-11) on her Facebook page that says in part…
“I can still remember 12 years ago the night before...you picking me up at Macy's from my part-time job... We went to bed with Owen still sleeping with us and Nolan was in his big boy bed. He would be 3 years old in a couple of weeks. He was ready - or we thought he was. That morning we woke up with Nolan and Owen in our bed.*lol* I will never forget that night, and I treasure it like it was yesterday. Just a reminder... never take anything for granted. Live and love today!!!”Most of us cannot relate… to Veronica and others whose spouses never came home…to boys and girls who went to school that morning and returned to find that one of their parents was gone forever. We have no clue what it must feel like to be the family member whose loved one’s remains have never been recovered.
I’ve told this story before, but it bears repeating… shortly after 9-11, I reached out to the families of the NYC firefighters in Ladder Company 21 who lost a loved one on that fateful day. A music minister in our community had visited New York with a touring choir a few weeks after the tragic event, and he returned with a list of names and addresses for firefighters from Ladder Co. 21 in the “Hell’s Kitchen” area of NYC. He suggested that we drop these families a note of sympathy and encouragement. I did this, and three families responded. Over the years, I lost touch with the family of William Krukowski; the correspondence became sparse with Ed and Alice Henry…parents to 25-year-old Joe, whose remains were never recovered. Ed was also a NYC firefighter, as were some of Joe’s brothers, uncles, and other family members.
To this day, I still correspond with Veronica Squef and keep up with her three boys… mostly via Facebook. I am continually impressed with how she has managed… how happy and vibrant the boys appear… how she shuttles them to football and baseball practices and games… takes them fishing and to other events in their area…and how she and the boys even travel to Argentina to visit her family. We have never had an in-depth conversation about her faith, but I’ve seen the countless posts on her Facebook page from others who are praying for Veronica and her boys – and I am among them.
I have to believe that Veronica is one of many directly affected by this tragedy who “look to the hills” for strength from the LORD on a daily basis. I also have to believe that they have made a conscious choice to allow God to help them get through this. How else could they survive it? Family and friends can offer a certain amount of encouragement and support… but Who makes the real difference? Who sends these “earthly angels”? Who fills in the gaps and does the supernatural things that are necessary to survive such an ordeal?
I pray that you and I never have to endure a tragedy and challenge of this magnitude. But let’s be honest… we are all faced with life-changing trials and events. We all have decisions to make… choices that can change the course of our life. And at the end of the day, we can choose to “look to the hills” and call on the LORD for strength, wisdom, courage, comfort and peace… or we can “wing it” and hope for the best. The latter is not an option for me…what about you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 26, 2013
John 7:38
Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.”
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.
As I write this devotional, a gentle, steady rain is falling. This time last year, we would have given just about anything for a late-July shower. Two months of record-breaking heat and virtually no rainfall had led to a landscape that appeared to be - quite literally - scorched. We were mandated to conserve water, and of course, our entire state was under a “burn ban”. Still, destructive grass and forest fires were prevalent… and devastating to plant, animal and human life. In late August, my husband and I traveled to Texas, and as we drove through an area of south Arkansas that had actually received some life-sustaining rains, the contrast in the landscape and “greenery” was distinctive – and telling.
I read through entries in my prayer journal for the summer of 2012. In mid-June, I asked God to send rain. On July 1st, I wrote, “WE NEED RAIN!” On July 2nd, I thanked God for 1½ inches of precipitation – at least in our yard! By the middle of August, I was once again asking God to send more rain. And late in the month, He delivered once again. But the blistering heat quickly erased the benefits of these infrequent showers. The drought was so serious in our area that people gathered in at least one local church to hold a prayer meeting… to specifically ask for rain!
Quite literally, we depend upon water for our very existence… and our survival. So the image of our salvation in Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him as that of “life-giving water,” is one that we can readily understand. We need His “Living Water” for our souls. We need the “hydration” of the Holy Spirit to give us guidance, wisdom, confidence, courage… and peace. And on a rainy summer afternoon as we remember a not-so-distant time without any precipitation, we find tremendous comfort in every precious drop.
Do you experience the same solace with each drop of Christ’s Living Water? Does His love, grace, wisdom, forgiveness, comfort and encouragement soothe you like a cool drink of H2O? Do you call on the LORD to provide you with “rain” for your heart and soul… or are you lost in a spiritual drought? Have you thanked God for the “rain” He has brought about in your life… and do you appreciate how truly life-giving our salvation through Jesus Christ is? Do you trust Him… for anything and everything? Can you believe that He knows far better than we do what is best in every circumstance? Do you have faith in Him to bring the “rain” that is necessary… and to care for you even in the “arid” slumps?
Is Jesus’ “life-giving water” flowing from deep inside you? Don’t you need Him in your life? Isn’t today a great day to let the Water flow…to quench yourself from the inside out, once and for all? In the words of a familiar praise and worship song, “Let it rain! Let it rain! Open the floodgates of heaven… let it rain!”
©2013 Debbie Robus
Have faith in me, and you will have life-giving water flowing from deep inside you, just as the Scriptures say.”
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.
As I write this devotional, a gentle, steady rain is falling. This time last year, we would have given just about anything for a late-July shower. Two months of record-breaking heat and virtually no rainfall had led to a landscape that appeared to be - quite literally - scorched. We were mandated to conserve water, and of course, our entire state was under a “burn ban”. Still, destructive grass and forest fires were prevalent… and devastating to plant, animal and human life. In late August, my husband and I traveled to Texas, and as we drove through an area of south Arkansas that had actually received some life-sustaining rains, the contrast in the landscape and “greenery” was distinctive – and telling.
I read through entries in my prayer journal for the summer of 2012. In mid-June, I asked God to send rain. On July 1st, I wrote, “WE NEED RAIN!” On July 2nd, I thanked God for 1½ inches of precipitation – at least in our yard! By the middle of August, I was once again asking God to send more rain. And late in the month, He delivered once again. But the blistering heat quickly erased the benefits of these infrequent showers. The drought was so serious in our area that people gathered in at least one local church to hold a prayer meeting… to specifically ask for rain!
Quite literally, we depend upon water for our very existence… and our survival. So the image of our salvation in Jesus Christ and our relationship with Him as that of “life-giving water,” is one that we can readily understand. We need His “Living Water” for our souls. We need the “hydration” of the Holy Spirit to give us guidance, wisdom, confidence, courage… and peace. And on a rainy summer afternoon as we remember a not-so-distant time without any precipitation, we find tremendous comfort in every precious drop.
Do you experience the same solace with each drop of Christ’s Living Water? Does His love, grace, wisdom, forgiveness, comfort and encouragement soothe you like a cool drink of H2O? Do you call on the LORD to provide you with “rain” for your heart and soul… or are you lost in a spiritual drought? Have you thanked God for the “rain” He has brought about in your life… and do you appreciate how truly life-giving our salvation through Jesus Christ is? Do you trust Him… for anything and everything? Can you believe that He knows far better than we do what is best in every circumstance? Do you have faith in Him to bring the “rain” that is necessary… and to care for you even in the “arid” slumps?
Is Jesus’ “life-giving water” flowing from deep inside you? Don’t you need Him in your life? Isn’t today a great day to let the Water flow…to quench yourself from the inside out, once and for all? In the words of a familiar praise and worship song, “Let it rain! Let it rain! Open the floodgates of heaven… let it rain!”
©2013 Debbie Robus
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