Isaiah 32:15-20
Yes, weep and grieve until the Spirit is poured
down on us from above
And the badlands desert grows crops
and the fertile fields become forests.
Justice will move into the badlands desert.
Right will build a home in the fertile field.
And where there’s Right, there’ll be Peace
and the progeny of Right: quiet lives and endless trust.
My people will live in a peaceful neighborhood—
in safe houses, in quiet gardens.
The forest of your pride will be clear-cut,
the city showing off your power leveled.
But you will enjoy a blessed life,
planting well-watered fields and gardens,
with your farm animals grazing freely.
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.
Like countless Americans, we celebrated the Fourth of July with a family get-together and dinner at my mother’s home… the same house in which she has lived since I was 2 years old (that’s 54 years!). Mom and her husband, Lee, have worked very hard in the Arkansas heat and humidity these last few weeks to complete a new wooden fence around their back yard. Then they stained the fence, their decks, and accompanying outbuildings. Several years ago, they purchased the property of next-door neighbors and expanded the back yard. Now the area that was our neighbor’s lush vegetable garden when I was a child is shaded by trees that long-ago sprouted there. The back yard is a lovely, safe area for my little niece and nephews – and the family dogs - to play. We lined up along the newly stained fence, waved some American flags, and took a group photo for posterity. Indeed, we are enjoying a blessed life.
I will be the first to tell you that our lives are not perfect. As a family, we face the same challenges and struggles as any other… health issues, financial concerns, the daily trials of rearing three small children, all of the frustrations that come with aging, and more. But at the same time, we realize how blessed we are… and I find a tremendous peace in knowing that we can get through anything because our foundation is firmly rooted in our faith - and the love and care of God Almighty.
We don’t have to look very far to see countries where families cannot gather for a peaceful, joy-filled evening of celebrating, feasting and maybe even shooting a few fireworks. We know that there are plenty of hungry, hurting people in this world who live in anything but a quiet, peaceful, garden-like setting. Freedom is a privilege we often take far too lightly. There are some among us who simply do not get it…those who have no comprehension of how blessed we are as a nation and choose to wallow in perceived – or self-made – miseries and self-pity.
I know it’s the day AFTER Independence Day… or if you are reading this in a foreign country, yesterday was probably just another ordinary day in your neck of the woods. But let’s all stop and look around at what God has done for us. Let’s thank Him for our blessed lives… the peaceful neighborhoods, safe houses, and quiet gardens – both literal and figurative. Let’s take a few minutes to recognize that nothing is impossible with God… that He has our back and stands ready to bless us. Build your life on the firm foundation of a faith in Jesus Christ and the promises of our Heavenly Father… and truly begin to live a quiet life of endless trust. Now there’s a reason to really celebrate!
©2013 Debbie Robus
Psalm 119:57
You, LORD, are my choice, and I will obey you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Think quickly… what was the last choice you had to make? Was it what to wear to school/work this morning? Was it whether or not to get up early and work out? Or maybe you had to choose what you would eat for breakfast… or at least which cereal you wanted. We make choices each and every day… often several times an hour! Some of our choices really don’t matter. The decision to eat Cheerios© vs Kelloggs Corn Flakes© is not critical. It really won’t affect our lives so much if we have orange juice or tomato juice… or no juice!
But there is one choice that does matter… and that is whether we choose to make God the LORD of our life and follow His rules. In fact, of all the choices we make in our lives, THIS is the biggest… the most important… the most crucial.
You may be saying, “I have plenty of time… I’ll do that later!” Pick up a newspaper and read the obituaries. Kids in their teens and twenties face challenges – and even die - every day. And the Bible is filled with examples of young people who served well and made a huge difference for the Kingdom of Heaven at an early age! God doesn’t want you to wait until you are 30, 40, or older to serve Him and submit to Him. If you are past this age, it’s not too late… but if you are a young person and think you will “play now” and serve God later… this choice will be a huge mistake!
I promise you… everything gets better when serving the LORD is your choice! The struggles and hardships don’t seem so difficult… the good times seem even better… and yes, you still have fun! Choosing God is not a surrender of freedom… you are choosing to be free – from sin, guilt, shame, and the burdens of living without the Holy Spirit!
Maybe you have chosen God, but you’ve sort of slipped Him to the corner for a while… pushed Him to the back burner and decided to try things your way and see how it goes. Again, this is a poor decision… and you’re risking disaster! It really doesn’t matter if you mix plaids with stripes, choose tater tots instead of fries, or decide to cheer for the underdog. But whether you choose to follow God and obey His laws or not matters greatly. What will you decide…Who will you choose to serve?
©2011 Debbie Robus
John 8:31-38
Jesus told the people who had faith in him, "If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." They answered, "We are Abraham's children! We have never been anyone's slaves. How can you say we will be set free?"
Jesus replied: I tell you for certain that anyone who sins is a slave of sin! And slaves don't stay in the family forever, though the Son will always remain in the family. If the Son gives you freedom, you are free! I know that you are from Abraham's family. Yet you want to kill me, because my message isn't really in your hearts. I am telling you what my Father has shown me, just as you are doing what your father has taught you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
One morning recently, Timothy woke up coughing and wheezing. He could barely get his breath. So my husband and I whisked him away to the ER, where a respiratory therapist tried to administer a breathing treatment… in the form of a mask that had a happy dragon face and smoke coming out. But Timmy did not understand, and he was in hysterics. He resisted the very thing that would free him from being unable breathe.
Even in his two-year-old mind, I think Timmy knew that the treatment was helping him, but he was a slave to his determination to fight us and resist the mask. Thankfully we were able to hold him still enough for a little bit, and the treatment helped greatly… and we think he will be fine. But I hope we don’t have to force another breathing treatment upon him any time soon!
We are so often the stubborn (or scared) two-year-old. Our sin is familiar. We don’t like anything that takes us outside of our “comfort zone,” even when we know it might help… and we are assured it won’t harm us in any way. God will never force Himself on us, so if we resist Him, we simply don’t get the “treatment” He offers for our sin. But if we will cooperate and trust Him, we can be free in ways we never imagined.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve hung onto some sins and sinful ways when I knew that “letting go and letting God” would be so much better. It’s the first step that is sometimes the hardest. But God understands. We tried to tell Timothy that it would all be okay… that nothing bad would happen to him. God is trying to tell us that, too… that what He offers will make us feel so much better. Are you ready to listen… and be free?
©2011 Debbie Robus
Proverbs 22:3
Respect and serve the LORD! Your reward will be wealth, a long life, and honor.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
The days around July 4th are a time of great reflection for many Americans. We stop… if only momentarily… and think about the tremendous freedoms we enjoy in this country. We recognize the monumental sacrifices of so many fellow countrymen and women, so that we can enjoy these freedoms and privileges. We salute them with parades and fireworks displays… and the wearing of red, white and blue. We give them respect by hanging flags and singing patriotic songs in their honor.
We are able to muster up quite the celebration for the United States of America and its people, yet we don’t seem to be able to do the same for our LORD and Savior! Oh, sure, we have Christmas and Easter… and Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny! And yes, there are other activities and festivities on July 4th that take some of our focus – picnics, water activities, car races, baseball games and more. But it seems that for many of us, we are more fervent and enthusiastic about recognizing and celebrating our patriotism than we are our faith!
We need to stop and realize that the only reason we have the freedoms we do in this country is because of the grace of God. The ultimate gift of freedom came on the cross, when Jesus Christ died for our sins. If ever we are going to wave a flag and light a firecracker, it ought to be for HIM! And honestly, in the context of our faith walk, every single day should be the Fourth of July!
So today, as you celebrate, light a firework for Jesus. As it soars toward the heavens, pause and say, “Thank you, LORD!” Have your picnics, eat your ice cream and watermelon, and wave flags… and thank God for His gift of the great freedom we enjoy in America every single day. Give God the glory, honor and respect He deserves as you commemorate this holiday… and make every day your Independence Day in Christ!
©2011 Debbie Robus
Romans 7:4
That is how it is with you, my friends. You are now part of the body of Christ and are dead to the power of the Law. You are free to belong to Christ, who was raised to life so that we could serve God.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I was no different from any other new college graduate. I had my sights set on getting a job, having a great place to live, and being able to afford “things.” I guess I didn’t realize that teachers are not the wealthiest professionals on the planet! But it didn’t take long before we realized that “things” were not making us happy. What truly mattered were our relationships – with others, with each other … and with God.
So we formulated a plan to “downsize” from a 1900+-square-foot, 2-bedroom house and pool to just over 1100 square feet and one bathroom! We cleaned out closets and the attic, and we had a huge garage sale and sold everything that wouldn’t fit in our “new” little house and lifestyle. In our new business venture, we helped recreational vehicle travelers (RVers) find work while they traversed North America … funding their adventures on wheels by taking jobs along the way. Many of these people sold pretty much everything they owned - lock, stock, and barrel - crawled into a tiny home on wheels and took to the road. Can I tell you something? These were some of the happiest people we’ve ever met.
Additionally, the “less is more” concept was very liberating for us, too. We’ve found that living in a small town with no malls and large department stores means we often “make do” with what we have – or can access locally – and we don’t even think about the other things. We have more time and energy to focus on things that really matter … our family and friends, ministries of our church and community, and more.
Life as a Christian is not restrictive. New life in Christ represents freedom … to serve Him in ways great and small, to focus on what is really important – and who truly matters. A life filled with good food, parties, fun times and “stuff” may seem like the high life. But I can tell you with complete certainty that we very quickly become a slave to these things … and we don’t even see it coming. Choosing to “downsize” our lives – physically, emotionally, and socially … and to give up the boundaries of what society deems the “norm” … for a life filled with a focus on Jesus and His ministries represents incredible freedom.
“But I’ve got friends!” you may say … or “What about my obligations? I have football practice and ‘Mommy and Me’ play dates and golf games or poker night …or Bunco!” or “If I spend time with my friends and take care of myself and go to school/work/club meetings, there’s not a spare minute left for anything else.” The truth is, we have become slaves to a lot of what we do presently, and “letting go and letting God” have control would be liberating in ways we can’t even imagine.
I pray that today you will take a long, hard look at your life. What has enslaved you … social commitments, “stuff”, friends who are dragging you down, an addiction of some sort … even to seemingly “good” things like exercise or a hobby? What do you need to unload in favor of more time for the “good stuff” of Jesus? Where do you need to liberate yourself to make room for Him to work?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Jonah 2:6
I had sunk down below the underwater mountains; I knew that forever, I would be a prisoner there. But, you, LORD God, rescued me from that pit.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
July 22, 2010, will be a day that Lance Treankler never forgets. This resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was driving down a street on Milwaukee’s east side in his Cadillac Escalade, when the road gave way underneath him. He was unconscious for a few seconds before awaking to water rushing over him. He had fallen into a sinkhole created by massive flooding. Treankler managed to get out of his vehicle and stand on the roof, where passerby Mark Pawlik spotted him. Pawlik somehow was able to reach the man caught in the twenty-foot sinkhole. According to a report on CNN.com, Pawlik told Treankler, “"I grabbed your hand. You looked at me and said, 'Get me out of here.'"
In much the same way, God is standing before us, ready to rescue us from the pit of sin. We may not even realize how deeply we have sunk … and we may be somewhat “unconscious” to how serious our situation is. But when we awaken and recognize the seriousness of our situation, God is there… offering His hand.
The question is… are we ready to say to God, “Get me out of here!”? Have we recognized how dangerous and deadly our situation is without His rescue? Have we sunk into a pit of sin and become a prisoner there? Or have we grabbed God’s hand and held on for dear life? It’s time to get out of the pit! It’s time to recognize God’s hand and grab it with all our might. Don’t let the waters of sin cover you a second longer. Take God’s hand and get out of there!
©2010 Debbie Robus
Leviticus 26:13
I am the LORD your God, and I rescued you from Egypt, so that you would never again be slaves. I have set you free; now walk with your heads held high.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I still remember January 20, 1981… when fifty-two hostages were released following 444 days of captivity in Iran. I can see them stepping off the plane… thin, shaken, but still holding their heads high. The hostages were captured at the American Embassy in Tehran on November 4, 1979, by a group of Islamic students who were supporting the Iranian Revolution. You can Google more information about this, or go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iran_hostage_crisis.
Thankfully, most of us will never know the devastation, agony and horror of being held captive. We will never be enslaved and forced to do anything against our will. But many of us are slaves to sin. We are driven by the forces of such things as gluttony, greed, drugs, alcohol, money, and much more. We are slaves to social pressure. And far too many Christians walk around with their heads slung low, encumbered by burdens they shouldn’t be carrying but can’t seem to release.
If this describes you in any way, I encourage you to reflect on this passage from Leviticus. God has rescued us from the bondage of sin through Jesus Christ. We do not have to be held hostage… we do not have to live in slavery. We are free to live as Christ’s chosen people… and if we stay on course with Him and in His will, we don’t have to worry or wonder about pleasing others or conforming to any confines of society. It’s time for us to walk off the plane, so to speak… holding our heads high… and say, “I am a child of God. He loves me as I am, and I am free in Him. I have been rescued from sin… and it feels great! I’ll never be a slave again because of Jesus!”
Where are you in this equation? Are you still a hostage… or have you been rescued? How proudly are you walking today?
©2010 Debbie Robus
Psalm 37:3
Trust the LORD and live right! The land will be yours, and you will be safe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
I wonder if our forefathers read this passage when they were signing the Declaration of Independence! Before you start pointing fingers and saying, “But we’re not always safe, and this land is not always ours,” let’s take a closer look at this Psalm. If we go back to Verse 1, it says “Don’t be annoyed by anyone who does wrong, and don’t envy them.” When you put this together with Verse 3 and “trust the LORD and live right,” we get a bigger picture. Rather than get bogged down in our aggravation, we must strive to make changes, and we must begin by “taking the high road.”
Have you ever been in a situation where you were felt you were unwelcome – and perhaps intimidated to the point where you were maybe even a little afraid? Perhaps you were in a crowd or in an unfamiliar area of a large city, and you felt like you stuck out like a sore thumb to the “natives.” It’s not a pleasant feeling, is it?! At that moment, we have to dig deep and trust God to keep us safe and tamp down our unsettled feelings.
I was shopping in Wal-Mart on Friday, and the place was a madhouse. Every check-out line was long and crowded… except for one self-check aisle. The register wasn’t closed or malfunctioning… but there were two somewhat scruffy looking men checking out there… and behind them were two tall, very dark black teenage boys. The boys were standing so far back in line that I honestly could not tell if they were in line behind the “scruffy” men or not. I assumed they were being polite and not crowding the man who was checking his groceries. But I did observe more than a couple of people cutting these boys a wide berth. They were looking at them as if to ask, “What are YOU doing here?” The boys were dressed nicely in almost head-to-toe Nike apparel. They were buying a swimsuit and some flip flops, and I saw people who appeared to be tourists in other lines glaring at them, in what I interpreted as, “Surely you are not going to swim in the lake we drove here to enjoy, are you?!” It was disgusting.
I touched the arm of one of the young men and asked, “Are you in line to check out?” He said he was, and I quickly moved in line behind him. The other boy needed help getting his debit card to work properly, and I offered some suggestions, since I was familiar with this register and know it is cantankerous on a good day. The young man was very grateful and thanked me profusely for helping him.
Over lunch, I told my husband about this, and I said, “Those boys could not have helped but feel the glares of others. They must think this is the most hateful place.” He replied something to the effect of… “Yes, but one nice lady helped them.” That took me aback… because I had not considered my actions anything but the right thing to do. Since when did this become just “our” land? Are we so unloving and sinful that we would make anyone feel unwelcome – much less frightened – in our community… particularly a young person? I was reminded all too poignantly that many in our own country still do not feel safe, or welcome. I pray that their faith is strong, and that they truly do trust in God to help them “take the high road” and live right, believing that God will do the rest.
Meanwhile, we must pray that, on this day of all days, people throughout our nation humble themselves before God and ask forgiveness for times when they have not recognized the equality of their fellow countrymen and women. We must ask God to help us all to be more embracing and less judgmental… and to celebrate the victory of our Declaration of Independence and the subsequent tenets of freedom on which this country was founded. In our Pledge of Allegiance, we vow to strive for “liberty and justice for all,” and that begins with something as seemingly insignificant as dropping the attitudes towards others in our local Wal-Mart.
I certainly don’t envy those who gave the ugly stares, and I’m working on overcoming my annoyance with them. But at the same time, I am praying that God works in their hearts to bring about change… and that He strengthens those who are mistreated, if only with unkind stares. We are so blessed… not only to live in America… but to be called God’s children. It’s time we honored Him and our country by behaving better. I can’t think of a more perfect day to start than this one. Happy Birthday, America… may God bless and strengthen you and your people… and may He always keep us safe.
©2010 Debbie Robus
