My Choice

My Choice

Posted on by Robin House

Why is the argument ‘my body; my right’ acceptable/allowed for one ‘choice'(to end the life of an unborn child) and not acceptable/allowable for those who may select another choice – to choose not to accept a non FDA approved, emergency use authorization, experimental drug into their body?

Is this not their right and choice, or are we now coming under totalitarian rule? I’m not knocking anyone’s position. I’m not for or against anyone’s decision about taking or not taking the new drugs to prevent a virus.

But – I do believe we should each have the right to decide for ourselves without governmental coercion — Especially considering that 99.95 % of those who get the virus survive with no or very few residual issues.

Let’s open our eyes my fellow citizens and speak up for what is self-evident and what we have been endowed with by our Creator that is confirmed in our Constitution.

RRHouse ©️ 7/13/21

Only by Land and Not by Sea

Only by Land and Not by Sea

Posted on by Robin House

So the DHS Secretary issued a stern warning to any struggling, starving, discontent with communism, freedom loving Cubans who might want to immigrate to America. He said with absolute clarity and unequivocally that no Cubans who try to come by sea to America will be allowed into the United States. He also said that the U.S. Coast Guard would intercept them, turn them around, and force/escort them back to Cuba. He was quite clear in his statement. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. There was no, “The border is closed.” WINK, WINK, “Please don’t come.” WINK. WINK. The DHS Secretary made clear that absolutely no Cubans would be allowed into our country. What?

Why? I thought the federal administration said that we were welcoming anyone who was discontent with their home country. Surely we don’t really turn away people who want to be here, do we? Or, could is this rule just for Cubans? What’s wrong with Cubans coming? Are we seeing racism on the part of the administration?

Men, women, and children from an estimated 75 – 90 foreign countries are being assisted into our country as they cross the Rio Grande River. The administrative department of our federal government has ordered our border patrol agents at the southern border to become ‘babysitters’ for unaccompanied children and a ‘welcoming committee’ for all illegally coming to our nation including criminals, terrorists, and many ill with covid.

Evidence show that coyotes and human traffickers working with cartels in Mexico are using the current policies of our federal government’s administration as part of their business model. Children are dropped over our border fence to occupy border patrol resources so that drug traffickers can freely come right into our nation. The amount of illegal drugs entering our country has skyrocketed. The collaboration of China (who manufactures and sends the fentanyl) with cartels in Mexico is killing our children. Recent news reports say that we have had a 30% increase in deaths (over 93,000 people) from opioids. Enough fentanyl has come through our southern border to kill every American four times. Why? Why do the policies of this administration support and encourage drug use and abuse and human trafficking?

Why is our federal government not protecting its own U.S. citizens who own land on the southern border by keeping illegal criminals out? Our hard working American citizens are being robbed, raped, and murdered by illegals? Does the federal government really want more crime and drug addiction? Their behavior begs the question.

Our governmental officials are putting people entering our nation without any identification and often sick with covid, who ‘turn themselves in’ on planes and buses, (FOR FREE WITH NO ID) to pretty much wherever they want to go into the interior of our country. Why can’t we send them back to their country of origin, like the DHS Secretary promised to do to the Cubans who attempt to come to our nation? The federal government is selectively redistributing and repopulating certain cities and states all over America with people who have come here illegally every single day since the new administration took office and cancelled the wait in Mexico policy.

DHHS is also happy to sign these newly welcomed, unknown people coming in our southern border up for all the healthcare, foster care and food stamp programs, rental assistance, and other welfare benefits only legal U.S. citizens should be entitled to have. The current administrative policy effectively says, ‘Go to the back of the line American citizens, veterans, and the disabled. We don’t care about our homeless, we want to welcome in the new people with no ID, few skills, little education, and inability to speak our language, and health issues.’ Teachers have been hired and some are volunteering to teach and tutor people from dozens of foreign countries while our public schools remain closed and our children fall behind academically and suffer from social distress and isolation.

A representative from Texas during the vp’s recent visit to Texas called El Paso, Texas the new Ellis Island of the United States. How nice, but even the arrivals on Ellis Island had to be free of contagious diseases before they were allowed into the country. Not so today at our southern border. For the diseased and derelict – the administration effectively says, ‘We’ll take them, and we want them.’ The federal government welcomes all – except the people from Cuba.

Why can’t the Cubans come? Does the U.S. government no longer support the desire for democracy? Is there no sympathy or help for politically, socially, and economically oppressed and starving Cubans?

Florida has a rich history of Cuban American citizens today that fled Cuba decades ago. These American citizens of Cuban descent seem to value freedom, appreciate democracy, want opportunity, work hard, and love our nation. Many who came have brought themselves up from nothing to become outstanding patriotic citizens, leaders, and business owners contributing to the welfare and well-being of their states and our nation. Could we be seeing the face of blatant discrimination and racism by our federal government towards Cubans?

Perhaps its just the coming “by sea” travel the DHS Secretary doesn’t like. What if Cubans had a land bridge to Florida? Would their desire for a better life and escape from communism be acceptable then? It’s over 1,400 miles from El Salvador to El Paso, TX. It’s 90 miles from Cuba to Key West, Florida. I don’t hear about the DHS secretary making people from Central American countries, Europe, Africa, and Asia return to their home country because it is an arduous trip. If Cubans go to Mexico to cross at the Rio Grande River would they be welcomed into our nation then?

To be fair, our government has said our southern border is closed, but watching the news and seeing the hands of U.S. Border Patrol agents helping people up out of the Rio Grande River into our nation, carrying their luggage, and directing them to waiting buses and planes for parts unknown into our interior shows how closed the southern border really is. So what’s a few more illegals?

Why doesn’t the administration want Cubans particularly to come to the U.S. or Florida? Does anyone know? Something really doesn’t seem right about all this. At the very least, it appears that the administration department of our federal government is practicing immigration discrimination and racism. Isn’t that illegal???

Robin House ©️
07/15/2021

Love Your Neighbor

Love Your Neighbor

Posted on by Robin House

In Mark 12:28-31, a scribe comes up to Jesus and asks, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” Jesus replied, “This is the most important: ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”

After putting God first and loving Him, Jesus says the second command is that we must love our neighbor. But HOW? How can we do this? The verse tells us when we look closely. It says we must love our neighbor ‘AS yourself.’

Unfortunately, many of us don’t love ourselves. It’s not necessarily because we don’t want to but that we just don’t know how to love ourselves. Some of us grew up with constant criticism and correction and are caught in a cycle of crummy thinking. Some days our self-esteem wouldn’t reach the baseplate threshold of the front door frame. We know quite well our shortcomings and sins. They loom large before us as we replay the records of the words of relatives who told us we were worthless. We hear loudly and clearly the whispered words of the father of lies (the devil) who unceasingly says that we’re not good enough and never will be. But, our physical fathers, forefathers, and the father of lies are not the measure or standard we need to heed.

When we look up at the the Lord of Love and remember the greatest command, we will see things differently. When we choose God for our Father and His Son for our Savior, we are blessed beyond measure. We are bought with the precious blood of Jesus Christ, who willingly laid down His life as an exchange for our sins and shortcomings. In Christ, we are a new creation and a called child of the Living God. We are adopted into God’s family, and He lets us and wants us to call him ‘Abba, Father.’ In Mark 14:36 as Jesus was dying on the cross He called out, “Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Jesus took the cup, followed His Father’s will, and gave His all for you and for me.

In light of this, how can we fail to see that the God, who created the universe and everything in it and the God that holds it all together in his power and might, loves us. He loves you, specifically! He loves me, specifically! He knows the number of hairs on each of our heads. He knew all our days before they began. God is a Father like no other. He declares that we are worthy. He says that we are valued. He says that we are fearfully and wonderfully made. He says we are His. Stand tall my sister and brother. Bask in His great love. Put your hand in His and walk with wonder with the One who loves you more than the life of His own Son.

How can we love our neighbors? It requires that we must love ourselves. We must love ourselves, not because we are ‘all that and a bag of chips’ that but because of what God did to transform us into His pure, holy, and perfect children.

Today, as His beloved children, God calls us to take the cup of Love He gave for us and share that Love with one another. We can only do that if we love ourselves and see ourselves as God sees us.

The next time you look in the mirror, I hope you will look into your eyes and say out loud, “God loves me!” Let your voice speak clearly, “I am worthy, because Jesus gave His life to save me!” Tell yourself, “I am wanted and valued, because the God of the universe chose me and adopted me as very His own child.” I John 3:1 says, “See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact; we are.”

As we learn to love ourselves in the right context and way, we will be better able to love our neighbors and share the Gospel with them. Most people still don’t care what you know until they know that you care. Let’s learn to care for ourselves and when we do, we will be able to truly love our neighbors as ourselves.

I think on these things…

Robin Robbins House ©️
07/13/2021

Discipling: What is it?

Discipling: What is it?

Posted on by Robin House

To discipline is to be Disciple-ing. It is teaching by example and many other methods. It creates self-control and discipline within a person. Both positive and negative reinforcement methods can be used in discipling. Creating the concept of consciousness of one’s impact on themselves, others, and their world based on their thoughts and behaviors is key.

It is easiest to teach the young the importance of correct/right behavior and the consequences of poor or wrong behavior. As we age, we are more set in our ways and sometimes bad habits. Good and bad habits/skills are often equally easy to form, so why not train good ones from the beginning. In that way, we don’t have to do the extra work to break bad habits/skills and then try to add and form new and better habits/skills.

There are no rights without responsibilities, and that is something I see missing in training and teaching today. Dr. James Dobson taught in regard to negative reinforcement (punishment) that the only time for this is with deliberate disrespect and/or deliberate disobedience. Consequences for one’s actions whether good or bad happen. Most of the time, negative consequences for bad behavior has the effect of discouraging continuing on that path. Encouraging and rewarding good/right behavior reinforces that behavior to continue. No reinforcement at all for one’s good or bad behavior is also not good, and some teachers do not realize this. Sometimes one will do almost anything for any kind of attention at all whether it is good or bad just to be seen or heard. Disregarding or ignoring someone is disrespectful and hurtful. Those discipling need keep this in mind in order to properly reinforce the behaviors they want to see continue and discourage the behaviors they desire to be minimized or eliminated.

Training in righteousness or how to do any task or skill requires practice and repetition. That in mind, there are often mistakes and accidents along the way to proficiency, competence, and mastery. A good teacher will not inflict negative or punitive measures or consequences on their student for unintended mistakes and accidents. Accidents, mistakes, and even wrong behaviors or thoughts can also occur when one doesn’t understand or know the right behaviors and thoughts to uphold. Some of these failures can result in naturally occurring negative consequences, but unless it accompanied by deliberate disrespect and/or disobedience, the accident or mistake should not incur to the student additional punitive measures.

The key to discipling is to know one’s subject/student/child and from that knowledge, to develop plans to teach them the way they should go based on their age, developmental levels, skills, talents, bents, needs, and other factors. We must show/teach a student/disciple what to do before expecting correct behaviors from them. We must tell them the rules before enforcing them. They can’t obey what they don’t know is a command or expectation.

Remember that many times a break, rest, or even a brief walk is needed to help the disciple assimilate and learn, so patience with perseverance until the discipling is done and mastery is achieved is important as well. Repetition is important for the teacher as well as the student/disciple.

Consistency in the rules and expectations along with support for and from the chain of command all along the way is also important. A teacher can not hope to succeed in discipling if his/her partners and others in the chain of command are not on the same page and seeking the same goals. When the goals are garbled or inconsistent, training in a particular way or skill is at a minimum compromised and can be completely sabotaged. Unity and consistency bring peace to the learning process.

We, as humans, will generally ‘do as you do – not as you say,’ so it is essential to make sure that our walk as teachers matches our talk. If our walk doesn’t reflect or match our talk, all credibility is lost and sometimes even the compliance of the student to follow, accept instruction, and learn. Without a clear vision or example of what one wants for the outcome, there can be no success for the one discipled and disrespect and disobedience will be engendered for the teacher.

Lastly, we must personally pursue what is true, right, good, and excellent. We must act with good character, love, and kindness to train what is honest, right, and good. We need to shine the light clearly to make it easy for our disciple/student to see the way they should go. And as our students/disciples move forward and grow beyond our training and care, let us never cease to encourage their continuing pursuit of excellence and hope that they will exceed even our greatest expectations.

RESPECT for the REDEEMER

RESPECT for the REDEEMER

Posted on by Robin House

Riots, looting, stealing, killing, and destruction are happening across much of America. Calls to cancel citizens for simple opinions and to defund the police and civil authority continue. Due process, justice, and the rule of law are being cast aside for mob rule and anarchist activities. Some reports sound like the 1800s in the wild west before many of our territories became states. Bullies from the classrooms to the neighborhood gangs to the highest seats of power in Washington D. C. are pushing their will and way into every aspect of our lives and culture. Reason, the rule of law, civility and simple acts of kindness for our fellow man have, like the baby in the bath water, been thrown out the window by many.

During Jesus’ ministry many of the same things were happening in their culture. In Luke chapter ten, Jesus sends seventy-two disciples out with a message and a mission to spread the word that the kingdom of God has come near. Jesus sent these men two by two in peace and with power from the Lord – including the ability to heal the sick. Jesus told them that those who listened to them and received them were indeed listening to Jesus. In contrast, whoever didn’t listen to the disciple’s message and rejected it were rejecting Jesus.

I remember times as the oldest of four when my parents would send me to give a message to my siblings. Sometimes they listened to me, and sometimes they didn’t. My job was to take them the message. Their job was to receive the message and reply to it with what my parents told them to do. Sometimes I would be in trouble with my parents if my siblings didn’t acknowledge my parent’s message or authority. As a result, I felt like I would be held responsible if they didn’t “mind our parents.” Sometimes I tried to “make them” do my father’s or mother’s will. I cared that my siblings obeyed and didn’t get in trouble, but in actual fact, my siblings decisions to be obedient or not wasn’t my role or responsibility. My job was simply to communicate the message. It was their job to receive and respond or reject it. Sometimes this happens with evangelism. Sometimes we want better for others than they want for themselves. Sometimes we take on jobs and responsibilities that are not and can’t be ours. Can anyone identify with this?

In the story of the seventy-two sent out, Jesus said that if a city received and welcomed them, they were to stay and complete their mission. In contrast, Jesus also said that if a city rejected them or did not welcome them, they were to publicly say, “Even the dust of your town we wipe from our feet as a warning to you. Yet be sure of this: The kingdom of God has come near.’” Jesus told them to leave those places that rejected his message. Jesus also went on to say that it will be more bearable for Sodom than for that town that rejected the men Jesus sent to them. That has to be terrible. Sodom was destroyed by a fire from heaven so intense that there is not even a trace of it left to this day.

Jesus told those he was sending out before they left that “whoever listens to you, listens to me: whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” (Luke 10) In my childhood example – when my siblings listened to me, they were listening to my parents. In contrast, when my siblings rejected me as a messenger from our parents and the message I brought, they were in deed rejecting not only my parents but the authority of God. This is a grave thing to reject God.

In the end of the story in Luke, Jesus’ disciples returned with joy at all those who received them and the message they brought from Jesus. They reported that “even the demons submit to us in your name.” That had to be something to see, but at the conclusion of this story, Jesus gives some perspective to the seventy-two. Jesus said, “However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

So what about us today? What relevance can we get out of the story in Luke 10 today? Here are a few thoughts.

1. Like the seventy-two, Jesus sends us on a mission. Matthew 28:18-20 says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

2. As we go on our mission remember what Jesus told his disciples in Luke 10 about their approach to the cities they were sent to visit. In Romans 12:18 the writer commands Christians similarly, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

3. Like the seventy-two, we need to know our place and position on this earth. We need to trust in Jesus directions and leadership first and foremost knowing like Paul did in Philippians 4:12-13 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. In I Timothy 6:6-8 we also see, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” When we have the right attitude and understand our place and position in this world, I think we can have the same joy the seventy-two described.

4. Keep in the forefront of our minds John 3:16 which says, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” Likewise in I Peter 1:8-9 we read, “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” God loves us so much. What a gift He gave and what a reward for faith in Christ!

5. Understand that we are not responsible for the response or lack of response someone makes or doesn’t make to Jesus. It is their responsibility to listen to God. It is also their right to choose to accept or reject Him and His authority. We will see and know what they choose by their actions. In I John 3:9 it says, “No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.” Those who are rioting, looting, stealing, killing, and causing destruction in our world today are not born of God. We can lead a horse to water, but we can’t make him drink. The same thing is true of the offer of salvation.

6. For all that respond and accept Christ and like the seventy-two in Luke 10, we can be confident in our reward of eternal life with God. The Bible says in I John 5:11-13, “And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

7. Don’t worry so much about the little things and the things you can not control. When we work within our spheres of influence and with what we do control, we will often be better received and more effective. Let’s keep our focus on the main and important things. When we do, the little things will fit and fall into place. Have you seen the experiment with the putting rocks, gravel and sand in jars? If we fill our jar with sand, then try to add the gravel and big rocks, they won’t fit. If we put in the big rocks in the jar first, then the smaller gravel and the sand last, we will have our priorities right and be able to fit much more into our (jars) lives and in the right order and proportions. Philippians 3:20-21 says, “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” Let’s think about this when life, circumstances, and the evening or all day long ‘news’ stories get us down. Better things are coming for those in Christ.

This is good news. This is important news. This is news worth sharing. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone heard about it?

I hope we can all learn some lessons from Luke 10 and live in the love the Lord provides as we think on these things….

Robin Robbins House ©️
4/21/2021

Bible verses are used with permission from the NIV and ESV.

Gratitude Attitude

Gratitude Attitude

Posted on by Robin House

On his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee and encountered ten lepers. The ten lepers stayed at a distance from Jesus because they were considered contagious. The Bible does not name these ten lepers or fully describe their conditions, but they knew that they were doomed to be isolated from their families and society because of the destructive and debilitating disease of leprosy.

During Bible times, there was no cure or treatment for leprosy. The old testament law prescribed that those with skin lesions must go before the priest to be examined. Those with potentially contagious diseases were isolated from their community for a time, but many with leprosy were isolated for the rest of their lives. The priest in the Jewish culture was the one person to examine and say whether someone was clean (or free from disease) and able to return from isolation or remained unclean and had to continue their isolation from family and friends. It was often quite devastating to families to lose a family member to leprosy. Lepers often could not continue in their workplace and some lived in leper colonies where everyone had the disease. Lepers who traveled were required to notify those that may come near them by shouting “unclean, unclean” so that others without the disease wouldn’t be exposed to them. There was a considerable stigma for the leper in addition to the disability, deformities, and destruction of the body that came with leprosy.

The ten lepers discussed in Luke 17 had heard enough about Jesus that they called out in a loud voice saying, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” A few things are very interesting about their statement. First, it seems that they all in a coordinated fashion shouted out to Jesus. They seemed to know or have heard who Jesus was and called him by name. Second, they call Jesus Master indicating that they consider him to have rule and power over them. Not everyone considered Jesus their Master or respected his authority, but these ten lepers did. Third, the men don’t specifically ask to be healed, but that Jesus have pity on them. Leprosy can be a severely debilitating causing terrible skin lesions, vision problems, muscle weakness, nerve damage, and the loss of limbs. We don’t know what stages of leprosy these ten men were in, but they begged for pity. Pity is said to be a sympathetic sorrow often leading to relief, aid or mercy. The lepers wanted that. They knew they had an incurable disease, but they wanted whatever Jesus could do to give them relief, aid, and mercy.

Interestingly, Jesus doesn’t say he will heal them, but he says, “Go show yourselves to the priests.” Jesus knows that to be accepted back into their culture and society, they must be approved by the priests. Luke goes on to say that “as they went, they were cleansed.” All ten left Jesus headed to the priest with their leprosy, but on the way, they were cleansed. Leprosy leaves many marks on the skin, but after encountering Jesus, they knew before they had time to get to their priests that they had been healed. All ten of them. What an amazing miracle and wonderful thing for these men to know that soon they would be allowed and welcomed back into their communities and families.

One of the lepers, when he saw that he was healed, came back praising God and threw himself at the feet of Jesus thanking him for healing him. The Bible describes this thankful leper as a Samaritan. Most Jews didn’t and wouldn’t associate with Samaritans, but Jesus did. It is assumed that the other lepers were probably Jewish, since other nations did not have in their law to present themselves to the priest to be judged unclean or clean.

Next, Jesus asked the thankful Samaritan praising God at his feet, “Were not all ten cleansed?” It seems a rhetorical question as Jesus goes on to ask, “Where are the other nine?” And “Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Jesus intimates that the Jewish lepers should have known to praise God and be thankful for healing. It seems that Jesus would have expected the Samaritan to not praise God or thank him, but Jesus is surprised at his own people. They had all just called him ‘Master.’ They all had some expectation that Jesus could help them or they wouldn’t have cried out. Yet when Jesus did help them, nine of the ten didn’t take the time to be thankful to him. They couldn’t be bothered to go back and show their gratitude.

What about us today? Do we pray for God’s help and never acknowledge that it came? Do we ignore the blessings our heavenly Father brings us each and every day? Do we give credit to someone or something else, after we’ve made our appeals to God for healing? Do we assume it is simply our good luck that helped things turn out well? Do we ignore God after our appeals to Him?

Look at the statistics of gratitude in this story. Only one out of ten said thank you. Jesus never heard back from 90% of those he healed in this case. Why? Were they just that selfish or self-centered? Did they not connect their request for pity with the removal of the plague of leprosy from their bodies? Do we sometimes get so excited that a trouble or trauma is over that we just want to move on and forget it? Jesus seems disappointed and specifically disappointed in his own people as he asked, Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” What does this say about God’s people, who supposedly know and follow him? What does it say about the foreigner?

In the region of Tyre and Sydon, another foreigner came to Jesus for help and healing. She was a Canaanite mother begging Jesus to help her daughter who was demon possessed and suffering terribly. Jesus said that he was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel, but as the woman begged, “Lord, help me.” Jesus explained again that it was not right to take the children’s bread and give it to dogs. But the Canaanite woman said, “Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.” Jesus replied to the woman that she had great faith and granted her request and in that moment for her daughter’s healing.

The Jewish teachers and leaders of Jesus’ day often claimed to be the children of Abraham and to only worship the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They were a proud people and boasted in their Jewishness and relationship with God, yet they weren’t really obedient to him, following him, or even grateful to him for his blessings. God addresses this many times with them, and I see a lesson here for us, as Christians.

Are we grateful? Are we thankful? Do our friends and family know that we hold God and Jesus Christ in high esteem? Do our friends, family and others know that we give thanks to God for the food we eat? Do our colleagues, customers, and even those who can’t stand us, know who we call Lord? Do we thank God for our jobs and financial provision? Do we praise God for healing after we’ve prayed for it, or do we assume it was the doctor’s skill, or the new medicine, or luck, or a simple quirk of ‘nature’ that healed us or our loved one?

If you were one of the ten lepers, what group would you be in? Would you be like the one Samaritan or the nine Jews?

We pray to God for help, then don’t acknowledge that He did help. Why is that? Are we embarrassed? Do we really believe He can, will, and does work today in the lives of men and women? If we don’t believe He is working and answering prayers today, why do we pray? Do we or can we understand how everything works? Of course not, but if we have prayed for something to happen and it happens, why not assume it is from God? He is, by the way, in charge of EVERYTHING! God cares for us down to knowing the number of hairs on our head. As we clean the lost hairs out of our hairbrush at night, do we understand that God knows how many hairs are in the brush and how many hairs are left on our head? Do we see the detail, care, and specificity with which the God of the universe has for each and every person? Matthew chapter 10 says that not one sparrow falls that God doesn’t know about it, and goes on to say that each of us are worth more than many sparrows.

For those who don’t know Jesus, He is the good news/the Gospel. No more is there a separation between people groups. Jesus came for all – for Jew and Gentile, slave and free, for you and for me.

All of us are sinners and have rebelled against God. All of us are on our way to Hell. Hell is the just destination and penalty for our sin. All sin is rebellion against God and His authority. All of us – (every single person and all of mankind throughout every age) have committed treason against the Lord. Our rebellion is clear, but thanks be to God, the penalty and just consequence for our sin has been paid by Christ’s sacrifice on the cross.

An eternal death separating us from God for all time is no longer necessary, if we will accept the gift of salvation that comes through Christ Jesus alone. The choice is ours. God will not force us to accept salvation from our sin. He will allow us to proceed on our own way, if that is what we choose. God doesn’t send anyone to Hell. People choose to go there of their own accord. God stands at the door and knocks, but He will only come in if we open the door to accept and surrender to His will and way. That’s the deal. We can go our way or His way.

Long ago, some lepers were healed from a physical disease because they sought help, cried out, and asked for mercy from the Lord. Long ago, a mother secured health and safety for her child from demons because she had faith in and sought help from the One she knew had the power to save her child. Today, God still waits and wants all who will come to Him in faith with submissive and grateful hearts to live in His way and walk in His will in this life. Won’t you come like the leper and the mother to the feet of Jesus? Won’t you look to him for help and healing? Won’t you give God all praise for all He has done and is doing in your life? Won’t you trust and draw near to Him? He loves and cares for you more than you can even imagine?

Won’t you, think on these things…

Robin Robbins House ©️

Image by Barbara Jackson from Pixabay

Spring

Spring

Posted on by Robin House

There’s a yellow mist
Of pollen in the air.
The flowers are all blooming
Without a worry or a care.

The rain clouds loom heavy
Making the sky look dimly gray,
As the wind blows so gently
Through the trees and shrubs today.

The miracle of life
Is seen in every spring,
From the flowers that grow
To the birds that sweetly sing.

Life is renewed
After the long winter cold,
As spring shows off
With colors so bright and bold.

And so it was like spring
Many centuries ago
When God brought forth His Son
For all man to see and know.

God’s plan so full of hope,
So bountiful and free –
Bought by Christ’s own blood
On Calvary’s cursed tree.

Through Christ’s death on a cross
Eternal life came to man
After the winter of sin and death.
Hope and new life springs forth again.

So when you think of springtime,
I hope that you will see
God’s gift and gracious plan –
Redeeming love – for you and me.

Robin Robbins House ©️
04/07/2021

Judge Correctly!

Judge Correctly!

Posted on by Robin House

When the time for the Feast of Tabernacles had come and Jesus’ brothers asked him to show himself to the world publicly, Jesus told them that His time was not yet come. Jesus’ brothers went on ahead to the feast without Jesus, and the Bible says that at this time “even his own brothers did not believe in him.” Jewish leaders were looking for Jesus and among the crowds of people at the Feast of Tabernacles people were talking. The Bible said that there was widespread whispering about Jesus. Some said that Jesus was a good man while others believed He wasn’t good and deceived people. No one would, however, speak out publicly for fear of the Jewish leaders. It seems like some things never change.

About half way through the eight day festival, Jesus did go up to the Feast of Tabernacles in Jerusalem and began teaching in the temple courts. The Jews there were amazed at Jesus’ teaching. They wondered how He had so much learning without being taught. You see, Jesus, was not of the elite or powerful. He made his entrance in the manger of a barn and by all accounts wasn’t wealthy or part of the elite in society.

In reply to their questions as to how Jesus knew so much Jesus said, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the One who sent me. Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own. Whoever speaks on their own does so to gain personal glory, but he who seeks the glory of the One who sent him is a man of truth; there is nothing false about him. Has not Moses given you the law? Yet not one of you keeps the law. Why are you trying to kill me?”

Jesus goes on to say that because he did one miracle in healing a man, they were all amazed. Jesus reminded them that by the law of Moses newborn boys are circumcised on the Sabbath (even though it is a declared day of rest) so that the law of Moses may not be broken, yet they were angry with Jesus for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath. Jesus goes on to say, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.”

In today’s society, people are all about following the latest or greatest popular person. How many followers someone has is a thing of status. Jesus, like some today, was somewhat a phenomenon. He had many followers who were fascinated by Him. He was unusual and “amazing” to some and someone to be feared by others. People throughout the region were talking about Jesus. The powerful in politics and religion were watching for Him. Some feared Him and His influence on the people since the things He did and the words He spoke did not match up with their belief system and expectations. Some feared Jesus would show them to be the fraud’s they were. Some feared that He would take away their power. Some just didn’t know, but they still distrusted Him.

We have this same situation happening today in our political and religious world. The common man and woman on the streets are discussing whether someone should be able to have presence or platform from which to speak. Publishers and politicians are banning speech that they don’t like or agree with in order to cancel their effect on others. Like the threats against Jesus, some are calling for the death of those they do not like or agree with on issues. Today, Dr. Seuss’ own publishers decided that some of his works need to be removed from the public square. Why? What is behind all the censorship of thoughts, ideas, and words? Can we no longer stand to see the truth of history? Can we not acknowledge a viewpoint that isn’t in lock step with our own?

The Bible begins, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” It is a bold statement. It is how the Word of God begins. We must each decide if this is a true or a false statement. We will choose to believe this is right or wrong. In the same way, Jesus challenged those in the temple courts over 2000 years ago to check out what He said. Jesus said that anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether His teaching comes from God or is from him only. Jesus said that those that knew the will of God would be able to verify that He spoke on behalf of His Father who is God almighty.

There is a challenge today for the Christian and the non Christian to decide whether what Jesus said is true or false. We must each decide whether what he preached was right or wrong. Jesus confronted those in the temple courts about their inconsistent enforcement of the law of Moses. Do we today see the inconsistencies in how things are decided? Do we see the contradiction in our own conversations and behaviors between how we treat one person or idea over another?

Jesus admonished those listening to him in the temple courts saying, “Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” I think this advice needs to be repeated today. What we see is not always as it appears. The only way to know for sure what is true is to seek the truth in the consistent message revealed throughout the Holy Word. Jesus tells us that those who choose to follow God’s will – will know whether what Jesus preached and taught was of God or not. How is that? It is because they will see and come to know the will of the Father written in the Word of God.

When we judge things today, do we stack it up against the standard of the Word of God? Do we have the will to do the will of God? Are we judging by mere appearances or seeking to judge rightly? Each of us makes decisions and judgements every day about a myriad of things including one another. Are we judging rightly as the Righteous Judge and Lord would want us to do, or are we jumping to conclusions without all the evidence?

Do we give people the grace of time? Do we look below the surface of appearances to the motives of their movements through life? Have we tried to get to know one another and their circumstances, or do we dismiss people out of hand? Are we willing to walk in someone else’s shoes for just a minute to see what paths they must tread? Are we interested in our fellow man enough to change our point of view to try to see what things look like through their eyes? Has someone “offended” us and unbeknown to them been written off? Do people get a second chance with us? Or a third? Or seventy-seven times? Jesus told Peter to forgive a brother or sister not just seven times in a day, but seven times ten times in a day when they repent. Do we accept those who are sorry and repent for wrongs they do – intentionally or not? Are we so perfect that we can’t stand to put up with any imperfection in those around us? Are we so prideful and pious that we won’t be in the presence of those called pathetic in our society? Do we use our power or position to ‘put out of mind and sight’ those who don’t share our ideas and beliefs? Did we write off a friend because they told us the truth or we felt they were just too much trouble?

Who are we to stand as king of the hill to look down pridefully at anyone? Don’t we, each and every one of us, have our own problems and missteps to overcome? Do we have any charity/love for our fellow man? Will we give it and show it?

Jesus calls us to judge correctly. Can we? Will we? And if we do, I know our God be pleased. Just as Jesus spoke not on his behalf but on the Father’s, can we as Christians and children of God not do the same?

We can, if we will, choose to follow God, and if we will learn His will, we will know that Jesus’ message was true and His ways are right. What an awesome world this could be if we would judge correctly.

Think on these things…

Robin Robbins House©️
3/2/2021

The Bible passage reference is from John 7.

What's A Citizen, Christian To Do?

What’s A Citizen, Christian To Do?

Posted on by Robin House

Did you know that when you call your senator, at least mine in LA, no one answers the phone for two days now and the mailbox for the line in D C is full, so no messages can be left and no comments can be made?

Did you know that the White House comment line will not take comments because the comments office is closed due to covid. It has been closed at least since the 46th president began his term?

Did you know that the White House comment line staff are all volunteers?

Did you know that the White House switchboard will not transfer you to any White House staff member unless you have an appointment or been approved to talk to them? AND please tell me how does one get an appointment with someone at the White House without contacting them in advance – which can not, evidently, be done by phone call or letter?

Did you know that you can write a letter to the White House, but it will take 6-8 weeks to process and get a reply back? I was informed that this is the standard time frame.

Do you know who is answering emails for our elected representatives in the legislative and executive branches?

Did you know that most Senators and Representatives will not give you their position or tell you how they plan to vote on a particular bill often up until the time of the vote and sometimes not then?

Did you know that you can’t call the Secretary of “whatever’s” offices and speak to them about concerns on school policy, healthcare, national security, the environment, or anything else you may want to discuss or give your opinion on in our government?

Did you know that the White House switchboard says that a citizen’s only way to contact the White House is through their elected State Representative or Senator? Did I tell you that my Senator isn’t answering the phone? Can you see the cycle of craziness many are dealing with in trying to have their voices heard?

DID YOU KNOW THAT ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ CAN NO LONGER TALK, INFORM, OR COMMUNICATE WITH OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS IN AN EFFICIENT, TIMELY, AND CLEAR WAY IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA?

WE ARE CONSTANTLY BLOCKED FROM COMMUNICATING WITH OUR “ELECTED” OFFICIALS. IN ADDITION, THE CAPITAL CONTINUES TO BE SURROUNDED BY TALL SECURITY FENCES WITH RAZOR WIRE ON TOP TO KEEP THE AMERICAN PEOPLE FROM THE PEOPLE’S HOUSE AND ACCESSING MUCH OF WASHINGTON, D. C. UNLESS THEY HAVE SPECIAL PERMISSIONS AND PAPERS, AS THEY SWING WIDE OPEN THE BORDERS TO ANY WHO ILLEGALLY WANT TO ENTER OUR COUNTRY, CITIES, AND COMMUNITIES BRINGING CRIME AND CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES THAT ARE KILLING OUR KIDS.

IS THIS REALLY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ANYMORE? IS THIS WHAT ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ WANT?

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CITIZEN TO DO WHEN THE GOVERNMENT, WHICH IS SUPPOSED TO BE ‘OF BY AND FOR THE PEOPLE’ LOCKS DOWN THE LEGISLATURE AND SEATS OF GOVERNMENT AND POWER? WHAT ARE THE LOYAL AND LAW ABIDING AMERICAN CITIZENS TO DO WHEN THEIR REPRESENTATIVES REFUSE TO HEAR THE VOICES OF THE PEOPLE THEY WORK FOR? WHAT SHALL WE DO WHEN OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS REFUSE TO LISTEN OR TAKE DIRECTIONS ABOUT THE LAWS AND EXPENDITURES ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ SHOULD DETERMINE, — ESPECIALLY WHEN THE “FREE PRESS” MEDIA WILL NOT REPORT ABOUT WHAT‘WE THE PEOPLE’ SAY AND DO AS WE EXPRESS OUR WILL FOR OUR NATION AND ITS POLICIES? ARE ‘WE THE PEOPLE’ GOOD WITH A 30 TRILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT AND OBLIGATING OUR CITIZENS TO DEBTS BEYOND OUR YEARLY SALARIES.

DO ANY ‘ELECTED OFFICIALS’ HAVE A COMMENT? ANYONE HAVE AN ANSWER?

HELLO???????

I’M LISTENING…

‘WE THE PEOPLE’ ARE OUT HERE IN THE HEARTLAND DESPERATE TO BE HEARD. WE ARE HERE WITH A LOYALTY TO OUR HOMELAND WHILE SEEKING WHAT IS RIGHT AND BEST TO SUPPORT OUR HOUSEHOLDS IN THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS GUARANTEED IN OUR CONSTITUTION WHILE HOLDING TIGHTLY TO THE FREEDOMS GUARANTEED IN OUR BILL OF RIGHTS.

THE SYSTEM MUST BE REALLY BROKEN, BEAUSE IT IS NOT WORKING FOR THE LAW ABIDING CITIZENS OF OUR NATION TRYING TO MAKE A LIVING FOR OUR FAMILIES. IT IS NOT BROKEN BECAUSE THE PLAN OF A REPRESENTATIVE REPUBLIC ESTABLISHED BY OUR FOUNDERS WAS FLAWED. IT IS BROKEN BECAUSE OF THE INCREASING NUMBER OF SELFISH AND POWER HUNGRY PEOPLE PLACED AT THE PINNACLE POLITICAL POWER COUPLED WITH AN INCREASING NUMBER OF CITIZEN AND NON CITIZEN CONSUMERS WHO WANT TO AND WILL TAKE WITHOUT GIVING AND ARE HAPPY TO RECEIVE SOMETHING FOR NOTHING.

Alexis de Tocqueville around 1840 said, “The American Republic will endure until the day Congress discovers that it can bribe the public with the public’s money.”

Ronald Reagan said, “If we ever forget that we are one nation under God, then we will be a nation gone under.”

Are we there yet?

So the call I make now is to those who claim and profess Jesus Christ as Lord and have committed their allegiance to the One, True and Almighty God. Will you answer the call?

Each and every Christian is an ambassador of the Most High God. (II Corinthians 5:20-21) Are we on the job? Are we about our Father’s business? Are we ‘representing’ and do we represent our King faithfully and loyally? Do we speak what He wants us to say?

Whether free or imprisoned, are we, as the Apostle Paul, carrying out our mission. (Ephesians 6:20)

Be brave my fellow followers of Christ. Don’t be ashamed of the gospel. Paul says in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.”

There is nothing to fear in this world when we are in Christ. Stand up, you men and women of God. Stand UP! Romans 8:31-39 is a powerful confirmation of what Christians know. It reads, “What, then, shall we say in response to these things, If God is for us, who can be against us; He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies; Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered. “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

A famous talk show host in one of his last interviews confirmed what we read in Romans 8:28. It says, “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Christians, listen. We are called according to His purpose (not ours). We are ambassadors in His service (not our own). If we love God, HE causes ALL THINGS to WORK TOGETHER for GOOD for US! How wonderfully amazing is that? Rise up my brothers and sisters. Get to work and be diligent to do your Father’s will as His ambassadors in this world. It matters for you, and it matters to each and every soul you meet from day to day in your walk through this life.

The great commission from Jesus Christ is clear. Matthew 28:18 and following says, “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Think on these things…

Posts, links, and lessons learned

Posts, links, and lessons learned

Posted on by Robin House

Some of you may not know why you don’t regularly see posts from some of your friends. They just never come up in the feed. Some of us see things posted and wonder – Why is this in my news feed? or I wish I never saw that post. FB has intricate mathematical programs that use data from many sources to share, market, and place ads in your news feed.

For those of us with blogs and trying to share a message, FB gives a higher priority to our posts when people actually comment – even if it is a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ or a ‘How about that.’ comment. It also gives some weight to clicks for ‘likes, cares, hearts, sad, and angry’ emoji symbols, though not as much as for actual comments. Sharing a post is another way to spread the word, and posts shared over and over can “go viral” spreading all over the internet. Some posts do not have a share button, often because the person posting only wants to send the message to their group of friends and family. Some posts can be copied and pasted into your post to share. One important thing to remember is that you must not ‘do a Biden’ and plagiarize their work posting it as your own. You must give proper attribution to the person who wrote or made the post. It is stealing otherwise. Another thing to consider is that some people may only share their posts with specific friends and family and do not want their posts made public because the public at large may not be interested or may not understand the perspective of the post. Some readers ‘turn in’ posts they don’t like or disagree with causing additional issues for the author. This is something to consider. Just ask the author/writer before copying and sharing their post into the public domain to make sure that they don’t mind.

BIG, BIG TIP OF THE DAY – Assume everything you write, say, and do may be repeated, published on the front page of the paper, placed at the top of a fb or twitter feed, and shared with the world. If you don’t want it to be potentially read, repeated, or put on display for anyone in the world to see, don’t write it, say it, or do it. This bit of advice came from my momma before the founders of facebook and other social media platforms were born. This advice has served me well over the years.

All that being said, most bloggers want their posts shared. Blog posts are easy to share by copying the article link in the address bar and pasting it. Blog post authors usually have their name associated with the post and are fine with sharing as long as proper credit is given to them. If you aren’t sure, ask.

Some posts are suppressed by fb and other social media platforms based on their unspecified and somewhat arbitrary determination of what is ‘fit’ or ‘true’ in their estimation. This restriction of free speech is biased and controlled by unknown fact checkers among a few powerful companies led by a handful of tech oligarchs. We have seen the removal of a whole social platform and posts of Bible verses while requests specifically for twitter to remove images of a 12 year old minor child in a sexually explicit situation who was being blackmailed did not violate twitters terms of service and had over 160,000 views as examples. There seems to be no standard of right, equity, or fairness in the censorship seen today. However, we can still advocate for and demand what is true, right, equitable, and fair.

I have been blogging on my own website at robinwrites.net for some time now to share my thoughts and ideas on Hope, Hearth and Home, Health, Humor, and things I find interesting in the Headlines and about our History. I plan to write regularly going forward with the goal of having a positive impact through interesting content that will be useful and encouraging for my readers along their journey through this life to be the best person they can be and prepared for the next life. Some of you have already been reading my work and have been so kind and encouraging. Thank you.

As I go forward, I would like to ask for your prayers and good wishes that I will say, write, and do what is pleasing to my Master (God) and be successful in being helpful to others as we walk through this life together.

Second, please comment, like, share and/or communicate in some way your thoughts on the topics I write about in the articles, even if you disagree. I believe people can disagree without being disagreeable. I want to be encouraging and helpful, and your thoughts and comments can help me in this mission. All I ask is that comments be constructive, kind, and clean in language.

If you prefer not to comment on the facebook platform, my website (robinwrites.net) offers a comment section for you to send me your comments on each article posted. With your comments, we can have a ‘conversation’ of sorts together and among my readers to grow in our wisdom and knowledge together. Sometimes, my articles come from thoughts about conversations with you, my friends. I love to learn from your stories, ideas, and experiences. I don’t use anyone’s actual name unless I have their approval as well as permission to use their story. I think most of us have something very wonderful to share that can be of great service to one another – if we will communicate and share our ideas and thoughts.

If you prefer to comment privately, just let me know within your comment notes, and your comments will not be posted publicly on the blog comments section. I take your wishes and privacy seriously. Your email address is never shared by me with anyone.

Lastly, thank you for taking the time to read and share what I write on my blog. If something is helpful for you, it will likely be helpful to others, so copy the blog link and share away. I hope God will guide and bless you greatly. Always remember that God loves us now and forever more than we can ever comprehend.

Robin House ©️ 02/01/2021