What do you say?

Could anyone tell? Would anyone know by what we say and do that we are a Christian? Is the evidence clear? Would the testimony by those who see and know us be enough? Could there be any doubt that we would be convicted of being a Christian by what we say or do?

Jesus said in John 13, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

After another disappointing interaction with someone recently, I wondered, once again, why. Why do they do that? Why do they seemingly go out of their way to irritate, annoy, manipulate, exasperate, needle, provoke, hassle, and aggravate? I asked one time years ago and received this answer. This person said that they did it because they liked to see me “fired up.” Like poking a smoldering fire to see the flames leap high into the air, this person thought it was fun to ‘stir me up and watch how I reacted.’ They didn’t see or care about the pain or fall out I felt by their words. It was just fun at my expense for them. They seemed to particularly enjoy ‘stirring me up’ or embarrassing me in the presence of others. They could almost always predict by their triggering words and actions how I would react. You see, as a child in my particular family of customs and culture, I learned with a look or a word to immediately ‘hop to.’ I also knew exactly ‘how high’ to jump with the commands of a somewhat sadistic dad. I was programmed from an early age to act, react, and obey without thinking an autocratic and domineering father.

Repeated childhood traumas trained self-preservation behavior patterns deep into the heart of my autonomic nervous system geared to avoid conflict and to protect myself, my mother, and my siblings from harm. Like the training to ‘stop, drop, and roll’ in response to being on fire that I learned as a child, my young brain was programmed to react to certain triggers and stimuli to prevent what I saw as imminent danger of physical and emotional harm up to and including my death or that of others at the hands of someone who should have been my chief protector. As the oldest child, I felt a need to protect my younger siblings and even my mother. My mother often seemed passive and un-protective of us, but perhaps as an adult looking back now, she understood better how to deal with someone drunk and out of control. It was a stressful and traumatic life to lead as a child. It can be hard on an adult also.

Fortunately, most can’t fathom a childhood like this, but I lived it. It is a part of the brokenness in this world brought on from the beginning with the desire of men and women to be their own authority and their own gods – often joyfully and decisively rejecting the authority of the loving Creator God, who is Sovereign of all. Sin and acts of selfishness are the results of our rejection of God. A wake of human brokenness and tragedy lasting for generations to include both physical harm and spiritual death is the outcome of mankind’s treason toward a loving God and Father of all that live.

So what is the point? Why do I share this sad and even to my eyes personally depressing tale? The reason is simple. In a life that is so rushed and hurried where we scurry to get from here to there for our businesses, pleasures, goals, and pursuits, I want us to STOP.

Please let’s just STOP for one moment and think. It won’t take long. Did you know that a sprinter responds to the crack of the starting gun for their race in less than 150 milliseconds? That’s half the time it takes to blink an eye.

In that brief millisecond moment of meeting someone – anyone, please just STOP for a moment, and think about how you can be kind and encouraging in your words and deeds.

STOP the “gotcha” stuff and “put down” talk.

STOP the “mean girl and guy” juvenile junior high behavior that demeans and demoralizes.

STOP ignoring the person who shyly says “Hi!” when passing by. It won’t kill us to smile and say hello back.

STOP picking at people just to get a rise or reaction out of them to amuse ourselves or others.

STOP contributing to the cancel culture.

STOP gossiping. They know when people are talking about them and that what is said isn’t nice.

STOP listening to divisive rhetoric that would have us tearing one another and our society down instead of building up.

STOP making others feel less than. We don’t need it. Some can’t bear it, and there is no good reason for it.

Many of us have already been told hundreds of times that we are less than worthless and not enough. We know we are full of fault, sinful, and can’t do it all right. We see our flaws and foibles better than anyone. We know we aren’t in the “in” crowd. We see that some don’t think we are pretty enough, smart enough, or “hip” enough to be in the group. We need a hand up – not a put down.

The evidence of the problem is clear all around us. Our society is crumbling and crime is rampant. Drug abuse for legal and illegal drugs is on the rise all across our nation for those seeking to medicate their pain and numb their feelings of rejection and trauma. Suicide rates are out the roof, especially for our young people. Many parents today are so wrapped up in themselves and their screens, that they can’t or won’t see the needs in their children right in front of them. Children too young to process what they are seeing and hearing are being swept into an abyss of an atheistic and hedonistic society through the internet, television, movies, and in what they experience in their home lives.

Did you know that there is a report of child abuse every 10 seconds in the United States? That’s 6 times a minute and 8,640 times in a day. In a recent continuing education training, I learned that there are over 1,100 reports of child abuse per month in our local area. Less than 25 of those cases ever come before the courts for prosecution. That’s less that 2/10ths of one percent of the reported cases of child abuse that have any chance at all of discipline or consequences to the abusers and of protection for the children. Many, many people are hurting.

Some of the broken children and adults have found hope, love, and life in Jesus Christ. We have experienced the grace and mercy of a loving, heavenly Father God, but oh, so very, very many people haven’t yet. They don’t know God, see their value, or know that they have been made in God’s own image. They don’t have any real hope. Many are just lost and can’t see any useful purpose for their lives.

With all this in mind, please just STOP. Don’t make things worse with thoughtless words and deeds. We don’t need any more negativity and narcissism.

Romans 12:16 says, “Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight.”

STOP for just a moment and think before you say something to someone – to anyone. Remember that God gave His one and only Son for that person right there in front of you.

I Peter 4:8 says, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.”

I know you are busy. I know you have things to do. We all do, but the next time you meet someone, blink your eye and STOP. Take that millisecond moment to think about the precious and dearly loved souls in the people before you in that moment.

God loves them. Will you? God knows they need someone to love and care for them. Will you? Jesus laid down His life for them. Would you?

In that millisecond moment before you say or do anything, will you STOP and consider how to build up and encourage? We don’t know what the person there before us deals with at home or at work each day. We don’t know how close someone might be to just giving up. Words are powerful. With words, God made everything both seen and unseen. Our words are powerful, too!

Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.”

Proverbs 16:24 says, “Kind words are like honey – sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

Proverbs 12:25 says, “Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad.”

Ephesians 4:29-32 says, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Can’t we do that? It just takes a moment to STOP. In less time than it takes to blink an eye, we can decide to speak kindly and do good to a fellow human being. That’s what God wants of His children. That’s what God commands of His people. That’s what Jesus did for us and expects of His disciples.

If we, as Christians, are no different than the people in the world, why would anyone want to come to Christ. What’s the advantage or attraction? Christians are to be ambassadors of God in a lost, wicked, and dying world. Christians are to be in the world but not to be of the world. Are we? We are called out to be holy as God is and to show God’s love to one another. Do we?

There is no doubt that we will impact in some way the lives of everyone with whom we come in contact with for good or for bad. In each moment and interaction, we choose. We choose to be kind or cruel. We choose to build up or tear down. We choose. We all choose.

The question today and going forward is – What will we choose?

I hope we will choose what is good and loving.

I think on these things … (Philippians 4:4-9)

Robin House ©️

Lessons learned at the check out line

Today I was in a grocery store, and as I was checking out, the man who was sacking my groceries said, “I didn’t like that woman that came before you.” He went on to tell me how she approached the cashier and complained about how he checked out her items and was irritated when he did not get her loyalty number down right the first time. He said that she was peeved that she had to repeat her phone number. He went on to say that she was rude to him too in the way she asked for a bag for her items. I said that maybe she was having a hard day. The sacker didn’t buying my excuse for her.

As I completed my purchase, I told him that I thought I could carry everything to my car by hand, but he said no and that he wanted to go outside anyway. I told him thanks and as we walked to my car I remarked that it was sad that some people couldn’t or wouldn’t take the time to be kind and polite and be respectful of one another. He agreed.

It doesn’t take that much more time to be kind, yet I know there have been times when I have been short with someone or expressed my frustrations and exasperations. There is no room for me to point any fingers. Today was really more of a reminder for myself as I spoke to the gentleman that helped me get my groceries to my car during this hectic season of holidays about “giving.” We went on to talk about what a pretty day it was and other small talk as he helped me load the groceries in my car and parted with a have a great day to one another.

When I think about Jesus, He came as God to become a man – initially as an infant. God got down in the dirt with sinful man to live among us, serve us, and show us the way of salvation through His love for the Father and obedience to His will. Why should I complain? Why should I expect anything really? Jesus, who never sinned and lived a perfect human life, was misunderstood, mistreated, rejected, and ultimately selected to be executed in the place of a murderer.

What a Savior! What an example. Jesus said that as His disciples we shouldn’t expect to be treated any better than He was, but don’t we … When we remember who we are and whose we are, a lot of things really won’t matter or shouldn’t. The way others treat us is more of a reflection on who they are than on who we are. When we remember this and consider what God’s own Son went through, we won’t care so much that we had to deal with a long line, repeat information a second or third time, or that we need to ask for something that seems obvious to us, but is oblivious to someone else. When we remember that we, as Christians, are dead to our selves — to our will, ways, and wants – we will have the ability to focus on others and their needs. We will notice their needs, respect their efforts on our behalf, notice when they are having a difficult day, and show the common courtesy that isn’t so common anymore.

There are a lot of people weighed down with the worries of this old world today. There are many who don’t know what to do or where to turn. Life is tough for them. With a smile, kind words, a little empathy, and genuine love for our fellow man (all of whom are equally valued by God and worthy of Jesus’ sacrifice), we can show them the light, the way, the truth, and how to spend an eternity in heaven with God.

I’m talking to myself here — I pray that I can look outward to others and their needs over my own. I hope I can lift someone’s spirits and perhaps even make their day with something positive or good. Sometimes it is just the simple things, the little things, and a smile, a thank you, or an excuse me, please that can show someone that they are valued and appreciated. I’m going to work harder on remembering all of this and my experience at the grocery store today.

Lastly, I am reminded of Philippians 2. This scripture challenges me so very often. It says, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life.” I’ll be thinking on these things… I hope I have encouraged you to think on them too.

Unbelievable “leadership” and a few dozen questions

For weeks questions have been asked about the exit strategy for Afghanistan. Americans have been told that the Biden administration had provisions for every possible scenario. But did they? Really?

Today and these past days, we see clearly how prepared they really were.

Joe Biden claims to be a student of history, but he could not have passed the class.

A ten year old, fourth grade, Girl Scout could have packed up and planned a better exit strategy, AND she wouldn’t have left all her stuff, to include essential equipment for her safety and protection at the base camp and all her friends and family behind.

I have some important questions that need answers!

1. Why did Secretary of State, Blinken, leave state department employees in a war zone when even the CIA left?

2. Why in the apparent “Blinken of an eye” did Afghanistan fall between a Friday and a Monday, when Secretary Blinken said that it couldn’t fall in one weekend? Well, yes it did, but the administration had been watching it fall piece by piece for months without doing anything to stop it or get our people out safely.

3. Why does the U. S. Military have to depend on the Taliban, who are our enemies and have never kept their word, for the safe exit of our American civilians desiring to go home to America?

4. Why did Biden have to knock on wood – hoping none of our military and citizens would be murdered by terrorists? Is he depending on knocking on wood for hoping the Taliban, Isis, and Al-Qaeda won’t do what they have always done to murder our citizens as they continue their chants of “Death to America!”

5. Why did we leave our weapons and billions in equipment for our enemies to use or sell to China and Russia and other enemies of America?

6. Why didn’t we destroy the equipment we couldn’t remove, so that it could not be used against us?

7. Why did we remove our military troops before getting our American civilians out of country and home? What sense does that make?

8. Why did we close and leave our embassy from which we could have staged out our people and allies back home?

9. Why did our VP say on her Asian trip this week that our exit from Afghanistan was a complete success without any loss of military lives? Oops! Looks like she isn’t the prophet she thought she was. She did say we need to go ahead and order and buy our Christmas presents because supply chains will be poor in the coming months. Humm? What does she know that we don’t?

10. Why are our exit flights being fired on when the Taliban is supposed to assure our safe exit?

11. Why is Biden kowtowing to our enemies saying ‘pretty please’ don’t hurt us?

12. Why did Biden immediately reverse and revoke every policy and executive order of the previous Trump administration as soon as he could get an ink pen in the Oval Office, and then say now that he had to follow the Trump exit plan from Afghanistan?

13. Why did Biden lie about Trump’s actual plan for leaving Afghanistan which was conditions based over time deadlines and blame Trump when Biden said he was completely responsible?

14. Why did we abandon Bagram Airbase that we spent $10 billion dollars to build and was a strategic base in the region with reach to many countries, including China?

15. Why did Biden say all our allies were with us and not critical of his exit plan, when multiple heads of state and NATO allies publicly and in the chambers of their governments denounced Biden’s plan?

16. Why didn’t the Biden administration deal with or even warn the Pakistan government about cutting out their collusion with the terrorist groups?

17. Why did the administration say that there were around 15,000 Americans in Afghanistan last week and this week, that they have no idea how many Americans are there?

18. Why did they report that over 100,000 people have been airlifted out of Afghanistan, but only about 4,000 were Americans (as of 8/25/21) on those flights?

19. Afghanistan is a tribal society that has been at war and feuding with its various groups for centuries, so why did the Biden administration bring 100,000 Afghani nationals to relocate them in America to continue their historic behavior?

20. Why are our generals “reaching out” to the Taliban for help for safe passage of our planes evacuating Americans and others? Does he have to say, “Mother may I?”

21. Joe Biden said that he is responsible and follows the directions of his military leaders who mostly inform him of what is going on by letter!

Seriously???? Is he using morse code too? Has he not been in the briefings? Was he asleep? Was he cognitively aware of the information and implications of that information?

22. Are the president’s “advisors” giving him correct, appropriate, and good advice? Can he discern what that is?

23. Why can’t Biden talk to the people without a teleprompter?

24. Why does Biden follow directions of some unknown someone about what he does and who he talks to and for how long?

25. Biden said today after reading his canned speech and was ready to answer reporter’s questions something very like— “they gave me a list here and I’ve been instructed to call on Kelly O’Donnell of NBC first.” WHAT? WHY? ARE THE QUESTIONS SET UPS? HOW CAN WE KNOW WHAT IS TRUE?

26. Biden said that it “could have happened” that we gave the names of American citizens and Afghan allies to the Taliban members. The Taliban! The people who rape their women, boys and girls? The Taliban who sent messages to Christians and allies of America telling that they know where they are and are coming for them soon? I have an idea that they aren’t inviting Christians, American citizens, and American allies to dinner. It is more likely to a beheading – theirs.

27. We were energy independent when Biden took office, and with Biden’s policies, he is now begging opec to increase oil production so that we have the fuel we need. WHY?

28. Why does Biden and his administration want us demoralized, dependent on the middle east and China, and the U. S. federal government for our ability to work, travel, eat, earn a living, and raise and educate our children?

I’ve talked to a lot of people over the past months and many have decided to not listen to the news as a solution to what they see as “bad” news. The Biden administration is counting on us not to notice, not to care, not to worry. They push delusions and distractions that deny our nation is being burnt to the ground by ineptitude and policies that do not protect our people or insure the freedoms we are endowed with by our Creator.

Sticking our heads in the sand and not watching the news is not the answer. Playing video games, gardening, and minding our own business in our own little world isn’t the answer.

Unless Americans wake up and stand up together as a nation with love, care, and respect for one another’s life and needs, we are lost. Our freedoms, rights to self-determination, property ownership, and integrity as a sovereign nation will be lost.

What language do you want to speak? Chinese? Russian? What type of law and society do you want to live under? Muslim Sharia, Communism, Marxism, Totalitarianism, or the U.S. Constitution?

Benjamin Franklin said, “Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”

I hope you will stand up, serve, and support our nation and our people and way of life with its freedoms of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I love my nation. I hope you do, too. Please pray for our leaders. Pray for good and godly leaders. Please pray for unity in our nation. Please do what you can where you can to help save our nation, freedoms, and way of life!

Robin House ©️
08/26/2021

Love Your Neighbor

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

Spring

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

The Marriage Reminder

Spotted and stained
And aged over time
Is The Art of Marriage,
Wilfred Peterson’s rhyme.

Before we married,
It seems long ago,
This poem was a wedding gift
To help a young couple grow.

Always on our refrigerator door
For over 38 years has been,
This simple reminder of love
And the need for self discipline.

Sometimes we need
Simple things to remind us.
Of how the Lord has both
Blessed and called us.

The poem’s admonitions are clear,
Plain spoken and true.
They have helped me in my marriage,
And they can help in yours, too.

Marriage is not about
the things we have or can get;
It is the simple daily commitment
To love and serve, we must never forget.

Creating a good marriage
Is never simple nor easy,
But when you succeed,
It is a thing of rare beauty.

So cherish your spouse each and every day,
And tell them often that you love them so –
And you will reap more blessings
Than you can ever imagine or know.

©️ Robin Robbins House 01/21/2021

Listening to and for God

Recently, my husband I went for dessert at a restaurant in Augusta, Georgia. The building was old and in the same family for generations. A small place, it was know for its regional foods and colossal deserts. We had eaten dinner at another place, but my husband wanted coffee and dessert. When we arrived, the staff was busy, and we had to wait a few minutes for a table. The bartender seemed to be the host as well. He took us around the corner to a booth made for six. The desserts looked great. My husband ordered coffee and key lime pie while I had carrot cake. The cake was delicious. He ate all of his pie, but because I was still full from supper, 90% of my cake was boxed for a treat to eat the next day.

The next day around 1 PM, I left the hotel and walked along the Savanah River. The view of the river and homes along the bank were beautiful. Few were about as I explored the area on the bright, but cold, January afternoon. At one point there was a wooden swing that I took the time to swing in while overlooking the river. It was very pleasant, but my stomach, which had not enjoyed a breakfast was clamoring for lunch. I’d heard that there were a lot of restaurants along Broad Street a few blocks away, so I headed there on foot. Like many downtowns in America today and in the aftermath of almost a year of Covid lockdowns, the street was lined with a mixture of open and closed businesses. I didn’t see anything that looked inviting. Circling back toward my hotel I remembered a Quiznos sandwich shop sign in the hotel near mine. Approaching to find the doors locked, I realized that even this chain store didn’t make it through the pandemic.

Across the street was the restaurant my husband and I had eaten dessert at last night. Hunger called again, so I crossed the street to climb the three steps up to the restaurant and wait to be seated. A woman greeted and seated me (a party of one) at the exact same table where we ate the night before. It seemed a bit odd to be seated at the same table, and I wondered if we’d have the same gentleman server, too. Separate menus with one for food and another for the desserts were placed on the table as the hostess told me my server would assist me soon. The server was a young woman this time. She had dramatic eye make up and eyeliner that curved way out with a swooped flair that I could never dream of applying to myself without looking like a child had used an oversize crayon on my eyes. As the server greeted me, I explained that my husband and I had been there the night before and enjoyed their dessert menu resulting in a huge piece of cake left over in my hotel room for me to work on after my lunch today. After she brought a coke and some water, my server took my order for corn chowder and a club sandwich on their fresh baked honey wheat bread. The food was good, and I enjoyed sitting there resting from my long walk beside the river and along downtown’s Broad Street. During the meal, the server came by several times to check on me and asked me at least twice if I wanted dessert. I explained over again that my dessert I couldn’t finish the night before was waiting on me at the hotel. As I finished up, I asked my server for some napkins, a box for the second half of my sandwich, and a coke to-go. I thought for a while she went on break or something, because she was gone for a long time. When she finally returned, she brought the box but no napkins or the to-go coke. She apologized and got the napkins and left for the coke. When she came back, she brought the ticket but no coke. The next time she came by I asked for the coke to-go, and she said that she was sorry and somewhat frazzled today. As she left to get the coke, I fished for the cash to pay the bill. It was after she left that I had a distinct feeling and thought that I should pray for my server. She came back after about five more minutes with the coke and took my cash for the bill, but I said nothing. She walked by another time, and I didn’t stop her or say anything about the prompting to pray for her in my mind. That would be weird I thought. When she brought my change saying that she had rounded up my return cash, and that she was sorry that she was so scattered today. I thanked her, and once again, I said nothing about the prompting I felt.

As I counted out my change and figured her tip, I felt clearly a prompting in my spirit once again to pray for this young woman. She’s gone now Lord, I said in my mind. I had paid cash, and I was ‘done’ as far as dealing with the server or waiting on anything else. My server wouldn’t likely come back by, but I hesitated to leave and waited. This time, as she walked by, I asked if I could talk to her. As she turned and leaned down, I began nervously and feeling very awkward to explain. I told her that I felt called to offer to pray for her. After her exaggerated look of surprise, I asked if I could pray for her, but she became animated and had something to say first. I could have never imagined what she would say next. She said, “This is so strange. You are the second person today to ask to pray for me.” She said that she just didn’t understand it. I saw tears in her eyes as she continued and the conversation became so surreal that I don’t remember exactly everything we said, but I can convey the message of what we discussed.

My server started telling me about herself. She said that she’s not a believer, at least not anymore. She said she used to believe but had gone away from that to do her own life. Almost apologetic, she said that though she didn’t hold to a belief in God anymore that she did respect other people’s religions and beliefs. As the manager walked by, I hoped that my conversation with her would not get her in trouble and that no one was waiting to sit at my table. She went on to say again that it was so odd that another person that very day had asked to pray for her. I told her that I felt a bit weird asking to pray for her. I also told her that I felt compelled so that I had to ask to pray for her. The experience is so hard to describe as two souls met in that moment on another plane. After what she told me, I asked again if she would like me to pray for her, and she said yes.

Next I asked her name so that I could pray for her by name. I won’t tell it to anyone reading, but she gave it. I then asked my next question. I asked if she would like me to pray for her privately on my own or right there in the restaurant with her and out loud for her to hear. I was prepared to honor either way. She said out loud and to pray now was fine. So I bowed my head and began.

As I prayed, I asked God’s blessing and guidance for her. I asked God to show her how much he loves her. I can’t remember exactly what all I said, but my prayer was from the heart and though it seemed longer was over in just a few heartbeats. I think she thanked me for praying, but I really can’t remember. It didn’t really matter. It mattered that I did it. As I left, I remember telling her that I hoped she had a good rest of her day. That’s it. I walked to the door, down the steps and out onto the street to go back to my hotel with a few tears in my eyes.

Why did I feel called to pray for the server in that restaurant on that day? What did God want of me? Was it to just pray? Was it so that a lost or hurting soul would know someone cared or that two people on that same day cared and spoke of God to her? Did I do all I was supposed to do in that moment? Was it enough? Did I please my Master? Was I a fool for Christ? Were those few moments and prayer a message for a drifting soul of God’s care, love, and grace? Will she come back to and seek the Lord? Was the lesson for me to see if I’m listening to the Lord and willing to follow His lead? To all these questions, I don’t really know. All I know is that I (very reluctantly) listened to the quiet voice of the spirit within me and let myself be led and used (after a couple promptings) to serve and praise God through a prayer for a server who was a stranger to me while I was very briefly in a strange city where I knew no one.

Who can fathom the mind of God or know his ways? Romans 11:33-34 says, “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?”

Perhaps the point of what happened is for me to write about it and share it with you, my readers. Perhaps it is to encourage you to listen to the still, small voice of God to do good in your life and to your neighbor. We’ll probably never know, but I hope you, like me, will ‘think on these things’….

RRH 01/16/2021

Bible verses to think on…

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:4-5 (ESV)

“For God speaks in one way, and in two, though man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls on men, while they slumber on their beds,” Job 333:14-15 (ESV)

“Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.” Psalm 25:4-5

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.” John 10:27-28 (ESV)

“But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” Luke 8:21 (ESV)

“You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him.” Deuteronomy 13:4 (ESV)

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Psalm 119:105 (ESV)

“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” James 1:22 (ESV)

“But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” Luke 11:28 (ESV)

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV)

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (ESV)

“As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” Hebrews 3:15 (ESV)

Let’s have some P’s please!

1. Pause and pray for our nation, its citizens, and our duly elected leaders.
2. Place your confidence in Christ.
3. Pledge your loyalty to God and no other.
4. Plan to do what is right, even if no one else does.
5. Prepare promptly in place to provide and protect your family and friends.
6. Promote peace in all conversations and activities as you pursue and point out what is true and right.
7. Pick your friends carefully.
8. Pray for your enemies.
9. Prevent dissension at home and work during tumultuous times. Don’t go into crowds or around anyone demonstrating about anything as many have no self-control or sense of right and wrong in their behavior within crowds.
10. Persuade those who don’t know God to seek Him through your godly behavior and love. John 13:35
11. Produce the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”
12. Pursue what is true, honorable, ethical, and right.
13. Prohibit yourself from negative thinking, self-talk, and talk. Think and speak positively.
14. Persist in studying the Word of God and the hope within found in a relationship with Christ.
15. Present your bodies every day as living sacrifices in the service of the one true God and only King of kings and Lord of lords.
16. Praise God at all times.

RRH 01-18-2021

Protests: Our Rights and Responsibilities

The right to peacefully protest is protected and an important right for all citizens of the United States. Many nations and people do not have this right, so it would be good if we, as American citizens, could appreciate this great freedom while acting responsibly when exercising our rights. This freedom is not anytime, anywhere, and any how someone wants to protest. Communities and duly elected authorities have the right and the responsibility to properly permit and protect all citizens and their possessions during protests.

Our rights to protest do not give us the right to trample on the rights of others. The right to non peacefully (violently) protest is not protected, legal or allowed in our country. It is not okay to threaten, assault, commit battery, injure, maim, or kill people in protest. This is not peaceful and is a civil and criminal action. It is not okay to burn someone’s car, business, and possessions. This is arson. It is not okay to loot, steal and take someone else’s property. This is stealing and against the law. It is not okay to vandalize. This, too, is criminal behavior.

Peaceful protests should be recognized and accepted. Those involved in violent, criminal, and illegal behavior need to be stopped, fined, arrested and/or prosecuted as appropriate and within the rules of law that are in place. Authorities, peaceful protesters, and all law abiding Americans must stand together to address destructive, malicious, lawbreaking anarchists who have mingled into the groups of peaceful protesters. These anarchists have no desire for good, positive and peaceful change. They simply want to tear down society and destroy. I watch the images on my television of people bent on destruction, and it grieves my spirit. So many people are completely lawless and ungodly in their behavior. I wonder how anarchists and others can feel entitled and empowered to bully, terrorize, steal, vandalize, and destroy. (Ephesians 5:7-14) I don’t understand why our leaders and law enforcement allow this to go on and on for days now. I’m sure it is a tough problem to dissect these anarchists from those seeking peaceful redress of important issues and concerns.

I hope my Christian friends will join me to pray for our people, our nation, our leaders, and those charged to enforce the laws of our land. Pray for all of our people to come together in peace, love, and genuine care for one another. Let us be as our national motto says “E pluribus unum” which means “Out of many – one.” Let us turn back to God and in God we trust. Let us love like our Lord did on the cross and still loves today. (John 13:35) Let us love our neighbors as ourselves. Let us not give the devil a foothold to be deceiving, dividing, and destructive in our lives and relationships with one another. Let us stand for what is true and right. Let us reject evil. Let us keep our hope and faith in the Lord and His promises. Let us share our hope with those without hope. The battle against evil is tough, but for Christians our victory in Jesus is sure and secure. Let us keep the faith and stand firm focused on the Father and His will for our lives. Be the light. (Ephesians 5:7-14, Romans 13:11-14, I John 1:7, Philippians 2:14-16) Let us step up and into our role as ambassadors for Christ. (II Corinthians 5:14-21). Let us think on these things…