Saturday, December 02, 2006

Unfamiliar Territory

Romans 15:13 (NIV)
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Good morning!

When I was in the fifth grade, I had the opportunity to accompany my vocal choir on the piano. I wanted to do a great job. So I practiced and practiced and memorized the music from the first to last note. I did not want to make a mistake or let my choir down. The day before the concert, we were standing on the stage, ready to rehearse, when my best friend stepped up and said, “I thought I was going to play this piece of music. I practiced it and I’m ready.” I was crushed. In an effort to keep peace, our teacher offered me another piece of music to play. She knew that I would go home that night and practice all night, if that was what it took to get the music learned. It was a very hard piece of music, and I didn’t want to say no or miss an opportunity to play. So I took the music home and I practiced really hard, and then I got down on my knees and prayed to the Lord for help.

The next day at the concert, my friend played the accompaniment that I had memorized. She played beautifully. There were no mistakes, and she was very proud. When I sat down to play the accompaniment for the next song, we made it to the middle of the first page and that was when I began making mistakes. I couldn’t keep up with the group. I got lost on the page, and they kept on singing. I blushed, as I felt the tears welling up in my eyes and running down my face.

I found where they were at on the last line of the song and finished the music with them. I could see the look in my teacher’s face – I knew I had let her down. Some of the boys on the back row began to giggle and point at me. I left the stage and went into an adjoining classroom where I sobbed, broken-hearted and embarrassed. “I failed. I let my choir down. I shouldn’t have tried. Why did this have to happen?”

My teacher came to me and gave me a big hug. She said, “Deborah, you were very brave today. I asked you to do something yesterday that was not fair or easy to do. You accepted the challenge to play a piece of music that you were not familiar with, and showed great courage in trying.” I’m very proud of the choir, and I am very proud of your effort.” She wiped my tears away, and promised that I would be the class pianist for the sixth grade musical in the fall. When I returned to the group, everyone stood up and applauded. She taught me a very valuable lesson in life that day, and it is one that I will never, ever forget.

There are moments when I don’t feel I’m offering the Lord my best effort. Have you ever been confronted with a problem or a need that you were not prepared to meet? Have you ever had to “shoot from the hip” and know that whatever you give, will have to be the best you can do at that time?

When we reach out to others for Jesus Christ, we may not always have a perfect pitch, but we do have the perfect Savior. He can take our tiniest effort and turn it into something beautiful, when we trust Him to lead us. Jesus gives us joy in the journey, and we can place our hope in Him. The Holy Spirit will gift and guide us, as we step out in faith, even when we may not feel qualified or capable of doing the job He has asked us to do.

When you find yourself in unfamiliar territory, put your trust in the one who saves and redeems you, and give it your best shot. He can take your humble offering, and multiply it for the work of His kingdom here on earth.


Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Pray for: grace to trust Him in every circumstance. He will give you what you need when you need it most. You can make a difference. Trust the Lord to take your offering and use it for His work in the world.

____________________
Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Snow Day!

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (NIV)
He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

Good morning!

Today is a very special day. When I woke up this morning, I looked outside and saw the thick blanket of snow and ice covering our subdivision. Every time it snows, I am amazed by the intricacy of each flake. Tiny, frozen ice crystals colliding with moisture in the clouds form exquisite snowflakes. The shape of each flake is affected by the moisture in the clouds where the ice crystals form, the air temperature and the speed in which it falls through the atmosphere. Snowflakes are beautiful reminders of God’s craftsmanship. He is the master artist.

I love playing in the snow. When I was a little girl, my mother used to dress me in a snow beast jumpsuit. She was determined to keep me dry and warm while playing in the cold. Do you remember your first snow suit? I had difficulty walking, and my arms stood straight out – I couldn’t hardly bend them because of the thickness and stuffing stitched into the suit. I always wore ear muffs, a stocking cap, and the hood of my snow suit securely fastened under my chin. It’s a wonder I could swallow. The ensemble was not complete without a pair of sturdy snow boots. My boots were fire engine red, matching the snow suit trim and my cold nose. I had to have help standing up and staying in an upright position, especially in large snow drifts. Some of my favorite moments were spent outside making snowmen, complete with carrot noses, button eyes, and raisin lips.

In the book of Ecclesiates, King Solomon said that there is a time for everything; a season for every activity under heaven. Just like each unique and intricate snowflake, God’s creativity appears in every human being. He has a plan for you and for me. He knew the day you would be born, and he knows the day you will return to Him. He sets aside time for each of us to experience success and failure, happiness and heartbreak. God prepares us for times of laughter and moments of silence, a time for illness and a time for healing. God takes each moment of our life, and makes it beautiful, in His time. Through every struggle, every blessing, and at any age, we can see the handiwork of God’s creativity in our heart.

Like the snowflakes that fell overnight, we are shaped by the hand of the Master Designer. We join our brothers and sisters on earth, creating a beautiful and intricate tapestry. We are God’s creation, and our lives are a mere reflection of His face. As the sun rises and gives warmth to the frozen ground, snowflakes melt and form pools of living water, returning to the one who sent it. When the Son rises in our hearts, he melts away the hard and frozen places of our life and bathes us in His love. We become like pools of living water, sharing the love of our creator with the world.

Today is a very special day. It is my birthday, and I know God has a plan for my life. He knew the day I was born, and the day I will die. The Father has taken every part of my life – the good and the bad, and made it beautiful in His time. I am His intricate and unique creation, just like the snowflakes blanketing the ground today. I praise Him for my life and I will praise Him in death, and I will praise Him forevermore.

Have a great snow day, and remember just how special you are to God.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Pray for: God to reveal His plan for your life. You are His unique creation, and He has a purpose for you to fulfill.

________________
© Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Thursday, November 30, 2006

Candlelight

Matthew 5:14-16 (NIV)
14 You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

Good morning!

Are you a candle burner? I enjoy lighting candles, especially at home in the evening after a long, hard day at work. The flickering flame of a fragrant candle can calm a restless heart, provide hours of enchanting entertainment and restore a sense of rest and well-being. Friday nights are big candle burning nights at the parsonage. A cup of hot tea, a good book, and a brightly burning candle can make an ordinary day simply extraordinary.

When we light a candle, the darkness suddenly disappears. It only takes a few candles to light an entire room. If you’ve ever lost electricity in a thunderstorm, well-placed candles can provide the light you need to see clearly. Every Christmas Eve at Faith Church, we light candles in the darkened sanctuary while singing the hymn Silent Night. The beauty of the candles held high in praise to our Savior, becomes the only light we need to help us see clearly.

Jesus was born into a dark and lonely world, and He became light and life to all who believe. Jesus said that we are the light of the world. We cannot hide our faith under a bushel basket. His light shines through us as we seek to serve Him by reaching out in love. Are you providing a light for someone you know? Is it your flame that keeps your neighbor from stumbling into the dark places of life? Will they see Jesus through the reflection of your light?

We can extend God’s light to others by simply loving them. Will you let Christ shine through you today? He can take the darkest places of our hearts and illuminate it with His amazing love. You can be His light for the world to see and follow. Are you ready to shine for Him?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding


Pray for: Jesus Christ to be the only light you will ever need. Light your life with His love, and share Christ with everyone you know today.


____________________
© Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Magnificent Moments

Psalm 139:16 (NIV)
All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

Good morning!

This is a very busy time of year. We find ourselves coming and going, as we try to cram in the many activities that holiday time affords. We shop, wrap, bake, decorate, and go! Holiday schedules can be simply exhausting, and the season of Advent is just beginning. Are you feeling a little overwhelmed by it all?

When we bring our infant children home from the hospital, the first thing we try to do is get them on a feeding schedule. A set routine every three-to-four hours is a blessing for the mom who needs a power nap between diaper changes, burping, and nursing. Babies begin to develop a daily pattern. Parents are relieved when their babies begin sleeping through the night. Do you recall how challenging it is to get an infant on a routine feeding and sleeping schedule?

Our days are better balanced when we adhere to daily disciplines and a well-worn routine. We tend to function better with a calendar, and a list of “to-do” items that can be checked off each day. Our Day Timer lists, Blackberry calendars, and Outlook task screens help keep us on track. Yet, we find our hectic and fast-paced schedules can create such a blur that we may miss out on some of the magnificent moments in life.

In Psalm 139, David acknowledges God’s intimate plan for every human life. He is present with us all the time, and His timing is perfect in all things. No matter how busy we are, God is there. He is with us in our coming and going. He planned for our moments long before we even existed. God waits patiently for you and I to come into His presence each day, allowing His love to renew and direct us. We can meet God face-to-face as we make time to listen, study and pray. He reveals Himself to us in the magnificent moments of life.

If your schedule keeps you from enjoying this day, take a break and talk to God. Ask Him to reveal what He has planned for you. He will help you slow down, step back, renew your spirit, and give you a clear sense of direction to meet today's challenges. He has planned some magnificent moments just for you. Will you let God take the lead?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Pray for: God’s direction to be clear as you seek to live out the magnificent moments He has planned just for you.

© Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Are you ready?

Luke 21:28 (NIV)
28 When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.

Good morning!

Prepare yourself – we are entering the busiest season of the year! Decorations are beginning to spring up around town. Christmas lights shine brightly against the dark, midnight sky. People are cleaning, shopping, baking, singing, and running like crazy to cram in as much “stuff” as they possibly can before the big day. Who are they preparing for? It appears that company is coming, and everyone is getting ready!

Christmastime meant “craft time” in my childhood home. My mother would buy several yards of red and green felt, white rick-rack, sparkly sequins and beads, and begin making Christmas tablecloths and tree skirts for our home. We would spend hours cutting out Christmas trees, silver bells, and holly leaves from felt. Using a bottle of Elmer’s Glue and a needle and thread, we would decorate the felt shapes with sequins, buttons, and ribbon, and affix them onto the table runners. One year, my mother made matching red skirts for all of us, and we decorated them with our sequins and beaded decorations. I loved making these keepsakes as a child, and appreciate them even more today as I prepare our home for the holidays.

My grandmother was an expert at tatting and crocheting. I regret that she did not teach me how to tat. Grandma could sit for hours with a tatting hook and thread in hand, laughing and talking and not even concentrating on the beautiful pattern she was weaving. Her hands moved so fast that I could not figure out the sequence of stitches. She made some of the most beautiful doilies and Christmas booties I have ever seen. I have a set of tiny Christmas booties that hang on my tree every year. They look as if they were brand new, even though they are at least forty-five years old. Decorating is a family tradition, passed along from one generation to the next. It is a joyful legacy I hope to leave with my children and grandchildren.

Christians around the world are preparing for something big. Advent is a holy season in the life of the church, set aside as a time to make preparation. How are you preparing for the big day? Jesus told His disciples that there would be signs of His return in the sun, moon, stars, and in the tossing of the sea. Nations would wage war against each other, causing humans to become fearful in the days ahead. Jesus told His disciples that when these things happen, they should stand up, look up, and watch with anticipation for His imminent return.

As we decorate our homes and rush through the next twenty-eight days, remember to set aside time each day to prepare your heart for the best gift you will ever receive – the gift of Christ’s return. Open your scripture today, and let the Lord speak to your heart. Will you be ready to receive Him this Christmas?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding


Pray for: time to properly prepare your heart for the coming of Christ. Remember to look up, for your redemption is drawing near!
____________________
© Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Monday, November 27, 2006

Tattletale!

I Thessalonians 3:12-13 (NIV)
12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
13 May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones.

Good morning!

“Tattletale!” I can still hear the words ringing in my mind. “I didn’t do it – she did it!” I cannot remember how many times I said those words to my mother. Telling on my little sister was easy to do. She was an inquisitive and mischievous child, allowing her curiosity to lead the way in her many adventures.

I’ll never forget the day Pammy conquered the Christmas tree. She was barely two years old at the time. Decorating the Christmas tree was a special time. Our parents would select the perfect tree from a nearby Christmas tree lot and bring it home to decorate. My father would strategically place the tree in the basement, right next to the stairwell. We would spend hours stringing popcorn, cranberries, and baking gingerbread cookies to decorate our tree. We cut strips of brightly colored construction paper, making chains to drape around the tree. My mother cut triangles from felt and created miniature candy cones. She would fill the cones with gumballs, fashion a hook from pipe cleaners, and we would hang them on the tree. A set of antique glass ornaments handed down from their families were added as a finishing touch. Silver tinsel was carefully placed on each branch. We loved how the lights would make the tinsel shimmer at night. Decorating the Christmas tree was a special treat we enjoyed every December.

Little Pammy loved to eat Christmas cookies. She especially liked to help herself to a little mid-afternoon snack right from the Christmas tree. “Mom, Pammy is eating the Christmas tree cookies again,” I would announce in a matter-of-fact voice. Mom decided that the cookies needed to be moved up a little higher, just out of baby’s reach. “Don’t eat those cookies,” Mother shook her finger at both of us. “They are decorations, and not for snacks.”

With a sparkle in her eye, Pammy knew there must be another way to reach the coveted prize. One chilly December afternoon, Mommy and I were upstairs in the living room when we heard a huge crash. The sound of breaking glass crackled through the air. We raced to the basement, only to find little Pammy sitting on top of the toppled Christmas tree, enjoying a cookie and grinning from ear to ear. Apparently, she decided to squeeze through the slats on the stairwell to reach one of those cookies Mom had moved up high, lost her balance, and rode the tree down! Broken ornaments and shards of Christmas lights covered the linoleum floor. Pammy wasn’t hurt, thank goodness, but the tree was an absolute disaster. When Mom realized that Pammy was not hurt, she began to laugh and cry at the same time. They lost almost every antique ornament that year; yet the memory of their little girl perched on top of the toppled tree, eating a Christmas cookie, was a sight we would never forget.

It is hard to imagine standing before the presence of the Lord, holy and blameless. Jesus understands how tempting sin can be. We take things that don’t belong to us; we disobey when we know better. Our Lord sees it all and He knows the depth of our hearts. He gave himself as a living sacrifice, taking on our sin and imperfections. He chose to hang on that tree, His blood flowing down, covering all of our sin. Now we can stand before the Father holy and blameless, clothed in the righteousness of Christ alone.

As we prepare to decorate our Christmas trees this year, take a moment to step back and remember the tree that held our Savior as He bled and died and rose again. He did this, so that we could stand blameless before the Father on the day of His return.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Pray for: the sweetest treat you will ever receive – the love of Christ! You don’t have to swipe it from the tree – it is His gift, freely given for you and for me.

____________________
©Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Second chance

Luke 16:27-29 (NIV)
27 He answered, “Then I beg you Father, send Lazarus to my father’s house,

28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.”
29 Abraham replied, “They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.”

Good morning!

Have you ever wished for a second chance to get something right? I find myself wishing for a do-over every now and then. How I longed for that “second chance” in math class. The blackboard was a scary place to undertake public problem solving. Thirty pairs of eyes are focused on the one working a complicated equation. Hoping to get it right the first time, I put forth my very best effort. Even my most sincere attempt was not good enough. I failed at the blackboard, and longed for a reprieve from the humiliation that comes with making a miscalculation for all to see and judge.

I observed my grandson’s frustration as he tried to work an online computer puzzle. The pieces were not fitting together properly, and Jett was becoming agitated. At one point, he threw up his hands in despair and said, “Grandma, I can’t do this. The pieces don’t fit together!” Jett was determined to finish the puzzle. He made a sincere effort, but it wasn’t enough, and the puzzle was left unfinished.

Jesus told his disciples a parable about a rich man’s plight in the ever after. This man had more than he could ever want or hope for on earth. He pampered himself with the finest things that money could buy. His neighbor, a poor, blind beggar named Lazarus, lay outside the gate of the city, starving and in pain, wishing that someone would care enough to stop and help him. When both men died, the rich man found himself in an eternal place of torment, while the beggar walked alongside Father Abraham, in a place where pain was no more. The rich man cried out for help from above. Father Abraham reminded the rich man that he was comforted in life with so many good things, while his neighbor Lazarus suffered tremendous pain. Now, Lazarus is receiving his comfort in heaven, while the rich man remains in eternal separation and agony.

The rich man regretted his self-centered lifestyle and knew he had set a poor example for his brothers. He begged Father Abraham to send Lazarus to his family, hoping they would believe a dead man and follow the Lord, rather than their own selfish ambitions. Father Abraham reminded the rich man that every person has the opportunity to choose to faith or folly. The life work of Moses and the prophets were more than enough to guide people into relationship with the Father. These ordinary men sacrificed their own personal comfort to follow God’s call on their life, and were justly rewarded for their faithfulness.

Do you need a second chance today? Is your formula for living based on faith or folly? If the puzzle pieces of your life are not fitting together the way you know they should, God offers you a do-over today, through His son Jesus Christ. As long as you have breath in your body, it is not too late to turn around and ask Jesus to help you. He suffered, died and rose again, because of His love for you and for me. Jesus gives us the second chance we all long for. Won’t you give your heart to Him today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Pray for: a second chance to live your life for Jesus. He will help you! Jesus offers us a do-over today. Will you take a chance on Him?

____________________
© Copyright 2006, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.