Set Apart for Worship

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Leviticus 10, 11; Psalms 33, 34

Leviticus 10:10-11 (NIV)

10 You must distinguish between the holy and the common, between the unclean and the clean, 11 and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees the Lord has given them through Moses.

Leviticus 11:45 (NIV)

45 I am the Lord who brought you up out of Egypt to be your God; therefore be holy, because I am holy.

Psalm 34:4-5 (NIV)

4 I sought the Lord, and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears. 5 Those who look to Him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

Good morning!

One of my friends from Faith Church snapped an amazing photograph while walking through the woods last fall. Beams of sunlight pour through the clouds into a tiny clearing. It looks as if the Lord has reached down to earth and touched it with His Almighty Hand. The photograph is framed and hangs by the entrance to the Faith Church office. If you haven’t seen the picture, stop by this weekend and take a closer look. Can you see the holiness of God?

We are set apart to worship the Lord in holiness. What does this mean? My Lord is pure and perfect. I am so unworthy and imperfect. I have no right of my own to enter into His holy presence, and yet, I’m drawn to Him each and every morning. In the book of Revelation, we hear the angels, ten thousand upon ten thousand, singing to the Lord, “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb. Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God forever and ever. Amen!” (Rev. 7:10-11).

When I approach the throne of my Lord in worship, I gain entrance not because of my work, achievements or sacrifice. I am allowed an audience with the Almighty because I am clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is His blood alone that covers me; His perfection that I wear; His righteousness I proclaim; His love that sets me apart. I am His beloved, and He is my risen King. His blood is all I will ever need; it washes away my sin, cleanses my heart, and transforms me into a vessel that the Father can use to continue His saving work in the world. When you begin to understand how the blood covering of Christ works to bring you into His holiness and grace, it will change you forever. You will never be the same again.

Like the beams of sunlight shining along the wooded path, the Lord lights my life with His love and grace. I am free to worship Him in spirit and in truth. His redemptive work on the cross is more than enough to free me to become holy, as He is holy. I am no longer common and unclean. I am washed in the blood of the Lamb. It is His love that radiates from my heart. It is His life that I long for. It is His holiness of heart that I worship.

Will you come to worship the Lord in His holiness this weekend? Will you call upon the name of Jesus to save you, redeem you for His very own, and allow you to approach the throne of God clothed in His righteousness alone? We are set apart to worship Him in holiness. May our lives become living worship, as we radiate the love of Jesus to a world that desperately needs Him.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the holiness of Jesus Christ to capture your heart, clothe you in righteousness, and radiate from your life. May you find all that you’ve ever wanted and needed in Jesus. We are set apart to worship and glorify Him.

____________________________

© Copyright 2007, 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.

Having your cake and eating it too!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Leviticus 7, 8, 9

Leviticus 7:11-15 (NIV)

11 These are the regulations for the fellowship offering a person may present to the Lord: 12 If he offers it as an expression of thankfulness, then along with this thank offering he is to offer cakes of bread made without yeast and mixed with oil, wafers made without yeast and spread with oil, and cakes of fine flour well-kneaded and mixed with oil. 13 Along with his fellowship offering of thanksgiving he is to present an offering with cakes of bread made with yeast. 14 He is to bring one of each kind as an offering, a contribution to the Lord; it belongs to the priest who sprinkles the blood of the fellowship offerings. 15 The meat of his fellowship offering of thanksgiving must be eaten on the day it is offered; he must leave none of it till morning.

II Corinthians 4:14-18 (NIV)

14 Because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in His presence. 15 All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. 16 Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Good morning!

Birthday cakes are a big deal in our family. When our children were little, they looked forward to having a special birthday cake made especially for them. Every ingredient, including the flavor and color of the cake, was hand-picked by the birthday boy or birthday girl. Our Rachel loves strawberry cake. One of her favorite dolls was Strawberry Shortcake, and she had several birthday cakes made with strawberries and whipped cream icing. Her mother even made a Strawberry Shortcake costume for Rachel to wear. Our Benjamin likes lots of chocolate – the gooier the better! Our David didn’t have a big sweet tooth. His favorite desert was banana nut bread with cream cheese frosting. He still likes it when his momma makes him banana bread fresh from the oven.

The birthday cake marks a milestone moment. We celebrate with thankfulness the life of another. We taste the sweetness of the cake. This sugary confection reminds us of the sweetness wrapped up in the person whose life we celebrate. We embrace the culinary delight with joyful and happy hearts. The people in our lives are a gift from God and we find ourselves grateful for each and every loved one.

The Lord made specific provisions for His people to express thanksgiving, by means of a fellowship offering. This offering was a way to express thankful appreciation to the Father for healing and safety during a time of illness or danger. A vow offering signifies the celebration in the keeping of a holy promise. The freewill offering is just that – my free will chooses to praise and thank the Lord of all for of His amazing love and grace poured out in my life.

Do you have a thankful heart? My heart overflows with thanksgiving every morning when I awake. It starts bubbling up about the time my feet hit the floor, and after the first couple of hours, I find myself simply overflowing in thankfulness to Him. I just can’t help it! The Lord has been so very good to me. He is faithful in all things. He has never forsaken or abandoned me. He loves me even when I’m not very lovable. I don’t have to try to be something other than who I am when I’m sitting in His holy presence. His grace and mercy overwhelm me, and I live to praise Him each and every day.

His love for me is the sweetest thing I know. Because He lives, I can live with a thankful and grateful heart. No matter what my circumstance, regardless of my physical state, my soul tastes His sweet mercy and love every moment of the day. It is like having your cake and eating it too! Won’t you join me for a piece of God’s grace?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a taste of the mercy and grace through faith in Jesus Christ our Lord. Celebrate Jesus today! He is the sweetest treat you’ll ever know.

____________________________

© Copyright 2007, 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.

Unintentional Sin

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Leviticus 4, 5, 6

Leviticus 4:27 (NIV)

27 If a member of the community sins unintentionally and does what is forbidden in any of the Lord’s commands, he is guilty.

Numbers 15:28 (NIV)

28 The priest is to make atonement before the Lord for the one who erred by sinning unintentionally, and when atonement has been made for him, he will be forgiven.

Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Good morning!

The late great comedian Flip Wilson brought the character Geraldine to life with this time-honored quote, “The Devil made me do it!” I remember watching Geraldine on television as a child, and laughing hysterically every time I heard these words. It is so much easier to blame someone else for the mistakes we make than to take responsibility for our own actions. Have you ever glossed over your failures by passing the blame to someone else?

I confess that I spent a chunk of my life wallowing in the muddy circumstances of my childhood and placing blame for the poor choices I made upon my family. If I were to take a poll, I might learn that I’m not the only one who has done this very same thing. Sometimes, when we feel angry and a little self-righteous, we step up to the batter’s box and swing at the ball with all our might. Sometimes we choose to give sin a ride by our hateful choice of words, actions and schemes. There are other times when we experience momentary lapses in the things we do or say. In fact, we may find ways to justify our behavior. Many of my unintentional sins started with an innocent thought or deed that became the playground for self-centeredness and self-righteous indignation. Your mediation with the Almighty may sound something like this: If I’m right (and I know I am), this thought, motive or action could not possibly be wrong. God would never hold it against me. He knows my weaknesses, and He loves me. I’m sure God will make an allowance for me, just this one time. Won’t you Daddy? Won’t you turn your head the other way and let me slip down the slope without your noticing?

Do you ever sin unintentionally? When you make a mistake, do you take responsibility for it, or do you blame someone or something else for your poor choices?

The Lord gave Moses detailed instructions for worshipping Him, and the necessary steps to receive forgiveness for sin. God knew that His people would sin, sometimes on purpose, and many times, not. God said that, as a community, we are responsible to our brothers and sisters for the sins we commit. Unlike Geraldine’s pat answer for every mistake she made, there are no excuses for the people of God. When we sin, we are guilty. God provided a means for forgiveness, through the sacrifice of the great high priest. Sin is serious business and it requires serious redemption. The sincere and humble confession of a sinner, offering up a sacrificial lamb and the spilling of its blood, would bring atonement and restoration. When Jesus Christ, the holy Lamb of God, sacrificed His life upon the cross of Calvary, He broke the curse of sin and death once and for all. We can be free once and for all from the chains of sin. We can learn to forgive one another. We can be free to forgive ourselves.

My friends, we need to quit giving Satan so much credit. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, and that proves His love for us. In the name of Jesus Christ, you are forgiven!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the blood of the Lamb to cover you. He died just for you and me. For all of the past mistakes, present failings, and future foibles, His love never changes. Sin is sin. Confess, repent, and believe!

____________________________

© Copyright 2007, 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.

Your Life's Offering

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Leviticus 1, 2, 3

Leviticus 1:1-3 (NIV)

1 The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting. He said, 2”Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When any of you brings an offering to the Lord, bring as your offering an animal from either the herd or the flock. 3 If the offering is a burnt offering from the herd, he is to offer a male without defect. He must present it at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting so that it will be acceptable to the Lord.’”

Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

6 With what shall I come before the Lord and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before Him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? 7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 8 He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Good morning!

Are you a gift-giver? I enjoy giving gifts. I look for special ways to express my gratitude and say I love you to my family and friends throughout the year. Sometimes, I’m not quite sure what to give. The “perfect gift” may be more than I can afford. What do you give your special someone who seems to have everything? Gift cards were popular presents last Christmas. Who wouldn’t enjoy a free meal, a tank of gasoline, or a shopping spree at their favorite store?

Every Sunday when we gather for worship, an offering plate is available for collection of our gifts to God. Everyone is invited to give a gift that might be pleasing to the Lord, an offering that can be used to help others in Jesus’ name. The gift may be monetary, or it could be something tangible, like food, clothing, or other necessities of life. I handed my grandson a dollar bill one Sunday morning as the offering plates were passed from row to row. He looked at me with great excitement and said, “Nanny, can I keep it?” Do you ever find yourself wanting to hold onto your gift rather than giving it away?

At the tent of meeting, the Lord called to Moses and gave specific instructions regarding the giving of sacrificial gifts. Every detail was meticulously explained. The burnt offering was given as atonement for sin. The grain offering represented thankfulness for daily needs. The fellowship offering was a gift of gratitude for intimate relationship between Creator and creation. These offerings were not intended to be the leftovers from our cupboard; rather, it must be our first fruit, pure and without blemish. The Father wants us to give our very best. When we lay it all down upon His altar, the sacrifice becomes a sweet scent that is pleasing to Him. God knows when we give our very best, and He knows when we hold our very best back.

Do you struggle with the gift you present to God? Do you worry that your offering may not be acceptable in His sight? We know the Father is perfect and awesome and holy. The gifts we choose to bring to the giver of life must be something that is sacrificial and priceless, something of great value. We want our offerings to be pleasing to Him. What can we possibly give to the one who gives us life?

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, became the sacrificial lamb for our sin. He laid down His life, and He bled and died to save us from our sin. It was His sacrifice that brings us into eternal relationship with God. If the Lord, the giver of life, can lay it all down for you, can you not give Him your life in return? Don’t delay. Give Jesus your heart.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: willingness to give your heart to the Lord. Lay yourself down on His altar and allow Him to purify you, body, mind and soul. Will you give your heart away to the One who gave His life for you?

____________________________

© Copyright 2007, 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.

The Tent of Meeting

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Exodus 37, 38, 39, 40

Exodus 40:34-38 (NIV)

34 Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud had settled upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 In all the travels of the Israelites, whenever the cloud lifted from above the tabernacle, they would set out; 37 but if the cloud did not lift, they did not set out – until the day it lifted. 38 So the cloud of the Lord was over the tabernacle by day, and fire was in the cloud by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel during all their travels.

Isaiah 4:5-6 (NIV)

5 Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. 6 It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and the rain.

John 11:40 (NIV)

40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

Good morning!

I did not make a very good Girl Scout. I was lousy at pitching tents. They kept falling down! I don’t know whether the rope wasn’t tight enough, or if I just didn’t understand the schematics of the structure. It was probably a little bit of both. Thank goodness my troop leader knew how to do it; otherwise, I would have been drenched every time it rained.

The Lord gave Moses a specific and detailed blueprint for the Tent of Meeting. This tent would house His Word and His presence. The interior design had to be perfectly erected according to the Father’s instruction. This is a place where the Father dwelled with His creation. When the Israelites drew near, they saw the Father’s glory in the cloud of smoke in the daylight and in the flame by night. The Great I AM resides with His people.

Have you ever ventured into the tent of meeting? Did you see the cloud of smoke or feel the heat from the flame? Where is your tent? Do you meet the Lord at church, in your car, or maybe in a special room of your home? Where do you experience the presence of God? Does your tent protect you from the storms of life? Are you safe inside the shelter of His canopy of grace?

Within each of our hearts, a tent of meeting exists. It is a holy place, where His Word and holy presence can dwell within us. If our bodies are in fact, the holy temple of God, we must prepare sacred space for Him to reside. Our garments must be guarded. His Word must free flow from our lips. His life, death and resurrection must be the focus of our mind’s eye. We must allow the Lord to cleanse us daily in His righteousness, burning our imperfections and sin away. Our prayers of praise must be raised to the Almighty. When we give ourselves to the Lord completely, He will rehab our hearts, mold and shape us into children He can use. Jesus said that if we believed, we would see God’s glory! Can you see it? Will people see the Lord shine through you today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a clean heart and a perfect space for the Lord God Almighty to live, reign and work within you. He calls us to prepare our hearts to become holy space for His presence to dwell. Will you allow the Lord to decorate your life with His love?

____________________________

© Copyright 2007, 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.