Saturday, March 10, 2007

The mercy seat

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 21, 22, 23; Psalm 51

Psalm 51:1-4 (NIV)
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge.

Good morning!

Regrets run deep when it finally hits home. Have you ever said or done anything that you sincerely regret?

I have a true confession to make. When I was a child, I had a mean streak! Sometimes I would go way out of my way to set my little sister up for a fall. We picked at each other constantly. Sibling rivalry is not exactly the term I would use to describe our relationship and behavior – there were times when it was all-out war. The competitive spirit between us was, at times, hurtful and cruel. We took stabs at each other which left raw and open wounds. What prompts us to do the selfish things we do? Whatever possesses us to skin each other alive with sharp, harsh words and wrong behaviors? We tear one another apart just to build up our own selfish ego. Do you find satisfaction in beating your brother to the finish line?

Sometimes we apologize without meaning it. We get caught and apologize, not really meaning it. We cross our fingers and toes and eyeballs, and anything else we can cross. Crossing ourselves is worthless when we stand in the grip of grace that can only come through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary. What happens when, for the maybe the first time ever, we begin to see our sin for what it really is? How do you feel when you begin to realize that your poor words, actions, and self-centered motivation has not only hurt your family and friends, but that we have grieved the very heart of God?

I will never forget the weekend I began to experience sincere regret over my selfish ambition and hateful actions. I was attending a youth revival. Sitting in a room with fifty of my peers, the director began to talk about the condition of his heart. He said that he needed to take a closer look on the inside of his life to see what God sees when He looks at him for real. Pulling a chair from the corner of the room, he had all of us sit in a large circle. He placed the chair in the center of the room. With a humble and contrite heart, this humble man shared that God reached down from heaven when Jesus Christ died on a cross to save him from the messes he made in his life. He said the Lord touched Him by revealing his mean spirited behavior toward his brothers and sisters. He didn’t know whether any of us had regret over the things we may have said or done in our past, but He knew that without God’s mercy and grace, he simply could not go on. Then, he did something amazing. He sat down on the mercy seat. With tear-stained cheeks, he asked all of us to come and pray for him. I was stunned. I saw an adult that I respected sit in a chair in the middle of a large youth meeting, and confess that he had made some serious mistakes in his life. Not only did he confess, but he asked all of us to pray for him! My mind was racing a million miles per minute. The group inched toward our director, one by one, touching his shoulder, the chair, his head, each other, and we prayed out loud. Some of my friends began to cry. People were sniffling and shaking all around me. One by one, we cried out to God for His grace and mercy. We asked the Lord to forgive our youth leader and help him feel forgiveness for the sins he had committed throughout his life. He sat motionless, with his head buried in his hands. I could see the tears falling from his face and dripping on his pants leg.

After a few moments, he stood up from the chair, thanked all of us for praying, and said that he knew, without a doubt, that God had forgiven him right then. The chair sat empty – I couldn’t help but stare at it. He asked us a question – was there anyone else in the room who needed to know God’s healing love and mercy? Was there anyone else willing to take their place on the mercy seat? When I sat down on the chair that night and one hundred hands reached out to me in prayer, it was as if gravity had ceased to exist and that chair was literally lifted by the prayers and petitions of my friends, all of them focused on my healing and forgiveness. I didn’t realize just how miserable I felt until I experienced what it was like to have that guilt and shame taken up. This was the very first time I experienced what it meant to lay my sin out in the open before the foot of the cross and beg Jesus Christ to come into my heart, and forgive me.

The mercy seat sits empty this morning. There are people on their knees in prayer right now, waiting for you to come. Will you choose to sit on the mercy seat? Will you allow your brothers and sisters to pray for you, crying out to the Father on your behalf? Will you humble your heart, take a good look at the sin that eats away at your soul, and confess it once and for all before the One who can forgive and redeem you?

Come sit on the mercy seat today. There is a special place waiting just for you, in the sanctuary of the Lord. Won’t you come and worship the risen Christ with me today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: new life! Jesus Christ died to set you free from the sins that separate you from Him. The mercy seat is for you and for me. Come sit with me! I’ll see you at church.
____________________________
© 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.

Friday, March 09, 2007

Standing firm on my knees

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 18, 19, 20

Deuteronomy 20:2-4 (NIV)
2 When you are about to go into battle, the priest shall come forward and address the army. 3 He shall say, “Hear O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be fainthearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. 4 For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.”

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NIV)
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Good morning!

Once upon a time, not so long ago, a precious little girl muffled her sad and fearful sobs in the pillow she clung to underneath her bed. Night time was a frightening time for little Emma. She much preferred playing in the bright sunlight, where she could see her enemy clearly and run away, if need be. Night time was different, when the darkness dripped like melting wax from the burned-out candle on the fireplace hearth. Little Emma shivered in fear. The only safe hiding place she could find was underneath her bed. If she cuddled up in the far corner next to the wall, maybe no one would be able to reach her there. On that cold, hard floor, Emma wrapped her favorite blankie around her shoulders, burying her little face in the soft, wet pillow. She listened intently for the sounds she did not want to hear. Little Emma kept watch every night in the dark. “Are you there, God?” Emma whispered into the night air. “Here I am, God, under my bed again. Can you hear me? I’m so scared, dear God. Please come and stay with me tonight.”

Our world is full of hurting and frightened children, crying out to the Lord in the dark every night. There are many children who went to bed last night on an empty stomach. They hunger and thirst for a little food to eat and clean water to drink. Other children are hiding under the beds because they hear the gunfire and explosions of war surrounding their community. They try to sleep amid the noise of gunfire, as the smell of death and destruction seeps through the walls and into their bedroom. Some children are sleeping underneath the stars, on a dirt floor with a makeshift tin and cardboard roof. They have no bed to hide under, because they have no bed at all.

There are children who live in the lap of luxury. They have plenty of food and water, toy boxes full of toys and games to play with, and their very own bed to sleep in. Yet, many of these children cry out to God, begging Him to come and protect them from the terrors of the night. Have you ever looked into the eyes of a child whose innocence has been taken from them? Have you ever seen their bruises, touched their broken bones, or dried their tear-stained cheeks?

All of God’s children face incredible battles every day. Some of them are battling just to survive. They do not have the necessities that sustain life. There are other children fighting the forces of evil around them. The people who they love and trust may not be trustworthy, and they find themselves in imminent danger day after day. When children grow up in communities where violence prevails, whether it be in a war-torn country or a war-torn family, they carry the scars of their pain with them. It weighs them down like bricks wrapped around their neck. Many children will not survive the terror of the night.

We can make a difference for the children who suffer. It begins when we stand firm on our knees, putting on the full armor of God. He equips to us to fight not only the physical wars we face in our world today, but the even greater spiritual wars brought forth by the evil one in our midst. Behind every abused child is a lost and hurting caregiver. We can seek God’s heavenly protection as we pray for those who desperately need safety and shelter today. We can reach out together with our hands and hearts as we find new ways to help support our brothers and sisters who do not have what they need to survive. We can encourage hurting adults to seek the help they need to overcome the demons they face every night. We can pray like we’ve never prayed before.

That child underneath the bed may be someone you know. Will you put on the full armor of God this morning and pray with me? Will you intercede for the safety of all the little Emmas who are hiding under their beds in fear?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: courage to take on the powers of evil and darkness in your life. We are standing firm on our knees today, praying prayers of intercession for all of God’s children who are suffering. Who will stand in the gap for the innocent ones today? Will you be Jesus to them?
____________________________
© 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.

Thursday, March 08, 2007

Grace Full

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 15, 16, 17

Deuteronomy 15:7-11 (NIV)
7 If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the Lord your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. 8 Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. 9 Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, in near,” so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the Lord against you, and you will be found guilty of sin. 10 Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the Lord your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. 11 There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land.

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Good morning!

When I was a little girl, I dreamed of becoming a prima ballerina. I longed for the day when I would be able to stand tall in a pair of toe shoes and float like a feather across the stage. I imagined when I grew up that I would be tall and thin, with great dexterity and strong ankle support. My mother enrolled me in ballet and tap dancing lessons, and I danced for years. Every spring our dance troupe would perform on the stage of the American Theatre in downtown St. Louis. We would dance on the stage of the Admiral showboat, when the Admiral actually cruised along the banks of the Mississippi River. I was a vision in my leotard and tutu. My mother would spend hours weaving my long hair into a tight bun, adorned with satin ribbons and bows. I was the teapot, definitely typecast - short and stout with a matching handle and spout. My mother said I was cute! Most mothers think their children are cute. Actually, I think God must pay them to feel this way. A sad revelation began to emerge within my heart. When I stopped growing “up” at age thirteen, and remained just a smidge over five feet tall, I recognized that long, thin legs were not part of the package I would receive from the Father above. To add insult to injury, I was not flexible at all, and my ankles were weak. Toe dancing was an art from that I would have to enjoy from the front row seats of the theatre. Alas, my dancing days were numbered. After several years, I buried the dream in the back of the closet along with the ballet slippers I once wore.

I’ve not always been a graceful person. Fumbling, mumbling and stumbling is a much better description of my daily walk. I tend to trip and fall a lot. It might help if I watched where I stepped, but that might be too easy. Grace is a funny thing. I have found that true grace is an undeserved gift from the Father above. Try as I might, it is something I will never be able to earn.

The Lord instructed His children to be graceful with each other. Every seven years, the Israelites were to cancel each others’ indebtedness, with a stamp that reads – PAID IN FULL. To forgive someone completely after providing seven years of support, food, land, clothing, and all the necessities of daily living, might seem like an impossible thing to do. Grace is extended to a poor and needy brother or sister, who has nothing with which to begin to repay their indebtedness to you. The Lord called His children to not only forgive them, but to do it without bearing a grudge. Are you good at forgiving the indebtedness of your neighbor? Do you place value added on the people you know, based solely upon their worldly possessions or the size of their investment portfolio? Are they more valuable to you than a poor, homeless heart? Who would you rather be in relationship with? Which person would you choose to befriend? Which person are you willing to serve?

No matter how much I wanted to dance, I could not physically make myself grow the long legs I needed to do the job well. I wanted to be tall, but I’m not. When Jesus Christ came to the earth, He looked for short people just like me to love on. He looked way beyond my physical attributes, skill sets, worldly possessions, and even my sharp and rough edge. Jesus looked upon my heart and proclaimed that I was worth His return. He was willing to lay down His very life just for me! He took my sin upon Himself and died on the cross of Calvary so I could live forever free! He gave me new legs upon which I stand in faith. It is only by his grace that I live today. He made me Grace Full when he took my indebtedness and stamped it PAID IN FULL with his blood.

I will never be a prima ballerina, but I can choose to dance before His holy throne today, singing praises to the One who lives and reigns! Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, is the Way, the Truth and the Life. He can be your way, your truth and your life, if you call upon Him this morning in faith. Let the Lord forgive your sin, free you to live, and give you a grace-filled life. He exemplifies the great Jubilee. Our Lord forgives us when we call upon His name in faith, humble ourselves, confess our sin, and turn around. He bears no grudge. Praise Jesus Christ, our Lord!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: Jesus to fill you with His love, forgive your every sin, and free you for Grace Full living today. Come and join in the dance of the redeemed!
____________________________
© 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.

Wednesday, March 07, 2007

Thankful Heart

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 12, 13, 14; Psalm 50

Psalm 50:14-15 (NIV)
14 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, 15 and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you and you will honor me.”

Colossians 3:15-17 (NIV)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Good morning!

A thankful heart is a beautiful thing. Do you know someone who lives in constant thanksgiving and praise? Their joy, even in the most difficult of situations, can be infectious. Through the years, I’ve been blessed to meet some really thankful and happy people of God. They are the ones who find happiness in the little joys of everyday living. They share a peace that cannot be quenched. There is no way to humanly manufacture the joyful spirit they walk in each day. Their peace is a precious gift from the Lord, and it dwells with them as they seek His holy presence in daily prayer and praise.

I enjoy taking my grandchildren to the park to play. It is fun to watch the joy creep across their faces as we near the swing set and slide. Pure happiness seems to simply invade their space as they run and jump and play in the bright sunlight. Just when I think that their energy level has reached a combustable peak, they move to the next level. The happier they are, the harder they play. Running, laughing and shouting, there is no greater joy than watching a child express their happiness on the playground of life. When it is time to leave the park, my grandchildren do not want to go. They are happy and content there. Sometimes, I’ll carry a large blanket and a picnic basket filled with peanut butter sandwiches, deviled eggs and lots of bottled water. We’ll find a shady spot underneath a large oak tree where we can have a snack and enjoy the view. With tiny sweat beads running down their faces, my happy and contented grandchildren stop to rest awhile in the shade. It reminds me of what it is like to experience the joy He gives when I spend time worshipping and praising His name.

It is really hard to be unhappy when I take a serious look at where I’ve been and where I’m going. Because of God’s saving grace, my life will never be the same again. All of the things that used to trap me in places of despair and loneliness no longer exist. I feel His holy presence surround me every minute of the day, even in the most difficult and trying moments. I can run to Him with a thankful and joyous heart. He allows me the privilege of coming into His holy presence, as I lift up my praise and worship to Him. He fills my heart with pure joy, and sometimes I tingle from the tips of my toes to the top of my head as His Spirit consumes me. The love Christ is a shelter that remains with me twenty-four hours a day. I have learned that if my joy disappears because of someone’s harsh words or an unfortunate situation, it is only because I took my eyes off of the Lord. Humans cannot steal the joy of the Lord away from those who know and love Him unless we let them. He will never let you go. We need to make a conscious decision every morning to focus our heart and mind upon His plan and purpose for our life. When we honor the Lord with songs of praise and thanksgiving; when we pray for His will and not ours, trusting Him to lead us out into the world to tell others what the saving blood of Jesus can do for them, He gives us a thankfulness and peace that is indescribable.

Do you know the Lord and giver of new life? Let me tell you about my Jesus. The peace that comes from knowing Him will change your life forever. Won’t you come with me today and experience true joy in the wonder of His love?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the peace and joy that can only come from knowing the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know Him today?
____________________________
© 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.

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

There is a cure for that pain in your neck!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 9, 10, 11

Deuteronomy 10:16-21 (NIV)
16 Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. 17 For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. 18 He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 And you are to love those who are aliens, for you yourselves were aliens in Egypt. 20 Fear the Lord your God and serve Him. Hold fast to Him and take your oaths in His name. 21 He is your praise; He is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes.

Good morning!

Having a stiff neck can be an excruciating malady. Have you ever fallen asleep while riding in a car, an airplane, train or bus? Upon awaking from your nap, it becomes immediately apparent that you must have turned your head in an awkward position while resting. That sharp, shooting neck pain we feel can actually be debilitating. It radiates pain to other parts of your body, causing muscle spasms in your back, stomach upset and migraine headaches. The pain compromises your ability to turn from side to side, or to look up and down. Have you ever experienced a miserable pain in the neck?

When our youngest son David spent time in the hospital, there were nights when the best I could do was sit with him in bed and hold him while he tried to sleep. I had a stiff neck the entire time we were there, holding my three-year old while trying to cat nap. David’s favorite movie was E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. We watched that movie over and over again. It seemed to be the only thing that would take his mind off the pain he was feeling. For two solid weeks in the pediatric ward, David and I memorized almost every line in that film. The wonderful volunteers from the gift shop downstairs took a real shine to our son. In their display window, the shop owners hung a movie poster about E.T. in their window. Occasionally, I would take David for a ride in one of their hospital bed wagons. He wasn’t able to get up and walk with all the paraphernalia he was hooked up to, so I would pad the wagon with blankets and pillows and pull him around the hospital when he felt well enough to ride. He loved that picture in the gift shop window. Whenever we would stop in, he would point his little finger up to the sky and say, E.T. Phone Home! One day, the shop owner stopped by David’s room. They had taken the poster down from their display and hung it in his room. That was the best gift ever, and our little boy was thrilled! We took that poster home with us, and it stayed next to his bed for years.

David didn’t smile much during his hospital stay. I remember one time when the nurses had to change his dressing, and I was holding him on the bed to keep him from flailing around. David looked at me through teary eyes, and screamed, “I hate you. I hate you. I hate you.” I knew he meant it. I was his mother, and I was allowing these people to come in and inflict pain on my son. Even though I knew the dressing had to be changed, I couldn’t help but feel absolutely horrible. I looked at my child with tears rolling down my face, crying, “I’m sorry son. I love you. I love you. I love you.”

Sometimes we find ourselves hating God for the pain in our neck. Maybe your pain springs from a physical or emotional illness. It is possible that the pain you feel today is generated by the thoughtless words and acts of another person – maybe it is someone you truly love. Or, maybe the pain in your neck radiates from your own negativity and sinful behavior. When you choose to sin, do you get a pain in your neck? Do you ever feel like an alien, standing outside the circle of God’s love, not understanding how He could possibly love you enough to take you in, after all the poor choices you’ve made in the past?

There is a cure for that pain in your neck. God told Moses that if His people would simply hold on to Him, choosing to serve and honor Him with their life, showing respect and reverence in obedience to His law, the Lord would be their sustenance and deliverance every day. The people were to pray and praise Him, lifting God’s holy name high. He wanted His people to set aside their petty differences and stiff-necked views, and seek Him out in every aspect of their life. He wanted their trust and love and total devotion, more than anything else.

Give God your stiff neck this morning. Let Him heal your pain, once and for all. He has the capacity to soften and melt even the hardest heart when we relinquish our defenses, tear down the walls, stop making excuses and blaming others for our lot in life. Get down on your knees and ask the Lord to help you. He has the power to circumcise your heart if you are willing to follow Him every day. We may be aliens in this world; yet, we are never too far from God’s reach. He sees you. He hears you. Cry out to the Lord today. Even if you find yourself screaming, “I hate you, I hate you, I hate you,” stop and listen for His still-small voice. You will hear Him say, “I’m sorry, dear child. I love you, I love you, I love you.”

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: grace and mercy! The Lord came to heal the sick and save the lost. He loves you so much more than you know. Let Him remove the pain caused by your stiff neck, so you can turn around and see Him face to face. Will you let the Lord heal your heart this morning?
____________________________
© 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.

Monday, March 05, 2007

Large and in charge

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 6, 7, 8

Deuteronomy 8:6-9 (NIV)
6 Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in His ways and revering Him. 7 For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land – a land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills; a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.

Good morning!

I am beginning to realize that I am definitely a direct descendant of the Israelites. I seem to have a lot in common with them, especially when I try control not only the direction of my own life, but the direction of all those around me. Sometimes I think if I could just make others do what I think they should do, this world would definitely be a much happier place [for me]. I’d be happier, because everything would work out my way, and we all know that my way is not only the right way, it is the only way! Where is that nail? Okay Lord, I’m squeezing it hard this morning.

God must have known what was about to become a commonplace attitude with the children He led through the wilderness. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to cry out to God when life is difficult? The Israelites wandered in that hot and dry desert for forty years. God provided them food, water, direction, encouragement, a set of laws to keep them healthy and happy and working together as a community of faith. During that time, the people grumbled and complained, and thought if they could just move on or go back, their life would get better. They didn’t like their leadership, they didn’t like the weather; they didn’t like their next door tent dwellers. Never satisfied, they sacrificed practically all their livestock just to keep themselves in an atoning spirit with the Lord. It just was never perfect enough, and many of them, just like me, thought they had a better plan. Ironically, even in those difficult moments of desert wandering, the Lord heard and answered their angry and self-centered prayers. At least they were praying. Do you pray angry prayers to God? Is that about the only time you give Him any attention at all?

God warned the people to not forget Him when life improved. He was leading them into a land, flowing with milk and honey. He was providing them a very special place to live. God was blessing His children not only with the necessities of life, but with abundant life. He knew they would turn away from the Him as life became easier, forgetting the Lord God Almighty all together. The Israelites might even try to take credit for the wealth and prosperity the Lord had graciously given them. Are you are large and in charge? Do you want to be? Do you find it easier to take control, or relinquish it?

More times than I can count, I have done exactly that. I’ve imposed my own will, not only on my family and friends, but I’ve demanded that God Almighty bow down to me. I expected God to give me everything I ever needed or wanted. Can I tell you a secret? I sometimes forget that God owes me absolutely nothing; yet, He chooses to equip me with everything I need to walk toward Him. When I look to the Lord, every minute of every day, and depend upon His Word and will for my life; when I stop trying to analyze and fix my family and every circumstance surrounding me; when I choose to focus my heart completely upon praising and obeying and glorifying the Lord, He fills me up with total peace and contentment. His love surrounds me like a warm, woolen blanket. I am happiest when I’m sitting in my Father’s lap, completely absorbed in His awesome beauty and majesty. The things around me just don’t seem so bad, as I continue to look into His magnificent face. His comfort and loving kindness sustain me, not only in the tough times, but when the journey is easier, and life is sweet.

Do you ever find yourself ignoring the Lord when things are running smoothly in your life? Do you take credit for something you really didn’t do? Would you prefer to be large and in charge, or are you willing to hand over the reigns to God? How many years will we have to wander around in the desert before we learn how to listen, obey and honor the Lord?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the Lord to shake you up, if that is what it takes, to get you to turn around and follow Him. Listen to the Word of the Lord this morning, and know that He is all you will ever need. He is leading all of us to a perfect place, where tears are wiped away, and His holy presence is all we long for. Why not give up your controlling nature and let the Lord lead for a change?
____________________________
© 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.

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Mirrored Reflection

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Deuteronomy 4, 5; Psalm 49

I Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)
12 Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

James 1:22-25 (NIV)
22 Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.
23 Anyone who listens to the Word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror
24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
25 But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it – he will be blessed in what he does.

Good morning!

Standing at the bedroom mirror in my childhood home, I rechecked my appearance one more time. I wondered if he will like me - what will this boy see when he looks at my face today? Who is he really? I wonder what he believes? Does he have faith? Will I see it in his eyes? Is there more to him than mere good looks, a kind disposition and sweet-smelling cologne? On March 4, 1974, I went on my very first date. The sun was shining and it was a perfect Saturday to have lunch and shop with a new friend. I remember this moment as if it were just yesterday. That young man who dared to ask me out for a lunch date is the gentleman who now sits on the sofa with me every night. Thirty-three years ago today, I took his hand in mine. I still cling to his guiding hand today. I married Jeff because I saw something much greater while looking at his mirrored reflection. I found the love of Jesus Christ radiating from his heart, and it was that love that made all the difference for me.

Jeff gave me a very special card this morning. It said, “When you look into the mirror today, I want you to see the same beautiful face I see whenever I look at you.” We have looked at each other for a long, long time. That very first date has carried us through thirty years of marriage. Jeff has seen me at my worst and best. He has stood with me in all accomplishments, and held me close as I mourned my many failures. He loves me when I’m not very lovable. He listens to me when I speak. He hears and understands the words I say; although I must admit it is easier to communicate with him now if he uses a hearing aid! His passion and compassion for me never seems to end. Jeff walks with me; we grow together every day in love, sharing the blessings of family and friendship. I am no longer a fifteen-year old girl. The only resemblance I bear to the exuberant child I once was is held captive in the recesses of my heart song. How is it possible that my husband can still see it when he looks through the mirrored glass at my face? Could it be that even in this stage of my life, the beauty of our first love is an everlasting and timeless art form? Will the look on my face always remind him of the child within? As he looks at me through the mirrored glass of time, will He always see the love of Christ radiate from my heart?

What do you think God sees when he looks at you? Whose reflection do you carry into the world each morning? In our Lord’s eyes, we are His perfect creation, even as we are perfectly flawed. We bear the lifelines of experience and the marks of age upon our faces. The scars that are left from the hurts we have experienced can cloud even the brightest light. Our life’s choices continue to shape our daily walk. Is it possible that God looks beyond the present circumstance and sees the exuberant child He fashioned in His hand long ago? When you look in the mirror this morning, will you see the perfection of the Lord radiating from your face?

Lord Jesus, help me never to forget your perfect law, your teaching and command to go and share the Good News! I invite you this day, and every day, to come and live within my heart. May the light of your perfection and the joy that comes from knowing you wash over me, filling me afresh with your sweet Holy Spirit. I ask that you to take my mirrored reflection and mold it into whatever you would have me be. I will always be your exuberant child, even as I grow in grace and maturity. Thank you for loving me in every facet of my life. Help me to see what you see in me as you look at my mirrored reflection. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the Lord to reveal His perfect love for you as you look in the mirror this morning. What will the world see when they look at your face today? Will they see Jesus in you? I’ll be looking for your face at church!
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