Saturday, May 12, 2007

Static Cling!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 13, 14, 15; Psalm 81 (NIV)

Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)

9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 13 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faith in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Good morning!

Static cling is one of the most annoying aspects of dressing up, in my humble opinion. I simply despise having to fight with a skirt that will not let go of my legs while I’m walking. I keep a bottle of Static Guard® in my desk at work for days just like these. It is an annoyance I would rather live without.

Have you ever noticed how disconcerting static can be? We hear the static on our car radios as we move between towers. When I am driving a long distance, I may be listening to a talk show or a music station that I’m really enjoying, when suddenly, all I can hear is static as I move out of its range. It is a frustrating moment, when static occurs. The little things of daily living can become like static in our lives. We don’t listen carefully to the needs of our family, because we are distracted with other trivial matters that steal our attention from the one who needs us most at that moment. I wish I had a spray that I could pull off a shelf to spray away the little annoyances of my life. I could live with a little less static, thank you very much.

Static is simply distracting. It takes our mind off the main thing. We lose track of what we’re trying to accomplish, because the static is getting in our way. Do you have static in your life? Does it make you lose sight of the main thing?

The Apostle Paul reminds us to hate what is evil, but cling to what is good. Static cling can be a good thing, if we are clinging to the Lord of life. When I hold onto Him, Jesus fills me up with an electrical current that moves me to action. He draws me to Himself, and I never ever want to let Him go. If I can just “hang on” to the hem of His garment, I know what is going to happen. I’m going to get healed! I’m going to be loved! He is going to hold me in the palm of His hand and I know He will never let go of my heart. The love of Christ is worth clinging to, every minute of every day.

Aren’t you glad God doesn’t use a spray can of static remover to oust you from His path? Jesus Christ wants us to experience the static cling that He can only give. It’s a good thing, and the next time you find your pants leg is creeping up on your dress sock, or if your skirt tries to hug your leg and trip you up, think about clinging to the One who will never let your heart out of His sight. Cling to Jesus, and experience the electricity of salvation today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a little static electricity! Give Jesus your heart today and cling to Him. He is good. And His mercy and love for you will endure forever.

________________________________

© 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, May 11, 2007

Service with a smile!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 10, 11, 12 (NIV)

I Chronicles 12:18 (NIV)
18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.


Good morning!

“May I help you,” the woman said behind the ticket counter. “Yes, please,” I answered, with a grin. “I need all the help I can get!” Don’t you love it when people offer to help you? There is nothing quite like receiving a sincere and kind offer of assistance from a friend. There are some people in this world that we can count on to be there for us, no matter the day or hour. They stand with us in prayer and praise, with open arms and a caring spirit. They seem to simply understand, and are placed in our path at just the right moment in time.

This is what I have found in the body of Christ. My Faith family is there for me, no matter the time of day or night. I know I can count on my Christian brothers and sisters to see me through each moment of my life, and when I need, help, I know who to call!

When our children were babies, we used to coach them on dialing for help. We practiced 9-1-1 on the play phone. Why is it that when we find ourselves in need of emergency assistance, we forget who to dial? On February 1st of this year, I experienced a medical emergency, and I needed immediate assistance. Can I tell you who I called? It wasn’t 9-1-1. I dialed 636-946-6398 and spoke to my Pastor Kim. She located Jeff, and he flew home on the wings of eagles. When he walked through the garage and took one look at me, Jeff picked the phone and dialed 9-1-1. Why didn’t I do that? Thank God for my spouse. He knew who to call!

This is what being part of the body of Christ is like. I know there is a network of people out there who truly love Jesus more than they love themselves. These people are the ones who would remove the shirts off their back to provide it to someone who had no shirt to wear. I see them investing time and energy into the many worthwhile service opportunities at Faith Church. Risk-taking mission has more to do with the spirit in which the gift is given, than the actual work itself. The body of Christ lives to serve their Lord through their humble acts of charity. Just ask them for a little help, and watch how they flock to your front door! It happens every single time. We share each other’s burdens, and that is a treasure and gift from God. When my kin asks if they can help a sister out, they really mean it!

David found himself in the presence of his mighty men. They were willing to serve him with a smile. He wasn’t sure that they could be trusted, until Amasai stepped forward. When the Holy Spirit got hold of this humble man of God, he proclaimed their love for the one God had anointed King. The mighty men recognized the real deal when they met King David. They knew him as a brother, loved him with a passion, and placed their very lives at his disposal. When we give our hearts to Jesus, essentially, we do the same thing. “May I serve you, Lord?” I ask this question every morning when I crawl out of bed to pray. “I am willing. My hands are open, and my heart is full of love for you. Send me wherever you want me to go. Take my life and use me to be your hands, your heart, your voice, and your feet. I am yours, O Lord! I am with you this day! Help me to help others through your amazing love. I am happy to serve you, sweet Jesus.”

Are you willing to serve the Lord and extend His salvation message by helping others today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: the desire to be a happy servant! What a friend we have in Jesus! Let us give back to the One who gave it all up for us. Be a friend in Jesus today. Are you ready to share His love with the people in your life?
________________________________
© 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, May 10, 2007

Rehabbing the heart

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 8, 9; Psalm 80 (NIV)

I Chronicles 9:1 (NIV)
1 The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.

Psalm 80: 3, 7, 19 (NIV)
3 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
7 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.


Good morning!

Restoration is hard work. There is a section of downtown Saint Louis that is being restored today. Construction continues to bring old buildings back to life. Capturing the era in which they were erected, historical continuity coupled with modern day technology is reuniting the city’s past with its present. Have you ever rehabbed a home? Those who are gifted in the art of gutting and remodeling know full well the amount of time and energy that is birthed by a unique vision. For some, they see an inhabitable structure and feel desolation – no hope of revival. But for others, the people who can see past the demolition and imagine what this old house might truly become with a little revamping, just hand them a few power tools and watch how their dream becomes reality!

Sometimes the structures that we live in are falling down around us and we don’t even realize it. Blinded by sheer apathy or the sins that haunt our daily living, we hover in uninhabitable living quarters, refusing to see and address the necessary reconstruction that lies ahead. If you stop and take a closer look at the condition of your heart, you may find that you are living out your days in a building that is almost ready to collapse. We lose our dreams when the things of life begin to eat away at our foundation. Its kind of like having termites tear at your heart strings. There is only one way to get rid of the things that are eating you alive – you need to call an exterminator.

When we choose unfaithfulness over obedience, our lives eventually will eventually fall apart. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were held captive by some obsession or compulsion? Maybe you struggle with trust issues in relationships, because you’ve been hurt in the past and you don’t ever want to feel that exposed or raw ever again. Maybe your crutch is with comfort food. Are you starving for something you cannot seem to reach, and you try to appease that hunger by feeding your belly instead of your soul? When we identify the root of the problem, it is only then that we can reach for the right tools to help us correct the structural damage in our lives.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the master architect. He knows who you are and where you’ve been. He sees the structural damage in your heart, and Jesus stands ready to heal you today. Are you ready to be rehabbed? Will you cry out to the only one who can fix your life forever, forgive the unfaithfulness you’ve struggled with, and let Him do the hard work inside of you today? Jesus is the only restorer I know who can take a piece of hardened clay, and make it soft and pliable again. If you need a little restorative work, cry out to the Lord. Everything changes when the Lord of life moves in.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: restoration! Jesus Christ is the only way to complete forgiveness and new life. Are you ready to let the master architect rehab your heart?
________________________________
© 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, May 09, 2007

Symphony of souls

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Chronicles 6, 7; Psalms 78, 79 (NIV)

I Chronicles 6:31-32; 48-49 (NIV)
31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.

48 Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. 49 But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.

Psalm 79:9 (NIV)
9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.


Good morning!

On a warm and beautiful May evening in the late spring of 1976, I walked across the gymnasium floor and took my seat at the Steinway Grand Piano. For three years I studied one movement of one concerto written by musician and composer Felix Mendelssohn, preparing to play this piece of music in the finale concert of the high school symphony’s season. Musicians understand the investment of time that is given to the perfecting of a five-minute musical moment. One may practice on that same section for hours each day. It is a lesson in the art of repetition. I labored over this piece of music during my freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school. I wish I could tell you that the performance that night was perfect. I remember the mistakes. There were two wrong notes and a slight hesitation before I played the final arpeggio run just prior to the last bars of the movement. I remember them distinctly, although I’m not certain anyone in the audience could recall them today. This is a unique moment in time suspended in my mind and soul forever. It was nothing short of a true gift of love and testimony to the magnificence of the master composer.

I remember the dress I wore on stage. It was a long white gown, with a sheer overlay of pink roses. The pattern on the dress reminded me of the pretty pink rose wallpaper in my grandmother’s guest bedroom. As a child, I would lie on the large feather bed and watch the roses dance across the walls in merry movement. It was as if a rose garden was blooming before my sleepy eyes; a sweet symphony of praise created by the loving hand of the great artist. Roses have always been one of my favorite flowers. They remind me of my grandmother, and a safe haven she called home. She was not physically present at the spring concert in 1976, and yet, in that dress, sitting on the piano bench, it was as if she had her arms wrapped around my neck. I could smell the roses in bloom that night.

We are a symphony of souls, each and every one of us with unique and special gifting. The Lord, the master author of life, takes great pleasure in remembering our name. Scripture recounts over and over again, the generations of servants who are remembered for their gifts and work in the house of the Lord. Each person called to minister offers a unique sound that cannot be duplicated by another. Together, in harmony, we come as the body of Christ, seeking to glorify and serve Him wholeheartedly, in a symphony of praise and worship.

This morning as I sat in prayer, I closed my eyes and saw the servants of the Lord, quietly moving toward the Holy of Holies. Dressed in long, white robes, they carry the petitions of the faithful to place at the foot of the throne. The tears of God’s children are contained in the jeweled boxes placed at the foot of the cross. Like a beautiful rose garden, their fragrance is sweet unto the Lord. Your prayers today rise like a symphony in chorus with the faithful. Your melody is unique. You have given years to its refinement. The time you spend in prayer becomes timeless moments of indescribable joy. The Spirit hovers over you. We are the living symphony of souls.

As you enter your time of prayer today, remember you are not alone. As you take your place at the altar, your unique offering becomes part of a larger melody in chorus with the prayers of the faithful around the world. See how they rise to the heavens today! We continue the work of the generations, taking our place in a moment of time. He sees your offering. He hears your voice. God knows your name. You are so very important to the intricate weaving of His eternal Song. Help me sing it today. Won’t you pray with me?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: ears to hear the symphony of souls crying out to the Lord today. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. He can take our offerings and create a holy perfection in the light of His amazing grace and 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.

Tuesday, May 08, 2007

Focus!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 4, 5; Psalm 77 (NIV)

I Chronicles 4:9-10 (NIV)
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.

Psalm 77:1-2 (NIV)
1 I cried out to God for help: I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.


Good morning!

A long time ago, I learned how to tune the world out so I could focus on what I was trying to accomplish. I can be easily distracted if I allow the noises of life to jump ahead of the task at hand. At some point, all of us have to set aside the things that distract and finish what we’ve started.

There were times, I must confess, when I didn’t pay close attention to my children. I remember moments of sheer madness – trying to cook dinner, run a load of laundry, write a paper on the kitchen counter top, while stirring the spaghetti sauce on the stove, and trying to “listen” to the chatter of my three noisy children, all at one time. I covet moments of peace and quiet, when I can give my full attention over to the task at hand. However, when my children were younger, I found those quiet times to be few and far between. I was gone all day to work. In the evenings, I would take a class at a local college, make time to attend weekly choir rehearsal, sit in on a weekly prayer meeting, and shuttle kiddos to and from the ball field. My to-do list seemed to grow with each passing hour. I felt I had to accomplish all of it before I could fall into bed, exhausted from the day that never seemed to end.

My husband Jeff would bring me back to reality, as the children clamored for undivided attention. He would say, “Deb, do you hear what they are saying to you? Stop saying ‘uh-huh’ and pay attention! I don’t think you want to say ‘yes’ to that question.” Once again, I had zoned out, thinking about the ten other things I needed to do. I was not listening carefully, and for all I know, my children were asking if they could go up on the roof of our home and jump off. Have you ever been so busy with the stuff in your life, that you find yourself unwilling to stop and listen to someone who is trying to speak to you?

Jabez knew what it was like to try to gain his mother’s attention. She named her son Jabez because he caused her great pain in labor. Jabez means sorrowful. Can you imagine growing up in a home where your name is a constant reminder of the pain that you so unintentionally caused your parent? Jabez simply wanted to be loved and heard. He did not want to be held responsible for his mother’s pain. Children are like that. We tend to leave them with the impression that they are in our way, especially when we are too busy to pay them any real attention. Every single time I let the stuff of life get in the way of listening to my kids, it was as if I were saying, “Go away. Leave me alone and let Mommy do what she needs to do.” How I regret those moments. What a waste of precious time.

Jabez prayed a simple prayer to the Lord, who understands us better than we understand ourselves. He said, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” Jabez did not want to cause anyone harm. He just wanted to receive the blessings that only God could give. He wanted to grow in faith and wisdom, and become someone that the Lord would use for kingdom work. God heard the prayer of Jabez, and the scripture tells us He granted his request.

Are you finding yourself just too busy to make time to listen to God today? Do you try to shove Him out of your way, while you accomplish your to-do list? When you make time to pray, do you find yourself falling asleep or letting your mind wander out of sheer boredom or busyness? Are your half-hearted “uh-huhs” to God just that? The Lord wants our undivided attention. He will not jump up and down, like our children sometimes do. His still, small voice can only be heard when we lay aside the things that distract, and focus our hearts completely upon Him. The Lord God Almighty is trying to speak to you today. Are you listening? Will you make time to stop and hear Him speak?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: focus! The Lord is speaking to you today. If you will make some time to listen, He will speak to your heart. When you cry out to God for help today, don’t let your voice be the only thing you hear. The Lord is answering your prayer before the words ever leave your lips. He hears you. Will you make time to listen to 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.

Monday, May 07, 2007

God knows you by name!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 1, 2, 3 (NIV)

I Chronicles 2:1 (NIV)
These were the sons of [Jacob] Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.

Philippians 4:3 (NIV)
3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the Gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Revelation 3:5 (NIV)
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and His angels.


Good morning!

Do you like your name? A name is one of the most important things we select for our children. It is a permanent identifier – a recognition tool. Throughout history, people were identified by the family unit in which they live, and were recognized by who their parents, brothers and sisters were. Jeff and I found it challenging to select a name that would follow our children for their entire lives. We took the task seriously, and sought the Lord in naming each of them. The name Rachel means little lamb of God. Benjamin is the son of our right hand. And the name David means beloved son. From the time we discovered we were expecting until that miraculous moment when we held our baby for the very first time, we wondered about what we should name them. We knew that God had called this little life into being – that He had a greater plan for our child to be than we could possibly begin to comprehend or understand. We wanted to get their name right, not just for our child’s sake, but because we knew this baby was a gift from above and deserved a name that the Lord would want them to have.

It is a blessing every Sunday when people call me by my name. During the greeting time when I shake hands with my Faith family that I have come to know and love, there is nothing better than hearing someone say, “Hi Deb. It’s great to see you today.” They know my name! They know who I am and whose I am. Most people know that my husband is one of the pastors at Faith Church. They know that my mother-in-law and father-in-law sit near the front row of the sanctuary every Sunday, so they can see and hear their son as he preaches the Word of God. When my mother spends the weekend with me and I take her to church on Sunday morning, our church people greet her by name. We are known and identified by who our family is. That may be a good or not-so-good thing. More than anything else, I want people to identify me as a child of the living God, born again through the blood of my Savior. When people look at me and say my name, I want them to see Jesus Christ living in me. It is His blood that makes me a part of the forever family of God.

There are moments when I wish the Lord did not know my name, especially when I’ve messed up or said something I instantly regret. Sometimes I tarnish the name of my family because of things I say or do, and I wonder how that makes my “kin” feel. There are moments when I tarnish the good name of the Lord, especially when I show lack of respect for who He is; when I refuse to obey His instruction manual. I confess there have been times when I should have bit my tongue instead of letting it run like wildfire in hateful spurts of emotional madness. Have you ever said something that you instantly regret? Have you ever spoken ill of someone in your family, whether it be someone in your biological family, or someone in your church family? What does it feel like to have someone speak ill words about you?

I heard someone say in church this weekend that “we don’t get to pick our kin.” Families are about as diverse as they can be. Every person has a unique and distinct finger print. We may not look alike, act alike, or think alike, and yet, through the blood, we are all kin, whether we like it or not. I don’t know of a perfect family out there, and yet, I can tell you that my family is so perfect for me. We agree to disagree on many things and sometimes we have a hard time letting go of the scars we leave imprinted on each other’s lives. I have found that blood is thicker than water, and even though I may spar with my family from time to time, if you come after them, this sister is going to rise up and defend her family.

Through Jesus Christ, we are all family through His blood. We are an extraordinarily diverse group of people. Each and every one of us brings a unique and special gift mix to the group. My spirit senses there is a little sibling rivalry going on today within the body of Christ. Blood is thicker than water, and my friends, we need to start acting like the family God created us to be. We are better together and through Jesus Christ, we can spread His love and salvation message around the world.

God knows you by name. He knows your heart. He understands the motives behind everything you say and do. God created you with a purpose and plan. Are you living for Him today? Are you happy to know that He knows who you are, or would you prefer to hide out, avoiding having to look Him in the face? My prayer for you today is that you will find out who you are, whose you are in Christ, and just how precious you are to Him.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: your name to be found in the Lamb’s book of life. Oh yes, God knows you by name. He knows who you are and He invites you today, to come home to your family, who loves you so very much. It is just not the same without you. Blood is thicker than water, and the blood of Christ can change even the hardest heart. You are always welcome in the family of God. Won’t you ask Jesus to come into your heart 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.

Sunday, May 06, 2007

The poorest of the poor

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 24, 25; Psalm 76

2 Kings 25:11-12 (NIV)
11 Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had gone over to the king of Babylon. 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.

Proverbs 13:23 (NIV)
23 A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.

Matthew 5:3 (NIV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.


Good morning!

My mother used to say that her family was the poorest of the poor; yet, they never realized it. In rural Brookhaven, Mississippi, where she grew up, her parents picked cotton for a living. They spent their days sowing and reaping in the fields. My mother was the oldest daughter of seven children. She spent her days helping Grandmother prepare the family meals while watching over her younger siblings as her parents harvested cotton. The evening meal was a treasured part of each day, where conversation was welcomed and plentiful. Their family never complained while eating red beans and rice, sweet potato pie, and thick slices of corn bread every night. If you cooked the same meal everyday for your family, would they be very happy with you? Every Christmas, my mother would hang her siblings tattered stockings by the wood-burning fireplace, hoping to receive a special gift from a mysterious visitor in the middle of the night. The children were delighted to find a large orange in the bottom of their stockings on Christmas morning. That piece of fruit was a rare treat, indeed.

The Great Depression left many families struggling, and my mother’s family was no exception. Some of her happiest memories were spent growing up on the farm in a time when they barely had enough to survive. The children didn’t have toys to play with, so they played with each other instead. Now, that’s a novel idea! Her brothers loved to catch lizards and hang them from their ears, like long, dangly earrings. The girls would scream and run when their mischievous brothers chased them about the yard, threatening to drop a lizard down their backs. Mom did not mind playing hard, breaking a sweat, and getting dirty. It gave her the excuse she needed to go take a dip in the creek bed near their home. The children hung an old tire swing from the outstretched branches of a large pine tree, hovering over the clear, babbling brook. Mom loved to swing across the creek bed, jumping midstream into the deepest part of the water. It is amazing none of them ever drowned, especially when there was no life guard on duty or anyone trained to teach these babies how to swim.

The Israelites found themselves, once again, in utter captivity. Their sinful choices opened the door for evil to penetrate their city. Many were taken into exile. Families were tortured and murdered, while others were made to watch. They were rendered powerless to save their community. What was once a safe haven, sheltered under the umbrella of God’s love, had become a heap of rubble. How quickly things can change. Only a remnant – the poorest people of the land, were left behind to make their way through the desolation.

Mom has said, time and again, that their faith in Jesus Christ, made living worthwhile. He walked with them through every difficult circumstance. Praying for strength and favor was a daily part of their lives. The Lord blessed their home with love. There was always plenty to eat. Grandmother knew how to make a feast from a bare pantry. The children never had anything new to wear – all of their clothing was handed down from second cousins and older siblings. Happiness was not based on their personal possessions. True happiness was a gift of faith, received from the one who understood poverty at its worst. He is the answer. He provides the riches of salvation and abundant living not only in this world, but the next.

The poorest of the poor knew how to look up. Crying out to the Lord for help, He heard their heartfelt prayers, and answered them. Do you know what it means to be poor? Have you ever turned your face from the Lord, only to find yourself in captivity to the things that you thought might bring you happiness? When you have nothing left to hold on to, reach out to Jesus. He can take the worst situations of your life and walk you through them. If you find yourself struggling to survive today, stop and look up! Jesus Christ is waiting to help you. He loves you. He knows where you’ve been, and He holds the key to your future. The things we value in this world cannot even begin to compare with the riches Jesus Christ has offered to all of us.

Are you the poorest of the poor? Cry out to Jesus today, and live!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: the rich blessing of placing total faith in Jesus Christ. You may not have a dime in your pocket, but with Jesus in your heart, you are the wealthiest person alive. Let go of the sin that keeps you separated from your Heavenly Father. Christ redeems the poorest of the poor and makes real life worth living.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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