Saturday, July 21, 2007

The hospital of hospitality


The hospital of hospitality
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 55, 56, 57; Psalm 109


Isaiah 55:1 (NIV)1 "Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat!


Isaiah 56:6-7 (NIV)6 And foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to serve Him, to love the name of the Lord, and to worship Him, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant - 7 these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations."


Good morning!


I've been listening to the teaching of Pastor Jim Downing. He is pastor of one of our United Methodist fellowships in Sedalia, Missouri. He has been sharing his faith experience with the Missouri Area School of Lay Speaking in Fayette, Missouri, which is happening this weekend as I write. A gifted teacher and musician, Pastor Jim has opened the Word to all of us in a new and fresh way. How I wish you were here with me to share this incredible experience.


This morning's focus has been on hospitality. I wondered whether I am considered a hospitable person. Am I welcoming to everyone I meet, or do I somehow pick and choose whom I'd rather spend time with. How do you see me? I would welcome your honest input, especially, on a day like today, when I'm wondering how Jesus might see my daily walk.


Jeff and I have made many hospital visits through the years of ministry. We've been blessed to be part of celebrating the birth of a new child, and we've celebrated lives passing from this world into the next. Hospitals are filled with people who are sick and in pain. Many people end up there, not of their own choosing, but because their health has failed them in such a way that they need more care than what they can receive at home. It can be a lonely and scary place to be. Have you ever spent time in the hospital with someone you love? Have you ever been in the hospital, completely dependent upon the caregivers who help sustain your life?


Our churches are hospitals for Jesus Christ. Jesus came for those who were sick, the ones in pain, those who are lost and looking for some direction. People who are starving for a relationship that will satisfy the hunger of the soul - these are the ones Christ came to save. When I began experiencing the power and presence of Jesus in my life each day, I realized, maybe for the very first time, just how sick I had become. I needed a healer to heal me. I needed wholeness and freedom from the sins that were weighing me down. I thank God for the love of Christ and I'm always amazed by His unconditional love for me.


Sometimes when we think of the church, we think of a place - a building or structure, sitting on a plot of land, with a paved parking lot and a cross above the roof. The church is not the building - the church is the people who gather there. The church is the body of Christ, and each and every one who professes faith in Jesus Christ is part of that body. We are not bound by walls or doors; our sanctuaries begin and end in the worship we experience within our heart. We are the hands and feet of Jesus, and everywhere we go, and everyone we greet meets the Lord of life through us.


With that in mind, I ask this question today - are we a living hospital of hospitality? Do we care more for the ones who are hurting than we care for ourselves? How do we reflect the love of Christ in our actions? When people look at me, do they see Jesus in my smile; do they hear Him through the words I speak? Can the see the love of Christ by the things I do, the way I live, by the love I extend?


Radical hospitality begins and ends with the desire to share the love of Christ with all of God's children, not just some of them. We need the desire to love outside of the box, outside the walls of our buildings; outside of the security in our homes. Jesus didn't have a place to lay His head in the three year ministry just prior to his death and resurrection. His home was with God, and He spent many hours in solitude and prayer, finding His shelter and home in the arms of His Father. There is an indescribable pull of the Spirit that calls each one of us into a relationship with the Lord that cannot be found anywhere else. And that is the spirit in which we extend hospitality to the people placed in our path.


Pastor Jim suggested we visualize seeing the hand of Christ reach forth through our extended hand as we welcome the people we meet into relationship with Him. The next time you reach out to shake someone's hand, remember that you are extending more than your own personal greeting. You are part of the body, and He lives and works through you. May your touch be the touch that draws a child into God's loving embrace.


Are we living hospitals of hospitality? What we cannot do on our own steam is possible, through the power of Jesus Christ.


Grace and peace,


Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: your life to become a hospital of hospitality. You may have to look no further than extending an outstretched arm to a wayward child or flashing a genuine smile to the stranger stranded on the side of the road. Jesus Christ welcomes you with open arms. He bore your sin upon the cross to bring you home to the One who loves you more than you can even begin to comprehend. With that kind of grace flowing in our hearts, we must give it away. How will you share the love of Christ with others today?

Friday, July 20, 2007

The best deal in town cannot be purchased with money

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 52, 53, 54

Isaiah 52:3 (NIV)

3 For this is what the Lord says:

“You were sold for nothing, and without money you will be redeemed.”

Good morning!

Have you ever noticed how our culture thrives upon placing some sort of monetary value upon the things we enjoy in life? The homes we purchase are appraised, and an assigned dollar value is placed upon the size and condition of the structure and the property upon which it sits. When we purchase fine jewelry, the precious gem and its setting is appraised by a jeweler. A personal articles policy is then purchased to guard its value against future damage or loss. We buy an automobile at the sticker price, only to watch it significantly decrease in value the minute we drive it off the lot. If it is worth less (worthless) in the marketplace, does that car mean any less to its proud owner?

People love to get a good deal. Finding “something for nothing” seems to be the bragging rights of shoppers who love to shop flea markets, garage sales, and thrift stores. The thrill of saving a buck is a way of life for most of us. How much value do you place upon the things that surround you in your life? There is nothing wrong with being frugal, and I think it is important for each of us to pay close attention to how we spend the dollars we earn each week. The question I’m asking is not about how we shop or the deals we make, it is simply about the value we place upon the things that really matter.

Sometimes, when I read the beautiful poetic words of the prophet Isaiah, I wonder how much of it he understood. He was speaking from his heart, and the Lord of life was filling him with an amazing message that cries out for repentance and belief. He proclaims hope to a world that desperately needs it. Where kings and rulers did not treasure their people, the voice of the prophet continues to cry, “You are valued to God. You are important. You may be sold for nothing into slavery and torment; yet I will redeem you and I will do it without money.”

Sometimes we miss the beauty of one precious soul when we devalue a culture or society as a whole. We cannot see the intrinsic worth of one precious soul. Yet, God has placed a great value upon you and me. He sees you as a precious jewel, someone worth dying to save. A heavy price was paid for your redemption, and the cost was greater than all the riches this world has to offer. Jesus Christ was coming. Isaiah knew it. He could feel it in his bones. And he spoke of the one who would come to redeem us. He would pay the ultimate price for my life, for your life, for all of His children who longed for freedom.

Does your heart ache today? Do you feel worthless and devalued? Read the words of Isaiah this morning and be comforted! You may have been sold out by a parent, a grandparent, a spouse, a child, a co-worker, a neighbor, or your very best friend. Isaiah is here to tell you to look up! You are not worthless to the Lord. Jesus came here just to redeem you. If you had been the only one left standing on the face of the earth, He would have sacrificed it all just to get you back. You are worth so much more than any dollar amount on a piece of paper. He sees your heart and loves you right where you are today.

Giving your heart to Jesus is the best deal you will ever make. The gift of salvation is free to you today, but it came at a great price. When you meet Jesus Christ up close and personal, you will begin to discover just how valued and loved you are. Aren’t you glad that the Lord of life has no intention of trading you in for a newer model? Cry out to Jesus Christ today and live!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the assurance that you know beyond a doubt who much you are worth to the Lord. His certificate of redemption was written in blood upon the cross of Calvary for you. The price has been paid and it cannot be purchased with dollars and cents. A free gift has been given. Won’t you reach out and take hold of the master appraiser’s hand?

I will be at the Missouri Area School of Lay Speaking in Fayette, Missouri this weekend. I hope to see you there! Make some time this weekend to take your family to worship the Lord at your local church. The family of Faith Church is waiting to meet you. Won’t you come join us? ___________________________________________

© 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, July 19, 2007

Flint Face

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 50, 51; Psalm 108

Isaiah 50:4-7 (NIV)

4 The Sovereign Lord has given me an instructed tongue, to know the Word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. 5 The Sovereign Lord has opened my ears, and I have not been rebellious; I have not drawn back. 6 I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting. 7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Good morning!

I knew I was in trouble last night when my math instructor asked me to step across the hall with him. It felt a little like history repeating itself, as the scary face of my fourth grade math instructor flashed in front of my mind’s eye. Thank God he didn’t call me to the blackboard, but getting called across the hall was not much better. Mr. Kimzey handed me the homework I spent hours on last week and basically said I needed to redo it. It’s one thing to turn something in wondering whether you got it right. It’s another thing to think you’ve nailed it, only to I realize I have absolutely no clue about what I’m doing.

As I sat in class staring at the text and listening as hard as I could to the lecture, a fleeting thought crept into my mind. A little voice inside my head said, “Well Deb, if you are going to pass this class, you need to give it more than 15-20 hours a week. You need to spend all of your disposable time outside of work on this. Maybe you should set your daily devotional time and intercessory prayer ministry aside. After all, you are in this class because God called you to serve Him by going back to school. And you know you have to jump this math hurdle in order to get to the next level. So Jesus won’t mind if you set Him aside for just a little while. You just need to study harder! Stay home this weekend. Don’t go to the School of Lay Speaking. Get up at 4am, but focus on crunching the numbers rather than chewing on His Word. Listen to me! I am the voice of your conscience. Just do it.” Sinister laughter booms inside my brain, making my eyeballs quiver like a toy doll being shaken by a child.

So, please tell me the truth - am I the only one out there who hears the voice of temptation occasionally, maybe even daily, or every single time I turn around?

Here is what I like about my mentor, Isaiah. When God got hold of his heart, Isaiah faced tribulations and trials that would make most of us turn back in fear. Isaiah’s lips had been purged by the hot coal removed from the Lord’s altar of sacrifice. He knew that God had given him an instruction to daily speak the Word that brings sustenance to the weary. Every morning God called the prophet from his rest, and Isaiah heard and responded to His voice. Morning after morning, he would seek God first, then speak His Word, without hesitation or fear. Isaiah was willing to have his beard tweaked by the people who were once his friends. They ridiculed and mocked him, even questioning Isaiah’s character. He was not deterred from service. Isaiah loved His Lord with a passion and purpose. Nothing would stop him from pursuing the call upon his life. So he set his face like flint, tough and firm and pointed toward the Lord, not looking back and never wavering in his call.

I want to be like Isaiah when I grow up. I’m going pass this math class, but not by sacrificing my faith in the process. I am stronger on my knees. His Word is screaming at me today, and I intend to pay close attention to the master instructor.

In my weakness, He is strong. If you are out there today, trying to pass one of life’s little tests, let me encourage you to hold on to the faith that you have been given. Grab onto Jesus, baby, and don’t let go! He will help you through the tough stuff of life, and His grace is sufficient for you and it is more than sufficient for me. He will crunch the numbers and make them work. A miracle is about to happen. I will not lose sight of the prize.

I feel better now. Don’t you?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a determination to follow the Lord no matter what! There are times in life when we must wear a flint face. Buck up baby! Jesus will not leave you or forsake you, especially when we walk through the flame and fire. This is where He shapes and molds me into a child He can use for kingdom work. Amen!

___________________________________________

© 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, July 18, 2007

Forsaken? Forgotten? Forgiven.

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 46, 47, 48, 49

Isaiah 48:22 (NIV)

22 “There is no peace,” says the Lord, “for the wicked.”

Isaiah 49:14-16a (NIV)

14 But Zion said, “The Lord has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.”

15 “Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you!

16 See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands.”

Isaiah 53:5 (KJV)

5 But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and by His stripes we are healed.

Good morning!

Every day we see it happening before our very eyes. We hear it on the radio and watch it on the evening news. Children are dying on our streets, in the communities where we live. They have become pawns in the fight for control, and learn by example that controlling their world may be the only way to survive. So why are they not surviving?

Isaiah warns his people about their worthless idols of stone. We cannot comprehend how a culture could take an innocent heart and sacrifice it upon the altar of personal pleasure. We are much more concerned about the weather outside, maintaining our own personal thermostat, living in a climate controlled environment; to the neglect of those who surround us. How easy it is to point the finger at our ancestors, when we do no better with our own life choices. We become so self-absorbed and egotistical, that our children, who may have every material possession they could ever hope for, find themselves lacking in the thing they truly need – our time, attention and unconditional love.

There is not a human being on earth who, at some point, experiences disappointment, abandonment and fear. We’ve been hurt by others, so we choose to hurt back. The things that we once thought would make us happy leave us longing for something more. Many have experienced the pain of physical hunger, abuse, and rejection. We do not want to live in a place of desolation. No matter how hard we try, it is never good enough. We are told that financial freedom and material wealth will give us peace of mind and eternal happiness. So we chase those get-rich-quick schemes and expend our energy climbing up a big tree with wobbly branches. We find ourselves hanging on to a cracked limb, and we have no clue how to get back down to solid ground short of falling to our death. All the while, our children are watching us. They imitate what they see. Can the idols of stone bring true peace to a broken heart?

When parents lose their way and the children find themselves forsaken by the ones they depended upon for nurture and support, there is someone to turn to, who understands and has the power to heal that hurt, once and for all. He is the only one we can count on, who will never ever let us go. He has written your name in the palm of His hand. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, Jesus Christ, that whoever believes in Him will not perish in the disillusion of the stone idols we’ve created. He offers eternal and abundant life to you and to me today. Isaiah’s message from long ago is the message we carry into the world today. Let go of the superficial. The things this world has to offer will never make you happy or set you free. Jesus understands your pain. He chose to carry your sin to the cross. He died to save you from the stone idols you’ve been worshipping. Jesus will not forsake you. He has not forgotten your name. And when you run to Him, He will forgive you, heal your pain, and free you to live in the light of His love and grace, now and forevermore.

Isn’t this the legacy we should give our children, our grandchildren, and their children to come?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: Jesus Christ to fill your heart with true peace. You may have been misled somewhere along the way. Someone may have hurt you and that pain is eating you alive. Or maybe you have hurt someone and stand in need of forgiveness and grace. My friend, there is room at the cross for you today. Jesus Christ has your name imprinted on His nail-scarred hands. He knows you. He loves you and wants you to come home to Him. Let go of the stone idols that you’ve been clinging to and reach out to the rock of salvation 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, July 17, 2007

He calls us by name

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 43, 44, 45

Isaiah 43:1-3 (NIV)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel; your Savior.”

Good morning!

How does someone know when they have been called? Every time my cell phone rings, I know someone is trying to reach me. A voice mail message reminds me to check in and respond. My grandchildren definitely know how to get my attention. As soon as I walk into the house, I hear their joyful greeting, “Nanny! Nanny! Nanny!” And that is the sweetest sound of all. Ginger, our parents’ cocker spaniel, calls my name every time she sees me, but not with audible words. I see her friendly face, with tongue hanging out and tail wagging. I can hear her cheerful bark greeting me as I come around the corner, and I know without a doubt I’m about to get loved on. She cannot wait to jump up on her hind legs and give me puppy kisses and furry hugs. Oh, the sheer joy of seeing someone you love! Dogs set the bar at radical hospitality. We can learn a lot from them.

Isaiah understood what it means to be called. From the moment that burning lump of charcoal touched his lips and removed his sin, the call of the Lord became crystal clear to Isaiah. He could hear God calling out his name, and Isaiah did not hesitate to respond. God is calling out your name today. Can you hear Him calling you? Will you answer when He calls?

There is an indescribable peace that comes from knowing we have been redeemed. The Lord tells us to have no fear – for we have been redeemed, once and for all. He knows your name! He knew who you were before you were born. He knows you better than you know yourself. And He chooses to walk with you and talk with you, and remain by your side every step of the way. God promises He will go with you through the water, the river, the fire and flame. He is there in sheer moments of joy, and in the pit of utter despair. You are not alone. He is with you today, tomorrow and forevermore. This is the peace that can only come through intimate relationship, radical love, and the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

God knows who you are. He loves you. He extends His peace to you this morning. Can you hear God calling your name? Take a moment today to think about God’s call upon your life. How will you choose to answer Him?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the call of the Lord to become crystal clear. He is waiting for you to respond. Will you answer the call?

___________________________________________

© 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, July 16, 2007

Power Surge

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 40, 41, 42

Isaiah 41:13 (NIV)

13 For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.

Good morning!

We had a power surge this morning. I tend to worry when the lights go off. We’ve had quite a few power outages in the last several years. They seem to come in waves of extreme cold or heat. The weather service has predicted that this will be one of the hottest days of the St. Louis summer season. I can’t wait. The older I get, the harder it is to deal with extreme heat. In times of peak temperatures, I worry a lot about my brothers and sisters on the streets. Where do they go to cool off, to get a shower, and rest? Power surges remind me that I’m spoiled rotten. I live in a comfortable, temperature controlled home. I really don’t know what it is like to suffer every day in extreme temperatures.

When the lights go off, I’m forced to stop what I’m doing. It gives me pause to think. This morning’s pause lasted approximately thirty minutes. I was reading and writing when the power outage interrupted my morning. Sometimes, just like our computer systems, we have to completely disconnect in order to get a better connection. It’s like a mental reboot – power surges force us to stop and regroup. Maybe God wanted more of my attention and the only way He knew to do it was to pull the plug for a little while. Does God ever do that to you?

I’ve pulled the plug a number of times in my life. There are experiences that stop us in our tracks and force us to redirect our path. Adversity seems to get most people’s attention. We struggle with loss – the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, the loss of a college scholarship, the loss caused from sudden illness, an accident, or a mental melt down. Extreme situations force us to stop and think. Losses can be big wins, when we are willing to take time to re-evaluate our life. I’ve discovered that I can see the clearest in the darkness of early morning, just before the sun comes up in the sky. There are times when I would much rather sleep. I know when I’m sitting in my study, wrapped the warmth of His love, the light that shines through the darkness of the day is brighter than that of the noonday sun.

Today’s power surge made me stop and start over. It seemed a little inconvenient, until I sat back down at my computer and realized what He revealed in the darkness. If you are finding yourself caught in a power surge this morning, take time to embrace your down time. He will find a way to get our attention. May the power surge you experience interrupt your busy life and redirect your thoughts to the Lord. Embrace the darkness, for in His light, all things become clear.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the power surges you experience in life prompt you to take hold of the right hand of the Father. He speaks in the darkness, “Do not fear; I will help 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.

Sunday, July 15, 2007

Lord of the second chance

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 38, 39; Psalm 107

Isaiah 38:15-17 (NIV)

15 But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and He himself has done this. I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul. 16 Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too. You restored me to health and let me live. 17 Surely it was for my benefit that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back.

Good morning!

Second chances are wonderful gifts. I’ve been the beneficiary of a second chance, and I have some affinity with what King Hezekiah might have felt the day the Lord answered his prayer for a healing miracle.

When I was learning how to play tennis in high school, it took lots of practice and many “do-overs” for me to learn how to serve the ball properly. It would take several practice serves on my part before the ball would fly over the net and into the other player’s return space. I experienced a lot of net serves. Sometimes, I could get the ball over the net but it did not land in the proper location – I either overshot the court, or it would land in foul territory. Many times, my service attempts were unintentional errors. Other times, especially when I was getting frustrated or angry, those foiled service attempts were a direct result of my frustration and angst.

I had a tennis instructor who was determined to teach me how to serve and return the ball properly. He saw some potential in my ability, and never gave up on me. One day, as he was teaching me how to take the offensive on a return serve, he pointed to a spot near the net and simply said, “Stand here.” So I did. When the instructor served the ball to me, it hit me smack dab in the forehead. I didn’t move, I didn’t flinch, and I did not try to block the ball with my racket. I just stood there. He came running over and asked me if I was okay. I shook my head yes, and when he asked me why I didn’t block the ball, I said, “You didn’t tell me to!” I sported a goose egg on my noggin for a week. Sometimes when life deals us a series of blows, we get stuck just standing there and forget how to defend ourselves. Have you ever experienced a frozen moment of the soul? Has it left you scarred for life?

We may experience a time of exhilaration, when we feel completely self-assured. We think we have solved all of life’s issues and can handle whatever happens to us. We think we are in charge, until suddenly, we find ourselves standing in unfamiliar territory. What is like to sit in the doctor’s office, waiting to hear the results of a CT scan that will determine whether or not your cancer has returned? What kind of prayer does one pray, begging God to give them just one more day, one more chance to live life healthy and whole again?

None of us are immune from the possibility of contracting cancer at some point in our life. Some may experience the physical cancers that attack our bodies and shift the way we live out our days, for better or worse. I hope you never experience cancer in your body. Yet, all of us are susceptible to the cancer of sin. It is no respecter of age or race. At some point along the road, we will realize we’ve messed up, taken a wrong turn, and lost our way. If we are truly honest with ourselves, we recognize our need to ask God for a second chance, a do-over; an opportunity to make it right once again. Just like Hezekiah, we know we are dying and short of a miracle from God, there is nothing that can save us.

If you find yourself needing a second chance today, I have good news for you! There is a Savior who came just to give people like you and me a fresh start, a second chance, an opportunity to receive abundant and everlasting life. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of the Living God. We can run to Him with the cancer destroying the life we’ve been given. He alone has the power to heal, restore, and redeem. Jesus is the Lord of the second chance, and if you are in need of a second chance today, He is waiting with open arms for you to come.

This is a great day to begin again. God heard Hezekiah’s prayer and restored his life. Jesus Christ hears you today, and will cover your sin with His blood, if you cry out to Him. Come join me at the altar of Faith Church today. Whenever I kneel before the throne of mercy and grace, I find forgiveness for the mistakes I’ve made, healing for my frozen and broken heart, and a another chance to get my serve right. He is the master instructor, and all that I have and everything I am is because of Him.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a second chance today! Jesus has the power to save you. Do not be afraid to ask the Lord of life to give you another opportunity to begin again. He will do it. Will you trust Him enough to give Him 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.