Saturday, July 28, 2007

Lip service

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Jeremiah 10, 11, 12; Psalm 111

Jeremiah 12:1-3 (NIV)
1 You are always righteous, O Lord, when I bring a case before you. Yet I would speak with you about your justice; why does the way of the wicked prosper? Why do all the faithless live at ease? 2 You have planted them, and they have taken root; they grow and bear fruit. You are always on their lips but far from their hearts. 3 Yet you know me, O Lord; you see me and test my thoughts about you.


Good morning!

My mother grew up attending a small country church in the backwoods of Mississippi. Nestled among pine trees and in between her favorite cousin’s cotton fields, Mom would walk with her parents and siblings from their farmhouse to worship every Sunday morning. Unless the weather was really cold or wet, they walked barefooted every week to church. There were seven children in all, and Mother ended up carrying one of her youngest siblings on one hip, while clinching her dress shoes between her elbow and forearm. When they came to the cemetery just behind the church, Mother would have the children stop, wash their feet, and slip on their Sunday shoes. This saved wear and tear, and their shoes lasted long enough to pass down from oldest to youngest. Daddy carried a picnic basket full of fried chicken and sweet potato pie for the pot luck dinner later that day.

Everyone in church was related. Mother had scads of cousins, second cousins, aunts and uncles, and they saw each other every week at church. Mother would watch as some of her relatives become quite emotional during the worship experience. As the pastor preached, one aunt would regularly fell down in the middle of the aisle, having been slain by power of the Holy Spirit. She would shake and roll around, and Mother could easily read the stamp across her homemade potato sack underwear. If you’ve ever wondered what the term “Holy Roller” meant, my mother could tell you all about it. She watched her relatives roll down the aisle each week. After worship, the whispering would begin to rumble around the picnic tables outside. Gossiping seemed to be a source of information and cultural entertainment. Auntie so and so, who had rolled all over the aisle that morning, had been spotted at the local pub Friday night, doing a little too much “holy rolling” there. Someone in the pew had recognized the stamp across her underwear.

Many people refuse to attend worship today because they doubt the authenticity of our faith. They’ve watched our actions and wonder whether Jesus has the power to truly change lives. You may know of a relative or close friend, who behaves one way at church, and acts totally different during the rest of the week. There are others who believe God will always love and forgive them, no matter how they behave. We hope and pray, and we work hard to try and convince each other that God will overlook the sins we commit. He gave us His blueprint for daily living and we keep trying to rewrite His Word to suit our own personal preferences. For some, the church has become a place to promote a personal agenda. There are many who believe if they can just convince the rest of the world to stop judging them accept the way they choose to live, then God will surely do the same. We deceive ourselves and each other when we try to conform His Word to our life. We are to conform our lives to Him. There is a huge difference. Are we only giving lip service to the Lord, or does our faith take us from holy rolling to holy living?

Jeremiah didn’t beat around the bush in his prayerful conversations with God. He was not afraid to ask the Father tough questions. He wondered why evil and wickedness seems to prevail in the hearts of so many who claim to be the Lord’s redeemed. Jeremiah did not understand how those who had no faith at all lived in comfort and happiness. Like unruly weeds, their sins continue to perpetuate themselves. If God is a God of justice, won’t we receive a just reward for our actions?

Today, I am thanking the Lord for His mercy and grace. I don’t want to give mere lip service to Christ. I want my life to be a living reflection of the One who saves me daily from myself. There was a time when all I ever wanted was what I wanted. I was selfish and suffered from tunnel vision. I wanted everyone to agree that my way was the right way. I confess that my walk and talk did not match. And if God had given me justice for the life I was choosing to live, I would not have the assurance of eternal life today. The Lord helped me realize that I could not serve Him only on Sunday and serve myself the rest of the week. Jesus Christ calls us to stop focusing on ourselves, and begin focusing our hearts and minds completely upon Him.

Lip service can be distracting, distasteful, and misleading. If you are searching for something more than superficial faith, come join me this weekend in the sanctuary of Faith Church. None of us are perfect yet; still, Jesus Christ continues to perfect us in His love. Won’t you spend some time focusing your heart upon the only One who can truly save your life?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: your lip service to become a life song. We need to experience real faith. Jesus Christ is the real deal. Won’t you give up your way for His? If you seek Him, He will find you right where you are at, and He alone can transform 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.

Friday, July 27, 2007

Hopeless?

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Jeremiah 7, 8, 9

Jeremiah 8:20 (NIV)

20 “The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved.”

Good morning!

I heard a joke at the lay ministry seminar I attended last weekend. I’d like to give credit where credit is due but I have no idea where it came from. It struck a chord with me and I thought you might enjoy chewing on its deeper meaning today.

A Calvinist, a Wesleyan, and a Positive Thinker had died and were awaiting judgment at the throne of God. When Jesus did not recognize them, they were cast into the lake of fire together. The Calvinist, totally surprised by his eternal home, cried out, “I can’t believe I didn’t have it!” The Wesleyan, on his knees, continued to say, “I had it, but I lost it! I had it, but I lost it!” The positive thinker jumped up and down from foot to the other, with arms crossed and eyes closed. He chanted, “I am not here; it is not hot! I am not here; it is not hot!”

I saw a picture of a church billboard that read, “Stop, drop and roll doesn’t work in Hell.” We can laugh at the sentiment conveyed in this tongue-in-cheek dialogue. Deep down in our hearts, we know there is a day coming when many will find themselves in a suffering in a place of eternal separation from the Lord. Jeremiah’s heart was breaking into. He begged God to have mercy upon His people. God told Jeremiah not to bother praying for them. It was a waste of time, and God had no intention of listening to Jeremiah’s prayer.

Can you imagine what it might be like if God said to you today, “Do not bother trying to reach me. You’ve messed up one too many times. I refuse to listen to you anymore.” Jeremiah must have felt utter hopelessness, crying out to the deaf ear of the Lord. But he kept on praying, so burdened for his brothers and sisters to the point of uttering unceasing prayers. If we would only take our prayer life half as serious as the prophet Jeremiah, our world would be forever changed.

Thank God for Jesus Christ. He became the bridge gap between a holy and righteous Father, and a sin-filled humanity. When God said, “No more,” Jesus said, “Send me.” He became fully human while remaining fully divine. The Lord committed no sin, yet took the sins of all of us and carried them to the cross of Calvary. His blood was poured out to cover us, and it is by His grace and mercy alone that we are saved. Jesus Christ knows who His people are. This is something we cannot earn or work toward, or acquire by anything we do. It is a true gift of grace, extended to you by the Lord, wherever you are. If you will just open your heart to Jesus Christ today and invite Him into your life, He will give you the desire to seek Him and learn who He is. His Spirit will fill you with His presence, and your life will be forever changed. Jesus Christ will not leave or abandon you in the Day of Judgment, when you stand before the throne of our holy, perfect, and righteous God.

Jeremiah never stopped praying, even when it seemed hopeless. Jesus Christ offers new life to all who will turn from their sin, confess Him as Lord, and seek to follow Him all of their days. We have hope! Do not stop praying for the people in your life who do not yet know Jesus. They may see Him in action simply by watching you. Will they see a heart that perseveres, even when the situation seems utterly hopeless?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the fires of hell to get your attention, if that’s what it takes, to refocus your life’s priorities and ultimate destiny. Jesus Christ died for you while you were still sinning, and that proves how much He loves you. Ask Him to come into your heart today. He will forgive you, and free you, and will not leave you, in this life, and in the life to come. And believe me, it’s coming.

___________________________________________

© 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 26, 2007

There is a cure for the hard heart

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Jeremiah 4, 5, 6

Jeremiah 4:3-4 (NIV)

3 This is what the Lord says to the men of Judah and to Jerusalem: “Break up your unplowed ground and do not sow among thorns. 4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, circumcise your hearts, you men of Judah and people of Jerusalem, or my wrath will break out and burn like fire because of the evil you have done – burn with no one to quench it.”

Good morning!

What is it like to have a hard heart? My grandfather died of atherosclerosis. This is a medical condition described as a slow, degenerative process where essential nutrients and blood flow are hindered from reaching vital organs, causing a hardening of the arteries and irreversibly damaging the heart muscle. Genetics, diet and exercise all play a role in the proper function of our circulatory system. That blood carries oxygen to our vital organs and eliminates carbons from our bodies. When the blood flow is blocked and if the problem goes untreated, we will die.

The prophet Jeremiah spoke the Word of God to His people, who had become hard-hearted. Not only did their sin block them from knowing the Lord; their hardened hearts kept them from even caring. Have you ever been so angry that you just didn’t give a rip? Sometimes people are hurting so much that it is simply easier to let their wounds scab over and they become hard-hearted. It seems easier not to feel anything than to expose our pain and suffering for what it truly is. We shut up, put up, and suck up to the wrongs that need to be addressed. All the while, our hearts become harder and harder, and we continue to slowly die in deep despair. Many people have lost their battle to survive and have succumbed to a hard and lifeless heart song. Do you know someone who is dying today of a hard heart? Is there a family member or friend you know who refuses to even entertain the possibility that their life would be different, if they would choose to place their trust the only one who could change it forever? Is that someone you?

I find it extraordinary that our circulatory system illustrates the condition of our live song. The blood of Jesus Christ is the key to a new and restored life. Without His blood covering our sin, we will surely die. Christ reaches out to us, extending the hand of our heavenly Father, in love. Sometimes, our hearts become hard through the poor choices we’ve made. Maybe the hurts caused by someone we love run so deep, that His life-giving blood cannot seem to reach us. We turn away from Him, blowing the Lord of life off. We allow our pain and anger and shame to block the Father from coming inside. We are afraid of what might happen if we take one more chance and let Him inside. Still, His blood can soften even the hardest heart. The forgiveness and grace we experience is like inhaling a breath of fresh air for the very first time! The poison of our sin and the hatred we carry is washed away in His blood. Breathing Him in becomes true joy. The energy that had been zapped from our bodies is sparked with a new and full life! We find purpose and meaning in the new song we sing, and we cannot contain it!

If you find yourself suffocating inside the scars of a hard and broken heart, heed the words of the prophet Jeremiah and offer the Lord your life today. Jesus can take your worst pain and heal it through His love and grace. If you will just let it go and ask God in, He can remove those scars and give you a soft heart once again. There is hope at the foot of the cross for you today. Won’t you come experience His grace and forgiveness today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: God to take your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. He is willing. He is able. You can be free today from the scars that continue to harden your heart and steal your life away. Come to Jesus and live!

___________________________________________

© 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 25, 2007

Daddy's smile

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Jeremiah 1, 2, 3; Psalm 110

Psalm 34:8 (NIV)

8 Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him.

Psalm 119:103 (NIV)

103 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

Good morning!

When I got home from work last night, I opened my email account and was delighted to see two messages; one from my daughter and one from my niece, attaching pictures of their children on Snapfish®. This website provides a way to download photographs from a digital camera and share them with the people you know and love. I am convinced I have the cutest grandchildren and great nieces ever!

I selected the slideshow option for each set and watched their stories unfold – it’s kind of like viewing a silent movie in Technicolor! I laughed out loud when I saw the pizza pie bakeoff with my grandchildren, Joshua and Emily. I remember purchasing a Chef Boy Ardee® box pizza mix and letting my own children learn how to make pizza pies. It was great fun watching five-year-old Joshua and three-year-old Emily put their first pizza pie together. They started by opening the box and mixing the dough. The next step was trying to figure out how to spread that sticky dough on the pan. Finally, the sauce was poured and the pepperonis artistically placed on top of the lumpy concoction. I loved the oven pictures! Joshua and Emily are leaning over next to the lighted window, watching the pizza cook! Oh, they just couldn’t wait to eat it! Be careful kids – that cheese will be hot! Then, the magical moment we’ve been waiting for arrives – the timer buzzes and that strange-looking pepperoni pizza is taken out of the oven! Can you smell it? Joshua and Emily got to taste the fruit of their labor for the very first time. It’s a pizza pie - Yummy! I must confess that my all-time favorite picture in the group was the very last one. My son-in-law Dave was chewing on a piece of homemade pepperoni pizza, grinning from ear to ear, and he had one thumb up in the air. Daddy loves it! He loved it because his children made it especially for him! I can assure you that pizza pie was not very pretty. Dave treated it as if it were a lavish five-course meal; the best pizza pie he had ever tasted. There is no doubt this father loves his children very much. You can see it in that silly smile on his sweet, pizza-pie face.

I couldn’t help but think about just how much God loves each one of us. He is our heavenly Father, and even though we cannot always see Him clearly, I know He smiles back! When we choose to taste His Word, we find it is sweeter than honey. When we honor the Lord with our life, the Scripture teaches that our offerings rise up to the heavens as a sweet, fragrant scent. Our Heavenly Father consumes the praises of His children and loves us, even when our half-baked effort falls short of perfection. That picture of my son-in-law (which should be captioned Father-Of-The Year) reminds me of the smile radiating from my heavenly Father’s face. God is smiling back! He loves your heart. He knows your name. He is smiling at you! Can you see His face clearly this morning?

I wonder if we will share homemade pizza pie at the banquet table prepared for us in heaven. I want to be able to consume that heavenly manna without fear of gaining weight or having a sugar swing. Yes, I would like that a lot. Honestly, I can’t wait to see the smile on my Daddy’s face as I enter into His presence and lay my humble offering at His feet. It won’t be perfect until He perfects me in His love; yet, He will know my heart and see how much I love and adore Him. I will be looking for that “thumbs up” signal from my Daddy. Just seeing His smile will make this life worthwhile. And that is a picture I will treasure forever!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a glimpse of the Father’s smile. He loves His children so very much. Offer Him your very best today and know that the Lord of life is smiling back at you with one thumb up!

___________________________________________

© 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 24, 2007

Haphazard faith

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 64, 65, 66

Isaiah 64:5-9 (NIV)

5 You come to the help of those who gladly do right, who remember your ways. But when we continued to sin against them, you were angry. How then can we be saved?

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind, our sins sweep us away.

7 No one calls on your name or strives to lay hold of you; for you have hidden your face from us and made us waste away because of our sins. 8 Yet, O Lord, you are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.

9 Do not be angry beyond measure, O Lord; do not remember our sins forever. Oh, look upon us, we pray, for we are all your people.

Romans 5:6 (NIV)

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

Good morning!

It had been a wonderful morning of worship and teaching. As I was leaving the meeting room last Saturday, the white sandal from my left foot suddenly slipped off while I was walking down the spiral staircase toward the exit. In what seemed to be just a few fleeting seconds, I was catapulted back to those old mystery movies on television. The sinister villain draped in a long black cloak suddenly pushed the frightened young woman down a never-ending flight of stairs. Without a warning, she suddenly finds herself spiraling, head over heels, toward the floor. I’m not really sure how this happened. Do you ever feel like Satan is pushing you down?

Those sandals are quite comfortable and I thought they were sturdy. I’ve never had a shoe fly off like that, and yet, I couldn’t figure out how to let go and what to grab onto to steady myself. Had it not been for the strong hand of my dear friend who saw my plight and extended a firm grip, I am certain I would have fallen down those steps, head over heels, and I can guarantee you it would not have been a pretty sight.

I’m such a klutz! I try to be careful, but just when I think I’ve got myself under control, suddenly I’m freefalling down the spiral staircase of life. I try so hard to get it right, yet my efforts alone seem to fail miserably. I think I understand what the prophet Isaiah is trying to say. Sometimes, we get sucked into the pendulum swing of the calamities of life, rocking back and forth from repentance to praise, to unworthiness, then back to grace. Isaiah asks the hard question, “How then, can we be saved?” In one brief, fleeting moment, the prophet states there is not one of us out there who doesn’t slip and fall from time to time. Surprised and caught off guard, we pray that someone will reach out and bring us back to a steady center. It is then that Isaiah reminds us we are all His children, and we stand in the grip of His grace.

I often wonder what the Lord of life sees when He looks inside my heart. His eyes pierce far beyond the surface as He looks through the words I speak and things I say and do. God sees beyond the grand motivations of what I do and exposes my true intent for what it is. He deserves so much more from me than what I give - not just a little piece of me here and there, but every bit of my heart, mind, soul and strength. So why would I hold anything back, then somehow find a way to feel good about haphazard faith? The experience of worship and sound teaching had prompted me to step outside the walls of safe sanctuary and into the not-so-safe world. Within seconds, I literally found myself falling down.

It is not by our might or power or works that we gain forgiveness and mercy from God. The Apostle Paul reminds us today that at just the right moment, while we were powerless to do anything to help ourselves, Jesus Christ died to save us. God extended His lifeline to you through the shed blood of His only Son. The pendulum of our days continues to swing. Life can be really good one second and really rotten the next. If you find yourself teetering on the edge of a spiral staircase today, look up! It is when we see that in our powerless and helpless state, Jesus reaches down in love and steadies our life. He can put things back on an even keel when we let Him. Will you let Him steady your step?

The voice of the prophet speaks! Put the brakes on haphazard faith. Stop trying to do it all by yourself; let go and give your heart completely to the Lord. Don’t hold anything back from Him. Jesus extends His loving hand to you today. He will steady your step and hold you up when you find yourself teetering on the edge of a spiraling staircase. It’s a long way down. Christ promises He will catch you, when you fall.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a steady hand to rescue you from haphazard faith. Faith in Jesus Christ changes everything! Won’t you trust Him to catch you 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, July 23, 2007

Oaks of righteousness

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 61, 62, 63

Isaiah: 61:1-3(NIV)

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion – to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.

Good morning!

Are you a tree climber? Aunt Pauline had a great big oak tree in her back yard, just perfect to perch in. Cousin Roger and I used to climb that tree and sit for hours every Saturday afternoon, while reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. We imagined that Roger was Huck and I was Becky and from the view up above, we could see the muddy Mississippi River rolling by. A solid oak, with thick and sturdy limbs, that tree supported our bodies and provided shade in the heat of summer. The smell of those green, minty leaves and the sparkle of the sunshine peeking through its branches, made for a secret hiding place. Of course, our aunt could see us from the kitchen window. We were never out of her sight or far from the sound of her contagious laughter.

That oak tree was a true friend to a little girl who needed something solid to hold onto. Every weekend, I would run to that tree and it was always there, just waiting for me to arrive. Its branches were beckoning; reaching out – inviting me to climb up into its arms. “Come hither, dear child,” the voice of the oak would sing sweetly in the breeze. The branches never budged or cracked, as I climbed up its trunk in my red Keds® sneakers. When dinner time came, I would shimmy down its trunk, hug my forever friend goodbye, and head into the house. In the bathroom, while washing the scrapes and dirt from under my finger nails, the smell of Bactine® antiseptic on white cotton balls reminded me of where I had spent one incredible day.

At the School of Lay Ministries this past weekend, I remembered the significance of that solid oak foundation during one of our teaching sessions. The pastor said that when we greet our guests and extend the right hand of Christian fellowship to each other, Jesus Christ, the Lord of life Himself, reaches through us and touches the one we are meeting, maybe for the very first time. It is Jesus Christ who then gently draws that person unto Himself. Like the oak tree welcoming the children in my aunt’s back yard, we invite all of God’s children into a rock solid relationship that will never fail. We are His solid oak branches, extending grace, mercy and peace to all who would answer the call of Christ and experience the sweet whispers of His refreshing breeze. The Holy Spirit moves just like that! We can get a whiff of His love every time we open our hearts and extend the hand of Christ to a world who desperately needs to know Him.

One hundred twenty-two oaks of righteousness stood side-by-side in the upper room of the student center at Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri this weekend. We are His branches, inviting, embracing, and extending the love of Christ to everyone we meet. Oaks of righteousness are springing up everywhere. They may be as close to you as in your own back yard, inviting you to come. We are the body of Christ. We invite you to climb up into His everlasting arms. He is real; He is alive, and He is reaching out to you right now.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: faith! It is time to climb the tree! Put on your sneakers, and reach out to the One who is calling out your name. Come hither, dear child, and experience the unfailing love of Jesus Christ, the solid oak of righteousness.

___________________________________________

© 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 22, 2007

One drop at a time


Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Isaiah 58, 59, 60


Isaiah 58:9-12 (NIV)


9 Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like noonday. 11 The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. 12 Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called a Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.


Good morning!


Yesterday afternoon, I learned about a beautiful little girl named Doli. I gazed upon this child's sweet face and listened with awe as the President of the Rainbow Network spoke about how Doli's life had been saved from certain death from malnutrition. Doli's mother had carried her child to the doctors, who had arrived to provide medical treatment for the people in her village. At that time, Doli was three years old. She had never walked, and looked to be the size of a three-month old baby. Emaciated and racked with fever, it was apparent that without immediate medical intervention, Doli would not survive. The doctors treated her that night, and helped Doli's mother receive a feeding plan for her child. Now, this bright little soul with eyes that sparkle like bright stars from heaven above is alive and well. She is a living testimony of faith!


Every human being is born with essential needs; the need to drink clean water, to receive daily food; the need to love and to be loved. Without essentials, people die from starvation, malnutrition and despair. There is so much suffering in the world today. How can you and I even begin to touch the needs of so many around us?


One drop at a time.


If every Christian alive committed to caring for one hungry child outside the walls of their own family, we could end the plight of hunger together. There are many opportunities for mission, and we do not have to look far to see true need. Many wonder why they should even try, and then we meet a little girl named Doli and thank God someone cared enough to extend their hand of help to her. I have no doubt that one day, this precious little girl will share her story with others. How much are you willing to risk to extend the miracle of life to a dying child?


Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord and spoke His Word with determination. Listen how the Lord speaks today: "If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like noonday." We can carry the love of Christ and extend the gift of life, one drop at a time.


The big picture can be overwhelming. But when we are confronted with the angelic face of Doli, it is only then we understand that through the power of our Lord, all things are possible.


Will you be Jesus to a little drop in the bucket of life? Who will you reach out to in love today?


Grace and peace,


Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com


Pray for: the desire to take your compassion and turn it to a passion! Won't you choose to help a starving child today? If you are not sure where to begin, check out the Rainbow Network online. You can make a lasting difference for another human being, one drop at a time.