Saturday, September 15, 2007

Falling asleep on the job

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Nahum 1, 2, 3; Psalm 121

Nahum 1:15 (NIV)

15 Look, there on the mountains, the feet of one who brings good news, who proclaims peace! Celebrate your festivals, O Judah, and fulfill your vows. No more will the wicked invade you; they will be completely destroyed.

Psalm 121 (NIV)

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 3 He will not let your foot slip – He who watches over you will not slumber; 4 indeed, He who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord watches over you – the Lord is your shade at your right hand; 6 the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. 7 The Lord will keep you from all harm – He will watch over your life; 8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

Good morning!

Have you ever fallen asleep on the job? When I was pregnant with our son Benjamin, I was tired all the time. Toward the end of this pregnancy, I had to lie down and rest periodically during the day. I was employed as a part-time administrative assistant for a Disciples of Christ Church in the town where we lived. On Friday afternoons, the office was very quiet, as the pastor took the day apart for rest and reflection prior to weekend services. Sometimes, the only sound in the building was that of the air conditioning unit kicking on every fifteen minutes or so. I had just finished running the bulletin for worship, hand-folded all the copies and was waiting for my husband to pick me up. In my ninth month, I could barely waddle, much less drive. In order to get the seat close enough so that I could reach the gas pedal and brake with my feet, the steering wheel wouldn’t turn because of my ever-expanding baby bump. It was a typical summer in Texas, and the temperatures rose to the mid 100 degree range every afternoon. I don’t remember closing my eyes, but I do recall the pastor standing over my desk laughing at me, while shaking my shoulders with his hands. I think I might have been drooling, with my head propped between my hands, sitting hunched over the desk. It’s a good thing pastors provide grace and mercy to their laity who sometimes unintentionally fall asleep while on the clock.

We all have a job to do. God plans and provides for our time on earth and He expects us to listen, seek, and act. He expects us to wake up and get to work. Have you ever wanted to stay in bed and catch a few extra winks when the Great I Am is urging you to get up?

There is something very comforting in knowing that the Lord watches over my life. Even when I am sleeping, He is watching me. The prophet Nahum sounded a trumpet of good news for the people of God. Hold on! Go ahead and celebrate the Lord God Almighty! He will rescue you from the evil that surrounds you day by day; the stuff of life that wears you out and makes you tired. Get up and rejoice! Fulfill His call upon your life now, for God is watching over you today!

This is the message every sleepy head needs to hear. If your life is stuck between a rock and hard place and all you want to do is close your eyes and go to sleep, listen to the Word of the Lord today and know that God will protect you when doze off, and He will go before you in every battle you face, if you will simply call upon His name. Do not be discouraged. Get up; inhale a brand new breath of God, and get to work! Lift your eyes up and see your salvation. Come and worship the Lord with me!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a new breath of fresh air. The Lord promises to watch over your coming and going, both now and forevermore. It’s time to get up and go tell the world about the Lord!

____________________________

© 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, September 14, 2007

Can anything good come from cancer?

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Micah 7; Psalms 119:145-176; 120

Micah 7:7 (NIV)

7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord; I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Hosea 13:14 (NIV)

13 “I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death. Where, O death, are your plagues? Where, O grave, is your destruction?”

Good morning!

This summer, two of my children were both diagnosed with different types of cancer. Our Rachel had cervical cancer. She had surgery, and with His healing touch in and through the skill of her surgeon, Rachel is now is cancer free, praise God! She has a husband and three beautiful children, ages 5, 3 and 12 weeks old. Now Rachel is looking forward to living life with her family and watching her children grow up. Having cancer changes your perspective on life. It will take several weeks for Rachel's body to recover, but every day we see a little more improvement.

Our son David has stage 3 non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He has been receiving treatment for several weeks. His cancer, despite the medications, continues to spread. Three new places showed up this week in a scan, one on his right jaw and two places on the brain. David is 21 years old. He's had his share of health issues through the years, and I'm thankful that this boy is a fighter. I've watched him overcome some pretty tough situations in life. Oh, how I want David to be cancer free! What mother wouldn't want her child to be healthy and whole? His illness is going to take every ounce of physical, emotional and spiritual strength he can muster to lick it.

I've never had cancer before. Would I be as courageous as my children are in the throws of a major medical crisis? What can they teach me about hanging onto faith in the midst of adversity?

Rachel wonders whether she will wake up one morning and not wonder if the cancer that once lived inside of her has returned. David wonders if he will ever wake up one day cancer-free. I wake up in the middle of the night, wondering why some babies are born with cancer, why little children suffer - what good gift could possibly come from such a horrible disease?

Maybe the good gifts are borne in learning how to trust God just a little bit more, especially when we find ourselves deep in the pit of adversity. Letting go and allowing the Lord full reign is never easy, at least not for me. I'm like the Little Engine that Could. If “I Think I Can” long enough, I'll find the steam it takes to get up the mountain all by myself. Sometimes, we need an stronger engine to carry us all the way to the top. Without Christ’s mercy and strength, I'd be stuck at the bottom of the hill, spouting hot air and overheating from the inside out.

This morning, I'm looking for something good to come from this horrible disease called cancer. I know that I know that I know - my God is greater. He holds my children in His amazing arms of love. He loves them and planned for their lives long before they were even a glimmer in my eye. He promises that I can depend upon Him, even though I can't see the bigger picture right now. My vision is blurred and limited as I gaze through the veil of my tears. Still, I know they are not alone in this fight and neither are we. Remembering God's love for us and His promise that He will be with us, even to the end of the age, is good news for a day like today.

Maybe something good can come from this after all.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray that you will be especially near to every person who is struggling with cancer today. May the power and presence of your sweet Holy Spirit comfort your children as they fight to survive. Give them courage and faith to hold on to you, even in the midst of extreme adversity. Teach us how to trust you more. Thank you for remaining a faithful and constant companion, especially when we find ourselves climbing a cancer mountain. 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.

Thursday, September 13, 2007

Gift giving

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Micah 4, 5, 6

Micah 6:6-8 (NIV)

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

Good morning!

Do you take joy in gift giving? Last night, Jeff and I enjoyed a special birthday dinner with onr one year old granddaughter, Madison Marie. She is a real cutie, with fly-away blonde hair and big blue eyes that melt your heart, Maddie is a tiny little thing. She only weighs seventeen pounds. When you pick Madison up, it’s kind of like picking up my purse, although I think it must weigh more than her. She is a trite leaf! We watched as Maddie opened her birthday presents with her big brother Jett. She liked the books Granny Deb picked out, but seemed disinterested in Clifford, the big red dog stuffed animal, or the angel that prays bedtime prayers. She got a vacuum cleaner that sings nursery rhymes when you roll it on the floor. I might enjoy vacuuming my house a whole lot more if my vacuum would sing to me! Jett and Pa had a good time putting together the Little People dollhouse. What a time of great joy, to see life through the eyes of a tiny one-year old girl. Don’t you just wonder what she is thinking as she looks at the brightly colored paper, totally disinterested in the gift inside? There is only so much of the world one take in, when you are only one year old.

One of my favorite gifts to give was a blood donation. I went regularly for many years, believing that the gift of a blood donation might one day save the life of another human being in crisis. I prepared well for each donation, by drinking lots of water, eating high protein foods, and getting plenty of exercise and rest before I gave. I always felt good afterward, inside and out. Since I’m no super hero and physically saving lives does not seem to be my natural calling, this was one gift I could give, knowing I would make a lasting difference for someone else. This past winter, my doctors told me that due to anemia, I could no longer donate blood. When my daughter was in the hospital a couple of weeks ago, there was a time when I knew she might need a transfusion. Not only are we related, but we have the same blood type, and yet, I wasn’t eligible to give her the gift of life. How that broke my heart! All those years that I was able to give freely and now when I wanted to help my child, I couldn’t. Have you ever wanted to give the gift of life to someone you love? You watch helplessly as your children suffer with an illness that you cannot cure, even though you would give anything to make them whole again. .

The prophet Micah beautifully captures the effects of sin in the words He speaks to God’s people. Hear him speak to your heart today. Micah knew that when we choose to live in sin, we separate ourselves from a perfect and holy Father. If we do not turn away and repent, that sin will eventually kill us. Can you imagine the pain it must cause our Father watching His creation waste away in sin? What kind of offering could possibly be given that would purchase a dying soul from eternal death and Hell?

Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, became our kinsman redeemer when He gave His life on the cross of Calvary. He came to redeem the world from the sins that keep us separated from a holy relationship with God. Like Abraham, we may wonder if we must sacrifice our first born child to atone for the mistakes we’ve made in life. We’ve all made them; none of us are perfect. What can we return to a loving Father, a faithful Son, and a comforting Spirit, who seeks us out day by day and calls us into a deeper relationship? We offer our hearts to the Lord when we choose to act justly, show mercy, and walk humbly with the Great I Am. The only gift we can give to the greatest gift giver I know is to return our hearts to Him with thanksgiving and praise.

If God can save a sin-sick soul like me, He can save you too. Won’t you open and accept the best gift you will ever receive? Ask Jesus Christ into your heart today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: courage to unwrap the best gift ever given – Jesus Christ died so that you may be healed and whole, not only in this life, but for all eternity. He is yours for the keeping, if you will simply ask Jesus into 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, September 12, 2007

Mountain view

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Micah 1, 2, 3, 4

Micah 4:1-3 (NIV)

1 In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills and peoples will stream into it.

2 Many nations will come and say, “Come let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us His ways so that we may walk in His paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the Word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

Good morning!

Yesterday, I found myself dreaming about taking a quick trip to the mountains. Our David loves the Colorado Mountains. We spent some incredible time as a family in Bailey, Colorado. Our last trip was in the fall of 2003. We left home our home on September 10th, enjoying the beginning of an early fall. As we drove northwest of Denver, we hit a huge snowstorm, and the flakes were as large as dollar sized pancakes. It was the most beautiful thing I think I’ve ever seen. I wondered if we would spend our week cloistered inside the cabin around a log fire while the storm passed through, but the snow fall was short lived, and while it was plenty cold in the evenings, our days were sunny and filled with the wonder of flaming aspens and the sound of the cold Black river crashing against the rocks and river bed near our vacation home.

When I visit the mountains, I feel like I’ve come home. It is a sense of joy that I find hard to describe. David knows exactly how I feel, because he shares the same joy that I do when we vacation at Colorado. It is a place where we find ourselves surrounded by the majestic beauty of God’s creative work. I’ve never seen bluer skies or prettier landscapes than in the valleys between each mountain pass. The log cabin where we stay is rustic. It sports hardwood floors with woven area rugs, a large fireplace with a stone hearth that seats five people easily. Thank goodness for indoor plumbing and electricity. When the power fails, there is always an oil lamp just waiting to provide light in the dark night. And in the mountains when the power goes out, it is pitch black. Late at night when I’m laying in the four poster bed upstairs underneath a mound of warm block quilts, I cannot see the hand in front of my face. There are no phones or television sets. This is something I’ve come to truly appreciate. Sometimes we just need to get away from all the things that distract us, and simply dwell in the presence of God. Surrounded in His love, there is no other place I’d rather be.

The prophet Micah describes God’s holy mountain, Mount Zion, as a mountain above all others. It is a place where peoples from all over the earth will go to meet the Lord of life. There, He will teach us to walk in His ways, along paths of righteousness. His law will rule; His Word will reign. Jesus, the living Word of God, will reign on Zion.

I do not get to travel to the Colorado mountains as often I would like. Yet, I can climb the mountain of the Lord and sit in His holy presence every moment of every day, simply by calling out His name. Whenever we seek His face, He draws us closer along the mountain path. The beauty of the Lord surrounds us there, and we are forever changed by His grace and love. There is nothing more precious than going up the hill to the foot of cross. It is where we find covering for sin, communion with our Savior, and the fresh breath of everlasting life. Will you come and stand on the mountain top with me today? Jesus Christ is waiting to meet us there.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: an extraordinary view! Christ’s love is waiting for you on Mount Zion. Come and partake in the rapture of a soul ransomed by God’s amazing grace. Won’t you take a trip to God’s holy mountain with me 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, September 11, 2007

Running away?

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Jonah 1, 2, 3, 4

Jonah 1:1-3 (NIV)

1 The Word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Ninevah and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed from Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord.”

Good morning!

Pack your running shoes! Let’s just see how fast you can fly. After all, you’ve just been called by God to make a difference in the world around you, and what He has asked you to do sounds crazy, sadistic, and seemingly impossible! “God, you can’t be calling me.” “You want me to do what?” Several years ago, Comedian Bill Cosby recorded and performed a short skit in which God and Noah had a conversation relating to call. I laughed hysterically the first time I watched Cosby perform this piece on television. Hysterical laughter is a great stress reliever and a cover for the uncomfortable rumblings we feel rising up from the pit of our stomachs. We know when God calls us to act. Yet, we look for ways to do just about anything else except that one thing. Hearing God’s call is kind of like having a baby. A woman waits nine months to give birth and wonders every time she feels a pain, whether she should head to the hospital. But when the actual labor begins, there is absolutely no doubt that something big is getting ready to be birthed. Have you ever tried run away from God? Some say that the book of Jonah is a whale of a story, but I’m here to tell you, this is as real as it gets.

I’ve spent many days running in the opposite direction of the Lord. I’ve never found a pair of running shoes that could carry me faster than my Lord could fly. Sometimes in an open and utter rebellion, I would have rather eaten a can of worms than answer His call. And there are times when I did just that. So why do we feel compelled to run away from God’s call upon our life?

When my children were young, I used to ask them, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” My babies had high aspirations. Rachel wanted to be a mommy. Benjamin wanted to be a trash collector. David wanted to be E.T. “The Extra Terrestrial.” A mother, an alien and a waste removal engineer, my children were pursuing an interesting career path. Isn’t it strange that none of them raised their hands and said, “I want to be a Prophet when I grow up!” Why not a prophet? After all, it is a noble calling. Prophets hear and speak the Word of God, while people seek them out to publicly humiliate them for being faithful and true to the call. Many prophets live a life of public rejection, having very few friends whom they can count on. They spend their days eating wild locusts and honey while trying to catch a cat nap in a dark secluded cave. They recognize that God’s Word must be proclaimed at all costs, even if it means losing their own life in the process. It’s no wonder Jonah ran away. Do you run in the opposite direction when God calls you?

God may be calling you to tell others about what He has done in your life. You may find faith sharing to be extremely difficult. Wondering if you might offend another person by stepping on their toes, we choose to keep silent rather than say something that might place us in relational jeopardy. If God is calling you to share Christ with your neighbor, ask Him to give you His spirit of boldness, to say the words that He would have you say. When God calls, He makes a way for you. An opportunity will arise – something will happen that will give you a chance to say what is on your heart. There are lots of really wonderful, moral and upright folks out there, loving others while respecting their space, offering assistance, and showing kindness to the world around them. There are lots of good people who do not believe in Jesus Christ. At some point, Christians must say why they do what it is they do. It is only in telling Christ’s story that we can spread the salvation message to the world, while obeying His Word in our daily walk.

When we run away from God, whether it is from fear of the unknown to inexplicable, open rebellion, we are going to get swallowed up in the belly of a whale, just like our friend Jonah. Separation from God is a painful thing. He may be calling you to something you do not feel equipped to do. Ask Him to help you today. God will give you the strength, grace and perseverance to go the distance, walking with you, every step of the way. Jesus promised to be with us always, even to the end of the age. And that’s a promise we can count on.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: greater faith! If the Lord calls you to it, He will see you through it, every step of the way. It’s time to put your running shoes away.

___________________________________________

© 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, September 10, 2007

Possessing your inheritance

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Amos 7, 8, 9; Obadiah

Amos 9:11-12 (NIV)

11 In that day I will restore David’s fallen tent, I will repair its broken places, restore its ruins, and build it as it used to be, 12 so that they may possess the remnant of Edom and all the nations that bear my name,” declares the Lord, “who will do these things.”

Obadiah 1:17 (NIV)

17 But on Mount Zion will be deliverance; it will be holy, and the house of Jacob will possess its inheritance.

Good morning!

I was never very good at pitching a tent. No matter how tight I secured each corner, the center always seemed to sag. In the middle of the night during a summer storm, a sagging center is not a good thing, especially if you had intended to stay dry. The next morning, I could hear the snickers of my peers as they awoke and noticed the fallen and soggy tent toppled over on top of me. It was obvious I was in desperate need of an extreme makeover. Thank God for my talented tent-building friends, who never gave up trying to help, especially when my tent kept caving in. It was the same scenario on every camping trip I’ve ever been on. As I grew older, I learned to appreciate the intrinsic beauty of camping out in a Coleman® Pop-Up camper. Now that is one easy tent to pitch!

Sometimes our faith needs an extreme makeover. God offers us His umbrella of salvation. It is an inheritance we don’t deserve; yet, He offers it freely through the grace of His only Son, Jesus Christ. Have you ever received a gift you were not sure you wanted to keep? The gift of salvation is offered to everyone but some return the gift unopened and unused. Others may choose unwrap their tent of eternal protection and abundant life, only to pitch it during times of extreme pain or discouragement. My mother always used to say that practice makes perfect. A rookie tent-pitcher may find their faith sagging in the middle of a seasonal thunderstorm. When faith does not stand secure, the storms sweep in and their rich inheritance is washed away as the tent falls down around them. Has your faith tent ever sagged in the storms of your life?

There is a distinct difference between receiving an inheritance and possessing it. Anyone can receive a gift but not everyone will choose to embrace it. To possess something of value means that you will take ownership of it, employ it, use it, care for it, maintain it, and cherish it. I could have been a much better tent-builder if I had really wanted to camp. Camping was not my thing and I had very little interest in sleeping outside under the stars. If I had really wanted to, I could have learned how to pitch a tent without a sagging center. It was easier to accept defeat when the tent folded up around me, than to try it again (and in my case, again and again). If you want the inheritance you’ve received in Christ Jesus to hold up during the storms of life, it takes more than mere receivership to make that happen. You must possess your inheritance with a passion! It is not an option to merely accept Christ and ignore Him for the rest of your life. We must embrace Him in all of our life’s work. We must employ Him in everything we do and say. He must become our breath, our vision, our taste, and our only hope. He must become the only One we trust to cover us every single day for the rest of our earthly life. Do you trust Christ enough to let Him cover you completely?

The prophets Amos and Obadiah remind us that God will restore our fallen tents, repairing the broken places in our lives, so that we may truly possess our inheritance and live under His umbrella, safe and secure. God offers an extreme makeover to your faith walk today. Are you ready to unwrap the gift God has given you and take possession of it today?

Faith builders stand ready and waiting to help take up the slack of a sagging center. If you are not going to church right now, I would encourage you to find a community of faith and plug yourself into a small group Bible study. Everyone needs a place where they can learn more about their inheritance, the gift of salvation through faith in Jesus Christ. We need to be able to ask questions, express opinions, and listen to each other. We are stronger together, covered underneath His umbrella of grace and mercy, where forgiveness is available, and love reigns over all.

A saggy tent on a rainy weekend can make for a long and miserable camping experience. We can all be happy campers, when we let go and let God do an extreme makeover Are you ready to possess your inheritance today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: an extreme makeover! If God can take mustard seed faith and move mountains with it, then there is hope for your sagging center. Come and see us at Faith Church today. We’ll hook you up with a small group who will help you in Tent Pitching 101. May God especially bless you today, as you take possession of the rich inheritance offered through Jesus Christ!

___________________________________________

© 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, September 09, 2007

The dualisms of life

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Amos 4, 5, 6

Amos 5:14-15 (NIV)

14 Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is. 15 Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.

Matthew 7:9-12 (NIV)

9 “Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So, in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.”

Good morning!

I am a collector of many different types of memorabilia. I place scraps of paper and notes I’ve taken into Creative Memories® scrapbooks. I have a bookshelf full of scrapbook photos capturing places I’ve been throughout my life’s journey and the stories I share with family and friends. Do you collect sentimental relics that help convey who you are - something that you may one day leave as an heirloom for your children or grandchildren? I have a Bible that is literally falling apart at the seams. I have marked in it for over ten years now. It was a gift from my husband when I took my first Disciple Bible Study class in Salem, Missouri. I carry it with me each week to church and school, but it is becoming unmanageable, as the pages are literally beginning to fall out of its binding. A lot of time has been spent pouring over its pages, marking the text, and taking notes during worship. Someday I will need to retire this book, especially if I intend to pass it along to my family. Until then, I need to put it in a zippered case, simply to keep it all together. Do you have a Bible that is precious to you? Scripture is a precious treasure containing love letters from God. It is a wonderful gift worth passing from generation to generation.

My New Testament professor has a unique and unusual collection to share. He looks for dualisms in life, and keeps a notebook filled with words illustrating this philosophy. Every week in class, we embark upon a study and reflection of various dualisms jam-packed throughout Scripture. Prophets conveyed the Word of God through the variety of dualisms spoken to the people of Israel. Amos urges God’s people to seek good rather than evil, for goodness would bring life, but evil would render death. Good versus evil – life and death issues; the dualisms we continue to struggle with everyday. Brilliant philosophers like Plato, Aristotle and Renè Descartes helped unpack some of the questions dualistic living raises. Cartesian dualism suggests that the mind and body, two distinct substances, can and does interact with one another.

Jesus Christ knew a lot about genuine goodness and the evil intentions buried in the hearts and minds of people. We are a mix of good and evil, mind and matter, spirit and body. Jesus said, “If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!” How I long to give good gifts to my kids, but sometimes I fail. Even the best intentions can be laced with ulterior motives, such as bribery. Have you never offered your child a little incentive if they would bring home a good grade on a test or as a special reward for picking up their room? To become a person full of goodness is the legacy I want to leave, knowing that I must have Christ’s perfecting touch to reach it one day. You see, only perfect goodness exists in the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We are created in the image of God, and God sees His creation as good. Our goodness is not yet perfected, but through Christ’s amazing grace, we can move closer toward His holy perfection and goodness each day.

Do you struggle with dualisms in your life? My desire to live in the Lord’s daily presence can only come through seeking His way, which is the only way to the Father. The words of the Prophet Amos remind me today that I must embrace God’s goodness over evil, checking out my ulterior motives, and relying completely upon the grace and mercy of Jesus Christ alone.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the desire to strive toward perfection in Christ Jesus. He can take the dualisms and contradictions in our lives and wash us clean by the power of His precious blood. Come into His presence today and worship the Lord. I’ll see you this morning at Faith Church, a community of faith where you will always be welcome.

___________________________________________

© 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.