Saturday, September 22, 2007

This is the Day of Atonement

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 11, 12, 13, 14

Exodus 30:10 (NIV)

10 Once a year Aaron shall make atonement on its horns. This annual atonement must be made with the blood of the atoning sin offering for the generations to come. It is most holy to the Lord.

Leviticus 27:28 (NIV)

28 But nothing that a man owns and devotes to the Lord – whether man or animal or family land – may be sold or redeemed; everything so devoted is most holy to the Lord.

I Peter 1:18-21 (NIV)

18 For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers; 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through Him you believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and glorified Him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

Good morning!

This weekend, the twenty-four hour period beginning Friday evening at dusk and ending Saturday night is the most precious and holy moment celebrated in Jewish faith and tradition. Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement or Day of Indwelling, is a feast that is celebrated around the world. During this twenty-four hour period, the faithful gather in their synagogues and places of worship to confess and repent of their sin, to publicly forgive those who have sinned against them, and to love and honor the Great I Am. It is a time of remembrance when the blood of the Lamb placed over the door posts of their homes protected them from the Passover of the death angel in Egypt, and how God brought them out of slavery and into the Promised Land.

As Christians, we rejoice and celebrate in the Day of Atonement, remembering the sacrifice of the holy Lamb of God, perfect and sinless offering, who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus Christ, the sacrificial lamb, became the bridge gap between an imperfect humanity and perfect God. He is our kinsman redeemer; the way, the truth and the life. This day is a day for all believers everywhere. It is most holy to the Lord.

How will you spend your day of atonement? Will you set aside a time for personal devotion and prayer? What gift will you bring to the altar of the Lord? Moses commanded the people that no man should appear before the Lord empty-handed: each person must bring a gift in proportion to the way the Lord your God has blessed you. {Deuteronomy 16:17). Take some time to make a list today of all the ways God has blessed you, saves you, walks with you, provides for you, and loves you even when you least deserve it. What kind of gift would you give to the Lord who gives you new life?

This is a day to pray, to deny ourselves something of value that can be offered to the Lord with grateful appreciation for the things He has done. Can you find it in your heart to make amends with someone you dislike? Would you sacrifice a meal out, donating that money to feed someone around the world who is starving today? Are you willing to spend not just five minutes, but maybe five hours in prayer and praise to the Lamb of God, who purchased your soul on Calvary?

I would challenge every Christian to observe the Day of Atonement this weekend. If you have not been to worship for some time, this is the perfect weekend to come home. I promise the roof will not fall in on you. At Faith Church, there will be people waiting to shake your hand and welcome you to worship. If you are worried about coming alone, invite your family, bring a friend or neighbor to join you this weekend at church. The moment is now. This is the time to thank Jesus Christ for His redeeming love.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: believers to join hearts and hands all over the world today, as we thank God for the Lamb who takes away our sin, and brings us into a right relationship with God. What gift will you offer to the Lord your God 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, September 21, 2007

Stubborn streak

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Zechariah 7, 8, 9, 10

Zechariah 7:9-12 (NIV)

9 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. 10 Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. In your hearts do not think evil of each other.’ 11 But they refused to pay attention; stubbornly they turned their backs and stopped up their ears. 12 They made their hearts as hard as flint and would not listen to the law or to the words that the Lord Almighty had sent by His Spirit through the earlier prophets. So the Lord Almighty was very angry.

Good morning!

Do you have a stubborn streak? I used to get really angry with my children when, during a family discussion, I could see the self-righteous indignation taking hold of their physical bodies. They would literally stiffen up, pursing their lips with eyes glazed over and the tiny hairs on the back of their necks standing straight up. When I saw this look float across their faces, I knew this was the outward manifestation of a hardened and selfish heart inside. They were not hearing me, no matter how hard I tried to break through. Where do kids learn how to do this stuff? Sometimes I wonder if stubborn streaks are simply an inheritance, passed down from their Mama, affectionately known as the Queen of Flint!

Every now and then, I’ve seen my grandchildren “assume the position” while their parents are giving them verbal instructions. When parents speak, they expect their children to listen and obey them. How often do our kids simply turn us off, like the television set making meaningless noise from another room without an audience to watch and listen? It’s no wonder that God became very angry with His kids when they refuse to listen and obey His Word.

Zechariah spoke heartfelt instruction from God to His people. To administer true justice through love, one must show mercy and compassion. We must end the ongoing oppression of the widows and the fatherless, to stop judging them for the things they simply have no control over in life. He urged His children to love the poorest of the poor and not alienate them even further from society. He begged us not to think evil thoughts about each other. Did they listen and obey His Word? Do we listen and obey His instruction today?

God may be asking you to step out of your comfort zone and befriend someone who is struggling to survive. Maybe He is asking you to spend some serious time with a neighbor who has lost their spouse and spends long days cloistered and alone. It may not be pleasant for you to make time to sit and hold the hand of one who is suffering from separation, anger, and grief. If God called you to go and simply be present with them; to listen and care, would you do it willingly and without hesitation? It is much easier to be too busy and make excuses that cover up our feelings of inadequacy in sharing in another human being’s pain. Are we simply allowing our jam-packed days to harden our hearts to someone who truly needs a friend? I don’t know about you, but this is an area in my life that needs a serious attitude adjustment.

This morning I’m thinking about the times I have refused to listen and obey the Lord’s instruction. Like my children, I’ve stood motionless and unbending at the foot of the cross, refusing to remove the flint from my face. It is my sin that sent the Lord Jesus Christ to Calvary. He came back to break my hard and callous heart. Day by day, Jesus teaches me a little more about His perfect love, and my imperfect attempts to imitate Him. If God is tugging at your heart to reach out in love to someone today and it makes you just a little too uncomfortable, ask yourself why. Then, let the Lord break your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. He will do it if you are willing to let go of your stubborn streak today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the desire to turn around, unstop your ears, and allow the Lord of life to melt your heart of stone and soften that flint face. God is calling us to love each other through the perfect love of Christ. Someone out there needs you right now. Are you ready to listen and obey?

____________________________

© 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 20, 2007

His Spirit is all we need

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Zechariah 4, 5, 6

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV)

6 So [the angel] said to me, “This is the Word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord God Almighty.”

Acts 2:17; 47b (NIV)

17 ‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.’

47b And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Good morning!

Can you imagine what the early church might have looked like had it hired an outside consulting firm to do its evangelistic outreach campaign? The advertisement might have sounded something like this:

Come and visit The Church! We are conveniently located near the intersection of Grace Parkway and Highway 2 Heaven Road. Come and experience abundant life in our spacious state-of-the-art worship center. We offer a variety of program selections designed specifically to meet your family’s needs. We maintain a staff of highly educated, well-trained pastors, teachers, and evangelists, who are on call and ready to help you seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. Won’t you come and join in one of our ten celebration services this weekend?

Sometimes we lose sight of whose church it is that we worship in. God had instructed Zerubbabel to see to the rebuilding of His temple in Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah encouraged the people to press on while Zerubbabel made sure the work was completed according to the Lord’s specification. We get so caught up in the craftsmanship and detail of human hands that we forget to acknowledge the work of the Holy Spirit in drawing people into the community of faith. The angel spoke God’s Word to Zechariah when he said, “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the Lord God Almighty.

After Christ’s death and resurrection, a small band of believers gathered together in the Upper Room and waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit. It was the Spirit of the living God that drew literally thousands into fellowship with Jesus Christ. It was His Spirit that spoke to the hearts of people everywhere. It was His Spirit that converted even the most hardened hearts, like Saul. The early church gathered together in one tiny space, sharing everything they had with each other. They built their foundation upon prayer and praise, knowing they were powerless to change a world by their own hands. They waited for the Lord to act, and gave Him all glory, praise and honor, for the hearts of those who were being saved daily. Can you imagine what The Church could be if we took the “we” out of our advertising and focused completely upon Him?

Jesus Christ sends us forth with a message of salvation and hope to a world who desperately longs to know Him. We need to get out of His way, allowing His sweet Holy Spirit to do the greater work. We must stop relying solely upon the amenities we build with our hands, or the programs we plan and offer. Bringing people to Christ begins on our knees in prayer. It is not by anything we do or build, but only by the power of His Holy Spirit.

When the presence of God hovers, the people will come. As Christians, we can join hearts and hands through the Spirit, praying for our brothers and sisters to give their lives to the Lord. His sweet Holy Spirit is the only evangelist we need to bring the message of salvation to all people.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a move of the Holy Spirit to break out in your faith community today. If God’s people will simply humble themselves and pray, the Church of Jesus Christ will rise up over all the earth and the Great Commission will be fulfilled just as He instructed us to do.

____________________________

© 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 19, 2007

Someone prayed!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Zechariah 1, 2, 3; Psalm 123

Psalm 123:1 (NIV)

1 I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven.

Zechariah 2:13 (NIV)

13 Be still before the Lord, all mankind, because He has roused Himself from His holy dwelling.

Good morning!

I know someone was praying fervently for me at 2:00pm yesterday afternoon. Have you ever experienced a holy moment and you knew without a doubt that someone was praying specifically for you? I may never know who took the time to intercede on my behalf, and yet, the presence and power of the Holy Spirit fell upon me as I sat at my desk, coding bills and entering the dollar amounts into a computer database.

God speaks to us each day. He touches our lives when we least expect Him to. I wasn’t sitting in church, or reading my Bible. My mind was focused on the work I was doing. I always know when the presence of the Lord is near. His love wraps around me like a warm woolen blanket on a chilly fall evening. I could sense His light around me, and that made my heart beat just a little bit faster. Sitting in His Holy presence always brings such peace and joy to my heart. Isn’t it good to know that He watches over us no matter where we are or what we are doing? He is with us – we are never alone.

We can be still before the Lord at work, in our cars, in the 15 minute wait of a “fast” food drive-through lane, and even at home, while we are washing dishes, doing laundry, or getting ready for work. We lift our eyes up toward the heaven and immediately are ushered into His holy dwelling. Believers have an audience with the Almighty twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. And it all begins with a whispered prayer, “Dear Lord.”

Prayer warriors are people who intercede for the needs of others. They touch lives each day. We may feel helpless at times, not knowing how to extend help to a brother or sister in need. And yet, through the gift of intercessory prayer, we can share their burdens with the Lord by lifting each person by name, knowing He hears and answers our pleas for help.

Take a moment today and offer a prayer to the Lord for the people in your life. Lift up your eyes toward the heavens today. He sees you; He hears you; He knows your name. May God bless you with the touch of His Holy Spirit, as you find a quiet moment in His presence today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: someone you love. You may not know how to help them, but God knows. He hears and answers every prayer uttered, and those whom you have lifted will know they’ve received the gift of peace from 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.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Soul desire

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Haggai 1, 2; Psalm 122

Haggai 1:5-8 (NIV)

5 Now this is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it.” 7 This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored.”

Psalm 122:1; 6-9 (NIV)

1 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. 7 May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels.” 8 For the sake of my brothers and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” 9 For the sake of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek your prosperity.

Good morning!

On Sunday morning, I was working in the kitchen, making food for our family picnic while flipping television channels from the sink. I love to multi-task! A thirty-minute real estate advertisement, showing various homes for sale in the Saint Louis and Saint Charles County area caught my interest. I stopped what I was doing and sat down on the sofa to watch. Have you ever paid attention to these infomercials? Many of the homes featured were large structures, elegantly appointed with the beautiful hard-wood flooring, plush carpeting, track lighting, and prime location. Each room was spacious, featuring vaulted or open ceilings. The homes sat on secluded acreage, surrounded by lush gardens, swimming pools, and shade trees. The price tag at the bottom of the screen was as long as each driveway. I couldn’t help but wonder where people make the kind of money it takes to purchase homes like the ones featured in this program.

There is a saying, “Home is where the heart is.” There’s just something special about coming home. If you are like me, you may work long days, and then go to school in the evenings. I don’t get to spend much time at home and when I’m there, I just want to be comfortable. I change from street clothes to my favorite pair of pajamas and curl up on the sofa with a good book, a bottle of water, and a snack. I can get a little too comfortable on that sofa, and before long, I’m fast asleep. I’ve learned that the sofa is not a good place for me to purposefully study. I do much better at a coffee shop or library. At least I stay awake there.

The Jews were finally returning home from Babylon and Persia. They had suffered for many years, and they wanted nothing more than to rebuild their lives in the light of God’s love. Their hearts were turned toward home. As the people began to rebuild, they focused on their own personal space, while forgetting about the God who saves them. Were they being self-absorbed? Maybe so, and yet, I believe these people simply wanted to create a safe space where they could be comfortable and rest without fear of persecution and captivity. They longed for peace, and the homes they were building represented their soul desire.

Somehow humans have come to believe that we have the power to create a safe space where the ravages of the world cannot touch us. Our brick and vinyl sided structures may feel wonderfully secure until they collapse in a fire, flood, tornado, hurricane, or other natural phenomena. Our homes may be vandalized and robbed without warning. We may lose everything we own in a financial setback or major health crisis. Where can we go to find an everlasting peace and security that cannot be destroyed or taken away from us?

The prophet Haggai speaks! He reminds all of us that it is time to stop worrying about our own personal comfort and begin focusing on rebuilding the temple of the Lord. God wants His children to worship and honor Him in a beautifully appointed sanctuary prepared especially for His pleasure. If you are looking for a special place where God can make His home, you must look no further than the heart beating inside your chest.

Have you prepared your heart to house the Holy Lamb of God? Do you spend time seeking His face in study and prayer? When we sit in His awesome presence, our hardened hearts melt away into the palm of His mercy and loving kindness. Have we been so busy erecting places of personal comfort that we’ve not made room in our hearts for Jesus? Can the Lord of life find a safe space to dwell within you today?

We will find true prosperity and peace when we seek to honor the Lord with our lives, first and foremost. It all begins with our heart’s desire, as we care more about His will than our own personal comfort. No disaster can ever shake a foundation built by the Lord’s hand, and no thief can ever steal or destroy the comfort God gives to those who place Him first in their lives.

What is your soul’s desire? May you find everlasting comfort and security in the home that is built upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a home of everlasting comfort and security. If you will prepare your heart, God will dwell within you today. He will create a home that cannot be shaken in the storms of life. He will give you peace that passes all human understanding and you will find yourself running to Him for comfort and rest. It’s time to stop focusing on the things that will someday pass away, and begin seeking your soul desire.

____________________________

© 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 17, 2007

It's time to take a walk

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Zephaniah 1, 2, 3

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

17 The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Good morning!

During Jesus Break (our children’s Sunday school time), I took a walk yesterday with the 4-7 year old class. We’ve been talking about God’s awesome creation in class, and now, it was time to really get a visual for what He created. Faith Church Five wee ones and two adult types held hands together and explored the beauty of God’s incredible world. We heard the Lord singing to us through the chirping of the birds sitting in the trees above us. We saw tadpoles jumping from lily pad to lily pad. We watched one young man catch a small fish with his rod and reel from the bridge extending across the small fish pond. I noticed two young people enjoying some time together under the gazebo. They smiled at me, and I smiled back at them. The children were full of wonder as they walked across the asphalt and touched the wet grass with their hands. We saw lots of flowers coming to the end of their full bloom, as the cooler fall weather creeps in. My granddaughter Emily said she saw a snake. I’m glad I didn’t see it, although I’m sure there was a snake in the garden with Eve a long time ago. backs a beautifully maintained and well-used park, with a garden area, small fish pond and gazebo just a few hundred feet from our back door.

Sometimes we forget just how beautiful the earth is, and when that happens, we need to stop and take a walk. It was an amazing weekend. The weather was picture perfect on Saturday for our new Superintendent’s celebration service. The Gateway Regional District of the United Methodist Church in Missouri is pleased to have Pastor Ann Rathert shepherding our churches. Her genuine, caring heart reflects the beauty of God’s grace and love for all people. I came away from this service of celebration understanding just a little bit more about the wonder of God’s call and how He displays His love for us through the people He places in our path. When we forget to see the wonder of God, it’s time to take a walk with each other.

I sat on a picnic bench Sunday afternoon with my family and friends, frolicking with our great niece Kyndahl and granddaughter Madison, both of whom turned one year old in September. They sat in their high chairs, licking the icing from their cupcakes and dropping handfuls of crumbs onto the concrete pavilion floor. Madison was tired of partying and fell fast asleep in Great Grandmother’s arms. She wasn’t a bit interested in her presents. Kyndahl clung to the pretty stuffed animal gifts that came in brightly colored wrapping paper. She screamed at the top of her lungs when the adults tried to free the stuffed animals from their cardboard packaging. It’s not easy to take a toy away from a one year old. I climbed with grandsons Jett and Joshua on the jungle gym and sat on top of the world with them, looking up at a sunlit sky while watching the clouds roll by us. I scooped granddaughter Emily up and held her close when she tried to run away from a neighbor’s dog. I felt her shaking in my arms and remembered that same, uncontrollable fear that I once knew as a child. Taking a walk reminds us not only where we’ve been, but the direction in which we’re headed.

Let the words of the prophet Zephaniah comfort you today. Take a walk through God’s Word and remember that no matter where you go, the Lord your God is with you. He delights in who you are, and quiets you with His everlasting love. When you find yourself feeling discouraged and worried over things you cannot change, take a walk and let God quiet your heart with His love. If you listen closely, you will hear Him singing in your ear. His voice speaks through the laughter of a baby, the sound of the crickets at dusk, and the flapping of the wind blowing across your face. You can feel His love in the dirt we play in, the grass we sit on, and the pools of water where we swim and fish. We can see new life blooming in the faces of our future generations, if we take a closer look through the eyes of our wee ones.

When you wonder where God is, and we all wonder it from time to time, stop what you are doing and take a walk. You will enjoy precious moments in the powerful presence and love of the One who walks with you every minute of every day. Sometimes we forget just how good God is, and when that happens, it’s time to take a walk.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: God to reveal Himself to you today, no matter where you are at, or what you may be facing. He has created a beautiful path for you to follow. Get outside and feel the loving touch of the Lord upon your life. Won’t you take a walk 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.