Saturday, October 20, 2007

Word

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: John 1, 2, 3; Psalm 139)

John 1:1-5 (NIV)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Psalm 139:7-12 (NIV)

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

Good morning!

WORD. God’s Word. The Word made flesh. All things made in and through His Word. Life is in His Word. Life is light for all. Light shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot hide the light of life. He is the Word of life. Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.

Here. Now. Yesterday, today and forever. God with us. Emmanuel. Son of the living God. Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Three in one. With us always. No matter who you are or where you’ve been, God sees you. God knows you. God loves you. God puts on flesh and spills His blood in love for us. God redeems – purchasing souls to give new life. Abundant life. Everlasting life. Forever and ever. We are living in the light of His Word. Holy. Holy. Holy.

I cannot run fast enough, far enough, or long enough, to flee from God’s presence. He is here. He has always been here, even when I chose to turn away. God formed me in my mother’s womb, long before I was even a twinkle in her eye. His hand was on me from the very beginning, and He has never lost sight of my soul. I am comforted in knowing God is with me. It breaks my heart to admit there were times when I turned from Him and ran as fast as I could in the opposite direction. I am glad life’s track is a circle. No matter how hard or fast I ran, the road always led me straight back to Him.

Something shifts inside the soul of every human heart when they realize for the very first time that God REALLY loves them. No one can love you like the Lord. A master creator and superior artist, God molds and shapes you into a creation that mirrors His love. You bear the image of your maker. He gives you a heart of compassion, a thirst for knowledge, and a body of flesh and blood to live out all your days. He allows you the freedom to choose whether to seek His holy face or turn away. God sees your heart. He knows you better than you know yourself. He waits with anticipation and open arms, hoping you will one day choose to give your life back to Him.

We are all a unique and marvelous created work of God. Can you see Him in the eyes of a child? Do you see the Lord at work through the hearts and hands of neighbors helping neighbors? Can you hear His still, small voice, in the words of a friend? Can you feel the sunlight that shines through the darkness and dispels the long-suffering night of the soul?

Joy. His joy. Joy unending. Word without end. His Word is for you. His Word is for me. He gives meaning to all your yesterdays, today, and for every tomorrow. What does His Word mean to you?

Come and experience the Word in a brand new way. Let us worship the Lord our God together.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: His Word to become the only Word you will ever need. God created you with a special plan and purpose. Won’t you seek out His will for your life today? Come and worship the Word with me. I’ll be waiting to greet you at Faith Church.

___________________________

© 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, October 19, 2007

Holy heart burn!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Luke 22, 23, 24

Luke 24:31-34a (NIV)

31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized [Jesus], and He disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while He talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” 33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together, 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen!”

Good morning!

Have you ever had “heart burn” while reading a passage of Scripture? I was a proud little third grader, as I walked down the long center aisle of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church in Florissant to receive my Bible and a handshake from our pastor. It was a red letter Revised Standard Version, given to me by the church. I was definitely reading at a third grade level when I took the Scripture home to study it for the very first time. The words were long and difficult to pronounce; yet, many of the stories I had heard in Sunday school and Bible school began bouncing off the page as I read them for myself. There was this feeling inside that God was speaking directly to me! Oh, how my heart burned. There are times, when I sit in church and listen to the Word as it is proclaimed, that my heart gets all stirred up and I know, without a doubt, the Lord is teaching me something new.

Heart burn grabs our attention like nothing else can. If you’ve ever eaten something really spicy that did not settle well, you know the feeling I’m trying to describe. Heart burn can hurt, especially if you are being convicted of something deep down in your gut. Other times, that tingling sensation is a welcomed moment – an affirmation of call, a confirmation of direction, an encouragement to move forward in faith. Sometimes, heart burn hurts enough that you may find yourself seeking emergency medical attention in a local ER, ruling out the possibility of a heart attack. We should never ever ignore the feeling of a heart burn. It may be just the warning we need to keep us from falling into sin.

I love God’s Word. Ever since I received that red letter Bible, I’ve spent a good chunk of time pouring over its message for my life. There were seasons when I was not so faithful; I chose not to read the Word every day. God’s Word has the power to convict, and sometimes, it seemed much easier to keep it tucked safely away on a book shelf, buried behind a stack of magazines with a paper weight on top (as if that might stop the Word from speaking.) Even if you try to bury it on a shelf somewhere, God’s holy Word has the power to rise up and grab you when you least expect it.

While Cleopas and his friend walked along the seven-mile stretch from Jerusalem to Emmaus, Jesus, the risen Christ, suddenly appeared, and at first, they did not recognize Him. Have you ever entertained a stranger, and suddenly realized you have seen the Lord? His Word rises up from the pages of our Scripture, making our hearts burn with the Holy Ghost fire. When the men returned to Jerusalem, they couldn’t contain the Good News. Everything Christ had told them was happening before their very eyes. He is alive! He is risen!

Whenever I listen to God’s Word, whether I am reading the Scripture at home or hearing it proclaimed via satellite television or radio; and especially while sitting in worship on Sunday, my heart burns with Holy Ghost fire. God calls each of us to listen to our hearts, acknowledge His holy presence in our lives, and act with humble obedience to His call. I’m still trying, after forty-eight years, to flesh out that call. Love is an amazing thing. Because I’ve been loved so unconditionally, I cannot help but love others through Christ. It is that holy heart burn that keeps me focused on the walk back to Jerusalem. One day I will reach my final destination, and I have a feeling my heart will burst with pure joy upon seeing the Lord I love face to face.

If you find yourself experiencing a holy heart burn today, don’t ignore the symptoms. God may be calling you for kingdom work. Seek emergency spiritual attention immediately. Go directly to church. Find your pastor and ask for discernment and wisdom. Plug into a small group Bible study, and get hooked up in the Word. When you recognize the risen Christ is standing right in front of you, be very happy! Is your heart burning now?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: eyes to see and ears to hear the Word God is speaking to you today. If you can feel a little heart burn, then you know it’s time to act. Don’t put it off or ignore it any longer. The Word speaks! Jesus is alive! He is risen indeed! 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, October 18, 2007

All we have to live on

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Luke 20, 21; Psalm 138

Luke 21:1-4 (NIV)

1 As He looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. 3 “I tell you the truth,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”

Psalm 139 selected verses (NIV)

I will praise you O Lord, with all my heart;

I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and faithfulness.

When I called, you answered me; you made me bold and stouthearted.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble you preserve my life.

The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; your love, O Lord, endures forever.

Good morning!

Last night’s prayer meeting at Faith Church was powerful. It was a time of honest reflection; to confess our failures, work through the doubts and fears we carry, and to praise the One who gave His all to save us. I have to wonder if I’ve ever really given my all in return to the Lord I love.

What does it mean to love God with all my heart? If I’m giving Him my whole heart, the proof would be evidenced in faithful obedience to His Word. Am I willing to be obedient in all things, including the gifts I bring to worship? Does my daily offering reflect the depth of love I have for Jesus Christ? When Jesus looks beyond the gift and focuses on the motivation and desire of the giver, what does He see?

The widow understood the meaning of sacrifice. With a grateful heart, she gave all she had, out of her poverty. With no husband to care for her daily needs, this woman trusted God enough to place her entire life in His loving care. Am I willing to place my past, present and future in God’s holy hand?

I’ve been blessed in life with so many good things. I have a family that loves me and friends I can count on for encouragement and support. I have a roof over my head, food to eat each day, and a closet full of nice clothes to wear. When I give to God, does it cost me something in return, or is it just a small token of appreciation that has no real effect upon my life? These are the questions I raise this morning in holy conversation. Jesus sees my heart. He knows me by name. How I long to give Him my all. Am I really giving the Lord all I have to live on?

When a mother gives birth, she gives her all to bring forth new life. When a student spends hours of study time to become educated and equipped for service, she gives her all to the pursuit of greater knowledge. When an employee works consistently and faithfully, serving his employer with a passion, he puts forth his very best as a contributing member of the team. When we love the Lord with all our heart, our soul, our mind and our strength, we give Him everything we’ve got, to carry the Gospel message into the world.

The widow gave all she had to live on. What she received in return was greater than any material possession, any meal she might consume. She received the everlasting love of God, and for her, it was more than enough. Even in extreme poverty, the widow was richer than the wealthy ones, tossing a token love offering into the plate and walking away, totally unaffected by their ritual gift.

Help me Lord - teach me to give out of my poverty, because all I really need in life is you.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: guidance. We can have the widow’s heart, when we learn to give out of our poverty. What will you choose to relinquish to the Lord 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.

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

Cotton mouth

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Luke 17, 18, 19; Psalm 137

Luke 18:9-14 (NIV)

9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everybody else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men – robbers, evildoers, adulterers – or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Good morning!

Some days are simply harder than others. A nasty fall cold has made me absolutely miserable for the last ten days of my life. I keep hoping I’ll wake up and feel really good again, with a clear head and a throat that doesn’t try to close up every time I open my mouth to speak. Have you ever tried to say something important and all that comes out of your mouth is cotton? I definitely have a cotton mouth today.

Sometimes God stuffs my mouth full of cotton to keep me from thinking and saying things I’ll be repenting for later on. Just like the Pharisee, we sometimes praise God because we believe we are better equipped to serve Him than some of our brothers and sisters. We deceive ourselves when we refuse to acknowledge our sin. The great deceiver delights in the little mind games he deploys on believers every day. With fiery red darts, Satan aims, shoots and scores whenever we refuse to acknowledge our sin for what it truly is. It is far better to have God stuff my mouth full of cotton than it is to for me to speak with over-inflated pride and in a self-serving tone. Lord have mercy.

The older I get, the more I realize that I can learn a lot from the humble heart of the tax collector, who stood at a distance and begged God for forgiveness. There are times when I wonder which is worse: my inability to accurately calculate mathematical problems or my inability to humble my heart completely and let go of the self-serving nature within. These are the moments in life when I need to move to the corner of the sanctuary, get down on the floor, and beg for mercy and grace. There is a fine line between having self-esteem and promoting selfish ambition. It is a question I raise in prayer to the Lord every day. Whom will I choose to serve today – God or me?

Eating humble pie is a little bit like tasting my grandmother’s gooseberry pie. Gooseberries are bitter fruit. When mixed with lots of sugar, the berries can become a bittersweet treat nestled in a flaky crisp pie shell. I used to sit at Grandmother’s over-sized kitchen table, enjoying the culinary delight of a gooseberry pucker. As soon as the berries hit your tongue, your cheeks begin to pucker up and your face flinches because of its sour taste, and when you swallow, that sugary sweetness makes you want to try yet another bite. Jesus can take the most sour, sin-filled soul, and sweeten it with just one touch of His healing hand. Humble pie is hard to swallow, but a necessary element in our daily walk with the Lord. Have you ever needed an attitude adjustment? I don’t know about you, but I find myself feasting on a little humble pie today.

Jesus said that everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted. I’m learning that a cotton mouth may not be so bad after all. I find myself praying the words of King David today: Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. (Psalm 139:23-24).

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a humble heart, the kind of heart that the Father loves so very much. If the Lord has to stuff your mouth full of cotton to keep you from speaking pride-filled and selfish words, then ask Him to help you digest a little humble pie 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, October 16, 2007

Key Recovery Mode

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Luke 15, 16; Psalm 136

Psalm 136:1 (NIV)

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever!

Luke 15:8-10 (NIV)

8 [Jesus said,] “Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9 And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ 10 In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”

Good morning!

I have this horrible habit of losing my car keys. Do you ever lose your keys? I don’t know why or how this continues to happen in my life, but it does. It “drives” me nuts; actually, I can’t drive anywhere without them! Is it mere coincidence that I lose my keys most often when I’m running late and trying to get out of the house? I think the devil must reach down into my purse, pick up the keys and move them just a smidge to see whether I lose my happy attitude and say something I know I’ll be regretting later. I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve had to wake members of family up to help look for the lost keys. There is always a celebration when the lost keys are found. Everyone gets a kiss and a hug and then life returns to normal, whatever that is.

I spend a lot of time each day looking for the keys to abundant life. Whenever I pick up His Word to read, I rediscover a key that maybe I’ve misplaced somewhere along the way. We need to remember just how precious every child is to our heavenly Father. He doesn’t want us running around lost and alone. God went to great lengths to find us. He sent Jesus to help us rediscover the keys to faith-filled living. Isn’t it good to know that when we are lost, God knows exactly where we are, and finds us when we reach out and ask Him for a heavenly assist. The gift of grace is a marvelous thing.

I lost my keys again last Sunday. It was a really busy day and I wasn’t too surprised when I couldn’t find them in my purse. I grabbed the spare set and trotted off to work. Later that day, I confessed to my husband that I had managed to misplace my keys. It didn’t take Jeff long to locate them. This just has to be a term of endearment; my husband’s enduring love for me. Sometimes, when we get lost, our families can help us find the missing key, if we will just ask them for help. It’s a good thing Jeff loves me unconditionally. Without his key recovery service, I don’t think I’d be going anywhere fast.

Who helps you recover the lost keys in your life? I am very thankful for my pastors, mentors and Christian friends who never give up on me, especially when I’ve misplaced a kingdom key. We help find the answers we seek through listening, questioning, praying, and encouraging one another. If someone you love helps you find that lost key, be sure to say thank you.

This morning, I’m in key recovery mode. I know what I must do. The angels are jumping up and down and shouting Hallelujah today! I made time this morning to recover the kingdom keys, through adoration, confession, repentance and supplication, Praise God! Jesus loves me, and He will not let me go, especially when I’ve lost the key.

We’ve been purchased by the blood of the Lamb. Do not forget where your salvation comes from. Take a few minutes this morning, and rediscover the keys to the kingdom of God. Make time to pray to the Lord today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: key recovery! When you lose your key, ask the Lord of life to help you find it again! The angels of God rejoice in heaven when one sinner repents. Isn’t it about time for you to ask Jesus for help?

___________________________

© 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, October 15, 2007

Heavenly treasure

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Luke 12, 13, 14

Luke 12:32-34 (NIV)

32 “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Good morning!

Every so often, the Holy Spirit will lead me to a place of immense surprise and delight. I experienced a spiritual delight last night during a Taizé prayer service in St. Louis. The Taizé Community is an ecumenical Christian men’s monastic order located in Taizé, France. The community of prayer and worship was founded by Brother Roger, who provided leadership and support until his death in 2005. The community comprises over 100 men from many nations representing Protestant and Catholic branches of Christianity. Its main purpose is to join hearts and hands together in prayer, meditation and worship. This is a welcoming place, where Christians of all races and traditions are invited to come and worship together as one.

I attended a Taizé prayer service last night with a dear friend. We sat in a candle-lit sanctuary. The focal point was a six-foot crucifix. The light from the candles danced across the room. Behind us, we could hear a fountain of water bubbling up and racing along the large stone basin. The service was led by a pianist, a flautist, and a cantor. There were moments of silent meditation, followed by the reading of Holy Scripture, and the singing of praise choruses in both Latin and English.

In this holy space, the presence of God was alive and real. His Spirit was so very present that I felt as if I could simply reach out and touch Him. As persons of many Christian traditions and faith gathered as one to worship Christ, the Holy Spirit simply fell upon all who were gathered there. At one point in the service, congregants were invited to move toward the cross and pay honor to the Lord who died for our sin. An elderly man rose up onto the platform and went directly to the cross. He touched the hand-painted face of Christ, bent over and kissed his nail-scarred hands. He placed his hand at the wound at Christ’s side. He knelt down and kissed his bleeding feet. What happened in that moment literally took my breath away. His simple expression of love for the Lord moved me to tears. I stopped singing. I could barely breathe. His simple act of love was a tender and holy moment. It is something I will never, ever forget as long as I live.

The prayers rose up in the silence of the room, where repentant hearts prayed for mercy and grace. The sick and infirm were remembered. The joy of salvation was celebrated. In this sacred silence, with the fountain of living water bubbling up inside the stone basin, I experienced the risen Christ a new and powerful way.

Prayer brings us face to face with Jesus Christ. Heavenly treasure is protected and valued in this place. There is an amazing love that can only be experienced through intimate fellowship with the Savior in prayer and praise. And something quite extraordinary happens when Christians gather to pray. This has been the Taizé experience. Thousands of young people, ages 18-30, travel to France during summer breaks and Holy Week to participate in worldwide prayer and worship with others from around the world. So often, we allow our preferred theological beliefs and brick walls to separate the community of faith from corporate prayer. Jesus Christ is Lord of all, and He shows up when we allow those walls to fall down.

Come and meet the risen Lord with me in prayer today. He is alive! He is here! And He is calling your name. Won’t you come and delight in the heavenly treasure He has prepared for you?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: Jesus to become very real to you today in prayer. He surprises me daily with his compassion, mercy and love. Experience the joy of knowing the One who saves you by grace. Let’s pray together.

___________________________

© 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, October 14, 2007

Who wants to be last?

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Luke 9, 10, 11

Luke 9:46-48 (NIV)

45 An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest. 46 Jesus, knowing their thoughts, took a little child and had him stand beside Him. 48 Then He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me welcomes the One who sent me.” For He who is least among you all – He is the greatest.”

Good morning!

In grade school when our teacher said, “Okay children, it’s time to line up for lunch,” we raced each other to see who would get to the head of the line first. “Who wants to be the leader?” our teacher would ask, and every little hand would go up. First place was a coveted position, especially in the lunch line. Being first meant you got the first dessert choice. Being first meant you could choose between meatloaf and mashed potatoes or a hamburger and French fries. If you were one of the unfortunate ones at the end of the line, you would end up eating whatever was left.

Butting in line was a time-honored tradition for many. If I ended up at the end of the line, I took a quick look to see if one my girlfriends might invite me to join them closer to the front of the line. Occasionally, someone would wave me up with them. Often resented for moving up, that me-first mentality replaced any pangs of guilt I might have felt for the other students patiently waiting for their turn.

We live in a “me-first” mindset. How many commuters show patience and consideration for others while sitting in a traffic jam on their way to work each day? Have you ever experienced an irate shopper, while standing in line at the store during the holiday shopping season? Our not-so-happy attitudes can become pretty ugly, as we place our personal agenda ahead of the needs of others.

Jesus Christ set the bar at servant leadership. We see a perfect, sinless God, humbling Himself in human flesh. He came to love humanity, serving the sick, the despondent, and the lost. If we want to lead like Jesus, we must humble our hearts and choose to serve others with our lives, expecting nothing in return. I imagine our Lord was not impressed with His disciples as they postured for position. Who would head up the line behind the Lord? Is there one disciple who was greater than another? Who determines pecking order, especially when it comes to kingdom work?

I learn a lot from the wee ones in my life: my grandchildren, the children in my Sunday school class, and the little ones who sit by me occasionally during worship. They seem to have an uncanny ability to grasp and hold onto truth. They trust Jesus completely. Their prayers are heartfelt and sincere. Oh, to have the faith of a little child. Without even knowing it, the children lead me to the heart of Christ every time I’m with them.

When I grow up, I want to be His child. It does not matter to me that I get a front row seat in Heaven. I’ll gladly take the nosebleed section of the bleachers in the back of the room, just to be near Him. If I were placed at the head of the line, it would not be because of the good I have done. I would be there because of sin. I place myself at the head of the line every time I insist upon my way rather than the Lord’s way. When I care more about myself than I do for my brother, I’ve bumped my way up to the head of the line. This morning, I’d really like bring up the rear. Thank God for His grace, mercy, and love. Without Christ’s perfect example, I would be forever lost at the head of the line.

Who wants to be last?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a humble heart. The last shall be first, and the least shall be the greatest. Help me Lord, to want more of you and less of me, day by day.

___________________________

© 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.