Are you good enough to go?

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: II Corinthians 12, 13; Proverbs 9

II Corinthians 12:7-10 (NIV)

7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassing great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Good morning!

Have you ever struggled with a perceived weakness that has somehow held you back from reaching your full potential? We all have some thorn we carry around in our flesh. I’ve never met a person who didn’t experience hurt, frustration and loss, whether it is evidenced through a physical infirmity, or an emotional hurt that has never quite healed completely. Those thorns can keep us from reaching our full potential, yet Paul says that the thorns we carry can actually propel us to our fullest measure, when we allow Christ to use them for our good. Have you ever experienced a burden that became a rich blessing in your life?

I always wanted to go to college, yet, something inside held me back. I lacked self-confidence and determination to believe that I might actually succeed. It was ironic that I could have felt that way, especially since I had graduated in the top 10% of my high school class. I was a member of the National Honor Society. My ACT and SAT scores were not exceptional, but I certainly had the potential to succeed. I could have accepted a music scholarship, but refused to even entertain that possibility. At eighteen years of age, I couldn’t imagine myself graduating from a four-year institution. Even if my parents had insisted I go on to college, I’m not certain they could have changed my mind. Somewhere inside my heart, there was this inner voice continuing to whisper the words, “You are not good enough to do this. If you try, you will fail.”

What makes a person “good enough?” Have you ever avoided a call in your life because you didn’t feel good enough? Unlike me, Paul came from an affluent Jewish family. He was well educated and become a respected leader in his Jewish community. People looked to Paul for visionary leadership and wisdom. He was self-assured in the work he pursued each day. When Jesus Christ diverted others’ hearts from Jewish laws and traditions, Paul became fighting mad. So much so, he sought out new Christian believers and killed them. Deep down inside, Paul believed he was fulfilling his vocation by God. Have the convictions in your heart kept you from fully understanding God’s greater call on your life?

Only Jesus Christ Himself could change the heart and mind of a person like Paul. It was when Paul met the Lord on the road to Damascus that suddenly, and without warning, his life’s passion and direction was forever changed. Of all people, Paul felt least likely to be able to carry the Gospel into the world with any real authority. Paul knew that if God were sending him out to preach the Gospel message to those he had been killing with his very own hands, it would take something greater than what he could offer on his own to reach them. Paul knew that the thorn he bore might keep him from fulfilling God’s greater call on his life. We can learn a lot from Paul in his words of encouragement to the church at Corinth when he said: “Three times I pleaded for the Lord to take it away from me. But God said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’”

I don’t pretend to understand how God’s perfect timing works. What I do know is that when God lays His hand upon your heart and claims you for His very own, He will give you whatever you need to equip you in your vocation. It is a good thing to experience the thorns that pin us down, because, without them, we would not need to fully rely on God for our help. My friends, this is the one thing He wants us to do. Are you relying on Him completely for everything in your life? Thank Him today for the thorns that hold you back. Ask Him for His strength, power, vision, and direction. Ask God to take that thorn and use it to win souls for the kingdom. Jesus said, “Fear not, for I am with you always.” Do you believe Him?

I’ve returned to college, finishing the work God called me to many years ago. The thorn in my flesh is still there. I thank the Lord daily, for allowing me the experience of having to fully lean upon His strength smack dab in the middle of my weaknesses. When I graduate from college, it will be an awesome act of God, and nothing short of an amazing miracle in motion. When I cross over the Jordan and graduate to eternal life just as He has promised, that will be also be an amazing, awesome act of God. I will never be good enough to achieve anything of any real worth on my own. For it is only in my weakness, that Jesus Christ makes me strong.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a painful thorn in the flesh to get your undivided attention. God has the power to move in your life, especially in the weaknesses and struggles you face. Are you willing to let go and let God be Lord of all? You cannot do this thing on your own. Ask Jesus Christ to come into your heart today, and watch how He is more than able to give you His strength and power, even in the weaknesses of your life.

___________________________

© 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.

Whose heartbeat will He hear?

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: II Corinthians 10, 11; Proverbs 8

II Corinthians 10:17-18 (NIV)

17 But, “Let Him who boasts boast in the Lord. 18 For it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.”

Good morning!

Joshua and Emily were telling Pa and Granny Deb the story of Adam and Eve in the garden last night, before we sat down to eat our Thanksgiving meal together. I don’t own a video recorder, but I wished I had one to record their version of this story. “Because Adam and Eve didn’t listen and obey,” Emily, said, while shaking her finger at me, “God said, “You two are outta here!” Emily shook her pointer fingers, aiming at the front door.” With one swift move, Emily swung her leg like she was kicking a soccer ball really hard. There was no doubt she was acting in an epic drama, and I tried to keep a straight face for such a serious moment, yet found myself bursting out in laughter. Why teach Sunday school when the children can tell the stories one hundred times better than I can? I think I’ll just let them teach me.

I heard and saw several living sermons yesterday. Thanksgiving Day is such a wonderful holiday. I meet people at Faith Church who come to help serve and deliver food. Many are friends of Faith. They travel from all over the place just to lend a hand, and it is such a blessing to meet these folks. While Jeff and I delivered food, one older woman greeted me at her front door, with tears straming down her cheeks. She was so very happy to see us! This woman clung to me like I was her long, lost daughter. It took a minute for me to realize that she actually believed I was her long, lost daughter. She begged for Jeff and I to stay and eat dinner with her. I could tell that she was a little bit confused, and as we talked, she began to understand that I was just a friend, and not really her baby girl. As her husband spoke to her with kind, gentle words, I noticed the sad look in his eyes. It is difficult thing when we forget how to remember. Oh, but how I wanted to stay with this precious lady. Had we not had other deliveries to make, we would have stayed a whole lot longer. Sometimes, when we find ourselves making a connection with a total stranger, even if it is only in our passing, God custom makes an extraordinary and holy moment – the kind that shapes the future of who we will become.

I feel asleep listening to the wise words of an evangelist. He was telling the story of a woman, standing over a heart patient in the cardiac intensive care unit of a local hospital. She leaned over and placed her ear near the chest of this man. He had just received a new heart. Even though he did not know she was in the room, the woman listened intently and found great comfort in hearing the beating heart of her only son inside the body of this man. Her child was gone, yet lived on n the life of another. What an amazing gift of grace!

Isn’t that just how God responds to each of us? His Only Son chose to lay down His life for the world. And now, God listens and longs to hear the heartbeat of His Son in each and every one of us today. Will God recognize the heartbeat of the Lord Jesus Christ living in me?

I am convinced that the love of our Lord is the only story worth sharing. He is the only One who has the power to transplant hearts with His love. There was a time when we behaved a lot like Adam and Eve in the garden; we didn’t listen and obey His command, Are we listening now? Whose life will we carry into the hustle bustle of Christmas preparation? People will be shopping today for the best buy, the greatest bargain, and the perfect gift. There is only one perfect gift I know of, and it cannot be bought at the mall. Help me Lord, to listen and obey you. I pray that you will hear the beating of your Son’s heart in my life today.

If I’m going to boast, let it be for the Lord Jesus Christ, and Christ alone.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a spiritual heart transplant! Let Jesus come into your heart this morning. He will transform your life forever! You will have something really wonderful to boast about, when the Lord of life lives in you. Will the Father hear the heartbeat of His Only Son beating in your chest 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.

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: II Corinthians 7, 8, 9

II Corinthians 8:3-5 (NIV)

3 For I [Paul] testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

Good morning!

What does it mean to give beyond one’s ability? As I look back through the pages of my own life, I’m not sure that I ever gave as much as I was really able to give, and I never strived to give beyond my ability. I did some stretching exercises occasionally; still, I would have classified my earlier days as being totally self-absorbed. I was focused on me and my needs. I cared about my family, but more so about how my family impacted me and what I wanted to receive. Moving from selfishness to selflessness is a miracle in and of itself, and it took an act of God to divert my attention. Can you identify one gift in your life today that you willingly gave away to someone else? Have you ever given something that was certainly beyond your own ability to give?

In every congregation, Jeff and I have had the privilege of knowing at least one person who typified selfless living with everything they said and did. It is a rare and precious quality. Yet, in their quiet way, they affect a profound change upon the lives of others. One of the saints, Miss Vista, who, by the way, is now enjoying eternal life in the presence of our Lord, was one such woman. Her spirit was sweeter than anyone I’ve ever known. She was a trite leaf. You could have blown her over on the sidewalk with just one small gust of wind. Yet, in this tiny woman, emerged a powerful, visionary spirit. She was a true prayer warrior. I think she probably had a greater impact upon my call to prayer than any other person I have ever known. The time she spent in her closet praying for souls to be saved, had an effective impact on our congregation and the community where we lived. I often think of her as following in the lives of those in the early Macedonian church, giving herself as much as she was able to, while allowing the Lord to stretch her even beyond her own ability.

I believe there is a little risk-taking spirit hovering inside every heart. Somewhere, deep inside the recesses of our minds, is the longing to make a lasting difference in the lives of others. Some of us yearn to feed the hungry. Others long to raise God-fearing children and grandchildren. Many families seek out the presence of the Lord together in prayer, asking for the greater gift of selfless living. The miracles of giving have very little to do with how we empty our pockets on Sunday morning to fill the offering plate as it passes by. The miracles of giving begin when we purposefully empty our hearts of every distraction that keeps us from an intimate, daily pursuit of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we set aside time to worship and wait in His holy presence, the Lord carves out a space for selfless living. He equips the called to reach out in service to others. The “me” comes out of the picture as we focus on “Him.” Hearts begin to change, as He begins the work in and through us.

Today is the day Americans set aside time to thank God for the many gifts we have been given. Most of us expect that we will sit in front of our televisions, watching parades and football, while feasting on turkey and dressing. We can do the unexpected, even surprising ourselves, if we will choose to humble our hearts and seek God’s face first. The greatest risk you may take today is when you humble your heart and ask the Lord to come inside and reign. It is a risk worth taking, my friend. Do not let this day pass you by without the Lord. Cry out to Him. He hears and answers every prayer. He will take the beauty of what He has created inside your life, and bring it to blossom.

May the Lord bless you especially today, on this day of Thanksgiving.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the greater gifts! When we depend upon God for everything, He can take what we are able to give, and multiply it far beyond our own capabilities. Who will the Lord reach through your willing heart? Overflowing joy coupled with extreme poverty results in rich generosity. Thank you Father, for the gift of your Son. I pray that you will equip the called today, in Jesus’ name. 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.

One for all and all for One!

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: II Corinthians 4, 5, 6; Proverbs 7

II Corinthians 5:14-15; 17 (NIV)

14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone; the new has come!

Good morning!

It is an exciting time at Faith Church. We are preparing food for our annual Thanksgiving dinner. Tomorrow morning, we will gather in the fellowship hall early in the morning, to cook, package and deliver meals to our community in St. Charles County. Connie and Reg Anderson have demonstrated what it means to be servant leaders, and for their faithful example and love of our Lord, I am forever grateful. This is one family who truly understands what it means to feed the masses! If you are looking for something to do tomorrow morning, come on over to Faith Church, and don’t forget to bring your potato peeler. I’ve saved a seat at the table for you!

Alexandre Dumas, in his novel The Three Musketeers, coined the well-known phrase, One for all and all for one! This was the motto held by a trio of French Musketeers named Athos, Porthos and Aramis. They remained loyal and wholly devoted to each other throughout their lives. Last Sunday, my pastor preached on how the supernatural strength of God emerges as we join hearts and hands together, through Christ Jesus. He said, “When He intertwines us together into one cord, we are not at all easily broken. We are better together than we are alone.” Isn’t it amazing to see the love of Christ in action? We can feed the people, when we work together in one accord.

The Apostle Paul shares a rich treasure for all who place their faith and hope in Jesus today. It is Christ alone that compels us to reach out in love. We are convinced that Christ died for all of us – every human heart; He poured out His life’s blood to save. And because Jesus suffered and died, all of us suffer and die with Him. When a child becomes ill, the parents suffer just as much, if not more so, than their child. A mother, without hesitation, will stay up all night long holding a sick one, while praying for their fever to break. When one member of the family suffers, we all feel it. Their burden becomes our focus. It is because Christ died for all of us, that we choose to no longer live for just ourselves, but for our brothers and sisters around the world. Jesus Christ, the One for all, becomes our All for One. We, who are many, are One in the Lord Jesus Christ. A chord of three strands is not easily broken. This is the place where miracles occur.

Last night, I sat in the sanctuary of Faith Church, listening to the Pastor’s words during our community Thanksgiving worship service. Many people came from churches in St. Charles County, to link hearts and hands together to thank God, one sweet voice, for His mercy and love. Pastor Renita spoke the words that burn in my heart today. We must turn our Thanksgiving into Thanks Living. Out of the overflow of His grace, we can offer our lives up as an offering of love. We can do this together, in the name of Jesus.

May this Thanksgiving holiday become your springboard for Thanks Living. One for all and all for One! Let us praise the Lord Jesus Christ with one voice, in one accord!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a miracle! As we link hearts and hands together, let us praise God for His overflowing bounty, goodness and grace. We have so much to be thankful for. May we take His love and share it with the world. We are better together, in Him.

___________________________

© 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.

Grace and peace

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: II Corinthians 1, 2, 3

II Corinthians 1:2 (NIV)

2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Good morning!

Paul’s simple greeting to the church has taken on a whole new meaning for me. Jesus is our peace, He is grace revealed.

One of my pastors suggested I listen to the music of Fernando Ortega. You can get a taste of this extraordinary heavenly sound by logging in to Ortega’s website: www.fernandoortega.com. As you click the link to enter the website and listen, you will hear the melodic words, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Many of the Scripture passages I have put to memory came as a result of singing them over and over again. How I love to sing praises to the Lord! I spent many holy hours as a young child, swinging on the play set in my back yard, pumping my legs as hard as I could. My goal was to climb just a little closer to heaven, while singing every Sunday school song I had learned. I don’t know if any of my neighbors had their windows open and could hear the praises floating along the summer breeze; yet I know God heard every melody, every single word. God inhabits the people of His praise. There is a saying, He who sings prays twice.” If you are a closet singer, like in the shower, give Him everything you’ve got! He delights in your unique and special sound. He gave you that voice! Be thankful, even when you find yourself simply making a joyful noise.

Breath prayers come in many forms. Some prayers are offered in short, frantic expletives, like: Lord, help me! Jesus, protect! Oh, God! Many people tend to call upon the name of the Lord a whole lot more in their automobiles. At least, that is what I hear them shouting during a traffic jam. I have no doubt of their sincerity – you can see it written on their faces. I have to wonder if these folks really know whose attention it is they are drawing. There are times when we could all use an extra measure of grace and peace.

Paul offers a simple, yet complex greeting to the Church. I can almost hear him singing the words, as he writes, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The dictionary defines the word grace as: elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion or action; favor or good will; an allowance of time after a debt has become payable and granted to the debtor. Grace is the unmerited, undeserved favor of God. The Holy Spirit breathes grace on those who rely upon the Lord for strength and daily regeneration. We enjoy a state of perpetual grace as we enjoy intimate fellowship with the ultimate grace-giver. If you know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior today, you are walking right now in His grace. What a wonderful way to live, in the abundance and riches of God’s amazing grace, extended through the love of Christ. His grace is poured out for you and me today. Do you know Him?

Peace is often thought of as the opposite of war. The dictionary says that peace is an agreement or treaty between warring or antagonistic nations or groups; to end hostilities and abstain from further fighting; mutual harmony between people in personal relations. Do we try to live in peace with our neighbors? Are we more interested in stirring the pot, or finding common ground?

We can experience God’s peace – the peace that passes all understanding, especially in the quiet moments of life. His peace comes in the silence. It is a spirit of tranquility, found as we walk around the perimeter of a beautiful lake on a crisp, fall morning. One can find His peace while passing through the woods. His beauty is revealed even in the darkest recesses of our lives. Personally, I find His peace in the mountains. Even as I’m standing at the foot of a long, hard uphill climb, I can feel the presence of God’s peace, and I know without a doubt, I am not alone. He is with me every step of the way. Do you experience the peace of God, even as you are climbing the mountains in you face each day?

I have adopted Paul’s greeting because it means so very much. When he says, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” he whispers the very essence of our faith, extending its holy mystery along to all who will hear and receive it. I pray that His grace and His peace will become your life, not only in this day, but for all eternity. It is the Lord’s grace and peace that I pass to you today. Take it and run with it! Swing to the heavens! Sing it out in everything you say and do. Experience the fullness of Christ, today. This is my prayer for you.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: grace and peace to become your daily bread. May His peace, the peace that passes all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Won’t you allow His gifts of grace and peace to overflow and immerse all those you come in contact with 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.

Forever changed

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Corinthians 15, 16; Proverbs 6

50 I declare to you, brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. 51 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— 52 in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. 53 For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 54 When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 55"Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Good morning!

Have you ever wondered what your spiritual body might look like? It is human nature to associate who we are with what we look like. We see and recognize each other by our physical appearance. Last night at our Youth Group spaghetti dinner, one of my Faith friends came over to the table where I was sitting and asked me if had been filmed in a new commercial running during the local early morning news broadcasts. She was serious, even though I laughed out loud at her question. I don’t turn the television on early in the morning, and I have to say, I haven’t seen this advertisement run yet. My friend claims I have a twin on the big screen. As far as I know, I haven’t made the front page of the paper for awhile (a year, to be exact) and I’m not aware of having filmed any television commercials lately. I highly doubt that the woman in the television commercial is me, but I will remember her in prayer. Poor girl!

I find it interesting that we rely so much on associating physical faces with names. I work for a large company and, there have been times when I would have really liked to have an online pictorial directory of our company employees. I speak with many of them over the telephone, but I have no visual for what they may look like, and so, it is hard to pick someone out of a crowd, just by the sound of their voice. It is a holy mystery, how God recognizes us, not so much by the way we look in the flesh, but by the sound of our heart song, the voice that resonates within each of us, and by the convictions and beliefs we hold dear. What does our spiritual body look like? Won’t it be absolutely amazing when we can see others the way God can see us now?

If you had no picture of my face, would you be able to pick me out in a crowd? Would you know who I am, not by my name, but by the spirit that lives within me? Paul says that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, and yet, Christ saves us while we are yet sinners, in the flesh. When we believe, our very lives become transformed and conformed to Christ as He reveals Himself through us. Our flesh may look the same, but God begins to change the nature of our souls. What does it look like, to be forever changed?

I cannot see with physical eyes the spirit Jesus is recreating inside of me; yet, I have no doubt that it is alive and well in Him. The perishable part of who I am is being transformed by the imperishable of who I will become one day in eternity. I am taking on the imperishable, moment by moment, as I continue yearning for more of Jesus Christ and less of me. It is with the promise of resurrection, that I believe I will be one day known not so much for what I look like, but for what Christ has carved out within me. The imperishable will last forever. I’m not sure exactly what I will look like when this happens, but I know that my Heavenly Father will know me. I have no doubt that when I am changed from the perishable to the imperishable, that I will be fully covered in the righteous, saving blood of my Lord Jesus Christ.

I long for the day when I will be forever changed. It may happen in a split second, with no warning. We can all be suddenly changed. Still, my personal life experience teaches that I am being changed every day, moment by moment. For me, I believe I am undergoing a gradual spiritual transformation. One day, I will no longer need this physical body. The soul that the Lord has custom carved for me will be more than enough to live in His holy presence forevermore. I will leave the perishable behind for the promise of the imperishable.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: transformation. Jesus Christ begins that process when we confess Him to be Lord of all. Through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, our spiritual bodies begin to take shape as we grow in His grace. What will it look like when the perishable clothes itself with the imperishable?

___________________________

© 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.

The book of remembrance

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

Malachi 4:16-18 (NIV)

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in His presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored His name. 17 “They will be mine,” says the Lord Almighty, “in the day when I make up my treasured possession. I will spare them, just as in compassion a man spares his son who serves him. 18 And you will again see the distinction between the righteous and the wicked, between those who serve God and those who do not.

I Corinthians 12:27; 29-31 (NIV)

27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

Good morning!

Yesterday was an incredible day. I took a road trip with two of my Faith friends, and we drove along some beautiful Missouri country roads and enjoyed the fragrance of fall. Thanksgiving is upon us, and I would say, of all the holidays we celebrate each year, this one is truly special to my heart. It is a time when I thank God for all He has given to us. I thank Him for His ultimate sacrifice – His only Son, Jesus Christ. I thank Him for the people He has placed in my path. I thank Him for the memories of those who have gone on before us, leaving a legacy worth following. Yesterday was a great day just to say thank you to the Lord and be glad.

We stopped at a beautiful country church to worship and give thanks. I noticed the artistry of an unfinished piece quilt sitting in a frame in the church’s fellowship hall. Each square was a different shade of blue, and yet, when sewn together with tiny, intricate stitches, it was as if all of the colors simply blended together as one. They were meant to be together! What an awesome work of art it is, when we, who are many, gather together as one body in Christ, proclaiming the Good News in our world.

This morning, when I began to study His Word, I was reminded of where I had walked yesterday. I thought I had turned to the appropriate scripture passage, but my eyes were not yet focusing very well. I began to read the words from the prophet Malachi, and God added His holy exclamation point to an ongoing conversation we’ve been having off and on for the last two years. This passage was strangely familiar, but it certainly didn’t read like Paul. It took me a minute to realize I was checking out a totally different book of the Bible. The Father had something to say to my heart, and He wanted me to sit and chew on this passage for awhile.

When we spend time together with other Christians, sharing our faith journey together, God listens and hears our every word. He is present in every conversation. The Father joins us whenever we seek His presence. I’ve often thought that it was God who was writing the scroll of remembrance concerning those who fear Him and honor His name. But this time, as I reread the words of the prophet Malachi, I wondered if maybe we aren’t the ones writing the scroll of remembrance as we live out our days in His holy presence. God listens and hears our every thought and word and we record the pages with our life’s song.

Every person is a unique, created work of the Living God. Every heart is custom made. We have many similarities, but no two people are exactly alike. Even in the midst of our diversity, with Jesus Christ at the head, we can become one body in Him, with many functioning parts. Like that beautiful piece quilt of many colors and patterns, we become His treasured possession, one body, united in Christ alone. In each passing season, we leave a living legacy behind for others to follow. What are you recording in the pages of your life?

Do you know that God sees you as His treasured possession? You are His masterpiece – His precious created work of art. God dwells in the many hearts of His body. We are all intricately stitched together by the blood of the Lamb. He listens and hears us. He is our treasure, and we belong to Him. May you find yourself thankful for all that God has given you. How will you choose to thank Him? What will you write in your book of remembrance?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the greater gifts! Together, we are one in the body of our Lord Jesus Christ. Intricately woven together through grace, what will the colors of your life look like recorded on the pages in the book of remembrance? Will you choose to leave a worthwhile legacy for others to follow?

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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding

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