Friday, January 25, 2008

The seventy-year itch

Today’s Reading: Isaiah 64:4 (NIV)

Since ancient times no one has heard, no ear has perceived, no eye has seen any God besides You, who acts on behalf of those who wait for Him.

Dear Father, you know how I like the challenge of a fixer-upper. I try to fix the things that are broken. But here I am Lord, broken before You this morning, and I need You to fix me up. You know how I don’t like to wait. Of all the sins I’ve ever committed, waiting for You has been the greatest weakness in my life. I want to wait for You, Lord; really I do; but not really. If I really wanted to wait, I wouldn’t run out ahead of You, seeking an alternative route. I like having Plans A, B and C in place. I’ll plan to Z if You’ll let me (and You always do), but it does me no good if I’m not willing to wait for You. Teach me how to wait in Your holy presence today. Can I just sit here for awhile and experience Your peace?

I admit I have the seventy-year itch, Lord. Jeremiah once prophesied Your Words, “When seventy years are completed in Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, when you seek me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:10-13). Jeremiah’s prophecy in the midst of what seems to be an unmovable mountain gives me hope for a brighter day. I’ll be seventy years old in twenty years, eleven months and six days, but who’s counting? Help me, Lord. Teach me how to wait patiently for You. Help me discern Your will for my life in this moment, for this day.

You created an awesome woman when you made my Mom. She is the most patient person I’ve ever known. She’s waited a long time to see her prayers answered. I would have loved inheriting that spiritual tenacity from her. Do you ever get tired of hearing me moan, dear Lord? I have some affinity for my Israelite relatives. They walked in the wilderness for forty years; yet, here I am on the seventy-year track. Teach me how to wait for You - even if it means I must wait seventy-times-seven years. Oh Lord, if I’m going to have to wait that long, I will need Your holy heart to survive. Create in me a new heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me.

I’ve been dialing 911 a lot lately. Thank You for always answering when I dial Daddy 911. It is Your love that draws me back to You, even when I’m not very patient. You bring comfort to me each morning, with every single breath, walking with me every step of the way. You wait, knowing I will seek Your face, asking for mercy and forgiveness and grace. When I don’t understand why, You hold me, and it is enough. This is Your master plan for my life. I was created to worship and glorify You. You are all I need for this day and for every tomorrow. You hold my life and for the ones I love in Your hand. Help me learn sweet patience as You make it all happen in Your time.

At the end of this, my seventy year itch, I know it will be Your love alone that heals my broken heart. Today I experience a taste of perfect love, and You lift me high above the chatter in this world. Your love has the power to heal every broken and hurting heart. You are the Great fixer-upper. I don’t have to try so hard Lord, because You already have it in hand. Thank You for helping me let go.

I’m ready to wait for You now. Teach me to wait patiently.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

You have a master plan for me and my kin. Teach me to wait patiently in You as you bring it all to pass. In Jesus’ precious name, I pray, Amen.

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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, January 23, 2008

The sweetness in silence

Today’s Reading: John 5:25 (NIV)

25 I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live.

Memory Verse: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)

Good day!

My mother has said I’ve been blessed with the gift of gab. I chattered from the moment I got up in the morning until I lay my head down on the pillow at night. My favorite baby doll was Chatty Cathy®. She was the first of many dolls who could talk back to me. My husband of thirty years will confirm I never grew out of that “chatty” phase. He has this furrowed brow look, and I see every now and then, when he simply wants me to shut up. God love him! I wonder if he knew just how much time he would spend listening to me chatter when he said, “I do.” It’s my fault he has to wear hearing aids now. I’ve literally talked his ears off.

A wise and discerning pastor once said, “If you want to hear God, you must first be willing to listen.” We get so very busy, caught up in the chatter of our days that we don’t realize we are dying on the vine. We cannot hear God’s voice if we do not stop and listen. I’ve been studying the spiritual gift of solitude. Solitude is a spiritual discipline that has to “grow on you,” especially if you like to chatter. My favorite time of day is between 4 and 5am. In the early morning hours, just before the sun comes up, I enter into His holy presence with praise and prayers of confession, repentance and intercession. Then, I sit and wait. It is in the waiting I feel closest to my Lord. I can sit for an hour and experience the breath of His love. It is in this silence that I experience His peace that passes all understanding and it guards my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. His Word is the only words I hear. I look for the morning light to come, knowing the Father has already planned for my steps for this day.

When we’ve died to our sin and have been raised with Christ through the power of His blood, we will hear His voice and live! His peace waits for you in sweet silence. This is your moment to be still and listen to God.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

I can hear You speak when I stop and listen. Thank you Jesus, for Your holy presence in the silence of this day. Amen.

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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, January 22, 2008

Remixing His message

Today’s Reading: John 5:24 (NIV)

24 I tell you the truth; whoever hears My word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.

Memory Verse: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)

Good day!

I take the gift of hearing for granted; yet, I’m more cognizant of its benefits now that I’ve begun to actually lose it. I just don’t hear as well as I used to. It is especially noticeable when I’m in room with lots of noise, or if someone is whispering, and I can’t make out their words.

Jesus said that if we are to receive eternal life and not be condemned, we must do two things: hear and believe. It’s not just enough to hear something – we must believe it in our hearts. Preachers can preach until they turn blue in the face; but if we choose not to believe what they’re saying, it does no good. We can read the pages of our Bible over and over again; yet, if we pick and choose what we accept or reject, the Word cannot penetrate our lives. We all enjoy hearing about God’s unending love and favor for all. He is also a God who angers against a sinful and hard-hearted humanity. Some things are easier to accept than others. Christ calls us to hear Him and believe what He says is The truth.

I’ve decided that I make a really lousy witness for Jesus Christ. I say I believe, but then I don’t follow through. Or I say I believe the things I want to believe, and pay little attention to the words that I really don’t want to hear. I read His Word, but don’t practice His teachings every day. I tell of His love, mercy and grace, while harboring resentment, frustration, and unforgiveness inside. Like Paul, I am the worst of sinners – a complete hypocrite. You know, there are times when I wonder why God would even bother using someone like me to share the Good News. Do you ever wonder about that? He continues to speak to my heart, even in my gross imperfections. He covers me with His blood. Christ takes my hearing impediment and lack of faith and transforms it by His grace. God’s love is greater than any love we can even begin to comprehend. He loves us so very much that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him, should not perish, but have everlasting life (John 3:16).

Today, I’m praying for an extra measure of Christ’s mercy and grace. I’m asking forgiveness for only hearing what I want to hear and picking the Gospel apart – choosing what I will and won’t believe. I’m praying for His forgiveness for trying to remix His Message in such a way that is appealing to my own personal preferences and desires.

Lord, have mercy; Christ, have mercy; Lord, have mercy.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Create in me a clean heart, and renew a right spirit within me. I believe you, Lord! Help my unbelief. Amen.

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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, January 21, 2008

Learn something new? Follow through.

Today’s Reading: John 5:19 (NIV)

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth; the Son can do nothing by Himself; He can do only what He sees His Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.

Memory Verse: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)

Good day!

“Ah ha!” moments seem to come in groups of three. And the Good Lord has to work extra hard to make it stick in my thick skull. I learned something significant about myself this weekend, and how I often fail at imitating Jesus Christ in my life. This is definitely a paradox worth exploring.

I heard three great messages this weekend about what it looks like to be radically hospitable to others, especially in our churches. Mulling over the Bishop’s comment on Saturday at the Conference Office, I remembered his words, “When congregations first examine the five practices of fruitful congregations, they will believe they are doing it all right… but they are not.” At first, I thought that was an unusual statement; but then I wondered if I was exactly the kind of person he was describing in his remark. Like most mathematical equations, his words were not calculating correctly in my tiny little brain.

On Sunday morning, I listened with great interest as our assistant pastor told “a tale of two churches,” and the story of a missionary friend. He came by invitation to observe and participate in a Christian congregation for three months, sharing his observations of how their church was faring in outreach ministry efforts. This particular church apparently had “state-of-the-art” everything, and they lacked nothing inside their walls to create a warm and welcoming environment for their honored guests. They only thing missing was their guests. Then, the pastor asked, “Who did you bring with you to church today?” I glanced at the empty space next to where I was sitting and thought to myself, “Why didn’t I phone my neighbors and last night and invite them to worship? Yikes! I could have made a five-minute phone call.” I’m always happy to be at Faith Church! The sermon was great, and there was plenty of comfortable seating space for others. Sitting there, I realized I had failed to offer radical hospitality simply by neglecting to invite someone else. God was serving me an Ah hah! moment, right there in the pew. I think I tried to shrink down in my seat just a little bit more, but I couldn’t escape my pastor’s eyes. How do pastors do that? It’s like they bore holes into your very soul. Sometimes its easier just to close your eyes and pray really hard they won’t call on you to speak!

And if that wasn’t enough fun for one morning, I stayed for the next worship service, and found a place up front to sit, next to a dear friend who had been visiting her daughter for several months. This was Sylvia's last Sunday at Faith Church before she returned home, and I wanted to be with her today. Her presence has been such a blessing to me, and I know I’m going to miss having her worship with us at Faith Church. The pastor was smack dab in the middle of an awesome message on how we can show radical hospitality, when suddenly, I noticed a visiting couple sitting across the pew, as their toddler slip off the padded pew and hit his head on the offering envelope rack. I knew from his muffled screams that the little boy was hurt. His mother lifted him up into her arms and quickly whisked him to the back of the sanctuary. I sat there frozen for about ten seconds. What should I do? I knew there were ushers and greeters in the foyer to offer assistance. At that moment, my pen ran out of ink. I closed my Bible and made a hasty exit to the back of the building. There, I found our guest, standing in the corridor, rocking her son while he wailed. It was an awkward moment – the ushers were there, but here was our honored guest with no place to sit and she was holding her hurting child. I immediately went up to her and offered to get her a chair and asked if he was okay. I looked at the crying child and said, “What’s your name?” “Adam,” he replied between screams. I said, “Adam, do you have an owwee? Would you like some ice for your boo boo?” Immediately, that grandmotherly instinct kicked in. What would I want for my grandchild if they hit their head on the pew during worship? Ice! The young mother looked at her son and said, “Would you like some ice, honey?” “Yesssssss,” he cried. I ran as fast as I could to the kitchen to get a baggie with some ice and paper towels. Mother seemed genuinely grateful for the ice, and after a few minutes, little Adam stopped crying. I returned to the sanctuary and sat down next to my friend. Picking up my pen, I was delighted to see it was working just fine!

Only God can take the paradoxes of our lives and turn them for His good. Jesus walked the earth, imitating His Father, every step of the way. Because we love Christ, we too must learn to how to imitate Him, not only with our words, but in actions. I realized those sermon notes will not do me one bit of good if I don’t practice them myself.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Thank you Lord! You love me unconditionally. Help me to always ask the question, What would You do, and then do it. Amen.

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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, January 20, 2008

Sabbath rest

Today’s Reading: John 5:16-17(NIV)

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted Him. 17 Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working.”

Memory Verse: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” (Romans 15:7 ESV)

Good day!

I encountered an amazing Sabbath rest while attending a seminar yesterday at the Missouri Area Conference Office in Columbia. Our Bishop, Robert Schnase, spoke about the purpose and vision for his new book, Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations. I listened intently to the Bishop’s compelling words. I relaxed in a warm and inviting meeting area, sitting in a comfortable chair with a cup of hot coffee in hand, served in a glass coffee mug, while snacking on warm, homemade granola. It was the coldest day of the year in Missouri, and I appreciated the warmth inside. I rested, while our Conference Staff worked hard to provide a radically hospitable and welcoming environment for all who came to learn. Our Bishop didn’t get a day off to rest. He spoke for two hours, expressing his deep conviction and desire to somehow to reach the people in Missouri with the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His urgency compelled all of us to get out there and do the same. We need to follow in this man’s footsteps. He travels many miles every week to share, motivate and inspire Christians to emulate Christ in their lives. He has a horrific schedule to keep. It was obvious to me that the Holy Spirit has given him supernatural strength to move forward in faith each day.

Aren’t you grateful knowing that while God took time to rest on the Sabbath, He never stopped doing good? Our Lord leads us by example. Every heart needs time away to rest and regroup from the drama of our daily routine. We see Christ making time to pray and celebrate intimate relationship with His Father. Yet, His hospitality and welcome does not end during a Sabbath rest. Christ continues to do good, love freely, and offer forgiveness to all who seek Him. Should we not offer our very best to the ones who come to worship in our sanctuaries each weekend?

Bishop Schnase said, “The most important hour of each week in the life of our visitors is the worship hour.” How will we welcome the Lord’s guests to worship today? Will we lead by the example of Jesus? He was not afraid to speak to those who were seeking Him out, answer their prayers, heal the sick and forgive sin, especially on the Sabbath. Thank God for His mercy and grace that is available to all of us twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.

Radical hospitality is the key to emulate Christ’s unconditional love for all. How will you choose to share the love of Jesus with the people you meet in worship today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Teach me, Father, to be radically hospitable, expressing Your unconditional love for all people every day of the week, but especially on the Sabbath, when we come to honor and glorify You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.