The end result

Today’s Reading: John 12:31-32(NIV)

[Jesus said,] 31 “Now is the time for judgment on this world, now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.”

Good morning!

Last weekend, my husband Jeff and son David put together a set of bookshelves for our family room. We are avid readers, and the one thing we seem to lack is bookshelf space. I stopped by my favorite furniture store and purchased yet another set of cherry-stained ladder bookshelves to add to our collection. When the shelves were delivered, the kit came unassembled. Our son David has become pretty good at putting bookshelves together. He has had plenty of practice! While the assembly is similar to the other sets we own, there seems to be inconsistencies in cut and pattern. Sometimes, we have a hard time visualizing how the finished piece will look. In our limited vision, we only see individual parts and pieces. We wonder how we will use all those screws supplied with the kit. Once David moved the shelves to an upright position, they looked rather wobbly and insecure. It was not until David fastened the solid cross beam at the back of the unit that the shelves took its finished form. The crossbeam gave the needed support to these bookshelves so they could stand strong under the heavy weight of the added books on its shelves.

Do you ever struggle to see the end result?

Jesus was speaking about his imminent death and resurrection. He had come to earth for this moment in time – to bring judgment upon the prince of the world and drive him out of humanity’s hearts. Christ would be lifted up from the earth on a crossbeam, and all the world would be drawn to Him. Everyone there was thinking the same thing: Jesus had come to Jerusalem to overthrow the Roman government. His rule would usher in a season of peace and prosperity; persecution would finally come to an end. They could see the plan unfold, piece by piece; yet, they did not understand the Master’s perfect plan of salvation.

It took a crossbeam to hold the weight of humanity’s sin on a tree. It took the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ to reconcile sinful hearts to a sinless Father. It was His love that He chose to die on the cross to save you and me our present state of sin and separation. Without this sacrifice, we wouldn’t have a solid foundation to stand on. It is the crossbeam that draws our eyes toward Christ. Can you see the end result? Do you understand what Jesus Christ has done for you?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© 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.

The voice of benefit

Today’s Reading: John 12:30(NIV)

30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.”

Good morning!

How many voices do you hear in the course of a day? I spend a good portion of my day reading and assimilating the thoughts and words of others. I review online news clips, study required texts for school, and process legal correspondence and documents at work. I receive and read approximately 60-100 e-mail messages a day. I’ve not yet taken up text messaging for this very reason. It’s all I can do just to get through the daily e-mail messages and respond. I listen to the kind voice of my supervisor, giving me instructions related to work projects. I have a great supervisor at work; I respect her thoughts and follow her directions to the best of my ability. It is a blessing to work with her. I love to listen to the voices of my children as they call me on my cell, and I laugh with my grandchildren, who absolutely love to call their Granny Deb up just to jabber in baby lingo. I review the recorded messages on my home phone at night and return phone calls. I can hear and recognize the voices at the other end of the telephone line. Of all the voices I listen to each day, I love the sound of my husband’s voice. He has a calming effect in my life. His voice is clear, understandable, and gentle. When all of the other voices in my life bring confusion or frustration, Jeff’s voice is the voice I listen to above all others.

There is One voice that speaks above every human voice we hear. It is God’s eternal voice. He conveys Himself to each of us through His Word, in prayer, and through the beauty of His created work. I listen for the beautiful voice of the Lord each day. I wait for His presence to consume my heart each morning when I awake. He is the first voice I hear, and His voice is the last sound of the evening, as I whisper my confessions and prayers of thanksgiving at night just before I fall asleep. Sometimes, God’s voice speaks to my heart in the stillness of the night. I can hear Him calling in my dreams. I feel His presence ever near. His Word will come to me in a moment of prayer and praise, and I recognize He is speaking directly to my heart. I know that one sweet day I will hear His voice as easily as I hear the human voices of my family and friends now. This is the day I will walk with Christ forever in His holy presence. I will live in a place where His light will be the only light I see, and where His sweet whisper will fulfill my heart’s every longing.

When God cried out from the heavens, Jesus turned to His disciples and said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine.” The voice of God speaks today, and His voice is for our benefit. Will we choose to listen and hear Him?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© 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.

Voice of thunder

Today’s Reading: John 12:28-29(NIV)

[Jesus said,] 28 “Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to them.

Good morning!

Thunder speaks! Late at night in the middle of a storm, the foundation of our home shakes as thunder peals across the dark sky. On a stormy night, it was not uncommon to have three little Spaulding prototypes crawl into bed with Mom and Dad. It became a true adventure when the dogs and cats joined us too. No one in our family slept through those midnight thunderstorms. It did, however, bring a whole new meaning to the concept of togetherness!

A large clap of thunder peals in the heavens and suddenly our electricity goes out. An amazing light show begins to reveal itself across the black sky, as the wind rattles the windows and rain beats down the newly planted flowers outside. In a torrential storm, golf-ball sized hail pellets leave their marks on our siding, roofs and car hoods. We’ve experienced a lot of thunderstorms here in the Midwest. Do you think God may be trying to get our attention?

Thunder bears a distinct and mighty voice – it may be very scary for some and comforting to others. Greek philosopher Aristotle speculated that the sound of thunder was caused by the collision of clouds. Modern science teaches that the sound of thunder is a supersonic shock wave caused from a sudden increase in the temperature and pressure that lightning produces in the air. It can begin as a low rumble, with tremors, and increase to a deafening loud boom that sounds like an explosive device detonating. The voice of thunder causes me to look up and listen. Are you captivated by the sight and sounds of the thunderstorm?

The voice from heaven sounded like the voice of angel to those who stood with Jesus that day in Jerusalem. When He shouted, “Father, glorify Your name,” the voice of thunder could be heard pealing across the heavens. It said, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” Can you hear the voice of God speak in the thunderstorm today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© 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.

Troubled heart

Today’s Reading: John 12:27-28(NIV)

[Jesus said,] 27 “Now my heart is troubled, what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour?’ No, it was for this very reason I cam to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”

Good morning!

Can you imagine what it might be like if you knew ahead of time how and when your earthly life would begin and end? It is a great gift to live out our days to its fullest measure, trusting in a greater plan beyond our realm of comprehension. Most everyone I’ve asked cannot remember their actual birth, only the stories told to them by their parents. It helps today to have colorful photograph scrapbooks and cinematography to aid us in knowing what it was like on the day we were born. We seemingly have no control over our first or last breath of air. Medical advances and technology have assisted many parents in planning for a specific day when their children are to be delivered. Near-perfect mathematical calculations, coupled with sophisticated ultrasound technology and labor-inducing medications remove the surprise element from the impending moment of birth. Not only do we know the day, we often know the sex of the child to be born far ahead of baby's first appearance.

It’s not quite as easy calculating the exact moment of death. We know it is coming – a life cycle that completes itself as we move from this world into the eternal. Why is it difficult for human beings to embrace life’s endings the way we embrace its beginnings?

It is like watching a rerun over and over again. Or starting a book with the last chapter first – if we know how the story will end, will the beginning really matter? Are you someone who longs to know how the story will end, before it begins?

Jesus had a troubled heart. Fully human and fully divine, the Son of God knew what was coming. He was with the Father in the beginning. He will be with the Father in the end. Jesus knew the moment He would leave His heavenly throne and enter into the womb of a virgin. He knew the time ordained for His earthly life. Every second mattered; every Word vitally important. Jesus came to give life, to redeem the lost, and leave an eternal path for humanity to follow. His earthly life was nearing completion. He knew the day and hour and how His last earthly breath would be spent. Jesus had a troubled heart, yet He chose to proclaim, “Father, glorify Your name!”

We are not promised tomorrow; each new day is a gift hand-crafted for you. We can walk humbly along the path that God has prepared for us, praying the Word of our Lord this morning as we arise: Lord, thank you for today. Help me walk in The Way that You have planned for me. I trust You to lead me wherever You choose, knowing Your purpose is greater than my limited perception. I trust You for this day, dear Lord. Father, glorify Your name!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© 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.