Friday, August 15, 2008

Clean up on aisle sin

Today’s Reading: John 14:23 (NIV)

23 Jesus replied, “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

Good morning!

Do you ever cry over spilled milk? This morning, I found a great suit in the back of my closet that I’ve not worn in awhile. With the cooler temperatures, I thought this would be the perfect choice on a day like today. I dressed and then went to the kitchen to fix breakfast. Every morning, I carry a bowl of cereal to the study, where I sit with Bible in hand and give my full attention over to the Lord. It took a lot of effort to prepare today. I’m not normally a late-night gal, but the Beijing Olympics have captured my heart. I watched in awe as two of our US gymnastics won the gold and silver medals in last night’s competition. It was a very late night.

In the study, I lost my focus and turned away from the computer desktop for just a second. It was only a second, but suddenly, I found myself dripping in bran flakes and milk. The bowl had overturned and my breakfast was everywhere! It soaked my suit, shoes, the computer workspace, the floor, and the chair I was sitting in. This was no small clean up. Spilled milk will leave a stain if not mopped up quickly, and the milk will begin to sour and smell. It forced me absolutely stop what I was doing, clean up the mess, and begin again.

When we disobey God, we have to stop what we are doing and shout out, “Clean up on aisle sin!” Disobedience gets in the way of who we are in Christ, and who He has created us to be. It is easy to say the words, “I love you, Lord.” It is much more difficult to prove we mean it. Jesus said that if we truly love him, we will obey His teaching. And when we obey Him, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit takes up permanent residence in our lives. Spilled milk, like the sin we carry around in our hearts, is messy. Yet, it is not impossible to clean up. If sin is getting in the way of your witness, stop what you’re doing and ask the Lord of life to clean you up. Only Jesus Christ has the power to wash your sins away, creating in a sacred space inside your heart where He can live and reign and work within your life.

Father, you reminded me today of the importance you place on obedience in love. I praise you for cleaning up the mess I’ve made this morning, and for all the messes I’ve made along life’s way. You mopped up my spilled milk and removed those nasty set-in stains once and for all. I love you. Help me obey your Word today. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.

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.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

The great reveal

Today’s Reading: John 14:22 (NIV)

Then Judas (not Judas Iscariot) said, “But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world?”

Good morning!

Have you been watching the Olympics on television? I’ve been fascinated by the variety of competitive events and the superb talent of each of its participants. Every athlete has trained for years to prepare their bodies and minds for a test of this magnitude. Many of these folks began their Olympic dream as a young child, training in a swimming pool or gymnasium. Some of these athletes are very young. I watched in awe as a fourteen year old dove off a three-story high dive in a synchronized diving competition. His form was near perfect and when this young man hit the water, he barely made a splash. It’s amazing to see the quest for perfection played out in the lives of so many from around the world. In the opening ceremonies, thousands of athletes gathered together to share their lifelong commitment and purpose. They came to play, to compete and to win.

I cannot imagine the time US Olympic athlete Michael Phelps has spent at the swimming pool training for the swim of his life. We are seeing the culmination of years of hard work. Long before Michael was recognized in the Olympic community, he and his family sacrificed training time and financial resources so that he could work toward winning the race. The tears we see streaming down Michael’s mother’s face tell a story that most of us have no true point of reference. We are watching a piece of history unfold; a lifelong dream fulfilled - and we are only beginning to see the end result. Day by day, with every new competition, Michael is breaking world records in Olympic swimming. How long would it take you to prepare for the swim of your life? Would you be ready to jump into Olympic waters and break world class records without first spending years to prepare?

Judas (not Iscariot), one of Jesus’ disciples posed an interesting question to the Lord. He wondered why Jesus intended to reveal Himself to only a few and not to the whole world. What Judas couldn’t see with physical eyes, Christ understood in the Spirit. A firm foundation had been poured from the beginning of time. A time of preparation for His coming and a plan that superseded anything a human heart could possibly imagine is culminating for the whole of humanity. The coming of Messiah had been foretold by prophets, told to children by parents and grandparents, and was eagerly anticipated by many people. Judas was hoping Jesus would not only lead the twelve, but become a world class leader. He longed for heathen Roman rule to submit to the authority of Almighty God.

God’s timing is not our timing. His ways are greater and higher than anything we can fully understand now. Jesus knew that His time had not yet come, but was coming soon. He was preparing to lay down his flesh as the perfect and final sacrifice for all. Jesus understood that the Father’s perfect timing would one day capture the hearts of humanity. He was willing to do the leg work needed to prepare a lost world for the greatest gift of all.

We long for the day when Jesus will return to redeem His bride. Jesus said he was going to prepare a place for us and that He would come back to take us there. Are you ready for Christ to reveal Himself to the world? Will you recognize the Lord when He returns? What preparations do you need to make to be ready for God’s great reveal?

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.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

In love

Today’s Reading: John 14:21 (NIV)

[Jesus said], “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.”

Good morning!

I’ve been thinking about what it means to be in love. Do you remember the first time you knew you were in love? Relationships draw people into abiding friendship, and their friendship becomes a solid, unbreakable bond. We begin to trust and rely completely upon the people whom we love. We care about their moods, their general health and wellbeing. We want to know what they are thinking and feeling, and we care enough to ask. We keep on asking, especially when there is a perceived unresolved hurt or pain. When our loved one is in pain, we suffer alongside them. Loving another is not simply some physical attraction, sparked by roller coaster hormones. Loving is a lifelong journey, a deep commitment worth investing one’s life in. Loving another soul requires a devotion of time and attention and a willingness to place the needs of the one you love ahead of your own. What does “being in love” mean to you?

When my childhood neighbor passed away many years ago, I remember standing at the side of his funeral casket, talking to his wife. With tears streaming down her face, she looked at me, pointing to the remains of her dearly departed husband, and said, “He is my life. I’ve spent sixty years with this man – we live in the house we first purchased after the war. I do not remember what it was like not to have him by my side.” I have watched my neighbor move forward, even in deep sadness. She continues to share glimpses of her beloved husband with others, by sharing her memories of their life together. I know she is looking forward to the day when she will be reunited with her husband in eternity. I believe my neighbor truly understands what it means to be in love.

Jesus told His disciples when we hold fast to His Word and choose to obey His commands, that we are the ones who truly love Him. Being in love with the Lord requires a conscious decision and a lifelong commitment. When you say you will follow Christ, you choose to enter into an everlasting relationship bonded by His perfect blood. Being in love with the Lord is a daily commitment, not just something we do one hour each week in worship. Obedience takes discipline, and discipline takes courage, and courage stands in fully trusting the One who loved us first.

Are you ready to fall in love with the Savior? Come and worship Him today. Together, we can honor and glorify the One who came to seek and save the lost. I thank God that my Jesus was willing to serve a dying church. I don't know where we would all be if Christ had not come to serve the sick, the dying, and the lost. He willing obeyed His Father's command, choosing to suffer and lay down His own earthly flesh so that all of us might live forever in the Father's care. He loves you and me this much! What would you give for a love like that? Each new morning is a brand new opportunity to grow deeper in love with our Lord. I’ll see you today at Faith.

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.