Thursday, October 30, 2008

Eternal life

Today’s Reading: John 17:3 (NIV)

3 [Jesus said,] “Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent.”

Good morning!

My husband Jeff shook his head is disbelief as he said with quiet contemplation, “Deb, I can’t believe I’m 52 today.” Time has truly flown by it seems, especially in the last few years. If we blink, we may miss a lot of what is happening around us. The four seasons come quickly now. When we were children, it seemed like an eternity before we were old enough to see out the kitchen window without a chair to boost us up, or to be able to drive the family automobile, or to finally graduate and move out of the house. All of a sudden, life seems to fly by in a whirlwind of activity. We set and make our goals; we work our way through college and find ourselves launched into our chosen career path. Some of us are still trying to graduate. Many fall in love and get married; we have children and, all of a sudden, the life cycle begins again. Without even a warning, we find ourselves standing at the nursery window of the hospital, peering into the leaded glass where we see the reflection of our newborn grandbaby for the very first time. That mirrored reflection causes us to cringe. We don’t look the way we did twenty years ago. Our bodies are older; we are wiser; yet we wonder where the time has gone. Another generation is born. Where has the time gone?

Jesus knew to whom He belonged. He focused not on his time left to live this earthly life, for the time was flying by. He knew he would go home soon, to His Father, for all eternity. More than anything else, Jesus longed for all people to know the Father, the One True God, and for the world to come to know Him, who He is, and whose He is. Once we reach our eternal home, it will be there forever. Time ceases to exist as we know it. For what comes quickly now will be forever one day soon. We will live in a place where the aging process is obsolete, our growth spurt having been completed as Christ perfects us in His grace. We will live one day in perfect relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and in harmony with each other. This life will pass quickly; forever is forever.

Do you know where your life is going? Have you found the One you will one day return to for all eternity? Jesus is waiting for you to see Him for who He is. He wants you to meet and know the Father through Him. Are you ready to ask Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life?

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.

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Amazing grace!

Today’s Reading: John 17:2 (NIV)

2 [Jesus said,] “For you granted Him authority over all people that He might give eternal life to all those you have given Him.”

Good morning!

There is something so very amazing in words that Jesus prayed. He acknowledges the gift of authority that the Father has given Him over all people, so that He might give eternal life to you and me. This is the confirmation we need to know that, without a doubt, we belong with Him. Do you know the eternal life-giver? Is He your friend?

JC Java is a place where the love of God is ever present. I couldn’t help but be moved by Katie’s poetry last night. She read her love notes to the Lord, expressing faith in words that all of us can understand. She loves her life-giver and His presence radiates in her life. Katie is one of many who have learned to express their God-given gift of creativity by sharing faith with others, through writing and music; in song and testimony. Chris played his guitar and sang his unfinished song; his work in progress. This is his gift from the Lord, and he shares it with all of us.

Dr. Steve House, Director of the Center for Christian Ministry Studies at Lindenwood University, penned a poem, an expression of his life’s work, in progress. It is his song of praise; he wrote it while backpacking in the mountains last summer. With Dr. House’s permission, I would like to share his song with you this morning. If you would like to hear it sung, come by Lindenwood’s coffeehouse next week. We are JC’s Java: Where Grace is Free and so is the Coffee.

Mountain Trails

Up, up the mountain trails of my mind

I walk the path, with burdened steps, and slow.

So mindful of the gloom I left behind;

My goal- the sun-lit summit, and the snow.

I’m not alone.

We walk together.

In deep communion;

My Friend and I.

Through every rough place,

Or sunny weather.

He is my helper,

He is my God. He is my Lord. Alt- Lord of the Sky.

I strain to conquer things that hinder me;

The pull of comfort, and of body, and of sleep.

My spirit struggles to be clean and to be free,

To reach the top, and faithfulness to keep.

Refrain

Below, the hidden valley is in shroud.

The shadows of my heart still hide the sky.

But now, in strength I step above the cloud.

And scan the wide expanse- where eagles fly.

Refrain

I stop to rest, to take in my reward,

The vista of the ever-changing earth.

This privileged gift bestowed to me by God,

This higher view that comes by my New Birth.

Refrain

With lighter steps, I cast my burdens down,

Full trusting in my God’s providing love.

With joy renewed, in freshness I race on,

And see the summit brightly- just above.

Refrain

The scene that only comes from being pure;

The pilgrim’s dream, the end of sacred strife-

And now, the awesome light and beauty sure

I see, because I give away my life.

Refrain

This life I live, I live by faith in Christ,

My Rock, my Friend, and my Redeemer he.

To serve that Love, the thing that I would do,

He’s helped me do, and so I am set free.

Refrain

Dedicated to my friend and student, Mat Welch

Another revision, 9/04/08

Another revision, 10/10/08

Another revision, 10/28/08

© Copyright 2008, Steve House

All rights reserved

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

Monday, October 27, 2008

Forever more!

Today’s Reading: John 17:1 (NIV)

1 After Jesus said this, He looked toward heaven and prayed: Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, that your Son may glorify you.”

Good morning!

Reunions are truly special. I spent time this weekend with some of my favorite people in this world. My mother stayed with us all weekend. Aunt Margaret and Cousin Brad joined us in St. Charles on Friday night, traveling all the way from Rockford, Illinois. We ate pot roast and drank coffee and enjoyed catching up on all the news. Early Saturday morning, Mel and Barb, and Phyllis and Joe joined us for breakfast at the parsonage. Phyllis and Joe are visiting from Alaska, and they will return home this week to Wasilla, their beautiful home nestled on the side of a mountain. We look forward to visiting with them around their kitchen table and enjoying their view real soon. Our daughter Rachel, son-in-law Dave, and grandchildren Joshua, Emily and Andrew joined us for breakfast. We prepared a virtual feast for fourteen! There were homemade pancakes, bacon and eggs, biscuits and gravy, cinnamon rolls, and designer donuts to share. Sister Pam arrived Saturday afternoon from southeast Missouri. She spent the night and made mouth-watering jambalaya for dinner, a Cajun treat! Jeff, Brad and I attended the Mizzou football game in Columbia, Missouri, where we caught up with our cousin Roger, who was in town visiting his dad from Pueblo, Colorado. On Sunday after church, Jeff’s parents stopped by to have lunch with all of us. There is simply nothing like the love of friends and family, and time spent together in sweet reunion. We are born for relationship. This is my family; the people who have invested their love in my life. How do you say thank you to the people who love and pray for you throughout your life’s journey?

At church on Sunday, I was proud to introduce my Aunt, who is also my Godmother, to my Pastor and Faith friends. She is a second mother to me, and has been there all these years. How I adore her! I don’t get to see my dear Aunt Margaret as often as I would like; and yet, having her there with me in worship was a precious moment I will treasure forever more.

Jesus knew the time had come for Him to return to His Father, whom He had served faithfully on earth. His home going was just around the corner, when He would fulfill His life’s purpose on earth. The best of who Jesus is and all He would become is completed in the loving arms of the Father. Christ’s soul desire was to glorify the Father, as the Father glorifies His Son forever more. Jesus told His disciples that He is who He is simply because of His Father’s love for Him.

As we sat around the kitchen table, I was reminded of a phrase I had heard frequently as a child. My aunts and grandmother said these words often, as we worked at my grandmother’s table, rolling pie dough and making biscuits and sharing life stories together. Someone would say something, and my aunt would finish their sentence with a precious exclamation, “Forever more!” I heard these words repeated over and over again as we gathered together this weekend. I realized that forever more is only a moment away.

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.