Thursday, April 23, 2009

The Father's timing


Today’s Reading: Acts 1:6-7 (NIV)

6 So when they met together, they asked Him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 [Jesus] said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.”

Good morning!

It is hard to understand the Father’s timing.

During World War II, my grandparents experienced great emotional anguish as all four of their boys left the country to fight overseas. They had lived a simple and peaceful existence as cotton pickers in the Mississippi back woods. There was a great celebration when two of their sons returned home safely. My mother remembers the day officers arrived at the front porch of their farm, bearing the grim news that her oldest brother was held as a prisoner of war. The news was almost more than her family could bear; and then, just a few weeks later, they learned their youngest son had also been taken captive. Grandmother walked away from the uninvited guests on her front porch and headed toward the clearing at the end of their property line. She sat down, and stared into thin air. When Grandpa finally found her, it was nearly dark, and she was in a state of physical and emotional shock. He had to fetch the wagon and have help lifting her, just to bring her home. She didn’t speak or move for weeks. Grandpa thought he had lost her too. The first words she said were uttered to her Methodist preacher, who came and sat with her every day and read the Scriptures out loud. Grandmother looked him squarely in the eye and said, “Preacher, when will God bring my boys back home?”

My Uncles survived a nightmare most of us cannot begin to imagine. They suffered cruel and inhumane punishment. They watched helplessly as many of their friends died in prison. Both men were freed after the war ended and they returned home, forever changed by the experience. Rhe lives of all who knew and loved them were effected. We knew first hand what war can do to families, countries and the world. My grandmother knew that two of her baby boys were in harms way and there was nothing she could do to save them from it. She was able to lay this burden down at the foot of the cross where Jesus picked it up carried it for her.

The Disciples had seen witnessed the atrocities of life under Roman rule. They could not stand to see their people suffering the same torment they had endured for thousands of years. Jews believed in the prophecies of old; there would be one who would rise up – He had the Father’s power to change everything and would restore the kingdom once and for all. It was their promise just waiting to be fulfilled. They asked the Lord, “When will God save us? When will we live in peace and harmony again? How much longer do we have to wait to see His promises fulfilled?”

In our greatest adversities, we cannot begin to know or understand the Father’s timing. Like the Disciples, we stand in line and ask the age old question, “How much longer, Lord?” Jesus said, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.”

We wait for the day when all suffering will cease; when humanity will live in peace with each other. Christ will return to redeem His people and restore His kingdom on earth. It is this promise that we rely upon. This is our time to wait in faith, trusting the Father’s timing even when we do not understand it.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, 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, April 21, 2009

Wait for it!

Today’s Reading: Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)

4 On one occasion, while [Jesus] was eating with them, He gave them this command: Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Good morning!

Here’s a personal question to ponder today: When traffic lights change from green to yellow, does your driving foot generally react by (a) putting on the brakes; or (b) stepping on the gas pedal?

I ran a yellow light yesterday. Sometimes, if I’m in the intersection and the light suddenly changes, there is no choice but to add a little acceleration and move on through the exchange; but this was not the case. The light was yellow and I had time to stop, but I chose to go instead. The light turned red while I was making the turn, and as soon as I did it, the Holy Spirit jabbed me in the gut. I knew I should have waited. However, I also knew that if I had applied the brake at that particular moment, the person driving in the car behind me, who was obviously in a bigger hurry than I was, would have probably rear-ended me right then and there. Is this a good excuse to run a yellow light? How would this defense hold up before a judge in traffic court? “Your honor, if it pleases the court, I offer this evidence as my "soul" defense: the brother behind me made me do it! Please check your video camera recording and you will see that my decision to run the yellow light was solely based upon the automobile that was riding my tail and pushing me through the intersection. Your honor, with all due respect, he is the one that deserves the punishment - not me.”

How many times do we run the cautionary yellow lights of life, forgetting that the slow down plan is often best? Our youngest grandson Andrew is almost two years old and every bit of it. He is one busy boy! Of our five grandchildren, I think Andrew shows the least amount of fear. This is a scary age, when wee ones love to climb and jump and explore the unknown, without any cognitive recognition of imminent danger. I’ve seen that child climb up furniture quicker than I can say “No, Andrew” and take a running leap, laughing hysterically as gravity quickly pulls him back down to earth. Saturday night, I could see that Andrew was wearing down. When Grandmothers get tired, they lie down and rest. When two year old boys get tired, they begin to go a whole lot faster, for fear of having to actually lie down and rest. Three times this child decided to take a running leap off the living room sofa; and three times I told him to stop. The third time was the kicker. I immediately put Andrew in time out and you would have thought the world stopped spinning. Andrew cried and wailed as big old crocodile tears rolled down his flushed face. After he expressed his sincere dislike of Granny Deb’s slow down plan, he calmed himself, and was well behaved the rest of the evening. It’s amazing what a little time out can do to right an upside down world.

Jesus wasn’t kidding when he told His disciples to wait for it. He gave them a monumental task; to go and share His message of salvation with the entire world! The adversity they would face and the judgments and punishments of others would follow them wherever they went. Many would believe and just as many would not. His beloved would face serious consequences for their actions, and it would cost them their lives. Jesus knew without the help and power of the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them, they would become like a tired two year old, tired and rambunctious, running from here to there with no real sense of purpose or call. They would not heed the cautions that come with ever-present danger, and would surely fall along the way. Jesus wanted them to have the tools they needed to effectively take the message around the world.

About an hour later, I drove back through that intersection, much slower than before. I saw two ambulances and a fire truck flashing lights in the roadway. I saw the crumpled vehicles in the street. It appeared that someone tried to run a yellow light and collided with an oncoming car who was also in a hurry to go. Are we willing to risk the lives of others because we’re too busy to stop and wait?

Just like a yellow light cautions us to slow down, Jesus tells us not to launch out into the deep without His powerful Holy Spirit directing our lives. We must not try to go it alone. Ask Jesus to pour out His Holy Spirit upon your life today. Then wait for it! You will know when to go in Jesus’ name! Amen!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, 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, April 20, 2009

The next forty days

Today’s Reading: Acts 1:3 (NIV)

3 After [Jesus] suffering, He showed Himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that He was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the Kingdom of God.

Good morning!

A lot can happen in forty days. Our five-year old granddaughter Emily participated in her very first Gymnastics program this past weekend. She began classes just a few months ago, and within a matter of two months, moved up from the beginning class into the intermediate program. Even I was surprised at the new skill sets she acquired in the last six weeks. Emily has always been quite the tumble bee, preferring to hang upside down while watching television or playing on the swing set in their back yard. She has a great sense of balance and a strong upper body, which is why I’m sure she did well on the uneven parallel bars and was able to complete her balance beam routine with only a minor wobble. My favorite moment was watching Emily run as fast as she could toward the pommel horse. She jumped high and stuck her landing, throwing her arms up in the air while waving to the cheering crowd. It was an amazing thing to see. Baby brother Andrew had passed out in my arms, completely oblivious to the activities happening around him. Older brother Joshua sat by my side and cheered his little sister on. At the end of the program, Emily got to carry the team banner, leading her group to the awards ceremony. The smiles on the faces of her team mates pretty much told the rest of the story. This is the time to celebrate!

Parents know that for every success, there will be just as many failures. Our Emily will wear the bumps and bruises of her ongoing gymnastics training, as she continues to learn. We can anticipate future sprained ankles, broken bones, and many other physical injuries that she will fight to recover from. Sometimes, the worst sporting injuries scar our emotions, if we fail to accomplish what we’ve trained to do. If you’ve ever seen an Olympian fall at the world games, then you have some sense of the devastation athletes feel. Human compassion surfaces when we sense the pain of others. Awards should be given to each and every person who tries and fails, as opposed to the ones who are so afraid of failing they do not try at all.

Jesus completed yet another forty days of spiritual training with His beloved. After His death and resurrection, Jesus continued to appear and teach the disciples about the Kingdom of God. There was no doubt that Christ had succeeded in the life’s mission; taking upon Himself the sins of humanity in exchange for new and everlasting life in Him. For those who did not yet know Him, Jesus' life work may have seemed to be a dismal failure. Many wondered why the man who could heal so many and raise people from the dead could not save Himself from the cruel cross. They could not see that He had conquered death once and for all. Yet, the disciples who saw Him high and lifted up, who placed their fingers in his wounds and held their hands in His side, knew the whole Truth. Jesus Christ is the real deal! And the smiles on their faces pretty much told the rest of the story. This is the time to celebrate new life!

A lot can happen in forty days. Disbelief melts at the foot of the cross. Ordinary human hearts are transformed into Christ followers. Belief gives rise to courage as fearless ones share His message of salvation around the world. Facing guaranteed physical punishment and cruel emotional suffering, Jesus' physical presence in the world was more than enough hope to sustain the faithful as they began taking His Word out into the streets. The only reward they long to receive is the crown of life from the One who died to set them free - the same crown they will lay down at His feet in heaven.


Where will your heart be in forty short days? Will you place your faith in Jesus Christ? Will He take the mustard-seed faith that has been planted in you and grow it exponentially for Kingdom work? Will the fear of following Him melt into strength and courage that you cannot explain away? Are you willing to run full force into the arms of your Savior, knowing He will be there to catch you, even if you fall?

The next forty days could entirely change the direction of your life.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, 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.