Saturday, May 23, 2009

Dreaming dreams

Today’s Reading: Acts 2:16-18 (NIV)

[Peter said,] 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 “In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy.”

Good morning!

Every time I visit my mother, I listen to her recount the dreams she has had in the past few days. She is quite the dreamer! Most of her dreams seem silly to her, and some make no sense at all. And yet, she dreams every night without fail. I told her she should pop popcorn before she goes to bed, so she can enjoy a snack during tonight’s featured presentation!

Do you dream at night? I’ve had “falling” dreams since I was a little kid. They wake you up with a start. Your body jerks and all of a sudden you are wide awake, feeling like you have been running in circles all night long. Falling dreams at night often make me tired the next day and wishing for a cat nap in the middle of the afternoon.

Most of the dreams I dream are a lot like my mother’s dreams – really strange and seemingly meaningless. A few years ago, I began hearing passages of Scripture in my dreams. It was as if I was sitting there in church, listening to a Sunday morning sermon in my pajamas. Unlike the mini-dreams that we vaguely remember the next day, I could recall the Scripture passage and the message when I woke up. My husband Jeff encouraged me to write down what I remembered from the Scripture dreams. He reminded me that God speaks to people in their dreams, just as Peter repeated the prophetic words of Joel to the men on the day of Pentecost when the Spirit fell down.

We live extremely busy lives. Many are up and at it from before the crack of dawn and work way past the midnight hour. God speaks to us in our rim cycle, when we have finally let go of all physical exertion and allow our bodies and minds to fully rest. I think this is why the Lord allows me to hear Scripture as I sleep. I love how His Word speaks, especially in the stillness of the night, when I have stopped talking and can truly listen to His still, small voice.

God gives the gift of dreaming dreams to all who draw near to Him in faith. If you are hearing Scripture in your sleep, take the advice of my husband and write it down. God’s Word is life-changing. God’s Word is new life!

Enjoy the Father’s feature presentation tonight. And remember to pop some popcorn before you go to sleep.

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.

Friday, May 22, 2009

Happy hour

Today’s Reading: Acts 2:13-15 (NIV)

13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: “Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you: listen carefully to what I say. 15 These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It’s only nine in the morning!”

Good morning!

Are you a wine drinker? I have family and friends who like to drink. I’ve heard stories from coworkers and friends about their leisurely weekend drives to some of the nearby wineries in Missouri, where they sit outside on cushioned chairs, enjoying the beauty of nature while sampling a selection of some of our State’s finest offerings.

I have been with coworkers at business meetings and dinners where drinks were served. It seems to be the social thing to do, to enjoy a drink or two at dinner with others. I’ve been teased by some and told that they will find a way to convert me to their drinking ways! You see, if my friends had grown up watching their loved ones struggle to cope with the fallout from alcohol addiction, maybe they would understand why I prefer not to drink at all.

Whenever I’m at a restaurant, I try not to sit too close to the bar. Quite honestly, it is hard to hear over the noise. It seems the more alcohol people consume, the louder they get. There is a definite connection how alcohol in the blood stream can change our very thoughts, our moods, and even the way in which we speak. Sometimes, folks who have had a little too much to drink become giddy and giggly. They say things they wouldn’t normally say in public. Perceptions change; others become quite agitated and even angry, while some just want to lie down and take a nap.

The onlookers observing the move of the Holy Spirit couldn’t help but believe that these men were drunk! What else could have caused such an abrupt change in personality? The noise level had raised several decibels. People were speaking loudly and with great passion. Peter told the crowd their theories were wrong. After all, this was not the happy hour that folks flock to after a hard day’s work! It was only nine in the morning, way too early for people to be drinking and dancing in the streets.

The mere fact that Peter, the same disciple who had trouble controlling his temper and his tongue, was able to stand before thousands and speak clearly and audibly, is an amazing miracle! If I had been there watching my friend Peter speak, it would have convinced me straight away that something greater in Him was alive than anything he could possibly do on his own. Maybe that is why the Lord chose to use Him that day to tell the people about Jesus Christ.

A great miracle occurred in that moment when the Holy Spirit flames came. I have found the happiest hours of my life are spent in prayer and praise before my Lord. May you find yourself running to Happy Hour in Lord every day. His is the only drink worth consuming.

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.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

What does this mean?

Today’s Reading: Acts 2:9-12 (NIV)

9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus, and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs – we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, “What does this mean?”

Good morning!

I recently watched a video clip online of a group of women singing in a celebratory worship service at the Riruta United Methodist Church in Nairobi, Kenya. I did not understand the words of their language, and yet, I recognized the holy glow on their faces. They were praising God and loving Him with their voices. And this music had the most beautiful melody line I have ever heard. I am daily amazed by the gifts of technology and our ability to easily communicate with people all around the world.

I am not a computer geek; in fact, my husband Jeff would tell you that he has to frequently intervene on my behalf just to print documents, transfer photographs, and, I’m ashamed to say, help turn the computer on. It is a true miracle every time I send a message across the worldwide web. I don’t understand it; I write to share what I hear the Lord whispering in my heart through His Word; then I say a prayer and press “send.”

I wonder if this is how the Apostles may have felt that day when the Holy Spirit fell as tongues of flame, filling their mouths with languages they had never spoken before. There they were, declaring the wonders of God in a language foreigners and strangers could understand perfectly! It had nothing to do with them at all; they were simply willing to open their mouths and speak the words God gave them, and the Holy Spirit “sent” the message forth. People were receiving Jesus Christ everywhere! The foreigners were amazed and perplexed, and wondering what in the world was going on. I’m certain they were not nearly as surprised as the Apostles themselves, who were speaking boldly that day on the Lord’s behalf.

What does this mean? What does it mean for someone like you or me when it comes to sharing faith in Christ with people of other nations and languages? I believe if we have willing hearts and a deep desire to share the Good News with others, then the Holy Spirit flame can carry our love for Christ around the world, even in a simple email. Jesus promises us that He will be us always – when we are willing to go, He will do the rest. We speak – He saves. We share – He loves. He sends – we go. I have heard some say that email is far too impersonal a tool to use in faith sharing. Do you agree? In my own life, I’m learning to trust Jesus Christ for the end result in all I do and say. What makes logical sense to me most often doesn’t work. It is the thing I know virtually nothing about that He most often uses for His Father's glory. It keeps me humble, and on my knees, trusting Him for the outcome. If He can use someone like me to spread the Gospel message around the world, then I know He can and will use you too. The Holy Spirit fire is an unquenchable gift of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

I live for the amazing One! Through His Word, He breathes new life into my heart each day. The love of Christ is rich and abundant – and the new life He brings is worth sharing with everyone. So get out there today, and tell someone what Lord Jesus Christ has done for you. Use email, if necessary.

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, May 19, 2009

The universal language of love

Today’s Reading: Acts 2:7-8 (NIV)

7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in his own native language?”

Good morning!

Sometimes I need an interpreter to understand my sweet granddaughter, Madison. She loves to talk constantly! Occasionally, I catch a word or two that I recognize, like “Grandma” or “Taco Bell”. It helps to have Mom and Dad around to interpret what it is she is trying to say. Our grandson Andrew likes to repeat words in groups of three. When he sees me parking the car in his driveway, he stands at the picture window, jumping up and down while shouting, “Nanny, Nanny, Nanny!” Or, if he wants a bag of pretzels opened, he will hand it to me and say, “Open, Open, Open.” His lips get a real workout when he tries to say that word quickly three times. I am convinced there is a universal language for toddlers that only they can understand. Even when I’m not sure exactly sure what they’re saying, I can sense the meaning behind the message.

Our granddaughter Emily was feeling a little out of sorts at the dinner table. She suddenly became very emotional (like little girls sometimes do) and the crocodile tears started dripping all over her dinner plate. Through her sobs, she tried to explain what was wrong, and even though I did not hear a clear word she said, I knew this child’s heart was hurting and that was all I needed to know to immediately respond. Broken hearts hold a universal language all of its own.

Language barriers can become difficult obstacles to overcome as we try to convey important information to people of different nationalities and cultures. I visited New York City in the spring of 2002, just after the terrorist attacks that destroyed Manhattan’s Twin Towers and left thousands of people grieving for lost loved ones. I stood on the makeshift sidewalk at Ground Zero and watched the cleaning crews while they continued to remove the rubble left behind. I listened to the hushed whispers of the people who surrounded me; they had come to see for themselves while trying to make sense of what had happened here. I heard a variety of languages spoken. And while I did not completely understand every word, the universal language of grief and love were crystal clear.

The people who had traveled from different countries to celebrate the festival in Jerusalem were utterly amazed! They could clearly understand the words of the Galileans. A universal love language had instantly emerged! The Apostles testified to everyone they saw that morning of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and how He came to save all people from sin and give them everlasting life in Him. They heard and understood the Gospel message in a language they could clearly relate to. Christ’s love broke through every single language barrier that day.

You see, Jesus died for all people, not just for some. He died for you and for me. His love language transcends every human language barrier – He has the power to reach us and when He does, it is an amazing miracle of grace! Pentecost is not just some historical event recorded in Scripture – Christ’s Pentecost continues today, breaking through to people everywhere! Jesus Christ is speaking to you today. Do you understand what He is saying?

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, May 18, 2009

The bewildered ones

Today’s Reading: Acts 2:5-6 (NIV)

5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking in his own language.

Good morning!

My mother told me that when the circuit-riding preacher came to town, folks traveled for miles and miles to see and hear him speak. Many came out of simple curiosity, while others were drawn through a great sense of anticipation they would hear God’s Word read and proclaimed. Everyone came hungry and no one was turned away from the table. There was plenty of food, fellowship and fun. Folks would arrive to church, carrying Sunday dinner with them. The women would disappear in the pine grove just behind the church building and the cemetery. They would place two by four slats on top of wooden saw horses and cover the makeshift table with pieces of cloth. This was fast food at its very best! There were lots of delectable choices on the buffet table from which to choose. Aunt Mary’s shrimp gumbo was a huge hit. Everyone knew that cousin Bertha made the best fried chicken in town. The men pitched a large tent on the front lawn where families sat together on the ground in the shade to share the afternoon meal. After lunch, the children played hide and seek in the cemetery while the women removed empty and dirty dishes, carting them down to the creek for a good scrubbing. The men smoked their corncob pipes, while commiserating over their crops, the hot weather, and the rising price of seed. Some of the elders who ate way too much dinner, claimed their tree stump, and propped themselves against it for a Sunday afternoon nap. No one went home; everyone stayed. They knew the preacher was coming.

One could hear the clatter of horse hoofs on the path that led to the church. The elders stirred, the children stopped their play, as the folks crowded underneath the tent to wait for the parson’s imminent arrival. He wasn’t a very big man, kind of lanky and lean looking. The parson sported a torn and dusty black jacket, with the Word of God tucked up under his right arm in an impenetrable football squeeze. He greeted the crowd, gulped a large cup of ice cold lemonade, and immediately began to speak. Many of the people who came to hear the preacher preach could not read. They repeated and memorized Scripture verses as the preacher spoke them out loud. They were starving to understand its deeper meaning.

This preacher knew his audience, and he prayed that He might somehow speak God’s Word in a love language that everyone could understand. He allowed the power of the Holy Spirit to do the speaking through Him. He told about his personal pain that comes from living a sinful life, how he was totally lost and separated from the Father’s love. He explained how Jesus Christ carried his personal sin to the cross; how He died and rose again just to set him free from the things that were eating him alive; He showed them how the blood washes away sin and covers the redeemed in mercy and grace. Now he lives for Christ because Christ lives in him. When the invitation to receive salvation was given, the people came forward, some with their entire families. Together, the community joined hands and made their public profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. As the sun set that evening across the Mississippi back wood, the people followed the humble circuit-rider to the creek bed, where new converts were baptized right there in the river. People sang and prayed and celebrated together as they saw their sins literally being washed away. This is the day to remember.

When the Holy Spirit comes, people show up. They come, some out of mere curiosity; others hold onto hope for a brighter tomorrow. The gossips, the critics and the innocents are all gathered together, waiting and wondering what will happen next. You see, there are a lot of bewildered and lost people wandering around the back woods of life today. We all come from different cultures, races, ages and geographical locations; yet, we share a common need. The Father’s love language is manifested in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit working in and through our lives. It is His priceless gift of love that helps us better understand and communicate the Father’s heart, and the length He continually goes to rescue the lost and bewildered ones. His Word is Truth, and it comes by receiving and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

There are lots of hungry people who are starving to know Jesus today. How far would you be willing to go to receive the universal language of the Father’s perfect love?

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.