Monday, June 29, 2009

New life coach

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:13-15 (NIV)

13The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his servant Jesus. You handed him over to be killed, and you disowned him before Pilate, though he had decided to let him go. 14You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you. 15You killed the author of life, but God raised him from the dead. We are witnesses of this.

Good morning!

We stood in line for hours with our daughter Rachel, David and the children to meet and greet to meet the world famous author and television star, Nanny Deb, from Nanny 911®. My son-in-law is a great guy. He surprised Rachel on her birthday one year with tickets to attend a book signing with Nanny Deb at the Barnes and Noble® bookstore. Nanny Deb is Rachel’s hero. Like the infamous writing of Dr. Spock for my mother’s generation, Nanny Deb is the expert extraordinaire on matters of child rearing today. Rachel is a dedicated follower of Nanny 911®, never missing her television show. So enamored with this woman, Rachel started coaching my grandchildren to call me “Nanny Deb” at a very early age. It is a term of endearment that has stuck. Three of my grandchildren know me as “Nanny.” As a matter of fact, when we finally reached the book table and shook author Nanny Deb’s hand, my grandson Joshua proudly introduced me as his very own “Nanny Deb.”

You see, Nanny Deb is a life coach. She encourages healthy behaviors and good moral values for children. She teaches little ones how to listen and show respect for their parents and siblings, admonishing them to obey instructions and choose to do the right thing. She teaches parenting classes, coaching mothers and fathers through the tough and confusing issues that come with training up a child in the way they should go. Many of the families that Nanny Deb has worked with have been eternally grateful for the life skill lessons they have acquired. Their children were dangerously out of control, unable to discern right from wrong. Confused and frustrated parents, not really knowing what to do next, turned to Nanny Deb as a last resort. It helps to have an outsider’s unbiased opinion to identify the deeper issues, allowing for healing, restoration, and a new sense of direction to emerge. Nanny Deb’s advice and guidance through her books and reality television continues to positively impact families around the world today.

The Apostle Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, found himself speaking to the people of Jerusalem on behalf of Jesus Christ as a new life coach. He reiterated how Jesus Christ, the holy and righteous Son of God, was killed, just as the people demanded it. Because of their persistence, they convinced Pilate to reverse his decision to have Jesus flogged and let go. They demanded the immediate release of Barabbas, a convicted murderer, instead. Peter was able to see the deeper issues, identifying the origin of the spiritual problem at hand. His longing was for all people to fully understand and own their sin, so they could recognize and see Jesus for who He is – the Savior of the world. Peter knew if they would simply repent and completely trust Jesus Christ, their lives would be forever changed.

We killed the author of life, yet God raised His Son Jesus from the dead! Christ’s resurrection from the grave changed the course of humanity forever. We no longer have to live in separation from the Father’s love. Won’t you ask the new life coach to come in and clean up your mess? He will teach you how to trust and obey. Ask Jesus to help you! He is only a 911 prayer away.

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.

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Surprised?

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:12 (NIV)

12 When Peter saw this, he said to them, “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?”

Good morning!

I remember my very first surprise party. I was a Brownie, and my mother was one of the Brownie co-leaders. We wore brown skirts and white blouses with the Girl Scout® emblem appliquéd on the front pocket. I wore a brown beanie with a little, tiny tassel on top. I liked my uniform and was proud every time I got to wear it to school.

Brownies always wore their uniforms to meetings. It is a time-honored tradition, and I liked that a lot. Imagine my dismay, one Saturday morning, when Mom woke my little sister and me at 6am and told us to get in the car in our pajamas and hair curlers. We had no earthly idea why we were going anywhere in our pajamas, even though my mother was fully dressed. When we pulled up into the driveway of our Brownie troop leaders’ home, I was mortified. What in the world were we doing here so early in the morning in our pajamas? Mother ushered us into the house, where we found ourselves in the presence of all our Brownie friends, in their pajamas and robes too! It was meant to be a surprise pajama party with breakfast and party favors and silly games; yet, with cameras flashing and mothers laughing, I simply wanted to get back in the car and go home. I was so embarrassed and felt exposed and humiliated. My uniform was waiting for me, hanging in my closet. And I wasn’t wearing it! Could I actually be a brownie without the uniform?

I imagine, to some degree, the men of Israel must have felt the same way. They were witnesses to an amazing healing miracle, but just didn’t quite know how to process it! They had worshipped and studied the law and the prophets their entire lives. They grew up with this one, the invalid who had never been to walk before, and found he was suddenly running and jumping and shouting praises to God! His feet had been perfectly restored to wholeness. There was no sign of infirmity in this man’s body. When Jesus Christ reached out and healed the crippled man as Peter spoke, everything changed. How could this possibly happen? What had they missed?

Peter knew why the men were stunned. They did not yet know the Savior the way Peter knew Him. Peter realized the depth of Christ’s love when he experienced His forgiveness as he denied him three times during Christ’s trial. Peter understood that when Christ heals, he heals completely. By the spilling of His blood, Jesus was able to remove the façade, letting the truth of who we truly are become revealed in the Father’s sight. Peter knew that once human robes of self-righteousness were dropped, Christ can do above and beyond because He is Lord of all. He has ultimate authority over sin and death! And with a mustard feed faith and an open mind, He will heal you too.

In matters of faith, it is imperative that we learn to leave our comfortable religious uniforms hanging in the closet, and come to Christ just as we are. If that means you are coming to Him today in rollers and pajamas, so be it. He loves you and wants you to know Him all the more. There is no shame when we openly share our deepest hurts, anger and grief with the Master healer. He can take our broken hearts, imperfect bodies, and even our confused and shallow minds, and recreate them for kingdom work.

Come to Jesus just as you are. He is there with arms wide open, waiting to welcome you into the Father’s house.

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.