Saturday, May 01, 2010

Dying to be heard

Today’s Reading: Acts 14:19-20 NIV

19 Then some Jews came from Antioch and Iconium and won the crowd over. They stoned Paul and dragged him outside the city, thinking he was dead. 20 But after the disciples had gathered around him, he got up and went back into the city. The next day he and Barnabas left for Derbe.

I Timothy 4:16 NIV

16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

Good morning!

You probably haven’t figured this out yet, but I tend to be a rather opinionated person. This character trait gets me into trouble a lot! Do you hold strong beliefs in your heart? Is there something you refuse to waiver on, even if it means you may get nailed for it? Often, when I feel the need to speak up, I get tongue tied or succumb to a sudden brain freeze. What is it about our own fears of rejection that may stifle us from sharing deep convictions of faith with people who may not agree?

We are all born into this world as innocent babies; we do not get to choose our parents, the culture in which we are raised, or the country where we live. We have been given minds to think and hearts that beat; we are united by the blood pulsing through our veins. We breathe and move and we learn by the living examples of others. Our traditions and culture leads us to base conclusions of faith upon our own personal experience. Opinions are formed early on, in large part, by what we are exposed to in life as little children. Is it possible to see beyond what we’ve come to know, and potentially grasp hold of a greater Truth? What would it take for you to be willing to change your mind?

Paul got stoned for saying what he believed. Because of Paul’s humanness, he must have felt some fear. He knew he would be openly rejected to the point of being tortured and even killed for his strong, unwavering doctrine of faith. It is an amazing thing to see the life of someone who has had been truly converted. Paul was relentless in preaching about the person he, at one time, persecuted with all his being. If Jesus Christ had not personally appeared to Paul on the Damascus road, Paul’s beliefs could not have changed so dramatically. It often takes a close, personal encounter to see life from a totally different perspective. Human hearts can change instantly, when we meet the Master face to face.

As we journey along the path, we must be very careful to filter and sort fact from fiction, able to see and understand Truth for what it is. The Jews who came to stone Paul held strong convictions. They saw this man as someone trying to destroy the truth of Scripture as they knew it. He was, in their eyes, a blasphemer, a liar, and, according to their traditions, Paul deserved to die. Ironically, Paul understood their sentiments better than they did. For he once believed what they believed, until Jesus Christ came and changed his hardened heart. They left Paul for dead; his body must have been crushed and lifeless for the men to walk away believing he was no longer alive. What a miracle it was, when Paul got up and walked back into the city, well enough to journey on. How could they not believe in Jesus after witnessing such an incredible miracle?

It is important to know in whom you believe and why you believe. Be prepared at all times to share the faith Christ has birthed in your heart, ready to defend and protect that which brings new life, so that you can avoid getting sucked into a web of false teachings and beliefs. Some may try to tell you that the way you live is far more important than the convictions of heart you hold. I believe we must lay our fears aside and be willing to tell others about Jesus, by the words we speak and the lives we live. For if we refuse to share our doctrine for fear of rejection, we have failed the One who willingly laid down His life to redeem us forever from sin and death.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2010, 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.

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

The color of new life

Today’s Reading: Acts 14:16-18 NIV

16 In the past, He let all nations go their own way. 17 Yet He has not left Himself without testimony. 18 Even with these words, they had difficulty keeping the crowd from sacrificing to them.

Good morning!

After what I would consider to be one of the most difficult winter seasons of my life, I have been absolutely awed by the beauty of new life this spring. The colors of spring are more brilliant to me than ever before. No one does green like God. It is the Lord who has saved His very best for last, as I watch in wonder at the beginning of a whole new season.

Every year, I am amazed by the climbing clematis vines on the anniversary trellis Jeff installed for me on our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. I always cut the vine back to the ground after the first frost. By then, all of the blooms have faded and quite often, its leaves have crumbled off the vine. We mow it over, and place a fresh layer of mulch to protect its tender root system throughout the cold winter months. One would never guess that this vine could return year after year with such splendor and lasting beauty. Out of no where, deep in the cold, hard earth, new life begins to well up and sprout. Within a few short weeks, the vine has literally taken over our trellis, with brand new growth and big, beautiful purple flowers. This morning, I went outside to count its blooms. There are over fifty flowers opened and just about as many are waiting in the wings. The sparrows love to sit in its shade; occasionally, we get a nest or two lodged within the shelter of its foliage.

I have nothing to do with the rebirth of this beautiful plant year after year. I tend to it, but new life can only come from the One who gives it; the Master Gardener. He does not leave Himself without testimony. How can we not see Him in the beauty of His creative work? When you hold a newborn baby in your arms for the very first time, are you not seeing the face our Lord smiling back at you? When you witness the colors of spring after a long, cold winter, can you not sense the love of the Father for His children?

The greatest gift of new life was given when the Father gave His Son, Jesus Christ, for the world’s redemption. Whenever someone gives their heart to the Lord, a brand new life is birthed deep down inside. We may not see the beauty of the vine at first, but with time and tender care, roots begin to take hold and blossom in the midst of a well-watered faith. How can we miss seeing the Master’s hand alive and at work in His beautiful garden of new life?

Do not look to human hands for the colors of life that surround you today. Stop, and give thanks to the only One who can take what was dead and make it rise up for all eternity. You have been given a great gift this spring. Thank the Father today for the colors of new life that have been birthed in you through our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2010, 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, April 25, 2010

Worthless things

Today’s Reading: Acts 14:14-15 NIV

14 But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: 15 “Men, why are you doing this? We too are only men, human like you. We are bringing you Good News, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the Living God, who made heaven and earth and sea and everything in them.”

Good morning!

Sometimes I get sidetracked. I really don’t mean to lose my focus. And I could blame it on my aging brain cells, but that wouldn’t be true. I’ve gotten sidetracked before; it simply has more to do with my own human weaknesses than the number of years I’ve lived.

I got sidetracked last week in my daughter’s closet. I was putting some of Rachel’s shoes away when I spotted a great pair of sandals on the shoe rack. They were really cute, and I suddenly found myself wanting a pair of sandals just like hers. I think this is called “coveting” on the Lord’s Big Ten! So I followed my sinful heart to the nearest shoe stores in St. Charles County and began searching for a pair of sandals that looked just like Rachel’s. My mother brought me back to a stark reality when she raised the question, “Don’t you have enough shoes in your closet already?” Of course, she was right. Mothers are always right. I do have plenty of shoes to wear. I just don’t have Rachel’s shoes. So why did I need yet another pair of sandals to put in my closet? The reality is this: I need to stop focusing on something relatively worthless and reconnect with what is truly important.

We human types tend to waste precious time and money on worthless things that may bring a bit of joy at first, but give no lasting value to our lives. How many toys have you bought that ended up in a storage bin in your basement or on top of a closet shelf gathering dust? Who will remember or even care about your all-time high score on the online computer game you seem to be glued to at night, when you are no longer playing it? How important is that $500 designer suit hanging in your closet when your neighbor is living just down the street with no roof over their head and no bed to sleep in? We tend to get side-tracked easily, wasting our resources petty, worthless things.

The town witnessed an amazing miracle but missed meeting the miracle maker! They thought it was Paul and Barnabas, coming to them as gods. Paul and Barnabas didn’t cause the miracle healing to happen. Paul and Barnabas introduced the lame man to Jesus Christ; He is the only one with the power and authority to heal! I would say the folks got a little sidetracked, but it didn’t take them long to get back on track. And that is where I find myself today – refocusing my heart and mind on the things that are much more important than a new pair of sandals sitting on my closet shelf.

Let go of the worthless and cling to the only One who makes living worth while. Give your heart to Jesus Christ today! There is plenty of room at the foot of the cross for you. Please join me today as we confess our sins and worship the Lord at Faith Church. He can take the worthless stuff of our lives and make life worth living, if you will simply invite Him into your heart today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2010, 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.