Sincere faith

Today’s Reading: 2 Timothy 1:4-6 NIV

⁴Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. ⁵I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. ⁶For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.

Isaiah 26:3 KJV

³Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

Good morning!

My mother has given me some very special gifts through the years, and none of them were purchased at the store. Oh, she loved to shop and buy our family beautiful things we have enjoyed through the years, but those monetary gifts pale in comparison to the quality gifts we’ve received: her time and talents, incredibly funny moments and her daily sense of humor. I think often about the sweet inner peace she possesses, and I know from whom she receives it. That, in and of itself, is a timeless and precious gift.

Yesterday, Mom and I stopped at our local Walgreens® to purchase a few things on our way home from the doctor’s office. I picked up a hair net for Mom to use at night. Every week, she visits my friend Sammi, who works at a hair salon not far from our home. Sammi does an amazing job making my mother look beautiful. She washes and rolls her hair, teases and sprays it just so, hoping it will last her through the weekend, especially for worship. Mom spends a lot of time during the day cat napping, and, quite often, her hair gets messed up while she sleeps.

Last night, Mom went to put on the hair net and accidentally picked up her arm sling instead. Without her glasses, Mom could not figure out how to apply the hair net “sling” to her head. She worked on it for quite some time before finally giving up and going to bed. This morning, she told me how disgusted she was with her brand new hairnet. I believe she used the term “worthless” as she shook the arm sling in her fist, demanding I take it back to the store for a full refund. I tried hard not to laugh at her as I walked back to the bedroom and picked up the hairnet on her changing table. “Is this what you tried to put on?” I asked. “No! I thought that was my underwear!” she quickly replied. A moment of dark confusion crossed her face before she burst into hysterical laughter. “I do hope you are writing all this down, dear,” she said, looking at me through a teary grin. I told her not to worry, I had it covered. We sat together at the breakfast table, laughing over the arm sling/hairnet story. Mom’s ability to laugh over something that might have otherwise terribly upset her is a gift from God above. She knows that life is very confusing right now and yet, she handles every situation with grace and dignity. It makes me realize just how beautiful she is inside and out, and how someday, I hope to be just like her.

Mom’s sincere faith has now become the faith I hold. She has faced many difficult moments with the quiet confidence of Mary, who chose to ponder all things in her heart. Mom worked hard like Martha, and sat at the feet of the Master, listening carefully, like Mary. She loved to sew like Priscilla, and was once the finest cook in our neighborhood, just like Lydia. She learned life lessons well from her own mother and grandmother, and all these things she has passed down to my sister and to me. In the twilight of her life, Mom has bloomed into the unique, fragrant perennial the Lord created her to be. Even in sheer moments of confusion, Mom knows that her Redeemer lives! Jesus gives her the courage and strength to master every moment with a smile. And Mom knows she does not face tomorrow alone.

You may be missing your Mom today. Maybe you never got to know your mother and you wonder what her life had been like. Maybe your childhood memories are not so pleasant. There are no perfect families in this world, and all of us struggle with experiences and painful memories we would like to somehow wipe out away. Regardless of your situation, make time today to think about and honor a woman who has invested her life in you, whether she is your birth mother, an adopted mother, or simply a great friend. Take time to thank the Lord for her character and love, for it is that gift which draws us closer to each other and to Christ. We can learn much from looking closely at a mother’s heart.

Happy Mother’s Day, Mom.

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.

Pray today!

Today’s Reading: Acts 14:23 NIV

²³ Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.

Luke 6:12-13a (NIV)

¹² One of those days Jesus went out to a mountainside to pray, and spent the night praying to God. ¹³ When morning came, he called his disciples to him and chose twelve of them, whom he also designated apostles.

Good morning!

On the first day of class, my college professors would pass out a syllabus covering a brief outline of the course curriculum, highlighted topics of discussion, homework assignments and test dates, as well as ethical warnings as required by the University. That syllabus became my map for the semester. I often made several copies of the syllabus, just in case I might misplace it. I kept the original in my course notebook, placing a copy of the outline with each book, for ease in identifying the week’s reading assignments. I would transfer the due dates from the syllabus to my date book, highlighting the test dates in yellow. I knew when to expect the next examination, for I did not want to walk into class and be surprised with a test I had not adequately prepared for.

I learned how to organize my work by trial and error. There were times when I did not pay as close attention to the syllabus as I should have. I missed a couple of assignment deadlines, which adversely affected my overall semester grade. I walked into class one evening, not realizing a mid-term examination was going to be given. Because I had not studied the material in depth earlier that week, I was unprepared to adequately answer the questions asked. It pays to look at the syllabus in advance and come to class prepared. Why waste the time you’ve been given to complete the assignments? The one thing none of us can get back is the gift of time. How we choose to spend the time we have been given is critical to our overall learning experience.

Jesus Christ set the bar at how he chose to spend His personal time. He traveled throughout Galilee, healing the sick and preaching the Good News. At the end of the day, Jesus needed time alone with the Father to prepare for the many decisions tomorrow would bring. Jesus would often go to a secluded place spending the night alone, on His knees, yielding to His Father’s will in prayer. Jesus chose not to go anywhere or do anything without first seeking out His Father’s heart. Prayer became His life’s syllabus. Would the direction of your life change if you followed Christ’s example by seeking out the Father’s heart on every matter, spending precious time with Him on your knees in prayer?

Jesus asked for the Father’s help to discern who of His disciples should be made Apostles. Likewise, Paul and Barnabas only appointed elders of the church after seeking the Father’s will in prayer and fasting. They chose to implement Christ’s life example using their time wisely in every daily decision. They chose not to show up for the work of ministry totally unprepared. They asked the Father for His will and then chose to follow His lead.

Let this be the day you choose a different direction. Do you have important decisions to make? Are you concerned about your own life, or the life of someone you love? Make time to pray today about the work of tomorrow. Stop wasting time – choose to use the Master’s syllabus! Do not spend another minute unprepared to successfully complete your life’s work. Pray 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.

Standing in the gap for faith

Today’s Reading: Acts 14:21-22 NIV

²¹ They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, ²² strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.

Good morning!

I am grateful beyond words when I think of all the courageous men and women who put their lives on the line every day to defend and protect people. I knew there was something serious happening somewhere last night when my husband’s cell phone kept blinking on and off. Technology is so advanced now that, quite often, when a late breaking news flash comes across the wire, I am well aware of it even before I get up to check the web for email updates. I am not fond of waking up to flashing lights on the night stand; on the other hand, the incessant blinking prompts me to pray, because I know there is someone else out there who is not sleeping. They are up and running, working tirelessly, to protect all of us from harm.

I hope you’ve never had to face true hardship. In our human struggle for survival, we learn and grow from the adversities we experience. I’ve yet to be homeless or hungry, but am well aware that it could happen in just a mere matter of seconds. There are hundreds of thousands of families worldwide who have lost everything in the wake of hurricanes, fires, tornadoes and flooding. Our world’s economy seems to be crumbling before our very eyes, causing a human crisis greater than anything I’ve ever known before. People are diligently working to provide adequate food and shelter for families who have nowhere else to turn. Selfless souls continue to work tirelessly in food banks and church soup kitchens, providing meals for the hungry. Large quantities of clothing, food and medical supplies are being gathered and shipped to neighboring countries trying to heal from catastrophic disasters. People are reaching out, helping people everywhere. Many are risking their own lives to make a difference for someone else. Can you see the warning signs flashing right before your eyes? What can you personally do to ease the pain of another hurting heart today?

The Apostles were very concerned over the welfare and discipleship of new converts to the Way. So much so, they were willing to return to the places where they had been tortured and nearly put to death, to ensure the continued growth and teaching of those who had placed their lives into the hands of Jesus. They willingly returned to these cities, bringing His Word of encouragement and hope to those who desperately needed to hear it. Paul knew he would risk great hardship for the Gospel, yet never hesitated to protect and defend the early Church. He gave his whole heart to the work of our Lord, caring more about others than he did for himself. Paul was willing to lay down his life to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hungry and homeless souls who needed to meet the Savior. Are you willing to set aside your life so that someone else might experience the love of Jesus today? Who stood in the gap for you, when you took that first step of faith?

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.