The price of sacrifice
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 19, 20, 21 (NIV)
I Chronicles 21:20-24 (NIV)
20 While Araunah was threshing wheat, he turned and saw the angel; his four sons who were with him hid themselves. 21 Then David approached, and when Araunah looked and saw him, he left the threshing floor and bowed down before David with his face to the ground. 22 David said to him, “Let me have the site of your threshing floor so I can build an altar to the Lord, that the plague on the people may be stopped. Sell it to me at the full price.” 23 Araunah said to David, “Take it! Let my Lord the King do whatever pleases him. Look, I will give the oxen for the burnt offerings, the threshing sledges for the wood, and the wheat for the grain offering. I will give all this.” 24 But King David replied to Araunah, “No, I insist on paying the full price. I will not take for the Lord what is yours, or sacrifice a burnt offering that costs me nothing.”
Good morning!
I have always treasured handmade gifts. My mother and grandmother taught me how to knit when I was very young. One of my aunts was masterful at crocheting. I have never seen anything more beautiful than the baby sweaters and blankets she used to make. Every Saturday, the four of us would sit together, and solve all the world’s problems while rocking and stitching in my grandmother’s living room. I made lots of potholders, neck scarves and even a poncho out of bright orange yarn. Mom liked to knit sweaters and vests. Grandmother tatted and crocheted beautiful bedspread overlays and tablecloths. I have a tablecloth that my grandmother made for me. I’ve displayed it on several tables in my home, and it has been proudly used at every wedding for our children. I need to wash it, but I’m afraid it will shrink up to nothing. It needs a good cleaning so that we can use it when our grandchildren marry. My aunt could knit a baby set, including a sweater, cap, booties and blanket in one sitting. I have never seen anyone knit as fast as auntie. It seemed as if they never made mistakes. I, on the other hand, continually kept stopping to rip out a section to pick up a missed stitch. The women in my family were talented and blessed, and they gave away a little piece of themselves every time they made a handmade treasure to share with someone else.
King David had messed up in a big way, and the people of Israel were paying for his sin with their lives. A plague, carried by an angel of the Lord, had wiped out 70,000 people in one fell swoop. Jerusalem was about to be destroyed when the Lord saw David’s grieving spirit and had compassion. The Lord instructed the angel to withdraw the hand of destruction from Israel. David recognized the need to back up and rip out the sin of pride and self-reliance that had led him into some serious errors. David knew he had grieved the very heart of God. Grief can be a bitter pill to swallow when we realize how selfish sin affects the lives of those around us. David needed God’s forgiveness in the worst way. He made an offer to purchase Araunah’s threshing floor so that he could build an altar of sacrifice to the Lord. Araunah saw the angel hovering as he looked into the eyes of his king. He was willing to give the land to David free of charge; yet, David knew that every gift given to God must come at a personal price. How could David offer the Lord something for nothing? Only a sacrificial gift would do.
What are you willing to sacrifice to the Lord today? Would you offer Him a half-hearted prayer, five minutes of Bible reading, and a thirty-second table grace? Is it enough to sit in church one hour every week? Is your giving just a token pledge or something that costs you dearly? How much love is placed in the gifts we return to the Lord? Are you be willing to give everything you’ve got, if it meant that someone might find eternal life through the saving power of Jesus Christ?
The gift of salvation is the very best gift you will ever receive. It is God’s gift through Christ, free of charge, to every person who professes, confesses and places their total faith in Him. This is not a gift we can earn and it is certainly not something we deserve. Jesus Christ gave His life for our redemption. If you have received this gift of grace, are you willing to sacrifice the very best of what you have to extend that gift to another soul this morning? The price of sacrifice is high. What will you sacrifice for your Lord?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the desire to give God the very best you have to offer Him. Token pledges and half-hearted effort will never ever do. Give the gift of yourself and see what the Lord Jesus Christ can do with one grateful heart. He can use your life for kingdom work, if you are willing to pay the price of sacrifice.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
A little separation anxiety
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 16, 17, 18 (NIV)
Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV)
4 “Haven’t you read,” [Jesus] replied, “that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,’ 5 and said for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Good morning!
Yesterday was one of those days – a day that every parent dreams of forever and dreads most of all. Ultimately, we want our children to grow up happy and fulfilled. We run ourselves silly offering our children every opportunity to learn and grow, hoping they will someday become happy and responsible adults. It takes an absolute lifetime to raise a child, but only the blink of an eye to see them go away. I’ve figured out why mothers of the groom cry on their sons wedding day. I believe it is called separation anxiety.
The weather was picture perfect. There was an undercurrent of excitement in the air. Hair, nails and Starbucks® coffee became the theme of the bridal party’s early morning hours. The women looked radiant in front of the floor-length mirror in the chapel dressing room. The men strutted around in their brand new suits and ties. The children (there were eight of them) prepared to make their way down the aisle just in front of the bride. There was one chocolatey milk mess emergency. Pretty little Emily ran around in her underwear and dress sandals while Granny Deb and Pastor Kim worked feverishly to get the stain out, just five minutes prior to the processional march. These are the moments a mother will never forget.
As I helped my beautiful daughter-in-law put on her wedding gown, I couldn’t help but feel sad. She is so perfect for my David, in every way. And on this day, Becca had a glow about her that I’ve never seen before. Yet, someone we loved was missing this moment. Becca’s mother was ill and unable to be at the wedding. Just two days ago, she entered the intensive care unit at a local hospital for emergency medical treatment. It was her wish for Becca and David to go forward with the wedding on Saturday. In fact, she insisted upon it. It was her lack of physical presence that felt so absolutely unbearable. We were both trying hard not to cry. I found myself dressing my daughter-in-law so that she could walk down the aisle to marry our son, and all I could think about was the bride’s mother. I think I prayed harder in those moments than I’ve ever prayed in my entire life. How I begged the Lord to help me hold back those tears – the kind that makes your nose swell up and eyeballs all red and puffy. But I just couldn’t stop crying. At one point during the ceremony, my sweet sister handed me an old handkerchief belonging to my father. Thank goodness for baby sisters who come to our rescue just in the nick of time.
Yesterday, I was the mother of the groom. But in that moment standing in the processional line waiting to walk, I knew in my heart of hearts that I was also the mother of the bride. I walked behind the wee ones and just ahead my Rebecca. I carried our baby granddaughter Madison in my arms, and held tight to the hand of my three-year-old granddaughter Emily. We walked together down the aisle. There is strength in numbers. Maddie Marie was waving to the congregation, and little Emily picked at her nose while their grandmother wept uncontrollably. It is a mysterious moment in time when we realize as parents; we have done all we can do. We hand our heartstrings back to the Lord, allowing Him to produce a beautiful melody that has yet to be heard.
Yesterday, my son took a wife. He left our home and moved into their new apartment. I remember when they cut the umbilical cord at the hospital twenty-one years ago. Breathe, baby breathe! This is every mother’s prayer. There is a separation anxiety that occurs in the birthing process, and it reoccurs in every major life-changing milestone thereafter. Wedding marches are definitely cord-cutting moments.
Separation anxiety is something we all experience in life. I have learned that it can be a really good thing when we know who to look to for our strength. Jesus Christ understands separation anxiety. He knew what it would mean to leave His heavenly home and become the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus willingly chose obedience over fear, and lived out His love for humanity on Calvary’s cross. I can let go and let God, if I’m willing to trust Him completely. Am I?
Do you trust Him enough today to let the Lord of life cut the umbilical cord? Will you hand Him your hopes, your dearms, and your life? Will you give Him your children and grandchildren and watch with amazement to see what He can do? Faith soars in moments of separation anxiety. Do not hesitate to welcome every tear as you hand the Lord of life your heart's song.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
This is my prayer today. I hope you will make it your prayer too. Help us, dear Lord, to gracefully let our children grow up and fly away, knowing that your plan for their life is so much larger than anything we can possibly imagine. Protect them, we pray, and teach them how to depend completely upon you, as they journey back into your Holy presence. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 16, 17, 18 (NIV)
Matthew 19:4-6 (NIV)
4 “Haven’t you read,” [Jesus] replied, “that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female,’ 5 and said for this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh? 6 So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.”
Good morning!
Yesterday was one of those days – a day that every parent dreams of forever and dreads most of all. Ultimately, we want our children to grow up happy and fulfilled. We run ourselves silly offering our children every opportunity to learn and grow, hoping they will someday become happy and responsible adults. It takes an absolute lifetime to raise a child, but only the blink of an eye to see them go away. I’ve figured out why mothers of the groom cry on their sons wedding day. I believe it is called separation anxiety.
The weather was picture perfect. There was an undercurrent of excitement in the air. Hair, nails and Starbucks® coffee became the theme of the bridal party’s early morning hours. The women looked radiant in front of the floor-length mirror in the chapel dressing room. The men strutted around in their brand new suits and ties. The children (there were eight of them) prepared to make their way down the aisle just in front of the bride. There was one chocolatey milk mess emergency. Pretty little Emily ran around in her underwear and dress sandals while Granny Deb and Pastor Kim worked feverishly to get the stain out, just five minutes prior to the processional march. These are the moments a mother will never forget.
As I helped my beautiful daughter-in-law put on her wedding gown, I couldn’t help but feel sad. She is so perfect for my David, in every way. And on this day, Becca had a glow about her that I’ve never seen before. Yet, someone we loved was missing this moment. Becca’s mother was ill and unable to be at the wedding. Just two days ago, she entered the intensive care unit at a local hospital for emergency medical treatment. It was her wish for Becca and David to go forward with the wedding on Saturday. In fact, she insisted upon it. It was her lack of physical presence that felt so absolutely unbearable. We were both trying hard not to cry. I found myself dressing my daughter-in-law so that she could walk down the aisle to marry our son, and all I could think about was the bride’s mother. I think I prayed harder in those moments than I’ve ever prayed in my entire life. How I begged the Lord to help me hold back those tears – the kind that makes your nose swell up and eyeballs all red and puffy. But I just couldn’t stop crying. At one point during the ceremony, my sweet sister handed me an old handkerchief belonging to my father. Thank goodness for baby sisters who come to our rescue just in the nick of time.
Yesterday, I was the mother of the groom. But in that moment standing in the processional line waiting to walk, I knew in my heart of hearts that I was also the mother of the bride. I walked behind the wee ones and just ahead my Rebecca. I carried our baby granddaughter Madison in my arms, and held tight to the hand of my three-year-old granddaughter Emily. We walked together down the aisle. There is strength in numbers. Maddie Marie was waving to the congregation, and little Emily picked at her nose while their grandmother wept uncontrollably. It is a mysterious moment in time when we realize as parents; we have done all we can do. We hand our heartstrings back to the Lord, allowing Him to produce a beautiful melody that has yet to be heard.
Yesterday, my son took a wife. He left our home and moved into their new apartment. I remember when they cut the umbilical cord at the hospital twenty-one years ago. Breathe, baby breathe! This is every mother’s prayer. There is a separation anxiety that occurs in the birthing process, and it reoccurs in every major life-changing milestone thereafter. Wedding marches are definitely cord-cutting moments.
Separation anxiety is something we all experience in life. I have learned that it can be a really good thing when we know who to look to for our strength. Jesus Christ understands separation anxiety. He knew what it would mean to leave His heavenly home and become the lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world. Jesus willingly chose obedience over fear, and lived out His love for humanity on Calvary’s cross. I can let go and let God, if I’m willing to trust Him completely. Am I?
Do you trust Him enough today to let the Lord of life cut the umbilical cord? Will you hand Him your hopes, your dearms, and your life? Will you give Him your children and grandchildren and watch with amazement to see what He can do? Faith soars in moments of separation anxiety. Do not hesitate to welcome every tear as you hand the Lord of life your heart's song.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
This is my prayer today. I hope you will make it your prayer too. Help us, dear Lord, to gracefully let our children grow up and fly away, knowing that your plan for their life is so much larger than anything we can possibly imagine. Protect them, we pray, and teach them how to depend completely upon you, as they journey back into your Holy presence. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Static Cling!
Grand Sweep Daily
Romans 12:9-13 (NIV)
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 13 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faith in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Good morning!
Static cling is one of the most annoying aspects of dressing up, in my humble opinion. I simply despise having to fight with a skirt that will not let go of my legs while I’m walking. I keep a bottle of Static Guard® in my desk at work for days just like these. It is an annoyance I would rather live without.
Have you ever noticed how disconcerting static can be? We hear the static on our car radios as we move between towers. When I am driving a long distance, I may be listening to a talk show or a music station that I’m really enjoying, when suddenly, all I can hear is static as I move out of its range. It is a frustrating moment, when static occurs. The little things of daily living can become like static in our lives. We don’t listen carefully to the needs of our family, because we are distracted with other trivial matters that steal our attention from the one who needs us most at that moment. I wish I had a spray that I could pull off a shelf to spray away the little annoyances of my life. I could live with a little less static, thank you very much.
Static is simply distracting. It takes our mind off the main thing. We lose track of what we’re trying to accomplish, because the static is getting in our way. Do you have static in your life? Does it make you lose sight of the main thing?
The Apostle Paul reminds us to hate what is evil, but cling to what is good. Static cling can be a good thing, if we are clinging to the Lord of life. When I hold onto Him, Jesus fills me up with an electrical current that moves me to action. He draws me to Himself, and I never ever want to let Him go. If I can just “hang on” to the hem of His garment, I know what is going to happen. I’m going to get healed! I’m going to be loved! He is going to hold me in the palm of His hand and I know He will never let go of my heart. The love of Christ is worth clinging to, every minute of every day.
Aren’t you glad God doesn’t use a spray can of static remover to oust you from His path? Jesus Christ wants us to experience the static cling that He can only give. It’s a good thing, and the next time you find your pants leg is creeping up on your dress sock, or if your skirt tries to hug your leg and trip you up, think about clinging to the One who will never let your heart out of His sight. Cling to Jesus, and experience the electricity of salvation today.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Pray for: a little static electricity! Give Jesus your heart today and cling to Him. He is good. And His mercy and love for you will endure forever.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 11, 2007
Service with a smile!
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 10, 11, 12 (NIV)
I Chronicles 12:18 (NIV)
18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
Good morning!
“May I help you,” the woman said behind the ticket counter. “Yes, please,” I answered, with a grin. “I need all the help I can get!” Don’t you love it when people offer to help you? There is nothing quite like receiving a sincere and kind offer of assistance from a friend. There are some people in this world that we can count on to be there for us, no matter the day or hour. They stand with us in prayer and praise, with open arms and a caring spirit. They seem to simply understand, and are placed in our path at just the right moment in time.
This is what I have found in the body of Christ. My Faith family is there for me, no matter the time of day or night. I know I can count on my Christian brothers and sisters to see me through each moment of my life, and when I need, help, I know who to call!
When our children were babies, we used to coach them on dialing for help. We practiced 9-1-1 on the play phone. Why is it that when we find ourselves in need of emergency assistance, we forget who to dial? On February 1st of this year, I experienced a medical emergency, and I needed immediate assistance. Can I tell you who I called? It wasn’t 9-1-1. I dialed 636-946-6398 and spoke to my Pastor Kim. She located Jeff, and he flew home on the wings of eagles. When he walked through the garage and took one look at me, Jeff picked the phone and dialed 9-1-1. Why didn’t I do that? Thank God for my spouse. He knew who to call!
This is what being part of the body of Christ is like. I know there is a network of people out there who truly love Jesus more than they love themselves. These people are the ones who would remove the shirts off their back to provide it to someone who had no shirt to wear. I see them investing time and energy into the many worthwhile service opportunities at Faith Church. Risk-taking mission has more to do with the spirit in which the gift is given, than the actual work itself. The body of Christ lives to serve their Lord through their humble acts of charity. Just ask them for a little help, and watch how they flock to your front door! It happens every single time. We share each other’s burdens, and that is a treasure and gift from God. When my kin asks if they can help a sister out, they really mean it!
David found himself in the presence of his mighty men. They were willing to serve him with a smile. He wasn’t sure that they could be trusted, until Amasai stepped forward. When the Holy Spirit got hold of this humble man of God, he proclaimed their love for the one God had anointed King. The mighty men recognized the real deal when they met King David. They knew him as a brother, loved him with a passion, and placed their very lives at his disposal. When we give our hearts to Jesus, essentially, we do the same thing. “May I serve you, Lord?” I ask this question every morning when I crawl out of bed to pray. “I am willing. My hands are open, and my heart is full of love for you. Send me wherever you want me to go. Take my life and use me to be your hands, your heart, your voice, and your feet. I am yours, O Lord! I am with you this day! Help me to help others through your amazing love. I am happy to serve you, sweet Jesus.”
Are you willing to serve the Lord and extend His salvation message by helping others today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the desire to be a happy servant! What a friend we have in Jesus! Let us give back to the One who gave it all up for us. Be a friend in Jesus today. Are you ready to share His love with the people in your life?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 10, 11, 12 (NIV)
I Chronicles 12:18 (NIV)
18 Then the Spirit came upon Amasai, chief of the thirty, and he said: “We are yours, O David! We are with you, O son of Jesse! Success, success to you, and success to those who help you, for your God will help you.” So David received them and made them leaders of his raiding bands.
Good morning!
“May I help you,” the woman said behind the ticket counter. “Yes, please,” I answered, with a grin. “I need all the help I can get!” Don’t you love it when people offer to help you? There is nothing quite like receiving a sincere and kind offer of assistance from a friend. There are some people in this world that we can count on to be there for us, no matter the day or hour. They stand with us in prayer and praise, with open arms and a caring spirit. They seem to simply understand, and are placed in our path at just the right moment in time.
This is what I have found in the body of Christ. My Faith family is there for me, no matter the time of day or night. I know I can count on my Christian brothers and sisters to see me through each moment of my life, and when I need, help, I know who to call!
When our children were babies, we used to coach them on dialing for help. We practiced 9-1-1 on the play phone. Why is it that when we find ourselves in need of emergency assistance, we forget who to dial? On February 1st of this year, I experienced a medical emergency, and I needed immediate assistance. Can I tell you who I called? It wasn’t 9-1-1. I dialed 636-946-6398 and spoke to my Pastor Kim. She located Jeff, and he flew home on the wings of eagles. When he walked through the garage and took one look at me, Jeff picked the phone and dialed 9-1-1. Why didn’t I do that? Thank God for my spouse. He knew who to call!
This is what being part of the body of Christ is like. I know there is a network of people out there who truly love Jesus more than they love themselves. These people are the ones who would remove the shirts off their back to provide it to someone who had no shirt to wear. I see them investing time and energy into the many worthwhile service opportunities at Faith Church. Risk-taking mission has more to do with the spirit in which the gift is given, than the actual work itself. The body of Christ lives to serve their Lord through their humble acts of charity. Just ask them for a little help, and watch how they flock to your front door! It happens every single time. We share each other’s burdens, and that is a treasure and gift from God. When my kin asks if they can help a sister out, they really mean it!
David found himself in the presence of his mighty men. They were willing to serve him with a smile. He wasn’t sure that they could be trusted, until Amasai stepped forward. When the Holy Spirit got hold of this humble man of God, he proclaimed their love for the one God had anointed King. The mighty men recognized the real deal when they met King David. They knew him as a brother, loved him with a passion, and placed their very lives at his disposal. When we give our hearts to Jesus, essentially, we do the same thing. “May I serve you, Lord?” I ask this question every morning when I crawl out of bed to pray. “I am willing. My hands are open, and my heart is full of love for you. Send me wherever you want me to go. Take my life and use me to be your hands, your heart, your voice, and your feet. I am yours, O Lord! I am with you this day! Help me to help others through your amazing love. I am happy to serve you, sweet Jesus.”
Are you willing to serve the Lord and extend His salvation message by helping others today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the desire to be a happy servant! What a friend we have in Jesus! Let us give back to the One who gave it all up for us. Be a friend in Jesus today. Are you ready to share His love with the people in your life?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Rehabbing the heart
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 8, 9; Psalm 80 (NIV)
I Chronicles 9:1 (NIV)
1 The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
Psalm 80: 3, 7, 19 (NIV)
3 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
7 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Good morning!
Restoration is hard work. There is a section of downtown Saint Louis that is being restored today. Construction continues to bring old buildings back to life. Capturing the era in which they were erected, historical continuity coupled with modern day technology is reuniting the city’s past with its present. Have you ever rehabbed a home? Those who are gifted in the art of gutting and remodeling know full well the amount of time and energy that is birthed by a unique vision. For some, they see an inhabitable structure and feel desolation – no hope of revival. But for others, the people who can see past the demolition and imagine what this old house might truly become with a little revamping, just hand them a few power tools and watch how their dream becomes reality!
Sometimes the structures that we live in are falling down around us and we don’t even realize it. Blinded by sheer apathy or the sins that haunt our daily living, we hover in uninhabitable living quarters, refusing to see and address the necessary reconstruction that lies ahead. If you stop and take a closer look at the condition of your heart, you may find that you are living out your days in a building that is almost ready to collapse. We lose our dreams when the things of life begin to eat away at our foundation. Its kind of like having termites tear at your heart strings. There is only one way to get rid of the things that are eating you alive – you need to call an exterminator.
When we choose unfaithfulness over obedience, our lives eventually will eventually fall apart. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were held captive by some obsession or compulsion? Maybe you struggle with trust issues in relationships, because you’ve been hurt in the past and you don’t ever want to feel that exposed or raw ever again. Maybe your crutch is with comfort food. Are you starving for something you cannot seem to reach, and you try to appease that hunger by feeding your belly instead of your soul? When we identify the root of the problem, it is only then that we can reach for the right tools to help us correct the structural damage in our lives.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the master architect. He knows who you are and where you’ve been. He sees the structural damage in your heart, and Jesus stands ready to heal you today. Are you ready to be rehabbed? Will you cry out to the only one who can fix your life forever, forgive the unfaithfulness you’ve struggled with, and let Him do the hard work inside of you today? Jesus is the only restorer I know who can take a piece of hardened clay, and make it soft and pliable again. If you need a little restorative work, cry out to the Lord. Everything changes when the Lord of life moves in.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: restoration! Jesus Christ is the only way to complete forgiveness and new life. Are you ready to let the master architect rehab your heart?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 8, 9; Psalm 80 (NIV)
I Chronicles 9:1 (NIV)
1 The people of Judah were taken captive to Babylon because of their unfaithfulness.
Psalm 80: 3, 7, 19 (NIV)
3 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
7 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
19 Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved.
Good morning!
Restoration is hard work. There is a section of downtown Saint Louis that is being restored today. Construction continues to bring old buildings back to life. Capturing the era in which they were erected, historical continuity coupled with modern day technology is reuniting the city’s past with its present. Have you ever rehabbed a home? Those who are gifted in the art of gutting and remodeling know full well the amount of time and energy that is birthed by a unique vision. For some, they see an inhabitable structure and feel desolation – no hope of revival. But for others, the people who can see past the demolition and imagine what this old house might truly become with a little revamping, just hand them a few power tools and watch how their dream becomes reality!
Sometimes the structures that we live in are falling down around us and we don’t even realize it. Blinded by sheer apathy or the sins that haunt our daily living, we hover in uninhabitable living quarters, refusing to see and address the necessary reconstruction that lies ahead. If you stop and take a closer look at the condition of your heart, you may find that you are living out your days in a building that is almost ready to collapse. We lose our dreams when the things of life begin to eat away at our foundation. Its kind of like having termites tear at your heart strings. There is only one way to get rid of the things that are eating you alive – you need to call an exterminator.
When we choose unfaithfulness over obedience, our lives eventually will eventually fall apart. Have you ever experienced a time in your life when you were held captive by some obsession or compulsion? Maybe you struggle with trust issues in relationships, because you’ve been hurt in the past and you don’t ever want to feel that exposed or raw ever again. Maybe your crutch is with comfort food. Are you starving for something you cannot seem to reach, and you try to appease that hunger by feeding your belly instead of your soul? When we identify the root of the problem, it is only then that we can reach for the right tools to help us correct the structural damage in our lives.
Our Lord Jesus Christ is the master architect. He knows who you are and where you’ve been. He sees the structural damage in your heart, and Jesus stands ready to heal you today. Are you ready to be rehabbed? Will you cry out to the only one who can fix your life forever, forgive the unfaithfulness you’ve struggled with, and let Him do the hard work inside of you today? Jesus is the only restorer I know who can take a piece of hardened clay, and make it soft and pliable again. If you need a little restorative work, cry out to the Lord. Everything changes when the Lord of life moves in.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: restoration! Jesus Christ is the only way to complete forgiveness and new life. Are you ready to let the master architect rehab your heart?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 09, 2007
Symphony of souls
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Chronicles 6, 7; Psalms 78, 79 (NIV)
I Chronicles 6:31-32; 48-49 (NIV)
31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
48 Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. 49 But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
Psalm 79:9 (NIV)
9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.
Good morning!
On a warm and beautiful May evening in the late spring of 1976, I walked across the gymnasium floor and took my seat at the Steinway Grand Piano. For three years I studied one movement of one concerto written by musician and composer Felix Mendelssohn, preparing to play this piece of music in the finale concert of the high school symphony’s season. Musicians understand the investment of time that is given to the perfecting of a five-minute musical moment. One may practice on that same section for hours each day. It is a lesson in the art of repetition. I labored over this piece of music during my freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school. I wish I could tell you that the performance that night was perfect. I remember the mistakes. There were two wrong notes and a slight hesitation before I played the final arpeggio run just prior to the last bars of the movement. I remember them distinctly, although I’m not certain anyone in the audience could recall them today. This is a unique moment in time suspended in my mind and soul forever. It was nothing short of a true gift of love and testimony to the magnificence of the master composer.
I remember the dress I wore on stage. It was a long white gown, with a sheer overlay of pink roses. The pattern on the dress reminded me of the pretty pink rose wallpaper in my grandmother’s guest bedroom. As a child, I would lie on the large feather bed and watch the roses dance across the walls in merry movement. It was as if a rose garden was blooming before my sleepy eyes; a sweet symphony of praise created by the loving hand of the great artist. Roses have always been one of my favorite flowers. They remind me of my grandmother, and a safe haven she called home. She was not physically present at the spring concert in 1976, and yet, in that dress, sitting on the piano bench, it was as if she had her arms wrapped around my neck. I could smell the roses in bloom that night.
We are a symphony of souls, each and every one of us with unique and special gifting. The Lord, the master author of life, takes great pleasure in remembering our name. Scripture recounts over and over again, the generations of servants who are remembered for their gifts and work in the house of the Lord. Each person called to minister offers a unique sound that cannot be duplicated by another. Together, in harmony, we come as the body of Christ, seeking to glorify and serve Him wholeheartedly, in a symphony of praise and worship.
This morning as I sat in prayer, I closed my eyes and saw the servants of the Lord, quietly moving toward the Holy of Holies. Dressed in long, white robes, they carry the petitions of the faithful to place at the foot of the throne. The tears of God’s children are contained in the jeweled boxes placed at the foot of the cross. Like a beautiful rose garden, their fragrance is sweet unto the Lord. Your prayers today rise like a symphony in chorus with the faithful. Your melody is unique. You have given years to its refinement. The time you spend in prayer becomes timeless moments of indescribable joy. The Spirit hovers over you. We are the living symphony of souls.
As you enter your time of prayer today, remember you are not alone. As you take your place at the altar, your unique offering becomes part of a larger melody in chorus with the prayers of the faithful around the world. See how they rise to the heavens today! We continue the work of the generations, taking our place in a moment of time. He sees your offering. He hears your voice. God knows your name. You are so very important to the intricate weaving of His eternal Song. Help me sing it today. Won’t you pray with me?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: ears to hear the symphony of souls crying out to the Lord today. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. He can take our offerings and create a holy perfection in the light of His amazing grace and love.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Chronicles 6, 7; Psalms 78, 79 (NIV)
I Chronicles 6:31-32; 48-49 (NIV)
31 These are the men David put in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 32 They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the Lord in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.
48 Their fellow Levites were assigned to all the other duties of the tabernacle, the house of God. 49 But Aaron and his descendants were the ones who presented offerings on the altar of burnt offering and on the altar of incense in connection with all that was done in the Most Holy Place, making atonement for Israel, in accordance with all that Moses the servant of God had commanded.
Psalm 79:9 (NIV)
9 Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake.
Good morning!
On a warm and beautiful May evening in the late spring of 1976, I walked across the gymnasium floor and took my seat at the Steinway Grand Piano. For three years I studied one movement of one concerto written by musician and composer Felix Mendelssohn, preparing to play this piece of music in the finale concert of the high school symphony’s season. Musicians understand the investment of time that is given to the perfecting of a five-minute musical moment. One may practice on that same section for hours each day. It is a lesson in the art of repetition. I labored over this piece of music during my freshman, sophomore and junior years of high school. I wish I could tell you that the performance that night was perfect. I remember the mistakes. There were two wrong notes and a slight hesitation before I played the final arpeggio run just prior to the last bars of the movement. I remember them distinctly, although I’m not certain anyone in the audience could recall them today. This is a unique moment in time suspended in my mind and soul forever. It was nothing short of a true gift of love and testimony to the magnificence of the master composer.
I remember the dress I wore on stage. It was a long white gown, with a sheer overlay of pink roses. The pattern on the dress reminded me of the pretty pink rose wallpaper in my grandmother’s guest bedroom. As a child, I would lie on the large feather bed and watch the roses dance across the walls in merry movement. It was as if a rose garden was blooming before my sleepy eyes; a sweet symphony of praise created by the loving hand of the great artist. Roses have always been one of my favorite flowers. They remind me of my grandmother, and a safe haven she called home. She was not physically present at the spring concert in 1976, and yet, in that dress, sitting on the piano bench, it was as if she had her arms wrapped around my neck. I could smell the roses in bloom that night.
We are a symphony of souls, each and every one of us with unique and special gifting. The Lord, the master author of life, takes great pleasure in remembering our name. Scripture recounts over and over again, the generations of servants who are remembered for their gifts and work in the house of the Lord. Each person called to minister offers a unique sound that cannot be duplicated by another. Together, in harmony, we come as the body of Christ, seeking to glorify and serve Him wholeheartedly, in a symphony of praise and worship.
This morning as I sat in prayer, I closed my eyes and saw the servants of the Lord, quietly moving toward the Holy of Holies. Dressed in long, white robes, they carry the petitions of the faithful to place at the foot of the throne. The tears of God’s children are contained in the jeweled boxes placed at the foot of the cross. Like a beautiful rose garden, their fragrance is sweet unto the Lord. Your prayers today rise like a symphony in chorus with the faithful. Your melody is unique. You have given years to its refinement. The time you spend in prayer becomes timeless moments of indescribable joy. The Spirit hovers over you. We are the living symphony of souls.
As you enter your time of prayer today, remember you are not alone. As you take your place at the altar, your unique offering becomes part of a larger melody in chorus with the prayers of the faithful around the world. See how they rise to the heavens today! We continue the work of the generations, taking our place in a moment of time. He sees your offering. He hears your voice. God knows your name. You are so very important to the intricate weaving of His eternal Song. Help me sing it today. Won’t you pray with me?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: ears to hear the symphony of souls crying out to the Lord today. Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. He can take our offerings and create a holy perfection in the light of His amazing grace and love.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 08, 2007
Focus!
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 4, 5; Psalm 77 (NIV)
I Chronicles 4:9-10 (NIV)
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Psalm 77:1-2 (NIV)
1 I cried out to God for help: I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.
Good morning!
A long time ago, I learned how to tune the world out so I could focus on what I was trying to accomplish. I can be easily distracted if I allow the noises of life to jump ahead of the task at hand. At some point, all of us have to set aside the things that distract and finish what we’ve started.
There were times, I must confess, when I didn’t pay close attention to my children. I remember moments of sheer madness – trying to cook dinner, run a load of laundry, write a paper on the kitchen counter top, while stirring the spaghetti sauce on the stove, and trying to “listen” to the chatter of my three noisy children, all at one time. I covet moments of peace and quiet, when I can give my full attention over to the task at hand. However, when my children were younger, I found those quiet times to be few and far between. I was gone all day to work. In the evenings, I would take a class at a local college, make time to attend weekly choir rehearsal, sit in on a weekly prayer meeting, and shuttle kiddos to and from the ball field. My to-do list seemed to grow with each passing hour. I felt I had to accomplish all of it before I could fall into bed, exhausted from the day that never seemed to end.
My husband Jeff would bring me back to reality, as the children clamored for undivided attention. He would say, “Deb, do you hear what they are saying to you? Stop saying ‘uh-huh’ and pay attention! I don’t think you want to say ‘yes’ to that question.” Once again, I had zoned out, thinking about the ten other things I needed to do. I was not listening carefully, and for all I know, my children were asking if they could go up on the roof of our home and jump off. Have you ever been so busy with the stuff in your life, that you find yourself unwilling to stop and listen to someone who is trying to speak to you?
Jabez knew what it was like to try to gain his mother’s attention. She named her son Jabez because he caused her great pain in labor. Jabez means sorrowful. Can you imagine growing up in a home where your name is a constant reminder of the pain that you so unintentionally caused your parent? Jabez simply wanted to be loved and heard. He did not want to be held responsible for his mother’s pain. Children are like that. We tend to leave them with the impression that they are in our way, especially when we are too busy to pay them any real attention. Every single time I let the stuff of life get in the way of listening to my kids, it was as if I were saying, “Go away. Leave me alone and let Mommy do what she needs to do.” How I regret those moments. What a waste of precious time.
Jabez prayed a simple prayer to the Lord, who understands us better than we understand ourselves. He said, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” Jabez did not want to cause anyone harm. He just wanted to receive the blessings that only God could give. He wanted to grow in faith and wisdom, and become someone that the Lord would use for kingdom work. God heard the prayer of Jabez, and the scripture tells us He granted his request.
Are you finding yourself just too busy to make time to listen to God today? Do you try to shove Him out of your way, while you accomplish your to-do list? When you make time to pray, do you find yourself falling asleep or letting your mind wander out of sheer boredom or busyness? Are your half-hearted “uh-huhs” to God just that? The Lord wants our undivided attention. He will not jump up and down, like our children sometimes do. His still, small voice can only be heard when we lay aside the things that distract, and focus our hearts completely upon Him. The Lord God Almighty is trying to speak to you today. Are you listening? Will you make time to stop and hear Him speak?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: focus! The Lord is speaking to you today. If you will make some time to listen, He will speak to your heart. When you cry out to God for help today, don’t let your voice be the only thing you hear. The Lord is answering your prayer before the words ever leave your lips. He hears you. Will you make time to listen to Him today?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 4, 5; Psalm 77 (NIV)
I Chronicles 4:9-10 (NIV)
9 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying, “I gave birth to him in pain.” 10 Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” And God granted his request.
Psalm 77:1-2 (NIV)
1 I cried out to God for help: I cried out to God to hear me. 2 When I was in distress, I sought the Lord; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted.
Good morning!
A long time ago, I learned how to tune the world out so I could focus on what I was trying to accomplish. I can be easily distracted if I allow the noises of life to jump ahead of the task at hand. At some point, all of us have to set aside the things that distract and finish what we’ve started.
There were times, I must confess, when I didn’t pay close attention to my children. I remember moments of sheer madness – trying to cook dinner, run a load of laundry, write a paper on the kitchen counter top, while stirring the spaghetti sauce on the stove, and trying to “listen” to the chatter of my three noisy children, all at one time. I covet moments of peace and quiet, when I can give my full attention over to the task at hand. However, when my children were younger, I found those quiet times to be few and far between. I was gone all day to work. In the evenings, I would take a class at a local college, make time to attend weekly choir rehearsal, sit in on a weekly prayer meeting, and shuttle kiddos to and from the ball field. My to-do list seemed to grow with each passing hour. I felt I had to accomplish all of it before I could fall into bed, exhausted from the day that never seemed to end.
My husband Jeff would bring me back to reality, as the children clamored for undivided attention. He would say, “Deb, do you hear what they are saying to you? Stop saying ‘uh-huh’ and pay attention! I don’t think you want to say ‘yes’ to that question.” Once again, I had zoned out, thinking about the ten other things I needed to do. I was not listening carefully, and for all I know, my children were asking if they could go up on the roof of our home and jump off. Have you ever been so busy with the stuff in your life, that you find yourself unwilling to stop and listen to someone who is trying to speak to you?
Jabez knew what it was like to try to gain his mother’s attention. She named her son Jabez because he caused her great pain in labor. Jabez means sorrowful. Can you imagine growing up in a home where your name is a constant reminder of the pain that you so unintentionally caused your parent? Jabez simply wanted to be loved and heard. He did not want to be held responsible for his mother’s pain. Children are like that. We tend to leave them with the impression that they are in our way, especially when we are too busy to pay them any real attention. Every single time I let the stuff of life get in the way of listening to my kids, it was as if I were saying, “Go away. Leave me alone and let Mommy do what she needs to do.” How I regret those moments. What a waste of precious time.
Jabez prayed a simple prayer to the Lord, who understands us better than we understand ourselves. He said, “Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory. Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.” Jabez did not want to cause anyone harm. He just wanted to receive the blessings that only God could give. He wanted to grow in faith and wisdom, and become someone that the Lord would use for kingdom work. God heard the prayer of Jabez, and the scripture tells us He granted his request.
Are you finding yourself just too busy to make time to listen to God today? Do you try to shove Him out of your way, while you accomplish your to-do list? When you make time to pray, do you find yourself falling asleep or letting your mind wander out of sheer boredom or busyness? Are your half-hearted “uh-huhs” to God just that? The Lord wants our undivided attention. He will not jump up and down, like our children sometimes do. His still, small voice can only be heard when we lay aside the things that distract, and focus our hearts completely upon Him. The Lord God Almighty is trying to speak to you today. Are you listening? Will you make time to stop and hear Him speak?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: focus! The Lord is speaking to you today. If you will make some time to listen, He will speak to your heart. When you cry out to God for help today, don’t let your voice be the only thing you hear. The Lord is answering your prayer before the words ever leave your lips. He hears you. Will you make time to listen to Him today?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 07, 2007
God knows you by name!
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 1, 2, 3 (NIV)
I Chronicles 2:1 (NIV)
These were the sons of [Jacob] Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Philippians 4:3 (NIV)
3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the Gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Revelation 3:5 (NIV)
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and His angels.
Good morning!
Do you like your name? A name is one of the most important things we select for our children. It is a permanent identifier – a recognition tool. Throughout history, people were identified by the family unit in which they live, and were recognized by who their parents, brothers and sisters were. Jeff and I found it challenging to select a name that would follow our children for their entire lives. We took the task seriously, and sought the Lord in naming each of them. The name Rachel means little lamb of God. Benjamin is the son of our right hand. And the name David means beloved son. From the time we discovered we were expecting until that miraculous moment when we held our baby for the very first time, we wondered about what we should name them. We knew that God had called this little life into being – that He had a greater plan for our child to be than we could possibly begin to comprehend or understand. We wanted to get their name right, not just for our child’s sake, but because we knew this baby was a gift from above and deserved a name that the Lord would want them to have.
It is a blessing every Sunday when people call me by my name. During the greeting time when I shake hands with my Faith family that I have come to know and love, there is nothing better than hearing someone say, “Hi Deb. It’s great to see you today.” They know my name! They know who I am and whose I am. Most people know that my husband is one of the pastors at Faith Church. They know that my mother-in-law and father-in-law sit near the front row of the sanctuary every Sunday, so they can see and hear their son as he preaches the Word of God. When my mother spends the weekend with me and I take her to church on Sunday morning, our church people greet her by name. We are known and identified by who our family is. That may be a good or not-so-good thing. More than anything else, I want people to identify me as a child of the living God, born again through the blood of my Savior. When people look at me and say my name, I want them to see Jesus Christ living in me. It is His blood that makes me a part of the forever family of God.
There are moments when I wish the Lord did not know my name, especially when I’ve messed up or said something I instantly regret. Sometimes I tarnish the name of my family because of things I say or do, and I wonder how that makes my “kin” feel. There are moments when I tarnish the good name of the Lord, especially when I show lack of respect for who He is; when I refuse to obey His instruction manual. I confess there have been times when I should have bit my tongue instead of letting it run like wildfire in hateful spurts of emotional madness. Have you ever said something that you instantly regret? Have you ever spoken ill of someone in your family, whether it be someone in your biological family, or someone in your church family? What does it feel like to have someone speak ill words about you?
I heard someone say in church this weekend that “we don’t get to pick our kin.” Families are about as diverse as they can be. Every person has a unique and distinct finger print. We may not look alike, act alike, or think alike, and yet, through the blood, we are all kin, whether we like it or not. I don’t know of a perfect family out there, and yet, I can tell you that my family is so perfect for me. We agree to disagree on many things and sometimes we have a hard time letting go of the scars we leave imprinted on each other’s lives. I have found that blood is thicker than water, and even though I may spar with my family from time to time, if you come after them, this sister is going to rise up and defend her family.
Through Jesus Christ, we are all family through His blood. We are an extraordinarily diverse group of people. Each and every one of us brings a unique and special gift mix to the group. My spirit senses there is a little sibling rivalry going on today within the body of Christ. Blood is thicker than water, and my friends, we need to start acting like the family God created us to be. We are better together and through Jesus Christ, we can spread His love and salvation message around the world.
God knows you by name. He knows your heart. He understands the motives behind everything you say and do. God created you with a purpose and plan. Are you living for Him today? Are you happy to know that He knows who you are, or would you prefer to hide out, avoiding having to look Him in the face? My prayer for you today is that you will find out who you are, whose you are in Christ, and just how precious you are to Him.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: your name to be found in the Lamb’s book of life. Oh yes, God knows you by name. He knows who you are and He invites you today, to come home to your family, who loves you so very much. It is just not the same without you. Blood is thicker than water, and the blood of Christ can change even the hardest heart. You are always welcome in the family of God. Won’t you ask Jesus to come into your heart today?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 1 Chronicles 1, 2, 3 (NIV)
I Chronicles 2:1 (NIV)
These were the sons of [Jacob] Israel: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, Dan, Joseph, Benjamin, Naphtali, Gad and Asher.
Philippians 4:3 (NIV)
3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the Gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.
Revelation 3:5 (NIV)
5 He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and His angels.
Good morning!
Do you like your name? A name is one of the most important things we select for our children. It is a permanent identifier – a recognition tool. Throughout history, people were identified by the family unit in which they live, and were recognized by who their parents, brothers and sisters were. Jeff and I found it challenging to select a name that would follow our children for their entire lives. We took the task seriously, and sought the Lord in naming each of them. The name Rachel means little lamb of God. Benjamin is the son of our right hand. And the name David means beloved son. From the time we discovered we were expecting until that miraculous moment when we held our baby for the very first time, we wondered about what we should name them. We knew that God had called this little life into being – that He had a greater plan for our child to be than we could possibly begin to comprehend or understand. We wanted to get their name right, not just for our child’s sake, but because we knew this baby was a gift from above and deserved a name that the Lord would want them to have.
It is a blessing every Sunday when people call me by my name. During the greeting time when I shake hands with my Faith family that I have come to know and love, there is nothing better than hearing someone say, “Hi Deb. It’s great to see you today.” They know my name! They know who I am and whose I am. Most people know that my husband is one of the pastors at Faith Church. They know that my mother-in-law and father-in-law sit near the front row of the sanctuary every Sunday, so they can see and hear their son as he preaches the Word of God. When my mother spends the weekend with me and I take her to church on Sunday morning, our church people greet her by name. We are known and identified by who our family is. That may be a good or not-so-good thing. More than anything else, I want people to identify me as a child of the living God, born again through the blood of my Savior. When people look at me and say my name, I want them to see Jesus Christ living in me. It is His blood that makes me a part of the forever family of God.
There are moments when I wish the Lord did not know my name, especially when I’ve messed up or said something I instantly regret. Sometimes I tarnish the name of my family because of things I say or do, and I wonder how that makes my “kin” feel. There are moments when I tarnish the good name of the Lord, especially when I show lack of respect for who He is; when I refuse to obey His instruction manual. I confess there have been times when I should have bit my tongue instead of letting it run like wildfire in hateful spurts of emotional madness. Have you ever said something that you instantly regret? Have you ever spoken ill of someone in your family, whether it be someone in your biological family, or someone in your church family? What does it feel like to have someone speak ill words about you?
I heard someone say in church this weekend that “we don’t get to pick our kin.” Families are about as diverse as they can be. Every person has a unique and distinct finger print. We may not look alike, act alike, or think alike, and yet, through the blood, we are all kin, whether we like it or not. I don’t know of a perfect family out there, and yet, I can tell you that my family is so perfect for me. We agree to disagree on many things and sometimes we have a hard time letting go of the scars we leave imprinted on each other’s lives. I have found that blood is thicker than water, and even though I may spar with my family from time to time, if you come after them, this sister is going to rise up and defend her family.
Through Jesus Christ, we are all family through His blood. We are an extraordinarily diverse group of people. Each and every one of us brings a unique and special gift mix to the group. My spirit senses there is a little sibling rivalry going on today within the body of Christ. Blood is thicker than water, and my friends, we need to start acting like the family God created us to be. We are better together and through Jesus Christ, we can spread His love and salvation message around the world.
God knows you by name. He knows your heart. He understands the motives behind everything you say and do. God created you with a purpose and plan. Are you living for Him today? Are you happy to know that He knows who you are, or would you prefer to hide out, avoiding having to look Him in the face? My prayer for you today is that you will find out who you are, whose you are in Christ, and just how precious you are to Him.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: your name to be found in the Lamb’s book of life. Oh yes, God knows you by name. He knows who you are and He invites you today, to come home to your family, who loves you so very much. It is just not the same without you. Blood is thicker than water, and the blood of Christ can change even the hardest heart. You are always welcome in the family of God. Won’t you ask Jesus to come into your heart today?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
The poorest of the poor
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 24, 25; Psalm 76
2 Kings 25:11-12 (NIV)
11 Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had gone over to the king of Babylon. 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
Proverbs 13:23 (NIV)
23 A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
Matthew 5:3 (NIV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Good morning!
My mother used to say that her family was the poorest of the poor; yet, they never realized it. In rural Brookhaven, Mississippi, where she grew up, her parents picked cotton for a living. They spent their days sowing and reaping in the fields. My mother was the oldest daughter of seven children. She spent her days helping Grandmother prepare the family meals while watching over her younger siblings as her parents harvested cotton. The evening meal was a treasured part of each day, where conversation was welcomed and plentiful. Their family never complained while eating red beans and rice, sweet potato pie, and thick slices of corn bread every night. If you cooked the same meal everyday for your family, would they be very happy with you? Every Christmas, my mother would hang her siblings tattered stockings by the wood-burning fireplace, hoping to receive a special gift from a mysterious visitor in the middle of the night. The children were delighted to find a large orange in the bottom of their stockings on Christmas morning. That piece of fruit was a rare treat, indeed.
The Great Depression left many families struggling, and my mother’s family was no exception. Some of her happiest memories were spent growing up on the farm in a time when they barely had enough to survive. The children didn’t have toys to play with, so they played with each other instead. Now, that’s a novel idea! Her brothers loved to catch lizards and hang them from their ears, like long, dangly earrings. The girls would scream and run when their mischievous brothers chased them about the yard, threatening to drop a lizard down their backs. Mom did not mind playing hard, breaking a sweat, and getting dirty. It gave her the excuse she needed to go take a dip in the creek bed near their home. The children hung an old tire swing from the outstretched branches of a large pine tree, hovering over the clear, babbling brook. Mom loved to swing across the creek bed, jumping midstream into the deepest part of the water. It is amazing none of them ever drowned, especially when there was no life guard on duty or anyone trained to teach these babies how to swim.
The Israelites found themselves, once again, in utter captivity. Their sinful choices opened the door for evil to penetrate their city. Many were taken into exile. Families were tortured and murdered, while others were made to watch. They were rendered powerless to save their community. What was once a safe haven, sheltered under the umbrella of God’s love, had become a heap of rubble. How quickly things can change. Only a remnant – the poorest people of the land, were left behind to make their way through the desolation.
Mom has said, time and again, that their faith in Jesus Christ, made living worthwhile. He walked with them through every difficult circumstance. Praying for strength and favor was a daily part of their lives. The Lord blessed their home with love. There was always plenty to eat. Grandmother knew how to make a feast from a bare pantry. The children never had anything new to wear – all of their clothing was handed down from second cousins and older siblings. Happiness was not based on their personal possessions. True happiness was a gift of faith, received from the one who understood poverty at its worst. He is the answer. He provides the riches of salvation and abundant living not only in this world, but the next.
The poorest of the poor knew how to look up. Crying out to the Lord for help, He heard their heartfelt prayers, and answered them. Do you know what it means to be poor? Have you ever turned your face from the Lord, only to find yourself in captivity to the things that you thought might bring you happiness? When you have nothing left to hold on to, reach out to Jesus. He can take the worst situations of your life and walk you through them. If you find yourself struggling to survive today, stop and look up! Jesus Christ is waiting to help you. He loves you. He knows where you’ve been, and He holds the key to your future. The things we value in this world cannot even begin to compare with the riches Jesus Christ has offered to all of us.
Are you the poorest of the poor? Cry out to Jesus today, and live!
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the rich blessing of placing total faith in Jesus Christ. You may not have a dime in your pocket, but with Jesus in your heart, you are the wealthiest person alive. Let go of the sin that keeps you separated from your Heavenly Father. Christ redeems the poorest of the poor and makes real life worth living.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 24, 25; Psalm 76
2 Kings 25:11-12 (NIV)
11 Nebuzaradan, the commander of the guard, carried into exile the people who remained in the city, along with the rest of the populace and those who had gone over to the king of Babylon. 12 But the commander left behind some of the poorest people of the land to work the vineyards and fields.
Proverbs 13:23 (NIV)
23 A poor man’s field may produce abundant food, but injustice sweeps it away.
Matthew 5:3 (NIV)
3 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Good morning!
My mother used to say that her family was the poorest of the poor; yet, they never realized it. In rural Brookhaven, Mississippi, where she grew up, her parents picked cotton for a living. They spent their days sowing and reaping in the fields. My mother was the oldest daughter of seven children. She spent her days helping Grandmother prepare the family meals while watching over her younger siblings as her parents harvested cotton. The evening meal was a treasured part of each day, where conversation was welcomed and plentiful. Their family never complained while eating red beans and rice, sweet potato pie, and thick slices of corn bread every night. If you cooked the same meal everyday for your family, would they be very happy with you? Every Christmas, my mother would hang her siblings tattered stockings by the wood-burning fireplace, hoping to receive a special gift from a mysterious visitor in the middle of the night. The children were delighted to find a large orange in the bottom of their stockings on Christmas morning. That piece of fruit was a rare treat, indeed.
The Great Depression left many families struggling, and my mother’s family was no exception. Some of her happiest memories were spent growing up on the farm in a time when they barely had enough to survive. The children didn’t have toys to play with, so they played with each other instead. Now, that’s a novel idea! Her brothers loved to catch lizards and hang them from their ears, like long, dangly earrings. The girls would scream and run when their mischievous brothers chased them about the yard, threatening to drop a lizard down their backs. Mom did not mind playing hard, breaking a sweat, and getting dirty. It gave her the excuse she needed to go take a dip in the creek bed near their home. The children hung an old tire swing from the outstretched branches of a large pine tree, hovering over the clear, babbling brook. Mom loved to swing across the creek bed, jumping midstream into the deepest part of the water. It is amazing none of them ever drowned, especially when there was no life guard on duty or anyone trained to teach these babies how to swim.
The Israelites found themselves, once again, in utter captivity. Their sinful choices opened the door for evil to penetrate their city. Many were taken into exile. Families were tortured and murdered, while others were made to watch. They were rendered powerless to save their community. What was once a safe haven, sheltered under the umbrella of God’s love, had become a heap of rubble. How quickly things can change. Only a remnant – the poorest people of the land, were left behind to make their way through the desolation.
Mom has said, time and again, that their faith in Jesus Christ, made living worthwhile. He walked with them through every difficult circumstance. Praying for strength and favor was a daily part of their lives. The Lord blessed their home with love. There was always plenty to eat. Grandmother knew how to make a feast from a bare pantry. The children never had anything new to wear – all of their clothing was handed down from second cousins and older siblings. Happiness was not based on their personal possessions. True happiness was a gift of faith, received from the one who understood poverty at its worst. He is the answer. He provides the riches of salvation and abundant living not only in this world, but the next.
The poorest of the poor knew how to look up. Crying out to the Lord for help, He heard their heartfelt prayers, and answered them. Do you know what it means to be poor? Have you ever turned your face from the Lord, only to find yourself in captivity to the things that you thought might bring you happiness? When you have nothing left to hold on to, reach out to Jesus. He can take the worst situations of your life and walk you through them. If you find yourself struggling to survive today, stop and look up! Jesus Christ is waiting to help you. He loves you. He knows where you’ve been, and He holds the key to your future. The things we value in this world cannot even begin to compare with the riches Jesus Christ has offered to all of us.
Are you the poorest of the poor? Cry out to Jesus today, and live!
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the rich blessing of placing total faith in Jesus Christ. You may not have a dime in your pocket, but with Jesus in your heart, you are the wealthiest person alive. Let go of the sin that keeps you separated from your Heavenly Father. Christ redeems the poorest of the poor and makes real life worth living.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Are your ears tingling?
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 21, 22, 23; Psalm 75
II Kings 21:12-15 (NIV)
12 “Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their foes, 15 because they have done evil in my eyes and have provoked me to anger from the day their forefathers came out of Egypt until this day.”
II Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Good morning!
Our church parsonage sits one house down from a four-way stop. We’ve lived in this house for seven years now, and I can tell you that, based on experience, very few people truly stop at the four-way stop. They kind off slow down and roll through it. Some don’t slow down at all. I’ve seen police patrol the area, and when that happens, motorists tend to try to stop, but not always. I’m sure many tickets are written to drivers who “roll through” the stop signs in our community.
Do you ever try to roll through God’s Word? It’s easy to skip over the parts of scripture that are hard to hear or not easy to understand. We may slow down a bit, take a second look, and then gloss over the tough stuff and get to the scriptures that encourage and comfort us. It’s not easy to read the Word of the Lord when He is provoked to anger. Idolatry seems to be a hot button with the Almighty. He just doesn’t want us to give our time and attention to anything that takes our eyes off of Him, not even for a second.
John Wesley understood this process all too well. So much so, he would literally wake himself up every fifteen minutes at night just to record and confess any sin he might have committed in his subconscious mind while he slept. Thank God there is medication for this sort of thing today, but honestly, when I think about just how easy it is to let our mind wander off in a sinful direction, this humble man of God knew exactly what he was doing.
We live in such a “me-first” society. We want to be first in line at the restaurant after church on Sunday afternoon. We avoid the yield signs along the path. We refuse to come to a full stop even when the large neon signs are flagging us down, screaming "dead end ahead," begging us to stop and turn around. If we do choose to heed the warning and stop where we at, we might have to take a harder look at where we were going in the first place, and most of us just really don’t want to do that. It is easier to gloss over the truth or ignore it entirely. I don’t enjoy being told I’m wrong. It’s painful. It is also a necessary part of my life, and I need to learn to accept rebuke if I truly want to learn to live like my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Young Josiah took his childlike faith and chose to turn things around for his people. He began to repair the mess that his predecessors had so unconscionably left behind. A reign of terror is never easy to clean up, but this kid wasn’t afraid of facing the tough stuff in life. He placed his faith upon the Word of the Lord, and did what was right.
Are your ears tingling today? Is it time to reassess the direction of your life? King Solomon asked the Lord to make a way for repentant sinners, like you and me. If we will humble our hearts, admit our sin, pray for forgiveness, and seek God continually, turning away from the things that separate us from Him, He will hear our prayers, forgive our sin, and heal our land. Friends, it is time to get healed. It is time to live within His umbrella of forgiveness and grace. It is time to yield our hearts completely to the Lord. Are you ready to stop and turn around today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the strength of young Josiah. If you are willing to stop and turn around, the Lord not only will hear your prayers for help, but He will forgive your sin and heal your heart. You can have abundant life today. Come to church with me this weekend and experience the amazing love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ! I’ll see you at Faith Church!
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 21, 22, 23; Psalm 75
II Kings 21:12-15 (NIV)
12 “Therefore this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: I am going to bring such disaster on Jerusalem and Judah that the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. 13 I will stretch out over Jerusalem the measuring line used against Samaria and the plumb line used against the house of Ahab. I will wipe out Jerusalem as one wipes a dish, wiping it and turning it upside down. 14 I will forsake the remnant of my inheritance and hand them over to their enemies. They will be looted and plundered by all their foes, 15 because they have done evil in my eyes and have provoked me to anger from the day their forefathers came out of Egypt until this day.”
II Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
14 if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
Good morning!
Our church parsonage sits one house down from a four-way stop. We’ve lived in this house for seven years now, and I can tell you that, based on experience, very few people truly stop at the four-way stop. They kind off slow down and roll through it. Some don’t slow down at all. I’ve seen police patrol the area, and when that happens, motorists tend to try to stop, but not always. I’m sure many tickets are written to drivers who “roll through” the stop signs in our community.
Do you ever try to roll through God’s Word? It’s easy to skip over the parts of scripture that are hard to hear or not easy to understand. We may slow down a bit, take a second look, and then gloss over the tough stuff and get to the scriptures that encourage and comfort us. It’s not easy to read the Word of the Lord when He is provoked to anger. Idolatry seems to be a hot button with the Almighty. He just doesn’t want us to give our time and attention to anything that takes our eyes off of Him, not even for a second.
John Wesley understood this process all too well. So much so, he would literally wake himself up every fifteen minutes at night just to record and confess any sin he might have committed in his subconscious mind while he slept. Thank God there is medication for this sort of thing today, but honestly, when I think about just how easy it is to let our mind wander off in a sinful direction, this humble man of God knew exactly what he was doing.
We live in such a “me-first” society. We want to be first in line at the restaurant after church on Sunday afternoon. We avoid the yield signs along the path. We refuse to come to a full stop even when the large neon signs are flagging us down, screaming "dead end ahead," begging us to stop and turn around. If we do choose to heed the warning and stop where we at, we might have to take a harder look at where we were going in the first place, and most of us just really don’t want to do that. It is easier to gloss over the truth or ignore it entirely. I don’t enjoy being told I’m wrong. It’s painful. It is also a necessary part of my life, and I need to learn to accept rebuke if I truly want to learn to live like my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Young Josiah took his childlike faith and chose to turn things around for his people. He began to repair the mess that his predecessors had so unconscionably left behind. A reign of terror is never easy to clean up, but this kid wasn’t afraid of facing the tough stuff in life. He placed his faith upon the Word of the Lord, and did what was right.
Are your ears tingling today? Is it time to reassess the direction of your life? King Solomon asked the Lord to make a way for repentant sinners, like you and me. If we will humble our hearts, admit our sin, pray for forgiveness, and seek God continually, turning away from the things that separate us from Him, He will hear our prayers, forgive our sin, and heal our land. Friends, it is time to get healed. It is time to live within His umbrella of forgiveness and grace. It is time to yield our hearts completely to the Lord. Are you ready to stop and turn around today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the strength of young Josiah. If you are willing to stop and turn around, the Lord not only will hear your prayers for help, but He will forgive your sin and heal your heart. You can have abundant life today. Come to church with me this weekend and experience the amazing love of God through His Son, Jesus Christ! I’ll see you at Faith Church!
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 04, 2007
The blanket of prayer
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 18, 19, 20
2 Kings 19:14-16a; 31 (NIV)
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see.”
31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
2 Kings 20:4-5a (NIV)
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.
Good morning!
Do you like fireworks? I enjoy going to the river with my family at night to watch the light display. We sit under the stars and enjoy the amazing beauty of each firework, as it explodes in the sky above us. I think the best way to observe an evening of fireworks is to take a blanket and spread it out over the hardened and dry ground. By mid-summer, the dirt and rocks are hard and brittle. It is much easier to sit on the ground, if you have a nice, soft blanket to sit on. I personally enjoy laying down on the blanket and simply looking up, so that I can take in each flicker of light in the night sky.
I really like Hezekiah. He was a true prayer warrior. Understanding the power of petitioning the Father for every need, Hezekiah went to the temple to spread it all out at His feet. How often do we go to our churches and places of worship just to sit at the foot of the cross, and lay out our burdens before the only One who can heal and forgive us? The next time you stop to pray, think about taking your heart-felt petitions and shaking them out, like you would a blanket, over the hard and rocky places of your life. Lay yourself down on that blanket of prayer and look up with expectancy. You will find yourself amazed as you delight in seeing the Lord’s light show from up above.
Prayer is such a privilege. Do not let it become a simple daily duty to fulfill. Prayer is intimate relationship with the Father, through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has made a way for us to come into the throne room every day; a place where we can pour out our heart and soul’s desire before Him. There are times when I’m not sure exactly what to pray for. I look at my prayer list, which grows longer every morning, and I am confident that every burden, every need there will be met by my Jesus. Praying for His will in all things is a prayer I delight in. I’m so glad I do not have all the answers. I don’t need them, because I have the only answer that matters. I have Jesus, and He is more than enough for all of us. Are you praying for a lost soul today? There is nothing that breaks my heart more than seeing someone suffer from the consequences of sin. Jesus died for people just like you and me, who struggle with the things that keep us separated from His presence. When we choose to yield our life to Him, as we cry out in faith, “Okay Lord, I’m going to do this your way.” It is in that precious moment of surrender that we begin to see the beauty of His love and how His blood can heal a battered and broken heart. Talk about fireworks! There is nothing more beautiful that receiving complete forgiveness and healing. Prayer is relationship at its best. Holy moments are just waiting to happen. Are you looking up today?
Jesus hears you. He loves you. He will answer your every prayer prayed in faith today. Spread it all out at the foot of the cross. Give Him your every care. Trust Him for the answer. Stand upon His holy Word. Lay on it. Look up and see what the Lord Jesus Christ can do for you!
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: fireworks! If you are willing to yield your life completely to the Lord today, His love will take you places you cannot even begin to imagine. Won’t you spread your prayers before the foot of the cross, lay yourself down on them, and look up with expectancy. Have faith and believe that with Jesus Christ, all things are possible!
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 18, 19, 20
2 Kings 19:14-16a; 31 (NIV)
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the Lord: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 16 Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see.”
31 For out of Jerusalem will come a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
2 Kings 20:4-5a (NIV)
4 Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: 5 “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you.
Good morning!
Do you like fireworks? I enjoy going to the river with my family at night to watch the light display. We sit under the stars and enjoy the amazing beauty of each firework, as it explodes in the sky above us. I think the best way to observe an evening of fireworks is to take a blanket and spread it out over the hardened and dry ground. By mid-summer, the dirt and rocks are hard and brittle. It is much easier to sit on the ground, if you have a nice, soft blanket to sit on. I personally enjoy laying down on the blanket and simply looking up, so that I can take in each flicker of light in the night sky.
I really like Hezekiah. He was a true prayer warrior. Understanding the power of petitioning the Father for every need, Hezekiah went to the temple to spread it all out at His feet. How often do we go to our churches and places of worship just to sit at the foot of the cross, and lay out our burdens before the only One who can heal and forgive us? The next time you stop to pray, think about taking your heart-felt petitions and shaking them out, like you would a blanket, over the hard and rocky places of your life. Lay yourself down on that blanket of prayer and look up with expectancy. You will find yourself amazed as you delight in seeing the Lord’s light show from up above.
Prayer is such a privilege. Do not let it become a simple daily duty to fulfill. Prayer is intimate relationship with the Father, through the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. He has made a way for us to come into the throne room every day; a place where we can pour out our heart and soul’s desire before Him. There are times when I’m not sure exactly what to pray for. I look at my prayer list, which grows longer every morning, and I am confident that every burden, every need there will be met by my Jesus. Praying for His will in all things is a prayer I delight in. I’m so glad I do not have all the answers. I don’t need them, because I have the only answer that matters. I have Jesus, and He is more than enough for all of us. Are you praying for a lost soul today? There is nothing that breaks my heart more than seeing someone suffer from the consequences of sin. Jesus died for people just like you and me, who struggle with the things that keep us separated from His presence. When we choose to yield our life to Him, as we cry out in faith, “Okay Lord, I’m going to do this your way.” It is in that precious moment of surrender that we begin to see the beauty of His love and how His blood can heal a battered and broken heart. Talk about fireworks! There is nothing more beautiful that receiving complete forgiveness and healing. Prayer is relationship at its best. Holy moments are just waiting to happen. Are you looking up today?
Jesus hears you. He loves you. He will answer your every prayer prayed in faith today. Spread it all out at the foot of the cross. Give Him your every care. Trust Him for the answer. Stand upon His holy Word. Lay on it. Look up and see what the Lord Jesus Christ can do for you!
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: fireworks! If you are willing to yield your life completely to the Lord today, His love will take you places you cannot even begin to imagine. Won’t you spread your prayers before the foot of the cross, lay yourself down on them, and look up with expectancy. Have faith and believe that with Jesus Christ, all things are possible!
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Pushing through to breakthrough!
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 15, 16, 17
2 Kings 17:40-41 (NIV)
40 They [the Israelites] would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
Good morning!
We are such creatures of habit, its ridiculous! Do you ever take the same road to work every day? With the construction woes in and around St. Louis, I find commuting to and from work to be a real challenge. I never know when the roadways are going to come to a dead standstill, due to an unfortunate accident, or changes in the highway from the road work that is being performed. Every major artery is clogged, and there are times when I simply take the same path everyday, knowing I’m not going to get around this, so I might as well resign myself to pushing through it. Do you ever feel that way about life in general?
There are just some things that we cannot avoid, no matter how much we try. Pushing through to breakthrough is essential in persevering faith. We can learn from the mistakes of our Israelite brothers and sisters, if we just have the eyes and ears to hear what the Lord is teaching us through His Word. Old habits can be hard to break, even with the best intentions. Here we see the Israelites worshipping God without recognizing that they are continuing in their pagan practices. Do you find yourself serving other idols instead of the Lord God Almighty? What things separate you from the abundant life that Jesus promises? Do you struggle with an addiction, a spirit of depression, or extreme fatigue? Do you find it hard to muster an hour to read and study God’s Word, or to sit in His presence in prayer and praise? What things do you not want to give up for service to the Lord? Would you rather stay at home and watch the baseball game on television, or serve food at a local shelter for the homeless and hungry?
Take a closer look at your life today. What path do you need to stay on until you break through to freedom in Christ? What habits in your life need to change so that you can become less self-centered, and more Christ like? May you find patience and perseverance in your journey home to the Lord. Together, we can find ways to break our former practices and find true break through and freedom as we seek the heart of Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: perseverance to reach breakthrough in your life. Old habits may die hard, but with Christ, all things are possible. Do not give up and do not give in. Stay on the highway today, and look to the Lord for your every need. If you seek Him, He will find you right where you are at. He has the power to transform your life into a new creation - He can use for Kingdom work. Are you ready to break through?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 15, 16, 17
2 Kings 17:40-41 (NIV)
40 They [the Israelites] would not listen, however, but persisted in their former practices. 41 Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols. To this day their children and grandchildren continue to do as their fathers did.
Good morning!
We are such creatures of habit, its ridiculous! Do you ever take the same road to work every day? With the construction woes in and around St. Louis, I find commuting to and from work to be a real challenge. I never know when the roadways are going to come to a dead standstill, due to an unfortunate accident, or changes in the highway from the road work that is being performed. Every major artery is clogged, and there are times when I simply take the same path everyday, knowing I’m not going to get around this, so I might as well resign myself to pushing through it. Do you ever feel that way about life in general?
There are just some things that we cannot avoid, no matter how much we try. Pushing through to breakthrough is essential in persevering faith. We can learn from the mistakes of our Israelite brothers and sisters, if we just have the eyes and ears to hear what the Lord is teaching us through His Word. Old habits can be hard to break, even with the best intentions. Here we see the Israelites worshipping God without recognizing that they are continuing in their pagan practices. Do you find yourself serving other idols instead of the Lord God Almighty? What things separate you from the abundant life that Jesus promises? Do you struggle with an addiction, a spirit of depression, or extreme fatigue? Do you find it hard to muster an hour to read and study God’s Word, or to sit in His presence in prayer and praise? What things do you not want to give up for service to the Lord? Would you rather stay at home and watch the baseball game on television, or serve food at a local shelter for the homeless and hungry?
Take a closer look at your life today. What path do you need to stay on until you break through to freedom in Christ? What habits in your life need to change so that you can become less self-centered, and more Christ like? May you find patience and perseverance in your journey home to the Lord. Together, we can find ways to break our former practices and find true break through and freedom as we seek the heart of Jesus.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: perseverance to reach breakthrough in your life. Old habits may die hard, but with Christ, all things are possible. Do not give up and do not give in. Stay on the highway today, and look to the Lord for your every need. If you seek Him, He will find you right where you are at. He has the power to transform your life into a new creation - He can use for Kingdom work. Are you ready to break through?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 02, 2007
Half-baked prayer
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 12, 13, 14; Psalm 74
2 Kings 13:18-19 (NIV)
18 Then [Elisha] said to [Jehoash], “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”
James 5:16 (NIV)
16 Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Good morning!
Have you ever attempted a task half-heartedly? When my children were younger, the phrase “clean your room” was heard at least once a day. Two of my three children just didn’t seem to get it. They would shuffle back to their bedroom, shut the door, and commune with their dirty laundry, loose school papers, an unmade bed, and snack food wrappers. They were not supposed to eat snacks in their room, and yet, those infamous wrappers would suddenly appear from out of nowhere. One of my boys, however, was meticulous with his room. He would spend hours organizing and straightening his stuff. His clean room may not have been exactly the way I would have liked, but the thought and effort he put into it meant more to me than the end result. I rewarded his ability to see the bigger picture, capture a vision in his head, and run full-steam toward it.
Do you ever pray half-heartedly? Scripture is full of promises from our Lord. If we pray a prayer in faith, standing upon His holy Word, and believe that He will do what He says He will do even in an adverse situation, we can live a life of victory rather than defeat. Isn’t it ironic how we may choose to simply pray the prayer with our feeble words and not put our faith muscle behind it? When Jehoash met with Elisha for the very last time, Elisha became angry with his obvious lack of faith. Elisha commanded Jehoash to take his arrows and strike the ground. He did what he was told, but only in a half-baked manner. Jehoash struck the ground three times. As Elisha lay on his death bed, he knew this boy just didn’t get it. God was willing to give the king a landslide victory over the Arameans at Aphek. Because of the king’s lack of vision and faith to trust God’s promises, the victory over Aram would not be complete. If we want victory over the evil that surrounds our life, our family, our community, and our denomination, we absolutely must obey God’s Word completely. A half-hearted effort will not bring forth the benefits and blessings of the Lord. It is not enough to bury ourselves inside the walls of our churches, praying half-baked prayers and not standing upon His Word in all things. It’s time to sound the prayer trumpets. It is time to take a step up in faith.
My friends, this is the time to get serious about what we say we believe. Will we have victory through Jesus today? Or will our prayers lack the power and stamina to see us through the tough stuff of life? Will we fight for our Lord’s honor today or will we utter a few pretty words and leave them strewn, like snack wrappers on the floor, for someone else to sweep up? Are we tired of the hemmorhage of people from our churches? The bleeding needs to end now. So many people are falling away. Who will go and speak to them? If it is not you, then who will go for the Lord?
May Jesus Christ give you wisdom and a clear vision today, as you pray your prayers this morning. Do not be afraid to stand on His Word! He is sure to hear and answer your every petition. God’s truth will never fail. Are you willing to trust Him completely this day?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: courage to trust and obey the holy Word of God. Get down on your knees and pray like you’ve never prayed before. Things are about to change! If you believe that you stand today covered in the righteousness of Christ alone, then claim His promise and believe that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 12, 13, 14; Psalm 74
2 Kings 13:18-19 (NIV)
18 Then [Elisha] said to [Jehoash], “Take the arrows,” and the king took them. Elisha told him, “Strike the ground.” He struck it three times and stopped. 19 The man of God was angry with him and said, “You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times.”
James 5:16 (NIV)
16 Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Good morning!
Have you ever attempted a task half-heartedly? When my children were younger, the phrase “clean your room” was heard at least once a day. Two of my three children just didn’t seem to get it. They would shuffle back to their bedroom, shut the door, and commune with their dirty laundry, loose school papers, an unmade bed, and snack food wrappers. They were not supposed to eat snacks in their room, and yet, those infamous wrappers would suddenly appear from out of nowhere. One of my boys, however, was meticulous with his room. He would spend hours organizing and straightening his stuff. His clean room may not have been exactly the way I would have liked, but the thought and effort he put into it meant more to me than the end result. I rewarded his ability to see the bigger picture, capture a vision in his head, and run full-steam toward it.
Do you ever pray half-heartedly? Scripture is full of promises from our Lord. If we pray a prayer in faith, standing upon His holy Word, and believe that He will do what He says He will do even in an adverse situation, we can live a life of victory rather than defeat. Isn’t it ironic how we may choose to simply pray the prayer with our feeble words and not put our faith muscle behind it? When Jehoash met with Elisha for the very last time, Elisha became angry with his obvious lack of faith. Elisha commanded Jehoash to take his arrows and strike the ground. He did what he was told, but only in a half-baked manner. Jehoash struck the ground three times. As Elisha lay on his death bed, he knew this boy just didn’t get it. God was willing to give the king a landslide victory over the Arameans at Aphek. Because of the king’s lack of vision and faith to trust God’s promises, the victory over Aram would not be complete. If we want victory over the evil that surrounds our life, our family, our community, and our denomination, we absolutely must obey God’s Word completely. A half-hearted effort will not bring forth the benefits and blessings of the Lord. It is not enough to bury ourselves inside the walls of our churches, praying half-baked prayers and not standing upon His Word in all things. It’s time to sound the prayer trumpets. It is time to take a step up in faith.
My friends, this is the time to get serious about what we say we believe. Will we have victory through Jesus today? Or will our prayers lack the power and stamina to see us through the tough stuff of life? Will we fight for our Lord’s honor today or will we utter a few pretty words and leave them strewn, like snack wrappers on the floor, for someone else to sweep up? Are we tired of the hemmorhage of people from our churches? The bleeding needs to end now. So many people are falling away. Who will go and speak to them? If it is not you, then who will go for the Lord?
May Jesus Christ give you wisdom and a clear vision today, as you pray your prayers this morning. Do not be afraid to stand on His Word! He is sure to hear and answer your every petition. God’s truth will never fail. Are you willing to trust Him completely this day?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: courage to trust and obey the holy Word of God. Get down on your knees and pray like you’ve never prayed before. Things are about to change! If you believe that you stand today covered in the righteousness of Christ alone, then claim His promise and believe that the prayers of the righteous are powerful and effective.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 01, 2007
When the Lord speaks, will you listen?
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 9, 10, 11
2 Kings 9:1-3 (NIV)
1 The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. 3 Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; do not delay!”
Genesis 35:11-15 (NIV)
11 And God said to [Jacob], “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you. 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.”
Good morning!
I spent a lot of time riding bicycles when I was a child. We lived on a circle drive, just off a service road. The street was relatively quiet and it did not have a lot of cross-traffic. This made bicycle riding a real treat! My neighborhood friends would join me for races at the end of the street all the way to the inner circle. We would clip baseball cards to the spokes of our wheels with clothes pins and as we pedaled, they would make a cool flapping noise. Occasionally, the chain would become dry and begin to squeal when we would brake. My father would step outside with his can of oil and grease the chain and spokes. I always liked my bicycle best after it was oiled. Talk about a smooth ride – no more squeaking or hesitation, and it felt as if I were floating on air. It’s amazing what a little oil can do for a squeaky wheel.
When our grandson Joshua was baptized at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Cuba, Missouri in 2002, the priest took a flask of oil and literally poured it over the child’s head. I wondered whether we would ever be able to wash all that oil out of his hair. Joshua looked like a little greased monkey, and we had to be extremely careful holding him the rest of the day because that boy was slippery! There was no doubt in our minds that our grandson had been anointed by God that morning as His precious and beloved child.
When Jacob experienced the Word of the Lord at Bethel, he poured out a drink offering and a flask of oil upon the stone pillar where they met. It was there that God blessed his willing servant, promising that a nation of faithful followers, kings and a community of nations would be birthed through Jacob’s line. He was promised the land that was given to his ancestors Abraham and Isaac, and that land would be passed down to Jacob’s descendants.
Don’t you wonder how Jehu must have felt when the prophet of God pulled him aside and anointed him with oil? The Lord had handpicked Jehu to be the next king of Israel. His job would not be easy and yet, Jehu could achieve it, if he completely relied on the strength of the Lord in all things. Do you make time to listen to the Lord? Can you hear Him speak to your heart? Every morning, I set aside a block of time to rest in the loving arms of my Savior. His Word is the anointing I need to carry with me all the day long. I know that when I focus my whole heart, mind and strength upon His Word, He will lead me through the day and help me achieve the work He has for me to do. His anointing saturates the squeaky and rough places in my heart and restores me to new life. I can hear His still, small voice as I sit enraptured in His holy presence. The anointing oil He pours over my head gives me grace and courage to follow Him, even when the road is narrow and rough.
You are a child of the King of Kings. When you invite Jesus to become your Lord and Savior, He will begin to speak words of eternal life to your heart. Will you hear Him when He calls you? Take a moment today to dip your hand into the cleansing oil of His Word. Feel the release in knowing that your imperfections are covered through His precious blood. He has big plans for you. Can you feel His anointing upon your life today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: eyes and ears to see and hear the amazing work God is doing inside of your heart. Allow Him to anoint you today through His Word. When the Lord speaks, people listen. Will you hear and answer when He calls out your name?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 9, 10, 11
2 Kings 9:1-3 (NIV)
1 The prophet Elisha summoned a man from the company of the prophets and said to him, “Tuck your cloak into your belt, take this flask of oil with you and go to Ramoth Gilead. 2 When you get there, look for Jehu son of Jehoshaphat, the son of Nimshi. Go to him, get him away from his companions and take him into an inner room. 3 Then take the flask and pour the oil on his head and declare, ‘This is what the Lord says: I anoint you king over Israel.’ Then open the door and run; do not delay!”
Genesis 35:11-15 (NIV)
11 And God said to [Jacob], “I am God Almighty; be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will come from your body. 12 The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you. 13 Then God went up from him at the place where he had talked with him. 14 Jacob set up a stone pillar at the place where God had talked with him, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. 15 Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel.”
Good morning!
I spent a lot of time riding bicycles when I was a child. We lived on a circle drive, just off a service road. The street was relatively quiet and it did not have a lot of cross-traffic. This made bicycle riding a real treat! My neighborhood friends would join me for races at the end of the street all the way to the inner circle. We would clip baseball cards to the spokes of our wheels with clothes pins and as we pedaled, they would make a cool flapping noise. Occasionally, the chain would become dry and begin to squeal when we would brake. My father would step outside with his can of oil and grease the chain and spokes. I always liked my bicycle best after it was oiled. Talk about a smooth ride – no more squeaking or hesitation, and it felt as if I were floating on air. It’s amazing what a little oil can do for a squeaky wheel.
When our grandson Joshua was baptized at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Cuba, Missouri in 2002, the priest took a flask of oil and literally poured it over the child’s head. I wondered whether we would ever be able to wash all that oil out of his hair. Joshua looked like a little greased monkey, and we had to be extremely careful holding him the rest of the day because that boy was slippery! There was no doubt in our minds that our grandson had been anointed by God that morning as His precious and beloved child.
When Jacob experienced the Word of the Lord at Bethel, he poured out a drink offering and a flask of oil upon the stone pillar where they met. It was there that God blessed his willing servant, promising that a nation of faithful followers, kings and a community of nations would be birthed through Jacob’s line. He was promised the land that was given to his ancestors Abraham and Isaac, and that land would be passed down to Jacob’s descendants.
Don’t you wonder how Jehu must have felt when the prophet of God pulled him aside and anointed him with oil? The Lord had handpicked Jehu to be the next king of Israel. His job would not be easy and yet, Jehu could achieve it, if he completely relied on the strength of the Lord in all things. Do you make time to listen to the Lord? Can you hear Him speak to your heart? Every morning, I set aside a block of time to rest in the loving arms of my Savior. His Word is the anointing I need to carry with me all the day long. I know that when I focus my whole heart, mind and strength upon His Word, He will lead me through the day and help me achieve the work He has for me to do. His anointing saturates the squeaky and rough places in my heart and restores me to new life. I can hear His still, small voice as I sit enraptured in His holy presence. The anointing oil He pours over my head gives me grace and courage to follow Him, even when the road is narrow and rough.
You are a child of the King of Kings. When you invite Jesus to become your Lord and Savior, He will begin to speak words of eternal life to your heart. Will you hear Him when He calls you? Take a moment today to dip your hand into the cleansing oil of His Word. Feel the release in knowing that your imperfections are covered through His precious blood. He has big plans for you. Can you feel His anointing upon your life today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: eyes and ears to see and hear the amazing work God is doing inside of your heart. Allow Him to anoint you today through His Word. When the Lord speaks, people listen. Will you hear and answer when He calls out your name?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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 30, 2007
Seeing the chariots of fire
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 6, 7, 8
II Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Do not be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
I John 4:2-4 (NIV)
2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Good morning!
When my children were young, I would encourage them to dream big and remember that with God, all things are possible. Without Him, dreams are simply not worth dreaming. Elisha lived his life seeing the wonder of God through his spirit. Picture this: you are in your prayer closet this morning and you are praying to the Lord. Maybe you are sitting there, wondering whether God is listening to you. Maybe you are simply unsure whether the time you are spending is productive and helpful to the life of the person you are lifting up in prayer. Do you ever doubt the power of prayer when you pray?
Think about this – as you are praying, the Lord covers your prayer closet with white stallions, surrounding you in a circle of grace. The angels are sitting on the stallions’ backs, just waiting to carry your petitions into the throne room of the Father. They are pulling the chariots of fire, whose flames protect you and the ones you lift up in prayer. They are on a passionate mission of mercy and grace. If you could see the chariots of fire surrounding you as you pray, would that change the power of your prayer? Would you pray harder, longer, and more fervently? Would it keep you from doubting that when God hears your prayers, He answers each and every one of them?
Elisha’s servant became frightened when all he could see were the enemies knocking at his front door. Do your enemies scare you? Are you afraid to open your door and see what is lurking outside on the front porch? Maybe you are fighting some sort of illness, be it physical, emotional or spiritual. If you open the door to God’s grace and mercy and trust Him completely, you wonder if He will fail you and you won’t survive. Maybe you are struggling financially – having trouble meeting your obligations and you cry out for help to pay the bills. What if you pray and nothing tangible happens? Is God listening to you? Will He not answer you in the greatest moment of your need?
Sometimes, we must look with the spirit eyes the Lord has planted within us. There are spirits everywhere, and we can discern which spirits come from the Lord and which spirits are not His. The apostle John said that any spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as God in the flesh, is not a spirit of the living God. We often think that the antichrist (or evil one) is not yet here. Yet the apostle John says that the antichrist has been here for quite some time and is with us, even now. It is that spirit where faith becomes doubt, when we struggle to see the Lord for who He truly is. Like Elisha, we need to pray that our eyes will be opened and we can see and know what is Truth and what is not.
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He comes into your heart and lives within you. He is greater than any struggle you may be facing, and He has ultimate authority and power to help you conquer the sins that separate you from God. On our own, we are powerless to help ourselves, but with Christ, there is nothing impossible for us. Greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world. As you pray this morning, check out the chariots of fire surrounding your life. The angels are there, just waiting to help you. Do not let a spirit of doubt keep you from all the God has in store for you. Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, sees you. He knows you. He hears you. He is answering your prayers today.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: eyes to see what the Lord is doing in your life! Trust Him to answer your every prayer. Ask Him to help you capture the vision, so that you will not be afraid to face the enemies in your life. Ask Him to give you spiritual discernment, to know what is true and what is not. Give Jesus your life today. Everything changes when you invite the Lord of life into your heart.
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 6, 7, 8
II Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next morning, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked. 16 “Do not be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” 17 And Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.” Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
I John 4:2-4 (NIV)
2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.
Good morning!
When my children were young, I would encourage them to dream big and remember that with God, all things are possible. Without Him, dreams are simply not worth dreaming. Elisha lived his life seeing the wonder of God through his spirit. Picture this: you are in your prayer closet this morning and you are praying to the Lord. Maybe you are sitting there, wondering whether God is listening to you. Maybe you are simply unsure whether the time you are spending is productive and helpful to the life of the person you are lifting up in prayer. Do you ever doubt the power of prayer when you pray?
Think about this – as you are praying, the Lord covers your prayer closet with white stallions, surrounding you in a circle of grace. The angels are sitting on the stallions’ backs, just waiting to carry your petitions into the throne room of the Father. They are pulling the chariots of fire, whose flames protect you and the ones you lift up in prayer. They are on a passionate mission of mercy and grace. If you could see the chariots of fire surrounding you as you pray, would that change the power of your prayer? Would you pray harder, longer, and more fervently? Would it keep you from doubting that when God hears your prayers, He answers each and every one of them?
Elisha’s servant became frightened when all he could see were the enemies knocking at his front door. Do your enemies scare you? Are you afraid to open your door and see what is lurking outside on the front porch? Maybe you are fighting some sort of illness, be it physical, emotional or spiritual. If you open the door to God’s grace and mercy and trust Him completely, you wonder if He will fail you and you won’t survive. Maybe you are struggling financially – having trouble meeting your obligations and you cry out for help to pay the bills. What if you pray and nothing tangible happens? Is God listening to you? Will He not answer you in the greatest moment of your need?
Sometimes, we must look with the spirit eyes the Lord has planted within us. There are spirits everywhere, and we can discern which spirits come from the Lord and which spirits are not His. The apostle John said that any spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus Christ as God in the flesh, is not a spirit of the living God. We often think that the antichrist (or evil one) is not yet here. Yet the apostle John says that the antichrist has been here for quite some time and is with us, even now. It is that spirit where faith becomes doubt, when we struggle to see the Lord for who He truly is. Like Elisha, we need to pray that our eyes will be opened and we can see and know what is Truth and what is not.
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, He comes into your heart and lives within you. He is greater than any struggle you may be facing, and He has ultimate authority and power to help you conquer the sins that separate you from God. On our own, we are powerless to help ourselves, but with Christ, there is nothing impossible for us. Greater is He that is in you, than He that is in the world. As you pray this morning, check out the chariots of fire surrounding your life. The angels are there, just waiting to help you. Do not let a spirit of doubt keep you from all the God has in store for you. Jesus Christ, the risen Son of God, sees you. He knows you. He hears you. He is answering your prayers today.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: eyes to see what the Lord is doing in your life! Trust Him to answer your every prayer. Ask Him to help you capture the vision, so that you will not be afraid to face the enemies in your life. Ask Him to give you spiritual discernment, to know what is true and what is not. Give Jesus your life today. Everything changes when you invite the Lord of life into your heart.
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Sunday, April 29, 2007
The bunt that became a home run!
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 4-5; Psalm 73
2 Kings 4:1-2 (NIV)
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”
Psalm 73:23-26 (NIV)
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand,
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Good morning!
Do you possess a childlike faith? Jeff and I sat with our daughter and son-in-law at the baseball field Friday evening near Barnhart, Missouri, watching our grandson Joshua play his very first t-ball game. How the memories of all those softball games from years before flooded my memory. I cannot tell you how many games we sat at, watching our children play softball. I was never coordinated enough to manage the bat. I rarely hit the ball, but the catcher behind me took his life into his hands every time I came to the plate. I decided this was definitely not my spiritual gift, certainly not a tangible, physical gift either. I was better off on the bleachers cheering on my team. It’s much safer there for everyone, trust me.
Ironically, there was no stand for the ball. One of the coaches pitched to each player. Joshua had fourteen children on his team that night, and the outfield was an interesting sight. Joshua stood just behind the second baseman. I leaned over and asked our daughter Rachel if Joshua was playing shortstop. She said, “with all the children on the field right now, who can tell for sure?” Joshua sported his black baseball cap and a brand new mit that his father had given him as a gift. He proudly wore his team's t-shirt. “Now there is boy on a mission,” I thought to myself, while digging my heels into the dirt and feeling much older than I thought I should be. “I’m watching my grandson play t-ball.” Rachel and I shared a box of Kleenex and we managed to drown our tears in a salty pretzel. She has a good excuse for crying. After all, she is very pregnant and hormonal. Little Emily sat on my lap and chatted in babbling, three-year old lingo. Grandchildren are just so much fun that I guess its worth the sacrifice of aging simply to experience their zest for life.
The challenging team was winning. Our outfield needed a little extra help from above. Fortunately, in t-ball rules, once everyone has had a chance to bat, it’s time to switch sides! This was a lucky break for our ball players. Joshua was last on the batting rotation. He was the man of the hour, as he took his spot at home plate. Joshua strutted to the plate with a quiet confidence and a cute little grin on his face. I could tell he was proud to be there. Another nice thing about t-ball is that if you get three strikes, its okay, because you can keep swinging until you finally hit the ball. Now, that’s my kind of ball game! Joshua kept swinging, bless his little heart – he just didn’t give up. And then it happened. He laid a perfect bunt down just in front of the first baseman. “Run, Joshua, run,” we screamed. He began to take the bases, one by one, not looking back to see where the ball was. Joshua was determined to make it back to home plate no matter what. “Slide, Joshua, slide!” we cried out to him. It was a surreal moment as we watched that boy step on home plate for the very first time. His bunt became a home run, and we laughed and clapped and cheered him on Joshua watched his family act like crazy people that night as he stood on the plate, grinning from ear to ear.
It must have taken childlike faith for the widow to prepare jars of oil that day. She had lost everything she had, her husband and her role in the culture in which she lived. She was about to lose her house to the creditors and knew they would take her sons away in payment for her debt. She had nothing left to give except a little oil and her heart. Elisha told the woman to ask her neighbors for help. She needed every jar she could find. Willingly, and without question, the woman and her sons collected as many jars as they could find. Even though she only had a little oil, the Lord saw her need and reveled in her faith, and that faith produced enough oil to fill every single jar in her home. With God’s help, we too can score a home run with just a little bunt and a lot of faith. Won’t you take some time today to thank God for the gifts He has given you. Maybe you feel a little inadequate, like I do, when I’m up to bat. With the help of Christ, He can take what little talent we possess, and turn it into a faith-filled victory for His kingdom, if we are just willing to trust Him enough to do it.
Batter up! It’s time for you to bunt.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: faith and courage to share Jesus Christ with the world. He can take whatever you have to give, and multiply it for Kingdom work, if you trust Him completely. Will you step into the batter’s box today?
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Kings 4-5; Psalm 73
2 Kings 4:1-2 (NIV)
1 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.” 2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?” “Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a little oil.”
Psalm 73:23-26 (NIV)
23 Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand,
24 You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Good morning!
Do you possess a childlike faith? Jeff and I sat with our daughter and son-in-law at the baseball field Friday evening near Barnhart, Missouri, watching our grandson Joshua play his very first t-ball game. How the memories of all those softball games from years before flooded my memory. I cannot tell you how many games we sat at, watching our children play softball. I was never coordinated enough to manage the bat. I rarely hit the ball, but the catcher behind me took his life into his hands every time I came to the plate. I decided this was definitely not my spiritual gift, certainly not a tangible, physical gift either. I was better off on the bleachers cheering on my team. It’s much safer there for everyone, trust me.
Ironically, there was no stand for the ball. One of the coaches pitched to each player. Joshua had fourteen children on his team that night, and the outfield was an interesting sight. Joshua stood just behind the second baseman. I leaned over and asked our daughter Rachel if Joshua was playing shortstop. She said, “with all the children on the field right now, who can tell for sure?” Joshua sported his black baseball cap and a brand new mit that his father had given him as a gift. He proudly wore his team's t-shirt. “Now there is boy on a mission,” I thought to myself, while digging my heels into the dirt and feeling much older than I thought I should be. “I’m watching my grandson play t-ball.” Rachel and I shared a box of Kleenex and we managed to drown our tears in a salty pretzel. She has a good excuse for crying. After all, she is very pregnant and hormonal. Little Emily sat on my lap and chatted in babbling, three-year old lingo. Grandchildren are just so much fun that I guess its worth the sacrifice of aging simply to experience their zest for life.
The challenging team was winning. Our outfield needed a little extra help from above. Fortunately, in t-ball rules, once everyone has had a chance to bat, it’s time to switch sides! This was a lucky break for our ball players. Joshua was last on the batting rotation. He was the man of the hour, as he took his spot at home plate. Joshua strutted to the plate with a quiet confidence and a cute little grin on his face. I could tell he was proud to be there. Another nice thing about t-ball is that if you get three strikes, its okay, because you can keep swinging until you finally hit the ball. Now, that’s my kind of ball game! Joshua kept swinging, bless his little heart – he just didn’t give up. And then it happened. He laid a perfect bunt down just in front of the first baseman. “Run, Joshua, run,” we screamed. He began to take the bases, one by one, not looking back to see where the ball was. Joshua was determined to make it back to home plate no matter what. “Slide, Joshua, slide!” we cried out to him. It was a surreal moment as we watched that boy step on home plate for the very first time. His bunt became a home run, and we laughed and clapped and cheered him on Joshua watched his family act like crazy people that night as he stood on the plate, grinning from ear to ear.
It must have taken childlike faith for the widow to prepare jars of oil that day. She had lost everything she had, her husband and her role in the culture in which she lived. She was about to lose her house to the creditors and knew they would take her sons away in payment for her debt. She had nothing left to give except a little oil and her heart. Elisha told the woman to ask her neighbors for help. She needed every jar she could find. Willingly, and without question, the woman and her sons collected as many jars as they could find. Even though she only had a little oil, the Lord saw her need and reveled in her faith, and that faith produced enough oil to fill every single jar in her home. With God’s help, we too can score a home run with just a little bunt and a lot of faith. Won’t you take some time today to thank God for the gifts He has given you. Maybe you feel a little inadequate, like I do, when I’m up to bat. With the help of Christ, He can take what little talent we possess, and turn it into a faith-filled victory for His kingdom, if we are just willing to trust Him enough to do it.
Batter up! It’s time for you to bunt.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: faith and courage to share Jesus Christ with the world. He can take whatever you have to give, and multiply it for Kingdom work, if you trust Him completely. Will you step into the batter’s box today?
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, 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.
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