Perfect timing!

Today’s Reading: John 11:3-6 (NIV)

3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When He heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 Yet when He heard that Lazarus was sick, He stayed where He was two more days.

Good morning!

Do you ever run late? My days are filled with meetings at work and church, to-do-lists to complete, school papers and built-in study time. There are moments when I meet myself coming and going. Jeff and I have learned to laugh at each other because our schedules are so varied. I gave up trying to track him on a refrigerator calendar. It’s impossible! Jeff keeps his dates electronically, carrying them in his cell phone. I prefer to use a notebook calendar and print tasks from my computer calendar. Even with automated technology at our fingertips, it does not always keep us from running late.

When Jesus heard that His friend Lazarus was sick, He knew what the Father would do. Yet, Jesus hesitated to go. Why do you think He waited? There are times when I wonder why Jesus waits when I’m right in the middle of a crisis. There are moments when life is hard. We cry out to the Lord for help, and then we wonder where He is. I’m certain that Mary and Martha were wondering why Jesus didn’t come right away to help their brother who was dying.

Can I tell you something? Jesus Christ is NEVER LATE. In fact, Christ knew what was happening with Lazarus before He received word of his illness. Jesus already knew what his friend would endure and how the Father would reach out with miraculous healing. It may have appeared to everyone else that Jesus was running late, but let me tell you, my Lord is always on time. I serve the Lord of the last second! He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. He goes on before me. Jesus holds my life in His hand. He created the time, and knows every moment full-well. I believe my Lord is always here, especially in the moments when I cannot see Him clearly with physical eyes.

If you longing for the Savior’s touch today, don’t you worry about when He will arrive. Jesus is already there with you, right where you are struggling, right now. He has perfect timing.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

The great caregiver

Today’s Reading: John 11:1 (NIV)

1 Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha.

Good morning!

Have you ever gotten sick really quick? Jeff and I took his folks out for Sunday dinner after worship. I ordered a Cobb salad. It looked good. Unfortunately, I had an almost immediate adverse reaction to the salad dressing. Not even thirty minutes after I finished my meal, I went from feeling pretty good to thinking, “I’m going to see Jesus now.” After spending a good twenty-four hours in the master bathroom hugging a trash can to my chest and promising I will never eat a Cobb salad ever again, I am crawling back into the land of the living. No one I know enjoys being sick. It is a part of our humanity. At some point, all of us will face a time when our health is not at its optimum, and we will find ourselves in dire need of divine help.

It takes a whole lot of love to care for someone who is really sick. Isn’t it amazing how little children can become ill in a moment’s notice, and then simply move on to something else? Our grandson Andrew was sitting on his mother’s lap yesterday, playing happily, when suddenly and without warning, managed to lose his lunch all Mommy. After making this unexpected deposit, Andrew took off crawling, laughing and playing like nothing had even happened. Rachel, on the other hand, had to go change her clothes, wash up, and try to move past this little life event. Moms have a way of modeling unconditional love, especially in those unexpected, stinky moments of each day.

Lazarus was Jesus’ friend. He was really sick and near death, but his sisters truly believed if the Lord would come, Lazarus would recover. There is just something about being in the holy presence of the Savior that heals us. We cannot help but feel better when we know He is right here. Like a loving parent who stays up all night rocking a feverish child, Christ holds the sick in His nail-scarred hands, comforting the suffering especially in these wretched moments of pain and anguish.

I have good news to tell you! If you are feeling sick today, you do not have to go it alone. If you ask Him, the Lord who loves you more than life itself will be right there with you, holding you close. Jesus lives, and because He lives, He will stay with you even in the midst of your suffering and pain. If you ask Him to, the great caregiver will see you through this sickness. Just look into His face and cry out His name. He loves you so very much! You do not have to bear your burden alone.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Your personal testimony could make all the difference

Today’s Reading: John 10:40-42 (NIV)

40 Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here He stayed 41 and many people came to Him. They said, ‘Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true.’ 42 And in that place many believed in Jesus.

Good morning!

One chilly fall weekend, my junior high youth group attended a lay witness mission event just across the river at a neighboring United Methodist Church. I remember the cold night air, and the genuine warmth of this congregation. There were a lot of people there, ranging in age from tiny tots to seniors. We attended small group meetings all day long, gathering together in the sanctuary to worship as one and witness to the saving grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The pastor asked anyone who was willing to come forward and speak. I watched the tears roll across the faces of my friends and sponsors, as young and old alike went forward to share their personal faith story with the entire congregation. Their sincerity and conviction of heart lifted them off the pew and carried them to the front of the sanctuary, where they stood trembling and shaking before the crowd. The time of testimony continued until every person who felt compelled to speak had an opportunity to do so. There was no coercion, no one forced another to get up and talk. It was simply a move of the Holy Spirit and there was no doubt that the Spirit was working on every heart in that room.

It was close to midnight when the worship service came to a close. I remembered not wanting to leave. Something tangible and real had happened that night. I can still see their faces as clearly as if it happened yesterday. While many of these congregants remain nameless to me today, God knows who they are. As they shared their testimony of faith, their names were written in the Lamb’s Book of Life. I know I will worship together with them one day soon in the eternal presence of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

John stood by the river and commanded the people to repent of their sins, be baptized with water, and watch for the One who would come and baptize them with the power of the Holy Spirit. When John instructed the people to follow Jesus Christ, many listened and obeyed. John was just one man, and yet, his testimony of the coming Messiah opened the door for many to place their faith in Jesus. His testimony made all the difference. Do you realize that your personal testimony could make an eternal difference in the life of another human heart? Take every opportunity to share your faith whenever you can, however you can, and with whatever means you have available to you. Do not hesitate to tell others about what Jesus Christ has done for you. Your personal testimony could make all the difference.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

The miracle of life

Today’s Reading: John 10:37-38 (NIV)

[Jesus said,] 37 Do not believe me unless I do what my Father does. 38 But if I do it, even though you do not believe me, believe the miracles that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”

Good morning!

Have you ever experienced a miracle? Webster’s dictionary defines miracle as an extraordinary event manifesting divine intervention in human affairs. The mere fact that I woke up today is a miracle. If you are breathing air right now, you too are experiencing God’s great miracle of new life!

I am alive today because of His divine intervention. The gift of life is extraordinary, especially when we think about all the close calls we’ve experienced along the way. I remember riding in the back seat of my family’s 1958 Chevrolet, as we traveled home from Mississippi, after visiting my grandparents one summer. Interstate 55 did not exist then. It was Highway 55, a narrow, two-lane roadway, surrounded by cotton fields and farms. If you were unfortunate enough to get behind a slow-moving pickup truck or farming implement, your trip home would take a whole lot longer. Our average journey lasted approximately fourteen hours from Mississippi to Missouri, and my father was longing to get home. He was tired of sitting behind the steering wheel and totally frustrated with the slow-moving traffic. Dad decided to play leap frog with seven vehicles crawling behind a large tractor, who had no place to pull off the road, allowing other cars to pass. My father always drove with a lead foot and it was no surprise when he pushed the “pedal to the metal” and began the hop, skip and jump around the long line of vehicles. We could see the large freight truck coming toward our vehicle, but my dad really believed he could beat it. Suddenly, we found ourselves playing chicken on the highway of life. I remember watching my short-lived life float across my mind’s eye like a slow-motion film. My mother was screaming in the front seat; my sister and I grabbed hands and prayed. We needed a major intervention right then and there. Daddy laid on the car horn and tried to weave his way back into the right lane, but there was seemingly no place to go. Somehow, God opened a small space in the line of traffic and he managed to avoid what would have been a fatal head-on collision within seconds. We were so close that the freight truck took the ditch and ended up in the cotton field.

When we choose to live our lives in the fast lane, always in such a rush to get to our next destination, we may miss the miracles happening right in front of us. The people didn’t really know what to make of this teacher from Nazareth. Jesus knew they might not believe in Him, but if they could just believe in the miracles, they might begin to know and understand His Father and the love He has for us all.

We experience amazing miracles every day. Take time to count yours. Can you see just how much your Heavenly Father loves you?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Talk back

Today’s Reading: John 10:36 (NIV)

[Jesus said,] 36 what about the One whom the Father set apart as His very own and sent into the world?”

Good morning!

You may find this very hard to believe, but occasionally my children talked back to me! Do you find this to be a peculiar anomaly of parenthood? Out of the mouths of our babies, the first talk back word I heard from my pretty princess Rachel was “NO!” Now, when we shake our heads and say the word YES to our eighteen-month old granddaughter Madison, she will grin from ear to ear and shake her head NO just as fast as she can. There is something very intriguing about our innate predisposition to express wholehearted disagreement and do things our own way. I actually believe there is a genetic chromosome yet to be discovered by modern science and when it is finally identified, it should be labeled TK-BK, also known as the talk-back gene.

Now that I am parent of adult children, recognizing that one day, they may very well be parenting me, I appreciate the TK-BK gene much more now than I did twenty years ago. There are maddening moments in parenthood when we can see the dangerous drop off just over the hill; yet, our children are bent on riding their skateboards along the edge of disaster. We instruct them, mostly from the hard knocks we encountered while choosing to hang ten on our very own skateboards. There is something endearing about wanting to protect your child from taking harm’s path, but they do not listen, or they listen, but refuse to hear. TK-BK is alive and thriving in every human heart today.

Jesus is speaking truth but there are many who will not listen or accept His Word. What about the One whom the Father sets apart as His very own and sent into the world? Will you talk back to the God who saves you by grace? Can you, in good conscience, shake your head NO and walk away from the Lord who loves you more than life itself?

Genetic predispositions will bring us great pain in the end, if we remain unwilling to lay down our will for His. Help me Jesus, to place my faith and trust in You alone. I relinquish the TK-BK gene in my life and place it into your healing hand today. Thank you, Lord, for saving me. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Kicking the acorns

Today’s Reading: John 10:31-32 (NIV)

31 Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them: “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

Good morning!

I spent many a warm Sunday evening watching our church elders outside, kicking acorns underneath the magnificent Texas oak trees. When Jeff attended seminary, he was given a student appointment at a pretty little country church about forty miles east of Dallas, Texas. We lived in their beautiful parsonage, just down the road from the church. Once a month, the administrative board would meet to conduct its business, and sometimes the conversations would get a little heated. Someone would suggest a new idea, or someone had a bee in their bonnet about something that was making them very unhappy. After a spirited discussion, the men would step outside with a glass of lime tea in one hand and kick the acorns along the sidewalk between the educational building and the church sanctuary. The women stayed inside where the temperature was definitely cooler. They quickly found other things to talk about, like their kids and grandchildren, and upcoming community events. I often stood by the window and watched the men. They would stand outside together, shuffling the nuts that had fallen from the trees lining the sidewalk with their boots.

It’s amazing what a little acorn kicking can do. We see or hear something that we don’t understand or agree with. It distresses us and we immediately react. We ask the questions and when they are not answered to our satisfaction, we begin to kick it around with our neighbors and friends. Watching the boys kick the acorns around outside our church made a lasting visual impression in my mind. I don’t know what they said to each other. Their looks of disgust and frustration spoke volumes about what they may have been thinking. Sometimes they lingered a little bit longer than we would have liked. One by one, they would wander back into the fellowship hall, where they would take their places at the table and the meeting would begin again. In many instances, taking time to think it through made all the difference in whether a unified decision could be reached.

The people were angry with Jesus. They decided it was high time to pummel this teacher for blasphemy. When Jesus asked them which miracle He was being stoned for, it made the people stop and think. Our initial reactions are not always right. Sometimes we need to take a step back and think it through. A little acorn kicking may be in order. If you are struggling with some disconcerting issue today, I’d invite you to step outside the box, take a moment, and let God speak to your heart. We may miss the miracle if we don’t take time to kick the acorns.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Cover charge

Today’s Reading: John 10:27-30 (NIV)

27 “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”

Good morning!

One of the many anticipated moments of summer was our family’s annual pilgrimage to the city amusement park. Rachel, Benjamin and David couldn’t wait for the big excursion each year. We counted the days until it was warm enough to ride the water rides in the hot summer sun. Jeff and I would pick a perfect Saturday and make the long-awaited announcement at our family breakfast table. For children who had to be prodded to get dressed and out the door each day, we never had a problem getting ready for this excursion. Rachel and David loved to ride the roller coaster. You couldn’t bribe Ben, Jeff or I to get on those rides – we were just as happy watching them wail from the park bench below. Our mouths watered all spring for the sugary cotton candy that melted in your mouth and the thick chewy pretzels that were awaiting us at the snack stand. It was an exhilarating, exhausting, and precious time spent together; a moment I will cherish forever.

At the entrance to the park, we would pay a cover charge just to get inside the gate. Each new season would bring exciting new rides to explore, and subsequently, the cost of admission would significantly increase. There were times when Jeff and I wondered if this might be our last year to return together as a family to the park. We continued to save our pennies every winter, hoping we would have enough to go just one more time. Even though the cost was steep, the sacrifice was worth it just to see the joy on the faces of our children. They laughed and played together, experiencing the wonder of the unique and the thrill of surprise.

The people were wondering about the teacher from Nazareth. Was He the gatekeeper, the promised Messiah to come? When they asked Jesus to tell them plainly, He said, “My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” Christ came to pay the cover charge for our sin, so that every believer might one day receive admission into the Father’s house. He paid an incredible price, making the ultimate sacrifice of love, so that we could journey through the gate, experiencing the joy and wonder of God’s indescribable love. We are all His children, and He delights in our eternal happiness. There is nothing Jesus wouldn’t do to bring you into relationship with Him. Your cover charge has been paid in full. Will you accept Christ’s gift of new life? Ask Him to be your Lord and Savior today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Have you washed?

Today’s Reading: John 13:8-9 (NIV)

8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”

Good morning!

It is like a scene in an old black and white film, playing over and over again in slow motion. Yesterday I served as liturgist for one of our worship services at Faith Church. When it came time to serve communion, it is our practice for all communion servers to use disinfectant prior to serving the elements. Jeff washed and then served himself, and moved to the front of the altar. He then invited those who were to assist him to come forward. I quickly walked behind the altar and used the disinfectant on my hands, but he had his back to me and did not see me wash. Two additional communion servers came forward and washed their hands. As I began to reach for the plate holding the bread of life, Jeff pulled the tray back and whispered, “Have you washed?” “Yes,” I replied, and he handed me the tray. This brief encounter lasted no longer than two to three seconds, but it will remain etched in my heart for the rest of my life.

When we offer the bread of life to the world, we take Christ’s incomparable gift of grace in our own hands and extend it to another human heart. We dip our hands daily into the stuff of life. We eat, work, and play with our hands. Microscopic residues remain from the things we touch and are hidden in tiny crevices on our palms and fingertips. Have I washed? Am I really clean enough to serve another human heart Christ’s perfect sacrifice for sin? Are my hands free from the residue of the wrongs I've committed in word and action? Will I contaminate Christ’s perfect love with my own human imperfections?

Simon Peter really did not want Jesus to wash his feet. They were cracked and dirty from walking in sandals all day long. It was time to wash up for supper, and he knew if the Lord washed his filthy feet, He would quickly lose his appetite. Christ insisted, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”

It takes more than a simple disinfectant to wash my hands. Jesus Christ Himself must wash me in His precious healing blood. It is only in Christ that I will ever be clean enough to extend His love to others. If I am not willing to the Lord wash me from the inside out, I have no part with Him.

When Peter realized what Jesus had said, he decided a full-body bath was in order. I realized the disinfectant we use prior to serving communion is not nearly enough to remove the residue of my sin. I must allow Jesus Christ to wash me from head to toe. It is only through His cleansing blood that I am made sin-free; germ free. And when the Son sets you free, you are free indeed!

Have you been washed by the only One who has ultimate authority to clean up your life? No amount of disinfectant can make you clean enough. Have you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Believing is not seeing

Today’s Reading: John 10:24 (NIV)

24 The Jews gathered around Him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Good morning!

Of all the gifts I’ve ever received, it is the gift of faith I cherish the most. Faith is a verb – alive and active in the hearts and minds of those who believe. We hold fast to the faith that took root in our lives when we first heard Christ’s testimony and believed. It is that same faith that brings us through some of the toughest things in life. Faith gives us a strong fighting spirit, and births hope for a better day tomorrow. Let me tell you about faith in action.

Last night, I sat with Rachel and our dear friend Meredith at the hospital. Meredith has been battling melanoma for several years now. What started as a skin cancer has now moved to her lungs and brain. She is finishing a series of radiation treatments in-patient, after suffering some paralysis while undergoing treatment. She is a resilient woman, who has certainly dealt with a lot of physical adversity in the last few years. When I want to see faith in motion, I only have to look at Meredith’s uncompromising determination and her uncanny ability to laugh in extreme situations. We laughed a lot last night. She has the gift of faith.

We choose to put our faith into action each day, no matter what our circumstances may be. I have faith that I will tackle today’s work. I pray without ceasing as I read and work through the requirements of a school syllabus runneth amuck. I have faith I will graduate from college in 2009. I know my faith maker intimately; He is my Savior and Lord, and in Him, all things are possible. I’ve learned to count on Jesus Christ for every need. Who gives you faith for each new day?

The people who gathered around the Lord wanted proof positive that Jesus is God’s Messiah. Even though Christ had performed many miracles right in front of them, there were many who doubted. It takes great faith to step apart from the comfort of the crowd, and take your stand. When we trust Christ enough to give Him our hearts, His Holy Spirit gives us His gift of faith. It is a faith we can count on in sunshine and rain. We face adversity knowing there is someone who holds us close every step of the way. With faith, we do not have to see to believe.

Meredith’s faith in Christ gives me great hope for this day and every tomorrow. Believing is not seeing! What will it take for you to trust Jesus Christ with your life today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Solomon's Colonnade

Today’s Reading: John 10:22-23 (NIV)

22 Then came the Feast of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple area walking in Solomon’s Colonnade.

Good morning!

When Jeff and I visit our family and friends, we are often moved by the many memories that are shared during the house tour. It all begins when we arrive on their front porch. This is the place of warm greeting. During the holidays, we find shelter from the cold and a warm welcome there. Many decorate their front porches with twinkling lights and trees, ribbons and wreaths. Our porches become gathering places for family and friends, where relationships flourish. As we move through the front door and down the hallway into the living room, we cannot help but notice the many precious memories of loved ones and friends displayed on the walls. Walls do speak volumes about who we are and from whence we came.

Solomon’s Colonnade was a walkway found along the east side of the temple area in Jerusalem. A gathering place for many, the people would walk just outside the sacred temple area, sharing stories and listening to the teachers who came to speak. It was a long, open-aired porch with double columns that were approximately thirty-eight feet in height. If only those pillars could talk! I can only imagine the stories they’ve heard throughout the years.

Jesus stepped outside the temple and strolled along Solomon’s Colonnade during the Feast of Dedication. It was winter time, and there were lots of cold and hungry people waiting to be fed. Jesus spoke to the ones who had gathered there to experience the warmth of community. The columns provided a shelter from the storms of life raging around them. As the crowd gathered, it was Christ’s warmth that overshadowed humanity’s loneliness and offered a warm welcome to all who would listen and believe.

What photographs do we display outside the walls of our churches, homes and coffee shops? Where can we go to experience a warm embrace, the gift of community, well-rooted relationships and a deep sense of belonging? Come and take a walk with the Savior today in the shelter of Solomon’s Colonnade. I will see you there.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

The blessing of a flat tire and fresh air

Today’s Reading: John 10:19-20 (NIV)

19 At these words the Jews were again divided. 20 Many of them said, “He is demon-possessed and raving mad. Why listen to Him?”

Good morning!

Have you ever felt totally thankful and terribly frustrated all at the same time?

I was thinking about what I need to accomplish today and I’m wondering how it is all going to get done. The first thing I must address is the repair of my right front tire on the Spaulding-mobile. Flat tires are a pain in the neck. Apparently, I picked up a large screw and it has deflated the wind in my wheel. I heard the humming yesterday as I cruised down I-70 from work. I’m so fortunate that I didn’t have a blow out on the roadway. If it had to go flat, what better place than in my warm and dry garage at home. But now, this forces me to get the car in for a much-needed repair and I don’t have the time to spare! I’ll be driving approximately 300 miles this weekend, so I have to do address this now, whether I want to or not. You think I’m feeling a little frustrated this morning? I have a thankful heart and a cranky disposition. How can these emotions compliment each other in a servant’s heart?

I cannot begin to imagine our Lord’s frustration with the ongoing debate over His Word. He was speaking the Truth and some people were connecting with Him. Yet, there were many who simply didn’t get it, didn’t want to get it, and continued to make lots of negative commentary. They were determined to spin the Gospel message in a way that appealed to their personal preferences. Sometimes we read God’s Word and we begin to flatten it with our own preconceived notions. I imagine the Lord must have felt thankful and frustrated all at the same time, having to deal with humanity on an intimately personal level, in human flesh.

Today, I’m especially thankful for my Lord. He understands my mixed emotions of thankfulness and frustration. He endures harsh criticism and sheer frustration because of His love for all people. We’ve done our level best to flatten Him in theological debates and differences of belief; yet, Jesus Christ continues to reach out and save souls throughout the generations. He is the only One who bore the nails and lives to tell about it. When Jesus gave up His breath, we thought he would never rise again. But oh, can you imagine the surprise and wonder of His miraculous resurrection! Not only did Jesus Christ defeat physical death, He breathes new life, fresh air, even into worn and deflated hearts today.

Maybe a flat tire isn’t so bad after all. I can have His joy even in the midst of frustration. My tire will soon be patched, and it will carry me down the road as I meet the challenges of the day. Thank you Lord, for the gift of fresh air and new life!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Full authority

Today’s Reading: John 10:17-18 (NIV)

[Jesus said,] 17 “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

Good morning!

Authority is a powerful word. My dictionary defines the word authority as the power to enforce laws, exact obedience, command, determine, or judge; the power or right to make decisions. Whose authority do you rely upon for daily living?

When I was a little girl, I quickly learned that it was my dad who had full authority over our household. He was the one I would answer to if I misbehaved at school. My measuring stick for life was rooted in the things my father said. Daddy took his authority over our family quite seriously, and we were not allowed to question him about much of anything. It was an eye-opening moment when I first realized that my father’s beliefs might be a tad bit biased. What happens when the authority we’ve relied upon turns out not to be completely reliable? How does this revelation affect what we believe, and how we choose to live out our days?

Our school teachers had a lot more authority forty years ago, than they do today. Our educators risk their lives each day in the classrooms where they teach. It is their deep desire to open the minds and hearts of young men and women who will one day carry the future of our world, which compels them to remain faithful in their chosen vocation year after year.

The authority of Christ came from the highest authority ever. His heavenly Father, the creator and author of life, gave Jesus full authority to willingly lay down His life and pick it back up again, through death and resurrection. Although His disciples didn’t understand what Jesus meant, they knew His authority came from above. There was no question in their minds that this man was not sent but for a greater mission and purpose. Jesus is willing and able to become a perfect and holy sacrifice for humanity’s sin.

We desperately need the wisdom of a higher authority to guide our lives. Jesus looked to His heavenly Father for full authority to do the work He came to do. I pray we will choose to follow the example of Christ and seek out the Father’s wisdom each day. Won’t you open your Bible and take a closer look at the living Word?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Outside the pen?

Today’s Reading: John 10:16 (NIV)

[Jesus said,] 16 “I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one Shepherd.”

Good morning!

Are you ever overwhelmed by God’s great mercy? There are days when I simply cannot contain the joy in knowing Christ as my personal Savior and Shepherd.

I was an outsider. Every morning, I am reminded of the lengths Jesus went to rescue me. I was easily recognizable as one who didn’t belong: my coat was spotted and matted from the sins I carried in life. I was unruly, self-centered, and preferred doing things my own way. I was lost and I didn’t even realize it. Treading along a rocky and dangerous path, I was in extreme danger of falling to my eternal death. I had moved far and away from the fold of my Lord. Have you ever been so far off the beaten path that you didn’t know where you were?

Jesus took His staff, reached out and grabbed me by the neck. He led me, whimpering and kicking, back inside the pen. He had to arm-wrestle me more than once to bring me inside. I don’t know why we human types tend to fight the Lord at every turn. Obedience does not come easily for me. Learning to lay aside my will and longing for His will have become an important part of my daily journey.

When we arrived at the fold, He carried me in His arms, and set me next to some of the cleanest, brightest sheep I’ve ever seen. I didn’t look like them; I didn’t act like them, and I really didn’t feel like I fit into His pen very well. I was ashamed of my mangy gray coat. It was at that moment when the Good Shepherd began to shear away the sins that had stained my life. As I began to understand and confess the depths of my wandering, Christ began to heal my heart from the inside out. His love covered and cleansed the spots I feared would never go away. Jesus knew that I would be forever lost without His willing sacrifice. He laid His own life down to save a spotted sheep like me.

I am overwhelmed by God’s great mercy. If Christ would go to the extreme for someone like me, He will go the distance for you too. Won’t you let Him capture your heart? You may be standing outside the pen right now; but I am here to tell you there is room at the foot of the cross for you. Jesus came not only for the sheep in the pen, but for all who stand outside the gate. Won’t you cry out to the Lord right now?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Caring for others

Today’s Reading: John 10:12-13 (NIV)

[Jesus said,] 12 “The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.”

Good morning!

How do you know when someone truly cares for you? Day-to-day living can be hectic. Most of us meet ourselves coming and going from school, work, civic and charitable activities. We run our children to softball practice, dance lessons, and marching band. We drop baked goods off at the church for the upcoming bazaar and then volunteer our time at the concession stand for soccer league. We hurry from one appointment to the next. There are days when we leave our beds unmade in the morning, only to fall back into them late at night. How do we express care and concern for the ones God has placed in our lives, when we are so very busy taking care of “business?”

The older I get, the more I realize the importance of making time to build one-on-one relationships with people. A personal touch, like a card or telephone call can mean the world to someone who needs a little extra encouragement. Yet, there are days when we need to break away from the things we do and spend quality time just sitting and listening to someone else. It may require tossing your to-do list aside. How often do you put the needs of someone else ahead of your own?

There is an old cliché that comes to mind when I read Jesus’ thoughts on hired hands. It is hard to find good help. Why do you think the hired hand runs away and leaves the sheep defenseless when the wolf comes to kill and destroy? Jesus said, “The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.” We begin to care for each other as we make time to know each other. Relationship building is a disciplined daily function. It is intentional. It is our personal investment of a our most precious commodity - our time. I have received some extraordinary gifts in my life, when someone went out of their way just to be there for me. That personal touch, especially in a time of crisis, is a treasure we never forget.

We need to carve out some time each day just to listen to the ones God has placed in our path. Some things are just more important than others. How will you choose to care for the people God has entrusted you to love?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.

Connecting the dots of our lives

Today’s Reading: John 10:11 (NIV)

[Jesus said,] “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.”

Good morning!

I couldn’t help but feel the presence of our Good Shepherd this weekend, as clergy spouses from all over the State of Missouri gathered together for our annual weekend retreat. We set apart a time each year to laugh, to cry, to renew old friendships and meet brand new faces. We are the hands and feet standing beside those who serve in pastoral ministry in the Missouri Area Conference. This year’s theme was “Connecting the Dots of Our Lives.” I left there feeling very connected to my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ.

One of my friends painted a poignant visual image of how clergy spouses serve as Moses’ Aaron, holding up the arms of the one who is called to serve, especially in times of great fatigue and distress. Everyone brought their family pictures to share. We told funny stories of our children and grandchildren and spent a lot of time simply laughing together. We talked about some of the challenges we face in serving local congregations. We told how the many precious blessings of serving the Lord in the local church has enriched our lives. We are a diverse group, ranging in stages from newly married clergy spouses to retired and widowed servants of the Lord. The dots of our lives are intricately connected in the love of Christ.

At the close of our retreat, my friend Esther, our Bishop’s wife, made a profound statement of faith that was truly a take-away moment for me. She said, “God can make a work of art out of your life, even when the dots do not make sense.” So often, we look at where we’ve been, wonder where we are headed, and wonder whether our picture will reveal God’s plan and purpose for us today. We examine the points of our lives like one may look at a painting prominently displayed in a local art gallery. Created in the rich technique and colors of Pointalism, we rely upon our eye and brain coordination to blend the dots into something meaningful that we can truly relate to.

Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” The Good Shepherd is our master artist. It is His love that draws the dots of our lives together and brings rich meaning to daily living. When we keep our eyes focused on Jesus, the dots begin to blend into a picture we can understand. They intersect with each other, as we find a strong connection while serving the people God has called us to love.

This is a great day to begin connecting the dots of your life with those around you. Won’t you come and worship the Lord with me this morning at Faith Church? My life’s picture is incomplete without you in it. Jesus Christ connects the dots of our lives together in faith. We are His perfect portrait in progress.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, 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.