A promise fulfilled

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:24 (NIV)

24 “Indeed, all the prophets from Samuel on, as many as have spoken, have foretold these days.”

Good morning!

Samuel was quite the boy! Strong and inquisitive, he lived and served Eli the priest, in the temple of the Lord. His very life had been prayed into existence by an obedient and faithful mother, whose name was Hannah. For years, she could not conceive and give her husband a child; yet longed for this special blessing of God. Hannah would go to the temple year after year to weep and pray, vowing that if the Lord would fill her womb, she would give back her son to serve the Lord all of his days. Eli saw Hannah praying with great passion; he heard her petition, and offered up a special blessing asking God to grant her prayer. When her baby boy was born, Hannah and her husband returned to the temple for the child’s dedication, keeping her promise and leaving Samuel at the temple to Eli’s mentoring and care.

What would our world be like today if we learned to pray and trust God like Hannah did? Would we realize just how precious the gift of new life truly is? Our children are gifts from God. He loans them to us for a time, and as they begin to grow, we learn how to trust God all the more, opening our hands and hearts to His plan and purpose for their lives.

I sat in the sanctuary yesterday, a witness to His amazing promise fulfilled, as my friends James and Jen exchanged their marriage vows. I’ve known James now for nine years. When I first met him, he was a teenage boy, fighting to overcome the cancer attacking his young body. He had faced such adversity at such an early age; yet, his faith in Christ helped James overcome his physical infirmities. Yesterday was a miracle, a gift of God’s amazing grace, and I was a witness to the promise fulfilled. His bride was simply radiant as she walked down the aisle toward her love and the future they would share together in Jesus. I saw the fervent prayers of two mothers rise up toward heaven as the smoke rose from their family candles toward heaven. I praised God for His gift of new life.

In life, we learn how to pray the prayers that God gives us to pray. The Father has blessed us with a blueprint of what will one day become His new heaven and earth. The prophets, like the young boy Samuel, provide guidance and hope for all who are willing to trust and obey. The Father’s gift of His Only Son to save a lost and fallen world is by far, the very best present we will ever receive. His child is our Savior and Lord. The only hope for the salvation of the world is in Jesus Christ alone.

A new family emerged from the sanctuary. Two hearts are joined as one. We see the fruition of a lifetime of prayer and rejoice in the hope that comes from trusting in the One who holds our future. Can you see God’s grace written across the pages of your life? Will you trust Him enough to let go and pray the prayers He would have you pray? Are you willing to return the gifts you’ve been given?

Father, we come to you in the name your Son, Jesus Christ, and ask that your will be done in the lives of our children today. We thank you for your gift of new life and the hope that comes through loving and obeying you. Help us understand that before we held our babies in our arms, you held them in yours. Our children belong to you, Lord. We give them back to you today. When difficulties arise and we cannot see the future clearly, help us trust in your promises. Be our everlasting future and our hope, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Coming home today

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:22-23 (NIV)

22 “For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything He tells you. 23 Anyone who does not listen to Him will be completely cut off from among His people.’”

Good morning!

I don’t know of anyone who likes being cut off. Technology is great, until it does not work, and then it can be extremely frustrating. My husband has been having some ongoing cell phone issues. If I need to reach him urgently and his phone is not working properly, he may not be able to pick up my voice mail message or page. While we were on vacation last week, I had difficulty transmitting documents online. After we returned home, I discovered I had a far greater issue than mere internet connectivity. My laptop is simply malfunctioning and this has caused a great deal of anxiety with course work coming due. If you’ve ever tried to start your automobile in a parking garage downtown on a cold winter’s day, only to find that your battery is dead and the towing company cannot get to you for at least three hours, then you may understand what it feels like to be totally cut off and standing out in the cold.

We get cut off by our family, especially when disagreements arise. Spouses forget how to communicate their differences of opinion in a loving way, attacking each other with sharp and hateful words. Harsh criticism and hurtful actions will often lead to someone shutting down after a time. I’m sorry to say that I have instigated more hateful conversations than I can count. Fortunately, I’m married to a man who practices daily forgiveness and he continually extends his unconditional love to me, especially when I least deserve it. A short fuse and uncontrolled tongue often gets me in over my head before I realize it. I spend more time repenting for this very thing. That is why I can relate so well to the Apostle Peter. He had a short fuse too, and I am convinced we are definitely related by blood.

Children often clash with their parents, disrespecting their authority over their lives. Sometimes children try to cut their families off, simply out of spite, hurt and resentment, but mostly out of shame. When we choose to cut ourselves off from our family, we hurt ourselves most of all. I often think of how the Prodigal Son ran as far away and as fast as he could, with the gift of his inheritance burning a hole in his back pocket, thinking of no one but himself and his own personal pleasures. When every dime was spent and all seemed totally lost, the son recognized the error of his way and made a conscious decision to seek forgiveness and reconciliation with his dad. What is most touching about this story is not the son’s return, but how the Father reacted when he saw his son coming back. He ran to him, with arms outstretched, welcoming him home with absolutely no hesitation, no harboring of resentment. He held only great love and joy that his son, the one who was so lost, chose to turn around and come home.

If you are feeling cut off from your people today, God has provided a way for you to come home. Through faith in Christ alone, we have the opportunity to repent, turn around, and receive forgiveness for the attitudes and issues that have caused us to be cut off. Harsh words can be forgiven; broken hearts are healed at the foot of Christ’s cross every day. We need to pay close attention and learn to obey the sound instruction of those who have been placed in positions of authority over us, whether it is our parents, spouses, pastors and teachers, and even our employers. As we willingly serve others through Jesus Christ, we can learn how to forgive what seems to be unforgivable in the human realm.

Have you walked away from the God’s authority over your life? Are you ready to come back home? When you take that step of faith and ask Jesus to help you, the Father will run to you with arms outstretched, eager to welcome you back. Just tell Him how sorry you are for the mistakes you’ve made, and ask Jesus to help you daily obey His instruction, trusting Him with your life. You’ll no longer be cut off from the one relationship your heart longs for. Come home to Jesus Christ today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

The river of life

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:21 (NIV)

[Peter said,] 21 “He must remain in heaven until the time comes for God to restore everything, as He promised long ago through His holy prophets.”

Good morning!

When I was a little girl in grade school, my music teacher taught us a song of about the Erie Canal. It’s funny how a few words and a melody stays with you through the years. Do you remember the words? It was written in 1905 by Thomas S. Allen after the Erie Canal converted from “mule power” to “engine power.” The canal runs through the cities of Utica, Rome, Syracuse, Rochester and Buffalo. Fifteen miles was about all a mule could do in a day to pull the heavy barges down the channel. Once the boats became “self-propelled,” they could move much faster from city to city.

I stood on top of a low bridge overlooking the Erie Canal lock last week while visiting Rochester, New York. For folks who hitched rides on the barges that floated along the canal, they would be forced to duck their heads when passing underneath the bridges. As we drove in the car to the lock that morning, we reminisced about the time-honored folk song that we learned in school, teaching us about the rich tradition and history of the infamous Erie Canal. Sing the words of the chorus with me:

Low bridge, everybody down! Low bridge, for we’re coming to a town.

And you’ll always know your neighbor, and you’ll always know your pal,

if you’ve ever navigated on the Erie Canal.

We walked onto the tiny fishing pier near the lock. I watched a gentleman play with an electronically controlled toy sailboat floating along the water’s edge. I photographed a family of ducklings, obediently following their mother as she climbed the muddy banks from the river onto the grass. Two of the tiny ducklings kept sliding in the mud, falling back into the water, eventually finding some solid traction with their webbed feet. I imagine pulling the mules down the canal each day would have been a very slippery and muddy job indeed.

Time passes as we travel down life’s canal. The barges do not stay in one place very long. They are continually moving, carrying much needed supplies to all the people. There is a distinct rhythm and motion at the water’s edge, for even the water flows in rhythmic motion. The prophets recognized and spoke of God’s perfect plan for the world. The Father fashioned the universe with His very own hands and breathed new life into its being. With one holy movement, we begin our journey back home, to the One who draws us closer to Him. Our walk is filled with life's rhythm and motion; we find ourselves getting pretty muddy along the banks as we pass through the narrow places; the locks of our lives. Sometimes we have to duck to avoid the low bridges; even as the river continues to move forward. We are coming to a time when the Father will restore the earth just as He has promised to do. There will be a day when we will see Him face to face in all His glory.

Fifteen miles is not very far to go when you know you’ve got someone special waiting to meet you there. Our heavenly home is just a breath away. Come join me today! Let's take a ride together on the river of life.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

A walk on the beach

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:19-20 (NIV)

[Peter said,] 19 “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, 20 and that He may send the Christ, who has been appointed for you – even Jesus.”

Good morning!

I walked along the public beach barefooted in Greece, New York at daybreak, watching the groundskeeper run a tractor over the sand. He was preparing the soil for all who would come to walk by the water’s edge. The sand was soft and cool where he had been, and I followed the pattern left by the grater, as I moved along the shoreline. Gulls were gathering in small flocks, leaving their webbed footprints all over the newly plowed beach. The water from the lake was sending a cool dew spray into the air, and I could feel a splash of water on my face as I gazed down the shoreline.

I’ve always liked playing in the sand. I could sit for hours and run my hands through the tiny grains that wash up by the water’s edge. This morning, however, I was reminded of something quite different as I felt tiny particles cover my toes and cupped in the palm of my hand. I saw my sinfulness exposed in a brand new light.

How many sins have I committed? Can I name every mistake I’ve ever made? I couldn’t help but see millions of tiny grains covering the shore. God sees and hears every harsh word, unkind thought, and cruel deed that has washed up like the sands of time on life’s beach. My sins were so many they were too numerous to count, just like every particle of sand. What once brought me great delight suddenly reminded me of my human shame. Our sins can be quite comforting at first, eluding us to the dangerous sharp and jagged edges buried underneath its silky exterior. If you are brave enough to stop and dig deep enough into your sin nature, you will find tiny bits of sharp glass and jagged pebbles cutting the soles of your hands and feet. In this God moment, I was impressed by how much He sees and knows of all my sins. I felt convicted; my soul overwhelmed in embarrassment and shame.

I sat crying at the water’s edge. The sand was no longer comforting, and had begun to form clumps that I could not completely free myself from, no matter how hard I tried. There it was - right in front of me, my sins written in the sands of time. Who could possibly wash this mess away? I needed to see Christ’s cleansing power at work in my life. I repeated the words of the 51^st Psalm, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from all my sin.” (Psalm 51:1-2 NIV)

I felt a sudden rush of water lap up from the lake, covering my feet and legs. I watched as it quickly removed the tiny grains embedded between my toes, receding back into the deep lake. The sun had started to peek through the morning clouds and I gazed up in wonder at the most beautiful, colorful spray of rainbow light spreading across the bay. In that holy moment, Jesus Christ came and washed my sins away with His living water; I knew it was His blood covering me.

For every sin you’ve ever committed, Jesus waits at the water’s edge to heal you. He died and rose again so that we can be finally free from the sin separating us from God. IF you are willing to humble yourself before the Lord and turn away from sin, Christ will come and His mercy and grace will cover you like the waters washing away the sand covering your feet.

The Apostle Peter understood our deep need to repent and turn back to God. Through Christ alone, we receive His everlasting refreshment, as our sins are washed away in the blood. Come and take a walk along life’s beach today and confess your sins to the Father. Jesus Christ will come and wash your sins away if you willingly repent, turn around, and trust Him completely to be the Lord of your life.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Keeper of the light

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:17-18 (NIV)

17 “Now, brothers, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. 18 But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Christ would suffer.”

Good morning!

We often miss seeing the truth, even as it stands right in front of us. Have you ever made error in judgment simply out of pure ignorance?

I had never been inside a lighthouse until last week. In preparation for our trip, I read about the lighthouses of the northeast, viewing beautiful online pictures of these life saving stations dotting the shorelines of the Great Lakes region. Many of these buildings were erected in the mid 1800s, formed out of limestone and concrete, to withstand high winds, crashing waves and the test of time. I had absolutely no idea how narrow the interior space of a lighthouse could be, or how difficult they were to climb until I experienced it for myself.

The lighthouse caretaker had to be quick in responding to the urgent needs of a ship trying to reach land safely in a sudden storm. He would climb a ladder to the top of the lighthouse whenever a storm blew up over the lake, risking his own life just to provide a much needed light in the darkness. One day while we were in Rochester, I counted five separate storms that blew over the lake within a twelve-hour period of time. The lighthouse caretaker was on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. His life was totally devoted to the safety and care of the people out there struggling to survive in the water. What if he was not there to light the way when the storms came? Standing inside the interior of the lighthouse, I touched its cold, damp walls, and realized, for the very first time, the lifelong sacrifice made by the keeper of the light.

Our Lord Jesus Christ is the light of the world. The Apostle Peter explained the kind of Messiah our Father had sent to earth. He is our life saving station, and it is only through His light that we can find The Way home. The sacrifice Jesus made to save people is truly profound; yet, we are so blinded by the storms of life to see His absolute Truth, even when He stands there, right in front of us. What will it take for you to fully comprehend the love that will not let you go?

Christ’s light is a continual reminder of the Father’s love for all people drowning in a sea of sin. His supreme sacrifice on the cross continues to light the path for each and every generation. The love of Jesus is our only hope for survival. May we experience His light in a brand new way today, as we reach out and touch the interior of the lighthouse wall. Can you sense the awesome power of the caretaker’s amazing love? Only Jesus Christ saves.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

First Step of Faith

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:16 (NIV)

¹⁶[Peter said], By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus' name and the faith that comes through him that has given this complete healing to him, as you can all see.

Good morning!

As I stood on the fishing pier looking out over Lake Ontario, I remembered how my Savior walked across the Galilean lake, calling Peter’s name. I imagined what it might be like to step out into the deep cold water, with nothing but the name of Jesus resonating in my mouth and His face ever before me, and take a walk toward Him without fear of drowning. It is no wonder that the Lord could use Peter to speak His Word with such conviction and authority. Peter knew what it was like to walk on water when the Lord called his name. Peter knew Jesus would be there to catch him if he fell. This is the first step of faith.

When the morning storm clouds gathered over the bay, small rip tides made their way toward the beach, pitching and clapping in rhythmic motion along the shoreline. Gulls perched along the water’s edge, watched the miracle unfold. I stood barefooted in the sand, feeling the fresh spray from the lake water cleanse and wash away the dirt in my life. Just like the troubles that rise up in our daily walk, the lake waves came crashing hard against the shore line. I was caught up in the force of the water beating the sand back; the centrifugal force was a daunting thing to experience. All the while, I could hear God’s voice calling out in the sound of the wind and water. “Come to me, for I am here. I am everything you need. Come.”

In the cool mist of the lake spray, I heard the voice of my Savior urging me to follow Him out into a deeper faith. It is easy to stand your ground when your feet are firmly planted in the sands of the shore; yet, Christ calls each of us to wade out into the deep water, where we can no longer stand on our own. He wants us to let go of the sin of self-sufficiency that keep holding us back and just trust Him enough, knowing that He is there to carry us back to shore, even in the raging storms of our life journey.

I looked back at the light house nestled atop a small hill not far away, where the light was shining brightly through the morning fog and clouds. I listened for the fog horn beckoning the sail boats floating out there in the blue deep. When you are out there, all alone, with nothing to hold onto except the name of Jesus and the faith He plants inside your heart, there is great comfort in focusing on the sound of the horn and the light shining ahead. I found great comfort focusing on Christ in the water. When Peter stepped out of his fishing boat, the place where he was most comfortable, and began walking toward Jesus by faith, it was only Christ’s light and the sound of His voice that mattered most. Regardless of how rocky the waves or deep the water, His presence in the midst of the storm is all the healing Peter needed to take that first step of faith.

It was the same faith that helped the crippled man walk for the first time in his life, and it is that very same faith that helps us launch out into the deep water today. Only the name of Jesus Christ and the faith that comes through Him can heal you completely. Are you willing to trust Jesus and step out into the deep right now?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

New life coach

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:13-15 (NIV)

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

Good morning!

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

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

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

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

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Surprised?

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:12 (NIV)

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

Good morning!

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

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

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

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

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

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

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

The porch

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:11 (NIV)

11 While the beggar held on to Peter and John, all the people were astonished and came running to them in the place called Solomon’s Colonnade.

Good morning!

The porch has long been the gathering place for family and friends. My grandparents enjoyed sitting outside underneath their covered porch almost every afternoon in Brookhaven, Mississippi. During the summer, the interior of their farm house was extraordinarily hot, with no central air conditioning or ceiling fans to promote air circulation. The porch was a much cooler place to sit, as it was shaded by the large pine trees and kudzu in the front yard. Occasionally, a breeze would blow through, providing much needed refreshment during the humidity and heat. On the porch, we sipped exotic concoctions of homemade lemonade and iced tea in plastic cups, while playing board games, Jacks and Dominoes. I loved listening to the incessant chatter of my extended family as we gathered together on the porch.

My favorite time of day to swing in the glider on the porch was when it was storming. The Mississippi rains would beat hard on the dry, cracked ground, where the grass had burned to a crisp in the heat of a July drought. Sometimes, the rain would fall so forcefully that I wondered if we might suddenly find ourselves caught up in a flash flood as the creek bed began to rise. Sitting on the porch in the pouring rain, we would remain completely dry, enjoying the wafting fragrance of a cool rain while watching steam rise up from the ground. My grandmother would throw an old quilt over me when she saw the goose bumps rise up on my arms and legs, chilled by the sudden drop of temperature. Sneaking a cat nap in the rain on Grandmother’s porch is one of my most cherished childhood memories.

Solomon’s colonnade was the favored gathering place for the teachers and their students. Located on the east side of the outer court of Herod’s temple, it became a hall of judgment where verdicts were rendered. Many of our older judicial buildings were designed with a large front porch and concrete colonnade beams, to resemble that of Solomon’s Colonnade in Jerusalem. The porch was a gathering place for the Levites and students of the law, to discuss questions and receive religious training. This was a very special place for Jesus. He sat on the porch at age twelve, answering questions and amazing the priests with his uncanny wisdom. It was here where Jesus taught the crowds as an adult. When Herod passed final judgment on Jesus, he was led from the porch into the streets of Jerusalem, where he carried the cross to Golgotha. His disciples chose to return to the porch quite often, for many of their precious memories of Jesus remained there, underneath the beautiful colonnades.

When we gather as a family each week to worship the Lord, we sit in the shade of Solomon’s porch. It is a place of learning and refreshment, filled with sound teaching, joyful music and incessant chatter. As the Spirit rains down God’s amazing love, we feel His refreshing breath of air flowing through the porch, touching every person present. It is an experience you do not want to miss. Won’t you join us in worship this weekend at Faith Church? Come and sit underneath the beautiful colonnades and experience the love of Jesus Christ. Just like the beggar, the Lord will heal your heart today, if you’ll simply come into His presence with joy!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Miraculous Joy!

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:9-10 (NIV)

9 When all the people saw him walking and praising God, 10 they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

Good morning!

What is a miracle to you? Webster’s online dictionary defines miracle as an effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural source; such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God; a wonder; a marvel! Based upon Webster’s definition, I would say that the invalid who was healed at the Beautiful Gate that day was the recipient of an amazing miracle. What do you think?

Miracles come in all kinds of packaging. We sometimes overlook the little miracles of life, because we’re simply too busy to see them. The birds begin to sing long before the sun rises each day. Their melodies proclaim that wonder of new life. Is this not a miracle in the making? We wake up hearing the birds chirping, as we breathe in and out. Is this not a major miracle? Whose breath is it anyway? God breathed His breath of life into the nostrils of the first Adam, and Jesus Christ, the second Adam, breathes His breath of life into each of us through the power of the Holy Spirit. How often do you consciously think about breathing? How many times a day do you breathe in and out and remember to thank God for His holy breath in your life?

We miss seeing the miracles, until one miracle captures our undivided attention. The people couldn’t help but notice the man in the temple courtyards, walking and jumping and praising the Lord! They recognized him. Wasn’t he the crippled one sitting at the gate begging each day? Look at his feet – how they support him now! Look at his hands high in the air! We can sense his excitement and we are caught up in his amazing miracle. Who has the power to heal our every infirmity? Is it not the One who breathes His breath into our nostrils every day?

Sometimes, we receive a miracle and forget to say thank you. We don’t know whether the invalid healed was a Jew or Gentile. We do not know whether he knew the risen Christ before Christ healed him through the words of Peter. What we do know is this man did not hesitate to thank and praise the Lord for the miracles in his life. No monetary gift could have compared to the gift of healing and wholeness this man received. Do we forget to tell God thank you for the miracles in our lives? Do you have a grateful heart for the life you have been given?

Come and worship the Lord with me today. Let us praise Him together for the miracles of breath and life and love. He gives us so very much to be thankful for. Help us, Lord, to recognize the miracles You give and to praise You with exuberant joy each morning! Your miraculous love is truly contagious as we share our joys together through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Free admission

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:7-8 (NIV)

7 Taking him by the right hand, [Peter] helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong! 8 He jumped up to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

Good morning!

When our children were young, they looked forward each summer to our annual family excursion to Six Flags®. This theme park was cost prohibitive, and we felt blessed to be able to go one time a year. In the early spring, we would begin saving our change in a large container on the bedroom dresser, just to purchase tickets for admission into the park. We would pick a summer Saturday and mark our family calendar, keeping it clear of other commitments. Every summer, the theme park would offer some new attraction, like a roller coaster, guest celebrity, or a new water ride. We would plan to go early in the morning and stay until dark. We didn’t want to waste one single minute of our designated day.

Often, we would stand in a long line at the entrance to the park, waiting patiently to get in. The children were anxious, jumping and down and squirming next to us. Jeff and I would pray we had saved enough change to pay the added costs from last year’s admission fee. One year in particular, our budget had been too tight and we did not schedule our annual trip. The children were disappointed when we told them we would not be going. We felt like we had let them down. Our friends Georgia and Don invited us to join them for day’s trip to the park, knowing that we went faithfully every summer. We politely declined their kind invitation, explaining that we just didn’t have the extra cash to take our family of five, but maybe we could plan a joint trip together next year. Georgia reached inside her purse and handed me five free tickets. I was so surprised! She smiled and said, “We received some free tickets at work and we really want to share them with you. Won’t you please go with us this summer?”

The most enjoyable trip we ever made to the theme park was the summer we gained free admission. We walked through those gates, delighted thankful, watching our children as they ran and jumped and skipped along the sidewalk to their favorite rides. It was one of the best gifts our family had ever received.

When Jesus Christ shed His blood to cover our sin, He purchased our free ticket into heaven. The man who was crippled from birth received Christ’s healing gift that day, and he leapt up with great joy and thanksgiving, walking and jumping for the very first time as he made his way through the Beautiful Gate and entered into the temple courts. He was instantly healed! God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ is free to all who will receive it today by faith. The price paid was greater than anything we could possibly comprehend, and yet, His present is for all generations, all people, everywhere.

Jesus Christ is standing at the entrance to the temple gate with your free ticket in His nail-scarred hand. Won’t you accept it today? Come and experience the full joy of the Father’s love through Jesus Christ, as we walk through heaven’s gate together.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Daily walk

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:6 (NIV)

6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Good morning!

My mother joined Weight Watchers® while I was at elementary school. She would go to her weekly meetings and weigh in while I had class. Mom was determined to drop a few pounds, and forty of them fell off her frame after a year of disciplined eating and daily exercise. Mom learned the secret to losing and maintaining a healthy weight had a lot to do with daily commitment not to eat more than the number of calories she was allotted each day, and to persevere in daily activity. She had issues with her lower back that kept her from doing some of the aerobic exercises that most women liked to do, so she looked for something that was less stressful and worked well for her. She could walk faster than any other mother in our subdivision! Whoosh! There she goes again down the street and off on the hilly service road! I could hardly keep up with her. She would wait until we got home from school, and then we would lace up our tennis shoes and off we’d go. She walked and I sprinted just to stay beside her. For someone with such short legs, I don’t know how she picked up that kind of momentum. Up and down the service road hills we would walk, taking every side street to the end and back. It is no wonder she had great success in losing those unwanted extra pounds.

Walking is such a gift. We watch our babies move from crawling to pulling up, learning how to let go and taking their very first step solo. Do you remember the joy of seeing your child walk? Little wobbly ankles trying to hold up an unbalanced frame, while tossing aside all fear, picking up their feet and moving forward. We cheer them on, praising them with each new step. Not too long after they walk, running becomes a toddler’s theme, and many mothers often regret encouraging their wee ones to walk. It can be exhausting trying to keep up with a miniature marathon runner!

The crippled man had never walked. Scripture says he had been born with an infirmity that kept him begging daily for his needs. We don’t know whether he had seen Jesus riding through the streets of Jerusalem on a donkey, or if he saw the Lord leaving the city with the cross beam tied to his bleeding shoulders. What we do know is that Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, gave this man an incredible, amazing gift that day – it was a gift that would literally change his life. He offered him healing in Jesus’ name, and, for the very first time, the invalid stood up and took his very first step by faith.

How long has it been since you’ve taken a step of faith? The weight of the world may be holding you back, with feelings of insecurity as you try to stand up on wobbly, weak ankles. When the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth is spoken, miracles happen! People who hear His name for the very first time are instantly strengthened and changed. What happened that day at the Beautiful Gate happens every day at the gates of our lives. When Jesus commands us to stand, His strength becomes our strength and we can walk toward Him, step by step.

It is a miraculous and holy thing when we fully commit our lives to taking a daily walk with Jesus, just as He commands. It all begins with a simple act of faith. Jesus Christ of Nazareth is calling you by name, to rise up and walk with Him today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

A gift worth keeping

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:4 (NIV)

4 Peter looked straight at [the beggar], as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

Good morning!

Have you ever received a gift from someone that you didn’t expect to get? Or maybe you expected something that you didn’t get. It used to be a time honored tradition for my parents, in-laws and spouse to give me new clothes on my birthday. This just never seemed to go very well. While my husband can still wear some of the clothes he wore in high school, I have hard time getting my big toe into something I wore thirty something years ago. Unfortunately, my body tends to fluctuate from year to year. I hate to return gifts, but find myself in the uncomfortable situation of having to exchange that sweater for a different size. The best gift I have ever unwrapped is when the tag on the garment says, “One size fits all.”

Every Sunday morning when I attend worship, I leave with a personalized gift. I go there specifically to give my praise and thanksgiving to the Lord who saves me day by day, and yet, He offers me so much more than what I can give back! As I listen to the message, it is as if He has prepared a special present just for me; and it is my job to pay attention and listen for what it is God is saying through the preaching and teaching of His Holy Word.

There are moments when I know the Father is speaking to my heart directly. It is important that I give Him my full and undivided attention as He begins to correct my thought patterns, words, and behaviors. Sometimes I’d like to exchange some of what He’s saying for something less convicting and more socially appealing. It is so very important for me to own my sin and confess it, so that I may receive His free gift of forgiveness and the opportunity to begin again. He waits for me to choose whether I will receive His gift and accept it unconditionally. Every time I listen to the teaching and preaching that is birthed from the Holy Spirit and spoken through my pastors and Sunday school teachers, I grow in faith.

Often, we try to exchange His Truth for a lie. The gift of His truth is as sharp as a double-edged sword. It is not the gift we most often want to receive, and yet, it is His gift that we need! We sometimes think His gift will not fit us perfectly as a body of believers, that one size can’t possibly fit all. Yet, God’s love for His children is so big that death and hell could not hold it. He loves us so much that He would give us His only Son as the supreme sacrificial offering for our continued sin and willful rebellion. Christ carried our sins to the cross just so we can receive the Father’s gift of everlasting life through Him! Even when His truth hurts, it causes us to take a deeper look into who we are and whose we are, recognizing His gift is waiting to be opened. We need to open our hearts to His gifts of forgiveness and grace.

The birthday presents we hope to unwrap today may not be exactly what we expect to receive. For the crippled beggar sitting at the entrance to the Beautiful Gate, his new birth day gift was more than he could have ever imagined possible. When God gives you a gift, please pay attention to what He is saying. Do not be afraid to accept the Truth of His Word. If you will ask Him, He will save you today! His gift of salvation is for all, and no matter where you’ve been or what you’ve done, you are not so far away that He cannot reach you with His nail-scarred hands. Won’t you receive the gift of new life today, in Jesus’ name.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.

Giving it all away

Today’s Reading: Acts 3:3 (NIV)

3 When [the man crippled from birth] saw Peter and John about to enter [the temple courts], he asked them for money.

Good morning!

Every time my telephone rings, I wonder if the voice on the other end of the line represents yet another charitable organization seeking my donation for a worthy cause. It is not uncommon for our family to receive several phone calls each day. And in this strapped economy, more and more people have had to seek financial assistance just to feed their families, pay their utility bills and monthly rent. How do you choose who to help?

Sometimes people take advantage of others who are struggling to survive in a desperate situation. It was difficult to watch the looters who come to take what does not belong to them in the aftermath of a hurricane. We saw a lot of this happening live in news commentary videos made in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. We cannot fully understand the plight of a displaced, hungry person until we have experienced that hunger for ourselves.

My uncle owned a small family-style restaurant near Monticello, Mississippi for many years. After Katrina, there was no electricity for weeks in the area. Traveling anywhere was especially dangerous, with downed power lines and flash flooding. He knew the food in his freezer would become spoiled in a matter of days. So my uncle choose to cook everything he had outside on a camp grill and give it away to whoever needed it. People who were used to taking care of their own needs suddenly found themselves without the resources needed to do just that. Families within walking distance of the diner showed up to eat. A community’s great need was met for several days because someone was willing to give everything they had away to help a neighbor in need.

The crippled man sat at the Beautiful Gate, the entrance to the temple courtyard, hoping worshippers would have pity on him and give him money to purchase a day’s worth of food and pay his rent. He had no other means of support, and had learned how to beg for his very survival. He was looking to receive something that would meet an immediate need. He had no clue that what he was about to receive would literally change the direction of his entire life.

What would you be willing to give away to meet a neighbor's need? Would you give them everything you have?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles.