Forgiving the Unforgivable

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 13, 14, 15

2 Samuel 13:10-14 (NIV)
10 Then Amnon said to Tamar, “Bring the food here in my bedroom so I may eat from your hand.” And Tamar took the bread she had prepared and brought it to her brother Amnon in his bedroom. 11 But when she took it to him to eat, he grabbed her and said, “Come to bed with me, my sister.” 12 “Don’t, my brother!” she said to him. “Don’t force me. Such a thing should not be done in Israel! Don’t do this wicked thing. 13 What about me? Where could I get rid of my disgrace? And what about you? You would be like one of the wicked fools in Israel. Please speak to the king; he will not keep me from being married to you.” 14 But he refused to listen to her, and since he was stronger than she, he raped her.

2 Samuel 14:14 (NIV)
14 Like water spilled on the ground, which cannot be recovered, so we must die. But God does not take away life; instead, He devises a way so that a banished person may not remain estranged from Him.

Matthew 6:14-15 (NIV)
14 “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Good morning!

There are some things in life that truly seem unforgivable to me – I watch the news in horror every evening while listening to stories of murder/suicides, rape, abuse, and torture. Parents are hurting their children. Children are killing their parents in self-defense. Sisters and brothers war against each other, taking things that do not belong to them. Feelings of jealousy, lust and greed explode into evil acts of injustice all around us. The scars of sexual sin mark people for life. We do not have to go far to see the path of destruction sexual sin leaves behind. Look outside your front door this morning. Do you know what might be happening across the street in your neighbor’s home today? Do you know someone who has been raped? Are you friends with a family who lost a child to murder? How does the evil of this world impact your life?

All of us deal with sin and the scars it leaves on our hearts. A hurtful word, and unkind gesture, and an unfair decision can linger in our mind for years. People make choices every day as to how they will choose to live their lives. Selfishness and greed sprout up like the weeds growing in my back yard. Unattended, they spread like wild fire, overtaking healthy soil and infiltrating the good grass.

When I was a young girl growing up in the 1960s, I used to watch the television sitcom Leave It to Beaver with my little sister while playing with our Barbie dolls on the living room floor. We would have liked to have lived the idyllic life next door to the Cleavers. Oh, to have perfect parents – the mother who cooked and cleaned in beautiful dresses, never getting dirty or showing any signs of fatigue. A father who comes home from work each day in a suit and tie, genuinely happy to see his family and who cannot wait to spend quality time with his sons. Parents who administer discipline with love, who do not raise their voices in anger or rage. Yes, it would have been nice to have lived in a home like the Beaver’s. How many homes in your neighborhood do you think were actually like this?

The older I get, the more I realize that finding true peace in the journey has everything to do with the forgiveness we offer to the ones who have hurt us in life. Jesus said that when we choose to forgive, our Heavenly Father will forgive the hurts we have brought upon the people in our path. The pain caused by abuse, rape, and even murder can be forgiven when we take our pain to the foot of the cross. This is why Jesus chose to come and give His life up for all of us. He knew what torture was like, because He experienced it first-hand. He understands how one selfish act can cause such dissention in the home, between siblings and parents and grandparents. He knew how the cycle of sin, brought down to the third and fourth generation, needed to be broken once and for all. He bled and died for people who have suffered wrong acts by the hand of another. He died for the ones who inflicted that pain upon the innocent ones. He died for all of us - offering forgiveness to those who repent. He has the power to release us from every mistake we have ever made.

Do you know how it feels to be truly forgiven? The gift of living a forgiven life comes when we are able to truly forgive those hurts we have harbored in our heart. If you have been hurt by someone you love, and you don’t know how to go on with the pain you feel inside, ask Jesus to help you do what you cannot seem to do on your own steam. It does not matter whether you were the victim or the perpetrator – there is forgiveness for you at the cross of Christ. Ask Jesus to help you forgive the unforgivable in your life. If you trust Him to take your bruised and bleeding soul, HE WILL HEAL YOU. Jesus can set you forever free from your addictions, self-destructive behavior, and from the need to run from the things that are eating you alive. Come to the cross today. Allow the Lord to heal your heart, restore your broken home, and help you make peace with the ones who have hurt you along the way.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: help to forgive the unforgivable. My Jesus is big enough – He is able! He will help you forgive today, if you are willing to give it all up to Him. I’ll see you at church, dear friend.

____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

The Good Li_e

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 10, 11, 12; Psalm 63

II Samuel 11:27b (NIV)
27b But the thing David had done displeased the Lord.

Psalm 63: 6-8 (NIV)
6 On my bed I remember you; I think of you through the watches of the night. 7 Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. 8 My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me.

Matthew 5:27-28 (NIV)
27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”

John 8:7 (NIV)
7 When they kept on questioning Him [Jesus], he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.”

Good morning!

One of my favorite things to do every night after work is to talk to my prayer partners online. One of the many joys of email is that you can speak with friends from all over the world, in tiny quips. Of course, I tend to write mini-novels, but I’m sure you already know that. Email is definitely different from any other form of communication. When we engage one-on-one with a person, either over the telephone or in person, one must devote a block of time to listening and responding. This is a time-consuming process that can sometimes go on for hours on end. Email technology is a unique relational format. I can open my email in-box and read a message from my sister, write a response and press send. Then I leave the computer to do laundry, eat dinner, watch a little television, or read a book. When I return to check my in-box later that evening, I am delighted to see that my friends have replied! Email is a beautiful thing!

I love chatting with my prayer partners. We focus on how Jesus speaks to us each day, through the study of His Word and in prayer. We discuss the things that get in the way of our relationship with Him, and look for ways to overcome the inconsistencies of our faith walk. We pray for each other online. I know in my heart that when I need a spiritual sister to talk to, I can find her waiting online to listen and respond. The prayer partners I have come to know and love, adore Jesus Christ, and it is apparent every time I read their words.

Last night when I opened an e-mail from my prayer sister in Kansas City, she was talking about the struggle of not letting your possessions possess you. She was typing quickly and meant to type the phrase “the good life.” When she went back to spell check her work, she discovered that she had typed “the good li_e.” Many might call that a Freudian slip; personally, I think God allows us to “slip up” just to make a point. More than anything else, I believe that our Lord wants us to be completely devoted to Him. Jesus set the bar at purity by the time He spent in seeking out His Father’s face. Jesus spent hours upon hours alone with God in prayer. They were connected in ways that we can only begin to understand in the human realm. If we truly want to serve the Lord, we must commit to putting Him first in every area of our life – laying down the things that hinder or bind us, and purposely walking away from the temptation to sin.

Like David discovered, it can be easy to fall into the sin pit. The good life becomes a lie, especially when we take our eyes off the Master. We allow greed and self-centeredness to dictate our behavior. Whenever I take my eyes off the Lord, there is no doubt that I’m headed for a fall. He absolutely has to be my center and focus, each and every day. When David recognized his sin for what it truly was, he confessed and repented. Have you ever tried to lie to God? Did you try to bargain with Him, reason out why your moral failure could be justified based upon your life’s circumstances? How does it feel to allow that line of communication to become severed over time? There is no justification when we break God’s law. And scripture and life experiences teaches that every one of us has broken His law, many times over.

The Good News today is that God’s mercy endures forever. If we will humble our heart, confess our sin, seek forgiveness, and turn around, the blood of Jesus can cleanse and redeem us, once and for all. Late at night, as I lay on my bed, I remember with great regret the times I chose my way over His way. I’m thankful that He remains with me through the watches of the night. Because Christ is my only help, my soul clings to Him, and His right hand upholds me every step of the way.

Let’s not mince words. Every time we turn away from the Lord to follow our own selfish desires, we commit spiritual adultery. God wants our complete and undivided attention as we walk through this life. What we think may be a good life could be just a good lie. Stop kidding yourself. Christ waits for you to come home to Him. I’ll see you at church this weekend!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: forgiveness! When we confess our sins, He is faithful to hear and forgive us. Let the blood of Christ pour over your heart today. Turn around and follow the Lord!

____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Resurrecting a dead dog

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 7, 8, 9

2 Samuel 9:7-8 (NIV)
7 “Do not be afraid,” David said to him [Mephibosheth], “for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table.” 8 Mephibosheth bowed down and said, “What is your servant, that you should notice a dead dog like me?”

I Corinthians 15:55-58 (NIV)
55 “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” 56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Good morning!

David’s ability to honor and forgive the ones who hurt him was uncanny. How does someone forgive what seems to be unforgivable? How do we know when forgiveness is genuine and heart felt? Have you ever spent time wallowing in the mud puddle of resentment and self-righteous anger, unwilling to give your hurts over to the Lord once and for all?

There was a time in my life when I was consumed by anger. Like Mephibosheth, I allowed the anguish and hurt of days gone by to paralyze my spirit. This little boy lost his father and grandfather when he was just five years old. He carried the evidence of unforgiveness and grief in his physical body. Have you ever experienced such pain that it keeps you from standing up and walking tall? Why do we allow the anguish that comes from an unforgiving spirit to consume us like a fire that will not be extinguished?

David had every right to be angry with Saul. Still, he loved Jonathan like a brother, and Saul like a father. David recognized how sin kills us bit by bit. It is like a creeping paralysis, stiffening our necks, hardening our hearts, and paralyzing us in fear. David was determined to not allow his painful past to keep him from embracing the future whole-heartedly. He chose forgiveness, over and over again. Do you think David understood the magnitude of what it means to be truly forgiven?

We get so caught up in obeying the rules, that we allow our self-righteous attitudes to prevail, while we point the finger at another screwed up person. Does it really make us feel that much better believing our sin and moral failures cannot possibly be as great as the sins of our neighbors? The law was created by God to help people find happiness and fulfillment in daily living. Like Saul, there have been moments when I have stepped out of the legal box, running at a “break-neck” pace into a brick wall. I don’t bounce well when I hit that wall full force. In fact, those bricks in my life become the stones that smash my soul. Only the Lord can remove the bricks that block you from living in forgiveness and grace.

The Apostle Paul understood that the sting of death is sin. It is sin that continually cripples our spirit and leaves us paralyzed. Sin cuts us to the quick and separates us from a holy and perfect God. We give sin the power to prevail in our misinterpretation of His law. There are many people out there who are good neighbors, who possess strong character and good moral judgment. Yet, these people are lost without the life-giving relationship that can only come from God. They may do all the right things, but for all the wrong reasons. They shake their fingers at the law breakers around them, believing these people deserve the punishment they have earned. The next time you find yourself pointing a finger at someone else and passing judgment on them, take your hand and turn that finger around, pointing it at your heart. When we choose to condemn our neighbor, we have hammered yet one more nail into the precious body of our Lord Jesus Christ.

David knew what God can do through true forgiveness and mercy. Returning kindness after kindness, especially when it is not deserved, it a God-like quality. Mephibosheth asked the King why he would even bother noticing and caring for a dead dog like him. I’ve asked the Lord that very same question in prayer. Why would you care enough to take my broken spirit and hard heart, and melt it in the palm of your Hand? Why would you heal my stiff neck, bring life to my dry and brittle bones, giving me a new body - one that dances each day in the light of your healing grace and love? What have I ever done to deserve this grace?

The Lord invites all of us today to come and eat at His banquet table. He invites us to experience the joy of new life and true forgiveness. Like Mephibosheth, I was a dead dog, wallowing in the muck of sin. If our God can love me enough to pick me up, wash me off, reinvigorate my paralyzed and stiff body with His breath of His cleansing fire, He can do it for you too. Jesus knows how to resurrect a dead dog like you. Won’t you give Him your pain, once and for all?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the Lord to resurrect the dead dog that lies within your hard heart today. Come and eat at the Master’s banquet table. I will save you a place at the altar!

____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Presence Based Worship

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 4, 5, 6

II Samuel 6:20-23 (NIV)
20 When David returned home to bless his household, Michal, daughter of Saul, came out to meet him and said, “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today, disrobing in the sight of the slave girls of his servants as any vulgar fellow would!” 21 David said to Michal, “It was before the Lord, who chose me rather than your father or anyone from his house when he appointed me ruler over the Lord’s people Israel – I will celebrate before the Lord. 22 I will become even more undignified than this, and I will be humiliated in my own eyes. But by these slave girls you spoke of, I will be held in honor.” 23 And Michal, daughter of Saul, had no children to the day of her death.

Luke 10:38-41 (NIV)
38 As Jesus and His disciples were on their way, He came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to Him. 39 She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what He said. 40 But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Good morning!

Michal and Martha must have been related. Here are two incredibly talented women; they are loving, loyal, and resourceful people. They recognized the real deal when they saw it. For Michal, it was her love for David, the young warrior, who slew one hundred Philistines and stole her heart away. When Martha met the Master, she immediately invited Him into her home, where she could serve and honor Him there. These women believed in putting faith into action. Their works took precedence over matters of faith. Michal’s anger kept her from understanding David’s heart as she watched him worship the Lord on the day when Israel brought the ark of the covenant home. Martha became angry because her sister Mary chose to sit and listen to Jesus, rather than help her with the entertainment detail. Martha’s service was appreciated, but it was her presence that the Lord coveted.

Do we get so busy doing the work of the Lord that we forget how important it is just to sit in His holy presence and wait for Him to speak? Are you willing to let go of the trivial, and waste your day on simply loving the Lord? King David understood the power of worshiping the Lord with all his might. He danced and sang before the Lord. He was willing to publicly humiliate himself if it would bring God the glory. Sometimes, when we lay ourselves at the foot of the cross with no hidden agenda, no honey-do list or plea for urgent help – we come simply to honor and glorify the Lord in His presence – some people may not understand what we are doing. Jesus honored Mary’s choice to sit in His presence, even when the expectation would have been for her to rise up serve the meal with her sister. Mary knew the real meal was right in front of her, and she could not pull herself away from Him. This is what presence-based worship is. It is a hunger that will not be satisfied except through seeking the Lord’s face each day. It is when we can do nothing to help ourselves other than run to Him, falling on our faces before His holy throne and crying out in overwhelming praise and thanksgiving.

Are you a Michal, bitter and envious of those people who worship the Lord full throttle? Do you resent those who would dance and sing in worship, raising holy hands to heaven, making what may seem a public spectacle of themselves, even if their actions bring ultimate glory to the Lord? What if the Lord told you to get up and dance in the aisle at church this Sunday – would you humble yourself and do it for Him? Or would you be more concerned about what your family and friends might say? Would fear of rejection stop you from answering His call on your life?

Are you a Martha, operating in a works-righteousness mode? Meticulous in the details of daily service, will we miss out on the main event because we’re just too busy to stop what we are doing and spend time listening to Him? No one can possibly earn salvation through any work of their own. That gift was given to us by Jesus Christ; He alone can save us. It is good to serve Him with all we are. In order to serve Him well, He must become the centerpiece of our day-to-day life. How much time do you spend in the presence of the Lord? What would you be willing to give up out of your very busy day to spend time seeking His face? Would you give up a baseball game on television? Would you be willing to give up that extra hour in bed to wait for Him to reveal Himself to you in praise and prayer? Would you take a lunch hour to prayer walk with Him at the mall, or in a subdivision, offering intercession for the people you pass along the way? How do you experience the presence of the risen Christ in your life?

May our lives become living worship as we humbly seek His face, glorifying His name in prayer and praise, every day in every way.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the desire to spend time in His presence today. He will carve out the time for you, if you are willing to sacrifice your day to Him. Let us become totally undone as we seek nothing more than to be in His presence today. He will change your life, if you let Him. I know this, because He has changed me.

____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Robbing God

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Samuel 1, 2, 3; Psalm 62

Psalm 62 (NIV)
1 My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.
3 How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
4 They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies, with their mouths they bless, but in their hearts, they curse.
5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
9 Lowborn men are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie; if weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.
10 Do not trust in extortion or take pride in stolen goods; though your riches increase, do not set your heart on them.
11 One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: that you, O God, are strong,
12 And that you, O lord, are loving. Surely you will reward each person according to what he has done.

Good morning!

Have you ever tried to take something that did not belong to you? I have found that the Lord reveals His truth through life experience. This is how He chooses to deal with my heart. God not only sees my actions – He sees the motivation behind what I say and do. Who do we think we’re kidding when we speak the right word at just the right time, but do not really mean it? We may be fooling ourselves and all those around us, but we cannot fool the Father. Hear me – He sees the depth and/or shallowness of every heart song and He will judge each and every one of us according to our “hidden” motivation.

I remember when Jeff and I returned home after a long day at seminary. We were tired, and ready to go home and kick back for awhile. We did not have an electric garage door opener, and it was a cold and rainy night. Jeff hopped out of the car to open the garage door. I unfastened Rachel’s seat belt and scooped my sweet baby girl up into my arms. I walked through the laundry room and into the kitchen as Jeff pulled the car into the garage. I stood there for a moment, not really understanding what I was seeing. Every cabinet and countertop drawer had been pulled open. The house was cold, I could feel a breeze blowing through the room and I wondered what had happened in our home while we were gone.

When Jeff came through the back door, I looked at him and said, “Someone has been here. I think we’ve been robbed.” In total disbelief, we walked through the parsonage, seeing the handiwork of an unwanted visitor. For a moment, we wondered whether the intruder was still in the house. Jeff called the Sheriff’s Department and an officer was dispatched to us. The back picture window had been broken, and shattered glass was scattered all across the living room floor. Handmade quilts and bedspreads that covered our beds were gone. Wrapped Christmas presents had been taken, along with many of our wedding gifts. Our jewelry boxes had disappeared. Jeff lost his high school class ring and his grandfather’s pocket watch. Our original wedding rings were taken. We were tuition poor, and most of what we owned had been given to us at our wedding. A silver coffee service given to me by my mother, and the violin that I played for years, had vanished.

What was taken from us was never returned. We never met the perpetrators. I often wondered if the ones who broke into our home that day had taken what little we had to sell so they could buy food to feed their hungry family. Maybe they were feeding a drug or alcohol addiction. I will never know who did this, or why it happened, but I know that God knows. He understands the consequences of human sin - when we steal from our brothers, and lie to cover up our many weaknesses and character flaws. God knows what a pride-filled heart can accomplish when one sets out to destroy the heart of another.

I shed a lot of tears, the first few days after the robbery. As I look back on that day, I began to get a glimpse of how the Father must feel when we steal from Him. He loves us so much more than we can begin to comprehend. He has given us every good thing we need to serve Him faithfully; to share the Good News of our risen Savior with the people who do not know Him yet. We choose disobedience when we ignore His Word in our life. We nickel and dime the Lord by taking what belongs to Him and using it for our own self-satisfaction. We pretend to love Him while placing our own selfish ambitions ahead of His call on our life. Why do we steal from God? Does the heart of my Lord grieve the way I did when we were robbed? Things can be replaced, but a person’s life is not replaceable. How much more does God’s heart break as He watches His precious children die in disbelief and find themselves eternally separated from Him?

Trust in the Lord. Take some time today to examine the motivation behind your actions. Try to see with your spirit what God sees when He looks at you. Turn around now. Repent and believe.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the truth to hit you squarely between the eyes. What does it look like to rob the Lord? Do you know how much He loves you? Choose this day to return that which belongs to Him. Won’t you give Him your heart?
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

The Anecdote

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 29, 30, 31

I Samuel 30:8 (NIV)
8 And David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I pursue this raiding party? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” He answered. “You will certainly overtake them and succeed in the rescue.”

I Samuel 31:4 (NIV)
4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through, or these uncircumcised fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.” But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

Good morning!

Have you ever experienced a spiritual attack? Sometimes we encounter these fiery darts in the most unsuspecting ways. Mere coincidences begin to take on a tangible shape that we can see with our spirit eyes. We begin to recognize how the selfish ambition and hateful ways of another may be grieving and cutting us to the quick. We shrink back in fear and despair. A spiritual attack may only last for a moment. Or, it could last for days, weeks, months and even years. Sit down with a piece of paper this morning and map out your past. Focus on the time when life seemed to be the most difficult for you. Identify the reason why it was so hard to get through, and list how your circumstance was resolved. Are you still fighting this or has it been laid to rest forever? Did you give your pain to the Lord in prayer? How did He answer you? Were you unwilling to completely relinquish control to the Lord? What kept you from finding His favor in your time of turmoil? How long did it take before grace and peace set in?

When Jeff and I moved to Terrell, Texas to serve College Mound United Methodist Church in the fall of 1978, we were fortunate to have a pharmacist in our active fellowship. B. F. White was a tall, lanky man, with a heart of pure gold. He had helped many people fight disease through the power of prayer and in the filling of prescription medications. This is a pharmacist you would want to know. He had a personal relationship with the Great Physician. If you came to the pharmacy for a refill on your script, he not only filled that prescription - B. F. White provided an even greater anecdote, and that little gift was free of charge. The power of intercessory prayer is alive and well in Terrell, Texas.

We had never encountered the sting of a scorpion until we moved to College Mound. They blended so well with their environment that they were not always easy to see. I can remember getting up in the middle of the night to nurse our daughter Rachel, only to find a sneaky scorpion climbing up the side of crib where she lay sleeping. B. F. White told us to keep an anecdote handy in the parsonage medicine cabinet, in case our children were ever stung. In an adult, a scorpion sting can make you deathly ill. In infants, it can be fatal if not treated within the first five minutes of the sting. We discovered that many scorpions came through the electrical outlets in our home. We had the parsonage exterminated twice a year, and we plugged every outlet that was not in use. That helped, but we still had to shake our sheets every night before we went to bed, and we never left our shoes on the floor. In fact, we always checked our shoes before putting them on to make sure we did not have an unwanted visitor lurking near our toes.

There are scorpions lurking in the shadow of our lives today. Sometimes, they blend in so well that we cannot see them clearly with our physical eyes. We must open our spirit to the power of the presence of Christ, so that we can protect ourselves from the sting of evil that threatens our daily walk. A scorpion’s tail, when it is outstretched, can be several inches to a foot long, depending upon its overall size. The scorpion’s sting is a painful reminder of what happens when we place ourselves in a position of vulnerability, where we leave our lives unprotected. We must put on the Word of God and glean the power and authority of Christ each and every day, if we intend to counteract the poisonous sting of the enemy. If you commit to stand in enemy territory, seeking nothing more than to offer the gift of salvation of lost souls, then you need an armor-bearer who is willing to fight to protect you. The name of Jesus is a powerful weapon. He is the only anecdote we need to thwart the schemes of evil surrounding us every day.

B. F. White went to be with the Lord many years ago. I will never forget his compassion and love for our family. I never knew what B. F. stood for, until we brought our son Benjamin home from the hospital. On the way home, we stopped to visit B. F. With tears rolling down his face, he held our baby boy in his arms and said, “I cannot believe you named this boy Benjamin.” “Why not,” we asked, a little surprised by his comment. “Do you know what my name is?” B. F. looked at us through a teary hue. I shrugged my shoulders and shook my head no. “My mother named me Benjamin Franklin White. Benjamin means, ‘Son of my right hand.’” He kissed our baby’s face and whispered in his ear, “Little Benjamin, you will be the son of your Father’s right hand.” B. F. handed my son back to me, leaned over and said, “Take care of this child. Protect him from the scorpion's sting.”

We are called to help protect each other by offering prayers of intercession against the sting of evil that exists all around us. The name of Jesus is the only anecdote we need. Will you cry out to Him today, interceding in love for the ones who are being attacked?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: an anecdote to sin! Ask Jesus to help you clearly see the evil before it stings you. Call out His name every morning, as you pray for those who daily live in harm’s way, and rejoice in your spiritual protection! Jesus is the name above every name, and He will be your Great Physician, when you completely let go and trust Him. Do you trust Him to be the Lord of your life?
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

The Bittersweet Taste of Revenge

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 26, 27, 28

I Samuel 26:15-16 (NIV)
15 David said, “You’re a man, aren’t you? And who is like you in Israel? Why didn’t you guard your lord the king? Someone came to destroy your lord the king. 16 What you have done is not good. As surely as the Lord lives, you and your men deserve to die, because you did not guard your master, the Lord’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

Matthew 5:43-47 (NIV)
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”

Good morning!

When I was a little girl in grade school, I liked to play pretend games on the play ground with my friends. As soon as the recess bell would ring, we would run as fast as we could to the jungle gym in the middle of the play ground. Crawling inside the imaginary hut, we would hold tea parties in our princess mode, where no boys were allowed. Of course, the he men who wanted our full attention would proceed to climb all over the top of the gym set, whooping and hollering at us, making fun of what we were doing. We ignored them; at least we tried to. There was this one little boy: he had wirey red hair, and was covered in freckles. This kid was an annoyance to me. His name was Jimmy and I think he must have secretly liked me, although boys sure do have a funny way of showing it. Every time I ran on that play ground, he would chase me, and if he caught up to me, I could expect to be tackled to the ground. I learned rather quickly that I needed to be faster than him. And I was - most of the time. This boy was a pain in my life, and one day, I decided I had enough of this kid.

I saw Jimmy coming toward me out of the corner of my eye. He was running as fast as he could across the play ground. I had my back toward him and my radar antenna was up and beeping. I knew I was his target. He had to have been traveling at light speed. This time, I refused to run. I dug my tennis shoes into the pavement and held my ground, preparing for impact. Just as he got within a couple of feet of me, I bent over and reached behind me for his outstretched arm. Momentum and velocity took that boy right over the top of my back and he landed in front of me on the ground. A victory cheer rose up from the children who saw me flip him. That look of shock on Jimmy’s face was enough to make me feel just a little bit guilt ridden. I just couldn’t leave him laying there. Reaching down, I grinned from ear to ear, offering him a hand up. I asked Jimmy if he was okay. This beet red boy said he was fine but I knew he had been defeated. I had embarrassed him in front of all of his friends. And wouldn’t you know it? He never chased me again! Sometimes, revenge seems sweet. But is it really?

David had the power to kill King Saul. God had opened every door for revenge; yet David never took advantage of the opportunity. In fact, David chose to honor the king who continued to make him live out his life on the run. It seemed like Saul really wanted to love this kid, but jealousy consumed his soul. He lost the favor of the Lord by his disobedience; Saul had no one to blame but himself. David understood the value of returning genuine acts of love for hate. He returned kindness after kindness to a man who obviously didn’t deserve even a second chance.

Jesus taught his disciples to love their enemies and to pray for those who continued to persecute them. In doing so, they would imitate the perfect heart of His Father in heaven. The next time you feel like lashing out at someone who is picking on you, remember the kind heart of young King David, and the words of our Lord. It may be easier and much more satisfying to attack, but that doesn’t ever make it right. If you feel like you are trying to outrun someone who is after you with everything they’ve got, stop right where you are, get down on your knees, and pray. Return their animosity with kindness. When we do this, Jesus says we will become perfect, like our Father in heaven.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: a heart that forgives over and over again. If you are struggling to love the ones who have hurt you repeatedly, ask the Lord of life to help you love them. He will do it for you every single time!
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Finding the Key to Salvation

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 23, 24, 25

Luke 24:1-3 (NIV)
1 On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3 but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

Matthew 16:19a (NIV)
19a I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven.

Revelation 1:17-18 (NIV)
When I saw Him, I fell at His feet as though dead. Then He placed His right hand on me and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the Living One; I was dead and behold I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.”

Good morning!

“Honey, I cannot find my car key!” I am regularly sleuthing, at least once a week, scavenging the parsonage in a panic for that key. I lay it down and then I cannot remember where I put it. I’m certain this is some sort of medical disorder, like Sometimers (Sometimes I know, and Sometimes I don’t), or maybe it is just Satan playing with me. The Father must look down from Heaven and snicker. It’s a good thing that the master plan included permanently attaching my head to my body, for if the Lord had made that feature optional, I’m sure I’d lose it too. I confess that I have been known to be late to meetings and worship because I spent thirty minutes looking for that disappearing key. It’s a funny thing about automobiles: they just don’t run without them. Why is that? I’ve drug my spouse and children out of bed to help me look for them. That's one reason why my kids all moved out. Here's a tried and true secret to get your children out of the nest. Make them get up everyday and help you look for that key. It works! One time, I lost my car key in the car and I knew it was there, but I simply could not find it. My poor husband had to crawl around with a flashlight until he found it for me. He is a saint. Please don't tell him I said that. Ladies, can I tell you - this is not a term of endearment. I need to put a cowbell on that thing. Why is it so easy to misplace a key? I’ve tried using large key rings, leaving them in the same place every day, to no avail. If I didn’t know better, I would insist that key grew legs and walked right off the counter top. Do you ever lose your key? Probably not. I’m sure it’s just me.

When we study geography in school, the key helps us identify important markings on a map. For those of us who are actually willing to pull out a map and use it, the key can be a very resourceful tool. It’s kind of like learning how to read the directions first. Are you the personality type that picks up a set of instructions and spends five minutes reviewing the key before launching into a project? Or, do you prefer to open the box, pull out the one thousand easy-to-assemble parts and begin your own path to victory? I’m not exactly sure when I began to think I can do things by myself with no help; but it must have been around the age of twelve to eighteen months. Now that is maturity in motion!

The stone that barricaded the tomb where Jesus lay had to weigh a ton. Have you ever wondered how the women who went to the tomb on the first day of the week had planned on getting inside? Someone must have kept an automatic stone rolling device in their pocket - you know, like a garage door opener. Maybe the women believed that the Roman guard posted at the tomb would help them roll the stone away. They needed a key to get inside that morning. How ironic that the key to salvation had absolutely nothing to do with human effort. The Lord of life held the key in His nail-scarred hands.

If you know the Lord Jesus Christ, you have found the key to salvation! When Jesus died, He didn’t stay in the grave. He took a little detour to Hell and back, breaking the chains of sin and death forever. He defeated the evil one, once and for all. Jesus kept His Word. He is the key. If you are stuck somewhere today because you have lost the key and cannot seem to find it, pick up your Bible and read Matthew 28, Mark 16, Luke 24, and John 20. If you cannot find a Bible, come see me at Faith Church today. I will be giving them away to anyone who needs a key.

Jesus Christ is risen today! He holds the only key you will ever need to be truly free! Happy Easter, dear ones! I’ll see you this morning at Faith Church. Just look for the short lady in the green hat, dancing in the aisle!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: Jesus Christ to become your Lord and Savior today. If you ask Him, He will unlock the door that you’ve been longing to walk through. If you have lost your way, this is your lucky day! Cry out to Jesus and live!
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Woman, why are you crying?

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 19, 20, 21, 22

John 20:13 (NIV)
They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)
Now faith is the substance of all things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Good morning!

Salome sat up and rubbed her eyes. She could feel the sting from the hours spent crying yesterday. The Master that she loved more than herself, was gone. Just forty-eight hours ago, Salome had helped prepare the Passover feast for her Lord to eat. She, along with Mary Magdalene and Mary, the Mother of Jesus, prayed together that night, asking for strength and understanding. That meal had been really strange. Jesus had taken a slice of unleavened bread from the basket she placed on their table, and she watched as He broke it into two pieces. Jesus held the bread up toward the heavens and said, “This is my body, which is given for you.” He knew he was going to die, but why this? Salome had many questions and no one to ask. Jesus used to answer all of Salome’s questions, as she sat at His feet, listening for hour upon hour as He spoke. “His body will do him no good now,” she thought, as she washed her hands in the large bowl, sitting near the upper room window overlooking the city. The streets were quiet - really quiet. The joy of children playing and birds singing had vanished. Would she ever feel joy again?

Salome stayed at the cross with Mary. She wondered who had suffered more – the mother or her Son. No mother should have to experience the loss of a child, and especially on a hill called Golgotha, the place of the skull. When the Roman guard finally allowed Jesus’ body to be taken down from the tree, Salome was relieved. She could not bear to watch the vultures feast on His flesh. Salome helped wrap her Lord in the burial clothes. The blood of Christ had left stains under her fingernails and on the palm of her hands. Jesus’ body had literally been shredded by the cruel lashing he received just before he was crucified. Salome wondered if she would ever be able to completely wash His blood from her hands. Maybe she didn’t want to. It was all she had left of her Lord.

“How strange,” Salome thought, as she stared at the city gate from the window. “Jesus rode through the beautiful gate on a donkey just a few days ago. The people worshipped and praised His coming. The very same people who shouted ‘Hosanna’ were the ones who shouted ‘Crucify Him’ before Pilate. How can a person’s heart change so quickly?” Salome wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks once again. She wondered whether the tears would ever end.

Like Salome, we sit in our prayer closets today, wondering why Jesus had to die, especially the way He did. His disciples and faithful followers had all fallen away in fear that day. They thought Jesus had come to reclaim the city for God, to overthrow the heavy hand of Roman rule, and to make the temple a place where people could pray and worship the Father. Salome’s vision was blurred as she wept with a sad heart. Sometimes, we struggle with our vision too. We read the words of the Easter account and find our hearts are filled with grief and pain. His sacrifice is more than we can bear. Salome had no idea what was about to happen. We sit and wait with Salome, desperately seeking the dawn of a new day.

The greatest miracle was happening right before her very eyes, and Salome couldn’t see it. Can you see what is happening? Are you ready to experience the power of our risen Christ, and be totally transformed? New life awaits. Hope is hanging in the wings.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: courage to share the Good News with everyone you know. Will you hide behind your salvation, fearing what may happen if you share it with someone else, or will you jump up and down, waving your hands and singing, He is alive! He is alive!
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

The Last Word

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 16, 17, 18

I Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

John 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Revelation 19:11-13 (NIV)
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.

Good morning!

Are you the type of person who always has to have the last word? When I was growing up, my father always had the last word at our house. We learned very early not to question or dispute him. If we chose to disagree and voice our opinion, our home became an unhappy haven rather quickly. When I was learning to drive, the law said that I must wear a seatbelt and my passengers were also required to wear a seat belt. I didn’t have the self-confidence to believe that I might not have an automobile accident and I did not want to risk another person’s life. My father never wore a seat belt. He thought they were cumbersome and useless. I remember a time when he was going to let me drive the car on our family vacation. I got into the driver’s seat and put my seatbelt on. Looking at him, I said, “Daddy, I need you to fasten your seatbelt. I will feel better about driving this car if I know you are protected.” He replied, “Then you are not driving.” That was his last word on the subject. Thank goodness my mother always wore her seatbelt. I might not have ever learned to drive!

The words we speak and the words we hear have a profound effect on our lives. God gave us the gift of self-expression. We learn to speak words from listening to the words of the people who surround us. Children emulate the words of their parents, much to their dismay, at times. Our wee ones may repeat something they heard us say, when we didn’t know they were listening. Have you ever spoken a harsh word, only to hear it repeated by an innocent child, with the same inflection they heard coming out of your mouth? As we continue to receive education, we learn to read and write words. We study grammar in school. While we define and refine our sentence structure on the printed page, our words begin to define us. Words have the power to set the tone for the way we choose to live our lives. Take some time today to think about the words you say. Do they accurately reflect the condition of your life?

Scripture teaches that in the beginning, the Word lives. He is the only Word that matters. Our simple and finite words will die with us one day. Our tongues will become silent, our thoughts a fleeting memory. As life passes into death, there will be only one Word that saves. That Word is Jesus. Death does not have the last Word, thanks be to the resurrection power of our Lord! On this Good Friday, take time to remember and mourn the suffering and physical death of our everlasting Word. May we find our hope in knowing His Word conquered the grave! His Word is true. He will return one day, coming out of the clouds on a white horse and all people will know His Word is faithful and true.

Jesus Christ will have the last Word. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. His Word is the only Word worth knowing. When we cry to out Jesus, He hears and answers our heart’s desire! He heals our wounded and broken lives. He restores us, once and for all. Jesus walks with us as we experience new life in Him. When we place our hope in Jesus, we have His Word that He we will be us forever, even to the end of the age.

There is only one Word that you need to know today, and that Word is Jesus.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the Word to become a real and living presence in your life. Jesus died for you. His passion and compassion for a lost and dying world is poured out upon the cross of Calvary today. The Word was made flesh and he dwelled among us. He is the sinless Lamb of God, and it is His Word that pays the ransom for your soul this morning. He will rescue you, if you cry out to Him in faith. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Internal Combustion

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 13, 14, 15

I Samuel 14:6 (NIV)
6 Jonathan said to the young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised fellows. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)
5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Luke 22:41-44 (NIV)
41 He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, 42 “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but your will be done. 43 An angel from heaven appeared to Him and strengthened Him. 44 And being in anguish, He prayed more earnestly, and His sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.

Good morning!

Fear has held me back more times than I can count. I grew up with an overwhelming fear of animals. Anything that had four legs, teeth and claws scared me to death. My mother used to say that I would run out into the street in front of a moving vehicle before I would let a dog come near me on the sidewalk. I can speak about this fear now, even though I do not understand it. The Lord has helped me stand up and face the things that scare me, even to the point of death. Have you ever been so frightened that you felt totally frozen with fear?

Jonathan took one look at the narrow pathway between the cliffs of Bozez and Seneh, and he was scared. He knew he would have to eliminate the Philistine soldiers if he and his armor bearer were to survive passing through. There were so many soldiers waiting to take his life. Jonathan knew in his heart that His God was greater than any human power, and He placed total trust in the Lord’s ability to win the battle.

Whenever I feel fear, it is always good to have an encourager; someone who I can trust to walk with me in faith. Jonathan turned to his armor bearer said, “Climb up after me; the Lord has given them into the hand of Israel.” As Jesus went one last time to the garden to pray, He took His armor bearers, the disciples whom He loved, and told them to keep watch while He prayed. Who are the armor bearers in your life? Who watches your back while you are fighting the fears that keep you from receiving God’s best for your life?

Jesus experienced internal combustion that long night in Gethsemane. His flesh wanted out. He did not want to endure the hours of pain and anguish that were imminent. More than that, Jesus knew that bearing the sins of the world would separate Him from a holy and sinless Father. The victory was always His. Still, Jesus began to sweat blood, as he cried out to the Father for help. Our Lord was obedient to the Father’s will, even to death on a Roman cross. When I think of the courage our Lord showed in the face of fear, I find strength to face and conquer the fears in my life. I may not always understand why things happen the way they do, but I know who in whom I place my trust. And He is more than enough to inspire me to lay my fears aside and step up in His will and go.

Have you ever heard the Lord calling you to speak up, and you hesitated for fear of what others may think? How will my family feel? Will my friends run and hide if I share my heart and soul with them? How do I find the courage to share what the risen Christ has done for me? Am I willing to go and spread the Gospel to perfect strangers; people who are “not yet” Christians, just waiting for someone to introduce them to the Lord and giver of new life? What if God calls me to risk my own life for Him? Will fear hold me back or will faith move me forward?

When Jesus prayed for help, the Lord sent an angel from heaven to strengthen Him. Like the armor bearers in our lives, God sends angelic intervention just when we need Him the most. This weekend is a holy moment waiting to happen in the lives of Jews and Christians around the world. We remember and rejoice in the blood of our sacrificial Lamb, and the courage of our forefathers to follow in faith. We have an opportunity to speak up, to reach out, and love our neighbors the way Jesus Christ loves us.

If you find yourself on your knees this morning, praying to the Father for help, look up! Allow the strength of Jesus Christ to become your strength and voice today. If you ask Him to help you, He will do it. When the Lord calls you to go, and He will call you, if you hesitate and allow your fears to keep you back, be prepared to internally combust. He will not let us sit idle. Friends, there is a lot of work to do out there. People need the Lord, and we need to share His love now.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: faith to conquer fear. Don’t allow anything to get in the way of doing your Father’s will. Choose this day whom you will serve. Internal combustion is not a pretty sight. Let it out! Share Jesus every day in every way. May the Lord bless you and keep you, as you seek to serve Him with your life.
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Inseparable

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 10, 11, 12; Psalm 61

I Samuel 10:2b (NIV)
2b And now your father has stopped thinking about them and is worried about you. He is asking, “What shall I do about my son?”

Psalm 61:1-2 (NIV)
1 Hear my cry O God; listen to my prayer. 2 From the ends of the earth I call to you, I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Mark 15:34 (NIV)
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” – which means, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Good morning!

They were inseparable, the two of them. He was a young father, and that baby boy of his was the light of his life. I can remember watching them walk past my store front every Saturday morning. They were headed to their secret place; a fishing hole on the other side of the lake. Daddy held tightly to the hand of his little one, as they carried their poles and a can of freshly dug worms. They would spend hours together, watching the ripples in the water while casting their lines into the deep. Even when the fish weren’t biting, there they sat, father and son, sharing a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, and speaking to each other in soft tones, so as not to scare the fish away. It was their special time; those sweet moments where relationships grow and each minute suspends itself in timeless memory.

I wonder if the time spent at the fishing hole will be a pleasant recollection for my friend someday. I can think of nothing to say to him, as he tearfully stands by his son’s bed side. The monotonous and rhythmical sounds of the breathing apparatus keeping the young man’s heart pumping and lungs filling with oxygen increases the despair felt inside his hospital room. He was such a good boy. Surely he did not deserve to endure this unbearable pain. Was there no one who could save him? Why did that sweet child have to die? In his solemn and overwhelming sorrow, my friend picked up the clipboard and signed his name to the form authorization. He stood at the foot of the bed, watching the doctor unplug the breathing apparatus. As his son’s heart beat began to quiver and fade away, the father turned his face and left the room weeping. I watched in horror as his son took one last breath and observed a silent, flat line on the monitor above his bed. The boy he loved with all his heart was gone.

As a parent, there is nothing worse than the sense of grief that flows from separation and loss. I would give anything to keep my children safe and free from suffering. I would die for them a thousand times over if they could live a happy and fulfilled life. How I long to give them the gift of life that lasts forever.

When our Heavenly Father allowed His only Son, Jesus Christ to die for the sins of the world, He knew the price He would pay. They were Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the three in one, holy perfection personified on earth and in heaven. They were inseparable. The Father loved his created ones with a passion and purpose. He breathed life into their bodies and give them hearts, bones and flesh. God provided every good gift for their ultimate happiness and well-being. He wanted nothing more than to spend their days together, sitting by the river of life, sharing the in the sweet communion that comes from intimate and holy relationship. His children chose to run away, over and over again. How the Father must have suffered watching his precious ones turn away, refusing to listen and follow. It was more than He could bear.

The Father’s Son felt His suffering and grief. He said, “I will go and bring them back to you. I would rather die for all of them than to see this chasm of separation and despair continue. Let me be their bridge. I will gladly sacrifice my life for each and every one of them, so they can come back to you. Let me go, Father. I am willing.” It was in that moment of utter separation when our Heavenly Father turned His face from the Son he loved more than life itself. In that holy moment, the sinless Lamb of God bore the sins of the world, choosing to separate Himself from a perfect and holy God. He gave up His life so that we could have forgiveness, restoring our relationship with Him, and experience the joy of everlasting life in the presence of our creator, redeemer and friend.

How much does God love you? He loves you enough to separate Himself from the Son He adores. God watched His perfect child take on the sin of the world on the cross. Jesus did this to bring you new life. Are you able to understand the high price that was paid for your salvation?

It was the pain of separation and loss of relationship that sent Jesus to the cross for you and me. He offers us a new life today. God misses you. He longs for you. Won’t you choose to come home to the Father through the blood of Jesus Christ?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: forgiveness. There is no greater love than the love of our Savior. God loved us so very much, that He sent His only Son to bridge the gap of sin that separates us from Him. He promises that when we call upon the name of Jesus, our relationship will be restored once and for all, and we will live forever with Him.
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Grudge Bearer

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Samuel 7, 8, 9

I Samuel 8:7 (NIV)
7 And the Lord told him, “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king. 8 As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

Matthew 27:32 (NIV)
32 As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Mark 15:21 (NIV)
21 A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross.

Luke 23:26 (NIV)
26 As they led Him away, they seized Simon from Cyrene, who was on his way in from the country, and put the cross on him and made him carry it behind Jesus.

Good morning!

He was never good enough for them. Those miserable complainers wandering around the city couldn’t recognize a holy miracle even as He hung, bleeding and dying, right in front of their very eyes. Are we so busy grumbling and complaining, that we miss seeing the Savior of the world, pouring out His life’s blood for you and for me?

Simon of Cyrene was simply passing through Jerusalem that day. He didn’t recognize the condemned. He knew nothing of the crimes this man was accused of. Certainly he didn’t have any business picking up this man’s cross and carrying it up the hill to the place of the skull. “Why me,” Simon thought to himself as he drug the heavy cross through the dirt and up the hill. The weight of the beams left Simon’s back bruised and full of splinters. He had a strong and healthy body; yet, the weight of this cross almost seemed too much for anyone to bear. He glanced back at the face of the condemned one limping behind him. Simon was startled by the look of love radiating from his bloody and tear-streaked face. How could one suffering such a cruel punishment display such a look of love? Does this man not bear any animosity toward his killers? How could he ignore the cruel and hateful words pouring out of the mouths of the masses, gathering on the hillside to watch him die? It is not possible for any man to show a shred of compassion in his heart for the ones who inflicted such pain.

Simon found himself taking a detour to a place he did not want to go. He could not bear to leave this man alone. He stood, helpless and confused, watching the soldiers as they pounded stakes through the captive’s flesh. How could he willingly lay there on those beams? Why did this man have to die? Can his accusers not see He has committed no crime?

Simon watched as the cross was raised up over the city. He listened to the hateful words of the Roman guard. He watched the women weep near the foot of the cross. Suddenly, Simon felt ill. He could not stand there one more minute. Falling to his knees, he cried out in anguish and shame, “Why him?”

Jesus came for one purpose. He came to save all of the grudge bearers, back stabbers, ladder climbers, movers and shakers. The jealous and conceited, the haughty and proud; the sins of every man, woman and child - Jesus bore on the tree. He died for you and He died for me. The liars and the cheats, slave drivers and thieves; controlling, manipulative sin sick souls, He came to free. He was the lifeline for every drowning victim sinking in the sin of pride, flailing about in self-centeredness and spite. Jesus died for all of these. He died for you and He died for me.

Do you think we were worth the price He paid? Were you worth it? It was an uphill battle that day - the day our Lord wiped out the law of sin and death forever. He conquered Satan; He bridged the gap. Because He died, we are free to live with Him forever.

Jesus Christ became the ultimate grudge bearer when He took every sin to the cross that day. He can take your heart of stone and give you a heart full of compassion and love, if you will call on the name of Jesus today. He died to set you free, once and for all! There is no greater love than this. Won’t you give Him your hurts and hand Him your pain. Jesus is waiting. Will you come to Him today?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: faith to see the miracle that is standing right in front of you today. Give your life back to the One who gives new life to you. Come to Jesus and live!
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

Standing firm by faith

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Samuel 4, 5, 6

I Samuel 6:20 (NIV)
20 And the men of Beth Shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the Lord, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”

Psalm 24:3-6 (NIV)
3 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? Who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his idol or swear by what is false. 5 He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior. 6 Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek your face, O God of Jacob.

Romans 5:1-2 (NIV)
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Good morning!

Do you remember what it is like watch your little baby pull up and take its first steps? Every parent experiences a mixture of pride and fear as they watch their child become mobile. Watching tiny flat feet planted firmly on the floor, taking waddling steps with arms outstretched, is an eternal memory keeper for every parent. From where I sat as a mother, it was nerve-racking. Of course I wanted my child to stand firm, develop a sense of balance and walk without assistance. Yet, I was fearful my child might fall and get hurt. I would open my arms and coax Rachel to come to me. When she started to teeter, I would try to grab her before she went down. Sometimes, parents just have to let their children fall down so they can learn how to rise up again and stand firm.

Isn’t this what our Heavenly Father does with us?

Over the winter, I’ve learned what it feels like to be wobbly. Sometimes, if I get up too quickly or if I lean a certain way, I find myself grabbing onto whatever I can find to help me regain a sense of balance and control. It is a strange feeling when I begin to topple over. What was once a seemingly effortless part of life, has now become a daily challenge. Have you ever felt off-kilter? Where do you find the strength to stand firm and not fall down?

The Philistines made a huge error when they took the Ark of the Covenant into their cities. Their gods were no match for the Lord God Almighty. When their communities were riddles with plagues of tumors, the people looked for ways to rid themselves of this God. It never occurred to them to bow down and worship the only One that matters. They just wanted to get rid of Him as quickly as possible. Do you run from the Lord when He gets too close for comfort, or do you choose to bow down and worship His awesome presence?

Who can stand next to His majesty and holiness? There is only One who has earned the right to stand before the Holy presence of our God, His son, Jesus Christ. His death and resurrection remind us of the price that was paid for our sin. He willingly gave His perfect and holy body over to be shredded and pierced so that our imperfect bodies could be made whole in Him. Such an unbelievable act of love from the One who loves us! He would give it up for you over and over again just to restore your sense of balance. The blood of Jesus Christ is spilled out, to cover your sin, allowing you to stand firm by faith.

Have you experienced the cleansing power of Jesus Christ? Like a parent, Christ is reaching out to you today, urging you to come to Him. He knows that you may get wobbly and fall down. When you find yourself going down, reach up and grab onto the only One who can save you. He will do it! All you have to do is ask.

Are you ready to stand firm in faith? Are you willing to take a few baby steps to start, and then begin to move freely about the room? Let Jesus be your compass. Let Him guide you today, as you seek His face. Are you wobbly this morning? Reach out to the Lord, and touch His nail pierced hands. He died and rose again for you.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: balance! The Lord is waiting with open arms for you to come to Him. Do not be afraid. If you are a little wobbly this morning, reach up and take His hand. You can stand firm today by faith, covered in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Thanks be to God!
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.

The prayer of faith

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Samuel 1, 2, 3

I Samuel 1:12-18 (NIV)
12 As she kept on praying to the Lord, Eli observed her mouth. 13 Hannah was praying in her heart, and her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. Eli thought she was drunk 14 and said to her, “How long will you keep on getting drunk? Get rid of your wine.” 15 “Not so, my lord, “Hannah replied. “I am a woman who is deeply troubled. I have not been drinking wine or beer; I was pouring out my soul to the Lord. 16 Do not take your servant for a wicked woman. I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief.” 17 Eli answered, “Go in peace, and may the God of Israel grant you what you have asked of Him.” 18 She said, “May your servant find favor in your eyes.” Then she went her way and ate something, and her face was no longer downcast.

Good morning!

Have you ever bargained with God in prayer? Hannah knew what it was like to keep a lifelong prayer vigil. Her heart’s desire was to bring forth a son, to honor her husband and remove her shame. She wanted a baby to hold, a life to love; a child’s heart to help mold into a heart that God could use. As Hannah prayed in the tabernacle in Shiloh, she promised the Lord if He would help her conceive and bear a son, she would gladly give her gift back to the giver of all life.

Have you ever prayed a prayer for years? Some time ago, I started keeping an intercessory prayer journal. I have experienced life-altering moments in the presence of God as I cry out to Him in prayer. He hears every uttered word, from the ones I shout out, to the silent whispers that float from my mind and become embedded in my heart each morning. There are some prayers that never seem to end. I pray prayers of repentance, prayers for healing, and prayers for His Will, not mine. I ask God for His sweet Holy Spirit to reach out and touch an unsaved soul. I beg Him for His perfect timing when telling the Good News to others. Sometimes there are no human words possible, only the words He gives to me to pray. A prayer journal is a daily reminder of where I’ve been. It reminds me of the needs of others and keeps me focused as I walk along the prayer path. It is a place of rejoicing in answered prayer. I can record praises to God for His miraculous work in the lives of my brothers and sisters. This journal invites me to run into His arms each day, knowing He hears and answers.

I wait. I listen. He speaks.

When Hannah prayed to the Lord that day, she knew that it was impossible for her to conceive without divine intervention. She understood that only the Lord could provide this all-consuming desire of her heart. Sometimes, we get so busy trying to do the work on our own and pushing to make things happen, that we forget to look up and trust the only One who has the power to do it. Hannah knew that her ONLY hope was in the Lord. As she prayed her prayer of petition, the priest noticed her presence and, at first glance, thought Hannah was drunk. There are times when the fire of the Lord makes me a little goofy too. Experiencing His power and presence through the work of His Holy Spirit is unique and precious for each individual. How would you describe your prayer path? How does the Lord speak to your heart?

Yesterday, I witnessed an answer to prayer that had been ongoing for many, many years in the hearts of Missouri United Methodists. I could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit moving inside the room as we prayed together. Things are changing. God’s timing is perfect and His comfort and strength will sustain us in the difficult work that lies ahead. There is a greater degree of appreciation when we face the adversities that touch our lives, and receive His power to overcome them. I can be truly free, knowing that this is not about me. Every good gift comes from the Lord. I have been placed here to serve Him. He does the work; I have a willing heart. We know that only God can do it! Faith on fire; faith to trust even when we see the work will not be easy; determination to meet the needs of those who cry out for help; and our willingness to let the Lord lead, culminates in a powerful prayer moment. When the priest saw that Hannah’s heart was truly linked to God’s, he invited her to go in peace. And Hannah did just that. She left the tabernacle, trusting in the power of God to answer her prayer. She went about her day, with a smile on her face and an unquenchable joy in her heart.

Do you believe God can answer your prayer? How much do you really trust Him? Are you willing, this morning, to come to the tabernacle and pray your prayer to the Lord in faith? I’ll be waiting for you to come to the altar today at Faith Church.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: faith! Pray like you’ve never prayed before! Do you trust the Lord to meet your need, direct your way, and answer your lifelong prayer? In the name of Jesus, may you experience the power and presence of the Holy Spirit as you worship and honor the Lord with your life.
____________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.