The face on the fridge

Today’s Reading: John 16:19-20 (NIV)

19 Jesus saw that they wanted to ask Him about this, so He said to them, “Are you asking one another what I meant when I said, ‘In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see me?’ 20 I tell you the truth; you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”

Good morning!

We have lots of family photos displayed in the parsonage. Precious moments, captured from days gone by: these are the ones we know and love, some who have gone on before us to be with the Lord. Every morning as I sit down and write, I am surrounded by the people I love captured in photographs on my computer table. My friend Meredith is here, along with Pastor Slagg and my mother, aunt, cousin, husband and children. The children we feed in Nicaragua are smiling back at me, and our eight year old Melvin, a young man from El Salvador whom we’ve sponsored now for almost four years. These are the faces of the people dearest to me. When I look in their eyes, I can see Jesus clearly.

Yesterday afternoon, we had a princess party at the parsonage. Our granddaughters Emily and Madison came over to play with Granny Deb and Pa. We dressed up in pretty jewelry and shared snacks and tea together. In the kitchen, four year old Emily stopped by the refrigerator to admire the picture magnets and art work decorating the door. Next to the faces of our five beautiful grandchildren, is a drawing of Jesus, our Super Hero, a photograph of my husband Jeff sitting in his favorite reading chair, and a picture of my parents, taken when they came to visit our family in Texas twenty-eight years ago. Emily was identifying all of the faces on the fridge, when she suddenly stopped, looked up and exclaimed, “Nanny, look! There’s Gigi and Great Grandpa!” Without hesitation, she said: “Great Grandpa is with Jesus, right Nanny?” I smiled at her and said, “Yes, Emily, he is.” She replied, “Nanny, I just miss him so much.”

Little Emily never knew my dad. He had passed away eight years before she was born.

Jesus understood that when He died, His disciples’ grief would be overwhelming. He also knew that their joy would be made complete when He rose again. For what they could not see clearly now, they would one day know and understand in full. We miss the One whom we’ve not seen with physical, earthly eyes. He is with the Father in glory, and we know that He lives and reigns and works within our hearts. One day soon, we will see Him again, face to face. Like Emily, I miss my Jesus so much. His earthly, human life ended long before I was born, and yet, He lives in my heart. More than a photograph in a frame, Jesus is alive! And I have His Word that one day soon, I will be with Him and the Father in heaven, forevermore.

There’s a face on your fridge this morning, smiling back at you. Look closely; can you see the One you love?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

I don't get it!

Today’s Reading: John 16:17-18 (NIV)

17 Some of His disciples said to one another, “What does He mean by saying, ‘In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18 They kept asking, “What does He mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand what He is saying.”

Good morning!

Jesus could have been speaking Greek that day, for all the disciples knew. In fact, some of the disciples may have understood and spoken Greek well, and maybe they would have understood Jesus better had He spoken these words in Greek. They just didn’t get it, and sometimes, I feel like that. I’ve been known to pray these exact words: Dear Lord, I just don’t get it! What is Your point?

Maybe I just don’t want to understand it. Sometimes I think I may know more than I want to admit. Or maybe I don’t want to face the knowledge that is buried deep inside my heart. Jesus wasn’t telling a Parable, a story to make a point; He was speaking plainly, as one friend would speak to another. Jesus said, “In a little while, you are not going to see me, but soon, you will see me again.” His words are not hard to understand, unless you really don’t want to. The disciples did not want not to see Jesus leave at all. They wanted Jesus to stay with them every minute of every day. Somehow, they knew as long as Jesus was there, everything would be okay. They loved watching Him walk and talk and break bread in the evenings, seeing miracles unfold in the people He touched along the way. Oh, not having Jesus there, even for a little while, was a thought they did not wish to entertain. So, it was much easier to say, “I just don’t get it,” than “I won’t accept it. Lord, you have to stay here. You cannot leave us alone.”

Jesus had a very important reason for going away. This was His entire purpose for His coming. You see, Jesus has been with humanity all along from beginning to the end; He is with the Father and the Spirit – the Three in One, a holy mystery, offering an amazing love unlike any other ever known. Jesus was there with Moses walking across the wilderness; He was on the ground with Isaiah, for long three years, as he prophesied God’s Word to all who would hear it. Jesus was the One Jacob wrestled with all night long; He was with the angels who visited Abram and Sarai outside their tent. Jesus made the perfect entrance into an imperfect world one night in a cold cave just outside of Bethlehem, beneath a cloud of angelic host and a bright North Star. The Shepherds saw Him there; did you? Jesus is with us today, even when we’re not certain we see Him clearly. But if you look closely, you will see that He is sitting with the starving child; He is resting under the bridge with the homeless; He tries to come into our churches on Sunday, but we have this nasty habit of locking the doors behind us, only letting in the folks we are most comfortable being around. It forces our Lord to wait outside the walls, as He peers through the window waiting for us to respond. Jesus looks at me every Sunday as I sit in the sanctuary and gaze at the stained glass window above the altar. Can you see Him there? He came to reveal the Father to a broken and lost world. We had lost touch with our Master Creator. Jesus came to redeem us from sin, to purchase back what was stolen from Him, and to give us new and everlasting life in His presence forever.

Jesus had to go away for a little while, but He came back, just like He said He would. Do you get it? What will it take for you to understand what Jesus meant? Oh Lord, help me see what You want me to see; Help me understand the Word you are speaking into my heart today. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

In a little while

Today’s Reading: John 16:16 (NIV)

16 [Jesus said,] “In a little while you will see me no more, and then after a little while you will see me.”

Good morning!

“Where did Grandpa go?” I asked my mother over the telephone. In our hallway, on a small ledge just above the heater vent, sat a black, rotary dial telephone. The cord attaching the phone to the wall stretched all the way from the hallway into the living room. I sat on the sofa next to my Father, and he held the ear and mouth piece up to my face, while I talked to my mother several hundred miles away. We shared a party line with our neighbors, and occasionally, I could hear snippets of others’ conversations. I did not completely understand the words my mother was saying to me. I thought it was because of all the interference over the party line. She said that Grandpa had died and gone to heaven to be with Jesus, but she was certain that one day soon, we would see him again. My eight year old mind didn’t get it then, and I’m not sure I completely understand it even now, forty-one years later.

I remember that cold winter day when we took Mommy and Pammy to the train station. It was just after Christmas. My grandfather had been rushed to the hospital in Brookhaven, Mississippi, just a few miles away from his family farm. He had been diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor which caused him to suffer a massive stroke. Grandpa slipped into a coma and lingered there for weeks, before he passed away. My mother wanted to be there with her family during this sad time. I was in the middle of the winter term of my second grade year when Grandpa got sick, and my little sister was not yet in school. So she traveled with my Mother to Mississippi, and stayed at the farm with Grandma, while Mommy stayed with Grandpa at the hospital round the clock and took care of him. I remained behind in Missouri, alone with my Dad. It was a long winter at home without my mother and sister there. They were gone for two whole months, and there were moments when I wondered if they would ever come back home again. “Mommy, when are you coming back?” I asked her on the telephone, with a sad and heavy heart. “In a little while, honey,” she said, just before the operator cut into the conversation on our party line.

Jesus did his best to prepare the Disciples for the devastating loss they would experience when He died. He wanted them to know that death was not the end, but the beginning of a brand new life. Jesus assured them that even though He was going away for just a little while, they would see Him again one day soon. I imagine they were just as puzzled as I was, as I listened to the sounds of my mother crying on the other end of the rotary dial telephone.

Physical death is a hard thing to understand, but Jesus promised that His death was not the end. If you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, then you have His assurance that our earthly separation is only for a little while. We have His Word that when we die, we will share everlasting life with our Savior forever! For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16 KJV)

Are you missing Jesus today? Pick up the phone and call Him! Through God’s gift of prayer, we have 24/7 access to the Father’s ear. He understands our questions; and He truly knows our pain. Hold on to His promises today. We may not see Jesus for a little while, but He will return one day soon to take us home to be with Him forever. Death is not the end, it is a brand new beginning!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Staying power

Today’s Reading: John 16:14-15 (NIV)

14 [Jesus said,] “He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you.”

Good morning!

I sat in class last night, holding that long-awaited syllabus in my hand. I was tired, having spent long hours reading and writing in preparation for this first class discussion. And I’ll confess I was little bit nervous. I wondered if I had the staying power to remain fully focused and committed to the work outlined on the printed pages before me.

I’ve been looking forward to this particular cluster with great anticipation. I recognize that this is the course curriculum that will frame the next steps of my education. It is thirteen weeks of intensive reading and writing. I’ve asked the Father for an extra measure of His wisdom and understanding; to discern and recognize Truth through the power of His Word. I know that if I glean even half of what I learn in this class room, I will graduate from Lindenwood University a much wiser person than I was when I enrolled three years ago as a full-time student. We will be studying the Old and New Testaments in their entirety, and read and discuss the published works of many great philosophers in history. The professor who teaches these classes in the day program recognizes the enormous amount of time and commitment it will take for evening students, who work full-time day jobs and have families and church work and other commitments, to complete this course curriculum in one short quarter. I think he wondered whether the students might take one look at his syllabus, stand up, and run out of the room in a sheer panic, yet everyone stayed!

I am convinced that this passage of Scripture that I’ve shared with you today was written especially for me. At Faith Church, we’ve been learning what extravagant generosity means, not just in theory, but in practice. There is a lot of disconcerting stuff happening right now. People are nervous about their financial futures, the world economy, and, of course, the upcoming US Presidential elections. Folks are struggling to find money to pay for necessities, like food, utilities, gasoline and mortgage payments. Especially in times of need, I realize all that I am and everything I have is a treasured gift from the Father. The resources I hold do not belong to me; they never have, nor will they ever be. If there is anything good in my life at all, it is because of the Lord. If I have anything to offer back by way of service to others, it is because God gave it first. His mercies are new each day, and I am completely and totally captivated by His never-ending love. Jesus said that all that belongs to the Father is His, and He willingly gives it to each of us through the power of the Holy Spirit. What an amazing gift, to experience His presence in such a powerful way each day! Jesus Christ has given you and me an awesome opportunity to exercise staying power, especially when times are tough. He allows us to press in and draw from His power and strength through His Holy Word; and it is His Word that will stand the test of time.

Come and experience true staying power in Jesus Christ today. He will give you just what you need when you need it the most. It is His free and unconditional gift to all who will choose to make Him Lord of their life. Feeling a little overwhelmed today? Christ will give you His staying power through the power of the Holy Spirit. All you have to do is ask.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Looking for truth?

Today’s Reading: John 16:13 (NIV)

13 [Jesus said,] “But when He, the Spirit of Truth comes, He will guide you into all Truth. He will not speak on His own; He will speak only what He hears, and He will tell you what is yet to come.”

Good morning!

I had a dream last night. My father sent me to the train station to pick up a long, lost friend of his. Daddy had not seen her in years, and he wanted me to pick her out of the large crowd. She was to arrive on track number 8 at 11:57pm. I did not know what she looked like, how she would be dressed, or even her exact age. Daddy said I would recognize her when I saw her. It wasn’t much to go on; yet I went, out of pure obedience, trusting in his word.

I drove to the station alone, wondering how I might recognize a stranger I did not know. I scribbled her name on a large piece of cardboard with a black permanent ink marker I found in the bottom of my purse. When I walked into the station, I held the makeshift sign high above my head. I watched as the passengers disembarked from the three trains that had arrived simultaneously. I saw the crowd, and truthfully, their faces all looked alike. These were road weary travelers; the hour was late and folks just wanted to get to their final destination and rest. Mommies were carrying sleepy little ones in their arms who had fallen asleep on the train. Men were pulling brief cases behind them, with cell phones and blackberries glued to what could have been their free hand if they had been willing to let go of the control. People continued to pass me by; many glanced up and read my sign, but no one stopped. I stood there, gazing into each passing face, and wondering who thr mystery person would be.

I noticed the furrowed brows and puzzled looks of passengers as they passed by. “This is no joke,” I thought to myself. My Father said she would be here and I intend to find her, even if it takes all night. As the people began to disappear out the station door and into the dimly lit parking garage, I found myself standing there, all alone, with my cardboard sign raised high. It had felt like an exercise in futility. I was terribly disappointed, heart-broken and sad. A compassionate clerk from behind the ticket counter saw the look on my face and said, “Miss, who is it you are looking for?” “I don’t know,” I sighed. “She was a long lost friend of my Dad’s. Her name is Truth. Do you know her?”

How do we know the truth? Does your life board say, "I'm looking for truth! Do you know her?" I used to think that the truth was easily attained. As a parent, I could, at one time, look into the eyes of my young children and know instinctively whether or not they were telling me the truth. This is not as easy as it used to be. There seems to be a lot of gray matter sprinkled in between the large black letters imprinted on my pages of our lives. Are you struggling to know the truth today?

There was no doubt in the mind of Christ that each of us would need heavenly help to find and know the Truth. Jesus was there, in the flesh, standing right in front of them, and even His own disciples could not recognize the Truth for what it is. We needed some heavenly help from above, and that is why Jesus promised us His gift of the Holy Spirit. He would guide and direct us in all Truth, so that we could see, not just with our limited physical vision, but with Holy Spirit eyes. The Spirit will help us discern good from evil; right from wrong; the truth from a lie. With His help, we would know the Truth, and His Truth would one day set us free.

Don’t leave the station today without knowing the Truth. Jesus offers the free gift of His sweet Holy Spirit, so that you will not have to face this day alone. Are you seeking the Truth? You need not look any further than the Lord Jesus Christ. He is here, right in front of you, right now. Ask Him for the gift of His Holy Spirit today.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Promise Keeper

Today’s Reading: John 16:12 (NIV)

12 [Jesus said,] “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.”

Good morning!

It has been said that God will never give you more than you can bear. Do you believe this? If you lost a loved one this week, that statement may not feel very real to you right now. If you lost your home in the Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, maybe you would beg to differ. Maybe you’ve lost your job, and now you are wondering whether you will have a home to live in, especially with the news of a Federal bailout of the banking industry. Is this too much for you to bear?

Most people are born with an insatiable curiosity. We want to know what’s coming, when it’s coming, and how it will impact our lives. When we’re young, we dream about what we will be when we grow up! We long to finish school, take our first job, and find true love. We think about getting married, settling down, and having children. As we get older, we begin to try to picture what life will be like when we retire; we worry about where we will live, and if our children will care enough to be there to help us. We wonder if we’ve saved enough money to live on for forty plus years; we pray that we’ll not have to suffer from cancer or another dreaded disease, but we will peacefully pass on in our sleep. We worry and wonder and fret about the things yet to be. If you could know for sure how your earthly life will unfold from beginning to end, would you really want to?

Jesus knew what was coming. He is the first and the last, the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end. He knew the exact moment in time when He would hang on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for an imperfect humanity. He knows the exact moment when He will return to claim His people once and for all. Jesus knew the future would be far too overwhelming for you and I to understand it completely, at this moment in time; and He said so.

Our daughter Rachel hung a plaque in her family room last summer, after she was diagnosed with cervical cancer. It says: God doesn’t give you more than you can handle; He helps you handle what you’ve been given. There is a lot about the future that we do not understand. We can choose to wonder and worry or we can choose to hope and pray, placing our faith and trust in the One who sees all, knows all, and loves us like no one else can. We can place our trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus promised that He will never leave us or forsake us, no matter where we are or what we face. He is our Promise Keeper.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

That nagging voice inside your head

Today’s Reading: John 16:8-11 (NIV)

9 [Jesus said,] “When He comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment; 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; 10 in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.”

Good morning!

Have you ever had second doubts, wondering if you are about to make a mistake you will regret the rest of your life? Have you ever tried to turn off that nagging voice inside your head but it won’t go away? The things my mother told me when I was a little girl still bounce around inside my noggin like a noisy reverb that occurs when an amplifier and microphone are way too close to each other. If I close my eyes, I can still hear her say, “Debbie, go make your bed; brush your teeth and pick up your things! Put your toys away because it is time to say your prayers.” Setting personal time aside to enter into His presence in prayer is one of the voices that stays with me even today. It’s as if I can hear my mother saying these words every morning when I wake up. Mothers do have a way with words! We should pick and choose our words wisely. I pray that this one gift I will leave my children as their inheritance, is hearing my nagging little voice reverberating inside their heads every day for the rest of their lives.

I can get sloppy sometimes with the clutter in my house, and with the clutter in my spirit. God knew I would need a determined mother who continually kept on me to do the right thing; to walk the narrow path, and to make Jesus Christ first and foremost in my life. If there is anything good in me at all, it is because my mother never gave up on me. With that said, I must confess that I have learned how to turn that little voice of hers off from time to time. I do have a selfishness switch and it works really well, until the regret switch, like a back up generator, kicks on at the most inopportune moments of my life, illuminating the things that I’ve left undone. Like the broken toys laying in pieces on the floor, this voice truly hurts my heart, because it exposes my sin for what it is.

As Jesus prepared to leave His earthly life and return to the Father victorious over sin and death forever, He promised to leave His people with voice of all voices. What a gift this is! The Holy Spirit, is a nagging voice inside your head! It convicts you of the times you have turned away from faith; the moments when you knew better and acted out anyway in selfish ambition and personal gain. The Holy Spirit is like a nagging voice, reminding you to stop your personal pursuits and make the Lord Jesus Christ first in your life. It ignites an unquenchable, holy fire that propels us to clean up the messes we’ve made and begin to seek the intimate relationship with the Savior, who is the giver of all life. The Holy Spirit is that nagging voice inside your head and it will not ever let you go, no matter how far you go.

You know the voice I’m talking about. Is it speaking to you today? Be thankful when you hear it. Jesus Christ is reaching out to you in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, urging you to put your toys away and come home to Him now. Won't you come out on the porch, and sit with your Savior a spell? It will do your heart good.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

The gift

Today’s Reading: John 16:7 (NIV)

7 [Jesus said,] “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.”

Good morning!

Our four-year old granddaughter Emily was sick last weekend. To ill to go to the soccer game, we hung out together and watched movies in our pajamas. Emily curled up in my lap on the reclining sofa, with her feverish head resting on my left shoulder. I did not need a lap quilt that day, for Emily was toasty enough for both of us. She was clearly miserable, with a scratchy throat and chills, and I felt sorry for her. Emily turned away from the movie we were watching on television, looked up and said in her squeaky voice, “Nanny, you are my best girl. I’ll miss you when you go home to see Pa.” Whenever this little one greets me, one of the first things Emily says is how much she misses me. Four year olds have an uncanny ability to share their hearts. There I was, trying to comfort my granddaughter; yet, somehow, Emily managed to comfort me with a hug and a kind word.

Can you imagine what it might be like in the world today without the comfort that the Holy Spirit brings? Jesus knew how very much we would miss having Him here on earth, in the flesh. There is not a day that goes by when I don’t long to see my Savior face-to-face; to be able to reach up and touch His nail-scarred hands, to rest my head upon His shoulder, and know His eternal peace forever. If Jesus had not gone away, the Comforter would not have come. And, oh, what a Comforter we have in the Holy Spirit! Christ reveals Himself to us through the presence and power of the Spirit every moment of every day. He is our living Word, when there are no words to speak. The Spirit reminds us of the Way; He shelters us in our life storms. The Comforter blankets us in the warmth of the Father’s great love. We are never, ever alone, even when the Savior went home to be with His Pa.

I am praying Emily’s words this morning, “Lord Jesus, you are my best bud. I miss you now, but I know you are with the Father, and one day soon, I will see you again, face to face.” I am assured of Christ’s promise through the comfort of His sweet Holy Spirit. This is the gift Jesus left for you and me on the day He returned home.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

One Word

Today’s Reading: John 16:5-6 (NIV)

5 [Jesus said,] “Now I am going to Him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief.”

Good morning!

If you’ve ever lost someone you love, then you probably understand the stunned silence of Jesus’ disciples that day, as He spoke these words. When grief grips us, it is hard to find the right thing to say to express our deep sadness. Their very best friend was preparing to die. He is their mentor, teacher, healer, prayer partner, and Savior. The disciples didn’t understand why Jesus had to leave, after only three short years together. Where was He was going and how would they ever find Him again? What would you say to someone you love, knowing they are slipping away from this world to the next, and there is nothing you can do to stop it from happening?

Every human heart understands the universal language of grief. On September 11, 2001, people around the world held hands and prayed for the people who were suffering in New York City. Thousands of lives were lost in this hateful act of terrorism. An outpouring of grief wrapped itself like a blanket, uniting people from different countries. We did not know each other, but we knew the pain of our common loss and despair, and that made us one. There were no words to say as we watched in horror, as death and destruction settled over the city in a blanket of ash. People were searching for their spouses, their children, their parents, hoping to find a miracle within the rubble. As the cleanup progressed, two structural support beams miraculously remained intact, even as the Twin Towers collapsed. Raised high above the city ruins, the cross that was pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center still stands today.

As Christ prepared His heart to carry the sins of the world to Calvary, He understood the disciples’ grief. Jesus knew the cross would stand firm forever; that it would supernaturally bind the hearts and minds of the millions who would come, seeking His love, forgiveness and grace. On this day, there is only one Word to offer those who are looking for hope in the midst of their grief, and that Word is Jesus.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Gluten free wafers and saving grace

Today’s Reading: John 16:2-4 (NIV)

2 [Jesus said,] “They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God. 3 They will do such things because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you. I did not tell you this at first because I was with you.”

Good morning!

During yesterday’s prayer service, I knelt at the altar rail, holding a gluten-free wafer dipped in grape juice; it is the visible presence of Christ’s life, death and resurrection working in my life. Jesus lives and I know He lives, because He lives inside my heart. I kept thinking about that concrete altar right in front of me, mostly because of a sermon I had heard earlier about our long, lost friend, Ed. When Christ became the supreme sacrifice for humanity’s sin, we became His living witness to the world. His altar lives on in you and in me. We offer up our hearts to Jesus, for it is the only altar completely designed, purchased and redeemed by our heavenly Father, through the blood of His Son.

I placed the wafer in my mouth and began to chew. I will admit that the taste of a gluten-free wafer is unique. It kind of reminds me of chewing on a piece of cardboard. I baked communion bread many Saturdays in my kitchen in preparation for Sunday morning worship. If the loaves would rise up, the crust was guaranteed to be flaky and tender and the warm, sweet dough inside would be soft and a comfort food to those who would consume it. The hardened shell of a sugar-free, gluten-free wafer is not what I would describe as warm and comforting. There is no after taste inside its hardened shell. I could hear and feel the wafer crushing into tiny fragments between my teeth. That deafening sound reminds me of how Christ’s body was literally shredded for my sins. He laid down His perfectly sinless body for a perfectly stained life. He took on my sins so that I could live forever with Him. I wondered which hurt my Jesus worse - the flesh being ripped from his body, or bearing my sins up on the cross of guilt and shame? His sinless frame took on my sin and the sins of the world. Until that suspended moment in time, when Jesus willingly gave up His Spirit, sin separated Him from His sinless Father. Jesus understands the pain of separation anxiety more so than anyone else.

I kept chewing and staring at the altar before me, amazed by Christ’s love. I decided then and there, as Ed is my witness, my heart needs a major overhaul before it could possibly become the offering I would want to return to the Lord. Swallowing is the hardest part of communion for me. Sometimes I gag. When we swallow, it means we’re consuming what we’ve put in our mouth. That bitter wafer does not dissolve like a soft, sweet piece of communion bread. If it is not completely chewed, one can feel tiny fragments getting stuck between teeth and caught in the throat. How can I accept such a wonderful gift from my Lord? The personal pain that I’ve caused, and the complete, undeserved forgiveness I receive is certainly not a fair trade. In fact, there is nothing fair about it. Still, I swallow, grateful for the price that was paid on my behalf that day at Calvary.

If you had been the only human being on the face of the earth that ever sinned, Jesus would have laid down His life just for you. And that’s exactly what He did. He did this for you and me, for just a time like this. When you come to the altar to take communion, I’d like to recommend the gluten-free wafer. You will experience a whole new perspective on saving grace.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Faithful in persecution

Today’s Reading: John 16:1-2 (NIV)

1 [Jesus said,] “All this I have told you so that you will not go astray. 2 They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering a service to God.”

Good morning!

When Jesus spoke these important words to His disciples, they probably didn’t fully grasp the implications and consequences of accepting Jesus as Meshuah, their long-awaited Savior. How these words have proven themselves over and over again throughout world history. How many thousands of believers have died in 2008, simply because they profess that Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior?

Just last month in Mexico, a mother, father and child were brutally killed by their next-door neighbor, convinced that his young daughter’s ailment was the result of Christian faith and practice, comparing its beliefs to the practice of witchcraft. In Saudi Arabia, a young woman is murdered by her brother, a Muslim cleric, for sharing her faith in Jesus Christ. Religious persecution continues to devastate Christian believers in India, after the recent assassination of a prominent Hindu World Council leader. The Christian community has been targeted for this crime, and, as a result, Christian churches and orphanages, the elderly, young women and children are being murdered. If you want to learn more about religious persecution happening around the world today, go to www.persecution.com.

Shortly after Jesus’ crucifixion in Jerusalem, Saul of Tarsus began persecuting Christians by order of the High Priest. He stopped at nothing to hunt down and kill new Christian converts and their families. Saul was convinced that he was doing the right thing. It took a holy encounter with the risen Christ, before Saul’s eyes were opened to the Truth.

I have not personally experienced the extreme religious persecution of many of my Christian brothers and sisters around the world; yet, I daily grieve for the deceased and their families, asking the Father to restore His peace to our broken and fragmented world. American citizens have held firm to its First Amendment rights in freedom of religion, established by the US Constitution in 1787. It has become very clear to me that our religious freedoms have never been free. We continue to pay a price for our freedom to choose.

A burning question rises up from the pit of my belly this morning, as I ask myself this pointed question: Would I profess faith in Jesus Christ if I knew that my family’s lives were in imminent danger? Jesus gave us fair warning so that we should not fall away but remain faithful, even to death. This morning, I pray that I may be found a faithful follower, holding firm to His Word, especially in times of persecution.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Testify to love

Today’s Reading: John 15:26-27 (NIV)

26 [Jesus said,] “When the counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father, He will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.’”

Good morning!

Imagine that when you opened this email message today, that you were issued a subpoena to give your personal testimony on behalf of the Lord Jesus Christ. What you say about the One who saves you? What life examples could you offer to defend Christ’s sovereignty to the world? Is there some irrefutable evidence that may persuade a judge and jury to hear the truth and act upon it? People’s lives depend upon your testimony. This is serious stuff and most folks don’t take it nearly as seriously as they should.

We romanticize the courtroom with the help of many popular television shows and movies. We listen to the well-written arguments offered by our favorite actors who portray the winning legal team, and we somehow equivocate this to reality. While there may be some similarities, one must actually experience what it is like to take the stand and give oral testimony in order to grasp the importance of this responsibility. Testifying to the Truth is the most important witness we will ever offer to the world today.

Several years ago, I was asked to give verbal testimony at trial on behalf of someone I love. At first, this responsibility seemed too hard, and I wanted to run from it. There were important points that needed to be made and my personal witness was critical to the outcome of this trial. Spoken words do not come easily for me, even though it may appear so on the printed page. I must have felt a little like Moses, when he needed his brother Aaron to speak to the Pharaoh on his behalf. I knew I needed heavenly help to speak the truth in love, with conviction, clarity and authority. I wanted someone greater than myself to intervene. The Lord has never left me alone and He will never forsake me. I have His Word on it. Jesus Christ presents His case through His compelling life’s witness. As promised, Jesus sent me His Counselor, straight from the Father’s heart to mine; He is the Spirit of all Truth and the living testimony by which I stand. When we willing to allow God’s voice to speak through us, especially when it is hard, the testimony which has stood for all generations, will be heard, interpreted and acted upon, even in our world today.

Christ calls us to testify on His behalf, from the moment we awake until we lay our heads back on the pillow at night. The things we say and do are our living testimony to the Truth. Standing up for Jesus may be the hardest, most difficult thing you have ever done. If you struggle with words and actions like I do, then I have some great news to share! We do not have to give our witness alone, and we shouldn’t try to do it by ourselves. Christ has promised us the help of His perfect counselor, the Spirit of all Truth, who will speak, help and guide us as we testify to Love.

It is time for you to take a stand and offer your personal testimony for Jesus Christ. Are you ready?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Hate, without reason

Today’s Reading: John 15:24-25 (NIV)

24 [Jesus said,] “If I had not done among them what no one else did, they would not be guilty of sin. But now they have seen these miracles, and yet they have hated both me and my Father. 25 But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law, ‘They hated me without reason.’”

Good morning!

I’ve decided it is much easier to hate than to love. Expressing my passion has never been a problem for me; I learned how to convey my likes and dislikes quite well, even as a young child. My mother tells me that I was not a picky eater, but I did not hesitate to share when I didn’t care for a particular food. I learned to spit my carrots and beets at her from the high chair, and I must have had pretty good aim since she lost several of her favorite shirts as flying vegetables permanently stained her clothing.

We often choose to hate the things we do not understand. Have you ever prejudged someone, not really knowing their particular circumstance? I was pretty good at this in school. I had my preferred teachers, and made up my mind after only one or two classes which instructors I might try to avoid. It may have had something to do with their physical presentation, how they dressed, what they said, or even their demeanor. Sometimes I allowed another student’s opinion to persuade me not to even give that teacher a chance to win my favor. I’m probably the only one who has ever done this, but have you ever formed a strong opinion based upon someone else’s opinion, rather than taking the time to gather all the facts and weigh it for yourself?

We do not know whether the teacher who comes to class in a wrinkled shirt, jacket and pants did not sleep in his automobile the night before because the bank just foreclosed on his home. We do not know whether the supervisor who constantly snaps at everyone around her today has not come from an extremely trying family situation. There are so many things that we do not know, and yet, we base our opinions and share our passions about others without having all the facts first. We choose to hate or to love. For some, there is no in-between, only black and white; no room for even a little bit of gray.

Maybe I’m not so different from the people who lived with Christ. Jesus said that even the miracles He offered through the Father were hated by the ones who did not understand. They refused to open their hearts to the truth, even when the truth stood right in front of them. These people chose to hate without reason, for it is far easier to hate something they could not understand.

Have you ever hated your neighbor? Jesus said, “For inasmuch as you have done it to the least of these, you have done it to me.” Father, forgive us for relying on misinformation and conjecture. Help us move beyond the passion of mere feelings and choose to really love each other, especially when it is not our first choice. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

The Top 5

Today’s Reading: John 15:23 (NIV)

23 [Jesus said,] “He who hates me hates my Father as well.”

Good morning!

How do we hate God? I’ve been asking myself this question for awhile now. The Lord has been speaking through the pastors’ Sunday messages on prayer, and yesterday, during the rain storm, the answer became very clear to my heart. We may say we love Jesus, but it is only through obedience that we demonstrate real love for our Lord. How do I convey real love to the One who saves me? I believe that the opposite of hate is obedience through Christ-like love.

One of my favorite television game shows is Family Feud. I like watching how different family members would answer a “top five” question, just to see if their choices were in agreement with each other and the results of the popular poll. I began to make a list of the top five things I would give back to God. I wonder if your list will match mine:

5. The first ten minutes of each new morning, spent in prayer, thanking Jesus for saving me and giving me yet another day to serve and love Him by loving the ones He has placed in my path.

4. The first ten percent of my income, as a love offering to the Lord. There is a lot of need today, and if every human heart would willingly and joyfully share the first fruits of our monetary income, together we could make an amazing difference in our world.

3. A tenth of my week wholly devoted to helping someone else. I’ve been given twenty-four hours a day, one hundred sixty eight hours each week to live. If I willingly donated 16.8 hours to someone else, by investing in relationships, providing for needs, and simply being a good neighbor and friend, the quality of our lives together would be enriched immeasurably.

2. Setting aside the first day of each week to worship and honor the Lord with my life. Starting each new week by celebrating Christ’s love in community is one of the greatest blessings we have received. Don’t miss out on a minute of it!

And the number one answer is:

1. A tenth of each day spent in prayer and Bible study. How will I know what the Father wants me to do if I don’t take time to read His Book? In one 24-hour period, how much time do I waste on the unnecessary? Can I not find 2 hours to spend with the Lord?

What is your top 5? Remembering that all we have and all that we are is an undeserved, unmerited gift of favor from the Father through our Lord Jesus Christ. Do you love God? How will you choose to express your love for Him?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2008, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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