Hanging the hatred of Haman in me
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Esther 7, 8, 9, 10
Esther 5:9 (NIV)
9 Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai.
Esther 7:8-10 (NIV)
8 Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining. The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?” As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. 9 Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A gallows seventy-five feet high stands by Haman’s house. He had it made for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.” The king said, “Hang him on it!” 10 So they hanged Haman on the gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
Matthew 5:43-45 (NIV)
[Jesus said,] “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.”
Good morning!
Shortly after Jeff and I moved to Dallas, Texas, to attend seminary, a new night-time soap opera called Dallas made its mark in television history. The story of the Ewings, a family whose fortune was made in the drilling and manufacturing of crude oil, became a Friday evening phenomenon. Before the age of video recording, people stopped what they were doing each week just to catch the next episode of the Ewing family’s ongoing saga. While there were some really cutthroat characters, the one person everybody loved to hate was J. R. Ewing. The oldest son of Jock and Ellie Ewing, J. R. had inherited his fortune and was proud of it. He was a sly and cunning businessman, who knew how to get what he wanted when he wanted it. J. R. took what he could get and would stop at nothing to get his way. He left a trail of deceit and broken hearted people everywhere he went. One of the series cliffhangers provided a lot of speculation and wonder as the world waited with baited breath to learn who shot J. R.
Haman is the man we all love to hate in the Book of Esther. He was an arrogant, evil soul, consumed with pride and a self-serving attitude that carried the aroma of a scared skunk on a two-lane country road. One can smell the stench of evil a mile away. This man, who believed he was better than all the others, wielded self-avowed power and authority over many innocent lives. Haman was a coward and a fool. We can learn a lot from this man’s story, if we’re willing to take a closer look at him. Is it possible that a little piece of Haman exists in you and me?
The Jewish community in Susa was about to be annihilated through the sneaky and cunning work of Haman. He had managed to pull the wool over the king’s eyes; yet Mordecai could see the truth smacking him in the face. Mordecai knew what he must do. Rather than take the issue into his own hands and act, Mordecai fasted and prayed before the Lord. He got word to his young cousin, Esther, and with the prayers of her people, she found the courage and strength to ask the king to spare her life and the lives of her people. God single-handedly foiled the evil plot of a self-absorbed, haughty man. Haman lost his life on the gallows he had constructed for Mordecai. Why did Haman hate Mordecai so? Because Mordecai refused to pay Haman honor. Mordecai loved the Lord God Almighty with his heart, soul, mind, and strength, and refused to raise up any man, including the king.
There is nothing harder than to show love and kindness to someone who truly seems to hates you. We make excuses to avoid these people, while squinting our eyes and murmuring about them behind their backs. Mordecai could not be controlled by Haman’s wrath. He didn’t seem to care that Haman was large and in charge. As far as Mordecai was concerned, Haman did not deserve his respect. Mordecai chose to pray and fast, allowing God to handle the evil in this man’s heart. Because Mordecai trusted God to effect change, He did not place his fear on what he could see with his own eyes; he trusted the Lord to resolve the situation and reveal the truth for what it is.
We must learn how to hate the sin and love the sinner. Jesus said that we must learn to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. I need to hang the hatred of Haman in me out to dry. It has no place inside my heart. My prayer today is that I will allow the Lord to handle the evil that seems to swim around me today. I am asking the Lord to teach me how to love the ones who resent me; those who wish to bring evil and harm to my life. He can fight all my battles, when I’m willing to give it to Him and let it go. Are you holding a little hatred in your heart that needs to be hung out to dry? Ask the Lord God Almighty to help you truly love your enemy this morning.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: A Holy Spirit intervention! It is impossible to learn to love our enemies on our own steam. We need to let our hatred go, as we seek the Lord’s heart to forgive and forget. Haman was hung out to dry because he simply couldn’t get over himself. If you are feeling just a little bit proud today, don’t let your heart end up like his. Give your pain to the Lord, and let Him teach you how to love the sinner, while hating the sin.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
For such a time as this
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Esther 4, 5, 6
Esther 4:12-16 (NIV)
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews together who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
[Jesus said,] “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Good morning!
It is easy to feel rather insignificant in the world we live in. I don’t know about you, but I have wondered from time to time whether I could really make any difference in the life of another. After all, I’m just one little person out of billions of people around the world.
I got married when I was eighteen years old! I had fallen in love with the boy of my dreams, and I was convinced we were perfect for each other! Sometimes we find the love of our life at the most inopportune time. God was gracious and protected our marriage through some really difficult moments, as we grew up in love together. My husband married a baby girl, and I had an awful lot to learn about loving a husband. I don’t think our parents could have stopped us from getting married – we were determined and so they relented. Funny how parents do that… we step back and let our children make life choices knowing they will grow up and become mature one way or another. Parents learn how to pray really hard as their babies grow up. Now that I’m an empty nester, I find myself on my knees all the more, as I continue to pray for each of my children and their precious families every day.
I wondered where our life together would take us. As I’ve grown older, I find every day to be an incredible adventure. You just never know who you might meet or what you will learn. Still, there are times when we all wonder whether our life's work will have a positive effect in the heart of another. The Book of Esther is one of my favorite books in the Bible. This is the story of a young girl, orphaned at a child. I can relate to that since I too, was an orphan. She was adopted by her older cousin Mordecai. He took on the huge responsibility of raising a frightened child. She adored Mordecai, and learned from his life example. Mordecai taught Esther the importance of faith through practice and example. He told her stories of the rich traditions of their people, and practiced the presence of God in prayer, fasting, and study at home and in worship. Mordecai lived in a place where publicly practicing his faith in God could potentially lead to death. He taught his young cousin to trust the Lord in all things and be assured that God’s master plan is greater and more powerful than any simple scheme of man.
In an amazing sequence of events, Esther finds herself placed in a position of power. How did this happen to a poor Jewish orphan? So many times, we believe our ability to reach out and lead is limited by gender, class, and the society in which we live. Isn’t it amazing that when we give our lives over to the Lord, we find a newfound freedom in His master plan. It is a holy moment indeed, when we realize that God has a special plan for you to fulfill. He gives each one of us a future and a hope. It is up to you to decide whether you will hand Him your whole heart, trusting God to lead you, or whether you will try to control our own future all by yourself. Either way, the things we say and do have a profound affect on the people who are placed in our path. With God’s help, we can extend the love of Christ by telling His story around the world. For such a time as this, God calls you and I to share Jesus with the world.
The opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus Christ is more important than anything else we will ever do in our lifetime. If we are willing to trust God enough to hand Him our future, we can know for certain that He will walk with us every step of the way. We may not always understand the why and how of it, but can be sure that He will reward our faithfulness. Eternity is just around the corner.
You can be an Esther today. God has called you to live for Him, for such a time as this.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the faith of Esther, to look past your personal circumstance and see what God sees in your potential! He placed Esther in a position that by faith and obedience, she would make a lasting difference in the lives of her people. If God can do that for a young orphan girl, imagine what He can do in you!
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Esther 4, 5, 6
Esther 4:12-16 (NIV)
12 When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: “Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?”
15 Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather all the Jews together who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
Matthew 10:39 (NIV)
[Jesus said,] “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”
Good morning!
It is easy to feel rather insignificant in the world we live in. I don’t know about you, but I have wondered from time to time whether I could really make any difference in the life of another. After all, I’m just one little person out of billions of people around the world.
I got married when I was eighteen years old! I had fallen in love with the boy of my dreams, and I was convinced we were perfect for each other! Sometimes we find the love of our life at the most inopportune time. God was gracious and protected our marriage through some really difficult moments, as we grew up in love together. My husband married a baby girl, and I had an awful lot to learn about loving a husband. I don’t think our parents could have stopped us from getting married – we were determined and so they relented. Funny how parents do that… we step back and let our children make life choices knowing they will grow up and become mature one way or another. Parents learn how to pray really hard as their babies grow up. Now that I’m an empty nester, I find myself on my knees all the more, as I continue to pray for each of my children and their precious families every day.
I wondered where our life together would take us. As I’ve grown older, I find every day to be an incredible adventure. You just never know who you might meet or what you will learn. Still, there are times when we all wonder whether our life's work will have a positive effect in the heart of another. The Book of Esther is one of my favorite books in the Bible. This is the story of a young girl, orphaned at a child. I can relate to that since I too, was an orphan. She was adopted by her older cousin Mordecai. He took on the huge responsibility of raising a frightened child. She adored Mordecai, and learned from his life example. Mordecai taught Esther the importance of faith through practice and example. He told her stories of the rich traditions of their people, and practiced the presence of God in prayer, fasting, and study at home and in worship. Mordecai lived in a place where publicly practicing his faith in God could potentially lead to death. He taught his young cousin to trust the Lord in all things and be assured that God’s master plan is greater and more powerful than any simple scheme of man.
In an amazing sequence of events, Esther finds herself placed in a position of power. How did this happen to a poor Jewish orphan? So many times, we believe our ability to reach out and lead is limited by gender, class, and the society in which we live. Isn’t it amazing that when we give our lives over to the Lord, we find a newfound freedom in His master plan. It is a holy moment indeed, when we realize that God has a special plan for you to fulfill. He gives each one of us a future and a hope. It is up to you to decide whether you will hand Him your whole heart, trusting God to lead you, or whether you will try to control our own future all by yourself. Either way, the things we say and do have a profound affect on the people who are placed in our path. With God’s help, we can extend the love of Christ by telling His story around the world. For such a time as this, God calls you and I to share Jesus with the world.
The opportunity to serve the Lord Jesus Christ is more important than anything else we will ever do in our lifetime. If we are willing to trust God enough to hand Him our future, we can know for certain that He will walk with us every step of the way. We may not always understand the why and how of it, but can be sure that He will reward our faithfulness. Eternity is just around the corner.
You can be an Esther today. God has called you to live for Him, for such a time as this.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the faith of Esther, to look past your personal circumstance and see what God sees in your potential! He placed Esther in a position that by faith and obedience, she would make a lasting difference in the lives of her people. If God can do that for a young orphan girl, imagine what He can do in you!
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Saturday, June 09, 2007
The sin of self-righteousness
Grand Sweep Daily
Psalm 97:12 (NIV)
12 Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise His holy name.
Matthew
33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV)
9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God.
Good morning!
“God doesn’t like ugly!” I first heard this phrase as I was watching the movie “The Preacher’s Wife” on the big screen several years ago. Dudley, the angel sent by God to bring hope to a depressed pastor and his discouraged family one Christmas, spoke these words in response to their self-serving, unhappy attitudes. I love this quote, because it resonates in my life. Have you ever felt justified in your own self-righteous behavior? When I begin to spout my opinions to anyone who will make time to listen, I begin to look a little like Pigpen in those Charlie Brown cartoons. The dirt simply gravitates to me, clumping up and making me totally miserable inside and out.
When I was a child, I learned early on that it was inappropriate to express an opinion contrary to that of my elders. When I became a parent, I thought it might be a good thing to allow our children freedom of expression without fear of retaliation. I wanted them to be self-motivated, free-thinkers; able to choose what they believed and to make sound decisions about life and how they would go about living it. I thought I was doing them a favor. Was I ever wrong! Good intentions only go so far. Let me share a little secret with you: I have three of the most opinionated children on the face of God’s green earth! There are times when I need to carry a fire-proof shield to protect myself from the fiery darts they fling in moments of self-righteousness and revelation. I admit I find myself just a little embarrassed because I know that deep down inside, they are only emulating their mother, and they do a really good job at it! Watching my children spar with each other is a whole lot like looking in a mirror. It is a good thing the Lord did not bless us with ten children, because I’m here to tell you there is no way I would have ever survived.
Ironically, this is what happens when God gave all of us the free will to choose right from wrong. The Lord, the giver of life, created each one of us, and set us free to live out our days in the light of His love. He leaves it up to you and to me to choose whether to follow Him or reject Him. Somewhere along the way, we begin to lose sight of our Creator. We take authority over the things of our life. We make choices that define who we are. We begin to form opinions through life experience and educational pursuits. It is easy to become self-absorbed at times, even to the point of believing that we have the ability to fix and manage whatever comes our way, all by ourselves. We begin to think that we deserve the best of everything, worthy to climb to the top of the ladder, no matter who we step on to get there. We stop caring about our neighbors. We ignore the children who are hurting. We live life large – we are in charge and as long as we get what we need, it is all that really matters. We forget that the sum of our daily living is a gift from God, and that He has a greater plan for each of us to pursue. We get sidetracked trying to do our own thing, and we forget who is truly in charge. Have you ever found yourself living in a place of self-service?
The older I get, the more I realize there is not a lot self-manufactured good in me. Whenever I try to live on my own steam, basking in self-righteousness, I find myself drowning due to the millstone wrapped securely around my neck. The sheer weight of it pins me face down on the floor. It gets lonely there. For one thing, when I’m looking at the floor, it is difficult to look up. There is no one to talk to but myself, and I don’t even want to listen to me when I pop an “ugly” attitude. Whenever I step out on my own steam, trying to right the wrongs of the world, with all that hot air blowing out of my mouth, I end up getting burned. No, I have learned the only righteousness that lives within me is the righteousness of my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. When I gave my life to Him, He took my heart and began to reshape it. As I study His life and teachings, I begin to wonder how He might respond in certain situations. What kind of choices would He make with the people placed in my path? His message of repentance and forgiveness reverberates into my very being. It is His righteousness that I long for. My self-service is just that – self-service. And that, my friends, is utterly worthless. My Jesus is worth emulating. He is the only one able to lead me back home.
The next time an “ugly” attitude pops into your brain, ask yourself whether this thought is self-serving or if it is serving others. We fall into the sin of self-righteousness when we forget to look at the One who is truly sinless. Thank God for the righteousness of Jesus Christ. He covers all my sin and self-serving behavior. And it is with that assurance, that I can live my life within the umbrella of His righteousness alone. Less of me and more of Him; this is my prayer today.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Pray for: God to grab your heart, convict you of the ways in which you may be living in a self-centered environment, and give you the desire to lay it all out before Jesus at the foot of His cross. His blood will cover your sin and help you let go of the “ugly” things that keep you separated from Him. Won’t you let Jesus Christ become your only righteousness today?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Friday, June 08, 2007
Clear Vision
Grand Sweep Daily
Nehemiah 13:19-22 (NIV)
19 When evening shadows fell on the gates of
Remember me for this also, O my God, and show mercy to me according to your great love.
Good morning!
Do you recall when the Sunday blue laws were repealed? It was as if the gates had suddenly been pried open by the merchants and shop owners in the communities where we live. Nehemiah didn’t like what He was seeing at all. The Lord God Almighty had commanded
We often become so busy with the stuff in our lives that we forget to stop and look at where we have been. It is hard to know where you are going, if you are not sure which direction you came from. We must use our eyes, not only to see the rich traditions of our past, but to capture a glimpse of the future that lies ever before us. Last weekend at the Missouri Area Annual Conference, we celebrated our past, looked forward with faith toward the future, and rejoiced in the present moment. Our pastors and worship leaders have been gifted with a vision and hope that draws us into the future with faith. We are the culmination of a rich history, as we step forward into His light of life – it is a light that shines in the darkness and sweeps every shadow away.
Sometimes, my vision is blurry. There are moments when I cannot see clearly, no matter how hard I try. I had an experience like that this week, as I tried to read the numbers posted on the big screen at annual conference. It’s got to be a mental block with me – you put a group of number up on the board, and my brain screams “this does not compute!” Not only could I not see the numbers clearly, but even the names became blurry and out of focus. Thank goodness someone else with greater vision than I could see the clear writing projected on the wall. There are moments when our vision becomes skewed and we forget what is most important of all. It takes a strong leader to pull us back into focus, to see the value of where we’ve been and where we are headed. We need to set aside a block of time to celebrate our life within the shelter of our Savior’s hand. We need to stop what we are doing and worship Him wholeheartedly. We need to feel the love of Christ and experience His presence every moment of every day.
I sat and held my daughter’s hand as we watched our little Joshua graduate from preschool. He wore a blue cap and gown with a gold tassle dangling as he processed. Joshua proudly carried his diploma in his little hands. He, along with his classmates, stood and recited the alphabet and counted from one to twenty. They spoke the days of the week in English and in Spanish. Then they counted to fifteen in Spanish. I sat there in absolute wonder as I watched this precious boy. It seemed like yesterday that I held him in my arms; all five pounds of him. His head was so tiny that I could cup it in one palm. Now, our Joshua is preparing for kindergarten, and I am simply amazed to see where this boy is headed. As I held his tiny baby brother Andrew in my arms, I knew Joshua’s vision would carry our family forward. Joshua represents our future. I am proud to be his grandmother, the foundation of his past.
We are a family of faith. When your vision becomes compromised and you struggle to see the hand in front of your nose, take a moment to grab hold of the root. Jesus Christ is our sure foundation. He is the cornerstone of our faith. When we celebrate our past, and carry it into the future, we become a living and healthy vine. Our vision becomes clear again, and we can see through the eyes of faith, the eternity that waits for each of us in Christ.
If you are looking for a family of faith, I would invite you to come join us for worship this weekend at
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
Pray for: vision, not only to see where you’ve been, but where you are headed. If you are struggling to read the numbers on the wall, look to a strong leader for help. Ask the Lord of life to be your true vision today.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Kaleidoscope
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Nehemiah 9, 10; Psalm 96
Psalm 96
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for He comes,
He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth.
Good morning!
This is my favorite time of day. I love creeping out of bed before the sun rises, just to enjoy watching a new morning dawn. The Father takes His paint brush, dips it into the soft hue of amazing love, and gently changes the backdrop of darkness into subtle lights, reflecting across the entire sky. Every new morning is His creative work of genius, given as a gift to each one of us to simply enjoy. Our God loves us more than we can ever begin to comprehend.
The reflection of God’s countenance is filled with His splendor and majesty. It is His kaleidoscope, multi-faceted and timeless. Kaleidoscopes emerged with the ancient Greeks, and were reinvented and patented by Sir David Brewster in 1817. The kaleidoscope was intended for use as a science tool to study light polarization, but quickly became a popular children’s toy. It is a tube of mirrors containing loose, colored beads. When we look inside the tube, the light from the opposite end catches the beads’ reflection, causing an intricate and colorful pattern that dances from within. The kaleidoscope is the culmination of color, complemented by a variety of beaded shapes, lighted mirrors and subtle hues.
I am reminded of His amazing love whenever I see all of God’s children dancing together around the world. Think about it. When you pick up a kaleidoscope and begin to turn it in the light, the beads begin to move, some in opposite directions. Colors take shape and change as the tube is turned from side to side. Beautiful images appear; some are symmetrical; others are obscure and shapeless. Every piece is vital to the total picture. God’s creation, His humanity, is the kaleidoscope on which He sets His heart. We are the dance and He is the choreographer. We are the painting; He is the master artist. We are His people, and He is our Lord and Savior.
There is a kaleidoscope of color emerging from every faith-filled church around the globe. No matter where we live, every congregation has an important function in the body of Christ. Together, we dance. Together, we emulate life and light to a dark and lonely world. We demonstrate what it means to live, move and have our being within the power source. We offer our Jesus to all people, everywhere. We are His kaleidoscope, emulating His love, through the dance!
Last night at small group, the Holy Spirit came to rest upon our hearts. Each one of us is a unique and vital part of His creation. We bring different gifts and graces to the table. Together with Christ, we can offer His plan of salvation to our friends and neighbors in the community where we live. We lift high His light of hope and love redeemed. We are part of the living; a piece of the eternal. We are kaleidoscope. It is the name He gave that describes us best.
Come and join in the dance! Without you, a piece of the picture is missing. Jesus invites all of us who places our total faith, hope and trust in Him, to be His living kaleidoscope to all the world. Through our unique colors and hue, we can dance together as we reach out to the world for the glory of our God.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: vision! God’s amazing grace offered through His Son Jesus Christ is a gift for you and me. Won’t you join in the dance today? If you are looking for a small group where you can plug into the power source, Kaleidoscope is waiting for just for you. Come join us this weekend at Faith Church.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Nehemiah 9, 10; Psalm 96
Psalm 96
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, praise His name; proclaim His salvation day after day.
Declare His glory among the nations, His marvelous deeds among all peoples.
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; He is to be feared above all gods.
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens.
Splendor and majesty are before Him; strength and glory are in His sanctuary.
Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering and come into His courts.
Worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness; tremble before Him, all the earth.
Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
He will judge the peoples with equity. Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.
Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for He comes,
He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth.
Good morning!
This is my favorite time of day. I love creeping out of bed before the sun rises, just to enjoy watching a new morning dawn. The Father takes His paint brush, dips it into the soft hue of amazing love, and gently changes the backdrop of darkness into subtle lights, reflecting across the entire sky. Every new morning is His creative work of genius, given as a gift to each one of us to simply enjoy. Our God loves us more than we can ever begin to comprehend.
The reflection of God’s countenance is filled with His splendor and majesty. It is His kaleidoscope, multi-faceted and timeless. Kaleidoscopes emerged with the ancient Greeks, and were reinvented and patented by Sir David Brewster in 1817. The kaleidoscope was intended for use as a science tool to study light polarization, but quickly became a popular children’s toy. It is a tube of mirrors containing loose, colored beads. When we look inside the tube, the light from the opposite end catches the beads’ reflection, causing an intricate and colorful pattern that dances from within. The kaleidoscope is the culmination of color, complemented by a variety of beaded shapes, lighted mirrors and subtle hues.
I am reminded of His amazing love whenever I see all of God’s children dancing together around the world. Think about it. When you pick up a kaleidoscope and begin to turn it in the light, the beads begin to move, some in opposite directions. Colors take shape and change as the tube is turned from side to side. Beautiful images appear; some are symmetrical; others are obscure and shapeless. Every piece is vital to the total picture. God’s creation, His humanity, is the kaleidoscope on which He sets His heart. We are the dance and He is the choreographer. We are the painting; He is the master artist. We are His people, and He is our Lord and Savior.
There is a kaleidoscope of color emerging from every faith-filled church around the globe. No matter where we live, every congregation has an important function in the body of Christ. Together, we dance. Together, we emulate life and light to a dark and lonely world. We demonstrate what it means to live, move and have our being within the power source. We offer our Jesus to all people, everywhere. We are His kaleidoscope, emulating His love, through the dance!
Last night at small group, the Holy Spirit came to rest upon our hearts. Each one of us is a unique and vital part of His creation. We bring different gifts and graces to the table. Together with Christ, we can offer His plan of salvation to our friends and neighbors in the community where we live. We lift high His light of hope and love redeemed. We are part of the living; a piece of the eternal. We are kaleidoscope. It is the name He gave that describes us best.
Come and join in the dance! Without you, a piece of the picture is missing. Jesus invites all of us who places our total faith, hope and trust in Him, to be His living kaleidoscope to all the world. Through our unique colors and hue, we can dance together as we reach out to the world for the glory of our God.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: vision! God’s amazing grace offered through His Son Jesus Christ is a gift for you and me. Won’t you join in the dance today? If you are looking for a small group where you can plug into the power source, Kaleidoscope is waiting for just for you. Come join us this weekend at Faith Church.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Can He have our undivided attention please?
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Nehemiah 7, 8; Psalms 94, 95
Nehemiah 8:2-3 (NIV)
2 So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
Psalm 95:19 (NIV)
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
II Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Good morning!
I need to practice listening attentively. Do you ever have trouble focusing? Sometimes I wonder just how much I might be missing out on from the Lord, because I’m simply not focused on Him. God likes to speak to me early in the morning. I know for some of you, this might stretch your sensibilities a bit far. Still, He tends to wake me up somewhere in the vicinity of 4am, sometimes a little earlier. He has been doing this for years. I like to get out of bed and stagger into His holy presence, with a Bible and cup of coffee in hand. I am learning how to wait for Him. I confess, however, I’m a slow learner. It's not always easy to drag out from under the covers in the middle of the night. I'm a lot like my crock pot, I keep simmering in the palm of His hand for hours on end. I wonder if I’ll ever be done enough to serve! Do you struggle with listening attentively to God? Can you hear Him when He speaks to you?
I wrestle with the constant chatter occurring every day in every way. When I’m not writing, I’m working, playing, reading, running, baking, cleaning, chatting online, and sleeping. Business and busyness keeps me from focusing my undivided attention upon Jesus. I truly believe the Lord wants each of us to give Him our undivided attention. Just how far will you allow the Lord to stretch you? How far would you go just to make time to sit in His presence for even an hour? Is He worth getting up for in the morning? Is He worth turning off the television for in the evening? Would you give up a lunch hour just to sit and talk to Him in your car? When your cell phone rings, I often wonder whether He is on the other end of that wireless transmission. If God spoke to your heart today, would you hear Him, or would your business and busyness get in the way of a heart-to-heart connection? How many of us are willing to make time on Saturday or Sunday to enter into a worship experience with the redeemer of our souls?
For me, it is a tug of war between selfishness and selflessness. The more time I spend focusing on me and the stuff of my life, the less time I spend bathing in the light of His love. When I shift my total focus and praise to my Lord, not seeking anything for myself other than the joy of sitting at His feet, all of the other stuff of life seems to fade away. It is not so important. People who lead busy lives have to prioritize well. It is the only way they can accomplish what they need to do in a twenty-four hour time slot. Hear me when I say that the Lord God Almighty is timeless. His timing is perfect in all things. He holds the moments of our lifetime in His hand. Every minute is a gift from Him. How can I not make time for my Savior, redeemer and dearest friend?
Sometimes I find it is easier to listen intently when I need to be consoled. Do you find yourself only turning to the Good Book for answers to problems you have created all on your own steam? We are definitely our own worst enemy. I have found an amazing freedom in Christ. When I lay myself down at the foot of the cross, His amazing, cleansing blood pours over me, and I can walk with Him, fully clothed in His righteousness alone. When you experience the covering of His righteousness over your heart, the desire to seek His presence becomes more and more important, and the things we do to please ourselves here on earth seem rather insignificant.
Take time to pick up the Word today and read it. If you do not like to read or fear you cannot make the time, invest in a good Bible CD. Would you be willing to turn off the radio talk shows and listen to God speak on your way to work today? When you seek His holy presence, He finds you, no matter where you are. Do not be surprised if the Lord begins to whisper in your ear while you sleep. The next time you wake up in the middle of the night with a foot cramp, back ache, or find yourself tossing and turning, realize that God may simply be trying to get your attention. He will keep your heart and mind in perfect peace, when you focus your whole heart on Him.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the desire to lay aside some time each day to focus your whole heart on Jesus. He is trying to get your attention. Will you find time to sit in His holy presence today?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Nehemiah 7, 8; Psalms 94, 95
Nehemiah 8:2-3 (NIV)
2 So on the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. 3 And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
Psalm 95:19 (NIV)
When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
II Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)
God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.
Good morning!
I need to practice listening attentively. Do you ever have trouble focusing? Sometimes I wonder just how much I might be missing out on from the Lord, because I’m simply not focused on Him. God likes to speak to me early in the morning. I know for some of you, this might stretch your sensibilities a bit far. Still, He tends to wake me up somewhere in the vicinity of 4am, sometimes a little earlier. He has been doing this for years. I like to get out of bed and stagger into His holy presence, with a Bible and cup of coffee in hand. I am learning how to wait for Him. I confess, however, I’m a slow learner. It's not always easy to drag out from under the covers in the middle of the night. I'm a lot like my crock pot, I keep simmering in the palm of His hand for hours on end. I wonder if I’ll ever be done enough to serve! Do you struggle with listening attentively to God? Can you hear Him when He speaks to you?
I wrestle with the constant chatter occurring every day in every way. When I’m not writing, I’m working, playing, reading, running, baking, cleaning, chatting online, and sleeping. Business and busyness keeps me from focusing my undivided attention upon Jesus. I truly believe the Lord wants each of us to give Him our undivided attention. Just how far will you allow the Lord to stretch you? How far would you go just to make time to sit in His presence for even an hour? Is He worth getting up for in the morning? Is He worth turning off the television for in the evening? Would you give up a lunch hour just to sit and talk to Him in your car? When your cell phone rings, I often wonder whether He is on the other end of that wireless transmission. If God spoke to your heart today, would you hear Him, or would your business and busyness get in the way of a heart-to-heart connection? How many of us are willing to make time on Saturday or Sunday to enter into a worship experience with the redeemer of our souls?
For me, it is a tug of war between selfishness and selflessness. The more time I spend focusing on me and the stuff of my life, the less time I spend bathing in the light of His love. When I shift my total focus and praise to my Lord, not seeking anything for myself other than the joy of sitting at His feet, all of the other stuff of life seems to fade away. It is not so important. People who lead busy lives have to prioritize well. It is the only way they can accomplish what they need to do in a twenty-four hour time slot. Hear me when I say that the Lord God Almighty is timeless. His timing is perfect in all things. He holds the moments of our lifetime in His hand. Every minute is a gift from Him. How can I not make time for my Savior, redeemer and dearest friend?
Sometimes I find it is easier to listen intently when I need to be consoled. Do you find yourself only turning to the Good Book for answers to problems you have created all on your own steam? We are definitely our own worst enemy. I have found an amazing freedom in Christ. When I lay myself down at the foot of the cross, His amazing, cleansing blood pours over me, and I can walk with Him, fully clothed in His righteousness alone. When you experience the covering of His righteousness over your heart, the desire to seek His presence becomes more and more important, and the things we do to please ourselves here on earth seem rather insignificant.
Take time to pick up the Word today and read it. If you do not like to read or fear you cannot make the time, invest in a good Bible CD. Would you be willing to turn off the radio talk shows and listen to God speak on your way to work today? When you seek His holy presence, He finds you, no matter where you are. Do not be surprised if the Lord begins to whisper in your ear while you sleep. The next time you wake up in the middle of the night with a foot cramp, back ache, or find yourself tossing and turning, realize that God may simply be trying to get your attention. He will keep your heart and mind in perfect peace, when you focus your whole heart on Him.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the desire to lay aside some time each day to focus your whole heart on Jesus. He is trying to get your attention. Will you find time to sit in His holy presence today?
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Extreme Faith
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Nehemiah 4, 5, 6
Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NIV)
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Ecclesiates 3:11 (NIV)
11 He has made everything beautiful in His time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Good morning!
Yesterday morning, I listened with great interest to the words and teaching of Rev. Zefanias Chulume, a United Methodist pastor from the country of Mozambique. He came to the Missouri Area Conference of the United Methodist Church to bring greetings from his United Methodist Churches in Mozambique, and to tell us how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading throughout their land. He reminded our delegation that we must completely rely upon the Holy Word of God as contained in scripture to learn and understand God's will for each of our lives.
In Mozambique, class meetings occur in the homes of its church members. As a class begins to outgrow the space within each home, they break off into new groups. This is a requirement of every class meeting. The same principle is applied to every United Methodist Church and the districts where the churches are located. Pastor Chulume suggests that the rapid growth of United Methodist Christians in Mozambique is due to their intentional aggressive hospitality, love and empathy for all people, extreme giving, and joyful worship. He said, “What if our hospitality became so great that we would be recognized as Christians solely because of our acts of human kindness?”
The people of Mozambique struggle to survive. Many die every day due to the spread of disease, unclean water, and lack of basic human needs. These people live in extreme poverty; yet, they understand what it means to be extreme givers. When visitors are welcomed into homes, they are fed first. If the food runs out, the children do not eat. Little ones often ask their parents, “Why do you bring strangers into our home and share our food with them when we barely have enough for ourselves?” Their mother’s reply is simple. “I know you have had food today, but I do not know if or when our guest has last eaten.” Can you imagine being so concerned about whether a stranger in your midst has had a meal that you might choose not to feed your own children so the stranger in your midst may eat?
Their churches continue to grow at a rapid pace, because the people of Mozambique have found that the Lord Jesus Christ is bigger than their greatest need. Pastor Chulume said, “We believe that the gift of abundant life is eternal and even in the midst of our disasters and death, we have a faith that we can rejoice in; the suffering of the present day will not even begin to compare to the glory to come.”
I could have listened to this pastor speak all day long. His congregation participates in holy worship for hours, while he teaches the Word of God to them. I have never struggled the way my brothers and sisters in Mozambique have. I do not know what it is like to not have food to eat each day or clean water to drink. When I become ill, I am able to seek immediate medical attention. When they become ill, many of them die. To have a faith that overcomes even the greatest of need is a gift that only comes from the Lord. The people of Mozambique are waiting for the Lord’s perfect timing in all things. Please join with me in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world. Pastor Chulume assures us that his congregations are praying for you and me.
When we place our total trust in God, He helps us to accomplish what seems to be impossible. Faith grows in adverse situations. You and I can make a difference in the life of someone we may never meet face to face. Are you willing to trust in God’s perfect timing? Will you take on a piece of the impossible today, knowing Jesus Christ can make all things beautiful in His time? Let us lift our hands and hearts toward our brothers and sisters who are struggling to survive in the country of Mozambique.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the people of Mozambique, who have so little yet give so much. May they find comfort in strength in the Lord Jesus Christ today. Would you be willing to give up a meal so they could eat? Would you provide the materials and resources needed to help the people build wells for clean water to drink? Extreme faith is borne from extreme need. Are you willing to give sacrificially, show extreme hospitality in the worst of situations? We can learn a lot from the life example of our brothers and sisters in Mozambique.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Nehemiah 4, 5, 6
Nehemiah 6:15-16 (NIV)
15 So the wall was completed on the twenty-fifth of Elul, in fifty-two days. 16 When all our enemies heard about this, all the surrounding nations were afraid and lost their self-confidence, because they realized that this work had been done with the help of our God.
Ecclesiates 3:11 (NIV)
11 He has made everything beautiful in His time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Good morning!
Yesterday morning, I listened with great interest to the words and teaching of Rev. Zefanias Chulume, a United Methodist pastor from the country of Mozambique. He came to the Missouri Area Conference of the United Methodist Church to bring greetings from his United Methodist Churches in Mozambique, and to tell us how the Gospel of Jesus Christ is spreading throughout their land. He reminded our delegation that we must completely rely upon the Holy Word of God as contained in scripture to learn and understand God's will for each of our lives.
In Mozambique, class meetings occur in the homes of its church members. As a class begins to outgrow the space within each home, they break off into new groups. This is a requirement of every class meeting. The same principle is applied to every United Methodist Church and the districts where the churches are located. Pastor Chulume suggests that the rapid growth of United Methodist Christians in Mozambique is due to their intentional aggressive hospitality, love and empathy for all people, extreme giving, and joyful worship. He said, “What if our hospitality became so great that we would be recognized as Christians solely because of our acts of human kindness?”
The people of Mozambique struggle to survive. Many die every day due to the spread of disease, unclean water, and lack of basic human needs. These people live in extreme poverty; yet, they understand what it means to be extreme givers. When visitors are welcomed into homes, they are fed first. If the food runs out, the children do not eat. Little ones often ask their parents, “Why do you bring strangers into our home and share our food with them when we barely have enough for ourselves?” Their mother’s reply is simple. “I know you have had food today, but I do not know if or when our guest has last eaten.” Can you imagine being so concerned about whether a stranger in your midst has had a meal that you might choose not to feed your own children so the stranger in your midst may eat?
Their churches continue to grow at a rapid pace, because the people of Mozambique have found that the Lord Jesus Christ is bigger than their greatest need. Pastor Chulume said, “We believe that the gift of abundant life is eternal and even in the midst of our disasters and death, we have a faith that we can rejoice in; the suffering of the present day will not even begin to compare to the glory to come.”
I could have listened to this pastor speak all day long. His congregation participates in holy worship for hours, while he teaches the Word of God to them. I have never struggled the way my brothers and sisters in Mozambique have. I do not know what it is like to not have food to eat each day or clean water to drink. When I become ill, I am able to seek immediate medical attention. When they become ill, many of them die. To have a faith that overcomes even the greatest of need is a gift that only comes from the Lord. The people of Mozambique are waiting for the Lord’s perfect timing in all things. Please join with me in prayer for our brothers and sisters around the world. Pastor Chulume assures us that his congregations are praying for you and me.
When we place our total trust in God, He helps us to accomplish what seems to be impossible. Faith grows in adverse situations. You and I can make a difference in the life of someone we may never meet face to face. Are you willing to trust in God’s perfect timing? Will you take on a piece of the impossible today, knowing Jesus Christ can make all things beautiful in His time? Let us lift our hands and hearts toward our brothers and sisters who are struggling to survive in the country of Mozambique.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: the people of Mozambique, who have so little yet give so much. May they find comfort in strength in the Lord Jesus Christ today. Would you be willing to give up a meal so they could eat? Would you provide the materials and resources needed to help the people build wells for clean water to drink? Extreme faith is borne from extreme need. Are you willing to give sacrificially, show extreme hospitality in the worst of situations? We can learn a lot from the life example of our brothers and sisters in Mozambique.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Monday, June 04, 2007
The fruit of the month club
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Ezra 9, 10; Psalm 93
Psalm 93:5 (NIV)
Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Good morning!
I like living in Missouri! We have four distinct seasons in our state – spring, summer, fall and winter. The change of seasons and temperatures tend to play havoc on my sinuses. Even so, I enjoy experiencing the first greens of spring, the deep blue skies of summer, the radiant turning foliage of fall, and the icy cold blanket of winter white. We have it all here in the show-me state, and no matter what each season may bring, I enjoy every minute of every day. What a gift it is to live out our days in seasons of change.
One of our parishioners would give our family a subscription to the Fruit of the Month Club every Christmas. Have you ever been the recipient of such a wonderful gift? Each month, we would receive a shipment of the finest fruits from all over the United States. No matter what the weather was like in Missouri, we could count on a sweet, tropical treat arriving on our doorstep around the 5th day of every month. I looked forward to the boxes of large, lush grapefruit and oranges, and large walnuts just waiting to be cracked. Some months, we would receive passion fruit, kiwi, and melons. A delicious piece of fruit is a sweet treat, especially in the cold and snowy winter months when we are not producing much fruit in Missouri.
Last night as I left the Missouri Area United Methodist Church conference, I happened to look up at the trees that had taken root and were thriving just in front of the complex. The sky was a beautiful dark chocolate, and the green foliage glistened against its backdrop, highlighted by the light radiating from the main entrance to the auditorium. Every leaf was intricate and unique; yet firmly connected and growing together on the branches. As I admired the leaves, I couldn’t help but think about the beautiful sweet fruit gathered inside the Expo Center in Springfield, Missouri this weekend. United Methodists from all over the state were there to praise the giver of all good fruit! Every person is a rare and unique reflection of our Lord. We spring up in chorus, and celebrate our unique diversity. We are His living fruit! When the love of Christ takes root in our hearts, we cannot help but ripen into a sweet resounding chorus, worshiping and glorifying Him.
We are His body, the leaves sparkling on every branch, reaching out in love to a world who desperately needs to know Him. Like every single leaf hanging from the branches, our uniqueness is a sweet treat! We bring our gifts to the altar and lay them down before the Lord. He blesses our faithfulness and gives us a sweetness that perpetuates itself all over our world. Of the thousand or so gathered, there is not one of us who think or behave exactly alike. We offer a distinct flavor wherever He plants us. We pray our witness and love will grow disciples for Jesus Christ. We hold a membership to His living fruit of the month club.
Won’t you come join us in the sweetest adventure of life? You can receive a fully paid, twelve month membership to the fruit of the month club today! It is the gift that keeps on giving. His blood was shed for you and for me on the cross over 2,000 years ago. My Jesus can take the hardest heart, the poorest soul, and ripen it for kingdom work. Let Jesus bless you with the fruit of the spirit today. Ask Him to come inside and clean up the cobwebs in your heart.
This is truly a season of change. Isn’t it amazing how the Lord of life can transform a shriveled up prune like me and make me sweet and whole again! If He can do that for someone like me, I can only imagine what He will do for you.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: God to give you a fully paid subscription to the fruit of the month club. He is waiting with open arms to receive your soul today. If you want to experience the sweet peace of forgiveness and grace, simply get down on your knees and invite Jesus into your heart. His fruit is the sweetest treat you will ever know. The fruit of the spirit is ripe and ready to be picked. You can be a sweet reflection of Him every moment of every day, and especially in the seasons of change.
_______________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Ezra 9, 10; Psalm 93
Psalm 93:5 (NIV)
Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NIV)
22 But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Revelation 22:1-2 (NIV)
1 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb, 2 down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.
Good morning!
I like living in Missouri! We have four distinct seasons in our state – spring, summer, fall and winter. The change of seasons and temperatures tend to play havoc on my sinuses. Even so, I enjoy experiencing the first greens of spring, the deep blue skies of summer, the radiant turning foliage of fall, and the icy cold blanket of winter white. We have it all here in the show-me state, and no matter what each season may bring, I enjoy every minute of every day. What a gift it is to live out our days in seasons of change.
One of our parishioners would give our family a subscription to the Fruit of the Month Club every Christmas. Have you ever been the recipient of such a wonderful gift? Each month, we would receive a shipment of the finest fruits from all over the United States. No matter what the weather was like in Missouri, we could count on a sweet, tropical treat arriving on our doorstep around the 5th day of every month. I looked forward to the boxes of large, lush grapefruit and oranges, and large walnuts just waiting to be cracked. Some months, we would receive passion fruit, kiwi, and melons. A delicious piece of fruit is a sweet treat, especially in the cold and snowy winter months when we are not producing much fruit in Missouri.
Last night as I left the Missouri Area United Methodist Church conference, I happened to look up at the trees that had taken root and were thriving just in front of the complex. The sky was a beautiful dark chocolate, and the green foliage glistened against its backdrop, highlighted by the light radiating from the main entrance to the auditorium. Every leaf was intricate and unique; yet firmly connected and growing together on the branches. As I admired the leaves, I couldn’t help but think about the beautiful sweet fruit gathered inside the Expo Center in Springfield, Missouri this weekend. United Methodists from all over the state were there to praise the giver of all good fruit! Every person is a rare and unique reflection of our Lord. We spring up in chorus, and celebrate our unique diversity. We are His living fruit! When the love of Christ takes root in our hearts, we cannot help but ripen into a sweet resounding chorus, worshiping and glorifying Him.
We are His body, the leaves sparkling on every branch, reaching out in love to a world who desperately needs to know Him. Like every single leaf hanging from the branches, our uniqueness is a sweet treat! We bring our gifts to the altar and lay them down before the Lord. He blesses our faithfulness and gives us a sweetness that perpetuates itself all over our world. Of the thousand or so gathered, there is not one of us who think or behave exactly alike. We offer a distinct flavor wherever He plants us. We pray our witness and love will grow disciples for Jesus Christ. We hold a membership to His living fruit of the month club.
Won’t you come join us in the sweetest adventure of life? You can receive a fully paid, twelve month membership to the fruit of the month club today! It is the gift that keeps on giving. His blood was shed for you and for me on the cross over 2,000 years ago. My Jesus can take the hardest heart, the poorest soul, and ripen it for kingdom work. Let Jesus bless you with the fruit of the spirit today. Ask Him to come inside and clean up the cobwebs in your heart.
This is truly a season of change. Isn’t it amazing how the Lord of life can transform a shriveled up prune like me and make me sweet and whole again! If He can do that for someone like me, I can only imagine what He will do for you.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: God to give you a fully paid subscription to the fruit of the month club. He is waiting with open arms to receive your soul today. If you want to experience the sweet peace of forgiveness and grace, simply get down on your knees and invite Jesus into your heart. His fruit is the sweetest treat you will ever know. The fruit of the spirit is ripe and ready to be picked. You can be a sweet reflection of Him every moment of every day, and especially in the seasons of change.
_______________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Now where did I put those water wings?
Grand Sweep Daily
Psalm 93:3-5 (NIV)
3 The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. 4 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea – the Lord on high is mighty. 5 Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.
Matthew 14:25-29 (NIV)
25 During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. 27 But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 “Lord, if it is you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” 29 “Come,” He said.
Good morning!
When I took a dip in the pool last weekend with my grandbabies, I couldn’t help but giggle when I saw four-year-old Joshua in his swim trunks. He was wearing a newfangled contraption called a body suit. It looks a little bit like a gymnastics leotard with shorts. Inside the chest area of this suit are two large floatation devices. They look like large balloons from the outside, yet, when I touched them, they felt like Styrofoam. This made young Joshua look like was ripped with chest muscles, kind of like the Incredible Hulk or Mister Incredible. The beauty of a built-in floatation device is that you no longer need those pesky water wings to keep you from sinking to the bottom of the pool. Isn’t it amazing what lengths parents will go to protect their children while they learn how to swim?
Jesus knew what His disciples would someday face as they traveled the dusty roads, preaching His message wherever they went. He wanted to give them a flotation device, something to hang onto, when the water became choppy and deep. It was no accident when Peter stepped out of the boat and began walking toward His Savior on the water. He almost made it, but suddenly became distracted at the disturbance occurring around his feet. When Peter took his eyes off the Lord and looked down, he began to drown.
I forgot to pack my water wings this weekend. I thought I had them with me; yet, I could not find them when I emptied out my suitcase. I would love to step out of the boat today and walk on the water toward Jesus. If I do, I wonder whether I will suddenly sink to the bottom like a two-thousand pound anchor. After the pasta dinner I consumed last night, it is certainly a possibility. I need some faith-filled floatation devices NOW! Do you know where can I find them? Do you know how much do they cost?
I can tell you there is a lot of water walking going on at Annual Conference this weekend. I have watched in awe as people across our state step out of their boats and walk on the water toward their Savior. It takes great courage and a strong sense of direction for some to do the things they are doing to spread the Gospel message around the world where they live. There is a gentleman in our conference who collects and recycles empty soda cans, and chops firewood to fill an ark with $5,000 for Heifer International each year. This water walker keeps asking why certain people do not have their fundamental needs met while others have far too much. Another United Methodist congregation in the inner-city has opened its doors to the homeless. A concrete sidewalk is not a comfortable place to lay your head at night. The church fixes and serves approximately 300 free meals every day and provides counseling and hope to those who have no place to turn. Water walking is costly. It means risking your life, comfort and security for someone else. Are you brave enough to step out of your boat today to help someone in need?
Whew! Thank God I found my water wings this morning. I’m going to need Him more now than ever before. I’m stepping out of the boat, and I won’t look down. I won’t look back. I will keep my eyes focused on the Lord Jesus Christ and the destination He is calling me to. I will read my Bible and I will believe what it says. I will seek the Lord every morning in sincere and humble prayer, trusting Him to be my floatation device. He is all I need to succeed! When Jesus calls you to come to Him today, will you be willing to get out of your boat and walk across the water?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: water wings that work! If you will trust in the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart, all your soul and all your strength and seek to serve Him with your life, you can walk on water today. What can you do to help your neighbor find hope for tomorrow? How can you make a lasting difference in the life of another? Are you willing to get out of the boat this morning? Ask Him to help you. I’ll see you at church today with my water wings firmly attached.
________________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Saturday, June 02, 2007
A step of faith
Grand Sweep Daily
Psalm 91:1-2 (NIV)
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
Hebrews 11:1 (NIV)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
Good morning!
Are you good at following a hunch? I have a friend who celebrates the gift of “following a hunch” every time a new baby is born into her family. She had seven children, which led to a whole bunch of grandchildren! Now her grandchildren are having kids! Every single time a new baby is born into her family, this woman can accurately guess the gender long before the ultrasound results are tallied. This has to be a true gift. Not so with me. According to my dysfunctional sixth sense, I was sure my Rachel was going to be a boy, and Benjamin and David were supposed to be girls. Don’t ask me to tell you what I think may happen tomorrow, because my ability to see the nose in front of my own face is not very good.
There are holy moments in life when the Lord calls each of us to take a step out in faith. We may not be sure of what the future holds; yet, we know who holds the future, so we begin to step toward the One who calls us. Sometimes, our vision may be limited. We have lots of faith, and yet, we’re not sure of where we are going. Two years ago, I began to sense the Lord’s presence in my life in a new way. I was compelled by the Holy Spirit to return to college and study God’s Word at the collegiate level. My children thought I was absolutely crazy. They asked me why I would spend all this time and money after working so hard to help pay for their education. The only answer I could give them was, “God told me to go, and I need to do what He asks.” What is He asking me to do? The only thing I know for sure is that He is calling me to study His Word so that I can tell other people about Him. I have faith in the One who is able to see what I cannot see with my own eyes. Do I know what I will do when I receive my diploma? I will do whatever He asks, when He asks. Beyond that, your hunch is as good as mine.
I have a granddaughter and two great nieces who will soon be walking. When I call their name and reach my hands toward them, they begin to take steps toward me. They love Granny Deb! The very best part of seeing a child take their first steps is the hug you get at the end of the walk! We squeeze the stuffing out of them, clapping our hands together and laughing hysterically! We tell our babies just how proud we are! They did it! They let go and took a step. We catch them because we know what it feels like to be held after we take our first steps in faith.
Have you ever been held by the Lord after you’ve said “yes” to Him? This evening, we have a number of United Methodists who have promised to serve the Lord with their lives. They have gone to school, studied hard, passed class after class, and received ministry degrees from seminaries all over the country. Tonight, hey will stand before the Lord and the community of faith. Those pastors and teachers who have helped them take their first steps in ministry will hold them at the altar of commitment. Each one will make their covenant with the Lord, and receive the laying on of hands and passing of the mantle. We pray for every heart who has stepped forward in faith. We are not always sure of where we will go, but following Jesus Christ is the best decision we will ever make. He promises to catch us as we take our very first steps toward Him. He will pick us up and dust us off when we fall down. He dries our tears, calms our fears, and leads us into life everlasting. He is our sure refuge, our strength and fortress. Are you ready to take a step of faith today? Jesus is waiting for you to come to Him. In Christ, you can be sure of everything you hope for, and be certain, even when the future is hard to see.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: Courage to follow your gut and give your life to Jesus today! You know you want to. When will you follow that hunch and give it up for Him? You can be certain that following Christ is the best choice you will ever make!
________________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Friday, June 01, 2007
Level Ground
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Ezra 4, 5, 6
Zechariah 4:6-7 (NIV)6 So he [the angel] said to me, “This is the Word of the Lord to Zerubabbel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord God Almighty. 7 “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubabbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
Hosea 1:7 (NIV)7 Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them – not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses or horsemen, but by the Lord their God.
Good morning!
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite story books was "The Little Engine That Could". I would sit in the rocking chair with my mother, fascinated by the colorful art work of the choo choo train winding its way along the steep and rocky mountain pass, while Mother read the words, “I think I can, I think I can.” That little train had to make a choice right then and there. Would he choose to climb the mountain or slide backwards into the valley? Would he fail trying, or would he not try at all? The determination of that little steam engine made me want to clap my hands every time my hero got to the top! It is always good to clap our hands together when we reach a milestone moment in our life.
Level ground is something we all long for in life. Milestone moments become pure joy as we stand on dry ground, feeling the wind whip across our face. We made it through! We’ve reached the top! I will never ever forget the day we spent driving up a steep rocky mountain pass in our family’s station wagon. When we reached the top, we could see for miles and miles around us, as we gazed at the beautiful valleys below. Coming down that mountain was a break-burning adventure. We said our prayers and hoped the car would make it to the bottom safely. Thank goodness for full service filling stations. Our poor Spaulding mobile needed some fresh oil, a new set of tires, and break pads after that little trip. It was worth it all; the view from the top was spectacular.
The Israelites were doing everything within their power to erect the temple of God. It was definitely an uphill climb. They had received their freedom and the tools needed to rebuild a holy place of worship; yet, they were fighting fatigue and depression. The people needed someone to encourage them to continue moving forward. The power to complete the job would not come from their own strength or sheer determination. No, the success would come when the people placed total reliance upon the Spirit of the Lord. He alone would carve out level ground where the capstone would one day be placed.
It is good to catch a vision and purpose for your life’s work. It is awesome when we pursue our purpose with passion. We must never forget to hand our hopes and dreams to the Lord, who is the author and finisher of our faith. He can take the desires He has planted in our hearts and bring them to fruition, when we recognize that it is only by Him that we can reach others with the Gospel message.
This morning, my prayer is that we will all fall on our knees, asking the Lord of life to carve out level ground where He can place the capstone for the future ministries of our churches. If we will place our faith in Him, He will make a way for us to reach the world for Jesus Christ.
Like the little engine that could, I think I can, I think I can, I know I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: level ground! It is not by our own steam that we can reach the mountain top. We need the Holy Spirit power to create level ground for the capstone. Jesus is the foundation of our faith. Let us lift Him high in worship and praise today!
________________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding All rights reserved Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Ezra 4, 5, 6
Zechariah 4:6-7 (NIV)6 So he [the angel] said to me, “This is the Word of the Lord to Zerubabbel: ‘Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord God Almighty. 7 “What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubabbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”
Hosea 1:7 (NIV)7 Yet I will show love to the house of Judah; and I will save them – not by bow, sword or battle, or by horses or horsemen, but by the Lord their God.
Good morning!
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite story books was "The Little Engine That Could". I would sit in the rocking chair with my mother, fascinated by the colorful art work of the choo choo train winding its way along the steep and rocky mountain pass, while Mother read the words, “I think I can, I think I can.” That little train had to make a choice right then and there. Would he choose to climb the mountain or slide backwards into the valley? Would he fail trying, or would he not try at all? The determination of that little steam engine made me want to clap my hands every time my hero got to the top! It is always good to clap our hands together when we reach a milestone moment in our life.
Level ground is something we all long for in life. Milestone moments become pure joy as we stand on dry ground, feeling the wind whip across our face. We made it through! We’ve reached the top! I will never ever forget the day we spent driving up a steep rocky mountain pass in our family’s station wagon. When we reached the top, we could see for miles and miles around us, as we gazed at the beautiful valleys below. Coming down that mountain was a break-burning adventure. We said our prayers and hoped the car would make it to the bottom safely. Thank goodness for full service filling stations. Our poor Spaulding mobile needed some fresh oil, a new set of tires, and break pads after that little trip. It was worth it all; the view from the top was spectacular.
The Israelites were doing everything within their power to erect the temple of God. It was definitely an uphill climb. They had received their freedom and the tools needed to rebuild a holy place of worship; yet, they were fighting fatigue and depression. The people needed someone to encourage them to continue moving forward. The power to complete the job would not come from their own strength or sheer determination. No, the success would come when the people placed total reliance upon the Spirit of the Lord. He alone would carve out level ground where the capstone would one day be placed.
It is good to catch a vision and purpose for your life’s work. It is awesome when we pursue our purpose with passion. We must never forget to hand our hopes and dreams to the Lord, who is the author and finisher of our faith. He can take the desires He has planted in our hearts and bring them to fruition, when we recognize that it is only by Him that we can reach others with the Gospel message.
This morning, my prayer is that we will all fall on our knees, asking the Lord of life to carve out level ground where He can place the capstone for the future ministries of our churches. If we will place our faith in Him, He will make a way for us to reach the world for Jesus Christ.
Like the little engine that could, I think I can, I think I can, I know I can do all things through Christ, which strengthens me.
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: level ground! It is not by our own steam that we can reach the mountain top. We need the Holy Spirit power to create level ground for the capstone. Jesus is the foundation of our faith. Let us lift Him high in worship and praise today!
________________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding All rights reserved Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Temple reconstruction begins today
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Ezra 1, 2, 3
Ezra 1:1-4 (NIV)
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and put it in writing:
2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: the Lord, the God of Heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem at Judah.
3 Anyone of His people among you – may His God be with Him, and let Him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide Him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.”
Good morning!
Temple reconstruction is hard, hard work. Whenever we try to tackle a job that seems impossible to the human eye, it is always good to have a leader at the helm with a vision that is larger than life. Thank God for King Cyrus of Persia. After seventy years in captivity, the Israelites from Judah were given their freedom to return home. The King had a vision and a plan to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. This would be no easy feat. Cyrus knew that the power of God supersedes any human effort or plan of action. When the Lord of life moves your heart to step out in faith and tackle what seems to be an insurmountable task, there is absolutely nothing that will be impossible for you to achieve through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.
King Cyrus was not a Jew and yet, God gave Him a vision and the resources to help make the temple reconstruction become a reality. He freed the remnant, gave them His personal protection, and returned their temple articles taken by Nebuchadnezzar. Sometimes, when we least expect it, God can choose to use anyone He wants to bring people into relationship with Him. He might even choose you! If the Lord of life called you today to step out in faith for Him, would you go?
The Israelites had become arrogant and complacent in their love for the Lord. God allowed them to endure a season of captivity; a time of reflection to experience what it is like to live life apart from His master plan and protective umbrella of grace. Have you ever been in a place of separation from God? We sometimes become so self-assured that we begin to pull the reigns back from our Lord. We choose to do things the way that we would want to do them, rather than taking time to listen and obey God’s plan and purpose for our life. We move out of alignment, and find ourselves in wandering around in a wilderness.
This morning, there will be many from our United Methodist Churches across Missouri who will come together in a place of community. We will join our hands and hearts to worship, praise and fellowship in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a place where we set our separate ministries aside and renew our covenant to walk together faithfully as the body of Christ. Our purpose is sure. We are here to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord, to reach out to all the nations and make disciples for Jesus Christ. We are rebuilding the temple of the redeemed. It is our covenant, our joy and privilege to serve Him with our lives. We bring our unique gifting and offer them upon His altar today. When I think about what we are doing, there are moments when the task seems way out of our reach. The good news is that we have a Bishop with a vision! He tells us that if we hold hands and boost each other up, we can reach every person for the Lord. It won’t be easy, but it is possible when we humble our hearts and place our lives in the open arms of Jesus Christ.
If you believe that God has called you to step out in faith for Him, do not let your inability to see the big picture keep you from taking that first step. Are you ready to get out of the boat? Find a leader with a true vision and follow Him. There is no greater leader than my Jesus. He willingly came to earth to show us how much He loves us all. He set the bar on loving sinful people, while freeing us from the sin that separates us from Him. It is His blood that covers you and me, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can take the resurrection message to every nation. We can reach the world for Jesus!
It’s time to begin temple reconstruction. Today is the day. We have a leader with a vision. We have our Lord who saves, redeems and equips us each one of us to answer His call. We have each other to hold onto. What are we waiting for? It’s time to go!
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: a willing heart to serve the Lord every day, in every way. He calls each of us to spread the Gospel, the Good News of salvation, so that every heart may hear and know the Lord who saves us all by grace. Won’t you take my hand today and walk with me? We have the best leader in the world to look to. He is right here with us today, and He will be with us always, even to the end of the age.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: Ezra 1, 2, 3
Ezra 1:1-4 (NIV)
1 In the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, in order to fulfill the word of the Lord spoken by Jeremiah, the Lord moved the heart of Cyrus king of Persia to make a proclamation throughout his realm and put it in writing:
2 “This is what Cyrus king of Persia says: the Lord, the God of Heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth and He has appointed me to build a temple for Him at Jerusalem at Judah.
3 Anyone of His people among you – may His God be with Him, and let Him go up to Jerusalem in Judah and build the temple of the Lord, the God of Israel, the God who is in Jerusalem.
4 And the people of any place where survivors may now be living are to provide Him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, and with freewill offerings for the temple of God in Jerusalem.”
Good morning!
Temple reconstruction is hard, hard work. Whenever we try to tackle a job that seems impossible to the human eye, it is always good to have a leader at the helm with a vision that is larger than life. Thank God for King Cyrus of Persia. After seventy years in captivity, the Israelites from Judah were given their freedom to return home. The King had a vision and a plan to rebuild the temple of God in Jerusalem. This would be no easy feat. Cyrus knew that the power of God supersedes any human effort or plan of action. When the Lord of life moves your heart to step out in faith and tackle what seems to be an insurmountable task, there is absolutely nothing that will be impossible for you to achieve through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in your life.
King Cyrus was not a Jew and yet, God gave Him a vision and the resources to help make the temple reconstruction become a reality. He freed the remnant, gave them His personal protection, and returned their temple articles taken by Nebuchadnezzar. Sometimes, when we least expect it, God can choose to use anyone He wants to bring people into relationship with Him. He might even choose you! If the Lord of life called you today to step out in faith for Him, would you go?
The Israelites had become arrogant and complacent in their love for the Lord. God allowed them to endure a season of captivity; a time of reflection to experience what it is like to live life apart from His master plan and protective umbrella of grace. Have you ever been in a place of separation from God? We sometimes become so self-assured that we begin to pull the reigns back from our Lord. We choose to do things the way that we would want to do them, rather than taking time to listen and obey God’s plan and purpose for our life. We move out of alignment, and find ourselves in wandering around in a wilderness.
This morning, there will be many from our United Methodist Churches across Missouri who will come together in a place of community. We will join our hands and hearts to worship, praise and fellowship in the presence of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is a place where we set our separate ministries aside and renew our covenant to walk together faithfully as the body of Christ. Our purpose is sure. We are here to fulfill the Great Commission of our Lord, to reach out to all the nations and make disciples for Jesus Christ. We are rebuilding the temple of the redeemed. It is our covenant, our joy and privilege to serve Him with our lives. We bring our unique gifting and offer them upon His altar today. When I think about what we are doing, there are moments when the task seems way out of our reach. The good news is that we have a Bishop with a vision! He tells us that if we hold hands and boost each other up, we can reach every person for the Lord. It won’t be easy, but it is possible when we humble our hearts and place our lives in the open arms of Jesus Christ.
If you believe that God has called you to step out in faith for Him, do not let your inability to see the big picture keep you from taking that first step. Are you ready to get out of the boat? Find a leader with a true vision and follow Him. There is no greater leader than my Jesus. He willingly came to earth to show us how much He loves us all. He set the bar on loving sinful people, while freeing us from the sin that separates us from Him. It is His blood that covers you and me, and with the power of the Holy Spirit, we can take the resurrection message to every nation. We can reach the world for Jesus!
It’s time to begin temple reconstruction. Today is the day. We have a leader with a vision. We have our Lord who saves, redeems and equips us each one of us to answer His call. We have each other to hold onto. What are we waiting for? It’s time to go!
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: a willing heart to serve the Lord every day, in every way. He calls each of us to spread the Gospel, the Good News of salvation, so that every heart may hear and know the Lord who saves us all by grace. Won’t you take my hand today and walk with me? We have the best leader in the world to look to. He is right here with us today, and He will be with us always, even to the end of the age.
________________________________
© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
All rights reserved
Articles may not be printed in any “for profit” publication without further permission by the author. Articles may be freely distributed via e-mail, reprinted in church bulletins or in other non-profit publications without further permission. Please keep this copyright and Web Site information intact with copied articles. Articles are sent originally to subscribers only. You may have received a forwarded or reprinted copy.
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
A Miracle in the Making
Grand Sweep Daily Reading: 2 Chronicles 35, 36; Psalm 90
2 Chronicles 35:20-21 (NIV)
20 After all this, when Josiah had set the temple in order, Neco king of Egypt went up to fight at Carchemish on the Euphrates, and Josiah marched out to meet him in battle. 21 But Neco sent messengers to him saying, “What quarrel is there between you and me, O king of Judah? It is not you I am attacking at this time, but the house with which I am at war. God has told me to hurry; so stop opposing God, who is with me, or He will destroy you.”
Psalm 90:17 (NIV)
17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us – yes, establish the work of our hands.
Good morning!
Does the Lord ever surprise you when He fills someone you least expect with the power of His Holy Spirit? Sometimes we tend to forget that God can choose to use any one of us to help spread the Gospel message, even a pagan king! Pharaoh Neco was ruler of Egypt, a pagan nation. Neco had a bone to pick with the Babylonian people. He and his troops were on the way to join forces with the Assyrians in an attempt to overthrow this perverse nation. To get to the Assyrian troops, Neco had to march his army through Judah, where King Josiah tried to stop him. Josiah could not accept the notion that the Lord God Almighty would walk with a pagan nation, and refused to listen with His spirit to the words of Pharaoh Neco. Josiah, faithful servant and lover of the Lord, lost his life because he could not see what God was doing right in front of his nose. Sometimes, the message of the Lord is delivered through the voices of the ones we least expect. Have you ever missed a message from God Almighty because you were too focused on the messenger?
Amazing things happen when people meet the Lord through the power and presence of the Holy Spirit. When we open our hearts to Him, we can see how the Lord can work amazing miracles through another person’s life. God never ceases to amaze me. I can see Him when I least expect it. It can be easy to misinterpret the sincerity or clarity of another person’s call from the Lord, when we close our minds to the endless possibility that God can use them for kingdom work. We must be careful to not become so closed minded that we miss His miracle in the making.
I’ve seen a lot of miracles in the last month of my life. Extraordinary milestone moments, all falling into place, a revealing of His plan for my future; why He has given me so many blessings, I cannot say for sure. Three weeks ago, I watched in awe as my youngest son said his marriage vows. He was just a baby yesterday, and now he is a married man. Three days after his wedding, my husband and I walked along the beaches of the Pacific Ocean, a sight I had never seen before. I marveled at the creative work of Almighty God. Seeing the Pacific Ocean for the very first time reminds me of the enormous capacity of God’s amazing love for all of His people, everywhere. On Memorial Day Monday, Jeff and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We sat together and watched the war movies on television, honoring the service and sacrifice of our men and women who fight for the freedoms we experience each day. We have had thirty really good years in the safety and shelter of our nation. What blessings we have received! And just when I think life cannot get any sweeter, last night, I experienced the miracle of childbirth, as I watched my daughter bring forth her new son, our fifth grandchild, into the world. As I held this amazing, incredible life in my arms, I wondered what God would do through him. Baby Andrew was wide awake, and as he looked at his Granny Deb for the very first time, and I could see the twinkle of the sweet Holy Spirit shining all over his face.
Yes, you and I are miracles in the making. Do not be surprised when the Lord God Almighty taps you on the shoulder and chooses to use you for kingdom work. Be open to the potential that God plants in each of us to spread the Gospel message around the world. We are uniquely created for life in Him. Through every season of change - marriage, birth, death and resurrection, God calls us, equips us, and uses us, if we will only let Him. Will you let Him use you today?
Grace and peace,
Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com
Pray for: a miracle in the making! You are His, and He is calling out your name. Just when you least expect it, God can take your life and transform it. Are you ready to step out in faith for Him? I’ll be watching for the miracle to spring forth in you.
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© Copyright 2007, Deb Spaulding
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