One holy breath

Today’s Reading: John 20:21-22a (NIV)

21 Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” 22 And with that, He breathed on them.

Good morning!

It was a surreal moment, almost like reliving a crazy dream. I stood at the window of the NICU at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center, looking through the plate glass at my newborn grandson, Joshua David. He was in such a hurry to be born. Our daughter Rachel went into premature labor in her twenty-eighth week of pregnancy, then spent one month in-patient trying to postpone an early childbirth. Her physicians had done everything within their power to keep Rachel’s labor at bay. But on the morning of July 20^th in week thirty-two, Rachel gave birth to her son. Joshua David tipped the scales at five pounds, a good size for a child born in the seventh month. His lungs were underdeveloped, but functioning. He needed help breathing, so his physicians placed him on a ventilator. I watched the air push in and out, forcing his tiny chest to rise and fall. I remember thanking the Lord for His sweet breath of life over that child. One week later, Joshua was off the ventilator and breathing on his own.

The first time I held that precious baby boy in my arms, I could feel the air push from his tiny nostrils onto my skin. I couldn’t help but remember the month I spent in that NICU with my own baby boy. David had been born three weeks premature; suffering with a serious lung infection and a birth defect that was adversely affecting his body to function properly. In 1985, baby heart monitors for premature infants had not yet been approved for home use. When we took David home from the hospital, I laid him in the bassinet next to my bed, and I would sleep on my belly, with one hand on his chest, so that I could feel him breathing all night long. I don’t think I slept much the first six months of David’s life.

Joshua went home with a baby monitor, and what a blessing that was! We could put him in his crib and hear his every move, even from the other room. If his heart rate dropped or if he forgot to breathe, an alarm would sound and we would know to go pick him up, reminding Joshua to take a breath. Sometimes babies do forget to breathe. And we know that the breath of life is an essential and necessary element in order to live.

Jesus knew His disciples were scared. There they were, held up together in the upper room, the last place they had spent significant time with their Lord. They were afraid to go outside the walls for fear of retaliation, failure, and death. Breathing had become a labor of love, as they tried to hide from their adersaries. Jesus came with a greeting of peace. And as He spoke the Word, a holy hush fell across the room just like a warm, woolen blanket keeps you warm on a cold winter’s day. Softly, He said, “As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that, Jesus breathed on them the breath of new life. His breath became their lifeline, just as the ventilator was the lifeline for my son and grandson in the NICU. Apart from Christ’s holy life breath, we cannot breathe adequately on our own. We need to be hooked up with His breath of life for it is only His breath that sustains and gives us courage to move forward. One holy breath was enough to give the Disciples the strength they needed to step beyond the secure walls of the upper room and go out into the world, just as Jesus commanded them.

Do you need Jesus Christ to breathe a holy breath over your life today? Will it make an everlasting difference between your staying behind in the security of your church’s walls or stepping out into the world to go share the Good News? Lord Jesus, we need Your holy breath right now. Come and breathe on us, sweet breath of God. This is our heart’s desire. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Overjoyed

Today’s Reading: John 20:20 (NIV)

20 After He said this, [Jesus] showed them His hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord.

Good morning!

What is it like to be overjoyed? I’ve felt that way a few times in my life, and I think you probably have too. I remember the joy I felt when I completed my senior piano recital and prepared for high school graduation. That sense of accomplishment brought great joy to my life. I was definitely joyful the day I walked down the aisle with Jeff after we said “I do.” The delight we shared at the birth of our three children were milestone moments of great joy. I didn’t think having babies could possibly get any better until we experienced the births of our five grandchildren. Overjoyed and overwhelmed are very good words to describe God’s great gift of new life.

The disciples were overjoyed when they saw their Master and friend standing before them. He who had died was now alive and the proof was there, right in front of them! Their hopelessness became true hope. Fear and failure, the guilt of the “what ifs” were obsolete in the proof of Christ’s rising. Everything He had said was true! Sin and death had been conquered on the cross once and for all and the gates of hell would never be the same again.

Do you remember how you felt the first time you realized that Jesus had died just to save you? I have a distinct recollection of a prayer I prayed one day all by myself in the sanctuary of my church. I was thirteen years old; mother was at a meeting and I was spending time waiting for her to finish. As long as I can remember, I’ve always been drawn into the sanctuary; it is such a great place to spend quiet time, thinking and praying. Of course, the sanctuary had a piano and organ that I had permission to play, and sometimes, I would go there just to sing and play love songs for my Lord.

From the time I was a little girl, I knew that Jesus loved me. Yet, on that incredibly wonderful day, I realized that Jesus loved me enough to die for me, and if I had been the only person in the world needing salvation, He would have come back just to save me. It is hard to understand the depth of the Father’s love; how He would give His Only begotten Son to die on a cross of sin and shame to save us from ourselves. Overwhelmed might be a better word to describe what I felt in the sanctuary that day. I remember laughing and crying; grieving and rejoicing all at the same time. There were waves of sheer delight, followed with moments of deep sorrow. It was as if I reached out and touched the scars on Jesus’ hands. I could see the life giving blood of the Lamb pouring down from the cross, covering my sin and cleansing me from all unrighteousness. In that holy moment, I was overjoyed and overwhelmed with God’s gift of love.

I have discovered that the mercies of the Lord are new every day. I remember that first time; yet, I experience His resurrection over my life every morning. I still become overjoyed and overwhelmed with Christ’s love. I do not deserve His mercy and yet, I’m just so thankful for it! When I come into the Lord’s presence in prayer and praise, Jesus meets me there with open arms. Christ will meet you too, wherever you are. He knows you by name. Jesus carried every single sin you’ve ever committed to the cross so that you would not have to live today, tomorrow, or forever in total separation from Him. Jesus knows you and He loves you, and He waits for you to open your heart and experience the overwhelming joy that comes with an intimate relationship with your Savior.

Feeling a little overjoyed this morning? It is a great way to start the day. Come, and let us worship the Lord together.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Peace

Today’s Reading: John 20:19 (NIV)

19 On the evening of the first day of the week, when the disciples were together, with the doors locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you!”

Good morning!

It was anything but peaceful on the week that Jesus rose from the grave. Roman soldiers assigned to guard the tomb were punished for allowing the “dead” prisoner to escape. Rumors were flying all around the city as the Sanhedrin made inquiries and sought out potential grave robbers. All of Jesus’ closest friends and family were in imminent physical danger. They found themselves hiding away out of the public purview, confused by all that had occurred. The disciples wanted to believe Mary, and hoped that they would get to see their beloved Jesus alive! Still, they wondered how all this could have possibly happened.

Deep down inside, they knew it was true. Jesus told them what would happen, that the Son of Man would be handed over to evil men who would kill him, and on the third day He would rise again. Yet, it was their fear that kept them locked behind closed doors, unwilling to share what they knew to be true. Fear has a way of keeping the truth bottled up. Have you ever remained silent to protect your heart from the harsh judgment of others?

It is often easier to keep matters of faith tucked away where others cannot get to it, to pick it apart, like vultures looking for fresh meat. If any of you have ever shared your faith on a social networking site or group email, then I am certain you understand the vulnerability that comes with taking a stand, whether it be on a particular theological view or a social justice issue. We fear that our words will come back to bite us, that others might develop some preconceived notion of who we are and, as a result, accept us into their circle of friends. We are labeled by religious tags, which tend to build walls rather than break them down. If we cannot find the courage to share our faith with others, how will others ever learn about the amazing love of God the Father through His Son, Jesus Christ?

When Jesus came and stood among the disciples, He said, “Peace be with you.” Their every fear simply melted away in the presence of Jesus. It is in Christ’s presence daily, that we find strength and courage to go into the world, and share His message with others. Do not let fear keep you locked behind closed doors. Free your heart for service today. Choose to walk in Christ’s peace. It is His peace that passes all human understanding.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

New birth day party!

Today’s Reading: John 20:18 (NIV)

18 Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news, “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that He had said these things to her.

Good morning!

My mother and I attended a birthday party on Saturday for our granddaughter and great-granddaughter Emily Maria, who is celebrating her fifth year milestone. Do you remember what it was like to turn five years old? We partied at Monkey’s Joe’s, which I would simply categorize as bounce heaven for children of all ages! Some of the bouncing bubbles made me so dizzy watching that I had to look away. Emily and Rory came down a slide together and the velocity had them going so fast that when they reached the end of the slide, they collided and left bright pink goose-eggs on each other’s foreheads. Daddy got it all on film. Why do children love to bounce and go fast? Of course, as the excitement level rose, so did the noise level on the play ground. Personally, I was especially grateful for the soundproof party room. It made for a nice retreat from the chaos occurring just beyond the window.

Princess Emily sat perched in the large party chair, as her friends and family gathered round the picnic tables below. She got to meet Monkey Joe in person, who gave her a high-five and a new yellow Monkey Joe’s t-shirt! We ate birthday cake and drank apple juice, while enjoying our party bag full of trinkets. Emily enjoyed her presents – everything from clothes to My Little Pony, to an oversized Easter bunny for her room! The delight and pure joy captured on Emily’s face pretty much said it all. She was ecstatic in this moment!

Mary was celebrating a brand new birth day too. She had seen the Lord and His physical presence in her life had simply overwhelmed her! What Mary could have only hoped for in her wildest dreams had just come true. And just like the perfect birthday present, Mary saw her Lord in the garden, alive and well! He is alive! She ran, bouncing down the sidewalk into the city. Breathless and shaking, she found the disciples and shouted, “I have seen the Lord!” And she began to tell them what she knew to be true.

Now this is one party I do not intend to miss. Can you imagine how perfectly wonderful it will be when we hear the trumpets sound and look up to see Jesus returning on the clouds for you and me? What an amazing new birth day party this will be! He is coming back soon, and this is one eternal celebration we will never ever forget.

And I thought turning five was fun!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Homecoming Wave

Today’s Reading: John 20:17 (NIV)

17 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Good morning!

My mother looks forward to homecoming every summer in Mississippi. It is a time when she gets to visit with her extended family and friends in the town where she grew up. She can't wait to wave at and hug the stuffing out of all of her cousins, nieces and nephews. If you’ve ever attended a family reunion, or a homecoming football game at school, you can easily get caught up in the sheer excitement of the moment. Have you ever done a homecoming wave? It involves everyone in the stadium. You can see it coming from afar, and all of a sudden, you are up and cheering, waving your hands high above your head in tandem with everyone around you. Homecoming brings us back to the place where we began, to the ones we know and love. There is nothing quite like the experience of a homecoming wave.

In Jewish tradition and law, harvest time is a joyful time, when the first fruits are gathered in from the field. Moses instructed the people to celebrate the beginning of harvest by offering up a sheath of its first fruits, also known as the wavesheath offering to the Lord (Leviticus 23:9-14). This offering is given only once a year, following the Passover observance. It is offered in thankful praise to God as the one true giver of the harvest. The waving of the sheath (which was performed by the high priest) marks the beginning of the work that leads to an early harvest.

When Mary saw Jesus that morning in the garden, He told her not to cling to Him physically because He had not yet risen to His Father. He was preparing for His homecoming wave; Christ had become the physical wavesheath offering, marking the beginning of the great harvest of souls.

Can you imagine what the praises must have sounded like coming from heaven, as Jesus ascended that very first time before the Father’s throne? It must have been the most amazing homecoming wave ever! In my mind’s eye, I can clearly see the heavenly host bowing down and praising the Lamb all in one voice. Sin and death has been conquered forever! Worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing (Revelation 5:12).

The wavesheath offering has been offered and harvest time has begun. Soon, we will all experience the eternal wave of the sheath, when we see Jesus for the very first time, high and lifted up, sitting at the right of the Father. Friends, He is waving us home. It is a spectacular homecoming celebration that you do not want to miss. Ask Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life today. Do it now! Christ will forgive your sins, cleanse you from all unrighteousness, and raise you up on the day of the great homecoming. Harvest time is just around the corner, and it will be here before we know it. Are you ready to rise?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Today’s Reading: John 20:15-16 (NIV)

15 “Woman,” he said, “Why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, [Mary] said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Good morning!

Have you ever been approached by someone who thought you was someone else? Recently, I’ve been the example of a mistaken identity on a number of occasions, most recently at a Perspectives Bible Study class. A woman who was attending the program at Faith Church from Illinois seemed to recognize me from clear across the sanctuary. When she realized I was not the person she thought I was, she said that I definitely have a twin sister living on the other side of the river. Ironically, I guess it could be true! Since I was adopted at birth, I could have a sister out there somewhere. I would love to meet her one day, along with my biological parents. If nothing else, my heavenly family reunion will certainly be a wonderful surprise party for me!

Class reunions and church homecomings are places where we are surprised to see the people we have not seen in literally years. Last summer, Jeff and I made a trip to Texas and arranged to have dinner with several church members from a former student pastorate. When we were in seminary, Jeff and I were very young, ages 20 and 22 respectively. The biggest difference in Jeff’s appearance is his lack of hair. The folks at College Mound were surprised to see their totally bald pastor! I looked nothing like I did before, when I was thirty years younger. Of course, the folks we met with had changed considerably too. It is funny how the lines of time may change our physical appearance, but the things that make us who we are, our character and conviction, remain steadfast. Even though some of my College Mound friends did not look the way I remembered them, I could hear that sweet familiarity in their voice, and I knew them instinctively by their love for each other. Christians can be easily identified by their love.

Mary didn’t recognize Jesus, and if I had been standing there, I probably would not have known Him either. The last time she saw the Lord, He was a bleeding, dying man hanging upon the cross. His flesh had been ripped to shreds. His face was swollen and bruised from the beating He took. His eyes were blood shot and almost swollen shut. Mary saw Jesus die. It is no wonder that she would not have immediately recognized the risen Christ. His physical body had been restored to wholeness. It must have been His voice that she recognized first, when He called out her name. Even when our physical vision fails, our ability to hear and recognize the voice of our Savior remains.

The behaviors that alienate human beings today from a holy and perfect God can keep us from clearly hearing His voice and cause us to misunderstand His message of Truth. Today, I am praying for the ability to hear above the roar of our cultural world view. I want to know Jesus for who He really is, for it is only in Him that I can live forever free. I do not want to experience a sad case of mistaken identity when Christ calls out my name. Father, forgive me for the sins I’ve committed against you and others. I plead the blood of your son, Jesus Christ to cover me, to cleanse and make me whole. Only He can help me hear your still, small voice. I ask this, in Jesus’ holy name, Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Skewed vision

Today’s Reading: John 20:13-14 (NIV)

13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

Good morning!

I wish I had 20/20 vision. I’ve worn glasses and contact lenses from the age of eight, and I’ve thought of undergoing lasik eye surgery as a way to surgically correct my nearsightedness and astigmatism. If it works, it may be a great blessing, especially in the night, when my vision is compromised by the surrounding darkness.

Have you ever seen something in the dark that compels you to take a second, harder look? Sometimes, if I awake abruptly in the middle of the night, I may see a shadow that forces me to blink several times, trying to focus on what it is I am actually seeing. Quite often, it is only a piece of furniture in the room, the ceiling fan moving slowly, or a book left on the floor by my side of the bed.

Mary was there at the tomb and the sun was just beginning to rise. It is not always easy to see things just before the first light of dawn, when the world around you is hazy and dark shadows fill the sky. Mary didn’t recognize the two angels, nor did she recognize her Lord even as He was standing right in front of her. Mary needed supernatural help with her limited visual acuity.

Shortsightedness tends to skew our ability to see the bigger picture clearly. We are far too focused on the shadows right in front of our noses. It’s kind of like trying to see clearly in the dark without your glasses. We strain our eyes to see beyond the present, the particular, the concrete – only to run full force into that concrete wall. What walls are skewing your vision from seeing the Lord Jesus Christ for who He really is?

I believe it was no mistake that Mary was confronted by Jesus and two angels that day: Father, Son and Holy Spirit - three in one; one being; together forever. What will it take for our eyes to be opened so that we can see the bigger picture? The season of Lent is fast approaching. What would you be willing to give up if it meant that you could see the Lord for who He really is with perfect sight?

Father, help us look beyond the shadows and walls that limit our sight and see you clearly today in every human heart. Amen.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Broken-hearted

Today’s Reading: John 20:10-13 (NIV)

10 Then the disciples went back to their homes, 11 but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. 13 They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

Good morning!

Last night, I was on the phone with my daughter Rachel, and I could hear my young granddaughter Emily burst into tears. Rachel put the telephone down and went to comfort her daughter. “Emily, what’s wrong?” I heard Rachel say. What followed next was a combination of slurred speech and sobs from a broken-hearted little girl. Sometimes we have trouble communicating when we are overcome with emotion. I imagine Mary was feeling overwhelmed when the angels asked her why she was crying at the tomb.

Have you ever been overcome with emotion?

I remember standing alone at my father’s casket about an hour before his scheduled funeral. Daddy had passed quite suddenly and unexpectedly. There were some things left to say, and even though I knew he was physically no longer there, I felt the need to express myself. I knew that God would hear and understand the words I spoke, even if no one else did. I think I sounded a lot like little Emily, sobbing and sputtering words that probably only made sense to me and the Lord. When we say goodbye to the people who have impacted our lives in a profound way, it is a painful thing to do. As I reflect on that day many years ago, I realize that God gave me His special gift of tears to help me in expressing what simple words cannot. My swollen red nose and teary, weepy eyes were a priceless gift from the Father above, and I can be grateful even in times of sadness and despair.

The disciples had left Mary alone to her grief. Men seem to have a hard time with tears, especially when the one who is grieving means so very much to them. Mary stood there – but she was not alone. The Lord sent two angels to comfort her broken heart; a priceless gift she cherished for the rest of her life. Although I did not physically see or speak with angels on the day my father died, I have no doubt they were there, surrounding our family with Christ’s peace that passes all human understanding.

The next time grief grips your heart, and you find yourself blubbering between sobs, remember that you are not alone. Jesus Christ is standing right beside you. He will send His angels to guard and protect you especially in your most vulnerable moments, offering comfort in ways you cannot begin to imagine or understand. You can run today into the Father’s open arms where He will hold you as you have your heavenly cry out. May you experience Christ’s priceless peace when you have a broken heart..

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Faith issue

Today’s Reading: John 20:9 (NIV)

9 They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.

Good morning!

Have you ever taught Sunday school? I remember the first time I was asked to teach a Sunday school class. Jeff and I were young newlyweds; he had received his M.Div. (Masters of Divinity) and I had received my Ph.T. (Put Hubby Through). Since I was working on campus during the week to help pay Jeff’s tuition, I did not have the opportunity to attend the classes he took, and quite honestly, I felt totally inadequate to teach a Sunday school class. He had learned so much more in his studies. I was a high school graduate with virtually no formal college-level Biblical studies to my name. At first, I allowed overwhelming feelings of inadequacy to set in, and taught only when I absolutely had no other choice. It was not a joyful experience, at first. It amazes me that people can accept the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior, yet, feel inadequate when called upon to explain why they believe.

While at our student appointment in seminary, there was a need for a teacher in the toddler Sunday school classroom. Our daughter Rachel was a toddler then, and my confidence in sharing the Gospel with babies had grown since I had become a mother myself. I gladly accepted the position, and began working with several wee ones. We would sing the songs I learned as a child, and play with various art mediums. The children especially liked finger painting, and I could see Jesus in every one of their paintings. It’s seems rather peculiar to me that with every church, there was a need for a Sunday school teacher at just my children’s ages. Teaching became easier for me, because my comfort level grew as my children grew. I actually think it was a God-thing. I began teaching upper elementary classes, and then working with junior and senior high classes. About the time my children grew up, I finally found some comfort level in teaching adults. I recognized my deep need to learn and grow even deeper in the Word. I believe this is something every Christian should do. Understanding why we believe what we believe is imperative if we long to draw deeper in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

I have the utmost respect for Sunday school teachers. They are willing to set aside their personal fear of inadequacy to share the love of Christ with others. Their testimony and powerful witness impacts folks for the rest of their lives. I can still remember the faces and the lessons I learned as a child in Sunday school class. Do you remember your teachers and how their words and actions have stayed with you through the years?

The disciples were there, standing at the empty tomb. They viewed the remnants of where Christ’s body had been laid; they saw the folded napkin and the empty shroud. They believed, yet they did not fully understand that Jesus had to rise from the dead to finish the redemptive work of salvation. They were there and still had faith issues. Why then, should we be surprised when we struggle to understand?

I have a friend who attends Sunday school at Faith United Methodist Church in House Springs, Missouri. His instructor, Janet Holdcraft, asked this question a couple of weeks ago: "The question isn't 'What would Jesus do?' as if he wasn't here or as if he wasn't doing anything. The question is 'What IS Jesus doing, and how can I join in?" How would answer her question? What was Jesus doing in the garden on that resurrection morning? What is He doing in your life right now?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

poetspirit: Christian poem: this I know is true

poetspirit: Christian poem: this I know is true

A-live demonstration!

Today’s Reading: John 20:8 (NIV)

8 Finally, the other disciple who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed.

Good morning!

Do you remember when savvy salesmen dressed in three piece suits and ties would knock on your front door and ask for a minute of your time to demonstrate the latest and greatest vacuum cleaner? They would tell the lady of the house, “You’ve just got to see it to believe it!” When Jeff and I were first married, I remembered thinking that we needed to purchase a certain brand of vacuum; otherwise, we just wouldn’t be able to get our house really clean. The bells and whistles that came on these vacuum cleaners made one believe they could almost do the work all by themselves. And as much as they cost, that should have been true, don’t you think?

A live demonstration can speak volumes when it comes to believing. It is one thing to hear about a person, place or thing. It is something else to see it with your own eyes. I was amazed by the canister of dirt the dapper salesman would pull from his suit coat pocket, just to spill all over my mother’s clean carpet. Salesman have to spill the dirt before they can make their point, and there was no doubt that this one wanted to make a point. His vacuum cleaner would clean up any mess anywhere in record time, without even breaking a sweat. He was the master of attachments! Use this wand and clean the door frame ledges; the nozzle is perfect for apholstery and curtains, and this cord will stretch the entire length of your living room – no need to keep moving the plug-in. My mother was totally impressed! The problem would be selling my father when he came home that night.

We would try to gently tell him about the unannounced visitor during dinner. Hopefully his eating would distract him from getting angry. My mother kept the color brochures hidden until just the right moment during dessert, and we would all chime in together to validate how truly magical this machine really was! My mother didn’t bother telling him about how easy it might be for her to have this self-propelled vacuum; rather, she looked for ways that might appeal to Dad. After all, he would obviously want to use the vacuum when he washed the cars, or vacuumed out the air conditioning filters, or worked in the attic. Daddy wasn’t nearly as impressed, even with the artwork sitting right in front of him. Mom knew Dad would be a hard sell. He wasn’t going to jump into anything until he could see it for himself. When the salesman returned the next week, Mother asked the gentleman if he might be willing to loan his equipment to her overnight so she could give a personal demonstration of the vacuum for her husband. Surprisingly, the salesman agreed. It must have been a tough year in sales. But he was one wise man. He knew the sale was as good as done. My father tried out the vacuum for himself, totally liked what he saw, and left the money on the kitchen counter the next morning as he left for work. Seeing is definitely believing!

Peter and the other disciple had forgotten about Christ’s words, or maybe they just simply didn’t understand them. It wasn’t until they saw that Jesus was not there, when they recalled that He would rise again from the dead. This is why we can be sure that Jesus Christ is who He says He is – the Son of the Living God and the Savior of the world. Without His rising, the truth of Christ would be a holy stretch. The resurrection power is the same power available for you and me. He will bring our spiritually dead souls back to life in Him. It is His righteousness, His blood, His rising, that sucks the deepest dirt from our souls and makes us whole and clean in Him. There is no need for fancy attachments or gadgets to make this happen. Christ’s resurrection completes the job – it is finished and the battle with sin has been conquered forever!

What will it take for you to believe? Do you need to see Him to believe it? If you do, you are not alone. Ask the Lord to reveal Himself to you through the power of His Word. Then pick up your Bible and see it for yourself. Seeing is believing!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

The gathering table

Today’s Reading: John 20:5-7 (NIV)

5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen.

Good morning!

I’ve decided that dinner time is not what it used to be. When I was a little girl, supper was served at 6pm sharp. It seemed as if all the families on our block sat down for their evening meal at approximately the same time. When mothers sounded the dinner alarm; children came inside to wash up. The circle drive became quiet, as we inhaled the delightful scent of suppertime floating around the neighborhood. When our own children were growing up, we made it a point to share the family meal together around the table every night. Unfortunately, life became way too busy with evening meetings and after school practices and games. Dinnertime became unrecognizable, often served out of a fast food bag in the back seat of the family station wagon. Our dinner table became a place to finish homework and a catchall for books and coats. If I could go back in time and change a piece of my personal family history, I would want to restore the time-honored tradition of family meal time around the table in our home. It is an event that warrants our very best effort as we share time together. We are far too busy to realize what it is we miss when we do not make time to come to the gathering table. Wouldn’t you like to slow down a bit and make time for a meal with your family tonight?

Dinnertime is an important tradition in Jewish family life. The servants prepare the table for the feast that is being offered. The Master would take his place at the head, reclining and enjoying food and fellowship with his children, family and friends. The servant would wait patiently and watch for the Master to finish eating. He knew when the meal had ended as the Master took his cloth napkin, wiped his mouth and beard, and tossed it onto the table. This was the servant's que that the meal had was over. If, however, the Master folded his napkin and placed it neatly at the head of the table, it meant that he was not yet finished would be coming back to finish what He had begun. When this happened, the servant knew not to clear the table, but waited patiently for His Master’s imminent return.

Simon Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved could not believe what they were seeing. The strips of linen that had wrapped Jesus’ body were laying there, in the exact same position as the body had been placed inside the tomb. It was as if the Master had passed right through it! Even more amazing was how the burial cloth that had covered the Lord’s face had been folded neatly and placed near the strips of linen. Jesus was clearly not finished and He is coming back real soon!

Jesus Christ is calling all of us to the gathering table. Can you smell the sweet scent of salvation wafting in the air? Come join me as we wait together for our Heavenly Host. Dinner will be served shortly!

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Running for your life

Today’s Reading: John 20:3-4 (NIV)

3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.

Good morning!

Fear and disbelief can cause a person to run pretty fast. I used to work on Main Street in a small rural town many years ago. Just down the road from my office was a residential subdivision. One of my co-workers had a grandparent living within a block’s distance of our building. One day, as we sat typing documents, we heard the sound of sirens race down the street past our building. Of course, both of us went to the window to look outside. Realizing the emergency vehicles were stopping down the block in front her grandfather’s home, my coworker took off running as fast as she could down the sidewalk. I’ll never forget that sprint. She actually lost her shoes as she raced down the street. Her grandfather had a heart attack that day and a neighbor had dialed 911.

It’s as if Mary had dialed 911 with her unusual story. Racing back to where the disciples were sleeping, Mary set off an alarm system that would change the course of human history. Simon Peter and the other disciple found themselves running for their life. They couldn’t believe that the Savior’s body had been taken or that the heavy stone had been rolled away by someone in the night. Fear and disbelief caused them to run as fast as they could through town and past the garden gate. It was only when they arrived at the tomb that fear caused them to hesitate. Do you ever hesitate when you are not certain of what you may find around life’s corner?

I wonder, if at the tomb, the disciples thought about Jesus’ last words to them. Do you think they knew at that very moment that Jesus had risen from the dead, just as He had said? Peter was far more concerned with who to blame than seeing the miracle. He was running for his life and had no earthly idea of what it meant to the world.

If you are living in a time of fear and disbelief and find you are running for your life today, there is a Savior waiting to welcome you with open arms. Jesus lived, died and rose again so that your sins could be forgiven once and for all. Running for your life is not a bad thing when you know who it is you are running to.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Holding onto hope

Today’s Reading: John 20:2 (NIV)

2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put Him!”

Good morning!

I seem to lose things quite easily these days, especially my car keys. I try to toss them in my purse as soon as I walk in the house, and yet, when I’m in a hurry to leave for work, or school, or to get to a meeting at church, it is the car key I cannot seem to find. My purse is not so big that I shouldn’t be able to easily access my keys. I spent fifteen minutes one morning last week trying to retrace steps and look in all the familiar places where I may have laid them down, only to find the keys buried in the bottom of my bag. The next time, I need to turn it upside down and see if they will simply fall out.

It is frustrating that something so simple can be so easy to lose. I’ve often thought of hanging my keys by the back door, but that doesn’t seem like a particularly safe plan, especially in the unfortunate event of encountering an unwanted intruder. Jeff is very patient with me as I continually search for the stuff of my life. I walk out of the house in the morning, only to walk back in because I forgot to grab my lunch out of the fridge, my medication on the bathroom counter, or the badge that allows me access into my office. Is it just me or do you also struggle to hold on to the things that are truly important to your day?

Mary Magdalene was shocked when she reached the Garden tomb and found the stone had been rolled away. Just three days earlier, they had buried the Master there. Who could have possibly moved that stone, or taken His body away? I can see myself in Mary’s shoes, racing frantically from burial plot to burial plot, double checking my steps, and wondering if I had been mistaken about the place where I had left my Savior. Do you ever feel like you’ve somehow lost the Savior along the way?

It is common at times to feel abandoned and alone. We hold fast to faith, only to wonder where faith has disappeared to in the midst of personal hardship and tragedy. How can we lose sight of the Master when life is hard? Shouldn’t Jesus be right where we’ve left Him, within reach? Did we somehow forget to take the Master with us when we began our day? Why do we not hold fast to His promise that Christ is with us always, no matter where we are in life’s journey?

Mary thought the Lord had been misplaced, when He was right there, all the time. Christ is with us, even when we struggle to see where we’ve last laid Him. Hold on to His hope and don’t ever let go.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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

Waiting for signs of new life

Today’s Reading: John 20:1 (NIV)

1 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

Good morning!

The days can be long when you are waiting for signs of new life. If you’ve ever been pregnant, you may have a greater understanding of what it means to wait. In the birthing process, we get a glimpse of new life as we wait with anticipation for the baby’s birth. Ultrasound technology has changed how we wait to experience signs of new life. Now, many parents choose to learn the gender of their unborn child long its birth. Digital photographs of baby’s tiny frame reveal the most intricate observations. Not only can one count the fingers and toes of the unborn, but they can see the shape of its nose, tiny eyes forming, and its precious heart beating inside the womb. I saw my granddaughter Madison sucking her thumb in the womb at 20 weeks gestation. It was the most wondrous thing!

I’m looking for signs of life where I work, as I wait for word. Are we going to move forward? Will there be a resurrection in this dismal economy? How many people will lose their jobs before we begin to see signs of new life in the marketplace? We wait patiently for signs of new life in our children, as they continue to grow and mature. We pray that new life will take hold of old bodies. We look forward to the hope of yet another springtime thaw, when new life pushes out of the cold, frozen ground. It can be a long wait when we’re looking for a miracle, looking for signs of new life around us.

Mary Magdalene had waited long enough. She, along with all the other disciples, observed the Passover celebration together. For three long days, she waited in tears and silence, longing to get back to the One she loves. Mary wanted to see her Lord just one more time, to kneel at His feet; to tell Him once again how much she loves Him. She got up while it was still dark outside. The others were sleeping, and the household was quiet. So as not to wake anyone, Mary tiptoed out the front door, then ran to the garden tomb, unafraid of the darkness surrounding her. When we are desperate to see signs of new life, sometimes the darkness is not as scary as having to wait patiently for the dawn to come.

Mary was stunned when she saw that the 2,000 pound stone had been removed from the entrance to the tomb. This was not what she had expected to find. Was this the sign of new life she had hoped for? Where was Jesus?

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding

Faith UMC - St. Charles, MO

www.songofdeborah.com

___________________________

© Copyright 2009, Deb Spaulding

All rights reserved

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