Adam
By Elizabeth Cole

“Do you not know that the unrighteous and the wrongdoers will not inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived (misled): neither the impure and immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor those who participate in homosexuality, nor cheats (swindlers and thieves), nor greedy graspers, nor drunkards, nor foulmouthed revilers and slanderers, nor extortioners and robbers will inherit or have any share in the kingdom of God. And such some of you were [once]. But you were washed clean (purified by a complete atonement for sin and made free from the guilt of sin), and you were consecrated (set apart, hallowed), and you were justified [pronounced righteous, by trusting] in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the [Holy] Spirit of our God.”
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (The Amplified Bible)

I knew this guy once whom I could hardly stand. He was arrogant, lived a self-indulgent lifestyle, and treated those who loved him most with contempt. For conversation’s sake, let’s call him Adam, after the most influential sinner we know.

I was “Eve’s” friend and I abhorred what Adam was doing to his family. If you’d asked me who was the last name on my list of those potentially giving their love and their lives to Jesus, I would’ve said, “Hands-down, Adam.”

One night, I left Adam’s house seething. All the way home, I ranted to God about the injustices I’d just witnessed; what a jerk this guy was; how God needed to do something. As I pulled into my driveway, our God totally took my breath (and my condescension) away. “What would you be doing differently right now if you knew for sure that someday Adam would be your brother? That in the future, he’s going to turn and follow Me?”

If you ever doubt that God knows us in the most private places of our hearts, just have a conversation like this with Him. In two quick sentences, He pinpointed my prideful heart, my judgmental spirit, and my haughty assumption that I was, somehow, more deserving of God’s grace than Adam. Yet truly, the Kingdom of God is peopled with a bunch of ragamuffins who’ve been washed clean of a whole lot of ugly dirt…“and such some of you were once.” Not a single one of us is in the running for the prize of “Most Deserving.” And not one of us can predict who next will turn and follow Christ.

About Adam? He did.

GOING DEEPER
1. What kinds of people are most reviling to you? Any chance God’s calling you to love them in a way that cooperates with the “unimaginable” that God might be getting ready to do in their lives?
2. As a Christ-follower, washed clean from your previous lifestyle, have you thanked God recently for His freedom?

FURTHER READING:
Colossians 3:5-14; Acts 26:9-18; Ephesians 2:1-10

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

God of the Unlikely
By Elizabeth Cole

“Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, ‘Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.’ So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, ‘Go to that chariot and stay near it.’”
Acts 8:26-29

Back in the 1960’s, Joy and her friend Bernie believed that God was leading them to start a neighborhood Bible study. They decided to go door-to-door to invite women, many of whom Joy didn’t know since she was new to that neighborhood. As they made the rounds, they purposefully skipped over one house. In response to a questioning look, Bernie explained, “I know that Wilma. I already KNOW she wouldn’t want to come. She’s a social climber, plus she’ll smoke and make my house smell.”

The next morning, Bernie phoned Joy exhausted, “I couldn’t sleep all night. We have to invite Wilma.” She went on to say that she’d just called Wilma, stating, “You wouldn’t want to come to a Bible study, would you.” To which Wilma immediately replied, “Actually, yes. I’ve always wanted to know about the Bible.”

You know what happened next. Wilma came to understand the relationship Jesus wanted to have with her, and received His gift of salvation and His presence in her life. She went on to share that amazing news with her family, each of whom also received Him. At the time, her husband worked for the government in Boise, but he quit and the family followed God’s call to train for international tribal ministry. My Gramma Joy told me recently that Steve and Wilma served as missionaries in Indonesia for 22 years before retiring.

We serve a God of the Unlikely. I sure am glad Philip not only listened but obeyed the Holy Spirit’s direction to go the Ethiopian eunuch. The rest of the story includes Philip explaining the Holy Scriptures and the eunuch turning to Christ in faith. I sure am thankful that Bernie’s heart was tender enough to hear the Spirit’s correction and instruction, and that she then made that call. And it makes me wonder: Who’s my Wilma? Who’s your Wilma?

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there anyone in your life with whom you’re unwilling to talk about Christ? Would you be willing to be made willing, as the Holy Spirit leads you?

FURTHER READING
Acts 8:26-39; 1 Timothy 2:3-4

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

The Least of These
By Susan Klein

“I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
Matthew 25:40

Recently, I visited a church in the inner-city area where I live. I knew vaguely of their existence, but had never actually been inside this church that meets in a park and recreation building. A dear friend of mine was delivering the message that morning, so I thought I’d go support her.

What I saw tugged strongly at my heartstrings and left me feeling quite humbled! This church was full of “the least of these.” There were people from various ethnic backgrounds, some with debilitating physical conditions, others with ragged clothing and tattered hair, some shaky and uncertain due to addictions they were trying to quit, and many babies and toddlers carried by single moms. They came in the doors hoping to find a friendly face to greet them; wanting to feel like they “belonged” someplace where somebody might actually care.

I watched my friend walk through the rows of chairs, greeting each person she knew by name and asking questions about the welfare of their families. The ones she didn’t know, she made an effort to meet. When one toddler started to fuss during the praise time, his mother becoming visibly distressed, my friend picked the boy up in her arms and cajoled him, coaxing a smile from his precious face.

My eyes welled over with tears several times during the morning as I saw the love of Christ poured out to these needy people. If they needed a ride, they got one from the church van. If they needed some counseling for their addictions, they could receive that also. If their needs were clothing or food, the church tried to supply that as well. Activities were being planned for the kids who would be out of school over the summer and needed somewhere safe to go. They came because they found love there.

As I walked to my car after the service, I asked myself, “What am I doing for the least of these brothers?” If I am doing nothing for them, then I am doing nothing for my Savior, according to the verse above? I have always helped out when God has placed a needy person in my path, but I haven’t done well seeking them out.

Someday, when I stand before my Lord, and He asks, “What have you done for the least of these brothers?” I want to be able to say, “I showed them love!”

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways might God be nudging you to help someone needy in your area?
2. Are you willing to step out of your comfort zone to actually seek them out?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs14:31; Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Matthew 5:42

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She is the Coordinator of Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and one of its teachers.

Secure Your Own Mask First
By Jen Wollner

“’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength…Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
Mark 12:30-31

If you’ve ever been on an airplane, you probably remember the flight attendant reviewing the safety information as the pilots prepared for take-off. There are instructions given for many procedures, including what will happen in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. If this occurs, an oxygen mask drops down from the ceiling and you are supposed to put it on and begin breathing normally. One key directive, though, is that you should secure your own mask before helping others around you. It’s noble to want to lend a hand to someone else first, but in this case, if you do, you may render yourself utterly useless to the person you are attempting to assist.

Our verse for today gives a similar command regarding our spiritual lives. Jesus Himself tells us that the first and most important thing we should do in this life is develop our personal relationship with God. We are to know and love Him with everything we have and are. Our entire being…heart, soul, mind and strength…should revolve around loving Him. We are to fill ourselves completely with Him, breathing in His life-giving love. It’s only then that we are best equipped to move on to His second command…loving others. And I love that this transaction is as natural and moment-by-moment as breathing in, then breathing out; breathing in, breathing out.

What happens sometimes, though, is that we give and serve and empty ourselves for others, but we don’t take the time to fill ourselves up on the Lord first. We get too busy or too tired to interact with Him through His Word or prayer. If we make this mistake, we’ve failed to put on our spiritual “oxygen mask” and may risk “injuring” ourselves as well as those we serve, particularly in times of crisis. There’s a reason why Jesus listed loving God first…because He knew we would need to do that before we could successfully follow His second command of loving our neighbor. Our obedience to this instruction directly correlates to the kind of impact we have on the lives of those around us. The more we love God, the more love we can and will show to others.

So, put on your mask, take a deep breath…and then turn to your neighbor, overflowing with God’s love.

GOING DEEPER:
When could you set aside time today to get to know God better?
After doing that…who in your life needs love? How could you show godly love to that person?

FURTHER READING:
1 John 4:7-12

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children under the age of 6. Jen heads the Fresh Start ministry and is on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

“To Mentor or Not to Mentor...”
By Susan Klein

“...train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind and to be subject to their husbands,
so that no one will malign the word of God.”
Titus 2: 4-5

In the movie Fried Green Tomatoes, a woman named Evelyn is floundering in her marriage and feels as if no one takes her seriously. She is struggling with her identity and purpose in life. While visiting a family member at a nursing home, she meets an older woman who befriends her and regales Evelyn with wonderful tales of her past. As Evelyn returns each week for more of Idgie’s inspiring stories, she begins to develop a newfound confidence in her womanhood and builds a lasting friendship in the process. Idgie becomes a mentor of sorts to Evelyn through just being her friend.

It seems such a simple concept. The older woman befriends the younger woman and helps her by sharing her own life-experiences. In return, the older woman has made a new friend and can look forward to more sweet visits! It’s a win-win situation!

So why does this not happen more often in our society today? Don’t we all have inner cravings to have an older, wiser woman to invest in us and guide us through life’s difficulties? On the flip side, haven’t we all been through situations that we have come out the other side of with more wisdom and strength? Couldn’t we be sharing with those younger than ourselves?

When I became a believer in Jesus Christ, a sweet older man made it his mission to mentor me for a time until I could understand my newfound faith and get my bearings as I rambled through God’s Word. It was as simple as meeting for soup a few times. As he taught me to memorize three verses in Romans, he told me something I will never forget. He said, “If you only memorize three verses in your entire life, you will still have three verses to share with someone who does not know them.” I love that man, and believe his words apply to all aspects of my Christian walk. When the Lord works in my life, I bring Him glory just by sharing those experiences with others He places in my path.

We don’t necessarily have to make a “ministry” out of our mentoring, rather just be willing to share with those who are in need.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What younger woman has God put in your life that you could share some of your experiences with?
2. Ask God to lead you to an older woman who would enjoy your fellowship as much as you’d enjoy gleaning from her wisdom!

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Romans 15:14; Proverbs 16:20-21

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She leads a small group and teaches for Tuesday a.m. Bible Study.

Cattle on a Thousand Hills
By Elin Henderson

“For every beast of the forest is Mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills.”
Psalms 50:10 (NASB)

Hudson Taylor, in his book Spiritual Secrets of Hudson Taylor, said, “If God owns the cattle on the thousand hills, why be a vegetarian?” Now, I am not opposed to being a vegetarian. In fact, I eat vegetarian several times a week…mostly for health reasons, but also because sometimes in the bush there just isn’t much meat! What he means is how many of us are spiritual vegetarians because of our unbelief? Our Heavenly Father knows our needs and takes intimate care of us. The cows (His provisions) are there on the hillside whether we believe it or not.

As missionaries we get the privilege, and challenge at times, of trusting the Lord for our daily bread. When we have a need, it isn’t a matter of working overtime or pulling out a loan…we must call out to the Lord…and we see time and again His undertaking. Whether you usually feel as though you are solely depending on the Lord or whether it seems like you “earn” your “cows,” they really are all still His provision. And, His cows are beyond all we could ask or think! Everything and anything is at His disposal, even though we all have needs of differing shapes and sizes. He promises to take care of us, although the avenue isn’t always spelled out clearly. So, why we do we struggle when needs come up? Perhaps unbelief, or perhaps our own individualistic American mentality that “I must provide for me!” The desire to be independent lurks in us all. Yet, does that change the facts? No, it just keeps His provision outside our reach!

In this day and age, things are not as sure as they used to be. The financial market is crumbling and things like job security and retirement are looking shakier by the day. Where do you turn, though, when a need arises? In a particularly difficult time in his life, Hudson Taylor says, “Our faith never was so much tried, His faithfulness never so much experienced.” God will take care of us, it isn’t a matter of the cows being there, it is our believing that the cows are there and asking the Holy Spirit to reveal that to our hearts. A pastor from one of our churches once said, “Inspiration (God’s Word) without Illumination (the Holy Spirit making it real to us) is just Information.”

God’s Provision: It’s what’s for dinner!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you a “spiritual vegetarian” when you could be experiencing the provision of the Lord?
2. What area of your life do you need to turn over to Him and wait for His provision?

FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 3:20; Philippians 4:19

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to nine-year-old Callie and six-year-old Elias.

My Father’s Eyes
By Karen D’Amore

“Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father.”
John 14:9

As a young girl I was often told, “You have your father’s eyes.” Resembling my father enabled others to recognize me as his child. Living out the majority of my life in a strained relationship with my father made this observation disconcerting to hear. Stirring up tense and painful emotions, I often wished I could alter my appearance to resemble someone whom I chose to be identified with.

Late in life, through a Christ-surrendered heart, I was given a new set of eyes through which to see my father. As a Christ-follower, Jesus empowered me to see my father though His eyes. Through lenses of grace, I was able to look past my father’s shortcomings and mistakes…past the painful upbringing and abuse…and straight to the man whom Jesus loved unconditionally. God taught me that I could love as much as He loves, by allowing Him to love my father through me. God’s love in me enabled me to love my father with the same love God had for him.

We learn through Scripture that one thing identifies us as followers of Christ: our love. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). We are identified as Christ-followers when our lives reflect our Father’s love. His love forgives our enemies and prays for them, does not seek revenge, and does not harbor anger. In our own strength, we can never love others as God does. This type of love can only be accomplished through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Recent news of my father’s sudden hospitalization oppressed my heart with concern. As his conditioned worsened, my heart ached with compassion. Feeling genuine love for him, for the first time in my life, validated the transforming power of God’s presence in my life.

This Father’s Day, as I celebrate the life of my father, he is still very ill. As our journey together on this earth grows short, I can rejoice that we both now have our Father’s eyes. And for the remainder of my journey, I now strive to live in a way that others will say, “You look just like your Father.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. How are others able to see Jesus in you by the way in which you love? Pray that Jesus would empower you to love like He does.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 6:10-11; John 10:30; Revelation 22:11; 1 Corinthians 13:8

Married to husband Dan, Karen manages Intrigue Salon & Spa, and is the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study.

Lavish Love
By Elizabeth Cole

“But God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

I was so excited. College finals had just ended and Christmas break was finally here. My way home had two parts: drive a couple hours from San Diego to Van Nuys and then take a small commuter flight home to northern California. Should’ve been easy, but the traffic on the 405 was like nothing I’d ever experienced. Sitting at a standstill in the middle of five lanes, the only thing I saw moving were the clock’s hands. Throw in a debilitating migraine and the darkness of a winter evening, and I was a wreck. I made my way off the next exit and found a sole pay phone, right next to a timed sprinkler that began its drenching midway through my dialing.

“Dad, I’ve missed the flight, I’m soaking wet, and I can’t see very well with this headache,” I sobbed.

“Keep going as best you can and wait for me when you get to the airport. I’m coming for you.”

Upon hanging up, my father proceeded to drive the family station wagon eight hours south to pick up his daughter, tuck her into a makeshift bed in the back, and then turn around and drive through the rest of the night and early morning to deliver her home for Christmas.

Lavish love. Love that disregards inconvenience or sacrifice. A fatherly love that does for the child what the child cannot do for herself.

Regardless of the earthly fathers we’ve had…from those who reflected their God to those who’ve warped the very concept of a parent…our heavenly Father demonstrated lavish love beyond comparison or even words. Oh, how He must love you and me…passionately, poured out, lavishly.

Happy Father’s Day.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What would be a way you could say “Happy Father’s Day” to your heavenly Father?
2. How might you demonstrate lavish love to the father who’s nearest you today: husband, dad, father-in-law, spiritual mentor?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 15:11-32

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

Narrow Gate
By Peggy Kleckner

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”
Matthew 7:13-14

We have a screen porch attached to the back of our house. The screen porch includes a “doggy” door. You know, a small opening big enough for a dog to push through. Their door is under the eave of our house and about two feet from the large screen door which we, the people of the house, use. My husband and I trained our dogs to use their “doggy” door by offering them treats to come in through that particular opening. Lately, we have left the very large “people” door standing open. So essentially, at present, we have a narrow gate (the doggy door) and a broad gate (the screen door)!

I opened the patio door this morning in anticipation of letting our black lab back into the house. Sure enough, here she comes, and I had to smile as she veered past the broad gate and entered through the narrow one. She had been trained and acted on that training to come in through the door that is narrow. Oh, now and then she strays and comes in through the broad, but by and large she sticks to the narrow.

What a fine reminder that picture was for me. God has been training me through His Word and through the blessings that follow obedience to continue to choose the narrow road. The broad path is well-worn. Oh, I have been on it. I am on it when I refuse to forgive, instead of extending His grace. I am on it when I engage in gossip, when I could choose to reroute the conversation or walk away. I am also on it when I use my tongue as a weapon, rather than speaking only words that edify. God knows what is best for me and He will continue to train me in the way that I should go. I need only look to Him. He’s on the narrow path.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How tempting is the “wide gate” during this particular season of your life? Are you following the Lord’s training or are you choosing your own way?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 25; Psalm 139

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - two sons and two stepsons. She is the Co-coordinator of Oakwood’s Wednesday p.m. Bible Study.

Reflecting Jesus
By Jen Wollner

“So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.”
2 Corinthians 3:18 (NLT)

I was driving near our home recently and out of the corner of my eye, I saw a bright light. I looked to see what it was and saw a colorful display of light coming from a large window of a nearby home. I looked closer, trying to figure out what could be making that kind of light and I realized that it wasn’t coming from inside the house, but rather was a reflection of something outside. I looked in the opposite direction (slightly behind me) to see what was making all that color and I saw a spectacular sunset on the horizon…much more beautiful than what I was seeing on the window. It was one of the most incredible displays of creation I had ever witnessed! But, if it hadn’t been for that window reflecting the light, I would have missed it completely.

Just like that window reflecting the sunset, we are to be a reflection of Christ. We are to be a light for Him…a sign that points others to Him. As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, yielding to the Holy Spirit in us, we are transformed into a more complete reflection of Jesus. As this happens, our lives will draw others to us. They may admire us or want to be like us and it can be easy to let pride sneak in as we desire to take glory for ourselves. But, our job is to re-direct these people to Him. Ultimately, we are only the reflection and not the Source of the light.

Because we are imperfect, we can never be a completely accurate representation of Jesus. Even in our best moments, we are still just a fraction of what He is. But, even that shows us something beautiful: our imperfection is evidence of the love of a perfect God.

Keep shining for Him and reflecting His spectacular, awe-inspiring love to a world that might otherwise miss Him.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What steps can you take to be the most accurate reflection of Jesus you can possibly be?
2. If you are completely honest with yourself, would you say that you are tempted to take glory away from the Lord, wanting others to be impressed with you? Ask God to convict you of these times and help you turn the focus back to Him.

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 1:26-27

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children under the age of 6. Jen heads the Fresh Start ministry and is on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

The Best Is Yet To Come!
By Susan Klein

“But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.”
Philippians 3:20-21

My teenage daughter dislikes getting ready for school in the morning, but she loves listening to Michael Buble. So, to make her morning a bit more enjoyable, we occasionally plug in one of his CD’s on the car ride to school. She’s always in a better mood by the time we hit the parking lot!

As I listened to one of his songs this morning, I paid special attention to the words. The song was titled, “The Best Is Yet to Come.” Some of the lyrics went like this:

The best is yet to come, and won’t that be fine
You think you’ve seen the sun, but you ain’t seen it shine
You think you’ve flown before, but you ain’t left the ground
Wait till you see that sunshine place, you ain’t seen nothing like it here
Wait till you’re locked in my embrace, wait till I hold you near
Wait till you see that sunshine day, you ain’t seen nothing yet
The best is yet to come and won’t that be fine

Though the song was meant to be a love song from a man to a woman, I couldn’t help but listen with new ears as I imagined the Lord singing these words to me and every believer! What a mental picture it painted of how our future meeting with a loving Creator might be for those who’ve chosen a personal relationship with Him! To see Him holding out his arms to embrace us, to see the Son shining in all His glory and splendor like nothing our eyes have ever beheld, to be soaring in the heavenly realms far above the earth as we know it...won’t that be fine?!!

Just to know that as good as it gets here, you ain’t seen nothing yet! Whether we are taken up at Christ’s coming, or we die a natural death and leave our earthly bodies behind to be immediately with Him in spirit, it will be glorious beyond our imaginations! No earthly treasure or experience can compare with what our Savior is preparing for us in our eternal home. And, I don’t know about you, but I’m all about getting a transformed and glorious body! Be assured, the best is yet to come!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you ever struggle with “leaving it all behind”? Are there things you might have trouble “letting go of”?
2. May I challenge you to keep your eyes “eternally focused” when the going gets tough, or even when it gets good?

FURTHER READING:
John 14:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18; 1Peter 1:3-9; Revelation 21:1-5

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She leads a small group and teaches for Tuesday a.m. Bible Study.

The Unfinished House
By Elizabeth Cole

“And I am sure that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on that day when Christ Jesus comes back again.”
Philippians 1:6 (NLT)

In 1884, under instructions by a psychic to build a house and never finish, Sarah Winchester moved to the west coast and bought an eight-room farmhouse near San Jose. In her effort to appease angered spirits, she began building onto the house 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the next 38 years.

At the time of her death in 1922, Sarah had spent over $5 million dollars, without plans or blueprints, building a monstrosity that covered six acres with 160 rooms, 13 bathrooms, 6 kitchens, 40 staircases (including one that leads to nowhere but a ceiling), 47 fireplaces, 2,000 doors (including one that opens into a wall), 10,000 windows and was yet to be completed. Upon Sarah’s death, some say carpenters stopped without even hammering in the very nails they were working on. (1)

What a waste. Both a life and a home so futile, so pointless.

Unlike Sarah Winchester’s Mystery House, we have a Builder with a plan for His home. And interestingly, Jesus Himself identifies that home: “Those who love me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23).

Oh, the intentionality of our Resident Architect and Builder. His plans are good, pleasing to Him and complete. Before beginning, He prepared in advance just what Kingdom purposes we’d serve. No staircase leading to nowhere, no useless door, no rambling incoherence of a structure. Rather, every experience, each season of suffering, times of joy—in fact, all circumstances—are valuable in building us into the person He’s had planned from the start. While we only see a house halfway under construction, He’s got the blueprint and a sightline into the future; He knows we’re one day closer to His ultimate reality for our lives.

And most encouraging? He has promised to finish the house. He will finish the house…down to the last hammered nail.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Where in your life do you question God’s involvement and plans? Is there an obedience issue you need to resolve?
2. If not, based on what you already know about Him, would you be willing to trust God’s Word and willingly submit to His work in you?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:28; Ephesians 1:11, 2:9-10; 2 Corinthians. 1:3-5

(1) gocalifornia.about.com/cs/sivalley/a/winchestertour.htm

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

Soaking Up the Son
By Jen Wollner

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

As I sat in the warm sunshine of the Southwest, it was hard to believe that just hours before I was fighting the below-freezing winter weather of Wisconsin. While winters can be beautiful as the sparkling snow covers every surface, after a few months, the novelty really starts to wear off. Day after day of snow, slush, clouds, wind-chill, ice, hats, mittens, coats, boots…well, winter goes from majestic to burdensome and messy. Without much sun and fresh air, my whole perspective on life begins to change. Besides being stir-crazy, I sometimes get down and discouraged and lethargic. By January, I’m convinced that winter will never end!

But, it’s amazing what just a few minutes in the warm, sunny, snow-free weather can do for a person’s psyche. Whether it’s on vacation in another part of the country or here in Wisconsin on a summer day, right away we feel less stressed, less weighted down. Even a short time in the sun causes us to feel more alive and optimistic about life. We’re recharged and relaxed. A peace and comfort settles over us as we soak in every ray.

That’s how it is when we spend time with the Son, Jesus Christ, too. As we read His Word or spend time with Him in prayer, the cares of this world begin to fade. As we soak in His love for us, joy and peace come over us. As we drink of His living water, we thirst for nothing else. He promises that if we come to Him when we are weary and burdened, He will give us rest. We can look for rest in lots of other places or things, but nothing carries a promise like that, does it?!

Like the burdens of winter, the struggles of daily life can zap our energy and zeal. But, just as some time in the sun changes our mood and perspective, so can spending time with the Son. Whether it’s for a few minutes, a few hours or a few days, a get-away with the Lord will prove to be a worthwhile investment. And the most amazing truth is that God delights in this time, too, as He showers His love and affection on us.

Take a break in the Son today…and soak Him up!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you enjoyed a get-away with the Lord today, even for just a few minutes? Whether your answer is yes or no, how do you feel?
2. What plans can you set to make sure you get your daily dose of the Son?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 23: 2-4; Psalm 29:11; Psalm 107:8-9

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children under the age of 6. Jen heads the Fresh Start ministry and is on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Where Would I Go?
By Leslie Snyder

”From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him. ‘You do not want to leave too, do you?’ Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.’”
John 6:67-69

In the scene above, there had just been a mass exodus of followers of Jesus. Jesus addresses His closest disciples, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” which seems to imply Jesus was checking to see if they too had doubts.

Sometimes, if I’m really honest – I mean the type of deep down honesty that rarely finds its way out of the darkness of my soul and into the light of day – I have to admit that there times I question my faith. Yes, I grew up in the church, attended literally thousands of Sunday school classes, heard just as many sermons, sang in the choir, and followed the prescribed “Christian” path. I went to a Christian college, married a pastor, and even went into ministry myself. But, even so, there are times when questions, fears, doubts and uncertainty seep into my spirit.

One thing that helps me most during times like this is the fact that I’m not alone in my experience. In Psalm 13:1-3a, David cries out in anguish to God, “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, O LORD my God.” From prison, John the Baptist sent his own disciples to Jesus with one question, “Are you the one who was to come or should we expect someone else?" (Matthew 11:3)

If these great heroes of the faith expressed question and doubt, it should be no surprise to us that we, too, may wrestle with similar questions and experiences. One thing I am learning is not to fear the questions, but rather to acknowledge them, embrace them, and then take them to the best source I’ve ever known for answers, Jesus Christ himself.

GOING DEEPER:
Questions are a natural part of life and of our faith journey. God is not afraid of your questions. In fact, He invites them. If the experience of Scripture gives us direction, it points our questions into the heart of God.

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 19:29

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Struggling, But Not Alone
By Peggy Kleckner

“Dear friends do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when His glory is revealed.”
1 Peter 4:12a

I have been struggling lately. I feel like that butterfly that is trying to break free of its cocoon. Old habits must be broken, new ways must be learned. I am wriggling and squirming and can’t seem to break free. I can feel the fresh air of Christ rushing into the cracks of my prison. I want my freedom all the more. I must persevere through this changing process. The squirming and wriggling is what will make me strong enough to sustain the flight He has planned for me. He won’t cut my struggle short or else I will not have the strength I need to fly as a display of His glory. It is the process of perseverance which He uses to strengthen me. He loves me enough to stand near at hand, encouraging me to continue, knowing that the struggle will lead to the joy of flight.

We should be grateful that it is love which holds Him back, not disinterest. We may be angry at first, wondering why He doesn’t step in. He doesn’t mind our rapid-fire questions. He listens to our pain, hears our pleas, and holds our hands in His. He loves us enough to not interfere with that which is for our good and His glory. To interfere would cripple us and leave us without the gift of flight. To cut short the wriggling for the butterfly by opening its cocoon is to take away the triumph and to destine it to a short, flightless life. God sets the time of our being set free, as He does for the butterfly. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all. What a joy it must be to Him to count down the days to our first day of flight! Oh how I pray that day comes soon, both for you and for me.

Meanwhile, we should be reminded that He had to watch Christ in His sufferings. He had to hear His pain—His plea—and yet stand by until all was completed.

He who began a good work in us is faithful to complete it.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What struggle is wearying you? Can you see His vision for your future flight?

FURTHER STUDY:
1 Peter 4:19; Luke 8:11-15; Philippians 1:6

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - two sons and two stepsons. She is the Co-coordinator of Oakwood’s Wednesday p.m. Bible Study.

Divine Demolition
By Karen D’Amore

“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock.”
Matthew 7:24 (MSG)

Numerous homes were still under construction in our new Las Vegas subdivision. Weeks away from completion, the foundation of one of the homes began to buckle. When futile attempts failed to salvage the buckling foundation, the new home imploded. Following a thorough investigation, a survey of the land revealed the home was built on sinking sand.

My old life bore strong resemblances to that home built on a sinking foundation. Turning my back on God, I built my life on the temporary, extravagant foundations of this world: the sinking sand of materialism, the shallow sand of pleasure and the shifting sand of popularity and power. Living the “American dream,” my diamond-studded walls eventually collapsed and my self-indulgent heart grew weary.

Unresponsive to God’s firm, but gentle, nudges to draw me back to Him, He lovingly “imploded” my world. My nature to control and manipulate was so strong, it took a catastrophic event to wake me up and get my undivided attention. God’s “Divine Demolition” got more then my attention…He got my surrendered heart.

Standing alongside my police car, headlights accelerated in my direction. The drunk driver never hit his brakes before striking my police car and shattering my body. In a modern day “Damascus-Road” experience, an angel of light appeared in the form of a silhouette. God’s miraculous intervention spared me from death and humbled my rebellious heart.

Despite my deplorable lifestyle and the corruption of my sin-hardened heart, God faithfully pursued me with His unfailing, unconditional love. Relentless, He knocked at the door to my heart, until I finally relinquished control of the key. As my new interior re-designer, Jesus replaced my spiritually-defective heart with His heart, and is transforming me from the inside…out. Taking up residency in my life, He didn’t just remodel my old life by patching up the weak spots or plastering over the cracks…He gave me a new life. A new life constructed by the Master Carpenter and built on the “Solid Rock.”

It’s an important question today: Is the foundation of your “home” in need of “Divine Demolition”?

GOING DEEPER:
1. What quality of materials are you using to build your life?
2. If you haven’t, what would it take for you to allow Jesus to take up residency—without restraint?

FURTHER READING:
Ezekiel 36:26-28; Psalm 51:10; Jeremiah 24:7

Married to husband Dan, Karen manages Intrigue Salon & Spa, is the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study, and co-leads a freshman girls’ small group.

A Time To Heal
By Kelly McFadden

”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

Starfish have a unique capability. If a starfish should lose a limb, it can re-grow a new one. This is called regeneration. The process can take years, but when it is complete, you would probably not be able to tell that the starfish had ever been damaged.

In our lives, many of us have been damaged. We limp around with burdens from the past. The battles of life have torn at our resolve and stolen bits of our joy, leaving us bruised and crippled. It is easy to do the quick fix and “Band-Aid” our pain or mask the hurt. But underneath the façade lies a bleeding wound that over time will continue to fester until it is laid before the Great Healer.

It can take years for the limb of a starfish to regenerate until it is whole again. However, if you take the starfish away from its source of life, the ocean, not only will it never heal, but it will ultimately die. The same is true with you.

Our source of life is Jesus, and He wants to heal you. Many of us go through life with burdens weighing heavily on our shoulders. Whether it is the weight of sin, regret, oppression, persecution, abuse, sorrow, divorce, unfaithfulness, fear, unforgiveness, betrayal, regret…Jesus says, “Come to me.” He wants to come alongside you and heal you. He wants to take the Band-Aids off and properly clean your wounds.
If you want to be healed and set free from the burdens that weigh you down, call out to Jesus. It will take time and it may not be easy, but if you keep yourself surrounded by Jesus, the source of life, ultimately you will be healed. And when you are healed, you will experience the love, peace and hope only Jesus can bring.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What areas in your life need healing?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 11:28-30; Mark 9:2-13; 1 John 5:1-5

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Valuable to God
By Jen Wollner

“…I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14

Joan Rivers is a well-known actress and comedian, but she is also famous for another kind of “work” she’s done: plastic surgery. In a recent interview, she said that she has spent at least $80,000 on her nose, eyes, face-lifts, liposuction, breast reduction, chin tucks, botox and collagen injections…just to name a few! When asked why she has had so many surgeries, she replied matter-of-factly, “Plastic surgery makes me feel good about myself.”

I don’t know of a woman in the world who doesn’t have some kind of insecurity about herself. For some women, it’s a physical characteristic they don’t like. For others, it’s an issue of intelligence or talent. And, if you’re anything like me, it’s a combination of all of these! What we believe about ourselves—the value we think we have—has a profound impact on how we see the world and the choices we make. Do we believe what the world says about our beauty and worth? Or, is there another Source we look to for our identity and confidence?

We are told many times in Scripture how valuable we are to God. He created us in His image. He formed us in an intricate and wonderful way. He made us to have an intimate relationship with Him. In fact, our worth is so great that He sent His Son to die on the cross—to pay the penalty for our sin—so that we could spend eternity with Him. This is God’s great love for us! And, He is the very foundation on which we build our self-esteem. We just simply cannot get an accurate picture of who we really are by looking at the world around us. We must look to the One who gave us breath, who knows us better than we know ourselves, and who sees our potential to be who He created us to be.

At the end of the interview, the reporter asked Joan Rivers how she felt about her appearance after all the surgeries. She responded by saying, “I still don’t think I’m an attractive person.” In spite of spending so much time and money to improve her beauty, she still isn’t happy. Let’s not fall into the same trap! Let’s find our value in the One whose opinion of us is worth far more than anyone else’s. We are beautiful, inside and out, because our Creator says so!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What insecurities do you struggle with most? How are these affecting your life?
2. Do you have trouble believing that you are valuable just simply because God says you are? Ask Him to show you how much you are worth to Him.

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 1:27; Philippians 1:6; 1 John 4:9-10

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children under the age of 6. Jen heads the Fresh Start ministry and is on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

More Than Conquerors
By Kelly McFadden

"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:31, 37-39

I stood ready on top of the kitchen counter in ready position. My mom, broom in hand, patiently waited at the pantry door. I screeched, “There it is!” I screamed and pointed to the tiny mouse running in circles around our kitchen, while she shrieked and swatted the floor with a broom. Chairs knocked over, pantry emptied, room in chaos, we chased this little mouse through the kitchen and the rest of the house. This mouse had my mom and me so worked up we could hardly think straight. We were operating out of an attitude of fear, not power and strength. Later, we sat around and laughed at ourselves. How could something so tiny get us so worked up and frightened?

Cartoons and movies have depicted this scene for ages: Men and women jumping onto tables and chairs to hide from a mouse. Reflecting on that night in the kitchen, I started to wonder, how often do I make a problem bigger than it ought to be? In the moment of choice between strength or fear, too often I choose fear.

The Apostle Paul assures us that through Christ we are more than conquerors. Nothing can separate us from God’s love. So regardless of the size of the challenges we face – from a mouse to a giant – we don’t have to fear. Like David, we do not need to be afraid of the Goliaths we may encounter. We have all we need when we have Jesus. We can stand tall, prepared and ready to work through life’s problems and struggles with the power and strength given to us in Jesus.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How can you choose to conquer fear in your life?
2. What holds you back and keeps you afraid? How can you work to find the strength you need in Jesus?

FURTHER READING:
1 Samuel 17:50; Psalm 94:17-19, 118:6-8; Philippians 4:12-13

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

What Are You Waiting For?
By Janet Byrne

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait in expectation.”
Psalm 5:3

I just found out that a friend of mine is pregnant. One of the first questions we women tend to ask is “When are you due”? The miracle of birth doesn’t happen over night. It takes months for a baby to develop inside her mother’s womb and to be born. Why is that? Why doesn’t God allow us to be pregnant for just a day? He could, He is God. But, He doesn’t. He chooses to have us wait. So, we wait.

There are many references in Scripture to people having to wait. Noah had to wait for the flood waters to recede. Abraham and Sarah had to wait before the birth of Isaac. Job had to wait for his trials to be over and his deliverance to come. And we see Jesus Himself waiting…for the right time to start His ministry, for His sacrifice on the cross and for us to ask Him into our hearts.

God’s timing is perfect. He sometimes wants us to wait so that He can grow us. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance…so that you may be mature and complete…” Waiting tests our faith. Waiting helps us grow in maturity. But, waiting can also hurt. It can sometimes seem unbearable. However, Isaiah 30:18 says, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!” There is a blessing in the waiting! And there is blessing in waiting for HIS answers, not ours.

So, what are you waiting for today? Are you waiting for the depression to lift or anxiety to pass? Are you waiting for your marriage to change? For your financial situation to improve? Are you waiting for some kind of healing in your life? Whatever it is, we are all waiting for something.

Whether you are heading into the waiting room, are already there or are leaving the waiting room, take heart! Blessed are all who wait…

GOING DEEPER:
1. Think of a time in your life when you have had to wait for something. When you look back, are you able to see the blessings that came out of the waiting?
2. Do you know someone who is in the “waiting room” right now? How can you encourage her today?

FURTHER READING:
Lamentations 3:24; James 5:7; Micah 7:7

Janet is the Women’s Ministries Prayer Coordinator and balances her time caring for her husband Yancy and their two sons, working at Waukesha State Bank, and serving on the Moms Nurturing Moms leadership team.

Is He Really the Lord of Your Life?
By Robin Dugall

”Who are you to judge the servant of another? To his own master he stands or falls; and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God…for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.”
Romans 14:4, 6, 8-9

No one really knows what it is like to serve a “lord” these days. The word has an ancient meaning that is difficult for us in contemporary culture to fully appreciate. We have elected officials and others in our society to whom we “give” authority. By contrast, in ancient times, “lords” had complete and sovereign control over everything within their territory. They had unhindered sway over everything and everyone under their authority. To acknowledge someone as “lord” meant that you obeyed their ownership and authority over your life without hesitation.

In light of history, think about it for a moment: is Jesus the Lord of your life? Really? I can confess right now that Jesus is NOT Lord of my life in the way that He should be. There are parts of my life that are simply “mine,” and I struggle to give them over to Jesus’ lordship. I confess that He is far too easily reduced to a convenience or simply someone who can pull me out of trouble when I get in too deep.

Jesus calls us to give our lives over to Him as Lord. He created life; doesn’t it just make sense that we would obey everything He calls us to do? God designed life to make sense when we let Him reign in our lives. Thank God that He is perfect in our every weakness and in our stubbornness! Thank God that Jesus is patient with us even in our stubbornness, and continues to call us to give over our lives in obedience to Him.

Today, may we all have the courage to allow Jesus to truly be Lord of our lives.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How much of your life is being led by the Lord Jesus? What areas are you keeping from Him? Why?
2. What makes you afraid or apprehensive of giving all of your life to the Lord?

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 12; Matthew 14:22-33; John 14:1-7

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

What to Wear
By Elizabeth Cole

“She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs with no fear of the future.”
Proverbs 31:25 (NLT)

There she stands, just minding her own business and doing her job. Then, out of nowhere, a wily couple sneaks up to this unwitting “victim,” surprising her with humiliating, secret videotapes of her horrific clothing choices this past month. In front of her conspiring coworkers, she’s offered a loaded Visa card and an opportunity to change her fashion life forever.

One of reality television’s most successful makeover shows, What Not to Wear, draws a huge crowd of fans every Friday night as Stacey and Clinton transform their next subject from common to cultivated.

There’s one little catch to the show. In order to avail herself of the thousands of dollars in new clothing, the subject has to discard her entire previous wardrobe, undergarments included. Really, what a deal! I have to admit, it makes me laugh to see the really awful clothes some of these women can’t bear to toss. (Yes, I’m fully aware of the irony…but my favorite sweatshirt from 1985 is almost vintage, at this point.) I cheer Clinton on as he wrestles the worst from their hands and drops it into a gleaming silver trashcan. Every once in awhile, someone tries to clandestinely recover what’s been thrown out. I’m shocked at the audacity…and then I celebrate Stacey’s quick recovery, retrieving and replacing it right where it belongs.

It makes me wonder, any chance we have some clothes in our spiritual wardrobes that belong in the same place?

Pride? Toss it. We’re called to clothe ourselves with a servant’s apron and put on humility toward one another.

Self-absorption? Can’t stay. As God’s dearly beloved, we have the privilege of clothing ourselves with compassion and kindness toward others.

Fear? Yeah, that needs to be discarded. God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

God is so single-focused on our becoming His best version of ourselves (one that reflects His character) that He insists we get rid of the old to make way for His new. New foundations, new clothing, new strength, new dignity, new confidence.

Any chance we’re trying to put God’s clothing over the top of ratty old fear and pride? It won’t work; God doesn’t promote layering. Take it off, put it where it belongs…for good. For your good, and because of His goodness.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity”…now that’s something to wear!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What’s hanging in your spiritual closet that you know needs to go? Ask the Spirit of Christ to help you toss it once and for all.
2. Reviewing the verses below, ask God which spiritual garment He’s especially interested in your wearing today.

FURTHER READING:
I Peter 5:5; Colossians 3:1-17; Romans 13:14; Galatians 3:26-27

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.