Coincidence or God-incidence?

By Susan Klein

“I know that you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”

Job 42:2

A farmer in the Cincinnati area finds a business card on the ground from a man in Indiana, an area recently ravaged by tornadoes. He calls the man to see if he’s okay. The man and his family survived without harm, but lost everything they own. The man had found his wallet nearby with everything intact, except the missing business card.  The farmer is compelled to start a campaign to raise money for the man and enlists the help of family and friends on Facebook. A local church even gets involved. Coincidence, or God-incidence?

A teenage girl, walking home from a friend’s house late one evening is approached by a rabid dog. With no one in sight and nowhere to turn, she stands helplessly as the dog snarls and starts to run straight for her. Just as the dog is about to pounce, it is mysteriously lifted over her head and dropped  behind her on the pavement, momentarily stunned and giving her the few seconds she needs to make a hasty getaway. Coincidence, or God-incidence?

An Ethiopian eunuch in charge of all the Queen’s treasury travels two hundred miles just to worship in the temple. Although customs prevent him from becoming a full Jewish proselyte, he desires to worship the true God and learn as much about Him as possible. While sitting on the side of the road reading (but not understanding) the book of Isaiah, Philip the Evangelist happens by. He’s been detoured without explanation from his original route. He sees the eunuch and offers to help interpret God’s Word, teaching him the good news of Jesus Christ. Coincidence, or God-incidence?

Scripture answers this last question. In Acts chapter 8, we see that an angel of the Lord directed Philip to go a different route, knowing it would take him to the eunuch. God had a plan, even opening the eunuch’s heart to receive His word. So, why is it difficult for us to believe that He would still send angels, or use whatever means He desires to accomplish His purpose today? Would He not have directed the wind to drop the business card where the kind-hearted farmer would find it? And couldn’t God choose to send an angel to keep the dog from attacking the girl (who later became a Christ-follower)? Our sovereign God is purposefully orchestrating events to fulfill His plan. He is intentional, and nothing happens by accident.

In the words of Job, “God is mighty, and firm in His purpose.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. Spend some time these next few days looking for the “God-incidences” taking place around you. Consider sharing them with others who need to hear about His sovereignty.

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 19:21, Ephesians 1:11-12, Philippians 2:13

Susan is We Women's Tuesday Morning Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark lead a couples' small group in their home; she is also involved in inner city outreach.

Love in the Middle Of

By Lexi Cole

"See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"

1 John 3:1a

In 1882, George Matheson sat alone on the night of his sister’s wedding. Twenty years prior, Matheson was first in his class, a promising minister and engaged to be married. Devastatingly, he gradually became blind and his fianceé left him because of it. His sister cared for him, but life was changing with her marriage. Alone and blind, this accomplished minister struggled with resurfaced feelings of loss. (1) 

Loss is universal. The older I get, the more profound loss I see in my life and in the lives of people I love: loss of a relationship, loss of health, loss of a job, loss of a dearly loved one. Some loss is chosen; often, it’s loss we never asked for. Recognizing his own loss, Matheson wrote this hymn in five minutes:

O Love that will not let me go,
I rest my weary soul in thee;
I give thee back the life I owe,
That in thine ocean depths its flow
May richer, fuller be.

O light that follows all my way,
I yield my flickering torch to thee;
My heart restores its borrowed ray,
That in thy sunshine’s blaze its day
May brighter, fairer be.

O Joy that seeks me through pain,
I cannot close my heart to thee;
I trace the rainbow through the rain,
And feel the promise is not vain,
That morn shall tearless be.

O Cross that lifts up my head,
I dare not ask to fly from thee;
I lay in dust life’s glory dead,
And from the ground there blossoms red
Life that shall endless be. (2)

There are two things that have touched me through this hymn. The first speaks of a love from a powerful God that is unfailing. The mere fact that His love is steadfast is extremely powerful. His is a love that will never let us down…it won’t let us go. Secondly, Matheson alludes to the Holy Spirit who follows, seeks and guides us. In the midst of loss, we can choose to be in relationship with the Creator of the Universe who comforts His children and guides them through His Spirit.

Our loss is oh so real. Our God comforts and heals in the midst of our brokenness, and  His love is forever constant. Matheson experienced loss - - loss of his sight, loss of a loved relationship, loss of a hoped-for future - - but in that, he chose to cling to His God of Love.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How have you seen your God of Love at work in the middle of your own loss?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 66:13; 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

(1) http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/l/oltwnlmg.htm

(2) My choir is currently singing an arrangement of this hymn. My director arranged it, so it’s not published nor do I have a video recording of it online to share with you, but this link has another arrangement of this hymn (some classic Gaither) if you would like to listen to it.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sykrVzp2vPg&feature=related

Lexi is finishing her semester at Bethel University as an Elementary Education major and planning her wedding with her fiancé, Andrew. She serves with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood.

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles…
By Elin Henderson

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”
Job 9:10

Okay, for all of you musical aficionados…what film does this title come from? If you guessed Fiddler on the Roof, you are right! It is sung by Daughter Number One’s fiancé-to-be. He is expressing that of all the great miracles of God, the greatest is that He has given him this wonderful girl to be his wife. It is all quite touching and romantic!

As I think on the miracles that God performs throughout Scripture, I wonder, what is the greatest? God defeating an army of hundreds of thousands with Gideon’s small army of 1200 or the miracle that took place in Gideon’s heart to trust in the Lord? Is it Jesus healing the ear of the soldier or the work of the Holy Spirit that changed Peter from a sword-wielding dynamo to a humble servant of God?

Truly, I think the work that takes place when a heart turns to the Lord and says “Take me, use me, I am yours” is the miracle of all miracles. It’s even beyond the feeding of five thousand and the dead coming back to life. While we are created by God, we are not robots…we can still choose to walk with Him or to turn away. He does not pre-program our wills and make us follow Him. Otherwise, we would be like computers that just do exactly as He says. But, rather, He sends His eyes over all the earth, seeking those whose hearts are open to Him. Why? To “show Himself strong” on their behalves. WOW! That is the wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles that He is after! A heart that is open to Him. Then, He says to that person just as He said to Moses before He began a whole series of amazing miracles in Egypt (both physical and spiritual), “Stand back, and watch the wonders I will do in your midst!”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What wonders has He wrought in your life that you can rejoice about?
2. Are His eyes upon you? Are you open to Him? If not, why?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 3:20; 2 Chronicles 16:9

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

Our Commander in Chief

By Susan Klein

All the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

1 Samuel 8:4-5

It seemed like a simple request to the Israelites. Samuel, whom God had chosen to rule and judge over Israel, was old. Though he had always served the people well, they were in want of something else, something other people had. They wanted a king. As Samuel approached God, we find Him displeased with their request. Further on in this passage we discover God telling Samuel that the people are not merely rejecting him as their judge, but they are also rejecting God, their ultimate King. The people had chosen to remove their trust in God as their Supreme Leader and now desired to place it in a man who would sit on a throne. God had specifically appointed Samuel as their judge and He would choose when to remove him. Several places in Scripture remind us that God is the one who appoints our rulers. Proverbs 21:1 tells us that the king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord; he directs it like a watercourse wherever he pleases.  God did give them a new king, just as they requested. However, he first had Samuel forewarn them of how awful this new king would treat them. They didn’t care to heed his warnings and got what they asked for!

Paul reminds us in the New Testament that there is no authority except that which God has established. He is sovereign, and His will is accomplished through all leaders, good and bad alike.

What does this mean for us today? While we are fortunate to live in a nation with voting rights, and have a voice in whom we want to preside over us in government, it is ultimately our sovereign King who makes the final decision. Does that mean we should not vote, or back a candidate we believe in? Absolutely not! God has given us a voice to use and a country to live in where we can exercise certain rights to choose. However, we must accept that the outcome ultimately rests in the hands of the Almighty and respect His final decision. Though we cannot see the future, or how He plans to use that person to accomplish His sovereign will, we will grow in faith by trusting in His perfect will.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Might you be willing to add your church and government leaders to your prayer list and pray for them regularly?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 40:23; Colossians 1:16-18; Romans 13:1-2

Susan is We Women's Tuesday Morning Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark lead a couples' small group in their home; she is also involved in inner city outreach.

Soil Testing

By Lisa Boyer

“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:8

It’s spring and my work place will soon be receiving calls from people looking for information on soil testing. They’ll collect a soil sample from their garden and ship it off to be tested. A few weeks later, they’ll get the results and a recommended treatment plan. If they properly prepare their soil, they can expect a good harvest.

The thought of soil testing has had me pondering the “The Parable of the Sower” in Matthew 13.

As you may recall, the seed falls on four types of soil: the path (hard soil), the rocky places with shallow soil, the soil containing thorns, and the good soil. Jesus explains the Parable in Matthew 13:18b-23 “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Jesus wants everyone to understand and receive His message, so maybe part of the point He was making in the “The Parable of the Sower” is actually a warning  about the condition of the soil. Life is a difficult journey and any number of things can damage the heart (soil). Maybe Jesus was pointing out that the soil (the heart) needs to be properly prepared to receive the seed (the message) before we sow it.

Isn’t that what Jesus did while He was here on Earth? Wasn’t He nurturing the hurting hearts of those around Him with love and compassion and healing? Jesus’ second greatest commandment, just like the first, is about love… and perhaps soil preparation and maintenance.

Before sharing the message with those around us, let’s take a moment to test the soil; then let’s prepare the soil… with love.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been wanting to share what you know about Jesus with a friend? Today, ask God how you can nurture them in preparation for that, knowing that ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 13:3-8; Matthew 22:36-38

 

Lisa has been married to Ted for 20 years and they have two teenage sons. Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with and impacting teenage girls for Christ.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

I Can Hear You Now

By Jeannine Sawall

"This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us -- whatever we ask -- we know that we have what we asked of Him." 

1 John 5:14-15

Recently, I spent a few days in the upper peninsula of Michigan. It was a great place to escape, with beautiful snow-covered landscapes and quiet days in the cottage. I had planned a reflective time to finish a couple writing projects I was working on. In the middle of one of the projects, I realized I needed the internet and we do not have internet access at the cottage. No problem…I have a smart phone. However, being as rural as we were, I was not getting a strong enough signal. My wireless devices left me without the ability to communicate. 

As I sat there grumbling, growing more frustrated by the failure of my technology and watching my productive day go down the drain, I heard the Lord whisper to me, “I can hear you now.” What? “I can hear you now,” He said again. I smiled as He reminded me His prayer line is always available. I bowed my head, thanked Him that His service always has a strong signal, and told Him my needs. A short time later, the neighbor came home and, after hearing my technology issues, graciously offered me their internet I.D. and password to use anytime we came up to the cottage. I was back in business.

Most of us depend on technology every day. We google information, share our joys and heartaches on Facebook and wouldn’t think of leaving the house without our cell phone. However, each of these communication technologies can fail us at times. How blessed we are to have the Lord available at anytime and anywhere. He always has a strong signal, He never drops a call, and His wi-fi is never password-protected! While technology is a great thing, having the Lord available at all times is an even greater thing. Instead of choosing to search the internet or dial up a friend when faced with trouble or joy, we can make the choice to reach out and up to our Lord. He is waiting to hear from us, He has answers, and He can hear us now…and forever.

GOING DEEPER:
1. When faced with trouble or joy, who do you choose to share it with first: the Lord or others?

2. How much time do you spend with Jesus compared to Facebook or other technology?

FURTHER READING:
James 1:5-6; Matthew 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:16

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

You Are Beautiful

By Jeannine Sawall

But let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very beautiful. 

1 Peter 3:4

As women, countless times a day we are given the message, “If you use this product, you will be beautiful.” “If you lose 5, 10, 50 more pounds, you will be beautiful.” “If you wear these clothes, you will be beautiful.” It’s no wonder the beauty industry is a billion dollar business. Nobody seems to measure up! It doesn’t help that even those who are paid to represent beauty are falsely represented. Photoshop does wonders: a little nip there, a little tuck here, change the shape of your face, trim the width of your waist, add some volume to the hair and erase any imperfection with the click of a button.Voila….perfection! It’s easy to buy into the message…we’ll have a better life if we are beautiful.

While the world may tell you the beauty you see in the mirror is what matters most, the Bible tells us a different story. We need to be reminded that how we look through God’s eyes matters above all else. He created us to be a representation of His majesty. Every detail was set from the beginning, even those things we look at and see as flaws—they serve a purpose.  If we chose to focus on the inner beauty the Lord sees, we would be overwhelmed. In His eyes, He sees someone who is blessed, beautiful, chosen, pursued, forgiven, defended, accepted, free, delightful, valuable, loved, strong, victorious, irreplaceable, redeemed, secure, carried, known and loved. 

We have a choice. We can look at the beauty reflected in the mirror or we can look at our beauty in the eyes of God. When we see ourselves through Him, instead of bowing our head in shame because we don’t measure up, we bow our head in prayer, thanking Him for all He’s done. God finds us no less valuable or beautiful on a good hair day or bad hair day, whether we have smooth skin or wrinkled skin. He is not as concerned with our outer beauty as He is with our inner beauty. He looks at our heart, and when it reflects the person of His Son, He says, “You are beautiful!”

Make the choice to see what God sees the next time you look in the mirror. When you do that, you’ll see a beauty that will never fade away. 

GOING DEEPER:
1. Where do you struggle with self-acceptance?  Ask the Lord to show you your beauty through His eyes.

2. Do you spend more time on “outer beauty” than on “inner beauty”? Which investment of time lasts?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 31:30; Song of Solomon (Songs) 4:7; 1 Samuel 16:7

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

Wait for It

By Jeannine Sawall

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 

James 5:7-8

I still remember it like it was just last week. When my friend arrived for coffee, her first question was, “Where are you in the adoption process?” I began to tell her how God had been opening doors for us. Appointments that should have taken several months were scheduled in the next few weeks. A piece of property had unexpectedly been sold and would provide the money to cover expenses. She listened attentively and then said, “I’m not saying this is a ‘Thus sayeth the Lord,’ but I’ve been praying for you and I don’t think you should proceed with this adoption right now.” Talk about a conversation stopper!  How could she even say that? This was the friend who had walked with me through five miscarriages in the last 26 months. She had held me as I wept tears of grief and disappointment, wondering why God was allowing this pain in my life. She had prayed with me as I begged the Lord to take away the longing for another baby. Adoption was a good thing!  I wanted encouragement…telling me anything else was not what I wanted!

She asked what led us to the decision to adopt. I told her that while I hadn’t had a scroll dropped in my lap, doors kept opening. She challenged me not to depend on positive circumstances, but to pray without ceasing and wait until I was sure I was in the middle of God’s will. I agreed to do that. As much as we wanted another child, we wanted to be in the middle of God’s will more.

To our astonishment, within the next year we were blessed with the birth of a healthy baby.  While not every story ends with the Lord giving you what you want, when you choose to put His will before your own, every story will end with His providing what you need. (And, of course, you and I both know that there are times when adoption is exactly what His will is for some.)

Often, when things aren’t happening the way we want them to, we may try to make “it” happen. God allows us a choice: We can choose to focus on what HE wants to do and wait for His timing, or on what we try to do in our own strength. Looking back, I’m thankful this friend had the courage to challenge me to stop and wait for God’s clear direction and plan. While His timing and His ways may not always make sense or be to our liking, it is always for His higher purpose and His glory…and that’s something worth waiting for!

GOING DEEPER:
1 What do you do when God does not immediately answer your prayers? Do you choose to make it happen or wait on Him?

2. What friend do you have in your life who will challenge you to be more dependent on God? And to whom can you be that kind of friend?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 37:34; Isaiah 40:31; James 5:11

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

Choices
By Jeannine Sawall

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"
Deuteronomy 30:19

"Tension is the place where the worst of life and the best of true hope meet to unveil our eyes to God’s artistic work of redemption. What a mighty and creatively loving God we serve. He allows us to know great pain, so that we can know the greater pleasure of trading it in for purpose." -- Matt Hammitt

I came across this statement by Matt while he was blogging about his infant son, Bowen. Bowen was born with a serious heart defect, one that is potentially life-threatening. My heart ached as I looked pictures of that tiny baby with tubes coming out of everywhere. Even his chest was still open after surgery for "easy access," in case something went wrong and the doctors needed to get into it again quickly.

Why?? Why such pain for that little guy? Why such sorrow and uncertainty for his family? Why such trauma in everyday life for any of us? Friends whose loved ones are sick with terminal diseases and wasting away before their eyes? Others who have lost jobs and fallen on difficult financial times? For myself, why 10 miscarriages? Why the unexpected loss of my mom? It's so easy to go to that place of "why?" So easy to wonder where God is at these moments.

Sin. The Curse. The Fall. The answer to my "why's." Sickness, sorrow, pain, death...these are the results of sin. However, God can use these times to draw us to Him, if we let Him. In the midst of living in a world where we can expect difficult times, we are given two choices. We can say He is not enough and turn away, or we can be touched by our gracious God who meets us in the midst of that tension. We can lean into a God who, in that worst place, shows us there is still purpose. He will reveal to us His character and tell us He has made a way; to hang on, hope is around the corner. He has redeemed us and a day is coming when tears will be gone forever. And when we know the secret of His redemptive grace, we can stand in the midst of any trial and say He is good…even if tears are streaming down our cheeks. We are given that choice. We only have to make it for Him.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you found yourself doubting God or wondering where He is in a hard time? Stand firm on His promises. He will see you through any difficulty.

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 27:4-5, Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 26:3-4

Jeannine is a wife and active mother of four boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

Choosing to Look Forward

By Jeannine Sawall

“Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and the entire valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Genesis 19:26

The Lord had provided a way out for Lot’s family. He had instructed them to flee from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as judgment was imminent. Lot and his family were told to leave everything behind and to go and do not look back. Lot loved the Lord more than he loved the world and when commanded, he fled and did not look back. Unfortunately, Lot’s wife chose to identify herself with the city coming under judgment. In choosing to focus on what was behind her, she missed what God had in front of her and gave up the salvation the Lord had provided for her.

We might look at Lot’s wife and think turning into a pillar of salt is definitely Old Testament stuff, yet the lessons remain the same. Oftentimes, we are tempted to look back at our sinful life and think of it nostalgically—“the good ol’ days,” so to speak. Yet, as new creations in the Lord, we are to look to God for His salvation and not yearn for the days in which we were still in bondage to sin. There’s no getting around the fact that sin can be pleasurable…for a time. But sin eventually shows itself for what it is, with damaging consequences.

There may also be times when the Lord is moving us into something new, yet we don’t want to leave what’s behind. Satan brings doubt into our lives by making us question God’s good intentions. Those questions can pop up when we are being taken into a new life, new place, new ministry or anything else that takes us out of our comfort zone. Our natural inclination is to be fearful, to want to stay put, to be like Lot’s wife…we like what we know: it’s comfortable and familiar. However, our God will never take us where His grace can’t keep us. If we choose to stay focused on what we’ve left behind, we will miss an opportunity for blessing. The alternative? Choose to look forward and trust God to bring about His good works.

When we decide to walk with the Lord, we need to be purposeful in our choices to go forward with Him, no matter where He’s taken us from or taking us to. He always has a better plan and all He asks is that we choose to trust Him and go forward.     

GOING DEEPER:

1. Where is God asking you to trust Him as He moves you forward into something new?

2. Is there an old habit that continues to draw you back into sin?  Ask the Lord to help you see His way out.

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 43:18-19; Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 3:13-14  

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

Choose What is Better…Sit at His Feet

By Karen D’Amore

“Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken from her.”

Luke 10:42

Imagine: There in the Living Room was Mary, sitting at the feet of Jesus. Gazing into His eyes, she listened intently as His words captivated her. All the while, Martha was in the kitchen slamming cupboards and clanging pots, annoyed that she was preparing the meal alone. Mary was neither moved nor distracted by the noise in the kitchen; her focus firmly fixed on The Master. After rebuking Martha for her misplaced priorities, Jesus commends Mary for “choosing what is better.”

Even though it went against the grain of societal expectations and meant ignoring her regular duties, Mary correctly discerned that listening to Jesus was more important than anything else she could choose. Mary’s extravagant love and devotion to Jesus impelled her to choose what was better.

As Christ-followers, there is no better place for us to be and no place where we are more welcome, than at the feet of Jesus. When we sit at His feet, listening to His Word, He becomes our spiritual compass, keeping us pointed in the right direction. By His Word, we are strengthened and sustained for the journey and tasks of each day. At His feet, we acknowledge His majesty and goodness. In that inner worship and communion, we learn that the most important part of the believer’s life, is the part that only Jesus sees. That stillness before Him endows us with the balance of sitting and serving: sitting without serving is powerless…serving without sitting is directionless…serving after sitting produces power and balance.

Danish artist Thors Walden sculpted a life-size statue of Jesus, in such a way, that you can’t see His face from a standing position. Next to the statue is a sign that reads, “If you want to see the face of Jesus, you must sit at His feet.” When you sit at the feet of the statue, only then are you able to see His face.

The one thing that Jesus seeks, above all else, is to see our devoted hearts sitting at His feet. This must be our first priority, as this is the place…where we see His face and find in Him peace and rest. It is in these quiet moments that He directs our steps and empowers us to discern suitable balance between sitting and serving.

In humility, adoration, dependence and devotion…Mary chose what was better…sitting at the feet of Jesus. When as the last time you saw His face? Why not choose “what is better” and sit awhile!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Do you tend to choose work over worship? How can you restructure your priorities to ensure spending more time at His feet?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 27:4; Psalm 95:6; Psalm 46:10

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She’s a leader for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

Only One Thing is Needed

By Karen D’Amore

“Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things,

 but only one thing is needed.”

Luke 10:41

As Martha rushed into serving mode, meeting the needs of those around her, she became mired in the pressure and stress of ministry. Can you blame her? J-E-S-U-S was her invited guest! She’s in a frazzled frenzy… to make sure all her “falafels” are in a row! Martha’s work was important and commendable…her anxiety and compulsion about it…wasn’t. Jesus didn’t rebuke Martha for her service, but rather for her worries and anxieties over many things. In her concern to feed the Lord, she failed to be fed  by the Lord. Heading to the kitchen, before spending time in the Living Room, resulted in service that was shallow, self-serving and a source of agitation. Annoyed that her sister Mary was sitting and listening to Jesus, instead of helping her, Martha agitatedly questioned Jesus and advised Him to act on her behalf. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me” (Luke 10:40)!

Martha was preoccupied with ministering to Jesus; Mary with the ministry of Jesus. It would appear that Martha needed a priority adjustment! Our Lord is not dependent on our ministry to Him, but our life in Him is dependent on His ministry to us. In seeking to serve Jesus, Martha was hindering the sustenance of Jesus in her life. The “one thing needed” was and is abiding in Christ, drawing strength and instruction from Him. Service may not result in the study of God’s Word, but meditating on and applying Scripture spurs hearts into service.

I love the gentleness of the Lord’s rebuke as He resets the plumb line of Martha’s heart. He’s truly interested in our hearts and our hands; duty must be balanced with devotion! We must be ministered to  by our Savior before we can effectively minister for  the Savior. Ministry should be the overflow of time spent in communion with Him. And as our hands are anointed with the fragrance of Christ, His beauty and love will be spread while we’re serving others.

Jesus invites us all to discover “the one thing that is needed” - - the place of refreshment and joy in His presence where He fills our hearts with His abundant love and goodness…that we, in turn, would pour out His love and goodness into the lives of others.

         

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are the things you’re doing for God intruding on time spent alone with God? What steps do you need to take to balance duty with devotion?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 6:25; John 15:1-8; Jeremiah 9:23-24

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She’s a leader for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

 “Becoming a Stretcher Bearer”

By Jeannine Sawall

“Some men came, bringing to Him a paralytic,  

carried by the four of them.”
Mark 2:3

You may have recently read about the choices the paralytic in this story was faced with: Would he go with his friends to see Jesus; would he press in, despite obstacles; and would he get up when Jesus told him to go. But that is just one part of this story. Our paralytic man would not have even had the opportunity to make those life-changing choices, if not for his friends who chose to make a difference that day. Becoming a stretcher bearer changed their lives…and his!

How often in life are we called to be stretcher bearers for our friends, or for others?  Had the four men in this story decided they were too busy, were too weak, needed to work late that day, or if they just had good intentions of bringing their friend to see Jesus and never did, the paralytic’s world would have likely remained unchanged. These friends not only took the initiative to carry their friend to Jesus, they made the time to do it. And when it seemed there was no way they were going to get their friend through the crowds to see Jesus, they went above and beyond…literally. The Bible tells us they climbed up on the roof and “…made an opening and after digging through it, lowered the mat with the man in front of Jesus” (Mark 2:4).  These friends believed Jesus had the cure for what ailed their friend and they made the choice to do whatever it took to help him see Jesus.

While becoming a stretcher bearer today may not look the same as in the story, we still have the choice each and every day to help carry someone near Jesus. Sometimes the simplest act can make a difference in someone’s life. Perhaps it’s a friend who needs encouragement, a phone call, or a card may show someone really cares.  Maybe it’s a family member who is overwhelmed with life—a lunch date might brighten his or her day. Or maybe it’s someone who needs to know Jesus as Savior—an honest conversation may change their eternity. 

Life is busy for all of us; however, there are many small ways we can be a stretcher bearer for someone.  Having good intentions won’t make a difference in someone’s life, but choosing to act on those intentions will.

Let’s not let an opportunity to bring someone near to Jesus get past us. 

GOING DEEPER:

1. Whom in your life could you choose to be a stretcher bearer for this week?

2. What good intentions need to be changed into actions?

FURTHER READING:

Galatians 6:2; John 13:34-35; Romans 12:10

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

FRESH START READERS: We are delighted to share with you a two-week series of devotionals that are the follow-up to We Women’s 2012 annual conference entitled Choices: God’s Answers for Life’s Toughest Choices.

 “Choose to Get Up”

By Jeannine Sawall

 “…I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been laying on and went home praising God.”

Mark 2:11

It had probably started as just another day for the man with the mat.  Wake up and lie there.  Same ole, same ole but what else was he to do…he was paralyzed.  However, what started out as an ordinary day soon presented him with choices that would change his life.

Sometime during the day, friends showed up wanting to take him to see Jesus.  Rumor had it, Jesus was healing the sick.  He could have chosen to just stay home that day and send his friends on their way.  After all, what were the odds that after being paralyzed for so long, he would be healed?  But he made the choice to go!  When they got to the house, the crowds were so big, they could not get anywhere near Jesus.  Should they just give up and go home?  How would they ever get near him…it seemed impossible?  But they made the choice to press in and find a way to Jesus.  Finally, the man is face to face with the Healer.  Jesus, seeing his faith, tells the man to “take up your mat and go home.”  The paralytic had a final choice to make…would he believe the Healer and get up or would he choose to stay lying there on his matt.  We’re told “Immediately, he stood up, took up his mat and went home praising God.”  His choices brought him total healing, both of body and in spirit by having an intimate encounter with the Healer.

We face similar choices each and every day.  What may start out as an ordinary day may hold an extraordinary outcome when we choose to meet with Jesus.  Each of us has something in our life that paralyzes us.  It could be fear, anger, a broken relationship, depression, addiction, bitterness…the list is long.  However, the Healer is waiting for us to come.  He reaches out His hand and says “Get off your mat and go….”  We have the choice to continue to lie there and remain paralyzed in our current situation or to get up.  When we make the choice to get up to see Jesus, no matter the difficulties, He is more than able and willing to change our circumstances if we just press in. Suddenly, we are no longer lying there paralyzed but on our feet, on our way and praising the Lord.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What situation in your life paralyzes you? 

2. How will you choose to respond to Jesus when He says “Take up your mat and go?”

FURTHER READING:

1 John 4:16, Isaiah 30:21

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.