Faithfulness
By Peggy Kleckner

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”

Galatians 5:22-23

Faithfulness sings “full of faith” to me. Faith brings to mind trust and belief. Too often my life seems full of fear: fear of not being enough; fear of not having enough. That certainly doesn’t sound like faith “full”!

As of late, I seem bombarded with opportunities to fear. Am I the only Christian who battles fear? I looked to the Scriptures and found that I am not alone. When fear shows up, it is for the testing of our faith. Faith untested is like wearing a life preserver and never intending to go near the water. How do you know you will float, unless you get in the water….or get thrown into the water?

Faithfulness seems to show up for display in times of testing. In Mark 4:35-41, we see the apostles fearing for their lives at sea while Jesus sleeps in the same boat! Their fear was that they would perish, but underlying that was the knowledge that they, in and of themselves, were no match for the storm. In desperation, they wake Jesus. He was their answer. He was more than sufficient to stand up to the storm. His faithfulness was displayed not only to them, but to the people in the boats that were with them.

Another snapshot: the feeding of the 5,000 found in Mark 6:30-42. The apostles recognize that there are many mouths to feed and they don’t have enough to feed them all. I imagine their response had to include fear: How can they provide when they don’t have enough? Again, they look to Jesus, who again shows His faithfulness. He is sufficient to meet not only their need, but the needs of more than 5,000.

In both of these snapshots, the apostles were in situations that revealed their need for a Savior. They were confronted with fear, but in their desperation they turned to Jesus. Where do we turn? Where do we turn when there is more month than money? Where do we turn when the storms of life are blocking our progress? How are we doing in our faith tests?

The testing of our faith not only expands our faith in the One who died for us, it provides the fruit for those around us to taste and see that the Lord is good. We become a display of His splendor.

Don’t run from the tests of your life, stand still and become a portrait of His grace. His faithfulness will be seen in you and others will be drawn into His presence.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What faith test are you in at present?
2. Are you displaying His splendor or your own?

FURTHER READING:
John 9:1-12, Mark 4:35-41, Mark 6:30-42

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield. She serves as the Coordinator of Fresh Start.

Lonely, but not Alone
By Elizabeth Cole

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.”
John 14:15-16

When I watch Spiderman II, I’m touched by the loneliness Peter Parker feels day after day. He’s not like those around him. While his childhood friends chase financial and theatrical success, Peter’s busy chasing bad guys. While his peers enjoy fame, he hides in the night’s shadows with a strange-looking mask over his head and no money to pay the rent. Very little in common with those around him. Thinking thoughts no one can understand. Choosing a lifestyle others find odd at best, or freakish at worst.

Not so far off from the life of a Christ-follower, is it? Becoming a citizen of God’s heavenly Kingdom turns everything upside-down, making us “aliens and strangers” no longer of this world. He calls us to spend our time differently, to spend our money differently, to fill our thoughts differently, to care about others selflessly, to step out beyond our own comfort, to take daring risks for His sake and for His glory…the list goes on. It can be a place where we’re misunderstood, mistaken and subtly maligned. Ever spent time with old friends from years ago and you have nothing to add to the conversation at hand? Ever sat at a family Christmas gathering wondering if anyone even knows it’s Someone’s birthday? Ever been surrounded by a crowd of people and felt completely, utterly alone?

Praise God, we are not alone in our loneliness. Most importantly, praise Him as He makes it clear that His presence is with us “forever.” There is nowhere we go that He is not there. There is no cry of our hearts that He does not hear. There is no point at which He doesn’t understand our thoughts before they’re formed. We are not alone.

In His precious generosity, God goes even further and gives us His people, the other citizens of His Kingdom, as our encouragers. Listen to Paul in his letter to the Romans, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong; that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” And to the Thessalonians, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” You are not alone…We are not alone.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What could you do today to enjoy the companionship of the Holy Spirit?
2. Who, in your life, needs your spiritual encouragement today?

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Peter 2:11; John 15:19; John 17:16

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

Déjà vu
By Karen D’Amore

“For You, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver.”
Psalm 66:10

The experience of déjà vu is accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity in a present situation. In the movie Groundhog Day we see the essence of déjà vu personified. Cynical, self-centered TV meteorologist Phil Connors has been sent to Punxsutawney, PA to broadcast the annual Groundhog Day festivities. After grudgingly covering the event, he awakens the next day to find himself trapped in an endless cycle of Groundhog Days. When his self-indulgent behavior fails to change, events repeat themselves in the same way they occurred the original day. Given opportunities to learn from the previous day’s failures and to respond to others differently, Phil continues to fulfill his own self-seeking pleasures, at the expense of others. As desperate attempts to change the events or escape the cycle of the time loop prove futile, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Eventually, he comes to the realization that he is powerless to change his circumstances…the only thing he can change is himself. When a transformed Phil emerges as a thoughtful, caring, selfless new man, the time loop is broken and he is set free from Groundhog Day.

This fitting cinematic compression likens itself to the refining process of a believer. As Christ-followers, every detail of our lives falls under God’s scrutiny, as He purges out remnants of our carnal life. Oftentimes, He will bring us back to the same point over and over again; leaving us in that place until the desired lessons are learned and His finished product has been produced. Whether it be lessons in forgiveness, loving the unlovable, selfishness, pride, or lack of trust…the refining process continues as impurities are eradicated from our character.

Just as silver is refined by being held in the middle of the fire, where the hottest flames burn away the impurities, the Lord will hold us in that “hot spot” until the desired transformation takes place. And while the silversmith knows the silver is completely refined when he can see his image reflecting in the metal, the Lord will rejoice in His completed work when He sees His reflection in our lives.

Do you find yourself stuck in a place of Déjà vu, wrestling over and over with the same familiar lessons? Lend yourself to God’s refining moments…He may not move you forward until you do!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there a stronghold in your life in which God is continually re-testing you? Surrender to His character refinement today.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 10:22-23; Jeremiah 9:7

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.

Confession=Healing
By Susan Klein

“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”
James 5:16

When my husband and I were new believers, we joined a “small group” so that we would develop relationships with other believers who could help us grow in our faith. We were welcomed into a wonderful group where our faith walk really began to take root. As we got to know the others in our group, we began to feel more comfortable sharing our struggles and issues, and we welcomed their prayers and Scriptural guidance.

One night, as we got ready to pray, one of the ladies suggested we separate into two groups…men in one and women in the other…so we could share and pray on a more personal level. I had been struggling with a particular sin in my life and had felt burdened to share it with someone. I felt this might be a good time to confess it to the ladies, who were now my dear friends, and ask them to hold me accountable.

As I started to tell them of my struggle, one lady spoke up rather quickly. “You don’t have to confess anything to us! Your sin is between you and God. You just have to take it to Him and ask His forgiveness.” I know she meant well, and just didn’t want me to feel embarrassed by going public. What she didn’t understand was that I really wanted to share it! I was tired of dealing with it all alone and needed their prayers and their help! Sadly, I closed my eyes and went before the Lord in silence. I never shared my struggle with them. I continued with that sin for many years before the Lord brought it to an end. I often wonder what would have happened if I had been allowed to share it that night.

While it is true that we need not share with others every wrong we commit, the above verse suggests that it is good to confess some of our sins to each other for the benefit of intercessory prayer. God does not intend for us to struggle alone! It is a great joy for believers to pray for each other and to see God answer those prayers!

The prayers of the righteous can bring about healing for the sin-sick soul!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you have people in your life who will pray for you and hold you accountable? If not, you may want to consider joining a small group in your area.
2. Who, in your life, may be in need of your intercessory prayer today?

FURTHER READING:
James 5:13-20

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.

How’s the Love?
By Elin Henderson

“And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is LOVE.”
1 Corinthians 13:13 (NKJV)

To do this justice, I would need a deep, gravelly radio voice that asks, “How’s the Love, baby?” One of the greatest signs of maturity is love. This is evidenced here in 1 Corinthians 13, the great love chapter. Paul is just finishing a serious discussion on diversity and unity in light of the liberty that we have in Christ. Liberty and love intersect in chapter 13 when Paul unites the two to show that true maturity is not measured by the number of rules you live by, how much freedom you have, or even your gifts, but by the love you show to others.

We can have many accomplishments, gifts or graces as it were. The tail end of 1 Corinthians 12 is a list of these many great graces. Yet, Paul doesn’t stop there, in verse 31 he tells the Corinthians, “Wait, just a minute, there is a better way,” and goes directly into love. Each of the gifts he mentions in verses 28-30, he shows (in chapter 13) to be useless and empty on their own. Just because we have these gifts does not mean we are mature or qualified; the qualifier is always love. It truly is the core of all the virtues. If we love others, we can rejoice with them and where is envy and strife? If we love others we can be patient and long-suffering because we are thinking of them first and not ourselves. If we love we can see past differences and find unity. And the list goes on.

So, my challenge to each one of us is to do a “love evaluation” and hand it in to God! How’s the love going in your life? For myself, I made a list: 1. family, 2. close friends, 3. acquaintances, 4. colleagues/coworkers, 5. strangers, and even 6. enemies. I went through each category and asked myself, “How am I doing?” The results were convicting and challenging. It brings us to our knees before the great Love of our lives. It shows us our need to allow His love to infuse and change each area of our lives, and to flow out to each of our relationships.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are some gifts/abilities that you have? Make a list of those and ask yourself how love is impacting them.
2. Conduct a personal “love evaluation.” Did you find some relationships lacking? Can you think of some practical ways to show love to those individuals? How can prayer be a part of that?

FURTHER READING:
1 Peter 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 3:5

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.

What Happens When God Says “No”?

By Shelley Hooper

“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”

Isaiah 55:8-9

I have spent much of my life quoting the above Scripture, believing that I believe it. Believing that it is a GOOD thing that God’s thoughts are not my thoughts, that my ways are not His ways. Of course that’s good, right? Right! Unless… we are struggling to understand why His ways seem so different from ours. Have you ever been in a place where the path seemed clear and obvious to you, but God had different plans? Have you ever wondered why He closed a door that you spent years trying to open? Has your plan ever seemed so obviously right and good that you can’t believe that God’s plan was different? Sometimes what can seem so obvious to us can result in a shocking “no” from God.

I recently was given a resounding “no” from God… again. A “no” that just keeps returning and returning. A “no” that I have heard from Him many times before. Now, some of you may wonder why I keep asking. I’m not sure myself. I only know that the mountain in front of me needs to move some time. So I keep trying to find my way around it. At times, I can look back at the various “no’s” that He has given and be grateful. Other times, I am left shaking my head. I do not understand how God is at work here. This latest “no” was one of the most painful He’s given me in a while. But here is what I know that I know that I know: God IS at work here. Despite my pain and confusion, God has a plan that is perfect.

So that’s what it comes down to, right? We either believe what we say we believe or we don’t. We either take God at His Word or we don’t. We either trust Him with our lives—indeed, our everything—or we don’t. Maybe I will never know why I have stood on this side of the mountain for all of these years. Maybe it will be abundantly clear when I get to heaven. It really doesn’t matter. What matters is that when I stand before God, I don’t have to apologize for not trusting Him with my everything. I will choose, even in this moment, to trust that God’s ways are higher than mine.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Do you have a mountain in front of you? Are you trusting God for the way around?

2. Has God recently told you “no”? Do you believe that He has a plan that is greater than yours?

FURTHER READING:

Habakkuk 3:17-18; Romans 8:28-32; Ephesians 2:10

Shelley, along with her husband Tom, is the Director of Worship and Creative Arts at Oakwood Church. She is also the mother of three growing boys and a middle school choir director.

My “Real” Father

By Susan Klein

“Is He not your Father, your Creator, who made you and formed you?” 

Deuteronomy 32:6b

Recently, while visiting my 93-year-old grandmother in a nursing home, I was caught off guard with an unexpected question from her caregiver, “Is your real father still around?” She knows my mom quite well from several years of caring for her mother, and has also gotten to know my stepdad from his visits, so it was not necessarily an unusual question. I shared about my real father and how we have maintained a good relationship over the years. I also told her that as an adult, I now feel doubly blessed to have had two dads for many years of my life, especially when some people never get to have even one.

As I drove away that day, her question lingered in my thoughts. I couldn’t shake the words “real father.” Growing up in a split family had been difficult and conflicting at times, but there was one Father who remained a constant in my life. Even before I knew Him as a Father, He showed His presence to me in various ways. His hand of protection was always on me, keeping me safe from many harmful situations. His mighty arms picked me up and placed my feet back on solid ground when I’d go the wrong way or stumble into a pit of despair. His gentle whispers to my heart reminded me that I was not alone.

While I didn’t always recognize that it was Him in each of those situations, I can look back now and clearly see His carefully planned involvement and intervention in many aspects of my younger years. He took care of the daughter that He predestined to one day be conformed into the image of His Son (Romans 8:29). He formed me in my mother’s womb and He knew each of my days before any of them came into being (Psalm 139:13-16). He knew the choice I would one day make that would seal my life forever (Ephesians 1:13-14)! He had a vested interest in me and maintained a constant presence in my life to protect that interest. He had paid a hefty price to insure that I would know how much He loved me, even when I did not know Him or deserve His love.

Is my “Real Father” still around? Yes, He is. And He was, and He always will be. I will never be without Him. Nothing and no one can ever separate us or come between us! Do you have the same assurance regarding your Father?

GOING DEEPER:

1. How has your relationship your earthly father(s) influenced your view of your heavenly Father?

2. Spend some time this week getting to know your “Real Father” a bit more intimately.

FURTHER READING:

Romans 8:35-39, 1 John 3:1

Susan is a We Women 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.

All Things
By Peggy Kleckner

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28

All things, not some things…what an amazing concept! When I am delayed (all things), when I am disappointed (all things), when I am blessed (all things), when I am cheated (all things), when I am hurt (all things). On and on it goes. Only God can weave all things so intricately that the outcome is good. I may not see it soon…perhaps not even this side of heaven…but if He said it in His Word, I can count on it as truth. What an extraordinary comfort this truth can bring into a difficult day.

Truth is hard to hold onto when we are being battered by the winds of adversity. We must cling to it as a person shipwrecked in the ocean holds fast to anything that floats. Perhaps that is where the saying, “hope floats” comes from! Truth is the hope we as Christians cling to in our life storms.

John 14:6 reads, “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” Jesus spoke those words. He is the truth that we cling to in the midst of our life storms. We tether ourselves to Him and hold fast. He makes the way to the calmer waters. Too often we keep fighting, rather than resting in Him. He allows the storm, as well as the calm. He knows the purpose of each.

Is today a stormy day or a calm day for you? Look to Him in “all things.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What storm are you trying to weather on your own? What “hope” are you clinging to?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 25; Luke 8:22-25

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield. She serves as the Coordinator of Fresh Start.

The Marathon
By Elizabeth Cole

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.”
Hebrews 12:1

The air was brisk; a Tiffany-blue sky showcased startlingly white clouds distinctive to the Midwest. Yes, it was a perfect day for the Chicago Marathon. As we made our way through the early morning streets to our designated start, the energy of the day was palpable. I’d never been to this historic marathon…truth be told, I’d never been to any marathon. This would be my first. 34,700 runners prepared to begin; I stomped my feet to keep the blood flowing and settled into my assigned place…among 1.5 million spectators who’d come to witness what would turn out to be a record-setting race.

We were joining our dear friend Andy’s family as he ran the race. Traveling by foot and by the L, we made our way to four different spots along the route, showing up in time to raucously cheer him on as he passed. We sure weren’t alone. Those hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the course, not only called out encouragement to those whom they knew, but to those they didn’t, as well. Imagine, for a moment, you’re a marathoner, working your way up the hardest part of the course with a five-deep crowd of complete strangers yelling, “Hey, number 15169, nice job! Keep it up! You can do it!” Wow…talk about energizing!

Around mile 20, we waited with anticipation for Andy’s arrival. He came around the corner with a solid pace…unfathomable to me at this point in the race. As the rest of his family and friends wildly hollered our support, Andy’s college-aged son Alex took off…into the sea of runners, next to his dad’s side. Matching his stride to Andy’s, Alex proceeded to run the last six miles side-by-side his father. He didn’t say much, but knowing his dad’s time goal, he slowly and consistently accelerated their pace together as they neared the finish line.

The finish line. What a celebration! A Jumbotron screen broadcasting the runners; bands playing; blow horns screeching; gift bags, beverages, applause. Utter exhilaration!

Since then, I’ve thought about what those anonymous spectators did for the runners. Just words called out at exactly the right time. And since then, I’ve been challenged by what Alex did for Andy that day. Coming alongside as a companion. Few words, just motivating action that resulted in a triumph over the finish line! Oh, how I long to encourage others through my voice or through my presence.

Yes, today’s a perfect day for a marathon.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Who needs words of encouragement from you today? And who needs just your motivating presence?

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 12:2-3, 3:13, 10:25

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

Pssst…Pass It On!

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“We're not keeping this to ourselves,

we're passing it along to the next generation—

God's fame and fortune,

the marvelous things he has done.”

Psalm 78:3-4 (The Message)

Remember the game “Telephone”?  Everyone would sit in a circle and one person would start by whispering a sentence one time into the next person’s ear, and the phrase would get whispered and passed around until the last person said out loud what they heard.  Inevitably, the sentence would get changed from something like, “I had soup for dinner last night,” to “Stuart stole the skunk’s spotlight”?  With no one to correct the misunderstanding, the sentence gets murkier with each retelling.

Passing down our beliefs to the next generation can be like “Telephone.” The listener is trying desperately to hear what is being said…they must get it right if there’s any hope of moving the message on correctly.  But if the speaker is unclear, too quiet, or misheard the message herself…or the listener is distracted from the message….well, the message gets passed on all wrong.

In Titus chapter 2, Paul speaks about various groups within the church.  He instructs, “You must teach what is in accord with sound doctrine…In everything set them an example by doing what is good.  In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned….” (vv. 1, 7-8a).

Ladies, regardless of your life situation…a teenager, a single lady, a grown woman, a mother with young kids, an empty nester, an aunt, a grandmother…our lives are speaking into generations beyond.  We need to take advantage of our opportunities!  One thing that I love about Student Ministry is that our “Women in Training” are at an age where they’re supposed to ask questions, not have all the answers.  So they ask away!  Our younger generations need women of faith to be available to answer and instruct.  Imagine that the two-year-old in the nursery today will be the young person who impacts your future child or grandchild for Christ. Or that the teenager struggling with faith today is guided well by her leaders and called into full-time ministry down the road. Or that the young mom at her wit’s end receives help and encouragement to keep bringing her children to church instead of sleeping in on a Sunday morning …and those kids are the two-year-olds in the nursery….and so on…

Pssst…Pass It On!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  To whom are you passing your faith on today? 

2.  If you couldn’t think of anyone, pray for God to reveal where He might have you pass on your faith.

FURTHER READING:

2 Timothy 1:5-7

Along with caring for her husband and two children, Carolyn works as an insurance representative, serves in Oakwood Church’s Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

A Tale of Two Fathers

By Lisa Boyer

“There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son….”

Deuteronomy 1:31

I have a friend who has a wonderful father, a godly father. I’m not sure, but I think he’s the kind of father every little girl dreams of having. She’s a “mature adult” and yet, when he looks at her it seems he still sees his precious little girl; his love for her is obvious. But to me, the proof of a wonderful father is how a daughter looks at her father, and she looks at him with such love, admiration and respect. I love watching the two of them, because, well… my father was just the opposite. 

My parents divorced when I was five and my father moved out of state. I only saw him a few times a year after that, and those memories aren’t what you’d refer to as fond. But when I was young, I heard that God was the “Father to the fatherless.”  I knew I was fatherless and that I needed a father, so I accepted Him with childlike faith and pursued a relationship with Him, which led me to Jesus.

As happy as I am for my friend and what she has with her earthly father, I can’t covet that relationship. I’m sure I missed out on a lot, but what I missed isn’t nearly as important as what I had. My heavenly Father knew me before I was born and knew exactly what would bring Him and me together. Even as a child I was strong-willed, stubborn and self-righteous, so it frightens me to think of how long I might have avoided acknowledging my need for a Savior had I not acknowledged my simpler need of Him as my Father while I was so young.

My friend began her relationship with God at age seven, when she prayed to receive Christ as Savior, and yet, she too has pursued knowing God as her Father. One day, I asked her what caused her to want that father/daughter relationship since she obviously had no need for a father. Without a pause she said, “My dad.”   

We had fathers who were complete opposites, yet because of them, we each developed a relationship with our heavenly Father through Christ.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been blessed with a wonderful earthly father? Today, will you take time to thank God for that wonderful blessing?

2.  Have you let your circumstances get in the way of having a relationship with our heavenly Father? Will you step back and consider how God may have been trying to use those circumstances to bring you into a relationship with Him?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 68:4-5; Psalm 139:1

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.

The Visit

By Vernette Kureck

“He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

1 John 5:12

One cold, wintry night, two men unexpectedly stopped by from a church we had visited. At eight months pregnant and exhausted from work, I wasn’t in the mood for guests. We reluctantly invited them in. Little did I know my life was about to be changed. 

 

After chatting, Joel asked, “Have you come to the place where you know for certain that if you died tonight you would go to Heaven, or is that something you‘re still working on?“

I was pretty sure I’d go, but then Joel probed further, “Suppose you were to die tonight and stand before God and He asked, ‘Why should I let you into my Heaven?’  What would you say?”  I responded that I was basically a good person; my good deeds certainly outweighed my bad. I’d broken some of God’s rules, but I thought He would let me in…after all, I’d gone to church most of my life.

We talked about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:48, “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”  I knew I was a flawed perfectionist, kind of like making an omelet with six eggs…five perfect and one rotten.  I saw I was hopelessly infected with sin, just as Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” When I compared all of my “good” works to God’s holy standard, I knew I was a condemned sinner. 

I’m so grateful that the Lord Jesus said, “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

That was me.  I had known in my head that Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of the world, but I had never transferred that knowledge into my heart and acknowledged Him as my  Savior and Lord.

Heaven is a free gift that can’t be earned: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith- - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - - not by works, so that no one can boast.” So by faith, I prayed that night, asking for forgiveness of my sins and thanking Jesus for dying for me.  Because He was willing to take my  punishment, I could now have eternal life with God in Heaven. I invited Christ to take over all of my life.  In doing so, my  true spiritual journey began.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  That door was a picture of my heart…I am so joyful I opened the door that night.  

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you transferred your head knowledge to heart knowledge? 

2. Is Jesus standing at the door of your heart waiting to be invited in? If so, won’t you open the door?

FURTHER READING:

John 3:3, 6:47, 14:6-7; Ephesians 2:8-9

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 43 years. They have been blessed with seven grandchildren from their two sons and their wives. Vernette is Oakwood’s Financial Secretary. 

Dance Floor
By Peggy Kleckner

“He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”
Psalm 18:19

I was invited into something big. You know one of those opportunities where your heart stirs and yet you think to yourself, “This can’t be for me.” So began the battle in prayer. The invitation was before me and I had to choose whether to step into it, or away from it.

Have you been there too? Have you lived a life on the party sidelines? Have you always been willing to be the one to blow up the balloons, or clean up the debris?

It seems as though we are always glad to be invited to the party, but somehow we never quite feel like we belong. We are willing to work, but not so willing to just relax and enjoy.

Why, I wonder, is that? Why do we think we must earn our place at the party, or be useful? Why can’t you and I learn to relax and enjoy the party?

I think somewhere along the way in our life’s journey we believed the lie that we aren’t lovable, so we must be useful. We accept being needed instead of loved, and tell ourselves that it is enough.

Guess what I found out? God wants to love me. He wants me at His party. Not only that, He wants His name on my dance card.

As I continued to pray for His direction in regards to the opportunity before me, everything was “yes.” The final ponder was this: It was as if Jesus stood next to me with His hand outstretched and was inviting me out onto the dance floor. Not to embarrass me, but to allow me to display His splendor. The dance floor is the spacious place I envision in the verse above. He rescued me many years ago at the point of my salvation, that moment when I recognized my sinfulness and my need for a Savior. I have been content to be near Him, to work for Him, to listen to Him, but now He was reaching out to me in an intimate gesture. Would I accept His outstretched hand? Would I trust that He wasn’t offering in order to watch me fail? Could I really believe this dance was for me, my opportunity to be in His intimate embrace?

I did say “yes” and what a wonderful, joyful twirl it was! When He extends His hand to you, what will you say? After all, He does delight in each of His children….His Word says so.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How has your relationship with Jesus progressed?
2. What walls of self-protection need to come down in this precious relationship?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 142:5-7; Ephesians 3:14-19; 2 Peter 3:18

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield. She serves as the Coordinator of Fresh Start.

Wanted
By Sarah Kosanke

“Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. We can understand someone dying for a person worth dying for, and we can understand how someone good and noble could inspire us to selfless sacrifice. But God put his love on the line for us by offering his Son in sacrificial death while we were of no use whatever to him.”
Romans 5:6-8 (MSG)

Do you have something in your life that hangs you up? Maybe it’s a mistake that the devil doesn't let you forget, even when it’s long forgiven and forgotten by God? How about an old pattern of sin in your life that you thought you'd outgrown? Until, that is, it comes back as a painful reminder of “guess you’re not as mature as you thought!” It really does get a girl feeling pretty down.

The last few days I've been thinking about how useless I am to God...and, in reality, I am. Surprising concept to grasp, but we are not needed by Him, nor is He dependent on us. We’re not His little sidekicks whom He desperately needs to valiantly fight the enemy and ruin life as we know it. That is a depressing thought because I want to help God fight evil, I want to stomp Satan back to the fiery pits of hell where he belongs. But God has something better in mind for us. He doesn’t need us, He wants us.

To be wanted is a much better feeling then to be needed. I will admit, though, I like being needed. Sometimes, when I have a skill or knowledge that only I can bring to the table, you better believe it pumps my ego to use it and show it off. But I've got nothing to show off to God. He's seen it all, He designed such skills and nothing compares to His skill levels and knowledge.

Romans 5:6-8 says it beautifully. While we were of no use to God, He put His love on the line for the worthless. He put His Son on the line to make you and me worth something He could be around. Not because He needed us...no...He wants us! He wants you regardless of what you've done in your life, or what you could ever possibly do. He is pursuing you because you are special to Him!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you struggle to believe that God wants you, not for something you've done, but just because He loves you? Talk with Him today about your unbelief.

FURTHER READING:
Romans 7:7-25, Jeremiah 15:19

Sarah is a single young lady who is in school to become a registered nurse.  When she is not busy at clinical or studying for her next exam, she teaches Sunday school for the 5^th and 6^th grade girls at Oakwood Church.

For Such a Time as This
By Susan Klein

“And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”
Esther 4:14b (KJV)

Esther knew. What she knew was that if she entered the King’s inner court without being summoned, the punishment was death, even though she was the queen. But her uncle, Mordecai, reminded her that God may have placed her, a simple Jewish girl, in the place of royalty “for such a time as this.” This was a time to plead with her king to save her own people from death and destruction. What Esther didn’t know was how God would work through this situation. Yet, she obediently sought Him in prayer and fasting, and decided to risk death if it gave her people a chance to live.

We, like Esther, are not placed here on this earth for ourselves. God is a God of order and has placed each of us here for a purpose. For some, like Esther, His purpose may be to take us from a simple life to do something incredible, like saving a nation. For others, like a widow putting her only coin in an offering plate, it may be to let our lives be a shining example of faith and obedience to those around us. We may never know how our lives have touched others this side of heaven. But, we do know that we are here to touch lives!

God gives us opportunities to act on our faith. He orchestrated the opportunity that He gave to Esther. Hers was a difficult choice to make, one that could have cost her life. But she prayerfully chose obedience, which strengthened her faith and drew her closer to her God. Not many of us experience life and death choices, but we all have choices to make in each opportunity that God presents.

Sometimes God may call you to share your faith with someone who is struggling. Or, perhaps He is calling you to take a stand for what is right in the midst of injustice. Embrace those opportunities to stand up or speak up! Show your God that you are willing to demonstrate your love for and commitment to Him by being obedient. His kingdom may be advanced through your life and your actions! Like Esther, your obedience will bring glory and honor to Him, and will draw you ever closer to the One who created you and called you to His purpose!

And who knows whether you have come into your circumstance for such a time as this!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What opportunities are presenting themselves to you that require action?
2. Do others see for whom you are living your life?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 9:16-17; Ephesians 1:11-12

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.

Faith of a Child
By Jeannine Sawall

“But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'”

Matthew 19:14

My husband and I are one of those couples where having a baby didn’t come easily. We lost three babies to miscarriage before the birth of our oldest son. The doctors thought they had “fixed” the issue and we went on to have our second son without problems. When we decided it was time for another, we once again experienced the heartache of miscarriage. This time the doctors suggested it was the one in four “fluke.” Unfortunately, that was not the case and I went on to miscarry five times over the next 26 months. I was devastated and heartbroken.

During this season, we were teaching our young sons the power of prayer. They had received a children’s prayer journal and each night we would write down a prayer request, an answer to prayer or something they were thankful for. My oldest son asked for a new baby each night. This went on for months. After our fifth loss, it became too painful for me to write it, let alone pray it with him; to me, it seemed the heavens had turned to brass. With tears ready to fall, I told him we could stop asking because it didn’t appear we would add another baby to our family; that sometimes God’s answer is “no.” He looked at me, his innocent face full of concern, and said, “That’s okay, Mom. God didn’t tell me ‘no.’ I’ll still pray for a new baby, even if you can’t anymore.” And he did…faithfully.

A few months later, I was pregnant again. I had no joy, thinking I was on my way to another miscarriage. However, that was not the case. Eight and a half months later, we were elated with the healthy arrival of our third son. I was blessed not only by my son’s faith, but also by his smile, as he wrote Matthew’s name in his journal as God’s answer to his prayer!

The path God calls us to is not always easy or quick. Sometimes we are left in a hard place for longer than we like and we must really dig in and hang onto God. The Lord used my six-year-old son and his tireless faith to show me that. Of course, there are absolutely times when God’s answer is “no”; however, until His answer becomes clear, we are called to press on, press in and to have unwavering faith…like that of a child.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What area in your life is God calling you to press on and have faith like a child? He is faithful to see you through whatever circumstance is causing you to doubt.
2. Is there someone or something in your life you have been praying for and have not gotten an answer for? Continue to call out to God, He promises to answer you.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 11:6; Luke 18:17; Psalm 71:5-6

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.

Living By Faith

By Susan Klein

“Behold, as for the proud one, his soul is not right within him; but the righteous will live by his faith.”

Habakkuk 2:4b (NASB)

Some believe that Martin Luther’s reformation was brought about as a result of how this verse pierced his heart. The Apostle Paul, also deeply impacted by this passage, quoted it in two of his letters. But it was the prophet Habakkuk who first received the words from God Himself.

Habakkuk was perplexed. Surrounded by sin and violence, he repeatedly cried out to God for help, yet God did not choose to intervene. In fact, He allowed the evildoers to continue. It seemed unfair to Habakkuk that God would use these wicked heathen to destroy people more righteous than they. As God eventually revealed His divine plan to Habakkuk, He told him two very important things; 1) to wait for His plan to unfold, and 2) to trust His perfect plan.

Like Habakkuk, when tragic and unjust things happen, our thoughts can turn toward wondering where God is. “If You are as You claim - - omnipotent, righteous, just and loving - - why do You not intervene? Why must the righteous suffer and the evildoers seem to go unpunished?” His words to the prophet deliver a powerful answer. “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days that you would not believe if you were told” (1:5). He goes on to tell Habakkuk in the following chapter that His plan “is for the appointed time; it hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; for it will certainly come, it will not delay” (2:3).  His loving affirmation speaks volumes of comfort to His prophet.

We, too, must believe that even though we don’t understand the cruel happenings around us, God’s plan is unfolding at its appointed time. He may not choose to reveal all the details to us, but we must put off skepticism, reject reliance on our emotions, and exercise our faith by waiting and trusting.

Habakkuk ends his oracle with a prayer. While waiting patiently on the Lord, he humbly admits to fear and trembling, but ultimately chooses to exult in the Lord, and rejoice in the God of (his) salvation (3:16-18). He chooses to live by his faith.

For He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I forsake you,” so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my Helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:5-6)

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you despairing over worldly tragedies or doubting God’s handling of them? How might you formulate a different response in light of this passage?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 37:7-11, Proverbs 3:5-6

Susan is a We Women 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.

Commencement

By Jennie Pierce

“But for right now, friends, I'm completely frustrated by your unspiritual dealings with each other and with God. You're acting like infants in relation to Christ, capable of nothing much more than nursing at the breast…”
1 Corinthians 3:1 (MSG)

It’s that sentimental time of year when some precious child prepares to walk across the stage to be handed a certificate of accomplishment. Whether it be a sweet little kindergartner, an awkward eighth grader, a know-it-all senior, or finally-an-adult college graduate, no doubt the parents who witness that moment are filled to the brim with pride and a sense of accomplishment of their own. Your baby is growing up, and that thrills you so.

In the book of 1 Corinthians, Paul was hoping for a commencement ceremony of sorts. One to be held in honor of the Corinthian Christian who decided to grow up spiritually…who decided that drinking a bottle was getting old, and that it was time to graduate to meat and potatoes. But Paul saw that they were content being “mere infants in Christ” (chapter 3:1), rather than spiritually healthy and mature. What proof did he have? Their own actions. Paul accused them of quarreling like children, giving in to jealousy and allowing disagreements and divisions to distract them in their Christian faith walk. Similarly, Paul admonished the Jewish Christians who still needed to be taught when they should have been teachers themselves (Hebrews 5). They were too comfortable in their own traditions, being content to blend in rather than stand out for Christ.

Paul said it was time to grow up! But he warns that maturity is more than just a decision. It requires dependence on the Holy Spirit’s enabling power, as well as the purposeful disciplining of the Christian to live a life of discernment in order to “distinguish good from evil” (Hebrews 5:14). A Christian’s actions become the ultimate proof of maturity in Christ. For the Christian, “our capacity to feast on deeper knowledge of God (‘solid food’) is determined by our spiritual growth. Too often we want God’s banquet before we are spiritually capable of digesting it. As you grow in the Lord and put into practice what you have learned, your capacity to understand will also grow.” (1)

Dear Christian, keep on growing, knowing that someday you will achieve ultimate maturity in Christ on that final commencement day when Christ returns and we are made complete in Him.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you content where you are, or do you desire to grow in your Christian faith?
2. Share that desire with a friend, and take the initiative to move forward.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 5:11-14; 1 Corinthians 3

(1) Life Application Study Bible, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2005, page 2072.

Formerly at Oakwood Church, we share Jennie with a church in rural northeast Colorado, where she ministers with her husband/pastor and is the mother of two teenagers and a college student.  She is active in her church’s musical worship ministry and works as a para support at their local public school.

Crucifying Your “Whys”
By Elin Henderson

“And they straightway left their nets and followed Him.”
Matthew 4:20 (NKJV)

Martin Luther is quoted as saying, “A true believer will crucify the question ‘Why?’ He will obey without questioning.”(1) I recently read that and began to examine my own life and asked myself, “What are some of the ‘whys’ in my life?” As I did this, I saw how very easy it is to ask “why” and very hard to simply leave my nets and follow!

So, what is so wrong about asking “why”? Didn’t David do it repetitively throughout the Psalms? “Why do the heathen rage?” (Psalms 2:1). “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord?” (Psalms 10:1). “Why have You withdrawn your hand, even Your right hand?” (Psalms 74:1). Even Jesus asked “My God, My God, why have You forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). There is a place for saying to the Lord, “In my humanness, I don’t understand why! I am really struggling with this!” Even Jesus did that. It is an honest admitting of where we are at and God understands that. The question then becomes, where do we go from there. Do we remain in this “why” state or do we say like David, “But I will hope continually and will yet praise You more and more” (Psalms 71:14). Or, do we follow like Peter did out onto the water.

What are some potential negatives that asking “why” can do? First, it delays obedience. If we have to have an explanation for everything we are going to do then we are probably going to delay in obeying it. It also questions our Creator God (His ways, paths, plans, motives)! It shows our pride and our doubt that He can handle this or has the right plan in mind. Finally, it demands that God owes us an explanation and cannot (in His sovereignty) direct without consulting us first or explaining it in advance.

May we be like many of the patriarchs and disciples of old who just said “yes” and followed, no questions asked! May we be willing to humble ourselves and say, “Yes, Lord, I will obey and not wait for the answer to the “why.” If, in Your time, You decide to give me a glimpse into the motives behind this, then I will consider it a blessing and not an obligation on Your part. I trust you completely.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What “whys” have you been holding on to? As you identify them, what truths about God can you apply to them to put an end to the questions and start resting and obeying?

FURTHER READING:
Psalms 22; Genesis 17:23

(1) from “Streams in the Desert,” Zondervan Publishing House, Grand Rapids, MI. pg. 147.

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.

The Vine
By Lisa Boyer

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”
Hebrews 12:1b

When we purchased our “house in the country,” the neighbor was kind enough to let me know about some of the trees and plants that grew on the property line. She made a point of showing me a vine and warned me that it spreads easily and is quite destructive. Being as I don’t have a green thumb, I wasn’t overly concerned and I let the vine run wild. I noticed that it was creeping down the property line towards the road, but I didn’t care, since there was no danger to the mature trees on the lot line.

Five years later, I found myself out there with gigantic clippers trying to get the vine under control. This was not an easy task. As the vine travels along the ground, it entrenches itself by dropping roots along the way. As it travels above ground, it wraps itself tightly around tree branches and bushes. I tracked down every piece of the vine, tugging and pulling it out of trees and bushes and ripping it out of the ground. The job seemed hopeless, but I wasn’t giving up. I was determined to stop the vine.

So, why the sudden interest in a vine I had been warned about and ignored for five years? The vine had reached something that I loved: the beautiful lilac bush at the front of my property. I managed to rescue the lilac bush, but the vine has taken hold in the area and I cannot get rid of it.

That vine reminds me of how surrounded we are by sin in this world. Left unchecked, sin creeps closer and closer until it gets into our very lives, entrenching itself and entangling us. We must be ever-diligent and proactive about protecting ourselves and our families. Regular “yard” checks to see if sin is creeping into our lives by radio, television, relationships, movies, books, magazines, computer and more, are in order.

When we bought our home, the vine was 250 feet from that lilac bush. Today, the vine is less than 10 feet from the lilac bush. The lilac’s only hope for survival is my diligence in cutting back the vine. Oh, how I regret letting the vine get that close. I won’t do the same with sin.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Will you ask God to give you wisdom as to how you can best protect yourself and your family from the influences of the sin of this world?
2. If you’ve become entangled in sin, will you turn to the Savior and ask Him to set you free?

FURTHER READING:
John 8:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

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.

Fair, Not Equal

By Lexi Cole

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”

Philippians 4:19-20

I’ve spent the last five months student teaching in a first grade class. Between tons of wiggly teeth, there are three words I hear about six times a day. “That’s not fair!”  To which, I calmly reply, “I will always be fair; I will not always be equal.” There’s a big thing in education called differentiation: It means we assess individual needs and address them. But my six-year-olds struggle with it. So to reinforce it, we do a skit. A doctor is visiting three sick patients. The first patient has a headache. The doctor says, “Go to bed early tonight.  It will be better.” Next patient has a broken arm. The doctor says, “Go to bed early tonight.  It will be better.” Third patient fell on the playground. The doctor says…you get the idea. We explain that the teacher is the doctor. Every student has different academic needs for learning. We need to “treat” his or her specific needs, not do the exact same thing for everyone.

For as much as I say my phrase and do my skit, I realized how often I am the six-year-old complaining, “That’s not fair!” It’s often not out loud, but in my thoughts. And yet, our God - - the great Doctor and Teacher - - looks on us with love and says gently, “I will treat your specific needs...it won’t be equal and, fortunately for you, I’ll give you far more than what’s fair!” He reminds us that He is the Giver and Supplier; that He is a God who knows exactly what we need, when we need it, even when we do not.

For me, it’s hard enough being aware of what slips out of my mouth…being responsible for what I think is tricky! But the reality is, our God is all-knowing…and my “it’s not fair” thoughts are a direct result of an ungrateful heart condition. Judging “fairness” is not my job and, left unchecked, these thoughts can become desires to “have something which we don’t have, but think we should”…which happens to be the exact definition of coveting, an identified sin in Scripture.

My first graders love the “It’s not fair!” line. But the reality is, I often do, too. What things am I complainingly claiming are “unfair”? And, if I’m honest with myself, what does that reveal about my heart? I still say “I will always be fair; I will not always be equal” about six times a day…and it serves as a constant reminder for myself every time.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What things are you claiming as “unfair” in your thoughts or to God?

2. Identify what you need to do to address this.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 20:1-16

Lexi just graduated from Bethel University with a degree in Elementary Education, and is planning her July wedding with her fiancé, Andrew. She serves with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood.