How do you love me?

By Jeannine Sawall

 “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 3:17

I was sitting on the boat in the middle of the lake, reflecting with a discouraged heart. Life had been full of difficulties and sorrows of late, and it had left me exhausted and disheartened. The many verses I knew about God’s love kept coming to mind. Verses that reminded me of His great love for me: Ephesians 2:4-5, Romans 5:8.  Verses about how He delights in me: Proverbs 8:31, Psalm 18:19.  Verses proclaiming I am his beloved daughter: 1 Samuel 12:22, Ephesians 5:1. Grumbling, I said under my breath, “Yeah…maybe His kinda-loved-just-a-little-bit daughter!”

I looked up and out, and noticed the boat was covered in a swarm of dragonflies. It was then that the Lord gently rebuked me and reminded me of His great love for me…not as second choice daughter or His last thought…but His every thought. Every dragonfly pair created a small heart. Imagine the entire vessel adorned with little blue hearts. He said to me, “How do I love you? Everything I created sings about my love for you. Even these dragonflies are my personal love letter to you.” Tears filled my eyes as I quietly confessed my doubts and discouragement to Him and thanked Him for His love letter.

Oftentimes in the midst of life, we can feel the Lord has forgotten about us. Or maybe not completely forgotten about us…but we aren’t on His list of top hundred (maybe million!) things for the day. We can question His love for us when tragedy strikes or we fall onto hard times. After all, if we  had the power to control all things, we wouldn’t let any beloved child experience the kind of trial or trouble that seems to plague this earth. Sometimes, just in our everyday busy-ness, we may doubt God really delights in us with His great love. We question if He really rejoices over us with singing. However, if we take a moment to look outside of ourselves and look up, we will be reminded of His great love through all the wonders He created with us in mind.   

When life brings doubts, ask the Lord to send assurances. He is faithful to lift us up. How does He love us….let me count the ways. He loves us so much that even dragonflies are His personal love letter!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you ever felt like God’s “kinda-loved-just-a-little-bit daughter”?  What do you do to capture and replace those thoughts?

2.  When you doubt God’s love for you, how do you bring your heart back in line?

FURTHER READING:

1 John 4:16, John 3:16, Psalm 8:3-4

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.

Suddenly...Jesus!
By Susan Klein

“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell His disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them.”
Matthew 28:8-9a

Have you ever had a situation in your life where you had high hopes or expectations about something, only to meet with disappointment in the end? I think we’ve all experienced this at one time or another. We have expectations of our spouses, our children, our employers, our elected officials...all of whom fail to meet our expectations at some point.

Imagine the women at the tomb after the crucifixion. They are already saddened by Jesus’ death. They are undoubtedly still in mourning as they walk the distance to His tomb, crying along the way. They had been expecting Him to be their reigning King, only to have Him put to death before their very eyes. Now, they are going to the tomb with the expectation of finding His lifeless body within. They are carrying their jars of herbal preparations and cloths to properly care for His body. They are expecting the guards to allow them entrance to the tomb to perform these rituals. Imagine their disappointment, once again, as they see the stone rolled away, the guards on the ground like dead men, and the tomb empty. “Someone must have taken His body! Oh no! God, how can we possibly survive yet another tragedy? Is this really all there is to life, one disappointment after another?”

But then, something wonderful happens! The angel delivers the good news that He has risen, and that He will be appearing to them shortly! Their focus now turns from having their own “expectations,” to living in “expectancy” of seeing their Lord! They are afraid, yet filled with joy at the same time! They really don’t know what to expect when they deliver the news to the disciples, nor do they have any expectations of how this turn of events will impact their own lives. But, they are living with the “expectancy” that Jesus lives, and will be with them soon! This is for certain. Their expectancy is now found in the live person of Jesus Himself, and they will not be disappointed!

Scripture says they hurried away, or ran. They were excited in their expectancy! And, sure enough, verse 9 confirms it. Suddenly, Jesus...! As their hearts were pounding in their chest from excitement, suddenly, He was there! Peace flowed, worries were dismissed, all the prior unmet expectations were forgotten!

They clasped His feet and worshiped Him!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What unmet expectations do you have of others, and of yourself?
2. Is living in “expectancy” of Jesus enough for you?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 146:5-6; Proverbs 23:18

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.

Extra Absorbent

By Elin Henderson

 “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things…”

I Corinthians 13:7 (NKJV)

How many of us have stood in front of the paper towel, tissue, diaper or toilet paper section of the grocery store and had to decide which type to buy? Absorbent? Extra absorbent? Super absorbent? There are so many options! For me, personally, it has been awhile since I had this much variety to choose from. When I am in Africa, IF I find any paper towels in the store at all, I buy them…extra absorbent or not! 

I couldn’t help but think the other day when I was reading the well-known “love” passage in I Corinthians 13, how much we as Christians are called to be extra absorbent when it comes to life and wrongs. It is possible to read this verse as saying “Love absorbs all things,” True love takes the hit, cleans up the spills, and absorbs the mess of sin and hurt. The fact is that we live in a messy world with plenty of accidents (purposeful and accidental). Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can we love in such a way that we absorb the hurt and still stay in one piece! That requires some serious absorption! To absorb hurt is truly the harder road to take. Humanly speaking, it is easier to reciprocate hurt than it is to absorb it. Our natural tendency is return the “favor” to the one who hurt us. We tend to think, “Oh yeah? Well, two can play that game.” The Holy Spirit calls us to do what is humanly impossible; He calls us to a “God-likeness” that covers and absorbs a multitude of sins with a deep love that does not reciprocate hurt for hurt.

So how absorbent have you been? What happens when life spills hurt on to you? Today, let’s look to our source of True Love, and show His love to the messy world around us by becoming extra absorbent.

                            

GOING DEEPER:

1. What other truths about love’s extra absorption can you learn from 1 Corinthians 13? How will you live it?

                                                           

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 10:12b, 17:9

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 twelve-year-old Callie and nine-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.

The Encourager
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this [the spreading of the good news of Jesus], they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways.”

Acts 11:22-23 (The Message)

Have you ever been blessed by an Encourager? Maybe it was a teacher, a parent, a pastor or a workplace mentor. Encouragers seek to build others up, to stretch their training, to motivate and praise another’s progress. They leave lasting impressions. Barnabas was just such a person. In fact, Barnabas wasn’t even his given name…it was the nickname he earned from the apostles. The name “Barnabas” translates to “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Talk about an insight into a person’s character!

Barnabas demonstrated strong faith, ministered with joy, and taught new believers. He didn’t stand on the sidelines “supervising”…the verse says he “threw himself in with them.” He was active in the building of the early church. Barnabas served with Paul on his first missionary journey. He also mentored John Mark, who wrote one of the gospels.

He is a great example to the rest of us, not only in how he encouraged, but what he encouraged. In a time of opposition, Barnabas urged the younger in the faith to stick with it for the rest of their lives. Sound familiar? Our times have plenty of opposition to Christ-followers, too. We would do well to prepare others in advance, so that the time of our greatest pain or hardest struggle is not the time to wrestle with a faith in Christ. From the very beginning, Barnabas intentionally urged others to stay faithful and resolve to obey God.

As this school year starts, let’s keep our eyes open to ways to throw ourselves in with others…to mentor, teach, inspire, and help prepare for the opposition that is always just around the corner.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you had a Barnabas in your life? What made that person’s influence special to you? Pray for ways to translate that influence on to someone else.

FURTHER READING:
1 Thessalonians 5:11

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

Peace
By Lisa Boyer

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NASB)

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

Galatians 5:22-23

It was an uncomfortable feeling, no, not uncomfortable, it was awful. I had knots in my stomach. Right away, I knew what it was: anxiety. I was anxious. I quickly tried to figure out why, but nothing came to me. As I contemplated my condition, Philippians 4:6 came to mind, “be anxious for nothing.” I laughed as I realized that in my terrible state, I was being very biblical. I was, in fact, anxious about nothing!

When times are tough, we go in search of peace. When we need God’s peace, we are quick to follow the whole verse of Philippians 4:6. We let our requests be made known to God by prayer and supplication. And we try our best to do it with thanksgiving. But when there are no obvious problems, do we need peace? Do we go in search of it? Or does it become the neglected fruit of the Spirit, sought after only when it becomes obviously missing, replaced with anxiety, sometimes without cause?

The other fruit of the Spirit…love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control…affect those around us in obvious ways. Peace can be so easily neglected. And yet, when peace is neglected, anxiety takes its place. And when we are anxious, can we truly display the other fruit? Anxiety affects our ability and tendencies to show love, to have joy, to display patience, to be kind, good, faithful or gentle and most certainly to exhibit self-control.

In Paul’s closing remarks to the Thessalonians, he said, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Every circumstance. Good times, bad times, all the time.

Let’s proactively pursue peace today by taking everything to God in prayer, with thanksgiving.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you find yourself being anxious? Will you pray today and let your requests be made known to God with thanksgiving?

FURTHER READING:
Colossians 3:15; John 14:27

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.

A Good Story: The Moral of the Story

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

So what’s the moral of this story?

 “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5).

“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are my ways your ways, declares the Lord” (Isaiah 55:8).

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

While being formed in our mother’s womb…God was writing each of our stories. Our stories contained His good works, which He planned in advance for us to do. Having free will, we choose to either follow in the footsteps of Frank Sinatra who proclaimed, “I did it my way,” or to submit to God and live our life…His way. To my dismay, I spent many years adopting Sinatra’s philosophy and “did it my way.” But once I resolved to “Delight myself in the Lord” and follow in His footsteps…the moral of my life-story took a drastic turn.

As Christ-followers, we’re to bring honor and glory to God, through our surrendered lives…“So whatever you do…do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). By abandoning our will…our plan…and our selfish desires…our God-infused hearts are drawn to proclaim, “Whatever…Lord!” Even when our stories take seemingly illogical twists and turns, and we encounter bumps and delays…we must continue to trust in God’s best. We must resist the temptation to interfere and re-write God’s perfect story.

My story personifies the choice to trust God and do it...HIS way. I was already His delight, but as He became mine…a beautiful story reflecting His ways, His time, His power and His purpose…came to life.

So…what’s your story?

Choose to “delight yourself in the Lord” and allow Him to infuse your heart with His desires. And as God fulfills the desires of your heart, allow Him to turn your good stories…into God Stories!

“…being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”  (Philippians 1:6).

GOING DEEPER:

1. Is something hindering you from living a surrendered life? Ask God to search your heart and remove any affection greater than He.

FURTHER READING:

1 Samuel 3:10, 7:3

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.

A Good Story: Happily Ever After

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

Yes…I LOVE a good story!  One that provokes your thoughts…warms your heart…and inspires growth and change. Each time I’ve shared this story, I’ve received a consistent response…“what a GOOD story!”  I agree…it’s a really good story! But the reason I believe it’s such a good story…is because it’s a “God Story!”

The story began with a call to delight myself in my Lord. To love Him wholeheartedly, abandoning my will and control over my life. To allow Him to warm my heart and become my consuming fire. He personally challenged me to abandon the pitfalls of logical thinking and trust in His thoughts and His ways.  He stretched me in ways to inspire growth and transform my evolving faith.

In this story, God called me to listen, wait and pray…repeatedly. There were those difficult days in which I impatiently wanted to fast forward to the “happily ever after” ending. But as God’s faith-filled mystery unfolded, I grew to relish His page-turning timing. And as His unleashed power transcended every corner of my world, I became an enthusiastic spectator in His glory-filled arena.

Once God became my “everything”…my delight…HE was all that mattered. As I wholeheartedly proclaimed, “Whatever Lord…wherever Lord,” His free reign over my life translated into a beautiful story where He fulfilled the desires of my heart!

There were moments when I wrestled with confidence in this new trade. When my skills were stretched beyond their comfort zone and I doubted my abilities. When challenges threatened my logic, I questioned my decision in this new vocation. But in the midst of every question and every doubt, God reminded me…this was HIS plan…HIS doing… and HIS story. It wasn’t about me! It wasn’t about my abilities, but rather my availability to surrender to His plan and bring honor and glory to Him. With my heart melded in unity with my Lord’s, He fulfilled every desire He’d infused within my heart.

For the past two years I’ve lived out the desires of my heart ministering at God’s perfectly-chosen salon. With Psalm 37:4 inscribed on the back of my business cards, I am reminded daily of this story. Yes, it’s a really good  story…a “happily ever after” story…because it’s GOD’s Story!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who’s writing your story?

FURTHER READING:

Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 5:15

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She volunteers at the Wildlife Rescue Center and in Women’s Ministry at Oakwood Church.

A Good Story: The Plot Thickens

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

As the pre-test jitters threatened to overtake me, the early morning email was comforting and affirming. Another piece of the puzzle had been snapped into place as God’s plan continued to unfold before me. The tests were grueling; passing was a celebratory accomplishment. Relieved and ready for the next chapter, I contacted Mary Beth Berns immediately. As email connections eventually led to face-to-face interaction, I eagerly volunteered to assist with her charity event.

It was a rewarding day performing complimentary pedicures on the mothers of special needs children. And after spending that memorable Sunday at the salon my “melded desire list” was covered with check marks. Beaming with joy, my heart felt at home in that salon. Confident that my heart’s burning desire was God-inspired, I trusted assuredly in His ability to bring His plan to pass. Sharing my heart and the details of the day with my husband, he asked if I would be submitting an employment application. My immediate “NO,” caught him off guard. I explained, “If that’s where God wants me…He’ll prompt Mary Beth to seek me out.” And so….I waited and prayed!

Over the next month, I ran into Mary Beth at several community events. When I posted a picture on Facebook of me holding my official manicurist license, she commented that she wished she had a job for me. While discouragement threatened to derail my faith, I continued to pray and wait. Following an upcoming trip home to California, my day timer was inscribed with “start job hunt” on June 7^th, the day of my return. On the morning of June 5^th, sitting at my parents’ computer, I wept as I read the message I had been waiting and praying for. Mary Beth wanted to meet with me regarding a job!

Meeting with her, the “He will give you the desires of your heart” portion of Scripture came to life! She shared, “I don’t have a position available, however, God told me to hire you…What are you looking for?” Going through my “melded desire list,” only one item remained unchecked and unspoken: Prefer Saturdays off due to volunteer commitment at the wildlife center. Before I could discuss this last point, she agreed to everything on my list. She continued, “I only have one restriction. I have a full crew on Saturdays, so you wouldn’t be able to work that day.” I nearly fell off my chair!

CHECK…my “melded desire list” was 100% complete…with every desire on the list fulfilled!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are you waiting and praying for God to fulfill your heart’s desires?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 1:6

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She volunteers at a Wildlife Rescue Center and in Women’s Ministry at Oakwood.

A Good Story: The Key Players

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

As the door shut “literally” upon the closing of my old salon, it was absolutely clear where I wouldn’t be working after graduation. As I questioned where  God would eventually place me, He filled my heart with snapshots of that future salon. And as my “melded desire” list grew daily, the puzzle pieces were transforming into a recognizable picture. Just as desires developed regarding the location and physical features of the salon, the desires regarding who I’d work for were growing even stronger.

I was familiar with Craig Berns Salon and found it charming. When I learned of a friend’s relationship with Mary Beth, the Christian  owner, my interest peaked considerably. My friend willingly agreed to orchestrate an introduction upon my request. But just as the request rolled off the tip of my tongue, the Lord nudged me with gentle conviction. His sweet voice reminded me, “Whose plan are you following?”  Whoops. I was meddling and taking control of a plan I’d relinquished to Him. He then lovingly impressed upon my heart, “How would He get the glory if I was manipulating the key players?” I retracted my request and explained to my friend the reason for my retraction. In the meantime, I prayed that God would orchestrate the connections with the key players in my future employment. I prayed that He would do so in a manner which would boldly  bring honor and glory to Him.

Weeks passed and as I continued to pray and wait, I couldn’t get thoughts of Mary Beth out of my head. As school neared an end, I studied feverishly in preparation for my final exams. Many long, sleepless nights finally rolled into the morning of exam day.  Hoping for some words of encouragement, I checked my email before leaving for school. Sitting in my inbox was an email from a church “acquaintance.” I was overcome with emotion as I read and re-read the email. A local salon was hosting an upcoming charity event and was in need of manicurists to volunteer their services. If interested in helping with the event, I was instructed to contact the salon owner directly. As I scrolled down to the bottom of the email, I read the contact information: Mary Beth Berns of Craig Berns Salon.

To God be the glory…the introductions were made…His way and in His time. As the story continued to unfold, the key players were revealed: Me and Jesus and Mary Beth!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What do you need to relinquish to God so that He gets the glory?

FURTHER READING:

Revelation 4:11

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.

A Good Story: The Melded Desire Plan

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

I LOVE a good story! As I celebrate my second anniversary at Craig Berns Salon this month, I recall a story I’ve shared repeatedly these past two years. It’s a story with a beginning…a middle…but no end. No end? Yes, because I am still living the story!

I had been managing a salon for four years; a job in which I had become comfortable and confident. When the door finally opened for me to enroll in manicurist school, God called me to leave that salon. My comfort zone and logic would have had me remain there or return to that same salon after graduation and work as a manicurist. Hindsight would reveal, however, that God’s plan would defy my comfort zone and my logic. I was in a new season…a season with a clear “God-inspired” theme. Moving me to emulate todays key Scripture, God would impress upon me to abandon any pre-conceived plans or desires for the future. Beyond school, I didn’t know what the future held…nor was God revealing it to me. He had me on the “no plan” plan! As a well-organized, planner extraordinaire…this concept was unnerving.

Throughout my three month term in school, I meditated on Psalm 37:4 daily. And each day, I poured out my heart to God…praying that He’d purge and empty my heart of “me”…filling it with Himself. HE became my delight…an expression advocating dependence and reliance, as well as, union and communion.  My heart echoed the words of Charles Spurgeon, “Delighting in God is not only sweet in and of itself, but it sweetens the entire soul, until the longings of the heart become such that the Lord can safely promise to fulfill them. Is not that a grand delight which molds our desires until they are like the desires of God?”(1)

Encarta Dictionary defines “melded” as: causing things to combine or blend and become one thing. As I “delighted in the Lord,” the desires of my surrendered heart were melded with His. As a puzzle is assembled one piece at a time, God systematically revealed the pieces of His plan, in His time. And as His plan unfolded piece by piece, He spurred me to compile a list of those melded desires.

When midway through school the previous salon I’d worked for closed, God poignantly revealed that His plan truly defied logic! Steadfastly “delighting in Him,” I found that the lines between His desires versus my desires… His plan versus my plan became muddled, and then transformed into the…Melded Desire Plan!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Who/what are you delighting in?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 6:33

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.

(1)    Quote from Charles Spurgeon Faith’s Checkbook

Helpless in His Hands

By Jeannine Sawall

 “In this world you will have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33b

As Christians, oftentimes, we don’t like to think about being absolutely helpless in the hands of our God.  We like to think that somewhere, somehow, we still have some type of control over what’s going on in our lives. We like to think that when difficulties arise, there is something we can do to help, some 1-800 number we can call for support, a positive thinking attitude we can adopt to make us “feel” better. There’s got to be something we can do…right?!

The psalmist made no bones about it…life is hard and full of suffering. We may find ourselves in situations so beyond our control there is no way out, no matter what we try to do. Perhaps it’s the loss of a job, a divorce, a betrayal, an unplanned pregnancy. Or perhaps the worst has happened and we have lost a loved one. Whatever the situation is, suffering is never easy and there’s never an easy way out. People may say “it’ll get better,” “you just need to get a grip,” or “just pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”  The only bootstrap in the Christian life we can get a grip on to make things “okay” is the Cross.

Knowing Christ is there, in the midst of our suffering and interceding for us is a comforting thought, but it may not always bring immediate feelings  of comfort.  However, it’s hanging on to this truth, even if by our fingernails, that will eventually get us to that place of comfort and through the crisis. Unfortunately, much of suffering is a long process and there’s no mention anywhere in the Bible of a detour or a short-cut through it. It is only through a purposeful stepping one foot in front of the other that we ever reach the other side of the valley. And along the way, we can count on the Lord to walk with us.

We all will all have to face many crises in our lives. Maybe you are in one now. When these times come in our lives, we can choose to look up and hang on to truth no matter what our feelings are telling us. The Shepherd walks with us, offering comfort and support along these difficult journeys - - holding us up, sometimes when we don’t even know He’s there.  It’s in these instances that the best  place we can be is helpless in His hands. He has overcome the world and He will help us through to the other side.

GOING DEEPER:

1. When feelings tell you something contrary to the truth, what do you listen to?

2. Who do you turn to in times of crisis and suffering?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 62:7; Isaiah 41:10

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.

A Lasting Legacy

By Jeannine Sawall

 “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and his righteousness with their children's children - - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” 

Psalm 103:17-18 

This month will mark the third anniversary of my mom’s sudden passing. I don’t think there is a day that has gone by, I haven’t thought of her. Yes, time has taken the sharp edge off of my grief, but the missing goes on in earnest. 

  

Having walked through three years of her loss, I have been able to look back and see the goodness of God. How He plucked her out of mire and muck and changed her life. How He wooed her and how she fell head over heels in love with Jesus. When I think of my mom...that is the lasting picture I have of her.

I think of her love for Jesus and how she wanted everyone she knew to know Him and love Him. She shared how Jesus can heal ANY hurt we have. How He provides strength for ANY weakness we struggle with. How He fills ANY void we have in our life. And when I say these things I have to preface: These were hard-fought lessons she learned (and we learn).  My mom had hard times, painful years and a life made difficult by choices (like all of us)...but Jesus made a profound difference.

When we let Jesus take control, take our hurts and disappointments; when we give up our burdens to Him, the change is incredible. It changes everything about us. And the change He worked in her life and works in our lives is what we live and eventually leave behind...the incredible truth that Jesus is real, He really  changes people, He really  makes a difference, and He gives us a love that overcomes any obstacle. He provides comfort and strength and rest and hope!  When we come to know Him, we find that every promise He has made is truth.  

Missing my mom has been, and continues to be, one of the most difficult roads I've had to journey. Yet during her life, she left behind a legacy of hope in Jesus. She passed that legacy down to me and now, I am hopefully passing it down to my children. Our relationship with Jesus goes with us to heaven. What we lived on earth is left behind as our legacy. A relationship with Jesus makes a difference in where we will spend eternity…it also makes a difference in the legacy we leave behind. Live a life that will leave a Jesus legacy! 

GOING DEEPER:

1. What type of legacy are you living/leaving?

2. How does your life make Jesus real to someone else?

FURTHER READING:

Deuteronomy 6:1-2; Mark 12:30; Proverbs 6:20

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.

“But I’m Not Bitter”

By Lisa Boyer

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32

I used to tell funny stories from my childhood but while telling some of them, I could hear how my voice sounded, so I would end the story with “but I’m not bitter!”  - - trying to make light of the fact that there was some bitterness still there. Over the years, God and I worked through those things and I let go of the bitterness. Now I can tell funny stories and they can just be funny. 

But it wasn’t so long ago that I couldn’t remember what bitter sounded like and the other day, I heard it again and it made me wince. But this time it wasn’t in my voice - - I heard it in my head.

I was driving down the highway explaining a particular injustice to God (also known as arguing with God, which I do not recommend) when I heard the bitterness. Worse yet, I was bitter over something I wasn’t even sure happened. I was bitter because of what I assume happened! I just didn’t know what to do about it.

So there I was driving down the highway, arguing with God and being bitter when I heard a still, small voice (actually it was a loud voice - - it had to be loud to be heard over the arguing), forgive. I then proceeded to inform God how unfair that would be. If I forgave without saying a word, wouldn’t they get away with what they did? Who is your bitterness hurting?  Aauuugghh!!! He was right. The only person I was hurting was myself. Not to mention the whole “IF you forgive others” verse in the Bible.

So, I did. I forgave. And possibly more importantly, I asked for forgiveness. Suddenly, I felt free. I like the feeling of free.

I know I made that sound so easy, but in reality, tears were involved (another thing I don’t recommend while driving down the highway). Yes, I still think an injustice has occurred, but I am so glad I’m not responsible for deciding that. I’m only responsible for my actions, decisions, attitude and (of course) response - - which is now forgiveness. 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been harboring bitterness against someone deep in your heart? Today, will you, with God’s help, decide to forgive them?

2.  Without judging, is there someone you can share this with so they can be free?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:36-37; Romans 2:1

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.

You’re Doing Great

By Lexi Ellis

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” 

Hebrews 3:13

With the wedding days away, I found myself in the middle of final details. In the midst of overwhelming moments, I often verbally processed the details with my mom and my future mother-in-law. While my fiancé (now husband) was the emotional support I needed, my moms were my “detail support” to help figure things out.

Many times, my mother-in-law said, “You’re doing great.” Other times, my mom would hug me when I needed it most. In those moments, I was reminded how blessed I am to have a relationship with our two moms, who are such godly encouragers.

I don’t write this to exclusively brag about my moms. But in the middle of the stress, I realized how empowering and helpful those three little words are, and how de-stressing a hug is.

This isn’t rocket science theology. But the simple truth of encouraging others is incredibly spiritual. For one thing, God is the Supreme Encourager. In the Old Testament, Scripture says God hears us and encourages us.[1] In the New Testament, Scripture says God “gives endurance and encouragement.”[2] In addition, Christ lived a life that was full of encouraging. Think through what you know about His life: How He cared for and served others, saw beyond their present sin, told them who they really are, spoke to their hearts’ deepest longings, touched the untouchable.

Encouragement is also spiritual because, in His Word, God calls us to encourage others. Part of Paul’s intent in writing the letter to the Ephesian church was to encourage them.[3] Paul tells the Corinthian church to “strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.”[4] And in our verse today, its writer tells Christians to encourage daily, implying that the absence of active encouragement may contribute to a poor heart condition.

Despite God’s obvious value placed on encouraging and the call in Scripture for us to be encouragers, I am not always seeking out opportunities to encourage others. My challenge? To intentionally search daily to build others up. For me, each night I’ve been trying to ask myself how I’ve encouraged others that day. Christ constantly thought of others. What a privilege it is to actively do the same and become more like Him. I’m so thankful for the intentionality both my moms have in encouraging me, and I’m glad it’s a reminder to actively do the same.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Before the day gets busy, pray about whom you can encourage. Then go do it!

2. Challenge yourself to be an “active encourager” each day.

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 2:1-2; Colossians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

Lexi is a new wife, serves with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood, and is a fourth grade teacher at Lake Country Christian Academy.

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[1] Psalm 10:17

[2] Romans 15:5

[3] Ephesians 6:22

[4] 2 Corinthians 13:11a

A Light Unto My Path

By Susan Klein

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

One of my favorite childhood memories is when we used to chase after “lightning-bugs” (fireflies) and put them in a glass jar. After collecting a couple dozen or so, my neighborhood friends and I would put the jar to use as a flashlight which would illumine the path back to one of our houses. Once inside, we’d go sit in a dark closet and watch the tiny creatures emit their brilliant green glow. It was quite magical!

Recently, a pastor-friend of mine included the above verse in his sermon. He posed a challenging question to his hearers: “What good is a lamp (God’s word) unto my feet if I just stand there and look at it?” That gave me cause to reflect on my own life. What have I been doing with God’s Word lately? Do I just skim it sporadically? Am I reading it for the purpose of gaining head knowledge? Is it just becoming rote-reading, intellectual stimulation, or food for thought? What am I really doing with it?

The pastor went on to say, “It’s a light unto my path, so I move forward and act on it.” Like the jar of lightning bugs, I’m supposed to put God’s Word to use. James 1:22 reflects these same thoughts: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says! (Emphasis mine)  God doesn’t intend for us to keep His Word to ourselves and use it solely to light our own personal path. Rather, He wants us to let His light (Word) shine as we walk along, so that others who are walking on dark paths may be exposed to His light (words) through our actions. We, like the lightning bugs, are the vessels He uses to light the way for others. God supplies the light for our path, but we must choose to act  on it. Just staring at the lamp on our own feet will not propel us to action. Jesus exhorts us in Matthew chapter 5 to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven. Shining equals action!

I believe Dwight L. Moody sums it up well. “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining - - they just shine.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. How full is your “jar of lightning bugs”? Are you putting it to good use?

2. Whose path might need a little of your light?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 2:5, 60:1; Matthew 5:14-16, 1 John 1:5-7

Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.

Recalculating…

By Jeannine Sawall

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9

My family and I recently returned from a road trip. We traveled over 3200 miles and depended heavily on our GPS to get us where we were going. Unfortunately, more than once, we didn’t see the turn in time, we ended up in the wrong lane, or we somehow managed to go the wrong way. I can’t tell you how many times we heard the GPS voice say, “Recalculating…” Sometime,s it was a beautiful little side trip with a pretty vista we might have missed, but as the hours and miles added up, every little recalculation became an annoyance!

Oftentimes in our spiritual journey, we do the same thing. We may be walking along, seemingly on the right path, heading in the direction the Lord would want us to go when suddenly, something comes into our view that takes our eyes off of where the Lord has us headed. Or maybe we could see where the path was going, but decided that direction wasn’t necessarily where we  wanted to go. In both cases, we are no longer headed where the Lord would have us go, but rather on some path of our own choosing. While the detour might seem delightful for a short time, eventually it becomes frustrating, taking more time and energy than we ever planned. Fortunately for us, when we respond to the Lord’s prompting, He doesn’t let us wander too far or leave us to find our own way back alone. The Holy Spirit does a little “recalculating” and brings us back to the path we should have followed in the first place.

There are many choices we can make as Christians: Some will always lead us to the Cross and others will take us on a path that may have a few more twists and turns than we were counting on. While there may be paths we regret we’ve taken, the Lord will use that detour to His glory if we allow Him. He never leaves His children stranded, lost or alone. Our lives might require a little recalculation now and again, but if we depend on the Lord and seek His face, He will make His path known to us.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Whose path are you walking on now: One of your own making, or the one the Lord has for you?

2. How have you responded when the Lord has asked you to “recalculate” your direction?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 119:105

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.

Stillness and Quiet

By Tracy Smith

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

I am reading the book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, and in the chapter titled "Living Room Intimacy," Joanna Weaver says,

                  

"I constantly fight the tendency to fill the God-shaped hole he created in me with fluffy stuff…I don't like quietness so I fill up the silence with sitcoms and talk shows, Christian music and CNN - - but it was in the quiet of the night that Samuel heard God's voice" [1]

That's me. I am the type of person who does not like quiet or stillness. I cannot just sit at the doctor's office and wait for the doctor without something to do, so I bring a book to read. I cannot do chores in a quiet house, so I put on the TV or radio as background noise. I am so bad that if I am watching a TV show, I will read a book at the commercials to keep the brain busy! I'm most comfortable when I keep my brain active and engaged.

The Bible gives us examples of people who heard God's voice when they were still, when they were quiet. Samuel heard God's voice in the middle of the night when all was quiet (1 Samuel 3:1-14). Elijah hears the voice of one of God’s messenger angels when he is discouraged enough to give up, so he lays down to sleep (1 Kings 19:4-8).

Why am I unable to just relax the brain and enjoy? I really don't know, but I would guess that is just the way I am wired. Does that mean that I should not try to learn to be still? No. In the above verse, God tells us to be still and to know who He is. What am I missing by not being still and/or quiet?  What would happen if I stopped, kept still and listened to God? I hope to find out soon!

GOING DEEPER 

1. Will you commit to picking a time every day that you focus on being still and quiet?

2. What do you use to fill the quiet? What can you do to change that?

FURTHER READING

Psalm 37:7, 62:5; Isaiah 32:17

[1] Weaver, Joanna. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2007.

Along with being a wife and mother to two boys, Tracy is an administrative assistant at Oakwood, serves on the Women’s Ministry Special Events Team and leads a great group of Junior High girls.