Clear the Court!

By Peggy Kleckner

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation 
for those who are in Christ Jesus....”

Romans 8:1

Recently, I awoke with a crowded mind. Oh, the thoughts that were confronting me, thoughts of all my shortcomings! I said the wrong thing in this conversation. I did too much in that situation, and not enough in the other one. I didn’t finish this task or start that one. What a clatter of chatter!

I headed to my personal time with the Lord pretty beaten down for first thing in the morning. I quietly took my place and began to bring my thoughts to Him.

As I did so, I envisioned a courtroom. Lots of voices and confusion surrounded me as I reluctantly took my seat in the place of the accused. The one true Judge entered and, at the sound of His gavel, order was established from the chaos. It was His authority that had the right to rule over my mind, so the chaos became quiet.

He knew that was not enough, so He called for each witness and let each one speak. One by one, my thoughts were marched forward and their accusations were heard. My head hung low, but my lips remained quiet before these accusers.

After all of the accusations, I realized there was One who approached the bench on my behalf. I had forgotten that I have an Advocate! Jesus spoke on my behalf. He presented the documentation that I am His, and that His work on the Cross has paid for all of these accusations. A smile came across the face of the Judge, answered by the smile of Christ. The court was cleared and once again, I was refreshed by the gift of the full payment of the Cross. There I stood in the joy of God’s amazing grace. 

How often have I run from my thoughts, rather than ask for a court hearing? How often have I tried to bring order to the chaos of my mind? How foolish, when all along God stands ready to judge my thoughts for me. These hearings help to remind me that without the Cross, I have no freedom. Without Christ, I do stand condemned before a Holy God. 

But in  Christ, there is now no condemnation for (place your name here)!

The courtroom cleared and God gathered me in His arms.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What accusations are you trying to stuff behind a barricade, rather than bring out into His light?

2.  Are you willing to sit quietly before the only One who has the right to judge you?

FURTHER READING:

John 8:31-36; Romans 3:21-26; Job 16:19-21

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.

So Stupid!

By Jen Wollner

“God saw all that He had made, and it was very good…”

Genesis 1:31

“I’m just a stupid little boy,” shouted my son as he stomped up the stairs to his bedroom. He was angry with me and frustrated with himself. He had directly and intentionally disobeyed me, and he wasn’t too happy with either of us in that moment. While it made me sad that he didn’t follow my directions, it made me even sadder that he was calling himself stupid. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if it was an attention-getting tactic or a sincere belief in his heart. Did he really think he was stupid just because he had made a bad choice? This kind of heart-attitude concerned me.

A few hours later, when he had calmed down and all but forgotten about the incident, I called him over to talk. I told him it made me sad when I heard him call himself stupid and I was sure it made God sad, too.  I asked, “Why do you think God would be sad to hear you say that about yourself?” After only a second of thought, he answered, “Because He made me.”

We all have some negative beliefs about ourselves, right? But, has it ever occurred to us that when we call ourselves things like “stupid,” “worthless,” or “ugly,” we are actually insulting our Creator? In a sense, we’re saying that it’s His fault for making us this way. But, God doesn’t make mistakes in how He creates anything. The truth is, God made us intelligent, valuable and beautiful. And, when we choose to believe otherwise, we not only sadden our God, but we also probably won’t fulfill the plan He has for our life. As Christ-followers, what we believe about ourselves…our design and our destiny…will greatly impact our choices in life. These choices will either lead us closer to God’s will for us or further away.

No matter how we choose to exert the free will God so graciously gave to us, let’s be careful not to beat ourselves up in a way that causes us to believe we are something we are not. No matter what we do, our true identity doesn’t change. God still sees us, His redeemed children, the way He created us…“very good.”

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What negative “names” do you call yourself when you make a mistake? What wrong heart-attitudes permeate your thoughts on a regular basis?

2.  Memorize our key verse for today, one of the Further Reading verses or another verse of your choice that speaks truth into these lies.

FURTHER READING:

Genesis 1:27; Psalm 45:11; Psalm 139:1-18

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children.  She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Here’s the Plan
By Kari Lyles

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord.”
Jeremiah 29:11 

Planning comes very naturally to me. So much so, that when my spontaneous husband and I were first married, he often threw my quiet evening into a tailspin when he would suggest we go to a movie. “Tonight?” I would ask rather annoyed. “I didn’t think that was the plan.”

When we had our first daughter, planning became a necessity. I was usually the one that could offer extra wipes at play dates, hand my crying daughter her blanket at a moment’s notice and sooth tummy grumblings with Cheerios or Goldfish. Planning brings me peace and I am always ready for anything. Or, so I like to think.

Recently, I have found myself unsure of “the plan” in certain areas of my life and that has me in a scary place…the questioning. “What’s next?” “How long will this season last?” “Should I be making other plans?” Ultimately, I know this is when I need to run to the Father, but in my humanness, I try to prepare myself for the answers I think He may give, in order to save myself from disappointment and hurt. Maybe you can relate? There are times in all of our lives when we are unsure of what lies ahead and we question what our next “plan” should be.

The Bible gently reminds us, though, that we are created in God’s own image, so certainly some of our best personality traits could reflect His. While our verse for today is a specific promise made through Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles in Babylon, it tells us about God’s character. Our Lord is a planner! Imagine that! He also assures us that “no eye has seen, nor ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him (1 Corinthians 2:9).” We don’t always have all the information, but we can rest assured that God has something incredible in mind for us.

Truly believing that the Lord has a unique and distinct plan for our lives brings us peace, joy and comfort. That doesn’t mean that we don’t sometimes question it; and it certainly doesn’t mean we always understand it. But, His faithfulness to us and His perfect will are far better than anything we could plan.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there a situation in your life that isn’t going as you planned? Ask God to help you trust Him as He reveals His plans to you.

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 1:27; Proverbs 19:21; Romans 8:28

Kari is a wife and mother to two girls. She works as a regional sales manager at MAX-R in Sussex and is involved in Oakwood’s drama ministry.

Father Knows Best

By Tracy Smith 

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
    “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts."

Isaiah 55:8-9 (NLT) 

Years ago, it had been a very long day dealing with a preschooler and a toddler asking me “why” approximately 352 times; at the 353^rd “why” I finally snapped, “Because I’m the mom and I told you to!”  Yes, the saying that we are all convinced we will never say to our own children!  Did they really need to know every reason why I wanted them to do something? Couldn’t they just trust that, as their mom, I would not ask them to do anything crazy and that I loved them and only wanted what was best for them?

It was a “light bulb” moment for me. Don’t we do the same thing with God? How often do we continually ask the Lord “why,” instead of trusting that He has our best interests at heart?

• Why do I have to deal with this anxiety disorder?
• Why did my husband lose his job back in 2003?
• Why did he have to spend so many years “underemployed” before finding a good job?
• Why do people hurt each other in such evil ways?
• Why does so-and-so not like me? 

The “why’s” can go on and on and on. I’m so glad that we don’t have a God who snaps His answer out at us, like I did to my boys all those years ago. His answer is right there for us in Isaiah 55: His ways and thoughts are not like ours; they are higher. He knows the whole picture when we are only seeing a part.  Sometimes, you may find out the answer to your “why” and sometimes you may not. But through it all, we have to remember to trust that as our Father, He only wants what is best for us.

GOING DEEPER

1. Is there a “why” you are holding on to? What can you do to lay it at His feet and trust in Him?

FURTHER READING

Proverbs 3:5-6; Jeremiah 33:3; Romans 8:28

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.

The Messenger

By Jen Wollner

“…‘I am the one I claim to be…I do nothing on my own, but speak just what the Father has taught me.’”

John 8:28b

It’s something all parents do from time to time. They send one of their children with a message for another one. “Come down for dinner.” “Your friend is here to play.” “Please quiet down, mom is going crazy!” Whatever the message might be, we send the sibling to relay it on our behalf.

I’m not sure how this might play out at your house, but at mine, it typically doesn’t go well. Usually, the messenger delivers the message and the message-receiver gets upset, not wanting to take direction from said messenger - - his or her sibling. Hence, the messenger comes back to me saying the message-receiver isn’t, well, receiving it, and won’t comply. He or she just didn’t trust the messenger or the message!

Let’s face it, for varying reasons, sometimes I just can’t deliver these messages myself. I need a representative! In order to try to help the process go smoother, I’ve gotten in the habit of coaching the messenger on exactly what to say. For instance, “My lovely sister, mom sent me up here to tell you that dinner is ready. Please come to the table.” Or, “Dear brother, mom sent me down here to tell you that the Wii volume is too loud. Please turn it down.” In this way, the message-receiver can be assured that the message isn’t coming from a bossy sibling, but rather THE boss…Mom.

God sent a messenger to earth to give us a very important message. But, this wasn’t just any messenger…and it wasn’t just any message. It was God Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. And, the message was one of redemption and sanctification.

Unfortunately, there are many people in the world today who say they believe in God, but ignore the messages He sent to us through Jesus. Some people don’t even believe that Jesus is who He says He is, God’s Son, much less follow His teachings as truth.

In Scripture, Jesus solidifies His association with God by repeatedly saying things like, “…whoever welcomes me, welcomes the one who sent me” (Mark 9:37). Or, “…My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me” (John 7:16). It’s clear that He came representing God, not just as a messenger, but as the Fulfiller of the message, too.

May we accept Jesus, and trust both the Messenger and  the messages He delivered directly from our loving Heavenly Father.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you heard God’s message(s) through Jesus and believed them as truth? If not, what’s holding you back?

2.  With whom can you share God’s message of salvation through Jesus?

FURTHER READING:

John 8:18; John 8:29; John 12:44

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children.  She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Are You in Need of a Head Lift?
By Elin Henderson

“…My glory, and the One who lifts up my head.”
Psalm 3:3b

I recently came across this verse during a particularly down time in my life. We all have faced times like these and I can think of no better word picture then to say my head was hanging low.

Let me ask, though, what is so wrong with our heads hanging low? Nothing in itself—we all face down times. However, how would you live if your head literally hung low all the time? Imagine looking down and trying to walk around a busy street. Your sense of direction would be way off and you would risk hurting yourself and others around you. You would only see one thing—yourself. Would you be aware the needs of others around you? Would you know where you were going or how to get there? No! Your focus would be you!

The world offers all sorts of solutions to the very common problem of a downcast mood: exercise, caffeine, sugar or NO sugar, movies, coffee with friends, or my favorite, “Lay down and relax…imagine you are on a tropical island. Listen to the waves upon the shore and the breeze blowing through the palms…” I have found that this technique only works when you don’t live in the tropics with breezes blowing through your palms night and day! What they fail to add to that picture is the heat, humidity, mosquitoes and lack of privacy!

The word picture found in Psalm 3:3-4 is one that we can and should meditate on, though: “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.” Wonderful hope lies in these verses. What we are most in need of in low times is a “head lift”! God alone can lift our head and help us to look upward and outward, keeping our eyes off of ourselves and on Him. When we cry to Him, we can know that He hears us and will answer with His free “head lifting service,” placing us on solid ground with a good view of the road before us and the world around us.

Now, I am not saying that other “coping mechanisms” aren’t helpful. A hot bath, a good chick flick and dark chocolate are all helpful sidekicks. Of course, if you live in the tropics, the hot bath is kind of out and dark chocolate is not found at the local market—but at least we’ve got chick flicks! No matter our coping preference, may we never lose sight that He alone is the true lifter of our heads!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What in your life is bringing you down today, causing your head to hang low? What can you do to re-focus on the One who is the lifter of your head?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 24:7-10

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 Callie and Elias.

Your Love Sets Me Free
By Jen Wollner

“Then you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”
John 8:32

I was watching TV recently and came upon a show about a young man named Mike. Ever since Mike was a boy, he dreamed of playing baseball. He grew up on the ball field and became a player with real potential. When he was a teenager, though, he also became someone with real addictions, often over-indulging in drugs and alcohol. It became such a big problem that it cost him his dream of playing professional baseball.

After being cut from his college team, Mike plunged deeper into his addictions to mask his disappointment and failure. One night, after spending hours at a local bar, he got into his car to drive home. With a blood-alcohol level of more than three times the legal limit, Mike’s judgment was severely impaired and he hit another car, killing the driver. He was immediately arrested and spent years in jail for his crime.

As God would have it, one of his cellmates was a strong Christian. He introduced Mike to Jesus and Mike accepted Christ as his personal Savior. He began to devour God’s Word, reading his Bible all day, every day. When asked how he felt about his time behind bars, Mike said, “Being in prison saved my life.” The love of Christ and truth of the cross had set him free—a spiritual freedom that he treasured far more than his physical release from jail.

Thankfully, most of us will never spend time in prison, but there are things in our lives that can feel like bondage. Like Mike, maybe we are suffering the consequences of poor choices—either our own or someone else’s. Or maybe we are just facing the trials of a fallen world. Whatever it is, we can all understand the heavy weight of sin. But, also like Mike, we experience freedom in Christ. Scripture tells us that if Jesus has set us free from sin, we are no longer a slave to it—we are free indeed! The love and sacrifice of the cross is more than enough to throw off the chains that bind us.

Everything rides on hope now.
Everything rides on faith somehow.
When the world has broken me down, your love sets me free.
(lyrics from “Hope Now” by Addison Road)

No matter what comes our way, there is always hope…always faith…and always a love that sets us free.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What sin or trial is enslaving you today? Ask Jesus to show you His love that is strong enough to release your burden.

FURTHER READING:
John 8:31-36; 1 Corinthians 13; John 3:16

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

I’ll Have More Faith, Please!
By Susan Klein

“...faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”
James 2:17

Recently, while sharing a memorable evening with some dear friends, our conversation turned toward spiritual matters. One of the men in the group was sharing some struggles he was facing, and how discouraged he felt over some long-term issues that plagued him. He made the comment, “I wish I had more faith.” That statement caused me to wonder; can we really obtain more faith?

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus issues the command to “have faith in God,” yet He also addresses the issue of “weak faith” or “little faith” several times when speaking to those in doubt. Is He saying then, that we need more faith? Ephesians 1:3 tells us that God has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ. One of those spiritual blessings is faith! If we believe in God, then do we not believe His word to be true? Do we not already have the faith that we need? Nowhere do we see his command to find more faith than what he has already given us.

Like a cup of water, God has blessed us with a full cup, not one that is half empty and needs replenishing. But it is no good to us if we don’t choose to drink from it. I think the issue at hand is “exercising”, or “putting into action” the faith we have. James tells us our faith must be accompanied by action. I believe this action includes choosing to not doubt. If we say we believe in the power of God then, we must act upon those words and truly trust Him to do as he says He will. When we pray, we must consciously choose to believe that our prayer will be heard and answered, and not be in doubt.

I do believe that our faith can be “weakened” by our circumstances. We know that the water is in the glass, but we are so focused on the desert of our circumstances that we forget to take a drink! Ephesians 6:16 says we have a “shield of faith” to protect us from Satan’s fiery darts of doubt, but it also says we must “take it up.” It is an action that we must choose to make.

As we mature in our Christian walk and grow in our knowledge of scripture, we will be better able to understand how to utilize the wonderful faith that our God has blessed us with!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what areas of your life has your faith been weakened by circumstances? Are you willing to commit those things to God in “faith-filled” prayer?

FURTHER READING:
James 1:2-6, 2:14-26; Hebrews 11; 2 Thessalonians 1:3 

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.

From Plunder to Prosperity 

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“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

I have heard this verse in countless graduations, baby dedications, and sermons. I have heard it so often that it almost sounds stale. Recently, my eyes were reopened to this Scripture because I had completely missed the context of what Jeremiah was saying.

This verse is written to the Israelites after they were sent into exile. 

          The land was plundered. 

          The wealth was gone. 
          They were forced to leave their homes and all that they knew. 
          They were subject to a foreign ruler. 
          The leaders…king and soldiers…taken captive. 
          Families were separated…if they had survived the onslaught. 
          Only the poorest of the land were left.  (2 Kings 24)

The Israelites were reaping the consequences of their disobedience to God.  Their lives were savaged.

Maybe you can relate.

Whether it is as a result of living in a fallen, sinful world, or the consequences of personal actions, lives are savaged every day. The faithful of Israel, as well as the fallen, were all subject to the exile. It’s the same today. 

So how do we respond when we are facing our own “exiles”? Expanding our view of Jeremiah 29, God tells His people:

⁵ “Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce.⁶ Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters…. ⁷ Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.” 

¹¹ 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. ¹² Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. ¹³ You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. ¹⁴ I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity…”

In other words, carry on and work to flourish in the new place. God has not forgotten us, and He has a plan that is greater than the here and now. From the place of brokenness, He will bring healing when each of us seeks Him with our heart.  

And that message is never stale.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Examine your reactions when havoc invades your life. Do you retreat? Pray for God to show you how to flourish in the circumstance.

FURTHER READING: 
2 Kings 24:8-16; Psalm 40 

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 We Women Ministries.

Like Little Children

By Susan Klein

And He said: “I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” 
Matthew 18:3

Have you ever had the opportunity to study small children? If you have, you know that they are amazing little wonders, in constant awe of the people and things that surround them. They soak in everything they can wrap their little minds around and they always want to imitate what they see and hear. They don’t seem to fear the big things in life like death, taxes or destitution; they fear the dark, bugs and doctors. When they do encounter a scary situation, they tend to reach for the person whom they trust. And when they are reassured that you will be by their side walking through those scary things with them, they trust you implicitly.

When Jesus said the above words to His disciples, it was in answer to their question of who is considered to be “the greatest” in the kingdom of heaven. They were scared of possibly losing their current earthly rank as privileged members of Jesus’ inner circle when He was gone. Jesus could see the motive behind the question. I love that He chose to use children to illustrate His response, personally calling a little child over to emphasize His point. 

Jesus does not want us to be childish in our thinking, rather to be child-like by uncluttering our minds with thoughts that bring us unnecessary concern so that we can focus on the people and wonders that He has placed around us. Children would much rather spend time “in awe” than “in worry.” And when He tells us, “Have no fear, I’ll walk that scary path with you,” He wants us to have that childlike faith of taking His hand, and instantly believing that He will not leave us to go it alone. Make no mistake: children do have fears. And so do adults. Jesus is not telling us to never fear anything, but to be like little children reaching out to Him, then trusting Him to help.

I imagine when Jesus called that little child over to His side, she (he) felt very special just to be beckoned. I imagine she ran joyfully to His loving open arms, abandoning all inhibitions, and soaking in the love He offered. I imagine she trusted Him like no other as He proudly displayed her for all to see. 

“Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 18:4)

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are the things that inhibit you from having child-like faith?

2. How might you imitate a child in showing your love and trust for your King?

FURTHER READING: 
Psalm 131:1-2; Matthew 11:25-30

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.

More is More
By Jen Wollner

“Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”
Luke 7:47

This isn’t just an ordinary woman…she has a “reputation.” Everyone in the room knows about her sinful ways. They all look on as the woman stands behind Jesus, weeping uncontrollably. Her tears fall, wetting his feet. As she cries, she crouches down and wipes his feet with her hair, kissing them and pouring expensive perfume on them. She is judged, criticized and looked down on…but Jesus honors her faith and commends her actions of love.

When I first read the story about this “sinful” woman and her worship of Jesus, I misunderstood it to mean that if a person sins more, Jesus forgives more; and if a person sins less, He has less to forgive. As I studied it further, though, I realized that the point of the story wasn’t that the woman sinned more than others or that her sin was somehow worse in Jesus’ eyes, but rather that she recognized her sin more completely. Consequently, she was more aware of the deep mercy Jesus had for her. She treasured His forgiveness because she had an accurate view of her sin. She was overcome with gratitude for His love that was freely offered to her, in spite of her shortcomings and poor choices. Because of the love He lavished on her, she was able to reciprocate and love Him in an extravagant way, sparing no expense to worship Him as He deserved. Her actions spoke volumes about her faith and love for her Savior.

What about us? Is our view of our sin realistic based on the truths of God’s Word? Do we love much because we recognize how much we are forgiven and loved by Jesus? We can’t appreciate the mercy Jesus offers unless we recognize our dire need for that mercy. We can’t accept Jesus’ grace and forgiveness if we don’t acknowledge that a Savior is absolutely essential. And we can’t reciprocate Jesus’ love for us, much less show that love to others, if we don’t confess and repent of our mistakes, humbling ourselves at the foot of the cross. Only when we know what we are saved from, do we overflow with love for our Savior.

As Easter approaches and we reflect on the sacrifice of our Lord, let’s allow the truth of His forgiveness to wash over us and fill our souls. Then, let’s pour our whole hearts out to Him and love Him abundantly and unrestrained.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you ever taken time to truly contemplate the depths of your sin…and the depths of Jesus’ forgiveness and love? Meditate on this two-part reality throughout the day today.

FURTHER READING:
John 3:16; Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:7-8; 1 John 3:1a

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Groaning
By Peggy Kleckner 

“In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.”
Romans 8:26 

I often walked my two dogs in a small wood just through the park near my home. They considered these times quite a treat as they could roam freely off their leashes and I enjoyed the freedom to ponder. Such was the case that particular day.

It was quite a windy day, which was the reason for my choice. That wood acted as a shield for me against the nippy wind. As I walked further into its protection, I heard the trees “groaning.” What a mournful, deep, almost lonely tone it had to it. The trees had no leaves to mute the sound. They were being buffeted by a cold, strong wind. They had stood through the cold and wet of winter. They had bent under the weight of ice and snow. They had been pushed by harsh, winter winds, but they were still rooted and standing. God brought to my mind the above verse. He reminded me, that when I am being buffeted by change and adversity (my own cold, strong winds), I too will groan, but it will be the Holy Spirit within me interceding for me. When I don’t know what to pray or can’t seem to put words to my inner struggle, He does it for me. What a comfort to know that as truth.

I have hit “winter” seasons in my life. There have been times when my finances seem hopeless, when so many friends are suffering with no relief in sight, when my children are struggling with issues that I had hoped they would never have to face, and when relationships seem cold and lifeless. These are the times that I have to turn over my prayers to the groaning of the Spirit. I have no words to express my anguish. I don’t know what to pray, but I trust the Spirit to intercede for me with “groans that words cannot express.”

Just like those trees I observed that day in the woods, we may feel barren, vulnerable and buffeted, but the Spirit intercedes for us and reminds us that spring will indeed come again. God will refresh us and we will sprout yet again.

Is your heart buffeted by strong winds? Take courage, the Spirit intercedes for you.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you frustrated that you can’t seem to put voice to your struggles? Are you willing to believe the truth--that the Holy Spirit does indeed intercede for you? Will you relax in the secure arms of God today, resting in that truth?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:22-27; Psalm 121; Isaiah 40:10-31

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.

All We Like Sheep...
By Susan Klein

“He tends his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”
Isaiah 40:11

Throughout Scripture, we read about Jesus being our “shepherd,” and we are called his “sheep.” Though I’ve always trusted it to be a good analogy, I’ve never given it a whole lot of consideration. Have you ever wondered, “Why sheep?” Why not, Jesus is the goat herder and we are his goats? Let’s take a look at the behaviors of the ones we are likened to.

Sheep, by nature, tend to congregate close to other members of a flock. However, some can be stubborn and want to go off in their own direction in search of greener pastures (always motivated by their appetites!). Unaware of possible harm, if one strays, a few others tend to follow. At the first sign of danger, sheep will generally flee, but can actually become paralyzed with fear and unable to move, needing their shepherd to rescue them, lest they perish. When cornered, they often resort to foot-stomping and snorting. They can become stressed when separated from their flock and suffer from great anxiety. Gee, doesn’t sound at all like humans, does it?

Now, let’s look at the shepherd. If one little lamb strays from the flock, he is quick to search for her and discipline her to avert further straying and possible danger. The shepherd cares so much that he will actually inflict pain upon that lamb, often by injuring her in the leg. The lamb will be unable to walk for a time and be totally dependent upon the shepherd for all her needs. The shepherd will carry her around on his shoulders and feed her by hand until she is strong enough to walk and graze again. He speaks to his sheep often, whether disciplining or just walking along, so they will know their master’s voice. They listen for it and trust it. The shepherd always lies at the gate to his sheepfold at night, protecting its entrance from predators who might try to sneak in and devour one from the flock.

Isn’t this an amazing picture of our Lord, The Great Shepherd, and his interaction with us, His sheep? He cares about each one of us individually. He nurtures us, He carries us in our time of need, He disciplines us when we walk away from Him, and He speaks to us. Are we listening and trusting, or are we straying into dangerous situations? All we like sheep... 

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what area of your life are you in search of greener pastures, straying from the safety of your Shepherd?
2. In what ways can you learn to distinguish the sound of His voice from the voices of others? 

FURTHER READING:
John 10:1-30; Isaiah 53: 4-8 

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.

What Did You There?
By Elizabeth Cole

“Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.”
Psalm 105:2-4

Pussycat, pussycat, where have you been?
I’ve been to London to visit the queen.
Pussycat, pussycat, what did you there?
I frightened a little mouse under her chair.

Can you imagine the thrill of it all? The long trip to London, the anticipation of entering the throne room, the privilege of being in the same place at the same time with the queen herself. I have to think that not every pussycat has had the chance to rub shoulders (or ankles, in this case) with royalty.

And yet, upon further query, we find that our little tabby’s focus appears to have been far more on her potential prey than on her potentate. Thinking only of her next meal, she misses out completely on the honor before her. Did she ever once lift up her eyes from floor-level and behold the face of the queen? What a waste of a trip. What a squandered opportunity.

Unlike the pussycat, there’s no long trip required for us to enter the throne room of our King. As His dearly loved children, we have the privilege of His presence always. And we are told in Scripture that we are able to confidently approach the throne of grace so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

The prophet Isaiah gives us a vision of the throne room, “I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple.” He goes on to describe angels flying and calling out to each other, “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory.” What an achingly beautiful picture of our King, what an incredible privilege…I wouldn’t want to miss it for the sake of counting tiles on the floor.

Look in His face. Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Look up!

GOING DEEPER:
1. My aunt, a college professor, uses this nursery rhyme to emphasize the concept of focus. On what are you focusing the eyes of your heart today?
2. What can you do to avoid wasting the privilege of being in the presence of the King today?

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 4:16; Isaiah 6:1-3; Psalm 121:1

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

Casting off Cares
By Jen Wollner

“Cast all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.”
1 Peter 5:7

It seems as if the economic woes of our country are affecting all of us these days. People are losing their jobs or having their hours severely cut because of a lack of work. Others have taken huge hits to their retirement savings accounts and pensions. And still others who, while trying to sell their homes, either can’t find a buyer or have had to settle for much less than they had hoped. Not only that, but amidst these losses, so many of our prices are rising—groceries, school tuition, airline fees and the national debt, just to name a few! All of this turmoil is extremely unsettling. The situation feels so out of our control—and to a certain degree, it is.

But, there is Someone who is in complete control of our lives—Jesus. Scripture tells us that we can totally trust Him because He cares for us. He loves us deeply. He knows all that we need and promises to provide for us. In Matthew 6:26, Jesus says, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. And aren’t you far more valuable to him than they are?” Birds and other animals don’t ever worry about how they will get their next meal because the Lord takes care of them. We are so much more valuable to Him than the rest of creation and yet we often doubt and fret about how our needs will be met. More times than not we rely on ourselves to “make ends meet” instead of looking to Him for provision, don’t we? And while we certainly are called to do our part, it’s about His plan of provision…not ours. We get so wrapped up in our problems that we forget that He is on His throne. We forget that He is completely sovereign and nothing is out of His control.

Today, instead of worrying and being fearful about our financial situations and other troubles in life, let’s focus on Christ, casting all our anxieties on Him, so that we can have peace and comfort in these trying times.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What is causing you the most anxiety and fear during this financial crisis?
2. Are you finding it difficult to take God at His Word regarding His care for you? Do you believe that He will provide for your every need? If not, spend some time today asking Him to fill you with faith and peace.

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 6:25-34; Philippians 4:6-7

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

The Prisoner Set Free
 By Sarah Kosanke

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea.” 

Micah 7:18-19 

In the spring of 2012, a drunk driver hit me head-on, looked me in the eye, and then drove away. I was left alone in the dark, bewildered, injured and in shock. I knew upon impact that this moment would change my life; only my Lord knew it would be for the better. The injuries from this accident were life-changing. My body hurt immensely, my trust in other drivers was shattered, but my worst injury of all was...hatred. 

I hated this person whose bad choices altered my life. Because of that individual, my schoolwork suffered, my body was in extreme pain, and my already-tight finances were stretched, too. With every added stressor from this event, my hatred grew bigger. It wasn’t until I was challenged by my sweet mother to address this issue of hatred, and the lack of forgiveness, did things start turning around in my life.

Christian author and pastor Max Lucado says it so perfectly, “Forgiveness is unlocking the door to set someone free and... realizing you were the prisoner.”  When it came time for the sentencing in court, the judge heard both of our sides of the story. He looked at me and said that I had every right to be angry. He also said that the drunk driver was at my mercy.  I looked into the eyes of the person who impacted my life so negatively. I made eye contact and, through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit, I gently whispered, “I forgive you.” 

I now realize… I was the prisoner all along! 

Instantly, I thought of how I'm going to feel when I stand before the Heavenly Father one day. My lifetime of sin has earned me death. He has every right to be angry and banish me from His sight for eternity. I am at His mercy... but then Jesus steps in. Because of HIS blood, oh, how sweet His whisper, “Forgiven.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. Is there someone in your life that you need to forgive? I challenge you today to ask the Lord to prepare your heart.
2. Ask the Lord to show you the impact of forgiveness in your own life. (Think, has someone forgiven you for something you could never repay?)

FURTHER READING: 
Psalm 103:12; Matthew 6:14-15; Isaiah 1:18; Colossians 1:13-14

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 enjoys worshiping with her family in Christ at Oakwood Church.

The Aroma of Christ

By Susan Klein

“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life.” 

2 Corinthians 2:14-16a

In the book of Revelation, the apostle John is instructed by our Lord to deliver His words to seven churches, one of them being the church in Smyrna. Unfortunately, they were a people of great persecution and suffering, yet they remained true to their faith and continued to share the love of Christ. 

The name “Smyrna” contains the root word of “myrrh,” indicating a fragrant aroma. Myrrh was the sap from particular trees that was harvested and hardened. To use it, you would crush the hardened resin, causing the fragrant oils to be released, emitting their bittersweet aroma. Thus, as myrrh suffers, its fragrance is released.

The Christian people in Smyrna were very familiar with suffering and being crushed by persecution. But, in keeping with their namesake, they emitted the sweet aroma of Christ even while enduring hardships. Jesus tells John to let them know they will suffer still more persecution, but to not be afraid. He says if they are faithful, even to the point of death, He will give them the crown of life (Revelation 2:8-10).

In 2 Corinthians, Paul again reminds us that we are to be the aroma of Christ by sharing our knowledge of the Scriptures. We are not to shrink back fearfully from persecution, but be diligent in our profession of Christ. He points out that to those who are perishing (rejecting the Gospel) we are the smell of death, but to those who are seeking salvation, we are the fragrance of life! 

I believe that, like the church in Smyrna, believers today are going to face more and more persecution, but only if people know we are believers. If we are not emitting any aroma, we have no fear of anyone taking notice of us. Persecution in America is not very prevalent compared to many other countries, yet it exists in more subtle ways. One of Satan’s greatest tactics is to use persecution to break down the believer and stop the aroma of Christ from spreading. But God’s Word is more powerful than any weapon of Satan’s!

Let’s heed Paul’s exhortation, letting God lead us in a triumphal procession, courageously spreading our fragrant aroma to all around us.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you remembering to share your knowledge of God’s Word with others?

2. Ask Him to bring someone into your life who could benefit from your fragrance.

FURTHER READING: 
2 Corinthians 1:5; Hebrews 13:15-16; 2 Thessalonians 3: 2-5

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.  

Unchanging Love
By Jen Wollner

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8 

I read a story recently about a woman who struggled for years with infertility. She desperately wanted a baby, but because of physical obstacles, it was proving to be a difficult goal to achieve. She went through tests and fertility treatments and nothing worked. At the beginning of the journey, she was very positive and hopeful that the Lord would answer her prayer for a child and she waited patiently, trusting Him for it. But, as the months and years wore on, she became weary and doubtful that it would ever happen. She was angry and bitter toward God because of the pain she had to endure. Just when she was about to completely give up, she became pregnant…and delivered a healthy, full-term baby boy. It was truly a miracle considering her circumstances and health problems!

As she reflected on her journey to becoming a mother, she said, “Even amidst my ugliness, and questioning and hatred I was expressing toward God, His plan still stood…He didn't let go of me when I let go of Him. He didn't change His mind or take away this blessing because of the way I acted. To me, that is extraordinary love. Extraordinary grace…He didn't take back the gift He had in store for us because of my actions…I realized in a fresh way how very much He loves me. In all my ugliness and in all my shunning and mistrust, He gave me what I didn't deserve.”

What profound truth! He never leaves us. He never changes. His will always comes to pass…it is always because of His faithfulness to us. There is nothing we can do or not do to change the unconditional, deep love He has for us. He isn’t even capable of loving us any more or less than He already does.

When we doubt Him, He is there. When we question Him, He answers. And, when we shake our fist at Him, He loves us. What incredible security we have in Jesus—who is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow—and whose love for us can never change!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you believe that God loves you deeply and that, no matter what, that love can never change? If you struggle to believe this, ask Him to show you His unwavering love today.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 13:5; Psalm 36:5; Psalm 40:5 

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Sifted Like Flour
By Elin Henderson

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But, I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’”
Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)

There is a common joke among missionary women. I call it the phases of “becoming.” Phase 1: You find bugs in your flour, completely freak out, and promptly throw out the entire bag. Phase 2: You are still freaked out by the bugs but you have learned that you can carefully sift the flour and get them out. Phase 3: You move past serious sifting and just look for the major bugs and pick them out by hand. Phase 4: You have “become” and you see the bugs and say, “Good, bugs! More protein!” and just leave them in there.

God uses Satan to sift us and remove the bugs in our lives! Satan came asking for Peter and God said, “Go ahead, have at it.” We see this with Job in the book of Job and with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. And, interestingly enough, it isn’t always through the victories that we win. It isn’t always in the overcoming that we grow, but sometimes in our failure, as well. “When you have returned to me,” Jesus says to Peter, indicating that He wasn’t necessarily walking with the Lord all the time in His trial of sifting.

But, Christ gave him two wonderful promises that are reflected in our own relationship with Christ as well: The first and most significant is Christ prays for us when we are in process of being sifted…“But, I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail.” We are not alone, despite how we feel. Satan is only given so much “rope,” so to speak, and no more. We are God’s and He watches over us. Christ prays for us and the Father knows our limits. The second promise is that when it is over, we will be able to strengthen, encourage and comfort others with what we have learned…”But, when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren.” What a privilege to be able to show compassion and love to others in their time of need.

So, next time you feel like you are being tossed to and fro in Satan’s sifter, remember that you are prayed for and when you come out of it, you will be strengthened in your confidence in the Lord, able to encourage and support others in a deeper way…and hopefully with a few less bugs!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What kind of “sifting” have you endured in your life?
2. Who do you know who is facing something similar? How can you encourage that person? 

FURTHER READING: Luke 22:54-62; 1 Corinthians 1:3-5, 10:13; 1 Peter 4:13, 5:10; 1 John 5:18-19 

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 Callie and Elias.
They are currently in America on Home Assignment.

At Just the Right Time

By Vernette Kureck

“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under law to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”

Galatians 4:4

What does that mean…the time had fully come? Another way of saying it is “when the fullness of time had come.” Okay, that really clarifies it! How about: “at just the right time,” God sent His Son. According to the dictionary, the fullness of time means completion of the time during which something has been accomplished or completed. With the birth of Jesus, all the prophesies of the Old Testament regarding the Messiah’s birth were fulfilled. So something was definitely being completed at the right time.

But was it the right time for Mary to be pregnant? For Joseph? The law would say “no,” because she was a virgin and betrothed to Joseph. Joseph could have had her stoned to death. Instead, Mary answers the angel Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant...may it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38). And after Joseph considers quietly divorcing her, an angel  appears in a dream telling him not to be afraid, that the child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and he is to name him Jesus because he will save people from their sins (Matthew 1:20-21). From a human perspective, this was a very difficult situation…a situation that would require both of them to be strong in their faith.

Every Christmas season, I rejoice in the birth of our Redeemer-Lord and ponder all that God has accomplished in His sovereignty. At times in my life, I do question, “What is He doing now? This isn’t the right time for this to be happening!”

That is when I think again of Mary and Joseph’s faith. And I return the words of Joseph’s ancestor King Solomon, who said, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Mary and Joseph didn’t have the full Bible, nor the indwelling of the Holy Spirit to guide them as we do. So in faith, I must believe that I am here at just the right time  and, in just the right time,  God is accomplishing His work; He will complete it. May I answer His call with “I am the Lord’s servant.” 

GOING DEEPER:

1. In what way and in what time is the Lord calling you to serve? 

2. How are you answering? 

FURTHER READING:

Ecclesiastes 3; Philippians 1:6

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 44 years and have two sons. They have been blessed with seven grandchildren. She serves on Oakwood’s prayer chain.