Thursday, February 28, 2013


Boats, Bridges or Beyond
By Elin Henderson

“Then Joshua rose early in the morning…and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel …and all Israel crossed over on dry ground.”
Joshua 3:1a & 17b (NKJV)

How do you think the Israelites felt standing on the edge of the Jordan River, the Promised Land in clear view: relieved, afraid, and expectant? We don’t know, but we do know they were getting ready for quite an adventure of faith. Humanly speaking, what would you do if you came up to a river? Well, logically you would start thinking about ways to get across – bridges, boats, rafts, ropes, something to get everyone safely from one side to another. We think boats and bridges, but God wants us to move beyond that.

God wants us to get beyond the logical, human and easy way of doing things to His
wonderful ways – “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). He did this for several reasons. One, it showed clearly His hand was upon Joshua, the new leader of Israel (vs.7). Also, it was a test of faith for both Joshua and the nation of Israel (vs.10). But, even beyond that, the nearby cities would have had to sit up and take notice if one day the river they depended on just stopped flowing (vs.16). This was not something that they could explain; it was a “wonder” beyond their beliefs. For some of them, it was the first of many opportunities to see the wonders of the LORD God of Israel.

When we come to the Jordan Rivers of our lives, do we start building boats and bridges and asking the Lord to bless them and get us across, or do we choose to go
beyond human thinking and trust God to work wonders among us, not only to grow our faith but also to speak to the cities around us?

GOING DEEPER:
1. What kind of boats and bridges have you conjured up to help God get you across the rivers of life? How has He been trying to move you
beyond your human thinking?
2. How has the Lord been using your Jordan experiences to influence the lives of those around you?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 3:20, 15:11; I Peter 1:7

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.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

The Importance of Eli
By Lexi Cole

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”
1 Samuel 3:8b-9

I have a platonic crush on Samuel! This Old Testament prophet spoke the Lord’s Word with conviction, led God’s people with compassion and trusted God without compromise. In 1 Samuel 3, God speaks to Samuel in an unfamiliar way. Scripture tells us, “In those days, the word of the Lord was rare: there were not many visions.” So when God calls, Samuel thinks it is his mentor and teacher, Eli. But Eli has no clue what Samuel is talking about and sends him back to bed. This happens two more time until Eli realizes it is God speaking to Samuel and instructs him to listen to God, to surrender to God and say “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Samuel does exactly this and God does amazing things through Samuel.

My understanding of this passage came from an excellent Bible study by Priscilla Shirer entitled He Speaks to Me. In it, she talks about what Samuel did to hear God’s voice - - how Samuel was still, how he surrendered and listened. Therefore, my personal application has always focused on what Samuel did to hear God’s voice.

As I re-read this passage recently, it made me wonder…What about Eli? While I do believe we can learn from Samuel’s life in a lot of great ways, this time, I saw the important role Eli played. He helped Samuel hear God’s voice. He showed Samuel who was speaking. He gave Samuel the tools to move from an unfamiliar to a familiar. While Samuel did choose to be still, surrender and listen, Eli is the one who mentored Samuel in that experience. Scripture says Samuel “did not yet know the Lord: the Word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to Him.” It’s Eli who realizes it’s God’s voice and teaches Samuel how to listen. We can’t forget about Eli.

So the question becomes: Who is my “Eli”? Am I surrounding myself with people who will encourage a life that is in step with God’s Word and His will? Am I in community with people who will teach me to be still, surrender and listen to God’s voice? And with that, am I, in return, intentionally engaging in others’ lives so they too can hear God’s voice? I still have my platonic crush on Samuel, but I am newly thankful for the less-noticed role Eli played.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Who is your “Eli”?
2. To whom can you be an Eli and how can you intentionally do that today?

FURTHER READING:
1 Samuel 3

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

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

The List
By Lisa Boyer

“Yet when I surveyed all that my hands had done and what I had toiled to achieve, everything was meaningless, a chasing after the wind; nothing was gained under the sun.”
Ecclesiastes 2:11

When I’m stressed, I make a list. The list helps relieve my stress by taking an overwhelming project and breaking it down into several do-able items. I then work my way through the list crossing things off as I get them done. The idea is that when everything is crossed off the list, the overwhelming project will be done.

The name of my most recent list was “To get ready for Tuesday.” Tuesday has now come and gone, and I’m happy to report that the event I was getting ready for was a success! Or at least I thought it was until I found my “To get ready for Tuesday” list and discovered that I hadn’t done everything on the list!!! One third of the items on the list weren’t crossed off! Was it possible for the event to have been a success if the getting ready for it list was never finished?

Using the marvels of hindsight, I reviewed the list again… oh yeah, that probably didn’t need to be on the list, um, neither did that, whoa, that either, wow, what was I thinking when I put that on there? No wonder I had been so stressed! I had taken a simple event and created a monster! Not only was the event a success with one-third of the list unfinished, it would have been a success even if I had left one-half of the items on the list unfinished! Better yet, I should have left those things off the list completely.

I’ve always (secretly) prided myself on being like a woman named Martha in the New Testament, a person who gets things done. But there’s a downside to being like Martha… “But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made” (Luke 10:40). I had certainly become distracted, and sadly, not all the preparations had been necessary.

How often do I add to my list (and my life) things that aren’t essential? I still want to be a “Martha,” but I don’t want to be worried “about many things” (Luke 10:41) and miss out on important moments.

The next time I am stressed and make a list, I’m thinking it’ll be a whole lot shorter!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have non-essential things distracted you from what is important? What steps will you take to correct that today?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 10:38-42

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.

Monday, February 25, 2013

A Labor of Love
By Susan Klein

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

I’ve been making a lot of homemade granola lately, ever since my daughter went away to college. She isn’t fortunate enough to attend a school with a four-star dining facility, so it has become a much-beloved staple in her diet. Making granola is labor-intensive and time-consuming. There is constant stirring involved, both in the preparation of the ingredients to make sure they are all moistened, then during the baking process to ensure the granola toasts evenly. And using good, wholesome ingredients is costly.

So why go to all the trouble? Why not just go to the store and buy her a box of pre-made granola? Making it brings no real benefits to me. It’s not exactly cheaper to make it. I also don’t enjoy the mess in my kitchen, and it takes up a good portion of time. So, why do I do it? Simple. Because I love her, and I know it’s to her benefit.

Sanctification is kind of like making granola. God could make us all cookie-cutter perfect replicas that are simple to reproduce and not labor-intensive. But He chooses not to. He fashions each person with unique qualities, characteristics, and purpose. He spends our whole lifetime working on each one of us, dealing with all the messiness of our lives while lovingly bringing us to completion, which is: conforming us to the image of His perfect Son. It’s costly, laborious, and very time-consuming. Why does He do it? Simple. He loves us, and He wants the best for each of us. I’m sure it’s not enjoyable for Him when we resist His stirring in our lives, but He does it nonetheless. And the cost…well let’s just say He paid the ultimate price.

In John chapter seventeen, Jesus is praying to the Father on behalf of the believers. He says, “They are not of the world even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth. As you have sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify Myself, that they too may be truly sanctified” (v.17-18). Jesus was setting Himself apart for God’s sacred use, so that we too, might also be set apart to be used by God. He would never ask anything of us that He Himself was not willing to do.

Appreciate the effort. Enjoy the process. Remember the cost.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you filling your heart with God’s truth so that He might show you His purpose?
2. Spend time in meditation and prayer over God’s love and faithfulness to you.
3. Read Romans 15:15-18, noting God’s active work. Thank Him.

FURTHER READING:

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.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Communication
By Becci Terrill

"Speak, for your servant is listening."
I Samuel 3:10b

Communication is something we all need and depend on, and it can be accomplished in a variety of ways. Most of us think immediately of speaking, but that is only one component of communication. Since I started working with people who have intellectual disabilities, I have learned a lot about communication from these newfound friends.

One of my friends uses sign language and a notepad to communicate; another friend patiently repeats himself so that I might understand; one man can neither hear nor speak, and yet, through lip-reading and signs, he seems to understand quite well when we “talk”; still another lady uses her own set of words to tell you something. Everyone likes to hug!

Recently, I was placed on vocal rest and ordered not to speak. I had to use other methods of communication if I wanted to “talk” with someone. This made me crazy! However, God, in His sovereignty, knew that I needed to be quiet and learn how to communicate effectively using other forms of communication.

I also became more keenly aware what life for some of my friends might be like. I knew what I wanted to say to someone, but to have them understand without using spoken words was, at times, difficult and frustrating. Technology was a big help to me.  My friends may not have the ability to use these communication tools, but that doesn’t stop them. They use other ways to communicate. I have never noticed frustration or impatience on their part when I have been unable to understand them. They are patient, loving and always willing to try again the next time. 

I’m sure there are many times God could be frustrated or impatient with me when I don’t understand what He is trying to communicate to me, but that is not His nature. He is long suffering, patient and loving - - and He keeps reaching out to me, hoping that I will be quiet long enough to listen. Sometimes, He communicates to me through Scripture, and other times I “hear” His voice in nature, art or music. Sometimes the action of another communicates His message to me.

Communication comes through a variety of forms. I am learning to be quiet, listen, watch and ask, so that I might truly hear and understand what He wants me to know.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What is God trying to communicate to you today? Take time to listen, and you will “hear” His voice. Keep a record of all the ways He communicates with you. It may surprise you.


Becci is a wife and mom to two daughters. She is the Director of Ministry Partnerships at Shepherds Ministries in Union Grove and is the Special Events Coordinator for Oakwood's We Women Ministries.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

The Transformer
By Vernette Kureck

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God‘s will is - - His good, pleasing and perfect will.” 
Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Was I going to be conformed or transformed? That was the question I was asking myself as I prepared to be baptized back in 1977. Baptism by immersion is a picture of the old life being buried under the water and rising up in new life with Christ. I had selected the above verse as a life verse since it was one  I could use to gauge how I was doing in the Christian walk. I also loved the word “transformed”… this was the era of the new Transformer toys and our sons really enjoyed converting the many moving parts of some sort of vehicle into a disguised warrior. They quickly found out that if they didn’t follow the directions to move the parts, there could be breakage or malfunction.

Thankfully, I was not left alone in my transformation. Jesus gives us the Spirit of Truth, and He guides us in all things, as He tells us in John 16:13-15. The more I poured the Bible into my mind and responded to His counsel, the closer I was to His good and perfect will. The more I adhered to God’s way and followed His direction, instead of following my way or the world’s way, the more encouraged I became that I was pleasing Him. And as I tested God’s will in Christian service, I realized more and more that He was strengthening me, and He continues to do so. The renewal process began.

Paul’s charge to Timothy is: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). The daily battle is who to listen to…the world or the Word. To malfunction or to follow His guidance. For me, the old life is dead, so the choice is clear. I prayerfully commit to do His will, and ask for forgiveness when I do malfunction. (That is another whole devotional!) As believers in God, we are being converted and transformed into spiritual warriors. In order to be effective in the battle, we need to follow the Master Transformer and allow Him to do His work in us.

With His love and guidance, the battle will be won…and we will no longer be disguised. We will be renewed. We will be transformed. Approved, and pleasing to God.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What sources and resources are you using to renew your mind?
2. Is the world or the Holy Spirit counseling you?

FURTHER READING:

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 44 years and have 2 sons. They have been blessed with seven grandchildren. She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain.  

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Everything That Hinders
By Susan Klein

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

Last night, I sat down to watch a new television series that aired for the first time. It promised to be filled with suspense and intrigue. Before the show started, a warning came on for some of the content that was about to be viewed. Oh dear. I really wanted to watch it, but now was rather uncertain. I watched it anyway. I viewed images that I should not have seen and heard things that were not beneficial for my mind. Why didn’t I just turn it off before I got hooked on the story line?!!

The above verse clearly states to throw off EVERYTHING that hinders. Oh, it’s not always difficult to avoid those blatant sins that can entangle us, but what about those things that are just hinderers? I believe that is more of a challenge for us today than when this verse was written. We have so many things in our lives that can distract or hinder us from running the race God has called us to run. Take technology, for example. I recently got a new MacBook Pro. In and of itself, it is not a hinderer. In fact, it has made my life a little easier; however, I find myself spending more and more time on the computer and less and less time with family. Or, I sit down to write, but first I browse Facebook or Pinterest, and before I know it, I’ve allowed it to hinder me.

God has created each of us for His purpose, and gifted us with time to use for His glory. He has also provided us with many things for our enjoyment, and wants us to delight in them. But when even those things that we enjoy become a hindrance, we must “throw them off.” A word picture that comes to mind is a scene from the movie, The African Queen.  Humphrey Bogart’s character, Charlie Allnut, has just physically pulled his tugboat through a swampy area. As he exhaustedly climbs back in the boat, Rosie, his passenger, notices leeches all over his back. They both frantically begin to rip the leeches off of his skin before they get too attached. It’s quite an emotional scene.

Likewise, we are to quickly “throw off” those things that hinder us before they become an attached part of our life.…and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus… (Hebrews 12:1b-2a NASB)

GOING DEEPER:
1.  What types of things hinder you? Might they include worldly allurements, physical possessions, wrong thoughts, or even enjoyments?
2.  What lifestyle changes can you make to “throw off” these things that hinder?

FURTHER READING:

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.

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

The Ultimate 3-Legged Race
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Haven’t you read,” (Jesus) replied…For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?  So they are no longer two, but one flesh.  Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.”
Matthew 19:4-6

My husband and I will celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in a few weeks. That is 7,306 days!  There are a lot of words that I could use to describe our journey together, but one of my favorite analogies is that marriage is the ultimate 3-legged race. 

The race is voluntary. We don’t get to choose many factors in our lives, like our parents or birthplace. We do, however, get to choose our partner in this race.

The race takes cooperation. If you don’t lock step with each other, failure is all but guaranteed. The more binds around your legs, the easier it is to keep in step. Think of each life experience shared as a strand of rope. The more stories that are common to both of you, the more strands of rope are binding you to each other. Laughter, tears, triumph, hardship…they all count.

To run the race well, both partners must face the same direction. From finances to parenting to in-laws to where you will live, being on the same page and intentional about communication will keep you pointed ahead.

Unforgiveness is equal to sitting down on the field. Every marriage has its “stuff.” As the saying goes, I am a selfish sinner, and I married one, too. Then we produced children with the same problem. When we don’t take the time to deal with the “stuff,” our legs will strain against the bonds. The ropes that serve as the ties that bind us together instead turn into shackles.

There will be times during the race when one partner has to bolster the other with his or her arms. This may entail practically carrying our partners ahead as their own strength has waned. The vows say “for worse,” “for poorer,” “in sickness” for a reason. 

After racing together a long time, the reward is that you may nearly forget that the three legs used to be Four. The muscle memory will change; the movement becomes more second nature. And those bindings on the legs only work to seal the commitment to one another.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Plan an outing with your spouse, focusing just on each other. Even a conversation over burgers will do.
2. Play a game with conversation starters like “Favorite moment while we were dating,” or “Best holiday celebration together,” or “The time you were my strength.” You may be surprised by the answers when you share with each other.

FURTHER READING:

Carolyn acquired her racing partner in April 1993, complete with big hair and poofy dress sleeves (on her).  They look forward to matching their parents’ 40+ and 50+, and grandparents’ 60+ years of marriage.

Monday, February 18, 2013

Come On!
By Lexi Ellis

Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation.”
1 Peter 2:2 (ESV)

There are moments in teaching that make you know it’s your calling. And there are moments that make you want to tear your hair out! For me, it’s occasionally when I’m grading. Sometimes my students miss silly things or ignore their rubric or don’t check their work. My favorite is seeing the “remember to put periods” reminder I had them write by the directions for their complete sentences…and there isn’t a single period on the page. Those are the moments I just sigh and say, “Eek, come on!  It’s right there!”

It makes me wonder: How often does God looks at my  work and say, “Eek, come on! You have everything right there! You have my Word and you aren’t using it. You have my Spirit dwelling in you and you’re not yielding to Him. You have Me - - the powerful God of the Universe - - who wants to communicate through prayer and you’re not taking advantage of it!” Perhaps the silly mistakes my fourth graders make are, in fact, the perfect parallel to how often I live without allowing God to speak through His Word nor His Spirit to guide, prompt and lead me.

I grew up singing “thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path,”[1] in a home where my parents modeled Spirit-filled, serving lives and prayer. I firmly believe in the power of those three things and their necessity for my spiritual walk. Yet I often get caught up in my day - - my own to-do lists, my own worries, my own accomplishments. Come on!

I saw this quote on Pinterest recently. It doesn’t mention an author, but it’s convicted me how much I focus on my own “stuff.” I often let time in God’s Word, surrendering to His Spirit and prayer become a when-I-feel-like-it.  It read, “Have you prayed about it as much as you’ve talked about it?”[2] I would add, “Have you spent time with Him - - in His Word and through prayer - - and intentionally chosen to trust Him as much as you’ve talked, stressed and cried about it?”

There are still moments while I’m grading papers when I say, “Aww, come on!” But I’m thankful for the reminder that God’s Word, submitting to His Spirit, and actively praying are essential to my faith journey. These three things are imperative for my relationship with my God. Those are our directions. And, like the directions on my students’ assignments, we know them…they’re right there.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What changes do you need to make to prioritize time in God’s Word, trusting His guiding Spirit, and prayer?

FURTHER READING:

[1] Psalm 119:105

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

Friday, February 15, 2013

The Greater Truth
By Lisa Boyer

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

I am the type of person who likes to know the truth, well, most of the time… I’ve been told some truths that I wish I hadn’t known; the kind that can really devastate a person.

Maybe you’ve been told one of those truths, too. Like when a loved says those dreaded words, “I just don’t love you anymore,” or when the company you’ve invested years in says, “We don’t need you anymore,” or when a mother reveals to her child, “I never wanted you; you were an accident.”

Those aren’t the kind of truths that set you free. Those truths burden you with their knowledge. Those truths leave you hurting deeply, even crushed.

This is when it’s time to hear the greater truth - - the “capital-T” Truth found in Jesus - - the truth that really does set you free.

…That person may not love you anymore, but Jesus loves you so much He died to have a relationship with you (Romans 5:8).

…Losing that job may have left you feeling useless, but God has work ready for you to do (Ephesians 2:10).

…Your mom may not have wanted you, but God wanted you and planned for you and designed you (Psalm 139).

Some truths can damage our hearts, but focusing on the truth of Jesus Christ, and all He is and does, allows the healing process to begin so we can know Him and be set free.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you been hurt by others’ truth? Will you go to Christ today for His greater truth and apply it to your hurting heart?

FURTHER READING:
John 17:17; I Timothy 2:3, 4

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.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

BE MINE
By Karen D’Amore

“But now, O Israel, the Lord who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid,
for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.’”
Isaiah 43:1 NLT

Spilling out from the box of Sweethearts, a message from God resonated through the candy conversation hearts! Once rearranged, the inscribed heart-shaped candies formed an endearing message: TRUE LOVE…FOR SURE…BE MINE. Mankind longs for true love and hungers to belong. Though the world offers many forms of imitation and counterfeit love, we know and have experienced that true love is only found in God. As Christ-followers, we have the assurance of this true love through our relationship with Christ. We have TRUE LOVE, FOR SURE, because we are HIS. Affirming His love through heart-inscribed messages, The Bible is God’s love letter to us:

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God” (1 John 3:1).

“See, I have engraved you in the palm of My hands” (Isaiah 49:16).

“I have loved you with an everlasting love” (Jeremiah 31:3).

“…yet My unfailing love for you will not be shaken” (Isaiah 54:10b).

“But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Exhibiting true love for you and for me, God sacrificed His one and only Son. The arms once nailed to Calvary’s cross long to embrace us with an everlasting love. Jesus’ nail-pierced hands beckon us to be His. This Valentine’s Day, and everyday, His heart carries the same inscribed message…BE MINE.

Are you His?

“For God so lo
Ved the world,
That He g
Ave
His on
Ly
Begott
En
So
N
That whosoever Believeth
In Him Should
Not perish
But have
Everlasting life.”
-John 3:16

Jesus says…BE MINE…and receive TRUE LOVE…FOR SURE!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you longing for true love? This Valentine’s Day, give your heart to Jesus.
2. Do you know someone longing for the real thing? What Scripture above can you use to encourage her to give her heart to Jesus?

FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 3: 17-19; Hebrews 8:10; Psalm 34:8

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.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Ashes
By Peggy Kleckner

“…..for dust you are and to dust you will return.”
Genesis 3:19b

The calendar reads “Ash Wednesday.” From my childhood, I remember this church tradition of ashes being placed on our foreheads. Over each person who accepted the sign of the cross rubbed in with ashes, this reality was spoken, “Remember, man, that thou art dust, and to dust thou shall return.”

These words are taken from Scripture, God’s Word. Therefore, they are truth. These very words are part of the curse gained from the sin of Adam and Eve. To remember the curse is to remember that we, as men and women born from the flesh of Adam and Eve, are under the same curse. We cannot walk with God - - who is holy - - while covered in the shame of our sin. It is only natural that this is the news that comes first as we journey toward Easter.

If we are unwilling to acknowledge and identify with the sinfulness of man, we will not see or recognize our need for a Savior. We will not want the gift of Easter: Jesus Christ.

To accept the ashes is to admit that we are sinners who are imperfect and unholy. It is only through the good news of the gospel, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that we can be (and really are) freed from the curse. Through God’s gift of the sacrifice of Jesus, we can have full fellowship with God. We can have that wonderful relationship restored.

Truly understood for the first time, ashes on Wednesday may lead people to their need for a Savior, their true and only hope. Ashes can also be an outward sign to others; a witness that redemption (Jesus Christ) is necessary for eternal life with God.

Many of the Pharisees in the days of Jesus - - those who knew the Word of God, those who practiced and followed the rules of religion - - could not (or would not) admit that they were sinners in need of a Savior. They believed they were “good enough” to attain heaven by their own good works. They refused God’s gift of Easter, redemption through His Son. We must admit that we cannot be, and are not, perfect; we need a Savior.

May the “Ash Wednesday” on the calendar remind us of our reality and our need…and the joy that came when God sent His Son as our answer. We need only to admit our need and accept our Savior.

GOING DEEPER:
1.  Do you know someone who accepts the ashes, but may not know the full story?
2.  Are you willing to share God’s story by explaining Ash Wednesday to someone?

FURTHER READING:

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.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

A Man of Courage
By Susan Klein

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
Joshua 1:9

He made his entrance into the world on February 12, 1809. It was nothing grand. His mother likely delivered him in their tiny log cabin with one window and a dirt floor. He was named after his grandfather, whose life (coincidentally?) ended by gunshot.

Abraham Lincoln’s courage had opportunity to present itself at an early age. His beloved mother, who had nurtured his desire to learn, died when he was only nine. This began a chain of personal tragedies in his life as he lost his only sister when he was eighteen, and then his four-year-old son when he was forty-one.

His personal losses seemed to only fuel his courage to stand up for the things he believed in. He boldly spoke out against wars and slavery, often to the dismay of his peers and constituents. His courage was evident in his speeches and letters as he stood by his convictions and his trust in the Almighty. The following is an excerpt from a letter he wrote to General Dan Sickles during the Battle of Gettysburg. (1)

"Well, I will tell you how it was. In the pinch of the campaign up there (at Gettysburg) when everybody seemed panic stricken and nobody could tell what was going to happen, oppressed by the gravity of our affairs, I went to my room one day and locked the door and got down on my knees before Almighty God and prayed to Him mightily for victory at Gettysburg. I told Him that this war was His war, and our cause His cause, but we could not stand another Fredericksburg or Chancellorsville... And after that, I don't know how it was, and I cannot explain it, but soon a sweet comfort crept into my soul. The feeling came that God had taken the whole business into His own hands and that things would go right at Gettysburg and that is why I had no fears about you." [July 5, 1863]

These are the words of a courageous man, a man who went against the tide to take a stand, yet humbly prayed for God’s outcome rather than his own. Let’s honor him today by mimicking his example and heeding his words, “With malice toward none; with charity for all; with firmness in the right, as God gives us to see the right, let us strive on to finish the work we are in…" [Second Inaugural Address, March 4, 1865]

GOING DEEPER:
1) What are the things you fear most?
2) Spend some time in prayer asking God to give you courage and assure you of His presence in the midst of your fear.

FURTHER READING:

(1) Greatamericanhistory.net

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

Monday, February 11, 2013

A Tragic Tumble
By Elizabeth Cole

“So then, let us stop judging one another. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make others stumble or fall into sin.”
Romans 14:13 (GNT)

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

I’ve always felt so sad for Jack and his friend Jill. On what seems to be an appropriate and well-intentioned mission, Jack falls. After considerable thought and pondering, I’ve come up with a number of questions about this tragedy:


1.Did you carelessly wander off the path, Jack? No map? Is that what caused you to fall down?
2. New shoes? I’ve noticed in the church nursery that new shoes are a guarantee for at least two falls per hour.
3. A little too chatty to pay attention to that turn in the road?
4. Or maybe someone had strung a line across the trail to trick you?
While Jack’s fall is certainly concerning, especially the part about his broken crown, it’s Jill who gets my particular sympathy. Apparently, she was just innocently trekking along—doing her best—when all of a sudden Jack’s fall tripped her up short and sent her tumbling too.

Yes, it’s Jill who has my heart. The Jill who’s struggling with an addiction and is invited out for “just one” with the girls. The Jill who’s trying to figure out what godly “wife-ing” and parenting looks like, but encounters consistent criticism, husband-bashing and harshness. The Jill who’s new to following Christ and experiences rejection by a fellow believer for being a little too authentic. The Jill who’s getting ready to give up trying to make a friend at church. The Jill who thought that love, surrender and obedience to Christ really matter.

Being in Christ means being in Christ together. What we think and what we do matter, not only in our own walk with Christ, but in those lives whom God has placed beside us on this part of the path. May we choose this day to be women who grab a hand and help another woman along the way. May this be a day of deciding to lay aside what could cause a sister in Christ to stumble and, instead, to intentionally “walk in the Spirit.” May we live in such a way that others see what we do and give praise to our Father in heaven.

Walk well today, Jack.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Whom has God placed in your life right now to influence her spiritual walk? How are you doing with that divine privilege?
2. Take a moment to thank the Lord Jesus for those He’s placed beside you to influence you for His good in your life.

FURTHER READING:
Galatians 5:22-26; Matthew 5:16; 2 John 6

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

Friday, February 8, 2013

Loving the Unlovable
By Karen D’Amore

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Matthew 5:44 NIV

Looking deep into my childhood, I have no recollection of an endearing relationship with my grandmother. Criticism and displeasure were the fruits of her embittered spirit, creating chasms in her personal relationships. When my attempts to draw close were met with conflict, I quit trying. As an adult, intolerant of her difficult spirit, I remained an outsider. Relocating to another state served as a fitting excuse for keeping distance…in the distant relationship.

At 98 years old, my grandmother now lives a lonely existence plagued with dementia and delusions, residing with strangers in a board and care home. I returned home to California several weeks ago to visit my parents and re-connect with old friends. A short trip, with limited visitation time, I entrusted my itinerary to the Lord. Praying He’d orchestrate my steps, I sought direction in the reunions of
His choice. Shortly after landing, my father asked if I would consider visiting my grandmother. Eight years had passed since our last visit and honestly, she wasn’t on my reunion list. Remembering my yielded prayer and desiring to be obedient to God’s commands to love the unlovable…I watched Jesus revise my list!

En route to her home, I prayed that Jesus would give me His eyes, to see her as He sees her, and His heart to love her with His love. The unexpected reunion found her sitting in a corner of her room, her frail shrinking frame being consumed by a large over-stuffed chair. “Look who’s here,” my father announced. Her hollow stare reflected her inability to recognize me. Kneeling at her side I took her frail hand into mine, and whispered, “Hello, Grandmother.” A single tear trailed her shallow cheek and a smile encompassed her wrinkled face. Disarmed by the love of Jesus, the tension, criticism, and harsh words were replaced with tenderness. Flooded with emotion, the many years of pain and frustration peacefully diminished from my heart.

Difficult people are God’s instruments for shaping us into His image; catalysts through which He lovingly upsets our comfortable plans and purposefully redirects our safe and sound steps. Every relationship, difficult or easy, is delivered with God’s permission and sealed in His plan. Questioning God’s purpose for my grandmother’s prolonged life, I can now see the “unfinished business” He had for me to complete. An opportunity to extend God’s love to the unlovable healed my heart and restored a broken relationship. When God takes my grandmother to her final resting place…may she know His love and truly rest in Peace.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there someone in your life who is difficult to love? Ask the Lord to give you
His heart and eyes for that person, and embrace the opportunity to extend God’s love.

FURTHER READING:
Romans 12:9-10; 1 John 3:18

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.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Strength in Weakness
By Susan Klein

“My grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9a NIV

As my husband and I strolled through the butterfly exhibit at the Milwaukee Public Museum, I was in awe of the winged beauties that gracefully flitted about in rainbows of color. Toward the back of this delightful exhibit, I was drawn to a glass enclosure on the wall filled with cocoons of various sizes. As I gazed at these tiny suspended marvels, I noticed that some of them were moving! One in particular had a partially-emerged butterfly, wriggling and squeezing, trying to force its delicate body from its protective wrapper. It seemed to struggle greatly, not making much progress in the few minutes that I watched. Several of the other cocoons were alive with activity as each butterfly went through this painstakingly long ordeal of trying to free itself.

When my daughter was younger, I remember reading a story to her about a girl who had tried to “help” one such butterfly emerge from its cocoon. She felt sorry for the poor little creature, struggling so greatly to escape. She decided to gently tear the cocoon open to ease its pain. Much to her dismay, the butterfly immediately fell to the ground, unable to move its wings. Her grandmother came upon the sight and had to explain that the little butterfly needed to go through this painful struggle to help strengthen its wings for flight. Having been spared of the struggle, it would unlikely be able to fly now.

As our Creator has uniquely designed this process for the butterfly to strengthen its wings and prepare it to fly, so He has also allowed us to go through struggles to strengthen us and prepare us for our journey. As we wiggle and squirm, trying to escape the pressure of our painful circumstances, we become weak and weary. But God tells us that His strength (or power) is made perfect in our weakness. Unlike the butterfly, we don’t have to depend upon our own strength to emerge from our difficulties. God not only equips us with His mighty power, but in the process He also strengthens us and develops perseverance in us.

Just as the butterfly perseveres through struggle to mature into a beautiful winged creature, James tells us that the testing of our faith produces perseverance, so that we might be mature and complete, not lacking anything! Take joy in knowing that your Creator is watching you grow into a mature beauty!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What struggle(s) are you dealing with that are causing you to feel weak? Are you trusting in the power of God to get you through?
2. Can you recall past struggles that you have emerged from, now strengthened and having persevered?

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 41:10; 1 Corinthians 1:27-31; Hebrews 11:32-34

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.

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Questions
By Peggy Kleckner

“Now the angel of the LORD found her…..And he said, “Hagar, Sarai’s maid, where have you come from and where are you going?”
Genesis 16:7-8

I am drawn to the Old Testament story of Hagar running away to escape conflict. It is so wonderful to read the words “found her” in this passage. How often have I, like Hagar, run from my difficulties? Oh, how I longed to be “found.” For years, I ran from my emotions, refusing to feel the painful ones, to acknowledge their existence or to give them voice. I ran from them by stuffing them down with food. I was afraid that they would overcome me, and so I ran. 

How like God to come looking for us. He called out in the first garden for Adam and Eve to answer. He called out to Hagar in this passage, and He calls out to each of us. He calls out to us to admit where we are, and to admit that we don’t really know where we are going.

God stopped Hagar with a question. It is as if He was asking her to look in both directions, back to see where she came from and forward to see if she knows the way. Sometimes, we have to stop long enough to admit where we are.

In Celebrate Recovery, as in other twelve-step groups, if we recognize and speak the truth, our answer is our first step. “We admit that we are powerless over our dependencies and that our lives have become unmanageable.” This is not an easy step; it is more like a huge hurdle. It is admitting weakness in a society that honors and applauds strength. It is saying, “I can’t do it” in a culture that screams, “Just try harder” or “Try again.” The gospel of Christ is first a call to admit we need a Savior and then a surrender to His loving care. It is in surrender that we find our greatest victory.

Hagar thought she was running from her pain, but I am sure she never imagined that she would be “found” by the One who loved her best and most. It seems her pain finally sent her running into grace. If you read the rest of the story, when she was found, she could choose to surrender and submit to God’s authority in her life, or she could choose to keep running. The choice remained hers…so too with us.

We can remain a “victim” of our circumstances, keep running…or actively choose to surrender to the One and only true Savior, Jesus Christ, and accept His embrace of grace.

GOING DEEPER:
1.  What pain are you running from?
2.  Are you willing to stop and answer God’s questions?

FURTHER READING:

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.

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Free
By Lexi Ellis

With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ’s being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.” 
Romans 8:1-2 (The Message)

I stared at my laptop’s blank screen. Writing a paper wasn’t usually difficult. I had to analyze a societal message and its effects in my life. Originally, I had a researched, beautiful outline in which I wrote of my struggles with having a healthy relationship with food. It was a comfortable vulnerability, un-messy. And yet, my professor wanted me to re-do it. After lots of tears, I was convicted I needed to address issues beyond my simplified outline. I had to ask questions with unknown answers…or ones I might not like.

So after processing and praying, I approached the blank screen and wrote how my food issues were a coping mechanism for a simple reality: I struggle with self-hatred. It takes work to overcome a flood of critical, self-deprecating thoughts. But even after I learned the tools to help manage this, I felt guilty. For some reason, the guilt from struggling with self-hatred was worse than acknowledging the “food stuff.” Here I was with this struggle that seemed so stupid. It was terrifying to realize that acknowledging it through writing would force me to address it.

Part of the enormous beauty of the Cross is that Christ conquered guilt and shame. Paul writes that in Christ “there is no more condemnation.” A synonym is criticism. There is now no more criticism. What Christ has done for us (and our acceptance of His gift along with an ongoing relationship with Him) means we are free.

How powerful that He freed us from the bondage of hell and the bondage of guilt!  In John Bunyan’s classic Pilgrim’s Progress, the character Christian has been carrying a heavy, horrific burden. When he encounters freedom in Christ, this immense baggage drops, “loosed from off his shoulders, and fell from off his back, and began to tumble; and so continued to do…and I saw it no more.”[1]

While life doesn’t always get easier, we are free from shame. When life is hectic, it’s important to be aware the Cross also released us from guilt. I’m thankful that a blank screen caused me to recognize - - while it was hard to process how gripping that guilt was on my life - - I serve a bigger God who has freed me. 

GOING DEEPER:
1. What guilt/shame do you struggle with?
2. Take it to the Lord - - He has conquered guilt.

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:1-4 (The Message)

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


[1] Bunyan, Pilgrim’s Progress, chapter 3 (http://www.learnthebible.org/c_p_pilgrims_progress_chapter_3.htm)