The Impossible Imposter

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The punishment that brought us peace was on him,

And by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5

In the early 1900’s, the U.S. was in a state of “Chaplinitis.” Charlie Chaplin’s silent movie character became a phenomenon and from it sprung a pastime of “look-alike” contests. Entertainment folklore says that Charlie himself dressed up in character and entered a contest in San Francisco.

He failed to make the finals.

I’m pretty sure Jesus could relate to how Charlie might have felt.

Since Old Testament times, the human race has been looking for Messiah. Prophets have foretold hundreds of details about Messiah, and dozens have claimed to be the Promised One.

Only One fulfilled them all…Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) of the Virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14).  A descendant of King David (Isaiah 9:7), he healed the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1-2) and was rejected by His own people (Psalm 69:8). He was betrayed (Psalm 41:9), falsely accused (Psalm 35:11), crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12), and mocked (Psalm 22:7-8).

Messiah would pray for His enemies (Psalm 109:4), be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9), resurrect from the dead (Psalm 16:10 and 49:15), and ascend to heaven (Psalm 24:7-10) as the sacrifice for all sin (Isaiah 53:5-12).

In fact, there are over 700 biblical prophecies concerning the Messiah. The odds of one person fulfilling even 48 of them are 1 in 10 to the 157^th power. Mind-boggling!

As we consider how Jesus fulfills all of these prophesies, let’s remember that everything else that He said must be true, too.

Which means He’s Coming Back!  This Easter season, as we reflect on the triumph of the resurrection, let’s also remember that, “…Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many;  and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28). Amazing!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How does seeing Jesus as the miraculous fulfillment of prophesy affect how you see His role in your life today?

2.  How does the knowledge that Christ is going to return impact your life?

FURTHER READING:

John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

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

Outside the Camp

By Elin Henderson

“Therefore let us go forth to Him, outside the camp, bearing His reproach.”

 Hebrews 13:13(NKJV)

Inside the gates of the Temple was a place of extreme importance for all of Israel. Among other roles, the High Priests had the essential task of the annual atonement of Israel, which depended on their sacrifices done within the safety and confines of these gates. The common people too would have to enter into these same walls and gates to offer their personal sacrifices. 

The cities and camps the people lived in, likewise, had gates and walls. Safety was found in the confines of the wall. The only ones outside the walls were the outcasts, left to fend for themselves. 

But, Jesus came and broke the molds. Where was the Lamb of God sacrificed according to Hebrews 13:12-13? Outside the gate on a hill called Calvary, way outside even the city limits, the place where the outcasts were found. 

He calls us to join Him there, outside the gates and walls, to a ministry of reproach - - not ease - - as we reach out to the lost and needy. So many of us are content to serve within the safe, comfortable confines of the gates of our church, like the High Priests of Jesus’ day in their Temple service. Others are willing to venture out into their safe and secure suburbs/camps, within the walls.  But, how many are willing to go outside the gates and walls where the needs are great, the laborers are few, and the reproach is high? There certainly are risks, but according to the next verse (14) the rewards are greater. Outside the camp is the threshold into the “continuing city that is to come.”

So, let’s break the molds and join Him in His risky endeavors “outside the camp.” 

         

GOING DEEPER:      

1.  Where would “outside the camp” be for you?

2.  What are some ways you can begin breaking down the barriers that are holding you back from joining Him outside the walls? 

                                                           

FURTHER READING:

Mark 10:21; Luke 14:23; Mark 2:17

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to twelve-year-old Callie and ten-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.

Treasure Hunt

By Karen D’Amore

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”

Jeremiah 29:13

As he majestically grazes in the blizzard-draped arena, snow collects and coats his massive antlers. With his regal posture intensified by his statuesque rack, his presence personifies confidence, strength and assurance. His crooked-bent front leg - - a remnant of an old injury - - makes him easily identifiable.

 When he returned a few days later minus his stately rack, I felt compelled to search for it. Faithfully visiting my property for years, my beloved “bad-leg-buck” has consistently appeared when I needed encouragement from the Lord. Significantly precious to me, finding his rack would behold sweet sentiment.

Daily “treasure hunts” have had me traversing miles of snow-encased, densely wooded terrain, in search of the buck’s rack. Following innumerable deer tracks, I’ve searched tirelessly each day, praying that God would lead me to the rack. Though the antlers have yet to be found, greater treasures were discovered in the hunt. God’s presence boldly emanated from every corner of the woods. With the pristine snow dripping in the warmth of the brilliant sun, the essence of God exuded from every source of nature surrounding me. Though my “needle in a haystack” search may never yield the antlers…I’ll be perpetually drawn to continue the hunt.

In my most recent hunt, I was struck by a profound revelation. If I were to find the antlers, my treasure hunts would end. And though I would possess the antlers and revel in their sentiment, the daily quests amidst the awe-inspiring…God-glorifying landscape…would cease. Turning my pursuit of the antlers into a valuable object lesson, God redeemed those hunts as an opportunity to poignantly reveal Himself. He impressed upon me the importance of seeking Him moment by moment, day by day…as intently and tirelessly as I sought the antlers. In a hunt for small treasured antlers…I found a far greater Treasure. I found my endearing Lord!

When we see God as the precious treasure that He is, we will be drawn to seek Him…incessantly. The great promise to those who seek Him is that “He will be found” (1 Chronicles 28:9). And when He is found, there is great reward. “Whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that “He rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

God himself is our greatest reward…He is our greatest treasure! Are you fervently seeking Him?

"Let me seek you in longing, and long for you in seeking. Let me find you in love, and love you in finding." – St. Ambrose of Milan 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  “Seek” is a verb, which implies action. How are you actively seeking Him?

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 3:1-2; Psalm 14:2

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She’s on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

(1)Quote-faithfulthoughtspot.wordpress.com

Help, My “Ugly Fruit” is Showing!

By Susan Klein

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

Galatians 5:22-23a

Have you ever seen an “uglifruit”? It’s a sort of hybrid between a pomelo, an orange and a tangerine. Its external appearance befits its name. It has a rough, wrinkly rind with ugly green blemishes. Chances are, if you saw it in your produce section, you’d turn your nose up and walk right by. However, beneath its deceptively ugly exterior lies a succulently sweet and juicy interior!

At a women’s conference I recently attended, the table topic turned toward “fruit of the Spirit.” We were encouraged to answer the question, “What fruit might others say is most evident in your life?” Many of the ladies didn’t want to answer, feeling it might sound boastful. Even when reassured by our table leader that we’d only be boasting about what the Holy Spirit is doing in us, it still left some hesitant to reply.

One lady confessed, “I think my ugly fruit is what is most evident much of the time.” While invoking a good chuckle, we all admitted we could relate. The significance of the question seemed to lie in the word “evident,” or what others see in us. As we discussed this topic further, we concluded that the above verse shows that the word “fruit” used here is singular; meaning if you have one, you have access to them all. In other words, if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in you, you have this whole wonderful fruit dwelling inside of you, even if what others see on your outside is blemished and ugly. What is “evident” is determined by your choice of which fruit to display.

When we are truly walking in the Spirit, focusing on our Lord and not on ourselves or our circumstances, our good fruit will be much more evident than our ugly (sin-nature) fruit. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:24-25.

Some days, when I’m not keeping in step with the Spirit, I might not have the whole fruit evident on my branches. Perhaps I am exhibiting patience with my spouse, but the joy in my difficult circumstances is hidden from view. Or maybe I’m exercising self-control in my spending, but my kindness is not evident to the store clerk. On days when my ugly fruit is showing, I know it’s really time to get back in step with the Spirit so His sweet, succulent fruit can shine through!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Which aspect of your spiritual fruit might most frequently be hidden from view of others? What can you do to display it more prominently?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 92:12-15; Romans 8:9-10; Colossians 1:10-14  

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.

The Blessing in the Bus

By Lexi Ellis

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

I sat in the back of a yellow bus, parked in front of where we were staying for our missions trip in Tijuana, Mexico, 2006. Our team had spread out for individual time with God that night. We had devotionals to do, but I sat there sobbing. I was angry at God. One year before, I had been in Tijuana, “heard” the Spirit speak to my heart, rededicated my life to Christ, and was baptized in the ocean that week. Here I was, one year later, confused about where God’s presence was and where His guidance was in my life. I was furious God seemed to be silent when I needed Him most. I missed the spiritual high of the last year – the certainty of knowing what to do and the comfort of feeling God’s arms around me during a really difficult time personally. I mentally screamed at God, wondering where He was, why wouldn’t He show up, what He was doing?

Tears streaming, I realized I needed to do…something. Reluctantly, I grabbed my Bible and opened to a random passage. I read the first thing I saw on the middle of the page: Hebrews 12. I remembered that this passage follows Hebrews 11, a passage about men and women in the Old Testament who lived by faith, not by sight or by emotion. As I read the first part of chapter 12 over and over again - - just what I needed at that moment - - I realized something huge for me. Absolutely, the Holy Spirit does speak to us directly at times, like He had the previous year to me, but He uses other ways to speak to us, too.

It wasn’t that God wasn’t present; it was that I was limiting the way He could communicate with me. I liked the “spiritual high” and if it wasn’t there, then I decided God was silent. That night, I learned God truly interacts with us through His Word. I realized that deciding God wasn’t there just because He wasn’t showing Himself to me in the exact same way as last summer was ridiculous. We serve a Big God, and the beautiful thing about being on this journey called “life” is that God intimately knows us, and He meets and stretches us in different ways. He spoke to me so intensely and personally through His Word that night on the bus and, for me, it changed everything!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Think about the different ways God has spoken to you.
2. Are you allowing God to speak to your heart through the Bible? Any changes needed?

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 11-12

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

Perspective

By Kari Lyles

“My soul is overwhelmed…”

Matthew 26:38

Suitcases up from the basement – check. Summer clothes sorted and in the laundry room – check. Extra snacks and water purchased – check. Kids’ activity bags for the car ride packed – check. Sticky notes of other reminders written – check.

Sanity….Needs to be checked!

Our family is leaving for spring break this year and I am trying to be superwoman to get everything done. I am one of those people who likes to have everything spotless when I walk out the door so that when we return and walk back into life’s hustle and bustle, it will be a smooth transition.

In the midst of my trying to organize, I am becoming un-organized and a bit unraveled.

Tonight, I was thinking of some of the things I still wanted to do and as “bring Easter baskets up from the basement” floated into my mind, I thought about the true meaning of the season upon us. I thought about the many little things that easily overwhelm me in my tiny corner of the world and I thought about how Jesus, a little over 2,000 years ago, had a journey He too was getting ready for.

I opened my Bible and went to Matthew, looking up the chapters describing the days leading to His crucifixion. As He got ready for His journey to the Cross, Jesus said to His friends, “my soul is overwhelmed.”

We all need a little perspective now and then. Tonight, it was the smallness I felt as I thought about the journey He took for you and for me to the Cross. He was adamant, single-minded and gracious as He bore our sins on the Cross.

So, I am once again asking Him to rule in my life - - in place of my to-do’s and good intentions. And when I think I am overwhelmed because my counters didn’t get wiped off…I read about His journey to the Cross for a little perspective.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are you overwhelmed with? Will you allow our capable Lord to help you in your journey?
2. How does the thought of Jesus taking our sins on the Cross change your perspective today? How does it help you leave some of your worldly concerns at the foot of that Cross?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 26:36-45; John 10:10

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

To Him Be the Glory

By Jeannine Sawall

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21

Having grown up in the church, oftentimes people have asked me to share my “testimony.” For years, I felt I didn’t have anything to say. And while my childhood was not picture-perfect, I never got involved in anything “bad.” I was the girl who didn’t “smoke, drink, cuss or chew or went with boys who wanted to.” I didn’t have one of those “life changing, I’ve been delivered” testimonies to share. I really felt my personal faith-story was pretty “boring.”

After sharing these feelings with a friend who has a rather dramatic “life-changing” testimony, she admonished me. She told me that just because God had kept me from much of the pain and drama many people experience in childhood and early adulthood didn’t mean my testimony was somehow less powerful than those with dramatic, life changing results. In fact, it was only because of Jesus, I was where I was. It was then I realized my “boring” testimony was only by the grace of God - - to Him be the glory! There were so many other paths I could have traveled had God not continuously guided me through the years, but He did. I didn’t deserve His presence, yet He gave of Himself abundantly. That’s huge! It is only because of Jesus, I was the “good-girl” - - all the glory belonged to Him! It’s only because of Jesus, I traveled the safer roads that I did - - all the glory belonged to Him!

Maybe you feel your testimony isn’t “dramatic.” Do you love the Lord? That’s dramatic! Nothing about us draws us to Him…it’s only His Holy Spirit at work in our life that makes it possible - - all the glory belongs to Him! Maybe you need to simply look for God in your life. Wherever He is actively working to break, prune, grow or shape you is where your testimony can be found. And the surprising thing is that your testimony isn’t as much about you, as it is about God’s work IN you - - to Him be the glory! Your testimony counts. It. Is. Powerful. It is to be shared for the glory of God. It will change your life and others’ lives - - to God be the glory!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you amazed by the incredible work God has done in your life? Ask Him to show you all the ways He has/is working in your life to His glory.
2. And then ask Him to show you whom He wants you to share it with…for His glory!

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 138:5; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6

Jeannine is a wife and active mother of four boys. She works in property management. Jeannine is actively involved in ministry to those walking through grief.

What’s Your Homepage?
By Lexi Ellis

“In the morning, Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait expectantly.”
Psalm 5:3

I did something horrible. I put Facebook as the homepage for my Internet browser. Now, every time I open the Internet, the first thing I see is that tempting Facebook log-in in the upper right-hand corner. This is horrible because most of the time, I’m opening the Internet with the intention of going somewhere other than Facebook - - normally homework-related. And instead, I end up on Facebook. What I set my homepage to is important because it’s the first thing I see, it begins “my Internet time.” There is a very simple solution to a problem like this: Change your homepage to something worthwhile, something beneficial, something un-distracting.

In the same way, don’t we often begin our mornings with a loud alarm telling us to race out of bed and start a very busy day? Just like our homepage is the first thing we see when we open the Internet, what do we start our day with? I grew up singing a simple children’s song that goes, “Good morning, God. This is Your day. I am Your child. Show me Your way.” (1) What if this was our mentality? What if the homepage of our daily life reflected on His faithfulness, mercy and presence? Would we live drastically different lives - - would our attitudes and heart conditions be totally different - - if we started with God?

This shift of beginning our day with God looks different for different people. For some, it’s devotionals or quiet time with God in His Scriptures right away. Others spend time in prayer talking to God. Some are silent and listen to God’s Spirit speak to their hearts. Others worship God through His Creation. Even singing that simple children’s song is a great way to start the day. For me, I’ve been intentional about starting my day with “Lead me, Holy Spirit, to do Your work today.”

As Christians, I think it’s easy for us to get into a rut and a routine. Maybe the solution is something as simple as starting our day with Him. Just as we choose what our homepage is on our Internet browser, we choose how we start our day; we choose the first thing we see. I did realize having Facebook as my homepage probably wasn’t the best idea…and trying to resist that log-in button every time I opened a new tab was too hard. So I can proudly say…I changed my homepage.

In the same way, my homepage is a reminder that how we start our day makes a difference. So the question remains: What’s your homepage?

GOING DEEPER:
1. In terms of your daily life, what has your current “homepage” been? What should you change it to? Actively commit to doing that this week.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 118:24; Philippians 4:4; Psalm 28:7

(1) "Good Morning, God” by Lee Bristol, Jr.

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