Never Say Never

By Susan Klein

“Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them.”

Romans 4:8 (NIV)

Have you ever proclaimed, “I will never _____again!” (Fill in the blank with the action or sin you desired to never repeat.) Did it work, or did you do it again? Yeah, most of us are repeat offenders at one time or another. Too often, I find myself making a promise to someone (or to no one in particular) that I will never utter those ugly words or never repeat that offense again, only to end up breaking my promise.

“Never” is a very dangerous word to use, especially when issuing an apology to someone. Making promises we don’t end up keeping hurts our future credibility, no matter how honorable our intentions might be. It can also deeply wound the recipient. “I’m sorry, I promise I’ll never do that again,” might be better phrased: “with God’s help, I will try not to _______ again.”

Or, how about, “I would never think of doing _______!” Remember the Apostle Peter? He thought he’d never deny his Lord, but he did. Not once. Not twice. Yep, three times. And the Lord even told him beforehand he’d do it. (Good thing the “three strikes and you’re out” rule wasn’t implemented by Jesus.) As much as we’d like to predict our future actions, most of us do not possess prophetic abilities. In addition, sin is in our bloodline and is ever at the ready to rear its ugly head. Scripture warns us to not think of ourselves more highly than we ought (Romans 12:3). We all sin, and when tempted with the right circumstances, it’s amazing what our flesh will succumb to. Praying for strength to resist temptation is better than piously proclaiming: “I’d never…”

Not holding to a defeatist attitude, we do wield the power of the Holy Spirit and His Word to conquer sin, which the Apostle Paul refers to as a sword (Ephesians 6:10-18). That said, it’s never easy doing battle. It takes intentional prayer and concentrated effort on our part to be consistently walking in the Spirit rather than walking in the flesh. When we fall, we must get back up and engage the Spirit’s help in standing firm. And, a healthy dose of confession can release the soothing balm of forgiveness for our battle wounds. Thankfully, our Lord has promised to never hold our sins against us if we have a contrite heart and trust in Him.

Remember, the evil one delights in discrediting our testimony by having us be promise breakers rather than promise keepers. Let’s choose our words wisely, for they are linked to our future actions.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What negative actions might you be repeating?

2. How might your words be impacting those you love?

FURTHER READING:

Galatians 5:16-17, 25; Ephesians 6:10-12

Susan is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. Susan is part of the Peacemaking Team at Oakwood.

Give Thanks

Psalm 138 (ESV)

I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.

On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased.

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar.

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me.

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.

Why I Love My Husband

By Lisa Boyer

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

A couple of months ago, someone nominated me on Facebook to list five reasons why I love my husband. I never did it. Not because I don’t love him - - I do - - but every reason I came up with that explained WHY I love him had nothing to do him, it was all about me.

I was struck by the reality that loving someone demonstrates the character of the person doing the loving, not the person being loved. I love my husband because I choose to love him. I made a commitment to love him years ago and I do so unconditionally.

Thinking about love so much led me to thinking about God and His love for me. God’s love for me is unconditional, He chooses to love me and He doesn’t change His mind no matter what I do or say or how I act. He loves me because of who He is - - because of His character, not mine. I do not deserve that kind of love. I cannot earn that kind of love. So why do I get to be loved like that?

Because God chose to love me… that’s it, there is no other reason. He made a choice to love me before I was even born. He was so committed to that choice that He sent His Son, Jesus, to die so that I could live! I cannot change His love for me; I can only bask in His love and enjoy being loved by Him.

I may not be able to list five reasons why I love my husband, but I can list five things I love about him: his sense of humor, his intentionality in loving our sons, his kind heart, his commitment to our family, his unconditional love and the way he makes me feel safe in our relationship. (Oops, that was six things.)

I’m thankful that Facebook nomination encouraged me to think of things I love about my husband, but more importantly, that it reminded me of God’s great love for me. 

GOING DEEPER:

1. I’m not the only one God loves that way. He loves you unconditionally, too. Are you basking in His love for you today or is there something that has come between you?

2. If something has come between you, will you take steps to fix that today?  

FURTHER READING:

Romans 5:8; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16

Lisa has been married to Ted for over 20 years and they have two teenage sons. Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, serves in Quest 56 on Sunday mornings, and is a part of the WE Women’s Special Event’s team at Oakwood.

Giving Thanks

By Peggy Kleckner

“Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.”

Psalm 100:4 (NIV)

Two years ago, I spent some time pondering the words “come and worship.” They were printed on an invitation to a women’s Christmas luncheon at our church and stayed with me.  “Come” is certainly an all-inclusive invitation word, but what of “worship”? Is it just singing? Is it music? Is it being quiet or being alone? I think it’s actually more an act of bowing my heart to God’s headship - - to His right to sit on the throne of my life as King.  Yet not only bowing to His authority, but also fully accepting and receiving His great love for me, and then willingly loving Him back.

After that, I read an article that was speaking of the birth of Christ. How “imperfect” that birth looked to us. No room at the inn, a stable, no family nearby. That imperfection was part of God’s sovereign plan. It was His right to choose the setting. Into that very “imperfect” situation, God placed His greatest gift and He sent out the invitation to “come and worship.” He called all men to step away from their work, their worry, their hurry and find their answer in Him alone.

As we prepare to head into the Christmas season, how appropriate that we are first called to gather and celebrate Thanksgiving. Our thanksgiving ushers us through His gates and into His courts to worship and to bow our hearts to His headship and His great love - - as our Redeemer, our King.  Since most of the world does not know Him, is it any wonder that they run over this holiday and head straight to Christmas? As believers, shouldn’t we be setting our hearts first to thanksgiving? We have already received the gift of His Son, our redemption.

That first Christmas had the setting of rush and throng as well, and into its midst, God sent His peace, His gift to all mankind. May we use this day of thanksgiving to ready our hearts for true worship; let us live lives of gratitude. He abides in us and with us. Oh, that we would look and act noticeably different both at our Thanksgiving tables and then along the path to Christmas Day.

Today, let us bow our hearts - - grace-filled hearts of thanksgiving - - and worship our King…preparing Him room to display His peace through our imperfect lives.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What “imperfect” situation is keeping you from thanksgiving?

2.  Where is He calling you to display His peace?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 51:15-17; Psalm 5:11-12; Romans 11:33-36

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. 

Are You Thrilled?

Psalm 98:1-4 (NLT)

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

Father, I thank You today for_____________________________.


to sing praises to the Most High.

Here’s my song for You today: ___________________________________.


It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

Whom shall I tell today about how You’ve loved me? __________________________.


your faithfulness in the evening,

I recall that time you were so faithful to me: _____________________________.


accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.

I don’t play the harp or the lyre, but I can use my _______________________ to honor You today.


You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!

What really overwhelms me about Your kindness is___________________________.


I sing for joy because of what you have done.

May the way I live be a life-song of joy to You today.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Start a running list of that for which you’re thankful to our God. Consider adding to it daily!
2. How are you training gratitude in your home?

FOR FURTHER READING:
Psalm 100

Rivers in the Dry Wasteland

By Brita Crouse

“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it? I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland... Yes, I will make rivers in the dry wasteland so my chosen people can be refreshed.”

Isaiah 43:19, 20b (NLT)

Do you ever have those amazing moments when your life and something you read in Scripture perfectly align? To me, this is one of the greatest feelings and reassurances of God’s love for us. It happened to me recently and I was blown away by God’s perfect timing and preparation.

I was listening to an album by one of my favorite bands, NEEDTOBREATHE. The name of the album? “Rivers in the Wasteland.” The name of the title track? “Wasteland.” Little did I know... A few days later, I was reading my Bible and came across the verses above. I had a freak out moment and thought, What a crazy coincidence!  It was a pretty cool “God moment.” A few weeks later, I learned a family member had received a severe medical diagnosis. Wow. Had this idea of a “wasteland” not been reiterated enough over the past few weeks? Now this? This was my “wasteland.” This is what God had been preparing me for with these verses and songs.

These verses were written to the people of Judah in anticipation of an inevitable captivity in Babylon. God is letting them know in advance that He is already preparing a way out of this captivity for them. He reminds them of when they were slaves in Egypt and how He rescued them from that. He provided all of their basic needs and He is telling the Israelites here that He will do it again.

It’s the same for us. God may be leading you through a “wasteland,” but He will provide rivers for you along the way. He will not abandon you. I am saying this not only for others, but also for myself because sometimes it’s hard to believe. Sometimes it feels like there is no hope or no way out. But, there’s always a light, there’s always hope.

“In this wasteland where I'm livin'

There is a crack in the door filled with light

And it's all that I need to shine.” [1]

There is a whole world watching to see how you respond to difficulties. So as a believer, remember how God has provided for you and prepared you. Wait patiently to be refreshed with rivers in the dry wasteland and shine for Him.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What “wasteland” are you currently walking through? How has God been providing for you through it?

2. Listen to “Wasteland” by NEEDTOBREATHE by clicking HERE.   

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 52:12; Deuteronomy 20:4; Romans 8:28-31

[1] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/needtobreathe/wasteland.html

Brita is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past seventeen years.

The Clock is Ticking

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“LORD, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.

Remind me that my days are numbered  - - how fleeting my life is.”

Psalm 39:4 (NLT)

Most of us are slaves to the calendar. We count down the shopping days to Christmas, the days to a vacation, or a birthday.

Recently, I was discussing with a friend how time was flying with our high-school sophomores. The comment was made that we have three years left with them at home…which turns into just over 1,000 days.

1,000 days doesn’t seem like much time to influence and mentor your child into young adulthood.

So I started thinking…here is the countdown to some of my upcoming milestones…

210 days until the last day of school

240 days until the next family reunion

660 days until my youngest starts high school

1,250 days until my 25th wedding anniversary

2,130 days until my youngest heads off to college

2,530 days until my next “decade” birthday

8,036 days until retirement

Psalm 90:12 says, “Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” (NIV) I wonder if we all sat down and actually did that…numbered our days. I wonder how we could use that to influence others. Would we waste less time? Would we spend more time with things that matter? When we realize our time is limited, how would we change the way we spent our time with our loved ones, with getting to know our neighbors and co-workers, or volunteering in our churches and community?

1,000 days may seem like a short amount of time that my sophomore has left in our home. May we equally be aware and intentional in spending our limited time wisely.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Figure out the number of days to some of your milestones (hint: Google “countdown timer” for a help with this).

2. How can you resolve to be deliberate in impacting others?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 90:4; Psalm 90:12; 2 Peter 3:8

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

HOPE-filled Seeds of Kindness

By Karen D’Amore

“…blessed is the one who is kind to the needy.”

Proverbs 14:21b (NIV)

Darkness reigned as dense clouds blanketed the early morning sky, inhibiting the sun’s feeble attempts to poke through the darkness. The warmth of my snuggling cat enticed the urge for lengthy slumber; however, the clang of an incoming text message interrupted my ability to snooze. A devotional I’d written about “HOPE” was published that morning and a friend who was encouraged by its contents was texting a message of gratitude.

Though I’d planned to sleep in and spend the day relaxing at home, the early morning wake-up text allowed for errands outside the home. Feeling drawn to a particular, slightly familiar café, I chose a table near the window where I could people-watch, reflect and write while savoring my lunch. A woman caught my attention as she sat down at the table next to me. Her exaggerated limp was supported by mangled ski poles. Disheveled in appearance, her hollow eyes and weathered face foretold stories of hardship. Her inquiry about prices clarified her budget and the vial of medication sitting next to her cup of coffee embellished her story. I couldn’t help but listen as she mumbled to herself, fumbled with an old cell phone and discussed details of her sickness, pain and a recent surgery.

God’s overpowering nudge prompted me: “Plant seeds of kindness” and I paid for the woman’s meal. I asked the waitress to include her bill with mine, and deliver the message “God Bless You”…once I was gone. Exiting the restaurant, I prayed that God would sow those seeds of kindness and use them for His HOPE-filled glory.

After leaving the restaurant I drove to a consignment boutique, blocks from the restaurant. As I approached the shop, the woman from the restaurant rounded the corner. She pulled to the curb and called out to me, “Why did you do that for me?” “I believe God wanted me to bless you,” I replied. Tears flooded her cheeks and before driving away, she thankfully said, “I HOPE I see you again someday.” I then entered the boutique where I was greeted by a wooden carved sign which read…HOPE.

I believe God orchestrated those inter-woven HOPE-themed events of the day, while merging my path with a woman who appeared hopeless. Now, my hope  and prayer is that those scattered seeds of kindness will germinate within that woman’s heart and blossom within God’s HOPE-filled garden!

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”

--Aesop [1]

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Make a list of different seeds of kindness you can scatter. Then…go plant!

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 25:34-36; Ephesians 4:32

[1] www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/kindness

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team.

Setting Terms Are We?
By Elin Henderson

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which  is your reasonable service.”
Romans 12:1 (NKJV)

I was watching a movie recently and an admiral in the Navy was giving instructions to his captain. The captain then retorted with some ideas of His own and the admiral said, “Setting terms are we?” The captain replied, “No, just respectfully requesting.”

Whether we call it “setting terms” or “respectfully requesting,” we are all guilty of doing just that with the Lord. We give Him certain areas of our lives and hold others back. We say, “I am gifted in this way, so feel free to use me there, Lord, but you can just forget about nursery detail! I am not about to do that!”

What causes us to constantly set terms with Him instead of giving Him our all? Fear would probably be near the top of the list. We fear what it could mean for us if we fully surrender. What if He really would put us in the nursery? What if He really would call us into full-time ministry? What if He really would have us deal with a past fallen relationship? Secondly, our pride gets in the way. We simply think we know better than the Lord regarding what we can and cannot do.

By setting these terms, we limit our availability and usability to the Lord. And, in this struggle comes unrest as we willfully hold back areas in our lives from Him. But the just live by faith! Faith says that even though we don’t understand and can’t see the outcome, we are willing to trust. It’s in that trust we find rest. We think we know our limitations, but truly our Creator is the only One who is most intimately in tune with our capabilities and capacities. Will not His grace be sufficient even when it seems our abilities or limits are not enough?

The Lord is constantly desiring to use us more, extending and enlarging our territories and stretching us to be more like Him. Take the leap of faith and say, “Lord, no terms attached, I am available!” No matter what He calls you to do, you can find peace in knowing your Maker will provide all you need to fulfill the task. Give yourself wholly, a living sacrifice, to Him to be used as He sees fit!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there anything in your life that the Lord has asked you to do that you’ve refused? Surrender it to Him today, acting in obedience and trust.

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 3:5, 12:9; Deuteronomy 15:8; 1 Chronicles 4:10; Romans 1:17

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 fourteen-year-old Callie and eleven-year-old Elias.

Follow the Leader
By Jen Wollner

“…I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go…”
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many of us have “turkey” on the brain. Well, we’ve had years where we’ve also had a few in our backyard! One day, I noticed a small group just outside my window, so I stopped to watch as they peacefully wandered around, picking at the grass for food. Almost immediately, I took note that one of the turkeys wasn’t like the others. She stood out because she was slightly bigger and she didn’t have her head down looking for food - - she was standing tall, slowly gazing in every direction, keeping a close eye on the other turkeys. I soon deduced that she must be the mommy turkey!

After the little turkeys had gotten their fill, they headed in the direction of some tall grasses that separate my property from my neighbor’s. Suddenly, they all stopped. They were waiting for their mommy! They stood at the edge of the grass, looking for her signal. After many minutes, when she was sure it was safe, the mother turkey entered the grass first, with all the little ones following behind. They didn’t stray as far as they had in the short grass and they didn’t have their heads down the entire time. They stayed close to her, constantly looking up to see where she was going. At last they got to my neighbor’s lawn on the other side, and they went back to their carefree grazing.

It might sound crazy, but I believe that our Heavenly Father is a lot like a mother turkey! When our life is calm, we might not pay much attention to Him, but He’s always there, just a few steps away, gently guiding us and staying alert to danger. And, when our lives turn upside down, He, again, leads us, until we make it through the valley and come out safe and sound on the other side. I wonder, though, do you and I respond to our Heavenly Father the way the young turkeys did with their mother? Do we trust Him to protect us and guide us, in good times and bad? Are we always aware of His presence and do we constantly seek Him for direction, whether our path is smooth or rough?

As I walked away from the window, I couldn’t help but think: How did this mother turkey know where to go and how to protect her children? And then it hit me - - she was simply following her  Leader.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What situation in your life do you need to follow the Lord more closely and trust Him more fully to take care of you?
2. What steps can you take to make sure you keep your eyes on Him?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 23; 2 Thessalonians 3:3

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

He Sought Me

By Brita Crouse

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.”

Galatians 5:24 (NLT)

“He died for me while I was sinning

Needy and poor and blind

He whispered to assure me,

‘I've found thee, thou art mine’

I'd never heard a sweeter voice

It made my aching heart rejoice” [1]

The first time I heard those lyrics, it was like I had been struck by lightning. I was in church, feeling disheartened and distant from God, when all of a sudden...these words hit me. It was truth I so badly needed to hear during a time when God was feeling very distant. The song? The hymn “In Tenderness,” originally written by William Spencer Walton.

After hearing this song, I had a revelation, which is probably obvious, but it struck me nonetheless. It was this: The closeness I feel in my relationship with God is dependent on me. I was at a place where I was feeling far from God and wondering why I felt like this. Well, it was because of me, because of my distance. God is constant, faithful, and steadfast. I (we) are fickle, unreliable and inconsistent.

All relationships require effort, including our relationship with God. It’s easy just to shout up a prayer to God when we want something, but this isn’t how our relationship with Him is supposed to be. For relationships to grow and flourish, they require constant communication, unconditional love, and genuine care and concern for one another (among other things). Here’s the thing: God demonstrates these things perfectly, we don’t.

The truly amazing thing about having a relationship with God is His gift of salvation and His willingness to forgive our sins. “He died for [us] while [we were] sinning!” Our sins were crucified with Christ. He died for you. He died for me. How comforting it is to know God wants to forgive us, to bring restoration to our relationship with Him. All we need to do is confess and ask.

It is easy to put up barriers with God, to convince ourselves we are too unlovable to be loved by Him. But, it’s simply not true. God is still unwavering in His love for us when we are at our worst. A relationship with God is not always easy, but it is always worth it.

Listen for His voice, whispering, “I’ve found you, you are Mine.”

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How is God speaking to you today? What are ways He is showing His love for you?

2.  Listen to “In Tenderness” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kpXqd8pGFw) and reflect on the lyrics and how they apply to you today.

FURTHER READING:

Galatians 5:13-14, 17, 22-25; Ephesians 2:4-10

[1] http://www.songlyrics.com/citizens/in-tenderness-lyrics/

Brita is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past seventeen years.

Who Do I Believe?

By Tracy Smith

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

John 4:4 (NIV)

I worry too much. I talk too much. I weigh too much. I’m a bad mom. I’m a bad friend. I’m a bad Christian. I’m a bad wife. I’ve failed. Do these kinds of thoughts weigh you down? The enemy loves for us to believe the lies; to bring us down; to make us feel like failures. When we are focused on all we feel we are doing wrong, we cannot be focused on what God wants us to be doing for Him.

The first time I heard the song, “Greater” by MercyMe, was a powerful reminder to me.

Bring your tired
Bring your shame
Bring your guilt
Bring your pain

Don’t you know that’s not your name
You will always be much more to me…

Bring your doubts
Bring your fears
Bring your hurt
Bring your tears

There’ll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed…

There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
‘Cause the cross already won the war
He’s Greater
He’s Greater [1, emphasis mine]

I’m holy, righteous and redeemed. I’m not condemned. Some days I will lose the battle, but it’s okay because Jesus is greater than all my fears, all my shame, and anyone or anything that might try to make me feel like I’m failing.

But who am I in Jesus? What can I remember to replace the fears, the shame, the failure? Our church website has a great resource of Bible verses and statements of who we are in Christ. See the link in the Further Reading section for the whole list, but here are a few examples:

I am God’s child (John 1:12)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)

I am secure (Ephesians 2:20)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)

I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Read the list in the link below and commit to memory the ones you need to remember the most at this time in your life.

FURTHER READING:

Click here read a list of verses and statements of “Who I am in Christ.” It’s a great resource!

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.

[1] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mercyme/greater.html

Click HERE to listen and watch a video of the song

Emotional Roller Coaster

By Susan Klein

“So if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” 
1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

“LET ME OFF!!!” I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster as of late and the ride is lasting way too long. Just when I think I’ve made it to the top, another plummet awaits. Having a cold for three weeks only adds height to the already steep track that my raw emotions are perched upon. Can you relate?

Emotions are funny things. We can both adore them and loathe them. They are the substance of our hot buttons and the source of our laughter. Alas, we cannot turn them on when cuddling that cute baby and turn them off when the computer crashes. They are always ON. Though we may not be able to keep them from surfacing, we are able to control what we do in light of them. 

Take anger for example. Scripture doesn’t say, “Never be angry.” It says, “Do not sin in your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). It also says to not let the enemy get a foothold on us when we are angry. He knows what sets off our hot buttons, and will try to get us to respond in less than God-honoring ways when they are pushed. The trick is to respond with our minds and not our emotions. Easier said than done, right?! 

When I find myself on the top of the roller coaster looking toward the inevitable drop, I try to close my eyes and do some quick introspection. Am I clinging to the things I know to be true or am I getting all tangled up in how I feel at this moment? Will I really crash out of control as I plummet to the bottom, or does it just “feel” that way? Isn’t God riding in the seat right next to me? It’s a good practice to identify what triggers our emotions, especially the difficult ones. Being proactive about those triggers can help us avoid wrong responses when emotions are high. 

I often lament, “I wish I weren’t so emotional!” in the midst of a crisis. But as my wise husband reminds me, those emotions are a part of God’s design for us. They make us who we are and give us the ability to exhibit empathy and love toward others. We are blessed when we have emotions that run so deep they spur us on to action. We just need to choose the right action when they peak out during those rough rides.

Next time you’re on an emotional roller coaster, stop…take stock…and proceed to respond with caution.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What triggers your emotions to spin out of control?
2. What plan can you put into place to manage your responses to hot-button issues?

FURTHER READING: 
Matthew 12:34b-35; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 5:15-17

Susan is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council.

Two Sticks of Gum

By Lexi Ellis

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12 (ESV)

This past Friday, we had our Veteran’s Day assembly at the middle school where I teach. Over 745 students and their teachers packed into our gym as we experienced meaningful tributes to the 20+ veterans who were being honored. While it ended up running too long, the intentionality was really meaningful.

We watched a video about the “Candy Bomber.” Hal Halvorsen was a command pilot in World War II. Following the war and the subsequent invasion of Stalin’s army, Hal was part of an American crew delivering food and supplies to Berlin. After giving two sticks of gum to children, Hal collected candy and chocolate and dropped it from his plane using little white parachutes. Operation Little Vittles caught on and by “the end of the airlift, around 25 plane crews had dropped 23 tons of chocolate, chewing gum, and other candies over various places in Berlin.” [1]

So there I was, sitting on a middle school bleacher desperately trying to hold back tears.

It got me thinking: What an incredible opportunity we have! With God, little acts of obedience and kindness can become huge. Two sticks of gum…became 23 tons of joy and reminders to kids that they mattered. Five loaves of bread and two fish… became enough for over 5,000 with plenty to spare. Twelve disciples proclaiming a message that the Messiah had come, conquered sin and wants a relationship with us…those same men were used by the Spirit to ignite the biggest revival in the history of humanity.

Today, we honor our veterans: not by rushing to the store because of a “holiday” sale, but by recognizing the sacrifice our veterans and their families endured for us. I can only imagine what the little things could turn into if every believer did something small to bless a veteran today. Something small like:

·         a note

·         saying thank you when you see someone in uniform

·         paying for a veteran’s coffee or meal

·         a care package to a military family

·         an art project with your child to send to the VA Hospital or Operation Gratitude [2].

Hal Halvorsen took the small things he had and launched a mission of kindness. May we - - as followers of the God who makes small things into much more - - be intentional today in finding those small things to bless others, too.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What are your “two sticks of gum” that you can give to God and allow for Him to use in incredible ways? Could it be doing something intentional for a veteran today?

2. Seriously, it’s absolutely worth the time! Find 13 ½ minutes in your day to learn about Hal Halvorson. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjz8yu5MWC0)

FURTHER READING:

James 2:15-17; 1 John 4:19

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Halvorsen and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjz8yu5MWC0

[2] http://www.operationgratitude.com/get-involved/write-letters/

Lexi is married to Andrew and has a puppy named Calvin. She serves with Oakwood’s Children’s Ministries, teaches sixth grade at Silver Lake Intermediate School and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.

Doubting John
By Lisa Boyer

Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
John 1:32-34 (NIV)

John the Baptist had seen and heard the most amazing things! When he baptized Jesus, he witnessed the Spirit coming down from heaven as a dove, and in Matthew 3:17 the Bible tells us he heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (NIV)

But in spite of hearing God’s voice declare that Jesus was the Son of God, John doubted while he was in prison. In Luke 7:20 we read, “When the men came to Jesus, they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'" (NIV)

It seems that when times get tough, doubt tends to creep into our hearts and minds, and John was no exception. Yet in the midst of doubt, John still knew where to find the answer… Jesus Himself.

And what an answer Jesus gave! “So he (Jesus) replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor’” Luke 7:22 (NIV).

Jesus didn’t criticize, get angry or belittle John for doubting. He lovingly pointed John back to the evidence which made it obvious… Jesus was in fact the One.

You and I may not doubt that Jesus is the One, but we still have a tendency to doubt things we should know. We should know that we’re forgiven… we should know that God loves us… we should know where we’ll spend eternity… we should know that He’ll walk with us through anything that happens… we should know that we can trust Him, and yet we doubt.

Thankfully, we too can go back to Jesus where He lovingly provides the answers in His Word.

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you’re struggling with doubt, will you go back to Jesus and His Word today?
2. If you don’t feel you are in a place to go back to Jesus alone, will you ask a friend to come alongside you?

FURTHER READING:
Jude 1:22; Romans 8:38-39; Titus 3:4-5

Lisa has been married to Ted for more than 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.

Put Off…Put On

By Tracy Smith

“…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - - truly righteous and holy.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)

Recently, my 15-year-old son, Josh, hurt his foot in gym class and needed an x-ray. While his foot was fine, the radiologist saw something in his ankle that needed further looking at. After an x-ray of the ankle, it was determined that he had a cyst in the fibula bone. Due to the fact that these cysts weaken the bone and Josh is an athlete, it was recommended that we see an orthopedic specialist for a consultation. The pediatrician explained that the specialist would decide if the cyst could just be watched or if it needed to be fixed. If it needed to be fixed, that involved draining out the cystic material and filling the hole with “bone-like material.” That did not sound pleasant!

Luckily, the orthopedic specialist said Josh’s cyst is one he believes will reabsorb and does not need surgery - - just another x-ray in six months to check up on it.

All of this got me to thinking about the above verses. If Josh’s cyst would have been one that needed to be fixed, it would not be enough to just drain the cystic material. That would leave a void in the bone that would make it even weaker and allow more bad stuff to fill the void. In order to heal the bone, once the bad was out, it needed to be replaced with something good.

As Christ-followers, when we stop a bad habit or yield as God cleans something nasty out of our heart, we must ask Him to replace it with something good or we will fall back into our bad habit. We cannot just try to deal with our anger, we must replace it with self-control. We cannot just decide to stop being ungrateful, we need to replace it with gratefulness.

Just like a cyst that needs to be fixed, good must replace the bad in order for healing to occur.

GOING DEEPER:

1. I Googled “Put off, Put on” and found this wonderful list of traits/habits to put off, put on with corresponding Scripture. Click on the link to see the list and Scripture. Find what you need to work on hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit and look up the Scripture.

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 3:8-10

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