Creative Accounting

By Elin Henderson

“’Yes, what joy for those whose sin is no longer counted against them by the Lord.’”

Romans 4:8 (NLT)

You can hardly turn on the news these days without hearing the term “creative accounting.” Some red numbers were turned to black numbers and maybe even shifted columns a little. Then, lo and behold, the books balanced in the favor of one group or another. I’m sure a list of companies is running through your head even now. Maybe you were even the victim of one of these innovative bookkeeping schemes. 

For once though, I am thankful for the “creative accounting” God uses on my account. In Romans 4:5, I am reminded that He has deposited His righteousness into my account. And more than that, in verses 6-8, I read that the sin that was there, He deleted and no longer counts against me. Now, I am no accountant but I know that this is some creative accounting. We get what we don’t deserve and we don’t get what we do deserve. The debt is deleted and the riches of His righteousness are imputed to me and, voila, my account is permanently in the black. 

But, it doesn’t stop there! We, too, are called to “creative accounting” when it comes to dealing with others. In 1 Corinthians 13, the love  chapter, verse 5 reminds us that “love does not keep a record of wrong” (NLT).  Just as all our sins are forgiven and He has cleared our accounts, so also we are called to throw away the score cards and keep clean accounts with those we come in contact with.  

God goes first and sets the example and then calls us to follow in His footsteps. It’s time we pulled out the books and checked to make sure that we have been appreciating and applying His creative accounting  in our lives today. 

GOING DEEPER:                                             

1. How does knowing that our accounts are always in the black help us to deal with past guilt and condemnation? 

2. Are there any relationships in your life right now that could use some creative accounting?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 4:22; Colossians 2:13

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 twelve-year-old Elias.

The Cross

By Karen D’Amore

“He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness…”
1 Peter 2:24a (NIV)

A fugitive wanted for murder, he’d been on the run for many years. As the police officer instrumental in his capture, I was disturbed and distracted by the large silver, jewel-encrusted cross hanging from a rope-like chain around his neck. Making reference to his cross necklace I commented, “Nice cross, are you a Christian?” “It’s just a decoration,” he snapped back. It’s a conversation I’ll never forget…and one that has challenged me in the message and handling of the Cross.

Though the Cross is one of the most readily recognized Christian symbols today, many have reduced it to a decorative fashion statement. It was on a wooden cross that Jesus Christ took upon Himself the sins of the world, paying the penalty with His own blood. The Cross is not a symbol of doom, but rather a foreshadowing of the triumphant celebration of Jesus’ resurrection. It points to a loving God reaching down to deliver man from the bondage of sin; it points to Jesus who willingly laid down His life for mankind. Jesus not only preached a powerful faith in God, He also lived it. He was faithful to God, and “obedient to the point of death” (Philippians 2:8). Christ crucified! Christ resurrected! A symbol of faith, hope and love…the Cross changes everything.

As Christ-followers, the Cross is a proclamation of our new identity in Christ. “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me” (Matthew 16:24). For believers, the Cross should be reflected in our changed (crucified) lives. As the Cross stands at the center of our lives, it clarifies the purpose for which our Lord created us and died to save us. Its declaration of hope, grace and eternal life anchors our existence and motivates our responses. “Jesus lived His life for you - - then He gave His life to you. Now He wants to live His life through you!” –Jacquelyn K. Heasley  (1)

As we head into the week of Easter, what is your response to the Cross? Is it a decoration or a proclamation?

GOING DEEPER:
1. Consider what the Cross means to you. Is it merely a decorative adornment or a symbol of your crucified life in Christ?
2. When others look at your life, do they see the reflection of the Cross?

FURTHER READING:
Galatians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Acts 2:23-24

(1) Quote from Sermonindex.net

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.

The King

As Jesus and the disciples approached Jerusalem, they came to the town of Bethphage on the Mount of Olives. Jesus sent two of them on ahead.  “Go into the village over there,” he said. “As soon as you enter it, you will see a donkey tied there, with its colt beside it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, just say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and he will immediately let you take them.”

This took place to fulfill the prophecy that said,

    “Tell the people of Jerusalem,
    ‘Look, your King is coming to you.
    He is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.’”

The two disciples did as Jesus commanded. They brought the donkey and the colt to him and threw their garments over the colt, and he sat on it.

Most of the crowd spread their garments on the road ahead of him, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. Jesus was in the center of the procession, and the people all around him were shouting,

    “Praise God for the Son of David!
    Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
    Praise God in highest heaven!”

The entire city of Jerusalem was in an uproar as he entered. “Who is this?” they asked.

And the crowds replied, “It’s Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:1-11 (NLT)

His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Many in the crowd had seen Jesus call Lazarus from the tomb, raising him from the dead, and they were telling others about it. That was the reason so many went out to meet him—because they had heard about this miraculous sign.

John 12:16-18 (NLT)

GOING DEEPER:

1. What prompts you to worship Jesus as King?

2. In what ways does your life demonstrate that Jesus is, in fact, your King?

3. How has Jesus’ reign over your life been different than you expected?

If you’re local, come to Oakwood’s Good Friday Experience on Friday, April 3, between 3:00 and 7:00 p.m. The self-guided, multi-sensory experience is family-friendly and gives you an opportunity to worship and ponder the last several days of Jesus’ life before His crucifixion.

Napkin Holder
By Peggy Kleckner

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalm 51:1-2 (NIV)

Some time ago, I was in a church small group discussion. As we spoke, one woman shared that she felt like every time she made it through a particular situation, or addressed one bad habit, she noticed a new one sprang up. As she related that, she said it was like a spring-loaded napkin holder. You pull out one and the next one moves forward! Sort of like that “layers of an onion” picture, except this one really tickled our funny bones! After that, our “inside joke” picture of the napkin holder was brought up often and never ceased to make us chuckle.

As I was thinking on that picture later, a new thought came to mind. Perhaps we didn’t broaden the lens of our mental camera large enough. With the wide-angle lens on, we might see beyond just the napkin holder to the bigger picture of Christ mopping up the latest mess in our lives with that supply of napkins! Jesus dabbing the dirt off of us with those pure white napkins.

On our own, we cannot change. The Spirit of Jesus does the work in us. Each spill or mess reminds us that we truly are frail and in need of a Savior…and He is willing to wash away our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin. That is why He came for us.

So, when does that supply of napkins run out? I think He has a napkin holder filled with enough for each of our days here on earth. Spring-loaded napkin holders are usually on the table when we are out to eat, not at home. And certainly, Earth is not our ultimate home.

When the napkins run out, He is calling us home to His eternal banquet table!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What “mess” or “spill” in your life are you still trying to mop up on your own? Are you willing to surrender it to Him?
2. Have you pondered His unfailing love and His great compassion today?

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 53:2-6, Acts 3:19 

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.

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 (NIV)

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 157th 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 and serves in Oakwood Church's Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls.

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 (NIV)

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 busy mother of four boys. She works in property management, serves in Oakwood’s Café and has a heart for those walking through grief.

Navigating the Waves

By Lexi Cole Ellis

“The salvation of the righteous is from the LORD; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.”

Psalm 37:39 (ESV)

I had a childhood friend who was terrified of waves…ocean waves and the wave pool at the water resort. I couldn’t fathom it…to my fifth-grade mind, jumping over a wave as it simultaneously slid over and pushed you up was the absolute best. But for her, a scary experience of getting caught under a wave as a small child resulted in a deep fear of jumping over it at the exactly right time and an inability to enjoy the waves at all.

Sometimes waves come crashing over us unexpectedly. Sometimes, despite all the careful navigating we do, a situation hits and the waves we were easily coasting over now have become scary. All of a sudden, we are out of sync with our jumps and the water is billowing over us as panic and a sense of losing control takes over. A job loss…a conflict with a loved one…a health scare…the fear of an unknown outcome…the waves of unknown and fear start to drown us.  I love what Mark Hall and Steven Curtis Chapman write in the song, “Voice of Truth”: [1]

But the waves are calling out my name and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again, "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win…" [2]

Thankfully, the story doesn’t have to end there. Thankfully, we serve a God who rescues us in His perfect timing from the actual waves AND additionally saves us from being paralyzed by the fear of waves. We don’t have to navigate through the waves on our own. As believers, we’ve been given His Spirit and His Word that remind us of the countless times God has been faithful in and through the storms. Additionally, we have community with other believers in God’s Church, a community which supports us through the waves and reminds us to cling to our God, actively pursuing a relationship with Him.

Years ago, my friend missed out on the wave pool because of her fear of the waves. May we be people who depend on God…so that when the waves come, rather than being paralyzed by fear and unknown, we navigate through them with the help of His Spirit, His Word and His community of believers.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What do you need to do to depend on Christ to help you navigate the waves in your life?

2. Consider listening to the rest of the song, “Voice of Truth” as you start your day. (http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=DGGPNNNX)

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 4:13; Colossians 1:13; 2 Timothy 4:18

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_of_Truth_%28song%29

[2] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/castingcrowns/voiceoftruth.html

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

Thinking Outside the “Boat”!

By Karen D’Amore

When the disciples saw Him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” He said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.  

Matthew 14: 26-29 (NIV)

Jesus was stretching the disciples to exercise their faith in Him, for when He would no longer be with them…physically.  Peter responds by exercising, what some may call… “reckless” abandoned faith!  In my personal faith-walk, I recall wavering between doubt and trust, before recognizing that abandoned faith “colors outside the lines” and “thinks outside the box!” Here we see Jesus modeling “out of the box” behavior when, instead of arriving by boat, He reconnects with the disciples by walking on water. This unexpected method of arrival frightened the disciples, drawing them to question who Jesus was… thinking He was a ghost.

When I walked through a personal storm with cancer, I struggled to recognize God’s presence in it. Praying God would stop that storm, I found fear erupted when He didn’t. But like Peter, once I exercised faith and stepped out of the boat, I was able to walk on water…with Jesus. Through that experience, I learned that when Jesus doesn’t calm the storm, He’s calling us to walk in it…with Him!

While the other disciples remained in the safety of the boat, Peter steps out of his “comfort zone” and experiences the miracle of walking on water. Thinking outside the boat requires stepping out of our comfort zone…walking towards Jesus and trusting in His power. We must then continue  that walk of faith by keeping our eyes on Jesus…instead of focusing on the stormy circumstances. Peter demonstrates how to conquer our fears by moving forward in faith…even when we’re afraid.

It’s encouraging how Jesus used the obstacle which made the disciples fearful (the sea) as a staircase for them to come to Him. Paralyzing fear was my initial response to my cancer diagnosis! When I stopped resisting that “storm” and allowed Jesus to rescue me and carry me through those rough waters, He became my anchor of hope. The obstacle which incited fear (cancer) and distanced me from Jesus became the staircase which drew me closer and strengthened my faith in Him.

We’re promised, “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you”  (Isaiah 43:2, NASB, emphasis added). Faith requires stepping out of the comfort of our “boats”…into the storm. It entails thinking outside the “boat” where the impossible becomes…Him-possible!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you docked in a safe harbor or walking on water?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 4:13; Isaiah 55:8; Romans 12:2

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

The Anchor Holds

By Susan Klein

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

Christian music has always played a big part in my faith journey. One of my favorite artists when just starting out on my faith walk was Ray Boltz. His songs told stories. One of my favorites was, “The Anchor Holds.” [1] The chorus goes:

The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn

I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm

Many times, I would play the CD and sing along, not giving too much thought to what the lyrics were about. Then, one summer, while my neighbor across the street was at home celebrating the birth of her baby girl, I was at home mourning the loss of mine. Overcome by grief and unable to sleep, I sat alone in my living room, feeling much like that torn and battered ship, having gone through my own personal storm.

I put in the CD to hear the familiar lyrics. As the music started, I opened the case to follow along with the words printed inside. I knew them by heart, but something propelled me to look anyway. What I found was another story. The author of the song was a dear friend of Ray Boltz’s, and he wrote the lyrics right after losing his own baby. [2] How come I never noticed that before?!! I believe my loving Abba Father was saving it for just that moment, when He knew the pain of a grieving daddy would soothe this grieving mommy’s heart. I sang along, this time knowing and feeling the author’s pain, his words reaching the deepest part of my heart and becoming my words. I sang with tears of sadness, of comfort, and of hope. God would be my anchor, and I would get through this.

Years later, re-visiting the song, I can now relate to the last verse:

I have been young
But I am older now
And there has been beauty
These eyes have seen

But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh, that's where God proved
His love to me

The Anchor holds. [3]

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who is usually the first person you turn to when the storms of life start raging?

2. Let God, who makes all things work together for good, meet you in your storm and be your anchor.

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:5-6, 25-26; Deuteronomy 31:6; Romans 8:28

[1] Ray Boltz, Lawrence Chewning, The Anchor Holds, 1992; Copyright: Shepherd Boy Music, Word Music LLC

[2] http://www.lawrencechewning.com/custom.html

[3] Want to listen to this song? Listen to it here: http://www.godtube.com/watch/?v=E2FJMNNU

Susan is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at Oakwood and also co-leads a Wednesday Night Community small group.

Building a Boat

By Peggy Kleckner

“Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out…..Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high….So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.”

Genesis 6:14,15,22 (NLT)

Three short sentences packed with work and faith. Let’s consider the dimensions of this boat that God instructed Noah to build. I took out my tape measure and measured the length, width and height of my kitchen. I measured something familiar to try and understand the unfamiliar. I found that the length of my kitchen had to be multiplied thirty times in order to be the same length as this boat!

God does not always give easy assignments. Not only is this boat massive in dimensions, but it includes a roof, three decks and a door. Don’t forget that he had to waterproof the entire thing inside and out with tar. Finally, I have to wonder if Noah knew anything at all about boat building.

What does God’s Word say about Noah? It states that Noah found favor with the LORD, that he was a righteous man and that he walked in close fellowship with God.

That is how Noah “did everything exactly as God had commanded him” (v. 22).

All Noah had was God’s instructions…probably not written-out instructions, they were “invisible,” so to speak. Then he begins to build according to those instructions. Think of yourself as perhaps his neighbor. Maybe Noah shared his mission with you, maybe not. Before long, you begin to see something different going on at Noah’s home. Perhaps you saw the wood being brought in or heard the sound of sawing and hammering. Pretty soon something starts to be “visible.”

If you have accepted Christ as your new master, He has asked you to build an ark of faith…one day at a time, one board at a time. Your instructions are invisible to others and yet they have been given to you. So you begin to build. The work seems impossible because the vision is so BIG, but He has asked and so you build.

As your faith is built up in the One who instructs you, it becomes visible to others. His Word and work become visible. Jesus becomes visible in you. This may bring scoffing or ridicule from others, but perhaps someone will ask you why you are building, or where you got the plans. I wonder if that was Noah’s greatest hope.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you found favor with the LORD, been made righteous in Christ and now are walking in close fellowship with the Spirit?

2. If you have no idea what that means, are you willing to ask someone? If you do, how is your ark-building coming along?

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 11:7; Hebrews 11:6; John 1:14

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.

There’s Always a Boat to Tarshish

By Elin Henderson

“But Jonah arose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish.”

 Jonah 1:3 (NKJV)

When we need one, there is always a boat heading to Tarshish. [1] The enemy makes sure there is always a “way out” of God’s calling on our lives. We don’t have to look hard either; it will probably be the first gang plank we come to on the dock. The space will be ample and the fare will be cheap. We may even see it as divine providence; after all if God REALLY wanted us to go to our proverbial Nineveh, then why did we just stumble on this very viable option of escape?

Each of us receives a Nineveh calling at some point in our lives. God calls us to do something that is so far off of our “acceptable”-meter that we make a beeline for the shore and start looking for boats to Tarshish. We reason that He could not possibly be serious in asking us to take that missions trip to Europe this fall or teach a bunch of 1^st graders in Sunday School or reach out to that neighbor or coworker who has been irritating us for years! All of the sudden, a leisurely cruise to the other side of our “Mediterranean” starts looking better by the minute!    

Nonetheless, God didn’t abandon Jonah, and He won’t abandon us either. Whether we are just contemplating buying a fare or we are already asleep down below the decks of the ship, God will come and meet us there. Of course, like Jonah, He might have to use some creative transport to get us back on track and to our destination. Sometimes, we all need a little time in the belly of a great fish to straighten us out. Nevertheless, if we are willing, He will get us to our final destination and to our place of calling and use us in a mighty way. Let’s commit to taking God’s route to His calling for our lives and steer clear of the cruise-line specials to Tarshish!

GOING DEEPER:                                               

1.  Have you had a Nineveh-type calling from God before? What route did you take to get there? Have you arrived yet?    

2.  What are some ways we can stay on the path God has for our calling and not get sidetracked down by the seashore by those “cruise-line specials”?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:4-5; Psalms 32:8

[1] Context for this Bible story can be found in Jonah 1-2.

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 twelve-year-old Elias.

Safe Harbor

By Tracy Smith

God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.
Psalm 46:1 (NLT)

Almost five years ago, the town my sister’s family and my parents live in was hit by a tornado. My dad’s neighbor enjoys watching storms and told my dad he was watching the storm without fear until he saw the large pine trees in my dad’s yard bend and touch the ground then immediately bend and touch the ground on the opposite side! At that point, he knew it was time to get in the basement! No more time for watching, it was time to seek shelter. [1]

We all have those times in our life - - when we feel storm-tossed and know we need to find a safe harbor. The storms vary in intensity and strength, but all involve change and uncertainty and we need to find the calm in the storm.

Where do we go to seek shelter?

If you read Mark 4:35-41, the disciples and Jesus are caught in a storm while on a boat. The disciples are scared and afraid they are going to die. In their fear, they wake up Jesus and He commands the winds and waves to be still.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, Paul shares that he pleaded with the Lord three times to remove a “thorn of his flesh.” Something that tormented him; something Paul really just wanted gone from his life. The Lord did not remove this storm from Paul’s life but declared, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV).

These examples show that sometimes the Lord chooses to calm the storm and sometimes he wants you to remember to cling to Him through the storm - -  for His strength to be sufficient for you.  Either way, He is there and He is your safe harbor through the tides of change.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Do you see Jesus as a safe harbor in the storm? If not, please read the Scripture listed in this devotional or do your own Google search for verses. Pray about what you read.

2. Think of a time in your past when you felt storm-tossed. With the perspective of time, how do you now see that God was with you through it all?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 62:7-8; Psalm 91:1-4

[1] To see pictures of the damage Eagle, WI sustained in the tornado, click here.

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

Divine G.P.S.

By Karen D’Amore

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

The appointment was in an area that was unfamiliar to me. With the needed information stored in my I-phone, I hadn’t written down the business name, address or phone number. I was relying on my phone’s GPS to accurately guide me to my appointment.  Unfortunately, within ten miles of my appointment, I noticed that my phone had…died! Pulling to the side of the road, I fumbled feverishly with the phone. Repeatedly pushing every button, the screen remained black. I plugged the phone into the battery charger but still nothing! The phone was dead!

Overcome with a feeling of helplessness, I briefly panicked! I didn’t want to no-show or miss the important appointment but at that point, I was lost. I was in the middle of nowhere…with no idea where I was and no resource to direct me to my destination. With pay phones being extinct, I couldn’t even call for help. In a spirit of helplessness, I pleaded with God to revive my phone. Holding my breath while pushing the “on” button, I sighed with relief as a flicker of light emanated from the screen. The phone came back to life! With my phone/GPS back in operation, I resumed my travels. But to my dismay, a glitch in the GPS program directed me to an incorrect location, forcing me to call the business to seek better directions. Needless to say, I finally arrived at my appointment frazzled and frustrated, but enlightened by a valuable life lesson.

Though grateful for the technological conveniences of the smartphone, my utter dependence on this “man-powered” device was a sobering revelation. Without it, I was LOST...literally and figuratively! Though such “devices” are helpful tools when functioning properly, they will never be 100% accurate nor reliable. I had been relying on an unreliable device to stay on course and guide me through daily life!

Before the invention of compasses, GPS units and smartphones, God created the North Star…a fixed and reliable navigational system. For centuries, it was the gauge for finding one’s way, establishing one’s bearings and redirecting one’s course when lost. As believers, God is our True North! Because He is unchangeable and eternally reliable, we need to trust and depend on Him to navigate life’s course. With the Bible as our compass, we can seek hope when we’re lost, establish our bearings when needing direction and determine The Way to navigate to our heavenly destination. Let’s remain anchored to the God Powered System, solely dependent and reliant on our Divine Guide…Protector…Savior!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Who/what’s your navigator?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 119:105

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.

The Monsters in the Closet

By Jeannine Sawall

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

"So how was your appointment?" I asked, expecting “fine” as his response. This was a routine appointment my husband had just had. "Well... they found an unusual mass in my chest they are concerned about," he answered quietly. My heart stopped for a moment..."a mass in your chest? Do they know what it is?" "It's unusual...and it wasn't there last time. They are going to make an appointment for me to come back and see the thoracic team." "When?" "In the next few weeks."

And so the monster in the closet came out of hiding and I was afraid. Over the next few weeks, my mind went to terrible places. If you google "mass in chest," all sorts of monsters can be found. If you anticipate worst-case scenarios - - the monsters of cancers, chemo, financial hardships, sickness and even the extreme of early widowhood and raising young sons alone - - you can barely function due to the anxiety and worry that accompanies those thoughts. God says, not to “be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." But what did that mean and how does one do that? Did it mean I had to be fearless in every situation and THANKFUL?!?

Of course not! It means we don't have face those fears alone! When God allows a situation in our life that brings up fears, He knows our hearts and He knows our thoughts. We could pretend we aren't afraid, but to what good? We wouldn't be fooling ourselves and we certainly wouldn't be fooling God. However, when that gut-wrenching, confusion-making torrent of emotion takes over our hearts and minds from time to time, God calls us to trust Him and believe that He will be with us, even when there are monsters. He never condemns us for being afraid; instead, He is telling us to turn to Him and allow Him to give us His peace which surpasses understanding.

365 times we are told to "fear not" in the Bible: Once for each day. It is a reminder that He is there for us in the middle of the fear-causing situation. Remembering He is with us may not remove the situation from our lives or even permanently remove the fear from our minds; we may have to be talked off the ledge over and over. But remembering God's promises to us in the midst of fears allows us to take our eyes off of the monster, even for that moment, and go forward confidently with the Lord, thankful He is always with us.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What fears are you battling today?

2. Which of God's promises do you need to be reminded of?

FURTHER READING:

Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 56:3-4, Isaiah 41:10

Jeannine is a wife and busy mother of four boys. She works in property management, serves in Café and has a heart for those walking through grief.

Confessions of a “Martha”

By Becci “Martha” Terrill

“And Jesus answered and said to her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Luke 10:41-42 (NKJV)

My name isn’t Martha, but it could be. Not because it was given to me by loving parents, but because it’s part of my DNA. It’s who I am. Can you relate?

I’ve known this truth for some time, even shared it with others. I’d “confess” (because we all know that Mary chose the better way) but nothing in my life would change. I think secretly I liked being a “Martha.” After all, how would anything get done without “Martha’s”? Busy people get things done, right? I wanted to be one of “those people” who got things done.

I find myself disliking off-times that lack focus, purpose or activities. Even vacations have schedules. When illness hits and rest is forced on me, I am restless and discouraged.

Why do I find it so hard to just be still for prolonged periods of time? To be in the presence of Jesus and drink up all that He is? Is it because I won’t like what His presence reveals in my heart? Do I find my value in service and all that I accomplish, rather than in Jesus?

These are hard questions that can reveal ugly truths, but sin is ugly. The Bible says, “The heart is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV)

Now, don’t get me wrong, being a “Martha” isn’t bad; neither is service. However, if the service isn’t overflow from a heart filled with love for and worship of Jesus, then we’d better be careful. What is our heart condition and motivation for the service?

Martha loved Jesus; so do I. Like her, I have much to learn from Jesus and the “Mary’s” of this world. I’ll always be a “Martha” and I can’t change that. I can, however, choose to stop what I’m doing and spend more time with Jesus. That is the better way.

GOING DEEPER:

1. During this season of Lent, we have the perfect opportunity to make time to focus on what Jesus did for us. Consider using the Easter/Lent devotional, The Trail to the Tree, by Ann Voskamp this Easter season. It will be good practice for us “Martha’s.” (http://www.aholyexperience.com/category/trail-to-the-tree/)

FURTHER READING:

Luke 10:38-42; Matthew 6:6; John 15:1-5

Becci Terrill is a wife and mom to two adult daughters. She is the Children's Ministry Director at Oakwood Church.