Choosing Not To “Weary”

By Susan Klein

“You have wearied the Lord with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask. 

By saying, ‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them.”’

Malachi 2:17 (NIV)

Little is known about the prophet Malachi. Though considered to be one of the “lesser” or “minor” prophets, he packs a pretty powerful punch in his description of what was happening in the end of the Old Testament period. Here, God speaks through Malachi to admonish His people. Malachi informs them that they are “wearying” the Lord with their dismissive tolerance of sin and their own wrongful words and practices. He exhorts them to return to God so He can return to them. Hmm…almost sounds like this could have been written yesterday.

History seems to have a way of repeating itself. As in Malachi’s time, tolerance of sinful behavior and the “anything goes” attitude are still the norm. With such diversity in our culture, everyone seems to decide for themselves what is or isn’t acceptable behavior. One man’s sin becomes another man’s standard. As Christ-followers, we must hold every action to Scripture to discern what is right and what is wrong. God does not look favorably on evil deeds, nor should we.

Unlike the people in Malachi’s time, we are not awaiting a Messiah. Jesus has come and has blessed us with His finishing work on the cross. We’ve been set free from the bondage of sin, mistakes, and historically repetitious failures, if we choose to follow Him. We also have the gift of God’s written Word to know for sure what is truth and what is not, and to learn from the consequences suffered by those who chose wrongly before us. Romans 15:4 reminds us, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (NIV). Our hope is in Christ, not in the ever-changing ways of the world.

As Christ-followers, let us not become entangled in wrong thinking. Let us be pleasing to God, as Malachi was, by having His Word “dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (from Colossians 3:16, NIV). Let us choose this day, not to weary our Creator.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Pray for wisdom, guidance of the Holy Spirit, and discernment of truth and lies.

2.  How might you show love to someone without being “tolerant” of their sin?

FURTHER READING:

Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:14; Isaiah 5:20-21

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 an on-site small group.

Soil Testing

By Lisa Boyer

“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:8-9 (NIV)

It’s spring and my work place will soon be receiving calls from people looking for information on soil testing. They’ll collect a soil sample from their garden and ship it off to be tested. A few weeks later, they’ll get the results and a recommended treatment plan. If they properly prepare their soil, they can expect a good harvest.

The thought of soil testing has had me pondering the “The Parable of the Sower” in Matthew 13.

As you may recall, the seed falls on four types of soil: the path (hard soil), the rocky places with shallow soil, the soil containing thorns, and the good soil. Jesus explains the Parable in Matthew 13:18b-23 “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Jesus wants everyone to understand and receive His message, so maybe part of the point He was making in the “The Parable of the Sower” is actually a warning about the condition of the soil. Life is a difficult journey and any number of things can damage the heart (soil). Maybe Jesus was pointing out that the soil (the heart) needs to be properly prepared to receive the seed (the message) before we sow it.

Isn’t that what Jesus did while He was here on Earth? Wasn’t He nurturing the hurting hearts of those around Him with love and compassion and healing? Jesus’ second greatest commandment, just like the first, is about love… and perhaps soil preparation and maintenance.

Before sharing the message with those around us, let’s take a moment to test the soil; then let’s prepare the soil… with love.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you been wanting to share what you know about Jesus with a friend? Today, ask God how you can nurture them in preparation for that, knowing that ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 13:3-8; Matthew 22:36-38

Lisa has been married to Ted for 23 years and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves in Quest 56 on Sunday mornings at Oakwood. 

The Braces of Life

By Tracy Smith

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

Four years ago, as I sat in the waiting room while my son had "round two" of braces put on, it occurred to me that there are lessons we can learn from braces and their purpose.

My son's mouth was extremely small. The first round of braces included an appliance on the roof of his mouth that widened his palette. As I had the same appliance 26 years ago, I know how painful this is. Despite the pain, it is necessary as his teeth were coming in too high and sideways because they had nowhere else to go. The appliance widened the mouth and made room for the adult teeth already there, and the adult teeth yet to come. The pain was necessary for all of his teeth to fit comfortably in his mouth.

Sometimes God's lessons can feel this way: painful, but necessary in order for Him to widen our lives to fit in all that He feels is necessary. 

After a period of no braces - - while we waited for all of his adult teeth to make their way down - - it is now time for braces again. When looking at my son, his teeth looked fine to me. They were all in, they all fit and they were straight; however, the orthodontist explained why his bite needed to be fixed and the teeth shifted into their correct position. All of this will avoid problems in the future. 

Again, how much like our Lord! His correction can be painful and seem unnecessary to us, but God knows why we need it. He knows the painful correction is necessary in order for us to avoid problems later in life.

The next time I feel the “braces of life” irritating me, I will remember why they are there and look for the lesson the Lord wants me to learn.

GOING DEEPER

1. What painful times of your life can you look back now and see how God was using that experience to help you avoid future pain?

2. What can you do to learn these lessons faster and make them less painful?

FURTHER READING

Proverbs 3:11-12; Psalm 94:12; Deuteronomy 8:5

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of Junior High girls.

Crown Me

By Vernette Kureck

Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - - and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

In my mind, I was walking the beach collecting seashells. In reality, I was sitting in the dentist chair having a molar ground down for a crown fitting. The tooth was cracked and had quite a few fillings, so the crown will make my tooth feel, look and function better. My seashell bag was full, so my thoughts drifted to different types of crowns and what they signify. 

First, I thought of the game checkers. Once you reach the other side, you get crowned and can move in any direction. According the verse above, as believers reach “the other side” known as heaven, Christ will give a crown to all those who have walked with Him and have longed for His return. This is not just any old crown, but a Righteous crown. It demonstrates royalty and blamelessness. As children of the King and Judge, we will experience true freedom.

Next, I thought of my granddaughters and their love of playing princess. Even at their young age, they get that the function of royalty has certain privileges and responsibilities. Not only do you look and feel good, but your decrees and judgments are to be fair and honorable. 1 Corinthians 6:3 states that as believers, we will judge the angels. For the Final Judgment, people of God will be reigning with Christ and judging.

Yes, playing checkers or princess is only a prelude to the work that will be done in heaven. Crowns can weigh heavily on royalty. Perhaps that is why “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you our Lord and God, to receive honor and glory and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created’” (Revelation 4:10-11, NIV).

The prep work was all done and I was wearing my temporary crown. I was ready to leave. “Come back in two weeks and we’ll put on the permanent crown,” the dentist said. I smiled and said, “I’m looking forward to it more than you’ll ever know.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you been enjoying your walk of grace with Jesus and longing for His return?

2. Are you ready to lay your crown down before the throne?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 3:12- 4:1

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 46 years. Their two married sons have blessed them with eight grandchildren.

John 19:16-42

(NIV)

¹⁶ Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified.

So the soldiers took charge of Jesus. ¹⁷ Carrying his own cross, he went out to the place of the Skull (which in Aramaic is called Golgotha).¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others—one on each side and Jesus in the middle.

¹⁹ Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹ The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

²³ When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took his clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom.

²⁴ “Let’s not tear it,” they said to one another. “Let’s decide by lot who will get it.”

This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled that said,

“They divided my clothes among them
    and cast lots for my garment.”

So this is what the soldiers did.

²⁵ Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his motherthere, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her,“Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

²⁸ Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. ³⁰ When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. ³² The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. ³⁵ The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. ³⁶ These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,” ³⁷ and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”

³⁸ Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. ³⁹ He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. ⁴⁰ Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. ⁴¹ At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴² Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

All the Rage…For Now

By Lexi Ellis

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Do not be led away by diverse and strange teachings, for it is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace…”

Hebrews 13:8-9a (ESV)

I consider myself a relevant teacher. Over the years, I’ve drawn Angry Birds to demonstrate the distributive property, played Justin Bieber to identify prepositions, and blasted the “Frozen” soundtrack to display the necessity of sound waves needing a medium. Here’s my problem: The “it” game, toy or movie is constantly and quickly changing. Silly Bands, Squeakers, Minecraft, Rainbow Looms, Clash of Clans, Animal Jam at one point were/are all the rage for my students. The moment I’m ready to multiply minions from Despicable Me 2, The Lego Movie comes out!

This isn’t a new thing. I think of the classic 90’s toys I grew up with: Giga Pets, Fairy Flyers, Moon Shoes, zBots, Secret Keepin’s, Hit Clips. Oh the things we collected! Pogs, Pokémon, Beanie Babies…it was constantly changing. There’s only one in that list my kids know…and I’m not that old!

Sometimes I see fads change in the Church. Big foyers for a sense of community or smaller rooms to build meaningful relationship? Bible study structured this way, or the complete opposite? Missions emphasizing this  or that ?  Similarly, this isn’t new. It extends even to theological emphasis. Sometimes, we were focused on saving others from hell (yet did nothing to be an advocate for the oppressed). A couple decades later, the pendulum swung too far the other way and we focused exclusively on social work (yet never shared what fuels that generosity).

The point? Things all the rage right now will soon pass. But what I love about our God is He is eternally above the fads because He is constant. He is eternally above the “it” thing because He is unchanging. He is eternally above the things that will pass because His love and His grace are unending.

In the chaos of changing fads, we can read His Word and find truths that are as applicable now as when they were written. In the midst of change, our God is not “all the rage” just for now, one to be forgotten when replaced by the next thing, but is forever our Savior.

Today - - and every day - - may we live lives where we remember to rest in His “constant-ness.” May we approach His Word with the respect that timeless truth deserves. May we marvel in His power that means - - unlike Minecraft or Moon Shoes - - He does not change.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What things in your life are “fads” - - things that will soon pass?

2.  What attributes of God remind you of His “constant-ness”?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 40:28-31; Psalm 37:28

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

“It Is For Your Good…”

By Susan Klein

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

John 16:7 (NIV)

How many times have we heard the words, or even spoken them ourselves: “It’s for your own good?” As a mom, I know I’ve conveyed this message to my children on more than one occasion. Usually, it was preceded by a “but why, Mom?” because they didn’t understand or like my decision. I had to ask them to just trust that I had their best interest at heart. Later, they usually saw the fruit of my decision.

In the above verse, Jesus is trying to explain to His disciples that He will soon be leaving them, and they don’t understand why. After all, His ministry has only been up and going for a few years and there are still so many people who need to know Him and benefit from His amazing teaching. They think it might be the wrong decision on His part - -  and like children - -  start to question His decision. He responds as any loving parent would. He tells them that it is for their own good. He even goes beyond that to tell them why it is for their good. Because He is sending the Holy Spirit, to dwell in them, to counsel them in all truth, to convict the world, and to speak the Father’s words directly to them. I imagine Him passionately saying something like, “You guys, it’s going to be so great! You will get to have all of me, all the time, indwelling each and every one of you! I know you don’t get it now, but just trust me in this, okay?!!”

How often we continue to respond, “If only Jesus was still here on earth with us, life would be so much easier!” Lest we forget, He is here! His Spirit is in each one of His believers. We have access to Him 24/7! In John 14:23 Jesus says if anyone loves Him, He and the Father will “make our home” with them. He’s here, at home, in our hearts.

Let’s not take lightly this precious gift from our Lord. If you aren’t sensing His Spirit’s working in your life, seek Him in prayer. We need to constantly empty ourselves of sins and distractions so we can be filled with Him.

Seriously, it’s for our good.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Ask God to help you identify the things that might be “hindering” the Holy Spirit’s power from being evident in your life.

2. Try making it a part of your prayer life to ask for His filling.

FURTHER READING:

John 16:5-16; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

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 an on-site small group.

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles…
By Elin Henderson

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”
Job 9:10 (NIV)

Okay, for all of you musical aficionados…what film does this title come from? If you guessed Fiddler on the Roof, you are right! It is sung by Daughter Number One’s fiancé-to-be. He is expressing that of all the great miracles of God, the greatest is that He has given him this wonderful girl to be his wife. It is all quite touching and romantic!

As I think on the miracles that God performs throughout Scripture, I wonder, what is the greatest? God defeating an army of hundreds of thousands with Gideon’s small army of 1,200, or the miracle that took place in Gideon’s heart to trust in the Lord? Is it Jesus’ healing the ear of the soldier or the work of the Holy Spirit that changed Peter from a sword-wielding dynamo to a humble servant of God?

Truly, I think the work that takes place when a heart turns to the Lord and says, “Take me, use me, I am yours” is the miracle of all miracles. It’s even beyond the feeding of five thousand and the dead coming back to life. While we are created by God, we are not robots…we can still choose to walk with Him or to turn away. He does not pre-program our wills and make us follow Him. Otherwise, we would be like computers that just do exactly as He says. But rather, He sends His eyes over all the earth, seeking those whose hearts are open to Him. Why? To “show Himself strong” on their behalves. WOW! That is the wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles that He is after! A heart that is open to Him. Then, He says to that person just as He said to Moses before He began a whole series of amazing miracles in Egypt (both physical and spiritual), “Stand back, and watch the wonders I will do in your midst!”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What wonders has He wrought in your life that you can rejoice about?
2. Are His eyes upon you? Are you open to Him? If not, why?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 3:20; 2 Chronicles 16:9

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.

Lost
By Peggy Kleckner

“Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)

When you are lost, the best plan to follow is to be still, stop walking and wait to be found. Spiritually the answer is the same. When we are still, God finds us and He draws us up into His lap to comfort us, to take away our fears and to bandage our wounded places.

Henri Nouwen, a Catholic theologian, writes, “Can I accept that I am worth looking for?”[1] Some days, we really struggle to answer that question with a “yes.” To be still is to believe that someone will search for you, to trust someone else to be doing the work of rescuing you. Our stillness says to God, “Yes, please come for me.”

When we choose to still our hearts in the midst of our trials, we invite God to meet with us. We affirm again that we trust Him and are willing to surrender to His will. Stillness is not a “do nothing” mentality. It is a moment of surrender. It is the waiting to meet with the God of all creation. It is the pause, before the most beautiful music. Truly “knowing” that He is God comes from being still and waiting for Him.

I once was lost, but now am found!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What situation in your life has you feeling “lost”? Is your spirit still running? Are you willing to tell your spirit to sit down and be still?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 3:5-6; Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 40:28-31, 41:10

[1] © 1992. The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen, published by Doubleday

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.

Sharing the Hard Story

By Susan Klein

“I pray that you might be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.”

Philemon 1:6 (NIV)

It was a gathering of neighborhood women for the purpose of developing meaningful and purposeful ways to reach out to other neighbors. As each woman around the table shared whom they currently knew in the neighborhood, the conversation took a sudden turn. There was talk of a previous neighbor whose wife took her own life, leaving him with two small children to care for. Incredulous at how someone could make such a choice, I felt the Spirit’s nudging to share my story.

“Many years ago,” I began, “I was in that place. I had two small children and wanted to end my own life.” I went on to share how I had been in a very dark place, and felt there was absolutely no escape from the mental anguish that plagued me. I had prayed, had read my Bible, had people pray over me, had been medicated, but still the suicidal thoughts relentlessly pushed out every rational thought. It was mental torture beyond any physical pain I had ever endured.

It’s difficult to explain this to someone who has never walked in that place. It is also not something I ever look forward to sharing as it takes me back to that very vulnerable place. I wasn’t sure how these women would respond, so I shared cautiously and briefly. As they gently prodded for more, I gave answers as the Spirit led.

They were curious to know what kept me from following through. I explained that it was an hour-by-hour struggle to not give up, and blindly trusting that my loving heavenly Father held me tight in His grasp. After only a few minutes, one woman thanked me for sharing. Admitting she had no idea of how it felt to be in that place, she now felt convicted to respond more compassionately to such incidents in the future.

While we all love to share our success stories with others, sharing the hard stories can be vital tools for the Holy Spirit to use in the lives of others. A wise person once told me, “God doesn’t waste any suffering.” I believe that to be true. I believe He allows us to walk those hard roads in our lives so that we can share what He’s taught us and benefit those who have not walked in our shoes.

GOING DEEPER:

1. If prompted, would you be willing to share your hard story with someone?

2. How might you comfort someone with the comfort you have received?

FURTHER READING:

2 Corinthians 1:3-6

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 small group.

Closer in Trials

By Lexi Cole Ellis

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

1 Peter 5:10 (NIV)

I recently looked up the life of St. Patrick. Because I don’t come from a Catholic background and my family is pretty ethnically mixed, this Irish holiday has never held a lot of meaning for me. All I really knew about it was that the shamrock represents the Trinity, which seemed like a cool connection to my faith, so I figured St. Patrick might be someone worth learning about. 

I learned that “Patrick’s life was marked with difficulty.” [1] He was born on March 17, 387. And when he was about fourteen, he was kidnapped by Irish pirates. As I continued reading, his life played out like a well-thought-out book.  He grew closer to God in the midst of his slavery. During his captivity, he prayed and wrote…learning more about God and deepening his faith. Even though he remained a slave until his early twenties, he never gave up on God. When he was finally able to escape, he lived his life as a bishop, preaching and building churches for the next forty years. [1]

I immediately thought of similarities in Scripture. Like Joseph in the Old Testament, who was sold into slavery and grew closer to God in spite of unfair circumstances that lasted for, not just a few days or weeks, but years. I thought of how Jesus taught that we will experience trials when we choose a relationship with God.

 I also thought of the opposite response - - that instead of drawing closer to God like Joseph or St. Patrick, some choose to complain or give up. Like the Israelites in the Old Testament who often complained about the “good old days” (a.k.a. slavery in Egypt). Or Job’s friends, also in the Old Testament, who encouraged him to just curse God and die when things got significantly difficult.

It made me wonder. Which is true in my life? Do I complain and question God’s providence in my life? Or do I draw closer to God in those times? Is my trial marked with an active prayer life, being in the Word, and surrounding myself with a godly community? 

Without negating the reality that our struggles and trials are very real and very heartbreaking, the reality remains that our God is bigger and longs for us to draw closer to Him in the midst of it.

GOING DEEPER:

1.      Reflect on the big times of trails in your life, whether they are in the past or trials you are currently going through. How did you respond?

FURTHER READING:

James 1:2-8; John 16:33

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin. She teaches sixth grade at Silver Lake Intermediate School. Lexi serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.

[1] http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=89

Choosing to Look Forward

By Jeannine Sawall

“Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and the entire valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Genesis 19:26 (NIV)

The Lord had provided a way out for Lot’s family. He had instructed them to flee from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as judgment was imminent. Lot and his family were told to leave everything behind and to go and do not look back. Lot loved the Lord more than he loved the world and when commanded, he fled and did not look back. Unfortunately, Lot’s wife chose to identify herself with the city coming under judgment. In choosing to focus on what was behind her, she missed what God had in front of her and gave up the salvation the Lord had provided for her.

We might look at Lot’s wife and think turning into a pillar of salt is definitely Old Testament stuff, yet the lessons remain the same. Oftentimes, we are tempted to look back at our sinful life and think of it nostalgically - - “the good ol’ days,” so to speak. Yet, as new creations in the Lord, we are to look to God for His salvation and not yearn for the days in which we were still in bondage to sin. There’s no getting around the fact that sin can be pleasurable…for a time. But sin eventually shows itself for what it is, with damaging consequences.

There may also be times when the Lord is moving us into something new, yet we don’t want to leave what’s behind. Satan brings doubt into our lives by making us question God’s good intentions. Those questions can pop up when we are being taken into a new life, new place, new ministry or anything else that takes us out of our comfort zone. Our natural inclination is to be fearful, to want to stay put, to be like Lot’s wife…we like what we know: It’s comfortable and familiar. However, our God will never take us where His grace can’t keep us. If we choose to stay focused on what we’ve left behind, we will miss an opportunity for blessing. The alternative? Choose to look forward and trust God to bring about His good works.

When we decide to walk with the Lord, we need to be purposeful in our choices to go forward with Him, no matter where He’s taken us from or taking us to. He always has a better plan and all He asks is that we choose to trust Him and go forward.     

GOING DEEPER:

1. Where is God asking you to trust Him as He moves you forward into something new?

2. Is there an old habit that continues to draw you back into sin?  Ask the Lord to help you see His way out.

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 43:18-19; Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 3:13-14  

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

Trailblazer

By Elin Henderson

“Righteousness will go before Him, and shall make His footsteps our  pathway.”

Psalm 85:13 (NKJV)

When I was a little girl living in New England, each winter my dad would drag us out on the annual Christmas tree hunt. He wasn’t the type that went in for those “lots” where the trees are all cut and come with a little stand. Not Him! We would have to trek through the winter wonderland, deep into the woods, to find the perfect tree. This often meant wading through deep fields of snow. My dad would go first and blaze the trail and we would all follow along. He did the main work and we just toddled along behind.

The trailblazer is the one who does most of the work. He selects the path and prepares the way, clearing out obstacles so that those who are following behind will not be overwhelmed. There are always remaining obstacles, but the ones he leaves are the ones he knows the followers can handle. The job of the follower is to follow the lead and keep to the pathway that the trailblazer has marked out. If the followers try to venture off on their own, they will find the going pretty tough. However, if they are content to follow the trailblazer and keep stepping where he steps, the journey becomes do-able.

In the same way that I would stick right behind my dad as we wandered through the snow, stepping where he stepped and keeping my eyes on him, so also I need stick right behind God, the great Trailblazer of our lives. He knows what lies before us and will do the hard work of deciding on the right path. Sometimes, there are bends in the path where we might lose sight of Him, but He is always there, a few steps ahead, making the way clear and beckoning us to follow. 

So whether our life journey takes us through the harshest wilderness, the thickest forests, the deepest snowbanks, or the driest deserts, our Trailblazer always goes before us making the path passable.  Our job is to walk in His footsteps and stick on His pathway!

                  

GOING DEEPER:

1. How does knowing that God is our Trailblazer help us as we come upon what we would perceive as obstacles along the way? What about when the trail goes into areas we would prefer to avoid? 

                                                           

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 77:19; Psalm 17:5; Psalm 16:11

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.

Conduct Becoming a Believer

By Karen D’Amore

“In the same way, let your light shine before men,

 that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

As a police officer, I was required to memorize the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. One vow within that code was, “I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all.” With the effectiveness of law enforcement being dependent on public respect and confidence, police officers are held to a higher standard…both on and off-duty. Continually under the watchful-eye and scrutiny of the public, our conduct was to align with the integrity and trustworthiness expected by them.  Any conduct (on or off-duty) which could detract from the public’s faith in the criminal justice system, or discredit the Department and/or other officers, was considered “conduct unbecoming an officer.”  “Conduct unbecoming” encompassed petty offenses to criminal conduct, with the penalties ranging from suspension to termination.

I recall an officer being suspended for displaying a “snarky” attitude with a hairdresser who cut her hair too short. Needless to say, I spent those twenty-one years perpetually developing my moral compass…with a hyper-sensitivity to attitudes and conduct which could tarnish “the badge.”

As Christ-followers, we too are held to a higher standard of conduct which transcends beyond merely being “law abiding citizens.” Paul reminds us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, NIV). “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:15, NIV).

We need to keep our lives “unsullied” before God. We were once in spiritual darkness until Christ entered our lives and called us to be His light to the world. As we reflect the light of a Holy God, we are called to “be holy as He is Holy.” Throughout every  aspect of our daily life, we must consider our attitudes, choices and behavior with a deeper sensitivity to how we’re representing God.

As believers, we’re far-from-perfect… perpetual works-in-progress! With the help of the Holy Spirit we can identify those attributes that may be unbecoming to His name, and avert conduct which could potentially bring Him shame. As ambassadors for Jesus, living under the watchful eye and scrutiny of the unsaved world, we represent Him everywhere we go and in everything we do. This includes our jobs, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, sporting activities and even…hair salons.

So as not to dim our “lights”…let’s consciously work towards keeping our lives “unsullied” and our Jesus-badges tarnish-free.

And may we strive to honor our Commander in Chief…with “Conduct Becoming a Believer!”

GOING DEEPER:

1. How’s your conduct? Is your light dim or bright?

FURTHER READING:

2 Peter 3:11; Titus 2:7

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