Beyond Abilities

By Elin Henderson

“For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing.”

2 Corinthians 8:3 (NKJV)

         

How often we measure our life and our accomplishments past, present and future by our abilities. We look at our measure of strength and from that, we say “I’ll take that job, it falls within my list of abilities, but that one there is a little too beyond me.” In my life and ministry here in Mozambique, the Lord is constantly reminding me to be open to be used beyond my abilities. I am not a teacher, but am called to homeschool my kids with minimal resources and minimal ability/knowledge. My language skill is low, but I’m called to speak into the lives of the people around me and teach literacy classes, stretching far beyond my abilities. On and on the list goes.

In your life, I am sure you can find similar circumstances occurring. God’s power is unleashed into our lives when we are “freely willing,” like the Macedonians Paul was speaking of here, to be used beyond our abilities! Then, we truly experience that for which we have been created; to be used of Him and allowing Him to live His life and purposes out through us with an unexplainable strength.

One of my favorite preachers of old is Phillips Brooks. He was ministering in the US around the time of Abraham Lincoln and has a quote that I keep close by to remind myself to be available “beyond my abilities.”

“Do not pray for easier lives; pray to become stronger men.

Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers;
Pray for powers equal to your tasks.

Then your life shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle.

Each day you shall wonder at that which is wrought in you
by the Grace of God.” (1)

May your life be a testimony and miracle of the impossible as you freely and willingly go beyond your abilities by His strength!

         

GOING DEEPER:

1. If you were to make a list of your abilities, what would it look like? How about the things that are beyond your abilities?
2. Do you feel the Lord calling you to any of those areas? Today, “pray for powers equal to your tasks, not tasks equal to your powers.”

FURTHER READING:

Luke 18:27; John 8:28-29

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

(1) Phillips Brooks – all sermons and quotes available online at The Project Gutenberg Ebook.

Crazy Faith

By Susan Klein

^“And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.”  Hebrews 11:32-34 (NIV)

Imagine a famous speaker/physician is coming to your town. He is meeting with some dignitaries and influential leaders in one of their homes. You’ve heard amazing things about this man! You believe in your heart that he can cure your brother who is terminally ill, but you’ve not been invited to the event. After discussing the matter, you and a few friends decide to go to the home where he is speaking, determined to somehow get your brother in to see him.

As you arrive, you see others have had the same thought. People are lined up out the door and down the street in hopes of seeing this great man. No one is getting near the house and some are hopelessly turning around to leave. Refusing to be discouraged, you formulate a plan. It is a crazy plan - - involving property damage and trespassing. It could get you imprisoned, but your faith in this man is so strong you are willing to risk everything. Sound familiar?

In Mark chapter 2, we read of some men who did just this. Cutting a hole in the roof of a home, they lowered their paralyzed friend through the opening to be healed by Jesus. That, my friends, is crazy faith! That is belief without excuse - - trust without question. That is the type of faith that we see God honor throughout Scripture.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego didn’t play it safe when they refused to bow down to the king! Even when threatened with a fiery furnace, they exercised crazy faith, confidently proclaiming their God would rescue them. The woman with the bleeding disorder demonstrated crazy faith by believing that she’d be healed just by touching the hem of Jesus’ robe. And let’s not forget Abraham! He was willing to kill his own son… But only because he had crazy faith that God would provide a different sacrifice instead.

What would it look like for you to exercise crazy faith? How much risk might you take in order to demonstrate your faith in the One who can do the impossible? Do you believe God can act in your situation, or do you believe He will?

GOING DEEPER:

1. Become familiar with the faith heroes in God’s Word.

2. Get risky in your faith!

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 11; Matthew 9:18-30

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.

The Meaning of Freedom

By Tracy Smith

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 (NIV)

We know where the Spirit of the Lord is

Where the Spirit of the Lord is

There is liberty

We know living in your freedom

living in your freedom, we see your glory

We know where the Spirit of the Lord is

Where the Spirit of the Lord is

There is liberty. [2]

Here it is Memorial Day … and as the July 4^th holiday is next, I find myself thinking about the word freedom and what is means. The Miriam-Webster Online Dictionary lists many meanings, but this is the one that caught my eye, “c : the quality or state of being exempt or released, usually from something onerous.” [1]

In relation to our country, our forefathers wanted to be released from the constraints England was forcing upon us as one of their colonies. These men saw belonging to England as something onerous and something they needed to be free from. Because of this belief, they took the necessary and hard step to declare war and fight for their freedom. Due to this strength and bravery, the United States celebrates July 4th as our Independence Day.

In relation to our spiritual life, the above definition of freedom also applies. We all have something in our life that weighs us down and robs us of our freedom. Galatians 5:1 (The Message, paraphrase) says, “Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.”  Jesus Christ took the necessary and hard step to die for our sins and to set us free.

Today, as we remember those who have given their lives so we can stay free and as we look forward to celebrating our nation’s independence, let us be thankful for the freedoms we enjoy in the United States…and the freedoms we enjoy as a child of God!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Will you spend some time in prayer today thanking Him for the freedom we have in Him?

2.  If you know a member of the military, will you thank them for the sacrifices they make to keep our country free?

FURTHER READING:

John 8:36; Psalm 118:5

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.

[1] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/freedom

[2] Tomlin, Chris. “Where the Spirit of the Lord is.” Passion: Awakening, Six Step Records, 2010.

Deconstructing

By Lexi Ellis

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    the builders labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the guards stand watch in vain.
Psalm 127:1 (NIV)

A friend of mine is in a time of deconstruction professionally. Programs and procedures she’s built in the past need to be reorganized, revamped and simplified. She completely understands the necessity of restructuring to be more efficient and effective, but there’s almost a sense of mourning over the initiatives previously constructed…great for then, but now not best. There is a clear need to simplify… but wow, is it hard.

God sometimes calls us to deconstruct spiritually. In the chaos of busyness and extensive to-do lists, God invites us to deconstruct. Sometimes there comes a time to “go back to the basics.”

In the midst of all the “stuff” we have designed and chosen (which often isn’t in-and-of-itself bad), there are moments we need to stop and examine what we’ve built or elevated. And within them, we need to deconstruct:

·         our expectations. Unrealistic expectations hinder our relationships with others and with our God. They also commonly lead to bitterness when our expectations aren’t met. These need to be identified, torn down and shifted. 

·         our self-righteous or self-centered attitudes. The focus on exclusively ourselves, or our accomplishments, rather than oneness with God is something that desperately needs to be taken apart, replaced by a spirit of humility. 

·         our trust and dependence on ourselves. This one often regularly needs to be deconstructed. When we exclusively pursue our own ability rather than seeking God’s best, we miss out on the privilege of being part of God’s plan.

Oh, but the work it takes to spiritually deconstruct! And the struggle to simplify or get rid of the things we’ve accomplished “on our own.” But when we build up unhealthy expectations, self-righteousness, and self-dependence, it becomes more difficult to pursue an active relationship with Christ. Deconstructing is imperative because it allows us to simplify and fully embrace the “great love the Father has lavished on us so that we could be called children of God” (1 John 3:1, NIV). 

My friend is deconstructing and simplifying programs and initiatives in her job. It’s hard, but needed. May we likewise tear down the things we’ve built up that shift our dependence away from God and hinder an active relationship with Him. 

Going Deeper:

1.      What have you built up in your life that prevents you from the simple, incredible gift of Christ?

2.      What do you need to do to deconstruct unhealthy expectations, self-righteous or self-dependence?

Further Reading:

Psalm 27:4; Hebrews 12:1-2; Isaiah 57:15

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

Are You Living a Covenant Life?

By Susan Klein

“…for God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.”

Romans 11:29 (NIV)

Our car insurance contract is changing. One of our driver’s rates is decreasing due to maintaining a good driving record. Another’s is about to go up due to a pending car purchase. Contracts change. They can also be broken. If we were not satisfied with our insurance provider, we could cancel our policy and build a contract with a new company. Likewise, many people are employed under a contract. If dissatisfied with their working conditions, they can dispute, negotiate, or even strike over their contracts in an effort to effect change.

Covenants are not contracts. Covenants cannot be cancelled or revoked. They never have to be renewed or renegotiated. They are absolutely binding regardless of the circumstances. If one party in the covenant is dissatisfied with the other party’s conduct, it doesn’t allow for starting over and building a new one. Covenants are a done deal.

Christ-followers have a covenant (not a contract) relationship with God. We have entered into a loving relationship with Him that cannot and will not be changed. When God calls us to Him, and we accept that call, Scripture tells us that it is irrevocable. God is, in essence, saying to us, “You are now mine, and nothing you can do (or anyone else can do) will alter that in any way.” No one else can snatch you from Him, and none of your sins or mistakes will negate His covenant promise of making you His heir. His covenant is not based on His satisfaction with your performance. It is solely based on His Word, His promise. Ever wonder why David got away from Saul’s murderous pursuits so many times, or why God still kept His promise to David even after he committed murder? He had a covenant relationship with God. God doesn’t go back on His word.

Signed, sealed, secured. You are His. You are free to enter into and enjoy His presence, to partake in the riches of His grace and mercy, and to look forward to a future of eternal glory. You have a covenant relationship with the Almighty God. With security like that, we can experience peace in times of trouble, and joy in times of persecution. Are you enjoying a covenant life?

GOING DEEPER:

1. How does your secure position affect your response to trials?

2. How does your covenant with God affect your relationship with others?

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 13:20-21; Romans 11:25-32

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.

Thirsty

By Elizabeth Cole

“ ‘…but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.’ ”

John 4:14 (NIV)

Imagine a young girl named Jill who wakes up after a terrifying experience, dull with grief and horribly thirsty. She becomes simultaneously aware of a gurgling stream and a huge Lion nearby:

“Are you thirsty?” said the Lion.

“I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill.

“Then drink,” said the Lion.

“May I - - could I - - would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill.

The Lion answered this only by a look and very low growl…

The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.

“Will you promise not to - - do anything to me, if I come?” said Jill.

“I make no promise,” said the Lion.

Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer…

“I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill.

“Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion.

“Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.”

“There is no other stream,” said the Lion. [1]

The invitation to come near…to drink of a singular life-giving water…to be changed. It’s a poignant moment when Jill is introduced to Aslan the Lion in The Silver Chair. 

Envision a not-so-young woman who finds herself dull with the ache of bad life-choices and horribly thirsty. She comes to a well and to a Man who engages her in conversation, knows everything about her disappointments and pain, and invites her to drink of a water like no other. A water that deeply satisfies, that brings ever-abundant springs of living water and life everlasting. The Scriptures show us that not only does she accept the Man’s invitation, she is changed (John 4:4-42).

What about you? Have you woken this day after another life-draining experience…dull with grief…aching from the life-choices that now rule you? Or are you flat-lined, simply and completely parched to your very bones? Listen for its echoes as you long for a delicious rippling stream for your soul. He is here.

Jesus invites you to come, “to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” There is no other stream...it is He whom you long for. Come and be changed. Come and drink deeply. Come and be satisfied.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Where are you in your spiritual quest for soul-satisfying water?

2.  If you know Jesus, how are you drinking deeply of Him today? If you don’t, what would one step closer look like?

FURTHER READING:

John 7:37-38; Revelation 7:17, Revelation 21:6

[1] C.S. Lewis, The Silver Chair (New York: HarperCollins), 20-21.

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three grown daughters and two sons-in-law, and is the Director of Connecting at Oakwood Church.

Carriers
By Peggy Kleckner

“Some men came, bringing to him a paralytic, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
Mark 2:3-5 (NIV)

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by the needs of your friends and family? Have you wondered what to pray or how to pray for people whose needs seem bigger than your faith?

I was walking and praying one day when I just had to flat out tell God that I had no idea how He should or could resolve the issues in my friend’s life. Her struggles seemed to be jumbo-sized and the list just seemed to continue on relentlessly. I wondered aloud how to pray for a friend like that. What words could possibly express or contain that immensity? In a moment, I had His answer.

Have you ever seen the series MASH? Out of that series came just the picture I needed. Remember when all the wounded would be brought in carried by corpsmen? They would line up all the stretchers that were filled with the wounded, casualties of all types. The chief doctor would look each one over and determine what was needed. Once that determination was made, the corpsmen were told where to put each patient and what order each should be brought into the operating room. Well, that’s our job, too. We are just the corpsman. We don’t determine what is needed. We bring our prayer concerns to the Father without telling Him what needs to be done.

We are only the “carriers,” like the people in the verse we find in the gospel of Mark. Those friends brought their friend on a stretcher. They were relentless in their pursuit to bring him to Jesus. They came together to bear him up. They didn’t give up until he was at the feet of Jesus. Mark doesn’t note that they even made a request. They were just carriers. Jesus knew what was needed and He answered their faith.

What a relief to know that we don’t even need to know what to say, we are just to bring our friends to Jesus. He knows just what they need.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you been trying to tell God what to do with each of your prayer requests? Are you willing to just bring them, lay them at His feet and trust Him to know just what is needed?

FURTHER STUDY:
Romans 8:26-39; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18; James 5:13-20

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.

Children of Light

By Karen D’Amore

“For you were once in darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of Light.”

Ephesians 5:8 (NIV)

The conflict erupted over a light! As my husband was trenching to run electricity to the outermost corner of our wooded four acres, a neighbor interrupted his trenching. When asked what he was doing, my husband informed her that he was installing a lamp post to illuminate one of our walking trails. With a hyper-sensitivity for her privacy, the neighbor expressed resistance over our plan to install the light. Even after showing her that the light would not be visible from where her house is situated on her own wooded property, she still continued to dispute the light.

My husband and I wrestled  through much discussion from two opposing perspectives. From a perspective of “entitlement,” we certainly believed we had every right to put a light on our own property. We were also well aware that opting for “entitlement” would be a decision carrying potential to create major friction with our neighbor. As believers, who are called to live as children of “THE Light” and we needed to consider the perspective as ambassadors for Christ.

Ephesians 5:9 says, “for the fruit of THE Light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth” (NIV, emphasis added). As children of Light, following God produces the fruit of righteousness. This righteousness encompasses all that is consistent with the holy character of God. While children of darkness live to please themselves, children of Light should live to please God. After being saved by faith in Christ, we’re not merely improved; we are radically transformed from darkness to serving the Light. This change in our condition should be reflected by change in our conduct.

That change in conduct oftentimes means we’re called by God to waive our rights to exercise the fruit of righteousness. It means we make decisions to forego what brings us delight so that we can maintain peace with others. As children of Light, sacrificing a desire like a lighted walk in the woods is a small price to pay in order to walk in obedience. Choosing to embrace opportunities to glorify God, we extend the love of Jesus to those around us…asking Him to use those decisions to relinquish our rights to impact hearts for the Kingdom of God.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you struggling with the “entitlement” trap, resisting righteousness versus your “rights”?
2.  How can you relinquish those “rights” and choose to better reflect the fruit of a child of the Light?

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 1:10; Isaiah 2:5

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. 

Both

By Lexi Cole Ellis

The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! TheLord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren the entire family is affected - - even children in the third and fourth generations.”
Exodus 34:6-7 (NLT)

Two songs were playing on the radio. As I was switched back and forth between the two Christian radio stations, one song proclaimed God’s love is like a waterfall while the other declared God roaring like a lion. The polar opposites made me smile as I envisioned the imagery… God’s love gushing over like water falling but then God’s power synonymous with the commanding roar of a lion. Both pictures are accurate from a theological standpoint.

So if both are true, is there a contradiction? It seems like it. Or perhaps our minds and our language wrestle with the idea that God can be both because of the limits of our “human-ness.”

The reality is, without both songs, I miss out if I focus on one attribute of God because I don’t see the fullness of both (sometimes seemly incompatible) characteristics. How easy it is to focus on the facets or statements of God I like, and choose to ignore parts that show the opposite. I like the parts about strength…but I’d rather ignore the part about serving. I like verses about receiving…but do I have to see the “both” of giving to receive? [1] In the verse above, it’s easier to focus exclusively on the compassionate and gracious God, the one who forgives and loves. Verse seven talks about punishment for the guilty and future generations’ experiencing the consequences of that sin. Hmmm…not really a fan of that part. How can God be the God of both?

At the end of the day, that’s where trust and faith comes in. While I am called into a relationship with God, I am not His equal in understanding His ways and His attributes. I resonate with what God says in Isaiah 55:8, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways.” (NIV)

Part of being in an active and growing relationship with God means that we’re willing to wrestle with the “both’s” that seem contradictory…and are willing to trust when it doesn’t make sense. I’m thankful that flipping back and forth between the two songs reminded me to stop ignoring the parts of Scripture that I don’t naturally cling to and realize that the “both’s” reveal how incredibly complete God is.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What are some of the characteristics of God that you tend to ignore?
2. What parts of God’s “both” in Scripture do you need to address?

GOING FURTHER:

Philippians 2:1-11; Psalm 33:3-4

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.

[1] http://www.sermoncentral.com/sermons/seven-great-bible-paradoxes-rodelio-mallari-sermon-on-bible-truth-151576.asp

Marriage Tears

By Kelley Kuphall

Love the Lord your God: with all your heart!

With all your soul! With all your mind! With all your strength!

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)

I was crying in church...before the sermon even started. The husband on the video said his wife was his best friend and she said that's how it started and that's how it will end. [1] I had tears in my eyes, but I was able to hold them back from falling. Just like I was holding everything back, even my heart to God's working.

Then my pastor [2] started to preach, and his openness made me feel like he was talking to just us - -  sitting in the 11^th row. Everything from the series was sinking in and the weight of my superego starting pouring out. I was crying for my selfishness and sin. Crying for my friend’s marriage ending in divorce and for our own marriage - -  not entirely bad, but is it what God would call “good”? How were we honoring God when we only aspire to glorify each other? My heart was breaking for the things of God again. How can God take something so ugly and make it beautiful?

I heard a quote that’s stuck with me: “Love God the most and you will love each other more.” I have this hanging up in our dining room, and yet, I forget about the “loving God” part. Of course I love God. But more than my husband? More than myself? The series at church has been driving home the truth that problems in a marriage are not just between the husband and wife, but between each individual’s relationship with God.

We sang “Take it all, Take it all, my life in your hands” and “All to Jesus I surrender” in the closing song. As I sang, I asked myself: Do I really want Jesus to take it all? Can I really say I surrender it all to Him? And that's when I had to ask for my husband's hanky. It was that uncontrollable, shoulder-shaking, nose-sniffling cry that was probably very evident to the rows behind us, but it felt so good to release my inner struggles and give it to the One who not only created me, but created my life and family. He knows the hurt and heartache, the old wounds and doubts. Why not let Him heal it? I checked the box on our communication card that we would like to speak to someone about our marriage. Let's be honest and vulnerable in our Christian walk, so others can see Christ both working in and changing our lives.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you willing to surrender your marriage to the Lord so that He can take it all and use it for His glory?

FURTHER READING:

2 Corinthians 5:14-17; Ephesians 5:1-2; Ephesians 5:22-33

Kelley’s a wife and mom who works part-time at a Christian counseling clinic and has a personal direct sales business. Kelley serves with Oakwood’s worship team and is the coordinator for the HeartLove Place Birthday Cake ministry.

[1] Watch Ted and Judy’s story by clicking HERE.

[2] Roger Ellis, April 26, 2015: “Hitched: to Struggle.” Watch the sermon by clicking HERE.