M.I.A.
By Becci Terrill

“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:7-9 (NIV)

MISSING: 5’9”, female, brown hair & eyes, probably wearing red high heels.

Several years ago, it had been one of those days…my husband was out of town, the kids were attending school out of state, the new job wasn’t going as well as planned, and to top it off, the puppy had just chewed up my Oriental rug. At this point, even Calgon couldn’t take me far enough away to help. The passport in my drawer was calling out my name, tempting me with visions of far off places, but unfortunately the checkbook was speechless and empty.

Maybe I could run to that place, like Cheers, where “everybody knows your name and they’re always glad you came.” Surely someone there would understand, wouldn’t they?

Have you ever had one of those days? A day when life is spinning out of control like an amusement park ride and you just want to get off and run away? Fortunately, no matter where we run, the Lord is there. Jonah found this out the hard way by trying to flee from God. He thought he had succeeded…paid the fare, boarded the ship, and settled in his bed for a nap. Then came the big storm, the unexpected swim and the unusual accommodations where God finally got his attention…in the belly of a whale.

Maybe that’s where I should run in the first place…TO JESUS! Maybe He allows all these things to crowd into my life to drive me TO HIM. I hadn’t thought of that before. Spending time with my precious Savior, away from the busy-ness and crazy-ness of life, is just what I need to refresh my soul and calm my emotions…especially after “one of those days.”

So, if you ever see the M.I.A. notice posted above, please let my family know I’ll be home soon…after time spent with Jesus!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What circumstance in your life makes you want to run away? Whatever you are facing, share your heart with Jesus.
2. Do you sometimes feel like you’re beyond God’s reach? Ask God to strengthen your faith.

FURTHER READING:
Jonah 1-2

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

My Wasteful Speed Radars

By Lexi Ellis

Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

Romans 12:9-10 (ESV)

There once was a portable speed radar placed right in front of a stop sign. As car after car approached, the device kept blinking zero. While amusing, it seemed a complete waste and misuse of resources. It wasn’t needed and it wasn’t doing the job it was designed to do - - to slow speeding people down.

I realized there are many things in my life like that could be wasteful speed radars sitting next to a stop sign. First, what do I worry and dwell on - - spend all my time and energy and resources on - - that are really a complete waste? What anxieties actually prevent me from doing the job I was designed to do - - to proclaim the saving grace of my Savior, and love others like He loved. These things I spend so much time and energy on…could they potentially be used in a better way?

Secondly, often my attitudes and actions are like speed radars. The way I think and act turn into missed opportunities to be like Christ. Just like the speed radar should have been placed elsewhere to be effective, my attitudes and actions are often misplaced. Is the tone I use with a student a wasteful speed radar or helpful and compassionate? Is the attitude I have towards my husband a wasteful speed radar or respectful and “partnering”? Are my actions towards my family and friends a wasteful speed radar, or uplifting and supportive?

Finally, when we enter into a relationship with Him, we are equipped by the Holy Spirit; we are given an incredible resource…God in us! And we’ve been given His timeless Word, a way He communicates to us. Yet, so often I do not yield to His guiding and allow His Word and His Spirit to work through me. These incredible resources end up like that wasteful portable speed radar in front of the stop sign if I don’t use them!

I realized there are many wasteful speed radars: my worries, actions and attitudes; my ignoring of God’s Spirit and Word. And yet, we serve a forgiving and compassionate God who desires our acknowledgement of our wasteful speed radars coupled with our repentance. While I see I have a whole lot to work on, I have a big God to work in me. I am thankful for the reminder that I need to be constantly working on adjusting my misplaced and wasteful speed radars.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What are your wasteful speed radars - - 1. worries, 2. actions or attitudes or 3. ignoring God’s Spirit or Word?

GOING FARTHER:

Romans 12:9-13; 1 John 1:5-7

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.

Carriers of the Kingdom

By Susan Klein

 “The kingdom of God does not come visibly, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is within you.”

Luke 17: 20b-21 (NIV)

A few years ago, a friend of mine held a huge family reunion. This was an extraordinary undertaking since it was critical for every family member, immediate and extended, to be present. Besides celebrating all the family in one place, they had another purpose for total inclusion. Members of the World Health Organization (WHO) were coming to the reunion to test every family member to determine who was a genetic carrier of Parkinson’s disease. Knowing it had already surfaced in some, it was a prime opportunity for the WHO to test all members from one family and do some genetic tracking. After testing was completed, each had the option of learning if they were carriers or not. Not all tested desired to know the outcome.

If you could find out you were a genetic carrier of a disease, would you want to know? Would it, perhaps, change the way you lived? Maybe you wouldn’t have children. Maybe you’d make plans for the future in the event the disease manifested itself in your body. Or, would you just keep living the same as always, with the uncertainty of knowing?

Recently, our church hosted a guest speaker who spoke about this “carrier” concept, but in a spiritual context. In Luke chapter 17, Jesus addressed the Pharisees’ question of when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus’ answer to them in the above verse essentially conveys that we (those of us who are Christ-followers) are carriers of the kingdom. If He dwells in us, His kingdom is in us, and we are His hosts, or ambassadors. Knowing and believing this concept should have a critical impact on the Christ-follower’s life choices.

If we are true carriers, what will we do? Will it change the way we live, or will we just keep living the same as we always have? Unlike an unwanted disease, we have acquired a very precious gift, and we need not keep it to ourselves. God is making His appeal to the nations through us. He intends for us to spread His kingdom to the whole world!

Do you know for sure if you are a kingdom carrier? If you are, how are you living in response to knowing this? If you’re uncertain, would you like to know for sure?

GOING DEEPER:

1. If you are a “carrier,” spread abundantly!

2. If you are uncertain whether you are a Christ-follower/kingdom carrier, contact a pastor at a church near you, call Oakwood Church at (262) 367-1212 for assistance, or email elizabeth@oakwoodnow.org.

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 31:8-9; Isaiah 1:17, 45:22-24; Micah 6:8

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.

Content with Weakness
By Peggy Kleckner

“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content  with  weaknesses,  
 insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities; 
for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
2 Corinthians 12:10 (RSV, emphasis added)

Content with weakness? Oh no, I haven’t lived my life that way! Like most women, I have wanted to prove my worth by showing my strength. We are taught again and again to “pick ourselves up by our bootstraps” because there is work to be done! Somehow we continue the facade of looking good in front of others and falling apart in private…what foolishness!

Why is it that God wrote in His Word that we are strong when we are weak? As always, such an upside down thought from what the world believes!

When we are weak, we cry out for His strength. When we are strong, we try to move on and handle things on our own. If we are believers, we are never without Him, but when we are strong we don’t seem to stay in constant, desperate communication with Him. When we are weak, we most often feel His tender mercy and His undergirding strength.

God seems to allow weaknesses in us as reminders of our need for Him. In our great need, we see past ourselves to the all-sufficiency of Him. So, yes, I am learning to be content with my weakness. I am learning to cry out to Him and to wait on His answers.

Weakness seems to break through the sin of pride. It calls us to surrender to His plan and calls us into communion with others. When we are weak we can show His strength, His ability to deliver and redeem. What a privilege!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What weakness have you been ashamed of or denied?
2. Are you willing to surrender it to Him and allow Him to show His strength in you and to you?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:26-27; 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

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.

No One Mourns the Wicked

By Vernette Kureck

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

She was different. She was born green and green wasn’t normal. Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West wasn’t normal. In the Wizard of Oz she died of an allergic reaction to water. A literal meltdown! Glinda, the Good Witch, asks in the theme song from Wicked, “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them? After all she had a father. She had a mother, as so many do.” As she sings about what goodness knows concerning wickedness, she claims her good news: “No One Mourns the Wicked.” [1] Is that true? I say, Glinda, you need to hear the really Good News!

What does the Bible have to say about wickedness? Generally those who are opposed to God and other humans are described as wicked. Its way is dark and its desires evil. Adam and Eve opposed God’s plan in the garden. Because of that sin we are naturally turned away from God and under eternal wrath. We are corrupt and make wrong choices; we are even inclined to do “bad” things.

The Good News is that God still loved us and sent His Son to pay the price for our wickedness, for our sin. Jesus lived a perfect life. He entered this world to give His life as a ransom. Jesus came to teach God’s truth about Himself, about God, about our sin and what we must do in response. The torturous crucifixion of Jesus displayed the self-giving love and grace of God as Jesus bore the penalty of God’s wrath for our wickedness. On the third day, Jesus was raised from the dead. God showed His acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice for all those who would repent and believe. Our basic way of life will either be oriented toward God and His light or toward the darkness of sin. God’s plan is to save His people from their sins and to bring His people to Himself. Believers have been saved from the penalty of their wickedness and are currently being saved from the power of sin. And, someday in eternity, we will be saved from the very presence of wickedness and sin.

So Glinda, let me proclaim what Goodness knows concerning wickedness. Wickedness is conquered. Evil is vanquished. Someone does mourn the wicked. He is God in the Person of Jesus Christ…and He is Goodness.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How have you responded to Jesus Christ?

2. With whom can you share the Good News?

FURTHER READING:

Genesis 6:5-6; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:23-24; 2 Peter 3:9

[1] No One Mourns the Wicked,” from Wicked, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 48 years and are blessed with 8 grandchildren.  She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain and with Family Promise.

Follow the Recipe

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Do not add to what I command you and do not subtract from it, but keep the commands of the LORD your God that I give you.”

Deuteronomy 4:2 (NIV)

I once attended a kitchen demonstration by an “Iron Chef” from the Food Network©. The recipe for each dish was handed out to the audience beforehand. At the top of the main dish ingredients was listed “2 tablespoons Ararat.” Now I know my way around a kitchen, but I’m by no means a gourmet. The ingredient “ararat” is NOT in my food vocabulary. I was determined to pay extra attention when this dish was put together so I would know what I needed. The chef came out and eventually started working on the entrée. No “ararat” appeared. One brave audience member finally asked, “What’s ararat and when do you use it?” To which the chef replied, “I’ve never heard of ararat  - - what are you talking about?” Turns out the ingredient listed doesn’t exist, and was an error made as files were exchanged in cyberspace!

If I take a recipe from an “Iron Chef” and add or subtract ingredients, it is no longer the chef’s recipe, it’s my own concoction. The same thing applies with God’s Word. God didn’t leave anything out when He inspired the writers of the Bible. He didn’t “forget” parts of the recipe. In spiritual principles, we are supposed to follow what is written...in the Bible, not our own ideas. Likewise, as His followers, we aren’t supposed to ignore any “ingredients”…His instructions for living His way. Adding or subtracting from the recipe might get you an edible meal, but it won’t be the same dish that the Chef wanted you to make.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Do you find yourself believing something about God but you don’t know why you believe it?  Look to His Word today to make sure it’s actually in the Bible. If you’re not sure where to start, try www.biblegateway.com/topical for a keyword search. 

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 30:5-6; Deuteronomy 12:32

Along with caring for her family, Carolyn works as an insurance representative, serves in Oakwood Church as a Community Group leader and a High School home group leader.

The Pace Setter

By Lisa Boyer

“Test everything. Hold on to the good.”

I Thessalonians 5:21 (NIV)

For years, there’s been a clock hanging on my bathroom wall. That clock has done more than just keep time; it has set my pace in the morning. While getting ready for work, I would keep one eye on that clock. Based on the time, I’d put more or less curls in my hair and more or less makeup on my face; all in an effort to get to work on time. But in recent years, a problem has developed. The clock is no longer accurate…more often than not, it’s running slow and more often than not, I’m running late.

Needless to say, the clock used to work perfectly. And by the time it started running slow, I already had a habit of adjusting my routine based on what the clock said. Unfortunately, that didn’t change…even when I knew the clock was unreliable.

The clock clearly had too much influence and needed to be replaced. But instead of replacing the clock, I created a backup plan. I set an alarm on my cell phone that would go off 10 minutes before I needed to leave for work, but not even that worked. By the time the alarm went off, it was often too late to adjust my schedule enough. There were days I went to work with little or no makeup and yes, occasionally uncurled hair!

The situation with my clock has highlighted the fact that even though I am pretty good at recognizing bad influences and keeping them out of my life, I may not be as quick to recognize good influences that have gone bad (the changes can be so subtle). And then I wonder, when I do recognize a bad influence, how long will I keep it in my life trying to work around its effects rather than get rid of it?

I’ve taken a couple of important steps recently. First, I have replaced the clock in my bathroom with one that keeps time perfectly. Second, I’ve taken a close look at the other influences in my life…friends, TV shows, music, reading material, etc…to make sure they are having a positive impact on my life and not a negative one.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are there influences in your life setting a pace that you are uncomfortable with as a child of God? Today, will you prayerfully consider what changes you should make to reduce their influence on you?
2. Will you take a moment to consider what type of an influence you are on the lives of those around you? Are you the influence you want to be in the lives of others?

FURTHER READING:
Galatians 5:7; I Timothy 6:11-12; I Kings 11:1-6

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves as an event photographer at Oakwood and wherever else she is needed.  

Be Careful What You Ask For!

By Susan Klein

“He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.”

Matthew 5:45b (ESV)

Have you ever prayed for God to give you a tragedy? I know, crazy, right?!! We typically pray for deliverance from our difficult circumstances, not ask for them. Who in their right mind would ever ask God to deliberately give them a crisis? I did. Once.

It was early in my marriage, and it felt as if my husband and I were in separate lifeboats, drifting away from each other. I was scared. I had heard that tragedies had the potential to bring people closer together (or tear them completely apart), so I prayed for one, hoping for the former. I was also very new to my faith and couldn’t nearly grasp the power of prayer. Maybe that’s a good thing because I prayed simply and earnestly, like a child would. That said, be careful what you ask for! In His infinite wisdom, God granted my request.

My husband and I walked through the great tragedy of losing of our baby girl; however, the amazing things God did through that trial could never have been anticipated. He brought the two of us closer together than we’d ever been, He drew me nearer to my own parents, He allowed me to give testimony of His grace to countless doctors and nurses, and He showed tremendous love through our local church body. I gained a deeper love for and understanding of God as He showed me Himself in ways I’d have never seen without walking through that painful period.

In the song, “Bring The Rain” by Mercy Me, the chorus says:

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain (1)

Sometimes, we need a little rain to gain perspective and get our focus back on the One who truly cares. Oh sure, we all love to sing His praises during times of joy and peace, but when we can belt out praises to God during the most difficult tragedies, imagine the glory He receives!

What are you asking for? Will it bring Him glory?

GOING DEEPER:

1. Could you welcome tragedies, or even pray, “Jesus, bring the rain”? (Listen to the song by clicking HERE.)

2. Spend some time looking at the responses of people in Scripture like Joseph, or Daniel, or Paul in the midst of their trials.

FURTHER READING:

2 Chronicles 20:20-22; Isaiah 43:2-3a; Revelations 4:11

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.

(1) “Jesus Bring The Rain,” Coming Up To Breathe, by Mercy Me, INO Records, 2006

The Good Side of Stress

By Lexi Cole Ellis

“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Psalm 94:19 (NIV)

My mom sent me a TEDtalk called “How to Make Stress Your Friend” [1] back in October 2013. I’m just getting around to watching it. (Sorry, Mom.) Though not overtly spiritual, Kelly McGonigal’s two points were absolutely biblical.

Her first point was the necessity of changing our perception of stress. Multiple studies showed that those who identified high stress, but believed their stress response was helpful lived just as long as those with relatively no stress. She encouraged a perspective change: that “pounding heart is preparing you for action. If you're breathing faster, it's no problem. It's getting more oxygen to your brain…This is my body helping me rise to this challenge.” [2]

We know from Scripture that how we choose to view things matters. The Apostle Paul calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12). Similarly, we know we have a choice on what to think about. Later in Philippians, Paul encourages believers to choose a Christ-like perspective of dwelling on “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” (Philippians 4:8a, ESV). Moreover, we are called to consider trials “pure joy” because we can anticipate seeing how God will work in seemingly horrific situations (James 1:2-4).

The second point of the stress talk was that stress biologically invokes our need to connect and be with others. “Your stress response wants to make sure you notice when someone else in your life is struggling so that you can support each other. When life is difficult, your stress response wants you to be surrounded by people who care about you.” [2]

God’s very design calls us into meaningful community with others. We were created for relationship with God and with others. Stress reminds us of our need to be in a support system. Scripture is filled with calls to “stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25a, ESV). Similarly, we are instructed to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2, ESV) and reminded that “two are better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, ESV).

I can’t get rid of stress, but I do have the opportunity to change my perspective of it and to be reminded that stress provides the impetus to draw me into godly community.

GOING DEEPER:

1.      Identify the stresses in your life. How do you often respond to them?

2.      What do you need to do differently with your stresses?

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.

[1] You can watch the 14-minute talk by clicking HERE.

[2]McGonigal, Kelly. TED talk, “How to Make Stress Your Friend.” June 2013. 

The Garden of Your Heart

By Brita Crouse

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NIV)

I read a book where the author compared the human heart to a garden. To the main character, the garden looked messy and chaotic. But when God was allowed to prune the garden and replaced certain flowers with new ones, the garden was more beautiful than ever before.

I love to be organized; messes stress me out. That’s why it is so hard for me to desire (or at times, even admit to) a messy, chaotic heart. Instead of allowing Jesus into all aspects of my life, I compartmentalize and only allow Him into certain parts of who I am.

But God hates this. In fact, He says so in Revelation 3:16: “So, because you are lukewarm - - neither hot nor cold - - I am about to spit you out of my mouth.” He doesn’t want us to be wishy-washy about our faith. He wants ALL of us. Every part. As commanded in the verse above, we are to love God with ALL of our heart and ALL of our soul and ALL of our strength.

You wouldn’t say to your best friend or husband, “I will be open and honest with you when we are together, but any time we are apart, you can’t know what I’m doing.” That sounds absurd!

The thing is: God knows everything about us. He knows more about us than we know about ourselves. Yet, He doesn’t force us to surrender ourselves to Him. He wants us to make that conscious effort and choice. He wants us to want  to give our heart to Him.

In this book I read, God says to the main character about the garden, “This mess is you!... To you it seems like a mess, but to Me, I see a perfect pattern emerging and growing and alive...” [1]

We cannot surrender every part of our heart to God without His help. But this is not a burden to Him. He enjoys helping us through the process of pruning our hearts. And in doing this, not only are our hearts more beautiful than ever before, we will draw closer in relationship to our Gardener. 

God doesn’t ask us to have our hearts organized into neat, little compartments. Instead, He asks us to give Him our heart, our whole heart,  no matter the condition.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What are parts of your heart that you are not giving over to God?

2.  Ask God this week de-compartmentalize and prune your heart. 

FURTHER READING:

Deuteronomy 6:4-8; Psalm 119:10

[1] William P. Young, The Shack. Pg. 138, Windblown Media, © 2007

Brita is a licensed K-12 School Counselor and works as the Non-Public Counselor in Roseville, Minnesota. For the past eighteen years, she has called Oakwood her home church.

Words

By Becci J. Terrill

“When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness..”

Proverbs 31:26 (NLT)

I’ll be honest. I wish this verse was about me, but sadly, it is not.

One would hope that the older one gets, the wiser one becomes, and the less of a problem words would be. I have not found this to be true in my life. In fact, I find myself struggling more and more with my words lately. Why is that?

Words have the power to heal, encourage, build up, bring joy, comfort and show love. But words can also hurt, betray, wound, ridicule, deceive and slander. James 3:10 reads, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” 

Proverbs 4:23-24 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.  Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.” I’ve read the first part (verse 23) many times, but didn’t realize that it comes directly before instructions about our words. God understood that what is inside our hearts will come out in our words. (Garbage in = garbage out.) 

So, if I’m having problems with my words, it’s really a heart issue.  Am I “guarding my heart”? Am I being careful about what I am filling my heart and life with? If I want my words to build others up (Ephesians 4:29), then I need to focus on the truth of God’s Word and be filled with the Spirit. If I am filled with the Spirit, then the fruit of the Spirit will flow out of my life - - words spoken in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control” (Galatians 5:22-23a).

I’ve still got a long way to go. Thankfully I’m not alone in my struggle.

My prayer echoes one of King David’s, “Search me, O God, and know my heart: test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (Psalm 139:23-24). WARNING: If you pray this prayer, God’s Spirit will reveal offensive words! I’m grateful for the Spirit’s voice that stops me in my tracks and shows me the ugliness of my words and how they impact others. As I guard my heart and let the Spirit have control of my words, I pray these reprimands won’t come as often. 

Psalm 19:14 says, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord.” Amen.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How would others describe your words?

2. Study Proverbs and Ecclesiastes and allow God to speak to you about the power of words for good or evil.

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 4:29; Galatians 5:22

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

There’s No Escaping the “Son”

By Jeannine Sawall

“O Lord, you are my lamp.
    The Lord lights up my darkness…”

2 Samuel 22:29 (NLT)

Once, while laying on my beach chair, I was enjoying the warm weather, the crash of the waves and a good book. I was doing my best to stay in the shade of my beach umbrella. I had enjoyed just a little too much sun the previous day and some shade was in order if I didn’t want to end up with more sun burn  than sun tan. 

As I lay there reading, slowly but surely, the sun would creep around and soon I’d find myself laying in the very sunlight I was trying to avoid. I would have to get up, move my chair back into the shade and settle in again. It wasn’t long before the sunlight would invade my spot and I would be up and moving my chair back into the shade again. This went on the entire afternoon. There was no escaping the sun. 

This little dance between my desired shade and the sun reminded me how often I do a similar dance with Jesus. Sometimes I find myself being comfortable in the shade of “small” sins. In those moments, the Lord moves in to illuminate those shady areas I need to deal with. It doesn’t matter how comfortable I might feel in the shade, the Son keeps moving in to drive out the darkness. There may be times I feel I want a little space to call my own - - do my own thing - - but when I allow Jesus to work in my life, inevitably the warmth of the Son shining down moves me to embrace the light and, instead of moving back into the darkness, I look up and want to bask in the Sonlight!  

I’m so thankful Jesus does not allow the shady areas of our lives to remain in darkness. He constantly desires to share His light with us and make His presence known. It just doesn’t matter how many times we may move away or try stay out of the “Sonlight”…there’s just no escaping the Son! 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Is there an area in your life where you are trying to avoid the Son? If so, allow Him to shine in your life and remove the darkness.

2.  Have you thanked Jesus lately for bringing the comfort, warmth and illumination of His Sonlight in your life recently? If not, stop and thank Him right now. 

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 97:11, Psalm 139:7-12; John 15:9 

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.