We Don’t Have To Have All the Answers

By Susan Klein

“Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”

Proverbs 17:28 (NIV)

Usually when I need an example of perseverance through trial, I go to the book of Job. Here was a blameless and upright man who suffered extreme personal loss, while also enduring ridicule and shame by those who supposedly loved him the most. Yet, while he is the model of perseverance, I’ve come to learn another lesson from Job that I want to emulate: “I don’t need to have all the answers.”

After his period of grieving, Job’s friends started to pummel him with questions as to why God would allow such a travesty to occur to such a godly man. For awhile, Job accepts his lot, defending his Creator to those who are making accusations. But, eventually his despair gets the better of him and Job starts to question God as well. “What did I do to deserve this? Why have you made me your target?” (paraphrased from chapter 7)

Eventually, we read that God speaks. He’s heard enough of accusations and questioning from Job and his friends. Beginning in chapter 38, He reminds Job that He alone is God, Creator of all, and He decides what will happen to whom. Job does not know the things that God knows and has no business questioning His ways. After being rebuked, Job replies, “I am unworthy - - how can I reply to you? I put my hand over my mouth. I spoke once, but I have no answer - - twice, but I will say no more” (Job 40:4-5, NIV). Job got the message.

Similarly, who am I to question what God is doing in my life or in the life of someone else? Why do we always feel the need to have answers or know the reason for our plight? Is that walking by faith or by sight? Jesus reminds us in Matthew 5:45 that God causes His sun to rise on the good and the evil, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. No one is exempt from trials, and no one has the answers to all of life’s questions. No one, except God.

Like Job’s friends, when others begin to question God, we should not join in on the questioning nor should we always strive to have an answer for them, other than: “Our God is in Heaven; He does whatever pleases Him” (Psalm 115:3, NIV). We don’t need to know, we just need to trust!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What questions might you have that seem to be going unanswered? Are you willing to let them go, and “just trust”?

2.  Spend some time with the Creator and marvel at His sovereignty.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 135:5-6;Acts 17:24-26 ; Romans 9:14-18

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.

Words From My Friend

By Vernette Kureck

“I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in his word I put my hope.”

Psalm 130:5 (NIV)

Zzzzt  went the notification on my cell phone. I had just played the word “bible” for 70 points and was waiting expectantly for a response from my opponent. Yes, I really enjoy playing “Words with Friends.”

It is challenging, fun and nourishes my competitive spirit. But even more challenging and enjoyable is to be in God’s Word - - the Bible - - and have my spirit enriched, encouraged and edified.

• To be enriched like Paul when he says in Colossians 3:16 (NIV) to “Let the message [the Word] of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns and songs from the spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.” Collective, good Bible study and worship nourishes the soul to overflowing and promotes a thankful attitude, making you rich.

• To be encouraged with King David when he says in Psalm 37:4 (NIV) to “Take delight in the Lord [the Author of the Word] and He will give you the desires of your heart.” When you commit your ways to the Lord, your heart desires things that are pleasing to God and you will be blessed and be a blessing.

• And lastly, to be edified like Jesus. “Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens.” (Psalms 119:89, NIV) We can be strong in our beliefs because what we have is Truth and Truth is unchanging. Jesus came as the Living Word and now we have the Bible as His living Word. Before Jesus began His earthly ministry, he was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He was tempted for forty days. Always His answer to the devil began with “it is written.” Yes, we can be firm when we have His words in our minds and hearts.

The old hymn “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” shares all the friendship qualities we have in Jesus. He is not my competition but He is challenging, enjoyable and nourishes my heart, soul and mind. And I don’t have to hear Zzzzt  to be notified He has made contact. All I need to do is open and read the Word from my Friend and be expectant as to what Truth He has for me now.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Google the lyrics to What a Friend We Have in Jesus.

2. How are you being enriched, encouraged and edified?

FURTHER READING:

John 1:1; Luke 4:1-14

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.

“THAT ONE!”

By Susan Klein

“There is no one righteous, not even one…”

Ephesians 3:10 (NIV)

“I would NEVER do that!” Have these words ever flown freely from your lips? You know, in regard to that heinous sin or inconceivable act that you’d never ever consider doing? Yah, THAT ONE. We all have our lists of “those ugly things” that we’d never do! And when we see or hear of others doing them…gasp! Send them to the gas chamber! Let them rot in jail! These might be just a few of the thoughts we find ourselves entertaining. I know I’ve been guilty of this a time or two, or ten…

Isn’t it peculiar how we create our own hierarchy of sin? Where in Scripture might we actually see this modeled? Um, it’s not. In fact, James tells us that quite the opposite is true: “Whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking it all.” [1] Hmm…ruminate on that for a minute. The first sin that I ever committed - - no matter how tiny - - made me guilty of committing all sins. Yikes!

James prefaces this point by stating that if we really kept the royal law, “Love your neighbor as yourself…” Then we’d be doing right. But if we create a hierarchy of sins, making some more abhorrent than others, then we ourselves are sinning. We are essentially trying to minimize our own sins.  

Granted, some sins are more egregious than others and may even carry stiffer penalties or have harsher consequences. But when it comes right down to it, sin is sin. We are all on equal standing before God, equally guilty of breaking His perfect law. No one should be valued as lower than others for having “uglier” sin.

God’s holy word even takes this one step further. We are exhorted to value those other sinners as higher than ourselves. Whoa. Not lower, not even as equals, but “higher.” [2] Remember that royal law? Now, let’s think of THAT ONE sin again. Let’s think of the person who is committed THAT sin. How do we view them now? Can we humbly look at them as children that are dearly loved by our heavenly Father - - desperately in need of our Savior? The same way that we hope to be viewed for our sin?

Let us take on the attitude of Jesus Christ, who made Himself nothing. Though He is equal with God, He took on the nature of a servant… and humbly became obedient to death. [3]

GOING DEEPER:

1) What does your hierarchy look like? Which sin is at the top?

2) How might you adjust your view of other people’s sin?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 5:27-28; Colossians 3:13-14

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

[1] James 2:8-10

[2] Philippians 2:3

[3] Philippians 2:4-8

Remembering the Sacrifice

By Tracy Smith

“Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13 (NIV)

When my kids were younger, they were always very excited to celebrate an extra day off of school today, one day it occurred to me that we’ve lost the meaning of the Memorial Day holiday. We plan for the day off and all that we will do: have a picnic, sleep in, work in the yard or just nothing. Yet, the reason for the holiday gets lost in the shuffle and in the busy-ness of the day.

Memorial Day is a day set aside to honor those in our nation’s history who have sacrificed their very lives to keep us free. However, we get so preoccupied with utilizing our extra day of “freedom” from our normal, daily responsibilities, that we forget the purpose for the holiday: to remember and thank those that have sacrificed everything to keep us free.

Aren’t we like that with our Lord, too? We get so caught up serving Him in our church, in our homes and in our community that we forget to stop and actually thank God for all He has done for us. We forget to thank Him for the sacrifice He made on our behalf.

Today, let’s remember to just stop, be still and be thankful for the sacrifice that so many American soldiers have made for our physical freedom…and the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross to keep us free for eternity.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What will you do today to thank veterans for the physical freedoms you enjoy?
2. What will you do today to thank Jesus for the freedom you enjoy both now and for eternity?

FURTHER READING:
John 3:16; Galatians 5:1; John 8:36; Ephesians 5:20

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.

The God Who Sees
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“…You are the God who sees me…”
Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

Imagine a young, unmarried, pregnant woman with no home, no family, and no future. She has no education, no means of providing for the child she carries. She has been used and abandoned emotionally by the child’s father, treated harshly by his family. Seeing no other options, she runs away. The future is bleak…there is no one to help…what will become of her?

When all appears hopeless, an angel of the LORD comes to her. He speaks to her…the unwed mother…the homeless wanderer. He has specific instructions from God himself. She is to name her son “God hears.” God will make her descendants too numerous to count. He has a plan for HER! Her response, in what I imagine to be an astonished whisper, is, “I have now seen the One who sees me.” She has not been abandoned….she has been seen by a God who cares deeply about her and her unborn child. And while the angel instructs her to return to her child’s father, she is no longer alone.

This is no “Movie of the Week.” It is the story of Hagar, an Egyptian slave and the mother of Abraham’s first son, Ishmael. The culture of the Old Testament book of Genesis allowed masters to keep slaves, to treat the slaves as they wished, and for female slaves to bear children in place of their master’s wives. On the ladder of society, these female slaves were the bottom rung. They were given no rights, no freedoms, no opinions. Surely God would not take notice of one such as this.

Have you ever felt like God doesn’t notice what’s going on in your life? That you couldn’t be important to Him? “Hagar’s God is the One who numbers the hairs on our heads and who knows our circumstances, past, present, and future.” (1) In our places of desolation, God is intimately aware of our hurts, our troubles, our sorrows. His care for us is personal, intimate and individual. The psalmist writes, “I lift up my eyes to the hills…where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth…The LORD will keep you from all harm…he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore” (Psalm 121: 1-2, 7-8, NIV)

Know today that God sees you, He cares about you, and you are never alone.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you feeling weak in the face of today’s challenges? Pray for strength to keep your eyes fixed on the One who sees you.
2. How have you experienced God’s watchful care?

FURTHER READING:
2 Chronicles 16:9; Proverbs 15:3

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

(1) © 2004. Praying the Names of God, Ann Spangler, page 27.

Infestation
By Sarah Walker

[Jesus] is the propitiation for our sins…
1 John 2:2a (ESV)

The evidence was overwhelming. We had a problem. At first, we ignored it. But that didn’t work. Air fresheners scattered strategically throughout our basement only masked the problem, rather than dealing with the source. And then we found mice running across our basement. The mousetraps and poison did their job, and we successfully caught several mice. But the smell never quite went away and neither did the sightings. It didn’t take long before we saw baby mice. We realized there was a mouse nest somewhere in our basement, and that the measures we were taking were not sufficient to eradicate the problem.

A pest control specialist was called. He set some traps of his own and promised to return in a few months. After his next visit, he checked the traps and determined where the mice were likely entering. We had a few openings, no more than a quarter inch wide. And that, he said, was all the space they needed to enter. With the mice gone and the holes patched, the mice in our basement have been eradicated.

How often does the sin in our own lives mimic my experience with those mice? At first, there are indications of our sin, but we choose to ignore them or cover them over. The smell is there, but if we ensure our own internal air fresheners are strong enough, pretty soon the floral scent is enough to make us think we have fixed the problem.

Oh, but then the negative consequences of our sins make an active appearance. And this time we can’t apply a simple air freshener to the problem. We put poison out to kill the unwanted side effects of the sin - - never truly dealing with the root. And then we realize, somewhere in the basement of our hearts, there is a nest of sin. The sin keeps multiplying. We need to find the cracks and seal the entrances that the evil one has been using to enter our hearts and lives. But no matter how hard we try, we are not capable of running the sin out of our lives in our own power.

Mercifully, we have a “pest control specialist” that we can call. But we must first realize that there is a problem, and then we can repentantly make the call to ask Jesus to deal with our sin. He has dealt with sin once and for all. And He can drive it away in our lives… no matter how great the infestation is.

GOING DEEPER:
If you need to make a call to your “pest control specialist” to deal with the sin in your life, call on Jesus in repentance. Ask Him to clear out your infestation.

FURTHER READING:
Romans 7:14-8:2, 1 John 1:7-10

Sarah is married to Scott and is a full-time mom to their two young sons. She and Scott are involved in a small group focused on prayer.

Pondering

By Peggy Kleckner

“….and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.”

Luke 2:18-20 (NIV, emphasis added)

Motherhood…what a job! It brings to mind babies, cooking, dishes, carpooling, homework wars, constant motion and little rest. But here at the beginning of Mary’s motherhood role, we find her treasuring and pondering. Not just that, but she was doing it “in her heart,” that deep-seated place of our true self.

I love the two concepts God chose here: “treasured” and “pondered.” Just sit with those words for a moment.  What happens when we “treasure” something? What happens when we “ponder” something? I may see my child every day, but if I stop to “treasure” him, what changes? What happens when I linger to “ponder” on his growth and change, or my own?

Concerning each of her children, how much time do you think your own mother spent in doing these two things, treasuring and pondering their life-circumstances from the time of conception to the present?  If you are a mom, how often have you found yourself treasuring or pondering specific moments and happenings?

Life seems fast-paced, hectic, ongoing. We rush. We fuss. We do. How much do we “treasure” and “ponder”?  How much time do we spend in the secret recesses of our hearts? What moments, what “things,” do we take there to ponder on?

Since God chose to mention this in Scripture, might He be confirming this practice? Shouldn’t there be time set aside in the rush to step aside in wonder at life? Shouldn’t we ponder the workings of His mighty hand in our lives, and in the lives of our children?

Stop the motion today, if only for a moment, to practice the art of treasuring and pondering…

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Consider where in your week you might make the time to “stop” and engage in some treasuring and pondering of your own.

2.  If you’re able, how about asking your own mom what she has treasured and pondered about your life, as well as her own?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 64:9; Psalm 111:2; Proverbs 2:1-5; Luke 2:51

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.

“In Lieu of Flowers…”

By Susan Klein

“May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts.”

Psalm 119:173 (NIV)

Most people will attend at least one funeral in their lives. Many will send flowers as an act of condolence. It is a tradition that stems from ancient times when the fragrance of the flowers was used to mask embalming odors. In our current culture, sending flowers sends a message to the recipient that we care, and they may bring a little beauty into a sad time.

Occasionally, people will request we use our generosity in another way. We might see a notice in the obituary that says, “In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to…” and then lists the deceased person’s charity or foundation of choice, or the donation request may simply help the family offset funeral costs or meet other needs. While sending flowers is a thoughtful gesture, it’s good to know that there might be a better choice.

The same rings true in other areas of life. We may choose an acceptable option for a given situation, but it may not be the best option. In lieu of making my child’s bed for him because he doesn’t do a good job, I might teach him some tricks to make him a better bed maker. Or maybe in lieu of texting a friend to ask how they are doing, a better choice may be a phone call or a person-to-person visit.

Spiritually speaking, I have to wonder how often I might not be choosing the better option. The story of Mary and Martha always come to mind. Mary chose to prepare a meal for her guests - - a good and needed choice. But Martha (in lieu of busying herself with preparations) chose the “better” option of sitting at Jesus’ feet for a time of spiritual feeding. [1] How often am I so busy with chores and life that I’m neglecting God, or even someone else who might need me?

In Proverbs, King Solomon (essentially) says, “In lieu of presenting sacrifices, do what is right and just, which is more acceptable to the Lord.” [2] While we don’t follow the practice of sacrifice, we do engage in Sunday worship and the giving of time, talents and treasures. While these are all good choices, if I am putting my efforts in the program in lieu of the people, am I making the best choice? If I am giving grudgingly in lieu of choosing a cheerful heart, am I doing what is just and right?

What better option might you consider choosing in lieu of…?

GOING DEEPER:

1. Spend time with God asking Him to show you what He desires of you.

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 8:10-11; Hebrews 11:24-26

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

[1] Luke 10:38-43

[2] Proverbs 21:3

Mountain Moving

By Elin Henderson

“So Jesus answered…them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain “Be removed and be cast into the sea,” it will be done.’”

 Matthew 21:21 (NKJV, emphasis added)

           

After living on the flat coast of Africa and then in Florida, I am always overwhelmed and amazed to travel into “mountain” country. Whether it’s the Drakensburg Mountains of South Africa or the Rocky Mountains here in the US, I am awed by the size and magnitude of these seemingly immovable landmarks.

             

So, when Jesus says to the disciples, “If you have faith, you can tell that mountain to be removed and cast into the sea, and you know, it will happen,” the impossibility of the task from a human perspective isn’t hard to imagine. Granted, most of us aren’t needing actual mountains moved, but let’s face it, we all have some pretty BIG mountains in our lives. Mt. Fear, Mt. Insecurity, Mt. Hurt, Mt. Unforgiveness, to name a few. The size and magnitude of these monsters in our lives can be overwhelming and lead us to despair or despondency.

Jesus is calling us like He did His disciples - - to face our mountains with faith and not doubt, not because we  can move that mountain, but because HE CAN !  Is He bigger than our mountains? Is He stronger? Is He able? The answer is always YES! When we believe that He is able and have faith in His ability, then the ground starts to rumble and the mountain begins to move. 

Look again at this verse. It isn’t just removing the mountain. It is casting it into the sea. There is closure when something sinks beneath the waters. Then, when we recall the mountains, all we’ll see is a sign floating from God reading, “No swimming and absolutely no SCUBA diving permitted.” So, let’s start moving some mountains, and when the sea swallows them up, let’s obey the signs and stay out of the water!

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1. Are there any mountains you can “name” in your life today?

2. How does seeing that “no swimming” sign in the waters help us have victory?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 17:20 (same concept, different illustration); Luke 3:5

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

Faith of a Child
By Jeannine Sawall

“But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'”

Matthew 19:14 (NIV)

My husband and I are one of those couples where having a baby didn’t come easily. We lost three babies to miscarriage before the birth of our oldest son. The doctors thought they had “fixed” the issue and we went on to have our second son without problems. When we decided it was time for another, we once again experienced the heartache of miscarriage. This time the doctors suggested it was the one in four “fluke.” Unfortunately, that was not the case and I went on to miscarry five times over the next 26 months. I was devastated and heartbroken.

During this season, we were teaching our young sons the power of prayer. They had received a children’s prayer journal and each night we would write down a prayer request, an answer to prayer or something they were thankful for. My oldest son asked for a new baby each night. This went on for months. After our fifth loss, it became too painful for me to write it, let alone pray it with him; to me, it seemed the heavens had turned to brass. With tears ready to fall, I told him we could stop asking because it didn’t appear we would add another baby to our family; that sometimes God’s answer is “no.” He looked at me, his innocent face full of concern, and said, “That’s okay, Mom. God didn’t tell me ‘no.’ I’ll still pray for a new baby, even if you can’t anymore.” And he did…faithfully.

A few months later, I was pregnant again. I had no joy, thinking I was on my way to another miscarriage. However, that was not the case. Eight and a half months later, we were elated with the healthy arrival of our third son. I was blessed not only by my son’s faith, but also by his smile, as he wrote Matthew’s name in his journal as God’s answer to his prayer!

The path God calls us to is not always easy or quick. Sometimes we are left in a hard place for longer than we like and we must really dig in and hang onto God. The Lord used my six-year-old son and his tireless faith to show me that. Of course, there are absolutely times when God’s answer is “no”; however, until His answer becomes clear, we are called to press on, press in and to have unwavering faith…like that of a child.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What area in your life is God calling you to press on and have faith like a child? He is faithful to see you through whatever circumstance is causing you to doubt.
2. Is there someone or something in your life you have been praying for and have not gotten an answer for? Continue to call out to God, He promises to answer you.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 11:6; Luke 18:17; Psalm 71:5-6

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.

“Do You Love Me?”
By Elizabeth Cole

“Again Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?’”
John 21:16a (NIV)

I’ve been thinking about that poignant moment in the second act of Fiddler on the Roof  where Tevye asks Golde, his wife of 25 years, if she loves him. Tevye is intrigued by his daughter’s love for a young man and it causes him to tentatively ask, “Golde…do you love me?” She quickly brushes off the question as simply a sign of indigestion, given all the stress and trouble that’s taking place in their turn-of-the-century village. But he persists…“Golde, I’m asking you a question…do you love me?”

And here’s the part that has caused me to dwell on this scene lately. Golde answers, “For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned your house, given you children, milked the cow…” How quickly her mind moves to actions…good actions, for sure. Basically, she’s replying, “Good grief, look at everything I’ve done for you! I’ve spent my whole adult life doing things for you…”

How often does that become our answer when we stop to think about how we love Jesus? “Lord, of course, I love you. Look at everything I’ve been doing for you. In fact, I’ve spent my whole adult life doing things for you…” The tone of voice in my mind uncomfortably echoes what I imagine Martha’s to be when her friend Jesus came to visit. While her sister Mary sits with Jesus, Martha does things for Jesus. Martha’s about accomplishments and results; Mary’s about first things first.

Love is first. Henri Nouwen writes of Jesus’ exchange with Peter as He restores him, “He whose only concern had been to announce the unconditional love of God had only one question to ask, ‘Do you love me?’ The question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus?” (1)

Am I in love with Jesus? Am I in love with One who laid aside every divine right in order to obey the Father and drag a way-too-heavy cross up a hill? Am I in love with the One who calmly tells the wind to cool it, tenderly holds a child, and speaks unvarnished truth for the sake of Love? Do I love Him as my First Love, with fervency and passion…with all my heart and soul and mind and strength?

Actions matter…for sure. But His question’s got to be answered first: Do you love me?

GOING DEEPER:
What will you do today to be with Jesus?

FURTHER READING:
Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10; John 21; Philippians 2; Revelation 2:1-7

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

 (1) Henri J.M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus, The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York, p. 37

Change the Storyline

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight!

Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt,

whose lives are lived in complete honesty!”

Psalm 32:1-2 (NLT)

I have a Confession to make.

Do I have your attention? As any writer of crime shows or soap operas knows, the Confession is powerful. The storyline changes once the Confession happens. 

Jesus knows it, too. During the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6, Jesus instructs His followers how to pray. Very specifically, His example of speaking to God includes a request for forgiveness of our debts/sins. 

This is a part of prayer that can be hard. I don’t like to discuss my daily (hourly!) shortcomings. In prayer, so often I want to accentuate the positive and ask for my requests.  Here’s the problem…

When I neglect to confess my sin, I diminish the power of God’s grace in my life. 

Without seeing my sin and the darkness of my human condition, I ignore the beauty that is the relationship with my Savior. Without professing my issues to the God who adores me, I gloss over the call to turn to Him in dependency and need. Without the daily realization that I am a ragamuffin human completely undeserving of the love and attention of the God of the universe, I begin to believe that I can do this Christian life on my own.

A paraphrase of 1 John 1:8-9 puts it this way:  “If we claim that we’re free of sin, we’re only fooling ourselves. A claim like that is errant nonsense. On the other hand, if we admit our sins - - make a clean breast of them - - he won’t let us down; he’ll be true to himself. He’ll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrongdoing.” (The Message)

Confession is pivotal. With Confession, God is able to clean out the wounds we have from our own sins, and those others created. When we confess our fears and failures and shortcomings, we become vulnerable and teachable. When that happens, God can change our storyline.

Do you have a Confession to make?

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Spend time in thoughtful confession with God today.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 32:5; 2 Chronicles 7:14

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

Shaken Not Disturbed

By Elin Henderson

 “He only is my rock, and my salvation; my fortress, I shall NOT be greatly shaken.”

Psalms 62:6 (ESV, emphasis added)

To coin a phrase from our good friend in Her Majesty’s Secret Service*, sometimes life feels a little “shaken and  stirred” up. While Dr. No and Goldfinger may not be our greatest foes, we aren’t lacking for enemies in this world. These powers that be (without and within) can leave us feeling shaken to the core and stir up plenty of fear and anxiety in our souls.

Paul knew a little about being shaken and stirred. In 2 Corinthians 11:22-28, we see a few of the shakings he went through…beaten, lost at sea, stoned, left as dead, rejected. Yet, he remained firm, not disturbed,  in spite of trying circumstances and people.

Yes, life shakes us up sometimes. It might be a sudden diagnosis at the doctor’s office, the loss of a loved one, a pink slip from the boss, a betrayal by someone you cared for deeply. Whether the shaking is physical, emotional or spiritual, it can leave us reeling.

Paul shares with us a few of his spiritual secrets for remaining shaken but not disturbed in 2 Corinthians 4:7-12. When life is tossing us around, stirring us up, shaking us to the core, we have a ROCK, a steady, undisturbed peace that we can run to. His presence at our right hand is working life out through us and promises peace and stability in the midst of the shaking storm.

Paul also knew that sometimes the shaking and stirring is meant to prepare us to be poured out for another. In Philippians 2:17, Paul reminds the Philippian believers that, yes, he has been shaken and stirred, but all for a purpose: to be poured out for their sakes.

So whether you are being shaken in order to grow you in your faith and stability in Christ, or for the sake of being poured out for another, we have a hope that allows us to endure un-disturbed.

             

GOING DEEPER:

1. Can you think of any other individuals in the Bible who were shaken but not disturbed? (David, Elijah…)

2. What were their spiritual “secrets”?

FURTHER READING:

Psalms 16:8; Acts 2:25; 2 Thessalonians 2:2

*James Bond!

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

Early Spiritual Training

By Susan Klein

“Train up a child in the way he should go; and when he is old, he will not depart from it.”

Proverbs 22:6 (KJV)

Parenting isn’t for sissies. Anyone who has ever reared children will quickly attest to that. A great deal of passion, pain and perseverance go into raising our kiddos. Engage any parent in conversation and they will have tales to verify this. And they’ll likely share their best parenting tips (if you’re so inclined to inquire). Yet we all know that there are no cookie-cutter children; thus, no “one-size-fits-all” parenting manuals.

So how can we all make a lasting impact on our children, grandkids or any “littles” in our care? King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live on this earth, spoke the above verse. Ask someone for their interpretation and you may get several well-intentioned responses. One may advocate making sure that your children go to Sunday School, or maybe you should enroll them in a Christian school. Another may advise teaching them to be morally upright and obey established rules. Most will agree that the burden lies with us in actively sharing God’s truths with these dear ones. So what might that tangibly look like?

Let me share an example from a young mom I recently had the pleasure of speaking with. She had her very young daughter in a stroller at a craft show. As they visited a booth filled with prints and signs that contained mostly words, her daughter became somewhat animated. After they exited the booth, she kept pointing back to it and making little sounds as if she wanted to return. Her mother thought that odd, seeing as how her daughter didn’t know the woman, and there were no toys to entice her. After they got home, she had her on the changing table and noticed her pointing to the print on the wall, making the same little sounds as before. It was a framed Bible verse.

Each of her children had a verse dedicated to them and hanging in their room. She realized that the woman had the exact same verse on a print in her booth. This mom had spent much time reciting the verse with her daughter over and over, pointing to the words as she spoke them. Even though she could not yet speak the words, this little one visually recognized those very same words on a print in the booth that day. The training in her tiny heart had already begun.

Even in the smallest of children, God’s Word is alive, active and useful for training.

GOING DEEPER:

1.Whose young life might you have an impact on?

2. Will you commit to some spiritual training, as God permits opportunities?

FURTHER READING:

Deuteronomy 6:5-9; Proverbs 6:20-23; 1 Timothy 4:7-9

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.

Valuable
By Sarah Walker

See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are.
1 John 3:1a (ESV)

God tells me in His Word that I am valuable to Him. He tells me that I am cherished. He tells me that He made me. That I am made in His image, and that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He tells me that He has placed his Spirit inside of me. That I am a temple, a dwelling place, for the Holy Spirit. He tells me that my beauty comes from within, from where He resides and transforms. He tells me that my beauty cannot be wiped off or washed away at the end of the day. That my value is not found in what other people say or believe about me. He tells me that I am His daughter, broken and sinful. He tells me that I am His daughter, repentant and weeping. He tells me that I am His daughter, redeemed and restored.

He tells me all these things…

Yet, do I believe Him? Or do I just repeat these truths on the surface without allowing them to sink in, to penetrate, to go deep? Do I truly believe that when I confess my sins to Him and repent, that He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse me? [1] What if I took God at His Word, and truly believed Him, and then lived my life as though everything He tells me is true? What would I do differently? What would I perceive differently?

Perhaps I would learn to value myself the way He values me, not selling myself so easily to anyone who flatters me or shows a desire to be around me. Perhaps I would risk more for Him, believing that He is all I need and that my life is hidden with Jesus in God. [2] Perhaps I would begin to view other people as having that same intrinsic value and treat them as lovingly as my Heavenly Father does. Perhaps I would stop submitting to these old chains and learn to value things the way God does.

Oh, to believe God and catch His heart for what He determines to be truly of value!

GOING DEEPER:

1.    If you truly believe that God says you are valuable, is there anything you would do differently?

2.    If you truly believe that God says other people are just as valuable, is there anything you would do differently?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 139:14, Genesis 1:27, 1 Corinthians 3:16

Sarah is married to Scott and is a full-time mom to their two young sons. She and Scott are involved in a small group focused on prayer.

[1] 1 John 1:9
[2] Colossians 3:3