Friday, June 29, 2018


How Will We Be Remembered?
By Susan Klein

“I thank my God every time I remember you.”

 A couple of years ago, I attended the funeral of a beloved childhood pastor of mine. I remember him as a big burly man with a booming voice. I also remember he had the all-encompassing hug of a huge teddy bear. He was my pastor when I went though my most turbulent teen years, and I will always be thankful for the unconditional love he displayed for me.

One of his greatest legacies in my life was teaching me about “faith.” He took a small group of us teens to a college for a week during the summer just to teach us what faith really looked like through impactful examples and exercises. I had never heard or seen such teachings, and they had a profound effect on my life.

Fast-forward to the funeral, now 40 years later. I was anticipating hearing many glorious stories about how he impacted others in their faith walks. This, sadly, was not the case. While some spoke of his generous service to the community, and others spoke of his great “motivational speeches” and his “optimism,” not one person spoke of the things I remembered: his great love and bold faith. It was like going to a funeral service for the Apostle Paul and hearing about what a good tent maker he was. Disheartened, I wanted to jump up from my seat and yell, “You’re all missing the true picture!” I wanted to share my own life-impacting memories with everyone, about how I would never know the Lord as my Savior if it were not for this man’s investing in my life.

It caused me to wonder what might have happened over the past 40 years that I hadn’t seen him. Had his faith waned? Did he become less bold in his proclamation of his Lord? Did worldly matters choke out his spiritual fervor? Or, were people possibly just oblivious to these qualities of his life? Were their hearts hardened to his teachings, only hearing the things they wanted to hear? I may never know the answers to these questions this side of heaven.

One question it has given me pause to consider, “How will I be remembered?” Will people comment on my faith or my clean house? Will they have seen the love of Christ lived out in my life or remember me as someone who lived for self?

How will you be remembered?

GOING DEEPER:
1. Which character traits of yours are most evident to others?
2. Are there areas where your light has dimmed, and needs refueling?

FURTHER READING:

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.


Thursday, June 28, 2018


A Blip on the Radar
By Lexi Cole Ellis

“We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.”

Recently, I was listening to the radio and the hosts asked listeners to call in with their “Five Word Commencement Speech.” Essentially, they were asking for the best piece of advice for new graduates in five words or under. One caller’s intriguing response was: “A blip on the radar.” She went on to explain that often things feel like a big deal at the moment.  But in reality, when you look back, they were only a “blip.”

What Biblical advice this is also! As I look back, there are moments that were certainly challenging; but in hindsight, they were blips. Blips aren’t life-altering, gut-wrenching trials that take up a large amount of screen on the radar. Blips are moments that maybe once caused stress and worry, but don’t matter all that much now because they weren’t chronic or long-lasting.

I can think of plenty of blips in my life, but I struggled to think of “blips on the radar” situations in Scripture.  So many of the stories we read are life-altering trials, while also being beautiful examples of God’s faithfulness in the midst of those trials. One example came to mind.

The prophet, Jeremiah, experienced a blip. As God’s messenger, Jeremiah was deeply grieved when the nation of Israel refused to heed God’s warning. Jeremiah also laments, “I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me.” However, his response to this blip is telling. He goes on to say, “But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will tumble and not prevail.” Regardless of his situation, Jeremiah’s perspective remained firm that God is in control. Also, Jeremiah responds to this blip in his life by turning to prayer. He praises God: “Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked.”  
[1]

I’m thankful for the caller on the radio that reminded me to look back at situations in my life that really did end up being just a blip on the radar. When we are experiencing a “blip”, may we remember to keep the perspective that God is always with us. And may we also be reminded to turn to prayer and praising of God in the midst of our blip.

GOING DEEPER:
1.    Take time to look at the “blips on the radar” moments in your life. Where have you seen God at work?
2.    Is someone you know going through a blip right now? How can you be the tangible hands and feet of Christ to that person?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:28; Joshua 1:9-10; 1 Peter 5:8-9

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, recently became new parents and have an adorable dog. Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

[1] Jeremiah 20:7b-13 NIV

Wednesday, June 27, 2018


An Answered Prayer
By Sarah Walker

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (ESV)

My husband was traveling out of town for business, so I had scheduled a play date at a park with a dear friend and her son. To my knowledge, she did not have a close personal relationship with Jesus. Therefore, I prayed for God to guide me if I should share anything about my faith with her. And if so, I asked the Holy Spirit to show me how and when I should speak.

Little did I know how God would answer that prayer!

On my way to the park, a low tire pressure sensor turned on in my car. I stopped at the dealership to have it looked at, which happened to be less than a mile away from my destination. It turned out that I had a flat tire! Needless to say, this was not exactly the outcome I had in mind when I said that prayer.

As much of a hassle as it was to have a flat tire, I later discovered that I had been given the perfect opportunity to share with my friend how good God is. And how He provided for every seemingly mundane detail in this situation. There were several “coincidences” involved in this fiasco that could only be from God:

1. I “just so happened” to find the flat tire when I was right by the dealership.

2. The new tire was “luckily” under warranty.

3. A woman in the dealership “unexpectedly” had a car seat in another car that my son could use, so we were able to get to the nearby park while the tire was fixed.

In the end, I discovered I had been given the perfect opportunity to boast about God’s goodness and provision!
Sometimes God does that. Sometimes He answers our prayers in ways that we can’t predict or anticipate. If we aren’t paying attention we might miss the answers…especially if that answer is given in a manner that a person would interpret as a hassle or an inconvenience.

When I prayed that God would give me an opportunity to share about Him with my friend, I never once thought He would use a flat tire to do so. Though unanticipated, it was without a doubt an answer to my prayer. It became clear that I could view an “inconvenience” like a flat tire as an outcome that only our God would use for His purposes.

GOING DEEPER:
1.    Might God be answering your prayers through unexpected means as well?
2.    Are you facing any unfortunate circumstances that God could use for his glory?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:31, Ephesians 3:20-21, 1 Peter 3:15

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.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Fair, Not Equal
By Lexi Cole Ellis


“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of His glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”


I learned this phrase when I was student teaching and have used it quite a bit in my classroom. Whether it’s a first grade room or fourth graders, there seems three little words I hear about six times a day.  “That’s not fair!”  To which, I calmly reply, “I will always be fair; I will not always be equal.” There’s a big thing in education called differentiation: It means we assess individual needs and address them. But my six-year-olds struggle with it. So to reinforce it, we do a skit. A doctor is visiting three sick patients. The first patient has a headache. The doctor says, “Go to bed early tonight.  It will be better.” Next patient has a broken arm. The doctor says, “Go to bed early tonight.  It will be better.” Third patient fell on the playground. The doctor says…you get the idea. We explain that the teacher is the doctor. Every student has different academic needs for learning. We need to “treat” his or her specific needs, not do the exact same thing for everyone.

For as much as I say my phrase and do my skit, I realized how often I am the six-year-old complaining, “That’s not fair!” It’s often not out loud, but in my thoughts. And yet, our God - - the great Doctor and Teacher - - looks on us with love and says gently, “I will treat your specific needs...it won’t be equal and, fortunately for you, I’ll give you far more than what’s fair!” He reminds us that He is the Giver and Supplier; that He is a God who knows exactly what we need, when we need it, even when we do not.

For me, it’s hard enough being aware of what slips out of my mouth…being responsible for what I think is tricky! But the reality is, our God is all-knowing…and my “it’s not fair” thoughts are a direct result of an ungrateful heart condition. Judging “fairness” is not my job and, left unchecked, these thoughts can become desires to “have something which we don’t have, but think we should”…which happens to be the exact definition of coveting, an identified sin in Scripture.

No matter the age, my kids love the “It’s not fair!” line. But the reality is, I often do, too. What things am I complainingly claiming are “unfair”? And, if I’m honest with myself, what does that reveal about my heart? I still say “I will always be fair; I will not always be equal” about six times a day…and it serves as a constant reminder for myself every time.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What things are you claiming as “unfair” in your thoughts or to God?
2. Identify what you need to do to address this.

FURTHER READING:
Lexi and her husband, Andrew, recently became new parents and have an adorable dog. Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

Monday, June 25, 2018


Grandpa’s Favorite
By Sarah Hayden

“For God does not show favoritism.”
Romans 2:11 (NIV)

My mom tells this great story about her grandfather. Growing up, my mom knew she was her grandpa’s favorite grandchild. On family trips, it was she who was picked to sit in the front seat between her father and grandfather. Her grandfather always paid special attention to her, letting her sit on his lap at family gatherings. He even gave her a nickname: “Peanut.”

When my mom was nine months pregnant with me, her grandfather died of a stroke. It brought up many memories of the special relationship she had with him. However, the event also uncovered something about her grandfather that she did not expect! At the memorial service, as my mom talked with and consoled each of her cousins, she recalls something remarkable happening. At some point in the conversation, each would lower their voice a little and lean in to confide a secret.

 “I was grandpa’s favorite, you know,” they would say.

At first, my mom was shocked to think she may have been wrong about being her grandpa’s favorite! How could everyone else think the same thing? It didn’t take long to realize the truth, though. Her grandfather had treated all his grandchildren as the “favorite” grandchild. He had built a strong relationship with each of them; getting to know what was deeply meaningful for each one, and he lavishly poured his time and attention into every grandchild.

God is like this. He loves each one of us for who He made us to be.
[1] God is lavish in His love for us. [2] He knows each of us better than anyone else and rejoices over us [3], holding nothing back [4]. God does not show favoritism. Or, perhaps we can also say, EACH of us is God’s favorite!

Are you feeling like God doesn’t love you this way? Do you feel like second tier, or do you compare yourself to someone else, who you assume is God’s favorite? Hold onto the truth that God’s love is big enough for us all. Imagine, when we meet each other after this life, we won’t have to treat it like a secret. Each of us will confidently proclaim, “I am God’s favorite, you know!”

GOING DEEPER:
1.    Do you feel like God’s favorite? Why or why not?
2.    What keeps you from believing the truth of how God thinks of you?

FURTHER READING:
Acts 10:34-43, 1 Peter 1:17-19

Sarah serves as Guest Care Manager at Oakwood and leads an in-home small group. She loves coffee, the library, and, her husband and two sons, not in that order.

[1] Ephesians 2:10
[2] 1 John 3:1
[3] Psalm 139:13
[4] Zephaniah 3:17

Friday, June 22, 2018


The Visit
By Vernette Kureck

“He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.”

One cold, wintry night, two men unexpectedly stopped by from a church we had visited. At eight months pregnant and exhausted from work, I wasn’t in the mood for guests. We reluctantly invited them in. Little did I know my life was about to be changed. 
 

After chatting, Joel asked, “Have you come to the place where you know for certain that if you died tonight you would go to Heaven, or is that something you‘re still working on?“

I was pretty sure I’d go, but then Joel probed further, “Suppose you were to die tonight and stand before God and He asked, ‘Why should I let you into my Heaven?’  What would you say?”  I responded that I was basically a good person; my good deeds certainly outweighed my bad. I’d broken some of God’s rules, but I thought He would let me in…after all, I’d gone to church most of my life.

We talked about Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:48 (NIV), “Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”  I knew I was a flawed perfectionist, kind of like making an omelet with six eggs…five perfect and one rotten.  I saw I was hopelessly infected with sin, just as Romans 3:23 (NIV) says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” When I compared all of my “good” works to God’s holy standard, I knew I was a condemned sinner. 

I’m so grateful that the Lord Jesus said, “For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
That was me.  I had known in my head that Jesus came to die on the cross for the sins of the world, but I had never transferred that knowledge into my heart and acknowledged Him as my  Savior and Lord.

Heaven is a free gift that can’t be earned: “For it is by grace you have been saved through faith- - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - - not by works, so that no one can boast.” So by faith, I prayed that night, asking for forgiveness of my sins and thanking Jesus for dying for me.  Because He was willing to take my  punishment, I could now have eternal life with God in Heaven. I invited Christ to take over all of my life.  In doing so, my  true spiritual journey began.

Jesus said in Revelation 3:20 (NIV), “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”  That door was a picture of my heart…I am so joyful I opened the door that night.  

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you transferred your head knowledge to heart knowledge? 
2. Is Jesus standing at the door of your heart waiting to be invited in? If so, won’t you open the door?

FURTHER READING:

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 49 years and are blessed with 8 grandchildren.  She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain and with Family Promise.


Thursday, June 21, 2018


The Ugly Imp
By Susan Klein

“Whoever is patient has great understanding…”

Standing in line and waiting to check out, I could feel my impatience escalating. It was taking the clerk F-O-R-E-V-E-R to check out the woman ahead of me! How do I always manage to choose the slowest lanes? I’d already unloaded my cart onto the conveyor belt, and now someone else was unloading behind me. There was no escaping the wait.

What seemed like hours later, I was greeted with a cheery smile and a “Hi! How is your day going so far?”

Fine, until I got in this lane… griped the irritable voice in my head. Fortunately, those thoughts stayed put. My mouth opted instead to engage the young woman in polite conversation. Wrong choice!

She could not talk and scan at the same time. Literally. As she regaled me with a rather peculiar story, using her hands to emphasize (rather than scan), it dawned on me that she had some obvious mental challenges. Some of her word choices were inappropriate, and she seemed to occasionally disconnect from her thoughts, stopping in mid-sentence. Her demeanor, however, remained persistently cheerful.

Eight hours later… I huffed my way to my car. She was a simple young woman, carrying out her duties (be it ever so slowly) and striving to be engaging. How could I fault her? Okay, let it go. At least you weren’t outwardly rude to her…

Finally reaching home and unloading my purchases, I noticed my husband’s dirty lunch dishes in the sink. Really, twelve inches away from the dishwasher!?  This time though, the irritable voice escaped my head and verbally unleashed on my unsuspecting man. I honestly hate when that happens!

Impatience is ugly. It is our sin nature to not tolerate the things that are slowing us down or thwarting our expectations. King Solomon states, “A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.” [1] Guess I need to wise up! I’m pretty sure that Jesus never had this problem.

I imagine the person who hired the young clerk displayed much patience and gentleness. I know my husband has been generous with his patience in overlooking many of my offenses. And I am certain that our God is a patient God, as stated in His word. [2]

I believe that patience likely stems from seeing people through Jesus’ eyes. Next time the Ugly Imp (aka impatience) rears its head, I hope to choose more wisely how I respond… recognizing that each person is created in God’s image and fully loved by Him.


GOING DEEPER:
1. What trips your trigger toward impatience with others?
2. How might you tangibly combat the Ugly Imp?

FURTHER READING:

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.



Wednesday, June 20, 2018


All Things
By Peggy Kleckner

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

All things, not some things…what an amazing concept! When I am delayed (all things), when I am disappointed (all things), when I am blessed (all things), when I am cheated (all things), when I am hurt (all things). On and on it goes. Only God can weave all things so intricately that the outcome is good. I may not see it soon…perhaps not even this side of heaven…but if He said it in His Word, I can count on it as truth. What an extraordinary comfort this truth can bring into a difficult day.

Truth is hard to hold onto when we are being battered by the winds of adversity. We must cling to it as a person shipwrecked in the ocean holds fast to anything that floats. Perhaps that is where the saying, “hope floats” comes from! Truth is the hope we as Christians cling to in our life storms.

John 14:6
reads (NIV), “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me.” Jesus spoke those words. He is the truth that we cling to in the midst of our life storms. We tether ourselves to Him and hold fast. He makes the way to the calmer waters. Too often we keep fighting, rather than resting in Him. He allows the storm, as well as the calm. He knows the purpose of each.

Is today a stormy day or a calm day for you? Look to Him in “all things.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What storm are you trying to weather on your own? What “hope” are you clinging to?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 25; Luke 8:22-25

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.


Tuesday, June 19, 2018


Shout Without Screaming
By Lexi Cole Ellis

“For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
 2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)

It feels like there is little that one can say without evoking a debate based solely on emotion rather than facts. Just say, “Harambe” the gorilla, Target bathrooms, Republican nominee, Democratic nominee…the list goes on. When did BOTH sides become so sensitive that we cannot conduct a positive dialogue agreeing to disagree - - maybe even thankful for another perspective? When have BOTH sides become carriers of incomplete soundbites, filled with emotion and outrage, and not willing or able to distinguish the greater complexity of the issue(s)?

Don’t get me wrong: We need to be passionate. There ARE things we need to be fighting for. Yet I worry about our lack of compassion and complete disregard for any credibility the “other side” might have. Our “outrage” verges on over-exaggerating and alienating those whom we, as believers, are called to love. The result? We become incapable of recognizing that not everything is dogma; some opinions can be held with which others can simply disagree.

Recently, one of our pastors shared this point in a sermon that, as believers, we need to relearn how to “shout without screaming.”
[1] I was immediately captivated by the phrase. It echoed a lot of what I was feeling.

How do we shout without screaming? Shouting is to “utter a loud call or cry, typically as an expression of strong emotion.” Screaming is to “cry something in a high-pitched, frenzied way” or to “urgently and vociferously call attention to one’s views or feelings, especially ones of anger or distress.”
[2] Both communicate beliefs that matter deeply to us. Yet what makes the two words different is the tone that is used when expressing oneself. 

Jesus didn’t lack passion in His opinions, and He certainly critiqued ungodly behavior. But His tone was not frenzied or vociferous. He wasn’t known exclusively for His (necessary) outrage - - but also for His works of healing those with physical and spiritual needs. Additionally, throughout the New Testament, Paul repeatedly writes that the Church is to be known by its love for God and love for others.

It makes me wonder… How am I crying out about the things that I feel strongly about? What does my tone sound like in my conversations with others, in my workplace, or what I post on social media?  Am I shouting or am I screaming?

May we be known as those who shout without screaming.

GOING DEEPER:
1.    Take some time to be honest with yourself. In your interaction with others or on social media, are you shouting or screaming?

FURTHER READING:

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin and are expecting their first child in June 2018. She teaches sixth grade Reading & Writing, serves with Children’s Ministries, and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.

[1] April 24, 2016:
Oakwood Church sermon: "Learning to Ride a Bike" Nate Stenholtz, Family Life Pastor. http://oakwoodnow.org/sermon/learning-to-ride-a-bike/


Monday, June 18, 2018


“This is Me”
By Tracy Smith

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.”

I recently saw the musical The Greatest Showman. While I understand that the movie was highly fictionalized, I enjoyed the idea of a person giving the marginalized in the world a place to belong.

After I saw the movie, I was talking to my youngest son (who had only heard the soundtrack) about our favorite songs. We each had a different favorite - - until he saw the movie. There is something powerful in seeing music paired with a story, and that power changed his favorite song to the same as mine: “This Is Me.”

In the movie, Barnum gives the hidden, marginalized people in the world… a place to shine. A place to feel that they are important. That they matter. That they contribute to the world. But then, Barnum temporarily loses his way and publicly rejects those he had previously accepted. It is at this moment that the Bearded Lady sings:

I am not a stranger to the dark
Hide away, they say
'Cause we don't want your broken parts
I've learned to be ashamed of all my scars…
No one'll love you as you are
But I won't let them break me down to dust
I know that there's a place for us
For we are glorious
I am brave, I am bruised
I am who I'm meant to be, this is me…
I'm not scared to be seen
I make no apologies, this is me”
[emphasis mine, 1]

What the movie is missing though is why we are glorious. We are glorious because that is who God made us to be. [2] We are the work of His hands, and each one of us is given unique talents and strengths to be used in order to further His Kingdom. [3]

Beyond what this means for us personally, this should also change how we treat others. Recently, our pastor did a sermon on Genesis 1:27. He explained that we are all created in God’s image…ALL. One of the points in his sermon was, “Every person is to be treated with dignity and respect.”
[4]

I think this idea resonated with me while I watched this movie. We are ALL glorious because God made each of us that way. And because of that, we should treat everyone with dignity and respect.

GOING DEEPER:
1.  When interacting with someone different than yourself, what can you do to remember to treat him or her with respect?

FURTHER READING:



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.

Friday, June 15, 2018


Repentance
By Peggy Kleckner

“The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Christ has died. Christ has risen. Christ will come again.

Three very short sentences. Three sentences that most of us have heard more than once in our lifetime, but do you believe all three?

We live in an age thousands of years removed from Christ’s death. We weren’t there but we have read the written testimony. We can do extensive research, but ultimately, we have to come to believe what we have read. The same is true of the resurrection of Christ.

We get to the place in our Christian walk when the questions should not be who do others say He is, but who do we - - ourselves - - believe that He is.

God wants us with Him, so much so that He sent His Son to pay our penalty and to guide us home. However, He does call each of us to repentance. We cannot skip knowing and acknowledging the price it took to pay for our sin. Too often we want to skip over the ugliness of our sin and what it took to remove it:  the death of Jesus, the death of the innocent, the death of God’s one and only Son.

Sin is no laughing matter, we cannot just say “oh, sorry” and sit down to eat with the Creator of the universe. He is God most high and we should bow down in reverence to who He is and what He has done out of His pure and amazing love for us. We didn’t deserve what He has done and we also cannot earn it. But, most certainly, it should cause us to sit in grief for a season. We should grieve over our sins, the places where we wanted to go our own way and do our own thing. We should also grieve over Jesus, experience that pain of the cross so that our hearts can know the expansive love it took to send Him. Love is just, but it is also compassionate. It is not one or the other. Christ is the visual of perfect love…God Himself.

Finally, after the grieving comes the joy of resurrection…relationship restored. Let us rejoice and be glad in Him. Then let us, after enjoying restored relationship with Him and His great love, tell others that indeed Christ will come again...one heart at a time.



GOING DEEPER:
  1. Do you know the deep anguish of repentance, as well as the joy of salvation?
  2. Are you resting in His great love for you?

FURTHER READING:

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.


Thursday, June 14, 2018


The Vine
By Lisa Boyer

“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles…”
Hebrews 12:1b (NIV)

When we purchased our “house in the country,” the neighbor was kind enough to let me know about some of the trees and plants that grew on the property line. She made a point of showing me a vine and warned me that it spreads easily and is quite destructive. Being as I don’t have a green thumb, I wasn’t overly concerned and I let the vine run wild. I noticed that it was creeping down the property line towards the road, but I didn’t care, since there was no danger to the mature trees on the lot line.

Five years later, I found myself out there with gigantic clippers trying to get the vine under control. This was not an easy task. As the vine travels along the ground, it entrenches itself by dropping roots along the way. As it travels above ground, it wraps itself tightly around tree branches and bushes. I tracked down every piece of the vine, tugging and pulling it out of trees and bushes and ripping it out of the ground. The job seemed hopeless, but I wasn’t giving up. I was determined to stop the vine.

So, why the sudden interest in a vine I had been warned about and ignored for five years? The vine had reached something that I loved: the beautiful lilac bush at the front of my property. I managed to rescue the lilac bush, but the vine has taken hold in the area and I cannot get rid of it.

That vine reminds me of how surrounded we are by sin in this world. Left unchecked, sin creeps closer and closer until it gets into our very lives, entrenching itself and entangling us. We must be ever-diligent and proactive about protecting ourselves and our families. Regular “yard” checks to see if sin is creeping into our lives by radio, television, relationships, movies, books, magazines, computer and more, are in order.

When we bought our home, the vine was 250 feet from that lilac bush. Today, the vine is less than 10 feet from the lilac bush. The lilac’s only hope for survival is my diligence in cutting back the vine. Oh, how I regret letting the vine get that close. I won’t do the same with sin.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Will you ask God to give you wisdom as to how you can best protect yourself and your family from the influences of the sin of this world?
2. If you’ve become entangled in sin, will you turn to the Savior and ask Him to set you free?

FURTHER READING:
John 8:36; 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22

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.