Just Because

By Karen D’Amore

“Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.”

 1 John 3:18 (NLT)

It was an ordinary day: not a holiday, anniversary, birthday or any other special occasion. I entered my vehicle to leave for work and found a card taped to the steering wheel. The unexpected sentiment was left by my husband…just because!  It’s not the first time he’s left something in my vehicle, taped to the bathroom mirror, or in my suitcase when I’m traveling. These unexpected expressions of love have always impelled me to ask, “What prompted this?” To which he always replies, “Just because!”  Something always draws me to believe that these random expressions of love must be contingent upon something I’ve done!

I doubt that my husband even realizes how much those “just because,”  unexpected displays of love warm my heart. Knowing that his actions are spurred by heartfelt emotion versus being dictated by a date on the calendar fills my love tank to overflowing! And I love that he always leaves these surprises someplace for me to find in his absence, allowing me to carry that piece of him with me when we’re apart.

As my relationship with Christ grows more personal and intimate, I’ve become more aware of His perpetual “just because”  personalized expressions of love. Knowing best how to fill my love tank, God expresses His “just because”  love for me…through the beauty, complexity and creativity of His creations. ^“For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature have been clearly seen…” (Romans 1:20a, NASB) Cognizant of how powerfully nature touches my heart and soul, God becomes visible to me through His creations.

Every time I gaze upon a masterfully brilliant sunrise or sunset, I see the signature… Love, God  woven into the tapestry of His hand-painted sky. When He nudges me to look out the window, just in time, to catch a glimpse of a grazing deer, my heart hears Him whisper…Love, God. With each expression engraved in my memory, an invisible God becomes visible through His signature, Love, God.

Scripture assures us that God’s love is NOT contingent upon anything we’ve done. “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners” (Romans 5:8, NLT).  This powerful display of “just because”  love stretches beyond human comprehension. And to think that, still today, as undeserving sinners, God longs for us to experience His personal expressions of love…

…just because!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Watch for God’s love notes!

FURTHER READING:

John 3:16; Romans 5:6-11

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and a Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. 

Refreshment

By Peggy Kleckner

“See I am doing a new thing! 
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

Autumn can bring rainy, dark days. Typically, these are not my favorite. They seem cloaked in gloom and somewhat tighter-fitting or confining. They remind me that winter is closer, the days are shortening and the temperature will be dropping. I prefer the sunshine days of autumn, where God displays His glory in bold colors and the sky seems broad and roomy.

However, once in the midst of a dark and gloomy, rainy day, my heart spoke whispers of new growth. I thought of all of the roots of the trees and plants rejoicing in praise as they were drinking in the rain. Perhaps they danced in celebration!

A few years ago, it had been a year of drought. We knew our ground needed the life-sustaining and refreshing rain. We could more easily see and accept His gift of showers, because we had experienced the need.  We had seen the effect of the lack. When the showers came, it brought us visions of new growth for next spring and we could look ahead with fresh hope.

That drought two years ago was a great reminder to me. I had been in some dark and gloomy spiritual days. I felt as if I was confined, hemmed in. Some days it felt complete with thunder and lightening. But other days, He reminded me that He is up to something good. He spoke to me and says, “Do you not perceive it?...Don’t you know me by now?”

These days are not to frighten me. They are for my refreshment. They have been given as a gift from my Father’s heart. He is watering His seed in me, looking forward to fresh blooms and good fruit.

All of the seasons are necessary, and are set in order by our sovereign God. He calls out the seasons of our life, both the darkness and the light.

So, I will rejoice in my dark days and dance in my gloom, for God is springing up good things in me!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What darkness is trying to hold your attention captive?

2.  Are you willing to ask God to help you look past this season to see the vision of new growth He has planned?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 139:11-12; Proverbs 23:18; Psalm 30:11-12

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.

Doubting John
By Lisa Boyer

Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
John 1:32-34 (NIV)

John the Baptist had seen and heard the most amazing things! When he baptized Jesus, he witnessed the Spirit coming down from heaven as a dove, and in Matthew 3:17 the Bible tells us he heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (NIV)

But in spite of hearing God’s voice declare that Jesus was the Son of God, John doubted while he was in prison. In Luke 7:20 we read, “When the men came to Jesus, they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'" (NIV)

It seems that when times get tough, doubt tends to creep into our hearts and minds, and John was no exception. Yet in the midst of doubt, John still knew where to find the answer… Jesus Himself.

And what an answer Jesus gave! “So he (Jesus) replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor’” Luke 7:22 (NIV).

Jesus didn’t criticize, get angry or belittle John for doubting. He lovingly pointed John back to the evidence which made it obvious… Jesus was in fact the One.

You and I may not doubt that Jesus is the One, but we still have a tendency to doubt things we should know. We should know that we’re forgiven… we should know that God loves us… we should know where we’ll spend eternity… we should know that He’ll walk with us through anything that happens… we should know that we can trust Him, and yet we doubt.

Thankfully, we too can go back to Jesus where He lovingly provides the answers in His Word.

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you’re struggling with doubt, will you go back to Jesus and His Word today?
2. If you don’t feel you are in a place to go back to Jesus alone, will you ask a friend to come alongside you?

FURTHER READING:
Jude 1:22; Romans 8:38-39; Titus 3:4-5

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. 

It is Well

By Brita Crouse

“Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

A few years ago, I was sitting in church, and as the pastor began speaking, he opened up by telling the congregation that this sermon was going to be on suffering. I could feel my body going rigid and my mind putting up mental walls to tune out what he was saying because I did not want to hear this. But then, I heard that still, small voice nudging me to listen because I might just learn something.

I am currently experiencing a “season of suffering,” so, the fact that this pastor was preaching on this very topic, convicted me about my attitude toward an unwanted obstacle that is being used to tell others about God. Suffering seems to mean certain things to different people. It’s not experienced the same for everyone and everyone handles it differently, but it is something that everyone has, or will, experience.

Horatio Spafford, the writer of the popular hymn “It is Well with My Soul,” experienced an immense amount of suffering. He was ruined financially because of the Chicago fire, and on top of that lost all of his children, either to illness or drowning. He lost so much, yet remained faithful to God and was prompted to go on and write one of the most well-known hymns of all time. His suffering was used by God to reach millions of others over decades and generations through this powerful song.

When God makes us weak through periods of insult, hardship, persecution, or calamity, it gives us the opportunity to fully depend on Him. He is the only one who can provide us true comfort and strength.

“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

This is one of my favorite verses from “It is Well...” because it encourages us to be faithful to God, in good times and in bad. So whether you are experiencing “peace like a river” or “sorrows like sea billows,” remember to always depend on God, for when we are weak, then we are strong in Him.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are you or someone close to you experiencing a season of suffering? How is God using you to glorify Him through this time?

2.  Listen to the hymn “It is Well with My Soul” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80x6wDi9umY) every day this week. What words or lines apply to you specifically right now?

FURTHER READING:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:6-11; Romans 5:1-5

Brita recently moved back to her home state of Wisconsin where she works as an Elementary School Counselor. She and her family have attended Oakwood for 20 years.

Who Do I Believe?

By Tracy Smith

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4 (NIV)

I worry too much. I talk too much. I weigh too much. I’m a bad mom. I’m a bad friend. I’m a bad Christian. I’m a bad wife. I’ve failed. Do these kinds of thoughts weigh you down? The enemy loves for us to believe the lies; to bring us down; to make us feel like failures. When we are focused on all we feel we are doing wrong, we cannot be focused on what God wants us to be doing for Him.

The first time I heard the song, “Greater” by MercyMe, was a powerful reminder to me.

Bring your tired
Bring your shame
Bring your guilt
Bring your pain

Don’t you know that’s not your name
You will always be much more to me…

Bring your doubts
Bring your fears
Bring your hurt
Bring your tears

There’ll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed…

There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
‘Cause the cross already won the war
He’s Greater
He’s Greater [1, emphasis mine]

I’m holy, righteous and redeemed. I’m not condemned. Some days I will lose the battle, but it’s okay because Jesus is greater than all my fears, all my shame, and anyone or anything that might try to make me feel like I’m failing.

But who am I in Jesus? What can I remember to replace the fears, the shame, the failure? Our church website has a great resource of Bible verses and statements of who we are in Christ. See the link in the Further Reading section for the whole list, but here are a few examples:

I am God’s child (John 1:12)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)

I am secure (Ephesians 2:20)

I am adopted as His child (Ephesians 1:5)

I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Read the list in the link below and commit to memory the ones you need to remember the most at this time in your life.

FURTHER READING:

Click here read a list of verses and statements of “Who I am in Christ.” It’s a great resource!

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

[1] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mercyme/greater.html

Click HERE to listen and watch a video of the song

Are You Thrilled?

Psalm 98:1-4 (NLT)
 
“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

Father, I thank You today for_____________________________.


to sing praises to the Most High.

Here’s my song for You today: ___________________________________.


It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

Whom shall I tell today about how You’ve loved me? __________________________.


your faithfulness in the evening,

I recall that time you were so faithful to me: _____________________________.


accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.

I don’t play the harp or the lyre, but I can use my _______________________ to honor You today.


You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!

What really overwhelms me about Your kindness is___________________________.


I sing for joy because of what you have done.

May the way I live be a life-song of joy to You today.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Start a running list of that for which you’re thankful to our God. Consider adding to it daily!
2. How are you training gratitude in your home?

FOR FURTHER READING:
Psalm 100

Psalm 118

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.

² Let Israel say:
    “His love endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron say:
    “His love endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear the Lord say:
    “His love endures forever.”

⁵ When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord;
    he brought me into a spacious place.
⁶ The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?
⁷ The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
    I look in triumph on my enemies.

⁸ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in humans.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the Lord
    than to trust in princes.
¹⁰ All the nations surrounded me,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
¹¹ They surrounded me on every side,
    but in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
¹² They swarmed around me like bees,
    but they were consumed as quickly as burning thorns;
    in the name of the Lord I cut them down.
¹³ I was pushed back and about to fall,
    but the Lord helped me.
¹⁴ The Lord is my strength and my defense;
    he has become my salvation.

¹⁵ Shouts of joy and victory
    resound in the tents of the righteous:
“The Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!
¹⁶     The Lord’s right hand is lifted high;
    the Lord’s right hand has done mighty things!”
¹⁷ I will not die but live,
    and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
¹⁸ The Lord has chastened me severely,
    but he has not given me over to death.
¹⁹ Open for me the gates of the righteous;
    I will enter and give thanks to the Lord.
²⁰ This is the gate of the Lord
    through which the righteous may enter.
²¹ I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
    you have become my salvation.

²² The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone;
²³ the Lord has done this,
    and it is marvelous in our eyes.
²⁴ The Lord has done it this very day;
    let us rejoice today and be glad.

²⁵ Lord, save us!
    Lord, grant us success!

²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
    From the house of the Lord we bless you.
²⁷ The Lord is God,
    and he has made his light shine on us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
    up to the horns of the altar.

²⁸ You are my God, and I will praise you;
    you are my God, and I will exalt you.

²⁹ Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    his love endures forever.