“Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down this Wall!”

 By Elin Henderson

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds [a.k.a. walls],”

2 Corinthians 10:4 (NKJV with my addition)

Oh, if only it was that easy, to see an obstacle looming in front of us and simply say like President Reagan did, “Mr. Gorbechav, tear down this wall!”

Nowhere do walls loom larger than in the hearts and minds of people. My husband and I work in a resistant context where the walls seem thicker, higher and have razor wire strewn atop them! But I realize that resistant hearts can exist anywhere, especially in a location where all our needs are met and there are no absolutes. The commentator Warren Weirsbe says, “Once the walls in the mind have been torn down, the door to the heart can be opened.” [1]

How then do we move forward? Satan has built and fortified many mind-walls. Our human efforts are vain and empty against them. There are no wrecking balls big enough, words strong enough, nor personalities bold enough to break through. This battle will not be fought with weapons of the flesh. Instead we are endowed with two simple, yet extremely powerful weapons of the Spirit: prayer and the Word of God.

When studying the armor of God, we find that these are the only two offensive weapons offered. Dependence on the Holy Spirit in ongoing prayer, as well as continued sharing of the Word of God  - -  in word and deed! This may seem like an odd way to break through resistant walls, but when have God’s ways been typical? How many times have those either on and at the walls said, “What on earth is going on here?” What is foolishness to man is awesome power to God.

Our job is to stay faithful, obedient, patient and wield our weapons wisely! Then when He moves, watch out! Because the walls will come tumbling down in such a way that we might be caught off guard. Joshua’s Old Testament battle at Jericho wasn’t over just because the walls came down. He still had much fighting to do. The city had to be subdued. With the walls down, the heart will be open to hear truth. But we must then be available to teach that truth and speak life into that individual.  

So we boldly cry out to the only One who can…“Oh God, tear down this wall!”

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1.    Who in your life has resistant walls built around their heart? Will you utilize prayer and God’s Word, as you boldly cry, “Oh, God, tear down this wall!”

FURTHER READING:

Joshua 6; Ephesians 2:14; Ephesians 6:10-18; 1 Corinthians 1:26-31

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.

             

[1] Weirsbe, Warren, The Bible Exposition Commentary Volume 1, pg 665, Victor Publishing Colorado Springs, CO, 2001.

The Impossible Imposter

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,

He was crushed for our iniquities;

The punishment that brought us peace was on him,

And by his wounds we are healed.”

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

In the early 1900’s, the U.S. was in a state of “Chaplinitis.” Charlie Chaplin’s silent movie character became a phenomenon and from it sprung a pastime of “look-alike” contests. Entertainment folklore says that Charlie himself dressed up in character and entered a contest in San Francisco.

He failed to make the finals.

I’m pretty sure Jesus could relate to how Charlie might have felt.

Since Old Testament times, the human race has been looking for Messiah. Prophets have foretold hundreds of details about Messiah, and dozens have claimed to be the Promised One.

Only One fulfilled them all…Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2) of the Virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14).  A descendant of King David (Isaiah 9:7), he healed the brokenhearted (Isaiah 61:1-2) and was rejected by His own people (Psalm 69:8). He was betrayed (Psalm 41:9), falsely accused (Psalm 35:11), crucified with criminals (Isaiah 53:12), and mocked (Psalm 22:7-8).

Messiah would pray for His enemies (Psalm 109:4), be buried with the rich (Isaiah 53:9), resurrect from the dead (Psalm 16:10 and 49:15), and ascend to heaven (Psalm 24:7-10) as the sacrifice for all sin (Isaiah 53:5-12).

In fact, there are over 700 biblical prophecies concerning the Messiah. The odds of one person fulfilling even 48 of them are 1 in 10 to the 157th power. Mind-boggling!

As we consider how Jesus fulfills all of these prophesies, let’s remember that everything else that He said must be true, too.

Which means He’s Coming Back!  This Easter season, as we reflect on the triumph of the resurrection, let’s also remember that, “…Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many;  and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (Hebrews 9:28). Amazing!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How does seeing Jesus as the miraculous fulfillment of prophesy affect how you see His role in your life today?

2.  How does the knowledge that Christ is going to return impact your life?

FURTHER READING:

John 14:1-3; Acts 1:10-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

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

To Him Be the Glory

By Jeannine Sawall

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV)

Having grown up in the church, oftentimes people have asked me to share my “testimony.” For years, I felt I didn’t have anything to say. And while my childhood was not picture-perfect, I never got involved in anything “bad.” I was the girl who didn’t “smoke, drink, cuss or chew or went with boys who wanted to.” I didn’t have one of those “life changing, I’ve been delivered” testimonies to share. I really felt my personal faith-story was pretty “boring.”

After sharing these feelings with a friend who has a rather dramatic “life-changing” testimony, she admonished me. She told me that just because God had kept me from much of the pain and drama many people experience in childhood and early adulthood didn’t mean my testimony was somehow less powerful than those with dramatic, life changing results. In fact, it was only because of Jesus, I was where I was. It was then I realized my “boring” testimony was only by the grace of God - - to Him be the glory! There were so many other paths I could have traveled had God not continuously guided me through the years, but He did. I didn’t deserve His presence, yet He gave of Himself abundantly. That’s huge! It is only because of Jesus, I was the “good-girl” - - all the glory belonged to Him! It’s only because of Jesus, I traveled the safer roads that I did - - all the glory belonged to Him!

Maybe you feel your testimony isn’t “dramatic.” Do you love the Lord? That’s dramatic! Nothing about us draws us to Him…it’s only His Holy Spirit at work in our life that makes it possible - - all the glory belongs to Him! Maybe you need to simply look for God in your life. Wherever He is actively working to break, prune, grow or shape you is where your testimony can be found. And the surprising thing is that your testimony isn’t as much about you, as it is about God’s work IN you - - to Him be the glory! Your testimony counts. It. Is. Powerful. It is to be shared for the glory of God. It will change your life and others’ lives - - to God be the glory!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you amazed by the incredible work God has done in your life? Ask Him to show you all the ways He has/is working in your life to His glory.
2. And then ask Him to show you whom He wants you to share it with…for His glory!

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 138:5; John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 4:6

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.

Help, My “Ugly Fruit” is Showing!
By Susan Klein

But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
 Galatians 5:22-23a (NIV)

Have you ever seen an “uglifruit”? It’s a sort of hybrid between a pomelo, an orange and a tangerine. Its external appearance befits its name. It has a rough, wrinkly rind with ugly green blemishes. Chances are, if you saw it in your produce section, you’d turn your nose up and walk right by. However, beneath its deceptively ugly exterior lies a succulently sweet and juicy interior!

At a women’s conference I attended, the table topic turned toward “fruit of the Spirit.” We were encouraged to answer the question, “What fruit might others say is most evident in your life?” Many of the ladies didn’t want to answer, feeling it might sound boastful. Even when reassured by our table leader that we’d only be boasting about what the Holy Spirit is doing in us, it still left some hesitant to reply.

One lady confessed, “I think my ugly fruit is what is most evident much of the time.” While invoking a good chuckle, we all admitted we could relate. The significance of the question seemed to lie in the word “evident,” or what others see in us. As we discussed this topic further, we concluded that the above verse shows that the word “fruit” used here is singular; meaning if you have one, you have access to them all. In other words, if the Holy Spirit is dwelling in you, you have this whole wonderful fruit dwelling inside of you, even if what others see on your outside is blemished and ugly. What is “evident” is determined by your choice of which fruit to display.

When we are truly walking in the Spirit, focusing on our Lord and not on ourselves or our circumstances, our good fruit will be much more evident than our ugly (sin-nature) fruit. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:24-25.

Some days, when I’m not keeping in step with the Spirit, I might not have the whole fruit evident on my branches. Perhaps I am exhibiting patience with my spouse, but the joy in my difficult circumstances is hidden from view. Or maybe I’m exercising self-control in my spending, but my kindness is not evident to the store clerk. On days when my ugly fruit is showing, I know it’s really time to get back in step with the Spirit so His sweet, succulent fruit can shine through!

GOING DEEPER:
Which aspect of your spiritual fruit might most frequently be hidden from view of others? What can you do to display it more prominently?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 92:12-15; Romans 8:9-10; Colossians 1:10-14 

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.

Building a Boat

By Peggy Kleckner

“Build a large boat from cypress wood and waterproof it with tar, inside and out…..Make the boat 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high….So Noah did everything exactly as God had commanded him.”

Genesis 6:14,15,22 (NLT)

Three short sentences packed with work and faith. Let’s consider the dimensions of this boat that God instructed Noah to build. I took out my tape measure and measured the length, width and height of my kitchen. I measured something familiar to try and understand the unfamiliar. I found that the length of my kitchen had to be multiplied thirty times in order to be the same length as this boat!

God does not always give easy assignments. Not only is this boat massive in dimensions, but it includes a roof, three decks and a door. Don’t forget that he had to waterproof the entire thing inside and out with tar. Finally, I have to wonder if Noah knew anything at all about boat building.

What does God’s Word say about Noah? It states that Noah found favor with the LORD, that he was a righteous man and that he walked in close fellowship with God.

That is how Noah “did everything exactly as God had commanded him” (v. 22).

All Noah had was God’s instructions…probably not written-out instructions, they were “invisible,” so to speak. Then he begins to build according to those instructions. Think of yourself as perhaps his neighbor. Maybe Noah shared his mission with you, maybe not. Before long, you begin to see something different going on at Noah’s home. Perhaps you saw the wood being brought in or heard the sound of sawing and hammering. Pretty soon something starts to be “visible.”

If you have accepted Christ as your new master, He has asked you to build an ark of faith…one day at a time, one board at a time. Your instructions are invisible to others and yet they have been given to you. So you begin to build. The work seems impossible because the vision is so BIG, but He has asked and so you build.

As your faith is built up in the One who instructs you, it becomes visible to others. His Word and work become visible. Jesus becomes visible in you. This may bring scoffing or ridicule from others, but perhaps someone will ask you why you are building, or where you got the plans. I wonder if that was Noah’s greatest hope.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you found favor with the LORD, been made righteous in Christ and now are walking in close fellowship with the Spirit?

2. If you have no idea what that means, are you willing to ask someone? If you do, how is your ark-building coming along?

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 11:7; Hebrews 11:6; John 1:14

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.

All-Consuming Fire

By Brita Crouse

[Trials] have come so that your faith - - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.

1 Peter 1:7 (NIV)

I went to college in the-middle-of-nowhere Indiana, literally surrounded by cornfields. There wasn’t much available to students as far as entertainment, so most of the time, we had to make our own fun. In the springtime, one thing we always looked forward to was the annual Prairie Burn. My school owns a small, nearby prairie that is used by the Environmental Science department for research and observation. Every year, the department sets the prairie ablaze and students gather to watch the flames consume this small plot of land.

Why does the prairie have to be set on fire every year? The answer may seem a little counterintuitive: It is so re-growth can happen. There is something about fire that produces rich soil, allowing for healthy plants to grow abundantly. Fire also controls the spread of harmful or invasive plants within the prairie. Basically, fire is necessary in maintaining a healthy ecosystem and a thriving prairie.

I was listening to the song “All-Consuming Fire” by the band Jesus Culture and thought, “I am just like that blazing prairie.” I was experiencing a huge transition phase in life, and it had been a big trial. I felt as though I was sitting in the hottest part of the fire. I think we can all relate to this “prairie feeling,” though. We have all had times where we can’t see through the smoke and flames to know which way is up.

But, there is hope! Fire may consume us at times, but every time we face a trial, we are made stronger through the process. Those “invasive plants” in our lives are burned up and we are made ready to have our faith grow. Gold is put through fire to make it pure and free of any blemishes. We are put through fire for the same reason. Going through fire may be hot and uncomfortable, but the end far outweighs the means. Seasons of trial only bring us closer to God, and create a dependence on Him that could not come from any other process.

Because of fire, our faith is strengthened and refined, and that is reason enough to be grateful for those times we feel like the Prairie Burn.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How are you being refined through the fire?

2.  Listen to “All-Consuming Fire” by Jesus Culture (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beWTuiQiK1E). Make this your prayer today.

FURTHER READING:

1 Peter 1:3-12; Romans 5:1-5; James 1:2-4

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.

The Monsters in the Closet

By Jeannine Sawall

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God."

Philippians 4:6 (NIV)

"So how was your appointment?" I asked, expecting “fine” as his response. This was a routine appointment my husband had just had. "Well... they found an unusual mass in my chest they are concerned about," he answered quietly. My heart stopped for a moment..."a mass in your chest? Do they know what it is?" "It's unusual...and it wasn't there last time. They are going to make an appointment for me to come back and see the thoracic team." "When?" "In the next few weeks."

And so the monster in the closet came out of hiding and I was afraid. Over the next few weeks, my mind went to terrible places. If you google "mass in chest," all sorts of monsters can be found. If you anticipate worst-case scenarios - - the monsters of cancers, chemo, financial hardships, sickness and even the extreme of early widowhood and raising young sons alone - - you can barely function due to the anxiety and worry that accompanies those thoughts. God says, not to “be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." But what did that mean and how does one do that? Did it mean I had to be fearless in every situation and THANKFUL?!?

Of course not! It means we don't have face those fears alone! When God allows a situation in our life that brings up fears, He knows our hearts and He knows our thoughts. We could pretend we aren't afraid, but to what good? We wouldn't be fooling ourselves and we certainly wouldn't be fooling God. However, when that gut-wrenching, confusion-making torrent of emotion takes over our hearts and minds from time to time, God calls us to trust Him and believe that He will be with us, even when there are monsters. He never condemns us for being afraid; instead, He is telling us to turn to Him and allow Him to give us His peace which surpasses understanding.

365 times we are told to "fear not" in the Bible: Once for each day. It is a reminder that He is there for us in the middle of the fear-causing situation. Remembering He is with us may not remove the situation from our lives or even permanently remove the fear from our minds; we may have to be talked off the ledge over and over. But remembering God's promises to us in the midst of fears allows us to take our eyes off of the monster, even for that moment, and go forward confidently with the Lord, thankful He is always with us.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What fears are you battling today?

2. Which of God's promises do you need to be reminded of?

FURTHER READING:

Deuteronomy 31:6, Psalm 56:3-4, Isaiah 41:10

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.

50 Shades of Darkness

 By Elin Henderson

“For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ..”

2 Corinthians 4:6 (NKJV)

Sometimes it seems that the darkness that surrounds us here in Africa is so intense, so heavy, so impenetrable that we wonder if light will ever break through. If there were 50 shades of darkness, they would all be found here: darkened souls, darkened minds, darkened eyes, darkened hearts... 

Perhaps today you are reaching out to people whose hearts seem this way. The prince of darkness has blinded and darkened them. Maybe you are not ministering to darkened souls but your own life has become heavy, dark, void and without form?  There are times in our personal lives that darkness threatens to overwhelm us as well. 

But lest we lose hope and heart and get sucked into this darkness, God gives us tremendous verses of encouragement like the one above in II Corinthians. Shining light into dark places is God’s specialty. After all, it is where He started. “The earth was without form, and void and darkness was on the face of the deep…Then God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light…” [1]

Let’s face it. Since the dawn of creation, there has never been darkness like in the book of Genesis. Literal emptiness, no light, no life - - nothing!  And somehow from that, God spoke light and life into being. I don’t know about you, but those simple verses bring a lot of hope and encouragement to my heart! Even to this day, He uses His powerful WORD to transform darkness into light! 

No matter the darkness that surrounds us, we have a God who is ruler of the day and the night. Darkness cannot hold Him or limit Him. In fact, He conquers it, speaking “life and light” into it. What our world needs is more and more of His WORD of light to pierce through the 50 shades of darkness! 

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1.    What darkness are you facing today? Would you term it as a ministry darkness or a personal darkness? 

2.    How can the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Jesus Christ, transform this darkness into light? 

FURTHER READING:

[1] Genesis 1:2,3

Psalm 36:9; Ephesians 5:8; Luke 1:79

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.

             

Divine G.P.S.

By Karen D’Amore

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

The appointment was in an area that was unfamiliar to me. With the needed information stored in my I-phone, I hadn’t written down the business name, address or phone number. I was relying on my phone’s GPS to accurately guide me to my appointment.  Unfortunately, within ten miles of my appointment, I noticed that my phone had…died! Pulling to the side of the road, I fumbled feverishly with the phone. Repeatedly pushing every button, the screen remained black. I plugged the phone into the battery charger but still nothing! The phone was dead!

Overcome with a feeling of helplessness, I briefly panicked! I didn’t want to no-show or miss the important appointment but at that point, I was lost. I was in the middle of nowhere…with no idea where I was and no resource to direct me to my destination. With pay phones being extinct, I couldn’t even call for help. In a spirit of helplessness, I pleaded with God to revive my phone. Holding my breath while pushing the “on” button, I sighed with relief as a flicker of light emanated from the screen. The phone came back to life! With my phone/GPS back in operation, I resumed my travels. But to my dismay, a glitch in the GPS program directed me to an incorrect location, forcing me to call the business to seek better directions. Needless to say, I finally arrived at my appointment frazzled and frustrated, but enlightened by a valuable life lesson.

Though grateful for the technological conveniences of the smartphone, my utter dependence on this “man-powered” device was a sobering revelation. Without it, I was LOST...literally and figuratively! Though such “devices” are helpful tools when functioning properly,  they will never be 100% accurate nor reliable. I had been relying on an unreliable device to stay on course and guide me through daily life!

Before the invention of compasses, GPS units and smartphones, God created the North Star…a fixed and reliable navigational system. For centuries, it was the gauge for finding one’s way, establishing one’s bearings and redirecting one’s course when lost. As believers, God is our True North! Because He is unchangeable and eternally reliable, we need to trust and depend on Him to navigate life’s course. With the Bible as our compass, we can seek hope when we’re lost, establish our bearings when needing direction and determine The Way to navigate to our heavenly destination. Let’s remain anchored to the God Powered System, solely dependent and reliant on our Divine Guide…Protector…Savior!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Who/what’s your navigator?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 30:21, Psalm 119:105

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. 

The Anchor Holds

By Susan Klein

 

“We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.”

Hebrews 6:19 (NIV)

 

Christian music has always played a big part in my faith journey. One of my favorite artists when just starting out on my faith walk was Ray Boltz. His songs told stories. One of my favorites was, “The Anchor Holds.” [1] The chorus goes:

 

The anchor holds
Though the ship is battered
The anchor holds
Though the sails are torn

I have fallen on my knees
As I faced the raging seas
The anchor holds
In spite of the storm

Many times, I would play the CD and sing along, not giving too much thought to what the lyrics were about. Then, one summer, while my neighbor across the street was at home celebrating the birth of her baby girl, I was at home mourning the loss of mine. Overcome by grief and unable to sleep, I sat alone in my living room, feeling much like that torn and battered ship, having gone through my own personal storm.

I put in the CD to hear the familiar lyrics. As the music started, I opened the case to follow along with the words printed inside. I knew them by heart, but something propelled me to look anyway. What I found was another story. The author of the song was a dear friend of Ray Boltz’s, and he wrote the lyrics right after losing his own baby. [2] How come I never noticed that before?!! I believe my loving Abba Father was saving it for just that moment, when He knew the pain of a grieving daddy would soothe this grieving mommy’s heart. I sang along, this time knowing and feeling the author’s pain, his words reaching the deepest part of my heart and becoming my words. I sang with tears of sadness, of comfort, and of hope. God would be my anchor, and I would get through this.

Years later, re-visiting the song, I can now relate to the last verse:

I have been young
But I am older now
And there has been beauty
These eyes have seen

But it was in the night
Through the storms of my life
Oh, that's where God proved
His love to me

The Anchor holds. [3]

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who is usually the first person you turn to when the storms of life start raging?

2. Let God, who makes all things work together for good, meet you in your storm and be your anchor.

 

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:5-6, 25-26; Deuteronomy 31:6; Romans 8:28

 

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] Ray Boltz, Lawrence Chewning, The Anchor Holds, 1992; Copyright: Shepherd Boy Music, Word Music LLC

 

[2] http://www.lawrencechewning.com/custom.html

 

What A Difference A Day Makes

By Jeannine Sawall

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”

Isaiah 1:18 (NIV)

Going to bed one night, the winter landscape was drab and brown. We were missing the usual snow that blankets the lawns and so we were left with cold, dormant grass, bare trees and a pretty barren view out our window. However, a few inches of snow fell during the night and when I woke up this morning, the landscape had been transformed into a winter wonderland. Bare branches were now blanketed with snow, the lawns were no longer cold and dismal but covered by the wintery whiteness. What a difference a day made!

As I drank in the beauty of the true Wisconsin winterscape now outside my windows, it reminded me of what a difference a day with Jesus makes in our life. Before we come to know Him, our lives are a landscape of dark, drab colors where everything that is unsightly is out in the open before God. Once we meet Jesus, our lives our completely covered. Our hearts are covered with His love. Our sins are now covered by His blood. Our future is now covered by His promise of eternity. Our mistakes are covered by His forgiveness. Just as the snow covers everything that is unsightly and bare during winter, Jesus’s love is powerful enough to cover (forgive) the things in our lives that are unsightly and barren due to sin. Our sin is no longer an unsightly stain, but we have been washed white as snow by the precious blood of Jesus!

With the new fallen snow, the sun then reflects off it, illuminating with a thousand points of light. Similarly, the Son reflects Himself in our lives, giving off His light to a world still barren and unsightly. As followers of Jesus, we are called to be a light in the darkness. We are called to reflect His glory and His compassions every day.

A fresh snow makes all the difference to a barren winter landscape. A fresh meeting with Jesus makes all the difference in a barren heart. Whether we have never met Jesus or have we have a spiritual life that needs to be refreshed, take the time to let Him come and change the current landscape. He alone will bring a fresh perspective to our lives.  He alone will cleanse us white as snow and He alone can cover us with His grace, His love and His light.

GOING DEEPER:

1. In what ways does your spiritual landscape need refreshing?

2. How do you reflect the Lord to the world around you?

FURTHER READING:

Jeremiah 31:25, 2 Corinthians 4:6, John 8:12 

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.