Rescued

By Elizabeth Cole

For He has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son He loves,  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Colossians 1:13-14 (NIV)

One of my favorite movie characters of all times is Jocopo in The Count of Monte Cristo. He’s the one who’s facing sure execution by his fellow-pirates right when the innocent Count washes up onshore after a daring prison escape. Forced into a knife fight to the death, the Count overpowers Jocopo, but then negotiates with the pirate captain to save his life. In utter gratitude, Jocopo commits, “From here on out, I am your man.”  He makes good on that statement and faithfully serves the Count the rest of his life, constant in his obedience and love for his master. Wholehearted and single-minded.

He was a rescued man.

In a sermon years ago, one of my pastors asked this crystal-clear question: “Are you living as if you’ve been rescued?”  I have heard its echo ever since. It’s captivated my thoughts and, I pray, is impacting my actions more and more. If I truly grasp even a portion of what I’ve been rescued  from  and rescued for…wouldn’t my life be one of gratitude, expressed through love toward others? Wouldn’t I faithfully serve my Rescuer in obedience and constant awareness of His desires for my life? Wholehearted? Single-minded?

I began a list of what I’ve been rescued from:

            from sin’s penalty of eternal separation from God.

            from the verdict of aloneness.

            from enslavement to my dark side.

            from chains of complete self-absorption.

            from shackles of my own shallowness.

            from an existence of purposelessness.

And the start of the list of what I’ve been rescued for:

            for a love relationship with Jesus through the Holy Spirit.

            for allowing God to express His love to others through me.

            for victory over destructive actions.

            for participation in God’s grand plan to restore and redeem.

            for making a difference and doing good works chosen in advance for me to do.

            for living in biblical community in a way that is winsome to others.

            for a life that’s whole and holy.

I am a rescued woman.

             

What incredible lists. Yet, here’s the rub for me: In the busy-ness of life, I find myself distracted from the truth of my rescue. Rather than wholehearted, I’m “kinda-sorta-mostly-hearted.” Rather than single-minded, I’m…well, prone to wander.

It’s time for a stake in the ground once again. A moment where I confess my brokenness once more to my Rescuer and ask for His love to compel me. To say to my Rescuer, “Lord Jesus, from here on out, I am your woman.” Wholehearted. Single-minded.

You? You’re a rescued woman.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How will you express gratitude to your Rescuer today?

FURTHER READING:

Galatians 1:3-5, 5:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14

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

Never Give Up!

By Susan Klein

“As she kept on praying to the Lord…”

1 Samuel 1:12a (NIV)

She wasn’t drunk! Despondent, yes, but definitely not drunk. How could she be accused of such a thing?! Had she not proven herself faithful to her husband and to her God? Had they not faithfully worshiped and made the right sacrifices year after year?

First, she’d had to endure the agony of not being able to conceive. Barrenness carried a stigma in her culture. She wanted desperately to accept God’s closing of her womb. After all, her husband loved her deeply, regardless if she conceived or not. His love, as well as God’s, was not lost on her. But when her husband’s second wife conceived and bore him a son, her anguish gained new ground. The second wife provoked her to tears with persistent mocking and ridicule over her barrenness. The emotional torment affected her body to the point of not being able to eat.

Now she finds herself back in the Temple, quietly petitioning God to do the impossible. Perhaps she uttered something along these lines…

Give me faith to trust what you say,

That you’re good and your love is great

I’m broken inside, I give you my life

And I may be weak but your Spirit’s strong in me

My flesh may fail, but my God, you never will [1]

In her intense grief, she still turns her heart to her Abba Father. She even makes a vow that if God will grant her a son, she will give him back to God in service for his whole life. Adding to her sorrow, the High Priest sees her sitting there, perceives her silent lip movements as drunkenness, and rebukes her. She pleads for understanding as she explains. He sees her sincerity (and his error) and sends her off with a blessing for God to do as she asks. She goes home. She finds peace. And her body is able to eat even before God answers.

God has heard Hannah’s every prayer, but this is the time He chooses to act. She eventually conceives, and bears her husband a son. God blesses her with even more children. She keeps her vow.

Maybe, like Hannah of the Old Testament, you’ve persistently prayed for something, waiting for God’s answer. Maybe in your own discouragement, you’ve been tempted to give up. Don’t! God desires to hear from us. In her darkest hours, Hannah never stopped fixing her eyes on the Giver of Life. And in His perfect timing, He did answer. She prayed fervently, and she prayed believing.

So must we.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Feeling like it’s futile, have you given up praying for something or someone? Might you reconsider?

FURTHER READING:

James 1:6; Matthew 7:7-8

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] “Give Me Faith,” Elevation Worship, 2011

God’s Other Book

By Susan Klein

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities - - His eternal power and divine nature - - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made...”

Romans 1:20 (NIV)

Like many others, I have read through the entire Bible, cover to cover. I used to believe that everything I needed to know and all the answers to life’s questions were in this Book. I discovered I was wrong. Some things can’t be learned from the written word and some questions simply have no answers this side of heaven. Might I deduce that God’s Book is incomplete? Perhaps. Faith wouldn’t necessarily have a place in our lives if all the answers were in black and white. However, I believe the Creator has given us a second source from which to glean valuable truths. It is what my friend affectionately calls: “God’s Other Book.”

Look around you. Were you reading it while you gazed at the evening sun disappearing from the horizon as the sky turned brilliant with color? You didn’t fear it was gone forever because the Author assured you it would return the next morning. And, when those crocuses and tulips popped up from the snow-covered ground, did they make your heart dance with joyful anticipation of spring and new life? This is God’s Other Book. In fact, you read it on a daily basis. There are lessons you’ve learned, pictures of God’s character you’ve seen, and answers to questions you’ve found in its pages. It’s a book that has brought you great comfort and hope as you’ve seen it, felt it, and experienced it.

Consider the Monarch butterfly, just one of over one million species of animals you’ll find in this book. A tiny, fragile creature that can be crushed with the slightest of pressure, yet has the incredible strength to fly over 2,000 miles to overwinter in a very specific high elevation forest in Mexico. Its offspring instinctively know to fly north again, often returning to their place of origin, to find the food they need to survive. [1] What do you read about strength and endurance here? How does it speak to you of God’s character, His design, and His provision? What joy does it bring you to watch the fluttering of its magnificently colored wings?

Spend some intentional time in God’s other Book. Don’t walk blindly past it, don’t skim quickly over it. Immerse yourself in it. See what He has for you amongst its pages!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Take time this week to be still before God’s creation. Ask Him to speak to your heart through what you see. Listen for His voice. Offer Him your worship.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 19:1; Psalm 97:6; Acts 14:17; Matthew 6:28-30

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] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3njFNmc-W2k

EXTREME Impossibilities!
By Elin Henderson

“For with God, nothing will be impossible!”
Luke 1:37 (NKJV)

We have all heard of extreme sports. People go to all lengths to prove their might, speed, even foolishness at times. And, if you are like me, you really enjoy watching Extreme Makeover, where they do miraculous wonders and change someone’s complete appearance. But, you know, God delights in extreme impossibilities!

In I Kings 18:20-40, we find poor Elijah doing battle with the prophets of Baal. They have set up a “test” for their gods to see who is the most powerful. What is interesting in this story is that God wasn’t satisfied in proving Himself in just an “impossibility” - -raining fire down from heaven to burn up the offering. Instead, He told Elijah to pour water on the sacrifice, soaking it completely, not once, not twice, but three times! Like the fire wasn’t enough, he added layers to the impossibility.

There are multiple examples throughout Scripture: God weeded Gideon’s army down from hundreds of thousands to a measly 300 to defeat an impossibly large army. Jesus waited until Lazarus was dead for three days before raising him. Do you see a pattern? I do! God loves the impossible, but really delights in the extreme impossibilities.

When I was in Mozambique, I found myself asking God for the impossible and even the extreme impossible a lot. Not only was I trying to learn a virtually impossible, unwritten language, but I got to live with the constant stresses that life brings: a solid week of rain which results in moldy clothes, centipedes crawling into bed with me…all sorts of added “buckets of water” being poured on top of an already impossible task. And then, lest I forget, I was reminded of the more impossible task at hand of seeing the lives of hundreds of thousands of “resistant” peoples brought from darkness into light. Yes, the task before us was, and is, pretty extreme…extremely impossible! Yet, in the end, the God of extreme impossibilities will be victorious!

So, next time you feel like “it can’t get any worse!” and it does, just think of it as another bucket of water onto the quest for the impossible. When your day meets obstacle after obstacle and your goals seem totally unattainable, remember, God delights to show Himself strong on our behalf, going above and beyond what we could ask or think. Not only will the outcome be amazing, but it will be totally His doing! In those extreme impossibilities in Scripture, was there any way, humanly speaking, that victory could have been achieved? I don’t think so! God delights in the work He does and He specializes in Extreme Impossibilities!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What seemingly impossible task or situation is God asking of you? Give it to Him and expect His extreme provision!

FURTHER READING:
Judges 7; John 11:1-44

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.

The Hole in the Night

By Jeannine Sawall

So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down and, if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

1 Samuel 3:6b (NIV)

God works in mysterious ways. Sometimes, he calls us gently in the night to talk. If we heard the Lord’s voice calling to us tonight, what would we do? Would we think it was the Lord’s voice calling to us personally, or would we think it was that beef burrito we ate for supper?!

I have a friend who had to ask himself that question. He found himself waking up routinely in the middle of the night. Instead of grumbling about lost sleep, or tossing and turning, he thought it must be the Lord waking him and decided to make use of this time to share his heart through email to fill what he calls “the hole in the night.” Soon, the thoughts and musings he shared with friends and family grew from a dozen email addresses to over 200. He blesses us with truths and thoughts to ponder, challenging us to live a deeper, freer, less “religious” faith. He inspires us to be about the work of Jesus, not just quoting  Jesus. He encourages us to be about God’s work on the “waiting room” side of eternity.

What has endeared this “old geezer,” as he fondly calls himself, to so many is his honesty about his relationship with the Lord. He readily admits that some things are a mystery. He prompts us to hear the Lord’s quiet voice in the midst of this loud world because the more we listen, the more we’ll hear Him speak. He dares us to seek the Lord in the midst of every circumstance. And he shows us that the Lord works in mysterious ways…who’d have thought an 87-year-old widower would have an email following of over 200 and growing, just because he couldn’t sleep through the night? How many of us might have just popped an Excedrin P.M. and called it a night?! When God gives us an opportunity to do His work, it will lead to a crisis of faith and action. We might question if it really is God; however, when God sees us listening with an attitude of obedience toward opportunity, He blesses that work because it brings glory to His name. I encourage you to listen for His voice calling to you in your day…or night...today.

GOING DEEPER:
1. In the midst of the loud world, what are you doing to be able to hear the Lord’s quiet voice calling to you?
2. How might you be missing an opportunity to bring glory to the Lord in your day or night?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 46:10; John 16:13

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.

The Designer’s Wardrobe

By Vernette Kureck

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”

Proverbs 31: 25 (NIV)

After a long cold winter, it is time to open up the closet, clean out the drawers, and get ready for spring.  I sort through my clothes and determine what is too old or too small or too out of date. Some articles of clothing have fond memories attached to them. Some are just fun to wear. But because of my lifestyle, most are just everyday regular women’s casual wear. So, how should I dress? I felt led to check out the Word.

“She is clothed with strength and dignity.” How do you fold that in a drawer or drape it on a hanger?! Strength is the quality of being able to withstand the application of force without yielding or breaking. That sounds like a physical workout, but in reality, it is both physical and spiritual exercise resulting in a steady composure. Dignity is a manner of serenity; a state of honor and worthiness. That sounds like I hold a high rank or position. Well, I am  the daughter of THE King! So, how should I dress?

Colossians 3:12-14(NIV) says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” In other words, demonstrate pity for the suffering or distress of another with the desire to help, while being modest and humble. Be gentle, considerate, goodhearted, mild and amiable. Be this way while also being capable of awaiting results with tranquility and uncomplaining endurance. Cease to blame and grant pardon to those who have offended you. Cover yourself with God’s love and experience harmony and mutual understanding.

So, this is how I should dress. The beauty of this Holy Spirit-designed wardrobe is it never gets too old, outgrown or out-of-date. And it is perfect for every occasion, dress or casual. Yes, it’s a good time to evaluate just what I have been wearing and ask the Holy Spirit to do His spring cleaning…and to make sure His designer wardrobe is never packed in a drawer or draped on a hanger. 

GOING DEEPER:

1. What are you wearing that identifies you as a daughter of the King? We are all works in progress so pray that the Holy Spirit will reveal what you need to cast off and what you need to put on.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 6:30-33; Matthew 7:7-11

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.

He’s Aliiiiiive!!

By Jeannine Sawall

“The angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; for I know that you are looking for Jesus who has been crucified. He is not here, for He has risen, just as He said. Come, see the place where He was lying.’ And they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to report it to His disciples.”

Matthew 28:5-6, 8 (NIV)

My family often has gone camping over Easter and we aren’t always able to find a traditional church service to celebrate Easter. One tradition we’ve developed, though, is to celebrate our own Easter service around the campfire while sharing the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection using Resurrection Eggs.

Resurrection Eggs are a dozen plastic eggs, each filled with some symbol to represent a part of the Easter story. We pass the eggs out to the kids and anyone we’ve invited to join us for our celebration, and when we come to their part of the story, we let them tell it in their own words. Years ago, as we went around the campfire circle, listening again to the story of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, His betrayal, trial, beating by the Roman soldiers and His death on the Cross, we finally came to my youngest son who held the last egg. When he opened it, the egg was empty, representing the empty tomb. At the time, Josh was just four and so I wasn’t sure he would understand the meaning behind the empty egg, let alone how he would explain his part of the story. As he opened his egg and realized there was nothing in it, he stood up and in a loud, joyous voice began singing “He’s aliiiiiiiiiive! He’s aliiiiiiiiive! Jesus is aliiiiiiive!!” Everyone around the campfire smiled at his enthusiasm and joined his celebration.

As I remember back to that special night of celebrating Jesus’ death and resurrection, I am amazed by the conviction and passion my young son had. He got it! Jesus is not dead; He is alive! It is something to stand up and sing about! He understood, even at that tender age, what a miracle it is. He did not hesitate or try to explain it in complicated terms. He accepted it for face value and stated it simply…the tomb is empty, Jesus is alive! It makes me want to stand up and sing and let the whole world know…our Savior is not dead, He is alive today, and we serve a living God!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Does the story of Easter make you want to stand up and sing with great joy, letting the whole world know the tomb stands empty? If not, ask the Lord to fill you with His passion for His story.

FURTHER READING:
John 2:19; Luke 24:46-47; Acts 13:30

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.

The Story Isn’t Over

John 19 (NLT)

“So they took Jesus away.  Carrying the cross by himself, he went to the place called Place of the Skull (in Hebrew, Golgotha).  There they nailed him to the cross. Two others were crucified with him, one on either side, with Jesus between them…

 When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, “Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.” This fulfilled the Scripture that says, “They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.” So that is what they did…

Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill Scripture he said, “I am thirsty” A jar of sour wine was sitting there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put it on a hyssop branch, and held it up to his lips. When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit…

Afterward Joseph of Arimathea, who had been a secret disciple of Jesus (because he feared the Jewish leaders), asked Pilate for permission to take down Jesus’ body. When Pilate gave permission, Joseph came and took the body away.  With him came Nicodemus, the man who had come to Jesus at night. He brought about seventy-five pounds^[k] of perfumed ointment made from myrrh and aloes.  Following Jewish burial custom, they wrapped Jesus’ body with the spices in long sheets of linen cloth. The place of crucifixion was near a garden, where there was a new tomb, never used before.  And so, because it was the day of preparation for the Jewish Passover and since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.”

But the story isn’t over.  Praise God it doesn’t end there! While it is important to realize the magnitude of His suffering and death, we cannot stay exclusively in mourning.  What a gift and privilege that we know this isn’t the end of the story.  That, after two days, He conquered death and paved a way for a relationship between us and Himself when we are willing to accept His free gift of salvation.  This Good Friday - - and every day - - may we be people who recognize the high cost of His sacrifice and equally celebrate the gift of His resurrection!

Suffering

By Peggy Kleckner

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.”

Philippians 1:29 (NIV)

And so, light pierced my darkness. One sentence of Scripture placed seemingly random in my day and I felt His hand.

I had been prattling on to Him about feeling disconnected and yet knowing that I am not.  I am unworthy of His love and yet cannot deny that He loves me, just because He chooses to. I cannot decide for Him whom He should love, even when that someone is me.

I felt like I wasn’t “doing” anything for Him. I haven’t been doing mighty deeds of ministry. I haven’t been seeking the lost, keeping an orderly house and checkbook, taking on giants or whatever else I think of as “doing” for Him. He reminded me that being with Him has been important.  I have stepped away from most things, but not my practice of meeting with Him.

I have struggled in my belief as wave after wave of personal disappointments and heartaches bombarded my faith. I have wrestled with the daily-ness of life, feeling like Solomon in Ecclesiastes, life drained of joy…work and even words feeling meaningless. But still I walked with Him, I spoke to Him of my heartaches. I argued with Him over how things looked to me. He patiently listened and still we walked. I fussed and fumed, exhausting myself as a child in a tantrum. I was seeking to understand Him, to know His ways, to climb higher to get a better view of Him.

In all of my striving, I finally was exhausted and so we rested. When I looked up, I saw that we were resting at the foot of the cross. My argument had been, truly, that I didn’t want it to be true that Jesus not only had to come, but that all of His suffering and all of His pain was necessary for me. God did not allow one moment more of pain than was necessary. My mother’s heart does not like to look at or accept that painful truth. We cannot save ourselves. We cannot be good, even with His help.

Scripture is true…on our own, nothing good lives in us. Our sinful nature must be put to death and we must take up our new life in Him. Always, He leads into truth….more of Himself.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied. We hunger and thirst for Jesus, our true and only satisfaction. Our salvation rests in Him, not in ourselves.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What deep questions are you not allowing to come to the surface?

2.  Are you willing to allow Him access to all of the rooms of your heart?

FURTHER READING:

Acts 17:28; John 15:5; Psalm 73:25-26

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.

A Personal Note From God

By Karen D’Amore

“For God does speak - - now one way, now another...”

Job 33:14a (NIV)

While studying Bill Hybels’ “The Power of a Whisper,” multiple ladies re-counted stories of when they’d heard the whisper of God. A newer believer, Sierra, who’d been wrestling with some disheartening circumstances, interrupted the discussion proclaiming, “I don’t get it! How do you hear God whisper/speak?” I don’t recall the specific responses from the ladies in our group; however, I do remember feeling a “nudge” to pray that God would meet Sierra in a personal way.

When we met the following week, Sierra had forgotten her Bible at home. Seeing the stack of church Bibles in our room, she asked to borrow one. As we circled around the room reading assigned passages of Scripture, a piece of paper fell out of the Bible Sierra had borrowed. Overcome with emotion she began reading the note dated December 8, 2013:

 “I pray that the God of all comfort would comfort you today. Lord Jesus put Your arms around this person as they go about their day. Bless them & bless those around them. Use them to further Your Kingdom. ‘When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.’ (Psalm 94:19) *Take this paper with you as a reminder.”

“This is exactly what I needed,” Sierra declared. Recalling her question from the previous week, Sierra, as well as our entire group, was greatly encouraged as we witnessed God speak to her through a personal note.

Examining the handwritten note, I recognized that it had been written and placed in that Bible fifteen months earlier. As I pondered the number of times that Bible had been used by multiple people over the course of those months, I was amazed it had remained undetected. I wholeheartedly believe that our all-powerful, Sovereign God had reserved it for Sierra to discover. Now that is a personal God!

Our creative and personal God is not limited to one form of communication. He speaks through His Word, His Son’s life, prayer, creation/nature, people, music, the Holy Spirit, circumstances…and even a personal note! God is eager to communicate with His children. Do you yearn to hear from Him? Are you listening?

God has penned a personal invitation to each of us: “You will seek Me and find Me…when you seek Me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV). “Call to Me and I will answer you…” (Jeremiah 33: 3a, NIV).

Shhhhhhh…..can you hear His whisper?

GOING DEEPER:

1. Is there something hindering you from hearing God’s voice?
2. The depth of your relationship with God determines the depth of your experiences with Him. Are you willing to take that relationship deeper?

FURTHER READING:

John 10:14, Isaiah 29:4

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. 

Hemmed In

By Lisa Boyer

“You hem me in - - behind and before.”

Psalm 139:5a (NIV)

While praying for a friend of mine, one Bible verse kept coming to mind… “You hem me in - - behind and before.” That verse had me so convinced of God’s goodness, I was literally excited about how God was going to protect her in the midst of her situation. I just knew  that everything was going to be all right, even if it didn’t appear to be all right; God was in complete control... my friend was “hemmed in” no matter what. First chance I got, I shared the good news of that verse with her!

A few weeks later, I was pouring my heart out to this same friend about a potentially life-changing health situation I was facing. The situation threatened to overwhelm me, but my friend so sweetly reminded me that I was “hemmed in.” In the midst of my circumstances, I hadn’t thought to apply that verse to myself. But she was right…I was “hemmed in” by the same loving God who hems her in!!! And it’s not dependent on what’s happening. Just because negative circumstances come into our lives, it doesn’t mean we are no longer “hemmed in.” We are always  “hemmed in,” no matter how the situation looks from the outside; God is in complete control at all times.

I was so thankful that God had sent her to remind me, but He didn’t stop there…He illustrated it for me, as well!

I was driving home on a two-lane highway when debris began flying into my lane from under an oncoming semi. I immediately slowed down and began pulling off the road, but avoiding the flying debris was impossible. Both the car in front of me and behind me also pulled over. We all got out to inspect the damage. The car in front had a huge gouge in his now-flat front tire. The front grille of the car behind me had been split into two by flying debris. My car was...well, fine. God had hemmed me in - - behind and before...and on the sides!

The first thought that came into my head was that if God could protect me during such a minor incident, He could easily have protected me from the health situation I was facing, but He hadn’t. He chose to allow it into my life. Knowing that before this situation reached me, it had gone through my loving God’s approval process filled me with peace. He hadn’t protected me from it, but I have no doubt that He’ll protect me during  it!

GOING DEEPER:
1. If the circumstances of life have caused you to forget that you are “hemmed in,” will you spend some time today with your loving God and let Him remind you?

FURTHER READING:
Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 34:7; 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two adult sons. Lisa serves on a Sunday morning Welcoming Team at Oakwood. 

Drudgery to Joy

By Susan Klein

“O my Strength, I sing praise to you;

you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God.”

Psalm 59:17 (NIV)

Have you ever had one of those tasks that you absolutely dreaded doing, yet there was just no getting out of it? I used to feel that way about making the tedious drive to pick up my daughter from college for breaks. I don’t mind being the passenger  on long journeys because I can read or accomplish something along the way, but being the driver,  all one can do is drive. It can feel like such a waste of time.

Plugging in some music on one of my recent trips, I began to sing along with Nicole C. Mullin.

“When I behold the beauty
Of Your many wonders
And I'm captivated by
Your majesty

Oh my soul rings out
a sacred hallelujah
Back to the source
From whence it came.”

As I began to take notice of the beautiful countryside dotted with farms, the drudgery started to fade.

“And when I'm searching

For the face of the Invisible

When I reach to hold the hand that formed my being
All a sudden everything that

Is within me blesses your name

Again and again.”

Soon, my focus turned from the task at hand to the joyful praising of my Creator.

“When I am overwhelmed by
All that is around me
And the tears
That flood my heart
Run down my face
I'll remember that
Your heart and
Soul was broken
And even in pain
You’re worthy of praise.”

The rest of the song was sung through tears of gratefulness! While it’s easy to get bogged down by life and overwhelmed by the evil in the world, we are spared so much of the pain and sorrow that Jesus Himself has endured, and must still feel in His heart as He looks upon the evil that continues today. How blessed we are to know that, while we were in our most sinful state, Christ died for us. He bore our punishment. No gift can match what He gave, but our praises can surely be music to His ear.

“Crying Holy is the
Lord God Almighty
Worthy is the Lamb
Who was Slain
To Receive our
Greatest Adoration
Jesus Son of God
Is His Name.” (1)

I will never view long solitary drives with drudgery again. They’ve quickly become some of the sweetest times of undistracted praise for my Savior.

You know that task you are dreading…

GOING DEEPER:

1. How can you incorporate praise into your everyday life?

2. Find time to listen to “Holy Captivated” today. (Click HERE to listen to it.)

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 101:1-3, 117:1; Colossians 3:23

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) Nicole C. Mullen, Holy Captivated, 2011, Maranatha! Music