The Work is Mine to Do
by Elizabeth Cole

“Tell Archippus [Paul’s “fellow solder”]:

‘See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord.’”
Colossians 4:17

I wonder what his mom thought. Harry S. Truman grew up on and ran the family farm, served in World War I, and failed in the men’s clothing business. When serving as his state’s senator, Truman was nominated to run as President Roosevelt’s Vice President, mostly due to political expediency. Upon entering office, Truman hardly interacted with President Roosevelt, and was given no knowledge of either the Manhattan Project’s atomic bomb nor the escalating problems with the Soviet Union. That is, until 82 days into office when President Roosevelt died unexpectedly and Harry Truman became the 33rd president of the United States of America. In less than four months in office, President Truman oversaw the end of World War II, helped set up the governance of defeated Germany, and authorized the drop of atomic bombs to end the war with Japan. Quite a long way from a farm in Missouri.

In his 1953 farewell address as he left office, he stated, “When Franklin Roosevelt died, I felt there must be a million men better qualified than I, to take up the Presidential task. But the work was mine to do, and I had to do it.”(1)

Ever been called by God into a situation where you were sure someone…anyone!…would be better qualified than you? Where, if you didn’t know in your heart of hearts that He was asking you to do it, you’d grab your tennies and run for the hills?

If you make it a habit of stepping out in faith, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll echo President Truman’s sentiments: There must be a million women better qualified than I! Better qualified to counsel a neighbor; better qualified to care for a sick relative; better qualified to tell someone about Jesus. And you know what? You’re probably right. If I read my Bible correctly, God’s call is not based on our extraordinary abilities or talents, rather He takes delight in using who the world calls the foolish, the weak, the lowly. What He’s most interested in is an available heart that’s willing to set aside boasting and totally depend on Him as the work is done. And by the way, if God is as intent on refining us as He says He is, why would He call us to tasks we know we can accomplish on our own?

Hey, Happy President’s Day! Now go and do your work!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Any chance you’re avoiding God’s call in your life because you’re waiting for someone more qualified to show up? What might you do about that?

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 10:36-39, 13:21; 1 Corinthians 26-31

(1) http://millercenter.org/scripps/archive/speeches/detail/3355

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

Nothing for Valentine’s Day
By Pamela Blattner

"My lover is mine, and I am his."
Song of Solomon 2:16

One particular year, my husband asked me a few weeks before Valentine’s Day what I wanted. Feeling that I had “everything,” and not really needing anything in particular, I hugged him and said, “nothing.” I told him I had all I really wanted. He was a wonderful husband and we had a beautiful new baby. We lived in a one-bedroom dwelling at the time, and had one car. Our bedroom, decorated with orange-flocked wallpaper, was under the hanging chandelier in the dining room because our son and all the baby paraphernalia had taken over. The dimmer switch proved to be great when used as a signal for a romantic evening! I felt complete as a woman.

Well, little did I know he would take my answer literally and buy me absolutely NOTHING for Valentine’s Day! I was so hurt and he really didn’t understand why. I mean, really, if he really loved me, wouldn't he want to buy me something, even if I said I wanted nothing?

A while back there was a great email that was sent around called "The Guys’ Rules." It was written from the male perspective and had a long list of rules for women to understand about men. One of the rules read, "Subtle hints do not work. Strong hints do not work. Obvious hints do not work. Just say it!" I really learned that lesson that year! It wasn’t that he didn’t love me, or didn’t want to make me happy. He really did get me what he thought I wanted…NOTHING!

Don’t we women often mistakenly believe that if our husbands love us, they should know what we want? Love and mind-reading abilities are not synonymous. As a young married mom, I found out that it is not nearly as pleasurable to have to ask for something you want as it is to be surprised with it…but, it is a lot better to ask for something and receive it, than not to ask and be upset when it isn’t given.

No matter how long we’ve been married, we women have to teach our men about what we like, especially if we like to be surprised. Make it easy for him on Valentine’s Day and just tell him that if he ever wants to surprise you with a gift, “here is an excellent choice." In time, you may even forget that you pointed it out in the first place and you really will be surprised!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways can you communicate your love for someone this Valentine’s Day?

FURTHER READING:
1 John 3:18, 4:12, 4:19

Pam and her husband Richard have two adult children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care Ministries.

Watch Out For Traps!
By Susan Klein

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
1 Peter 5:8-9

During the Vietnam War, our troops were engaged in some pretty intense jungle combat. The jungle was familiar territory to the enemy and he used it to his advantage, setting traps and lying in wait. Our troops had to be alert constantly, always on the lookout for one of these traps lest they fall prey. Every step they took could lead them into a torturous or life-ending situation.

As Christ-followers, we face a combat of a similar sort. Though our battle is spiritual in nature rather than physical, our enemy is just as crafty! He knows his territory and he knows our weaknesses. He sets up traps of deceit and temptation and lies in wait, hoping to catch us off guard so we will fall prey to his cunning tactics. That is why God’s Word tells us to remain self-controlled and alert! We must be just as aware of traps as a soldier in combat.

One major advantage we have in our combat is that our Savior, when He walked this earth as fully man, was tempted in all the same ways that we are today. He’s been there, and he sympathizes with us. God’s Word shows us two things He is willing to do for us when we are faced with the traps of temptation. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, God promises to: 1) Set a limit on the intensity of our temptation, and 2) Provide a way out so we can stand up under it. Unlike the soldiers, we will never be caught in a situation where there is no way out! And we will never be tempted beyond what we can humanly bear.

God has equipped us with His Word, the Sword of the Spirit, and indwelled us with His Holy Spirit, our Battle Guide. We are never alone or without a leader as we attempt to sidestep the traps set by the enemy. Though God promises to provide a way out, we must choose to take it. He will not force us, rather He will, through His Holy Spirit within us, point us in the right direction. The choice is ours.

Be alert! Watch out for traps!

GOING DEEPER:
1. When you are facing a trap of temptation, do you purposefully look for “the way out”?
2. How might you make better choices to avoid areas of temptation altogether?

FURTHER READING:
Job 1:6-12; Luke 22:31-32; Hebrews 2:14-18

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She is the Coordinator of Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and one of its teachers.

A Firm Foundation

by Leslie Snyder

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
Matthew 7: 24-27

In the past few years, many homes in the drought-weary Midwest have experienced significant “settling,” including our own. We noticed small cracks crawling up the walls, doors not closing tightly, and water seeping into our basement through our foundation seams. In fact, one strong rainstorm created a nice little river valley from our basement into our garage.

Apparently, our back patio had sunk eight inches and was directing water right into our foundation. To address the problem, we hired the “mud-jackers,” contractors who pumped enough mud under our patio to raise it eight inches in order to direct the water away from the house and down the slope of our yard. We’re hoping the work has fixed the problem, but we’ll have to wait until a good storm comes our way in order to find out.

Life is much the same. We often don’t know how we will weather a storm until after it passes. And if we’re not careful, we miss the clues that point to the weak points in our own foundation. Just as the cracks in our walls, the adjusted door jams, and the river in our basement were indicators that something was wrong with our home’s foundation, so too, things like negative attitudes, prayerlessness and cynicism are indicators that our spiritual foundation is shifting.

A wise person once said, “A Bible that is falling apart belongs to someone who is not.” Become firmly grounded in the Word of God, and when the storms of life come, your faith will remain intact.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Take some time to do a self faith-evaluation. How’s your foundation? Inspect the areas of your life that may show signs of weakness and allow Christ to make the necessary adjustments.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 1

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Safe in His Arms
By Karen D’Amore

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10

Holding me in his arms, my tears soaked his chest. “What can I do?” my husband asked tenderly. “Just hold me,” I responded. There was nothing he could “do” as the vortex of muddled emotions threatened to smother me. Anxiety, doubts and confusion, circled viciously from my head to my heart, from my heart to my head, back and forth, over and over again. “What if’s?” and “What about this or that?” plagued my mind for hours, interrupting my ability to sleep.

As God eradicates my comfort zones, He is moving me out of places of security and familiarity. Shuffling my routine, everything feels odd and unfamiliar. Drawing me into new uncharted territory, the road ahead is filled with blind curves. I must admit…it’s scary. I don’t like what I can’t see. Though Scripture reminds me that we live by faith, not by sight, I wrestle to find comfort in the uncertainties and the unknown.

As sleep finally invaded my emotional battle, I pleaded with the Lord, “Help me feel safe.” Morning came quicker then desired as I dressed for church in a groggy stupor. Needing to feel God’s presence, I pleaded with Him again, “Help me feel safe.” Pulling into the church parking lot, I paused as a song on the radio grabbed my heart: “You will be safe in His arms/You will be safe in His arms/’Cause the hands that hold the world are holding your heart/This is the promise He made/He will be with you always/When everything is falling apart/You will be safe in His arms.” (1)

Burying my face in my hands, I wept as God responded to my pleas, meeting me in my despair. He enveloped me in His comforting arms and dismantled my fears. And in that tender moment, as He embraced me with Himself, He made me feel safe.

As Christ-followers, we have the assurance that Jesus will never leave us or forsake us. No matter what circumstances we face or what uncertainties loom on the horizon…He is with us always. Always outstretched…always strong…always comforting and full of love. Won’t you slip into His warm embrace and rest…safe in His arms?

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you struggling with something that threatens to consume you? What is keeping you from resting in His arms?

FURTHER READING:
Deuteronomy 31:8; Philippians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 5:7; Hebrews 13:5

(1) © 2009. Ino Records. “Safe” by Phil Wickham, featuring Bart Millard.

Married to husband Dan, Karen is the Salon Coordinator for Intrigue Salon & Spa, the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

Lights, Camera, Action!

By Kelly McFadden

“Share in each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ.”
Galatians 6:2

My son knows how to “turn it on.” He is only nine months old, but if you hold a camera in front of him and say, “smile,” he could be in the middle of a crying fit and he will flash one of the biggest, brightest smiles you have ever seen. It makes for great pictures, but I can’t help but think how often I do this myself. Instead of letting those close to me know how I feel and what is happening in my life, I simply put on the smile everyone wants to see. I don’t think that is always what God wants from us.

Now I am not saying that everyone should walk around like “Debbie Downer” when they are in a crummy mood. However, no Christian should ever have to walk through life’s struggles alone. As Christians, we are called to share in each other’s burdens. This is a way we obey Christ. This does not necessarily put the responsibility on everyone else when it comes to caring for our needs. We must be willing to share our burdens with those who are close to us.

Christians work best as the body of Christ when we are willing to be open, honest and journey through life together. That means seeking accountability in areas where we sin and fall short. It means praying for each other. It means rejoicing with each other and mourning with each other. But if we never share how we are feeling, we are taking that blessing away from our brothers and sisters in Christ. If we always hide behind a smile and never open up to those who are close to us, we have fooled ourselves.

Perhaps you have never helped to carry another’s burdens because it feels like too much. God doesn’t ask you to do it alone. The next step is to cast all your cares and worries onto the Lord. A part of helping carry those burdens means lifting them up to the Lord in prayer and trusting in His sovereignty to care for each and every one of us.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How are things going with you right now? Is there an area of your life where you need to reach out to another believer and allow him or her to help you carry your burden?
2. Do you know someone who needs help carrying his or her burden? How can you reach out today?

FURTHER READING:
Galatians 1:10; 1 Peter 5:7; Romans 12:15-21

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

“SON” in My Eyes
By Karen D’Amore

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus…”
Hebrews 12:2a

The snow-encased landscape flanked the open country road; a mirage of white monotony stretching from one farmer’s field to another. Bitter cold hovered under the canopy of a cloudless blue sky, allowing unobstructed sunlight to reflect off the white canvas. A bend in the road changed my direction of travel, driving me head-on into the blinding sun. Impairing my ability to see anything other then the sun, I pulled off to the side of the road. Fumbling for a pair of sunglasses, the eye protection enabled me to resume my travels.

Consider the magnitude of something so bright and so powerful that it prevents you from seeing anything other then “it.” As Christ-followers we are instructed to “fix our eyes on Jesus” (the Son of God). No other Light or Source is brighter or more powerful. As we keep our eyes fixed on Him, vision blinded by The Son, our focus on earthly things becomes impaired. In Matthew 14:28-33, we learn the consequences of focusing on our circumstances. Peter was able to walk on water, as long as he kept his eyes on Jesus. But as soon as his focus shifted to the turbulent conditions surrounding him, he began to sink.

The Christian life, like walking on water, is only possible through the power of the Holy Spirit. Every day we must choose the object of our focus. Keeping our eyes on Jesus enables us to experience a supernatural life. When the object of our focus turns to ourselves or our circumstances, we will begin to sink.

What turbulent circumstances are clouding your ability to focus on The Son? Satan often uses fear, doubt and unbelief to cloud our vision. F.B. Meyer writes, “Unbelief puts our circumstances between us and God, but faith puts God between us and our circumstances.” (1)

It reflects the words of a classic old hymn, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full into His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” (2)

Today, you may be faced with health issues, financial struggles, relational tensions or workplace woes. Resist the enemy’s snare to fixate on those troubling circumstances. Put on your SONglasses and fix your eyes on The Son! Allow Jesus to be the lens through which you view your days, your situation and your life. Seek to be blinded by His eternal perspective. And may your future be so bright, that you’ve gotta wear shades!

GOING DEEPER:
Do a spiritual vision check. Who or what is the object of your focus?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 141:8, 25:15; Jeremiah 29:11

(1) Quote taken from Today Matters by John C. Maxwell
(2) Lyrics from “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” by Helen A. Lemmel

Married to husband Dan, Karen is the Salon Coordinator for Intrigue Salon & Spa, the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

God is God

By Kelly McFadden

“But Joseph said to them, ‘Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.’ And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.”
Genesis 50:19-21

One of my favorite worship leaders often says, “I am thankful that God is God and I am not.” I always thought that was a pretty obvious thing to say, but as I was reading the story of Joseph, it struck me in a new light.

As a boy, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers. He was bought by an Egyptian, who learned to trust him and put him in charge of his entire household; however, his master’s wife plotted against him and he was thrown into jail. Joseph spent a number of years in prison, but while there, he successfully interpreted the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s workers. Two years later, when Pharaoh finally heard of this, he called for Joseph to interpret his dreams. Pharaoh saw great wisdom in Joseph and knew God was with him, so he put Joseph second in command over all of Egypt.

Years later, Joseph’s brothers came looking for food because of famine in the land. Joseph has the perfect opportunity to pay back the wrong inflicted on him by his brothers, but he does not. He embraces them, gives them gifts and calls for his father and father’s family to live in the riches of Egypt so he can care for them.

No one would have begrudged Joseph for being angry and bitter. No one would have blamed him for hating his brothers for the life they had stolen and for making them pay for their evil. Joseph responds differently. Instead, he says, “Am I God?” Joseph understood a truth much deeper that just knowing God as all-powerful, the Creator, the Righteous One. He understood that God’s purposes run deep. He knew it was not his place to seek revenge. He saw how God used all his circumstances for good. Even when being sold, sitting in jail, and times of distress, Joseph showed he always trusted the Lord and lived a righteous life. He knew that God is God, and he is not.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are ways you try to play the role of “God” in your life?
2. What makes it hard to totally forgive and clear the slate of those who have wronged you? What does God call you to do?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 46:6-11; Matthew 18:21-35; Romans 8:28

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Why Did He Do That?
By Lisa Boyer

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2

When I was a kid I used to play with my younger nephew. We often wrestled and I always won. When I was about 13, I realized that one day my nephew was going to be bigger than I. Though we continued to play together, we never wrestled again.

Many years had passed and I saw him at a family gathering. He had certainly gotten bigger, 6’3” tall and over 275 pounds, compared to my 5’5” inches and less than 125 pounds. I don’t know what came over me when I saw him, but I made an aggressive move towards him like I was going to get him. I immediately regretted it…he was huge and he was going to squish me like a bug, or so I thought. Instead, he jumped back from me in fear. That huge man was afraid of me!?!

What would make a man twice my size instinctively jump back in fear? Experience. In his experience, every time we wrestled, he was a loser.

Though I laugh at what happened with my nephew that day, I too have struggled with that same mindset. Since childhood, I had suffered defeat in one area of my life and, in all honesty, grew up believing I would always fail because my only experience was failure. And because I believed I would always fail, I always did.

Until the day that I chose to believe something different, I chose to believe the Word of God. Romans 12:2 tells us that we are to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” I reevaluated my thinking in that area of my life and stopped accepting defeat at the onset of the situation. I began living like I was being transformed. The result was, well, transformation, the evidence of a renewed mind.

Habits and patterns of behavior are difficult to change, but not impossible. God tells us in 2 Corinthians 5:17, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” Grasp that concept and apply its positive message to your life and see what exciting things God has in store for you!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are there areas in your life that you believe will never change because they have been the same for so long? Today, will you being to prayerfully apply the Word of God to that area?
2. Think back to a time when God transformed you by the renewing of your mind. Thank Him for not leaving you the way He found you.

FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 4:21-24

Lisa is a wife and mother of two. She is a co-leader for a Junior High girls’ small group.

Follow the Leader

By Leslie Snyder

“Whoever serves me must follow me…”
John 12:26a

Watch a group of elementary school kids play for very long and you’re bound to see them play the game “Follow the Leader.” The rules are easy. One person is the leader and the rest of the children follow, doing the same things the leader does. Most of the time, the leader takes the group running, skipping, jumping over obstacles, spinning, rolling down the hill, and, most of the time, they end up in some type of laughing mess. Grins on their faces reveal the sheer joy of the game.

Jesus invites us similarly. “Come, follow me,” He says. Unfortunately, most adults have lost the love of following the leader. Instead of frolicking in the mystery of the unknown, we require information like, Where are we going? How long will it take to get there? What do I need to bring? How long will we be gone? And, without affirmation of the answer, we refuse to budge. In turn, we miss the adventure altogether.

The invitation to follow Jesus is open-ended. Anyone can come. Anyone can participate, but only if they follow His lead. Answers aren’t guaranteed, the path is often hidden, but if we want to enjoy the game, we must follow the Leader.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What is it that keeps you on the sidelines and not in the game?
2. Are you willing to follow Jesus even without all the answers?

FURTHER READING:
John 14:6

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Financial Infidelity
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with his income. This too is meaningless.”
Ecclesiastes 5:10

In the Bible, the fifth chapter of Acts tells the story of Ananias and Sapphira. This husband and wife sold a piece of property and took some of the proceeds to the apostles. Sounds great, right? The problem was that they told the apostle Peter that they were giving ALL of the proceeds from the sale. Peter, however, discerned the truth, and first asked Ananias, “Didn’t it (the property) belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied to men but to God.” And Ananias fell down and died. Several hours later, Sapphira showed up, not knowing what had happened, and confirmed her husband’s story saying that all of the proceeds had been given. She also immediately died.

The greatest affair any of us may have is a love affair with money. Our society tells us that more money equates to more happiness, more success, more peace. The world consistently tells us that our identity is wrapped up in the cars we drive, the clothes we wear, the games our kids own, and the neighborhood we live in. Advertisements are aimed specifically at breeding discontent with our current situation and urging us to seek a cure by purchasing products. And if we don’t have the money to buy those products? No problem! We can get the money by home equity loans, credit cards and payday loans. The message is to mortgage our future to treat the discontentment of today.

If we have a love affair with money, we will never discover true riches because money simply cannot provide them. Ask a sales professional how long the thrill of her biggest sale lasted. Talk to a lottery winner about quickly the “high” of the win wore off. The good feelings don’t go on forever. Hear from the family forced into foreclosure when they bought a luxury home…banking on career promotions instead of corporate downsizing. Or, the couple in marital counseling because one spouse has been hiding purchases on credit cards for years and now the ugly truth has been revealed.

God wants us to find our satisfaction in what He gives us. When we invest in His kingdom, the benefits will be happiness, peace, and success in His eyes. Isn’t that what we were searching for all along?

GOING DEEPER:
1. Take a look at your house, your checkbook, your life. Does anything seem out of balance?
2. If you have gotten into a financial hole, seek help now. Don’t wait another day to make a change.

FURTHER READING:
1 Timothy 6:10; Proverbs 22:7

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves as a small group leader for Wednesday p.m. Bible study, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

Just As You Are
By Kelly McFadden

“‘For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate."
Luke 15:32

There is a woman who abandoned her children. A boyfriend promised her a new kind of future, but the kids couldn’t come. She hesitated for a second, then left.

There is a high society woman. On the outside it looks like she has it all together, but she hides a secret. She is an adulterer and a thief.

There is a murderer. He sits in his cell, living out his life sentence.

There is a man. He is out of work. He got caught stealing from his company. It is hard to find anyone who will trust him enough to hire him.

What about us? We all can fill in the blanks of the ways you’ve fallen short. We don’t need anyone else to tell us. We know ourselves better than anyone else.

So whom did Jesus come for? All of us: His prodigal children. He came so that we could all find freedom and hope in Him. This is great news: We can’t be too bad to walk into His arms. We can’t do anything to make God love us any less…He loves each of us unconditionally. And, like the prodigal son, when we open our eyes and realize we need our Father, no matter what we have done, He is there. He accepts us with His arms open.

It can be hard to acknowledge the love and grace that Jesus extends to us. But if you feel like you are too bad to go before Jesus, or too bad to walk into a church, that is all about you, not about Jesus. Jesus says, “Come just as you are.” He will make you whole and He will make you clean.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Which is harder to accept, that you have bits of the prodigal son in you or that God forgives you and loves you completely no matter what you’ve done? Why?
2. To whom in your life do you need to extend grace, just as the father did for his son?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 14:15-24; 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Having Right Relationships
By Susan Klein

“Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial [the Devil]? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”
2 Corinthians 6:14-15

In Paul’s second letter to the church at Corinth, he addresses the fellow believers with the above words. Sharing from his own life examples, he exhorts them to come out from among the unclean, or unbelievers, and be separate from them. One might ask, “Are we not called to be salt and light to the unbelievers of this world?”

Paul’s message here is not contrary to God’s word, rather it is one of warning. He recognizes that the Corinthian believers are still struggling with old sinful ways, and that they are being influenced by those outside of the faith. He is warning them that if their prominent associations are with pagans, or non-Christ-followers, then they will remain grounded in their wrongful ways. Paul shares that fellowshipping with other believers helps him to stay on the right track and holds him accountable. They will not be able to be a light to others if they are still hanging out in the darkness!

Notice how Paul uses the word, “yoked.” He is addressing people who are familiar with farming. He knows they can relate to having their oxen yoked together for plowing. It is critical to have the same kind of animals joined together in order for them to move in alignment and be productive. You wouldn’t pair an ox with a donkey, or a stallion with a quarter-horse! Two animals which are similar in nature will reap the greatest benefits.

Likewise, we must remember to have likeminded people with whom we are fellowshipping on a regular basis. Scripture tells us that just as iron sharpens iron, we are made stronger in our faith and our walk when we are surrounded by other strong believers. As we are strengthened, we are then capable of helping our fellow believers when they are down, and of being a salt and light to those of our neighbors who don’t know the Lord. On the other hand, if we are only fellowshipping with unbelievers, or those walking in the darkness, we will have a difficult time maintaining our footing on the solid ground of God’s Word.

Let’s make sure we have a proper balance in our relationships, having the influence of strong Christ-followers to steer us as we go.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you have a strong support system of believers that you fellowship with on a regular basis? If not, consider joining a women’s Bible Study or a small group that meets regularly.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 10:24-25; Ephesians 5:6-8

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She is the Coordinator of Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and one of its teachers.

Help, I think I’ve Fallen and Can’t Get Up
By Pam Blattner

“…Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away.”
Genesis 5:24

Almost nothing is written about Enoch in the Bible; it is all summed up with this verse about his relationship with the Lord…he walked with God. Great concept, but what does it mean to “walk” with God?

I believe that as human beings this is one of our hardest lessons. Have you ever taken a walk with a toddler? He practically hates holding your hand! Instead of clinging to our Father's hand, we have this tendency to take off on our own at times, too. Sometimes we let the cares of this world pull us away from Him instead of holding tighter to His hand. We try to fix things when it may not be God’s timing. We strive for harmony. We get impatient for God to act. The lack of peace we experience is like that of a fish that fell off the hook, flailing around on the pier. When that fish falls back in the water, it quickly gets its bearings and strength, speedily swimming off into the weeds for safety. That’s how it is with us. Sometimes, God allows us to flail around until we reach His hand and begin to resume our walk together. I can imagine God quietly saying, “Keep your hand in Mine. Don’t let go. Don’t take off on your own. I am able to keep you from falling.”

God's Word is full of promises about our Father's willingness to hold us. Look at David’s words to us in Psalm 16:8: "I have set the Lord always before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” That’s how David walked and remained a man after God’s own heart, even though there certainly were times he fell.

When our relationship with God seems distant, it’s often because of our daily busyness, isn’t it? A mentor of mine told me that if I remembered one thing that she taught me, it would be to try to “let every breath be a prayer.” Prayer is simply “talking.” And what a sweet thing to talk together as we walk with the Lord hand-in-hand. Prayer when we’re alone or busy; prayer when we’re walking on a hike, prayer sharing our hearts’ desires in the evening. When we do this, we feel safe. We are walking closely with Him.

Like Enoch, we, too, are preparing for God to come and “take us away,” and in this preparation time we need to be walking hand-in-hand with Him.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you put on an attitude of submission when you’re walking with Jesus? Do you feel Him reaching for you to grasp His hand right now? Take a chance, look into His glorious face, and trust Him to keep you from falling.

FURTHER READING:
Psalms 20:6; Isaiah 41:10-13, 42:5-6

Pam and her husband Richard have two adult children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care Ministries.

Twisting the Truth
By Leslie Snyder

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil.”
Matthew 4:1

Our eyes often play tricks on us. Recently, my daughter was looking through a bag of candy and burst out in elation when she pulled out a “Health” bar. That’s right, a “Health” bar. She was so excited that candy could be healthy that she was ready to consume it in an instant. Of course, the truth was that it was really a Heath bar, a chocolate-covered toffee treat. Although I’m sure the makers of the candy would love for consumers to believe the treat was in fact, healthy, the truth was just the opposite.

In Matthew 4, we see Jesus handle this type of deception. After forty days of fasting and solitude in the wilderness, Satan arrives to tempt Him with three very basic desires: food, material possessions and power.

Knowing that Jesus was hungry, Satan suggested, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread” (Matthew 4:3). I can only imagine that Jesus was actually insulted by this. Of course, He could command the stones to turn into bread! I’m sure He had already thought of more creative ways to feed Himself. But His answer came directly from Scripture. “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Deuteronomy 8:3).

The second invitation came after Satan took Jesus to Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple. Eugene Peterson’s Bible paraphrase, The Message, reads, “The Devil goaded him by quoting Psalm 91: ‘He has placed you in the care of angels. They will catch you so that you won’t so much as stub your toe on a stone.’” I love what follows. Jesus again quotes directly from Deuteronomy, “Don’t you dare test the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 6:16).

The last temptation gave Jesus the offer of material wealth and power if, and only if, He would bow down and worship Satan. Jesus curtly replied, “Away from me Satan! For it is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only’” (Deuteronomy 6:13).

Satan is described throughout Scripture as the Deceiver, a crafty old serpent, and the Father of Lies who comes only to steal, kill and destroy. What is our best weapon to fight against him? It is the Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness…” The catch is that we must know it to be able to use it.

Today, when the opportunity to believe a twisted truth presents itself, look again. It may not really be as “healthy” as it looks.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Temptation is all around us. When you are tempted, how often do you use the Word of God as your defense?

FURTHER READING:
1 Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 6: 10-18

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Go to Jesus
By Elizabeth Cole

“Then they went and told Jesus.”
Matthew 14:12b

I did it. Really didn’t mean to…but in my frustration with a situation, I’d wounded my visiting mother-in-law. Rather than welcoming her into a problem-solving session with my husband, I’d asked her to let us resolve the issue alone. In retrospect, I’m quite sure my tone was as uninviting as my words.

Upon finding a solution, I headed downstairs to find her. We’re very close, and I knew by the look on her face at the time that I’d hurt her. I was right.

“Mom, I think that I offended you when I asked you to leave. Please forgive me.”

“Yes, I was cut to the quick…”

I started to interject with a more effusive apology, but she continued, “But I’m okay now. I was very upset when I left you, so I got my Bible and went to Jesus.”

She explained that when she opened up her devotional booklet to that day’s date, she read the Scripture, and then read as the devotional writer addressed honoring the boundaries others had set. Furthermore, he suggested that perhaps a situation in which the reader had been hurt was, in fact, a situation of misunderstood boundaries! It was this personal prompt from the Lord that allowed her to release her pain and give it immediately to Him in prayer. Done. What a tender God!

I have been regularly reminded of my mother-in-law’s precious example ever since. When I’ve been wounded, who do I tell first? When someone’s comments are bruising, where do I rush for comfort? I so want to follow in her footsteps and run to Jesus…first. He’s the One with everlasting comfort; He’s the One with beyond-circumstances peace; He’s the One who truly understands; He’s the One who can do something about my heart.

In Matthew 14, John the Baptist’s friends were grieving his murder. After burying their friend, what did they do first? They went and told Jesus.

Have you been hurt recently? Beloved, go to Jesus.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What is your pattern when someone hurts you with words? If need be, are you willing to change it and begin by going to Jesus first?

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 10:5; Hebrews 4:14-16; Philippians 4:6-8

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

A Recipe for the Church
By Leslie Snyder

“…let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Hebrews 10: 22-25

I recently found this tasty morsel hiding in the pages of my favorite church cookbook.

A Church Garden
First, plant five rows of peas:
Presence
Promptness
Preparation
PurityP
erseverance

Next to those, plant three rows of squash:
Squash gossip
Squash criticism
Squash indifference

No garden is complete without turnips:
Turn up for the meetings
Turn up with a smile
Turn up with new ideas
Turn up with determination to make everything count for something good and worthwhile.1

While the poem can be enjoyed solely at face value, deeper truths are found when you look below the surface. Rather than “squashing,” too often our churches can be filled with the poisonous ingredients listed above, which hurt not only our own churches, but the reputation of the Church itself.

The early church dealt with this openly and honestly. The author of Hebrews gives us a glimpse of some of its own struggles. Some of the faithful had given up meeting together, some had fallen prey to a spirit of discouragement. But as the Church, we are called to persevere in times of difficulty and to be set apart from actions that hinder the work of Jesus Christ. Today, may we have the courage to check ourselves and find ways we can begin encouraging those in our own community of faith.

GOING DEEPER:
1. It takes every person doing his or her part to make the Church complete, every man, woman, grandparent or child. How are you fulfilling your God-gifted role?

FURTHER READING:
1 Corinthians 12:12- 31

1 Found in Sharing Our Best, the Cookbook of First Christian Church, Decatur, IL, 1991.

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Peace Robber
By Karen D’Amore

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8

BELIEVER’S MOST UN-WANTED: LUCIFER

Aliases: Satan, Devil, Destroyer, Father of Lies, Prince of this World, Angel of Light
Description: Alters appearance through the use of disguises
Location: Roaming about the earth
Occupation: Thief
Weapons: Fear and lies
Remarks: Working to overthrow the kingdom of God, his strategy is to destroy anything that has to do with God. He is a vicious and ferocious enemy. He is a master con artist. An avid hunter and fisherman, he uses only prime bait.
Caution: Consider him armed and extremely dangerous. DO NOT attempt to apprehend. RESIST him and he will flee from you.

** RESIST HIM TO CLAIM ETERNAL REWARDS**

I’ve been robbed! Caught off-guard, I never saw my attacker coming! He was quick, slick and tricky! He started with a mind-game by diverting my thoughts from the truth. A truth-tainted mind perpetuated an anxious heart, moving me to doubt God’s faithfulness. Anxiousness magnified looming uncertainties, leaving me strangled by hopelessness. Using consuming circumstances as a distraction, Satan stole my focus from God, crammed my mind with lies and robbed me of my peace.

Isaiah 26:3 declares, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You.” As Christ-followers, we are called to focus on the Lord and His mighty promises. Satan will derail our peace by deferring our thoughts to the immensity and intensity of our circumstances. With our thoughts diverted from the truth, we become vulnerable to Satan’s weapons of unbelief, doubt and fear. As we succumb to the fiery darts of unbelief…our faith weakens. With weakened faith, we become prime victims for the enemy to rob.

Jesus assures us, “…my peace I give you” (John 14:27). What the Lord gives is rightfully ours! But beware! Satan, the “Peace Robber,” hates for us to be at peace with God. He will stop at nothing to steal it from us. He will infiltrate our lives, homes, jobs, relationships and even our ministries in order to steal our peace.

Are you a victim of the “Peace Robber”? Be ready and alert and savvy to his devices. He is at the top of the believer’s most Un-Wanted list. RESIST him and he will flee from you.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are you facing that makes you vulnerable to the attacker? Identify your areas of vulnerability and be armed and ready to defeat your enemy.

FURTHER READING:
Romans 15:13; 2 Corinthians 2:11; Ephesians 4:27; James 4:7

Married to husband Dan, Karen is the Salon Coordinator for Intrigue Salon & Spa, the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

Fair Weather Faith
By Leslie Snyder

“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?”
Job 2:10b

I have never known suffering. I have always lived in a free country, had more than adequate shelter, food and clothing, and have only experienced mild degrees of illness. To most, my life would appear extremely blessed. But I am drawn again and again to the story of Job who experienced suffering unlike anyone I have ever known. God allowed Satan to destroy Job’s crops, his property, his animals, his children and ultimately his own health. In it all, Job’s faith never wavered. In fact, Job 2:11 tells us that “in all of this Job never sinned.” How is that possible?

In the book Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl conveys his experiences of unimaginable horror in the Nazi concentration camps of Auschwitz and Dachau. Of all the experiences shared, most striking are his references to religious faith and its impact on the prisoners. Frankl writes, “The religious interest of the prisoners, as far and as soon as it developed, was the most sincere imaginable. The depth and vigor of religious belief often surprised and moved a new arrival.” And again, “In spite of all the enforced physical and mental primitiveness of the life in a concentration camp, it was possible for spiritual life to deepen. Sensitive people who were used to a rich intellectual life may have suffered much pain, but the damage to their inner selves was less. They were able to retreat from their terrible surroundings to a life of inner riches and spiritual freedom."1

Suffering still exists today. Abuse, poverty, hatred, hunger and malnutrition, disease, war and death continue to plague our world. And Scripture is clear that suffering shows no favoritism. The Israelites suffered under Pharoah, Joseph was hated by his brothers and unjustly sold into slavery, widows and orphans were overlooked in food distribution, disciples were imprisoned and killed and Jesus was unjustly accused, unfairly tried, beaten and put to death on a Roman cross. Suffering is very real in this sin-laden world.

Frankl later came to the following conclusion about suffering, “If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death, human life cannot be complete.”

Job suffered greatly, but in his suffering never sinned. His faith deepened and in the end, he was rewarded by the very God who permitted his suffering. His faith weathered the very greatest of storms.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Perhaps you are in a time of suffering in your own life and are questioning the presence of God in that suffering. Listen to the story of Job, study it, and see how his experience might bring encouragement into your own.

FURTHER READING:
Romans 5:3

1Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning, Washington Square Press, 1959, 1962, 1984.

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Tech Support
By Jennie Pierce

“May the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory…”
Hebrews 13:20-22

Computers truly are an amazing invention. To imagine life without them now is absurd. But, when these techno-gadgets go awry, there is nothing more frustrating. Recently, my boss and I both agreed that our work computer was running slowly and inefficiently. The solution? Remote support with a technician.

The procedure amazed me, yet frightened me. All I had to do was book an appointment with a technician, then wait for his phone call. The technician was more than willing and happy to help, but his desire to help me did no one any good unless I was willing to allow him remote access to our computer. I had to give him permission by entering his code number in our system, then this technician was able to take over the entire computer without physically being in the room with me.

It was a bit nerve-wracking relinquishing complete control, staring at the computer screen as the mouse cursor flew all over the monitor. Windows were popping up, programs were being deleted and installed, files were being opened and updated…and all I could do was watch…and trust the technician to do his job. Interestingly, before he dove into his reconstructive work, he explained to me that he would establish a live chat box in the lower left corner, should I need to contact him with questions or comments while he was working.

There are times in my life when I am desperate for a tune-up, but too stubborn or afraid to relinquish control, letting God do His perfect work in me. I settle for operating in less productive ways when I allow sin, my spiritual virus, to reign in me. I figure out ways to work around my fears, negativity, laziness, disobedience…rather than give God permission to come in and clean house so I can live a more productive life for His glory! He is my Master Technician and yours. He knows what He’s doing and we must trust in His ability to accomplish great things in us. Sometimes the process hurts, takes time or is scary. But, all the while, our loving, gentle, capable Savior has our best interests at heart. His “chat box” is always available, welcoming questions, comments or concerns. He has begun a good work in us…and He longs to see it come to completion in Him!

GOING DEEPER:
1. To what or whom do you turn for your life’s “tech” support? What is stopping you from intentionally inviting Christ in to do the job? Only He is truly capable and trustworthy!

FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 2:10; Philippians 1:6, 2:13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Jennie is a wife and mother of three. She is active in Oakwood’s musical worship ministry and works part-time for a chiropractor.

One Little Life
By Dawn Weimar

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14

She was so little when I cared for her. I was worried enough that I carried her around with me. I bathed her, and dressed her in pretty dresses and tried to coax her to eat. But she didn’t eat; she couldn’t. She eventually left my care for that of ICU.

The call came just a few days after Christmas. All options had been exhausted; there was no hope. They took pictures with their baby girl on her first Christmas, then, a few days later, they let her go. They were thoughtful to call me…so I could weep while I held her. When she left for heaven, she took my heartstrings with her to the throne. Every night I sat on the floor with my dog and cried. Sounds like sackcloth and ashes. No one could alleviate my broken heart.

Several years later, I heard an evangelist, Jesse Duplantis, preach, “Heaven doesn’t lose any babies.” This precious baby was in heaven with Jesus. Yes, I had believed that, but this day, I knew it. I sat riveted, listening to his words. I prayed with him as he led me, “Thank you, Jesus for dying for me. Please be my Lord and Savior. And thank you for taking care of those little children until we meet again.” It was then that I told my husband my sorrow had turned to joy! I didn’t know yet it was a Bible verse, but that was what I experienced instantaneously. She was being cared for by Jesus and one day I will see her again.

There are many broken hearts and broken lives that only God can heal. He asks us to present Him with the pieces and be willing to surrender to His Lordship in the situation. He is our hope, when all hope is gone. For what is real can be seen with the heart and not with the eyes.

Take your pieces to Him...your hopes, your dreams, your broken heart. As you start the new year, this is a good place to be…fully focused on your Creator, the Bearer of your burdens, and Shepherd of your soul. Be. Just BE with Him. Trust Him. Seek His face for the healing and hope you need.

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you haven’t done so yet, pray that prayer thanking Jesus for dying for you. Ask Him to come into your life and be your Lord and Savior. Ask Him to take your broken pieces and restore your joy and hope. He can.
2. In what areas, do you need His immediate care and attention?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 130; John 3:1-21

Dawn is a wife and mother of three daughters, and is active in Oakwood's worship ministries. She's a pediatric nurse, currently working as VP of Business Development in Population Health Improvement.

A New Year and a Fresh Start!
By Susan Klein

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23

It’s a few weeks into the New Year...how are you doing with those New Year’s resolutions? Are you one of the many who’ve resolved to get in better physical shape this year? Or, perhaps your resolution is of a more spiritual nature, vowing to spend more time in the Word or with the Lord each day. Or have you decided to give up a bad habit or make better financial decisions? Want to know my resolution???

I resolved to not make any New Year’s resolutions! Yep, you heard me! Every year I make a list of things I want to do better or habits I want to give up, only to set myself up for inevitable failure and disappointment. Oh, I go at it strong for weeks, sometimes even months. But then, I gradually start to slip back into those old habits again. I end up frustrated and discouraged, usually giving up altogether. So, this year I choose to not make any resolutions whatsoever. Now, before you start thinking I have a defeatist attitude, let me share with you what I’m going to do instead.

This year, rather than focus on my “to do list,” I am going to live each day as if it were a blank slate, or a “fresh start” from God. I am going to ask my Heavenly Father what He wants me to focus on for that specific day, not beating myself up over my failed attempts from the day before. I am going to choose to live in His Will, trusting that He will equip me to accomplish what He wants me to do and not worrying about striving and failing in my own efforts. I’m also going to cling to the promise that His compassions, or mercies, are new every morning! He doesn’t hold it against me when I slip up on any given day. Rather, He lovingly and mercifully gives me the opportunity to begin afresh each morning.

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgressions of the remnant of His inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl our iniquities into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:18,19).

GOING DEEPER:
1. What resolutions are you struggling to keep? Are they on your “to do list,” or are they things God wants you to be focusing on? Ask Him what His will is for you, then trust Him to work it out through you.

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 1:6; Ephesians 2:8-10; Psalm 33:10-11

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She is the Coordinator of Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and one of its teachers.

Sweet Slumber or Fright Night?
By Leslie Snyder

“I will lie down and sleep in peace for you alone, O, Lord, keep me safe.”
Psalm 4:8

Each night around the world, when children go to bed, the imaginary world of monsters, bogeymen, and things that go bump in the night come to life. In fact, this occurrence is so common that some years ago, a movie studio used a humorous flip-flop of this fear to produce a blockbuster hit, Monsters Inc., in which the monsters were afraid of children! In our home my children’s fears range from hearing unidentifiable sounds to thinking a gigantic octopus looms outside of the bedroom window. Most often a reassuring word, a prayer, and a spray of magic “monster-be-gone” will bring back a sense of peace and our house is filled with the sounds of sweet slumber.

Adults often laugh off the fears that seem so real to children. But, the fact is that many adults experience something very similar. After the lights go out and the sound of silence fills the air, we are forced to face the things that hide in the busyness of day. The grown-up monsters of deadlines, pressure at work, addictions, marital strife, abuse, declining health, employment status, financial difficulties, parenting, issues of self-worth and more are very much alive. Fear invades and sleep is not sweet.

The psalmist understood where to place these fears: right in the lap of a loving, protective God. Is this a promise that nothing bad will ever happen? No. It is trusting that God is with us even in the midst of our fears. The first part of Psalm 23:4 reads, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me…” God did not deliver this person from the valley; He walked with him through it.

Tonight, when you are tempted to allow fear to overwhelm you, trust God instead. Speak your fears to Him. Name them out loud and allow Him to walk with you through the fear. Trust that His word is true, and enjoy the night as you sleep in His peace.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What fears keep you up at night? As you identify your fears, turn them over to God and allow Him to carry them for you.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 23; Matthew 6:25-34; 10:26-33; 11:28–30

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

The Call

By Elizabeth Cole

“...for ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

Romans 10:13-14

My 17-year-old was on her way to go sledding with friends on a Sunday afternoon. Before she left, I heard her in the garage rummaging around. Silence. Then a call, “Mom, I need help!” There she was on the stepladder, reaching as high as she could into the rafters trying to get her flexible flyer down…but to no avail.

“I’m trying to get the sled down, but I can’t reach it. Will you help me?” Hallelujah... It’s was not often that I got that kind of request from my daughter!

“Here, hop off; I’ll do it for you.” I grinned as I easily did for her what she couldn’t do for herself, sending her on her way with sled in tow!

What a precious picture God gave me that day of the last part of His salvation process: Someone obeys Him and tells the Good News of salvation to another; that person hears the very words of God through the speaker and believes…and then, that person CALLS on the name of the Lord. Scripture makes it clear that just intellectually agreeing Jesus is the Savior isn’t enough -- “even the demons believe...” Certainly, my daughter could have stood all day on that stepladder believing that I was tall enough to help her. But it was only when she ACTED on what she knew to be true, calling out for my help, that she received what she needed, what she couldn’t do on her own.

Real life begins with a personal dependence on Jesus, with calling out to Him to give us what we can never attain ourselves: a right relationship with the God of the Universe through faith in what He did for us on the Cross.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you called out to Christ for salvation, acting on what you know to be true about Him? If not, what is preventing you from doing so today?
2. If you have, with whom will you share your faith story today?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 3:10-12, 23; Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 5:8

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Dread
By Lisa Boyer

“So it is My word that goes out from My mouth: it will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11

Dread. It’s such an ugly word and an even uglier emotion. It crept up on me slowly, but then I was overwhelmed by it.

I had an appointment I didn’t want to keep, but couldn’t bring myself to cancel. The dread had begun as a simple thought, “I don’t want to do this,” but it quickly grew into “I can’t do this.” It kept me up the night before until finally I fell asleep praying…no, crying out to God to do something…anything.

Yet here it was, the morning of the appointment, and the dread was still with me. Again, I began to pray and cry out to God. Through my turmoil came the fleeting thought that I should stop praying and read my Bible. But, I was up an hour early and I just wanted to use that time to pray…pray until something happened. Before long, the fleeting thought became persistent: I should read my Bible now. But I knew my answer wasn’t going to be in today’s Bible reading. What kind of answer to my dread was I going to find in Matthew chapter 11?

So, to calm that persistent thought (but more to prove that Matthew didn’t contain the answer to my prayer), I postponed my prayer time, opened my Bible and began to read Matthew 11. Jesus and John the Baptist, no comfort there…unrepentant cities, certainly no comfort there…rest for the weary, wait, rest for the weary in Matthew 11? What is this? Verse 28 & 29: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest…I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

That was me…weary and burdened! I closed my Bible and returned to prayer. This time, I knew what to pray and how to pray. I talked to my gentle Savior about my burden, my concern, my worry and how it had turned to dread. Then I left it all in His capable hands and accepted His rest. My dread was gone, replaced by rest and peace.

Looking back, I have to laugh because I was convinced that I wouldn’t find comfort in my daily Bible reading, I suppose because it wasn’t a Psalm or Proverb, but God is so amazing and His timing is always perfect.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Take a moment to reflect on those times when dread begins to fill your heart. Is there a pattern you can identify and begin to change?
2. Think back to a time God used His Word to perfectly address your circumstances. Thank Him for His intimate awareness of and kindness toward you through that experience.


FURTHER READING:
Jeremiah 31:25

Lisa is a wife and mother of two. She is a co-leader for a Junior High girls’ small group.

Let It Go in One Year and Out the Other!
By Pamela Blattner

“…but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 3:13b-14 (NASB)

Recently, I was thinking about the past year of my life. I had quit my job and most of my ministries, choosing to dedicate my time to caring for my ailing mother and opening up our home to my daughter, her husband and newborn granddaughter. My mom began to need care that I couldn’t keep up with. The Caring Bridge at the hospital helped us with the decisions we had to make for my mom’s and my best interests. The months that followed were excruciating. The day I walked out the dementia facility after seeing to it that my mother was peaceful and well taken care of was one of the hardest times of my life. I fell into a sobbing heap in the car. I felt that she would never forgive me. As I reached for a napkin lying on the seat, I heard the accuser shout, “You claim to love your mom, and you put her in a dementia care unit? I thought you loved your mom so much that you said you’d never put her in a cold and lonely place like that. She deserves better than that.”

Time has passed; mom and her friend, Bernie, who is in his nineties, love each other. It’s a quiet and dignified love. Her caregivers love her, too, and kiss her forehead each night like I used to. I hear her evening shift caregiver loudly say, “Goodnight honey, I love you” after she takes her hearing aids out, and then I proceed to finish “tucking her in” by phone around 8:30 p.m. each night.

Several online commentators quote Henry Beecher, a well-known 19th Century preacher, as saying: “We have passed through one more year. One more long stage in the journey of life, with its ascents and descents and dust and mud and rocks and thorns and burdens that wear the shoulders, is done. The old year is dead. Roll it away. Let it go. God, in His providence, has brought us out of it…its good remains...” (1)

If a hurtful or difficult memory from 2009 comes up, “issumagijoujungnainermik”! I’ve read that in the Eskimo language, it means “Not-being-able-to-think-about-it-anymore,” “to forgive.” It’s all in God’s hands. Rather than replay the pain you experienced, replay God’s mercy, His grace and His love. Let’s press forward to do exciting and new things for the Lord!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What do you need to issumagijoujungnainermik as you leave 2009 behind?
2. In what specific ways will you “press on” toward Jesus in 2010?

FURTHER READING:
1 Peter 5:7; Psalm 136:1, 139:17

(1) for example: www.preceptaustin.org/philippians_312-16.htm

Pam and her husband Richard have two adult children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care Ministries.

He’s Got My Back!
By Dawn Weimar

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again, Rejoice! Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:4-7

Middle school can be difficult. I know a young lady who was being tormented by another girl who kept pointing out other friendships in an attempt to cause jealousy and discord. My advice was to say, “I am glad you are both friends.” I also encouraged her to not be jealous, but to be happy that people can have a number of good friends. Well, needless to say, the rabble-rouser was shocked and silenced at my response.

People say unfortunate things and choose destructive ways for reasons of jealousy, pride and competition. This occurs in all stages of life, in many venues, unfortunately, not just in the tumultuous teen years. What does one do when faced with this situation? I have a secret…Shhh! Do what God says, even though it seems like it is the most insane thing to do…because He said so, and because it works! Someone taught me the street slang, “I’ve got your back.” It means you’ve got someone watching out for you. Dear sister, you’ve got the Creator of the universe watching your back, so you don’t have to worry or fret!

The next time someone does you wrong, remember: “Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord. On the contrary: ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:17-21).

So, rejoice, pray for your enemies and give it to God, then relax and be kind! Let’s try that again: Rejoice, pray, then relax and be kind! The Creator of the universe, the King of Kings, has got your back! Do a little jig and praise Him!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there someone in your life who is causing discord among family or friends? What can you do to show kindness to her?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 118; Genesis 45:1-15; Ephesians 6:12

Dawn is a wife and mother of three daughters, and is active in Oakwood's worship ministries. She's a pediatric nurse, currently working as VP of Business Development in Population Health Improvement.

Sifted Like Flour
By Elin Henderson

“And the Lord said, ‘Simon, Simon! Indeed Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But, I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.’”
Luke 22:31-32 (NKJV)

There is a common joke among missionary women. I call it the phases of “becoming.” Phase 1: You find bugs in your flour, completely freak out, and promptly throw out the entire bag. Phase 2: You are still freaked out by the bugs but you have learned that you can carefully sift the flour and get them out. Phase 3: You move past serious sifting and just look for the major bugs and pick them out by hand. Phase 4: You have “become” and you see the bugs and say, “Good, bugs! More protein!” and just leave them in there.

God uses Satan to sift us and remove the bugs in our lives! Satan came asking for Peter and God said, “Go ahead, have at it.” We see this with Job in the book of Job and with Paul in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. And, interestingly enough, it isn’t always through the victories that we win. It isn’t always in the overcoming that we grow, but sometimes in our failure, as well. “When you have returned to me,” Jesus says to Peter, indicating that He wasn’t necessarily walking with the Lord all the time in His trial of sifting.

But, Christ gave him two wonderful promises that are reflected in our own relationship with Christ as well: The first and most significant is Christ prays for us when we are in process of being sifted…“But, I have prayed for you, that your faith will not fail.” We are not alone, despite how we feel. Satan is only given so much “rope,” so to speak, and no more. We are God’s and He watches over us. Christ prays for us and the Father knows our limits. The second promise is that when it is over, we will be able to strengthen, encourage and comfort others with what we have learned…”But, when you have returned to me, strengthen your brethren.” What a privilege to be able to show compassion and love to others in their time of need.

So, next time you feel like you are being tossed to and fro in Satan’s sifter, remember that you are prayed for and when you come out of it, you will be strengthened in your confidence in the Lord, able to encourage and support others in a deeper way…and hopefully with a few less bugs!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What kind of “sifting” have you endured in your life?
2. Who do you know who is facing something similar? How can you encourage that person?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 22:54-62; 1 Corinthians 1:3-5, 10:13; 1 Peter 4:13, 5:10; 1 John 5:18-19

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to nine-year-old Callie and six-year-old Elias.

Proper Footing
By Susan Klein

“Stand firm then...with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
Ephesians 6:14a, 15

Winter has arrived in Wisconsin! We’ve already had our first snowstorm resulting in school and business closings. Mountains of icy white are piled high around the sidewalks and the temperature has dipped to a frigid zero. Time to get out the heavy artillery to battle these conditions!

Let’s see, insulated gloves -- check, thick scarf -- check, ear muffs (I don’t do hats!) -- check, warm, dry boots...hmm. Wasn’t I supposed to buy new ones last year? Guess I never got to it. Oh great! Now everything but my feet will be warm and dry. Okay, Ill have to buy new ones. They’ll need thick treads so I don’t slip, warm lining so my toes don’t freeze, and good stitching so the water and snow don’t seep in.

It pays to be careful in selecting the right footwear. We wouldn’t wear stilettos on a hike, nor would we choose flip-flops for shoveling snow. When we are deciding which shoes to put on, we take several factors into consideration, such as; the weather, the event, and what other clothing we’ll be wearing.

How many of us take this much time to consider our spiritual footwear in the morning? Scripture talks about putting on the full armor of God. That includes shoes! We can’t just rush out into battle with our breastplate, belt and helmet on and think we will be protected. Even equipped with our sword and shield, if we didn’t have proper footing, we could stumble, making us an easy target for the enemy! This passage in Ephesians says our feet must be fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace if we are to stand firm. That means, I must be in God’s Word, reading it and learning from it to know how to defend myself from the attacks of the evil one. I must be ready so I can be on the offensive, not the defensive. And if I am ready, I will have the peace that the gospel delivers. I will be able to walk confidently into my day, prepared to meet whatever dangerous conditions might await me. Even more, I can share that peace with my fellow soldiers!

Just as ancient Roman soldiers put hobnails in the soles of their sandals to give them better footing for battle, let’s make sure our feet are properly fitted with the Word of God before we leave the house in the morning!

GOING DEEPER:
1. As you put your shoes on each morning, ask yourself, “Have I made my feet ready with the gospel of peace?”
2. Spend some time in God’s Word focused on specific passages that equip you with a proper battle plan so that you might have peace in your day. (See below.)

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 10:3-6; 2 Timothy 2:1-4; Hebrews 10:32-39

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She is the Coordinator of Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and one of its teachers.

Lessons from a Snowflake
By Jennie Pierce

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
Psalm 139:14

God really does have a unique sense of humor and impeccable timing. As I was waiting to pick up my daughter from school, it began to snow. Large, light, fluffy snowflakes began twirling and swirling down from the sky, so huge they looked like cotton balls.

Ironically, that same morning I’d already made it quite clear on my Facebook status that I had an innate displeasure toward snow. Yet, oddly, I found myself enamored with this white, flaky display. I even found it to be quite beautiful. As each one landed on my windshield, I passed the time away by studying each flake’s unique design, awed by the fact that there are no two snowflakes alike! Once again, I was reminded of my own unique design as the result of a loving, creative, detailed Creator.

You and I were never an afterthought with God; He knew us before the foundations of the world, before we were ever conceived in our mother’s womb! And, He meticulously designed each one of us. In fact, “God’s character goes into the creation of every person. When you feel worthless or even begin to hate yourself, remember that God’s Spirit is ready and willing to work within you. We should have as much respect for ourselves as our Maker has for us.” (1) We are His special creation, designed in His image…and He finds pleasure in us!

As my daughter exited the school building, she was elated to see the snow. Instantly, she extended her arms out and upward, spinning around, as if to receive every single snowflake with a grateful hug. She opened the van door with a gleeful, excited giggle exclaiming, “I just love snow! It makes me so happy!”

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you realize just how YOU-nique you really are? You are a beautiful treasure and you bring delight to your Heavenly Father. As you spend time with Him today, ask Him to show you the ways in which He made you special.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 139; Genesis 1:27, 31

(1) Life Application Study Bible; NIV; Tyndale House Publishers; 2005; page 973

Jennie is a wife and mother of three. She is active in Oakwood’s musical worship ministry and works part-time for a chiropractor.

Quick, Throw Me My SELF-Preserver!
By Elin Henderson

“…and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.”
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NASB)

Warren Wiersbe, in his commentary on 1 John, Be Real, says the following, “‘Self Preservation’ is the first law of physical life, but ‘self-sacrifice’ is the first law of spiritual life.” (1) How often I find self-preservation to be the pervading song of my life! Things get a little rough, too many people need me, my responsibilities grow too large, and I am quick to say, “Hurry, throw me my self-preserver!!” Yet recently, the Lord has been challenging me to move beyond self-preservation and trust Him with a spirit of self-sacrifice.

Christ is the ultimate example of sacrifice and servanthood…not only in His death, but also in His life here on earth. Look through the Gospels at His life and you will find a life lived nonstop for others and for the Father. Crowds followed Him, people needed Him virtually 24/7, He had a group of disciples that He was helping to bring along spiritually…His plate was full! How did He do it? By constantly communing and abiding with His Father.

Yet in the busyness, we do see that the Father didn’t keep Him going beyond which He was able, but gave Him breaks and times of refreshment. Sometimes I fear that if I give myself fully to the Lord, I will just be run into the ground. That wasn’t the case with Christ and it won’t be what God does to us. Who knows us best? We think we know ourselves, but reality is that we are finite in our understanding. Only God truly knows our limits and our capacities. Psalm 139 tells us in verses 1 and 2 that He searches and knows us. In verses 13-16, the psalmist tells how God has known every fiber of his being from before conception until now. Christ found rest in the fact that His Father knew Him best, and from that confidence could give Himself fully to be used up.

Just as Christ lived a life of servanthood and sacrifice, those who desire to follow after Him must do the same, realizing that the road may be difficult. Within us, we might be screaming for self-preservation, but the safest and best place to be is fully available to our Father to use as He sees fit. He will guide us as we fully depend on Him.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you intentionally make yourself available to God each day? What might you be holding back?

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 2:5-8; John 15:1-8

(1) Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Expository Commentary: Volume 2. Chariot Victor Publishing. Colorado Springs, CO. 2001. p. 511.

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to nine-year-old Callie and six-year-old Elias.