He’s Just Too Big?
By Lisa Boyer

“Clap your hands, all you nations; shout to God with cries of joy. How awesome is the Lord Most High, the great King over all the earth!”
Psalm 45:1-2

Have you ever heard it said, “God is so awesome and big; He couldn’t possible care about me”? I’ve found that God is exactly the right size to be able to care about each and every one of us, all at the same time….

Just ask the fourth grader who was home alone and scared. She’ll tell you how her youth leader happened to call her to remind her about that week’s activities and then stayed on the phone with her for an hour and a half until her mom came home. That’s a God thing.

Just ask the mom who prayed with her kids and put them on the school bus. She’ll tell you how she got a call from the school telling her that her daughter needed to be rushed the hospital with a sore on her wrist and a red streak running straight up her arm. It was blood poisoning. The immediate treatment saved her life. Her daughter was wearing long sleeves, and yet the teacher saw it anyway. That’s a God thing.

Just ask the woman driving on a four lane divided highway in heavy traffic on a rainy day. She’ll tell you how she lost control of her car while breaking for a red light and her car did a complete 360 without hitting anyone; even though there were cars in front of her, behind her and the lane next to her. It then came to a complete stop facing the right direction a few feet from the car in front of her as though it had never happened. That’s a God thing.

Just ask the parents expecting their third child. They’ll tell you how the doctors showed them the ultrasound pictures and explained that their unborn son was missing a part of his brain. They refused to have an abortion and prayed instead. He was born completely healthy. That’s a God thing.

Each of these stories proves how big God really is…and each is evidence of how much He personally and deeply cares for us every day.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you recall a time when you saw God’s hand of protection on your life? Will you take the time to share your experience with someone to encourage her faith?

FURTHER READING: 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Philippians 4:6; Psalm 139:5, 15-16

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

Stand Firm
by Peggy Kleckner

“Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men (women) of courage; be strong.”
1 Corinthians 16:13

Be on your guard, stand firm, be courageous, be strong…what action words! Unfortunately, I wasn’t feeling active. Nope, I was flat on my back.

We had been on our way to a funeral on a Thursday night when my husband had to “brake” for a deer. I was in the backseat allowing my son the greater leg room of the front seat. Well, from my vantage point, I saw the flash of deer as well as the truck with the snowplow on it that was coming toward us from the other lane. As I later told my husband, “Apparently, I took a fright.” We missed the deer and so did the truck on the other side, but my back went out the next day.

Like most of you, I’m sure, I don’t like being stuck in bed. Life is already bumpy. My husband is home on lay-off and I have been struggling with tendonitis in my wrist. So, I wanted to whine, “Why me?” or perhaps “What else, Lord?”

My Bible study that week was on “still attentiveness.” As long as He has you still, you might as well be attentive. As Scripture instructs, “Be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). He is God and He has a good and perfect plan for our lives. It is in the difficult places that we really begin to “know” Him. Knowing Him also means coming to trust Him…in all things.

Could I trust Him even in my discomfort? Better yet, would I? Could I get past my whining and just trust?

Looking again at the above verse I realized those action words are for my spirit, not my fleshly body. So, my spirit stood on guard against my enemy. I held fast to the truth and girded up my faith. Finally, I relaxed and became bold and courageous in Him.

My body may have been down, but my spirit was lifted up!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What circumstance is trying to hold you captive? Can you step up and allow His boldness and courage fill you?

FURTHER READING:
1 Corinthians 15:57-58; Ephesians 6:10-18

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - two sons and two stepsons. She is the Co-coordinator of Oakwood’s Wednesday p.m. Bible Study.

Chains That Bind, Chains That Free
By Elin Henderson

“So that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ…”
Philippians 1:13 (NKJV)

Do you ever feel chained down to something? Maybe it is a job or boss you can’t stand. It could even be your children. Mothers of small children in particular often struggle with feeling homebound as they do nothing but chase little munchkins about all day wiping noses and cleaning up spills! Whatever it is, Paul, in his letter, to the Philippians gives us some great insight into his chains.

When imprisoned, Paul refused to see his chains from a human perspective; something that bound him, held him back, immobilized his life and progress. Instead he took a heavenly perspective. He saw them as springboards of freedom and opportunity! In Philippians 1:12-14 we learn Paul’s viewpoint: “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Two things he claimed happened because of his chains (not in spite of them). One, he was able to share the Gospel with a huge population that otherwise would never have had a chance…the palace guard. Secondly, more believers grew in confidence and boldness to share the Good News when they saw his example.

When we can begin to view life with a divine perspective, these physical, mental, and emotional chains that bind us begin to become springboards of freedom and opportunity. Sometimes they are meant to slow us down a bit and help us to minister right where we are at…like Paul ministering directly to the guards by his side. Other times, they are lessons and encouragements to other believers to move forward with confidence. Either way, are we willing to endure them for the prize set before us?

Whether large or small, God desires that these chains in our lives would draw us closer to Himself, and that He could use us in the lives of others!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are some chains in your life? How do you see these chains…as immobilizers or spring boards?

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 1:3-4; 1 Peter 3:15

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 seven-year-old Elias.

The Shoebox

By Leslie Snyder

“In your anger do not sin! Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Ephesians 4:26-27

I read a humorous story about a man and woman who had been married for more than 60 years. They had shared everything. They had talked about everything. They had kept no secrets from each other except that the woman had a shoebox in the top of her closet about which she had cautioned her husband never to open. Over the years, the man forgot about the box until the woman became very sick.

While sorting out their affairs, the elderly man took down the shoebox and took it to his wife's bedside. She agreed that it was time for him to know the contents of the box. When he opened it, he found two crocheted dolls and a stack of money totaling $25,000.

Curious, the man asked her about the contents. "When we were to be married," she began, "my grandmother told me the secret to a happy marriage was to never argue. She told me that if I ever got angry with you, I should just keep quiet and crochet a doll." The man was so moved he had to fight back tears.

Only two precious dolls were in the box. Apparently, she had only been angry with him two times in all those years of living and loving. He almost burst with happiness.

"Honey," he said, "that explains the dolls, but what about all of this money? Where did it come from?" "Oh," she said, "That's the money I made from selling all the dolls."

I’ll admit, I got a good chuckle from this story, but in reality it’s no way to handle conflict in relationships. In the above Scripture, Paul warns us not to end a day angry with another person. He knew the power of anger and how the devil waits to seize any opportunity to increase division among believers. Unresolved anger leads to bitterness, a lack of forgiveness and it causes immeasurable pain to those involved. Today, choose to be a peacemaker and resolve any outstanding conflict.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Spend some time evaluating your relationships. Is there someone in your life with whom you have unresolved conflict? If there is, commit to taking steps to resolve the conflict.

FURTHER READING:
1 Thessalonians 5:13; Hebrews 12:14

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Don’t Look Back!
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“…Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop…”
Genesis 19:17

Lot’s wife is a little-known but tragic figure in the Bible. One dark night she found herself caught in the crossfire of sin and redemption. The wife of Abraham’s nephew, she and her family lived in the wicked city of Sodom. God was angry with the city’s depravity and had vowed to destroy it. That was the bad news. The good news was that her family received a warning of the destruction to come by God’s representative. His specific instructions were: “Flee for your lives! Don’t look back, and don’t stop anywhere…or you will be swept away!”

Can you imagine the fear? She is told to uproot her whole family with no time and no planning. Sodom was home…she had lived there many years; her daughters were engaged to men from this city…there were weddings to plan! But Sodom was the original “sin city” and God had had enough. How blessed Lot’s wife was to receive a reprieve from the judgment that God was handing down.

Lot’s wife did as instructed…to a point. She fled with her husband and two daughters, leaving before dawn and reaching a small town just as sulfur rained down on Sodom. She was safe! Then she did what she had been told NOT to do. Clinging to the past, she looked back at the city. And she became a pillar of salt.

It would be easy to point to Lot’s wife and judge her. But haven’t we all been stuck in a desperate place between needing to focus only on moving forward to where God wants to take us, and the overwhelming desire to go back to the familiar...even when it’s bad for us? Maybe your “Sodom” is an addiction, an unhealthy relationship, or moral compromises. This story illustrates that in those places we mustn’t turn back. All ties have to be severed. We can only be saved from the place of ruin by putting one step in front of the other to get away from it…and never looking back.

In Philippians chapter 3, the apostle Paul tells us the way we are supposed to take: “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Lot’s wife missed out on the prize of freedom when she chose to remember what was behind her. Let’s not make the same mistake ourselves.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you find yourself in a personal “Sodom” place? Resolve today to move away from it and toward what God has in mind for you. Pray for strength and seek help, counsel and accountability.

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 19:1-29; Luke 9:62

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.

All His

By Kelly McFadden

“As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. ‘I tell you the truth,’ he said, ‘this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.'”

Luke 21:1-4

Each week as I headed to Sunday School as a child, my dad would hand me a dollar for the offering. Most of the time that dollar made it there. But, I remember one Sunday when the basket went around my fifth grade class, and the thought of a donut popped in my head. Concealing the dollar in my pocket, I silently passed the basket on. Later, I bought a donut with the dollar, but I felt too bad for it to taste good.

Giving can be difficult. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for the widow in today’s Scripture to give all she had. Sadly, I think if it had been me, I would have held on to at least some of the money. It is hard to part with money, especially when we feel it is hard earned. As I have gotten older, I have come to understand what I did not as a child, namely that all we have belongs to God. We are simply managers of His provisions while we live this life.

In ancient Israel, the people gave the first and the best of what they had as a sign of gratitude to God. Today, giving is still a way to thank the Lord for all He has given. The amount we give is not as important as the attitude with which we give. We are called to give with an attitude of joy, dedication and thankfulness. Whether we have much or little, God is the Giver of all good gifts. When we change our perspective to one of gratitude, it becomes easier to be a cheerful giver. Search your heart. How is the Lord calling you to give back to His work in an attitude of gratefulness?

GOING DEEPER:
1. What kind of giver are you?

2. Read Romans 12:6-8. How does an attitude of giving go beyond money? What other ways can you give and sacrifice to the Lord?

FURTHER READING:
Acts 20:35; Romans 12:6-8; 2 Corinthians 8:2-5

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Faith-Lift
By Pamela Blattner

“The Lord came to my support. He set me free in the open,

and rescued me, because He loves me.”
Psalm 19:20

I saw a beautiful young mom loving on her two kids at the grocery store this week. She glowed with natural beauty and radiant skin. I told her how awesome she looked and admired her calm demeanor as she stood in the check-out lane pushing the double-seated car cart in front of her. Her response? “Oh, yuck! I have to lose a ton of weight!”

Witnessing her disgust, I thought of the times that my husband gave me that certain look, and how I quickly discounted his glance because of my self-absorbed thoughts. I thought about the times I have noticed “the bulge” and been displeased with myself. I wonder why we just can’t accept ourselves, keep up a healthy lifestyle and leave it at that?! Could some of it be from the tabloids or pressure to be our svelte self of years ago? Have we, too, become appearance-driven, addicted to having ourselves look like the Barbies of our culture?

Does your body image get you down? Do you have a problem seeing yourself as God sees you? Christian women, many of us have fallen for the lie that our total value is determined by what we look like!

The Bible teaches that He is the Potter and we are His masterpiece. Whether we’re smooth, smart, light or dark, we’re all beautiful to our Creator. We’re so much more than we show on the outside. The most beautiful women I know are the ones whom I admire because they know Whose they are. Don’t believe the lie that you must be perfect, successful and beautiful to be loved by Him. Be all that He created you to be. Get yourself a “faith-lift.” And, remind other women of their value and beauty, too.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you believe, deep down, that you are beautiful because your Creator says you are? Talk to Him about your insecurities and allow Him to transform your mind so you can see your beauty through His eyes.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 13:5-6, 18:1-3; Matthew 12:28

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

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.