A Good Story: Happily Ever After

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

Yes…I LOVE a good story!  One that provokes your thoughts…warms your heart…and inspires growth and change. Each time I’ve shared this story, I’ve received a consistent response…“what a GOOD story!”  I agree…it’s a really good story! But the reason I believe it’s such a good story…is because it’s a “God Story!”

The story began with a call to delight myself in my Lord. To love Him wholeheartedly, abandoning my will and control over my life. To allow Him to warm my heart and become my consuming fire. He personally challenged me to abandon the pitfalls of logical thinking and trust in His thoughts and His ways.  He stretched me in ways to inspire growth and transform my evolving faith.

In this story, God called me to listen, wait and pray…repeatedly. There were those difficult days in which I impatiently wanted to fast forward to the “happily ever after” ending. But as God’s faith-filled mystery unfolded, I grew to relish His page-turning timing. And as His unleashed power transcended every corner of my world, I became an enthusiastic spectator in His glory-filled arena.

Once God became my “everything”…my delight…HE was all that mattered. As I wholeheartedly proclaimed, “Whatever Lord…wherever Lord,” His free reign over my life translated into a beautiful story where He fulfilled the desires of my heart!

There were moments when I wrestled with confidence in this new trade. When my skills were stretched beyond their comfort zone and I doubted my abilities. When challenges threatened my logic, I questioned my decision in this new vocation. But in the midst of every question and every doubt, God reminded me…this was HIS plan…HIS doing… and HIS story. It wasn’t about me! It wasn’t about my abilities, but rather my availability to surrender to His plan and bring honor and glory to Him. With my heart melded in unity with my Lord’s, He fulfilled every desire He’d infused within my heart.

For the past two years I’ve lived out the desires of my heart ministering at God’s perfectly-chosen salon. With Psalm 37:4 inscribed on the back of my business cards, I am reminded daily of this story. Yes, it’s a really good  story…a “happily ever after” story…because it’s GOD’s Story!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who’s writing your story?

FURTHER READING:

Romans 8:28; 2 Corinthians 5:15

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She volunteers at the Wildlife Rescue Center and in Women’s Ministry at Oakwood Church.

A Good Story: The Plot Thickens

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

As the pre-test jitters threatened to overtake me, the early morning email was comforting and affirming. Another piece of the puzzle had been snapped into place as God’s plan continued to unfold before me. The tests were grueling; passing was a celebratory accomplishment. Relieved and ready for the next chapter, I contacted Mary Beth Berns immediately. As email connections eventually led to face-to-face interaction, I eagerly volunteered to assist with her charity event.

It was a rewarding day performing complimentary pedicures on the mothers of special needs children. And after spending that memorable Sunday at the salon my “melded desire list” was covered with check marks. Beaming with joy, my heart felt at home in that salon. Confident that my heart’s burning desire was God-inspired, I trusted assuredly in His ability to bring His plan to pass. Sharing my heart and the details of the day with my husband, he asked if I would be submitting an employment application. My immediate “NO,” caught him off guard. I explained, “If that’s where God wants me…He’ll prompt Mary Beth to seek me out.” And so….I waited and prayed!

Over the next month, I ran into Mary Beth at several community events. When I posted a picture on Facebook of me holding my official manicurist license, she commented that she wished she had a job for me. While discouragement threatened to derail my faith, I continued to pray and wait. Following an upcoming trip home to California, my day timer was inscribed with “start job hunt” on June 7^th, the day of my return. On the morning of June 5^th, sitting at my parents’ computer, I wept as I read the message I had been waiting and praying for. Mary Beth wanted to meet with me regarding a job!

Meeting with her, the “He will give you the desires of your heart” portion of Scripture came to life! She shared, “I don’t have a position available, however, God told me to hire you…What are you looking for?” Going through my “melded desire list,” only one item remained unchecked and unspoken: Prefer Saturdays off due to volunteer commitment at the wildlife center. Before I could discuss this last point, she agreed to everything on my list. She continued, “I only have one restriction. I have a full crew on Saturdays, so you wouldn’t be able to work that day.” I nearly fell off my chair!

CHECK…my “melded desire list” was 100% complete…with every desire on the list fulfilled!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are you waiting and praying for God to fulfill your heart’s desires?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 1:6

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She volunteers at a Wildlife Rescue Center and in Women’s Ministry at Oakwood.

A Good Story: The Key Players

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

As the door shut “literally” upon the closing of my old salon, it was absolutely clear where I wouldn’t be working after graduation. As I questioned where  God would eventually place me, He filled my heart with snapshots of that future salon. And as my “melded desire” list grew daily, the puzzle pieces were transforming into a recognizable picture. Just as desires developed regarding the location and physical features of the salon, the desires regarding who I’d work for were growing even stronger.

I was familiar with Craig Berns Salon and found it charming. When I learned of a friend’s relationship with Mary Beth, the Christian  owner, my interest peaked considerably. My friend willingly agreed to orchestrate an introduction upon my request. But just as the request rolled off the tip of my tongue, the Lord nudged me with gentle conviction. His sweet voice reminded me, “Whose plan are you following?”  Whoops. I was meddling and taking control of a plan I’d relinquished to Him. He then lovingly impressed upon my heart, “How would He get the glory if I was manipulating the key players?” I retracted my request and explained to my friend the reason for my retraction. In the meantime, I prayed that God would orchestrate the connections with the key players in my future employment. I prayed that He would do so in a manner which would boldly  bring honor and glory to Him.

Weeks passed and as I continued to pray and wait, I couldn’t get thoughts of Mary Beth out of my head. As school neared an end, I studied feverishly in preparation for my final exams. Many long, sleepless nights finally rolled into the morning of exam day.  Hoping for some words of encouragement, I checked my email before leaving for school. Sitting in my inbox was an email from a church “acquaintance.” I was overcome with emotion as I read and re-read the email. A local salon was hosting an upcoming charity event and was in need of manicurists to volunteer their services. If interested in helping with the event, I was instructed to contact the salon owner directly. As I scrolled down to the bottom of the email, I read the contact information: Mary Beth Berns of Craig Berns Salon.

To God be the glory…the introductions were made…His way and in His time. As the story continued to unfold, the key players were revealed: Me and Jesus and Mary Beth!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What do you need to relinquish to God so that He gets the glory?

FURTHER READING:

Revelation 4:11

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She’s a leader for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

A Good Story: The Melded Desire Plan

By Karen D’Amore

“Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 37:4

I LOVE a good story! As I celebrate my second anniversary at Craig Berns Salon this month, I recall a story I’ve shared repeatedly these past two years. It’s a story with a beginning…a middle…but no end. No end? Yes, because I am still living the story!

I had been managing a salon for four years; a job in which I had become comfortable and confident. When the door finally opened for me to enroll in manicurist school, God called me to leave that salon. My comfort zone and logic would have had me remain there or return to that same salon after graduation and work as a manicurist. Hindsight would reveal, however, that God’s plan would defy my comfort zone and my logic. I was in a new season…a season with a clear “God-inspired” theme. Moving me to emulate todays key Scripture, God would impress upon me to abandon any pre-conceived plans or desires for the future. Beyond school, I didn’t know what the future held…nor was God revealing it to me. He had me on the “no plan” plan! As a well-organized, planner extraordinaire…this concept was unnerving.

Throughout my three month term in school, I meditated on Psalm 37:4 daily. And each day, I poured out my heart to God…praying that He’d purge and empty my heart of “me”…filling it with Himself. HE became my delight…an expression advocating dependence and reliance, as well as, union and communion.  My heart echoed the words of Charles Spurgeon, “Delighting in God is not only sweet in and of itself, but it sweetens the entire soul, until the longings of the heart become such that the Lord can safely promise to fulfill them. Is not that a grand delight which molds our desires until they are like the desires of God?”(1)

Encarta Dictionary defines “melded” as: causing things to combine or blend and become one thing. As I “delighted in the Lord,” the desires of my surrendered heart were melded with His. As a puzzle is assembled one piece at a time, God systematically revealed the pieces of His plan, in His time. And as His plan unfolded piece by piece, He spurred me to compile a list of those melded desires.

When midway through school the previous salon I’d worked for closed, God poignantly revealed that His plan truly defied logic! Steadfastly “delighting in Him,” I found that the lines between His desires versus my desires… His plan versus my plan became muddled, and then transformed into the…Melded Desire Plan!

To be continued…

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Who/what are you delighting in?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 6:33

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She’s a leader for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

(1)    Quote from Charles Spurgeon Faith’s Checkbook

Helpless in His Hands

By Jeannine Sawall

 “In this world you will have troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33b

As Christians, oftentimes, we don’t like to think about being absolutely helpless in the hands of our God.  We like to think that somewhere, somehow, we still have some type of control over what’s going on in our lives. We like to think that when difficulties arise, there is something we can do to help, some 1-800 number we can call for support, a positive thinking attitude we can adopt to make us “feel” better. There’s got to be something we can do…right?!

The psalmist made no bones about it…life is hard and full of suffering. We may find ourselves in situations so beyond our control there is no way out, no matter what we try to do. Perhaps it’s the loss of a job, a divorce, a betrayal, an unplanned pregnancy. Or perhaps the worst has happened and we have lost a loved one. Whatever the situation is, suffering is never easy and there’s never an easy way out. People may say “it’ll get better,” “you just need to get a grip,” or “just pull yourself up by your bootstraps.”  The only bootstrap in the Christian life we can get a grip on to make things “okay” is the Cross.

Knowing Christ is there, in the midst of our suffering and interceding for us is a comforting thought, but it may not always bring immediate feelings  of comfort.  However, it’s hanging on to this truth, even if by our fingernails, that will eventually get us to that place of comfort and through the crisis. Unfortunately, much of suffering is a long process and there’s no mention anywhere in the Bible of a detour or a short-cut through it. It is only through a purposeful stepping one foot in front of the other that we ever reach the other side of the valley. And along the way, we can count on the Lord to walk with us.

We all will all have to face many crises in our lives. Maybe you are in one now. When these times come in our lives, we can choose to look up and hang on to truth no matter what our feelings are telling us. The Shepherd walks with us, offering comfort and support along these difficult journeys - - holding us up, sometimes when we don’t even know He’s there.  It’s in these instances that the best  place we can be is helpless in His hands. He has overcome the world and He will help us through to the other side.

GOING DEEPER:

1. When feelings tell you something contrary to the truth, what do you listen to?

2. Who do you turn to in times of crisis and suffering?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 62:7; Isaiah 41:10

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

A Lasting Legacy

By Jeannine Sawall

 “But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD's love is with those who fear Him, and his righteousness with their children's children - - with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.” 

Psalm 103:17-18 

This month will mark the third anniversary of my mom’s sudden passing. I don’t think there is a day that has gone by, I haven’t thought of her. Yes, time has taken the sharp edge off of my grief, but the missing goes on in earnest. 

  

Having walked through three years of her loss, I have been able to look back and see the goodness of God. How He plucked her out of mire and muck and changed her life. How He wooed her and how she fell head over heels in love with Jesus. When I think of my mom...that is the lasting picture I have of her.

I think of her love for Jesus and how she wanted everyone she knew to know Him and love Him. She shared how Jesus can heal ANY hurt we have. How He provides strength for ANY weakness we struggle with. How He fills ANY void we have in our life. And when I say these things I have to preface: These were hard-fought lessons she learned (and we learn).  My mom had hard times, painful years and a life made difficult by choices (like all of us)...but Jesus made a profound difference.

When we let Jesus take control, take our hurts and disappointments; when we give up our burdens to Him, the change is incredible. It changes everything about us. And the change He worked in her life and works in our lives is what we live and eventually leave behind...the incredible truth that Jesus is real, He really  changes people, He really  makes a difference, and He gives us a love that overcomes any obstacle. He provides comfort and strength and rest and hope!  When we come to know Him, we find that every promise He has made is truth.  

Missing my mom has been, and continues to be, one of the most difficult roads I've had to journey. Yet during her life, she left behind a legacy of hope in Jesus. She passed that legacy down to me and now, I am hopefully passing it down to my children. Our relationship with Jesus goes with us to heaven. What we lived on earth is left behind as our legacy. A relationship with Jesus makes a difference in where we will spend eternity…it also makes a difference in the legacy we leave behind. Live a life that will leave a Jesus legacy! 

GOING DEEPER:

1. What type of legacy are you living/leaving?

2. How does your life make Jesus real to someone else?

FURTHER READING:

Deuteronomy 6:1-2; Mark 12:30; Proverbs 6:20

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

“But I’m Not Bitter”

By Lisa Boyer

“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”

Ephesians 4:31-32

I used to tell funny stories from my childhood but while telling some of them, I could hear how my voice sounded, so I would end the story with “but I’m not bitter!”  - - trying to make light of the fact that there was some bitterness still there. Over the years, God and I worked through those things and I let go of the bitterness. Now I can tell funny stories and they can just be funny. 

But it wasn’t so long ago that I couldn’t remember what bitter sounded like and the other day, I heard it again and it made me wince. But this time it wasn’t in my voice - - I heard it in my head.

I was driving down the highway explaining a particular injustice to God (also known as arguing with God, which I do not recommend) when I heard the bitterness. Worse yet, I was bitter over something I wasn’t even sure happened. I was bitter because of what I assume happened! I just didn’t know what to do about it.

So there I was driving down the highway, arguing with God and being bitter when I heard a still, small voice (actually it was a loud voice - - it had to be loud to be heard over the arguing), forgive. I then proceeded to inform God how unfair that would be. If I forgave without saying a word, wouldn’t they get away with what they did? Who is your bitterness hurting?  Aauuugghh!!! He was right. The only person I was hurting was myself. Not to mention the whole “IF you forgive others” verse in the Bible.

So, I did. I forgave. And possibly more importantly, I asked for forgiveness. Suddenly, I felt free. I like the feeling of free.

I know I made that sound so easy, but in reality, tears were involved (another thing I don’t recommend while driving down the highway). Yes, I still think an injustice has occurred, but I am so glad I’m not responsible for deciding that. I’m only responsible for my actions, decisions, attitude and (of course) response - - which is now forgiveness. 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been harboring bitterness against someone deep in your heart? Today, will you, with God’s help, decide to forgive them?

2.  Without judging, is there someone you can share this with so they can be free?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 6:14-15; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:36-37; Romans 2:1

Lisa has been married to Ted for 20 years and they have two teenage sons. Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with and impacting teenage girls for Christ.

You’re Doing Great

By Lexi Ellis

“But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called ‘Today,’ so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.” 

Hebrews 3:13

With the wedding days away, I found myself in the middle of final details. In the midst of overwhelming moments, I often verbally processed the details with my mom and my future mother-in-law. While my fiancé (now husband) was the emotional support I needed, my moms were my “detail support” to help figure things out.

Many times, my mother-in-law said, “You’re doing great.” Other times, my mom would hug me when I needed it most. In those moments, I was reminded how blessed I am to have a relationship with our two moms, who are such godly encouragers.

I don’t write this to exclusively brag about my moms. But in the middle of the stress, I realized how empowering and helpful those three little words are, and how de-stressing a hug is.

This isn’t rocket science theology. But the simple truth of encouraging others is incredibly spiritual. For one thing, God is the Supreme Encourager. In the Old Testament, Scripture says God hears us and encourages us.[1] In the New Testament, Scripture says God “gives endurance and encouragement.”[2] In addition, Christ lived a life that was full of encouraging. Think through what you know about His life: How He cared for and served others, saw beyond their present sin, told them who they really are, spoke to their hearts’ deepest longings, touched the untouchable.

Encouragement is also spiritual because, in His Word, God calls us to encourage others. Part of Paul’s intent in writing the letter to the Ephesian church was to encourage them.[3] Paul tells the Corinthian church to “strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace.”[4] And in our verse today, its writer tells Christians to encourage daily, implying that the absence of active encouragement may contribute to a poor heart condition.

Despite God’s obvious value placed on encouraging and the call in Scripture for us to be encouragers, I am not always seeking out opportunities to encourage others. My challenge? To intentionally search daily to build others up. For me, each night I’ve been trying to ask myself how I’ve encouraged others that day. Christ constantly thought of others. What a privilege it is to actively do the same and become more like Him. I’m so thankful for the intentionality both my moms have in encouraging me, and I’m glad it’s a reminder to actively do the same.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Before the day gets busy, pray about whom you can encourage. Then go do it!

2. Challenge yourself to be an “active encourager” each day.

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 2:1-2; Colossians 2:2; 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18

Lexi is a new wife, serves with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood, and is a fourth grade teacher at Lake Country Christian Academy.

---

[1] Psalm 10:17

[2] Romans 15:5

[3] Ephesians 6:22

[4] 2 Corinthians 13:11a

A Light Unto My Path

By Susan Klein

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”

Psalm 119:105 (KJV)

One of my favorite childhood memories is when we used to chase after “lightning-bugs” (fireflies) and put them in a glass jar. After collecting a couple dozen or so, my neighborhood friends and I would put the jar to use as a flashlight which would illumine the path back to one of our houses. Once inside, we’d go sit in a dark closet and watch the tiny creatures emit their brilliant green glow. It was quite magical!

Recently, a pastor-friend of mine included the above verse in his sermon. He posed a challenging question to his hearers: “What good is a lamp (God’s word) unto my feet if I just stand there and look at it?” That gave me cause to reflect on my own life. What have I been doing with God’s Word lately? Do I just skim it sporadically? Am I reading it for the purpose of gaining head knowledge? Is it just becoming rote-reading, intellectual stimulation, or food for thought? What am I really doing with it?

The pastor went on to say, “It’s a light unto my path, so I move forward and act on it.” Like the jar of lightning bugs, I’m supposed to put God’s Word to use. James 1:22 reflects these same thoughts: Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says! (Emphasis mine)  God doesn’t intend for us to keep His Word to ourselves and use it solely to light our own personal path. Rather, He wants us to let His light (Word) shine as we walk along, so that others who are walking on dark paths may be exposed to His light (words) through our actions. We, like the lightning bugs, are the vessels He uses to light the way for others. God supplies the light for our path, but we must choose to act  on it. Just staring at the lamp on our own feet will not propel us to action. Jesus exhorts us in Matthew chapter 5 to let our light shine before men, that they may see our good deeds and praise our Father in heaven. Shining equals action!

I believe Dwight L. Moody sums it up well. “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won't need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don't fire cannons to call attention to their shining - - they just shine.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. How full is your “jar of lightning bugs”? Are you putting it to good use?

2. Whose path might need a little of your light?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 2:5, 60:1; Matthew 5:14-16, 1 John 1:5-7

Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.

Recalculating…

By Jeannine Sawall

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.”

Proverbs 16:9

My family and I recently returned from a road trip. We traveled over 3200 miles and depended heavily on our GPS to get us where we were going. Unfortunately, more than once, we didn’t see the turn in time, we ended up in the wrong lane, or we somehow managed to go the wrong way. I can’t tell you how many times we heard the GPS voice say, “Recalculating…” Sometime,s it was a beautiful little side trip with a pretty vista we might have missed, but as the hours and miles added up, every little recalculation became an annoyance!

Oftentimes in our spiritual journey, we do the same thing. We may be walking along, seemingly on the right path, heading in the direction the Lord would want us to go when suddenly, something comes into our view that takes our eyes off of where the Lord has us headed. Or maybe we could see where the path was going, but decided that direction wasn’t necessarily where we  wanted to go. In both cases, we are no longer headed where the Lord would have us go, but rather on some path of our own choosing. While the detour might seem delightful for a short time, eventually it becomes frustrating, taking more time and energy than we ever planned. Fortunately for us, when we respond to the Lord’s prompting, He doesn’t let us wander too far or leave us to find our own way back alone. The Holy Spirit does a little “recalculating” and brings us back to the path we should have followed in the first place.

There are many choices we can make as Christians: Some will always lead us to the Cross and others will take us on a path that may have a few more twists and turns than we were counting on. While there may be paths we regret we’ve taken, the Lord will use that detour to His glory if we allow Him. He never leaves His children stranded, lost or alone. Our lives might require a little recalculation now and again, but if we depend on the Lord and seek His face, He will make His path known to us.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Whose path are you walking on now: One of your own making, or the one the Lord has for you?

2. How have you responded when the Lord has asked you to “recalculate” your direction?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:5-6; Psalm 119:105

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

Stillness and Quiet

By Tracy Smith

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

Psalm 46:10

I am reading the book, Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, and in the chapter titled "Living Room Intimacy," Joanna Weaver says,

                  

"I constantly fight the tendency to fill the God-shaped hole he created in me with fluffy stuff…I don't like quietness so I fill up the silence with sitcoms and talk shows, Christian music and CNN - - but it was in the quiet of the night that Samuel heard God's voice" [1]

That's me. I am the type of person who does not like quiet or stillness. I cannot just sit at the doctor's office and wait for the doctor without something to do, so I bring a book to read. I cannot do chores in a quiet house, so I put on the TV or radio as background noise. I am so bad that if I am watching a TV show, I will read a book at the commercials to keep the brain busy! I'm most comfortable when I keep my brain active and engaged.

The Bible gives us examples of people who heard God's voice when they were still, when they were quiet. Samuel heard God's voice in the middle of the night when all was quiet (1 Samuel 3:1-14). Elijah hears the voice of one of God’s messenger angels when he is discouraged enough to give up, so he lays down to sleep (1 Kings 19:4-8).

Why am I unable to just relax the brain and enjoy? I really don't know, but I would guess that is just the way I am wired. Does that mean that I should not try to learn to be still? No. In the above verse, God tells us to be still and to know who He is. What am I missing by not being still and/or quiet?  What would happen if I stopped, kept still and listened to God? I hope to find out soon!

GOING DEEPER 

1. Will you commit to picking a time every day that you focus on being still and quiet?

2. What do you use to fill the quiet? What can you do to change that?

FURTHER READING

Psalm 37:7, 62:5; Isaiah 32:17

[1] Weaver, Joanna. Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World. Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2007.

Along with being a wife and mother to two boys, Tracy is an administrative assistant at Oakwood, serves on the Women’s Ministry Special Events Team and leads a great group of Junior High girls.

True Confession

By Lisa Boyer

“We have spoken freely with you…and opened our hearts wide to you.”

2 Corinthians 6:11

As a writer, I’ve been struggling. The last piece I finished was started a long time ago, but other than that, I’ve had nothing the last five months. I’ve seen things I’ve wanted to share, but I haven’t been able to sit down and write about them - - it’s as though it all disappears before I have the chance. I’m not sure if a devotional writer can have writer’s block, or if it would have to be that God doesn’t have anything to say through me at this time. Well, I guess it could also be the enemy purposely getting in the way of my writing.

But I think the real issue is that I’ve been afraid, which is ironic, because the topic I had wanted to write about before the writer’s block set in was “fear not.” “Fear not” is found over and over again in the Bible both in the Old and New Testaments. Yet, I’ve been afraid. I’ve been afraid to share what’s on my heart - - what God’s been teaching and showing me. It’s not that a reader has ever given me a reason to be afraid; I’ve just been afraid.

I haven’t found a way out of my fear or around it, so I’m writing in the middle of it…setting the fear aside as best I can and trusting God to do the rest. I’m not sure how God plans to use my confession in the lives of you, the readers, but He knows.

Perhaps this devotional is just me “getting back on the horse” to get over my fear (which may also remind you that those in ministry need your prayers). 

But perhaps it’s not just me. Perhaps I’m not the only one afraid to do what God has put on their heart to do. Perhaps you understand what I’m going through because you are suffering from your own kind of “writer’s block.” Perhaps you too are afraid. I don’t have a lot of answers, but one thing I know: We, the children of God, are to “fear not.” Sometimes, fear is just an opportunity to step out in faith!  

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you struggling with your own “writer’s block” that prevents you from using the gifts God has given you to bring glory to Him? After spending time in prayer, will you step out in faith and “fear not”?

2. As you read this, did God bring to your mind someone who is struggling? Will you take the time to pray for them?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 41:10, 13; Psalm 46:1-3; 2 Thessalonians 3:1

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two teenage sons. Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with and impacting teenage girls for Christ.

It is Well

By Lexi Ellis

“I will extol the Lord at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. I will glory in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.”

Psalm 34:1-2

In the late 1800’s, Horatio Spafford had it all: a thriving legal practice, wealthy real estate investments, a loving wife and five children. And then it hit. In 1871, the Spaffords’ son died and the Great Chicago Fire destroyed Horatio’s investments. Horatio decided the family needed a vacation. When unexpected business came up, he sent his wife and four daughters on the ship with plans to meet them shortly. The boat collided and his four daughters drowned. Within two years, Horatio and Anna Spafford buried all five of their children. [1]

It was in the midst of this unspeakable disaster that Horatio wrote the well-known hymn, “It is Well with My Soul.” There are two things that have been impactful for me. The first is the phrase: “It is well with my soul.” I love that Spafford doesn’t sugarcoat it. He was in the midst of immense mourning. He didn’t fake it and say it is “golly, ol’ grand with my soul.” But he doesn’t allow bitterness to overcome him. It hurts, it’s sad, it’s painful…but it is well. Why? The hymn explains because of what Christ has done for us. It is well because Christ has taken all of our sin, reconciled us with God and is coming back soon.

The other thing that so impacts me in the hymn is that our God is in relationship with us, regardless of our present circumstance. He is our God in times of happiness and in times of sadness. Another worship song I love echoes that truth:

All of my life, in every season,

You are still God.

I have a reason to sing,

I have a reason to worship.

I will bring praise. I will bring praise.

No weapon formed against me shall remain.

I will rejoice. I will declare. God is my victory and He is here.[2]

God meets us where we are - - in the midst of joyous celebrations and unspeakable pain. Incredible. I want my life song to be similar to Horatio Spafford’s beautiful hymn and be able to say to my Lord every morning, “It is well.”

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,

          When sorrows like sea billow roll;

Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say,

          It is well, it is well with my soul.[3]

GOING DEEPER:

1. Identify what kind of “season” you are currently in.

2. What do you need to do so you can honestly say “It is well with my soul” each morning?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 34

[1] http://www.faithclipart.com/guide/Christian-Music/hymns-the-songs-and-the-stories/it-is-well-with-my-soul-the-song-and-the-story.html

[2] Hillsong, “The Desert Song”

[3] For all the verses of the hymn sung by Chris Rice: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HLyhEdh92E&feature=related 

Lexi has recently returned from her honeymoon with her husband, Andrew. She serves with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood and is a fourth grade teacher at Lake Country Christian Academy.

Jailbreak!
 By Elin Henderson

“…bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”
I Corinthians 10:5b (NKJV)

Your day is progressing as usual when suddenly the sound of alarms fills your head. “Emergency! Jailbreak, Cellblock A!” Quickly, you run to see what the problem is when you realize that the escaped convicts of Cellblock A have opened Cellblocks B and C! Now, true chaos begins to fill your world. Before you know it, the top security inmates in solitary confinement are working their way free from their cells! What do you do??

Do you ever feel that there are jailbreaks in the prisons of your mind? Those thoughts that you believed were locked up with the keys thrown away suddenly dig a hole through the floor and begin to wreak havoc in the world of your mind? We all have different levels of security that we think are impenetrable. Some thoughts get detained in low security facilities, while others are sealed away in quiet recesses where few know about them (if any). Yet, at different times, when our guards are down, these thoughts break free. In their escape, they bring others along with them. Before long, your carefully controlled mind becomes a cesspool of unwanted escapees!

There is no parole for “good behavior” amongst the errant thoughts. They must be taken captive and sent back to the confines of their cells. Unfortunately, they are often joined by cellmates with similar tendencies and issues. One group of criminals called “Woeful Worries” has a tendency to overtake us when we are overwhelmed. Another gang, the “Guilt Gang,” stages a coup when we are already down-and-out about ourselves! Then there are those high security “Past Pain Prisoners” who lurk in the dark corners of solitary confinement where we try to keep them quiet and inactive. The list goes on….

It is a full-time job keeping a vigilant eye on the imprisoned thoughts of our minds. They are often repeat offenders that you might have to lock up every 5 minutes until the phase passes. But, while we are the prison matrons so to speak, we aren’t alone! There is the Boss in Charge -- the Architect and Creator -- the One who built the prison and knows its every nook and cranny. He’s on call 24/7, always there to help! Not only that, He is willing to help with guard duty, Philippians 4:7b “…will guard your hearts and MINDS through Christ Jesus.” When we catch an errant thought on the loose, our job is to bring it back to the Big Boss to deal with, lock away again and help guard the cell door!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What kinds of thoughts have been breaking free from the prisons of your mind lately?

2. What promises does the Big Boss offer about His ability to deal with even the worst of escapees? Will you act on them today?

FURTHER READING: 

2 Timothy 1:12; Philippians 3:21; Ephesians 3:20

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

More Than…
By Jen Wollner

“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)

It had been a rough three days. I could blame it on a million things, but the truth of the matter was that I was irritable and everyone was paying the price. That third night I tried to sleep, but as I lay awake in bed, my mind swirled with discouraging thoughts: “You are a horrible wife and mother. Your husband and kids don’t deserve this. You should be ashamed of yourself! They’d probably be better off without you. You might as well just give up because this is how you’ve always been and how you’ll always be…selfish to the core. You’re a failure and a hypocrite. You say you love God, but if you really did, you wouldn’t treat others like garbage. You’re causing permanent damage to your relationships…they’ll never forgive you. You aren’t fooling anyone…you’ll never be…enough.” On and on the thoughts continued as I drifted off to sleep…

…then morning came…

Before I could even open my eyes or process the fact that it was time to get up, I heard a soft song playing in my head. The lyrics were sweet music to my weary soul…

“You are more than the choices that you make. You are more than the sum of your past mistakes. You are more than the trouble you create. You’ve been remade.” (1)

As these words and truth repeated over and over in my mind, I felt the forgiveness of God wash over me. I felt His love and mercy rush into my heart, kicking out the shame and guilt. I praised Him for His compassions that come with the dawn of each morning, drowning out the lies that flourish in the darkness.

Because of Him, I am more than my bad choices and the trouble I bring on myself and those around me. I’m more than the voices in my head want me to believe. I’m not defined solely by my actions, but by my Father. I have been redeemed and remade. I am more…

…because of His faithfulness.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What lies are swirling around in your head today? How can you exchange them for the truth of God’s love and mercy?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 139:13-14; 1 John 4:10; Romans 6:18, 8:1

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Fill ‘er Up

By Jeannine Sawall

 “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

When you drive a large vehicle and are pulling a big camper behind you, you need to make frequent stops at the gas station to fill up the tank. Fortunately, the car manufacturers decided to make things easy on drivers by putting a handy little gauge right on the front panel to let you know when your tank is about to run dry. If it wasn’t for that gas gauge, we’d have to guess how far we could go before our tank was empty. I’m sure we’d have been stranded on the side of the road more than once if it weren’t for that handy little gauge!

As Christians, we also need to fill up our spiritual gas tanks on a daily basis. In order to grow and mature, we need to make sure we are seeking to establish our relationship with the Lord routinely.  Fortunately, the Lord has also given us a “gas gauge.”  The Holy Spirit prompts us to spend time in prayer, in the Word and in fellowship with other believers. He warns us when we’re running dry.  However, it seems this gauge is a little easier to ignore since we won’t literally be left sitting on the side of the road if we don’t stop to fill it up. However, spiritually, we certainly can be left stranded. If we don’t stop to put the effort into our relationship with the Lord, we stifle the work He wants to do through us. We miss the blessing of having that relationship deepen and grow, and we won’t have the resources necessary to sustain us through difficult times.

Oftentimes, it’s easy to put off time with the Lord. We fill our tanks up with other things, sometimes even good things. How often have we chatted with a friend, gone shopping, read a book, gone to an exercise class, sat down for a bit and watched a favorite show…and at the end of the day, we never sat with the Lord? While it’s not always easy, we need to prioritize that time with our Father and fill up on Him. He provides the spiritual gas necessary to walk this Christian life. When we respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting, we won’t run dry and we won’t run out of time. He will fill us up and give us the power to do whatever He calls us to. 

GOING DEEPER:

1. What do you fill up on?

2. Have you established a regular quiet time alone with God?  If not, make it a priority to establish one.

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 1:9-10; Psalm 1:1-2; 2 Peter 1:3-8

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

The Real Deal

By Lexi Ellis

“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways [God’s] higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:9

I’ve been babysitting several families this summer. Some days, I’ve played Wii with the kids. Recently, I beat my little friend who is an expert Wii bowler. I’m not the best at sports. But with this Wii Sports Resort game, all of a sudden, I am bowling over 150 when I’ve broken 100 in “real life” maybe twice. Suddenly, I can fly a plane and collect green balloons with ease. Basketball? No problem! I can slam-dunk that ball every time - -  my vertical is wicked. I am now an expert sports gal!

I know what you’re thinking, “Hold up, those things aren’t real. You’re not a real bowling genius, pilot pro or basketball expert. Those games are virtual - - you aren’t really bowling, flying or shooting hoops. It isn’t the real deal.”

You’re right. It would be ridiculous to think Wii bowling is the same as “real” bowling. In fact, we miss out on the experience of the “real deal” in the sport if we never move beyond the virtual version.

I doubt anyone would rather be a “Wii bowling expert” over the real sport. And yet, I think we sometimes do that as Christians. We miss out on the real deal because we’re too busy concentrating on the virtual, or the temporary, here on Earth. Rather than pursuing God’s master plan and listening for His guidance in our life, we choose our plans, solutions and desires. We may think we’re great at bowling - - we’re handling life on our own pretty well - - until we stop and see we’re only moving our arm with a white controller. My success in Wii bowling - - my own ways and achievements - - isn’t as fulfilling as the choice to follow Jesus and experience the real sport, which is surrendering to Him and being His disciple.

I want to experience the real deal. I want to realize I am part of God’s incredible master plan to restore, rebuild and renew the world. I don’t want to think the virtual - - my own ways and my own busy-ness in life - - is “good enough” when there is so much more beyond the TV. I want to live life in full pursuit of God. I’m still not an expert at bowling, despite winning on the Wii, but I am thankful for the reminder to get off the couch, turn off the TV and live for Him!

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 55

GOING DEEPER:

1. What parts in your life are acting like the Wii - - that distract you from the “real deal” of God’s master plan?

2. What do you need to do to change this?

Lexi is a new wife, serves with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood, and is a fourth grade teacher at Lake Country Christian Academy.