Race-Pacers

By Karen D’Amore

“Therefore encourage one another…”

1 Thessalonians 5:11a (NIV)

When I registered to run a four-mile race with three coworkers, we discussed how our different paces would have us finishing the race at different times. We agreed that we’d each wait at the finish line until everyone completed the race. On race day, the dynamics changed when only two of us showed up.

My racemate was a newer, inexperienced runner. She was visibly nervous as she’d never run four miles before. She admitted to feelings of intimidation when running with friends who were faster than she. Self-absorbed as I was with finishing faster than my previous races, I still assured her I’d wait patiently for her at the finish line. I encouraged her to pace herself and just focus on finishing.

Before our race, the race promoter briefed the crowd regarding water, first-aid stations and “pacers” along the route. A pacer’s job is to set and maintain a pace that aligns with the runner’s training and experience, and helps them to stay on track in finishing the race in a specific amount of time.

As the horn sounded and I sped past my racemate, conviction welled in my self-centered race shoes. Feeling “The Nudge” to become my racemate’s pacer, I s-l-o-w-e-d down and ran alongside her. In the final mile, as the heaviness of her feet mimicked her labored breathing, her running slowed and she dropped behind me. I maintained a slow but steady pace, and when the finish line became visible, I reached back and took ahold of her hand. As we re-aligned alongside each other, we crossed the finish line…hand-in-hand…side-by-side!

Beaming with the thrill of victory, my racemate proudly displayed her race medal. Fearing she couldn’t go the distance, she shared how encouraged she was having me by her side. She expressed how following the comfortable pace I’d set enabled her to finish the race. Similarly, I - - her pacer - - was encouraged  watching her “run with endurance”…and finish the race!

As that nudge of the Holy Spirit changed my focus and slowed the pace of my personal race, God became my own “Pacer” and brought scriptural running metaphors to life. Using me as a “pacer”/encourager, He diverted my selfish focus on finishing fast…to finishing well!

The Greek root for the word “encourage” in Thessalonians is translated “close-beside.” [1] With biblical metaphors likening the Christian life to a race, we’re called to run the race together… alongside each other…encouraging one another…to finish the race!

Encouragement has different faces - - requiring different paces! As Christ-followers, let’s be “race-pacers” who stick close beside our racemates...encouraging one another to “keep running” (Hebrews 12:1) and finish well!

READY…SET…GO!!!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Find a racemate and encourage one another!

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 10:23-25; 2 Timothy 4:7

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team.

[1] biblehub.com-Strong’s Concordance

The Sacrifice

By Brita Crouse

“But giving thanks is a sacrifice that truly honors Me.”

Psalm 50:23a (NLT)

“Forgive me, Father, for not being all here. When Your very name is I AM and You are in the present and here is where I can love You. Today, when I race ahead - - return me to all here.” [1]

I find myself doing this all the time. Future-focused, always planning one step ahead, wanting to move on to the next thing. But, by living like this, I’m essentially wishing parts of my life away.

This year I have been reading through One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. In this book, Ann explains the importance of giving thanks to God in order to slow ourselves down, live a happier life and, most importantly, to acknowledge God’s presence in our lives on a daily basis. Over the course of a year, Ann made a list of 1,000 things she was thankful for. This book is her journey through that year.

Reading Ann’s story has encouraged me to look at my own life differently. So right after I read the above prayer by Ann, I wrote my own prayer:

“God, I am so guilty of this…Living like this leaves me feeling rushed, leaves me only future-focused. But to really live, to live my life for You, I have to be living in the present. I can’t fully experience life if I am continually wishing precious seconds away…Please help me to appreciate the moments I have when I have them. I will never have a second chance at living them…”

Sometimes living in the present and appreciating moments takes sacrifice. It means slowing down. It means not worrying about the future. It means seeing God - - even in difficult circumstances. This sacrifice is not easy; it requires patience and attention to detail. But when we find things to give thanks for, we have a better view of God’s goodness, love and grace in our lives.

Maybe you are dealing with a difficult medical diagnosis? Maybe you are struggling in your marriage or in other relationships? Maybe you just received exciting news? Maybe you just got that promotion at work? God doesn’t love us any less or any more through these highs and lows of life. He loves us perfectly - - all the time. He desires to bless you, so let Him do it. Otherwise, you could be missing out on something great. 

So when you find yourself wishing moments away? Slow down, live presently, and find time to give thanks.

GOING DEEPER:

1.        Be more intentional about finding things in your daily life to be thankful for. Can you find 1,000 things over the course of a year?

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 3:17; 1 Chronicles 16:34

Brita is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past seventeen years.

[1] Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011) 65.

The Eyes of Jesus

By Tracy Smith

“You are judging by appearances. If anyone is confident that they belong to Christ, they should consider again that we belong to Christ just as much as they do.”

2 Corinthians 10:7 (NIV)

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity
Give me Your arms for the broken-hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach
Give me Your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see [1]

As a junior high leader at my church, I have the privilege of attending awesome events like our recent retreat. One of the videos we watched was called “God’s Glasses” and it showed a young man frustrated with many things around him.

His internal dialogue was extremely crabby and frustrated with everyone he encountered: the pre-teen who skateboards behind his car every day as he’s leaving; a woman who cuts him off in the parking lot and steals his parking space; a barista who is overworked so he must wait for his coffee, etc.

In the midst of his internal grouching, he is given a pair of glasses to wear that give him different insight on those around him. Truths about the people around him are revealed, and his internal attitude starts to change. Some of the things he sees?

The skateboarder “…just needs someone to care.”

The parking spot stealer “…is grieving her best friend.”

The overworked (and possibly slow-moving) barista “…is fighting addiction.”

His internal dialogue, which quite frankly seemed to make sense, is suddenly revealed as short-sighted. When it is revealed what these people are dealing with on the inside, the outside behaviors are not as frustrating. The video ends with a glimpse of what he is doing to change himself and his reactions.

I’m ashamed to admit that my internal dialogue can sound an awful lot like the young man in the beginning of the video - - especially in certain situations.

I’m challenging myself to stop that negative, internal dialogue.  And even though I don’t have a special pair of glasses to show me what is really happening in someone’s life, I need to react with compassion, kindness and grace to those around me.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Watch the God’s Glasses video. Does this video challenge you in any way? If so, what is your plan to change things?

2.  Watch the video for the Brandon Heath song, “Give Me Your Eyes.” Does this video challenge you to really see those around you? If so, what is your plan to truly see others?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 139:1; 1 Samuel 16:7

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage boys, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood, serves on the Women’s Ministry Special Events Team and works with a great group of junior high girls.

[1] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/brandonheath/givemeyoureyes.html

Can I Have One?

By Jeannine Sawall

  Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV)

While I like to think I have taught my children to have a generous spirit, occasionally, their generosity can be called into question. While eating, I asked one of my boys if I could have one of his french fries.  He started looking in his bag of fries with diligence. I sat there waiting with great expectation; he must be searching for the best fry in the package! Finally, he pulled one out and handed it to me…a burnt little stub of a fry!!  “Really!?!…this is the best you have for me?” I asked.  “If I give you more, I won’t have enough!” was his reply. I told him he had a WHOLE bag of fries and he could share a few with his mom! He begrudgingly pulled out a couple of decent-looking fries to share.

At first, I was a little miffed at his stinginess. I mean, after all…I paid for those fries…technically, they were ALL mine. Whenever my boys ask to share something I had, I happily handed it over. Hadn’t I modeled a generous spirit to them? As I sat there with my thoughts, it came to me that oftentimes I offer the Lord that same stubby, burnt fry as well. How often had He asked for my time, my energy, my talents and I begrudgingly game Him a few minutes, a half-hearted effort or something less than my best? Everything I had came from His hand… didn’t He deserve better than that?

It’s easy to see others’ lack of generosity, but it’s more difficult to see our own. How often has the Lord asked something of us and we’ve offered him the short, burnt fry? Maybe it’s a ministry you’re being asked to be a part of and you feel you can’t spare the time. Perhaps it’s a friend who needs some encouragement and you just don’t feel you have the energy. Or maybe it’s a talent you’re being asked to share when you are feeling overwhelmed already. We need to consider all we have - - our time, our energy and our talents - - as gifts from the Lord and we need to examine our responses when asked to share them. Sometimes, it is legitimate to say “no,” but often, we are called to say “yes” despite wanting to offer only the short fry! We can trust the Lord to always provide us with enough! 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Where in your life are you offering less than your best to the Lord?

2.  What can you do to trust Him more with your time, talent and energies?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 22:37, Romans 12:1

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in the Oakwood Cafe and is actively involved in ministry to those walking through grief.

The Gift-Giver

By Elizabeth Cole

“…and [the father] said to him, ‘Son, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found.’”

Luke 15:31-32 (NASB)

Once upon a time, there was a really fantastic Gift-giver. He was the sort who took the time to know - - really know - - the recipients of His gifts, and would choose just the sort of gifts that would be best for them.

He also had lavish wealth and could afford to give gifts of inestimable value. He gave gifts that He Himself cherished, gifts that delighted Him and brought Him great pleasure.

And so He gave gifts to those He loved. His loved ones communicated their valuation of His gifts through the way they treated the gifts upon receiving them. Some ignored the gifts. Some were ecstatic when they first got the gifts…but stored them on the shelf in the hall closet, since the gifts could sometimes be kind of messy. Some put the gifts in a place of honor until something…anything…drew their attention elsewhere.

Then there were those who accepted the gifts in humble gratitude, recognizing them for what they were: an expression of affection and confidence from the Gift-giver - - lavish love for both the gift-receiver, as well as the very gifts themselves. Those recipients welcomed and reveled in the gifts, took time to intentionally determine where the gifts could best be protected and cared for, and shouted out an enthusiastic “thank you” to their amazing Gift-giver.

Once upon a time, there was a God who cared enough about His Church to give them “gifts” - - actual people He loved enough to die for, people who needed to experience Jesus’ love through His family, people who longed to know who He is and why it matters. And since He cares so very much for these people-gifts, I would imagine He would give them to faith communities whom He knows will welcome and steward and grow them well…and communicate heartfelt “thanks” through actions, not just words.

Our God has placed those He cherishes in our lives and in our churches this week…as precious gifts from a really fantastic Gift-giver. How’s our “thank you”?

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is God calling you to open up time in your week to intentionally care for those He’s bringing into your life or church? Will you?

FURTHER READING:
John 1:43-45,15:17; James 2:1-9

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

Today

By Peggy Kleckner

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it.”

Psalm 118:24 (NIV)

Today is a new day: a one-of-a-kind. There will never be another one like it. It is unique, and it is a gift from our sovereign God.

Have you declared this verse over your day? I know that you, like me, have probably already weighed your new day out on your own scale. You have viewed it from your own perspective. If it is raining and that doesn’t fit into your idea of a “good” day, you have labeled the rain “bad” and perhaps the day “bad,” as well. If you feel prepared, it is “good” day. If you feel weak, it is “bad.” Have you considered that these are your  labels?

“This is the day the Lord has made.”  These words alone should encourage us. We know the One who made this day! We can, and should, make the choice to actually plan on rejoicing and being glad in this day. I must choose to look for Him in my day.

I love that the verse says “we.” This reminds me to enter my day with Jesus…as well as with others.

If I am going to choose to rejoice, where do I start? Where do you look when you are in chaos?  How can you see when the days seem overwhelming? Start by asking God Himself to open your eyes.  Even if you have to come to Him with a bad attitude, open your mouth and ask Him to open your eyes to the smallest glimmers of His goodness in this day. Next, start watching and praising.

Where have you seen His provision in your day? Look past the one answer you are continuing to look for and actively look for all of the other ways that He is providing, and praise Him for those. Where have you seen His kindness displayed? Perhaps in a sales clerk, in a woman at work, in your spouse? Who has displayed His patience? What or who reveals His caring nature to you? What remembrance from your past helps to stir up hope in this day?

You may need a friend to help you “see” Him in your darkest days. Let someone in to help. I am sure that God has placed people in your life who are willing to walk with you.

What instruction, what encouragement, what is it that God is trying to help you see in this gift of today?

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What circumstance has you so consumed that you are missing God’s goodness in this day?

2.  Can you declare God’s goodness even when you cannot see Him or feel His nearness?

FURTHER READING:

Lamentations 3:24-25; Phil 4:6-7; Ephesians 3:16-19

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and she is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield.

Lord, I Need You

By Brita Crouse

“And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groaning that cannot be expressed in words.”

Romans 8:26 (NLT)

This past year, I had the opportunity to nanny for a family with a precious baby girl. Now I will readily admit…babies are not my favorite. Their fragility and dependency frighten me (and so do their protective mothers). But after spending several weeks and months with baby L., I became more comfortable looking after her and making sure her needs were met. She went from lying on the floor, to rolling over, to crawling, to pulling herself up to stand, to finally taking steps. And I was witness to it all. Amazing!

There is one day with baby L. that I remember in particular. She was playing with her brother in the living room, and I was in the kitchen.  I had my back to the kiddos, getting them something ready to eat. When I suddenly turned around, L. was sitting in front of me: smiling. I said, “Hi.” And then I went back to what I was doing. Moments later, L. crawled over to me, reached up, and tried grabbing onto any part of me she could.

She wanted to be held. She wanted to be comforted. In that moment, L. needed me.

The reason this moment struck me as so profound is because I do the very same thing with my Heavenly Father. I approach him… sometimes quietly, sometimes abruptly, wanting to interact, wanting to be held, wanting to be comforted. I need Him.

We all have our own unique ways of coming before God - - of recognizing our need for Him. We see it daily, in our own lives, as we encounter difficulties. We see it in the outstretched arms and the “amens” during worship. We see it in the bent-over-crying-till-it-hurts days of trial. We see it in the faces of loved ones suffering with terminal illness. Abba, we need You.

Some days we may not know how to pray for what we need. In these moments of need, we have the Holy Spirit intervening for us, coming before God, to communicate our needs that we cannot adequately express.

How fortunate we are to have Someone who will intervene on our behalf when we cannot find the words to say. Even when we aren’t sure what to ask for, we still have a God who knows and hears our needs.

GOING DEEPER:

1.       Listen to “Lord, I Need You” by Matt Maher. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA)

2.  In Greek, “Abba” is a term of affection for Father, similar to “Papa.” How are you expressing your daily need for God in this way?

FURTHER READING:

Exodus 14:14; Psalm 116:1-7

Brita is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past seventeen years.

Ordinary
By Tracy Smith

“The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus.”

Acts 4:13 (NLT)

Recently, our church had a sermon series titled Ordinary: Like You.  The subtitle was, “What difference do I make?”

Isn’t that the question we all wrestle with at some time or another? Do I really matter? Does what I do/don’t do really make a difference? And the big one, “There is nothing special about me, so what can I do?”

At the end of his sermons, our pastor has something called “The One Thing” to remember from the sermon. My favorite “One Thing” from that sermon series was this: “My ordinariness is the key to my impact on others.” Let me give that to you again, “My ordinariness is the key to my impact on others.”

That thought stopped me in my tracks and really made me think. The fact that I am ordinary is the key.

Think about the men Jesus surrounded Himself with - - a lot of ordinary fisherman. In the New Testament, Hebrews 11has a “Hall of Faith” full of ordinary people who did extraordinary things for God.

            Abel …who obeyed and brought a favorable offering.

            Noah…who obeyed and built the ark.

            Moses…who thought he was too ordinary and unqualified to lead.

            Rahab…a prostitute who trusted.

I also think of the men who worked to build the Church after Jesus’ resurrection.

            Paul…who used to persecute Christians.

            Peter…who seemingly had his foot in his mouth more often than not.

Are you ordinary? If so, then you are perfect for God to use!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Has thinking of yourself as “not special enough” stopped you from serving God? If so, what can you do to change that?

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 11

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

Wild Cards

By Elin Henderson

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Romans 8:28 (NKJV)

Nothing is more frustrating in a good game of Uno than to be one card away from winning and someone throws out a Wild Card. You know, the one that changes everything. You had it all planned out and, BOOM, just like that, you are drawing yet another card from the stack!! Back to square one!! BUT at the same time, nothing is more exhilarating than to play or benefit from a Wild Card that’s IN your favor just one card before “going out.” 

God is in the habit of throwing Wild Cards into our lives. Just when we think we have everything under control and figured out, He throws it onto the table and changes things dramatically. Or, just when things look hopeless and helpless, He comes along and throws a Wild Card that changes things and suddenly it all comes together beautifully. Either way, He does it to remind us that HE is the One in charge of the cards! 

So the next time you wonder why life has taken a very unexpected turn, either for the worse or the better, keep in mind that in this game of Uno (the one we call “life”), God holds all the cards. He is playing them out strategically in our lives to keep us dependent on Him, to keep us from trusting our own plans and understanding. Embrace those Wild Cards and trust Him with the game.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Looking back on some of the Wild Cards you have come across in your life (positive and negative), what are the things that God has taught you in and through them?

2. How can that help you as you face future Wild Cards?

3.  How is the story of Joseph a good example of God’s using some Wild Cards? What does Genesis 50:20 teach us about how he viewed these Wild Cards?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:5-6; Genesis 37-50 (Story of Joseph)

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 fourteen-year-old Callie and twelve-year-old Elias.

Secret Sins

Jeannine Sawall

“He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.”

Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

Walking along the beach, I was enjoying the morning sun, a slight breeze and the conversation of my walking partner when we suddenly noticed several dark splotches in the water. The “splotches” turned out to be a small type of stingray called a skate. The skates also seemed to be enjoying a morning at the beach. Every once in awhile, one of them would break away from the group they were swimming with, catch a wave and body surf into shore. It was fun to share the morning with them.

As my friend and I moved away from these creatures, she asked me if I still planned on taking a paddle board lesson later that week. I told her it was still in the plans. She expressed her hesitation after seeing the skates. She asked, “You still want to take a lesson even after seeing all those creatures in the water?” I told her that whether I saw the creatures that morning or not, they were still in the water. I wasn’t going to let those skates come between me and my lesson.

As we continued walking, it came to me that oftentimes as Christians, we consider sins we can plainly see (promiscuity, addiction, murder, adultery…the list could go on) as serious sins. They are obvious to anyone and, therefore, more ungodly. However, just because others can’t openly see our sins, doesn’t mean they aren’t there, lurking below the surface, coming between us and the Lord.

The Bible teaches that any sin - - obvious in-your-face sins and those concealed from anyone’s sight - - carry the same guilt. All sin is serious and interferes with our relationship with the Lord. It doesn’t matter if it’s hatred or murder, lustful thoughts or adultery, a white lie or stealing; sin is sin whether kept hidden or acted on openly. Just because no one else may see it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.

The fact is that the ocean is full of sea creatures. It would be easy to live in a world where I can pretend if I don’t see them, they don’t exist. However, it’s impossible to live that kind of Christian life. There is no secret sin because God sees below the surface. Nothing is hidden from Him. Thankfully, believers are given the promise that God forgives any sin we acknowledge to Him. When we keep our relationship honest with God, He’ll take us deeper than we expected, and we won’t worry about getting in the water with Him.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What sins are you keeping hidden?

2.  What stops you from going deeper with God?

FURTHER READING:

Numbers 32:23, Acts 10:43

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in the Oakwood Cafe and is actively involved in ministry to those walking through grief.

A Good Antidote

By Susan Klein

“Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?”

Matthew 12:25 (NIV)

As I look back over my fifty-some years of life, I have to wonder how much of that time was spent worrying about things I couldn’t control. How many days, weeks even, did I lose to worry? (I believe the converse of the above verse to also be true.) And the thing is, none of my worrying changed the outcome of any of those situations. In God’s sovereignty, He allowed the rain to fall and the sun to shine. The outcome was in His divine control, and my fretting did not change a thing. The only things worry did change were my peace of mind and my health.

So why do we do it? Why do we spend so much of our time fretting about matters small and large that are going to happen, or not happen, regardless? I used to think it was a major design flaw. God must have given us a faulty wire somewhere along the way. After all, He created us with a vast and detailed emotional network, so He must have made a mistake. But, wisdom eventually knocked on my faulty thinking and showed me that worry is a choice, not an emotion. Granted, some people are more prone to worry or even have anxiety disorders, but they will be the first to tell you that they have to make a conscious choice to “not worry.”

God has equipped us with the ability to choose, and we must choose trust over worry. Jesus tells us in the Gospels that we will  have trials in this life. He also exhorts us to not worry about things we need because our heavenly Father knows what we need before we do. He will not leave us high and dry! He may not give us our desired outcome, but He will give us what we need to sustain us in each and every situation. Perhaps if we could truly fathom His outrageous love, mercy and grace, we’d choose to worry a whole lot less. Maybe that’s the antidote: wonder, not worry. Learn more about God, His character, and His attributes so we can choose to be secure in Him. Besides, the time we spend with Him is time we won’t spend worrying.

In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrows. It empties today of its strength.”

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What types of situations trip your worry trigger?

2.  Try increasing your time spent in God’s Word and in prayer, getting better acquainted with Him.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 5:45; Luke 12:27-31; Philippians 4:6

Susan is married to Mark, and has two adult children. She enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She is a member of the Peace Team at Oakwood.

Headed Home

By Brita Crouse

“I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 16:33 (NIV)

Confession: I have an irrational fear of frogs. Something traumatic with these animals must have happened to me in my childhood to evoke the reaction I have as an adult whenever I see one. Fear cripples me, anxiety overwhelms me, and irrationality makes me do things I normally wouldn’t do to escape the glassy-eyed gaze of one of those lumpy creatures. I know it is ludicrous to be afraid of something so harmless, but I can’t help it... frogs scare me!

I live off of a winding country road that runs parallel to a wide river. On this road, there is an abundance of wildlife, which is great for hunters and fishermen, but unfortunate for me. Whenever there is humidity or rain, the amphibians migrate toward the river, and to reach their destination, they have to cross the road I take to get home.

Driving on this road in these conditions, for me, is like going through the gauntlet. Frogs hop wildly in armies, trying to avoid my car, while I, with a white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel, do a terrible job of trying to dodge them. But, this is what I have to do if I want to get home.

While this experience is harrowing for me, it makes for a good life lesson. We are all traveling on this winding road of life, headed toward a final destination. Sometimes challenges or fears will jump out at us and we can either dodge them or “run them over.” Dodging our fears won’t make them disappear; they will just keep jumping in our path.  

If we face life’s challenges head on, we are promised we will not be doing it alone. Jesus doesn’t guarantee an easy life for those who follow Him, but He does guarantee to be with us always, even when we find ourselves paralyzed by our fears.

After driving down a road full of one of my greatest fears, I always feel a huge sense of accomplishment and relief once I finally make it home. As Christians, I think we will also feel these things once we make it to our eternal home in Heaven.

While we are on earth, many fears will jump at us, but if we “run over our fears,” trusting that Jesus is always with us, we will have a much easier time traveling down the winding path of life as we head Home.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What fears do you need to “run over?”

2.  This week make 2 Timothy 4:7 your prayer.

FURTHER READING:

2 Timothy 6:12; Romans 8:15

Brita is currently working toward her Master’s in Counseling at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past seventeen years.

Be Still

By Peggy Kleckner

“The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Exodus 14:14 (NIV)

Still: without sound; silent; not moving; tranquil, calm (Webster’s New World Dictionary)

What battle is raging in your life at present? In the lives of those around you? What fear is tapping incessantly on your shoulder or nipping at your heels? What chaos is threatening to overwhelm you?  What concern dogs your every moment?

How do we be “still” in the midst?

While the words of Exodus 14 were spoken by Moses to the Israelites, I believe there is a beautiful principle for us, as well. This verse says that the LORD will fight for us, and it also gives us our instruction, “be still.” Why are we so willing to try and do the LORD’s part but fail to practice our part?

We, as believers, seem to be willing to do, to go, to take up, to take on, but we are not very willing to be still. Stillness feels unproductive. Keyword in that sentence: feels.

I think God would be pleased to see us lay down our doing and come before Him in stillness. He would delight to have us step away from our doing, to lay aside our pleading and to get quiet, to get comfortable, in His presence. Certainly lay before Him our concerns, but then just be still with Him. Give Him the gift of our time and our presence and accept the same from Him. Time set aside to let Him search our heart and for us to search His.

There is a time for doing, but not until after we have become still before Him. Stillness denotes trust. We aren’t still when we don’t feel safe. We must learn to feel safe in Him. It is to Him that we surrender our all, not to our enemy. It is to Him that we bring our time and our efforts. It is Him that we seek for counsel, protection, direction, fellowship, love. He is the answer that we seek.

To be still in the midst of our present chaos is to have practiced being still in the midst of all of our other days. We must be like a batter who can hit when the crowd is booing or cheering, because he has practiced when no one was watching.

Practice: to do or engage in frequently; make a habit of, to do repeatedly so as to become proficient

May we each spend time practicing our part: stillness, so as to better trust Him to do His part: fight for us.

GOING DEEPER:

1   Will you come and sit before Him long enough to become still?

2.  Can you let go of your painful circumstance and trust that He will fight for you?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 46:10; Psalm 37:4; Psalm 40:1

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield. 

From a Distance

By Lisa Boyer

“But He gives us more grace.”

James 4:6a (NIV)

I love taking pictures and capturing nature and wildlife has become one of my favorite hobbies of late. This summer, I’ve had the privilege of photographing indigo buntings, a red squirrel, hummingbirds, a baby bunny nursing, male and female orioles, a baby cardinal, twin fawns, a red-tailed hawk, a pair of mallard ducks, and more birds than I can identify…all in my yard. And when I’m not home, I find I’m subconsciously looking for nature scenes worth capturing….

Several times, I’d driven past an amazing-looking apple tree with the brightest red apples I’d ever seen. Eventually, I found a moment to stop to take a picture. As I stood under the tree, I saw the apples weren’t as wonderful as they appeared from the road. Yes, they were bright red, but up close I could see bruises and insect damage. Not wanting to give up, I searched the tree for the right angle to take a picture from, but the wasps swarming the apples made the perfect picture impossible to get. I was seriously disappointed.

As I drove away, I considered how often life is like that. From a distance, things can look so perfect, but get close enough and flaws are revealed. Relationships are ideal for bringing out flaws. The fall of man  - - Adam’s sinful act in the garden - - and our own sin affect us in such negative, and often painful, ways. Let’s face it: We are imperfect beings living in an imperfect world.

But just because getting close to someone reveals our and their imperfections, let’s not keep others at a distance because of it. How we handle imperfections can speak louder than words themselves.

Consider what the response might be if we graciously accept others when their imperfections are painfully obvious. They may see the love of Jesus being lived out for the first time. And what if when our own imperfections come to light, we respond humbly and ask for forgiveness? People will recognize that there’s something extraordinary about us, providing an opportunity to share Jesus with others!

While imperfections may indeed ruin our picture-perfect image, they can also reveal that we live lives of grace, ever dependent on God’s grace…and that is truly a beautiful picture! 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are you living out God’s grace in your life? Today, will you take time to thank Him again for all He’s done for you?

2.  Do you hide your imperfections, or pretend they don’t exist? Today, will you ask God how to deal with them in a way that pleases and honors Him?

FURTHER READING:

2 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 1:7; Romans 8:10

Lisa has been married to Ted for 23 years and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves in Quest 56 on Sunday mornings at Oakwood. 

Grace²

By Elin Henderson

“…but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.”

Romans 5:20b (NKJV)

We all know that things these days are getting uglier and uglier. Sin, in its variety of forms, plagues us all and isn’t a favor of persons; quote unquote saved people are often exposed to serious sin just as unsaved, worldly people are. Some of us come from families where deep-rooted shame and sin were prevalent. Others are working in an atmosphere that is inundated with sin. Very few, if any of us, escape the grips and consequences of it. 

This verse in Romans 5:20 gives us a tremendous piece of hope. Where sin exists, it’s like Grace exists in ² or “squared” form.  For those of us who aren’t up on our math, to “square” something is to multiply it by itself, in other words “to the power of 2.” So, if the sin in your family was a “5” then Grace was 5² (5x5=25).  The more the sin, the more the grace that abounds. If your workplace rates a whopping “50” then Grace rates a SUPER WHOPPING 50² or 2,500!  Granted, this is just our number system, God’s could very well be WAY more!!

No matter the dysfunction you are in or come from, where sin abounds, grace abounds MUCH MORE! It turns us from victims to conquerors! True, we may have been wronged, but the grace available for healing and restoration is SO MUCH MORE than the hurt and sin ever was, if only we will embrace it! 

So, even more than just the word sufficient, we find His grace to come in the square form of abounding to compensate for the pain! This concept is really mind blowing (in my opinion) and has the power to change the view of our past, present and even future if we allow it!  Let Grace² be the motto of our lives today!   

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Do you think that Grace³ (to the power of 3) or even Grace⁴ (to the power of 4) could exist?  Or could we also call it Grace^God  “Grace to the power of God”? WOW!

2.  How can we share our Grace² with others when we tell our life story?

FURTHER READING:

2 Corinthians 12:9; Hebrews 4:16

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 fourteen-year-old Callie and twelve-year-old Elias.