Inspiring Transformations

By Karen D’Amore

 

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature:

the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NASB)

 

After instituting a variety of lifestyle changes, I’ve recently undergone an extreme physical transformation due to significant weight loss. At first glance, clients and acquaintances who hadn’t seen me in a while...didn’t recognize me. Before and after pictures chronicled the vast difference between the old me and the new me! As those in my inner community have witnessed my transformational process, many have expressed being inspired by those changes. Desirous and curious about the process leading to my physical transformation, they’ve asked, “What’s your secret?”

 

After repeatedly hearing the words inspire/inspiration, I contemplated those things which inspire us. I concluded that we’re generally inspiredby those “things” we find appealing or desirable! Witnessing the transforming power of Jesus in an old friend is what inspired me to desire the same for myself. Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines inspire/inspiration using words like “to move, spur on...the act of influencing.”(1) When you think about it, we all have the capacity toinspire or influence those around us.   

 

As Christ-followers, knowing the value of spiritual transformation, we must be cognizant of our role as inspirers. As “new creatures...in Christ”...how are our transformed lives influencing those around us? Are we reflecting Jesus in a way that inspires others to want Him in their lives? With the awareness that physical transformation stems from discipline and personal efforts...we recognize that spiritual transformation is the result of surrender to the Almighty Transformer! By yielding to the power of the Spirit within us, He changes us from the inside out.

 

With conversion being the prerequisite for transformation, an encounter with Jesus should never leave a person unchanged! The new “creature” should look radically different than the old, with the believer’s mindset, priorities, and choices all reflecting that change. And through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, the spiritually transformed life should exhibit the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

 

Scripture exhorts us to “...let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven” (Matthew 5:16b). As Christ-followers, our transformed lives should perpetually radiate and reflect the glory of God. And as we reflect the Light of Jesus, may others be inspired to want what they see in our spiritually transformed lives. Let us each aspire to be...Spiritual Inspirers...stirring others to ask, “What’s your secret?!”

 

 GOING DEEPER:

1. Are there areas of your “old life” that need to undergo the Spirit’s transformation?
2. Pray that others will be inspired by your spiritual transformation and seek a relationship with the Almighty Transformer.

 

FURTHER READING:

 Ephesians 4:22-24; Galatians 2:20

 

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)http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inspire

Silent Night

By Susan Klein

“For He Himself is our peace”

Ephesians 2:14a (NIV)

It wasn’t really a silent night but it became one. The auditorium quickly filled that cold December evening with noisy children, parents, and grandparents, all coming to see their kiddos perform in the Christmas Pageant. Dozens of little participants were backstage getting final instructions and adjustments to their costumes before heading on. At one point during the bustle of the program, unnoticed by anyone in the audience (except his mom), a little boy was ushered behind a prop to remove his outer cow costume. And then, it happened. A silence descended over the auditorium as the lights were dimmed. One little light stood out from the candle in his hand as he stepped forward and began to confidently sing his acapella solo.

“Silent Night, Holy Night

All is calm, all is bright…”

It wasn’t really a silent night but it became one. Go back in time two-thousand-plus years. A decree had been issued for a census to be taken of the entire Roman world. That included a tremendous number of citizens. People from all over hurried to their native city to register. Small towns filled to overflowing with people returning to be counted. Such was the case in Bethlehem. People and animals filled every nook and cranny. It was noisy and chaotic. In that crowd was a young couple; she about to give birth. Looking for a quiet and clean place to deliver amidst the chaos was challenging at best. Meanwhile, out in the fields nearby, the shepherds tended rambunctious flocks of sheep. Suddenly, deafening sound and blinding light descended upon them as a great company of heavenly hosts praised God saying:

“Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to men

on whom his favor rests.”

In booming voices they proclaimed the good news of great joy which was for all people, the birth of a long-awaited Messiah. Leaving their fields, the shepherds hurried off to see this thing which had been proclaimed. And when they arrived at the place where the baby lay, it happened. The night became silent, for God’s promised Peace had just entered the world. His perfect reconciling Peace, emparted to all people, had finally arrived. A silence filled the mother’s heart as she pondered the wonder of all these events. The shepherds silently and humbly bowed before the One who brought salvation, filled with awe and wonder at receiving such a great honor. The night was filled with peace.

In your bustling and perhaps hectic holiday schedule, find time to be silent. Allow the Peace of your Savior to settle over you and bring you great joy.

 GOING DEEPER:

1. Do you have this Peace? Do you desire it? Will you seek it?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27, John 16:33

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 and also co-leads a Wednesday Night Community small group.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

By Brita Crouse

“When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, ‘Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.’ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.”

Luke 2:15-16 (NIV)

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him

Born the King of Angels:

O come, let us adore Him, (3x)

Christ the Lord.

This song has always been one of my favorite Christmas carols because it perfectly captures the essence of the holiday season: joy in the birth of Jesus. But, it wasn’t until a few years ago, that these words of jubilation took on a whole new meaning for me.

For most people, Christmas emits positive attitudes and optimistic outlooks, but for my family it is also a stark reminder that an integral family member is no longer with us because it was around the holidays that my family suffered a great loss.

The words to “O Come, All Ye Faithful” have always been powerful to me, but until I experienced this grief, I could not fully understand the weight of its words or the purpose of the song, which is to call us to faithfulness.

In the verses above, we see the shepherds stepping out in faith by leaving behind their livelihood - - their sheep - - to seek out Jesus. What a courageous and rewarding act of faith!

We can see throughout Scripture we are not called to be faithful to God only during the good times, but at all times and through everything. Much like the marriage vows spoken by a husband and wife - - which call for faithfulness, in sickness and health, for richer or poorer, for better or worse - - we enter into a similar covenant with God when we become a Christian.

My family is not the only one who experiences polarizing emotions during the holiday season. But, we still have hope and joy in Jesus during the holiday season; a true testament to God’s faithfulness and our striving for faithfulness to God.

God continually conveys His faithfulness to us through His consistency and lavish downpour of blessings. Shouldn’t we show Him the same kind of faithfulness, despite our circumstance?

This Christmas season, take time to behold and adore Christ and His greatness with faith, joy and triumph.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Listen to Adeste Fideles/ “O Come, All Ye Faithful.” How can you apply these lyrics to your own life?

2. How can you be encouraging those around you toward faithfulness to God?

FURTHER READING:

Luke 2:8-19; Hebrews 12:2; James 1:2-3

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.

Freedom

By Elizabeth Cole

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death.

 Romans 8:1-2 (NIV)

I was playing freeze tag with some girlfriends a couple of months ago. Can you see it? Grown women of various ages (and stamina) racing and loudly shouting in Dickten Park. Dodging “it” as she approached to freeze. Seeking just the right moment to zigzag over to the frozen friend, releasing her with a touch for movement again. Finding breath and energy sapped to the point whereby “it” had no problem catching and freezing. Hoping against hope that someone somewhere still had enough air left to rush in and free us.

I was startled at how exhilarating it was to be “unfrozen,” able to run again freely. I was also surprised at the feeling of helplessness when frozen, unable to do anything to release myself.

As we live in this Advent season, there is an undercurrent of freedom, isn’t there? The Christmas carol “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus” begins with these words:

Come, Thou long-expected Jesus,

Born to set Thy people free;

From our fears and sins release us,

Let us find our rest in Thee.

The Savior born in the manger was about our freedom. Freedom to be in relationship with Him. Released from the paralyzing “frozen-ness” that comes from the weight of guilt and fear and shame and secrets and sin. Set free to live life as He intended it.

Oh my… it’ll take your breath away as surely as if you’d run the whole of Dickten Park, when you consider the kind of exhilarating love that stoops to a stable to set you free.

Shout it out, beloved, you’re free!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Take a moment today to step away from holiday planning and breathe in deeply the fact that you are set free. Articulate the difference it makes in your life…today. Reflect on the words in “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus.”
2. If you are living as if you are still “frozen,” what steps could you take today to live in the freedom Jesus gives?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 42:1-10; Luke 4:16-21; Galatians 5:1

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

Look Up

By Peggy Kleckner

“Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.”

Genesis 1:2 (NIV)

Has your life been like that lately? You know, formless or empty or dark? Maybe you feel like nothing is making sense. Maybe everything that you thought made sense - - suddenly doesn’t.

You thought you knew the direction you wanted to take, or even the direction you thought God wanted you to take, and suddenly you found yourself in a desolate place.  Sort of like you turned the page in a book and a new story started, and then you were left wondering what happened to the story you were reading. Where have the characters gone? Did I miss something? Am I missing some pages? Now what?

Or perhaps there has been an abrupt change: a death of a loved one, an unexpected job loss, a medical diagnosis. These things can bring the curtain down in our lives, and we suddenly experience deep darkness. It is easy to forget what we know and Who we know in those formless, empty, dark places. It is easy to begin to run in search of a way out, to scream blame, or to expect rescue. Essentially, it is easy to give way to panic and fear.

What if we stopped and waited in this new place and looked up? What if we started to ask what He is doing and bowed to His will and His direction? What if we believed and looked up in search of the Spirit of God hovering over the waters of our lives? What if we saw this place not as an ending or an interruption, but a genesis…a beginning, a birth place?

The next line of Scripture reads: And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

We serve a God who is sovereign over darkness and light. I think we forget that sometimes. If the lights have gone out, don’t panic. God is preparing the next scene, and His character never changes. He is faithful. He is compassionate. His mercies never fail. Stop, turn toward Him, lift up your eyes and look. He will reveal Himself in His timing, not on your command.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are you struggling with some formless, empty or dark places in your life at present? Are you willing to share those concerns with someone in God’s family so they can help you look up?

2.  Have you walked through some deep ravines in life? Are you willing to testify to others in God’s family that He was faithful? Are you willing to comfort others with the comfort you yourself have received?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 18:28; Isaiah 45:3; 1 Chronicles 16:10-11

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. 

Shutting Up

By Tracy Smith

“To answer before listening - -
    that is folly and shame.”

Proverbs 18:13 (NIV)

Have you ever been listening to a sermon when a phrase just slams you right between the eyes? That recently happened to me when we had a guest speaker at our church. He is a missionary with a First Nation group in Canada. The statement that slammed me right between the eyes was this, “Sometimes Christians need to learn the fine art of shutting up.”

Context is everything right?! This statement was made in the context of people hearing but not listening. There have been a lot of misunderstandings and miscommunications over the years due to missionaries hearing, but not truly listening to what the First Nation people were saying.

You know you are doing this when you are formulating your reply to someone while they are still speaking. If you are doing this, how can you be truly listening? This also happens when you have a preconceived idea about why someone does something a certain way and you’re not willing to listen to their explanation.  Instead, you continue to hold on to what you believe.

In this missionary’s work, he had to learn to listen and learn the “whys” of certain things within this people’s culture. An example of this was that the word “sin” would automatically bring up conversational barriers. It’s really hard to explain Jesus and what he did for us without using the word “sin”; however, insisting on using that specific word wasn’t working at all.

Whenever this missionary used the word “sin,” people would shut down.  After listening and learning about these people, he heard their deep, cultural hurts of the past associated with the misuse of that word.  He realized he was never going to be able to use the word “sin.”

Using this new knowledge along with awareness of their culture, he then started using the words “disrespect of God/The Creator” instead of the word “sin.”  The message is exactly the same, but the word choice keeps barriers down and people listening.  His willingness to listen and learn from them has broken down barriers and allowed him to share about Jesus with them.

I have to believe that if there are barriers up between another person and myself, maybe practicing “the fine art of shutting up,” - - while listening and learning, can help break down some of those barriers and allow me to communicate more clearly - - and lovingly.  

GOING DEEPER:

1. Do you feel that there is a barrier between you and someone else?  Are you willing to listen better in order to bring down the barrier?

FURTHER READING:

James 1:19; Ecclesiastes 3:1, 8

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.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

By Jeannine Sawall

“Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

Matthew 2:7 (NIV)

Something was out of the ordinary. A star shone brilliantly in the distance demanding their attention. They had never seen something so extraordinary before, even after studying stars for years. The Scriptures foretold of a King who would be born…could this be the sign? They were wise men - - the philosophers of the East - - but this was something they couldn’t explain. They made arrangements to follow the star and, if the prophesy was true, find the one born King of the Jews. They left prepared to find the Messiah and to worship Him.

I love the story of the wise men. These were unbelieving; pagan magi of the East, yet God met them in their own personal interests: the study of the stars to draw them to Him. God made the first move, motivating these men to come and seek Him and find Him. He shined His extraordinary light on them to light their way to the new Messiah.

The wise men were receptive to God’s invitation. Not only did they see the star, they had receptive hearts and were willing to go to whatever lengths it took to find Him. It is estimated that they traveled 900-1,000 miles to pay homage to the new King, bringing gifts to present before Him. The gifts they offered - - gold, myrrh and frankincense - - were fit for a king. They were willing to cross racial, geographical, philosophical, political and relational barriers to find Jesus and worship Him. And when they finally found Him, they responded with great joy, bowed down to worship Him and offered the best they had to give.

The challenge to us is not to lose sight of the One Born King of the Jews. It’s so easy to get caught up in the business and festivities and simply push Jesus to the back of our minds. The wise men are an example to keep His light always before us. We are to seek Him out no matter the barriers, and we are to approach him with great joy. In His presence, we are called to bow down and worship Him and offer our best gifts. The magi followed the star in obedience not knowing what they would find. When they found Jesus, their lives were never the same. Wise men (and women) still seek Him and our lives are never the same!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What obstacles are you willing to cross to keep Jesus the focus of your holidays?

2. What gifts are you willing to offer Jesus?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 86:9-10, Psalm 95:6, Proverbs 19:20

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.

Taking the “IF” out of gIFt

By Elin Henderson

“…the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our LORD.”

 Romans 6:23b (NKJV)

           

Tis’ the season for gifts and gift giving. We are all making our lists and checking them twice not to mention hitting the shops in search of the perfect gift at the perfect price!

We often connect a lot of “ifs” to our gifts, don’t we? We buy gifts based on IF the person is a family or friend - - we aren’t apt to give complete strangers gifts. Sometimes gift-giving is only accomplished IF we have enough money or time to purchase gifts. We may even base our gifts on IF that certain person has or has not treated us well. It may mean the difference between a designer bag and socks!

How wonderful to know that there are no “ifs” attached to God’s gift. His gift of salvation is for all. It isn’t based on “IF you are good enough,” or “IF you jump through the right hoops,” or “IF you don’t fall away,” but He freely offers Himself, the perfect gift to us. There are no hidden clauses, no fine print, just a simple gift tag of “FREE.” This added “free” dissolves our “ifs,” after all a free gift is simply that, FREE! We just need to reach out and take it!

So, this holiday season, let us rejoice in the free Gift - - no IF’s attaches - - that was sent our way so many years ago and may we freely share it with others!

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable GIFT!” II Corinthians 9:15 (NIV)

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1. Do we sometimes add “ifs” to our spiritual walks as believers? “If only I served better…” “If only I was more like so-and-so”?

2. How can knowing who we are in Christ and His available free grace help us dissolve those “ifs”?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 4:7; Romans 5:15

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.

The First Noel

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

Matthew 2:10 (NIV, emphasis added)

When was the last time you were overjoyed? Not just happy or glad or satisfied…but “over-the-top-can’t-contain-yourself-want-to-tell-everyone-you-meet”- joyed? Scripture tells us this was how the Wise Men felt following the star, seeking the foretold King. “The First Noel” sums up the story in these lyrics:

The first noel the angel did say was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay-in fields where they lay keeping their sheep, on a cold winter's night that was so deep.

They looked up and saw a star shining in the east, beyond them far; and to the earth it gave great light, and so it continued both day and night.

And by the light of that same star, three wise men came from country far; to seek for a king was their intent, and to follow the star wherever it went.

This star drew nigh to the northwest, o'er Bethlehem it took its rest; and there it did both stop and stay, right over the place where Jesus lay.

Then entered in those wise men three, full rev'rently upon their knee, and offered there, in His presence, their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Then let us all with one accord sing praises to our heav'nly Lord, that hath made heav'n and earth of naught, and with His blood mankind hath bought.

Chorus: Noel, noel! Noel, noel! Born is the King of Israel! [1]

The definition of Noel refers to this Christmas story of being overjoyed. It means “the season of Christmas.” [2] What I love about the lyrics to this carol is the simplicity of the telling of that story of the Nativity. The shepherds aren’t squeaky clean…they are poor. The wise men have implied wealth because of the value of the gifts they bring to the manger. The picture of the light of the star being seen by those on the lowest rung of society to the highest - - available to anyone who looks - -  is the beauty of Christ, both the day of His birth and today.

And we are to be overjoyed.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Meditate today on our verse, seeking to be overjoyed. 

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 126:3; Luke 2

Along with caring for her family, Carolyn works as an insurance representative, serves in Oakwood Church as a Community Group leader and a High School home group leader.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_First_Noel

[2] http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=Noel&allowed_in_frame=0

Declaring His Word

By Peggy Kleckner

 

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and He saves those 

whose spirits have been crushed."

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

 

Have you been in a difficult, pressing place lately? A place where you can't seem to breathe, can't seem to put two sane thoughts together? A place where the waves of emotions, fears, doubts or heartaches just keep crashing in on you? Both your heart and mind begin to wonder, "Where is God?"

 

Darkness holds you as if you are its prisoner. Grief, depression and fear are like jackals that taunt you in your pit. They mock you - - demanding that you succumb to complete despair. You cry out and hear no answer. You no longer "feel" His presence.

 

But God has other plans for you in this hard and lonely place. Suddenly snippets of verses enter into your pit. Perhaps your long-held habit of opening your Bible every day brought them in? Perhaps a friend wrote one in an email to you? Perhaps you read it on a calendar or on a Facebook post? It doesn't matter; your mind took it in. The Spirt, His Spirit, within you can use those wonderful building blocks.

 

What can you do with the verse above?  Declare it aloud to the enemy. Sing it back to your God!  Lord, I can't "feel" you in this place. I can't "see" you in this place, and I truly don't like this place. But I will declare by your Word that you are close to me because your Word says so! You will save me and You are mighty to save. (Zephaniah 3:17)

 

Again and again, each and every day, take His Word and declare it until that Word of God dwells once again alive and full in you, beaming out loud and bright. Oh, there will be days when the words are but dust in your mouth. Days when everything in you seems to war against speaking His Word aloud - - declaring that which you are not experiencing.

 

Hold fast to your mustard seed of faith. For truly the Lord God is with you, and His plans are to prosper you in this wilderness... not to harm you. (Proverbs 29:11-14)

 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What snippet of His Word do you need to declare in your life today?

2.  Is there a friend who needs a piece of bread from God's Word from you today to sustain them in a difficult place?

 

FURTHER READING:

John 1:14; Ephesians 6:17; John 14:6

 

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. 

Play The Ball As It Lies

By Susan Klein

“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

In the game of golf, there is a well-known principle: “Play the ball as it lies, play the course as you find it, and if you cannot do either, do what is fair.” Simply implied, no matter what condition or terrain you find your ball in, leave it that way and play to the best of your ability. Though I don’t golf, I recently witnessed this principle in the life of an old friend.

My husband and I were sharing our dinner table with a man we had not seen in several years. As we caught up on each other’s lives, he spoke about his “four-year undoing,” which ended in divorce. Saddened by this revelation, we listened intently as the rest of the story unfolded.

One of the things I remember best about this friend is his passion for music and his guitar. During his recent life-struggle, his guitar became damaged and lost a couple of strings. Seeking solace in his music and not having the resources to replace them, he picked up the guitar and asked God for inspiration to play it, as is. Soon he was coming up with beautiful new melodies that he had never played before with six strings.

Battered as it was, the guitar soon gave up another string, and then… another. With each loss, he was challenged to use what remained to create new music. Eventually he was down to only two strings, yet on he played, persevering with what little he had left. Sweet music came to his mind, and new songs filled his praise. This, he felt, was the life-lesson God was giving him.

As the Apostle Paul exhorts the Corinthian believers, “We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-9, NIV)

In our human weakness and tribulation, God’s power is at work to bring about a pleasing melody. We need not rush to “fix” our problems, but rather, take the time to discover how to be used by God in our brokenness. If we are willing, He has much to show us.

Some of God’s best music is made when we find we are down to our last strings!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Might God be teaching you a new song?

2. Will you play the ball as it lies, not moving it out of the “rough?”

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 51:17; Matthew 11:28-30

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 and also co-leads a Wednesday Night Community small group.

The Not-So-Obvious Answer

By Stephanie LaCasse

Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

"How on Earth am I supposed to get all these referrals in...in one day?" I lamented to my coworker as she stopped at my desk today looking just as worn as I was.

Her response... "Pray?"

My coworker is not a particularly religious person, but her answer struck a chord with me. Pray? I think she meant it as in we will need a miracle to get everything done tomorrow. But it reminded me that God cares about the big things (our marriage, how we parent, how we interact with the community) as much as He does the small things (what we worry about, what we do at work, even what we wear and eat).

Jesus was speaking to the crowd in the book of Matthew when he told them not to worry because he's in control of the small things. "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?" (Matthew 6:26) I love that picture. The birds do NOTHING to help themselves. God is their provider.

So as we go into today... let's remember Who is walking right beside us. And let us remember Who is really in control. And let’s remember to talk to Him about it.

Even though my friend had a short answer for my rant... she ended up being right on point.

GOING DEEPER:

1.      Do you have a tendency to forget to stop and pray?

2.      What do you need to do to incorporate prayer more in your everyday life?

FURTHER READING:

 Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 12:12

Stephanie is a mom of three young sons and wife to Dave, who is currently in seminary preparing for chaplaincy in the US Army. In her spare time, she’s employed at a law firm.

A Gift for You

By Elin Henderson

“You also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”

II Corinthians 1:11(NKJV)

For those of us out there whose love language is “gift giving and receiving,” let me introduce a wonderful, low-budget gift suitable for anyone, any age, any size, any taste…the gift of prayer! What better gift can we send to a friend than to bring her before our Heavenly Father and beseech Him on her behalf? There is no need for a gift receipt, this is one gift they won’t want to take back and exchange! Its guarantee comes straight from the heart of God!

This isn’t my innovation or idea but one borrowed from the Apostle Paul, found throughout his New Testament writings, but especially highlighted here in 2 Corinthians 1:11. Paul had received this special “gift” from the church at Corinth. They were faithfully holding him up in prayer. Not only was it a tremendous encouragement and help to Paul, it was also a way that the church there could connect personally with him. It allowed them to be a part of his life and ministry.

So, next time you are at a loss for what to get a friend for a birthday, thank you, or “just because I care,” remember this incredible gift of prayer. It’s always in stock and just costs a little time and effort on our part! And, don’t forget, it comes with a double blessing, one for them and one for you as you connect with the Lord God, and with them in their need. Trust me, they won’t be disappointed and neither will you!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Who in your life could use a “prayer gift”? Anyone have a birthday coming up? A special event? Don’t forget to add this to the package!
2. How does praying for someone connect you with them? How can we enter into their world through prayer?

FURTHER READING:
James 5:16; Philippians 1:4

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.