Who Do I Believe?

By Tracy Smith

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.”

1 John 4:4 (NIV)

I worry too much. I talk too much. I weigh too much. I’m a bad mom. I’m a bad friend. I’m a bad Christian. I’m a bad wife. I’ve failed. Do these kinds of thoughts weigh you down? The enemy loves for us to believe the lies; to bring us down; to make us feel like failures. When we are focused on all we feel we are doing wrong, we cannot be focused on what God wants us to be doing for Him.

The first time I heard the song, “Greater” by MercyMe, was a powerful reminder to me.

Bring your tired
Bring your shame
Bring your guilt
Bring your pain

Don’t you know that’s not your name
You will always be much more to me…

Bring your doubts
Bring your fears
Bring your hurt
Bring your tears

There’ll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed…

There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
‘Cause the cross already won the war
He’s Greater
He’s Greater [1, emphasis mine]

I’m holy, righteous and redeemed. I’m not condemned. Some days I will lose the battle, but it’s okay because Jesus is greater than all my fears, all my shame, and anyone or anything that might try to make me feel like I’m failing.

But who am I in Jesus? What can I remember to replace the fears, the shame, the failure? Our church website has a great resource of Bible verses and statements of who we are in Christ. See the link in the Further Reading section for the whole list, but here are a few examples:

I am God’s child (John 1:12)

I am forgiven (Ephesians 1:8; Colossians 1:14)

I am secure (Ephesians 2:20)

I am adopted as His child (Ephesians 1:5)

I am God’s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10)

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Read the list in the link below and commit to memory the ones you need to remember the most at this time in your life.

FURTHER READING:

Click here read a list of verses and statements of “Who I am in Christ.” It’s a great resource!

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of Junior High girls.

[1] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/mercyme/greater.html

Click HERE to listen and watch a video of the song

Emotional Roller Coaster

By Susan Klein

“So if you think that you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!”

1 Corinthians 10:12 (NIV)

“LET ME OFF!!!” I’ve been on an emotional roller coaster as of late and the ride is lasting way too long. Just when I think I’ve made it to the top, another plummet awaits. Having a cold for three weeks only adds height to the already steep track that my raw emotions are perched upon. Can you relate?

Emotions are funny things. We can both adore them and loathe them. They are the substance of our hot buttons and the source of our laughter. Alas, we cannot turn them on when cuddling that cute baby and turn them off when the computer crashes. They are always ON. Though we may not be able to keep them from surfacing, we are able to control what we do in light of them.

Take anger for example. Scripture doesn’t say, “Never be angry.” It says, “Do not sin in your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). It also says to not let the enemy get a foothold on us when we are angry. He knows what sets off our hot buttons, and will try to get us to respond in less than God-honoring ways when they are pushed. The trick is to respond with our minds and not our emotions. Easier said than done, right?!

When I find myself on the top of the roller coaster looking toward the inevitable drop, I try to close my eyes and do some quick introspection. Am I clinging to the things I know to be true or am I getting all tangled up in how I feel at this moment? Will I really crash out of control as I plummet to the bottom, or does it just “feel” that way? Isn’t God riding in the seat right next to me? It’s a good practice to identify what triggers our emotions, especially the difficult ones. Being proactive about those triggers can help us avoid wrong responses when emotions are high.

I often lament, “I wish I weren’t so emotional!” in the midst of a crisis. But as my wise husband reminds me, those emotions are a part of God’s design for us. They make us who we are and give us the ability to exhibit empathy and love toward others. We are blessed when we have emotions that run so deep they spur us on to action. We just need to choose the right action when they peak out during those rough rides.

Next time you’re on an emotional roller coaster, stop…take stock…and proceed to respond with caution.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What triggers your emotions to spin out of control?

2. What plan can you put into place to manage your responses to hot-button issues?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 12:34b-35; 1Corinthians 10:13; Ephesians 5:15-17

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 an on-site small group.

The Lesson: Faith & Prayer

By Brita Crouse

“Be…faithful in prayer”

Romans 12:12c (NIV)

I said it would take something big to change me, and it did.

I witnessed a suffering I could not have imagined. I saw heartbreak like I had never known. I watched people I loved hurting. After her death, the nightmares began as soon as I closed my eyes. Memories washed up into my mind with an unpredictability that frequently brought me to uncontrollable tears. I had an anger burning me from the inside like I had never experienced before.

In my 18 years, this was the first major life-altering challenge I had faced. And needless to say, I was not handling it like I thought I should be. I was living my life outside of faith, yet I still had friends and family and people I didn’t even know, choosing to pray for me.

It took months of daily wrestling with God for me to begin to see the light. One day, I was asked to step into a leadership role at my university. The position? A Discipleship Assistant - - a spiritual leader. If you haven’t learned by now, God has quite the sense of humor. For unexplainable reasons, I badly wanted this position.

So I went for it. I got it. And I knew I had to make serious changes in my life if I was going to lead and encourage 30+ women in their faith.

It wasn’t anything I did. But through the faith & prayer of others, and the provision of God, I began to get my life back on track. With baby steps, I started to build up my fragile spiritual life. Slowly, I trusted God with my life - - and the lives of those I loved - - once again. And the funny thing is, healing began to happen as I let God take control.

Fast forward five years in the future, my family once again received news of a cancer diagnosis. Once again, we lost someone we deeply loved. Once again, I watched my family suffering, carrying enormous weight and pain.

But, this time, instead of acting against God, I prayed boldly and asked for my faith to remain, and even grow, from this experience. I trusted that God would use this pain for His benefit. And I still pray and have faith that He will.

My lesson learned in all of this? God can take any circumstance, good or bad, and use hearts in any kind of condition for His glory. Through joy & hope, patience & suffering, and faith & prayer…Our God is both transformative and restorative. 

GOING DEEPER:

1.       How are you daily choosing to demonstrate your faith in Jesus?

2.       Who can you be praying for today?

FURTHER READING:

1 Thessalonians 5:17; Romans 10:9-10

Brita is a licensed K-12 School Counselor and works as the Non-Public Counselor in Roseville, Minnesota. For the past eighteen years, she has called Oakwood her home church.

The Lesson: Patience & Suffering

By Brita Crouse

“Be…patient in affliction…”

Romans 12:12b (NIV)

Being hundreds of miles from familiarity forces you into independence.

I had come to love the newfound freedom college life provided. I joined Bible studies, attended chapel services, regularly went to church, and almost always went to the weekly prayer meeting on the floor where I lived. I was taking advantage of opportunities to deepen my faith in a safe and supportive environment.

I had dozens of people pouring into me and growing me as a student, as a lover of Jesus, and simply as a human. I was in the early stages of what would become lifelong friendships. I knew I was surrounded by women who would challenge me, love me and encourage me no matter what.

Hindsight gives you 20/20 vision, right? It’s easy to look back and have a better understanding of why things happened the way they did. But when you are in the moment, it’s hard to have understanding. It’s hard to be patient in the midst of affliction.

“Your mom called while you were gone. She said to call her back as soon as possible,” my roommate said to me as I was coming home from my weekly Bible study. I should have known. I should have sensed what was to come, but I didn’t. I didn’t know what news was about to change my life.

So I called my mom, only to get a panicked dad on the other end. The cancer.  It’s back. It’s leaving a 0% chance of survival. Come home. Now.

My roommate knew. She had talked to my mom earlier, and she sensed something was wrong. I found myself collapsed in my dorm room, tears streaming, my hands held and Scripture being read over me.

“I am the [wo]man who has seen affliction…” [1]

Just shy of three weeks later, the cancer was gone. And so was she. Her suffering had ended. Ours had not. God tells us to be joyful in all circumstances, to always give thanks. We have reason to.

My patience had ended as my affliction was beginning.

I stopped going to Bible study. I stopped attending church and chapel. I stopped engaging with others. I was so deeply wounded. I wanted to rebel. I was a child directly disobeying her Father. I became hollow and superficial, turning to damaging habits and bad routines. I was desperate for healing, but I refused help. It was going to take something BIG to make me change.

GOING DEEPER:

1.       What situation is currently teaching you patience?

2.       How are you or someone you know experiencing affliction? How can you give thanks to God for these things?

[1] Lamentations 3:1

FURTHER READING:

1 Thessalonians 5:18; James 5:10-11

Brita is a licensed K-12 School Counselor and works as the Non-Public Counselor in Roseville, Minnesota. For the past eighteen years, she has called Oakwood her home church.

The Lesson: Joy & Hope

By Brita Crouse

“Be joyful in hope…”

Romans 12:12a (NIV)

Everyone has a story. Everyone has those defining moments where their world is changed and life as they know it is gone for good. These are the stories that contribute to who we are and how we see the world. This is my story, the story of how God taught me joy & hope, patience & suffering, and faith & prayer.

They say the best laid plans often go awry.

It’s true. You know what I mean? We plan and we plan, but ultimately it’s God’s plan that prevails.

I had it all figured out. I knew what was in store. I’m a planner, and I daily fulfill that personality trait. I had just graduated from high school; I was going to my first choice university to major in a field that I had dreamed about for years. I had best friends, one of whom would be my roommate. I was on top of the world.

The hope of an amazing future was right in front of me. The joy of pursuing my dreams, a new beginning and uncertain possibilities, was tangible.

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” [1]

Do you have these moments too? Where you are so full of joy, you overflow with hope? When things are so perfectly laid out, it feels as if nothing could go wrong?

Yet God uses any and every circumstance to teach us. And He certainly taught me… right then and there - - when I was feeling invincible - - that His plans take precedence.

A week after graduation, my family reeled at the cancer diagnosis of one of our own. Shocking. The kind of shock that brings you to your knees. Yet, we remained full of hope. We rallied together as a family and a community, uncertain of what was to come, but taking joy in our time together.

These feelings of hope & joy remained and carried me through that summer. In the fall, with the encouragement of my parents, I stuck to my plans and began my freshman year of college, many miles and hours from home. I had the joy of rooming with my best friend and the hope of a fresh start, away from the cancerous situation at home.

How could I have known what the coming weeks and months would bring? God did. And He was preparing my heart to learn.

GOING DEEPER:

1.       What are you currently taking joy in? What are you hopeful for? How can you give thanks to God for these things?

FURTHER READING:

1 Thessalonians 5:16; Psalm 62:5

[1] Romans 15:13

Brita is a licensed K-12 School Counselor and works as the Non-Public Counselor in Roseville, Minnesota. For the past eighteen years, she has called Oakwood her home church.

Two Sticks of Gum
By Lexi Ellis

 “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12 (ESV)

Two years ago, we had our Veteran’s Day assembly at the middle school where I teach. Over 745 students and their teachers packed into our gym as we experienced meaningful tributes to the 20+ veterans who were being honored. While it ended up running too long, the intentionality was really meaningful.

We watched a video about the “Candy Bomber.” Hal Halvorsen was a command pilot in World War II. Following the war and the subsequent invasion of Stalin’s army, Hal was part of an American crew delivering food and supplies to Berlin. After giving two sticks of gum to children, Hal collected candy and chocolate and dropped it from his plane using little white parachutes. Operation Little Vittles caught on and by “the end of the airlift, around 25 plane crews had dropped 23 tons of chocolate, chewing gum, and other candies over various places in Berlin.” [1]

So there I was, sitting on a middle school bleacher desperately trying to hold back tears.

It got me thinking: What an incredible opportunity we have! With God, little acts of obedience and kindness can become huge. Two sticks of gum…became 23 tons of joy and reminders to kids that they mattered. Five loaves of bread and two fish… became enough for over 5,000 with plenty to spare. Twelve disciples proclaiming a message that the Messiah had come, conquered sin and wants a relationship with us…those same men were used by the Spirit to ignite the biggest revival in the history of humanity.

Today, we honor our veterans: not by rushing to the store because of a “holiday” sale, but by recognizing the sacrifice our veterans and their families endured for us. I can only imagine what the little things could turn into if every believer did something small to bless a veteran today. Something small like:

·         a note

·         saying thank you when you see someone in uniform

·         paying for a veteran’s coffee or meal

·         a care package to a military family

·         an art project with your child to send to the VA Hospital or Operation Gratitude [2].
Hal Halvorsen took the small things he had and launched a mission of kindness. May we - - as followers of the God who makes small things into much more - - be intentional today in finding those small things to bless others, too.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What are your “two sticks of gum” that you can give to God and allow for Him to use in incredible ways? Could it be doing something intentional for a veteran today?

2.  Seriously, it’s absolutely worth the time! Find 13 ½ minutes in your day to learn about Hal Halvorson. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjz8yu5MWC0) 

FURTHER READING:
James 2:15-17; 1 John 4:19

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin. Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing. She serves with Children’s Ministries and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.

[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gail_Halvorsen and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hjz8yu5MWC0

[2] http://signup.operationgratitude.com/letterwriting

Follow the Leader
By Jen Wollner

“…I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go…”
Psalm 143:8 (NIV)

With Thanksgiving right around the corner, many of us have “turkey” on the brain. Well, we’ve had years where we’ve also had a few in our backyard! One day, I noticed a small group just outside my window, so I stopped to watch as they peacefully wandered around, picking at the grass for food. Almost immediately, I took note that one of the turkeys wasn’t like the others. She stood out because she was slightly bigger and she didn’t have her head down looking for food - - she was standing tall, slowly gazing in every direction, keeping a close eye on the other turkeys. I soon deduced that she must be the mommy turkey!

After the little turkeys had gotten their fill, they headed in the direction of some tall grasses that separate my property from my neighbor’s. Suddenly, they all stopped. They were waiting for their mommy! They stood at the edge of the grass, looking for her signal. After many minutes, when she was sure it was safe, the mother turkey entered the grass first, with all the little ones following behind. They didn’t stray as far as they had in the short grass and they didn’t have their heads down the entire time. They stayed close to her, constantly looking up to see where she was going. At last they got to my neighbor’s lawn on the other side, and they went back to their carefree grazing.

It might sound crazy, but I believe that our Heavenly Father is a lot like a mother turkey! When our life is calm, we might not pay much attention to Him, but He’s always there, just a few steps away, gently guiding us and staying alert to danger. And, when our lives turn upside down, He, again, leads us, until we make it through the valley and come out safe and sound on the other side. I wonder, though, do you and I respond to our Heavenly Father the way the young turkeys did with their mother? Do we trust Him to protect us and guide us, in good times and bad? Are we always aware of His presence and do we constantly seek Him for direction, whether our path is smooth or rough?

As I walked away from the window, I couldn’t help but think: How did this mother turkey know where to go and how to protect her children? And then it hit me - - she was simply following her  Leader.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What situation in your life do you need to follow the Lord more closely and trust Him more fully to take care of you?
2. What steps can you take to make sure you keep your eyes on Him?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 23; 2 Thessalonians 3:3

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.

Doubting John
By Lisa Boyer

Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
John 1:32-34 (NIV)

John the Baptist had seen and heard the most amazing things! When he baptized Jesus, he witnessed the Spirit coming down from heaven as a dove, and in Matthew 3:17 the Bible tells us he heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased." (NIV)

But in spite of hearing God’s voice declare that Jesus was the Son of God, John doubted while he was in prison. In Luke 7:20 we read, “When the men came to Jesus, they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'" (NIV)

It seems that when times get tough, doubt tends to creep into our hearts and minds, and John was no exception. Yet in the midst of doubt, John still knew where to find the answer… Jesus Himself.

And what an answer Jesus gave! “So he (Jesus) replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor’” Luke 7:22 (NIV).

Jesus didn’t criticize, get angry or belittle John for doubting. He lovingly pointed John back to the evidence which made it obvious… Jesus was in fact the One.

You and I may not doubt that Jesus is the One, but we still have a tendency to doubt things we should know. We should know that we’re forgiven… we should know that God loves us… we should know where we’ll spend eternity… we should know that He’ll walk with us through anything that happens… we should know that we can trust Him, and yet we doubt.

Thankfully, we too can go back to Jesus where He lovingly provides the answers in His Word.

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you’re struggling with doubt, will you go back to Jesus and His Word today?
2. If you don’t feel you are in a place to go back to Jesus alone, will you ask a friend to come alongside you?

FURTHER READING:
Jude 1:22; Romans 8:38-39; Titus 3:4-5

Lisa has been married to Ted for 24 years and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves in Quest 56 on Sunday mornings at Oakwood. 

“Tactical Insincerity?!!”

By Susan Klein

“Love must be sincere.”

Romans 12:9a (NIV)

Thanksgiving. To some it invokes thoughts of festive tables laden with bountiful delicacies and much merry-making. To others, it conjures up ideas of family strife and lumpy mashed potatoes. For most, it probably falls somewhere in the middle. In any case, thankfulness is usually the modus operandi.

 I recently started browsing through my latest issue of Food and Wine  for some tasty new recipes to add to this year’s Thanksgiving menu. An article midway through the magazine caught my eye. The author shared that for years, his grandfather lovingly prepared the feast and everyone complimented him on his wonderful food, especially the oyster stuffing. Unbeknownst to Grandpa, they really didn’t like the stuffing, but didn’t want to make him feel bad. In the author’s words, “That’s what Thanksgiving is all about: tactical insincerity in the service of domestic harmony.” (1) Then, one year, he switched to an entirely different recipe. The new stuffing was SO much better and everyone raved about it. Their insincere praise of the old recipe for many years actually kept Grandpa making it. Now, sensing the truth of the matter, Grandpa teasingly proposed going back to the old tried and trusted recipe in future years.

How often might we implement this practice of “tactical insincerity” without realizing it? Could we possibly be replacing true “kindness” with “flattery”? While we all make efforts to show appreciation, are we keeping it sincere?

Speaking the truth in a loving way takes some thoughtful consideration. In our efforts to express gratefulness, we need to exercise care so it doesn’t sound like hollow flattery. As the grandpa in the article illustrated, the recipient can usually detect the sincerity (or insincerity) of our compliment. If the turkey is dry and over-done, the cook is generally the first to notice. No need to compliment how fabulous it turned out. If Uncle Fred is in a sour mood, it may not be the time to point out his sunny disposition. Why not rather show thankfulness for their time and effort in being willing to host or contribute to the gathering? Or, maybe share something that lets the person know you value who they are more than what they do.

This Thanksgiving, let’s forego the “tactical insincerity” and be the bearers of genuine kindness, using our words and actions to foster true harmony while blessing those around us. Be sure to throw in a little merry-making!

GOING DEEPER:

1. How might “tactical insincerity” be creeping into your speech?

2. What can you do to let others know you are grateful for them?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 29:5; 2 Corinthians 1:12; James 3:17

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 small group.

(1) “Is Thanksgiving the Only Critic-Proof Meal?” Food and Wine, November 2016 

Put Off…Put On

By Tracy Smith

“…throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God - - truly righteous and holy.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 (NLT)

A couple of years ago, my then 15-year-old son hurt his foot in gym class and needed an x-ray. While his foot was fine, the radiologist saw something in his ankle that needed further looking at. After an x-ray of the ankle, it was determined that he had a cyst in the fibula bone. Due to the fact that these cysts weaken the bone and my son is an athlete, it was recommended that we see an orthopedic specialist for a consultation. The pediatrician explained that the specialist would decide if the cyst could just be watched or if it needed to be fixed. If it needed to be fixed, that involved draining out the cystic material and filling the hole with “bone-like material.” That did not sound pleasant!

Luckily, the orthopedic specialist said the cyst is one he believes will reabsorb or not get any larger and does not need surgery - - just another x-ray in six months to check up on it.

All of this got me to thinking about the above verses. If my son’s cyst would have been one that needed to be fixed, it would not be enough to just drain the cystic material. That would leave a void in the bone that would make it even weaker and allow more bad stuff to fill the void. In order to heal the bone, once the bad was out, it needed to be replaced with something good.

As Christ-followers, when we stop a bad habit or yield as God cleans something nasty out of our heart, we must ask Him to replace it with something good or we will fall back into our bad habit. We cannot just try to deal with our anger, we must replace it with self-control. We cannot just decide to stop being ungrateful, we need to replace it with gratefulness.

Just like a cyst that needs to be fixed, good must replace the bad in order for healing to occur.

GOING DEEPER:

1.      I Googled “Put off, Put on” and found this wonderful list of traits/habits to put off, put on with corresponding Scripture. Click on the link to see the list and Scripture. Find what you need to work on hand-in-hand with the Holy Spirit and look up the Scripture.

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 3:8-10

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of Junior High girls.

It is Well

By Brita Crouse

“Since I know it is all for Christ's good, I am quite content with my weaknesses and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:10 (NLT)

A couple of years ago, I was sitting in church, and as the pastor began speaking, he opened up by telling the congregation that this sermon was going to be on suffering. I could feel my body going rigid and my mind putting up mental walls to tune out what he was saying because I did not want to hear this. But then, I heard that still, small voice nudging me to listen because I might just learn something.

I am currently experiencing a “season of suffering,” so, the fact that this pastor was preaching on this very topic, convicted me about my attitude toward an unwanted obstacle that is being used to tell others about God. Suffering seems to mean certain things to different people. It’s not experienced the same for everyone and everyone handles it differently, but it is something that everyone has, or will, experience.

Horatio Spafford, the writer of the popular hymn “It is Well with My Soul,” experienced an immense amount of suffering. He was ruined financially because of the Chicago fire, and on top of that lost all of his children, either to illness or drowning. He lost so much, yet remained faithful to God and was prompted to go on and write one of the most well-known hymns of all time. His suffering was used by God to reach millions of others over decades and generations through this powerful song.

When God makes us weak through periods of insult, hardship, persecution, or calamity, it gives us the opportunity to fully depend on Him. He is the only one who can provide us true comfort and strength.

“When peace like a river, attendeth my way,

When sorrows like sea billows roll;

Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,

It is well, it is well, with my soul.”

This is one of my favorite verses from “It is Well...” because it encourages us to be faithful to God, in good times and in bad. So whether you are experiencing “peace like a river” or “sorrows like sea billows,” remember to always depend on God, for when we are weak, then we are strong in Him.

GOING DEEPER:

1.   Are you or someone close to you experiencing a season of suffering? How is God using you to glorify Him through this time?

2.   Listen to the hymn “It is Well with My Soul” (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=80x6wDi9umY) every day this week. What words or lines apply to you specifically right now?

FURTHER READING:

2 Corinthians 12:9-10; 1 Peter 5:6-11; Romans 5:1-5

Brita recently graduated with her Master’s in Educational Psychology from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She has called Oakwood her home church for the past eighteen years.

Experience Cards
By Elin Henderson

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth.”
Galatians 3:1a (NKJV)

Sometimes, life is like the game Monopoly. You buy, you sell, you win, you lose. You look forward to those “experience card” spaces where the unknown waits for you! What new experience will I get? “Straight to jail, do NOT pass go, do NOT collect $200”? Or “Win a free ride on the Reading Railroad”? Our lives are built around experiences. We are an experience-driven people!

Yet, there is a separate and essential component to our Monopoly experience cards called “TRUTH.” Experience and Truth are two factors on a precarious balance. Experience without truth can be misleading. Truth without experience can be empty and meaningless. From a human perspective, which is easier to measure? Our natural default is always Experience. We can see it and feel it. Truth can be abstract and distant, difficult to discern. The balance is then set with Experience as the Judge, and Truth as being judged by it.

But we, as believers, live by a different standard, a balance on which the reverse is true. Truth is the essential factor by which we weigh all of life’s experiences. Truth in the unchanging form of God’s Word, revealed by God’s Spirit to our human hearts and minds, influencing our actions and behavior! While experiences can change from person to person, truth remains the same. “God is the same yesterday, today and further” and He is, after all, “the way the TRUTH and the life.”

He often does use experiences to reveal truth to us and to help us grow. The key is to get to know Him as the Truth, and His Word as the revelation of that Truth. Then, our scales will be able to properly discern the different experiences that we encounter.

In the second and third chapters of Galatians, Paul gets after the Galatian believers and asking them pointedly: Who has fooled you? You are hung up on experiences but have forgotten the Truth. They had lost sight of the truth of the gospel (2:14) by looking to experiences (in this case, circumcision and outward conformity or, in other words, “experiences”). Let’s not follow in their footsteps and become so experience-focused that our scales become skewed.

The next time life deals you a unique “experience card,” pick it up without fear and measure it against the truth of the Person and Word of God and see what He has in store for you!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What recent experiences do you need to throw onto the balance of truth?
2. How well do you know the “TRUTH” side of the scale? How can you better apply yourself to the study of His Person and His Word?

FURTHER READING:
III John 4; I John 5:6; I John 2:21; II Timothy 2:15

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.

Advice to the Top Dog
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Have I (the LORD) not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 (NIV)

“…Only be strong and courageous!”
Joshua 1:18b (NIV)

Being in charge is not all it’s cracked up to be.

Sure, from the outside, getting to be “top dog,” “head honcho,” “big shot,” “boss” or “Mom” looks pretty attractive. The person in charge gets to be the most informed, make decisions, tell others what to do, and grab all the glory after everything works out alright.

OR…

If you are the leader, you get to do research, ask questions, weigh your options, make decisions, hope that others will do as you instruct, and take all the fall-out if the decisions you make do not work the way you envisioned.

Being in charge is not for the faint of heart. We see this in the life of Joshua, the Old Testament leader of the Israelites.

Joshua took over the leadership of the Israelites after Moses died. He was tasked to safely lead what appears to be around two million people into the Promised Land. The mountain of responsibility this entailed was tremendous. But God knew that, and as He spoke to Joshua directly, three times God says, “Be strong and courageous.” I don’t know about you, but if God said something directly to my ear just once, it must be pretty important, let alone three times!

Joshua follows God’s instructions, preparing himself and the Israelites for the fight that awaits them. He explains the plan and gives the orders. The leaders of the tribes then answer Joshua: They will obey. They will see that there are consequences for individuals that do not obey. And…here’s the best part…they tell Joshua, “Only be strong and courageous!” There is no indication that these men knew the details of what God had told Joshua. These men only desired one thing…that the leader LEAD! These men did not want Joshua to direct them from a place of indecision, uncertainty or fear. They were putting their trust in Joshua, as God’s appointed leader, and confirmed God’s direction to Joshua.

Today, you might have your own mountain of responsibility before you. Remember that those you are leading want you to “only be strong and courageous,” too!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Think about where you are called to demonstrate leadership. Pray for God’s guidance on how to “be strong and courageous” in those settings.
2. Encourage a leader in your life today.

FURTHER READING:
Deuteronomy 31:7-8

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.

Refreshment

By Peggy Kleckner

“See I am doing a new thing! 
Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?”

Isaiah 43:19 (NIV)

Autumn can bring rainy, dark days. Typically, these are not my favorite. They seem cloaked in gloom and somewhat tighter-fitting or confining. They remind me that winter is closer, the days are shortening and the temperature will be dropping. I prefer the sunshine days of autumn, where God displays His glory in bold colors and the sky seems broad and roomy.

However, once in the midst of a dark and gloomy, rainy day, my heart spoke whispers of new growth. I thought of all of the roots of the trees and plants rejoicing in praise as they were drinking in the rain. Perhaps they danced in celebration!

A couple years ago, it had been a year of drought. We knew our ground needed the life-sustaining and refreshing rain. We could more easily see and accept His gift of showers, because we had experienced the need.  We had seen the effect of the lack. When the showers came, it brought us visions of new growth for next spring and we could look ahead with fresh hope.

That drought two years ago was a great reminder to me. I had been in some dark and gloomy spiritual days. I felt as if I was confined, hemmed in. Some days it felt complete with thunder and lightening. But other days, He reminded me that He is up to something good. He spoke to me and says, “Do you not perceive it?...Don’t you know me by now?”

These days are not to frighten me. They are for my refreshment. They have been given as a gift from my Father’s heart. He is watering His seed in me, looking forward to fresh blooms and good fruit.

All of the seasons are necessary, and are set in order by our sovereign God. He calls out the seasons of our life, both the darkness and the light.

So, I will rejoice in my dark days and dance in my gloom, for God is springing up good things in me!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What darkness is trying to hold your attention captive?

2.  Are you willing to ask God to help you look past this season to see the vision of new growth He has planned?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 139:11-12; Proverbs 23:18; Psalm 30:11-12

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.