Aware
By Lexi Cole Ellis

All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
2 Corinthians 4:15 (NIV)

I have a confession. I unequivocally love my car’s AC. It’s slightly ridiculous how happy having air conditioning in my car makes me - - probably because the last two cars I drove did not have it. Yes, having the windows down worked great and owning any vehicle that reliably gets you from point A to point B is a privilege and blessing. But I now find myself aware of the benefits of AC and often find myself thinking: Really, this is the best.

Once we’ve experienced the better, we are aware of it… even with something as stupid as air conditioning. So in such a more massive and life-changing way, when we are aware of God’s gift of grace, we are drawn towards continual thanksgiving.

In the verse above, Paul is writing to the church in Corinth. Believers were diverse and needed to live counter-culturally to the sinful, social norms of the city. The above verse calls all Believers to be aware of God’s ever-expanding grace, and how it causes thanksgiving. Before this verse, Paul reminds them (and us) that we are to be aware of what life was like before knowing Him.

Because there are so many that do not have a personal relationship with God, Paul writes about the importance of not veiling the Gospel, being a light to a dark world and choosing perseverance in trials. And then his following words show the necessity of awareness: “…because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus.” When we are aware of how great His gift is to us, it then causes overflowing thanksgiving. [1]

understand air conditioning in my car is a silly thing to adore. In the grand scheme of things, it’s so unnecessary. But there are moments that I’m aware of it because I’ve known what life was like without it. How much more so then should we, as Believers, pause and reflect on what God has done in our lives - - meditate on how His grace has impacted us - - and turn to overflowing gratitude.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    How can you make prayer a priority this week and focus on sharing your gratitude with God?

2.    One way we stay aware of God’s gift is to share our story of our life before and after salvation. Take time this week to write down how God has saved you, or share it with someone close to you.

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 4:1-15; Psalm 9:1; Colossians 3:16-17

Lexi Ellis is currently an adoring mom to her first child. She is busy with all the things that motherhood brings as well as building a new home. She continues to write for Fresh Start amidst the many changes.

[1] 2 Corinthians 4:2-15

Hail

By Peggy Kleckner

“I struck all the work of your hands with blight, mildew and hail, yet you did not turn to me, declares the LORD.”

Haggai 2:17 (NIV)

We once experienced hail in our area. To many, it was an inconvenience, an oddity. It lasted only a short period of time. Maybe it kept them indoors; maybe they had to run for cover while they were at the State Fair; maybe they watched from a front room window. Did it bring to anyone’s heart the thought of God? His sovereignty?

What about those with gardens? Did they see the work of their hands demolished in a few short minutes? The work of their hands - - breaking up the soil, planting, weeding, watering, pruning etc. - - all perhaps brought to ruin in a few short minutes. Were they just beginning to harvest the fruit of their labor? Did it seem unfair or even cruel? Were they angry, seeing God as unjust?

Let’s broaden our view. What about the droughts, the mudslides, the hurricanes? Are these also not under the sovereign hand of God? Are not all of these things troubling our world today, impacting all of us?

Who then is seeking God? The verse above says that God Himself struck their work and then it says sadly, “yet you did not turn to me.” God is not cruel; He is compassionate. If the fruit of our own work brings contentment without God, it isn’t true contentment. We have been seduced by a lie, blinded by the enemy. Our days will end without Him and we will have lost the greater for a meager handful.

It is His compassion that demolishes the work of our hands in order to help us seek the greater, a relationship with Him. A relationship built on truth, not lies.

We are implored to “seek ye first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.” Seek Him first. Acknowledge that He is God, acknowledge our need for the saving grace of His Son, Jesus. Without Jesus, there can be no restored relationship with God. All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. None of us is God. We all need Jesus. It is the recognition of our neediness that draws us back to God.

Is it God’s intent to demolish? No, it is His intent to bless. Haggai 2:19 (NIV) says this: “Is there any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on, I will bless you.”

Come, let us return to the LORD.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Where in your life are you experiencing famine, drought or hail?

2.  Instead of trying harder are you willing to seek God?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 30:15-18; Psalm 103; John 12:44-46

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.

Empty Baskets
By Elin Henderson

“And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.” 
John 6:11 (NKJV)

This is such a familiar story to so many of us, the feeding of the 5,000 (plus). Far beyond being a simple story, it is such a beautiful picture of our relationship with our Savior and our need to go to Him for our own needs and the needs of others. The disciples were given a task beyond their capabilities. To feed a crowd of 5,000 plus is no small job! They brought their meager provisions before the Master realizing the insufficiency of them and He supplied above and beyond that which they could ask or think. It was the hands and feet of the disciples that got the bread to the needy people. Jesus was there as the provider.

Now, perhaps I am taking some spiritual and scriptural license here, but I wonder how the disciples carried the food to the people! Obviously, 12 men could not carry enough bread and fish to feed over 5,000 hungry people. Because baskets are mentioned, I am going to assume they used those. They took what they could, went to as many people as they could and then did what? When the supply they had ran out and their baskets were empty, did they try to start fabricating more bread and fish on their own? No, I’m imagining they went back to the Master for more provisions! They knew where the source was!

Many times our Master gives us the provision to reach out to a hungry and needy world around us. Our sufficiency just isn’t enough! We can’t come up with a plan, let alone the provision to meet the need. He gives us all we need, equips and provides for us, and asks us to be His hands and feet to go and meet the needs of others. But, like the Israelites in the wilderness gathering just enough manna for that day (any more would have just gone bad), our Master gives us just what we need for that day and asks us to come to Him when that runs out. Like the disciples, may we take our empty baskets to the Master and ask Him to fill them and equip us for reaching out to the lost world in which we live and work. And, when our manna runs out, may we immediately return to the source, stock up and set out again!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What task has the Lord laid on your heart? In what ways has He asked you to be His hands and feet? Where are you going for the provision for that task?

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:29

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

Selfless Love

By Susan Klein

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.”

John 15:12 (NIV)

It’s a couple weeks after a little girl’s birthday, and her mother stumbles across a gift she’s forgotten in the bottom of a closet. She purchased the adorable swimming suit months ago, knowing as soon as she saw it that it screamed her daughter’s name! Dilemma…Give it to her anyway? Save it for next summer? She already received two other swimming suits as gifts, though not quite as special as this one.

Her younger daughter was about to have a birthday. Hmm…They are approximately the same size. She would love it, too. But it was intended for the first daughter. And then an idea developed.

Desiring to teach her daughter about selfless love, this thoughtful mom brought out the forgotten suit, explained what had happened and then bravely asked if she would consider gifting it to her younger sister for her birthday. While most five year olds might have protested, (rightfully) cried, or even refused, this sweet girl only looked at her mom incredulously for the slightest millisecond and then selflessly agreed.

Had this gift not been so perfect for the first daughter, giving away the suit that screamed her name might not have seemed such a huge request. How often does our loving, heavenly Father lavish wonderful gifts on us that He might actually intend for us to give away? Do we respond so graciously?

A young couple receives an unexpected bonus just before Christmas. They dream of the things they might do with it. Then God shows them some dear people who have fallen on hard times. Dilemma…Do they keep the bonus? Do they share some of it? Do they give it all away? They know it isn’t really theirs to keep. It belongs to the Giver.

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” [1] Our heavenly Father sets the example for us of selfless love. Having nothing to gain, He showers us with gifts. It is solely for our blessing. And sometimes, He does it so we have the wonderful opportunity to bless someone else.

The little girl…She had a huge smile on her face as she watched her sister open the treasured gift that was originally meant for her. The young couple…They gave the whole bonus to the family, not knowing that it was the exact amount needed for the family’s mortgage payment.

Each, in their selfless acts of love, was the recipient of an even greater gift!

GOING DEEPER:

1. How might God be calling you to selflessly love on someone?

2. How will you respond?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 2:1-18

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

[1] James 1:17

Danger in Safety

By Brita Crouse

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’”

Matthew 16:24 (NIV)

I am learning that sometimes in life, it feels easier to “play it safe” than to take risks. However, as our verse above tells us, as Christians, we should have a very different mindset about how to live. As easy as it seems to live comfortably, we are called to follow Christ, which doesn’t necessarily mean living in safety.

The book Crazy Love  addresses this idea of “safe living” with these words:

“People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.” [1]

The Bible gives us numerous examples of Christ-followers who lived for Christ, not for comfort. David hid in caves as he was pursued by Saul because of his appointment as ruler over Israel. Moses led an exodus while warding off Egyptians, fielding complaints, and acting as mediator between God and His people. Paul was imprisoned for doing the Lord’s work and Peter was crucified for being a follower of Jesus. These people, by any standard, were not living comfortably, but they were being obedient to Christ.

My brother has been on a two-month journey working as an intern with orphanages in Latvia. He has many excuses and reasons not do to this, (namely, it’s far away and the unstable political climate in Eastern Europe), but in faith, he has chosen to be obedient. My parents have received many questions and concerns about his safety also, but they have taken on the attitude of, “Who are we as parents to tell him to disobey his Father?”

We have all sorts of things that lull us into feeling secure, like seatbelts and helmets and financial stability. It is very important to be wise, but there is danger in “playing it safe.” It is when we feel comfortable that we forget our true purpose in this life: to be a follower of Christ.

Let us not exclusively and excessively concern ourselves with safety, but rather leave the protecting to God. Instead, let us pray that we, as well as others, would be used by God to further His kingdom. Let’s take a risk and practice obedience.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Listen to “The Cost” by Rend Collective Experiment. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2TxahqbSbU)
2. Is there a situation in your life where God is calling you out of comfort?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 28:18b, 19; Joshua 1:9

Brita recently moved back to her home state of Wisconsin where she works as an Elementary School Counselor. She and her family have attended Oakwood for 20 years.

[1] Francis Chan, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God (Elgin, IL: David C. Cook, 2008), 133.  

Harmless
By Sarah Walker

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 1:6-7 (ESV)

The well-attested conclusion about my current condition is that it is harmless. Regardless, it’s not very fun. And it has meant I have had to seriously scale back on the number of things I can accomplish in one day. I’ve also had to heavily rely on help from my husband and kids. My body is currently making me feel like something negative is going on - - when exactly the opposite is true.

This being my third pregnancy, the frequent companions of nausea and fatigue are not new to me. And I know from experience that this season will eventually pass, resulting in getting to meet a new life. The side effects may outwardly appear to be negative, but the greater reality is that this new baby is healthy and thriving.

Sometimes, this is how our life situations are. There are many fellow believers who suffer in various forms. Some might even suffer from a physical condition that could ultimately end in death. This does not appear to be “harmless suffering.”

But take a step back and view things from God’s perspective. For those who follow Jesus Christ, death is not the end! Death is not where our story ceases. Jesus has conquered death, and so we can rest assured in our final victory over death where we will live forever with Jesus. The trials and sufferings we face here on this earth, no matter how great, are indeed harmless in the light of eternity.

It doesn’t mean it won’t come with sadness or grief or great pain. But perhaps, like my early pregnancy experience, our sufferings will eventually pass, and we will one day see fruit from our times of hardship that we never would have been able to see had we not walked on that path in the first place.

No matter how difficult your situation may seem, when you are a follow of Jesus, your soul is secure and nothing can separate you from His love…not even suffering or death. In fact, the trials you face could one day point to the fact that “new life” was then growing inside of you during that time - - even when your body and your emotions told you exactly the opposite.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Apply this eternal perspective to whatever hardships you are facing today.

FURTHER READING:
Luke 12:4; Philippians 1:20-23; James 1:2

Sarah is married to Scott and is a full-time mom to their two young sons. She and Scott are involved in a small group focused on prayer and are expecting to welcome their third child in January.

Communication is Key

By Stephanie LaCasse

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Philippians 4:6 (ESV)

It is 4:27am. Why am I awake? I couldn’t fall back to sleep despite being tired. My mind began to wander, and I started to think about my relationship with God - - my lack of closeness with the King. I started to think about what I know about prayer and becoming close to God. I know that when I am not in the Word and praying, my relationship with God suffers.

I recently took a class through my city called The Citizen Police Academy. It was a ten-week class that focused on what the police do, and the different abilities they have which included the inner workings of their specific tasks. It was incredibly interesting. Through this class I met a man named Phil. He was an older gentleman who was very kind to me. We sat next to each other after week 2 and became friends. While the class was going on, and since it has ended, we have been in communication via email as friends. My regular communication with Phil has kept our relationship going.

It is the same way with prayer. If I am not communicating with my God (like emailing with my friend), we lose touch and drift. THAT is when I feel the lack of closeness with my King. Though He is always there, I am not. A friend in college put it this way: “When we are not communicating with God, it is us who lose out. Not God.” We are missing the deep relationship we can have with God by not communicating with Him.

God has shown over and over again in his Word that we must come to Him… just as we are. Come to Him no matter if it’s small stuff or big stuff. He wants it all. He wants the mess. He wants the desire to pick us up like the small children that we are, dust off our knees and show us that we are loved as we are.

If you find yourself lying in bed and wide awake, talk to the King of the Universe. Delight in spending time with Him. He cares about the big things and, YES, even the small trivial stuff. As a result, your relationship will grow and become stronger. You will notice and so will others around you.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Is there something pressing on your heart that you need to be bringing to the King of Kings?
2. Encourage others to go to the King when they come to you. While friendships are important, relationship with the King is invaluable.

FURTHER READING:

1 Timothy 2:1; Luke 18:1; 1 Chronicles 16:11

Stephanie is a mom of three young sons, works at a law firm, and is wife to Dave, who is currently in seminary preparing for chaplaincy in the US Army.

Reconciliation and Restoration-Lessons Learned

By Jeannine Sawall

“Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.”

2 Corinthians 5:18 (NIV)

Almost six years have passed since I received the letter from my bio-dad, Larry, and the five-year anniversary of my mom’s passing is quickly approaching. As I reflect back, God has taught me many things:

1)   God’s timing is always perfect. Larry’s letter was sent at a time I would be open to his becoming a part of my life, and he was eager to become a part of my and my family’s lives.

2)   God is always working to perfect us and have us reflect His Son’s image. The Lord knew my mom was going home 16 days after she and Larry reconnected. He allowed her to work through the conflicting, painful emotions that Larry’s re-entry into our lives had brought to the surface. He gave her peace on THIS side of heaven before she entered into eternal peace. That was a gift for her, for Larry and for me.

3)   God is never done writing our story and it’s never what we think it’s going to be. After 41 years, I never expected to hear from my bio-dad, let alone form a loving relationship with him. Yet, he has become part of my extended family. What a blessing to “feel at home” with my father.

4)   God’s ultimate story is shared when we allow ourselves to be used by Him. Larry often brings up faith. He says he “sees” the difference that was in my mom and is in me and wants faith like that, but he felt he let us down and struggled with unconditional acceptance. How could we just let him into our lives, “no strings attached”? It has opened up many opportunities to share the gospel with him and let him know the only way we were able to offer unconditional love and acceptance was because of the unconditional love and acceptance given to us through Christ’s death and resurrection.

God grieves brokenness. However, our God is a God of healing!! Out of the pain and heartache of a broken relationship, an unplanned pregnancy and an absentee father, God has brought beauty from ashes. He has reconciled relationships and restored hearts. While my mother/daughter story is complete, He continues to write my father/daughter story. It’s not what I would have planned or expected, but God is faithful and good and He is the source of all blessings…even unexpected ones that show up as a letter in God’s perfect timing. 

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Where in your life do you need to acknowledge lessons God has taught you?

2.    With whom do you need to share the gospel today?

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 1:20, Jeremiah 33:6-7

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.

Reconciliation and Restoration-Peace!

By Jeannine Sawall

“ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV)

Seeing the two of them sitting next to each other, smiling and chatting brought tears to my eyes. For the first time in my 41 years, my mom and bio-dad were in the same room with each other sitting and talking like old friends. I felt compelled to take of a picture of the two of them but hesitated to do so. I didn’t want to make their first meeting feel awkward.

I sat down with them and began talking with both  my parents! I pulled out pictures of my family’s recent vacation and shared them with Larry while my mom looked on. Later in the evening, my mom, stepdad and a couple of friends were sitting in the family room with Larry…still talking! I asked if they were going to join us for the fireworks. My mom smiled and said, “We’ll be down in a minute. We’re working on getting Larry saved!”

The next day, I told my mom how proud I was of her. She seemed so at ease with Larry after all these years, despite the initial emotional struggle after he contacted me. She said it was good to see him after all that time. I asked her if she had found “closure,” and she said she hadn’t, but God had given her a peace that she hadn’t had before. She shared how good it was to see Larry and me together. “He really does love you, Bean. I’m so glad I had a chance to see that.” Sixteen days later, my mom died in a car accident.

As I look back at that time, I see the hand of God so very clearly in every detail. He brought Larry into my life in His timing, not to replace my mom but to offer me the opportunity to develop a father/daughter relationship I didn’t even know I was missing at a time I would desperately need it. While my mom had experienced healing in many areas of her life, Larry was the one “loose end” she struggled with. God, in His goodness, allowed her to experience peace with Larry before she was called home, and God allowed me to witness that process. God’s plans and timing may not always be clear to us or easy to walk. But we can be sure His plans are for our good, for hope and for a future, if we trust Him and allow Him to work in our lives.

GOING DEEPER:

1. With whom does God desire you to reconcile?
2. Where do you need to trust God with your future?

FURTHER READING:

Romans 8:28, Psalm 118:8

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.

Reconciliation and Restoration-Beauty for Ashes

By Jeannine Sawall

“…to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness; a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.”

Isaiah 61:3b (NIV)

“He better not think he’s going to come into your life now after I’ve done all the hard work. You’re MY daughter! He CAN’T have you!” The response from my mom shocked me. I thought she would be glad to hear my bio-dad Larry was interested in a relationship after all these years. The Lord had worked healing in mighty ways in my mom’s life and she was a ministry leader offering hope of restoration and reconciliation to women who had experienced brokenness. Did she not see maybe this was God working to restore and reconcile THIS broken relationship?

“Mom, we don’t even know how this relationship will play out. Maybe we’ll keep in touch through Christmas cards, or maybe we’ll have another guest at the boys’ birthday parties.” “Well, if Larry is there. I won’t be there!” My mom was struggling with unresolved feelings of abandonment, rejection and heartbreak. She had become pregnant while she and Larry had been dating and while they had become engaged and planned a future together, life didn’t quite work out that way. She felt left with ashes.

Several weeks later, after a promising meeting with Larry, I asked my mom how she was doing with the whole “Larry thing.” She responded by saying, “I’m good.” She explained she and God had wrestled and He showed her exactly where He wanted her to be. I asked her what “being good” looked like if Larry came to my son’s birthday party. She responded she’d happily be there.

God had done His restoring work in my mom. She had made an about-face. God had shown her while her path had a few more twists and turns, her response to His love and healing had brought her to a place of spiritual prosperity. He had exchanged beauty for ashes and the splendor of God’s divine work in her life was now bringing glory to Him. Despite poor choices, when we respond in obedience to the Lord, He works to restore us and turns our mourning into joy.

Only our God could be at work like that and I’m thankful my mom chose to be teachable to His will. But He wasn’t done teaching me about reconciliation and redemption. Tomorrow, the story continues.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Where in your life can you be teachable to God’s plan and allow Him to exchange ashes for beauty?
2. Who can you share your restoration story with?

FURTHER READING:

Joel 2:25-26, 1 John 5:4, 2 Corinthians 5:17

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.

Reconciliation and Redemption-The Letter

By Jeannine Sawall

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Isaiah 55:9 (NIV)

It had started out as an ordinary day. My husband and children were gone, and so I had a small window of time to be alone. As I pieced through the mail, there was a letter addressed to me. So preoccupied with what should be for dinner, I didn’t really look at the sender’s name. I opened up the letter and began to read:

“Dear Jeannine,

You should probably sit down as you read this…”

Oh great! My first thought was it was one of those “send a dollar to the first name on this list and in six months you’ll be a millionaire” letters. I read on:

“I want you to know I have never stopped thinking of you. This is Larry and I am your_____________.”

I stopped reading as my heart began to pound. This letter was from my biological father with whom I had had almost no contact during my life. The letter said he had always wanted to have a relationship with me, but things in his life had made it difficult. As the years went on, he felt he had lost the right to even ask for one. He wanted to meet me and then let me decide how I’d like to proceed, if at all, with a relationship.

I started to cry. I had no idea hearing from him would cause such strong emotions within me.  Why now? Why not before? I was challenged to be available to God to work in me and through me. As I considered what God might be orchestrating, I also had fears, “What if he doesn’t like me?” “What if I don’t like him?” But there was one fear that stopped me in my tracks.  “Lord, if you are sending Larry now because you are planning on taking my mom, then I DON’T want him.” I wasn’t sure what the Lord was doing and I wasn’t sure I was ready to go where He was leading. But I also knew His ways are not my ways and so I knew I had to trust Him.

This letter was unexpected but I now had a choice with how I would respond, and if I would trust God’s leading. Tomorrow, we’ll see the next part of this incredible story where God chose to teach me about reconciliation and redemption.

GOING DEEPER:

1. When something out of the ordinary happens, how do you recognize God’s hand in it?
2. What do you do when fear makes you question the path God is taking you down?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:5-6, Psalm 147:5

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four great boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine serves in several behind-the-scenes ministries at Oakwood and has a heart for those who are grieving.

The Journey
By Lisa Boyer

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Sometimes during life’s journey we find ourselves on routes we didn’t expect….

In Genesis 37, we read of the young man Joseph who had dreams, dreams from God of his brothers bowing down to him. But in Genesis 39 and 40, we find that he’s not being revered by his brothers, he’s been sold into slavery by them and is in an Egyptian prison. Prison: not where Joseph expected to be.

1 Samuel 16 tells us of the young shepherd boy David who is anointed by the prophet Samuel to be the next king of Israel. But in I Samuel 19 through 26, instead of ruling a kingdom, David’s hiding in caves, hunted like an animal by King Saul who’s trying to kill him. Hiding: not where David expected to be.

Those unexpected routes in life can surely shake one’s faith, but Joseph and David remained faithful. Now, we Bible readers may be tempted to take their faith for granted because we can turn forward a few pages and see how their life’s journeys unfold: Joseph is made a ruler in Egypt and his brothers do bow down before him; David becomes the king and rules for 40 years. But Joseph and David were in the middle of their journeys without the Book to tell them how things turn out. All they knew was that God made a promise and they believed He was going to keep it. They kept the faith in spite of years of waiting…yes, years. The two chapters describing the events of Joseph’s slavery and imprisonment covered 13 years of his life’s journey. From the time David is anointed as king to when he actually becomes king is over 15years.

The middle of life’s journey can be difficult and long, but we must not lose sight of the fact that we are in the midst of a journey. It’s not over yet. We may not be able to see where our journey leads, but we KNOW that God is always up to something in our lives and it’s always a good something, even if it doesn’t feel like it at the time.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you become discouraged with your life’s journey? Today, will you reaffirm your commitment to follow and trust God no matter what route your life’s journey takes?
2. Have you intentionally left the path God had you on? Right now, will you go to God in prayer and get back on the route He has planned for you?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 16:11; I John 3:2a; Jeremiah 29:11

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two sons in college. Lisa serves as an event photographer at Oakwood and wherever else she is needed. 

In-dependence

by Becci J. Terrill

For apart from me you can do nothing.

John 15:5b (NIV)

Independence. As Americans, we are proud of our independence. We remember what it cost and celebrate it every summer. We send troops around the world to defend and protect it.

As parents, we raise our children to be independent. From an early age, we do what we can to help them learn skills and make wise choices in the hope that they will become independent adults. We celebrate each victory and achievement.

But, is “independence” what God wants for His children?

I have been experiencing a prolonged season - - not of my choosing - - of living “in dependence” on others. Unable to do all but the simplest things, I have had to depend on the help of family and friends.

As an “independent” woman, living in dependence on others does not come easy for me. Independence brings pride. Dependence requires humility. I have experienced many humbling and humiliating circumstances on this journey. It has not been fun. It has taught me much.

Throughout Scripture, God makes it very clear that as His children, He wants us to live “in dependence” on Him. In John 15, Jesus says He is the vine, we are the branches. A vine is dependent on the branch for life. Jesus further tells us to “abide in Him.” Just like the example of the vine and branch, we are to “dwell” in Jesus or take up our residence with and be dependent on Him.

Psalm 91:1-2 says, “”Those who live in shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.”  As a child, I loved these verses. The visual picture that accompanied this Scripture was of a giant saguaro cactus standing in the middle of the dessert. Tucked in one of the mighty branches was a small owl. The saguaro provided safety, protection, shelter and rest for the tiny bird.

As an adult in a season of dependence, these verses have taken on new meaning. I see a beautiful picture of “abiding in” Jesus, and being dependent on Him. When I do this, I will experience shelter and rest as in Psalm 91. Living in dependence on Jesus also brings safety, protection and peace (2 Corinthians 1:8-9). Like the tiny owl, I want and need this.

My body will heal and my “independence” will return, but I will always have the scars from my season of living “in dependence.” May God use these to keep me depending on Him.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Listen to the song, “Christ in Me” by Jeremy Camp. May we, like the song says, empty ourselves so Christ is the source of our life…the One by whom we live and breathe.

FURTHER READING:

John 15, Psalm 91, 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

Becci Terrill is a wife and mom to two adult daughters. She is the Children’s Ministry Director at Oakwood Church.