SUN-flower Faith-lesSONs

By Karen D’Amore

“I will keep my eyes on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

Psalm 16:8 (NIV)

After spending much of the sun-drenched September day writing and completing yesterday’s devotional, SON-flower Faith, I set out on a lengthy run. Minutes into my run, a mysterious haze infiltrated the sky, creating an interesting phenomenon enveloping the sun. Stunningly brilliant multi-colored rings engulfed the sun with smothering effects, intermittently inhibiting its visibility. Mile after mile, as the dense haze thickened, the massive sun was eventually reduced to a mere pinhole of light.

Honestly, it was the best distracting run I’ve ever taken! I found myself so mesmerized with the theatrics surrounding the sun that I couldn’t take my eyes off it. Multiple times along my course, I stopped to capture snapshots of the breathtaking phenomenon. And when my direction of travel changed, putting my back to the sun, I’d continually glance over my shoulder to prevent missing out on the rapidly changing portraits in the sky. I instantly thought of the loyal sun-following sunflowers! No matter how visibly small the sun became, I couldn’t take my eyes off of it. Its beauty stirring within me a magnetic adoration. How fitting and timely, that this experience followed immediately on the heels of finishing SON-flower Faith!

I was stunned to learn that the haze, producing the uniquely beautiful phenomenon, was the result of drifting residual smoke from devastatingly destructive fires in distant states. The irony of something so tragic producing something so beautiful was profoundly impactful. The entire experience spurred me to consider valuable faith lessons:

·         Scripture commands us to walk by faith…not by sight. [1] Sunflowers continue to follow the sun, regardless of how visibly  small it becomes.

·         Our ability/inability to see the sun/SON…doesn’t change the reality of its/His presence.

·         Faith that sees beauty rise from the ashes stems from trusting in God’s divine purpose in ALL things.

·         When haze from tragedies such as destructive fires…or the uncertainty of a mass on the brain…distort our vision, we must keep our eyes on the Son, allowing His radiance to consume our focus!

As referenced in SON-flower Faith, sunflowers innately face and follow the source on which they’re dependent for survival: the sun! While disturbing events saturating the news or hardships disrupting our lives threaten to blur our vision and divert our focus, we must emulate the valuable lessons exhibited by sunflowers and keep our eyes fixed on that which our life depends…the SON!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What obstacles are impairing your ability to focus on the Son?

2. What additional faith lessons can you glean from characteristics of sunflowers?

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 12:2; Psalm 62:5

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and as an instructor in the Cosmetology Department at WCTC. Karen also serves on the Welcoming Team at Oakwood.

[1] 2 Corinthians 5:7

SON-Flower Faith

By Karen D’Amore

“From the rising of the sun, to the place where it sets,

The name of the Lord is to be praised.”

Psalm 113:3 (NIV)

Scanning the room during a staff meeting, my eyes were drawn to an unfamiliar face. She was young…but poised, with an infectious toothy smil overpowering her tiny frame. The new beauty school graduate quickly became a vibrant addition to our team and, like a ray of sunshine, could brighten the darkest of rooms. I quickly learned Colette’s radiance was a reflection of the “Son” she worshipped and loved.

Years have passed since that first meeting and though we’re no longer coworkers, we’re still connected through Facebook. I’ve followed her courtship, engagement and recent marriage to a godly young man. As I delighted in the photos of her special day, I found it fitting that this friend - - this ray of sunshine - - had chosen sunflowers as the primary decorative theme throughout her wedding. When I enquired about the significance of the sunflowers, Colette shared how she’s always loved how they’ve brightened her life…serving as a reminder of God’s Son-shine.

While sunflowers resemble the sun in appearance, they have a characteristic called heliotropism which refers to the directional growth of a plant in relation to the sun. Sunflowers are sun-followers! Young sunflowers face the sun and track with its movement to optimize the use of light. No matter how small or little light there is, sunflowers are believed to seek out the light and hold their heads high as if in worship and adoration of the sun. Therefore, they are a symbol of faithful loyalty to something bigger and brighter than themselves, embodying adoration, loyalty and longevity.

Less than a month following Colette’s wedding, I learned she’d been diagnosed with a mass on the brain. As I followed her alarming diagnosis and prognosis via Facebook, I was touched by her steadfast SON-flower faith. She kept her face to the SON, loyally willing to accept whatever God chose to plant in her life. And even in those darkest moments of uncertainty, she always found the smallest pinhole of Light…as He pierced through her darkness.

Bearing witness to Colette’s medical journey, and observing parallels in her faith to characteristics of her beloved sunflowers, has drawn me to adore these symbolic flowers! Just as sunflowers require deep-rooted planting to prevent them from falling, Colette’s deep-rooted faith has enabled her to stand firm on the promises of Scripture. And while sunflowers thrive from exposure to the sun…Colette’s SON-flower faith has thrived through perpetual…SON-exposure. As a radiant testament to Colette’s SON-worshipping, God has empowered her to boldly reflect the SON she faithfully follows.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who/what is your faith reflecting?

FURTHER READING:

John 8:12; Psalm 3:3

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and as an instructor in the Cosmetology Department at WCTC. Karen also serves on the Welcoming Team at Oakwood.

Yup...Still Hard

By Lexi Ellis

“The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
    What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalm 118:6 (NIV)

Recently, I came across a devo I wrote several years ago. I wrote it after God clearly closed a door for a friend and we were in the midst of waiting for a “window,” for Him to reveal His plan. I wrestled with a reality that sometimes we simply don’t “get” what God is doing. The timing doesn’t make sense, the answer isn’t clear, the unknown is scary. I concluded we know He will reveal a window in His timing and our job is to trust.

As I read the words I wrote, I realized something: trusting God in the midst of an unknown hasn’t become any easier. It’s not something I’ve mastered. It’s not something I think I’m better at now compared to then. While the specifics of the circumstances are different, there’s still really hard stuff that I or those I love go through. So two years later, I see this devo I once wrote on trust and I’m left thinking I’m not so great at that trust part. My response is, “Yup…still hard.”

I think that’s the point though. Trust is something that’s never supposed to be mastered or ever “checked off the list.” If it is, it’s a compliant relationship. In our wedding vows, my husband and I promised to continually work on our marriage. Why would I then ever expect there would be less work and investing that’s needed in my relationship with God? In the same way, I pray my husband and I never “check our marriage off the list” as something that doesn’t need active investment; my relationship with God should never include hoping that I have this trust and dependence thing figured out.

Trust is still hard…I don’t see it ever becoming “easy.” Despite knowing that it will still be hard, the reality is we are not alone. In a world of scary unknown - - though the specifics and circumstances differ from time to time - - there is a greater reality that His faithfulness is great! Fully trusting on God? Yup…still hard. And I think it’s a good thing it is.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Take time to reflect: what’s your “trust level”?

2.  What do you need to do to continually be trusting in His faithfulness despite a hard circumstance? 

FURTHER READING:

2 Samuel 22:33; Psalm 18:30-36

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.

Necessary Differences

By Susan Klein

“One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind.”

Romans 14:5 (NASB)

In the current historical drama Lee Daniel’s The Butler, a father and his adult son become estranged due to their different stances in the heat of the civil rights movement. The father, born and raised on a cotton plantation, leaves home seeking employment elswhere as a butler. Eventually, he is invited to work in the White House, faithfully serving several U.S. presidents over time. The elder son heads off to Fisk College where he becomes involved in sit-ins and peaceful demonstrations, hoping to affect change in the racially tense climate that exists. When the son is arrested, his father tries to discourage further involvement, fearing for his safety and disapproving of his methods. The son is only driven deeper by his passion for change and eventually joins the Black Panther Militia. Without giving away all of the movie, suffice it to say that these actions drive a wedge between the two of them and the father cuts off all contact.

This type of scenario has been common to man throughout history. Differences of opinion lead to divisions in families and separate the closest of friends. Political and religious differences seem to invoke the most estrangement. Experiencing this firsthand with his coworker Barnabas, the Apostle Paul addresses the issue in his letter to the Roman believers, who seem to be struggling with each other’s spiritual peculiarities. He makes the point that each believer is at a different place in his or her spiritual walk, and that not all should expect to behave in the same manner. Depending upon cultures, personal histories and spiritual maturity, all hold to their own set of standards for behavior. Paul exhorts that it is not for one to pass judgment on the other, but to be convicted of one’s own beliefs and act accordingly.

God knows better than we do what qualities each of us needs. He created all His children with unique abilities and talents “to do the good works He prepared in advance for us to do”   (Ephesians 2:10, NIV). He has a divine purpose for each individual. Rather than focusing on our differences, we ought to celebrate each other’s uniqueness and acknowlege the wisdom of the Creator in His choices of how He gifts each one of us for His service.

Not until the father in the movie is quite old does he realize that he and his son really had the same passion for change. Each just had their own unique way of displaying it. (It has a happy ending!)

GOING DEEPER:

How might personal differences be causing strife in any of your relationships?

Can you trust God’s working in those differences?

FURTHER READING:

Romans 14:1-8; 1Corinthians 10:23-24, 31-33

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 an on-site small group.

28-Day “Tame the Tongue” Challenge

 By Elin Henderson

“Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.

See how great a forest a little fire kindles.”

 James 3:5 (NKJV)

I am an avid Prevention magazine reader and seriously addicted to any 21-day, 28-day, and/or 30-day challenges that they offer. I find them helpful in not only breaking bad habits, but also in creating healthier habits that guide my thinking and living. Of course, you would think that after 10 years of taking challenge after challenge, I wouldn’t need to keep on with them. But I realize that I easily fall off the wagon of healthy living; it doesn’t take long to fall back into bad habits and unhealthy choices. 

As much as my physical health needs these 28-day challenges to help me stay on track, my spirit needs them even more. I can think of no area more in need of a serious lifestyle change than my tongue. James 3:1-12 tells us that our tongue is the biggest culprit for leading us astray more times than not. He calls it “untamable…a defiling force within us…an unruly evil…full of deadly poison.” Powerful and frightening words, and I know that for me, they are all too often the bottom line truth.

So I decided that I would start up the “28-Day Tame the Tongue Challenge” for myself.  Just as other challenges make us more aware of the wrong choices we are making and remind us to make right choices, my goal with this 28-day challenge is to ask the Lord to do a work of change in my life. Asking Him to help keep these verses in James, and others like them, in the forefront of my mind. So I can begin breaking my bad habits, as well as creating new and healthier pathways.

If you’d like, you can join with me in this “28-Day Tame the Tongue Challenge.”  Together, we will ask our personal trainer (aka the Holy Spirit) to take His guidebook (aka the Scriptures) and do a work of renewal and change within us! He alone can get us on track and keep us there for 28 days and BEYOND!

 GOING DEEPER:   

1.What are some practical ways to keep this challenge before us?  (Printing out spiritual reminders and/or Scriptures and placing them in strategic places around the house, a habit tracker, reminders on our phone…)

2. Do you have anyone that you can partner with? These challenges are always more fun and more effective when there is accountability.

FURTHER READING:

James 3:1-12; Ephesians 4:29; 1 Peter 3:10 (Encouragement to keep going); Philippians 4:13

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. 

Functional LiteracyBy Vernette Kureck

 

"My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Colossians 2:2 (NIV)

Whether it be kindergarten or college, September is the month that everyone thinks about school. It’s important to have all the right supplies and books, so that the learning will be purposeful and successful.  Obtaining functional literacy is necessary in order to adequately accomplish all the needed skills for prosperous daily living. And there is usually a general understanding of the best way to progress through this process. Each year’s learning continues to build on the previous; as the body of knowledge increases, the wisdom of how to use and live out that knowledge hopefully grows also.

In the verse above, Paul is writing to the church because he is concerned with its “functional literacy.”  False teachers had cropped up into the congregation, and they were leading the people astray. The spreading influence of these teachers was threatening the church by devaluing Jesus. Paul’s goal was to reinforce their identity in Christ, and to bring them back to their foundation…Jesus. Jesus Christ is the right supplier of knowledge and true understanding. Jesus is the Word - - God incarnate. [1] Paul continues to teach them the truth in order to build them up, so that they will grow in wisdom and unravel the mystery of Jesus.

I have found the mystery of God is inexhaustible. The more I know; the more I want to know. The more I know Jesus, the fuller my spiritual treasure box is.

            “Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her” (Proverbs 8:10-11).

As believers, we all need to be encouraged in heart and united in love. So this fall, I am again intentionally studying God’s Word, always building on the foundation of Him, growing my spiritual “functional literacy”…always enjoying the mystery of Him. How about you?

GOING DEEPER:    

1.  How is your fall going? Contact Oakwood if you need to plug into a small group Bible study to help fill your spiritual treasure box.

2.  Are you able to recognize false teachers?

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 2:4-14; Matthew 24:35

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 49 years. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren from their two sons and their wives. She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain and with Family Promise.

[1] John1:14

Giving Gratitude

By Brita Crouse

“I will offer you a sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the LORD.”

Psalm 116:17 (NLT)

“Thank you, Brita.” He glanced at me sideways with those cloudy day-colored eyes, waiting for acknowledgement of his gratitude. It was a sweet moment, but I had no idea what my brother was talking about.

“Thank you for what?” I asked.

“For the plane.” The plane. The plane I had given him the day before. The plane I had specifically chosen for him and brought back from one of my most recent trips.

“You’re welcome, Bud.” I was seriously impressed and caught off guard by his thankfulness. Not that my brother is typically ungrateful, but he had already thanked me for the gift. He had already filled his quota for gratitude. His sweet thankfulness was not unwelcome, but it was unexpected.

And it got me thinking… How can I show more gratitude?

I recently learned an interesting concept: People, in general, are more receptive to words of thankfulness than words of apology. For example, instead of saying you’re sorry for running late, saying something like, “Thank you for your patience with me” will cause others to feel more understanding toward you. This creates patience from those on the receiving end.

Maybe it’s a side effect of being raised in the Midwest, but I find myself apologizing all the time. I’m so sorry for running late. I’m sorry for taking your time. Sorry for bothering you. Sorry, sorry, sorry…

What would it look like to flip those statements around? Thank you for your willingness to wait for me. Thank you for taking time to listen to me. Thank you for always being there for me.

I do the same thing with God. I show less gratitude because I feel the need to apologize more. But how could my relationship with Jesus be revolutionized if I showed more gratitude? Don’t get me wrong, I need to apologize to God and ask for forgiveness of my sins. Daily. But there is always more room to show gratitude, to be thankful for what He has done and what He has provided.

I can take a lesson from my little brother’s voluntary gratitude. His simple words of “thank you” completely made my day. Imagine how we could change the lives of others, as well as our own, if we took more time to acknowledge why we are thankful. 

Giving gratitude is not always easy - - sometimes it requires quite a sacrifice - - especially when it means humbling ourselves, but it is always worth it.

GOING DEEPER:

1.       Try changing your I’m sorry statements to thank you statements. Notice any difference in the way those statements are received?

2.       How can you be showing more gratitude to God?

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 3:15-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:18

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.

A Change Will Do You Good

By Brita Crouse

 

"God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

1 Corinthians 1:9 (NIV)

 

I love fall; it is my absolute favorite season. I love the beautiful colors of the leaves on the trees. I love the fall wardrobe: sweaters, boots, coats, hats, and scarves. I love the cool weather. I love the fall-inspired drinks you can find at every coffee shop. I love the excitement of going back to school and the start of football season. I especially love what fall represents: change - - a new season, a new beginning.

 

I have not always been so open to change and what a new situation will bring. I used to put up a lot of resistance when it came to one thing ending and another thing beginning. I found change to be too stressful and uncomfortable.

 

I remember when my parents first dropped me off at college - - a big life change. My roommate and I lay in our beds and cried. We were so scared of being left on our own, in a new place, with new people, far away from home. We were afraid of what new changes may bring. 

 

I realized something very important during this time. Change is stressful and uncomfortable, but it is also exciting and necessary. Change reveals to us an amazing characteristic of God: faithfulness.

 

What would happen if we never accepted any changes in life? Imagine if Andrew and Peter had never followed Jesus, but instead remained fishermen. Imagine if Moses didn't follow God's call and never led the Israelites out of exile. Imagine if Noah never stepped out in faith to build the ark, or David never left all he knew to kill the giant and become king. These people were risk-takers, trusting in a God who is always faithful. They saw that firsthand! 

 

When I graduated from college this year, I was so happy and thankful for the memories I made and the friendships I developed during my time away at school. God proved faithful through this major change and allowed me to be richly blessed because of it. How different my life would be if I hadn't allowed God to show His faithfulness!

 

It is easy to be afraid of change because of its uncertainty or its inconvenience. But, if we put our trust in God, He will remain faithful!

 

With the start of a new season, don't be scared of what changes may come. Rather, embrace them!

 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What are some changes that you could start embracing this week?

2.  Pray that God would open your heart to life changes that are honoring and pleasing to Him.

 

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 10:23; 1 Thessalonians 5:24

 

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.

Not My Circus, Not My Monkeys

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

People-pleasing, affirmation-seeking, problem-fixing…any of these words portray you as well as they portray me? These descriptors aren’t necessarily all bad. The problem comes when these attributes lead to burnout and put us in places we shouldn’t be.

Have any of these situations fit you?

-      You feel led to make a change in your ministry, but self-imposed guilt over leaving your current place has you unable to change.

-      You have a desperately-needed personal time scheduled, but a last-minute call from someone who needs help has you chucking your plans (and this isn’t the first time!).

-      A loved one has issues with irresponsibility.  And you move, time and again, to put yourself between them and their consequences.

What do all of these things have in common?  A lack of trust! Trust that God will fill your ministry spot with someone else He has in mind. Trust that God will provide another suitable helper (or rearrange the other person’s priorities). Trust that God will use situations to grow and mold your loved one. Ultimately, it’s trust that God will do His job - - without your being in charge.

Let’s be honest…trying to do God’s work in all of these places is grueling. It leads to exhaustion in family, in ministry and in our own relationship with our Savior. We were never meant to do it all. God has given us each a set of precious responsibilities and gifts. We must guard our priorities, because to not do so will result in the breakdown of our own hearts via stress and fatigue. When the distractions come, we have to learn to respond appropriately.

In my case, I repeat to myself advice from a friend: “Not my circus, not my monkeys!”

                                                                                                   

GOING DEEPER:

1. What situations are occurring in your life that you need to step back from and let God take the lead?
2. For further study, consider reading the book Boundaries  by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 125

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

Out of Hiding

By Elin Henderson

“…and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God among the trees of the garden.”

Genesis 3:8 (NKJV, emphasis added)

We all know that feeling as parents. We walk into a room, spot a disaster of some kind, and encounter a silence like no other. There isn’t a soul to be found, seen or heard. And we all know what has happened: Someone is hiding and, generally speaking, it is the perpetrator!

           

From the time we are little, the number one response to doing wrong is usually hiding. This negative behavior is nothing new but, in fact, is as old as mankind itself. If you think about it, it was the first response to sin. Adam and Eve knew they had sinned and they HID themselves. Imagine the silence God encountered when He came down to walk with them in the garden that day!

Now granted, as we get older, the hiding takes on different forms. It may or may not be physical hiding. We might hide emotionally from people by always keeping our relationships shallow. We might hide spiritually by avoiding encounters with spiritual people or places. Either way, we see our nakedness - - our bare emptiness and failure - - and we retreat to those bushes where we think we can find safety and security. Then, like Adam and Eve, we try and cover ourselves with leaves from those same bushes, like somehow that will hide our nakedness. What we really end up hiding is who we really are. We try and appear in a “clothed” form that isn’t really “us.”

It isn’t hard to hide from people. They are easily fooled. In fact, we may encounter many friends in the bushes with us, or walking around in the same leaf outfits. Sometimes the guise goes so far that we even fool ourselves.

Hiding from God, though, is another story. He knows the ugly, naked truth of where we are, who we are, and what we have done, but unlike a world that would judge us or be fooled by us, he looks on us with love. He gently allures us from our hiding places and graciously covers us with His clothes of splendor. He keeps who we are as individuals intact, but covers us and makes us presentable so that we can stand unashamed!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What are some reasons we hide? (Ex: fear, shame, regret…)

2. Who else can you think of in Scripture who tried this “Hiding Tactic” either with other people or God? (Hint: Moses, Jacob…)

FURTHER READING:

Hosea 2:14; Psalms 139:1-12

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

Hovering

By Elizabeth Cole

…he was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 

John 8:44 (NIV)

Remember this? A darling yellow bear covered in mud floats near a “honey tree” suspended by a blue balloon. In his iconic voice, he sings:

            I'm just a little black rain cloud

            Hovering under the honey tree

            I'm only a little black rain cloud

            Pay no attention to little me (1)

Winnie the Pooh is convinced that if he can disguise himself well enough, he’ll be able to deceive the bees and get his furry little hand into their hive to steal sweet honey…a single-minded goal of his. Makes me smile as Christopher Robin joins in the ruse, remarking, “Tut, tut. Looks like rain!”

Here’s what doesn’t  make me smile: A spiritual enemy who adopts the exact same ploy. He or his demons hover near, disguised as harmless - - speaking lies, intending to steal…all the while singing, “pay no attention to little me.”

Scripture identifies Satan as a deceiver from beginning to end in Scripture. He appears in the Garden and deceives Adam and Eve with a lie intended to steal trust and pure relationships. All the way to his near-end appearance where he is deceiving the nations. Disguised as an angel of light, one of his goals is to lead us “astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ” (2 Corinthians 11:3,14).

Simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. The Greek word for “simplicity” refers also to “sincerity, freedom from hypocrisy,” and is used biblically as part of the phrase “singleness of heart.” The Father of Lies intends to do all that he can to move us toward a divided heart, toward hypocrisy…to steal away our pure devotion to Jesus.

Be clear, however. The God-Who-Cannot-Lie has given us all that we need to burst that black little rain cloud of deception. God gives us His own armor to combat the lies, and provides spiritual weapons that have divine power. Jesus - - the Way, the Truth and the Life - - came to destroy the works of the devil (2). What’s more, we have the Spirit of Truth within us, guiding us into all truth (3). 

No reason to play into the ruse today. No deceiver need ever steal your sweet, pure devotion to Jesus. You stand firm today.

GOING DEEPER:

1.           Where do you see the deceiver attempting to divide your heart?

2.           How would a renewed commitment to prayer impact your devotion to Jesus?

FURTHER READING:

Genesis 3; Revelation 20:3; Isaiah 59:17-18 & Ephesians 6:10-18; 2 Corinthians 10:3-4

Elizabeth is a wife and mother of three grown daughters; a mother-in-law to two sons. She is the Director of Connecting at Oakwood Church.

(1)          https://www.letssingit.com/winnie-the-pooh-lyrics-little-black-rain-cloud-65pfx6z#axzz4u5ZUvWrU

(2)           1 John 3:8

(3)           John 16:13