The Good Side of DiscomfortBy Lexi Cole Ellis

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

The first trimester of my pregnancy was one of excitement mixed with some intense exhaustion and nausea. And yet, I experienced the strangest paradox of feelings. As much as I hated throwing up, every time it happened, it also confirmed the likelihood that the baby was healthy and growing. As much as I thoroughly disliked the discomfort of the nausea, it helped settle the anxiety I had about miscarrying during that first trimester.

Have you noticed how God uses discomfort for His glory? In Scripture, sometimes imperfect men and women experienced discomfort due to the consequences of their sin and bad choices, like Miriam or David. But sometimes, the discomfort is merely because of testing or the effects of living in a broken world, like Job or Hannah.

For me, the more powerful truth isn’t that discomfort exists, but that God is big enough to use the tragedies and discomforts in our lives to bring us closer to Him. And beyond that, in His goodness, to refine us to be more like Him. 

How big and powerful a God we serve that He uses pain and sorrow to remind us of the richness of His love and the power of His grace! How amazing is our God that He enters the mess with us, and uses it to be our Savior of comfort and peace. Sometimes the good side of discomfort comes from the process of being refined into becoming more dependent on God. Other times, the good side of discomfort is revealed in the midst of the fire, as we draw nearer to our Creator.

Part of me would love to not experience the nausea. And yet, it was a reminder of the goodness that our baby was healthy. I’m thankful for the reminder that sometimes the discomfort we experience is, in part, a way to grow in Christlikeness, and to remind us of His comfort and steadfastness. I’m grateful for the good part of discomfort.

GOING DEEPER:

1.      Think about the (current or past) discomfort in your life or a loved one’s life. How is God using it for good?

2.      Consider taking time to listen to Tenth Avenue North’s song, “I Have This Hope.”

FURTHER READING: Psalm 38: 18; Revelation 21:4; 1 Peter 4:12-16

Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin and are expecting their first child in June 2018. She teaches sixth grade Reading & Writing, serves with Children’s Ministries, and is the Fresh Start Coordinator. 

O Come, All Ye Faithful

By Brita Crouse

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

Luke 2:15-16 (NIV)

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant!

O come ye, O come ye to Bethlehem;

Come and behold him

Born the King of Angels:

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

Christ the Lord.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOING DEEPER:

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

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

FURTHER READING:

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

Brita 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.

Wise Men Still Seek Him

By Jeannine Sawall

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

Matthew 2:7 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

GOING DEEPER:

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

2. What gifts are you willing to offer Jesus?

FURTHER READING:

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

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four 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.

An Unexpected Christmas

By Sarah Walker

 

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.Luke 2:11-12 (ESV)

 

Oftentimes in the retelling of the Christmas story, extraordinary events become ordinary. The uncommon and unexpected becomes common and expected. We hear the tale every year, multiple times over. We sing songs to commemorate the event. There are pageants and proceedings to draw us into the events surrounding that holy night. But have we ever taken a moment to step back from the expected, the common and the ordinary...and allowed God to make them unexpected, uncommon, and once again extraordinary to us?

Consider how Jesus chose to become incarnate:

 

• The Word came to earth as a baby unable to speak. The angels came to earth and consistently had to tell people not to be afraid. Yet Jesus, God of the world, was born unable to walk or talk, completely dependent for His very sustenance from His own creation. He couldn't tell anyone not to be afraid, let alone say any meaningful words.

 

• The Creator was born as an outcast of His creation. There was no room for Him in the inn. His first bed was a manger, and He was greeted by shepherds. Jesus was higher than the angels, yet he stooped down to earth. Not to have a one-day, awe-inspiring encounter with humans, but the Creator of galaxies chose to enter as an embryo.

 

• The holy, perfect One was born into this world as a perceived child of scandal. The One who created man and called him very good was willing to show us just how far He would go to redeem us. Wefell. We sinned. And He humbled Himself, being born right in the midst of that shame. Jesus didn't distance Himself from us. Rather, he entered our sufferings in a personal, vulnerable way.

 

Jesus truly humbled Himself to come to earth as an infant, all to obey the Father and to redeem us. He didn't come when everything was "good" enough for Him. No, He chose to come right in the middle of this sinful world, accepting all the consequences that came with that decision.

 

GOING DEEPER:

1.      Are there situations in your own life where you need to let Jesus enter in, right in the middle of where you find yourself, regardless of pride, embarrassment or desiring self-sufficiency? If so, do it!

2.      Listen to the nativity narrative as though never hearing it before. Rather than seeing it as commonplace, what seems out of the ordinary, unexpected or unusual? What does that reveal about God?

 

FURTHER READING:Philippians 2:5-11

Sarah is married to Scott and is a full-time mom to their two young sons. She and Scott co-lead a summer/winter neighborhood small group.

Wonder-Infusing

By Susan Klein

“Show the wonder of your great love…”

Psalm 17:7a (NIV)

It’s that time of year when the mail carrier and delivery people become familiar faces! I love getting mail, even if it’s just a gift I ordered for someone else. My winter edition of Magnolia Journal arrived last week. I immediately carved out a time to sit and savor it, cover to cover. I’ve been craving some serious holiday inspiration!

As I slowly turned each page, it did not disappoint in presenting more than one holiday-themed article. What really spoke to my heart was that many of them were not the usual holiday decorating or what-gifts-to-buy kind of articles. Instead, I was treated to stories about someone being blessed by the love of strangers, and of God, in most unconventional ways. They were stories of “wonder.”

In one story, the author had lost her favorite Bible containing a loving inscription by her father inside the cover. Years later, it was miraculously returned to her through a series of unimaginable God-incidents. Not only did she retrieve her treasured possession, but she also got to see how God used her little Bible to touch another person’s life several states away! For her, the “wonder” was being let in on God’s bigger picture.

In another story, the author shared about a particularly lean Christmas with no money to buy gifts for his six children. A complete stranger mysteriously slipped an envelope under his door on Christmas Eve with enough cash to purchase some needed items as well as make copies of a book he wrote for his children. Six years later, through a series of God-inspired events, the man met the stranger who had generously left the money under his door. Both were filled with “wonder” at how God used this kind gesture to bless the recipient, and now, to bless the giver. More wonder-infused articles followed suit in displaying God’s love.

Why does our sense of “wonder” seem more prevalent this time of year? Perhaps our child-like anticipation during the holidays gives us a heightened awareness of these special moments. Kind hearts and generous spirits come out to play. People show love in ways that are reserved for the Christmas season. It’s almost magical!

Have you thought about how “wonder” might show up in your Christmas this year? Perhaps God has some secret blessing in store for you, the details of which He’ll reveal several years from now. Or maybe He intends to use you to infuse a little wonder in someone else’s life. Either way, be intentionally watching for precious moments of wonder!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Spend some time in wonder, reflecting on all God is and does.

2. Might you share a little wonder with someone else?!!

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 9:1-2, 71:16-18; Revelation 15:3

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.

In My Fears
By Steph LaCasse

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV, emphasis mine)

“Mom, what are you afraid of?” inquired my six-year-old. I thought about how much I wanted to divulge regarding my personal fears, then figuring everyone is afraid of something, I was just honest.

I said, “Well, I’m afraid of moths even though they can’t hurt you. I’m afraid of losing one of you kids or Daddy. I’m also afraid of what will happen in the future.” I continued that I didn’t know what the future holds for our family, but I know Who holds the future.

Lucas exclaimed, “God holds the future, and the future holds God.”

Even though he’s only six, my little Lucas was delving deep into humanity, and he didn’t even know it. People are worriers. Some more than others. We worry about what other people think of us.  We worry about money.  We worry about what tomorrow, next week or next year will bring.

In the verse above, Jesus is talking to the crowd about worry. He was using a very practical example of something the people saw every day. How often do we see birds? Depending on the time of year, we will consistently see at least a few birds each day. Do they worry if they will have enough food to get through the day? No, they just eat because they know their Creator will feed them.

How often do we worry about things that are beyond our control? I do…all the time. I am a habitual worrier. In my case, it goes beyond worry and turns into anxiety, which isn’t good for anyone. I know that my Heavenly Father is there: He hasn’t run away, and He knows my deepest fears, worries and anxiety. He, and only He, has the power to overturn those items and allow me peace…peace that passes all understanding.

So, what do we do with these wise words of Jesus? Trust. Trust that God is there. Trust that He will provide, and trust that He knows what is best for us when we don’t know what’s best for ourselves. Like any good father would. Only better.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    What is one way you can trust Jesus just a little bit more today?

FURTHER READING:

1 Peter 5:7; Exodus 14:14

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

The First Noel

By Carolyn Hulliberger

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

Matthew 2:10 (NIV, emphasis added)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And we are to be overjoyed.

GOING DEEPER:

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

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 126:3; Luke 2

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

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

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

Declaring His Word

By Peggy Kleckner

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and He saves those whose spirits have been crushed.”

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

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

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

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

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

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

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

GOING DEEPER:

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

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

FURTHER READING:

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

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

The Not-So-Obvious Answer

By Stephanie LaCasse

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

Matthew 6:26 (NIV)

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

Her response... "Pray?"

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

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

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

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

GOING DEEPER:

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

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

FURTHER READING:

 Philippians 4:6-7; Romans 12:12

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

The Ultimate Sacrifice

By Karen D’Amore

“…and He died for all.”

2 Corinthians 5:15a (NIV)

What began as an ordinary Sunday…ended in the most dreadful carnage imaginable. October 1, 2017 was the final night of the Route 91 Harvest Festival in Las Vegas, Nevada. Country music artist Jason Aldean was performing his final set of the evening before 22,000 people. At 10:05 pm, as the attendees joyfully sang and danced with the music, an active shooter on the 32^nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel blasted the crowd with an arsenal of gunfire.

Videos captured smiles collapsing under desperate expressions of panic and fear as the crowd ran for their lives. After ten minutes of active repetitive gunfire, the horrific incident would be deemed the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history with an excess of 500 people sustaining injuries and 58 succumbing to death. 

In the aftermath of the mass shooting, countless stories chronicled details and emotions of how victims, witnesses, first responders and families were personally impacted by the devastating incident. News and social media became inundated with tear-stained testimonials of survivors sharing expressions of gratitude for their personal heroes. Though sickened and disheartened by the terrifying videos and unfathomable details of the incident, the stories of heroism had a magnetic pull on my heart.

So many survivors shared details of the protection provided by heroes who covered and shielded them from the spray of gunfire. Many of those heroes made the ultimate sacrifice…taking fatal bullets while shielding loved ones, and in some cases, protecting total strangers. Those survivors who lived, due to the shielding of those heroes, will never forget the ultimate sacrifice made on their behalf. And I can only speculate that they will never take for granted the modern-day “saviors” who saved them.

As I contemplated the innumerable acts of bravery and heroic sacrifices, I was keenly aware of the fact that not one person rejected those acts of sacrificial protection. In fact, medical responders shared the heart-wrenching details of victims begging to be saved.

These heroic stories are a vivid depiction of what happened on the cross. [1]  

What began as an ordinary day thousands of years ago, ended with the most incomprehensible act of bloodshed known to mankind. Scourged with flesh-gouging whips…pierced with a crown of thorns…impaled with three nails… Jesus hung for hours and laid down His life on a cross. Protecting all who choose to believe…from eternal death…Jesus made the ultimate sacrifice for all of mankind.

Let us never forget - - or take for granted - - the Savior who shields us from eternal death. And let’s be vigilant in rescuing those who continue to reject His sacrificial protection.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who do you know who needs rescuing?

FURTHER READING:

John 11:25; John 10:11; Romans 5:8

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] John 3:16

Re-train Your Brain

By Susan Klein

“Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 (NIV)

It’s a fact that as we age, we lose brain cells. Dementia, depression, and Alzheimer’s Disease are all associated with this loss. Our body, however, has a certain capacity to reproduce brain cells, or neurons, known as “neurogenesis.” Various factors can influence this process. Stress can inhibit neurogenesis while aerobic exercise can promote it. Just by learning a new task, you can stimulate your brain to replace lost neurons. (1)

A simple exercise to try would be: If you are right-handed, try brushing your teeth with your left hand. Using the opposite hand stimulates an area of the brain less frequently used, promoting growth of valuable neurons. Gradually move up to vacuuming, eating, or even writing with the non-dominant hand. The more neurons you generate, the healthier your brain will be. Who doesn’t want a healthier brain?!

While regeneration of brain cells is beneficial in staving off certain age-related diseases, regeneration/renewing of the mind reaps even greater benefits. Paul writes to the Christ-followers in the Roman Church to “not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2). Essentially, he is warning them not to get “stuck in a rut” by living in the same worldly patterns and beliefs of their sinful past, which are actually harmful. By choosing to make healthy lifestyle changes and working with the Spirit toward being more Christ-like, they are triggering an invisible metamorphosis within, reaping benefits that continue on into eternity. Who doesn’t want a spiritually healthy mind?!

This week, try doing some tasks with your non-dominant hand, read a new book, or incorporate a brain puzzle into your routine to strengthen your brain. (2) Also, spend some time seeking God on what it looks like to strengthen your spiritual mind. Be open to His transforming work in your life.

Just for kicks, as you are brushing your teeth with your opposite hand, put a sticky note on the bathroom mirror with a new Bible verse on it and try memorizing as you brush. Not only will you be stimulating your brain in two different ways, you’ll be transforming your mind at the same time. Who doesn’t want to accomplish three things at once?!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What repeated (perhaps non-beneficial) patterns/habits might you need to consider replacing with better choices?

2. In what ways are you proactively working toward a healthy body and a health mind?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 4:22-24; 1 Timothy 4:8

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) https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/can-you-grow-new-brain-cells

(2) www.lumosity.com