It Is Finished

By Susan Klein

Jesus said, “It is finished.”
With that, He bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

John 19:30

Every once in awhile, I find my mind wandering to the memories of sins in my past. Old feelings of guilt overcome me and I wonder how God could possibly have forgiven them all, not to mention how He keeps forgiving my many trespasses in the present…and those yet to come. I want to cry out like King David in the Old Testament, “Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways” (Psalm 25:7). That is when I have to take my thoughts back to the finished work of the Cross.

When Jesus uttered the words, “It is finished” from the Cross, He wasn’t talking about His physical life being over. He was speaking of the completion of the task He had been called to perform by the Father: bearing all the sins of the world and paying the penalty for each and every one of us. The word “finished” here indicates a conclusion of a job or task, a goal achieved - - yet not just ended but brought to perfection. In essence, Jesus was saying, “Father, what you have asked me to do has been perfectly completed, now and forevermore.”  (Jesus spoke of this completed work before it even happened in His prayer to the Father in John, chapter 17.) Since I know this to be a true statement, how can I possibly question His forgiveness? Who am I to suggest that my sins are too great for this finished perfect work?

In their song, “You Love Me Anyway,” the Sidewalk Prophets describe this very sentiment:

I am the thorn in Your crown
But You love me anyway
I am the sweat from Your brow
But You love me anyway
I am the nail in Your wrist
But You love me anyway
I am Judas' kiss
But You love me anyway [1]

God loved us so much that He willingly gave us His perfect Son, who demonstrated His love by dying on the Cross and paying the penalty once and for all for every sin ever committed on the face of this earth. His one act of selfless, perfect  love was the final payment, bringing all sacrifices to a final end. Conclusion: “It is finished.”

Dear ones, it truly is finished. We are once and for all, now and forever, completely forgiven. Let’s live like it!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What sins in your own life might you have trouble viewing as “forgiven”?

2. Ponder the personal significance of these three words, “It is finished.”

FURTHER READING:

John 17:1-5; Acts 13: 38-39; Hebrews 8:12

[1] You Love Me Anyway, These Simple Truths Album, By: Sidewalk Prophets,Word Records / 2009 

 

Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.

Dread
By Lisa Boyer

“So it is My word that goes out from My mouth: 
it will not return to Me empty, 
but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose 
for which I sent it.”
Isaiah 55:11

Dread. It’s such an ugly word and an even uglier emotion. It crept up on me slowly, but then I was overwhelmed by it.

I had an appointment I didn’t want to keep, but couldn’t bring myself to cancel. The dread had begun as a simple thought, “I don’t want to do this,” but it quickly grew into “I can’t do this.” It kept me up the night before until finally I fell asleep praying…no, crying out to God to do something…anything.

Yet here it was, the morning of the appointment, and the dread was still with me. Again, I began to pray and cry out to God. Through my turmoil came the fleeting thought that I should stop praying and read my Bible. But, I was up an hour early and I just wanted to use that time to pray…pray until something happened. Before long, the fleeting thought became persistent: I should read my Bible now. But I knew my answer wasn’t going to be in today’s Bible reading. What kind of answer to my dread was I going to find in Matthew chapter 11?

So, to calm that persistent thought (but more to prove that Matthew didn’t contain the answer to my prayer), I postponed my prayer time, opened my Bible and began to read Matthew 11. Jesus and John the Baptist, no comfort there…unrepentant cities, certainly no comfort there…rest for the weary, wait, rest for the weary in Matthew 11? What is this? Verse 28 & 29: “Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest…I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

That was me…weary and burdened! I closed my Bible and returned to prayer. This time, I knew what to pray and how to pray. I talked to my gentle Savior about my burden, my concern, my worry and how it had turned to dread. Then I left it all in His capable hands and accepted His rest. My dread was gone, replaced by rest and peace.

Looking back, I have to laugh because I was convinced that I wouldn’t find comfort in my daily Bible reading, I suppose because it wasn’t a Psalm or Proverb, but God is so amazing and His timing is always perfect.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Take a moment to reflect on those times when dread begins to fill your heart. Is there a pattern you can identify and begin to change?
2. Think back to a time God used His Word to perfectly address your circumstances. Thank Him for His intimate awareness of and kindness toward you through that experience.

FURTHER READING:

Jeremiah 31:25

Lisa has been married to Ted for 20 years and they have two teenage sons. Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with and impacting teenage girls for Christ.

Seeing Clearly
By Jen Wollner

“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.”
Psalm 119:18

A few years ago, my husband had Lasik eye surgery. There was a lot that needed to be done to prepare for the procedure, including checking, re-checking and triple-checking his eyes. But none of that compared to the intensity of the surgery itself. Although it was completed quickly, it was traumatic for his eyes. But, as they healed, the results were unbelievable! I was blown away on our drive home as I listened to my husband explain that he could already see better than he ever could before. We were both in awe! But, it didn’t end there. As the days and weeks passed, his vision became crisper and more refined until, eventually, it was better than 20/20.

The decision to have this procedure has proved to be life-changing for my husband and, literally, affects him daily. It’s like the process we experience when we come the point in our lives where we realize that we are sinners and in need of a Savior. We reach out to Jesus and express our need for Him and our desire to belong to Him. Although that time of confession and acceptance of His gift of salvation is short, the results are dramatic and miraculous. It’s a decision that is life-altering.

See, just as a laser re-shapes the lens of an eye to correct the vision of that eye, the Holy Spirit begins changing the “eyes” of our heart the moment we accept Jesus. There is an immediate change in our vision as we start to see ourselves and the world around us differently. But, that’s not where it ends. As our relationship with Him becomes stronger, He changes our heart, mind and soul to be more like Him. As we study His Word, fellowship with believers, have intimate prayer time with Him and serve others, our focus changes – our opinions and priorities become clearer and our vision is slowly refined so that we see life from His perspective.

Now is the perfect time for us to praise Him for the work He has done on our vision and thank Him for the precious gift of clarity His truth brings. But, we shouldn’t stop there. Let’s allow Him every opportunity to continue to re-shape the lens of our hearts. Let’s get to know our “surgeon” intimately so that our vision can be refined…by His grace and for His glory!

GOING DEEPER:
1. How has your heart changed as a result of the Holy Spirit? How do you think or act differently than you did in the past?
2. What sin areas does He want to continue to work through in you so that your heart, mind and soul are more like Him?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 119:33-37; Psalm 139:23-24; Hebrews 12:2

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Friends Don’t Let Friends…
By Elizabeth Cole

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds…”
Hebrews 10:24-25

One of 1991’s highest grossing films, with six Academy Award nominations, was Thelma and Louise. Billed as a female road movie, the story follows the liberation of two repressed women who begin the movie going on a fishing trip, but end up on the lam. One critic waxes, “Thelma and Louise become fully realized human beings who share a powerful and authentic friendship. Their transformation into two outlaws is also made entirely believable by the actresses…” In the end, cornered at the Grand Canyon and wanting to avoid capture, “they make a final decision to drive off the cliff into the canyon. The film ends with a freeze frame of the car in midair and the credits begin over a montage of their happiest moments together during the weekend.” The movie has become an iconic classic celebrating friendship between women. My response? You gotta be kidding…give me a break!

As we read Paul’s letters in the New Testament, we learn a lot about how to build real friendships and godly relationships. To the Thessalonian believers, he writes, “Encourage one another and build each other up.” To the Colossian church: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…” When he addresses the Ephesians, he writes, “Be kind and compassionate to one another...”

The kind of relationships God calls us to develop includes extending “kindness with a backbone.” True kindness in friendship means we wouldn’t dream of looking the other way while a precious friend heads down a path guaranteed to cause her heartache. True kindness means being willing to gently ask the “hard question.” True kindness prays diligently for a friend’s heart-change. True kindness risks being misunderstood, and sacrifices being “nice” for being loving.

A real friend models her kindness after God Himself: It’s the kindness of God that leads to repentance (Romans 2:4). She humbly evaluates her friendship on the basis of whether her actions and words help her friend move closer toward the Lord Jesus.

Listen, according to Scripture, friends don’t let friends drive over cliffs!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways has God’s kindness led you to a greater awareness of your sin and its potential consequences? Thank Him.
2. Are you resisting the Holy Spirit’s prompting to extend “kindness with a backbone”? Ask Him for His compassion, strength, timing and words.

FURTHER READING:
Galatians 6:1-2; Ephesians 4:1-3,32; I Thessalonians 5:11; Colossians 3:16

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three grown daughters, and Director of Connecting and Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Another Long Night

By Elin Henderson

“It is good to give thanks to the LORD, and to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; To declare Your loving kindness in the morning and your Faithfulness every night,”

Psalms 92:1-2

Every now and again, I find myself lying in bed at midnight, wide awake with the clock ticking away. At those times I wonder, “Is anyone else up now? Why can’t I just go to sleep?!” Whether I chalk it up to hormones, caffeine, sugar, stress, or just plain age, I seem to be having more LONG nights than I used to. 

Long nights can leave you tired, irritable, even make you physically sick. And yet, sometimes they are God’s chosen method for teaching us things about Himself. More than once in Scripture, He uses a long night as preparation for showing us His power in the morning. 

Daniel (in Daniel, chapter 6) faced a VERY long night in a pit with some not-so-nice leonine companions. King Darius likewise faced an agonizing evening: “…his sleep went from him.” (Daniel 6:18b) But both of them, before the morning was over, knew God in an even more intimate way. 

Esther (in Esther, chapters 4-7) spent several torturous nights trying to decide what to do to save her people. In the end she decided to approach the king uninvited and concluded by saying, “If I perish, I perish.” A little while later, when the time came to expose the villain Haman, she faced a few more LONG nights before true freedom was found!

Jesus Himself faced the longest night that any man has ever faced. It started in Gethsemane as He underwent emotional torment thinking about the betrayal and crucifixion that was to come. He ended by crying out to His father saying, “…not as I will, but as You will.”  Then, after some long nights in the grave, morning dawned and He arose, victorious over death and sin! (Matthew 28:1-8).  

God uses the LONG nights to work out something amazing. So the next time you find yourself up in the wee hours of the night waiting for sleep that just won’t come, think back to some others who have faced long nights and remember His faithfulness. And when your dawn breaks, look for how He has done something miraculous in and through your life, too. 

                            

GOING DEEPER:

1. Can you think of any other “late night or early morning” miracles in the Bible?  What about in your own past?

2. Sometimes, life can seem like a “long night” that just won’t end. How does knowing His work in the LONG nights help us when we face these times?  (Psalm 30:5b)

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 16:7, 63:6, 74:16

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 twelve-year-old Callie and nine-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.

Act Love Walk

By Tracy Smith

"He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you? 
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with our God." 
Micah 6:8
 

This has always been one of my favorite Bible verses. Recently on Pinterest[1], I saw a project that was labeled as a craft for the kids, but I want to do something like it for myself! It is the words "Act Justly, Love Mercy, Walk Humbly" stacked on top of each other in three different lines. Layered under the words "Act Justly" is a pair of handprints. Under the words "Love Mercy" is a drawn heart. And under the words "Walk Humbly" is a pair of footprints. I think that is genius - - it perfectly illustrates the verse by pulling out the three action words: act, love and walk.

Act justly. Merriam-Webster online defines just as, “acting or being in conformity with what is morally upright or good.”[2] How do we find out what is upright and good? His Word.

Love mercy. I once heard mercy described this way: not getting what you deserve. The Lord showed us mercy in not allowing us to “get what we deserve,” which is an eternity separated from Him. We are called to show the same type of mercy to those who hurt us. Not always an easy thing to do.

Walk humbly with our Lord. We need to stay in step with our Lord. If we are walking with Him, our path will stay on course. If we are walking with our Lord, we will find the strength to love mercy and act justly.

I have “pinned” the artwork on my Pinterest board; now I need to “pin” the verse onto my heart!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Which action word from Micah 6:8 do you struggle with most?

2. Can you commit to praying and asking God to help you make strides in this area of your life?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:5-6; Luke 6:36; Matthew 5:7

[1] Pinterest is an online social photo-sharing website comprised of “pinboards” collected and posted by theme

[2] http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/just

Along with being a wife and mother to two boys, Tracy is an administrative assistant at Oakwood, serves on the Women’s Ministry Special Events Team and leads a great group of Junior High girls.

 

More Than You Can Handle

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“Surely God is my help;

The Lord is the one who sustains me.”

Psalm 54:4

There is a saying that goes, “God won’t give you more than you can handle.”

It’s a lie.

How do I know this?  Because, at times, I have been given plenty more than I can handle…on my own.  You see, the saying needs to be changed to, “God won’t give you more than HE can handle.”

As Christ-followers, we are not shielded from the consequences of living in a fallen, imperfect world.  Accidents still happen, disasters still strike, disease still occurs. 

And we can’t handle it…without Him.  In fact, I believe there have been times when I was given more than I can handle for the express purpose of turning my wholehearted attention to the Savior who loves me.

Because I couldn’t do it on my own anymore.

So while God doesn’t promise that He won’t give us more than we can handle, He does promise many other provisions when life falls apart, and we surrender to His working in our lives.  Here are just a few:

His Courage:  “I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”  Philippians 4:13

His Guidance:  “I will counsel you and watch over you,” says the Lord.  Psalm 32:8

His Peace:  “Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.  I do not give to you as the world gives.  Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.’”  John 14:27

His Presence:  “The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:8

His Caring:  “Cast all your anxiety on God because he cares for you.”  1 Peter 5:7

His Forgiveness:  “In Christ we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.”  Ephesians 1:7-8

His Help:  “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”  Psalm 46:1

His Love:  “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”  Romans 8:38-39

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been trying to handle circumstances on your own, only to find yourself buckling under the weight?  Which of God’s provisions do you especially need today?

Along with caring for her husband and two children, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves in Student Ministries with junior high girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

Is the Tank Full?
By Elizabeth Cole

“…be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction.”
2 Timothy 4:2b

Have you ever noticed that Batman’s batphone rings at some of the most inopportune times? Once, it was right before his birthday gala. Other times, it’s when he’s exhausted after a long hard day as Bruce Wayne. Despite its unexpectedness, the call never seems to catch him unprepared. He finishes the call, slides down his secret pole into the Batcave, hops into the Batmobile and off he goes. Here’s the thing that gets me: He never has to stop and get gas in that car before he heads off to save the world. Now granted, he’s got Alfred (oh, that we all could have an Alfred…), but if I were Batman, my first stop would invariably have to be the Mobil station!

Seldom in our lives do we get to see what’s coming next. I think about our sister in Christ who is sharing her life with friends in a medical crisis; I think about my daughter’s friend who thought she was just going to spend a day out on her ATV, not in the emergency room with a broken back; I think about the friend who, out of the blue, says at dinner, “Something’s missing in my life…”

Will we be ready? Are we actively seeking to further understand and gain knowledge of who God is through study and application? Are we daily being filled up with the Source of our Power through reading His Word and sharing our hearts with Him through prayer? God is so very kind – He regularly blesses our private time with Him by giving us opportunity to share that very day what we’ve learned from Him in the quiet moments. What a sweet way to anticipate, be ready, filled up and available to His call… whenever it comes, no batphone needed!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What would it take for you to be more prepared for the unexpected moments God gives in which you have opportunity to affect another’s life?
2. Would you ask God for His divine help in making sure your “tank stays full”?

FURTHER READING:
Acts 8:26-40; Acts 16:16-34

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three grown daughters, and Director of Connecting and Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

What’s in a Word?
By Susan Klein

“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.”
Colossians 4:6

Growing up, did you ever hear your mother say, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t say anything at all”? Wise woman! I think in our culture’s pursuit of “freedom of speech,” we’ve let go of that old adage. Our words, depending on how we use them, can be like a soothing balm to the soul, or as stabbingly painful as a double-edged sword. And, like toothpaste out of a tube, once they leave our mouths they can never be put back!

The book of Proverbs has a lot to teach us about our words. It says that when used appropriately, they can be pleasant as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bone. When aptly spoken, they are like apples of gold in settings of silver. We are also told that a gentle answer turns away wrath, and the tongue of the wise commends knowledge. However, Scripture warns that when we misuse our words, they can pierce like a sword, or stir up anger. And that the Lord detests lying lips, and the mouth of a fool gushes folly. We are also cautioned that a gossip betrays a confidence so we are to avoid one who talks too much.

James thought this was such an important topic that he devoted most of his book’s third chapter to it! He validates that none of us are perfect and that we will all stumble at some point with our words. He gives us a good analogy when he compares our tongue (or words) to a bit in a horse’s mouth and to the rudder of a ship. Though each item is small, the bit controls the whole horse and the rudder steers the whole ship. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of our body, but if used improperly, it can corrupt the whole person or set the whole course of her life on fire.

So, how are we to avoid the calamity of loose lips or stinging words? By guarding our tongues. We do this by first taking each thought captive to see if it is pure or poison, then by being slow to speak. It is generally when we speak too quickly that we get ourselves into big trouble!

Let’s put our mother’s advice to practice and use our words to build each other up, then we will bring glory and honor to our Heavenly Father!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Can you think of a situation where you used your words wrongly? How could you avoid repeating that mistake?
2. Ask God to help you be quick to listen and slow to speak.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 34:12-14; Ecclesiastes 10:12-13; James 1:26

Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.

God is Food
By Jen Wollner

“I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35

When my older son was in preschool, he learned a mealtime prayer that went like this: “God is good. God is great. And we thank Him for our food. Amen.” Often, he would say it before dinner and my younger son, who was two at the time and loved to copy his older brother, wanted to say it as well. The problem was that he was still developing his verbal skills, so this is his version: “God is food. Thank you food. Amen.”

My husband and I would chuckle a little when he would say, “God is food,” but as I thought more about it, I realized how profound that statement really was. Jesus calls Himself the bread of life. He says that God sent Him as “bread from heaven” and that anyone who “eats” of Him will have eternal life. He goes on to explain that if we come to Him in faith and believe that He is the Son of God, who died for our sins, we will receive the gift of eternity in Heaven with Him.

But, there is even more to the idea of God being “food” for us. We are bombarded daily by things that drain us—job commitments, family needs, household duties, social obligations, volunteer work—you name it! While many of these tasks are good things, they still wear us down and exhaust us by the end of the day. What we need is something to fill us up again. Something to refresh us. Something to restore our strength or patience or perseverance. Something to quench the hunger and thirst of our bodies, souls and minds. That is just what the Lord does for us! He meets our physical, mental, emotional and spiritual needs…and He meets them abundantly. Our part is to “eat” and “drink” of Him. We do this by attending church services or Bible studies. We do it by spending time alone with Him, studying His Word. And, we do it by having a continuous dialog with Him through prayer— focusing on His attributes, affirming our trust in Him, thanking Him for His past faithfulness, telling Him our needs and concerns, and then listening to His reassuring voice. A close, intimate relationship is what Jesus desires to have with us so that He can not just sustain us, but fill our cups to overflowing!

God is more than good. And, He’s more than great. He is food…for life.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What specific situations or responsibilities in your life are draining you today?
2. What do you need most from Jesus right now to make it through your day? Ask Him for these things.

FURTHER READING:
John 6:25-59; John 4:1-26

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Hearing God’s Voice
By Karen D’Amore

“My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10: 27

One Sunday, my pastor taught on John 10 by sharing a personal experience he had had on a trip to Israel. While he was visiting a famous biblical site, a group of shepherds arrived with their flocks. Three different shepherds put all of their sheep in one pen for the night. The next morning, one shepherd arrived at the pen and began calling to his sheep. One by one, his sheep (and only his sheep) filed out to follow him. The same thing happened when the other two shepherds began calling their sheep. The sheep recognized only their shepherd’s voice. Amazing!

I witnessed a similar phenomenon recently in my own yard. I have many kinds of wildlife living on my property and one day four mother raccoons, each with a litter of babies (21 raccoons total), were dining on my patio. From a treetop deeper in the woods, came the cry of a baby raccoon. Suddenly, one of the mothers darted from the group and ran to the crying baby. Calling back to her baby, the mother was able to coax her baby down out of the tree. It was incredible to observe how this mother raccoon recognized her baby’s cry for help and vice versa.

Whether it is a shepherd and his sheep, wildlife and their young, or a Christ follower and the Lord…the ability to recognize the appropriate voice is based on the relationship. The only way that a sheep can know the voice of a shepherd or a raccoon the voice of its mother is through the intimate bond they share. Similarly, the only way that we can recognize God’s voice is through a personal relationship with Him. To truly know God and to distinguish His voice from others, we must spend time in His Word, time in prayer and time sitting quietly at His feet.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you able to identify God’s voice? If not, what steps could you take to know Him in a more intimate way?
2. Is there someone in your life whom you could help mentor as he or she builds a closer relationship with the Lord?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 46:10; Psalm 27:14; I Corinthians 2:9; Jeremiah 33:3; Colossians 3:15

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She’s a leader for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and a volunteer at the Wildlife In Need Center.

The Mystery of Prayer
By Susan Klein

“But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.”
Jude 20

There is so much to be said about the subject of prayer. At times it can seem overwhelming. There are books on prayer, prayer journals, even prayer beads and prayer shawls. There are postures of prayer, prayer closets, places to pray, times to pray, and attitudes of prayer. There are popcorn prayers, the Lord’s Prayer, silent prayer, praying out loud, public prayer, fasting and prayer, praying back Scripture, intercessory prayer, concerts of prayer, and devised methods of prayer. There is also the command to pray. We know it is not to be taken lightly since it is mentioned in Scripture approximately 580 times! But, there seem to be so many variables that make it hard to discern which way is the best way to pray.

After much personal study on this important subject, I have adopted a few simple ways to eliminate the confusion and enhance my own prayer times. First of all, just pray! It’s best not to get caught up in all the methods, times and places. Everyone has his or her personal preferences and we all learn what works best for us. I try to set aside a time each day for specific, intentional prayer, but if the Holy Spirit lays someone or something on my heart while I am driving or doing dishes, I don’t wait for the “right time,” I pray right then and there. Secondly, no prayer is unimportant or insignificant to God. Scripture tells us to bring everything to the Lord in prayer. Not just the really big things, but everything! And thirdly, listen. I find this to be one element of prayer that is often forgotten, yet one that is so very critical to our prayer time. Prayer is a two-way communication with God. When we are engaged in a conversation with another person, both parties speak and both parties listen. It should be the same in our conversations with God. He cannot speak to us if we don’t listen. Two of the Psalms tell us to “be still” before the Lord. The word “still” here implies a ceasing or letting go of everything, giving up all our distractions so that we may hear the very word of God spoken to our hearts. Most often, He speaks through His written Word, and sometimes He speaks directly to our hearts.

How awesome that the God of the whole universe desires to listen to our tiny voices and respond to us in a most personal way!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Spend some specific time with God this week just listening for His voice.
2. Consider starting a prayer journal to record answered prayer and God’s promptings to you.

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 4:6; Psalm 46:10; Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.

 

Power
By Elizabeth Cole

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”
2 Peter 1:3

It’s all about God: God’s Plan….not ours. God’s Purpose…not ours. God’s Power…not ours.

True confessions: Even when I’ve really internalized and own the first two aspects, there is still that pull to act in my own power. I get that He’s the One who laid all the groundwork; I get that, when it’s all said and done, He’s the One who receives all glory. So, why am I still tempted to think that what I DO has to come from my own reservoir of power? Why do I still evaluate my availability to God based on how much sleep I got last night and whether I feel fully competent for His call? Whether I’m convinced of sure success before I even attempt to obey?

Self-absorption takes on two faces. The first is the self-denigrating face; the second is the self-exalting face. Either way, we’re looking solely at ourselves. The remedy? Look up. Look to the God of the Universe, the Savior of our soul.

Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, ACCORDING TO HIS POWER THAT IS AT WORK WITHIN US, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever….

Colossians 1:10-11a And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, BEING STRENGTHENED WITH ALL POWER ACCORDING TO HIS GLORIOUS MIGHT, so that you may have great endurance and patience….

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope BY THE POWER OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

Ephesians 1:18-20 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and HIS INCOMPARABLY GREAT POWER FOR US WHO BELIEVE. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Which of the above verses would you be willing to memorize?

FURTHER READING:
Numbers 11:23

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to three grown daughters, and Director of Connecting and Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

Memorial Stones
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’…These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
Joshua 4:6-7

There’s a story in the book of Joshua that I have come to love. The scene is this: After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Moses has died and Joshua is the new leader of Israel, a nation of 600,000 fighting men, possibly over 2.5 million people total. God has promised the Israelites safe passage into the Promised Land, and the entire people of Israel have just crossed the Jordan River on foot…during its flood stage! If this were a movie, the soundtrack would crescendo, Joshua would rally the troops and then immediately begin conquering the nearest city for the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Instead, there is an intermission. God instructs Joshua to send 12 men to each select a stone from the middle of the Jordan River, bring them back, and set them on the ground where the people crossed the river. The stones were to serve as a memorial for future generations. Every time an Israelite passed that way, the stones would serve as a visual reminder of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s obedience on that momentous day.

We can have our own “memorial stones” today. A few years ago, I started a Thanksgiving tradition for our family. I have a journal with lined paper, and on Thanksgiving Day, each member of our immediate family, and whomever we are enjoying the holiday with, write about what we are thankful for. We love to go back and recall who we were with, and see notes of God’s faithfulness and lessons learned. Sometimes there is humor (my niece no longer is especially thankful for Dora the Explorer), sometimes loss over who is not there with us, but mostly these notes express moments in time where we pause, reflect, and remember on paper in a tangible way the faithfulness of God.

And we are thankful.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Create a thanksgiving journal for yourself.

FURTHER READING:
Joshua 4:1-9; James 1:17; 1 Thess. 5:16-18

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn serves Oakwood Church in Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries. 

Surrender
By Peggy Kleckner

"If you can?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed. "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"
Mark 9:23-24

I woke up this morning pondering surrender. The picture I thought of is putting up the white flag and coming out with your palms in the air. What a vulnerable, trusting position! We have all seen that picture played out in the movies, but those people were surrendering to their enemies. Imagine trusting your enemies enough to lay down your weapons and turn yourself over to their will. What a frightening picture! It is no wonder this is done only as a final choice, when no hope is left and it seems to be the only option to save your life.

As Christians, we are called to surrender. However, we are called to surrender our lives to the lover of our souls! Why do we struggle so? Why is it so difficult to come out from our burdens, lay down all of our masks and surrender to the One who created us, knows us best, has good plans for us and has such a tender heart toward us? Is it a lack of faith? Faith is defined as unquestioning belief, complete trust or confidence. Do we trust ourselves more than we do our Lord? Oh Lord, help our unbelief, our lack of true faith! Do we think God is not big enough to rescue us from our sinful nature? Help our unbelief! Is God not big enough to rescue us from the hold of our enemy? Help our unbelief! Is God not big enough to change our attitudes and renew our minds? Help our unbelief! Is God not able to do above and beyond all that we can think, hope or dream? Help our unbelief!

Let’s take a few minutes and picture ourselves coming out of hiding with an air of "everything is fine,” out past our self-built walls of protection and throw our empty palms in the air. He is waiting for us and we will find rest in Him.

Lord, we do believe, but help our unbelief!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what area of your life are you still struggling to trust God? Can you hear Him calling you to surrender it?
2. Ask Him to help you with any unbelief, doubt or lack of trust.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 118:8, Matthew 11:28, Proverbs 3:5

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. She serves as the Coordinator of Fresh Start.

The Wait

By Jen Wollner

“I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!”

Psalm 27:13-14 (NKJV)

An eight-year-old boy, abandoned by his mother, lives in an orphanage in Eastern Europe with his nine-year-old sister. His dark brown eyes sparkle with life. He desires to help people and dreams of one day becoming a policeman. He hopes for a family, though it’s an unlikely prospect. Children of his age, with an older sister in tow, are rarely chosen by an adopting family. But, God has a plan…

A young couple in America, full of life and love, desires to have children. Tears flow as they say good-bye to a baby they never got to hold in their arms. Their dream for a family burns strong in their hearts, but after many years of marriage, they still don’t see an answer to their prayers. They wonder if it’s just simply not meant to be. But, God has a plan…

As the children wait in the orphanage, God is working...

As the couple waits in their quiet home, God is working...

Waiting is difficult. Oftentimes, excruciating. I believe it’s so frustrating partially because we feel as though nothing is happening. God isn’t hearing us, much less answering. When we go through long periods of waiting, we often don’t see any movement in our situation…and we begin to lose hope.

But, dear friends, take heart! God has not forgotten you! He is here. He hears all of your prayers and collects all of your tears. And, He is working. Nothing is impossible for Him! Not rescuing two children from an orphanage and placing them with loving parents half a world away. And certainly not bringing joy and life to a home once plagued by infertility and disappointment.

You may not see it yet, but one day, His plan will unfold before your eyes. It may not look like you thought it would. The timing may be off. The answer may be very different than you imagined or desired. God may say to you, "Not this...but this instead." But, as you seek Him and surrender to His will, you will step out of the wilderness, the waiting, into the glorious promised land divinely designed for you.

God has a plan. Rest assured, He is working.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What desire of your heart are you waiting to come to fruition? Take heart in the truth of God’s Word and character!

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 5:1-3; Psalm 40; Romans 8:28

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three elementary-aged children. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Keeping Anger in Check
By Susan Klein

“In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.”
Ephesians 4:26-27

When my son was a little boy, he struggled for a period of time with angry outbursts. As a young mom, I wasn’t quite sure how to deal with this flaw in my “little angel’s” character. Surely my sweet five-year old son couldn’t be exhibiting selfishness or pride, could he? As I pored through many well-meaning parenting books trying to decide the best way to handle this undesirable behavior, my son developed a unique way of his own to deal with his anger. Whenever he felt the rage coming on, he would go outside, jump on his swing, and pump as hard and as high as his little legs would take him. As I’d sneak a peek out the window, I could always gauge the intensity of his anger by how high and how long he swung. Only when he was physically exhausted, and his anger depleted, would he come back in the house.

I remember sharing this with another mom one day while our boys shared a play day at the park. Her response caught me a little off guard. She told me her boys were taught that anger is sin. She also said that she did not allow them to express their anger, not even in a positive way. If they felt angry about something they were told to confess that anger to God right away and ask for forgiveness. While I understood her desire to avoid wrong behavior and teach them about repentance, I couldn’t help but wonder if she might be somewhat mistaken about what Scripture has to say about the emotion of anger.

Nowhere does it say that we are being sinful just by feeling angry. Scripture tells us that God created our inmost being which includes a full spectrum of emotions. He expects us to experience anger just as we experience joy or sorrow or any of our other emotions. The Bible does, however, tell us that we are not to sin in our anger. It’s our response to it that determines whether or not we are sinning. If, when we are angry, we respond by striking out verbally or physically, bringing harm to someone or something, then our actions (and the thoughts behind them) are sinful. If we take rightly-motivated anger and channel it positively like exercising, journaling or trying to promote change, we have not sinned. Let’s keep our anger in check by finding God-honoring ways to respond!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what areas of your life does anger become a problem for you?
2. What are some tangible, positive steps you can take the next time you feel angry?

FURTHER READING:

James 1:19-20; Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 29:11; Ephesians 4:26

Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.

Angels to Feed You
By Elin Henderson

“Then, as he lay under a broom tree, suddenly an angel touched him, and said to him, ‘Arise and eat.’”
I Kings 19:5 (NKJV)

Have you ever been to a place, like Elijah here in I Kings 19, where life just seems unbearable? Where you come to the end of yourself and say, “Enough! I can’t take it anymore!” Been sitting under any Broom Trees lately, only to find an angel there to help you? Feeling alone but never alone!

Isn’t God good? He keeps His angels on standby, ready and willing to reach down to our humanity, meet us where we are, and bless us. He isn’t in the business of crushing, but of restoring! He allows us to go low, to collapse, to feel utterly useless and worthless, yet in the midst of it, He sends His grace and love to help us!

Sometimes I think we meet these angels unawares. I wonder if Elijah wondered when he was awoken by the angel, “Where did this guy come from?” Scripture doesn’t tell us, but what we do know is that he ate (was renewed inwardly), was allowed to rest again (further renewal and restoration), and then was shaken awake and told to arise, eat and go! The angels were busy that day! Whether Elijah was aware of what was taking place, we don’t know. All we do know is that his strength was renewed – beyond normal even – and “he went forth.”

Just like with Elijah and many others, God’s help is always present for you in those times of discouragement. His angels are always ready to reach down and comfort and help! His plan is never to crush us, but rather to tenderly meet us where we are, help us and send us on our way, with strength beyond what we could ask or think. The question is: Are we accepting their help? Do we take advantage of the help, allow the renewing to take place or just roll over and say, “No thanks”? May He make us more and more aware of His angels all around us and His renewing that comes when we next find ourselves under the Broom Tree.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Where else in Scripture has the Lord showed His kindness by using angels to help and encourage His people?
2. How has He demonstrated His kindness to you in a time of discouragement? Have you ever told someone else about what He did?

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 16:7-15; I Kings 19:1-8; Exodus 3 & 4

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eleven-year-old Callie and nine-year-old Elias.