Nausea, An Answer to Prayer

By Lisa Boyer

“I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.”

Psalm 17:6 (NIV)

It wasn’t the answer I expected, but it was a very clear and specific answer….

I was at work when the pain began. I finally got a hold of someone in the doctor’s office and was told I needed to go to the hospital. In spite of several offers from co-workers to drive me, I set off for the hospital alone.

While en route, I made a quick call to my church staff to let them know what was going on. Asked if I could drive, I replied that I was already driving. One of them prayed with me over the phone and we hung up just as I got on the highway.

We weren’t off the phone for more than a few seconds when the nausea began. Immediately, I knew it was an answer to prayer because the staff member had specifically prayed that God would make it clear to me whether I should drive myself or not. I got off at the next exit, parked my car and called a friend who drove me to the hospital.

James 5:16 instructs us to pray for each other and Matthew 18:20 reminds us “where two or three gather in My (Jesus) name, there am I with them.”  (NIV) Praying for others with  them combines both of these verses, and the benefit… the blessing… is often greater. Had the staff member not prayed with me on the phone, I may not have understood the point of the nausea (I am stubborn that way). Obviously, I don’t know what would have happened had I driven myself that day, but God knows and I trust His judgment.

Of course, there were other parts of that prayer that I would have loved an immediate answer to, but KNOWING God heard the prayer and provided an answer to the most urgent request filled me with peace and made me smile.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been praying for someone? If not, will you ask God for whom He wants you to pray, listen for His answer and pray for him/her today?

2.  The next time you’re talking to a friend and say you’ll pray for her/him, will you consider doing it right then and there?

FURTHER READING:

James 5:16; Galatians 6:2; Philippians 4:6; Ecclesiastes 4:9-12

Lisa has been married to Ted for over 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.

Treasured, Well-Worn Bible

By Karen D’Amore

“Your promise has been tested through and through, and I, your servant, love it dearly.”

Psalm 119:140 (The Message)

One of my treasured Bibles is show-cased and shelved…too fragile for daily  use. Detached pages fall loosely from the cracked and worn binder; a strong leather cover is now necessary to hold the book intact. Periodically, my fingers take a reflective journey through the tattered and torn, colorfully-inscribed pages. Every wrinkled corner marks a moment where I paused to meet with God. Margin notes glean sermon notes, lessons learned, fulfilled prayers and pivotal dates. The variegation of colors highlight and segregate heart-provoking spiritual truths. And on those pages where tear-stained ink blurs the inscribed words, I pause to recall the circumstances behind those tears.

The well-worn pages of my treasured Bible reflect “my” story. Purchased in 1989, weeks after a drunk driver nearly ended my life, “this” Bible denotes the beginning of my new life in Christ. Drawn back into a deep personal relationship with Jesus, this Bible became my lifeline to Him. Physically battered and broken from the accident, I was forced by repetitive surgeries to remain sedentary for nearly a year. During that time, my treasured Bible never left my side.

Through every step of pain…cry for comfort…longing for assurance…quest for wisdom…need for direction and exercise of faith…God met me in the pages of that Bible. And just as a strong leather cover now holds my tattered Bible intact, God became the strong-arm that held my life together.

Every time I tiptoe through the frail pages of my treasured Bible, I resonate with the words of Charles Spurgeon: “A Bible that’s falling apart usually belongs to someone who isn’t.” (1) Literally falling apart at the seams, my well-worn Bible portrays the transformational journey of my life; a life that was  frayed and falling apart…but rescued and held together by our Savior.

My treasured, well-worn Bible has been in my life for twenty-four years. Reflecting the priceless love story between me and Jesus, page after page speaks of His grace, mercy and faithfulness. Today, this Bible remains one of my greatest sources of encouragement. Worn out from excessive use, it draws me to recall those countless hours spent meeting with, and learning about, my precious Lord.

In the busyness of life, consistent time in The Word often gets “shelved.” Personal experience has taught me that in those times of isolation and separation from God...life seems to fall apart. Displaying personally-inscribed remnants of my faith-journey, my treasured, well-worn Bible inspires me to wear out my current Bible faithfully, dependently and continually.

So…what’s falling apart…your Bible or your life?!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What story does your Bible tell about your  life?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 19:8-11; 2 Timothy 3:16

(1)   http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/397346-a-bible-that-s-falling-apart-usually-belongs-to-someone-who

A retired police officer, Karen is a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and a Footcare Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the Oakwood Women’s Special Events team, co-leads a Wednesday Night Community group, and is married to Dan.

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 thirteen-year-old Callie and ten-year-old Elias. They are currently in America on Home Assignment.

I Finally Ate the Whole Thing

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“He told me, “Son of man, eat this book that I am giving you. Make a full meal of it.”

Ezekiel 3:3 (The Message)

I have been a Christian a long time. I’ve done small groups, Bible studies, Sunday school classes. However, there was one thing that I had not done (and frankly I’m a little embarrassed to say here), and that is to read the whole Bible from cover to cover. Oh, I tried, but I would get partway (usually to Leviticus) and peter out. I rationalized that, over the course of years, I’m sure that I’d covered the whole Bible in one way or another.

Last fall, I was challenged by our Student Ministries Pastor to “Eat This Book” and read the Bible in a year with our students. It was finally the motivation that I needed. I discovered (or re-discovered) several things:

1. There are lots of gaps in my Bible knowledge…no way had I covered it all previously.
2. The heroes of the Bible are no different than you or I…flawed individuals trying to figure out this life.
3. The whole book is a story that climaxes at the Resurrection of Jesus. The Old Testament addresses why we needed Christ to come, and the New Testament is the story of His earthly presence and the start of His church.
4. Like all literature, the beginning and the ending are critically important. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” sets the stage for all that follows (Genesis 1:1, NIV).  The last verse of Scripture says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen” (Revelation 22:21, NIV).  Someone once told me that the meaning of Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.  What a picture is given when I remembered that acronym in this last verse.

My husband’s grandmother had many tally marks in pencil in the back of her Bible. When asked, she told me each mark represented her completion of reading the whole book. I told her I was impressed.  She then replied, “Oh, I stopped keeping track a long time ago because I didn’t want to become prideful!”

I would love to follow her example and read it through so often than I lose track of the number of times I complete it. I’ll just have to keep eating.

Care to join me?

GOING DEEPER:

1. Take on the “Eat This Book” challenge to read the Bible in a year. If you want a partner, contact the author of this devotional.

2. If you get frustrated, try reading in a different version.  The Message is written in updated language. Changing up the language style can really help.

FURTHER READING:

Romans 15:4; Matthew 4:4; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Along with caring for her family, Carolyn works as an insurance representative, serves in Oakwood Church’s Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

Lightning Bug

By Peggy Kleckner

“….let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

I am always delighted when I notice God’s encouragement in my day. Sometimes, it is a large display and some days it is simple and very small. The other night I looked up just in time to spot a firefly outside the bedroom window…just one going by lit up. I smiled in secret joy, knowing that He knew I had noticed.

So, what’s the big deal? I mean really, a firefly is just a beetle. Ah, but a beetle with the gift of light! Who hasn’t been tickled by the display of fireflies lighting up the night? Perhaps you have even taken a mason jar out at night and chased after them, collecting them and then setting that jar on a picnic table to watch the display of God’s splendor in the body of a bug!

I have to tell you that I have enjoyed thinking about that bug all week. I was struggling with some discouragement that particular day, and that little light was enough to remind me that I serve a very BIG God. The bug’s light isn’t constant - - it flashes on and off - - but it still lights up the night around itself. I am lit up by my BIG God and my little light might be used by Him at just the right time to encourage someone. I don’t have to be perfect to be used by God to point others to Him.

I couldn’t help giggling when I thought of the worship song with the line that says, “He has told every lightning bolt where it should go.” So, I have been singing to myself, “He has told every lightning bug where it should go.” [1] Yep, right past my window in order to encourage me!

The funniest conclusion to this story is that about two days later, I came back from a walk to have my husband tell me of his encounter with a firefly right in the den of our house! He was watching TV when he noticed a small green light….that moved. He had to wait a minute for it to fly away from the light of the TV in order to catch it and release it back outside.

I am hoping that he too was encouraged that God indeed does tell every lightning bug where it should go!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What or whom did God use to encourage you this week?

2. What small thing can you do to encourage a friend or neighbor?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 5:14-15; Genesis 1:1-4; Psalm 18:28

[1] Chris Tomlin’s “Indescribable”

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.

Face-to-Face

By Lisa Boyer

“But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression”

Psalm 19:12-13 (NIV)

I’ve been changed by a face-to-face encounter, not with my mortality, but with my sin. I’ve been a Christian for almost forever, and sometimes (or usually), I act like I think I no longer have a tendency to sin. This is not about one of those times. This is about God allowing me to come face-to-face with my own sinfulness.

I was having a pretty good day, until I became overwhelmed with anger. It was really stupid: Someone showed up somewhere I didn’t want them to be and I got angry. More than just angry, anger raged inside of me so intensely that I was shocked by it. But in spite of the shock, I didn’t even attempt to stop it. I was convinced that I was justified in my anger.

When I came to my senses, I saw that anger for what it was - - sin, pure sin. It was as though I was seeing how truly sinful I was for the very first time. I felt helpless. I felt like I had reached a whole new low. I was reminded of the verse that says “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked” (Jeremiah 17:9, NIV). I was face-to-face with my own wickedness. In the midst of my sin, I chose to do nothing to stop it. I was desperately wicked and desperately in need of Jesus! Without Him, I am lost. I need His grace and His mercy. I need Him living out His life inside me… all the time!

I am not proud of my downfall moment, but I am thankful for the reminder that came with it. I am not, and never can be, righteous within myself. I am completely dependent on Christ and His work on the cross for righteousness. “…that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ - - the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith” (Philippians 3:7b-8).

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Today, will you take a moment to consider where your righteousness comes from and discuss it with your Savior?

FURTHER READING:

Jeremiah 17:9; Psalm 65:3

Lisa has been married to Ted for over 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.

Impersonating “The King”

By Karen D’Amore

“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV)

Elvis Aaron Presley died on August 16, 1977 at the young age of 42. An American singer, musician and actor, “Elvis” was one of the most significant cultural icons of the 20th century. Referred to as the “king of rock and roll,” many called him…“the king.” Since his death, Elvis has remained one of the world’s most popular music icons, as well as, one of the most popular celebrities impersonated. [1]

During my brief residency in Las Vegas, I quickly learned that “Elvis” was synonymous with “Vegas!” The streets, The Strip and entertainment stages were saturated with Elvis impersonators. Truly a one-of-a-kind with distinct attributes! His curled lip, gyrating hips, jumpsuits, colorful collared shirts, long sideburns and famous phrase: ”thank you, thank you very much” were (and still are) his commonly mimicked characteristics. Some of the impersonators I witnessed were ridiculously poor; others bore so close a resemblance, one would think “the king” was still alive.

Thirty-six years after his death, millions of devoted followers and thousands of impersonators actively seek to keep “the king’s” memory alive. This, to me, is a powerful testament to the multitude of lives touched by Elvis.

Researching the life of Elvis Presley, I found some interesting parallels to the life of Christ. Those close to Elvis tell of his passion for the Bible and fervent pursuit of God. Later in life, he became a prisoner to success and appeared to wander from The Truth. [2] In hindsight, one might conclude that Elvis (in a convoluted way) was attempting to model his life around spiritual truths and impersonate the Jesus he longed to know. It’s reported that when fans acclaimed Elvis as “the king,” he would reply, “I’m not the king. There is only one King.” [3]

Scripture refers to Jesus as “THE King.” As Christ-followers, we are exhorted to impersonate Jesus… “THE King!” With His distinct virtues and attributes poignantly revealed throughout Scripture, we need to meditate on The Word to learn how to imitate Him and follow in His footsteps.

Considering the range of poor to excellent Elvis impersonators, I’m drawn to reflect on myself as a “Jesus impersonator.” Do I walk like Him? (Colossians 2:6) Do I talk like Him? (Colossians 3:17) Do I think like Him? (1 Corinthians 2:16) Do I love like Him? (Matthew 22:37)

As those impersonators who look nearly identical to Elvis draw people to believe “the king” is still alive…we as Christ-followers should so closely impersonate Jesus that we reflect to the world… “THE King” is alive in our lives!

GOING DEEPER:

1. How well are you impersonating Jesus? 

2. Are there attributes being poorly imitated?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 5:1; 1 John 2:6

[1] www.biography.com    
[2] http://www.elvisinfonet.com/

[3] http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100037084/elvis-presley-seeker-after-spiritual-truth/

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the Oakwood Women’s Ministries Special Events Team.

Despair to Praise

By Tracy Smith

How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
How long will my enemy triumph over me?
Psalm 13:1-2 (NIV)

Have you ever felt like David did in the verses above? I have, and it’s not a fun place to be. Living with an anxiety disorder sometimes means time of wrestling with my thoughts and feeling like the enemy is triumphing over me. Discouraging, to say the least. David doesn’t stop there, though; he finishes his psalm this way:

But I trust in your unfailing love;
my heart rejoices in your salvation.
I will sing the Lord’s praise,
for he has been good to me. (vs. 5-6, NIV)

That is the part I forget when I am discouraged and wrestling with my thoughts. I forget to stop the worrying, stop the despairing, and rejoice in the Lord that has been so good to me. I forget to stop and rejoice in the Lord, His salvation and His unfailing love for me.

This is a common pattern in the psalms David writes - - he starts out struggling, discouraged and questioning where God is, but he ends those psalms with rejoicing and expressing his trust in the Lord.

I want to follow David’s example: When I am feeling discouraged and feeling like God has forgotten me, I will praise His name and remind myself how good He has been to me!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What situation in your life makes you feel like David in the beginning of Psalm 13?

2. What steps can you take to get to the praising of the end of Psalm 13?

FURTHER VERSES:
Psalm 22; Psalm 3

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.

Missed Opportunities

By Becci Terrill

“Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.”

Colossians 4:5 (NIV)

The day started out just like every other day - - read my Bible, shower, get ready for work, let the dogs out, eat breakfast - - the typical routine, until one of my dogs decided he was going to give me some love, and put his paws on my lap. Now, those of you who love dogs are thinking “Aw… how precious,” and the rest of you are wondering, “Okay, where is this leading?”  Well, the dog had just come inside, and his paws were covered with dirt. To make matters worse, today was the day I thought cream-colored trousers would be the perfect thing to wear, and they were…until their contact with dirty doggy paws! 

Fortunately, when paws met pants, I didn’t yell…but even Champ knew he needed to vacate my lap IMMEDIATELY!  Questions raced: “Is this dirt going to come out?” “What can I wear now?” “How late will I be for work?”   

It wasn’t until I was driving to work that I saw the big picture and realized I’d missed an opportunity. My devoted friend had made a special effort to show his affection to me, and I, caught up in selfish concerns, had missed the meaning of the moment and an opportunity to respond to his love.  

The situation made me stop and think: How many other opportunities do I miss during the day?  I get so caught up in my life, activities and business. Unlike faithful canine companions, people aren’t always as forgiving of my selfish behavior. Colossians 4:5 instructs us to “live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.” Instead of being wrapped up in my own life, I want to be aware of the people around me and intentionally share the love of Jesus with them. Sometimes all we have is the moment - - one opportunity to respond or reach out to another individual. We may never know how impactful a smile, a kind word, a listening ear or a hug will be in the life of another, but God does. I don’t want to look back on a missed opportunity with another person and think, “I should have done this, or said that…” 

God got my attention with some dirty doggy paws and cream-colored pants. My attention is focused in the right direction now…I don’t want to miss an opportunity to impact a life for eternity! 

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who or what has God placed in your life right now that is pleading for or demanding your attention?

2. Instead of considering this an “inconvenience,” consider:  How might God use me to minister to this individual or group? 

FOR FURTHER READING:

Matthew 14:13-15; Acts 8:25-40 

Becci is a wife and mother of two adult daughters and is the Director of Ministry Partnerships at Shepherds Ministries in Union Grove, WI.  She serves as WE Women’s Special Events Coordinator and teaches 4th grade Sunday School.

Where’s the Devo?

By Lexi Ellis

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all.”

Proverbs 3:5-7 (The Message)

Everything was ready…Bible opened, a new Word document, the apartment to myself, phone on silent. For the next hour, my objective was clear: it's devo-writing time! One idea started and I typed. About halfway through, it wasn’t working too well. I saved it for later. New document 2…I started typing and didn’t even bother saving it.

I paused. Lord! Really? I’m here, I’ve asked. I believe Your Word when it says, “Ask and you shall receive.” I’m giving you this time. Where’s the devo?  

As I type it now, my prayer seems so childish. Unfortunately though, we often tell God what we expect Him to do. Even if it was well-intentioned, my attitude of semi-demanding that God do what I want isn’t how this relationship was created to be. 

As I thought about it, I realized this issue goes beyond my ministry. We often tell God how we want Him to handle a certain situation - - wrapped as a “request” - - while, in reality, we’ve laid out our entire roadmap for Him. How silly! God doesn’t really need our advice, and I think we’d all agree He’s got everything under control. And yet, I sometimes find myself in situations when I think ahead and, rather than trusting He’s got it all figured out, I let Him know exactly how I want the ending.

The problem is we end up removing the trust component necessary for a relationship. I think of Jesus’ words to the Father, “not my will but yours.” (Luke 22:42, ESV) What would my relationship with God look like if I truly meant that? What things could He reveal to me if I’m teachable and moldable? How do I need to give up my control and my endings to allow Him to work in my life?

The Holy Spirit convicted me of my wrong thinking and asked me to spend time just being in relationship with Him, not necessarily with my end goal. That time, without the agenda of getting a devo out of it, was exactly what I needed. Where’s the devo? Well, not exactly in my own timing, but ironically He revealed it to me after I was willing to spend time alone with Him.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are there things you’re telling God how to fix rather continually trusting Him?

2. Take the challenge! Choose to make time alone with God today just to be in relationship, without any other agendas.

GOING FURTHER:

Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-2

Lexi is married to Andrew, serves with Oakwood’s Children’s Ministries, teaches at Lake Country Christian Academy and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.

Thick Darkness

By Peggy Kleckner

“The people remained at a distance, while Moses approached the thick darkness where God was.”

Exodus 20:21 (NIV)

I have often found that we, as a people of God, want to shy away from “darkness,” especially “thick darkness.” We want to talk about God’s light, His joy, His provision. Somehow we just can’t seem to associate God with darkness. Why not?

Is God not sovereign over light and  darkness?

The people of God remained at a distance, but Moses was willing to approach the thick darkness because that is where God was. He didn’t fear the darkness, because his focus was on wanting to be where God was. He was willing to plunge into the darkness in order to meet with God.

How about us? We know that God has taken up residence in our heart once we have accepted the gift of His Son Jesus for our salvation. I believe there comes a day when God calls us to meet Him in our very hearts. We don’t want to answer His call because we know the thick darkness that we have allowed to reside there. The darkness of un-forgiveness - - of guilt, old wounds and painful memories - - frightens us. We cry out for Him to meet us somewhere else - - in His Word, in ministry, in busyness- - but not in the dark corners of our hearts. Yet, He bids us, “Come, I am here.”

Facing the darkness of our own hearts and allowing God to heal our hidden pains gives Him more room to display His glory. Our lives begin to change from the inside out. By facing our own darkness, we encounter His strength, His provision, His love, His faithfulness; our faith blossoms and we begin to display His attributes. It is His love that overcomes our darkness.

How can we be available to boldly approach the darkness of our neighbor when we have not faced our own? How can we testify to the fullness of His grace when we have not let Him pour it out into the deep wells of our own woundedness?

We are children of the light because we boldly face the darkness of our own sinful nature and allow Him to liberally apply the salve of His great and glorious salvation. This is the gospel. Christ came into the darkness and brings His great light.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Is there an area of your heart that you have not allowed Him to heal?

2. Will you trust Him to lead you even if He leads into dark places?

FURTHER READING:

Genesis 1:1-3; Exodus 13:21-22; 1 Peter 2:9-10

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.

Peripheral Vision

By Janet Byrne

 “The Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous.” 
Psalm 146:8 (NIV)

Last year, my family and I loaded into our minivan and headed toward Madison. We had talked about the trip all week. Excitement soared as we talked about my nephew’s wrestling in the state meet. The road trip was full of speculations and “what if’s.”

We got to the stadium and began watching and waiting. An hour and a half later, Josh was up! Here it was, the moment we had anticipating all week! We watched and cheered from a distance: Josh is warming up, Josh is taking the mat, Josh is in a pickle, Josh is pinned, Josh walks off the mat.

I’ll be honest, initially I thought, “We came all this way and waited this long for two minutes.” I wasn’t upset with Josh, but would have loved to stay all day and watch him get the gold! As Josh made his way towards us, he had tears streaming down his cheeks. My heart broke for him as he had spent months training and had yet to be pinned! However, it was what we witnessed next that blessed our day and made the trip. As he came closer, I witnessed the love of a father for his son. My brother wrapped his arms around him and said, “I am proud of you.” It was then that I realized this trip wasn’t about wrestling at all.

That day was an example of how we need God to help us see what He wants us to see. As Christians, we often focus in on the little things with our blinders up. We lose sight of the whole picture or what’s in our peripheral vision. Focusing so much on the small, specific situations, we miss out on other joys.

Like that day, we tend to concentrate on the things or outcomes we want, but we ignore the big picture periphery. God wants us to see the periphery… like His grace in struggles, His comfort in despair, His mercies in joyous times. When we zone in on the little things we want, we end up missing the outer peripheral vision of what God so desires for us to see and experience.

My prayer for you and myself today is that we would ask God to remove the blinders that keep us from ignoring the peripheral, and that His Spirit would help us see and celebrate it in our life-walk.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What barriers do you focus on that prevent your spiritual “peripheral vision”?

2. What do you need to do today to address that?

GOING FURTHER:

Psalm119:18; Ephesians 1:18-19

Janet and her husband Yancy have two sons. She is a prayer intercessor at Oakwood, and continues working with the Just Breathe 5K Run/Walk to raise money to prolong the lives of transplant patients like herself.

My Friend for a Season

By Susan Klein

“A friend loves at all times.”

Proverbs 17:17a ( NIV)

Sitting across from a dear friend at the coffee shop, I was burdened with conflicting emotions. Here was someone I’d known for nine years but as more of an acquaintance than a friend. Only through a recent tragic event in her life had our relationship taken on deeper roots. I was savoring the sweet sharing time we were having, yet simultaneously dreading the thought of having to say good-bye to her. She is moving to another state in a couple of weeks.

More times than I care to count, this seems to be the case in my life. God brings me into sweet fellowship with someone, then He removes her from my life. While technology makes it easier than ever to remain somewhat connected, it doesn’t replace actually doing life together. Like most women, I immensely value good, long-lasting relationships. God knows this about me, yet He often seems to have other plans for the people He places in my life. Perhaps you’ve experienced how it feels to invest in a deep friendship, become transparent and real, and share in the messiness, only to have that person abruptly uprooted and deposited elsewhere. It can be gut-wrenching!

While steeping in my silent pity party, I asked God why He’d allowed for us to become such good friends so late in the game, knowing it would be short-lived. His answer came while she and I prayed together. As she spoke to God, thanking Him for placing me in her life at just the right time - - a time when she needed a friend who could truly understand and empathize with her circumstances - - I realized how selfish my perspective had been. This friendship wasn’t about me and my needs, it was about how God had equipped me to provide for a need in her life at a time when she really needed it. It was a divine appointment, by God, to be a friend for a specific season of this woman’s life.

Keeping that perspective has helped me to look back at other “friends for a season” in a refreshingly new light. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to shared myself with each of them and blessed to have received their investment in me, for however short a time it may have been. I also have the comfort of knowing that while our time here on earth is but a breath (Psalm 39:5), we will all share eternity together in the presence of One who is greater than a friend!

GOING DEEPER:

How are you investing in the lives of women God has in your life right now?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 19:21; John 15:13; Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

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.

“Sin Stinks”

By Jeannine Sawall

"For we are to God the pleasing aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."

2 Corinthians 2:15 (NIV)

Once as I was standing by the kitchen sink, an overpowering stench filled the room. It was bitter and smelled a bit like burning rubber… SKUNK!! I ran to the door to let the dogs in, hoping they were neither the cause nor the victims of this tremendous odor. Too late. Once Google did its job and gave us a recipe, it was off to the bath for them both. While the formula we used helped quite a bit, it took several washings of the dogs to remove the smell.

As I have continued to deal with the “de-skunking” of my home and pets, I’ve thought that if we could truly smell the sin in our lives - - like the odor of a skunk - - we would be repulsed by it, as well. My dogs got into trouble because they didn’t heed the skunk’s warning; they continued forward, and not only did they pay for it, it affected everyone around them. When we continue down a path toward sin, the Holy Spirit is always prompting us to turn the other way. He warns us that trouble is ahead; however, if we insist on going down that path, we will eventually get our own way and the stink of sin will cling to us. If only we could see and smell sin like we do a skunk, we would not want to get anywhere close to it.  

The problem with sin is that it lures you in with a sweet fragrance. Only once you’ve indulged, can you smell it for what it really is. Fortunately, when we turn from trouble and repent of our sins, the blood of Jesus washes us clean and makes us sweet-smelling. Yes, sometimes we are left with consequences after poor decisions, but there is no lingering odor of sin that clings to us. Jesus makes us fresh and clean. 

The next time sin comes to tempt us with its sweet smell, let’s remember that’s only its disguise: Sin stinks! It will take us further than we ever wanted to go, and cost us more than we were willing to pay. It will affect those around us, even if we don’t want it to. We need to heed the Holy Spirit’s warnings. When we allow God’s grace to triumph over our human frailty, we experience the sweet fragrance of God in our lives and become sweet-smelling to those around us.  

GOING DEEPER: 

1. Where in your life is the stink of sin clinging? Ask the Lord for forgiveness and experience His sweet fragrance of forgiveness.

2. What type of odor are you leaving in the lives of those around you? Ask the Lord help you leave a refreshing fragrance everywhere you go.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 38:5; 2 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 5:2 

Jeannine is a wife and mother of four active boys. She works in the property management business. Jeannine is actively involved in ministry to those walking through grief.

Without You

By Lisa Boyer

“Dear Friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God...”

1 John 4:7a (NIV)

I met her when I was 11 years old… she was teaching vacation Bible school at the church camp our youth group went to, and I was in her class. I don’t know why, but she loved me.

For the next 14 years or so, we kept in touch through old-fashioned letter writing and almost every year, I returned to camp (for many years as a camper, but then as a counselor). Not that I want to explain it, but for at least five years, my nickname at camp was “camp brat.” I don’t know why, but she still loved me.

We’ve been completely out of touch for all of the last 15 years and most of the last 20. Yet, once every year, I wake up from the same dream: that I’m back at camp looking for her, but can’t find her anywhere. So this year, I made plans to return to camp for a day and see her again. Unfortunately, I became sick and was unable to go.

The Sunday after camp was over, as I sat down to finish a letter I’d begun to her, I decided instead to pick up the phone and call her. Sure I wanted to know how life has been and what her kids were doing, but mostly, I just wanted to thank her… thank her for her investment in me, because knowing her was instrumental in what God would do in my life!

I can’t say for sure what the exact impact was, but I know this - - being loved changes a person from the inside out. That’s probably one reason I wasn’t the “camp brat” every  year I was there! I also wonder if hers is the example I follow when I reach out to teenage girls with God’s love.

Loving is so important; the phrase “love one another” is stated as an instruction 15 times in the New Testament. I cannot begin to express how thankful I am to God for placing a woman in my life when I was 11 years old who lived out that instruction of loving.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Has God been prompting you to reach out to someone with His love? Today, will you prayerfully begin taking that journey?

2. Call someone who has impacted your life, thank him or her, and share what God’s been doing in your life.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 25:40; Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-37

Lisa has been married to Ted for over 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.

Enter the Silence

By Brita Crouse

“When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions: Wait for hope to appear.”

Lamentations 3:28-29 (The Message)

During my junior year of college, I was given a class assignment that was...difficult, to say the least. The assignment was to sit in silence. For thirty minutes. And let God speak. I’m not going to pretend here: I had a bad attitude about this one. But, I didn’t want to blow it off either. I was interested to know if I could do it.

On the floor where I lived, we had a small utility closet that had been converted into a meditation room. This is the spot where I chose to do my assignment. I felt like a fighter heading into the big fight as I walked down the hallway toward the meditation room. I was trying to mentally prepare myself for thirty whole minutes of quiet with a little internal pep talk.

I approached the tiny room, opened the door, and settled in. There was a prayer we were supposed to read through before we began, so I did that. Then I sat. I think I was so stressed out about trying to hear God’s voice that my mind began to race. It had only been thirty seconds! How was I going to do this for thirty minutes?

My brain began “rabbit-trailing.” What was for dinner in the cafeteria tonight? I’m hungry; I should’ve eaten before I did this. How long can a person go without eating food? Maybe I could sneak out for a snack. No, then I’d have to start all over again.

And, then, my heart heard a loud “STOP!” It was the Holy Spirit snapping me to attention. What had I been doing? Focusing on everything but God. At that moment, I realized how self-centered my existence was. I wasn’t thinking about God at all, even when I was assigned to do it!

With the help of the Holy Spirit, I was able to refocus and concentrate on listening for His voice. You know what? The craziest thing happened. I HEARD IT. God spoke to my heart because I listened.  

Our relationship with God goes two ways; it’s a back-and-forth. He wants to talk to us just as much as we want to talk to Him. If we are constantly talking and thinking and analyzing, where is there time for us to listen to what God wants to say?

Take time to “enter the silence” and pray. You won’t be disappointed.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Find thirty minutes this week to spend listening to God’s voice.

2.  Tell a friend or family member how God spoke to you this week.

FURTHER READING:

Romans 12:12; Colossians 4:2

Brita recently graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Psychology, has been attending Oakwood for sixteen years, and is currently a helper for Oakwood’s Quest 56.