Phobics Apply Here

By Elin Henderson

“Whenever I am afraid, I will TRUST in You.”

Psalm 56:3 (NKJV)

We all have our list of “phobias,” don’t we? They run the gamut: fear of spiders, rats, feet, germs, or more serious things like cancer and terrorists. I confess my list of phobias and fears have dwindled after seven years in the African bush, but that is out of necessity, not as a result of therapy!  Let’s face it, we are a phobic generation! Just look at our obsession for insurances, security systems, sunscreen, antibacterial everything…and avoiding public speaking at all cost!

We are not alone in our fears. The Bible’s King David is with us. If you have ever studied his life, you probably remember that he knew a little something about fear. He expresses it briefly in Psalm 56. 

… My enemies would hound me all day, there are many who fight against me…(v. 2)

… they twist my words…(v. 5)

… they lie in wait. (v. 6)

Many of us know exactly what it feels like to be hounded by an enemy, and are familiar with the fear it brings. How did David react to this fear? TRUST! The antidote to fear is TRUST. Trust, not in a distant indifferent God, but in the God David trusted. The One who “numbers my wanderings and puts my tears in a bottle…(vs.8),” a God who knows us intimately and cares for us implicitly. 

It can be a scary world that we live in today. Besides our petty personal fears (for me, snakes and rats), there are plenty of real fears that can easily consume and paralyze us. The question for us is: What are we doing about those fears?  Only when we can TRUST in the One who is bigger than our fears will we find victory!  Then we can boldly say with David, “In God I have put my TRUST; I will not be afraid” (vs. 11a).

GOING DEEPER:

1. Take a sheet of paper and fold it in half. On one side, make a list of your top fears. On the other side, list how God is bigger than those fears. If you have time, add Scripture verses that back up your answers.  Keep this sheet of paper on hand. When one of those fears crops up, TRUST in the One who is able to handle them. This will also allow you, when others share their fears with you, to be prepared to point them to the Lord. 

2. Share these verses from Psalm 56 with someone else today.

FURTHER READING:

Hebrews 13:6; II Timothy 1:7; Romans 8:15

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.

A Serving Servant

By Brita Crouse

"If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen."

1 Peter 4:11 (NIV)

Let’s play a game. Can you name this quote? (Hint: Think Disney Princess movie.)

"Life is so unnerving for a servant who's not serving."

This quote is taken from a song in a movie, made by a globally recognized company, and sung by a candlestick. [1] Not a very likely place to find Christian truth, but there it is.

I was originally made aware of this quote by a friend who is an avid fan of this particular movie. Then I listened to this song for myself and was struck by how much truth is woven throughout the lyrics. Life IS unnerving for a servant who isn’t serving!

There are times when we aren’t obedient to God. We have days when we aren’t living our lives as He intended. There are moments when our heart doesn’t desire God’s plan and purpose for us. We have seasons when our mind isn’t set on the thoughts of God, but on our own selfish desires and motivations. We have times when we don’t use our God-given gifts and times when we don’t recognize our gifts are from God. Life can seem uncertain, and even hopeless, during those times and it feels unnerving because we aren’t serving God!

Thankfully, we have examples of serving servants and are given the tools to live like that ourselves. We see it in the actions of God’s own Son, Jesus, during His time on earth. We see it in the lives of the disciples, even though they too had their “human moments.” There’s Moses, Mary, Esther, Joseph, and Paul; all with human faults, but all willing to serve their God and serve those around them. Their lives were rich and full, but certainly not easy.

Living the life of a serving servant is rewarding and fulfilling, but it does not come without challenges. Yet, God promises to give us the strength we need to live a servant’s life. He has given each of us unique gifts, and presents us with opportunities to serve using those special gifts. All our thoughts, actions, and words should reflect those of a serving servant because what good is a servant who doesn’t serve?

So, if you ever feel unnerved, maybe you need to serve!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Who do you need to start serving?

2.  Where do you need to start serving? (Home, church, work, your community, etc.)

FURTHER READING:

1 Peter 4:8-11; Mark 10:45; Galatians 5:13

[1] Still not sure? It’s Disney’s Beauty and the Beast!

Brita recently graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Psychology, and is currently a helper for Oakwood’s Quest 56 and the Just Among Moms weekly childcare team.

Questions Without Answers

By Susan Klein

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.

Psalm 55:8 (NIV)

Every once in awhile, I stumble across a passage of Scripture that shakes me to the core! It causes me to question the things I’ve been taught and hold as truth. Just when I think I’ve come up with a valid explanation and have it all figured out, another verse shows up that rattles my understanding and causes me to question once again. Isn’t that the way of it: The more you learn, the more questions you come up with?

Stephen Curtis Chapman expresses these sentiments in the lyrics to his song, “God is God.”

And the pain falls like a curtain

On the things I once called certain

And I have to say the words I fear the most

”I just don’t know”

And the questions without answers

Come and paralyze the dancer

So I stand here on the stage afraid to move...

In our human and finite minds, we want to reason, to solve, and to strive to come up with the answers to all of life’s perplexities. But in reality, we can’t. We can’t explain why a God who expresses unfathomable mercy and love is the same God who wipes out a whole nation of people or sends an evil spirit to inhabit a king (1 Samuel 16:14-15). We don’t have an explanation as to why He chooses to let some live to ripe old ages and some die as infants. But what we do know is this, that the Most High is sovereign.  He is God, and He can do as He pleases (Job 23:13).

God is God and I am not

I can only see a part of the picture He’s painting

God is God and I am man

So I’ll never understand it all

For only God is God

Do I still have questions? Absolutely! Will I ever find answers? Only if He chooses to provide them. And if He doesn’t, I will cling to my faith, I will still choose to worship Him, and I will accept His will as sovereign, even if I don’t understand it, or like it.

Oh, how great are the riches of His wisdom and knowledge

How unsearchable for to Him and through Him and from Him are all things

So let us worship before the throne

Of the One who is worthy of worship alone

For only God is God [1]

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you someone who needs to have all her questions answered? Are you willing to surrender to the only One who possesses all the answers, even when He’s choosing to remain silent on the matter?

FURTHER READING:

Daniel 4:34-35; Psalm 71:14-16; Romans 9:14-16

[1]  Steven Curtis Chapman, “God is God,” Declaration, 2001, Sparrow Records.

Susan enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and mentoring. She and her husband Mark enjoy opening their home to those in need.

Putting Your Armor On – Part 2

By Peggy Kleckner

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

Today, we finish a prayer I wrote - - based on Scripture - - to help us commit to living the familiar principles in Ephesians 6. [1]

Help me to take up the shield of faith - -  not to cower in the corner - - but to boldly hold up my shield to extinguish the flaming arrows that are thrown at me today. Your Word promises that my shield will extinguish them ALL! Remind me that you are who You say you are, you can do what you say you can do, I am who you say I am, no more and no less. You define me; no one else does. I can do all things through Christ…. Whatever you give me to do today, you will enable me to do, and your Word is alive and active in me. You are changing me from glory to glory. You will bring me into fruitfulness in your good timing. Lord, grow my faith and help my unbelief! [2]

Lastly Lord, help me to take up the sword of truth, your Word….sharper than any two-edged sword. Help me to use it to discern truth from error, fact from fiction, right from wrong. Help me to use it to shine your light in dark places, not to clobber people over the head with it. Remind me that your Word will stand and that every jot and tittle will be completed.

Lord, having been fully clothed in your armor, help me to stand firm in whatever battle position you give me today. Remind me that I stand shoulder to shoulder with my brothers and sisters in Christ and though we may be few, with you we are many. Help me to be bold and courageous. Help me to be listening for your orders and to quickly bend the knee at your command, to move forward when you tell me to, and to always be at the ready. Remind me that the battle is yours.

Amen.

GOING DEEPER:

1. How have you seen and witnessed God’s help in the midst of battle?

2. What part of your armor needs some refining?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 6:10-20

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children—two sons and two stepsons and is an active encourager at Oakwood.

[1] Did you miss the first part of this prayer? You can check out yesterday’s devo on the Oakwood Fresh Start blog at http://oakwoodfreshstart.blogspot.com/

[2] ideas derived from Beth Moore, Believing God  (Nashville: LifeWay, 2003).

Putting Your Armor On – Part 1

By Peggy Kleckner

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.”

Ephesians 6:10-11 (NIV)

I was with a group of women when I shared a way of praying through the pieces of armor that Scripture says we are to wear. Weakness is not a bad thing; it leads us to look to Christ for His provision and protection. After sharing my thoughts verbally, several of the women asked me if I had written it out. Since they asked me to do so, I did. For me, writing these truths as a prayer helped me to commit to living these familiar principles. That was several years ago, yet His truth is always a reminder of where God has walked with me:

Lord, today is a new day and the battle continues. Please help me to put on my armor.

Place on my head the helmet of salvation. Keep me grateful for my salvation; for all that you gave, because you cared for me. Remind me that my name card is already in place at the banquet table and that this life is not all there is. There is so much more in you. Protect my mind from the evil one, who seeks to destroy me there. Help me to take every thought captive to you, because your Word promises me that I can. Help me to know which thoughts to hold on to and which ones to release because they are not of you. Stay my mind on you. I can’t do that on my own.

Next, place on me the breastplate of righteousness - - your righteousness - - not my own…my own is as filthy rags. Help me to accept your plan: I stand in Your righteousness. Protect my heart, bind up the wounded places, soften the callused places and bring me into fullness to reflect your glory, a fullness that can only come from you. Pull out the weeds in my heart and nurture the good seed, which you have planted in me.

Gird my loins with the belt of truth. Hem me in, hold me together and hold me fast. Help me to recognize and stay within the boundaries which you have set for my good. Strengthen my back and my legs for the work of this day, whatever it holds.

Shod my feet in shoes of peace. Quiet my fears and bring me into your stillness.  Remind me that you are larger than all of my fears stacked one upon the other…

May we be a people that earnestly pray for His presence as our armor. We’ll finish the prayer tomorrow.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What parts of God’s truth stood out to you?

2. Of what parts do you need to commit to continually remind yourself this week?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 6:10-20

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children—two sons and two stepsons and is an active encourager at Oakwood.

Authenticity

By Susan Klein

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:1 (NIV)

Truth in advertising is a safeguard enforced by the FTC to protect the consumer. The “real” seal was created to let the consumer know the dairy products they are purchasing are authentic. Marketers cannot claim something is real if, it in fact, is made from artificial ingredients. That said, they have formulated a creative use of the English language to tout their products. For instance, if artificial vanilla (or vanillin) is used in a product they can legally claim, “real vanilla flavor,” because the flavor  tastes like the real thing but they cannot claim, “made with real vanilla.” Buyers beware! It takes wisdom and discernment to decipher the somewhat misleading labels on our purchases.

As Christ-followers, we are called to live an authentic life in-Christ. In several of the apostle Paul’s letters, he speaks of what we once were before Christ and what we now are in and because of Christ. Once we lived in darkness, not knowing the truth, but now we are in the light, sanctified and transformed by our gracious heavenly Father through His Son. We are to authentically live out the message of Christ in our lives. Yet, I know that isn’t always the case for me. I fear sometimes my packaging can be misleading to those who are trying to read me. I advertise a really great product, but don’t always deliver what I am touting.

Jesus says in Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men.”  We’ve all been in situations where our purchase did not meet its expectations and ended up in the trash, never to be purchased again. If we are offering something less than real, others will disregard us. They will learn not to trust our claims. We are called to authentically season the lives of others with real salt, not a salt-substitute!

When I say I’m going to pray for someone, I want them to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will. If I encourage someone to trust Jesus with their difficult circumstances, I don’t want them to see me whining when my life gets tough. I want my life to proclaim authenticity, to be stamped with the “real” seal.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  In what areas might you be proclaiming something less than authentic?

2.  What steps will you take to be more of an imitator of Christ?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 5:8-11; 1Thessalonians 5:5-8; Philippians 2:13-16a

Susan enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and mentoring. She and her husband, Mark co-lead an on-site small group studying 1 Corinthians with Oakwood's Wednesday Night Community.

Imitation

By Tracy Smith

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.”

1 John 2:6 (NLT)

The first time I heard the country song “Watching You,” by Rodney Atkins, it really hit home to me as a parent. The song starts out with a dad and his four-year-old son driving along and when the dad has to hit the brakes, the boy spills his food and lets a four-letter word fly. When the dad asks where the son learned that word, the son replies with:

I’ve been watching you, Dad, ain’t that cool?

I’m your buckaroo, I wanna be like you.

And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.

We got cowboy boots and camo pants

Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we, Dad?

I want to do everything you do.

So I’ve been watching you."

The song goes on to show the dad's reaction and give another nugget on the son and his imitations:

We got back home and I went to the barn

I bowed my head and I prayed real hard

Said, “Lord, please help me help my stupid self.”

Just this side of bedtime later that night

Turnin’ on my son’s Scooby-Doo nightlight.

He crawled out of bed and he got down on his knees.

He closed his little eyes, folded his little hands

Spoke to God like he was talkin’ to a friend.

And I said, “Son, now where’d you learn to pray like that?”  [1]

Of course, the son goes on to repeat the chorus quoted above, that he learned to pray from watching and imitating his dad. That song always reminds me that our children are watching and learning from us at all times. Luckily, like this song states, they don't just learn our bad habits, but our good ones too - - despite our "stupid selves!"

My next train of thought was that there is only one ONE person whom we can imitate and not learn any bad habits: Jesus. The Bible tells us to look to Jesus as our example and to imitate Him and those that imitate Him. The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1 (NIV), “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”

I have to ask myself, when people look at me, do they see Jesus?

GOING DEEPER:

1. When people look at you, do they see Jesus?

2. If not, what can you do to change that?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 16:24; John 13:15; Luke 6:40

[1] Atkins, Rodney, “Watching You,” Curb Records 2006

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.

Love Like Jesus

By Brita Crouse

“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 13:34-35 (ESV, emphasis added)

I recently read a book about a young woman (who’s not much older than I), who “quit her life” and moved from America to the war-torn country of Uganda. Katie, at twenty years old, became a mother to thirteen orphaned or abandoned African girls. Here is a quote from her book and, as you will be able to tell, Katie is a girl after God’s own heart.

“It’s just different when it’s your child who’s suffering. But should it be? ...I believe that this is a normal human reaction. I also believe it is wrong. I believe that every human being on this planet is God’s child, perfectly made and beloved and cherished by Him. I believe that His heart hurts...for each and every one of the hurting, dying, starving, crying children in our world. So I have to believe that if my heart was truly seeking to be aligned with the heart of God, that I would hurt for each of these children as well.” [1]

As I read through the book, this quote in particular was especially convicting. Katie writes that she is constantly surrounded by suffering, but she does not hurt the same way for others as she does when it’s one of her girls who is suffering. I’m not a parent, but I do feel more love toward some people than others. Despite this human tendency, Jesus has commanded us, as His disciples, to love just as He has loved.

I think this is what Katie is alluding to: Jesus does not have favorites. His love doesn’t depend on age, gender, ethnicity or social status. So, why does ours?

It’s not easy to love those who are different from us or those who treat us poorly, but if we are Christ-followers, we are called to do just that. Jesus loved Judas, His betrayer, no less than the other disciples. He spent time with His persecutors. He healed the poor, sick and outcast.

Christ says if we show love for one another, people will know we are His followers. Think of how many people could experience Christ’s love if we, as His disciples, unconditionally loved just like Jesus.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who can you start showing love to this week?

2. Read John 13. Write down examples of how Jesus showed loved to others in this passage.

FURTHER READING:

1 John 3:23; James 2:1-13

[1] Katie Davis, Kisses from Katie (Brentwood, TN: Howard Books, 2011), 221-222.

Brita recently graduated from Taylor University with a degree in Psychology, and is currently a helper for Oakwood’s Quest 56 and the Just Among Moms weekly childcare team.

Be Ready…Live Expectantly!

By Karen D’Amore

“Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Matthew 24:44 (ESV)

My antenna was raised…my awareness piqued…God had my attention! In the course of one  day, a sermon, a Facebook post and a song all conveyed the same message. On that first Sunday after Christmas, Thomas Freeman preached from 1 Thessalonians and incited my holiday fatigue with this poignant thought: “We speak more often of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection…than we do of His return.” Reiterating that we will each give an account for how we lived our life here on earth, Thomas challenged us to “live like Jesus is coming back any minute” and “to allow Christ’s return to direct our lives.”

Hours later, as Midwesterners braced themselves for a projected bitter freeze, a Facebook post read:

“PEOPLE…Tell them bad weather is coming and they prepare!

Tell them Jesus is coming…and they do nothing!”

“You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:40

Just before sundown, the radio blasted an old familiar Crystal Lewis song. I found myself singing along: “People get ready…Jesus is comin’…soon we’ll be going home!”

The repetitive messages provoked me to listen up and pay attention. I found it interesting that within 216 New Testament chapters, there were over 300 references to the return of Christ and I too find it something I rarely think or speak about. And as I introspectively considered Thomas’s challenge, I pondered deeply, “Am I living every minute like I’m ready for Jesus to return? And what exactly does that look like?” 1 John 2:28 says, “And now, dear children, continue in Him, so that when He appears we may be confident and unashamed before Him at His coming.” In light of it, I’m challenged to consider: would I be thinking, speaking or engaged in any activity I would be ashamed of should Jesus suddenly return?

As Christ-followers, we needn’t be overly concerned with when  Christ returns, but how we live until He returns. We’re not to just sit idly waiting, but rather to continually live conscious, alert, God-honoring lives. Scripture not only reveals everything we need to know regarding Christ’s return, but also how to live “rapture ready” lives until then.

• Be Watching  (Luke 12:37)
• Be Waiting   (James 5:7-8)
• Be Working  (Luke 12:43)
• Be Godly   (2 Peter 3:11-14)
• Be Ready (Matthew 24:42)
• Be Anxiously Expectant (Revelation 22:20)

Jesus is  coming back! Are you ready?!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Evaluate your thoughts, activities and priorities…in light of Christ’s return…and consider your readiness.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 24:36, 25:13; 1 Corinthians 15:52; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

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 Ministry Special Events planning team.

Let’s Not Talk About It

By Lisa Boyer

“But He gives us more grace”

James 4:6a (NIV)

I heard the phrase “breathing in Your grace, breathing out Your grace” on the radio and I was intrigued. I wondered what breathing out God’s grace would look like. Well, God may have been waiting for me to wonder that because the next day He started me on a journey of breathing out His grace.

In a two-and-a-half-hour period, I found myself interacting with the same person over and over again and each encounter left me feeling a sting. By the last encounter, I was just plain hurt. It was so unlike her and I had no idea what to do. But I did know whom  to ask. I went right to God, who knew exactly what was going on in both our hearts. I honestly expected a simple “just talk to her,” which is usually the appropriate response; instead, He clearly said, “Give grace.” I instantly knew what giving grace would look like in this relationship.

For the next month, I gave grace, but in the back of my mind I kept wondering about the day we would have to sit down and talk about it. Ok, I did a little more than wonder, I worried. I just couldn’t imagine how we could truly move forward without a get-it-out-in-the-open conversation. But for this specific situation, God had said to give grace, and that’s what I truly wanted to do.

Once again, I went to God; once again, He answered clearly, “Give more grace.” This time I didn’t know what He meant, but I trusted Him to tell me when I needed to know.  And He did. The next time I saw her, God spoke to my heart, I listened and I gave more grace as instructed. The act of giving more grace spoke more than words ever could. I was overwhelmed with emotion and knew we’d never need to talk about it.

Breathing out His grace has been a beautiful experience. Freely giving love and forgiveness and not asking for (or needing) an apology has given me a tiny glimpse into the love and joy God feels when we are reconciled to Him because of His grace toward us.

What an amazing gift grace is…both to receive and to give. 

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been holding on to feelings of hurt and unforgiveness? Today, will you go to God and ask Him to help you give of the grace you have received from Him?

2.  Will you prayerfully consider how God wants you to share His message of reconciliation?

FURTHER READING:

2 Corinthians 5:18-19; Romans 5:8; Matthew 5:23-24; Galatians 6:1

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.

A Melody of Love

By Susan Klein

“Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.”

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

In one of Kay Arthur’s teaching videos, we are treated to the testimony of a woman from a communist country. She tells how difficult it was to share the message of Jesus at her place of employment in her homeland. She asked God for guidance in how to be a witness to these women, none of whom were a bit interested in what she had to say. He told her not to speak, but just to live out His love. So, she shared her time watching their children, she shared her meager paycheck to help others with their rent, and she loved on the women in any way she tangibly could. Many times she went back to the Lord, asking if she should be more bold in her speech, and He kept whispering to her heart to just live out His love. After a whole year of loving with actions and not with words, a coworker confronted her. She said she didn’t understand how this woman could be so kind all the time, showing endless compassion without expecting anything in return. And how could she always seem so positive when conditions were so bleak?!! Now, it was time for words.

As Kay so poignantly put it, “We need to let people hear the melody of the gospel before we give them the words.” I know in my own life, often I don’t feel like I’m being effective if I’m not sharing the words of the gospel. But, as illustrated above, sometimes actions speak more melodiously to the heart than words. This woman persisted in doing good to her fellow man (women) for a whole year before she saw the fruit of her labor. This was her opportunity to finally share the words of the gospel, when the other woman’s heart was opened and questioning. By first showing the sweet music of Christ-like love, the gospel words became that much more powerful.

Sharing Jesus by lending a helping hand or a few dollars to someone in need may be just the melody that gets their attention so we can then point them in the direction of the lyrics. God is the Songwriter. He draws people to Himself and does the tugging on the heartstrings. We are merely the notes He uses in His melody of love.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Who needs to hear the love song, which God has equipped you to share?

2. Is your music drawing others to the Lyricist?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 5:16; 1 John 3:18

Susan enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and mentoring. She and her husband Mark co-lead an on-site small group studying 1 Corinthians with Oakwood's Wednesday Night Community.

We Didn’t Start the Fire

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; There is nothing new under the sun.”

Ecclesiastes 1:9 (NIV)

In 1989, Billy Joel’s song, “We Didn’t Start the Fire” hit #1 on the United States pop charts. The song is a stream of consciousness listing of 40 years of historical events that had happened during his lifetime. After each long list, he sings, “We didn’t start the fire. It was always burning since the world’s been turning…” [1] Consider this partial list, you might find some familiar topics: Richard Nixon, Marilyn Monroe, H-Bomb, James Dean, Bay of Pigs invasion, Disneyland, punk rock, Ayatollah’s in Iran, Afghanistan, AIDS, crack, suicide.

To add some hot topics from the years since, I would include 9-11, Apple, meth, climate change, obesity, Y2K, Al Qaeda, hanging chads, H1N1, 50 Shades, bullying, Columbine.

You get the idea. There are days I turn on the news and I get so discouraged. Our world is a mess! But here’s the thing… it’s ALWAYS BEEN THIS WAY! The Old Testament talks of child sacrifice, incest, thirst for power, victimization of the poor, war, famine, slavery, adultery, murder. Solomon’s words from Ecclesiastes in the verse above ring true, “There is NOTHING new under the sun.” (Emphasis added). Humanity has been depraved and destructive since sin was chosen in the Garden of Eden.

Oddly, there can be comfort in that. Man hasn’t come up with anything new. And God is still God. He:

• created the universe and all that is in it,
• formed man for the purpose of loving and glorifying Him,
• gives each of us the ability to choose who (or what) we will serve,
• enters into a relationship with us when we accept His free gift of salvation.

And through that all, He is still in control. Our world can feel like it will implode at any given moment. We can choose to be fearful of the future for ourselves or our children and depressed about the state of our society.  OR… we can take heart in knowing His Truth and Promise, “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty” (Revelation 1:8, NIV).

GOING DEEPER:

1. Read the paraphrase of Job chapters 38-41 in The Message.

2. What do God’s own words about His creation and power say to you?

FURTHER READING:

Ecclesiastes 12:14

[1] Billy Joel. We Didn’t Start the Fire. Album: Store Front.

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.