Crown Me

By Vernette Kureck

“Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge, will award to me on that day - - and not only me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”

2 Timothy 4:8 (NIV)

In my mind, I was walking the beach collecting seashells. In reality, I was sitting in the dentist chair having a molar ground down for a crown fitting. The tooth was cracked and had quite a few fillings, so the crown will make my tooth feel, look and function better. My seashell bag was full, so my thoughts drifted to different types of crowns and what they signify. 

First, I thought of the game checkers. Once you reach the other side, you get crowned and can move in any direction. According the verse above, as believers reach “the other side” known as heaven, Christ will give a crown to all those who have walked with Him and have longed for His return. This is not just any old crown, but a Righteous crown. It demonstrates royalty and blamelessness. As children of the King and Judge, we will experience true freedom.

Next, I thought of my granddaughters and their love of playing princess. Even at their young age, they get that the function of royalty has certain privileges and responsibilities. Not only do you look and feel good, but your decrees and judgments are to be fair and honorable. 1 Corinthians 6:3 states that as believers, we will judge the angels. For the Final Judgment, people of God will be reigning with Christ and judging.

Yes, playing checkers or princess is only a prelude to the work that will be done in heaven. Crowns can weigh heavily on royalty. Perhaps that is why “the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, ‘Worthy are you our Lord and God, to receive honor and glory and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created’” (Revelation 4:10-11, NIV).

The prep work was all done and I was wearing my temporary crown. I was ready to leave. “Come back in two weeks and we’ll put on the permanent crown,” the dentist said. I smiled and said, “I’m looking forward to it more than you’ll ever know.”

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you been enjoying your walk of grace with Jesus and longing for His return?

2. Are you ready to lay your crown down before the throne?

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 3:12- 4:1

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 45 years. They have been blessed with eight grandchildren from their two sons and their wives. She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain.   

I Want To Be Like…

By Tracy Smith

“And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 (NLT)

This past January, in Wednesday night youth group we watched a series of videos from the I Am Second  website.  This website is full of 5-10 minutes videos of people of faith sharing their journey and how living for God has changed them. I was really enjoying these videos, so I decided to visit the site and watch more videos at home. I found one by Major League baseball player Albert Pujols. All I really knew about Albert Pujols was that he was a major reason that my team, the Milwaukee Brewers, did not advance to the World Series in 2011! Despite that, I decided to watch his video and I’m so glad I did! [1]

He spoke eloquently about his wife (then girlfriend) introducing him to Christ. One of the things he mentions in the video is that his daughter has Down Syndrome and he started a foundation to help families of kids with Down Syndrome. I was intrigued enough by his testimony to visit his foundation website. On the page with his testimony, Mr. Pujols says this, “I've heard kids say they want to be just like me when they grow up. They should know I want to be just like Jesus.” [2]

This was such a great reminder to me! We should always be striving to be imitators of Christ. I love that Albert Pujols says that kids who want to be like him should know that he is striving to be like Christ. 

When people see me, do they see an imitator of Christ?

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Who are you imitating?

2.  Is it someone that is imitating Christ or do you need to reevaluate this?

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 5:1-2; Philippians 2:5-11

[1] Watch Albert Pujols’ “I Am Second” testimony here: http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/albert-pujols/

[2] http://www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org/faith/testimony.htm

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.

Rest Under His Reign

By Karen D’Amore

“…My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all my good pleasure.”

Isaiah 46:10b (NIV)

The symptoms mimicked those of the previous tumors. With the new lump being in close proximity to the last surgically-removed tumor, a biopsy was inevitable. The first available appointment with my doctor, or any other in the network, was months away. With my cancer history dictating a sense of urgency, I was added to a waiting list while I waited for my scheduled appointment. To add to the lengthy wait, a scheduling error by the doctor’s office delayed my appointment another week longer than originally scheduled.

Aware of my reoccurring cancer and the lengthy wait for a medical diagnosis, my friends and family were frustrated. I worked to maintain an utmost trust in my sovereign God. With a heart filled with peace that only comes from Him, I was neither anxious nor fearful. My prayer requests were specific: I desired to see God’s hand in the medical delays and that He be glorified in the process…regardless of the outcome. God had allowed  the scenario to play out exactly as it did. Though the reasons were unclear to me at the time, I wanted to trust Him. “Logic” continued to dictate a strong sense of urgency with my family and friends. And though my “logic” initially wrestled with the same concern, faith overrode logic. Confident in God’s sovereignty over every detail of my circumstances, I continued to work on trusting Him and choosing His peace. 

The doctor visit played out exactly as I suspected with the lump being biopsied and my being sent home to wait another week for the results. Moments after leaving the medical facility, my attention was drawn to a lake alongside the interstate. Sitting atop the snow-encased lake was an elegant white swan, basking in the frigid winter sun. The oddly displaced creature and the unlikeliness of such a sighting drew me to sense the consuming presence of God.

With the biopsy disclosing no malignancy, my immediate future remained cancer-free! Though I was elated with the news, I was in greater awe of my Lord. He knew the diagnosis before the process began, and every delay had been held purposely in God’s hands. He already knew there was no cancer urgency!

When we trust in God’s sovereignty, peace and joy can reign over our bleakest of circumstances. We can rest secure in the assurance that no matter what we’re facing, our God reigns. And while He is using God-allowed circumstances to accomplish His will in our lives…we can rest peacefully under His reign!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you fretting or resting under God’s reign?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 47:7-8, 103:19; Romans 8:28

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.

Choosing to Look Forward

By Jeannine Sawall

“Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and the entire valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”

Genesis 19:26 (NIV)

The Lord had provided a way out for Lot’s family. He had instructed them to flee from the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah as judgment was imminent. Lot and his family were told to leave everything behind and to go and do not look back. Lot loved the Lord more than he loved the world and when commanded, he fled and did not look back. Unfortunately, Lot’s wife chose to identify herself with the city coming under judgment. In choosing to focus on what was behind her, she missed what God had in front of her and gave up the salvation the Lord had provided for her.

We might look at Lot’s wife and think turning into a pillar of salt is definitely Old Testament stuff, yet the lessons remain the same. Oftentimes, we are tempted to look back at our sinful life and think of it nostalgically - - “the good ol’ days,” so to speak. Yet, as new creations in the Lord, we are to look to God for His salvation and not yearn for the days in which we were still in bondage to sin. There’s no getting around the fact that sin can be pleasurable…for a time. But sin eventually shows itself for what it is, with damaging consequences.

There may also be times when the Lord is moving us into something new, yet we don’t want to leave what’s behind. Satan brings doubt into our lives by making us question God’s good intentions. Those questions can pop up when we are being taken into a new life, new place, new ministry or anything else that takes us out of our comfort zone. Our natural inclination is to be fearful, to want to stay put, to be like Lot’s wife…we like what we know: It’s comfortable and familiar. However, our God will never take us where His grace can’t keep us. If we choose to stay focused on what we’ve left behind, we will miss an opportunity for blessing. The alternative? Choose to look forward and trust God to bring about His good works.

When we decide to walk with the Lord, we need to be purposeful in our choices to go forward with Him, no matter where He’s taken us from or taking us to. He always has a better plan and all He asks is that we choose to trust Him and go forward.     

GOING DEEPER:

1. Where is God asking you to trust Him as He moves you forward into something new?

2. Is there an old habit that continues to draw you back into sin?  Ask the Lord to help you see His way out.

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 43:18-19; Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 3:13-14  

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.

Choosing Not To “Weary”

By Susan Klein

“You have wearied the Lord with your words. ‘How have we wearied him?’ you ask. By saying, ‘All who do evil are good in the eyes of the Lord, and he is pleased with them.”’

Malachi 2:17 (NIV)

Little is known about the prophet Malachi. Though considered to be one of the “lesser” or “minor” prophets, he packs a pretty powerful punch in his description of what was happening in the end of the Old Testament period. Here, God speaks through Malachi to admonish His people. Malachi informs them that they are “wearying” the Lord with their dismissive tolerance of sin and their own wrongful words and practices. He exhorts them to return to God so He can return to them. Hmm…almost sounds like this could have been written yesterday.

History seems to have a way of repeating itself. As in Malachi’s time, tolerance of sinful behavior and the “anything goes” attitude are still the norm. With such diversity in our culture, everyone seems to decide for themselves what is or isn’t acceptable behavior. One man’s sin becomes another man’s standard. As Christ-followers, we must hold every action to Scripture to discern what is right and what is wrong. God does not look favorably on evil deeds, nor should we.

Unlike the people in Malachi’s time, we are not awaiting a Messiah. Jesus has come and has blessed us with His finishing work on the cross. We’ve been set free from the bondage of sin, mistakes, and historically repetitious failures, if we choose to follow Him. We also have the gift of God’s written Word to know for sure what is truth and what is not, and to learn from the consequences suffered by those who chose wrongly before us. Romans 15:4 reminds us, “For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (NIV). Our hope is in Christ, not in the ever-changing ways of the world.

As Christ-followers, let us not become entangled in wrong thinking. Let us be pleasing to God, as Malachi was, by having His Word “dwell in us richly as we teach and admonish one another with all wisdom” (from Colossians 3:16, NIV). Let us choose this day, not to weary our Creator.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Pray for wisdom, guidance of the Holy Spirit, and discernment of truth and lies.

2.  How might you show love to someone without being “tolerant” of their sin?

FURTHER READING:

Romans 12:2; 1 Peter 1:14; Isaiah 5:20-21

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

Soil Testing

By Lisa Boyer

“Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop - - a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Matthew 13:8-9 (NIV)

It’s spring and my work place will soon be receiving calls from people looking for information on soil testing. They’ll collect a soil sample from their garden and ship it off to be tested. A few weeks later, they’ll get the results and a recommended treatment plan. If they properly prepare their soil, they can expect a good harvest.

The thought of soil testing has had me pondering the “The Parable of the Sower” in Matthew 13.

As you may recall, the seed falls on four types of soil: the path (hard soil), the rocky places with shallow soil, the soil containing thorns, and the good soil. Jesus explains the Parable in Matthew 13:18b-23 “When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”

Jesus wants everyone to understand and receive His message, so maybe part of the point He was making in the “The Parable of the Sower” is actually a warning about the condition of the soil. Life is a difficult journey and any number of things can damage the heart (soil). Maybe Jesus was pointing out that the soil (the heart) needs to be properly prepared to receive the seed (the message) before we sow it.

Isn’t that what Jesus did while He was here on Earth? Wasn’t He nurturing the hurting hearts of those around Him with love and compassion and healing? Jesus’ second greatest commandment, just like the first, is about love… and perhaps soil preparation and maintenance.

Before sharing the message with those around us, let’s take a moment to test the soil; then let’s prepare the soil… with love.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you been wanting to share what you know about Jesus with a friend? Today, ask God how you can nurture them in preparation for that, knowing that ultimately it is the Holy Spirit who changes hearts.

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 13:3-8; Matthew 22:36-38

Lisa has been married to Ted for more than 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.

Wonder of Wonders, Miracle of Miracles…
By Elin Henderson

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.”
Job 9:10 (NIV)

Okay, for all of you musical aficionados…what film does this title come from? If you guessed Fiddler on the Roof, you are right! It is sung by Daughter Number One’s fiancé-to-be. He is expressing that of all the great miracles of God, the greatest is that He has given him this wonderful girl to be his wife. It is all quite touching and romantic!

As I think on the miracles that God performs throughout Scripture, I wonder, what is the greatest? God defeating an army of hundreds of thousands with Gideon’s small army of 1,200, or the miracle that took place in Gideon’s heart to trust in the Lord? Is it Jesus’ healing the ear of the soldier or the work of the Holy Spirit that changed Peter from a sword-wielding dynamo to a humble servant of God?

Truly, I think the work that takes place when a heart turns to the Lord and says, “Take me, use me, I am yours” is the miracle of all miracles. It’s even beyond the feeding of five thousand and the dead coming back to life. While we are created by God, we are not robots…we can still choose to walk with Him or to turn away. He does not pre-program our wills and make us follow Him. Otherwise, we would be like computers that just do exactly as He says. But rather, He sends His eyes over all the earth, seeking those whose hearts are open to Him. Why? To “show Himself strong” on their behalves. WOW! That is the wonder of wonders, miracle of miracles that He is after! A heart that is open to Him. Then, He says to that person just as He said to Moses before He began a whole series of amazing miracles in Egypt (both physical and spiritual), “Stand back, and watch the wonders I will do in your midst!”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What wonders has He wrought in your life that you can rejoice about?
2. Are His eyes upon you? Are you open to Him? If not, why?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 3:20; 2 Chronicles 16:9

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.

Loving Others

By Tracy Smith

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interest but each of you to the interests of the others."

Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV)

A couple of months ago, while on Facebook, I came across a video about a middle school football team who plotted and planned to help one of their teammates score a touchdown. [1] This teammate had special needs. In some schools, he may have been the object of bullying - - and maybe this boy had been in the past, or is dealing with bullies in other areas of school - - but not on his football team. These friends cared enough about him to plan something so amazing for him.

The plan went like this: His teammates got the ball as close to the goal line as possible. In the next play, they gave him the ball and surrounded him to protect him from the defense and ran with him across the goal line. TOUCHDOWN!

As touching as that was, it was the interviews with the boys on the team that brought tears to my eyes. One boy had tears tracking down his cheeks because he had not thought of the plan. He talked about how he had changed from someone who only cared about himself to someone who cared about everyone. What a life-changing lesson these young men learned!

The Lord wants us to care about everyone - - not just those we see as “popular” or who are worth our caring. He also wants us to care for others - - not just when it’s easy, but even when it’s hard. Philippians 2:4 tells us to intentionally look to the interests of others. In John 13:34-35 (NIV), Jesus says, “Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus wants us to be known by how we love.

May we be like the young men in this school. May we be those who are kind and care about everyone; who love.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Is there someone in your life who could use some encouragement? If so, what can you do to make him or her feel special?

FURTHER READING:

Micah 6:8; Romans 15:1-3

[1] Want to see this inspiring story? Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8_RpyfyNs4.

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.

Lost
By Peggy Kleckner

“Be still and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)

When you are lost, the best plan to follow is to be still, stop walking and wait to be found. Spiritually, the answer is the same. When we are still, God finds us and He draws us up into His lap to comfort us, to take away our fears and to bandage our wounded places.

Henri Nouwen, a Catholic theologian, writes, “Can I accept that I am worth looking for?” [1] Some days, we really struggle to answer that question with a “yes.” To be still is to believe that someone will search for you, to trust someone else to be doing the work of rescuing you. Our stillness says to God, “Yes, please come for me.”

When we choose to still our hearts in the midst of our trials, we invite God to meet with us. We affirm again that we trust Him and are willing to surrender to His will. Stillness is not a “do nothing” mentality. It is a moment of surrender. It is the waiting to meet with the God of all creation. It is the pause, before the most beautiful music. Truly “knowing” that He is God comes from being still and waiting for Him.

I once was lost, but now am found!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What situation in your life has you feeling “lost”? Is your spirit still running?

2. Are you willing to tell your spirit to sit down and be still?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 3:5-6; Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 40:28-31, 41:10

[1] The Return of the Prodigal Son by Henri J.M. Nouwen, published by Doubleday, © 1992.

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

Wait for It

By Jeannine Sawall

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

James 5:7-8 (NIV)

I still remember it like it was just last week. When my friend arrived for coffee, her first question was, “Where are you in the adoption process?” I began to tell her how God had been opening doors for us. Appointments that should have taken several months were scheduled in the next few weeks. A piece of property had unexpectedly been sold and would provide the money to cover expenses. She listened attentively and then said, “I’m not saying this is a ‘Thus sayeth the Lord,’ but I’ve been praying for you and I don’t think you should proceed with this adoption right now.” Talk about a conversation stopper!  How could she even say that? This was the friend who had walked with me through five miscarriages in the last 26 months. She had held me as I wept tears of grief and disappointment, wondering why God was allowing this pain in my life. She had prayed with me as I begged the Lord to take away the longing for another baby. Adoption was a good thing!  I wanted encouragement…telling me anything else was not what I wanted!

She asked what led us to the decision to adopt. I told her that while I hadn’t had a scroll dropped in my lap, doors kept opening. She challenged me not to depend on positive circumstances, but to pray without ceasing and wait until I was sure I was in the middle of God’s will. I agreed to do that. As much as we wanted another child, we wanted to be in the middle of God’s will more.

To our astonishment, within the next year we were blessed with the birth of a healthy baby.  While not every story ends with the Lord giving you what you want, when you choose to put His will before your own, every story will end with His providing what you need. (And, of course, you and I both know that there are times when adoption is exactly what His will is for some.)

Often, when things aren’t happening the way we want them to, we may try to make “it” happen. God allows us a choice: We can choose to focus on what HE wants to do and wait for His timing, or on what we try to do in our own strength. Looking back, I’m thankful this friend had the courage to challenge me to stop and wait for God’s clear direction and plan. While His timing and His ways may not always make sense or be to our liking, it is always for His higher purpose and His glory…and that’s something worth waiting for!

GOING DEEPER:
1 What do you do when God does not immediately answer your prayers? Do you choose to make it happen or wait on Him?

2. What friend do you have in your life who will challenge you to be more dependent on God? And to whom can you be that kind of friend?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 37:34; Isaiah 40:31; James 5:11

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.

Valuable Pearls

By Karen D’Amore

“…And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character, and character hope.”

Romans 5: 2b-4 (NIV)

They say that “diamonds are a girl’s best friend,” but I prefer pearls! Unlike diamonds which are mined from the earth, pearls are miraculously produced by live oysters in the deep seas. In contrast to diamonds, whose beauty is developed by man-made cuts and polishing, the pearl’s beauty cannot be manufactured by man.

“A natural pearl begins its life as a foreign object, such as a parasite or piece of shell that accidentally lodges itself in an oyster’s soft inner body where it cannot be expelled. To ease this irritant, the oyster’s body takes defensive action. The oyster begins to secrete a smooth, hard crystalline substance around the irritant in order to protect itself. This substance is called ‘nacre.’ As long as the irritant remains within its body, the oyster will continue to secrete layers of nacre around it. Over time, the irritant will be completely encased by the silky crystalline coatings, producing the lovely, lustrous gem called a pearl.” [1]

I’m encouraged by the process of an irritant transforming into a valuable gem. Life is filled with irritants. As Christ-followers, we’re not immune from irritating circumstances or relationships that “get under our skin!” There are times where I’ve wrestled with relationships that God has clearly allowed to remain in my inner-circle. Though irritating and sometimes unjust, I’ve worked to be tolerantly kind, but more than once, I’ve pleaded with and questioned God in the midst of it.

One pivotal morning, at the peak of my frustration…my favorite strand of pearls broke and scattered across the bedroom floor. As I frantically scooped the loose pearls into my hands, I was reminded of the pearl-creating process. In that moment, God impressed upon me that He wasn’t changing my irritating circumstances because He wanted to use the irritant to change me. God wanted to grow me and shape my godly character. My choice became: continue struggling with the irritant which inflamed me…or embrace it!

Embracing irritants and covering them with grace and love orchestrates opportunities for transformation into lustrous, valuable pearls! With “luster” being the beauty of light reflected from the pearl’s surface, it’s the pearl’s ability to reflect light that determines its value.

Got irritations? Cover them in prayer - - wrap them in love - - transform them into Light-reflecting, valuable pearls!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Identify your irritation(s).

2. Can you - - with the Lord’s help and guidance - -  turn them into a lustrous strand of pearls?

FURTHER READING:

Matthew 13:45-46; James 1:2-4

[1] http://www.americanpearl.com/historyoyster.html

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.

The Braces of Life

By Tracy Smith

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

Hebrews 12:11 (NIV)

Two years ago, as I sat in the waiting room while my son had "round two" of braces put on, it occurred to me that there are lessons we can learn from braces and their purpose.

My son's mouth was extremely small. The first round of braces included an appliance on the roof of his mouth that widened his palette. As I had the same appliance 26 years ago, I know how painful this is. Despite the pain, it is necessary as his teeth were coming in too high and sideways because they had nowhere else to go. The appliance widened the mouth and made room for the adult teeth already there, and the adult teeth yet to come. The pain was necessary for all of his teeth to fit comfortably in his mouth.

Sometimes God's lessons can feel this way: painful, but necessary in order for Him to widen our lives to fit in all that He feels is necessary.

After a period of no braces - - while we waited for all of his adult teeth to make their way down - - it is now time for braces again. When looking at my son, his teeth looked fine to me. They were all in, they all fit and they were straight; however, the orthodontist explained why his bite needed to be fixed and the teeth shifted into their correct position. All of this will avoid problems in the future. 

Again, how much like our Lord! His correction can be painful and seem unnecessary to us, but God knows why we need it. He knows the painful correction is necessary in order for us to avoid problems later in life.

The next time I feel the “braces of life” irritating me, I will remember why they are there and look for the lesson the Lord wants me to learn.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What painful times of your life can you look back now and see how God was using that experience to help you avoid future pain?

2. What can you do to learn these lessons faster and make them less painful?

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 3:11-12; Psalm 94:12; Deuteronomy 8:5

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.

No, We’re Not There Yet

By Carolyn Hulliberger

“…I am making everything new!”

Revelation 21:5b (NIV)

The day had been long, as family funerals normally are. My husband’s grandmother had died, and our family had gathered for the visitation. The time for a dinner break had come and as I began to get my then-infant son ready to go to the restaurant, my three-year-old daughter became visibly upset. 

“Mommy, we can’t leave!” she cried.

“But it’s time to go eat,” I rationalized.

“No, we CAN’T LEAVE!!”

“But everyone is headed out now. Why can’t we leave?” was my answer.

“We can’t leave HEAVEN!! Great-grandma is in heaven and she’s right OVER THERE!! We can’t leave!”

I chuckle now, but explaining to a three-year-old that the part of Great-grandma that smiled, hugged, and told her stories was in heaven with Jesus…and the part she could see stayed here…well, that was a little tricky.

Jesus told us that there is another place, one where His followers will live eternally. In John 13:36 (NIV), Jesus says, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” He then states, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

And when His apostles asked how to get to this place, Jesus instructed, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

In the book of Revelation, we learn that there is a time and a place where “…the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them…He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away” (Rev. 21:3-4).

Think on this just a moment…belief in Christ…eternally living with God…a whole new order to our world…where pain is obsolete…

Even without the amazing details described in the rest of Revelation, being in the same place as Jesus is a place that I long to rest in. And even a three-year-old can grasp that once we get to be with Him in heaven and His New Kingdom, we’ll never, ever want to leave!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you come to see Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life?  If not, what is holding you back?

2.  Enjoy a quiet time today, concentrating on what it will feel like to arrive at the believer’s final destination: in the presence of God Himself…forever.

FURTHER READING:

1 Corinthians 15:55-57; Isaiah 25:8-9

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.

“It Is For Your Good…”

By Susan Klein

“But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.”

John 16:7 (NIV)

How many times have we heard the words, or even spoken them ourselves: “It’s for your own good?” As a mom, I know I’ve conveyed this message to my children on more than one occasion. Usually, it was preceded by a “but why, Mom?” because they didn’t understand or like my decision. I had to ask them to just trust that I had their best interest at heart. Later, they usually saw the fruit of my decision.

In the above verse, Jesus is trying to explain to His disciples that He will soon be leaving them, and they don’t understand why. After all, His ministry has only been up and going for a few years and there are still so many people who need to know Him and benefit from His amazing teaching. They think it might be the wrong decision on His part - -  and like children - -  start to question His decision. He responds as any loving parent would. He tells them that it is for their own good. He even goes beyond that to tell them why it is for their good. Because He is sending the Holy Spirit, to dwell in them, to counsel them in all truth, to convict the world, and to speak the Father’s words directly to them. I imagine Him passionately saying something like, “You guys, it’s going to be so great! You will get to have all of me, all the time, indwelling each and every one of you! I know you don’t get it now, but just trust me in this, okay?!!”

How often we continue to respond, “If only Jesus was still here on earth with us, life would be so much easier!” Lest we forget, He is here! His Spirit is in each one of His believers. We have access to Him 24/7! In John 14:23 Jesus says if anyone loves Him, He and the Father will “make our home” with them. He’s here, at home, in our hearts.

Let’s not take lightly this precious gift from our Lord. If you aren’t sensing His Spirit’s working in your life, seek Him in prayer. We need to constantly empty ourselves of sins and distractions so we can be filled with Him.

Seriously, it’s for our good.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Ask God to help you identify the things that might be “hindering” the Holy Spirit’s power from being evident in your life.

2. Try making it a part of your prayer life to ask for His filling.

FURTHER READING:

John 16:5-16; 1 Corinthians 2:9-12

Susan enjoys teaching Bible studies, writing, and tutoring with the Literacy Council. She and her husband Mark co-lead an on-site small group studying 2 Corinthians with Oakwood's Wednesday Night Community.

Conduct Becoming a Believer

By Karen D’Amore

“In the same way, let your light shine before men,

 that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven.”

Matthew 5:16 (NIV)

As a police officer, I was required to memorize the Law Enforcement Code of Ethics. One vow within that code was, “I will keep my private life unsullied as an example to all.” With the effectiveness of law enforcement being dependent on public respect and confidence, police officers are held to a higher standard…both on and off-duty. Continually under the watchful-eye and scrutiny of the public, our conduct was to align with the integrity and trustworthiness expected by them.  Any conduct (on or off-duty) which could detract from the public’s faith in the criminal justice system, or discredit the Department and/or other officers, was considered “conduct unbecoming an officer.”  “Conduct unbecoming” encompassed petty offenses to criminal conduct, with the penalties ranging from suspension to termination.

I recall an officer being suspended for displaying a “snarky” attitude with a hairdresser who cut her hair too short. Needless to say, I spent those twenty-one years perpetually developing my moral compass…with a hyper-sensitivity to attitudes and conduct which could tarnish “the badge.”

As Christ-followers, we too are held to a higher standard of conduct which transcends beyond merely being “law abiding citizens.” Paul reminds us, “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8, NIV). “Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity” (Ephesians 5:15, NIV).

We need to keep our lives “unsullied” before God. We were once in spiritual darkness until Christ entered our lives and called us to be His light to the world. As we reflect the light of a Holy God, we are called to “be holy as He is Holy.” Throughout every  aspect of our daily life, we must consider our attitudes, choices and behavior with a deeper sensitivity to how we’re representing God.

As believers, we’re far-from-perfect… perpetual works-in-progress! With the help of the Holy Spirit we can identify those attributes that may be unbecoming to His name, and avert conduct which could potentially bring Him shame. As ambassadors for Jesus, living under the watchful eye and scrutiny of the unsaved world, we represent Him everywhere we go and in everything we do. This includes our jobs, schools, restaurants, grocery stores, sporting activities and even…hair salons.

So as not to dim our “lights”…let’s consciously work towards keeping our lives “unsullied” and our Jesus-badges tarnish-free.

And may we strive to honor our Commander in Chief…with “Conduct Becoming a Believer!”

GOING DEEPER:

1. How’s your conduct? Is your light dim or bright?

FURTHER READING:

2 Peter 3:11; Titus 2:7

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, 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.

Why Re-Write It?

By Lisa Boyer

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?”
“No one, sir,” she said.

“Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

John 8:10-11 (NIV)

I love listening to the words of songs by some of the amazing Christian artists of today (and yesterday)! Last week as I traveled home from visiting my mom, I had MercyMe’s Hurt and the Healer  CD playing. When track number four started, I found myself thinking about what an important message the song had and how much I would love to remind everyone of this message. Being that I’m not a singer, the only way I can convey the message of a song is by writing a devotional about it. But why re-write the song into a devotional when the song says it all:   

“To whom it may concern:  when will we learn we are all the same? Do you really think that you're the first to fall along the way? It may sound crazy but what if you don't try to run. Rather than kick our wounded, we could just lift you up….

I can see it's written on your face, it reads with every line, wishing you could somehow just erase or even turn back time. Don't let yourself buy into the lie that you are too far gone. So let us remind you that you're not what you have done.

… We're not throwing stones… You are not your shame… You can't go alone… We won't go away….

Breathe deep and believe that wherever you go, it don't matter how high, don't matter how low, it comes down to being found and Who you know….”

Did you catch that?

• we are all the same (Romans 3:22-23)
• don’t buy into the lie that you’re too far gone (Luke 19:10)
• you’re not what you have done (I Timothy 2:9)
• you are not your shame (Colossians 1:13-14)
• it comes down to being found and Who you know (Ezekiel 34:12, Philippians 3:8-9)

Wow. What else is there to say? Nothing! Okay, maybe just this: “Breathe deep and believe that wherever you go, it don't matter how high, don't matter how low, it comes down to being found and Who [Jesus] you know.” [1]

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Have you been struggling with shame over your past? Jesus paid for it on the cross. Today will you meet with Him in prayer so you that can be found and know Him?

2.  Is there someone in your life that needs to be reminded of this? Will you forward this devotional to them and then pray for them, being sensitive to how God may want you to help.

[1] Mercy Me: “To Whom It May Concern.” Fair Trade Services , 2012. Want to listen to this song? Here’s the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CoJN1IXuSk

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.