How Do They Know?

By Susan Klein

“But ask the animals and they will teach you, or the birds of the air, and they will tell you…”

 Job 12:7 (NIV)

One of the things I look forward to every spring is the return of my favorite birds. I have several feeders outside my kitchen window allowing for great viewing of the orioles, hummingbirds, Indigo Buntings, and other migratory species.

As I watched them feeding over my morning coffee, I wondered, “How do they know to return every spring?” I also realized that when I forget to fill the feeders, the birds completely disappear. But when I go to refill them a few days later, the birds immediately return. How do they know the feeders are full again?

Some ornithologists believe that the earth’s magnetic field and the position of the stars contribute to the birds’ migratory patterns. Others claim it’s an internal clock that prompts their return. Still others admit it’s just a “mystery.” As for feeders, most birds have to see food to know it’s there, not relying on smell.

I believe it is a “mystery” - - how they know these things - - but one God has purposely designed in birds to instruct us about Himself. Jeremiah 8:7 tells us that “the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons and the dove, the swift and the thrush observe their times of migration.” While God equipped the birds with instinctual wisdom, He's given us signs in the sky, as well as abilities to discern the times and the seasons (Genesis 1:14).

For example, in the book of Psalms, the writer observes that even the sparrow finds a home where she can build a nest, near God’s temple altar. He goes on to say that similarly, we too are also blessed if we make our homes in God’s house. [1]

Another illustration is found in Matthew 23:37, when Jesus laments over Jerusalem, stating, “How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” Similarly, He longs to protect us and gather us to Himself, if we will allow Him.

And, Jesus teaches us how God always provides food for the birds, even though they don’t know how to store it up like other animals do. He goes on to remind us not to “worry” about our food or clothes, that we are more valuable than the birds are, and need to trust that He will always provide for us as well. [2]

Want to discover more about God through His amazing winged creatures? There are over fifty Scripture references pertaining to birds just waiting to be explored!

GOING DEEPER:

1. How can you see more of God through His creation in your neck of the woods?

FURTHER READING:

[1] Psalm 84:3-4; [2] Matthew 6:23-27; Romans 1:20

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

“Follow ME” – PERIOD!!

By Karen D’Amore

“Then Jesus said to the disciples, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him deny himself and take up his cross and Follow ME [emphasis added].’”

Matthew 16:24 (TLB)

Horses LOVE peppermints?! Eager to test out this new revelation, I hiked to the neighboring horse ranch…my pockets overflowing with peppermints. Greeting me, a handful of curious horses patiently waited as I freed the peppermints from their plastic wrappers. One bite and it was clear…this newly-acquired information was true! Within moments, the small group multiplied into a large herd and the feeding frenzy spun out of control. When the horses kept trying to steal the peppermints from my pockets, I backed off and continued my walk along the bridle path. Looking over my shoulder, I noticed the entire herd following me. As I playfully and repeatedly changed my direction of travel, the herd followed me everywhere I went. The herd stopped and wandered back into the pasture once my pockets were empty. For months, I’ve repeated this peppermint ritual; the results always the same. The horses followed me “conditionally”…only if and when I dispensed sweet peppermint treats!

How often we conditionally follow Christ. And yet, repeatedly throughout Scripture, Jesus says, “Follow Me.”   Period!!!  At times I have struggled with putting a comma where God puts a period!  He says “Follow Me,” and I’ve said, “I’ll follow You if…” or “I’ll follow You when…” or “I’d follow you, but…”

As Christ-followers, we are called to follow Jesus. Period!

We’re to follow Him:
…when He’s silent.
…when He says “no” to our plan.
…when He doesn’t answer our prayers the way we think He should.
…when He leads us through undesirable places or circumstances.
…when He asks us to sacrifice our comforts.
…even when His pockets are empty of “sweet treats.”

When Jesus says, “Follow ME,” the “period” should be translated… “unconditionally.” It’s an all-or-nothing invitation! We give up our rights in exchange for a relationship with our Savior. Following Jesus means becoming His shadow:  following Him through “leper colonies,” being friends to outcasts, and standing firm for what’s right, in spite of the cost. It means following Him in the very essence of who we are - -that deep place within where we submit our rights to the One who gave them up for us.

Following Jesus consists of remarkable benefits, but also a price. But whatever   the cost, hearing those words “well done, good and faithful servant” will have made following Him so worth the sweet, eternal “treats.”

How are you responding to His invitation? Prayerfully surrender the “ifs”… “whens”… and… “buts”…and “Follow Jesus”…PERIOD!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What conditions are you putting on your “following”?

FURTHER READING:

Luke 9:57-62; 1 Peter 2:13-24

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon and a Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. 

0+0=10

By Elin Henderson

“God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist

as though they did…”

Romans 4:17b (NIV)

There is only one economy where this formula works: God’s economy! Only He can create something out of nothing. This verse comes in the midst of Paul’s sermon on Abraham and his amazing faith. Of anyone in Scripture, Abraham truly believed  God to create something out of nothing. Let’s face it, God’s promise to give Abraham and Sarah a son came way after their child-bearing years were past and THEN….God waited another couple of decades to fulfill His promise, turning the impossible into the REALLY impossible. Now, that is some serious faith in God’s economics. 0+0=10 (or even 10¹⁰) How? Why? Abraham was convinced that (vs. 21) “…what He had promised He  was also able to perform.”

This faith was later tested in a major way when God asked Abraham to sacrifice this miracle-son he had longed and waited for. He had seen God take 0+0 and make 10 out of it before, and once again drew from that faith to believe that if God took them back to 0 once more, he could certainly turn it back into 10. He had seen God bring life out of death (the emptiness of Sarah’s womb) and believed that once more His God would come through.

This is such a faith challenge to me. How often it seems like life is just handing me 0 after 0. I feel depleted and there is nothing there to draw from… no funds, no strength, no purpose, no future, no hope… God challenges me to stop thinking in my human economy and start trusting in His divine economy. He alone specializes in making SOMETHING out of NOTHING: turning that 0+0 into 10 for His glory and my good!

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1. What other stories in Scripture can you think of where God created something out of nothing – or next to nothing?? (To get you started: Creation, Manna and Water in the Wilderness for the Israelites, The feeding of the 5,000)

FURTHER READING:

Luke 18:27; Mark 10:27; Hebrews 11:17-19

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.

Clinging to Truth

By Susan Klein

“Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

John 8:32 (NIV)

For years now, I’ve attempted to live by the motto: “Cling to the things you know to be true.” I’ve ingrained it in my brain by journaling about it, writing it on post-it-notes and placing them in highly visible spots, and repeating it out loud often. I’ve even shared it with countless others when they’ve had circumstances that deem it beneficial. I’m really not sure where I first came across this concept, but it has been a crucial motto to live by during some pretty tough times in my life.

I tend to be emotional. Okay, that’s an understatement. I ooze emotion! Do you remember that cute little Mary-sunshine from your childhood who always danced around with a smile on her face and never seemed to have a care in the world? Yeah, that wasn’t me. Sometimes I think God must have mis-wired me because my “feeler” can rise to the ceiling or plummet to the basement in a flash! It can even get stuck in either place for indeterminable amounts of time. Any given thing can instigate this rapid rise and fall and I often feel as if I have no control over it. My heart races with the best of them and my stomach can churn at the slightest provocation. Because I’m so emotionally wired, what often happens is my feelings override what I know to be truth. For example: I’m feeling unloved, therefore I must be unloved. If left unchecked, my feelings (rather than truth) can influence my response. Ever been there?

Over the years, I’ve had to compile a list of truths to cling to, especially when my “feeler” starts acting up. Let me share some of my top picks with you.

* God is for me. (Even when it feels like no one else is.)  (1)

* I am sealed. (Even when I feel like I’ve really messed up and God couldn’t possibly still want                              

   me.) (2)     

* God is bigger than, and has allowed all of my circumstances.

* My emotions are a part of me, but they don’t have to control me.

* This isn’t as good as it gets! (Even when the world tries to convince me otherwise.) (3)

Times change, bad things happen. Life gets sticky and people are messy. There will always be dips and climbs in our emotional roller coaster, but clinging to things we know to be true can and will make the ride much more bearable!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What are some truths that bring you peace of mind?

2. How can you incorporate these truths during highly emotional times?

FURTHER READING: (from above references)

(1) Romans 8:31-32; (2) Ephesians 1:13-14; (3) 2 Corinthians 4:17

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

My Thorn
By Lexi Cole Ellis

“Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9b (NIV)

Two years ago, a friend and I were talking about her mental illness journey. While God certainly could take this struggle away, it appears that therapy and learning to manage it will most likely be her journey for the foreseeable future. In our conversation, she said something that really struck me.

            “This feels like my thorn...”

She was referring to 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. The gist of it is that Paul writes about a thorn that he has, and that it’s super annoying. He pleads with God to take it away, but God responds with a “no.” Instead He says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

Theologians have noted that Paul doesn’t specify what “thorn” is affecting him. Some speculate that it might be a physical ailment, past guilt, temptation, a person or mental illness. However, they also note the things that we do know about the situation: It was allowed by God. It was challenging, to the point of being tormenting. And that Paul pleaded that it would be taken away, and God basically said, “no.” [1]

Part of me would love to know what was tripping Paul up…I mean he’s quite the guy. But I love the reminder that all of us, even Paul, live in a fallen world and are affected by sin and disease. Whatever that thorn is - - a season of grief, a challenging relationship, mental illness, unexpected health struggles, heartache or pain - - God enters the mess and journeys with us.

He doesn’t promise for it to be taken away. But He promises to be right there on the journey - - through the crisis and confusion. And even if He doesn’t promise to end it here on earth, He does  promise that His power is revealed in these circumstances, and that eternity will remove every tear, pain and sorrow. [2]

It made think about what my thorn is.  And as I reflected on that, I realized that my thorn included the moments where God really showed up in my life. Despite the pain, despite the annoyance, despite the weakness… my thorn was met by God’s power and grace.

I’m thankful my friend reminded me to take some time identifying my own thorn. It prompted me to see God’s power and grace at work in the midst of my own thorn.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Take some time to think about your own potential thorn.
2.  Where has God shown up in the midst of your thorn?

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 12:7-9; Ephesians 2:8-9; Revelation 21:4

Lexi’s family consists of her, her husband, Andrew, her daughter, Sloane, and her dog, Calvin. She teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

 [1] https://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/thorn.cfm

[2] 2 Corinthians 12:8a, Revelations 21:4

Things I Know (But Some Days Fail to Remember)

By Lisa Boyer

“Many, LORD my God, are the wonders you have done, the things you planned for us. None can compare with you; were I to speak and tell of your deeds, they would be too many to declare.”

Psalm 40:5 (NIV)

I know how amazing the God of the universe is:

“For the LORD Most High is awesome, the great King over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2

“… for the LORD your God, who is among you, is a great and awesome God.” Deuteronomy 7:21 

“He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” Job 5:9

“For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.” Deuteronomy 10:17

“Then I said: "LORD, the God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments” Nehemiah 1:5

I know that God created me(!):

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.” Genesis 1:27, 31a

“Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.” Psalm 100:3

“Your hands made me and formed me” Psalm 119:73a

I know that God chose me to have a relationship with Him:

“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.” Ephesians 1:4

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9

“In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.” Ephesians 1:11 

I know that God has a plan and a purpose for my life:

“For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”  Ephesians 2:10

“He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 2 Thessalonians 2:14 

Even though I know these things, some days I fail to remember them; but not today, today I will remember!!!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  In the busy-ness of daily life, what is it that you fail to remember? Today, will you go to His Word to be reminded by Him? 

Lisa is married to Ted and they have two adult sons. Lisa serves on a Sunday morning Welcoming Team at Oakwood. 

For Sure

By Vernette Kureck

“Know that the Lord is God. It is He who made us and we are His, we are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

Psalm 100:3 (NIV)

Oprah Winfrey’s magazine “O” ends each issue with a column called “What I Know For Sure.” Her original intention “was to have a magazine that would serve as a manual for living your best life.” Many of the monthly essays deal with relationships to self, family, nature, etc. As God’s people, we don’t need a magazine! We have the Bible, God’s inspired Word - - our believers’ manual - - which reveals how to live our best life and have our best relationships. Most important is our relationship with God Himself.

For sure, know that you are connected to God through Jesus His Son. Without Jesus, there’s no relationship with God. In John 14:6, Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” Have you invited Jesus to live in your innermost being? Acts 2:21 says, “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord is saved.”

For sure, know “that it is by grace that you are saved, through faith - - and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God - - not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). God sees the work of His Son when He sees you. You are loved forever and never will be separated from God.

For sure, know that when “we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9-10). How liberating it is to know I am free from sin’s power; that when I mess up, I can turn away from sin and seek forgiveness and restoration.

For sure, know that every day God is available to talk with you. God’s Spirit searches our hearts and minds and intercedes in our weakness according to God’s will. The Creator of the universe has time to listen to you pour out your heart.

For sure, know that you have received gifts from the Holy Spirit. Everyone’s gifts are different and God places you where your gift can best be used. The important thing is to be using your gift to build up God’s family.

For sure, know that your future is in heaven. As a believer, your life is hidden in Christ who’s seated at the right hand of God and, when He appears in glory, you also will appear (Colossians 3:1-4). How exciting is that!

For sure, know that the Bible is inexhaustible. It needs to be read and studied and read again! For sure, know that, unlike a magazine that comes and goes, it serves as the ultimate manual for leading your best life!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Make your own list of “For Sures.”

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:26-28; Romans 8:35-39; Romans 12:4-8

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 49 years and are blessed with 8 grandchildren.  She serves Oakwood on the prayer chain and with Family Promise.

The Great Pursuit

By Elin Henderson

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…”

Psalms 23:6a (NKJV)

Since the beginning of time, there has been a great pursuit going on, one that to this day has never ceased. This great pursuit is that of the God of this universe, actively pursuing mankind. We see this first evidenced in the early chapters of Genesis, when God came down and called to Adam and Eve in the garden, knowing full well they had sinned against Him. He then pursued Cain after he killed his brother, offering a chance for repentance. He pursued Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Saul, David, and the list could go on and on.

The Hebrew word for “follow” according to Strong’s Dictionary(1) is “Radaph” and one of the meanings is “to pursue,” literally to “be on the heels of.” David tells us that surely  His goodness and mercy continually pursue mankind, nipping at their heels saying, “Turn to me, look to me, I am right here!” We can’t escape it, even if we want to.

He pursues us for salvation, and then pursues an intimate relationship with us. This active following never stops as long as we have breath. His pursuit of goodness reminds us of His love and compassion for us; His pursuit of mercy reminds us of His great long-suffering and forgiveness. Together, they bring a package deal of security and strength!  

So, let us always be aware of the pursuit that is constantly taking place in our own lives, and in the lives of those around us. May it impact us every moment of every day. We too are part of “The Great Pursuit” which will be talked about for all of eternity!

GOING DEEPER:      

1.  How have you experienced the “Great Pursuit” either in salvation and/or your daily walk?

2.  How should this awareness of His pursuit of us impact how we react to circumstances and live each day?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 50:7-8a; Psalms 27:13; Psalms 13:5

(1)  http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/radaph.html

         

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with Ethnos 360 in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to eighteen-year-old Callie and fifteen-year-old Elias.

Speak Over the Fear

By Lexi Cole Ellis

 

^“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”

2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV)

 

Our words are powerful. In my classroom, I have this sign hanging up:

Similarly, there’s a familiar object lesson that teachers often use. Kids get to empty a tube of toothpaste (symbolizing their words) and then have to desperately try to put the toothpaste back in the tube…showing that our words are easy to say, but difficult to take back. Moreover, Nelson Hawk’s song “Words” also examines the reality of how powerful our words are:

Words can build you up,
Words can break you down.
Start a fire in your heart or
Put it out.

Let my words be life.
Let my words be truth.
I don't wanna say a word,
Unless it points the world back to You [1]

Certainly, there is a need to be very aware of what we say. But if I’m honest, all of that isn’t what’s challenging for me. The lesson of “watch what you say” is an easy one for me. While I’m certainly not perfect and there’s always a continual need to be aware of “guarding our tongue,” sometimes it’s easier for me to say nothing at all than be concerned about what to say.

In the second verse, the same song mentions to use words to speak over the fear. That one line captivated me. As a believer, I am called to speak above the fears I have. Often, for me, fear is rooted in insecurity concerning myself and fear of what others think. I am called to acknowledge my fears, but then address them and speak over them. It made me wonder: What’s the fear I need to speak over in my life? What part of my life makes me silent (because of fear) when I should be speaking over it? Is it a relationship that needs to have a (loving and respectful) conversation? Is it a conflict that I need to address? Is it a fear that I need to validate and bring before the Lord? Is it a situation at work where I need to acknowledge the fear, but speak over it?

The verse above is a familiar one, but an incredible reminder that we have not be given a spirit of fear. Because our words have power…because our words have incredible potential…we need to use our words to speak over the fears we have.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    What fears can you identify in your life? What do you need to do to “speak over” your fears?

2.    Take time today to listen to “Words.” (You can listen by clicking HERE.) What lines are meaningful to you?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 41:10; Deuteronomy 31:6; Psalm 34:4

Lexi’s family consists of her, her husband, Andrew, her daughter, Sloane, and her dog, Calvin. She teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing and serves with Children’s Ministries.

[1] http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/hawknelson/words.html

“He Marveled”

By Susan Klein

“Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled…”

Matthew 8:10a (NASB)

Whenever I find myself in need of some “real” time with my Savior, I know I can turn to the Gospels and find Him there. His presence is visible upon the pages of God’s written Word. How like our loving heavenly Father to provide us with this very personal gift to use over and over again to fit our every circumstance.

When I am grieving, I can read Jesus wept (John 11:35), knowing He personally shares in my grief. When I need counsel, I can read that Jesus spoke to the multitudes and I can glean from His message to them. When I am weary from life’s demands, I can learn from the example that Jesus withdrew to solitary places to be alone with His Father for rest and refreshment.

Among other things, the Gospels tell us that Jesus:

rebuked

healed

performed miracles

went away (or departed)

forgave

raised the dead

defended

prayed

All of these things have touched my heart in a personal way at a time when I really needed them. All of these things Jesus did because He was the Son of God and they were things He was sent here to do. However, there is one thing Jesus did in response to what someone else did. He marveled. In context, the above verse explains that Jesus marveled over the great faith of one man, a Gentile, no less. Without the benefit of growing up memorizing Old Testament Scriptures or sitting under the tutelage of esteemed Jewish leaders, a Roman centurion heard about Jesus and beseeched Him to heal his paralyzed servant. Jesus immediately understood the great faith this man placed in Him by humbly presenting this request, and by believing it would be done. (You can read the rest of the story in John chapter 8!)

As I glance back over my list, I realize these are things Jesus did for me. To show my gratitude, I’d like to do something for Him. I’d like to exercise my faith like the humble centurion did. I want to take all these things to heart and gratefully, diligently and unquestioningly apply them to my life in a way that brings Him glory and honor. And wouldn’t it just be ever-so-precious if perchance, He were to marvel at my faithfulness?!!

GOING DEEPER:

1. How can you spend intentional time exercising your faith?

2. What are some weak areas in your faithfulness that might require some attention?

FURTHER READING: 

Matthew 9:20-22; Romans 1:17; James 2:14-23

Susan is married to Mark, and co-leads an in-home small group. She serves as a mentor to young women, and is a member of Oakwood’s Peace Team, helping people work through conflict.

Hold Tight…Tomorrow, Too
By Elizabeth Cole

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!”
1 John 3:1a (NIV)

When I was four, I would commonly spend Sunday evenings in my grandparents’ home, relishing my princess status as we had tea parties together. Precious memories are still easily bidden, including the frequent game that revolved around “Let’s pretend that I’m the mom and you’re the children…and you must do everything I tell you.” Oh my…no comment! That one worked well until just about bedtime, at which point I was kindly reminded that the game was over and I needed to be the child once more.

So it was as the child that I experienced my sweetest memory. At the end of an endearing bedtime ritual, my grandfather would take my little-girl hand, gently kiss the palm and fold my fingers over it. “Hold tight what I give you,” he’d whisper before quietly leaving the bedroom. Every time, I’d concentrate on clutching my hand tightly over my grandfather’s kiss, determined to keep it all night. And, of course, every morning it would be gone, released in slumber.

But I don’t remember ever being saddened at the loss, not once. And I suppose that it must be because I knew my grandfather so very well. It never occurred to me that there wouldn’t be plenty more kisses for the next day…and the next, as well. I knew him; I knew his generosity; and I confidently depended on his love for me.

I think about that a lot. When I wonder if I’ve reached the end of my allotment of blessings from the Father’s hand. When I find myself worrying that this time when I obey, I’ll fall alone, flat on my face. When an unbidden thought mocks me with God’s inattention.

But then I remember. We know Him. We’ve experienced His generosity over and over again, and we have depended on His unchanging love. He never leaves us; He has loved us with an everlasting love; His mercies are new every single morning.

Arise, beloved, confident this morning in the love the Father has for you. Hold out your hand.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Where are you tempted to question God’s unending love and involvement in your life today? Are you willing to look back, and to make a list of all those times He’s proven His love, awareness and presence?

FURTHER READING:
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; John 14:7, 15:9; Psalm 36:5-10

Elizabeth is a wife with three grown daughters and two sons-in-law, and is the Director of Connecting at Oakwood Church.