Back-to-School Prayer
By Leslie Snyder

"Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children."
Proverbs 17:6

I saw a school bus the other day and that can only mean one thing. It’s time to go back-to-school. Families across the globe are preparing for another school year and while the educational settings may look different depending on where you live, similar transitions are happening in nearly every home.

During the back-to-school season, my prayers change and become very focused. I suppose it’s natural to feel better when my children are with me. I know what they are doing, whom they are with, and where they will be. But the truth is, with the return of the school year, my children will spend more time away from me than with me. It’s likely yours will, too. So, as we release our children to another school year I invite you to pray the following prayer.

Oh, God. How I love my kids. Thank you for allowing me to be their parent. As the school days approach, I entrust them into your hands. You are everywhere and I thank You that You are where I cannot be. You are in their classroom, in the school hallways, in their lunchroom. You are in the hearts of those You love and those who love You. You are in the heart of my child. Today, I ask for Your presence to surround our school, the buses, and the sidewalks our children will walk. Give teachers and school leaders wisdom and patience. Protect my children’s minds, bodies and souls from any harm and may we trust that You are always with them. Amen.

GOING DEEPER:
Make it a priority to pray daily for your child's teacher, his or her school, faculty and staff. Also, make time to visit your child's school regularly. It will make all the difference in the world.

FURTHER READING:
Numbers 6:24-26

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

God Bless Us!
By Pamela Blattner

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."
Philippians 2:3

When the television program The Apprentice came out, I was fascinated. It made me study leadership in our modern world, especially as we often see power-obsessed people hailed as leaders and put up on pedestals as the ideals of success.

Yet, certainly Jesus was the most effective leader of all time. As God in human flesh, He displayed and promoted an alternative model of leadership: humble service. Mark 10:42-43 says, “You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant.” I began to think, “Can leaders truly be humble and be ‘empowered’? If Jesus was employed by a large competitive company, would His humility even work in today’s workplace?”

In the January 2001 edition of Harvard Business Review, Jim Collins wrote that he found humility to be central to effective leadership. He described humble leaders in this way:

• Personally humble leaders demonstrate a compelling modesty. They shun public adulation and never boast. They are more interested in the getting the job done than talking about it.
  Personally humble leaders act with calm and quiet determination, not relying on their own charisma to inspire followers but rather use their own values and moral standards to motivate others.
• Personally humble leaders avoid personal ambition in favor of multi-generational growth and development. They desire to see others succeed.
• Personally humble leaders are self-reflective and tend to appropriate blame towards themselves and not others.

During my fundraising years, I learned this similar lesson from a fascinating 100-year-old seasoned saint named Walter, whom I loved. He’d greet everyone with his famous shout of “God Bless Us!” In one of our talks together, Walter said that after his midlife crisis, he’d tried to follow in the footsteps of St. Benedict regarding leadership. St. Benedict wrote a rule to combat leadership pride, and his list started with humility, the fear of God. Walter explained that humility, like leadership, starts and ends with recognizing that God is the ultimate leader. Walter said he learned to lead with his “head bowed down.” Don’t you just love that? God Bless Us!

GOING DEEPER:
1. William Temple said, “Humility does not mean thinking less of yourself than of other people, nor does it mean having a low opinion of your own gifts. It means freedom from thinking about yourself at all.” What leadership position do you have in your home, workplace or church that would benefit today from your leading with your “head bowed down,” focused on the Ultimate Leader?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs l:7; John 13:12-15

Pam and her husband Richard have two children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care Ministry and is Co-Coordinator of Touched Twice Ministries.

411 - Looking For Some Information

By Kelly McFadden

"And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe."

1 Thessalonians 2:13

Before the birth of our first child, my husband and I did what many first-time parents do and read books about pregnancy, books about babies, books about parents, books about…you get the picture. We read contrasting opinions, latest trends, medical opinions and asked a lot of questions to anyone who already had a child.

The amount of information given in these books is staggering. One of my favorite books has an index in the back so I can look up specific words based on my needs and be directed to the answer. How great! I wish life was like this…

Maybe it is. As Christians, we have been given the ultimate 411 reference book. We have been given the gift of the Bible, the Word of God. The Bible is a living and active work. Not just a book for yesterday with some good moral lessons in it, but a book that is relevant today. These are writings that are considered living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. The Word of God will penetrate the soul and work in and through you when you accept and believe. It is powerful and beneficial and will guide you to the truth.

So why is it so hard to read the Bible at times? Sometimes I feel like I have read it already or that I can get some more relevant advice from a friend or a book that references the Bible. I don’t know why I fall into those lies. There is no greater information, no greater book, no greater life-changing word than the Bible and what a privilege I have that I own one and read it whenever I want. (What is so helpful is that many of the Bibles these days have thorough concordances, just like my baby book, making it easy to look up topics that are pertinent for us that day.)

While it is beneficial to talk with friends, seek out wisdom from pastors, read other books, we must always remember that there is one ultimate source of truth that God has given us: The Bible. So don’t let it collect dust on your bookshelf. Allow it into your life to work in and through you, who believes.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What sources do you look to for wisdom and guidance?
2. How can you make sure that your ultimate decision is not simply based on tradition, but on the Word of God?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 15:1-9; Acts 12:20-25; Hebrews 4:12

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

It’s Today!
By Jeannine Sawall

“This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.”
Psalm 118:24

Monday morning dawned bright as my youngest son came bounding into our bedroom with excitement and shouted, “It’s today! It’s today!” He was having a birthday party with a few school friends and had been waiting what had seemed like forever for this day to arrive. At last, the page on the calendar had turned and it was finally “today.”

As I lay in bed for a moment longer, putting off the inevitable, I had to smile at my son’s excitement simply because today had arrived. For me, it was just another Monday, with a mile- long list of things to accomplish before the party guests arrived. I did not quite share the same level of enthusiasm he did. Yet, in that same moment, the thought ran through my mind how wonderful it would be if I could greet each day (especially Mondays!) with just a fraction of the excitement my son had expressed in greeting his “day.” How differently my days might go if I began each one eagerly anticipating what it held, instead of begrudgingly running down my to-do list.

So as I climbed out of bed, I thanked the Lord for the simple lesson He had taught me through my son’s innocent joy. The Lord has made each day and gives them to us as a gift. We get to choose our attitude; to greet “today” with gladness or glum. Some mornings I may have to work harder at rejoicing than others, yet I can purposefully set my heart on gladness. What a difference it would make to greet each day with “Today is the day the Lord has made and I will be glad.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you greet each day with an attitude of gladness? If not, ask the Lord to give you His gladness.

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 4:4; Psalm 4:6-7; Psalm 68:3; Ecclesiastes 3:12

Jeannine is a wife and active mother. She works in property management and is a part of the Special Events team for Oakwood’s We Women ministries.

The Encourager
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“When the church in Jerusalem got wind of this [the spreading of the good news of Jesus], they sent Barnabas to Antioch to check on things. As soon as he arrived, he saw that God was behind and in it all. He threw himself in with them, got behind them, urging them to stay with it the rest of their lives. He was a good man that way, enthusiastic and confident in the Holy Spirit's ways.”

Acts 11:22-23 (The Message)

Have you ever been blessed by an Encourager? Maybe it was a teacher, a parent, a pastor or a workplace mentor. Encouragers seek to build others up, to stretch their training, to motivate and praise another’s progress. They leave lasting impressions. Barnabas was just such a person. In fact, Barnabas wasn’t even his given name…it was the nickname he earned from the apostles. The name “Barnabas” translates to “Son of Encouragement” (Acts 4:36). Talk about an insight into a person’s character!

Barnabas demonstrated strong faith, ministered with joy, and taught new believers. He didn’t stand on the sidelines “supervising”…the verse says he “threw himself in with them.” He was active in the building of the early church. Barnabas served with Paul on his first missionary journey. He also mentored John Mark, who wrote one of the gospels.

He is a great example to the rest of us, not only in how he encouraged, but what he encouraged. In a time of opposition, Barnabas urged the younger in the faith to stick with it for the rest of their lives. Sound familiar? Our times have plenty of opposition to Christ-followers, too. We would do well to prepare others in advance, so that the time of our greatest pain or hardest struggle is not the time to wrestle with a faith in Christ. From the very beginning, Barnabas intentionally urged others to stay faithful and resolve to obey God.

As this school year starts, let’s keep our eyes open to ways to throw ourselves in with others…to mentor, teach, inspire, and help prepare for the opposition that is always just around the corner.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you had a Barnabas in your life? What made that person’s influence special to you? Pray for ways to translate that influence on to someone else.

FURTHER READING:
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves in student ministry, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

Labor Day
By Susan Klein

"Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work..."

Exodus 20:9, 10a

Labor Day, the first Monday in September, is a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. The first Labor Day holiday was celebrated on Tuesday, September 5, 1882, in New York City, in accordance with the plans of the Central Labor Union. In 1884 the first Monday in September was selected as the holiday, as originally proposed, and the Central Labor Union urged similar organizations in other cities to follow the example of New York and celebrate a "workingmen's holiday" on that date. (1)

Much debate exists over who actually “created” this national holiday. It seems to have stemmed from a downturn in the economy, much like today. As the economy dipped, travel and tourism were among the first to suffer, as is often the case. Workers at a train car company had their salaries cut to make up for the company’s losses. A rail strike ensued, and spread like wildfire across the country. President Grover Cleveland stepped in to put an end to the strike by force of U.S. Marshals and armed troops. It didn’t end well for some. In an effort to appease a wounded nation, a holiday was declared in honor of the “working man.” A large parade down the streets of New York marked the first Labor Day celebration.

In Scriptures, God gave us our first “Labor Day” holiday of sorts. It was called “The Sabbath.” It was the gift of a full day of no work, given to the hard-working laborers to ensure they had time for R&R. Just as God rested on the seventh day of creation, so He desires for us to rest from our labors. He knows we need a time to recharge our batteries and be productive once again. He also knows we need a time of spiritual renewal to get us through the barrage of attacks that come our way during the week.

Whether you receive a salary for your work, or you volunteer your services, take some time this week to celebrate, to rest, and to enjoy the One who has gifted us with the opportunity to work and the ability to rest.

GOING DEEPER:
1) Consider sending a note of appreciation to someone you know who labors diligently.
2) Make a habit of setting time aside to rest from your labors and be renewed.

FURTHER READING:
Colossians 3:23-24; Mark 6:31

(1) U.S. Dept. of Labor, www.dol.gov

Susan is our Tuesday Morning Women’s Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She is also involved in Oakwood’s youth outreach ministry.

“Hoarding: Buried Alive”
By Pamela Blattner

"I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back." Matthew 25:25 (NLT)

Last night I surfed the stations on our cable and was amazed at how many reality shows there are. You can watch children with problems set on the straight and narrow inThe World's Strictest Parents. If you are not happy with your spouse, you can Wife Swap for another while everybody watches. The world is also even now invited into the private moments of drug and alcohol interventions. One of the newest reality shows to hit the airwaves is called Hoarding: Buried Alive. People on this show have made a lifestyle out of holding on to what they have.

The verse above comes from a story of three servants who were entrusted by their master with his money while he was away. The first two servants pleased their master by multiplying what they had been given. The third servant hid the money, keeping it safe, but also keeping it from earning interest. In other words, he hoarded what his master had given him. Why did he do this? The servant was afraid. He was so consumed by his fear that he did nothing. He was afraid of messing up. He was paralyzed by the thought of doing something wrong. In fear, he made a hiding place, hid the money and then gave it back.

I decided to watch this new “hoarding” show, and as the program ended, I felt compassion toward the hoarder and pondered the events of the story from Matthew in my mind. A picture of myself came to me and I didn’t like it. In the picture, I was bowing before my holy Lord, giving back exactly what He entrusted to me, nothing more. I questioned myself: Am I responding to my Master as this servant responded to his master? Have I fully used or am I fully using, even developing, the gifts and talents He has entrusted to me? Am I hiding what He gave me out of fear of failure?

It is easy to think we are not good enough or that we are undeserving of God's gifts. Our negative thoughts take us captive, leading us to believe we would reflect poorly upon our Lord if we dared to multiply and grow what He has given us. Praise God our intervention is not dramatized in front of millions of people! We stand before an audience of One…the only One who matters...our precious Savior, Jesus Christ. Ask Him to supply the confidence you need to clean out your hiding places.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you fully using, even developing, the gifts and talents God has entrusted to you? Are you hiding what He gave you out of fear?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 25:14-28; Colossians 3:23

Pam and her husband Richard have two adult children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care Ministries and is Co-Coordinator of Lake Country Touched Twice.

Warning Grooves
By Kelly McFadden

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”

Philippians 4:8

Have you ever come home at 11:30 p.m. for a midnight curfew? It’s not likely. I remember waiting on my front steps until 11:59 p.m. before going inside. When given the opportunity, it seems to be in our nature to push the limits to the very farthest degree. Perhaps you’ve asked this question before: how far is too far? How much noise can I make until I push Mom over the edge? How fast over the speed limit can I drive before the police will pull me over? How much can I cheat before getting caught?

We like walking on the edge. The problem is that when we live life near the edge, we can go too far before we realize it. It’s like being on a winding mountain road. On many of them, as you near the edge, you’ll hit a series of warning grooves that cause you to start bumping along. They are there to remind you to get back on the right track. Driving on the edge of a road is dangerous, because it can be easy to lose control and drive off the edge.

The Christian life is much the same. I used to think some of the rules in the Bible were cumbersome. I have come to realize, however, that it is these very guidelines…like warning grooves on a road…that help keep me from flying over the edge and losing control in my life. God’s commandments and principles are there for our protection so we can experience all God wants us to experience. Typically, when people lose control of their lives, it hasn’t been just one bad decision that launches them off a moral cliff, but a series of bad decisions along the way. The Scriptures, the Holy Spirit and our brothers and sisters in Christ help provide us with the warning grooves and the guardrails we need to keep us from flying out of control and going over the edge.

Thank God today for giving us the help we need to stay on the “narrow road."

GOING DEEPER:
1. What is the meaning of today’s verse, Philippians 4:8?
2. Pray today, asking the Lord to show you who can be a companion to walk beside you and help keep you accountable in your thoughts and actions.

FURTHER READING:
Ecclesiastes 4:11-13; James 5:13-18; 1 John 3:1-2

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Play Dough
By Elin Henderson

“We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair, persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed.”
2 Corinthians 4:8, 9 (NKJV)

When was the last time you sat down with some little ones and worked with play dough? Molding it, squishing it, pressing it into different shapes? Do you ever feel like that piece of play dough, being shoved into one of those forms and pressed down until you come out looking like spaghetti? Is the weight of the world on your shoulders, overwhelmingly pressing you down? Perplexed? Persecuted? Struck down? It leaves you feeling limp and worn out, used and empty.

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 4 that suffering can sometimes feel just like we are pieces of play dough being pressed through uncomfortable, tight molds. Yet, while suffering is a natural part of life and a part of being conformed more to His image, it isn’t fatalistic. He didn’t just leave us with “You will be pressed down, perplexed, persecuted and struck down… deal with it!” No, there is hope beyond the pain. The hand that is applying the pressure to the dough knows the limits of it!

Pressed down? Yes, but NOT CRUSHED! His goal isn’t to crush and destroy us but to mold and shape us! Perplexed? Waiting for answers that just don’t come? Waiting for God to do a work but nothing is happening? Confused as to who He is and what is going on in your life, or the lives of others around you? Perplexed yes, but NOT IN DESPAIR! In Him lies hope, and when the time is right His plans will be revealed. Have you been wrongfully accused? Feeling persecuted, maybe put down and brought low? But you are NOT FORSAKEN! He will never leave or forsake you. How about struck down? Feeling left abandoned? Maybe it is your own doing, or perhaps the doings of another? Yet, you are NOT DESTROYED! He faithfully keeps you in the palm of His hand.

This passage of Scripture answers the cries of our heart when are experiencing difficult circumstances. Let us remember the promises that accompany each painful feeling. May we be play dough in His hands!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Think of an area of your life where you are experiencing one of these sufferings. How do these promises encourage your heart today?
2. How can we encourage others using this passage when we see them going through “play dough” experiences?

FURTHER READING:
1 Peter 4:16-19; 2 Timothy 3:12; Philippians 1:29

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.

Short-Term Memory Loss

By Leslie Snyder

“And God spoke all these words: ‘I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.’”

Exodus 20:1

I love a mountaintop experience; I mean a real hike up the mountain that involves planning, challenge, hard work, sweat, a few stumbles, a full backpack and my favorite hiking companion. My husband, Jim, and I have covered many trail miles over the years and just can’t get enough of that mountaintop experience. Of course, we’re not talking Mt. Everest (yet), but we’ve seen some beautiful sights from mountain peaks across the country and both agree that some of our most amazing “God experiences” happen on the mountain.

Moses might agree. After leading the Israelites out of Egypt, Moses and the people came to the desert in Sinai. There the people camped in front of the mountain while Moses went to meet with God and acted as a go-between between God and the people. After one of these encounters, Moses brought the people some instructions from God, what we call “the Ten Commandments.” However, before beginning, God reminded them of two important things: Who He is and what He did for them. “I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery.”

I’ve always been surprised at how easily the people of Israel forgot the LORD and the things He did for them. The Old Testament is riddled with the phrases “and the people did evil in the sight of the Lord,” and “the Israelites again forsook the Lord.” I don’t get it! How could the very people who witnessed the devastating plagues in Egypt, who walked on dry ground between two walls of water, and who followed a pillar of fire by night and a cloud by day into the promised land forget and forsake the very One who made it happen?

Sadly, we’re no different in our generation. We also easily forget what God has done for us and return to our complaints. We forget the peace instead of pain, the restored relationship, and the endless answered prayers. God is I AM. He is our deliverer. He is the same “yesterday and today and forever” Hebrews 13:8.

Maybe the journey from bondage to freedom causes short-term memory loss. Somewhere between the excitement of the journey and the reality of the road before us, we forget where we’ve come from and forsake the One Who delivered us. Today, take some time to re-chart your course.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What demonstrations of God’s goodness in your life have you forgotten?
2. What steps can you take to overcome this “short-term memory loss”?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 19:1-25

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Empty Baskets
By Elin Henderson

“And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.”
John 6:11 (NKJV)

This is such a familiar story to so many of us, the feeding of the 5,000 (plus). Far beyond being a simple story, it is such a beautiful picture of our relationship with our Savior and our need to go to Him for our own needs and the needs of others. The disciples were given a task beyond their capabilities. To feed a crowd of 5,000 plus is no small job! They brought their meager provisions before the Master realizing the insufficiency of them and He supplied above and beyond that which they could ask or think. It was the hands and feet of the disciples that got the bread to the needy people. Jesus was there as the provider.

Now, perhaps I am taking some spiritual and Scriptural license here, but I wonder how the disciples carried the food to the people! Obviously, 12 men could not carry enough bread and fish to feed over 5,000 hungry people. Because baskets are mentioned, I am going to assume they used those. They took what they could, went to as many people as they could and then did what? When the supply they had ran out and their baskets were empty, did they try to start fabricating more bread and fish on their own? No, I’m imagining they went back to the Master for more provisions! They knew where the source was!

Many times our Master gives us the provision to reach out to a hungry and needy world around us. Our sufficiency just isn’t enough! We can’t come up with a plan, let alone the provision to meet the need. He gives us all we need, equips and provides for us, and asks us to be His hands and feet to go and meet the needs of others. But, like the Israelites in the wilderness gathering just enough manna for that day (any more would have just gone bad), our Master gives us just what we need for that day and asks us to come to Him when that runs out. Like the disciples, may we take our empty baskets to the Master and ask Him to fill them and equip us for reaching out to the lost world in which we live and work. And, when our manna runs out, may we immediately return to the source, stock up and set out again!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What task has the Lord laid on your heart? In what ways has He asked you to be His hands and feet? Where are you going for the provision for that task?

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 4:19; Colossians 1:29

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.

Come to the Porch!
By Susan Klein

“My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. Where can I go and meet with God?”
Psalm 42:2

When making the decision to purchase our house six months ago, one of the features that really sold us was the three-season porch. The house we were living in at the time was on a bus line, near an airport, a fire station and a police station. “Quiet” was not in my vocabulary there! As I stood in the middle of the porch, gazing wistfully out at the snow-covered trees dotted with the bright reds and blues of cardinals and blue jays, my toes began to tingle as I envisioned myself sipping my morning coffee and having quiet moments with my God in this cozy haven.

Once moved in, the thaw of spring came rather quickly. Anticipation mounted as I started to place the furniture on the porch! Then, it finally arrived...my first blissful morning in this peaceful sanctuary! I rejoiced with my God at the beauty of His creation outside my windows! I thanked Him for His provision of such a marvelous gift. I spent many meaningful moments in conversation with him that morning. I felt as if I’d been blessed with a little glimpse of heaven!

With the busy-ness of the move and the end of ministry and school year approaching, I was up and running most mornings and didn’t get out to the porch much. But when I did take the time, God was always thrilled to meet me! I knew that once summer arrived, things would settle down. But summer brought its own flurry of activities and events to prepare for. One morning, awakened by the birds outside my window at an insanely early hour, I felt as if God was whispering into my ear, “Come! Come to the porch! Meet me there!” Like a child on Christmas morning, I tip-toed down the stairs in anticipation and hurried to the porch. The sun had not quite peeked over the horizon as birds did their pre-dawn chirping and swooping about. I snuggled into the sofa, and into the outstretched arms of my waiting Father. Oh, how I’d missed Him! And I knew He missed me too. Nothing else seemed to matter at that moment. Somehow, I just knew all would be well in this day.

Do you have a quiet place you meet with God? Is He calling you to come? Go quickly! Run like a child into His big, strong, waiting arms and savor His embrace!

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you don’t currently have a “porch” where you meet with God, pick a spot that you enjoy to set up as your haven. Try to make it your “special place,” so that you’ll look forward to going there each day.

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 55:6, Matthew 11:28

Susan enjoys being the mother of two great children, and loves serving in women’s ministry as Oakwood’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study Coordinator and teacher.

Not Always As It Seems

By Kelly McFadden

“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…”

Matthew 7:12

A Different Type of Prayer (author unknown):

"Heavenly Father, Help us remember that the jerk who cut us off in traffic last night is a single mother who worked nine hours that day and was rushing home to cook dinner, help with homework, do the laundry and spend a few precious moments with her children. Help us to remember that the pierced, tattooed, disinterested young man who can't make change correctly is a worried 19-year-old college student, balancing his apprehension over final exams with his fear of not getting his student loans for next semester. Remind us, Lord, that the scary looking fellow, begging for money in the same spot every day is a slave to addictions that we can only imagine in our worst nightmares. Help us to remember that the old couple walking annoyingly slow through the store aisles and blocking our shopping progress are savoring this moment, knowing that, based on the biopsy report she got back last week, this will be the last year that they go shopping together.”

It’s been said, “You never know enough about a situation to truly be angry.” So often we jump to conclusions, instead of looking beyond the situation at the heart of the matter. As children the Golden Rule was said in our classrooms, teaching us to be fair and nice. As adults, we now teach the next generation this same phrase. Treat others the way you want to be treated. But do you truly act this way? Or is the Golden Rule just a looming phrase and a nice ideal? The words in Matthew 7:12 are the words of Jesus. These words are building blocks of compassion and kindness. God shows us this kind of love every day. What can you do today to show an act of mercy or goodness? As Christians it is important to treat others the way Jesus would treat them…you may be the only Jesus someone ever sees.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you ever misjudged a situation? What happened? What was the result?
2. How can you make an effort today, and everyday, to be an example of God’s mercy and goodness?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 6:27-36; Romans 13:8-10; Galatians 5:13-15

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Déjà vu
By Karen D’Amore

“For You, O God, tested us; You refined us like silver.”
Psalm 66:10

The experience of déjà vu is accompanied by a compelling sense of familiarity in a present situation. In the movie Groundhog Day we see the essence of déjà vu personified. Cynical, self-centered TV meteorologist Phil Connors has been sent to Punxsutawney, PA to broadcast the annual Groundhog Day festivities. After grudgingly covering the event, he awakens the next day to find himself trapped in an endless cycle of Groundhog Days. When his self-indulgent behavior fails to change, events repeat themselves in the same way they occurred the original day. Given opportunities to learn from the previous day’s failures and to respond to others differently, Phil continues to fulfill his own self-seeking pleasures, at the expense of others. As desperate attempts to change the events or escape the cycle of the time loop prove futile, Phil grows increasingly despondent. Eventually, he comes to the realization that he is powerless to change his circumstances…the only thing he can change is himself. When a transformed Phil emerges as a thoughtful, caring, selfless new man, the time loop is broken and he is set free from Groundhog Day.

This fitting cinematic compression likens itself to the refining process of a believer. As Christ-followers, every detail of our lives falls under God’s scrutiny, as He purges out remnants of our carnal life. Oftentimes, He will bring us back to the same point over and over again; leaving us in that place until the desired lessons are learned and His finished product has been produced. Whether it be lessons in forgiveness, loving the unlovable, selfishness, pride, or lack of trust…the refining process continues as impurities are eradicated from our character.

Just as silver is refined by being held in the middle of the fire, where the hottest flames burn away the impurities, the Lord will hold us in that “hot spot” until the desired transformation takes place. And while the silversmith knows the silver is completely refined when he can see his image reflecting in the metal, the Lord will rejoice in His completed work when He sees His reflection in our lives.

Do you find yourself stuck in a place of Déjà vu, wrestling over and over with the same familiar lessons? Lend yourself to God’s refining moments…He may not move you forward until you do!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there a stronghold in your life in which God is continually re-testing you? Surrender to His character refinement today.

FURTHER READING:
Hebrews 10:22-23; Jeremiah 9:7

Married to Dan, Karen a retired police officer is a recently licensed Nail Technician working at Craig Berns Salon. She is the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study, a member of the Women’s Ministry Special Events Team and is a wildlife rehabilitator.

A Prayer of Blessing

By Leslie Snyder

“May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in you.”

Psalm 33:22

Have you ever watched a child fall asleep in the arms of a parent, especially in a noisy crowd like a sporting event or other large gathering? The sleepy child often falls asleep in the most precarious of positions with his or her head cocked sideways on the parent’s shoulder, one arm hoisted around Mom or Dad’s neck while the other dangles. It’s an awkward position for both parent and child, but the innate relationship between the need of the child and the love of the parent instinctively leads the parent to shield the young dreamer from disturbances. Rest is available to the child as he or she trusts Mom or Dad’s loving care.

I love the psalmist’s use of the phrase rest upon us. It conjures up images of someone gently laying a soft, warm blanket across the shoulders of one who needs protection from the elements of wind, rain or excessive heat or cold. The phrase literally brings visible comfort, an audible exhale, a physical release, and relief from the daily barrage of stress, pain, burden, anger, hurt and disappointment. The other phrase that complements this is even as we put our hope in you. How amazing is it that the blessing comes in the action of hoping? Not before, not after, but during the act of trusting comes a blessing of rest. Another translation chooses the word mercy instead of rest. What an even greater gift when we think of rest in terms of mercy, for who doesn’t need this gift?

As you consider this verse today, I’d like to invite you to pray this passage as a blessing for the people around you. It might sound something like this, “May your unfailing love rest upon (insert name here), even as she/he puts her/his hope in you. Amen." Not only will you be blessing someone, you will begin the powerful practice of praying Scripture.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Praying Scripture may feel odd at first. Even so, give it a try. Below are some Scriptures to get you started.

FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 3:16-19, 6:19-20; Philippians 1:3-6

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Beyond Abilities
By Elin Henderson

“For I bear witness that according to their ability, yes, and beyond their ability, they were freely willing.”
2 Corinthians 8:3 (NKJV)

How often we measure our life and our accomplishments past, present and future by our abilities. We look at our measure of strength and from that, we say “I’ll take that job, it falls within my list of abilities, but that one there is a little too beyond me.” In my life and ministry here in Mozambique, the Lord is constantly reminding me to be open to be used beyond my abilities. I am not a teacher, but am called to homeschool my kids with minimal resources and minimal ability/knowledge. My language skill is low, but I’m called to speak into the lives of the people around me and teach literacy classes, stretching far beyond my abilities. On and on the list goes.

In your life, I am sure you can find similar circumstances occurring. God’s power is unleashed into our lives when we are “freely willing,” like the Macedonians Paul was speaking of here, to be used beyond our abilities! Then, we truly experience that for which we have been created; to be used of Him and allowing Him to live His life and purposes out through us with an unexplainable strength.

One of my favorite preachers of old is Phillips Brooks. He was ministering in the US around the time of Abraham Lincoln and has a quote that I keep close by to remind myself to be available “beyond my abilities.”

“Do not pray for easier lives; pray to become stronger men.
Do not pray for tasks equal to your powers; Pray for powers equal to your tasks.
Then your life shall be no miracle, but you shall be a miracle.
Each day you shall wonder at that which is wrought in you by the Grace of God.” (1)

May your life be a testimony and miracle of the impossible as you freely and willingly go beyond your abilities by His strength!

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you were to make a list of your abilities, what would it look like? How about the things that are beyond your abilities? Do you feel the Lord calling you to any of those areas? Today, “pray for powers equal to your tasks, not tasks equal to your powers.”

FURTHER READING:
Luke 18:27; John 8:28-29

(1) Phillips Brooks – all sermons and quotes available online at The Project Gutenberg Ebook.

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.

Refresh Yourself with God’s Armor
Pamela Blattner

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes…Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.”
Ephesians 6:11, 14-18

As a grandparent, I love snuggling up to my grandkids to read Bible stories to them before nap time, smelling their sweet scent on their foreheads. I recently told my warrior grandson that the armor of God is not like a magic shield he can casually slip on in order to be safe anywhere he wants to go. It is my prayer that when my grandkids know the truth about God, they won't trust popular counterfeits that are out in the world. I want them to know the source of their righteousness, so they won't believe becoming more like Christ takes place without the cross. And I also want them to know God's way to peace and salvation, so when they grow older, they won't choose occult paths.

Everywhere we look, the world offers enticing imitations of what God promises His people. As Christ’s followers we know that the only safe place for our kids is in the loving arms of Jesus. We try our hardest to train our children "in the way they should go" (Proverbs 22:6) and help them to wear the "full armor of God" each day. We need to be aware of the enemy’s schemes to deceive us. We need to protect our eyes, ears and hearts as we engage with our culture…in the books we read or videos we rent, and other types of entertainment we participate in.

Refresh yourself today in God’s Word and don’t forget your armor!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Pray through the passages above for yourself and your family. What pieces of armor do you forget to put on each day?
2. How can you better teach these truths to your children?

FURTHER READING:
Deuteronomy 18:9-13

Pam and her husband Richard have two adult children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care and is Co-Coordinator of Touched Twice Ministries.

Lonely, but not Alone
By Elizabeth Cole

“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth.”
John 14:15-16

When I watch Spiderman II, I’m touched by the loneliness Peter Parker feels day after day. He’s not like those around him. While his childhood friends chase financial and theatrical success, Peter’s busy chasing bad guys. While his peers enjoy fame, he hides in the night’s shadows with a strange-looking mask over his head and no money to pay the rent. Very little in common with those around him. Thinking thoughts no one can understand. Choosing a lifestyle others find odd at best, or freakish at worst.

Not so far off from the life of a Christ-follower, is it? Becoming a citizen of God’s heavenly Kingdom turns everything upside-down, making us “aliens and strangers” no longer of this world. He calls us to spend our time differently, to spend our money differently, to fill our thoughts differently, to care about others selflessly, to step out beyond our own comfort, to take daring risks for His sake and for His glory…the list goes on. It can be a place where we’re misunderstood, mistaken and subtly maligned. Ever spent time with old friends from years ago and you have nothing to add to the conversation at hand? Ever sat at a family Christmas gathering wondering if anyone even knows it’s Someone’s birthday? Ever been surrounded by a crowd of people and felt completely, utterly alone?

Praise God, we are not alone in our loneliness. Most importantly, praise Him as He makes it clear that His presence is with us “forever.” There is nowhere we go that He is not there. There is no cry of our hearts that He does not hear. There is no point at which He doesn’t understand our thoughts before they’re formed. We are not alone.

In His precious generosity, God goes even further and gives us His people, the other citizens of His Kingdom, as our encouragers. Listen to Paul in his letter to the Romans, “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong; that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” And to the Thessalonians, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up…” You are not alone…We are not alone.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What could you do today to enjoy the companionship of the Holy Spirit?
2. Who, in your life, needs your spiritual encouragement today?

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 1:22; 2 Peter 2:11; John 15:19; John 17:16

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

Believing Prayer
By Peggy Kleckner

“So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.”
Acts 12:5

The church was praying for Peter. They couldn’t physically free him, but they could pray to the One who could. They probably had their own ideas of how God would answer and none of them included Peter knocking, angel-released, at the door (Acts 12:13)! We read through this account and think, “That’s nice, Peter is free.” But if we take the time to really enter into the situation – WOW! He was chained to two guards, there were sentries at the entrance and an iron gate to get through…but earnest prayer to the One True God freed him from his captivity.

Have you ever been faced with an impossible situation, and then just known in your heart that you were to believe God would answer your earnest prayer? I have. I was sitting on the couch with my husband, when I realized the diamond was missing from my wedding ring. Now, this is no small annoyance for any woman, but our marriage had just survived some very dark waters (by the grace of God!), and this seemed to be just too much to bear. So I prayed, and I called on my family and my friends to pray. I knew that our God is the God of the Impossible. Finding a loose diamond is hard enough when you know where you lost it, but I didn’t even know that! Since a clean home is not where I live, that just added to the impossibility of the situation. So, we hunted and we prayed and I just kept believing that God was going to put that diamond in the palm of my hand. It was almost a week later that my son bent down in the kitchen, picked something up off the floor and placed it in the palm of my hand – yep, my diamond! What a joy to share answered prayer! Not only was my faith stretched and confirmed, but so was the faith of all of those who had joined me in prayer.

Over and over again prayer seems to be the Lord’s lesson to me. No matter the dire circumstances – God says pray. When we see no way out – too many guards and iron gates – He tells us to pray…and trust His sovereignty. He is looking for those who will believe, for those who have the faith to cry out in earnest prayer for Him to act on their behalf.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What impossible situation are you ready to turn over to God?
2. What friends and relatives do you have who are being held captive physically or spiritually? Are you praying for their release?

FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13-18; Matthew 21:22

Peggy is a wife and mother of two sons and two step-sons. She is the Co-coordinator of Oakwood’s Wednesday p.m. Bible Study.

Keeping Anger in Check
By Susan Klein

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

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

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

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

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

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

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She is the Coordinator of Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and one of its teachers.

Intimacy with the Lord brings Forth a Heart of Service
By Pamela Blattner

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”
Genesis 1:1

Last night, I began to meditate on the Lord’s goodness. There were moments sprinkled about my prayers last night when I felt such intimacy with God that I was overwhelmed with His presence and by the fact that His perfect love had found me. I looked out the window today and began to take in the magnificence of His creation. The sun crept over the tree line. The skies were washed in a clear transparent powder blue. And the needles on the pine trees glistened with the reflection of the light from the sun. I saw birds take flight, seeking their provisions as He had promised. I realized for one short moment that I was allowed to see the majesty of God clearly in everything that lived outside the four walls that surrounded me.

Instantly, I was back in my room confronted with the total inadequacy of man’s ability to build anything compared to God’s capacity to create. This time I didn’t miss it! God’s breath had fallen gently on my soul, and I was drenched in the glory of his presence.

Because of the intimacy and love I had just experienced with God, I began the day He made for me asking myself what I could do for Him today. I thought of the fact that God entrusts us with everything on this earth. He wants all of us to manage and use everything we do for His glory alone. As we love Him, we love the things He loves and we desire to join Him in the work He is doing. And as we serve Him, that love is shown to those around us.

Intimacy with the Lord brings forth a heart of service and blessings too great to count.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Take some time today to reflect on your God and the love He has for you. Then, look around your world. How can you serve Him?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 24:1; Matthew 25:14

Pam and her husband Richard have two adult children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care and is Co-Coordinator of Touched Twice Ministries.

The 80/20 Rule

By Kelly McFadden

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1:2-4

The Pareto Principle, or 80/20 rule, states that 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes. Although this rule was first applied in Italy when Pareto was looking at the dispersal of wealth, it has since become a rule of thumb for many businesses. It has been said that 20% of your workforce does 80% of the work, or 80% of your sales come from 20% of your clients. I think this law comes into play in our lives as well. Life is 20% what happens to you and 80% what you make of it.

There are tons of stories about people who come out of difficult situations…gang life, in and out of jail, drug addiction, broken families, abuse…yet still seem to rise to the top. And of course, there are many stories of those who have been given everything they would need to succeed, only to wind up in the depths of a broken life. How you choose to respond to what life hands you not only says a lot about you, but has a huge impact on your life. You can choose to either spend your life blaming your circumstances for misfortune or heartache, or you can learn from those things and move on.

When James writes his letter, he tells the people to “consider it joy when they face trials.” This is so contrary! Joy? How can you consider it joy when you are robbed, raped, lied to, fired, are having marriage difficulties or friendship problems? James is not saying to pretend to be happy about a painful situation, but simply to have a positive outlook and know you can learn from it and not let it drag you down. The only thing we have control over in this life is how we choose to respond. And how you choose to respond, especially under pressure, shows the depth of your character. Instead of complaining about your struggles or blaming your trials for the bad choices you make, look at them as opportunities to grow, not opportunities to assign blame for your misfortune.

If life is truly 20% what happens to you and 80% what you make of it, be thoughtful each time you react to something that has happened or each time you make a decision.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How do you react to others when life is going well? What about when it isn’t?
2. What can you do to work towards choosing the road of perseverance and hope instead of despair?

FURTHER READING:
Joshua 24:15; Philippians 2:5; James 1:2; James 3:2

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Lift Your Eyes
By Karen D’Amore

“I lift my eyes to You, to you whose throne is in heaven. As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the Lord our God…”
Psalm 123: 1-2

Blurry-eyed, I sheepishly relinquished myself to the dawning of the new day, as the overly engaging sun permeated my stupor. Hungry for a strong dose of Jesus, I wandered into the garden. Scanning my horizontal plane…worry, doubt and fear obscured my vision. With my focus diverted to a nearby wild turkey, I watched as he stood motionless gazing upward into a tree. Curious as to what he was watching, I too looked upward, just in time to see a nest of wide-mouth fledglings feverishly receiving nourishment from their mother. Scripture came to life as I was reminded, “Do not worry about your life…look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more valuable then they?” (Matthew 6:25a, 26).

Viewing life on a horizontal plane, everything I saw was at eye-level…or more fittingly…“I”-level. At “I”- level I couldn’t see past unpaid bills, joblessness, and other personal needs. At “I”- level, my vision was blurred and strained by the cares of this world. With my eyes taken off of me and lifted upward, I was able to see life from a vertical perspective through the lens of God. Magnifying the promises of His Word, I found comfort in Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

As Christ-followers, we are called to a relationship of dependency on God. “Your Heavenly Father already knows all your needs, and He will give you all you need from day to day if you live for Him and make the Kingdom of God your primary concern” (Matthew 6: 32b, 33 NLT). Is “I”-strain impairing your vision? Lift your eyes to your Provider; you’ll be amazed at how clearly you see…from a perspective that’s Heavenly!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What grimy circumstances are smudging your lens? How can you change the direction of your focus to see clearer?
2. Look to Scripture for a godly perspective on your circumstances.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 141:8; Psalm 121:1-3; Psalm 3:3

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer is a recently licensed Nail Technician working at Craig Berns Salon. She is the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday Morning Bible Study, a member of the Women’s Ministry Special Events Team and a wildlife rehabilitator.

God Does the Saving
By Pam Blattner

“Now God has us where he wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It's God's gift from start to finish! We don't play the major role. If we did, we'd probably go around bragging that we'd done the whole thing! No, we neither make nor save ourselves. God does both the making and saving. He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing.”
Ephesians 2:8-9 (MSG)

A dear friend of mine is worried that she may not really be saved. She is a devout Christian woman. She’s battling cancer and is thinking hard about her future with Jesus. Her doubts made me wonder how I could encourage her that every sin of hers has been taken care of on the cross. I emailed her a photo of a person’s hand stamping, “PAID IN FULL” on a contract. I believe Scriptures teaches that once someone is saved by faith in Christ’s death on the cross, that person has eternal life. His or her salvation is secure.

God tells us in Scripture that because all of our sins…past, present, and future…were forgiven at the cross, there is absolutely nothing that we can do that will deter our official standing as children of God. We don’t save ourselves, God does it all. I’m still amazed that we’re saved by grace alone. Because salvation is given as a free gift, nothing can separate us from the love of God (Rom. 8:37-39), not even us. If we disobey God, we’ll lose our companionship with God and suffer the consequences of our own bad choices. We could even encounter a divine correction, or miss out on all of the blessings He has for us. We may not earn the heavenly rewards we would have received if we had been faithful; but He will always be faithful and true to His Word.

Jesus made a way for us to have a relationship with Him by giving Himself as a gift in the final and ultimate sacrifice. Jesus is the Gift. Dear friends, Jesus performed that unselfish mission completely by Himself. Nothing we do or don’t do could ever make a difference. Our response is to trust Him and receive the gift. Praise God!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you had a moment in your life when you asked Christ to forgive you, trusting Him for eternal life? If not, would you consider making that decision today?

FURTHER READING:
Acts 15:11; Romans 3:24, 5:15-17; Ephesians 1:6-7, 2:5-9; Titus 2:11; 3:4-7; Hebrews 2:9; 1 Peter 1:9-10

Pam and her husband Richard have two adult children and two grandchildren. She serves Oakwood through its Family Care and is Co-Coordinator of Touched Twice Ministries.

A Childlike Faith

By Leslie Snyder

“And he said: ‘I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.’”

Matthew 18:3

I overheard some four- and five-year-old children following their teacher in a familiar cheer. “Give me a J,” cheered the teacher. “J,” yelled the children. “Give me an “E,” encouraged the teacher. “E,” yelled the children. The teacher continued, “Give me an “S.” “S,” chorused the children. Their voices grew louder as the teacher led them to the final letters of “U” and “S.” Together they said J-E-S-U-S! With excitement rising, the teacher shouted, “What’s that spell?” A strange pause followed and one child finally answered, “I don’t know.” I couldn’t help but laugh at the innocence of the answer.

Kids are like that. They believe what you tell them, celebrate the simple joys of discovery, and become excited when given new ideas and experiences. That is the joy of a childlike faith. Unfortunately, something happens between childhood and adulthood that changes everything. Expectations, pains, failures and disappointments enter the picture and the once joyous innocence of childhood becomes marred. Faith can slowly gives way to cynicism, and hearts that were once open and filled to overflowing become closed, cold and empty.

Jesus calls us, however, to return to a childlike faith. The late author Mike Yaconelli wrote of this “place all children know about.” “This voice of our childhood is the voice of wonder and amazement, the voice of God, which has always been speaking to us, even before we were born.” He then describes what happens when things change. “One sad day, we are aware of an absence. We can no longer hear the God-voice, and we are left with only silence…not a quiet silence, but a roaring silence.” (1)

Yaconelli suggested the reason we stopped hearing God’s voice was not because we wanted to stop hearing it, but that our lives became louder. I am convinced that children have an innate ability to hear the voice of God, and it is that clarity which makes it easy to believe. As we go through life, other noise enters the scene and muffles the once-clear voice of God. Now we must spend the rest of our lives “clearing the air” in order to return to the simple clarity of our childhood.

Jesus invites us to come to Him as little children, eager to be with Him, to simply enjoy His presence. Today, take some time to remember the simple pleasures of childhood. Laugh out loud, sing too loud, lighten your step a little and remember Who waits to share this time with you.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Sometimes children say it the best. Consider this child’s prayer: “Dear God, I don’t ever feel alone since I found out about you.” Nora (2)

FURTHER READING:
John 11:25-26; Romans 1:16, 10:4

(1) Dangerous Wonder, Mike Yaconelli. Nav Press Publishing. Colorado Springs, CO: 1998.
(2) Children's Letters to God, The New Collection. Compiled by Stuart Hample and Eric Marshall. Workman Publishing, 1991.

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

“Do You Love Me?”
By Elizabeth Cole

“Again Jesus said, ‘Simon, son of John, do you truly love me?’”
John 21:16

I’ve been thinking about that poignant moment in the second act of Fiddler on the Roof where Tevye asks Golde, his wife of 25 years, if she loves him. Tevye is intrigued by his daughter’s love for a young man and it causes him to tentatively ask, “Golde…do you love me?” She quickly brushes off the question as simply a sign of indigestion, given all the stress and trouble that’s taking place in their turn-of-the-century village. But he persists…“Golde, I’m asking you a question…do you love me?”

And here’s the part that has caused me to dwell on this scene lately. Golde answers, “For twenty-five years I've washed your clothes, cooked your meals, cleaned your house, given you children, milked the cow…” How quickly her mind moves to actions…good actions, for sure. Basically, she’s replying, “Good grief, look at everything I’ve done for you! I’ve spent my whole adult life doing things for you…”

How often does that become our answer when we stop to think about how we love Jesus? “Lord, of course, I love you. Look at everything I’ve been doing for you. In fact, I’ve spent my whole adult life doing things for you…” The tone of voice in my mind uncomfortably echoes what I imagine Martha’s to be when her friend Jesus came to visit. While her sister Mary sits with Jesus, Martha does things for Jesus. Martha’s about accomplishments and results; Mary’s about first things first.

Love is first. Henri Nouwen writes of Jesus’ exchange with Peter as He restores him, “He whose only concern had been to announce the unconditional love of God had only one question to ask, ‘Do you love me?’ The question is not: How many people take you seriously? How much are you going to accomplish? Can you show some results? But: Are you in love with Jesus?” (1)

Am I in love with Jesus? Am I in love with One who laid aside every divine right in order to obey the Father and drag a way-too-heavy cross up a hill? Am I in love with the One who calmly tells the wind to cool it, tenderly holds a child, and speaks unvarnished truth for the sake of Love? Do I love Him as my First Love, with fervency and passion…with all my heart and soul and mind and strength?

Actions matter…for sure. But His question’s got to be answered first: Do you love me?

GOING DEEPER:
What will you do today to be with Jesus?

FURTHER READING:
Mark 12:30-31; Luke 10; John 21; Philippians 2; Revelation 2:1-7

(1) Henri J.M. Nouwen, In the Name of Jesus, The Crossroad Publishing Company, New York, p. 37

Elizabeth is a wife, mother to one adult and two teen-aged daughters, and Director of Women’s Ministries at Oakwood Church.

No Condemnation
By Dawn Weimar

“For there is therefore, now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Romans 8:1

I had a wonderful reminder about this verse as I listened to a woman on the radio talk about her struggle with a situation. She sought advice from her dad, and retold the story, plagued with guilt that her reaction to the situation had fallen short. When she got to the end, her dad said, “Have faith in God.” That was all she needed to hear for the shackles of guilt and condemnation to fall off in an instance.

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23.
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life” Romans 6:23.

The weight of guilt and condemnation can be unbearable, like a heavy backpack. I’ve learned and repeated these verses many times when I’ve felt that weight start to strap itself to me. James 1:22-25 describe how we must examine ourselves against the Word of God. That same woman on the radio said something very insightful, “Self-examination, apart from faith in God, becomes condemnation.” We must have faith in God that “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” 1 John 1:9.

Furthermore, sometimes, women can take too much responsibility for the happiness of their family and friends. I carried responsibility for everything in my life and everyone I knew; this is called codependency and is NOT healthy or productive. When things did not go well, I immediately felt that it was my fault. Later, I learned that we don’t need to try to change situations that are not ours to change. Frankly, sometimes, we need to get out of the Holy Spirit’s way and quit trying to solve the problem, so that others can step up, grow up and take responsibility that is theirs.

Let Jesus free you from the weight of sin and guilt that will prevent you from being who He wants you to be and doing what He wants you to do. None of us is perfect! Let’s admit it, ask for forgiveness and move on.

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you feel heavy laden, memorize Romans 8:1, tape it to your mirror and refrigerator, and say it out loud several times a day.

FURTHER READING:
Romans 3:9-26

Dawn is a wife and mother of three daughters, and is active in Oakwood's worship ministries. She's a pediatric nurse, currently working as VP of Business Development in Population Health Improvement.

Unforgettable
By Elin Henderson

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated and untrained men, they marveled. And they realized that they had been with Jesus.”
Acts 4:13 (NKJV)

Can’t you just hear Nat King Cole crooning away in the background? “Unforgettable, that’s what you are…” Have to love the classics! We can be unforgettable for a number of different reasons. It is evident that many of the New Testament apostles like Peter, John and Paul were difficult characters to forget. From the descriptions we read of them in Scripture, we have to draw the conclusion that they left an impression everywhere they went. And not just any old impression: “the people marveled.” Was it because of how great these guys were? No, it was because they were different. They had been with Jesus! He was a reality in their lives that the people around them couldn’t explain.

This challenged me to consider, am I unforgettable in the same way they were? Let’s not forget that we can be unforgettable for negative reasons as well. We all know Hitler, Stalin and Saddam Hussein. They are unforgettable characters, too, but for completely different reasons. What impressions and impacts are we having on the people we come into contact with? When we walk away, what do they think? Or, do they think again of us at all? Are our lives so similar to theirs that they don’t notice a difference in us?

May it be that after people are with us they say to themselves, “Boy, there is something different about her. Did you see how she reacted to that negative situation?” Or, “She has something that I don’t have.” May we leave our mark on history like the church fathers of old and be “Unforgettable, that’s what you are. Unforgettable, though near or far.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. Take the time to read through 1 Thessalonians 2. What impact do Paul and his companions have on the Thessalonian people?

FURTHER READING:
Philippians 1:27

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

The Request

By Leslie Snyder

“Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ ‘Lord, I want to see,’ he replied.”

Luke 18:40-41

I came across the story about a man who took his kids out to eat. The man’s six-year-old son asked if he could say grace. As they bowed their heads the boy prayed, “God is good. God is great. Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream for dessert. And Liberty and Justice for all! Amen!” Along with the laughter from the other customers nearby, he heard a woman remark, “That’s what’s wrong with this country. Kids today don’t even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream! Why, I never!”

Hearing this, the man’s son burst into tears and asked the father, “Did I do it wrong? Is God mad at me?” As he held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly not mad at him, an old man who had observed the whole thing approached the table. He winked at the boy and said, “I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.” “Really?” the boy asked. “Cross my heart.” Then in a theatrical whisper he added, “Too bad she never asks God for ice cream. Sometimes a little ice cream is good for the soul.”

That’s what the man in today’s Scripture understood. He asked for what he desired. Picture the scene: A blind man performed his monotonous ritual of begging day after day. Without a miracle, nothing would change. There are no optometrists, no lasik eye surgery, no cornea transplants. Blindness and begging are his destiny…until the day Jesus passes by. With a buzz in the air, people rush past him in excitement. Although he can’t see with his eyes, he feels the energy in the air and hears it with his ears. Jesus was near and in desperation the beggar begins to cry out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Rebuked by the crowd, he yells louder. The crowd ignored him, but Jesus took notice and answered.

Commentator William Barclay wrote, “A gentle, sentimental longing never really taps the power of God; but the passionate, intense desire of the very depths of the human heart will never be disappointed.” Our faith is often so proper, and too often we allow what others think determine our actions…even in our relationship with Jesus Himself.

Today, may we be more like the blind beggar who cried out in desperation…and was answered.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How desperate are you for God’s help? Is there a situation in your life about which you ought to cry out to God?
2. How does today’s Scripture give you confidence that God cares about your own difficult situations?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 18:35-43; James 4:2-3; Matthew 7:7-11; Hebrews 4:16

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

“Beam Me Up, Scottie!”
By Susan Klein

“If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it.”
Daniel 3:17

Even if you’re not at “Trekkie,” you may recognize that most familiar line from the television series Star Trek. Whenever Captain James T. Kirk of the USS Enterprise would find himself in a perilous situation on a strange planet, he would open his communicator (like a cell phone) and ask to be immediately beamed back up to his ship. He always managed to escape in the nick of time, avoiding a fatal demise.

Sometimes, when in the midst of a pressing situation, don’t we all wish we could just open our cell phones, press a button, and utter the words, “Beam me up, God! This is too hard. I want out!” But that is not reality. Sometimes, walking in the will of God means walking through those difficult situations, not being rescued from them. Daniel had to spend the night in the lion’s den in order for God’s will to be done. But God was right there with him, closing the mouths of the lions. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had to walk into the fiery furnace to bring glory and honor to God. He did not spare them from having to go in, but He walked through it with them.

Be confident in this; there will be obstacles and difficulties in this life. And, God always has a purpose for every circumstance in our lives. If we avoided all the difficult ones, we may not reap the blessings of drawing close to Him and seeing His mighty hand at work. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego knew that there was a possibility that God would not choose to save them from the fire (as stated in Daniel 3:18), yet they stood firm, knowing that no matter what the outcome, their God was with them and had a purpose for their living through this trial.

Our circumstances do not always have a happy ending, as did Captain Kirk’s. We don’t always escape before the going gets tough! But, rather than pleading; “Beam me up, Lord!” why not try requesting, “Walk me through this.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What is your initial response when you see a storm of life approaching?
2. How can you better prepare yourself for the next obstacle to come your way?

FURTHER READING:
Acts 27:23-26; James 1:12

Susan is a wife and mother of two. She is the Coordinator of Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study and one of its teachers.

I Want to Pump You Up!
By Elin Henderson

“Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NKJV)

Where is Arnold when we need him? Or was it those two funny weightlifter-wannabes that made this phrase so popular? Either way, you can’t open a magazine today without finding some article on weight lifting, or the great benefit of strength training. We know there are plenty of ways to physically gain strength and muscle, but how do we, as believers, pump ourselves and others up spiritually?

The Greek word “edify,” found throughout the New Testament, really means “to build/bulk up.” 1 Paul was encouraging the believers to build each other up like they would build up their own bodies. It is an outward focus that Paul is encouraging them to take and not a “me”-centered philosophy that the believers of that time were stuck on.

So, how practically do we “build” each other up? What is the difference between edifying and educating? We can educate people, filling their heads with knowledge and imparting information, but edifying is different. I can have the head-knowledge of how to weight train…read many books and go to seminars and teaching sessions, but it isn’t until someone comes alongside of me that I’ll really grow. Like a personal trainer who says, “Let me show you how to do this correctly so that you can get the most benefit out of it.” And, not just once or twice, but repetition and time are all needed to see change.

The same is true in our spiritual lives. We need people to come alongside of us and help us one-to-one to grow in grace and truth. But, it doesn’t stop there, we need to seek out opportunities to build each other up…share what we have learned and help others bulk up. Are we seeking out opportunities to pump each other up? It requires a commitment into the life of another, not just a one-time session. Granted, we can’t invest deeply into the lives of every believer that we know, but the Lord is looking for personal spiritual trainers to come alongside His children and help them along…to the point of their being able to help someone else along! Let’s ask Him to show us who He would like us to pump up!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Who has spoken into your life as a spiritual personal trainer? Have you taken the time to thank that person? What areas of growth did you experience? How can you share this with others?


FURTHER READING:
Romans 14:19; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5

1 Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Expository Commentary: Volume 1. Victor Books. Colorado Springs, CO. 1984. pg 612.

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa. Elin is mother to ten-year-old Callie and seven-year-old Elias.