The Remembrance Reminder
By Lexi Cole

“I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds.”
Psalm 77:11

Finals…end-of-the-semester paper dues…buying presents...choir concerts…relatives coming…Christmas parties…housecleaning…Christmas cards…finding a Christmas tree…decorating the Christmas tree…work…the list goes on and on. In the midst of the busy-ness we normally find ourselves in, the month of December seems to always be “more busy.” And yet, our hearts don’t want to be consumed by the “busy-ness”; we don’t want to miss why we celebrate Christmas or forget that “Jesus is the reason for the season.” It’s just that we can’t necessarily remove the busy-ness: I still have to take my finals and turn in my papers. And getting the house ready for relatives coming is, definitely, a good thing!

So the question becomes, “How do we accept the busy-ness, but still intentionally remember the reason we celebrate it all?” It sure seems that, first, we must realize that pausing to remember God’s greatness is crucial. The verse above, in context, is written in a time of “great personal distress.” (1) We don’t know the specific circumstance, but we know that in his distress, the psalmist still pauses to remember how great our God is. Shouldn’t that be our desire in the midst of the busy-ness? That we would daily pause and remember the “deeds of the Lord”?

But how do we do that? How do we go beyond that verse and live it out? Recently, Calum Jack, the pastor of my church here in Scotland, gave us all small candles as a tangible reminder of the commitment to pause, refocus and remember Christ’s gift. (Similarly, I remember when my home pastor, Noah Palmer, handed out small dot stickers a few years ago for us to put somewhere as a reminder.) I’ve placed that candle right by my laptop to remind me to pause in the midst of my busy-ness to remember the reason I celebrate Christmas: God’s plan-in-action to begin the restoration of relationship with Him through the humble Christ-child.

The busy-ness will continue, but in the midst of it, my “remembrance reminder” has been there. The actual object is insignificant; the important part is that we find a proactive way to pause and praise Him….during the busy-ness of the Christmas season and beyond.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What insignificant object can serve as your “remembrance reminder” during the busyness of the Christmas season?
2. What are some of the attributes, names of God or things God has done for that you can pause and thank Him for now?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 77:1-20

Lexi is an Elementary Education major at Bethel University, currently studying abroad in Scotland. The last two summers, she’s been the Children’s Ministries intern at Oakwood.

(1) NIV Study Bible. Zondervan, Grand Rapids, 2002.

The Lesson From Star Stickers
By Lexi Cole

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Oh Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

The “teacher-ness” in me was going crazy! Studying abroad meant not being in a classroom for three whole months, but then I had the opportunity to sign up to help at Christmas Rock, a children’s event at my church. I was the group leader for the “star” group. We were encouraged to find creative ways to connect with our kids, so I made large stars stickers for my shirt, one for my hair and 36 stars for my group – traced with a sharpie, different shades of yellow and cut out perfectly. It took a lot of time but I knew my group would look so cute with their homemade star stickers.

That morning, I suddenly got changed to the “carol singers” group due to last-minute cancellations. I’m embarrassed by how devastated I was. I gave my stickers to the new leaders and my heart sank as they said, “We might fit them in.” I was so deflated - - all that work and time for nothing. Immediately after thinking that, I felt guilt. Why should that matter? It wasn’t about the stars, it was about children hearing the Christmas story in an exciting and relevant way. The circumstance made me sad…and the guilt of my response didn’t help.

I think we’ve all had that…that “moment after” where we are shocked by a thought, reaction or emotion we have. We want to be Christ-like but aren’t sure how after we’ve produced the thought or felt something un-Christ-like. Jason Stonehouse, my college church pastor, recently said, “Don’t focus on the guilt associated with the specific emotion. That’s not the problem; but rather, the emotion is an outcome of an attitude, which reveals our true heart condition and mindset.” I realized my attitude and mindset were selfish. Yes, I made those stars for the kids but, honestly, it was also a prideful heart condition on my part.

The awesome thing is that our heart condition and mindset are changeable through Christ. By allowing Him to change these, our attitude and behavior automatically shifts. Psalm 19:14 above shows this because the psalmist’s desire is not just for the behavior to be pleasing to God, but also the heart’s attitude. This is my prayer for us, that we would allow the Holy Spirit to transform our heart condition and attitude. It’s not a one-time thing, but a daily decision.

I had a blast with my carol-singing group, and I’m thankful the Holy Spirit reminded me to focus more on addressing my heart condition and attitude of pride, rather than my emotion of guilt….star stickers or none!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What attitude is God showing you needs to be changed in your life? What are some ways to change that?
2. What can you do in advance to prepare your heart and mind for the sudden “upsets” you’re sure to encounter at some point this Christmas season?

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 5:17-21

Lexi is an Elementary Education major at Bethel University, currently studying abroad in Scotland. The last two summers, she’s been the Children’s Ministries intern at Oakwood.

That’s Just Crazy!
By Lisa Boyer

“For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom”
I Corinthians 1:25a

A few years ago, I read an email about a man who bought a gallon of milk he didn’t need because God told him to. God then directed him to the house of the total stranger that he was to deliver it to. A woman answered the door and said "We had no money to buy milk for our baby, so I prayed and asked God to send an angel with some milk. Are you an angel?" He was an answer to prayer.

I can’t confirm if that story is true or not, but I do know that I had a similar experience one Saturday this past summer. I was walking past a display of flowers at the grocery store and knew I should buy some. I didn’t know who I was supposed to buy them for, but I purchased the most beautiful bunch I could find anyway. The next morning I brought the flowers to church. Of course, I left them in my car; I was afraid someone would ask whom they were for and it would sound crazy for me to say I didn’t know. As I looked around the church that morning, I instantly knew whom those flowers were for. After the service I quickly went to my car, got the flowers and gave them away. Yes, I felt weird buying flowers not knowing whom I was buying them for, but in giving them away, I got a glimpse of why God had me buy them and I was so glad I had obeyed.

A friend of mine was on the receiving end of a “God told me to”…. She had considered purchasing an item on Black Friday but after praying about the purchase, she decided against it because she didn’t have peace. That Sunday, while encouraging her youth discipleship class to pray before buying something, she shared with them that she had just passed up a great deal and yet knew it was the right decision because she didn’t have peace about making the purchase. That week a friend gave her an even better model of the item that she had wanted to buy. Her friend’s reason: God told her to. The following Sunday, she was able to go back to the class and share with them about God’s provision.

When God asks us to do something, it might seem crazy but He always has a reason. We may only see the small role we play, but He sees the bigger picture and knows exactly what He’s doing!

GOING DEEPER:
1. This Christmas season will you listen carefully for God’s quiet, yet unmistakable, voice and obey… even if it seems crazy?

FURTHER READING:
Ephesians 2:8-10

Lisa has been married to Ted for 18 years and they have two teenage sons. She is a co-leader for a Junior High girls’ small group at Oakwood Church.

Recalculate…Recalculate
By Elin Henderson

“The Lord is not slack concerning His promises…but is longsuffering toward us not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” I Peter 3:9 (NKJV)

For those of us who are geographically and directionally challenged, the invention of the GPS has been a godsend! Our years of endless wanderings and countless wrong turns are over…for the most part. Not only do these miraculous machines tell you exactly where to go, but they can compensate even when you don’t follow their meticulous instructions. If you miss the turn you will soon hear, “Recalculate…recalculate…turn left at the next intersection” and voila, you are back on track.

Praise the Lord that He is a God of patience and long-suffering. Even when we don’t follow His well-laid-out plans, He graciously says, “Recalculate…recalculate” and comes up with a new plan b…c…d…. let’s just say, some of us take longer to learn!

We see this concept again and again through Scripture. He always wants to give second chances, new opportunities, and detours, to get us back on track and depending on Him. Our job? Repent, which really means to just admit you were on the wrong track/road and turn to follow Him. Look at Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Did God have to ask, “Where are you?” when He came down to walk with them? No, He knew where they were. He was offering them a “recalculate” – a moment to admit they were wrong and turn to Him. When God came to Cain and said, “Where is your brother?” did God not know where Able was? No, He knew, He was simply giving Cain a chance to admit His wrong and turn to Him. The people of Israel lived in a permanent state of “recalculation” it seemed – sometimes on the right track, sometimes way off.

He is not slack concerning His precious promises toward us. Promises such as: He will guide and direct us; provide for all of our needs; give grace for each situation we face; be our all and all; so on and so forth. In His longsuffering, He will try again and again to show us His ways and lead us toward Himself! May we respond quickly to His voice and even quicker to the gracious and patient “recalculations” He offers us!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Feeling a little lost lately? Has God been sending any “recalculate” messages to your soul’s GPS? What are some ways that you can more quickly respond to His still small voice?
2. Make a list of God’s promises from Scripture and post them where you can be reminded frequently – Maybe alongside your car’s GPS!

FURTHER READING:
II Chronicles 6:26b; II Chronicles 7:14; Psalms 86:15

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 eight-year-old Elias.

The Call

By Elizabeth Cole

“...for ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?”

Romans 10:13-14 

My 17-year-old was on her way to go sledding with friends on a Sunday afternoon. Before she left, I heard her in the garage rummaging around. Silence. Then a call, “Mom, I need help!” There she was on the stepladder, reaching as high as she could into the rafters trying to get her flexible flyer down…but to no avail.

“I’m trying to get the sled down, but I can’t reach it. Will you help me?” Hallelujah... It’s was not often that I got that kind of request from my daughter!

“Here, hop off; I’ll do it for you.” I grinned as I easily did for her what she couldn’t do for herself, sending her on her way with sled in tow!

What a precious picture God gave me that day of the last part of His salvation process: Someone obeys Him and tells the Good News of salvation to another; that person hears the very words of God through the speaker and believes…and then, that person CALLS on the name of the Lord. Scripture makes it clear that just intellectually agreeing Jesus is the Savior isn’t enough -- “even the demons believe...” Certainly, my daughter could have stood all day on that stepladder believing that I was tall enough to help her. But it was only when she ACTED on what she knew to be true, calling out for my help, that she received what she needed, what she couldn’t do on her own.

Real life begins with a personal dependence on Jesus, with calling out to Him to give us what we can never attain ourselves: a right relationship with the God of the Universe through faith in what He did for us on the Cross.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you called out to Christ for salvation, acting on what you know to be true about Him? If not, what is preventing you from doing so today?
2. If you have, with whom will you share your faith story today?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 3:10-12, 23; Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Romans 5:8 

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Prowling Enemies
By Jen Wollner

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith…”
1 Peter 5:8-9a

My children like to watch a kids’ science show on PBS called “Fetch.” Recently, the show featured a segment about wolves that live in Yellowstone National Park. Along with many other facts, we learned that when wolves hunt for food, they rarely attack a healthy animal, but rather prowl around looking for a sick or old animal that is weak. By patiently observing a pack of elk, for instance, the wolves find one that will be an easy catch. And, what a feast they had!

Later that night, my husband and I were watching a “20/20” special report about money scammers who intentionally targeted vulnerable people, including the elderly. I immediately thought about the wolves we had learned about earlier in the day. Clearly, the scammers believed that certain people, in certain life circumstances, were more susceptible to falling into their trap. And they were right. They had stolen millions of dollars over several years.

This parallel between the animal world and the world of humans also carries into the spiritual realm. We learn from our verse for today that we have a spiritual enemy, Satan, who prowls around looking for someone to devour. He’s watching us. He knows our weaknesses. And, he’s patiently waiting for a vulnerable moment to attack…just like the wolves and the money scammers.

But, the verse doesn’t end there. Peter tells us to resist and stand firm in our faith. We are to be self-controlled and alert to the enemy’s schemes. He isn’t creative; he will tempt us and discourage us in mostly the same ways. He knows when we are most vulnerable and will take advantage of the situation. But Scripture is clear that we can protect ourselves with a healthy, powerful faith and an awareness of his tactics.

Let’s not turn a blind eye to Satan and the destruction he wants to perpetuate in our lives. Let’s be vigilant in strengthening our faith so that we aren’t helpless during his assaults and can resist and stand firm when they come.

Be on guard...the enemy is on the prowl!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what area of your life are you most at risk of succumbing to the damaging work of the enemy?
2. Make a plan for how you will strengthen your faith and resist his next attack (see Jesus’ example in Matthew 4 for ideas).

FURTHER READING:
Job 1:7; Matthew 4:1-11

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children between the ages of seven and four. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

Beyond the Notes
By Lexi Cole

“So then, just as you receive Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.”
Colossians 2:6

I could not wait! Since studying abroad in Scotland, I have missed my choir back at Bethel so much. Imagine how excited I was to find out about the Stirling University Choir scheduled to perform Handel’s “Creation” in a 12th-century cathedral with a professional orchestra! But at the first rehearsal, I learned that the choir included the local community…as in, lots of older people with a few students. With all due respect and in this specific situation, this meant older women with out-of-control vibratos and older men who struggle with close-together notes. For months, each practice has consisted of the director pounding on the piano and pep talks about singing in tune. Since music has always been a big part of my life, I’m very aware of all the things we’re not doing. Musically, we have ignored stylistic things like similar vowels and good blend, because we’ve only focused on notes. We haven’t gone beyond that and we’re apparently content with it. The saddest part is that is I know how much more we could do if we went beyond just learning the notes.

It makes me wonder…how often are we like that in our relationship with God? How often do we decide what we know is enough, instead of going further in our spiritual walk with Jesus? In the context of the verse above, Paul urges the Colossians to continue to live in Jesus and strengthen the faith they were taught so they can discern against false teaching. I’m convinced Satan has no greater pleasure than seeing a Christian who is ineffective due to a non-growing, stagnant relationship with God. In the same way we intentionally nurture relationships with people, we must do the same with Christ. It is a daily decision to reject the ease of a passive relationship, and choose one where we commit to grow in our faith and in a love-relationship with Him. We do this by removing barriers that block growth and by choosing to spend our day and time wisely.

My choir performs in a week. Hopefully, the old cathedral and professional orchestra will help… but I am thankful for the reminder that being content with just learning the notes is not making the most of the music. We are so blessed to have relational access to a loving God that being content with the basics and never growing are equally tragic.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What aspects of your life are acting as barriers that prevent you from growing in your relationship with God?
2. What are some active and productive ways you can change those barriers?

FURTHER READING:
2 Peter 3:18; Colossian 1:10-12

Lexi is an Elementary Education major at Bethel University, currently studying abroad in Scotland. The last two summers, she’s been the Children’s Ministries intern at Oakwood.

Directionally Challenged
By Jeannine Sawall

“This is what the LORD says - your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: ‘I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.’”
Isaiah 48:17

I am directionally challenged. It doesn’t matter how good the directions are, or whom I’m following, there is a good possibility I will get lost! One time, I was going to a friend’s home for lunch after our Bible study. I had not been there before, so to make things easier, she said I should just follow her. She gave me a few brief instructions, told me the name of the subdivision and said we would pass one entrance, but would enter the second entrance because it’s easier to get to her house from that one. It should have been no problem!

As we came up to that first entrance highlighting the name of her subdivision, she drove by it. I stopped. In my mind, I questioned her ability to get to her own house. I thought to myself, “Where is she going? She missed the turn.” I didn’t even know where her house was, yet I thought I knew the best way of getting there. How crazy is that?!?

As logic returned, I put my foot back on the gas pedal and hurried after my friend before I lost her. In that moment, God spoke quietly to my heart and pointed out how often I do the same thing with Him. He will lead me in a direction and lay out a clear path for me to follow when suddenly I put on the brakes and question His ability to get me where He’s going. “Shouldn’t we turn here? Why are we going that way? Are you sure this is the right way?” I don’t even know where the final destination is, yet I will question God on the best way to get there! But rather than leave me sitting behind and questioning where I am, God, in His merciful patience, slows down and waits for me to repent of my doubts and pride. He invites me to continue after Him so I can again be on the road to exactly where He wants me to be.

Going Deeper:
1. Are you directionally challenged when it comes to hearing or seeing God’s directions? Ask Him to clearly guide you. He will make Himself known to you.
2. How often do you question the direction God is taking you? Ask Him to forgive you of your doubts and pride, and look to Him to take you to exactly where He wants you to be.

For Further Reading:
Proverbs 3:5; Psalm 32:8, 48:14; Isaiah 58:11

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

Extravagant Waste
By Leslie Snyder

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table. When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked. “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.” Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me.

Matthew 26:6-10

Not long ago our family was enjoying a night free of outside activities. The kids were playing games, reading, and doing homework, my husband was kicked back in the recliner watching TV and I was lying down on the couch, feet up and relishing the slower pace. It was then I felt something cold being spread across my toes. I opened my eyes to see our three-year-old son carefully “painting” my toenails with his sister’s sparkly blue gel body glitter. Surprised, I asked him what he was doing. “I’m painting your toes, Mama,” came the straightforward reply. He was, in fact, intently working on his “design” which started at my toes and ended up covering my entire foot. What amazed me, however, was not his action so much as the devotion that covered his face. When my husband started to intervene with expressions of how Jesse was “wasting” the girls’ glitter, Wisdom jumped in and stopped him. For, this was more than just playing dress up and wasting his sisters’ makeup, this was an act of love from a young son to his dearly loved Mama.

It was that night that I embraced the humanity depicted in the Scripture above. Truly, the scene invites us to close our eyes and allow our imaginations to dive in and listen to the mixture of conversation and laughter of Jesus and his followers; to smell the freshly-made bread and pungent aroma of cooked lamb; to see Jesus reclining on the floor next to a low table lit with oil candles and covered with bowls of dates, figs, and olives; and to imagine the unusual mixture of guests of fishermen, tax collectors, Pharisees, men, women, servants and Jesus. The room must have been filled with energy and wonder.

Enter the woman. Oblivious to the activity around her, she focuses intently on the Object of her devotion, the One who set her free. Her tears flow freely as the perfume runs down Jesus’ hair, face, shoulders and body. “What waste!” her objectors retort but are quickly hushed by Jesus as He accepts the gift of her love and devotion. Extravagant waste? Maybe. Extravagant devotion? Absolutely.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Sometimes we hold back our expression of love to Jesus for fear of the reaction of those around us. What would your devotion look like if we did the same as the woman?

FURTHER READING:
John 12: 1-8; Mark 14:1-9; Luke 7:36-50

Used with permission. Homeword, Inc.

Roller Coaster Worry
By Lisa Boyer

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Matthew 6:34

This past summer, I spent a day at Six Flags Great America with the church youth group. While waiting in line for Virtual Velocity (V2), I was entertained by the lady in line behind me. She was scared. Maybe a little more than scared… terrified! So in an effort to calm her concerns, I timed the ride. I then attempted to comfort her with the news that the ride would last less than one minute of her life: 47 seconds, to be exact. But it didn’t work. Ultimately, we waited 49 minutes to ride V2 and most of that time, she spent worrying.

Yes, I found her entertaining… but then I realized that I tend to behave the same way. Not over a roller coaster ride, but over things even less worthy of concern - things that will never happen, things that may happen, and unavoidable things that will happen. I’ve done my share of worrying for 49 minutes about 47 seconds…and it’s never helped!

I imagine that’s why Jesus makes it so clear that we are not to worry. In Matthew 6:25-34, Jesus tells us “do not worry about your life” and then gives us a detailed list of things that we shouldn’t worry about and why.

In Matthew 6:27, Jesus interrupts the list with a simple question: “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” Not only do we not add to our lives, each moment we spend worrying is a moment lost forever.

Jesus continues with the list, pointing out that worrying demonstrates a lack of faith. He then concludes in verse 33 with what we are to do instead of worrying: “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” What kind of difference would it make in our lives, and the lives of those around us, if we tried seeking His kingdom and His righteousness instead of worrying?

Worrying for 49 minutes about 47 seconds will always be futile. And so much can be done in 49 minutes when it comes to His kingdom: 49 minutes of kindness… 49 minutes of encouragement… 49 minutes of intercessory prayer… 49 minutes of goodness… 49 minutes of loving… 49 minutes of fellowship with Him… 49 minutes of….

So how will you spend your 49 minutes?

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you tend to spend time worrying? Today, will you begin to spend that time seeking His kingdom and His righteousness instead?

FURTHER READING:
Luke 12:22-31; Philippians 4:6-7; 2 Peter 1:3-6

Lisa has been married to Ted for 18 years and they have two teenage sons. She is a co-leader for a Junior High girls’ small group at Oakwood Church.

Experience Cards
By Elin Henderson

“O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth.”
Galatians 3:1a (NKJV)

Sometimes, life is like the game Monopoly. You buy, you sell, you win, you lose. You look forward to those “experience card” spaces where the unknown waits for you! What new experience will I get? “Straight to jail, do NOT pass go, do NOT collect $200”? Or “Win a free ride on the Reading Railroad”? Our lives are built around experiences. We are an experience-driven people!

Yet, there is a separate and essential component to our Monopoly experience cards called “TRUTH.” Experience and Truth are two factors on a precarious balance. Experience without truth can be misleading. Truth without experience can be empty and meaningless. From a human perspective, which is easier to measure? Our natural default is always Experience. We can see it and feel it. Truth can be abstract and distant, difficult to discern. The balance is then set with Experience as the Judge, and Truth as being judged by it.

But we, as believers, live by a different standard, a balance on which the reverse is true. Truth is the essential factor by which we weigh all of life’s experiences. Truth in the unchanging form of God’s Word, revealed by God’s Spirit to our human hearts and minds, influencing our actions and behavior! While experiences can change from person to person, truth remains the same. “God is the same yesterday, today and further” and He is, after all, “the way the TRUTH and the life.”

He often does use experiences to reveal truth to us and to help us grow. The key is to get to know Him as the Truth, and His Word as the revelation of that Truth. Then, our scales will be able to properly discern the different experiences that we encounter.

In the second and third chapters of Galatians, Paul gets after the Galatian believers and asking them pointedly: Who has fooled you? You are hung up on experiences but have forgotten the Truth. They had lost sight of the truth of the gospel (2:14) by looking to experiences (in this case, circumcision and outward conformity or, in other words, “experiences”). Let’s not follow in their footsteps and become so experience-focused that our scales become skewed.

The next time life deals you a unique “experience card,” pick it up without fear and measure it against the truth of the Person and Word of God and see what He has in store for you!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What recent experiences do you need to throw onto the balance of truth?
2. How well do you know the “TRUTH” side of the scale? How can you better apply yourself to the study of His Person and His Word?

FURTHER READING:
III John 4; I John 5:6; I John 2:21; II Timothy 2:15

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 eight-year-old Elias.

More Than…
By Jen Wollner

“Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.”
Lamentations 3:23 (NLT)

It had been a rough three days. I could blame it on a million things, but the truth of the matter was that I was irritable and everyone was paying the price. That third night I tried to sleep, but as I lay awake in bed, my mind swirled with discouraging thoughts: “You are a horrible wife and mother. Your husband and kids don’t deserve this. You should be ashamed of yourself! They’d probably be better off without you. You might as well just give up because this is how you’ve always been and how you’ll always be…selfish to the core. You’re a failure and a hypocrite. You say you love God, but if you really did, you wouldn’t treat others like garbage. You’re causing permanent damage to your relationships…they’ll never forgive you. You aren’t fooling anyone…you’ll never be…enough.” On and on the thoughts continued as I drifted off to sleep…

…then morning came…

Before I could even open my eyes or process the fact that it was time to get up, I heard a soft song playing in my head. The lyrics were sweet music to my weary soul…

“You are more than the choices that you make. You are more than the sum of your past mistakes. You are more than the trouble you create. You’ve been remade.” (1)

As these words and truth repeated over and over in my mind, I felt the forgiveness of God wash over me. I felt His love and mercy rush into my heart, kicking out the shame and guilt. I praised Him for His compassions that come with the dawn of each morning, drowning out the lies that flourish in the darkness.

Because of Him, I am more than my bad choices and the trouble I bring on myself and those around me. I’m more than the voices in my head want me to believe. I’m not defined solely by my actions, but by my Father. I have been redeemed and remade. I am more…

…because of His faithfulness.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What lies are swirling around in your head today? How can you exchange them for the truth of God’s love and mercy?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 139:13-14; 1 John 4:10; Romans 6:18, 8:1

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children between the ages of seven and three. She serves on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

(1) “You Are More” by Tenth Avenue North. Written by Jason Ingram and Mike Donehey. Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.

Memorial Stones
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’…These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”
Joshua 4:6-7

There’s a story in the book of Joshua that I have come to love. The scene is this: After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, Moses has died and Joshua is the new leader of Israel, a nation of 600,000 fighting men, possibly over 2.5 million people total. God has promised the Israelites safe passage into the Promised Land, and the entire people of Israel have just crossed the Jordan River on foot…during its flood stage! If this were a movie, the soundtrack would crescendo, Joshua would rally the troops and then immediately begin conquering the nearest city for the fulfillment of God’s promise.

Instead, there is an intermission. God instructs Joshua to send 12 men to each select a stone from the middle of the Jordan River, bring them back, and set them on the ground where the people crossed the river. The stones were to serve as a memorial for future generations. Every time an Israelite passed that way, the stones would serve as a visual reminder of God’s faithfulness and Israel’s obedience on that momentous day.

We can have our own “memorial stones” today. A few years ago, I started a Thanksgiving tradition for our family. I have a journal with lined paper, and on Thanksgiving Day, each member of our immediate family, and whomever we are enjoying the holiday with, write about what we are thankful for. We love to go back and recall who we were with, and see notes of God’s faithfulness and lessons learned. Sometimes there is humor (my niece no longer is especially thankful for Dora the Explorer), sometimes loss over who is not there with us, but mostly these notes express moments in time where we pause, reflect, and remember on paper in a tangible way the faithfulness of God.

And we are thankful.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Create a Thanksgiving journal for yourself.

FURTHER READING:
Joshua 4:1-9; James 1:17; 1 Thess. 5:16-18

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

The Holy Alphabet
By Kelly McFadden

"Look at my Servant, whom I have chosen. He is my Beloved, and I am very pleased with him. I will put my Spirit upon him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. He will not fight or shout; he will not raise his voice in public. He will not crush those who are weak, or quench the smallest hope, until he brings full justice with his final victory. And his name will be the hope of the world."
Matthew 12:18-21

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
Joy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of “Camp Complaining”
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To “thank” is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We’ll run the race with gratitude
X-alting God most high
Yes, there’ll be good times and, yes, some will be bad, but
Zion waits in glory…where none are ever sad. (1)

As you probably know, life is not always easy. One of the greatest promises Christians have is in the joy and hope of Christ. We live not simply for today, but with an eternal perspective. As you go about your day today, think about all the ways you can be thankful. Try to live each day with gratitude!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What is keeping you (or has kept you) from being thankful?
2. How can you live each day with an eternal perspective?

FURTHER READING:
Acts 2:25-29; Romans 8:23-28; Romans 15:1-4

(1) Author unknown

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

“It Is What It Is” For A Reason
By Susan Klein

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

In today’s culture, there is turmoil at every corner. We see it daily in the lives of others and we all experience it on a personal level. Open up God’s Word and you’ll find trials and turmoil in just about every book. For many, seeking an escape from their trials can become a never-ending pursuit.

Could it be that God intends for that trial to be present? Paul says in Colossians 1:24, “Now I rejoice in what was suffered for you...” He suffered persecution in order that God’s message would be delivered to the Gentiles. His goal was not to avoid the persecution or find a way out of it, but to be used by God in the midst of it. He trusted that God was with Him in the persecution since God had called him to this work in the first place. And He never promised it would be easy going!

In Acts chapter 5, the apostles, after preaching the Good News and healing many, were brought before the Sanhedrin and flogged for their actions. Verse 41 says they left the Sanhedrin rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name (of Jesus). They didn’t flee, but pressed on.

Daniel did not try to find a way out of the lion’s den, rather he focused on his God who had allowed him to be thrown into the den even after being obedient. And what a mighty work God did in the king’s heart after he found out that God had saved Daniel from death! God had a purpose, and His presence was with Daniel the whole time.

Our goal, as Christ-followers, should not be to live a struggle-free life, but to see God and rely on Him in the midst of the struggle. He allows every trial for a reason, whether it makes sense to us or not. And He promises to give us peace, though that peace is not exempt from struggle, it is in the midst of it. His promise is to be with us in the trial, not to always spare us from the trial. And, if we can remember to focus on Him, not on an escape, we will find His perfect strength and His perfect peace.

GOING DEEPER:
1) When in the midst of a struggle, can you grasp that God is with you and has you there for a reason?
2) Will you make it your goal to look for God, rather than look for a “way out”?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 139:5-7; Isaiah 26:3; John 14:27

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

Blindsided
By Kari Lyles

Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.”
John 9:39

I sheepishly rolled over to look at the clock that glowed 6 a.m. When I turned back over I felt the butterflies in my stomach flutter and my heart begin to race. I knew I had to do it.

I walked to my closet, pulled my laptop from the shelf, crawled back under the covers, and started. My fingers clickety-clacked on the keys, tears streaming down my cheeks. I read it again and again, trying to make sure my heart was being poured out in love and not putting the receiver on the defensive. I pushed the “send” button.

Done!

I did it. I shared my heart and now the ball was in the receiver’s court. Surely she would take into account my feelings, see my side and feel convicted of behavior that had caused hurt. So, I waited.

And waited…

Every time my Blackberry binged with a new email, my heart raced a little. It binged for a whole week. (Kohls’ really does offer 15-30% off EVERY DAY!)

A response never came in the form of an email. But one came from my Lord… and I was blindsided.

As I sat down with my Bible, I had asked the Lord to give me wisdom to move forward. This is what I proceeded to read: “Jesus said, ‘For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind will see and those who see will become blind.’” I know that in the context of this passage, Jesus was referring to spiritual sight and the “blindness” of the seeing Pharisees. But in my specific situation, I am convinced that, in His kindness, He was using those words to show me His desire for me.

It hit me like a ton of bricks. I not only was supposed to turn the other cheek in circumstances… but sometimes, even though I could see things were not right and that I was hurt, I needed to choose to become blind. OUCH!

Those words stung. I wanted to feel somehow that my email was justified and that it had been the right thing to do. Instead, I was being asked to become blind to it. To become like Christ. To love another deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins (I Peter 4:8).

A smile came to me and I knew that God was once again growing and molding me. Yes, I was still hurt…but if He chose to be “blind” to my many faults, I knew He would give me the grace to become blind to others.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What do you need to become “blind” to?
2. How does becoming “blind” actually help you to become more like Christ?

FURTHER READING:
John 9 -10

Kari is a wife and mother to two girls. She works as a regional account manager at MAX-R in Sussex. She is involved in Oakwood’s drama ministry.

Are You Thrilled?

Psalm 98:1-4 (NLT)


It is good to give thanks to the Lord,

Father, I thank You today for_____________________________.


to sing praises to the Most High.

Here’s my song for You today: ___________________________________.


It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning,

Whom shall I tell today about how You’ve loved me? __________________________.


your faithfulness in the evening,

I recall that time you were so faithful to me: _____________________________.


accompanied by the ten-stringed harp and the melody of the lyre.

I don’t play the harp or the lyre, but I can use my _______________________ to honor You today.


You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me!

What really overwhelms me about Your kindness is___________________________.


I sing for joy because of what you have done.

May the way I live be a life-song of joy to You today.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Start a running list of that for which you’re thankful to our God. Consider adding to it daily!
2. How are you training gratitude in your home?

FOR FURTHER READING:
Psalm 100

Whose Voice Counts?
By Kelly McFadden

“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Galatians 1:10

It seemed like any other recess in eighth grade. A group of us were all outside playing when it happened. I overheard a boy tell one of my friends that he didn’t like me. I was devastated. Now, this wasn’t someone I particularly cared for either, but the words stung all the same. Someone didn’t like me. To be honest, that had never occurred to me before. I went home that afternoon wounded and working to figure out what I could do differently.

I learned a very important lesson that day: No matter what you do, you will never be liked by everyone. Even more important is the lesson I learned later: The most important opinion to hear is God’s voice, not the voice of people. If you live your life trying to please everyone, you will only fail. Approval-seeking from others will only serve to get you in trouble. We must focus on what God sees in us and desires for us. That will lead to a life well-lived.

So what does God want from us? He wants us to live a life that is pleasing to Him and set apart. He wants us to love our neighbors, love ourselves and have an attitude of service to all around us. He wants us to recognize that we are no better than anyone else. We are equal in His eyes. He wants us to rest in His hope and strength. And more than anything, He wants us to know, that even when we fall short of His standards, He loves us unconditionally.

In all of us, there is a little girl or boy wanting to be liked. And that is not bad in itself. The danger comes when we make those opinions count more than what God thinks. God views us the same each and every day. We are His beloved creations, made in His image. There is nothing that can separate us from His love.

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways have you gotten caught in the trap of “people pleasing”? How have you seen this hinder your relationship with the Lord?
2. Who in your life are you making “perform” for your love? How can you show them the grace and love of Jesus?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 44; 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; 1 Thessalonians 2:4-6

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Turning Adversity into Gain
By Pamela Blattner

“Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14

Recently, I found myself experiencing a dark time. In the middle of planning a large-scale event, I contracted pneumonia, and then a month later, faced a heart-rending experience in my family.

Are you facing a season of difficulties that seems to have no end? It almost seems as if you don't ever shake free of the trials—you’re either beginning or just ending a trial, when another relational, financial, physical or spiritual challenge comes along. I’d like to encourage you that God is faithful. He always offers us hope.

My recent challenge was very draining and discouraging. Wow, God sure got my attention this time! I didn’t really appreciate His timing, either. Stunned, I felt like a fly on the wall that just got whacked by a fly swatter! On top of that, I questioned God’s timing. In my despair, God provided three saints in my life to help me realize that God uses the adversity in our lives. Sometimes it’s to teach us to rely only on Him; sometimes, it’s to minister to others. Difficulties won’t last forever. They have an appointed time and purpose, and we can profit from them if we trust our Father and set our hearts to learn from Him.

I began to think of Joseph in the book of Genesis. Joseph had huge significant needs! First, he’s in a deep pit, and then endures a long stint in an Egyptian prison. I asked myself, “Why did God wait so long before meeting such important needs?” And then I thought, “Why not?” Could it be that God was redirecting him or preparing him for something new? Beyond that, a wise gentleman asked me to consider that God had a greater purpose He wanted to accomplish: Meeting not only Joseph’s needs, but the needs of Joseph's entire family.

In a similar way, is it possible that God is redirecting you or preparing you for something new? When He’s in that process of redirecting our lives, sometimes He delays meeting certain needs. Why? So that His greater plan for us—and for others—might be accomplished.

I only got peace from this trial by being alone with Him, receiving His reassurance as I released my cares to Him alone. As I trusted Him with the bigger picture, I also depended on Him to help me “be strong and take heart,” to watch and wait for Him to use the adversity for gain.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Read Lamentations 3 and discover what Jeremiah learned about God’s loving kindness. What comes to mind in your own experiences as you read? Is there a verse you could share with someone else in a season of adversity?

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 50:19-21; Proverbs 4:5, 28:26; James 1:2-12

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.

Road Rage and Loving Others
By Lexi Cole

“So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.”
John 13:34

A few years ago, my mom was really nervous about my driving alone to visit a friend in Illinois. So there I was, driving along Roosevelt Avenue, almost to my destination, trying to figure out what she was so worried about, and feeling very proud of myself. Yes, I battled insane construction, annoying tolls, and mean Illinois drivers who don’t use their blinkers, but I was practically there. I came to a red light and noticed a guy to my right wanting to pull into my lane, but no one would let him in. I did. He waved; I waved back. Less than two minutes later, a woman in a minivan pulled out in front of him. It wasn’t all that risky; he barely had to tap on his brakes. But, he obnoxiously blared his horn and tailed this minivan until I turned onto a different road. While it had nothing to do with me, I was furious! What kind of jerk was this guy anyway? Here, I had been gracious to him, and yet two minutes later, the man couldn’t even let a minivan (a.k.a. “classic mom-car”) into his lane.

Then, I realized something (besides that I might have road rage). That’s exactly how we are with God. He saves us and a couple of minutes later, we’re too busy to invest in someone else’s life. He takes the time to listen to our every prayer, and the following day we forget to pray for someone else’s problem, pain or struggle. He loves us unconditionally, and the next week we disregard being intentional about loving others. I think it’s easy for Christians to accidentally see God as a no-fee ATM machine. We go to Him with our problem, enter our PIN, grab the solution, and then go without a second thought. That’s not a relationship, it’s a transaction.

We are called to be like Jesus to others because “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). My response to that guy just showed how unlike God I am…and maybe how silly my reaction is to such little things. We have been loved by a great God and commanded to love others. I’m working on not forgetting that command when, two minutes later, I have the chance to love as Christ does. To have Him live His life of love through me.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Any chance you’ve used God as a no-fee ATM machine recently? Ask for His forgiveness, and intentionally focus on your love relationship with Him today.
2. To whom can you show and tell Jesus’ love today?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 18:21-35; I Corinthians 13

Lexi is an Elementary Education major at Bethel University, currently studying abroad in Scotland. The last two summers, she’s been the Children’s Ministries intern at Oakwood.

Free to be Me!
By Elin Henderson

“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.”
John 8:36 (NKJV)

Life today is all about being happy with who you are! Happy and free to be me! Individuality is highly encouraged and eagerly sought! Self-esteem and self-actualization are pushed at us on all fronts from cosmetics to shampoo to health food to exercise, and more. Yet, despite this, many of us struggle with who we are and with being ourselves. What keeps us from wanting to be ourselves? Fear of what people may think of us. Insecurity with who we are. The list really is endless.

Today’s society would have us be content with who we are, but content for what reasons? Our experience or age? Our beauty? Our accomplishments or education? As believers, the true question for us to ask ourselves is “Can we dare to be ourselves (free to be me) in the will of God?”(1) We can look for freedom and contentment in many outside sources, but there is only one place where we can find it. We are only free to be who God created us to be—free in our individuality—when we find ourselves in Him.

How do we find ourselves in Him, or in His will? For one, we must know Him as our personal Savior, aware of His life within us in the form of the Holy Spirit! Only then can who we are (my “Elin-ness” as I like to call it), be used for its greatest potential in Him. But having that Holy Spirit in my heart does not guarantee that I am now all set! It is when I choose to walk with Him, and allow Him to renew and transform me from the inside out, that my security comes! Being in His will is simply being willing to let God be God in my humanity! That is when man’s approval takes a backseat and I realize, “If God is for me, who can be against me” (Romans 8:31). In fact, “I will not fear what men can do to me” (Psalms 118:6), because “I am free indeed” (John 8:36).

That is what I call true freedom! True self-actualization! True self-esteem! Free to be me in the person of Jesus Christ! Free from the search for man’s approval because I have found the source of true approval – in Christ, in God!!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what areas have you been struggling in your personal identity? Individuality? What promises from Scripture can you claim to find security in Him?
2. How can this newfound freedom now impact the world around you? How you deal with others? Yourself?

FURTHER READING:
Galatians 2:20, 5:1; Romans 8:2

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.

(1) Wiersbe, Warren. The Bible Exposition Commentary: Volume 1. Chariot Victor Publishing. Colorado Springs, CO. 1989. pg 686.

Doubting John
By Lisa Boyer

Then John gave this testimony: "I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, 'The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.' I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God."
John 1:32-34

John the Baptist had seen and heard the most amazing things! When he baptized Jesus, he witnessed the Spirit coming down from heaven as a dove, and in Matthew 3:17 the Bible tells us he heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with Him I am well pleased."

But in spite of hearing God’s voice declare that Jesus was the Son of God, John doubted while he was in prison. In Luke 7:20 we read, “When the men came to Jesus, they said, ‘John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?'"

It seems that when times get tough, doubt tends to creep into our hearts and minds, and John was no exception. Yet in the midst of doubt, John still knew where to find the answer… Jesus Himself.

And what an answer Jesus gave! “So he (Jesus) replied to the messengers, ‘Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor’” Luke 7:22.

Jesus didn’t criticize, get angry or belittle John for doubting. He lovingly pointed John back to the evidence which made it obvious… Jesus was in fact the One.

You and I may not doubt that Jesus is the One, but we still have a tendency to doubt things we should know. We should know that we’re forgiven… we should know that God loves us… we should know where we’ll spend eternity… we should know that He’ll walk with us through anything that happens… we should know that we can trust Him, and yet we doubt.

Thankfully, we too can go back to Jesus where He lovingly provides the answers in His Word.

GOING DEEPER:
1. If you’re struggling with doubt, will you go back to Jesus and His Word today?
2. If you don’t feel you are in a place to go back to Jesus alone, will you ask a friend to come alongside you?

FURTHER READING:
Jude 1:22; Romans 8:38-39; Titus 3:4-5

Lisa has been married to Ted for 18 years and they have two teenage sons. Lisa is a co-leader for the Junior High girls’ small group.

Sealed Forever!
By Susan Klein

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
Ephesians 4:30

Usually when I read the above verse, I am focused on the words, “do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” I tend to concentrate on keeping my words and actions in check so as to be obedient to those words. I’ve never given much consideration to the second part of the verse, “by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” I’ve recently come to truly understand the implications of these very profound words, and I now take great comfort in them.

In the distant past, a king or ruler would wear a one-of-a-kind signet ring, hand-crafted especially for him. He never removed it as long as he was in reign. It functioned as his personal signature. If the king’s seal was on a document or an item, it was officially his property and he had total control over what happened to it. No one dared remove the seal unless the king himself instructed them to.

Today, the absolute moment a person puts her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, she is sealed by the King! The God of the universe has claimed ownership of her and has placed His authentic seal on her. It is permanent and secure, definite and complete. It cannot be broken or removed by anyone or anything. What exactly is that seal? It is the Holy Spirit of God. We have the privilege of receiving the Holy Spirit’s indwelling at the very instant of our belief. And His presence in our lives is forever. He will never leave us! Everywhere we go, He goes. Everything we see, He sees. Everything we say, He hears. He is a permanent resident!

Why is that comforting? Because it’s irrevocable! Unlike the kings of the past, God does not give anyone permission to remove His seal from us. We can have the absolute confidence and security in knowing that we are sealed forever with the holy presence of God’s own Spirit! And, “for the day of redemption” indicates that God has a final destination for us. That destination is also permanent and irrevocable! Our eternal place of dwelling, with the God who has claimed us with His seal, cannot be taken from us by anyone, nor can it be revoked by any wrongful actions on our part. It is guaranteed!

Could anything be more encouraging than knowing you are sealed forever by the King?!!

GOING DEEPER:
Are you absolutely confident in your position in Christ? Do you live in the security of knowing God’s gifts are irrevocable? What difference does that make for you today?

FURTHER READING:
John 10: 28-29; Romans 8:37-39

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

Consider the Cost
By Leslie Snyder

“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Will he not first sit down and estimate the cost to see if he has enough money to complete it? For if he lays the foundation and is not able to finish it, everyone who sees it will ridicule him, saying, ‘This fellow began to build and was not able to finish it.’”
Luke 14:28-30

“In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.”
Luke 14:33

I recently went through training with an excellent instructor in the field of health and fitness. She is well-educated, highly trained, full of experience, holds extremely high expectations, and is brutally honest in her feedback and critique. She readily admits that her forthrightness can be somewhat shocking to those expecting to be coddled, but her goal is not to make her students feel warm and fuzzy. Her goal is to produce the very best instructors in her given field. In fact, she’ll tell you that her ultimate goal is to turn out instructors who are better than she is. With expectations like this, it was no surprise that after the first week of training the number of students was noticeably lower. The cost of completing was just too high.

Jesus was also never known to beat around the bush. In the passage above, Jesus is underscoring the significance of the decision to follow Him. He is not pleading with people to follow Him, nor trying to coax them away from some other leader. If anything, He is making clear the cost of following Him and in a very real sense is giving people a way out if they think the cost is too high. There is no pressure to become disciples, no obligation to keep following, and in this passage, no invitation to begin a new journey. Instead we find a very straightforward conversation about the commitment required to follow; Jesus requires people to follow Him with their entire life for their entire lives. Wow! That’s huge. From what we read later on in Scripture, this theme of completion continued. Philippians 1:6 says, “…being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

We are all a work in progress, called by an invitation from Jesus Himself. Each of us is in different stages of development and on different places on the journey. Called to consider the cost and called to complete the goal. And if completion is the goal, quitting is not an option.

Going Deeper:
1. As a follower of Christ, hang on to the promise of Philippians 1:6. God, not your own power, will carry you on to completion.

Further Reading:
1 Corinthians 9:24

Used with permission by Homeword, Inc.

We’re Covered
By Sarah Kosanke

"Blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord will never count against him.”
Romans 4: 7-8

It called to me while on the shelf in my mother’s craft room. That jar of the finest glow-in-the-dark glitter I had ever known in my six years of life. It caught my eye, captured my thoughts and soon enough, was in my grip. I’d been was told by my mother not to step foot in her craft room; one could imagine the destruction a little girl could cause. As I opened it to get a better look at its sparkle, I knew I should put it back. I had loosely put the cover back on it, reaching up on my tippy toes to place it back on the shelf, when disaster struck. The once-contained glitter fell off the shelf, showering me and the floor in a sea of sparkle. I tried my best to pick it up, but I failed. I tried my best to wipe it off, again, I failed. The more I tried to cover it up, the more it spread. I was covered in it; the floor was covered in it. Each attempt was hopeless. Everywhere I went, it followed. Even when I went to turn off the light and close the door, there was still the glow-in-the-dark reminder of my mistake ground into the carpet.

Recently, God reminded me of this childhood blunder as I was recalling the fall of man. Like the fruit on the tree caught Eve’s eye, the glitter caught mine. Just as the serpent tempted Eve, so my imagination ran wild with me. More so, as the glitter covered me and everywhere I went, so does the mistake of the first sin. We see the evidence of sin all over. We as humans were not originally created to hurt, ache or even die. If things were the way God had first intended it, we would never have to say good-bye. The worst consequence of sin is that it separates us from God. Because of His character, He cannot fellowship with us. We have no way of cleaning ourselves up either. It is a hopeless attempt on our part.

We are not without hope, however. Jesus made it possible for us to fellowship with God. He fixed what we could not fix; He restored what we could not restore. Because of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross in our place, the blood He shed covers our sin. It’s a worthy payment before God. When God looks at us, we are blameless! We can fellowship with Him…forgiven and clean!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Thank God today for the amazing gift He gave us that we could not give ourselves.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 32; Ephesians 2:12-14

Sarah is a single young lady who works as a rehabilitation specialist for mentally ill clients in a group home. She teaches girls in Oakwood’s Quest 56 and children’s program.

Choices
By Jeannine Sawall

"Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!"
Deuteronomy 30:19

"Tension is the place where the worst of life and the best of true hope meet to unveil our eyes to God’s artistic work of redemption. What a mighty and creatively loving God we serve. He allows us to know great pain, so that we can know the greater pleasure of trading it in for purpose." --Matt Hammitt

I came across this statement by Matt while he was blogging about his infant son, Bowen. Bowen was born with a serious heart defect, one that is potentially life-threatening. My heart ached as I looked pictures of that tiny baby with tubes coming out of everywhere. Even his chest was still open after surgery for "easy access," in case something went wrong and the doctors needed to get into it again quickly.

Why?? Why such pain for that little guy? Why such sorrow and uncertainty for his family? Why such trauma in everyday life for any of us? Friends whose loved ones are sick with terminal diseases and wasting away before their eyes? Others who have lost jobs and fallen on difficult financial times? For myself, why 10 miscarriages? Why the unexpected loss of my mom? It's so easy to go to that place of "why?" So easy to wonder where God is at these moments.

Sin. The Curse. The Fall. The answer to my "why's." Sickness, sorrow, pain, death...these are the results of sin. However, God can use these times to draw us to Him, if we let Him. In the midst of living in a world where we can expect difficult times, we are given two choices. We can say He is not enough and turn away, or we can be touched by our gracious God who meets us in the midst of that tension. We can lean into a God who, in that worst place, shows us there is still purpose. He will reveal to us His character and tell us He has made a way; to hang on, hope is around the corner. He has redeemed us and a day is coming when tears will be gone forever. And when we know the secret of His redemptive grace, we can stand in the midst of any trial and say He is good…even if tears are streaming down our cheeks. We are given that choice. We only have to make it for Him.

Going Deeper:
1. Have you found yourself doubting God or wondering where He is in a hard time? Stand firm on His promises. He will see you through any difficulty.

For Further Reading:
Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 27:4-5, Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 26:3-4

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

My First Christmas Part 2
By Lisa Boyer

“Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare His praise?”
Psalm 106:2

I had a good Christmas!!!

If you’re surprised that I say this when Christmas is still so far away, you’ll need to read my devotional entitled My First Christmas(1). In it, I shared my historical “dislike” for Christmas, the seemingly inevitable depression that accompanied it, my hope that I would be able to successfully celebrate this Christmas and my plan to do that on a specific day before December 25.

And so I did; I celebrated Christmas on October 25, 2010. How I celebrated my Christmas isn’t important or even that interesting, but what God did was amazing.

While planning for my Christmas celebration, I often found God bringing specific incidents to mind that contributed to my negative feelings toward Christmas. Not that I hadn’t thought back on them before, but it had always been during moments of Christmas depression that fed on those negative memories. This time was different. God was cleaning house and getting rid of the garbage I was holding on to. I don’t know about you, but I don’t find cleaning to be a fun task and being cleaned is even less fun… but living in a cleaned house is incredible!

He worked through my memory bank and my heart, healing the scars of the past and setting me free. It didn’t change anything that had happened in the past, but it allowed me to move on, leaving it in the past.

During this process, I discovered something…something that changes Christmas for me forever! Christmas isn’t about me! I realize how obvious that should be; however, each Christmas that I spent hoping that somehow someone would make up for my bad Christmases made that Christmas about me. But it isn’t about me, it never has been, it never could be and it never should be.

Yes, I had a good Christmas, because I spent it celebrating the One whom Christmas is truly all about, my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I’m even planning on having another good Christmas this year… on December 25, 2010.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Today, will you make a plan to intentionally and personally celebrate the birth of Jesus this Christmas season?
2. Are you holding on to garbage from your past? Will you let God begin cleaning your house today?
3. Do you struggle with unrealistic expectations of others during the holiday season? Will you surrender those expectations to God?

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 61:1-3; Luke 2:1-20; Isaiah 9:6

Lisa has been married to Ted for 18 years and they have two teenage sons. She is a co-leader for a Junior High girls’ small group at Oakwood Church.

(1) My First Christmas October 29, 2010 http://www.oakwoodfreshstart.blogspot.com/

Moving Past Understanding
By Elin Henderson

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God: and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus!”
Philippians 4:6,7 (NKJV)

Who doesn’t know and love these precious Scriptures? How many of us have gone to this again and again in time of need to find comfort, help and peace? There are so many nuggets of truth and hope that can be found locked away in these two verses.

Recently, I was reflecting on the passage sandwiched between what to do (don’t be anxious and give it to God) and the result (a peaceful mind). There are really two ways to interpret this section and both are equally rich and beautiful.

When we let go of our anxieties and commit them to the only One who can truly handle them, a peace that we can’t possibly explain or understand is promised to take over. How many of us have experienced a peace, a calm rest, in the midst of the storm like the disciples did when Jesus calms the storm in the Sea of Galilee (Mark 4:39 & Matthew 8:26))? Peace is what the world cries out for and desperately needs, yet what always remains just out of its reach, since it is sourced only in the God of the universe! We have a promise of that peace here! You can’t explain it! It’s just a “God Thing!”

Yet, there is a different kind of peace that He gives, as well. Not just freedom from our fears and doubts like when Jesus calmed the seas. But, a peace which “passes understanding”…in other words, it moves past understanding to simple faith and trust. This is like Peter in Matthew 14:29 when, despite the storm, he was able to step out of the boat in faith, walk on water and do the impossible. Or when the unexpected comes and things don’t work out as planned, we have a peace in the midst of that storm. We need to get past seeing things with human eyes and see them through the eyes of the Savior! What is a storm when you are with the Creator of the seas?

Oh, to have a faith and peace that passes understanding and doesn’t require an explanation or reason. One that simply steps out in faith and sees the hand of the Lord at work! “Move us past understanding today, oh Lord!”

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what areas has the Lord given you inexplicable peace in the midst of storms?
2. In what areas is He calling you to move past understanding and find His peace?

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 3:5,6; Psalms 119:69; Ephesians 3:19

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 eight-year-old Elias.

The Unseen Enemy
By Leslie Snyder

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
I Peter 5:8

Some time ago, my husband and I took our kids and some of their friends to play in the children’s play place at our local mall. The weather had been very cold and snow days had kept all of us cooped up for too many days. We all needed a little time to relax and run off some energy. After about fifteen minutes, I caught up with our troupe in the center of the play place. They were climbing like monkeys up and down and over and through a log-like structure that was large enough to endure the frolicking of many children. I quickly noticed that many of the children were coughing. Fearing the spread of yet another illness, I looked at my own kids. They were coughing, too. Within seconds, so was I. I found my husband who also noticed that the coughing had spread to the entire play place. We noticed police began to circle the area. We grabbed our kids, their friends and immediately left the building.

The kids were crushed. We had promised them ice cream and the only thing on their mind was that we had broken our promise. “But you said we could get ice cream!” Then came the complaints, one after another. There were no, “Thanks for saving our lives,” or “Wow, Mom and Dad really did the right thing.” Only complaints about leaving too soon and not getting the promised ice cream.

Isn’t that how we often treat attacks on our souls? Someone else sees the danger we are experiencing, loves us enough to drag us out of it, and then we complain because we didn’t get exactly what we wanted. Fortunately, as it turned out our “enemy” at the play place was just a thoughtless person releasing pepper spray as a joke. We were okay and had no lasting physical effects. However, the enemy of our soul isn’t just joking around. He is out to steal, kill and destroy. And when someone loves us enough to see the danger we’re in and lead us from it, we need to follow into safety.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there an area in your life that could use some rescuing? What’s keeping you from leaving?

FOR FURTHER READING:
John 8:42-37, 10:7-8

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Her Scarlet Letter
By Susan Klein

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.”
Isaiah 1:18b

Her scarlet letter was an “A,” for adultery. Hester Prynne, a young woman living in 17th century puritanical Boston, was labeled and paraded through town to shame her for her actions. She was not allowed to remove the letter, lest she or someone else forget the detestable sin she committed. Scorn and shame were her constant companions in a city where even the sun would not shine upon her. Her story is fiction. (1)

Rahab’s scarlet letter was an “H.” She was a harlot, or a prostitute, as we would call her today. People knew her for her disdainful lifestyle. Men used her and woman despised her. She is addressed three times in Scripture as “Rahab the harlot.” Her story is real.

Rahab’s story has a much happier ending than Hester’s. Rahab puts her faith in the One true God who can shower her with forgiveness and remove her scarlet letter. In fact, He even goes so far as to adopt her into the family of His chosen ones: the Israelites. She marries, has a son, and is named in the blood lineage of our Lord, Jesus Christ. She is loved, in spite of the past that could have branded her for life.

Consider other women in Scripture. Eve’s letter might have been a “D,” for disobedient. She had to leave Paradise, but she was forgiven by her Father. Miriam’s was quite possibly a “P,” for prideful. She thought too highly of herself and was temporarily struck with leprosy. But God cleansed her and brought her to a place of restoration.

And ourselves? We’ve all worn our “scarlet letters” at one time or another. We’ve all struggled with sin. Fortunately, our demise is not that of Hester Prynne’s. Our past does not identify who we are, and the “Son” does shine upon us! We have a loving God who hears our confessions and promises forgiveness. He strips us of our scarlet letter and cleanses us from all unrighteousness so that we may appear before Him white as snow. We can put our past behind us, just as He has.

If anything, our letter should be a pure, white “F” for forgiven and free!

GOING DEEPER:
1) What old letters might still be tucked away in your closet that need to be given to the heavenly Goodwill?
2) Do you know of someone else who may be in need of the Father’s “letter removal business”? Ask Him for an opportunity to share your own experience with her.

FURTHER READING:
Joshua 2 & Matthew 1:5-6; Numbers 12; Galatians 5:1; Hebrews 10:22-23

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

(1) Hawthorne, Nathaniel. The Scarlet Letter. Boston: Ticknor, Reed & Fields, 1850

Rescue Plan
by Jennie Pierce

“Then Jesus left Galilee and went north to the region of Tyre. He didn’t want anyone to know which house he was staying in . . .”

Mark 7:24 (NLT)

Sitting next to him on what was his first official airplane ride, I couldn’t help but be affected by the excitement that buzzed through his body. Unlike the seasoned traveler who typically settles right in for a nap, my son sat tall, observing everything around him, taking in every word the flight attendant spoke as she pointed here and there, explaining this and that. Suddenly, that excitement was squelched as the attendant explained the use of the oxygen masks, “Adults, assist yourselves FIRST, then the small child next to you.” She walked up and down the aisle purposefully stopping next to each adult who had a child by his side repeating, with emphasis, “Yourself FIRST, then the child.” Eyes widened and brows furrowed, my son exclaimed in disgust, “What?! That’s not fair!”

Initially, it does seem selfish, really: to assist yourself before assisting others. But consider the overall context. The health level of the emotional, physical and spiritual aspects of one’s life will affect the degree to which we can help and rescue those around us. Jesus knew that full well. After a busy day of ministering to a large, needy crowd, He purposely put a pause on ministry for a break, for some food and physical rest, even though all the needs weren’t yet met. After another time of intense ministering, He tried to sneak away to a friend’s house for some R&R. Scripture clearly states that He didn’t want anyone to know where He was! There were times when Jesus withdrew from the people, and even His disciples, to be alone for some intense time of prayer.

What Jesus modeled was not selfishness, but a pattern for wise and healthy living. Even He knew and understood the limitations and needs wrapped up in our humanness. There is no guilt, no shame in choosing to take care of yourself, in order to take care of those around you.

I think children are far wiser than we give them credit. I told my son that what the attendant had said didn’t seem fair, at first, but I asked him to think about the “why” behind what she was suggesting. Then it dawned on him as he exclaimed, “Oh, I get it! You can’t help me very well if you need help, too!”

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you feel guilty when you take time for yourself? Change your thinking, and realize it is important to invest in the health of yourself, too.
2. This week, what is one purposeful idea you can implement to assist in your physical, emotional, or spiritual health? Whether it’s a vigorous walk around the block, coffee with a friend, or some God-and-you alone time -- Do it!

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 8:18,24, 14:23; Mark 6:31-32,46; Luke 6:12, 9:28

Jennie is a wife and mother of three teenagers. She is active in Oakwood’s musical worship ministry and works part-time for a chiropractor.