The Ending
By Elizabeth Cole

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 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.”
Philippians 1:6

What a washout. He’s forty years old. Adopted at an early age into great wealth, he rebels and rejects his adoptive family, murders a man, escapes with just his life and is on the lam for years…

The day before God came to him in a burning bush, you would’ve looked at Moses and considered his life all but over. Any dreams he’d had in his younger years were long buried in the sands of Egypt. Grandiose plans for a full and rich career had certainly died right alongside the murdered slave driver. But then God called his name: “Moses, Moses.” God wasn’t remotely finished with this man who “can’t talk so well.”

God’s Purpose. How often do we forget that our God…the God whom we call all-knowing and all-present…is far above our concept of time? While you and I see each other (and ourselves) only as we currently are, the Lord God sees us as we’ll be. He knows the ending of our story and what we’ll look like in all our divine, heavenly perfection. In the middle of today’s failure…He knows what we will be. Still dealing with the consequences of past sin…He knows who we’re becoming.

This God who lovingly chose you before time began, who knew right where you’d be this day, has a purpose for you both today and tomorrow. His intention is single-minded, His power unending, His commitment beyond measure. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

GOING DEEPER:
1. What encouragement do you find in the story of Moses? How does it apply to your life today?
2. What steps can you take in this season of your life to be ready for when God calls you to the next?
3. Is there a part of your past that you’ve decided disqualifies you from God’s completing work? If so, will you surrender it into His hands and trust that He’s big enough to use even that for His purpose?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 1-4; Hebrews 11:24-29

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

The Invisible Bridge
By Kelly McFadden

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1

In the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indy Jones takes a journey to find the Holy Grail…the cup Jesus drank from at the Last Supper. Along his quest, he uses his father’s journal as a resource to guide and show him how to overcome the obstacles present in order to find his treasure. The last test he comes up against is a test of faith. He must step onto the “invisible bridge” in order to cross a cavern. Everything he read in his father’s journal told him it would work, but it is hard to put your life on the line for something you cannot see. It was not until he had put his full weight on the bridge and had taken a step that he discovered with certainty that the bridge was real.

Faith comes first in believing that God is who He says He is. John 3:16 says that whoever believes that God gave His son as a sacrifice for our sins shall have eternal life. The first step in being a Christian is to move forward in faith and believe. The second step comes in believing God will do what He says He will. It is about believing in God’s promises even when it doesn’t feel like they are promises. It is trusting in Him, even when those around you think you are crazy.

Hebrews’ chapter 11 is known as the Hall of Faith. It documents amazing people of the Old Testament who lived out their faith. It was by faith Noah built an ark; it was by faith Abraham left his home and his inheritance; it was by faith Sarah had a child in her old age; it was by faith Moses’ parents hid him from the Egyptians when he was born; and it was by faith the people of Israel walked through the Red Sea on dry land. There are many stories of people relying on their faith in God, even when it didn’t make sense.

Sometimes, taking those steps of faith is difficult. It is hard to step forward into the things unseen and to rest in faith. The great news is that we have a letter from our Lord. A letter that tells us that we are loved children of God. A letter that confirms that our faith is based on truth, a letter that tells of the blessings the Lord has for us when we are willing to take a step of faith. This letter is the Bible. No matter what part of the journey you are on right now, God is with you and He is for you. Take a step of faith in Him; put your full weight onto His promises. He will not let you down.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What does it mean when you hear someone say she had “faith like a child”?
2. What areas of your life do you need to hand over to God in full faith?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 6:25-34; Luke 7:36-50; Hebrews 11

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

No One Mourns the Wicked
By Vernette Kureck

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8

She was different. She was born green and green wasn’t normal. Elphaba, the Wicked Witch of the West wasn’t normal. In the Wizard of Oz she died of an allergic reaction to water. A literal meltdown. Glinda, the Good Witch, asks in the theme song from Wicked, “Are people born wicked? Or do they have wickedness thrust upon them? After all she had a father. She had a mother, as so many do.” As she sings about what goodness knows concerning wickedness, she claims her good news: “No One Mourns the Wicked.” (1) Is that true? I say, Glinda, you need to hear the really Good News!

What does the Bible have to say about wickedness? Generally those who are opposed to God and other humans are described as wicked. Its way is dark and its desires evil. Adam and Eve opposed God’s plan in the garden. Because of that sin we are naturally turned away from God and under eternal wrath. We are corrupt and make wrong choices; we are even inclined to do “bad” things.

The Good News is that God still loved us and sent His Son to pay the price for our wickedness, for our sin. Jesus lived a perfect life. He entered this world to give His life as a ransom. Jesus came to teach God’s truth about Himself, about God, about our sin and what we must do in response. The torturous crucifixion of Jesus displayed the self-giving love and grace of God as Jesus bore the penalty of God’s wrath for our wickedness. On the third day, Jesus was raised from the dead. God showed His acceptance of Christ’s sacrifice for all those who would repent and believe. Our basic way of life will either be oriented toward God and His light or toward the darkness of sin. God’s plan is to save His people from their sins and to bring His people to Himself. Believers have been saved from the penalty of their wickedness and are currently being saved from the power of sin. And, someday in eternity, we will be saved from the very presence of wickedness and sin.

So Glinda, let me proclaim what Goodness knows concerning wickedness. Wickedness is conquered. Evil is vanquished. Someone does mourn the wicked. He is God in the Person of Jesus Christ…and He is Goodness.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How have you responded to Jesus Christ?
2. With whom can you share the Good News?

FURTHER READING:
Gen 6:5-6; Mark 10:45; Romans 3:23-24; 2 Peter 3:9

(1) “No One Mourns the Wicked,” from Wicked, lyrics by Stephen Schwartz

Vernette and her husband Ken have two children and six grandchildren, with one in the works! When she’s not “grandparenting,” she’s busy as Oakwood Church’s financial secretary and as part of the leadership team for We Women’s Moms Nurturing Moms.

The (Almost) Plague of 1877
By Leslie Snyder

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

In the summer of 1876, grasshoppers nearly destroyed the crops in Minnesota. In the spring of 1877, farmers feared that the dreadful plague would strike again resulting in the destruction of their wheat crop for the second year in a row and bringing ruin on thousands of farmers throughout the state. The situation was so serious that Governor John S. Pillsbury proclaimed April 26 as a day of prayer and fasting. He urged every man, woman, and child to ask God to prevent this terrible tragedy. Schools, shops, stores, and offices were closed in observance of this day of prayer. The following day dawned bright and clear. Temperatures soared above midsummer norms. The unusual heat persisted for three days, and the people were devastated to discover billions of grasshopper larvae wiggling to life. It appeared that the grasshopper plague would return and once again bring ruin to the wheat crops. Surprisingly, the fourth day brought with it a sudden drop in temperature and the farmers woke the next morning to find that frost covered the ground. The result? Every single grasshopper larva died as surely as if they had been poisoned.

There is no doubt that God answers prayer. James 5:16b reads, “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” Matthew 18:19–20 states, “Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.” Prayer is powerful, but for some reason many Christians don’t invest in seeking God’s help through prayer. James explains in his letter, “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. (James 4:3)”

God loves us and is waiting patiently to hear from us. He wants to hear about our struggles, our joys and even about the things in life we may consider mundane. Simply, prayer is communication with God and is as easy as talking with a friend. Today, God is inviting you to talk with him. It doesn’t have to be formal, flowery, or perfect. It just has to be real.

GOING DEEPER:
Prayer is a gift from God to you. It is a way to connect daily with the God who created you. Make the time today to connect with Him.

FURHTER READING:
Matthew 6:9–13; John 17

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Hold Tight…Tomorrow, Too
By Elizabeth Cole

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Avoid a Dead Heart: Rest
By Kelly McFadden

“Observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy, as the LORD your God has commanded you.”
Deuteronomy 5:12

Chinese characters are probably the most beautiful and difficult written language to understand and learn. Each character written corresponds to a spoken syllable with a basic meaning. However, many words use two or more combined characters to create a meaning that is different from the original words used to create it. For example, the Chinese character for the word “busy” is written by combining the two words “heart” and “dead.” How appropriate. For when we are overly busy, we lay the foundation for a lifeless heart.

I think it would be a challenge today to find someone who is not busy. It is a part of our culture. It almost seems the busier you are, the more applauded and affirmed you get. But a lot can be learned from this ancient Chinese word. There is a reason God created a Sabbath day to be set aside for His people to rest. He commanded his people to work six days and on the seventh day to rest.

Work and projects and commitments in themselves are not bad. But when we let ourselves get overly busy…even with good things…we tend to neglect the important things. In some ways, we are showing that we don’t trust that God will provide for us. I believe what God is calling His people to is balance. When we get too busy, we are living a life on the verge of disaster…whether that comes to you, your spouse or your kids.

Make an effort in your life to rest and observe the Sabbath. Turn off your cell phone, the television, your computer and the video games. Take some time by yourself or your family to take a walk or spend some time at a park or the beach. Relax, refresh and renew your soul. Don’t create in yourself a “dead-heart,” create a heart that is filled with life. And one way to do that is to make sure you are not getting overly busy, but taking the time to rest.

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways have you made yourself too busy? How do you see that that busyness is affecting your relationships?
2. What can you do to have dedicated time each week to rest?

FURTHER READING:
Genesis 2:2; Deuteronomy 5:12-15, Psalm 127

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

DIY (Do It Yourself)
By Susan Klein

“For nothing is impossible with God.”
Luke 1:37

My first introduction to the three letters; “DIY,” were in an issue of Country Living magazine. The format includes a DIY, or “do-it-yourself” section, both in the magazine and offered online. It includes helpful household hints, cooking tips, and just general resources for projects you can do yourself. Another magazine, Real Simple, is full of ideas to back their claim of “life made easier.” In my most recent issue I noticed a quote by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on the spine that read, “If you wish a thing to be well done, you must do it yourself.” Hmm...there seems to be a theme going on here!

As women, we all tend to slip into the DIY mode every now and then. When I was first married, I enlisted my husband’s help in doing laundry since I despised traversing the two flights of stairs to the dark dungeon (basement) that housed my washer and dryer. When he successfully managed to shrink several of my favorite items of clothing, I determined I’d better just “do it myself!” In later years, I encouraged my young children to help wash the dishes. After many dirty plates and glasses ended up back in the cupboards, I decided to just do it myself! Now, I tend to ask myself ahead of time, “Will they do the job the way I want it done, or should I just do it myself?”

Sometimes, I even fall into the trap of doing this with God. I ask Him to do or provide for something, and in my impatience, or if I don’t think I like the way He is answering, I run ahead of Him and try to do it myself. He just lovingly allows me to plow ahead... and to very often fall flat on my face! Other times, I don’t even bother to ask for His help in my haste to take care of the issue at hand. Spiritually speaking, there is no DIY with God. He wants us to be led by His Holy Spirit to do the things He’s prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). And He wants to show us His love and His power by having us trust fully in Him when we ask Him to do something for us. For nothing is impossible with God!!

Relying on the efforts of others will eventually lead to disappointment. Rather than DIY, try turning to and trusting the One who truly can help!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What needs have you been expecting others to meet, or are you trying to take care of on your own?
2. Are you willing to ask and allow God to be the Meeter of those needs?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 19:26; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20

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.

The Price of Peace
By Leslie Snyder

“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

The headlines are all too common:

“Angry parent charges onto field, attacks Little League coach.”

“Road rage causes fatal accident.”

“Jealous mom plans hit on daughter’s rival.”

Anger is everywhere and it doesn’t take long to notice its destructive results. A friend once said to me, “Anger floats on a sea of fear,” and the more I think about it, the more I agree. Anger is an emotion common to all people regardless of race, gender, ethnicity or age. It begins on the playground and can continue to the grave. When anger takes hold of someone, it acts like a deadly poison, slowly seeping into every part of that person’s life. And, if left unchecked, will ultimately affect every relationship the person has.

Fortunately, Scripture offers this prescription for dealing with anger: Ephesians 4:31-32 reads, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Sometimes this is easier said than done. In some cases, your anger may be justified. The pain you experienced at the hand of another may have been great. However, the greatest gift you can ever give someone is the gift of forgiveness. When you release your anger, the power of God is released to begin the healing process.

A seminary professor once stated that when you forgive someone you set a prisoner free…only to find out that the prisoner was you.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Examine your own life. In what areas do you hold onto anger? What are its results?
2. Today, you may need to offer someone forgiveness, or even seek forgiveness for your own anger. Don’t delay. You can experience the healing power of forgiveness today.

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 5:23–24; Matthew 18:15-1; Hebrews 12:14

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Jesus Demoted?
By Peggy Kleckner

“‘About Jesus of Nazareth’, they replied. ‘He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death and they crucified him; but we had hoped that He was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place.’”
Luke 24:19b-22

This is the story of the two disciples who were traveling to Emmaus after Jesus had been crucified. Walking along, they are suddenly joined by a stranger who doesn’t seem to know about the “things” which have occurred. They proceed to fill him in, but, unfortunately, also speak of their dashed hopes and their unmet expectations.

Recently, our pastor spoke on this passage. I found it interesting that he spoke about the disciples’ expectations and also our own. He noted that although these disciples once believed that Jesus was the Messiah, they were now speaking of Him as a prophet. They had, in essence, demoted Jesus. So the question came to my heart, “When do I demote Jesus?” When my life doesn’t go as I expected, or as I had prayed, do I suddenly doubt that Jesus is my Savior and LORD? Do I have a box that Jesus should neatly fit in? Jesus is too big to fit the picture I have of Him. Am I holding on to my measly photograph thought when He wants to show up in fullness?

So many times I think I know how things should happen, as I am sure the disciples did. Crucifixion certainly didn’t fit their ideas of the next step and yet, as our pastor pointed out, all of it was predicted and necessary to fulfill prophecy and fully certify Jesus as the Messiah.

I am a follower of Jesus. He leads. Often He is not what I expect, but He is always what I need.

What a wonderful picture of grace this story is for us. Jesus comes to these disciples as a stranger, not whom they may have expected. He is interested in their thoughts and listens to them fully and then proceeds to fill them up with the truth of Scripture. Those disciples didn’t turn away from that stranger. If they had, they would have really missed out on the blessing God had planned for them. May we also be open enough to share what we know thus far, and be willing to listen and accept the truth that He sends.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you have any present expectations of God?
2. Are there any areas of your life where you are struggling with doubt? Have you asked Him to increase your faith?

FURTHER READING:
Mark 9:17-29; Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 8:23-27

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

Norm!
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together….but let us encourage one another.”
Hebrews 10:24-25

Making your way in the world today takes everything you've got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn't you like to get away?

Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they're always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows Your name.

You wanna go where people know, people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows your name. (1)

Do you recognize the lyrics? If you’re over age 30, I bet you do…the theme song from Cheers. The show was about a group of lonely individuals that meet together at a bar and find acceptance in relationships that, outside of this common place, they otherwise would not have. Who can forget the former baseball star, the jaded waitress, the intellectually over-stimulated postal worker and the emotionally-stunted psychiatrist? Watching the show made us feel that if we walked into this bar, we could pull up a chair and be welcomed immediately into their lives; and that we wouldn’t be considered any more (or less) messed up than this bunch. Every week, despite their differences in background and outlook, this group would find common ground and build camaraderie.

Wouldn’t it be incredible if our churches felt a bit like Cheers? We all crave understanding and unconditional acceptance from other people. Imagine church as a place to foster relationships and cultivate friendships that are safe harbors from the storms of life. A place where you’re recognized and cared for, where someone sincerely asks about your day or week, and we feel safe enough to be honest with our struggles.

This kind of atmosphere takes work from each of us as individuals. We have to show up regularly to be recognized, or to be able to recognize someone else. We have to actually step out from our chair (or pew) and take note of another person. We need to be willing to invest a bit in time and conversation. But the reward is that over time we get the feeling that we can pull up a chair and be welcomed immediately…just like at Cheers.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Make a point of meeting someone new this week at church. Take a few moments to get to know her.

FURTHER READING:
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

(1) © 1982 Addax Music. Written by Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo. Performed by Portnoy.

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves as a small group leader for Wednesday p.m. Bible study, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

Darkness
By Peggy Kleckner

“By day the LORD went ahead of them in a pillar of cloud to guide them on their way and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light so that they could travel by day or night.”
Exodus 13:21

Darkness can be a scary place. Sometimes our lives seem dark even at noon hour. Questions assail us, “How can I pay for all of these bills?” “What am I supposed to be doing with my life?” “Why don’t I feel loved or valued?” Left to ourselves, we are soon stumbling in the darkness, tripping over our own questions, walking into walls of regret and bumping into fears of the unknown. Thankfully, we have a Savior, Jesus Christ. He said, “I am the light of the world.”

Sometimes the darkness we feel is what draws us to our Savior. Think of the commercial for the hotel that states, “We’ll leave the light on for you.” What does that bring to mind? For me it reminds me of parents who have allowed their children freedom during the night hours, but leave the light on to welcome them back home again. If we can see our dark times as an invitation from our God to turn and see that He has the light on for us, perhaps they won’t seem so scary. Our true parent watches over us and can easily lead us out from the darkness, for He is the light. Darkness shows us our need for light, our need for a Savior.

With Him we can travel by day or night, remembering that He leads.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What darkness is trying to suffocate you? Name your fear and take it to God in prayer.
2. Can you see the light that God has left on for you in the midst of your situation? If not, ask God to reveal it to you.

FURTHER READING:
John 8:12; John 12:46; 1 Peter 2:9

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

Fact or Fiction?
By Susan Klein

“As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless.”
2 Samuel 22:31

“One Giant Skeptical Leap for Mankind” was the title of the newspaper article. “6% of Americans believe moon landing faked,” read the subtitle. Why would some choose to believe the moon landing was a hoax? Could it be the documentary that was filmed by a noted skeptic trying to disprove the actual landing? Or, might it be because NASA seems to have lost the original videotape of the live footage? Perhaps some skepticism stems from the fact that people just didn’t actually witness it with their own eyes, so it’s an improbable idea to conceive.

Conspiracy theories and skepticism are nothing new to humanity. As long as theories are disproved, new scientific evidence is uncovered, and politicians try to please everyone, there will remain a healthy amount of doubt and disbelief in people’s minds. Due to man’s ever-changing wisdom, what is “fact” today may be considered “fiction” tomorrow. One minute drinking coffee and eating chocolate are good for you and the next minute they aren’t! But wait long enough and it could very well become fact again sometime in the future. So, how do we distinguish fact from fiction?

Well, besides checking out an online story at truthorfiction.com, using a trusted resource (such as a dictionary or encyclopedia), or just taking someone else’s word for it, many things can’t be verified. Even high courts make mistakes in their rulings now and then! We are all human and all fallible. No one can claim to have all the right answers. And let’s not forget; the great deceiver is constantly at work trying to ensnare his next victim with some sort of lie!

But, we do have one resource at our fingertips that is never wrong. We will never have to worry if its contents are fact or fiction. God’s Word is flawless! We can take comfort in knowing that He gave His perfect word to men whom he trusted to make a written account for all generations. It cannot be disproved nor will it ever change. It is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! It brings life and hope to those who believe.

When the world around us leaves us baffled and confused, we can always take refuge in the promises of God’s Word.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What do you do when confronted with an idea that leaves you skeptical?
2. Verify everything by taking it to Scripture. If you don’t find an answer, pray for God’s wisdom and discernment.

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 119:89; Isaiah 45:19

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.

Take Off the Mask
By Elizabeth Cole

“When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”
Proverbs 11:3

Have you ever noticed how many of the superheroes put on masks when it’s time to do their “superhero jobs”? Maybe you haven’t meditated on that thought lately, but think about it…there they are, coursing through the air with their colored masks hiding their true identity.

I’ll admit it. That’s one of the reasons I like Superman so much. When he’s doing his thing, being who he truly is, he takes OFF his mask…those big ol’ black-rimmed glasses. When he’s doing what he was made to do, he’s doing it fully revealed, more himself than any other time.

Today, there is a heart-cry in our society for authenticity. We’ve been disappointed over and over by those who, come to find out, aren’t who they said they were. Certainly that’s the case on the national Christian scene…but, if we’re honest, maybe it’s true in our own relationships with other believers. If we’re even more honest, maybe we’ve been the cause of another’s disappointment. And perhaps that disappointment wasn’t due to something unsavory revealed in our lives, but because we were unwilling to reveal anything real in our lives. Why the masks? I wonder sometimes if, as women, our very DNA includes the chromosome labeled “image.” And behind image lies the word “pride.”

Dream for a moment. What would our lives look like individually if we took off the masks and relied solely on God’s Power to do what He’s planned for us to do? It would mean hopping off the pedestal…it would mean being just the “signpost”….it would, indeed, be humbling… Think further: What would be the impact of God’s women in the world if, once and for all, we chose to remove the masks and crusade against our own pride and fight for truth…real, authentic, life-sharing, humble truth.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What area of your life are you hiding behind pride? Would you be willing to share that area with another believer whom you can trust and who will hold you accountable?
2. Consider what you do in ministry for God. Is pride hampering you in any way? Will you surrender your image over to God for His safekeeping?

FURTHER READING:
1 Peter 5:5-7; Ephesians 4:1-7

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

It is God’s Work
By Peggy Kleckner

“The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

Then God said, ‘Let there be light;’ and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good; and God divided the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night.”
Genesis 1:1-5a (NKJV)

I read these verses just recently and God seemed to apply them to my heart differently this time. It wasn’t the “earth” that was without form, it was my life. Before I knew Him I was in darkness and yet the Spirit of God hovered over me. As He called out to me, I finally responded and it was then that He declared light in my soul. Oh, sin still resides in me, but God has separated what is darkness and what is light. He knows what to call day and what to call night. The difference is always obvious to Him.

Please notice with me who was doing the work in these passages. The Spirit of God was hovering, God said, God saw, God divided, God called. You would think that I would “get it”! It is His work. I am so often trying to self-improve. That would mean that everything is about me. He calls me to surrender, to submission, and just like a small child, I keep stomping my little foot declaring, “I can do it myself!” I can’t. Oh, how I have tried!

I am grateful to be His and yet I don’t want to burden Him…after all, hasn’t He done enough? He paid for my sins by dying on the cross, certainly I must have to pay Him back or at least try and make Him proud of me? What a trap! How could one ever “pay back” a debt so large? Especially since every day I add more sin to the debt!

It is time for each of us to lay down our self-imposed burdens, our daily grind of trying to perfect ourselves, and quietly ask what He would have us do. I am sure that as we work at the things He has for us, we will notice that He is doing the greater work in us. The deep work of clearing away the clutter, rooting out the bitterness and any other darkness that still resides in our hearts. Our focus must be Him. Our hearts must be surrendered.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there an area of your life that consumes your focus? Has God pointed it out, or are you “self-improving”?
2. When was the last time you asked God what He wanted you to do with your day?

FURTHER READING:
Eph 2:6-10; Psalm 139:23-24

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children – two sons and two stepsons. She is the co-coordinator of Oakwood’s Wednesday p.m. Bible Study.

Don’t Miss the Main Course
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“…the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed…’”
Luke 10:41

Imagine that you have a close friend that lives far away. You finally get the opportunity to visit her in person, for one evening. If you’re like me, you are excited. You’re thinking about what you want to talk about with her. You’ve got pictures of your family and stories in your head ready to share. You anticipate sitting down and spending quality time with your friend.

Now imagine that when you arrive, she has gotten all caught up in making everything “perfect” for your visit. She has a four-course meal in progress, is frantically cleaning the dust bunnies from under the furniture, and cutting fresh flowers for your room. She’s so busy getting everything perfectly ready that she is exhausted…too tired to enjoy conversation over the beautiful meal she prepared…too sleepy to stay up late for “girl talk.” You leave the next morning feeling disappointed. You didn’t care about how the house looked or what you ate. You just wanted time with her.

In Luke 10, the story is told of Mary and Martha. Jesus comes to visit their home. Can you imagine the thrill of that? Martha goes completely into preparation overdrive, getting all the tasks completed for hosting Jesus and the entourage that was with Him. Mary, however, sits at the Lord’s feet, listening to what He has to say. Martha gets upset with Mary and wants Jesus to tell Mary to get up and help her. Jesus tells Martha, “You’re fussing far too much and getting yourself worked up over nothing. One thing is essential, and Mary has chosen it…it’s the main course, and won’t be taken from her” (MSG).

I read recently, “If Satan can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy.” That principle is certainly at work here. Martha wasn’t wrong in wanting to provide for her guests. She had the best of intentions in seeing to Jesus’ comfort. She just went too far and got too wrapped up in her work…and not wrapped up enough in Whom the work was for. All Jesus wanted was to spend time with her, to teach her His ways. Martha was so busy that she nearly missed the Main Course.

It is the same with us today. Jesus wants us to make Him the priority. If we are too busy, we’ll miss the Main Course, too.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you find yourself putting preparation ahead of people, or in front of God? Pray that God shows you how He would have you prioritize.

FURTHER READING:
Luke 10:36-42; Psalm 34: 8-10; Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves as a small group leader for Wednesday p.m. Bible study, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

How About Jesus?
By Kelly McFadden

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
Hebrews 12:1-4

For a while, driving the 405 freeway in Southern California was an irritating experience. Now, you may be thinking, “Does anyone enjoy driving on California freeways? I’ve heard about that LA traffic!” And while there is some merit to this line of thought, I’m not referring to the traffic. “What?” you ask not understanding. “Is there any other reason to hate driving in Los Angeles?” You see, there was a billboard looming high above the freeway. I can see it now, countless numbers of people driving past its message everyday. My stomach gets queasy just thinking about it! It’s an ESPN ad, seemingly harmless, with a couple of WNBA players on it. It is the text that seizes me… “Without Sports who would we follow?”

In an age consumed with the life of glamour and the love of money, it should not be a surprise that this ad insinuates we actually need sports stars in order to have role models. Who would we follow?! I have an answer. How about Parents? Youth Pastors? Missionaries? Firemen? Teachers? Nurses? Doctors? How about Jesus?

Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have athletes as role models. But there is more to a person that what they do for a job. As we pick and choose our role models, it is essential to look at the heart of the person. Hebrews talks about a ‘great cloud of witnesses.’ All around us are people who love the Lord and serve him in their daily lives. How awesome that you and I were not sent into this sinful world alone! The Lord gave us brothers and sisters in Christ who will run this race with us and help us through the entangling powers of sin. The important thing to remember, however, is that it is Jesus who we fix our eyes on. The role models in this world are other Christians running the same race and serving as examples.

GOING DEEPER:
1. According to Hebrews 12:1-4, who should we follow?
2. Write down the names of some role models in your life. Why are they role models? Are these healthy people to model your life after?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 119:105-109; Hebrews 11; 1 Corinthians 4:16-17; Titus 2:1-8

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Packing
By Elizabeth Cole

“Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.”
1 Peter 1:13

I spent the last several months looking toward a missions trip to Eastern Europe. I joined my daughter and ten other amazing, diverse people in ministry to orphans in Latvia. We made numerous lists and multiple trips to the store over the previous weeks, all in anticipation of what we’d be doing on the trip. Our precious team met a lot in preparation of our shared adventure, praying of course, but also talking through needs and determining who’d bring what. Each of us packed accordingly. I think we were as prepared as best as we could be…I certainly know we’d been intentional.

What a great picture of the flourishing spiritual life: in meaningful relationships with others, praying and talking through what’s coming next; taking inventory and seeing what spiritual gifts can be contributed to build others up; finding needs and filling them; ever-aware of and motivated by the assigned task.

I’m asking our God this day, in His overflowing grace, to give me a pliable heart with that same kind of intentionality in my focus on Him—in my love for Him, in my “growing up” in Him, in my service to Him. As I travel through the God-allowed adventures in my life, I so want to be well-prepared for whatever He has next on the horizon. The Apostle Peter challenges you and me to prepare our minds for serving, to avail ourselves of the Spirit’s gift of self-control, and to stay focused on the ultimate grace we’ll receive when our travels end and we see Jesus.

I’m very aware that there are some things He’s asked me to pack that I’ve not quite gotten around to yet…and there are some thought patterns in my “suitcase” that need to come out…no room, no use in who He’s calling me to be or what He’s calling me to be prepared to do.

I’m working on packing accordingly.

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what areas of your spiritual journey do you need more intentionality?
2. What one thing can you do today to heighten your preparation for whatever God has on your horizon?

FURTHER READING:
Colossians 3

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

Mysterious Mercy
By Susan Klein

“What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For He says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.’ It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.”
Romans 9:14-16

I was cruising along on the freeway, going to visit a dear friend. I was in a cheerful mood, singing along to the radio, looking forward to some serious “girl time.” As I approached a break in the median, I noticed a police car positioned with its radar gun pointed in my direction. I, of course, immediately checked my speedometer to make sure I wasn’t going over the limit. To my horror, I was doing 77mph in a 65mph zone! My heart started racing and beads of sweat formed on my brow as I quickly shifted my foot to the break pedal in an effort to slow down, just a bit too late! “Okay Lord, let me have it!” I uttered. “I know I was speeding and I deserve a ticket for not paying better attention. Just bring it on!” Readying myself to pull over to the side of the road, I kept checking my rearview mirror in expectation, but...nothing. He never came after me. Why? I have no clue. His radar gun was pointed, he was ready to roll, and I certainly deserved it.

This incident reminded me of God’s great and mysterious mercy. We don’t always know the mind of our sovereign God. When we least expect it, or don’t deserve it, He shows us mercy. Other times, He lets us suffer the consequences of our actions. According to the verse above, He doesn’t necessarily administer mercy when we desire it or feel we deserve it, but when He feels compelled to. He is God, and He does as He sees fit.

Verses 22-23 go on to say, “What if God, choosing to show His wrath and make His power known, bore with great patience the objects of His wrath prepared for destruction? What if He did this to make the riches of His glory known to the objects of His mercy, whom He prepared in advance for glory...?”

Sometimes, when we are suffering consequences, it is to show us God’s long-suffering for us as He desires to restore us to a right relationship with Him. And when He shows us His mercy, He makes the riches of His glory and love known to us. It’s a win/win situation, as in either case, He desires to draw us nearer!

GOING DEEPER:
1. In what ways have you seen God’s mysterious mercy demonstrated in your own life?
2. How can you extend this same unexpected mercy to those around you?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 12: 1-2; Titus 3: 3-5; Luke 6:36

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.

“Stay in Your Lane”
By Kari Lyles

“Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”
1 Corinthians 9:24

“Stay in your lane,” one of the coaches shouted as my 7-year-old daughter and I approached the track. She was taking part in a children’s track camp at Arrowhead High School, my alma mater, and I found myself at once flooded with memories. This very track is where my Christian walk began.

The fall of my junior year, as we ran a mile during gym class, a friend told me she had a personal relationship with God. I was in awe and intrigued as to how God could “speak to her.” She gave me a few Bible verses and one day after school, I curiously opened a Bible. The foundation of faith that had been laid by my parents came alive in a new way. A few months later, I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. The God I only had believed in was real.

Now, several years and experiences later, I found myself on that track again and hearing “stay in your lane,” made me smile a secret smile. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.”

A dear friend once used “stay in your lane” as an analogy to stay focused on Jesus and do the right thing when I felt I was being tested. “You know where you need to be and what you need to do, stay in your lane,” she advised.

Sisters, we need to “stay in our lane” when the temptations of life try to get us off track. When our pride is hurt and we want to gossip. When we’re up against a wall and think about lying rather than telling the truth. When anger convinces us that lashing out is better than taking it to the Lord.

By staying in our lane, we stay focused on Christ, our true prize. There’s no one else I would
rather see at the finish line.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there anything in your life that is getting you “off track” in your walk with the Lord? What will you have to do to get back “on track” to stay focused on Christ?

FURTHER READING:
Acts 20:24; 2 Timothy 4:7; Galatians 5:7

Kari is a wife, mother to two girls, and has her own marketing consulting business. Kari is involved in Oakwood's drama ministry.

Metamorphosis
By Karen D’Amore

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you in to a new person by changing the way you think.”
Romans 12:2 (The Message)

A metamorphosis process begins the moment that we choose to follow Christ. Metamorphosis is defined as: a transformation; a marked change in appearance, character, condition or function. The most familiar illustration of this process is seen in the life of a butterfly. Beginning its life as a caterpillar it crawls up on a branch in its own “death walk” and attaches itself to a leaf through the spinning creation of a cocoon. Hidden within the cocoon, the caterpillar enters into a tedious time of rebuilding…the metamorphosis process. During this process its old nature falls away and a new one—the butterfly—emerges. As the butterfly breaks out of the cocoon, the struggle within the process is necessary to strengthen its wings, enabling it to fly.

As Christ followers, we must go through this same transformation process. A life-long process, it requires willingness to die to our self-will and our old way of thinking. God desires to bring us to a place of relationship and total trust, where we will come to see and know Him as He is. This is not a process built with human hands, but through unconditional surrender. Spiritual transformation is God’s primary goal for our life, as He actively and progressively shapes us into the image of Christ. His emphasis is on changing us rather then changing our circumstances. And His changes are always thorough—affecting every aspect of our being—our thoughts, attitudes, values and actions. It is a transformation of character at a very deep level.

Eventually we will begin to view our time, treasures and talents differently. Our eyes will gaze on new heights and our desires will lean in new directions. We are a new creation: We will learn to live as one. But how do we get there? Erwin Lutzer wrote, “The difference between worldliness and godliness is a renewed mind.” We must be diligent to search His Word, seek His guidance, cooperate with His plan and receive His correction. We must learn to crawl before we can walk and we must walk with endurance before we will have wings…strong enough to fly.

“What a caterpillar calls the end of the world, the Master calls a butterfly.” -– Richard Bach

GOING DEEPER:
1. What old ways of thinking are you holding on to that need to be surrendered to Christ?
2. Are there areas of your life that still look more like the “old caterpillar” rather then a new butterfly?

FURTHER READING:
2 Corinthians 3:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Ephesians 4:24; Ephesians 5:1

Married to husband Dan, Karen manages Intrigue Salon & Spa, is the administrator for Oakwood’s Tuesday a.m. Bible Study, and co-leads a freshman girls’ small group.

Follow the DE-no-INstructions
By Elin Henderson

“Take hold of instruction; do not let go. Guard her, for she is your life.”
Proverbs 4:13

Have you ever started a project and about halfway through, think to yourself, “What in the world have I gotten myself into?” For some reason that frequently happens to me. A few months ago my son discovered a “make your own” castle in a Family Fun magazine. For months now, he has been begging me to sit down and make it with him. This last week I finally conceded. However, several days into this endeavor with blisters on my hands from cutting cardboard, paint under my nails, and a mess that would take days to clean up, that very question above was whirling around in my head. Of course my son’s enthusiasm never waned! At one point I was working hard, concentrating as I tried to figure out a certain part of this castle when he said to me, “Mom, why don’t you just follow the destructions?” I had to stop and laugh and realize, yes, perhaps I should just follow the destructions after all!

A few days later, the paint is still under my nails and the blisters are almost healed, but I got to thinking about what he had to say. Sometimes we create destructions by not following the instructions! The Bible has plenty to say in regards to this area. Take a look through Proverbs and you will find verse after verse hammering home the importance of following instructions. Whatever our project or predicament, His Word provides ample instructions for us to follow. In Proverbs 4:10-13, He promises that when we do follow His instructions, He will lead us in wisdom, guide us along His upright paths, watch over our steps, keep us from stumbling, and more.

So, next time you find yourself knee-deep in some project with no end in sight, or when you are wondering what to do next or where to go next, just remember to “follow the instructions” and keep clear of those “destructions”!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Do you follow God’s instructions or do you tend to do life your own way? What motivates your decision?
2. For Fun: Take a highlighter and read through the first few chapters of Proverbs, highlighting the number of times “Instruction” is used and noting the promises related to following after it.

FURTHER READING:
Proverbs 1-4

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 six-year-old Elias.

Getting Well
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“(Jesus) asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’”
John 5:6

The Bible tells us the man Jesus spoke to in this passage had been an invalid for 38 years. His likely habit was to sit by a pool each day in the hope of physical healing. Locals believed that the waters of this pool had healing powers when an angel of the Lord would come down and stir the waters. The first person into the pool would be cured of whatever disease he or she had. Then one day, this invalid man encounters Jesus, who asks him, “Do you want to get well? [emphasis added]” On the surface it seems a silly question. The man spends every day by the pool. Each day he plays the “healing lottery,” hoping to be the big winner.

But Jesus asks “Do you want to get well?” Jesus knows that this man’s whole life will change if he is healed. The man will be responsible for himself. No longer will he have his affliction to lean on as an excuse for why he does not succeed in this world. The man’s answer is, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Jesus takes his answer as a “yes,” for Jesus’ reply is “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man is cured.

The healing of our own afflictions, especially emotional, can sometimes take this same route. Jesus performed a miracle of healing, but only after the man indicated that he wanted to be healed. It’s one thing to know that Jesus has the ability to heal us, but we have to be willing and ready for the healing to occur. This story also indicates that a second step…of obedience…was required for this man. The man’s habit had to change. What would have happened if the man on the mat had simply laid there and continued to hang out by the water? His life would not have changed, and the work of Christ would not have been completed in his life.

For Jesus to heal the afflictions in our lives, we not only need to want to get well, but sometimes we have to be willing to make the change in our lives to complete the healing.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Is there an affliction in your life that you want to be healed of? Are you ready for the responsibility of doing your part in the healing process?
2. Is there someone in your life who is in need of Christ’s healing? How can you encourage her to be ready for the step of obedience?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 25:8-10

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves as a small group leader for Wednesday p.m. Bible study, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

Only One God
By Susan Klein

“No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.”
Matthew 6:24

A few years ago, a prominent religious figure was in the news for holding a worldwide ecumenical service to try to unite people groups from Native American Indians to Hindus to Roman Catholics. He claimed we should all come together to worship since “we all believed in the same god.” Hmm...

In a recent conversation with an acquaintance of mine, the topic turned toward this ecumenical movement. While I believe “ecumenism” to mean all Christ-followers, regardless of church affiliation or denomination, coming together as a unified body of believers, I was surprised by her take on the matter. She felt that to achieve spiritual unity across the globe, we need to embrace all cultures and religions with their various gods, and not think ours is better or more right than others. We need to be more open to other possibilities. I sincerely believe there is a danger in this type of thinking!

Though we are not to look down upon anyone, we are also not to accept wrongful teaching. While I support the command in Matthew 22 that we need to love our neighbors as ourselves, I believe the first part of that command is even more important. It says we are to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind. We have only one God that we should be worshipping or serving. We are not to embrace another culture or religion that does not recognize and line up with the One True God and Lord Jesus Christ. In love, we need to share our beliefs and direct others toward this Scriptural truth.

Oh, how Satan would love to deceive us into believing that we have it all wrong! He even tried to deceive Christ in the wilderness by offering Him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor (Matthew 4:8), which didn’t even belong to him in the first place! Jesus replied, “Away from me Satan! For it is written; ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve Him only.’” We cannot serve, or believe in more than one God. Men have tried it for thousands of years. Wars have been fought over it. But in the end, there is only one God.

GOING DEEPER:
1. How can you, as a believer in Jesus Christ, promote true unity, or “ecumenism,” in the fellowship of believers?
2. What will be your response to someone who believes we should all join together in one global religion, regardless of who or what we believe in?

FURTHER READING:
John 4:23-24; 1 Corinthians 8:4-6; Ephesians 4:3-6

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.

Where’s the Peck of Pickled Peppers?
By Elizabeth Cole

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
James 2:22

Remember this tongue twister from childhood?

Peter Piper picked a peck
of pickled peppers;
a peck of pickled peppers
Peter Piper picked.
If Peter Piper picked a peck
of pickled peppers,
where's the peck of pickled peppers
Peter Piper picked?

In the midst of all the laughter at humorous mispronunciation, I’m not sure I’ve ever paid much attention to the actual words. Poor guy. And by the way, were the peppers pickled at the point he picked them, or did he pick the peppers and then pickle them? (Try that one fast and out loud!) Inquiring minds want to know because the answer places him in either the grocery store or the field. But once more, I digress…

Bottom line, here’s this man who’s spent time acquiring eight dry quarts of peppers and yet, apparently, he has nothing to show for it and nothing to share. Depending on your childhood illustrator of choice, either the guy just carelessly lost all his peppers or else he’s sitting in a corner with a stomachache, having eaten all the pickled peppers himself. Either way, it’s terribly sad.

As Christ-followers, we have access to such abundance: multiple copies of God’s Word, an endless supply of Bible studies, great teaching, small groups, stirring worship music. We spend time acquiring spiritual knowledge and experiences…and yet, it seems at times, that we have nothing to show for it and nothing to share.

A paraphrase of what James writes in his New Testament letter says, “Don't fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear!” True confessions: I’m one of those “inquiring minds.” I love to learn, and there are times that I digress from obediently applying what God’s taught me to just being all the more prideful about what I know. According to Brother James, that’s terribly sad.

The right-hearted response to knowledge and experiences is to let the Holy Spirit use them to change us, to move us a step closer to looking like what He’s always had in mind for us…and then let Him use us to give God’s love to others.

Got anything to show for your time in the Word this week? Check out those pickled peppers…!

GOING DEEPER:
1. As you look back over the first half of 2009, where do you see areas of spiritual growth in your life?
2. What would you need to change to reap and use greater spiritual fruit gleaned from your exposure to God’s word?
3. Commit to apply one new principle from the Bible to your life this week.

FURTHER READING:
John 15:1-17; James 1:23-25; Hebrews 5:11-14

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

Dancing on the Waves
By Leslie Snyder

“During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ‘It’s a ghost,’ they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ‘Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.’ ‘Lord, if it’s you,’ Peter replied, ‘tell me to come to you on the water.’ ‘Come,’ he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.”
Matthew 14: 25-29

The story is told of a young boy who liked to jump into the arms of his father. The son would stand at the top of the stairs and leap gleefully into his dad’s secure arms. But, the rule was, the boy was only to jump after he heard his father’s voice inviting him to take flight. One night, the father changed the game. The boy, anticipating this nightly routine, stood perched at the top of the stairs waiting for the familiar voice of his father. But this time, the father turned off the hall lights and the boy could not see the face of his father or the strong arms that always caught him in mid-flight. “Jump!” the father shouted. “I can’t see you,” came the wary reply of the son. Again, the father gave the usual command, “Jump!” “But I can’t see you,” said the boy with fear rising in his voice. The father’s response was calm and sure. “Jump!” And, with terror in his heart, the boy leapt into the air and landed safely and securely in his father’s arms.

This is a great story illustrating the concepts of faith and trust!

Most people are familiar with the biblical encounter of Jesus and Peter walking on water. Often the focus of this account is on Peter’s lack of faith as he begins to sink. What if, however, this story really isn’t about lack of faith, but rather what a person can experience if he or she takes the invitation of Jesus seriously?

Peter’s response to Jesus is, in itself, remarkable, “Lord, if it’s you, tell me to come to you on the water.” I’m not sure I would have been as bold as Peter in asking the seemingly impossible. Was Peter playing some ancient form of “Truth or Dare”?

While we may never know his motive, Jesus calls his bluff, inviting Peter to join Him. And with that invitation, Peter gets out of the boat and learns that Jesus can be trusted as he experiences the impossible.

Wherever you find yourself today, and you hear Jesus saying, “Come,” no matter how dark or impossible your situation seems, put faith into action and dance on the waves!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Scared to jump? Tell Jesus. Seem absurd? Trust anyway.

FURTHER READING:
Psalms 20:7; Proverbs 3:5-6; John 14:1

© HomeWord. Used by permission.

Rats in the Cellar
By Elin Henderson

“But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man ‘unclean.’”
Matthew 15:18

Have you ever been caught off guard as something pretty scary springs forth from your mouth? You wonder, “Where in the world did that come from?” Recently I came across a wonderful analogy by C.S. Lewis in his book Mere Christianity in regards to these “momentary lapses.” Indeed, they are not momentary, but a true look at what is within us.

Mr. Lewis gives the example of rats in the cellar. He says, “If there are rats in your cellar, you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But, the suddenness does not create the rats; it only prevents them from hiding…The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in noisily they will have taken cover by the time you switch on the light.” (1)

So, what is it that sheds light into the cellar of our hearts and reveals the rats? Generally speaking, it is sudden circumstances or remarks of people that “set us off.” If we have enough time, some of us can take a deep breath, and squelch that rat that just scurried out, or better yet, pretend we never saw it to begin with. Sound familiar? We are all guilty of shifting the blame and defending our innocence. Yet in our verse for today, Jesus reminds the Pharisees, that out of the heart, the mouth speaks. Everything that comes into our life comes through Him, even horrible situations that catch us off guard. And these circumstances simply reveal the ugliness in our hearts and show us areas we need to commit anew to the Lord.

So, the next time someone cuts you off on the highway, you stub your toe on the coffee table or someone just says something that “irks” you to the core, remember, a light just suddenly came on in the cellar. Don’t be surprised if a rat jumps out…just don’t let it run free and wild! Right away, recognize that negative reaction and commit it to the Lord. And, don’t be surprised if it happens again. We have a never-ending supply of rats! But, don’t lose heart either. Christ, through the shedding of His light, not only reveals the rats, but also gives us the victory over them! We are more than conquerors in Him!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What circumstance catches you off guard, revealing the “rats” in the cellar of your heart? Are you willing to let the Lord change you in this area?

FURTHER READING:
Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 8:37; 2 Corinthians 4:16

(1) Lewis, C.S. Mere Christianity. p 166. Touchstone. New York, NY. 1980.

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 six-year-old Elias.

Wilting Flowers
By Jen Wollner

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers…”
John 15:5-6

One of my favorite things in this world is fresh-cut flowers. My spirits are lifted by the pop of color they add to any room. I savor the sweet aroma that wafts from their buds. And, I treasure the gesture of love another person shows to me when they give me a vase full of them. There’s only one thing that I don’t like about a beautiful bouquet of flowers: They quickly die! Even if I add a packet of “flower food” to the water, they don’t produce any new buds, they just simply shrivel up.

The reason flowers wither is obvious: They are no longer connected to the plant and its life-sustaining nutrients. Our verse for today reminds us that we are much the same way. God is our source of life and when we are cut off from Him, we quickly begin to droop. Apart from our Power Source, we are weak and, ultimately, can’t accomplish anything worthy of eternity. But, when we stay close to the Lord through His Word and prayer, Scripture tells us that we will “bear much fruit.” In other words, our character will look more like His and our actions will be the evidence of our intimacy with Him. Among other things, we will love others more fully and exude more patience, kindness and self-control. If we have accepted Christ as Savior and are cultivating a deep relationship with Him, obediently following His example, He will be glorified through the good works that are produced through us. No imitation nourishment can fill us up and empower us the same way our God can. We’ve got to be connected to the Source!

Oh, the loveliness of the godly fruit we bear through Christ…and the pleasing scent that lingers...

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you receiving the sustenance offered by Jesus, the vine? If not, will you commit today to cultivating a closer relationship with Him?
2. If you are being nourished by Him regularly, what fruit are you bearing as evidence of your “remaining” in Him?

FURTHER READING:
John 15:1-17; Galatians 5:22-23

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children under the age of 6. Jen heads the Fresh Start ministry and is on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

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.

Forgive and Forget
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.”
Psalm 103:12

For ten months, the Las Vegas Police Department recorded every transaction played out in an undercover fencing operation. Items ranging from guns to cars to counterfeit cash were filtered through the staged storefront. Hidden cameras recorded the thieves approaching the clerk about the goods they needed to unload. Stories were told of how the items were acquired…some in quiet thefts, others at terrifying gunpoint. Prices were negotiated, money and goods exchanged. Dateline NBC was allowed to film the events and document the process of how the thieves were identified, caught and prosecuted.

When the investigation came to fruition and the criminals rounded up to be taken to jail, reporter Chris Hansen was on hand. With great solemnity he approached the men and women involved, asking, “Would you like to see a video I have?” He then replayed the tapes of their crime. The offenders, when faced with their actions on the tapes, had a common reaction…shame. The bravado disappeared, replaced with quiet responses and downward countenances. There were few denials of what they had done. After all, it was recorded for anyone to see. All knew a price would be paid for their choices.

We are all like those criminals. Each day we commit crimes…lying, anger, greed, jealousy…just to name a few. The Bible calls these crimes sin and says that a price for all sin is paid eventually. Jesus came to earth to sacrifice Himself on our behalf…to pay the price for us. When we come to Him and admit our actions, He erases our sins. Romans 8:1 says: “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” The Bible also says God puts our sins as far from us as the east is from the west.

No more shame, no more guilt, not from God. Unlike a Dateline reporter, God doesn’t keep a replay tape ready to show us. Amazingly, God truly forgives and then forgets!

GOING DEEPER:
1. For what do you need to ask God’s forgiveness?
2. Are you hanging on to guilt over a sin that God has already forgiven?

FURTHER READING:
Romans 8:38-39

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn is an Office Representative for State Farm Insurance, serves as a small group leader for Wednesday p.m. Bible study, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries.

New and Improved
By Jen Wollner

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Romans 8:28

Diaper changing time has always been a challenge at our house. None of my children liked the process, even though the end result of a clean diaper was much better than staying in the dirty one. They would kick, scream and squirm—anything to avoid it! My best guess is that they didn’t mind the mess of their dirty diaper and would just rather keep playing. Taking time out for the change just didn’t fit into their plans. I think the process was also unpleasant for them because of the cold they had to endure from removing their clothes and wiping them with a cold wipe. I really can’t blame then for fighting me—I would hate it, too, if someone did that to me!

Actually, Someone has changed many of my circumstances for what was meant to be for my good, but which caused me a lot of pain and discomfort. God has allowed things to come into my life that were really unpleasant—and I’ve kicked and screamed and fought Him. I guess I just get so used to the way things are that I can’t even see how much better my life could be. And, I definitely don’t want to go through the difficult process that is meant to get me from where I am to where I should to be. Change just isn’t in my plans most of the time.

Change is difficult for all of us, isn’t it? Unless we’ve initiated it, we aren’t interested! But, God sees the plans He has for us and knows what kinds of changes we need to make and at what time those need to be done. He loves us too much to let us sit in circumstances that aren’t best for us. He sees our potential and knows that, much of the time, growth comes out of discomfort. So, what we see as “bad” really isn’t, in the eyes of our all-knowing God.

As my children got older, they didn’t seem to mind the diaper change as much. They even got to the point of asking for it. They matured enough to understand that they didn’t need to sit in the dirty one and they were willing to go through the discomfort in order to get to the clean one. Let’s respond to change and discomfort in our own lives in the same way…with acceptance and trust that the One who desires to change us will work all our pain for good.

Out with the old, in with the new and improved!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What uncomfortable circumstances in your life has God brought to prompt change and growth in you? Thank Him for loving you that much.

FURTHER READING:
Jonah 1-4

Jen and her husband are busily parenting three children under the age of 6. Jen heads the Fresh Start ministry and is on the leadership team for Mission: Hope, Oakwood’s orphan care ministry.

LV 2 4GV
By Kari Lyles

“Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.
Forgive as the Lord forgave you.”
Colossians 3:13

It was a typical Monday morning. My husband was off to work. My oldest daughter had just gotten on the bus. My youngest was enjoying her toast with all her favorite toppings and I couldn’t wait to start my pity party. As I slowly walked to the sink to wash some dishes, I stewed over the circumstances that had me feeling angry, alone and misunderstood. Since a party of one is not as much fun, I decided to call a girlfriend hoping maybe she would want to join in. No luck. My wise and godly friend told me to allow the day to play out and not make any rash decisions on how I should handle my situation, but to pray about it and that we would pray together that evening.

As I drove to an appointment that afternoon, I came upon a car driving rather slowly in the right lane. A little annoyed that the car was in no way driving the speed limit, I took special notice of the license plate: “LV 2 4GV.” (“Live to forgive”)

I chuckled as I passed. “I get it,” I said out loud, rolling my eyes. I knew all too well this was not just coincidence that I passed this car, at this time, on this day, with this license plate.

That evening I picked up my Bible and felt led to read Colossians 3. And there it was, “Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” When the phone rang a short time later, my prayer partner asked if I was ready to pray. I told her what had taken place that day. How I prayed earlier and was still feeling hurt. How I had been convicted by a license plate and how God clearly spoke to me through His Word. While we prayed, I praised God for His faithfulness in giving me peace and freedom from my anger and especially for His forgiveness to me.

Somewhere in Lake Country, the driver of a gray, Lincoln Town Car should be thanked as well.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you been holding a pity party for yourself because of hurt, anger or feeling misunderstood? Allow the Lord to work in your heart so you can extend forgiveness and grace because of His forgiveness given to you.

FURTHER READING:
Colossians 3

Kari is a wife, mother to two girls, and has her own marketing consulting business. Kari is involved in Oakwood’s drama ministry.