The “C” Words

By Susan Klein

“In this world, you will have trouble.” 

John 16:33

Conflict. Nobody enjoys it. In fact, most of us try to avoid it at all costs. The same applies to confrontation. How many of us, when confronted with a conflict, relish the thought of having a confrontation? However, as Jesus states in the verse above, in this world - - it’s inevitable. Just about every book in the Bible contains one conflict or another. Abraham had conflict with Lot, Moses had conflict with the Israelites, the disciples had conflict with each other…Let’s face it, we aren’t all created alike. We all have personality differences that can potentially lead to conflict. So what’s a girl to do when she’s faced with conflict?

Besides the obvious, “pray,” I believe there are a few more tools we can hook to our belts to use when dealing with a conflict. I like to call them the “3 G’s”: Glorify God, Gift others, and Grow to be more like Jesus.

When a conflict with another person presents itself, the first thing to do is to not  flee from it, but to check our own actions, to see if we are at fault in any way. This brings glory to God. Then, Scriptures tells us (in Matthew 18) that we are to confront the other person, using words and actions filled with grace and love, which also brings our Father glory. Gifting others can be accomplished by overlooking minor offenses, speaking the truth in love when needed, or coming alongside a non-believing offender to show them what Christ did to forgive us. And in every conflict that our God allows, His desire is to conform us to the image of His Son, to grow us into the godly women that He has designed for us to be.

Author John Maxwell says we are to be like “velvet –covered bricks, not people pleasers or bulldozers, strong on the inside but soft on the outside.” He says, “Velvet-covered bricks are not afraid to deal with conflict in order to iron out an unhealthy situation…they are peacemakers as opposed to peacekeepers…remaining open to the perspective of others.” (1)

The rest of the above verse states, “But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Christ’s victory of overcoming the world and all its evil is also our joyful triumph to claim. Remembering that our real conflict is not with flesh and blood, but with the powers of this dark world (2), we can have joy in our conflicts knowing He has endured all things before us, and has given us the victory!

GOING DEEPER:

What proactive steps can you take to become “strong on the inside, but soft on the outside” when dealing with conflict?

FURTHER READING: 

Matthew 18:15-18; Galatians 6:1-5

(1) Maxwell, “Velvet-Covered Bricks,” (www.injoy.com/newsletters/leadership)

(2) Ephesians 6:12

Susan is a We Women Bible Study Coordinator and one of its teachers. She and her husband Mark enjoy tutoring and working with inner-city youth.

Inattentive
By Peggy Kleckner

"Do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."

Ephesians 5:18

I was in a Bible study the other night when the teacher was speaking on this text. She used her car as an analogy. Our cars need to be filled up with fuel in order to be useful, in order to fulfill their true purpose. We can’t just fill them up with whatever liquid we want to put in the tank; they must receive that which their engine was designed or created to use. So too with us as Christians, we are to be filled with the Spirit.

She went on to speak about what may keep us from being filled. Her first reason was “inattentiveness.” We may not even notice that we are running close to empty.

O.k. she had my attention, or perhaps I should say “He” did. Immediately, I was back in my car on the road to Minnesota with my mother this past summer. What a joyful, delightful time that was. She only visits once a year and we were traveling to my sister’s home. We were driving along enjoying our journey, when she finally spoke up and asked whether I might consider pulling over for gas since my fuel tank was just about resting on E for empty!

Now, you may think that I was just absorbed in our conversation, or perhaps focused on our destination. Truthfully, I was just not in the habit of looking at my gas gauge. I seldom travel far, so therefore I get gas on Fridays. This was not a Friday.

As I giggled at the memory, I wondered how many Christians are used to getting filled on Sundays. Perhaps as a new believer that was enough, but they have grown since then. They may not notice that they are beginning to whine and that their attitude is sputtering. Perhaps they still think they must be spoon-fed by a pastor. Maybe they don’t know that the “Spirit” station is available anywhere and anytime. Maybe, like me, they have been a bit “inattentive” and were too busy to pull over and allow Him to fill them up again! God wants to fill us. We need only to be still enough to hear Him calling us into His Word for refueling.

Have you checked your Spirit gauge lately?

GOING DEEPER:
1. How often do you “fill up”? How much are you being poured out?
2. Do you “fill up” out of routine or do you recognize your need to be filled?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 23; Mark 6:30-32

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield. She serves as the Coordinator of Fresh Start.

Strength in the Storm

By Jeannine Sawall

“That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:10

Between the years 1987-1991, the Biosphere 2 was constructed in Oracle, Arizona. This structure was a 3.14-acre enclosure built to be an artificial, materially-closed copy of the earth. The purpose of the structure was to study the interactions between the complex systems that exist on earth. It included five areas based on natural types of climates and geography, as well as an agricultural area and a human living/working space to study the interactions between humans, farming and technology with the rest of nature.

The experiments they conducted while the biosphere was in place occurred over several years. Some of the results were exactly what they expected, however, some of the conditions that began to be problematic were surprising. One of the problems that cropped up was with the trees. While the Biosphere 2 mimicked the earth’s geography, it could not produce the natural variations that occur in the earth’s weather. The trees grew branches that while perfectly tall and straight, began to snap and break off. This weakness was caused by lack of stress wood. Because the growing conditions inside the biosphere were climatically perfect, the normal stress created by the twisting and turning storms that winds create, were absent. Because they experienced no storms, the branches grew, but, while looking picture perfect, did not develop the strength needed to carry their load. While growing in perfection created a tree that was pleasing to the eye, it had no depth of strength. (1)

We might hope life held more perfection and less stress at times, but we need to understand, it is during the storms in our lives that we learn where our inner strength comes from - - from the Lord above. It is when it seems the winds and the waves will overcome us, we learn not to depend on feelings, because they are not indicators of truth, but to depend on the Truth of God to sustain us. It is during these storm-tossed days we learn the character of God and who He really is.

While storms are not fun, they are necessary to grow trees that are strong and mighty, and they are necessary to grow women of God who are strong and mighty, as well. 

GOING DEEPER:

1. Are you going through a storm in your life?  Ask the Lord to help you through it and to give His strength in the midst of it.

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 40:29; Exodus 15:2; Philippians 4:13

(1) James Danoff-Burg, The Determiners of Climate, http://www.columbia.edu/itc/cerc/seeu/bio2/restrict/modules/module09_content.html, (12/11)

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.

Forward Where?
By Elin Henderson

“Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known.”
Psalm 77:18 (NKJV)

Here’s the scenario: Moses and the nation of Israel are finally free from tyranny; they set off on this great Exodus and, before too long, are faced with an obstacle of enormous size. They’ve just seen God work innumerous miracles to set them free, and here they face their first challenge. Will He come through for them once again?

Before them lies the Red Sea—a huge natural obstacle. Hot on their heels comes the enemy, the army of Pharaoh, dead set on capturing them and taking them back to Egypt! They cry out to the Lord and to Moses… one of those “What have You gotten us into?!” cries.

What is God’s response? “Don’t cry to me, just go forward.” I can only imagine Moses and Israelites saying, “Forward where??!! Does the word ‘SEA’ mean anything to You, Lord?!” Yet despite their unbelief and incredulity, they move forward, and God opens a way in the midst of the great waters! They pass through on dry land and then the seas swallow up Pharaoh’ armies. The story ends with, “Israel saw the great work which the LORD had done in Egypt; so the people feared the LORD, and believed the LORD and His servant Moses” (Exodus 14:31).

Have you ever been standing before your Red Sea with the enemy quickly closing in from behind? No place to go, no place to run, humanly speaking, and God says “Forward ho!”… to which you reply “Forward where?” There doesn’t seem to be a way, yet He wants to show you His power and His might. One of those “Stand still and see the Salvation of the LORD!” moments! While they are frightening and stretching for our faith, having gone through them, we would never have had it any other way! Our faith grows and our spiritual eyes see what He can do when we rest in Him and His provision! Each trial we go through helps grow our faith, which can then be applied to our next trial and our next, so on and so forth.

So next time you find yourself between “a rock and a hard place”… or a sea and an army, and you hear the still small voice of the Lord say “Forward!” may your growing faith allow you to step out into the great waters of life and see His salvation unfold before you!

GOING DEEPER:
1. Can you think of any Red Sea experiences you have had that have grown your faith in Him? What did you learn; how can you apply that to any current struggles you are facing?
2. With whom can you share those prior experiences and the lessons you learned?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 14:20-31; II Chronicles 20:17; Isaiah 33:2; Revelation 19:1b

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to Callie and Elias.

Relentless
By Lisa Boyer

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39

As I walked up to my front door a thought popped into my head for the 100th time… ok, possibly not the 100th but it sure felt like it.

It had started two days ago at a women’s conference. I had attended a workshop entitled “The Battle Within” where we learned ways to combat the lies that pop into our heads, attempting to steal our joy and freedom. I sat there listening and thinking, yes, I do that and it works. I left feeling pretty good about myself because I had that issue under control.

Then I headed off to my second workshop “Blessed are the Peacemakers” which was about conflict resolution. There was no doubt that I needed this workshop, but let’s just keep that between you and me. Anyway, as I sat there listening to the speaker talk about how God uses conflict and healthy ways to resolve conflict, a thought kept popping into my head about a time when I had had a conflict resolution conversation with someone. The fact was that it had gone well, but the thought popping into my head during that workshop wasn’t reflecting it like that at all. The thought was a lie. I spent the whole 45-minute workshop pushing that thought out of my head only to find it back just a few minutes later. Evidently, I was no expert at controlling “The Battle Within” after all.

So here it was two days later, with that lie back in my head again and I thought, “Wow! Satan is relentless!”

But then it hit me: Ultimately, Satan isn’t relentless… GOD is relentless; relentless in His love for us.

Our heavenly Father has let nothing stand in the way of us having a relationship with Him! He sent His only Son to die for us! Now THAT is relentless, relentless love! And He allows nothing to separate us from His relentless love: “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The enemy may be persistent and most certainly annoying, but he’s not relentless… he’s defeated.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Today, will you take a moment to reflect on the relentless love your heavenly Father has for you?
2. With whom can you share your experience of relentless love?

FURTHER READING:
John 3:16; 1 John 4:4

Lisa has been married to Ted for more than 20 years and they have two teenage sons. Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with and impacting teenage girls for Christ.

Cancer Comforter

By Karen D’Amore

“Praise be to the God… the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.” 

2 Corinthians 1:3-4 (NIV)

My disdain with mirrors began shortly after the growth first appeared on my lower lip. Paralyzing fear clouded my judgment; avoidance delayed medical attention, inhibiting early detection and diagnosis. I feared confirming what God had already endorsed in my heart.

As “biopsy” rolled off the doctor’s lips, my fears began to congregate. I pleaded with God, “Let it be anything but the Big C.” Monday, February 28, 2005, the biopsy results would confirm my worst fears. CANCER was the only recognizable word I remember the doctor speaking.

My treatment options were surgical removal and reconstruction of the lower lip or months of painful radiation treatments. The whirlwind immersion drew me to settle into my new normal cancer routine: biopsies, surgeries, medication, radiation, pain, fatigue…

It was a journey nothing could have prepared me for…a journey I wouldn’t have ever chosen. Initially, paralyzing fear capsized my faith. Once I relinquished my fears, God had the opportunity to expand my faith. Though He didn’t deliver me from cancer, He faithfully carried me through it. For six years, the cancer re-emerged and repeated itself. To date, I am two years cancer-free.

Now, as a manicurist, God is redeeming my cancer journey for His express purpose. Orchestrating Divine Appointments, He continually brings me clients who are in the midst of personal cancer battles. Brain cancer, double mastectomy, lung cancer, liver cancer, melanoma…just a few of the cancer warriors He’s placed before me to touch (literally) and comfort. I speak their language, understand their silence, relate to their tears, and empathize with their pain. With opportunities to be the hands of Jesus, I’m able to share the “hope” that lies within me. I can introduce them to the hope and comfort of The One who carried me through my cancer.

Recently, I manicured a woman in hospice with stage four cancer. A believer, Jill was preparing to meet her Maker. She wanted her hands to look beautiful as she lifted them to her Heavenly Father, when He came to take her home. Inquiring about my cancer experience, she found comfort and encouragement in my faith- stories. Jesus took Jill home ten days later.

What began as a treacherous firestorm has transcended into a powerful ministry. As a “Cancer Comforter,” I’m experiencing joy from my cancer journey. A spectator in God’s redemption arena, I’m gratefully honored to share my source of hope and comfort with others.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  How can you comfort others with the comfort you’ve received from God?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 62:5, 119:76; Lamentations 3:21-25

Married to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns Salon.  She’s on the Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team and a volunteer wildlife rehabilitator.

Napkin Holder
By Peggy Kleckner

“Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Psalm 51:1-2

Some time ago, I was in a church small group discussion. As we spoke, one woman shared that she felt like every time she made it through a particular situation, or addressed one bad habit, she noticed a new one sprang up. As she related that, she said it was like a spring-loaded napkin holder. You pull out one and the next one moves forward! Sort of like that “layers of an onion” picture, except this one really tickled our funny bones! After that, our “inside joke” picture of the napkin holder was brought up often and never ceased to make us chuckle.

This morning, I was thinking on that picture once again, when a new thought came to mind. Perhaps we didn’t broaden the lens of our mental camera large enough. With the wide-angle lens on, we might see beyond just the napkin holder to the bigger picture of Christ mopping up the latest mess in our lives with that supply of napkins! Jesus dabbing the dirt off of us with those pure white napkins.

On our own, we cannot change. The Spirit of Jesus does the work in us. Each spill or mess reminds us that we truly are frail and in need of a Savior…and He is willing to wash away our iniquity and cleanse us from our sin. That is why He came for us.

So, when does that supply of napkins run out? I think He has a napkin holder filled with enough for each of our days here on earth. Spring-loaded napkin holders are usually on the table when we are out to eat, not at home. And certainly, Earth is not our ultimate home.

When the napkins run out, He is calling us home to His eternal banquet table!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What “mess” or “spill” in your life are you still trying to mop up on your own? Are you willing to surrender it to Him?
2. Have you pondered His unfailing love and His great compassion today?

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 53:2-6, Acts 3:19 

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield. She serves as the Coordinator of Fresh Start.

My Massah and Meribah
By Lexi Cole

“Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did.”
Psalm 95: 8-9

It seemed like another beautifully-written poem. “Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for He is our God and we are the people of His pasture, the flock under His care.” As I read Psalm 95, the song that echoes this verse came to mind. But the eleven-verse psalm quickly turns to a less-idyllic melody. “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah...”

I assumed I would journal about the first seven verses - - God’s greatness. But I kept wondering, What are Massah and Meribah?

As I looked into it, I found Massah and Meribah are referenced five times in the Old and New Testament. There’s some debate about whether they’re one place or two, but scholars identify the main story as an event told in Exodus. (1) Here, the Israelites complain about not having enough water (even though God had miraculously provided food one chapter before). God provides water for the people, and Moses calls the place Massah and Meribah as a reminder of God’s faithfulness. (2)

Historical significance aside, the question becomes, “What is my Massah and Meribah?” When have I tested God or doubted His providence? When have I seen God’s hand at work one minute, and the next moment forgotten His goodness? We serve an active God - - not only active in our lives personally, but also active in our church, our community and our world. Because of this, we are fortunate to see His goodness and have His guidance daily. His faithfulness is everywhere, from a beautiful sunset to a friend saying just what we need to hear. However, like the Israelites, I know there have been times when I have seen God’s goodness and then, the next second, forgotten to go to Him and His Word.

Moses gave a name to the time when the people forgot to rely on God. He identified a place so it would serve as a reminder, so it could be referenced later in Scripture as a loud “Remember this? Don’t make the same mistake! Learn from your past.” While the psalm begins with God’s goodness, the second part - - the reminder of Massah and Meribah - - is equally a great reminder that we need to look back and remember God’s great faithfulness.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Think about the times you’ve recognized God’s faithfulness and the times you’ve forgotten to rely on Him. What can you do today to increase incidences of the first?
2. What could you create as a tangible reminder to keep your heart soft and free from doubting God’s provision?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 95; Exodus 17; Numbers 20

(1) Orr, James. General Editor. “Entry for ‘Massah and Meribah.” International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. 1915.
(2) Exodus 17: 7

Lexi recently married Andrew, serves with Children’s Ministries at Oakwood, and is a fourth grade teacher at Lake Country Christian Academy.

Breakthrough!
By Elin Henderson

“…the LORD has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water.”
II Samuel 5:20b (NKJV)

How many times have you prayed, “Oh God, I could really use a breakthrough right about now”? Maybe you are dealing with a personal crisis or a health problem or a spiritual battle; whatever it might be, you find yourself crying out for relief and/or some kind of breakthrough!

I love the word pictures we find in Scripture. How easy is it to break through water? The last time you were at the pool or beach, how much effort did it take to break into the water and get through it? It isn’t like mud or sand, or even snow. David gives us a beautiful visual to remind us how God has breakthroughs. Smoothly, quickly and concisely God can take care of the enemies/problems of our lives.

Just how does He break through? How do you break through water? You lead with your hands and arms. This is just conjecture, but I wonder if He doesn’t use His mighty right hand/arm? That one He talks about all through Scripture. The one that saves (Psalms 20:6); holds us up (Psalms 18:35 & 63:8); stretches out the heavens (Isaiah 48:13); the mighty one (Psalms 89:13)! I believe that this right arm is the one that breaks through the waters of our lives and gives us victory.

So, the next time you find yourself crying for a breakthrough, give yourself a mental picture of how the strong right arm/hand of the Lord is ready and able to break through the waters of our lives.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Have you experienced any breakthroughs of His mighty right hand recently? Share those with a friend; we all need daily reminders of His might!

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 14; Joshua 3; Psalms 17:7, 60:5, 74:11

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to Callie and Elias.

What’s In It For Me?
By Carolyn Hulliberger

“No doubt about it! God is good – good to good people, good to the good-hearted.”
Psalm 73:1 (The Message)

Following God with all your heart is difficult. Not just difficult…there are times that will call for social, physical or emotional discomfort, sacrifice, pain. At times it’s tempting for even the most seasoned Christ-followers to look around and say, “Forget it. Everyone else has more fun and prosperity…without any problems. What am I getting out of this? It’s not fair. I’m out of here.” This feeling is nothing new. Asaph, the author of Psalm 73, told his story and fought the same emotions. But God has an answer to him, and to us.

Asaph saw that “the wicked” (v. 3, NIV) seemingly had no struggles. They were healthy, proud, arrogant, and carefree (v. 4-12). Sound familiar? Just like many of us, Asaph found himself struggling with envy of these people. But God showed Asaph the destination of the unfaithful. They are “cast down to ruin…destroyed…completely swept away” (v. 18-19). And Asaph’s destination? The very presence of God (v. 24).

At the end of the psalm, Asaph worships God:

“I’m still in your presence,
But you’ve taken my hand.
You wisely and tenderly lead me,
And then you bless me.
You’re all I want in heaven!
You’re all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
GOD is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
But I’m in the very presence of God—
Oh, how refreshing it is!” (v. 23-26, The Message)

God showed Asaph the last chapter of the book, to help him understand that he…just like us…lives in the middle of the story. God’s faithfulness to those who love Him does not end.

GOING DEEPER:
1. What are you putting your hope and confidence in today?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 89:8

Along with caring for her husband, two children and the dog, Carolyn serves Oakwood Church in Student Ministries with an awesome group of junior high girls, and is the treasurer for Women’s Ministries. 

Moving Forward

By Lisa Boyer

“He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the twelve, was later to betray Him.”

John 6:71

I had been hurt. I had forgiven. I had moved on.

But then God began making it clear that moving on was not what He had wanted me to do. I wasn’t supposed to move on from  the relationship; I was supposed to move forward in  the relationship. But I didn’t want to move forward. If I remained in the relationship, I’d possibly be hurt again.

I wanted to tell God that He just didn’t understand; but then I remembered Judas… a disciple of Jesus… a friend of Jesus… the betrayer of Jesus.

Jesus knew He was going to die on a cross for us and He knew that Judas would betray Him. Yet, Jesus gave Judas authority over evil spirits and power to heal sick. Jesus spent three years with Judas; all those months, all those days, all those hours, all those minutes, all the while knowing what the future held: betrayal.

In my situation, I couldn’t possibly know the future so I didn’t know whether I would be hurt again or not, but I didn’t even want to take a chance. And even if  I were hurt again, it couldn’t compare to what Jesus experienced with Judas.

How did Jesus live like that? How could I live like that?

The Bible says in Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners Christ died for us.” He loves us while we are still in our sin. He loved Judas while he was still in his sin.

I pictured Jesus and His disciples sitting around the campfire talking, laughing, cooking fish, and enjoying each other’s company. And I could see Jesus looking over at Judas and loving him; knowing what the future held and loving him anyway.

We, too, can love because of His love. “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19). And I know this because, well… I started writing this devotional in September 2010 and discovered it today, still unfinished. The whole time I’ve been finishing it, I’ve been wondering what relationship was this about?  

That is an amazing testimony of the power of God’s love and grace!!! Not only is the hurt gone, but I don’t even remember who hurt me. And more importantly, I haven’t moved on from any relationships…so I know that I moved forward.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Are you struggling with a desire to move on from a relationship God wants you to move forward in? Today, will you make a decision to move forward by God’s grace?

FURTHER READING:

1 John 4:7-21; Matthew 10:1-4; John 6:64

Lisa has been married to Ted for more than 20 years and they have two teenage sons. Lisa administers Fresh Start’s Facebook and blog, and loves hanging out with and impacting teenage girls for Christ.

Preaching in the Desert
By Peggy Kleckner

In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea and saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
Matthew 3:1-2

I read this verse one morning and was struck by the phrase “in the desert.” I looked up “desert” in my Webster’s New World Dictionary and found this definition: 1) an uninhabited region; wilderness 2) a dry, barren, sandy region. What an odd place to preach!

Sometimes, I feel as though I am in a desert. My spiritual life feels dry and barren, which makes me think, “Who am I to speak of the things of God?” Then along comes God’s Word to remind me that He can call us to preach even from our dry places. In fact, oftentimes it is in our desert places that we remain the most desperate to hear God’s voice and so we are the most attentive to His smallest whisper.
Perhaps that is why John preached in the desert. Perhaps it was the place He heard God best.

I also have to wonder if, at first, John wasn’t preaching to himself. In our desert places, we need to speak God’s Word aloud so that our soul can hear truth. Oh, how the enemy loves to cloud our thinking with lies! Speaking God’s truth aloud for ourselves and to others reminds us of whose we are and all that He has promised.

So, I will join John the Baptist and lift my voice “in the desert.”

“A voice of one calling in the desert, Prepare the way for the LORD, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3

GOING DEEPER:
1. What has God been asking you to do for Him? Have you believed the lie that you can’t because you feel you are “in the desert”?
2. What Scripture do you need to preach aloud to yourself?

FURTHER READING:
Matthew 4:1-11; Psalm 107:8-9

Peggy is a wife and mother of four adult children - - two sons and two stepsons, and is an active encourager at Oakwood Church in Delafield. She serves as the Coordinator of Fresh Start.

What Day is It?
By Vernette Kureck

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

I'm one of those women who likes to make “to do” lists. It gives me a sense of accomplishment when I can cross off things that I have completed. Also, as a woman, I’m always thinking ahead, preplanning future days so the household will run smoothly. It is nice to know things are in order.

I have the pleasure of spending Wednesday mornings with my three-year-old granddaughter. We attend a weekly Bible study, visit great-Nana and “do lunch.” While we're in the car together, she loves to sing along with the CD. It is so precious to hear biblical truths sung in sweet innocence. The words to one song are “Good morning, God. This is your day; I am your child, show me your way.” (1) One day, as she was singing, my mind was thinking about the rest of the day and things to do tomorrow. We started chatting about some of those things that needed to get done, and what errands we were going to do. As a three-year-old, she is beginning to get the concept of days of the week, so I asked her what day it was. Imagine my surprise when she said, “Today is tomorrow.” Wow! Out of the mouth of babes!

How many times have I foregone enjoying things “right now” because I am living in my tomorrow? That incident helped me put my day back into order. I needed and wanted to be in the present. Psalm 118: 24 says, “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” I decided right then to keep my “to do” list on paper and out of my mind, and to enjoy the precious present.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Are you foregoing any of today’s pleasures because you’re worrying about tomorrow? Write it down and give it to the Lord. Let Him order your day. You will be surprised how it all seems to get done when He is in charge.

FURTHER READING:
James 4:13-15

(1) “Good Morning, God" by Lee Bristol Jr.

Vernette and her husband Ken have been married 44 years and have two sons. They have been blessed with seven grandchildren. She serves on Oakwood’s prayer chain.  

Boats, Bridges or Beyond
By Elin Henderson

“Then Joshua rose early in the morning…and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel …and all Israel crossed over on dry ground.”
Joshua 3:1a & 17b (NKJV)

How do you think the Israelites felt standing on the edge of the Jordan River, the Promised Land in clear view: relieved, afraid, and expectant? We don’t know, but we do know they were getting ready for quite an adventure of faith. Humanly speaking, what would you do if you came up to a river? Well, logically you would start thinking about ways to get across – bridges, boats, rafts, ropes, something to get everyone safely from one side to another. We think boats and bridges, but God wants us to move beyond that.

God wants us to get beyond the logical, human and easy way of doing things to His wonderful ways – “Sanctify yourselves for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). He did this for several reasons. One, it showed clearly His hand was upon Joshua, the new leader of Israel (vs.7). Also, it was a test of faith for both Joshua and the nation of Israel (vs.10). But, even beyond that, the nearby cities would have had to sit up and take notice if one day the river they depended on just stopped flowing (vs.16). This was not something that they could explain; it was a “wonder” beyond their beliefs. For some of them, it was the first of many opportunities to see the wonders of the LORD God of Israel.

When we come to the Jordan Rivers of our lives, do we start building boats and bridges and asking the Lord to bless them and get us across, or do we choose to go beyond human thinking and trust God to work wonders among us, not only to grow our faith but also to speak to the cities around us?

GOING DEEPER:
1. What kind of boats and bridges have you conjured up to help God get you across the rivers of life? How has He been trying to move you beyond your human thinking?
2. How has the Lord been using your Jordan experiences to influence the lives of those around you?

FURTHER READING:
Exodus 3:20, 15:11; I Peter 1:7

Oakwood’s missionaries Elin Henderson (a registered nurse) and her husband Phil serve as church planters with New Tribes in Mozambique, Africa.  Elin is mother to Callie and Elias.