Race Encouragers

By Karen D’Amore

“…I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours.”

Romans 1:12 (NIV)

A few years ago, watching my co-worker train for her first half marathon has drawn me to reminisce about my  race days, many years ago. I recall the energy and enthusiasm of the spectator-lined streets, with race supporters clapping, cheering and chanting: “You can do it!” “You’re almost there - - KEEP GOING!” Initially, I planned on being my co-worker’s race day “spectating-cheerleader,” until she encouraged me to train and run the race with her.

To aid in my training, I purchased and activated a Fitbit. Worn on the wrist, this high-performance wireless device tracks steps taken, distance traveled, calories burned, very active minutes and quality of sleep. With my pre-set fitness goals programmed into the application, my Fitbit buzzes when I’m close to reaching my goals and displays vivid fanfare when I’ve reached my goals. My Fitbit has been my perpetual cheerleader and encourager throughout my training. With every “buzz” of encouragement…I’m compelled to “KEEP GOING!”

In my early race years while living in Southern California, training/running conditions were optimal year round. Now in the Midwest, winter weather hinders my training/running capabilities. Though environmental obstacles threaten to discourage my training, my Fitbit’s goal-achieving alerts inspire and encourage me to persevere and stay on course with my training, even amidst ice and snow. Being impacted by the encouraging power of this little bracelet-like device, I pondered the possibility of such a device for spiritual training.

Scripture likens our faith-walk to “running a race.” That racecourse is inundated with obstacles and hindrances which impact our endurance and perseverance. While we wrestle with the internal hindrances of sin, we also encounter external hurdles like sickness, death, betrayal, injustices and hardships. And while, as believers, we’re responsible for running our own personal race, we’re not called to run alone.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another…” (Hebrews 10:24-25a, NIV).

To be successful in our race as believers, we need to be one another’s “cheerleaders.” We need to applaud each other when we’re doing well, and pray for one another when we stumble and fall. And when obstacles become sources of discouragement, tempting our teammates to quit the race, we need to be their “race encouragers!” We need to function like Fitbits - - “buzzing” with encouragement, urging our fellow believers to “KEEP GOING” and finish the race!

GOING DEEPER:

1. How can you function like a “Fitbit” and become a race encourager?

FURTHER READING:

Acts 15:32; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; Hebrews 3:13

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

A Mix of “Mattering”
By Lexi Cole Ellis

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

A couple of years ago, I was driving, listening to a local Christian radio station. As the song ended, the radio host jubilantly proclaimed, “Isn’t it nice that yesterday doesn’t matter? Yesterday…does…not …matter.” [1]

I see his point. There’s something biblical about this idea of a fresh start.  Acts 3:19 tells us to “Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”  God’s Word says that when we accept God’s free gift of salvation, we are given eternity in heaven. Scripture says that nothing can separate us from God’s love…no matter what we’ve done. [2]

And yet, a part of me immediately questioned that statement when I heard it. Consequences still exist. How I treat the people in my life today will certainly affect my tomorrow. And Scripture talks about this idea of “…whatever one sows, that will they also reap.” [3]  The Bible also shows, over and over, that there are sometimes long-lasting consequences for sin that extend beyond the day.

So on the issue of “mattering,” where is the line? If we relish exclusively in the mentality that every day is a fresh start, we are more apt to be reckless in our relationships and our choices. If we stand firm on consequences, we miss out on the incredible grace that God has so freely lavished upon us.  Clearly, there’s a mix. There remains consequences for sin and disobedience in this world, but there is freedom that God has rescued us from eternal separation from Himself.

And while that seems obvious, I’ve recently realized that I sometimes tend to camp on one side or another, instead of living life like there’s a mix of both. Sometimes I justify my bad attitude with the “yesterday doesn’t matter” mentality. When I do that, I miss the opportunities of being Christ to a broken world. Sometimes I get legalistic, focusing on doing the right thing and hyper-aware of what I do and don’t accomplish. When I do that, I miss out on continually basking in the freedom that comes with God’s unfathomable grace.

As we continue into the New Year, I’m thankful for that reminder on the radio.  A reminder that, in my life, there needs to be a mix of both a fresh start and a beyond-today thinking.

GOING DEEPER:
1.  What “side” do you tend to focus on more in your study and thinking?
2.  What do you need to do in order to have a better mix of God’s grace with God’s consequences?

FURTHER READING:
Isaiah 43:25, Isaiah 43: 19; 2 Corinthians 12:8-9

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

 [1] July 18, 2016. Life 102.5, mid-afternoon

[2] Romans 8, NIV

[3] Galations 6:7, NIV

Who Knows?

By Susan Klein

 “Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and unfathomable His ways! For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who became His counselor? Or who has first given to Him that it might be paid back to him again? For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.”

 Romans 11:33-36 (NASB)

Two years ago, as our church read together through the first five books of the Bible, we revisited the God of the Old Testament. Clarification: He is the same God in the New Testament, and He is also the same God today (Hebrews 13:8). That said: How do we wrap our little pea brains around some of the things we find recorded there about Him?!!

Just when I think I have a comfortable grasp of God’s character, I read things like, “I will harden his heart,” which God said of Pharaoh, or “I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”  And, how about, “He punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.”  WOW! Doesn’t that seem a tad unfair?

Therein lies the predicament; we believe God to be “fair,” as we define fair. We conceptualize Him by human standards, wanting to accept the aspects of Him that make us most comfortable and explain away those that leave us unsettled. Who doesn’t love to read, “He will never leave you nor forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6)? But, how do we feel about, “Anyone who beats their male or female slave with a rod must be punished if the slave dies…but not if the slave recovers…since the slave is their property” (Exodus 21:20-21)? Even our cultural norms can be stumbling blocks to our understanding of this.

Not just once, but four times in the Old Testament, we are reminded, “Our God is in heaven; He does whatever pleases Him” (Job 23:13; Psalm 115:3, 135:6; Daniel 4:35). That is “sovereignty.” That is having supreme authority to do what glorifies Him, having ultimate jurisdiction, dominion and control.

As Job came to understand, we don’t have to (nor do we) know everything about God. We just can’t explain some of His ways, though we feebly try. We must accept them in faith, believing He is rightfully doing what He deems necessary.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Which passages or aspects of God are unfathomable to you?

2. Are you willing to “let go” of the struggle, and be at peace with letting God do His thing?

FURTHER READING:

Exodus 4:21; Exodus 33:19; Exodus 34:7

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

Sacrifice

By Tracy Smith

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

John 3:16 (NIV)

His only Son. Think about that for a minute. Growing up attending church, I took for granted that Jesus came to earth as a baby, grew up, had a ministry, and died for our sins. I knew it was an awesome thing for the God of the Universe to allow Himself to live life here on earth and to die for our sins. I think that because I had heard this since I was a small child, I accepted it and believed it, but never really processed what it all meant to God the Father and to God the Son.

My focus was always on what Jesus did for us. There is nothing wrong with focusing on that, as His sacrifice is what allows me to have communion with God again, but I never really thought long and hard about how what He did impacted His Father.

Then I became a mother - - of sons. Suddenly, it was much more real. As Easter rolled around one year when my oldest was a toddler, it suddenly hit me what God the Father had sacrificed in His love for us.  I sat there looking at my son sleep and thought of all the people in my life whom I love and came to this conclusion: While my love for them is strong, I would never (strong word, but true) willingly sacrifice my son for them.  Not only that, but can you imagine telling your son that you would be sacrificing him for a bunch of sinners?

Thinking through that brought new meaning to Easter for me. Even though it’s still cold outside, the season of Easter will soon be upon us. Taking time to reflect before the holiday has caused me to really think about what Easter means…not only to my faith, but to my God.

GOING DEEPER

1. Will you commit to spending some time this week focusing on the incredible sacrifice that was made by God, just for you?

2. As we begin to approach the Easter season, with whom will you share the real meaning of John 3:16?

FURTHER READING

1 John 4:10; John 14:6; Romans 5:12-21

Along with being a wife and mother to two teenage sons, Tracy is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of High School girls.

A Tragic Tumble
By Elizabeth Cole

“So then, let us stop judging one another. Instead, you should decide never to do anything that would make others stumble or fall into sin.”
Romans 14:13 (GNT)

Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water.
Jack fell down and broke his crown,
And Jill came tumbling after.

I’ve always felt so sad for Jack and his friend Jill. On what seems to be an appropriate and well-intentioned mission, Jack falls. After considerable thought and pondering, I’ve come up with a number of questions about this tragedy:

1. Did you carelessly wander off the path, Jack? No map? Is that what caused you to fall down?

2. New shoes? I’ve noticed in the church nursery that new shoes are a guarantee for at least two falls per hour.

3. A little too chatty to pay attention to that turn in the road?

4. Or maybe someone had strung a line across the trail to trick you?

While Jack’s fall is certainly concerning, especially the part about his broken crown, it’s Jill who gets my particular sympathy. Apparently, she was just innocently trekking along—doing her best—when all of a sudden Jack’s fall tripped her up short and sent her tumbling too.

Yes, it’s Jill who has my heart. The Jill who’s struggling with an addiction and is invited out for “just one” with the girls. The Jill who’s trying to figure out what godly “wife-ing” and parenting looks like, but encounters consistent criticism, husband-bashing and harshness. The Jill who’s new to following Christ and experiences rejection by a fellow believer for being a little too authentic. The Jill who’s getting ready to give up trying to make a friend at church. The Jill who thought that love, surrender and obedience to Christ really matter.

Being in Christ means being in Christ together. What we think and what we do matter, not only in our own walk with Christ, but in those lives whom God has placed beside us on this part of the path. May we choose this day to be women who grab a hand and help another woman along the way. May this be a day of deciding to lay aside what could cause a sister in Christ to stumble and, instead, to intentionally “walk in the Spirit.” May we live in such a way that others see what we do and give praise to our Father in heaven.

Walk well today, Jack.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Whom has God placed in your life right now to influence her spiritual walk? How are you doing with that divine privilege?
2. Take a moment to thank the Lord Jesus for those He’s placed beside you to influence you for His good in your life.

FURTHER READING:
Galatians 5:22-26; Matthew 5:16; 2 John 6

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

Don’t Forget the First-Aid Kit!

By Elin Henderson

“But a certain Samaritan….came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion on him…and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine…”

Luke 10:33-34 (NKJV)

This story is a familiar one. Three men passed by the wounded man in this parable told by Jesus, but only one was ready and willing to help. The other two had neither the supplies nor the heart to reach out to a fellow human being in need. The third man, however, was not only moved with compassion but was also ready and able to serve. He had bandages and medicine on hand and that, coupled with his willing and generous heart, brought healing and hope for this stranger.

How about us? Sometimes it isn’t enough to just have compassion for another suffering soul, we have to have our first aid kits metaphorically ready to be of use. Do we travel prepared and looking for the wounded and hurting? Our first aid kits may not have literal bandages and medicine in them, but we can stock them with ample amounts of God’s promises and His Word. That, coupled with a liberal dose of prayer and the power of His Spirit, can bring healing to the physically, emotionally or even spiritually battered and torn that lie strewn across our paths.

So, the next time you are getting ready for a trip down the road from your Jerusalem to Jericho, be sure and pack your first aid kit! You never know whom God might place in your path. Keep your physical and spiritual eyes open, your compassion in ample supply, and your first aid kit ready!

           

GOING DEEPER:                                                       

1. What kind of things would you pack in your spiritual “first aid kit”? Are there ways we can be preparing ourselves to be more aware of the hurting around us and more efficient in the use of our first aid?

2. Have you ever been on the receiving end of a “first aid kit”? What help did you receive and how can that propel you as you pack your own kit?

FURTHER READING:

1 Peter 3:8; Deuteronomy 15:11; James 2:15-17

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

The Importance of Eli
By Lexi Cole Ellis

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if He calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’”
1 Samuel 3:8b-9 (NIV)

I have a platonic crush on Samuel! This Old Testament prophet spoke the Lord’s Word with conviction, led God’s people with compassion and trusted God without compromise. In 1 Samuel 3, God speaks to Samuel in an unfamiliar way. Scripture tells us, “In those days, the word of the Lord was rare: there were not many visions.” So when God calls, Samuel thinks it is his mentor and teacher, Eli. But Eli has no clue what Samuel is talking about and sends him back to bed. This happens two more time until Eli realizes it is God speaking to Samuel and instructs him to listen to God, to surrender to God and say “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.” Samuel does exactly this and God does amazing things through Samuel.

My understanding of this passage came from an excellent Bible study by Priscilla Shirer entitled He Speaks to Me. In it, she talks about what Samuel did to hear God’s voice - - how Samuel was still, how he surrendered and listened. Therefore, my personal application has always focused on what Samuel did to hear God’s voice.

As I re-read this passage recently, it made me wonder…What about Eli? While I do believe we can learn from Samuel’s life in a lot of great ways, this time, I saw the important role Eli played. He helped Samuel hear God’s voice. He showed Samuel who was speaking. He gave Samuel the tools to move from an unfamiliar to a familiar. While Samuel did choose to be still, surrender and listen, Eli is the one who mentored Samuel in that experience. Scripture says Samuel “did not yet know the Lord: the Word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to Him.” It’s Eli who realizes it’s God’s voice and teaches Samuel how to listen. We can’t forget about Eli.

So the question becomes: Who is my “Eli”? Am I surrounding myself with people who will encourage a life that is in step with God’s Word and His will? Am I in community with people who will teach me to be still, surrender and listen to God’s voice? And with that, am I, in return, intentionally engaging in others’ lives so they too can hear God’s voice? I still have my platonic crush on Samuel, but I am newly thankful for the less-noticed role Eli played.

GOING DEEPER:
1. Who is your “Eli”?
2. To whom can you be an Eli and how can you intentionally do that today?

FURTHER READING:
1 Samuel 3

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

A Thousand Thanks

By Susan Klein

“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NIV)

A few years ago, I gave a small journal to a young woman leaving for college. I told her to use it as a Gratitude Journal. I exhorted, “When things get tough at school, or you’ve just had a bad day, take time before you go to bed and journal something you are thankful for. It’ll really help!” My intent was to help keep her focus on the Giver of all good things and not on difficult circumstances.

A few years ago, in our family and friend circle, I saw several people die and there were some who were just clinging to life. There had been a few too many “bad days.” Around Thanksgiving, I decided to heed my own advice and start a Gratitude Journal. My goal was to write one thousand things that I am thankful for - - without repeating any. It didn’t seem like such a daunting task at first.

Most days I’d open the journal and easily come up with a dozen or more. As time passed, and not wanting any duplicates, I found I had to think a little harder in order to come up with new ones. Admittedly, some days I wasn’t “feeling” the gratefulness, and the journal remained out of sight. But on those days when grief was most consuming and I made the effort to pull out the journal (in spite of my feelings), it became a balm to my soul!

The enemy has a hard time doing his work when our minds are fixed upon the God of compassion who gives good gifts to His children. Even if I struggled to think of something new to jot down, just reading over the things I had previously written was encouragement for my weary heart.

I’m still working on that journal. I actually have a long way to go yet, but there is great joy in the journey! I’ve become much more attuned to things (and people) in my life which invoke thankfulness. When I see something new, I tuck it away in my mind to record the next morning. Truthfully, while I’ll definitely celebrate reaching the goal of one thousand things, I don’t know if I really want to reach it. I kind of like keeping this mindfulness of “looking for” things to be grateful for.

I suppose the journey could continue indefinitely…want to join me?

GOING DEEPER:

1. Will you commit to being more mindful of things God has blessed you with, and then will you share them with Him?

FURTHER READING:

Colossians 1:12, 2:6-7, 3:15

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

Unbelievable!
By Stephanie LaCasse

You, therefore, have no excuse, you who pass judgment on someone else, for at whatever point you judge another, you are condemning yourself, because you who pass judgment do the same things.
Romans 2:1 (NASB)

“Ugh! Get off your phone and drive, lady!” I honked my horn angrily at the driver sitting at the stoplight ahead of me. I was in a hurry - - as I often am - - and had no patience for that kind of inattentiveness.  But not even a moment later, the Lord brought it to my attention that I had just looked up…from looking at my phone!

Okay, Lord…You have my attention.

A verse came to mind.  “Do not judge, or you too will be judged.” [1]

Stephanie, you were just looking at your own phone!

The rest of the way home, I thought about the woman in front of me. Where was she going? Did she have something on her mind? Perhaps she was missing her children after a long day at work? Maybe she was looking down at her lap because she was waiting for a call from a loved one overseas? Or maybe she was simply caught up in prayer and didn’t see the light change?

There’s a good chance she was on Facebook or checking her texts as people often do at red lights. Don’t deny it - - we all do it. So was it really my place to judge?  Today’s key verse is sobering to me. “You, therefore, have no excuse…” We really don’t. But as believers, we are not called to judge; we are called to listen, understand and bring others to Jesus. That’s it.

We will all stand before God’s throne one day. We will all have to give an account for our lives and our behavior…good and bad. I’m grateful my entrance into heaven is based on what Jesus did…and not on what I’ve done! [2] Right then and there, I apologized to the Lord for my judgment of the driver in the car ahead of me. I’ll leave the judgment to the Judge!

GOING DEEPER:

1. Have you ever caught yourself mentally judging others?
2. What is a way you can change your behavior today?

FURTHER READING:

James 4:11-12; Ephesians 4:29; 2 Corinthians 5:10

[1] Matthew 7:1-5
[2] Ephesians 2:8-9

Stephanie is a mom of three young sons and wife to Dave, who is currently in seminary preparing for chaplaincy in the US Army. In her spare time, she’s employed at a law firm.

Worship

By Peggy Kleckner

“He (Abraham) said to his servants, “Stay here with the donkey, while I and the boy go over there. We will worship and then we will come back to you…”

Genesis 22:5 (NIV)

How many of us in the church are stepping aside with our Father, trekking up the mountain alone with Him to worship?

Imagine yourself as the son in this story as he willingly carries the burden of the wood for the fire, gladly walking beside his father. (If you’re unfamiliar with the story, read Genesis 22:1-19 and Hebrews 11:17-19.)

Did the trek suddenly seem long, the weight heavier as they moved further up the mountain? Is this what motivated the question later, “The fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?” I think too often we accept the words of Scripture without feeling the cumbersome weight of them. Isaac walked uphill feeling the weight of his burden, yet the pleasure of his father’s company. As believers, isn’t that what our experience is as we enter into worship?

Let’s walk with them further. What about when they got to the top of the mountain and Abraham built the altar and still there was no lamb? Can you feel the confusion that Isaac must have felt? What about when he allowed his father to bind him and lay him on the altar? Why would he do that? He trusted his father. As believers, do we trust our heavenly Father when it seems that we are called to be bound and laid on an altar of His choosing? Are you there? Do you feel the fear, the questions? Lying still in submission to our Father, waiting for the knife, not understanding, unable to comprehend this new picture of our Father, yet still trusting. Your mind questions His goodness, even as your heart fully submits. Are you able to lie still?

Seemingly hopeless, helpless, “But the angel of the LORD called out to him from heaven ….‘Do not lay a hand on the boy,’ he said. ‘Do not do anything to him.’”

Your physical and emotional anguish at full measure, and suddenly, all is stopped by a few short sentences…..words. Now what do you feel?

“Abraham looked up and there in the thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son [instead of you].”

Now can you see Jesus? Can you see Him with your heart, your emotions? Can you feel the price paid for you?

Isaac came down the mountain without his burden, and having experienced true faith and worship. May we do the same.

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Has God invited you to a closer look at sacrifice and worship?

2.  Are you still trying to pay the price for your own sins?

FURTHER READING:

Ezekiel 18:32; John 19:30

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.

The Transformer

By Vernette Kureck

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God‘s will is - - His good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

Was I going to be conformed or transformed? That was the question I was asking myself as I prepared to be baptized back in 1977. Baptism by immersion is a picture of the old life being buried under the water and rising up in new life with Christ. I had selected the above verse as a life verse since it was one I could use to gauge how I was doing in the Christian walk. I also loved the word “transformed”… this was the era of the new Transformer toys and our sons really enjoyed converting the many moving parts of some sort of vehicle into a disguised warrior. They quickly found out that if they didn’t follow the directions to move the parts, there could be breakage or malfunction.

Thankfully, I was not left alone in my transformation. Jesus gives us the Spirit of Truth, and He guides us in all things, as He tells us in John 16:13-15. The more I poured the Bible into my mind and responded to His counsel, the closer I was to His good and perfect will. The more I adhered to God’s way and followed His direction, instead of following my way or the world’s way, the more encouraged I became that I was pleasing Him. And as I tested God’s will in Christian service, I realized more and more that He was strengthening me, and He continues to do so. The renewal process began.

Paul’s charge to Timothy is: “Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses” (1 Timothy 6:12). The daily battle is who to listen to…the world or the Word. To malfunction or to follow His guidance. For me, the old life is dead, so the choice is clear. I prayerfully commit to do His will, and ask for forgiveness when I do malfunction. (That is another whole devotional!) As believers in God, we are being converted and transformed into spiritual warriors. In order to be effective in the battle, we need to follow the Master Transformer and allow Him to do His work in us.

With His love and guidance, the battle will be won…and we will no longer be disguised. We will be renewed. We will be transformed. Approved, and pleasing to God.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What sources and resources are you using to renew your mind?

2. Is the world or the Holy Spirit counseling you?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 19:7-14; Colossians 3:1-17

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

Are You in Need of a Head Lift?
By Elin Henderson

“…My glory, and the One who lifts up my head.”
Psalm 3:3b (NIV)

A couple of years ago, I came across this verse during a particularly down  time in my life. We all have faced times like these and I can think of no better word picture then to say my head was hanging low.

Let me ask, though, what is so wrong with our heads hanging low? Nothing in itself—we all face down times. However, how would you live if your head literally hung low all the time? Imagine looking down and trying to walk around a busy street. Your sense of direction would be way off and you would risk hurting yourself and others around you. You would only see one thing—yourself. Would you be aware the needs of others around you? Would you know where you were going or how to get there? No! Your focus would be you!

The world offers all sorts of solutions to the very common problem of a downcast mood: exercise, caffeine, sugar or NO sugar, movies, coffee with friends, or my favorite, “Lay down and relax…imagine you are on a tropical island. Listen to the waves upon the shore and the breeze blowing through the palms…” I have found that this technique only works when you don’t live in the tropics with breezes blowing through your palms night and day! What they fail to add to that picture is the heat, humidity, mosquitoes and lack of privacy!

The word picture found in Psalm 3:3-4 is one that we can and should meditate on, though: “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts up my head. To the Lord I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill.” Wonderful hope lies in these verses. What we are most in need of in low times is a “head lift”! God alone can lift our head and help us to look upward and outward, keeping our eyes off of ourselves and on Him. When we cry to Him, we can know that He hears us and will answer with His free “head lifting service,” placing us on solid ground with a good view of the road before us and the world around us.

Now, I am not saying that other “coping mechanisms” aren’t helpful. A hot bath, a good chick flick and dark chocolate are all helpful sidekicks. Of course, if you live in the tropics, the hot bath is kind of out and dark chocolate is not found at the local market—but at least we’ve got chick flicks! No matter our coping preference, may we never lose sight that He alone is the true lifter of our heads!

GOING DEEPER:
1. What in your life is bringing you down today, causing your head to hang low? What can you do to re-focus on the One who is the lifter of your head?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 24:7-10

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

Literally?!

By Susan Klein

 “Now, all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13 (NIV)

While visiting a friend with two toddlers, I watched her older toddler push the younger one down. She encouraged him to say, “I’m sorry,” and then give his brother a hug. He obediently and immediately followed both instructions. She then recalled a time that he had toppled his brother on the kitchen floor. She had wisely instructed him to not push his brother down on the bare floor because it could hurt, as evidenced by his cries. Not long after, she heard her one-year-old whimpering in the carpeted living room. Her older toddler was quick to announce, “I didn’t push him down on the kitchen floor, and I said ‘I’m sorry’ and hugged him!”

The literal interpretation of her message had been followed to a “T,” but the behavior was still amiss.

As adults, how often do we repeat this very behavior with our heavenly Father? He might instruct us to show kindness to a difficult person. And then we do it - - once - - out of obedience. Then we walk away feeling justified and do our best to avoid any further contact with that hard-to-love person. Or maybe God is convicting us about our own negative attitude? We decide to make an extra effort to be more positive and grateful. We’re intentional in front of others, but at home we are quick to verbally let loose with our irritations and displeasures. Our inner-toddlers come out!

One of God’s commands is: “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth” (Exodus 20:4). I can honestly say I’ve never literally carved an image or made a statue to worship. But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that there have been times in my life when I’ve figuratively made idols out of things. Anytime I’ve placed more importance on people or things than on God, I’ve made an idol. Thankfully, He has been paternal in pointing these out to me.

There really is just one instruction we need to heed literally: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and, “love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37, 39b). Not just sometimes, not just select people, not just when the mood strikes us…always. If we take a “literal” approach to following this one command, it will encompass all others.

GOING DEEPER:

1. Spend time with your Father asking Him to show you any “literal” behaviors that might need adjusting.

FURTHER READING:

Deuteronomy 10:12; Micah 6:8; 1 John 4:7

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