Breaking Down the Walls

By Elin Henderson

“For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation”

Ephesians 2:14 (NKJV)

           

If you have ever traveled into many parts of the developing world, you will have noticed something there that we don’t see in most of our neighborhoods…WALLS. Whether it is South America or Africa, most of the homes are built with walls around them for security purposes. And as if walls weren’t enough, there is usually some form of razor wire, broken bottles or the like placed on top to further deter would-be thieves. It is just a fact of life for those who live in places like that. 

Let’s face it, in our country, while people may not have literal walls of concrete surrounding their homes, they often put up some serious barricades and walls surrounding their hearts and lives. Their yards might be open, but their hearts are a virtually impenetrable Fort Knox. Breaking through that will take more than a wrecking ball and some wire cutters. 

There is only One, the ultimate Wall-Breaker, who can successfully penetrate these hardened places. And, what tool did/does He use? It wasn’t a sledge hammer, a wrecking ball or wire cutters, but rather a cross. It was through His sacrifice that He broke down the middle wall separating us, first and foremost, from God...but also walls that divide His people. It will only be through the cross of sacrifice that we too will be able to break down the walls that we so often encounter. 

The cross wasn’t easy. It wasn’t comfortable. It implies sacrifice and death. What does that mean for us? This job of wall-breaking will not be a simple one. It will take time and much sacrifice from our parts. We must count the cost and ask ourselves, are we willing? 

Let’s pick up our one and only tool - - the cross of sacrifice - - and head out into this wall-strewn world, looking to our Leader, the ultimate Wall-Breaker, and trusting Him to bring peace and life to those we encounter. 

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Think of those around you, your neighbors, friends, coworkers, etc… What kind of walls do they have in place?

2.    How can you wield the cross of sacrifice to help those walls come down, including those within the Christ’s Church? 

3.    How about in your life? Can you identify any walls that you might have in place that need to come down? 

           

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 4:3; Psalms 133:1

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 sixteen-year-old Elias.

Like Jonah
By Lexi Cole Ellis

“But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.”
Jonah 1:3 (NLT, emphasis added)

Poor Jonah. He gets such a bad rap in Sunday School classes and sermons alike. “Don’t run in the opposite direction like Jonah” is often the message. That message isn’t incorrect, but sometimes I wonder if it’s incomplete, allowing us off the hook with: God hasn’t ever audibly told to me to go somewhere. Or…I’ve disobeyed God before and never had a huge fish swallow me up, so I’m set.

But Jonah didn’t just run in the opposite direction. He did it “hoping to escape.” And if I apply that scriptural phrase to something specific in my life, I realize I actually am a lot like Jonah.

If I get specific - - if I dare to ask the Holy Spirit to convict my heart - - I find that “don’t run in the opposite direction” gets a lot more personal when I look at the heart motivation behind trying to escape. Suddenly the lesson becomes: Don’t escape by running away from the crisis God has clearly allowed in your life. Don’t escape and lose faith in God’s bigger picture when a relationship feels unreconcilable. Don’t escape and turn bitter when a struggle feels overwhelming.

My thoughts and actions often reveal a heart attitude that chooses to go in the opposite direction because I want to escape to a solution of my own making. Because escaping to a position of victimhood is easier than stepping up and being intentional in my marriage. And retreating with the claim that something is too hard seems like a great escape rather than acknowledging it is  impossible in my own strength, but in my weakness, God’s strength is showcased. And allowing bitterness to take hold is an easier escape than choosing to express compassion when it’s not deserved…though that’s exactly what our Creator God perfectly demonstrated to me.

Today and every day, we need to realize that it’s not just turning in the opposite direction that is the lesson from Jonah. It’s that his actions revealed a heart motivation of desperately wanting to escape responsibility, God’s calling and God Himself. So the question remains, what are we trying to escape…and what needs to change?

GOING DEEPER:
1.  Take time to really reflect and ask the Holy Spirit to convict you…what are you escaping from?
2.  What one small step needs to happen to make that first change?

FURTHER READING:
Psalm 18:2; Psalm 37:5; Isaiah 26:4

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.

Me versus God

By Karen D’Amore

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.”

Deuteronomy 6:5 (NIV)

I felt completely alone in that crowded church, certain the pastor was talking exclusively to me. I winced with discomfort as the sermon made me feel like I was looking down the barrel of a pointed finger. “How did he know?” I questioned. The truth is…he  (the pastor) didn’t know…but God did! In a series titled “FIRST the Idolatry of Me: Me versus God”, the pastor focused on the greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength” (Mark 12:30). He emphasized that, for believers, EVERYTHING hangs on this truth!

While further dissection of this Scripture emphasized how it should translate in our daily lives, conviction welled within my heart, mind and soul. We’re commanded to love God with every fiber of our being from the inside-out. We’re to love Him wholeheartedly versus half-heartedly. This means I’m to love Him with ALL of me…not merely some  of me!

There’s no doubt that I love God, but do I love Him consistently… with ALL of me? I’m ashamed to admit that I don’t! Living in a world saturated with “things” appealing to our flesh, it seems there’s always something vying for my affection and competing for my devotion. As of late, that “thing” has been a renewed passion for running. With this passion gradually transitioning into an all-consuming obsession, I learned that “runner’s high” isn’t a myth…and I’ve been flying high on that high!

My morning convictions quickly waned as I rationalized my passion/obsession as being “healthy”! But while running after church, when something “snapped” in my surgically-scarred knee, I was aptly reminded, “You shall have no other gods/idols before Me”… “For I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God” (Exodus 20:4-5). With the “snap” resembling symptoms of previous torn meniscus, I feared that such a tear would terminate my ability to continue running. Though the “snap” proved superficial, God used the incident to get my attention, spurring realignment of my priorities and awakening sincere conviction regarding my displaced devotion.

The key point in that morning’s sermon was… “Idolatry sneaks in when we exchange ALL for some!”  While loving “Me” more … “Me” became the victor in the battle of “Me versus God!” With my passion for running being re-prioritized, I’m prayerfully endeavoring to “love God with ALL my heart, soul, mind and strength!” and see Him become the victor in the battle of “Me versus God!”

GOING DEEPER:

1.  What “thing” is hindering you from loving God with ALL of your being?

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 142:5 (NLT); Romans 1:25

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. 

The Stoplight

by Elizabeth Cole

Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV)

You’re driving along Highway 83, life’s good, great song on the radio, the Corn Man is finally at his stand and…whoa, light just turned yellow. You slam on your brakes to stop at the now-red light…and everything that’s been tidily hidden under the front seats is now littering the floormats, including the empty Dr. Pepper bottle that’s partially wedged under your heel. Hershey’s wrappers, leftover packaging of a Reese’s (or two), the half-empty bag of Dove chocolates readily available for the occasional emergency.

Has this ever happened to you? Yeah…me neither. [1]

It’s interesting what a jolt in the middle of life can reveal about ourselves. That suddenly uncomfortable confrontation; that way-higher medical bill; that selfish response to an inconvenience. What was neatly tucked away for nobody to see…including ourselves…comes rolling into sight. For many of us, the first response to our initial reactions is a combo of embarrassment and shame. Honestly, it’s discouraging to see just how far I have to go in becoming like Jesus, probably because that is truly my heart’s desire.

But look at King David’s lyrics in Psalm 139, and notice how much he trusts God. He begins by acknowledging that God knows everything about him, followed by a beautiful description of God’s never-leaving presence. He goes on to recall that God is, in fact, the One who made him and ordains his life. He aligns his values with God’s, and then  asks, “Search me…test me…point out anything in me that offends you…” I don’t get any sense that he’s embarrassed or ashamed, but because of his relationship with the Lord, he’s humbly asking in confidence and security.

This changes everything. When we lay the truth of Romans 8:1 (there is now NO condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus) alongside this psalm, an alternative response to our reactions emerges. Fully confident in my relationship with Christ, I trustingly ask my God to show me how He’s conforming me to Jesus’ image…because that is truly my heart’s desire. He’s not startled by what has rolled into view, and He’s more than willing to lead.

Doesn’t that kinda make you glad for the jolt? Yeah…me, too.

GOING DEEPER:

1. In confidence, ask the Spirit to reveal something He wants to clean up in your life.

FURTHER READING:

Psalm 51:10; Romans 8:29; Titus 2:14

Elizabeth is a wife with three grown daughters and three sons-in-law, serves on the After-Service Prayer Team at Oakwood Church.

[1] Totally inspired by Andy Gullahorn’s song, “I Haven’t Either” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8dajC6g9hU  

Kick The Can

By Susan Klein

 “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release for the prisoners…”

Isaiah 61:1 (NIV)

Hidden deep within the waist-high grass, I watched as the captor passed nearby. Everyone else had already been captured and put “in jail.” I was the only one remaining who could set them free. Timing was crucial. I had to wait for the captor to get far enough away from the can so I could sneak from my concealed position and rush to kick it over before getting captured myself. The moment arose. Heart beating wildly, I sprang up from hiding and ran with all my might, arriving just in the nick of time to kick the can and free the captives!

If you’ve ever played “kick the can,” you know how exhilarating it can be! It requires a certain skill set of bravery, speed and strategic timing. The goal of not being captured rivals only the ultimate goal of setting the captives free.

The prophet Isaiah prophesies in the above verse to his people about the One who will come to set the captives free. I have to believe it was rather exhilarating for him to be the designated messenger. Imagine getting to be “the person” chosen to deliver the news to people in captivity that there was Someone coming who would release them from their bondage, bind up their broken hearts, and set them free!

Have you ever experienced that kind of exhilaration? Have you ever been the kicker of the can, the messenger to someone of the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ? Do you consider yourself to be chosen for such a task? It may take some similar skills of bravery and strategic timing, but not to worry. If Jesus is your Savior, you carry the power of His Holy Spirit within you. If you are willing and available, He will empower you at the right time with the right words. And when He does, be prepared for an elation like none other!

What do you say, are you ready to kick the can?!!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What fears or trepidations might keep you from sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ?

2. Will you ask Him for the opportunity to be the kicker of the can, the messenger to someone in need of His saving grace?

FURTHER READING:

Acts 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:7-9; 1 Peter 3:13-15

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.

Choose Your Thoughts

By Karen D’Amore

“Think about what is noble, right and pure. Think about what is lovely and worthy of respect.

 If anything is excellent or worthy of praise, think about those kinds of things.”

Philippians 4:8 (NIRV)

“We’d like to offer you a job!” My husband had been working in a miserably distressing job, making the offer a welcomed relief and long-awaited answer to prayer. After learning the specifics of his new job, my thoughts became fixated on one critical element: His office would be in our home! Since this wouldn’t be the first time he’d worked from home, I was keenly aware of how this element can impact the dynamics of a H-O-M-E!!! Though I knew both the positive and negative features of his working from home, my thoughts selfishly gravitated to one specific negative. Suddenly my “happy thoughts” for my husband’s hoped-for answer to prayer dissolved under my fixation on this negative element. After mere months of settling into his new home office, my negatively-focused thoughts transitioned into irritations and resentment, which created an ideal encampment for Satan.

God creatively rebuked me, and squelched Satan’s foothold, by utilizing a scene from a Hallmark movie to realign my thoughts. The lead actor was forced to choose between a relationship and a long-awaited, highly desired job offer, which would require relocation away from his new romantic interest. After creating a list and thinking about the “pros and cons,” he realized the “pros” in choosing the relationship outweighed the “cons.”

As the movie became a reflective mirror, I recognized my thoughts were absorbed with one “con,” without giving thought or consideration to the outweighing “pros.” After creating a list of my own “pros,” I chose  to fix my thoughts on that list, which in turn diverted my thoughts from the one “con.” Amazingly, as my “renewed” thoughts remained focused on the positives, my irritations subsided…my resentment ceased…and peace prevailed!

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2a). As believers, it’s our responsibility to allow God to renew our minds, which is accomplished by aligning the way we think with how God thinks. One strategy for renewing our minds is accomplished by thinking in accordance with the verse above, Philippians 4:8.

Fittingly, Philippians 4:9 follows with, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me - - put into practice. And the peace of God will be with you!”

While choosing to think on the “pros” didn’t change the “cons” …my renewed thoughts radically changed my heart…where God’s peace then prevailed!

THAT is praiseworthy!

GOING DEEPER:

1. What are YOU thinking? CHOOSE  wisely!

FURTHER READING:

Proverbs 23:7; Proverbs 4:23 (NCV); Hebrews 4:12

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. 

Don’t Listen to the Voices!

By Susan Klein

“Two blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was going by, they shouted, ‘Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!’ The crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder…”

Matthew 20:30-31a (NIV)

Have you ever been wrongfully rebuked? Many years ago, I told a young couple that I was praying for them. They had gotten married under difficult circumstances, and rough roads were ahead. The wife (not a Christ-follower) told me that she “didn’t need my prayers,” and that I should immediately stop! I felt rebuked. Hurt even. Why was she threatened by my prayer? I was only trying to be an encouragement and help. She would not speak to me afterward, and did not want her husband to have any contact with me either.

At first, I felt wounded by her words, not knowing how to respond. Eventually, my hurt turned to anger, making me not even want to pray for her anymore. But God softened my heart. He showed me that her actions were evidence that she REALLY needed prayer! I chose to ignore her rebuke and continued to pray, unbeknownst to them.

How often do we give up on our petitions to God? Maybe it’s not even due to the hurtful words of others, but because of the enemy’s voice in our heads telling us that we’re not deserving of God’s help, or that He’s tarried so long that He’s not going to answer us anyway. Have you been there? Have you heard the taunting voice that tells you to give up? Or the one that says, “you’re not worthy of His time?”

Don’t listen to the voices! The blind men in the story above were wrongfully rebuked, and could have sat silently as Jesus passed by, thinking themselves unworthy. But they didn’t. The rest of their story shows they shouted all the louder and Jesus stopped to listen. He even chose to heal them, restoring their eyesight.

The rest of my story with the young couple…he eventually became a Christ-follower and years later thanked me for my prayers.

When you feel you’ve prayed your last prayer over a seemingly hopeless situation, don’t give up! Don’t believe the voices, verbal or non-verbal, that would have you quit or fall into despair. ‘Shout all the louder’ to the Lord if you must! He IS listening, and He desires to hear from us.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What hinders you from “praying without ceasing?”

2. How might you adopt a habit of tuning out any discouraging “voices?”

FURTHER READING:

Ephesians 6:18; 1 Thessalonians 5:17; James 5:13-18

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

“I Created You”

By Tracy Smith

 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

Years ago, we were driving down the road, we heard these lyrics,

“Well, I just couldn't bear the thought of
People living in poverty

Children sold into slavery
The thought disgusted me
So, I shook my fist at Heaven
Said, ‘God, why don't You do something?’

He said, ‘I did, I created you’" [1, emphasis mine]

“OUCH!” I looked into the back of the van to see how my son could have possibly hurt himself sitting in the seat. When I looked back, I realized that his exclamation was in response to the song lyrics. Ouch, indeed!

It’s daunting to think about poverty, human trafficking, slavery, homelessness, addiction - - what can I possibly do to help with these huge problems? Where do I start?

Prayer is a first step. Pray for all these situations and for those caught in them, but also pray that God would show you what you can do to help those in need.

You also don’t have to start from scratch regarding what you can do to help. Look around - - there are many organizations already in place that are doing this work. Find out how you can volunteer. My church has a “Community Partnerships” page on our website. This page lists the different organizations that our church works with and supports. These organizations vary greatly in whom they help (homeless, those who have been trafficked, those who need physical help, those who need medical care), Pray about where God needs you and your talents to help those in need…and then do something.

Remember - - with God’s help you can make a difference!

GOING DEEPER:

1.  Those that attend Oakwood and are wondering where they can help - - click HERE to go to our Community Partnerships page and HERE to go to our Mission:Hope page - - where would you fit it as a volunteer?

2.  Those that don’t attend Oakwood, start with Google and see what your local community/church has available.

FURTHER READING:

Philippians 2:3-4; 1 John 3:17; James 1:27

Tracy is a wife and mom to two sons (high school and college). She is a ministry assistant at Oakwood and works with a great group of High School girls.

[1] Matthew West, “Do Something,” album: Into the Light, 2012. You can listen/watch the song by clicking HERE.

Presence

By Elizabeth Cole

“The LORD is close to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

Psalm 34:18 (NIV)

You know those times where everywhere you look there is joy and ease? Those times of easy laughter and delight in all being just as it ought to be? This has not been one of those weeks.

You know those times when the losses are heartrending and senseless? Those times when you search for a word sadder than sad? This has been one of those weeks.

Both close and from afar this week, I have borne witness to loss of life, loss of a dream, and loss of international ministry due to moral failure. It’s a week of deep disappointment.

Wise counselors have said that when it seems that everything has changed and gone sideways in our lives, we need to rehearse what hasn’t changed; state the facts that are still true, despite all that has happened. Say what you know that you know. So here’s a start.

We know that we know:

Our God is present. …he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5b; I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me. Psalm 16:8 (NLT)

Our God gives us presents of hope, encouragement and strength.  May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16

Our God has a future for us beyond the present. Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” Revelation 21:1-4 (NLT)

GOING DEEPER:

1. Keep adding to this list. What do you know that you know to be true, even in the midst of brokenheartedness?

FURTHER READING:

Isaiah 40; Psalm 23

Elizabeth is a wife with three grown daughters and three sons-in-law, and serves on the After-Service Prayer Team at Oakwood Church.

Remove My Helmet
By Lexi Ellis

“…because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10: 9-10 (ESV)

In the musical Shrek, Donkey asks Shrek the ogre who he would be if he could be someone different. Shrek sings/responds how he’d be a Viking or poet or the hero in the story… anything different than being hated and despised without anyone truly knowing him. [1]

Some of the lines in the song are these:

“So yes I'd be a hero, and if my wish was granted 
Life would be enchanted, or so the stories say. 
Of course I'd be a hero, and I would scale a tower 
And save a hot-house flower, and carry her away 
But standing guard would be a beast, I'd somehow overwhelm it, 
I'd get the girl, I'd take my breath, and I'd remove my helmet.” [2]

The line “remove my helmet” is poignant because, in the show, Shrek completes the job of rescuing Princess Fiona. She assumes he is her Prince Charming and demands he remove his helmet. After debating, Shrek does and Fiona does not hide her disappointment very well.

Isn’t that really what we all want? Regardless of age, our deepest desire is to remove our mask or helmet and be loved regardless of who we truly are…however flawed or ugly we think (or are told) we are. Some would argue a basic human need involves being accepted. Whether middle-schoolers or adults or young children, I think one of our deepest desires is to “remove our helmet” and be accepted regardless.

Aren’t you glad God created that desire and also fills it personally?! Scripture is clear that not only did God love us enough to send His Son, but He also accepts us as we are and invites us into a transforming relationship with Him. There is no rejection when we remove our helmet with God. It is a relationship where we can approach His throne without fear…because of His work on the cross.

Shrek longs for being accepted when he removes his helmet. We have the privilege of experiencing that through the grace of the cross. May we be those who live that Truth.

GOING DEEPER:

1.    Do you still experience fear when removing your helmet before God?

2.    What do you need to do to remember He accepts you as you are?

FUTHER READING:

Ezekiel 20:40-41; John 6:37

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] Listen to the song by clicking HERE.
[2] http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/shrekthemusical/whoidbe.htm

PRIDE Detector

By Elin Henderson

“Pride goes before destruction; and a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Proverbs 16:18 (NIV)

One of the most fascinating objects in our house for our workers is our smoke detector! At seemingly random times, this little white thing goes berserk and makes all sorts of racket! They don’t seem to realize it is tied to when I burn the toast or leave a pan on the stove! When I finally explained it to them, I said, “No, this little thing protects us from fire! It beeps annoyingly to tell us that smoke is around!” To which they responded, “We have one of those too, in the roof of our houses. It’s a clump of leaves from the witchdoctor that doesn’t beep when there’s smoke, but it’s supposed to protect us from our house burning down.” Well, what can you say? Not exactly the same thing!!

This made me think: Wouldn’t it be nice if we had “pride detectors” in the roofs of our hearts? Little white, round machines that went berserk when pride reared its ugly head, threatening to burn us to the ground. Pride truly is a raging fire that can destroy us before we know it. “Pride comes before the fire!” Proverbs 16:18 (my version!) It’s also sneaky! It appeals to our “humanness, ” saying, “You deserve this! How dare they treat you in that way!” And, it takes on multiple forms: false humility, flattery, reverse flattery, outright slander and insinuating comments. God help us!! We need an advanced warning system! Well, we have one…the trouble is that often we fail to hear its beeps!

Our pride detector comes in the form of the Holy Spirit! He takes up residence in our heart and works like an alarm system, warning of incoming or indwelling issues. He has a tough job – problems can come from without (Satan and his crew) or from within (our Flesh – PRIDE being number one on the list!). The problem is that we can quench this alarm system. Disable it enough times, the detector just stops warning us! Or worse yet, we can sear our consciences into not even hearing Him at all.

So don’t go up in a puff of pride, keep your heart tuned to the effective Pride Detector - - God Himself in your heart! When the first fumes of pride’s smoldering fire are sensed, may we all be quick to recognize it for what it is: a tool of our flesh and the Enemy that is both destructive and debilitating. Stand ready to extinguish the fires of pride with the cooling waters of humility following our Leader, Jesus.

GOING DEEPER:

1. What will you do today to cool down the fire of pride with the waters of humility?

FOR FURTHER READING:

Philippians 2:5-11; I Thessalonians 5:19; Isaiah 57:15

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.