We should be the best in the world at these.

Relationships Every person in the world engages in relationships as a necessary part of life, though the health of those relationships varies. As Christ followers, we are to be striving more than any other people group to be the absolute best at creating and maintaining relationships. Why? Because God’s name is attached to our reputation, […]

How important are family lines?

Extremely important! The bible is filled with evidence that family lines are important to God. Many pages have large spaces dedicated to careful tracking of genealogies, descendants, tribes, names, births and deaths. Such detailed accounting indicates God has selected each birth date and knows the span of our lives before we are born. Your eyes […]

When I Envy Others (A Reminder)

Quick! 1. Think of a famous person. 2. Think of a wealthy person. 3. Think of a powerful person. 4. Think of a person you deeply admire. What do they all have in common? They are like grass. I Peter 1: 24-25: As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a […]

When Waters Rise

Hurricane Ian created a path of destruction this week across Cuba and the Florida pan handle before heading to South Carolina and landing there Friday. Hurricane Fiona decimated Puerto Rico last weekend. Millions are still without electricity. The Tsunami in Thailand in 2004 inspired a movie and people still talk about it. A flood in […]

Will throngs attend our funeral service?

Probably not. My husband and I tuned in to watch portions of the funeral for Queen Elizabeth II this week, a woman who reigned as queen for 70 years and 214 days, the longest of any British monarch, the longest recorded verifiable female head of state in history, and she was served by more than […]

Matters of Life or Death

Recently I spoke with my daughter early in the morning. She works in a pediatric cardiac step-down unit. She makes decisions that can mean life or death for her patients. As I contemplated her job compared to mine while walking to my car one day, I thought, “I don’t have a job that requires life […]

How to Prioritize Well

I am in the habit of sharing proverbs with my son from the book of Proverbs before he leaves for school. We read this one about two weeks ago and I can’t get it out of my mind. Put your outdoor work in order and get your fields ready; after that, build your house. Proverbs […]

Rest well!

As America enjoys a Labor day weekend — a day designed for rest for the working people — we will keep things simple and restful on the Oaks website too. I hope the extended weekend brings you rest in the form of a more relaxed schedule and naps! In vain you rise early and stay […]

Does God hate?

The little boy boldly said this sentence right in front of me: God is only love. He doesn’t hate anything. I can’t get it out of my mind. Oh, dear little boy, you are right. God is love. The bible says so! It’s right there in 1 John 4:16: And so we know and rely […]

Does someone’s financial status matter to you?

Discrimination based on wealth has always existed. Wealth makes many “friends”; poverty drives them all away. Proverbs 19:4 The relatives of the poor despise them; how much more will their friends avoid them! Though the poor plead with them, their friends are gone. Proverbs 19:7 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in […]