Pastor B Family Devotional, My Life, Oakwood, Parent Cue, Students, Summer

Jesus Is The Anchor For Your Soul: Family Discussion

We met up with our friends, Craig and Beth Hall, to catch up and talk about a new life adventure navigating new waters.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. 

It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,”

where our forerunner, Jesus, has entered on our behalf. 

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭6:19-20a‬ ‭NIV‬‬

  • Do you have your own BOAT STORY?
  • What thoughts do you have about the importance of an anchor?
  • How can navigating new waters on the ocean be similar to navigating new waters in your life?
  • What are some of the things you heard from the video that might be needed to take a trip on the ocean?
  • What might be some things you need to navigate the next season of your personal life?
  • What are your thoughts about the image of an ANCHOR FOR THE SOUL?
  • What might keep your SOUL firm and secure?
  • Why might we have HOPE?
  • How is Jesus the anchor for your soul?
  • As this school year ends, how can you focus on Jesus as the ANCHOR FOR YOUR SOUL?
Pastor B Oakwood, Parent Cue, Spring, Students

NEVER GIVE UP

In this series, Never Give Up, we’re encouraging students to see that resilience is a part of their DNA. Middle schoolers may struggle in the face of challenges, as many of them will find themselves navigating difficult circumstances, rejection, or loss for the first time in this phase. That’s why encouraging them to know that God doesn’t give up on them and doesn’t want them to give up on themselves or others is so crucial to encourage them to keep going and keep growing in resilience.

MEMORY VERSE

“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.”

Psalm 145:18, NIV

ENGAGE IN EVERYDAY MOMENTS TOGETHER

Morning Time

As your middle schooler starts their day, surprise them with a breakfast treat.

Meal Time

At a meal this week, have everyone share about how they’ve seen another family member or someone they know never give up—even when things were tough and they wanted to quit.

Drive Time

While on the go this week, ask: “What is something I can I help you with this week?”

Bed Time

Pray for your middle schooler to have wisdom to know when to keep striving for something and when to walk away.

Pastor B Culture, Oakwood, Students

An Ambassador of Christ in Russia

The world events happening lead us to ask questions. Where is God in all of this? What does this mean today, and what does this mean for the future of our world?

Then I was reminded of my friend Sean Baulch and a timely podcast post by Kevin East that gave me insight to what God might be up to. So here is a post for you to grab on to as we pray through this current circumstance of events and a reminder of who we are called to be in Christ.

We are also pleasantly reminded of what Paul speaks to in 2 Corinthians chapter five:

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Pastor B Culture, Family Devotional, Oakwood, Students

HOW WE CAN PRAY FOR UKRAINE

1. Ask God to redeem this situation by drawing many people to Himself. May Ukrainians and Russians discover that Jesus is the only true source of peace, safety, comfort, truth and freedom.

2. Pray that Ukrainians ultimately would hope not in governments, elections or diplomacy, but in Jesus Christ.

3. Ask God to deliver Ukraine from evil. May He have mercy and heal this land. May He give Ukraine peace and the chance to develop as a nation that values truth, justice and freedom, all rooted in the goodness of God.

4. Pray for a culture in which political disagreements don’t lead to hatred or violence.  

5. The conflict between Ukraine and Russia can spill over into personal conflict within families, especially when family members live on opposite sides of the border and are influenced by different sides of the “information war.” Pray for unity and a love for one another that supersedes the problems between the countries.

6. Ask God to bless soldiers’ wives and children with peace and safety while their husbands and fathers are gone.

7. Pray for the various world leaders involved in diplomacy over Ukraine. 

8. Pray that the evangelical church will remain united, even as it faces difficult questions, such as how involved believers ought to be in politics or in armed conflict.

9. In the past few years, the Ukrainian evangelical church has become much more passionate about sending its own cross-cultural workers to reach the lost. Pray that this conflict will not dissuade Ukrainians from taking the gospel message to Russia and to other lands.

10. Pray for Christians in the military. This is a challenging time; ask God to guide them as their faith is being tested in new ways.

11. Fears stemming from the conflict come up frequently in conversation. Pray that missionaries and other believers will have many opportunities to explain to their neighbors and friends the reason for the hope within them, even in this time of trial.

Pastor B Culture, Fall, Middle School Grow, My Life, Oakwood, Students

Others First

I remember my college days, a loooooong time ago, and I am grateful for some people that invested in my life. They pointed me in the right direction with God’s Truth and what He has to say about living a life that follows Jesus. One of those thoughts had to do with Servant Leadership. I have to admit, I seem to find myself failing at this attitude that is so greatly displayed in Christ. I must remind myself, as Paul does here in Philippians Chapter 2, that the commandment to LOVE my NEIGHBOR requires me to individually and personally to LOOK UP.

OTHERS FIRST is an easy way to explain this posture. We must move from a ME centered spectrum, that revolves around all MY INTERESTS and move toward an OTHERS mentality that LOOKS UP and realizes that there is a whole world out there that needs attention. I think that if we take this simple concept and decide to put OTHERS FIRST, we realize that we are making an impact by following in the footsteps of Jesus Christ Himself.