Fear Not

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

God is in control. Totally. And even more amazingly, he is with us, right here, right now. Sometimes it’s hard to see him, to feel him support us. But that is our myopia. He is here for us at ALL times in ALL ways.

When we dread, when we are discouraged, we deny God. Romans 8:37 states it clearly, “in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

We must start by conquering our anxiety, and fighting off our apprehension.

God will strengthen you, he will help you, he will uphold you through the work of Jesus Christ, and the presence of the Holy Spirit.

He is with us.

Kevin Bibo

My Oasis Pastoral Tribute

And I will give you shepherds after my heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.

Jeremiah 3:15

I am in the unique position to offer insight into the lives of the Pastors of this church. It is my honor to list some of these insights to you, the flock of God to whom they serve.

I have seen these Pastors receive with open arms and open hearts people that the world has despised and thrown away.  I have watched them see only positive potential in people when everyone else only sees the negative aspects.

I have seen these Pastors visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, feed the poor and intercede in prayer for this church with tears and fasting. I have seen these Pastors work hard in secular jobs and continue to care deeply for this church even when the church could not afford to pay them a salary.

I have seen these Pastors forfeit their retirement funds and empty their saving accounts to make sure this church continues to survive.  I have also seen them give money out of their own pockets to give to people of this church. I have seen these Pastors prepare for services just as hard for 1000 kids, teens and adults, but only a handful show up.

I have seen these Pastors love kids, teens and adults with everything that is inside of them. If Pastors ministered for money, they would be the greatest of fools.  If Pastors ministered for fame they would be among the most selfish of men.

These Oasis Pastors heard God's call to feed and care for God's people, and they cannot quit, as for them, this would mean quitting on God Himself.

Their responsibility and judgment before God has a high bar with stern standards, as they are mandated to care for God's own.  They have agreed to maintain these standards.

Thank you Oasis Pastors.  My life would not be what it is today without you. You care for my soul and you care for the business of God's Kingdom here on earth.  You may not be highly respected by the world, but you are indeed respected by your Chief Shepherd, Jesus Christ.  And you are all loved and respected by me.

With much love!

Darnelle Mason

Does God know what he is doing?

It is easy, well, human, to ask where God is during affliction, hardship and suffering.

It is easy to thank God when he does what we want, and does what we think should be done.  But when he doesn't, do we really believe he knows what he is doing?  

Job's empire collapsed, his children were killed, and his body was destroyed.  Job asks God, "Why?"  Then, with a hurting heart, a hurting body and a hurting soul, Job proceeds to plead his case asking God why must he suffer all this affliction.

God answers him.  Not with answers but with more questions, and with an ocean length of questions.  

I, too, have asked "Why?"  The last seven years have been wave after wave of affliction. The death of my daughter and all that has come with it: depression, distress and debt. Things just don't seem to be going uphill on all fronts of my life.   

After Job's questions, and after my questions towards God, the point is clear: God owes no one anything.  No reasons.  No explanations.  Nothing.  If he even gave them, we couldn't understand them.  

What do we do with this truth?  We trust his heart.  His heart is indeed kind and merciful.  He is steadfast, loyal, reliable and faithful.  Job did concede, "You have granted me life and steadfast love, and your care has preserved my spirit." (Job 10:12)  

God is a stronghold.  "The salvation of the righteous is from the Lord; he is their stronghold in the time of trouble." (Psalm 37:39)

God is sweet.  "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103).

God is our Savior.  To all who refuse to abandon him, he will refuse to abandon us.  He asks of us to continue with courageous faith that we believe that he does know what he is doing and to trust his heart, even when we doubt his actions.

At the end of Job's story, Job matured in his perception of God, as well as in his relationship with God.  And, God commended Job's utter refusal to blame him and give up his faith in him.  Job was comforted and restored, all because Job understood the true heart of God regardless of God's actions.

Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.  (Job 42:3)

God asks the same of us. In all our circumstances - good and bad – to trust his heart, believe in his goodness and refuse to abandon him.  He will reward our faith and our fight, and our reward is himself.

In faith and love,

Darnelle Mason

  

Our True Home

There’s an old saying in the Christian culture that goes: He/She is so heavenly-minded that they’re no earthly good.  I disagree with that statement.  In fact, I believe a more true and accurate statement would be: He/She is so earthly-minded that they’re no earthly good.

I think that on occasion we all fall victim to everyday life with its troubles and circumstances and we fail to see a subtle shift in our perspective. 

It’s a shift that takes our focus and trust off of God and centers it on self. Life becomes less about our relationship with God and living for Him and more about what we’re dealing with and our lack of time for anything else.

I believe that if we would all be more deliberate in our personal walk with the Lord, daily inviting His grace and mercy into our lives, focusing on the promise of heaven that awaits us, we’d be more inclined to not hold our troubles on such a higher priority than that of serving others before ourselves.

Yes, right now, we live on earth and because we do we must live with the things that God allows or doesn’t allow in our lives.

But, let’s not forget that we have dual citizenship. We hold the promise of a truer citizenship and place than that which we now live. That place is heaven.  And one day, God will take us from our temporary home, here on earth, and will bring us home to be with Him for all eternity.  How amazing is that!

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

Philippians 3:20,21

Dina Pugh