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by Kim Oyler   Kim and her husband, Brad, have been in ministry over 30 years, the last 13 years as copastors of Courageous Life Church in Independence, Missouri. They have two adult sons, 4 grandchildren and 2 teen aged sons that keep them busy. Kim enjoys her doting role as Mimi, her peaceful life on their farm, cheering on her boys in sporting events and living out her calling in her ever expanding role in ministry.
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by Terry Magness It was raining even before the bass tournament began. Determined as we were, my husband and I climbed into our trusty old bass boat, loosened it from its mooring, and took off up the lake. Frigid raindrops stung our faces, but we set our sights on our favorite point. After several hours and countless fishing spots, we had only a couple of catches to show for our valiant efforts. Soaked to the skin and bitterly cold, my husband pulled into a private little cove out of the wind and told me to take off my wet clothes. Really? I was dripping wet, shivering uncontrollably, teeth chattering, and he wanted me to undress! No way! Wishing to clothe me in the overhauls and jacket he had stored in the cooler, he insisted, “Terry, take off those wet clothes and put on these dry ones. It will warm you and you won’t be so miserable.” Tightly wrapped in my own arms, tears running down my cheeks like a pitiful child, I whined my protest, “But I don’t want to!” This laughable moment of years gone by came to mind recently after suffering a very strenuous and trying day.  Our garage had some boxes containing things purged from the house a couple of months before COVID hit Missouri in March 2020. That event, of course, brought everyday interactive life to a screaming halt. Since the pandemic, I added an occasional box or two, until I one day realized that the garage barely had room for our car. Something simply had to be done about the clutter, so I scheduled a Saturday to sort, re-box, and designate everything for church, missions, or thrift store. My husband flattened a mountain of empty boxes and waited for me to finish sorting and packing, so he could load the filled boxes into the truck. After three hours, and with at least one more hour to go, it dawned upon me that we must load up the recyclable trash station in our garage and take it to the center before it closed; it would not open again for four days. The sign on the gate when we arrived made my head drop. Beginning today the recycling center would close at noon on Saturdays; it was 3:00 p.m. and the gate was locked! We decided to stop for groceries and finally arrived home at 5:00pm. Dog tired, we hauled in our purchases and put them away. True, I was running on fumes, but my intention was to continue sorting items in the garage for another hour while I still knew where I was in the sorting process and into which boxes certain things belonged. I felt pretty sure I could finish the job and get the whole mess hauled off the next day. To my utter despair upon entering the garage, all the partially filled sorting boxes were shoved indiscriminately to one side and my car was parked where the boxes had been! A monstrous shock wave crashed over me--then waves of fury, frustration, and hurt! My entire day’s work was shipwrecked! My husband, having heard of an impending storm (and without the benefit of communication) assumed that I was finished for the day and set about to batten down the hatches. I interpreted his actions as extremely insensitive and mean-spirited, so this relatively small matter swelled instantly into a hugely significant event—and I was steaming! Though not entirely wise, my husband’s motives were protective and honorable, but all I could see was devastation. Emotions are a normal part of human interaction, and God even condones righteous anger, doesn’t He? Yet the words found in Ephesians 4:26, The Passion translation, came to mind. Conviction and God’s will became crystal clear. “Don’t let the passions of your emotions lead you to sin! Don’t let anger control you or be fuel for revenge, not for even a day.” Ouch! Generally, I strive to discipline my emotions quickly and Biblically, yet the next morning I heard myself warning, “I am still angry. You would do well not to talk to me.” Then we left for…yes…church! Thankfully, by the time we pulled into the church parking lot, Spirit conviction was weighing heavily upon me, and I knew I had to remove the frigid garments chilling my soul. How could I serve on the prayer team before my Father on behalf of others, dressed like this? I headed straight for the prayer room. There on my knees, my spiritual garments saturated with icy resentment and hurt, I wrestled with my mind, will, and emotions before God. The dear Holy Spirit earnestly entreated me to yield, yet I kept hitting the same wall. “God, I want to please you. You want me to forgive. I know I need to forgive. But I don’t want to! Lord, help me want to forgive.” Mine was a gut-honest prayer of desperation--a fight for my soul! God heard my sincere cries for deliverance, and He answered. In an instant, anger, resentment, and all their consequential feelings that were chilling cold my heart were gone! I felt light and free—like I could float ceilingward—and His love filled my heart. Repentance and forgiveness are beautiful gifts from God. They allow for the redemption, deliverance, and restoration of our souls, that we might be clothed in His righteousness. This is our Father’s great desire and blessing for His daughters and for all His children.  Now an ordained AG minister, Terry Magness was once a broken, wounded, angry, and abuse-hardened woman, until God’s redeeming love confronted, delivered, healed, and transformed her life. In 1995, Terry founded Grace Harbour Ministries, a not-for-profit, Biblically based teaching, prayer, and discipleship ministry to women. Through Biblical counseling, coaching, and mentoring, she helps soul-wounded women come to know God in a personal way, conquer sin, overcome life challenges, and live Spirit-empowered lives. Throughout her global ministry she has witnessed God’s captive-freeing power at work. Terry has authored two books--Ever Increasing Grace and Azadiah Reynolds: God’s Jamaica Man—and three booklets in her Pocket Scriptures series. She enjoys people, writing, photography, art, nature, and relaxing on the water while fishing with her quick-witted husband, Don, who keeps her laughing. Their amazing children and three priceless granddaughters remind them to be ever thankful for God’s blessings.
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