W.I.S.E. Bible Study

  As the Easter season continues until Pentecost, it is helpful to remain in the Joy and Glory of Christ’s resurrection. The Psalms continue to remind us of the refuge we find in the Lord. “Keep me safe, my God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” (Psalm 16:1-2) The Psalmist is talking to the Lord, their friend, protector, and benefactor. Likewise, we too should talk to the Lord. My autistic granddaughter is still silent most of the time. We have to remind her to “use her words, or use her sentences.” We don’t always know what she needs or wants. Yesterday she asked, using her words to fly a kite. Watching her fly the kite brought joy to all of us! Her use of words was the key to unlocking the event. She reminded me that even though we think God knows our wants and needs, we must use our words! As you walk your path today, remember to use your words wisely and carefully, but most importantly, use them to talk to God o...

 A very blessed Easter to you! “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his mercy endures forever.” Psalm 118. He is risen; He is risen indeed. I pray you have risen anew with Christ on this glorious Easter morning. Bells are ringing, and fresh starts are beginning. You breathe; a mental check to frame your new year, new beginning. Set the tone for the new year, no matter what it brings, to you or your loved ones. You set the frame. Mine is set in rededicating myself to the Lord; God’s will engraved upon my frame. Whispering, encounters, and knowing God’s loving arms will wrap around me, protecting and comforting. His footprints intertwined with mine. My roadmap always includes faith, family, and friends. This year, I will focus on writing and uncluttering the cluttered. Words on my map include trust, hope, joy, and exploration. There are many more words to be placed, but the new year brings new beginnings and new possibilities with Christ on the path….

 Good Friday. Quietness after storms. Stillness, as life rights itself. Today’s psalm speaks to the storms and where to go. “Turn your ear to me, come quickly to my rescue; be my rock of refuge, a strong fortress to save me.” Psalm 32:2 How could Jesus walk the walk towards death and suffering on the cross? I ponder if psalms did not run through his mind as a mantra, focusing his endgame. What a witness to us. Keep handy in your mind or turn to the psalms and use them as a mantra during times of darkness. I started spring break at 3:15 yesterday and am grateful to have time to spend with my Lord and family. Yesterday was noisy as students were eager to have a week off. I pushed myself to have all my work done for the rest of the school year, including the finals. My mind was mush, but the task was done. Considering I have three different sections, three different grade levels, it was a monumental task to create the last two units and the final for each class. I tell you this, not t...

God loves us so much that God became human, not as an adult but as a vulnerable babe. God trusted humanity that much to be that vulnerable. During the Jesus’ time the infant mortality rate was 30 to 50 percent; yet God came. I think of all the blessings I have received from this loving God; this God that “gets me” as a human. The Psalmist for 116:12-14 asks “How can I repay the Lord for all the great good done for me? I will raise the cup of salvation and call on the name of the Lord. I will pay my vows to the Lord in the presence of all his people.” During this Holy Week as we walk closer to the suffering and death of Christ, I think about what can I do for Christ? How do I repay the wonders? The blessings? The times God has held me when suffering? For me, I will continue to witness God’s presence; God’s whispering. On a different note, yesterday, during stations of the cross I was struck by something. Jesus falls three times, Peter denies Jesus three times; yet both show love and for...

As I walk the path of Holy Week with my Lord, I am reminded of today’s Psalm “God, you know my folly; my faults are not hidden from you.” Psalm 69:6. I am reminded of Judas because today is known as spy Wednesday and the readings talk about Judas’ betrayal. I confess to my Lord, my faults, my actions, and vices which he knows but I need to be upfront with him by confessing. That is good communication and being a good friend. By getting the “stuff” out of the way, I clear the path to be full of Christ’s presence. In class, I took a cup and put stones in the cup to stand for the “stuff.” I then poured water in. As I took the stones out students could see how little water was really in the cup. Once the cup was empty of stones I filed it. Getting rid of the stones is important. Today take time to talk with God, throw away the stones, un-harden your heart and walk closely with Christ on the path…

Psalm 71:1-3 “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” In today’s Psalm what do you hear? I hear a person who trusts in the Lord, knows of the Lord’s compassion and strength. The Lord shines through as the person glorifies their friend, their Lord, and loved one knowing and trusting that they are a refuge; they are a rock and a fortress. As I drove to work, the moon was simple gorgeous. I tried to take a picture but it does no justice. Last night and early this morning there were storms that passed over. Yet as I began my drive the moon was there and reminded me of God’s continue light on my path. Today’s Psalm reminds us where to go when storms pass over, and if we forget remember this Psalm and talk to the Lord as this Psalmist does. The Psalms are are songs of human...