W.I.S.E. Bible Study

 If you are a gardener, you know you need to prepare. I have already looked over my gardens. Pruned my fruit trees and turned over dirt. Nutrients have gone into the earth, and I have made a list of the next steps. Preparation.  There are a lot of things we need to prepare for; that is, to be ready. Sunday is Psalm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Luke 12:35 states, “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.” Even if you did nothing for Lent, this week I challenge you to reflect on your relationship with Christ. Today, prepare and fill your lamps and get dressed in readiness so you can continue the walk with Christ on the path…

  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 What is your need today? Spring is in the air even though temperatures dropped today, more and more warm temperatures are on the horizon. What is it that I need as we enter the last week of Lent? Do I feel closer to God? Do I have tools to more into Easter and beyond? One lesson is that I trust in the Lord, so I will trust the tools I need are there, the joy is in my heart to glorify Him and to sing His praises. Lesson two, is that clutter does seep in so I need to always ask myself, “Need or want? Fostering or hindering my relationship with God. Does it help my focus or blur my vision? As the season is about to change both liturgically and in life, I am reminded that God will supply every need on the path…

Something to pray on this morning: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Ephesians 2:10 As I start to look forward to turning the page and writing the next chapter in my life, I keep Ephesians close. I still have work to do. Hopefully continuing the good works God has prepared in advance for me to do. The work I do is a continuation of what I have been doing only moving it forward to new avenues. As I chip away this Lent, I packed up the clutter and got rid of the unnecessary things and baggage, so I have room to breath. The whispers from my dear friend and Lord are there and will continue long after this Lent has passed. A better way to look at Lent is what lessons have I learned and what top 5 things do I always want to remember on the path…

  We began Lent several weeks ago. On Ash Wednesday, many were signed with a cross on their foreheads, with either, “remember you were dust and to dust you will return;” or “Turn away from sin and be faithful to the Gospel. It is hard to believe but next week is Holy Week. It is a suitable time to reflect on our Lenten journey so far. For me, well I have been chipping away at the clutter to hear the whisper. I would have to say, for me, it has been about prioritizing and looking at what things get in the way of family. I believe I have been blessed to be a daughter of God, a wife, mother, and grandmother. Degrees, and titles aside, Faith and family is my most important priority. Soon it will be spring break, and I am looking forward to visiting family. I am also extremely excited to just be home! Summer is my favorite time of the school year because it is family, friends, and relaxing. Sometimes thoughts have crowded the simplicity that was meant to be. I used to garden to can frui...

  Sometimes God asks of us to do the impossible-like forgiving those who have harmed you or a family member. Sometimes God asks us “submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human authority:whether to the emperor, as the supreme authority, or to governors, who are sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to commend those who do right. For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people.” 1 Peter 2:13-15. This to me is hard to follow. What is God asking of me? Reread the last verse: For it is God’s will that by DOING GOOD you should silence the ignorant talk of foolish people. When we help those being persecuted, when we seek justice we are doing the good work of God. Taking a stance and not fence sitting is very difficult. During Lent, I have been thinking about: How much do I love you Lord? Do I love you enough to do good in order to silence the ignorant talk of foolish people? Is this a whisper to my heart to do, not to continue...

Lately, I have been thinking about how a person procrastinates. Yes, I am guilty of this. I will do this when _ fill in the blank, but it is never in the morning. Ever hear the phrase, “Seize the day, or seize the moment?”  I’ve been trying to do that. I feel that is my whisper…to stop procrastinating and just do. Ecclesiastes 11:6 states, “Sow your seed I the morning, and a evening let your hands not be idle, for you do not know which will succeed, whether this or that, or whether both will do equally well.” So, what things have you set aside for a different time that perhaps you just need to dive into? Is there something about your relationship with God, you have put on hold? As Steven Curtis Chapman sang, “I’m diving in, I’m going deep….” Now it is your turn to dive in on the path…