W.I.S.E. Bible Study

“Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” Psalm 51:10 In Wisconsin, March weather is a tease. We feel the warm winds of spring and summer, and we feel the bite of winter lingering. It is a transition. Yet I cannot help but think how like March in Wisconsin, so is my Lenten journey. It is a struggle to cleanse my heart and renew my spirit. Some days I am successful, and others, old ways creep back into the picture. The more I push through, like spring it will eventually come that my heart is cleansed and my spirit is renewed. Lent is not a one- or two-day journey. It is several weeks. I am thankful for the time and opportunity to cleanse my heart and renew my spirit. Like buds on trees, and greenery pushing through the cold earth, I too can catch glimpses of Lenten renewal on the path…

  “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”  – Isaiah 43:2 A Lenten challenge to myself has been to study the book of Isaiah. The theme is for a person to trust in God, not in leaders, wealth, or themselves. So many of the verses speak to the world today. The book of Isaiah has many verses warning those who trust in their power, their wealth, or leaders who oppress. As I listen for the whisper, I am reminded to turn towards God. When I wrote my dissertation, I used the verse Isaiah 43:2. This verse reminds a person of the power of God. Trust. Trust in God. Difficulties come and go. The whisper is simply: trust in God. So, on this Sunday morning, I pray that I let go of my human instinct to control and instead pray when I feel the need to control my situation; when I think I know better than God. I trust ...

 Last weekend, I pruned my fruit trees. Showers last night and early morning gave me the itch to think of gardening. “I made gardens and parks and planted all kinds of fruit trees in them.” Ecclesiastes 2:5. Last fall, I scattered many wildflower seeds and sunflower seeds. Anticipation. Today is a good day to start planning my gardens. Planning is the hope of the future. Whispers of hope sprang forth in the Lenten season. Hope of resurrection, hope of forgiveness, hope of …. Spend a moment in thankfulness and daydream… hope of things to come on the path…

  Turmoil. Lent seems to get lost when there is too much turmoil to take our focus away from God. First, trust in prayer. My brother sent me a text telling me that we are being ask to come together in prayer. “We can out remain silent.” https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html . Friday we are called to pray at 3:30 and there is a live stream. Check it out. Lent doesn’t me we enclose ourselves in a cocoon. No. It means we walk on our journey responding but being intentional about our actions pointing to Christ. I think turmoil can distract us, but it doesn’t have to. It can grow us, and strengthen us by joining other in prayer or standing for Christ. This journey of Lent leads us to Calvary. A Cross. Death on the cross. Yet, we will celebrate a rising. Human and divine may hang in the balance, but we need to have more divine leadership so that we can unfold in all ways God created us to be. Psalms 46:1-2 sings, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefo...

Growing up there was a phrase often repeated. It came from a popular book. When you thought you got something right and it went wrong, someone would quote this to you. Today, driving in the fog reminded me of this phrase, “best laid plans of mice and men…” Lent is a time to think about our plans, to Aline them with Gods plans for us. After all, who knows our gifts and talents more than the one who created us? Proverbs 19:21 states, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” As I drove in some fog, I was reminded of my plans and all that I am doing to prepare for plans. There is always bends in roads, road construction we didn’t see coming, but I know this too can help me become more of who I was created to be by choosing to respond with and attitude of growth. Today, I challenge you to look at the road you are on and identify what s of God and what needs to change. Are you accepting of fog, bends, road constructions or do they upset your plans...

  “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7 I started my day in an outfit, to which I spilled coffee all down it. Lucky for me I have a change of cloths. This Friday we end the quarter, so it is stressful as students try to submit work that is overdue. I do not allow work to be submitted once a unit is closed. Stress. Even in Lent life gets stressful. It is hard to listen for God’s whisper in the mix of life. I am reminded that is exactly what I need to do, trust in God’s care so that I can be present to others. March is a month for me that I find long. Not because of whether, more because it feels like you are in the grind of it all. Like running a marathon and you are at the half way point realizing what you still need to go through. You push yourself, knowing there is a finish line…so, today I might not hear a whisper, but I know He cares on the path…