W.I.S.E. Bible Study

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…

  Yesterday, as my husband walked the dog, he took a picture of a mini pink tornado in the sky and sent it to me. A whisper from God. It was nice out, and we had taken the “littles” to the zoo, with help from their favorite Aunt. We were able to unpack the winterized patio and enjoy it. We planted kale and snow peas. We were even able to have a visit from my youngest son. A full day. Then the pink tornado in the sky. Yet in everything we did, I know all things were possible through God. God doesn’t make things happen; he allows them to unfold and sends opportunities our way, like seeds scattered and sown. 1 Corinthians 3:6-7 states, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” I realized that when we seize the opportunities, having God with us will make them blossom into even more, like sending reminders of God’s presence through pink tornadoes on the...

  “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.”  – Isaiah 43:19 Progress. What is Lent for? A time to slow down, rekindle the flames of love for Christ, perhaps? Is it time to fast from a vice to feast on a virtue? My one goal has been to hear God’s whisper amongst the business of life. The path can at times seem like a wilderness or wasteland. Sometimes our good intentions get lost, and we feel as if this has been one more Lent, we didn’t make it through. The good news is that we can restart any time. Yet we need to remember that it isn’t so much what we can do for God, but what God does for us. All God asks is that we show up…we converse…we try, struggle, wrestle, but mostly be humble, grateful, and live out his love letter…scripture. Today, remember that progress is found in Isaiah 43:19: God is making a way in the wilderness and wastelands on the path…