W.I.S.E. Bible Study

“Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” John 11:25-26 On the eve of two holy days for the church: All Saints and All Souls, I think it is helpful to remember that death is conquered in Christ. That is where hope is to be found. I think of carved pumpkins and the light shining through. The light of Christ reminds us not to be afraid of darkness or death, as the light leads the way. Take time this weekend to pray for those who have gone before us. Perhaps as you light your pumpkin candles, light them with the names of loved ones, praying for them on the path…  

  “Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” Ephesians 4:2 Each of us have little quirks. I know I do. However, growing in love, bearing with one another means that we begin to cherish the quirks, and we don’t try to change them. My classrooms have been noisy as students work on skits and projects. I say to myself, “Isn’t it great they can laugh in a scripture or church history class?" Humility is a quality I strive for but have to remind myself daily and do a self check to make sure in moments I am humble. Gentleness is a lost art and something that needs to be revived as a characteristic of a person. Today, think about how you are humble and gentle, remember to be patient with those people that rub you the wrong way. Even be patient with yourself. Whether you are not healing fast enough, not carrying out the things you want or whatever the circumstances are, be patient. Mostly though, let’s bear each other in love today on the path…

  “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12 These three things: joyful, patient, faithful…hope, affliction, and prayer. It sounds easy to be joyful in hope, yet there are times when hope is hard to find. Hope is the patience in affliction, believing that this too shall pass as God walks you, cradles you at times and carries you other times. Hope is being faithful in prayer, believing that your prayer is being heard. Prayer is a conversation with the one we love, so be faithful by talking to God and it is in the conversation you will find hope. If you have these, you have joy on the path…

  “ Walk in obedience to all that the Lord your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess.” Deuteronomy 5:33 My students are learning about discernment. They watched a video by Fr. Mike Schmitz on the subject. I was happy that many of the students liked and mentioned this quote in their discussion. “Something might be right, but is it a right fit for my life right now?”   We have many right and good things to choose from in this world. Opportunities that come our way can often be very good, even fantastic. Yet, discernment means we pause and ask: Is it the right fit for my life now? Many times, I have been confronted by this decision and trusted that if I walk in obedience, it was not the path for me at that time, no matter how inviting the prospect was. This evening, think of your opportunities and ask yourself if they lead you to walk obediently with God and if they are the right fit ...

  “ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” Isaiah 40:29 As the weather cools, and different illnesses seem to be spreading, I find it helpful to remember that God will give us strength through our weariness and our weakness. At school we are in our second quarter. It can be difficult to stay focus and on task. As a teacher, it is also a moment of trying to catch one's breath and pace oneself. My mind wanders and wants to look ahead to Thanksgiving break and the end of the semester in December. Yet, one must remain present in the hear and now. I’m a planner and checklist maker, but recently, I have decided to ignore the checklist and flow with the day. My hope is to really be present to those I love and meet on the path…

“ Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life…” Matthew 6:25-34 The above scripture passage, is the passage read at our wedding. When I told the priest that is the passage I wanted, he remarked that it wasn’t one to choose from in the marriage planning handbook. I told him I wanted the passage to remind us that we should not worry if God was with us we could get through anything. He allowed the passage, and 42 years later…(actually 43 as we had planned and chose the reading before our wedding,) I still remember it and remind myself of it. I am thankful that we didn’t worry about how each of us was maturing and growing…we met at 17…I was grateful that we didn’t worry about the little things and the big things, but could always walk with God as we continue to journey together. The fiat of marriage is “for richer, poor, in sickness and in health”..and always in God, with God and together with God on the path… to me that is the sacrament..and is reflected in the couple we contin...

  But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to abandon you, to turn back from following after you. Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord do this to me and more so if even death separates me from you.’” Ruth 1:16-17 Ruth shows what undying love looks like. It is one of my all-time favorite passages. “Wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you stay, I will stay.” Married love should mirror these passages. To my husband I have pledged this. I have had to, at time reprioritize my life in order to live this out. It is worth it. This kind of love isn’t easy as day to day living with someone can be difficult. Yet having honest and open communication, reminding that person of why you decided to follow and go where they go, etc. is important. It is important not to take a person for granted. Growing old together means growing with a person, e...

  “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: if either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.” Ecclesiastes 4:9-10. I have friends and relatives that are not married. Know that your “two” is all of us being their for you. However, on the 22 nd my husband and I will celebrate 42 years of marriage. He would always say, there are hills and valleys and we are in … Neither of us is perfect, but we know we are there for each other. I think it is important to celebrate not just for a day, but for the journey we are on together. We’ve know each other since we were 17 and as you can imagine we have grown and changed along the way. Yet the core of what we saw in each other remains. If you don’t know my husband, let me tell you he is hard working, generous with his time and a good soul. Today take time to celebrate those who walk with you on your journey for it is important to celebrate each ot...

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the lORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” Duet 31:6 “Them” There a lot of “them” in the world. You know, the things that cause us to be afraid or terrified. God gives cause to be strong and courageous as God reminds us he will never leave us or forsake us. When we face those things that cause alarm, breath and remember God is with you. I am reading Max Lucado’s new book, that I highly recommend. It talks about transforming our thoughts. I think that if we remember that God is with us our fears can become challenges that make us stronger. The “them” can become lessons and can be turned into courage. Today, squelch the “them” by saying, “go away from me, for God is with me on the path”…

  “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.” Matthew 7:13 Driving in the rain today I thought about how when you get older driving in the dark, in the rain can be a little more difficult. They recently paved a road, so the freshly black top reflected any lights and blended into the darkness. It reminded me that the path of a Christian can be like a dark rainy road. When the road is difficult, whether from rain, or other trails, it is helpful to remember you are closest to God when the gate is narrow. Today think about how your road is closest to God, through your choices that are counter cultural. Rainy mornings remind me of God’s presence on the path…

  “Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances, give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19  Getting up every morning to go to work can be a task I do not relish at times. Yet, I try to remind myself that I am fortunate to have a job. I am lucky that my job is more than a job, but something I feel called to do. I start my day rejoicing and giving thanks. I do pray throughout the day. Yet it is the last part of this scripture bundle that I want to discuss. “Do not quench the Spirit.”   It is easy to talk negatively about co-workers and students. It is easy to find out what is wrong. It is easy not to let the Spirit be present and let the Spirit do what it does best…. guide, encourage, and bring about growth. Yet we must be open to the Spirit and allow the Spirit to move freely in our day. Today, let the Spirit move in your life, trust the Spirit as it will be present and be there for yo...

  “It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you’ he will not leave you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:18 Sometimes we want to do something or have to do something and we are anxious. Have you ever noticed how much anxiety is in the world today? This weekend I did a little singing Karaoke style. I’m not a good singer, but I have learned the key to singing. It comes from the heart, from the joy within. Good or bad isn’t the point, sharing the joy of the heart is. I had a blast…torchured some who want perfection…but others…they celebrated with me. I could because I know God goes before me and paves the way. Lack of talent wasn’t the issue, asking myself if I had overflowing joy and celebration was. I think we all should sing…believe me by the times the clouds filter out all the wrong keys, bad tunes, God is smiling, saying “I did good.” Do not fear or be dismayed at anything you have to do for God, well God, is going before you on the path…

  Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” –  Matthew 11:28-29 A priest puts on his stole as his yoke with Christ. When he does, he is saying I’m ready to get to work and die for the work. The yoke of Christ binds us to Christ’s work. My husband and I have been in northern Minnesota this weekend deepening bonds with family and making new friends. We do so knowing the yoke of Christ is present. So, we thank God for this time and for family and new friends. These are moments of healing under the yoke that provides rest for the soul on the path…

  “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see I am doing something new! Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” Isaiah 43:18-19 I think all of us can attest to the fact that we hand on to something from the past. Yet, when I do, I have to remind myself God has already forgiven me for that, so let it go. Why is it hard to forgive ourselves and believe that God is doing something new in us? Perhaps others want to remind us of past events. Judge me not for something I did in High School for God has worked on me since then, or in 2010 or whatever it is that others are hanging on to…just don’t you hang on to it. Remember God has led you to a new spot, enjoy it, look around and say, yeah the past has brought me here…so lets go God on the path…

1 Corinthians 16:13-14 “   Be on your guard, stand firm in the faith, be courageous, be strong. Your every act should be done with love.” Weddings are a good time to remind us of love. Not a hallmark, commercial love, but love that is strong enough for a woman to walk up an aisle with her dad and then step in front of a man, and say, 'Yes, we've got this…' until death do us part. Life is full of twists and turns, ups and downs, and you need to stand firm in faith to make it through. At my niece’s wedding, the priest did a couple of things that I think will help remind them. First, he asked that they hold hands throughout the whole ceremony, reminding them that the two are one. Next, during communion, he handed the bread to the groom, and the groom “fed” it to the bride, then vice versa—faith at the core. He did the same with the chalice. Whom have you placed your hand in today? Remember, walk hand in hand, feeding each other the body and blood of Christ on the path…  

  “ And do not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the in a way that renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2 One of my favorite authors is Max Lucado . For me, he writes in a way that faith is obtainable. I have many favorite writers that I go to. I spend time in scripture and then find writers like Lucado so that I can continually renew my faith. I also want to make sure that I am doing God’s will and reflecting God’s love to others. Why am I “stuck” on God? Why do I look to God? Jesus laid down his life for me and you, even though we don’t deserve it. He did because that is the only way we can join the Father and loved ones in our heavenly home. So, I read, I renew my mind so that I can prove the will of God and what is good and acceptable and perfect here on earth and on the path…

 “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.” Romans 14:12 Many of my roles include holding people accountable. Students are held accountable for their work and behavior etc. I guess as a parent and wife I hold my loved ones accountable. I even hold myself accountable (aren’t we always harder on ourselves!) The key is that we do so in love…because I love you I’m calling you out on your destructive behavior or in the fire world...I’m throwing the BS flag. My point is we still love the person not the action. God has taught me this. God does and will hold us accountable. Sometimes faith is presented as all unicorns and rainbows when it is not. It is knowing I will screw up, I will be held accountable, I will pay restitution… all because my father loves me and wants me to be the best version of myself on the path…(ps bad things happening are not a sign of God punishing you. They are a reaction to a poor choice or fact of nature such as metal of a car verses human bod...

  “Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.” 1 John 3:18 Our actions reveal a lot about who we are. My niece is getting married on Saturday, and I am very excited for her and her future husband. The moments leading up to  a wedding can be very stressful. Yet, their action will be one of love. A commitment to a life of love. A life of love doesn’t mean there aren’t ups and downs, difficult twists and turns, but the knowledge that with God, love will continue to grow and become stronger. Deeds. The upcoming wedding has reminded me that I am a sister and an aunt, and those roles require actions of love. I, for one, am looking forward to seeing family I haven’t seen, being part of the exchanging of vows, and being able to walk a weekend of love on the path…