W.I.S.E. Bible Study

  It is that time of year, when the cookie and candy making lists and ingredients start becoming firm. Cookie baking date is set. However, it is that time of year when someone looks to the scale, mirror and become very judgmental of themselves. Others have lost weight, why haven’t I? Others have not age, but boy I am starting to show my age. When you become down on yourself, remember this scripture verse: “You are altogether beautiful, my darling; there is no flaw in you.” Song of Solomon 4:7. So, my beautiful people, be kind to yourself. Look in the mirror and see God’s handiwork, on the path….

  "Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up." Romans 15:2 I wonder what Paul meant “please our neighbors for their good?” Sometimes, I have found, the “their good’ is not always pleasing to another person. As a grandparent building up a grandchild does mean holding them accountable and making sure, they know why we do things and why we do not do other things. Many times, this is not pleasing them, but it is important that we, in loving kindness please our neighbors by being honest and open with them. Yesterday, Fergus helped me hang Christmas lights in the back yard. He wanted to surprise his autistic sister who loves lights. In stringing lights there were many lessons on why we do and don’t do certain things. At one point, he yells to Opa (who was putting tarps on items) “Opa, hurry, Oma needs help, it’s not working out.” We needed the extension cord to turn the lights on. Today, on this snowy winter wonderland sort of day, remember to help yo...

  “We must consider how to rouse one another to love and good works. We should not stay away from our assembly, as is the custom of some, but encourage one another, and this all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:24-25 Love and good works. I find love to be acceptance of one another, warts and all. Flipping through channels last night, I am amused at how the “Christmas” shows revolve around: girl meets boy, they disagree, they see their error, and oh we are now in love. However, Christmas love is about messiness, difficulties and pulling together to see the beauty (God’s presence) in our situations and in each other. It’s not so much about “falling in love” but the true sense of a marriage, two people committed forever to live it out thick and thin. It is no longer ok to “agree to disagree” for one can not move forward with that attitude. Finding common threads and weaving them together makes us stronger. I think we can all agree that good works, coming together...

 Lord, we thank you for life. Life, whether messy, complicated, or dull, we thank you. Thank you, Lord, for family and friends who walk with us. We remember those who will not be gathering with us this year and pray for those who begin the Holiday season with heavy hearts. Lord, your blessings have been many, and we pray that we continue to see your presence in our lives. We ask that you help those in need, specifically (add your own intention). Continue to guide us, protect us, and walk with us as we continue on the path... Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

  “Persevere in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving;” Colossians 4:2 Watchful in it with Thanksgiving. As prayers come to fruition, we need to be thankful, even when it wasn’t the answer we had hoped for. Life has a way of carving out a path in directions that perhaps we did not expect. It is hard to be thankful when it’s not quite how we thought it would be. I am grateful for all the twists and bends and realize that I am the person I am today because of what I have traveled through on my journey. Hard lessons can be the best lessons after the bumps and bruises heal. The key is to let them heal and let the scars be a reminder of a life lived. Today, take time to be thankful, persevere in prayer, and remember to always find God on the path …

As many of you know my husband and I went to the Packer vs. Viking game on Sunday. What struck me the most was that skilled wise, the Vikings are very skilled. They have age (wisdom, knowledge) on their side. They however forgot to bring the passion and remember what they were playing for. If they would have looked in the stands they would have thought it was a home game…there was that much purple. But they didn’t. I was reminded that I too must carry my passion and goal with me at all times and not be lack luster. When I forget, I turn to Ephesians 2:10 “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in dance for us to do.” These works need our passion, our focus on what we are living for. Luckily my life is not determined by the outcome of a football game…but it is by bringing my passion and remembering that I am God’s handiwork on the path…

  “  while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,” Titus 2:13 My husband and I spent yesterday preparing the RV for winter. We packed up the items inside and put them in totes. Spread dryer sheets all around and made sure the checklist was complete. The winter cover is on, and it is now winterized. It is that time of year to shift focus. Long summer days are gone, and shorter, colder winter days are ahead. Preparation is part of the life cycle. Today, the church celebrates Christ the King, and next week, Advent begins. Advent is the new year for the church. This season will begin with the celebration of the “birth of Christ” and the anticipation of the coming Messiah. It is time to prepare, to pack away the old, reminisce on last year, but plan for the new year. As you do, let these four works guide your weeks ahead: hope, joy, love, and peace. Let the rhythm of preparing, letting go of the past to make room fo...

  Some days we need to be reminded that we are not alone. We need to remember that we are in the “shadow of Gods wings” ; his protection. God, walks with us, as I have said many times, but I believe we can’t say it enough. My students learned about Ethos, Pathos and Logos regarding the prophets and how they got their message to their audience. More importantly, the looked at how others try to influence them. Are they using Ethos (they have credibility) or Pathos (emotions; those abandoned puppy commercials get me every time) or Logos (logic or reasoning). It is important to know how people are trying to influence you so that you can try to find what is credible or logical to influence your mind. Today I choose to remember Psalm 63:7-8 “ Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings, I cling to your; your right hand upholds me.” I use my gift of free will to make choices but know that through my faith in God, I can sift through all the rhetoric and find his will and ri...

I have put in my letter of intent to retire at the end of this school year. The decision was not easy, but as I try to get bits and pieces of writing done, and feel the call to carve a ministry path I have decided that this was the best direction. “This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we have asked from Him.” 1 John 5:14-15. I started a ministry called “A Wing & A Prayer Ministries” when I was a chaplain at the fire house. It is time to take that leap of faith and move forward. So, I may be shifting my focus, I trust the Lord will give me the courage to venture out into a ministry that I hope will reach people and continue the mission of making God present today, for all. I hope that you will continue to walk with me, and pray for me. As I continue to shift through research and writings I hope you will enjoy the results...

I received my tapered, battery powered advent candles the other day. They even come with a remote control! Advent reminds me of “new normals.” Many times, we go through events, loose a loved one or some sort of change in our lives. It is in these times we realize we can’t go back, but we are having trouble moving forward. It is times like these, like Advent that we need to sit back and process through, and find what God want’s for us. When I get sick, I say to the Father, “ok, I’m slowed down, what do we need to work on?” Advent is a time to slow down, work on our relationship with God as we anticipate the birth of Christ. Hopefully, we have cleared out what is not of God, and have a clear vision of the version of who we are meant to be for the world so that on Christmas we can Kneel down before the Christ child, dedicating our true selves to him. This will become our new normal, the old will be in the past, and the new will move to the future. New normals take time. Advent is a season...

 Mark 9:2   2 -24   “It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.”   “‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”   Immediately, the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” How much do you believe? I sometimes find it ironic that we confine God. God can only come in the form of bread and wine. Specifically, wheat bread… God can only do this… or that… Yet the real question is, how much do you believe? The passage features a father in need of his son's healing. Jesus assures him that everything is possible for those who believe. The father states that he does believe, but if there is any part of him that harbors unbelief, he asks that it be removed. We need to be like the father and ask for any unbelief to be overcome. Is everything possible for you today? If not, pray and ask for courage, strength, and guidance to overcome yo...

  “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong— that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.” Romans 1:11-12 If I had a spiritual gift to give, it would be hope. For a person who can see hope, especially in the little things will have a joyful life. Gratitude is an attitude that brings hope. I try to find little things that bring joy and remind me of hope. This morning there was a red streak through the clouds as if a trail leading to me. It reminded me of the blood Jesus shed, and because of that blood I redeemed. Hope. I still stumble and fall, but like a little child, I can run to the Father for healing. Little things that lead to Him. Today find hope in your life, and remind yourself you can find it in the little things on the path…

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 It is easy today, in the world climate to have anxieties. Life is like baseball and is always changing what it is pitching to us. Sometimes a fastball, sometimes life is swinging at curveballs. Joshua reminds us that we need to be strong, courageous, and not afraid nor discouraged as God walks with us. You do not walk alone, along with God, know that you have family, friends and me walking with you, supporting you and wishing you joy on the path…

    “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of dong, but encouraging one another—-and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25 The scripture verse talks about groups of alike faith believers to continue to gather. Sometimes we do fall away from a brick and mortar place to go to. However, it is helpful that Christ states, “When two or more are gathered, I am amongst you.” Gathering together is important so that people can pray for one another and through words and actions remind each other of Christ. I can be “stand offish” or just keep to myself. It is important for me to remind myself to meet with people or be part of things going on. Together let all of us “spur one anther on toward love and good deeds.” Reach out to someone you haven’t heard from or seen today on the path…

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24 A new Attitude. Some mornings it is hard to be positive. Some mornings it’s hard not to grumble. I do not necessarily think God wants us to be all roses and butterflies all the time. God wants us to be human. The new attitude and new self is to recognize in those moments of unhappiness, venting that there is something to change in our paradigm. Anger is a red flag that there is something wrong and a person needs to get at the core of it. The new attitude might just be in those moments to talk to the Father and find out what is really going on and where adjustments need to be made. Walking with God, or allowing God to carry us at times, means our attitude is one of being one with God, loving him, knowing h...

For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 Today I am thinking about that cowardice part that God did not give me. There is a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, where Indiana must step out into an abyss. He must take a leap of faith. Letting go of the past, to move forward, may be scary. When God shows you how you are hiding from doing the very thing He asks can be scary. Then, when the moment comes you need to hold yourself tight and take that leap of faith so that you can continue doing God’s work and being the best version of yourself. Some call it crossroads; M. Scott Peck would call it “the road less traveled.” If you find yourself having a challenging time embracing the leap of faith or letting go of the way things were first know you are not alone, but together we can leap and become who God has created us to be on the path….

  Colossians 3:12  - Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, I love the Christmas season. Yes, I said season. It begins with Advent and ends in January after the Epiphany. Or some may say “someone will say that they are following the traditional and official end of the Christmas season, February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas, which is the  Feast of the Presentation of the Lord or Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary  (commonly called Candlemas, in Greek  Hypapante ).” Preparing for the season ~ the birth of a child, or the second coming of Christ, means I take a moment to assess myself. Today, I am wrestling with: Do I have a compassionate heart? Am I full of kindness? Am I humble? Am I meek? And do I have enough patience? As the season encroaches in, take time to see how you need to decorate yourself…with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. See how you can bes...

  “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”  – Isaiah 40:31 I started my day at 2:30 this morning. I am very congested, sneezing, coughing…ah, that time of year. Facing the day may be a bit challenging, but I know that God will walk with me and guide me through. I am counting on not growing weary but being present. Today is Veterans’ Day, and I think of all my family members, both on the Jacobi, Daniels, and Roeder sides, who have served. I know so many veterans and am so thankful for their service, and those who are still serving. Their families, who hold the fort down as they serve, deserve a shout-out. I may be a little tired today, but what these families sacrifice to keep all of us free and safe is nothing compared to what I go through. Thank you does not seem to say enough. Blessings on our veterans today. Your family's sacrifice does not go unnotic...

  “A joyful heart is the health of the body, but a depressed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 I woke up this morning (however, a little stiff) but I woke up: joy! I drove in snow that was beautiful; roads were salted and ready for my travels: joy! I had a good breakfast and second breakfast (lol) Joy! There is so much to see joy in. I know it does my soul good to find the little joys in each day. My spirit is hopeful because of the joy. My husband has taken to sending funny little blurbs each morning reminding me to smile and to find joy. Today, may be difficult, and you may encounter difficulties and sadness, but there is a silver lining and that is finding the joy in everything after we wrestle with, grieve or struggle on the path…

  Ephesians 4:32  - Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. When God forgives, God does not look back upon the transgression. God does not add it to a list of times of sin. God does not change God’s love for you because you have done something that did not bring out the best version of yourself. No, God moves on, and forgiveness means the event is no more. God asks us to forgive in the same manner. Our human minds tend to remember others’ past transgressions, and we hold them accountable for the rest of their lives, never acknowledging that they have changed or moved beyond them. Yet God wants us to “let it go.” Forgiveness means acknowledging the wrong, but allowing the person to make amends, learn, and become a better person because of their transgressions. Love requires this: being patient and kind and allowing the process of learning lessons to shape another without judging them or condemning them. I write this on this ...

  “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 Life isn’t perfect. Through the imperfections, we are challenged and strengthened. In scripture, there is a beautiful analogy of the silver being refined. A silversmith heats the silver and carefully lifts off any impurity. The silversmith then cools and will continue this cycle until the silversmith can see his reflection in the silver. The silversmith knows not to heat the silver too hot, or it will be ruined. Not hot enough, the silver’s impurity will not show. As life presents moments of heating up, we must remember that God is the master silversmith. “Fear not, for I am with you…” No matter what you go through or are going through, remember He loves you and is looking for His reflection in you, on the path….

  “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” 1 Peter 1:3 A living hope. Each of us is a living hope for the Lord. Why? Because each of us is created in God’s image and likeness. That is, each of us is uniquely God’s and has a part of God that only we can give to the world. You are a living hope. Today is a good day to celebrate that you are perfectly made in God and you are a living hope to the world…so celebrate you, celebrate your family, friends. Show this tired old world that there is still hope on the path…

  Romans 15:13  ~ May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. I had been teaching a class on spirituality. This year, it was replaced with contemporary religions. It has given me time to revisit the course I wrote on. The first thought was that I had not started with the most important element. The Holy Spirit. I started with defining spirituality. However, if you don’t include the Holy Spirit, it is all for naught. Today’s reading is an example of what and who the Holy Spirit is. Part of the Trinity, and intertwined in all of us since we have a soul (spiritual), and the Holy Spirit, when allowed, will be present in that spiritual part of us.   Awaken the Holy Spirit within. Receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit and let it reset your compass to north on the path…

  “Then he said to the host who invited him, “When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind . Blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous, Luke 14:12-14 One of life's joys is having family over to share a meal. One doesn’t do so in anticipation of what they will get out of it in return. No one does so because time together is important. In today’s gospel reading, the author reminds us that we should share with the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind. In today’s environment, it is helpful to be reminded that we are here to care for each other. Shoulder each other's burdens. I feel blessed when a friend shares their garden’s bounty with me, or when I can share with others...

  Romans 5.5 “and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the holy Spirit that has been given to us.” The Holy Spirit is essential to our faith. The Holy Spirit empowers and guides. The Holy Spirit, being a spirit, intertwines with our spirituality to ensure that our compass points towards God. The Holy Spirit was given to us so that hope flows in our prayers, in our relationship with God and others. Hope is the lens to see God in our lives and allows us to walk confidently on the path….