W.I.S.E. Bible Study

  “ He guides the humble in righteousness, and teaches the humble his way.” Psalm 25:9   What does humble mean to you? For me, it means that I don’t exaggerate my abilities. I am honest about them, and do not use them to “lord it over” others. I learn from constructive and righteous criticism. I find humbleness hard as I do want to be right! I do want to be the best! Yet, I want to do so, with my humility intact. This week of Joy during Advent is to remind us of the Roses given to us in our lives. Our gifts and talents, our blessings, and purposes. These are to be used with humility to help others, not just to benefit ourselves. This week shower other with roses, by using what has been given to you to help others, or just to bring a smile to their faces. This will help to remind people that the darkness is almost over, and the light will soon be here on the path….  

 Psalm 37:16-22 “  Better the meagerness of the righteous one than the plenty of the wicked.” Psalm 37:16 I have been going through my closet and purging the excess. This is part of my Advent ritual, and I do this again during Lent. My goal is not to have too much “stuff.” It’s okay to have things we want, not just things we need. Joy can be found in giving and uncluttering. A simple life, but filled with memories and people who care, is a treasure that is worth keeping on the path…

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.    If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?    So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.   But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matthew 6:28-34 Each year on this date I think back to when my husband asked me to marry him. Yesterday I received flowers at work from him. There is something about receiving flowers w...

  “I am the Lord, your God, who grasp your right hand; it is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13 Fear not, I will help you. When I was in 8 th grade I wrote a poem entitled Fear not about God always being with me. Eight grade was a particularly rough year for me. At that time, I did not know the verse from Isaiah, but now return to it in rough times. My life is good now, but the verse reminds me of those struggling and in need of the reminder. Our church presents us with seasons to remind us to do certain things to enrich, and deepen our faith. Today, in this advent season, pray for those who may need to be reminded of God’s promise. Or, send them Isaiah 41:13 with an I love you, and walk with you on the path…

  “As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13 I have been thinking a lot about being a mother lately. During this time of the year, when I was little my mom would warn us that Santa’s elves were watching us through the window. Mrs. Claus was baking cookies when the sunset was brilliant. All those unimportant things mothers do for us. Mothers did not receive a manual for raising a child. They weren’t given on/ off switches. Mothers were given as a gift compassion, love, and a giving heart. I think God is a lot like a good mother. God gives comfort and is there for us. This time of year I think of Mary, a very young girl, having a baby out of wedlock. She gave birth in a manger, and watched her son die on a cross. Christmas is about the fiat of Mary, her yes to God no matter the consequences she faced and endured. The love that sprung from that yes, was Christ and is Christ in us when we say yes to God and his plan ...

  “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived I your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Timothy 1:5 Today I wanted to talk about mothers, and grandmothers. My mom and my grandmother both had a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother. They taught me the importance of the Rosary. When my grandmother was dying, I would stop by her house after work, and pray the rosary with her, even though she was in a coma. When my mother was dying, the family gathered around her and prayed the rosary. What love is greater than that? I pray to Mary because she was a mother. She watched her son be accused of being a criminal and die on a cross. She gets me. I ask her to come with me as I talk to her son and God the Father, and ask for the Holy Spirit to work within me. She is my companion along the way. Many religions have beads. The rhythm of praying using beads gives a calming effect and peace. If you never have prayed the rosary, perha...

  “Shout with joy to the LORD, all the earth; break into song; sing praise.” Psalm98:4 Joy is a key component of peace, or so I think. Have you ever known someone joyful and singing not to have a small amount of joy and peace? Of course, some songs can be laments, but even when singing a lament, there is a release of anger. My students are making a playlist of songs (Christian or secular) that connect with Psalms of: Praise, Thanksgiving, Trust, Royal, Lament, and Wisdom.   I use music several times throughout the year, as I think music can connect lessons and life. This week, we focus on peace. Perhaps there are songs or music that can help you find inner peace. I enjoy musicals because characters are constantly “breaking into song.” I wonder what life would look like if we saw it in musical notes, and remember that each of us is living a musical on the path…

 “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the holy Spirit and fire.” Matthew 3:11 I wanted to talk to you today about the second candle of Advent. The candle of Peace. The word 'peace' is used a lot these days. The world is full of strife and discontent. As long as humans think they are in control, that will remain. Each of us needs, of course, to be part of bringing peace by remembering we are baptized with the Holy Spirit and by fire. That means the Holy Spirit is in us, with us, and ready for us to use. Today’s first reading, found in Isaiah 11, gives us a glimpse of this Spirit: “The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and of understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD, and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD. Not by appearance shall he judge, nor by hearsay shall he de...

  “Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12 This week of Advent we focus on hope. What is it that you hope for? If Christ walks with you, then what is it that you are yearning for, and need to persevere in prayer for? I think of the baby Jesus in a manger, vulnerable and taking his first breaths with his parents and animals. My hope is that we can, kneel before the babe on Christmas and give of ourselves, our lives to the new born babe. It will be our pledge to be the hope for each other. Our pledge to bring peace, not strife. To help those who only hope is a warm place and a meal. What gift will you give the baby Jesus this Christmas? Will it be that of hope to the world? How will you contribute on the path….

  But Ruth said, “Do not press me to go back and abandon you! Wherever you go I will go, wherever you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God. Where you die I will die, and there be buried.” Ruth 1:16-17 If you asked me why minister? Why do I do what I do? Why do I teach? Or chaplaincy? Or Church work? I would answer with the quote from Ruth. I say that to God…wherever God goes…I go, whoever are God’s people are my people. I will die for God and to that affect be buried where God walks with me. It is my creed. His people are my people, where He sends me, I go knowing he is walking with me. Some tasks have been difficult and I admit, am thankful when we move on. As a teacher it is helpful to remember that our students are God’s people, God has sent us, and we chose to go with God to do His work. Classrooms have changed, they are always trying new teaching methods, schedules, rubrics etc, but in the end…His children are my children. Yesterday, I was ...

  “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.” 3 John 1:2 As I drove in this morning, the roads had a lot of blowing and drifting. At times cars came into my lane to navigate their lane. As you can imagine this was a little nerve wracking. It reminded me though about my soul’s path. At times there are drifts that I need to navigate, and at times, others who don’t stay in their on lane by telling me what I should do or what I should be. The thing about driving through snow drifts is that you can’t be on cruz control. You have to take the wheel and navigate yourself, feeling for the right path. This Advent is a great time to take the wheel, tell people to stay in their own lane and make sure your soul’s path is healthy. Now that you opened the door for Christ  won’t you intertwine your soul with His and begin to navigate snow drifting and drivers who are in your lane, with Him on the path…

  “ One who has unreliable friends soon comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.” Proverbs 18:24 Relationships can be tricky. My students are finishing their Old Testament course with the books of Wisdom. The quote from Proverbs reminds me of high school and how important friendships built there are. People seem to come and go in our lives. Relatives are there, but sometimes we seem closer to friends than family members. Advent is a great time to reach out and remind family and close friends how important they are. Relationships require time and communication. Send a Christmas card, make a phone call, but make sure you reach out and “stick closer than a brother” on the path…

  “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” Psalm 55:22 Today, my students will be doing a prayer service. They have written letters asking for healing or forgiveness. They also have made affirmation bags and filled them with positive messages from classmate. Sometimes for me, in a classroom, I find we get caught up in vocabulary and tests and we forget the most important lesson. God is always with you, just open the door. We need to let God walk with us, and we need to really have a heart to heart with God. I think this is a great way to start the Advent season. Open the door, let God in and begin that heart to heart on the path…