W.I.S.E. Bible Study

Psalm 71:1-3 “In you, Lord, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.” In today’s Psalm what do you hear? I hear a person who trusts in the Lord, knows of the Lord’s compassion and strength. The Lord shines through as the person glorifies their friend, their Lord, and loved one knowing and trusting that they are a refuge; they are a rock and a fortress. As I drove to work, the moon was simple gorgeous. I tried to take a picture but it does no justice. Last night and early this morning there were storms that passed over. Yet as I began my drive the moon was there and reminded me of God’s continue light on my path. Today’s Psalm reminds us where to go when storms pass over, and if we forget remember this Psalm and talk to the Lord as this Psalmist does. The Psalms are are songs of human...

Holy Week. I love the Psalms. They speak to me. The Psalms of Holy Week are a beautifully expressive of God’s love. Today’s Psalm is from chapter 27 verse 1: “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?” God loves us so much we realize the is the light and salvation. God is the stronghold to which we rest. We begin our Holy Week with these images to carry us through. The sun sometimes does not shine, and struggles to peak through clouds. Yet in the stronghold of God we can find that light and security of salvation. This weekend I planted a pear tree. I made plans, and began looking towards Easter preparations. However, I was reminded that we are still in Holy Week, and to not rush the time, but be present, and listen. So, I am listening through the Psalms this week. This will be what my stronghold is filled with on the path…

  Isiah 50:5 “The Lord GOD opened my ear; I did not refuse, did not turn away.” Listening. Today, on this Palm Sunday, is a day of listening. Listening to the fabric of the world, the voices of the people, and Mother Nature. God whispers, and people respond. The wind brings soft southern breezes and then switches to the cooler northern winds…spring. On Palm Sunday, people lined the streets shouting Hosanna to the one and only true King. Jesus is the true servant King, and His Kingdom is one of servanthood.  The responsibility of the title. Today, let us wave the palms to the servant king and be reminded that he taught us that heaven is on earth, which is inclusive of all, when we follow his true love, his true kingship through words and action, and especially through listening on the path…

 If you are a gardener, you know you need to prepare. I have already looked over my gardens. Pruned my fruit trees and turned over dirt. Nutrients have gone into the earth, and I have made a list of the next steps. Preparation.  There are a lot of things we need to prepare for; that is, to be ready. Sunday is Psalm Sunday, the beginning of Holy Week. Luke 12:35 states, “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.” Even if you did nothing for Lent, this week I challenge you to reflect on your relationship with Christ. Today, prepare and fill your lamps and get dressed in readiness so you can continue the walk with Christ on the path…

  “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 What is your need today? Spring is in the air even though temperatures dropped today, more and more warm temperatures are on the horizon. What is it that I need as we enter the last week of Lent? Do I feel closer to God? Do I have tools to more into Easter and beyond? One lesson is that I trust in the Lord, so I will trust the tools I need are there, the joy is in my heart to glorify Him and to sing His praises. Lesson two, is that clutter does seep in so I need to always ask myself, “Need or want? Fostering or hindering my relationship with God. Does it help my focus or blur my vision? As the season is about to change both liturgically and in life, I am reminded that God will supply every need on the path…

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…

 “Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21 Listening. I think that listening can be a difficult skill to use at times. Many things beckon to us. Yet we must allow our ear to zero in on the voice of God. Of all the sounds a person hears, God’s voice must push through. It will, if we train our ears for the sound of God’s whisper. In order to have an intimate relationship with God, we need to be able to pick his voice out of a crowd. Today’s verse tells us that if we are able to hear his voice, he will guide us on the path….

  “Let us acknowledge the Lord; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3 There is something about a shower that makes you feel better. The caressing droplets of warmth work your muscles. I was thinking of showers today, both physical that can rejuvenate the body, and showers of faith that can bring one closer to Christ. A physical shower starts with turning on the water. A shower of faith starts with acknowledging the Lord. Whispering today is God beckoning you back to the Lord. There is still time, Lent has not completed its run…nope….there is time, turn on the facet of faith, acknowledge God, and shower in God’s love and grace on the path…

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” John 14:26 Memories. Sometimes, faces of loved ones who have gone before us, flash through our memories. Sometimes we wish we could have had one last conversation, one last moment. Today, though I am thinking again about the Holy Spirit. Like memories of loved ones, their knowledge, their wisdom and even their mistakes can continue to teach us. The Holy Spirit continues the fire of Christ in us by being present to us. Stories, lessons and memories are important. During Lent, with the guide of the Holy Spirit we can sift through and be reminded of lessons and loved ones memories. Lessons of what to do, and what not to do are worth revisiting as we become deeper and closer to Christ on the path…

  This morning as I woke, I thought of the Holy Spirit. My words: “Come Holy Spirit, guide and rest inside. I am not sure we call on the Holy Spirit enough. This morning, for some reason the Holy Spirit was on my mind. There are any scripture verses, I will share this one with you: “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him-the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2) Roads were rough this morning, but I knew God was with me, in me and guiding me. God leads, I follow. I hope you can be secure in knowing that God does the same for you, without judgement. God sees only the beauty and joy in you. Your sins, well, forgiven, cleansed and it is a new day on the path….

 What does a teacher do on a snowy day? I am catching up on grading and looking at lesson plans. It is still snowing, and we have a layer of ice under everything. I am grateful for the cancelled day. As I look out my patio window, I am in awe of the beauty. Such fierce storms gave way to such beauty. God has something to say about beauty also: “Do not let your adorning be external-the braiding of hair and the putting on of gold jewelry, or the clothing you wear- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God’s sight is very precious.” 1 Peter 3:3-4  A gentle and quiet spirit is what God sees as beautiful. Note that the force of a gentle and quiet spirit is under control, but it does exist, and watch out when it is unleashed. Today, take some pictures, enjoy the beauty you see, and know that after storms, there is beauty to behold on the path…

 Today as we drove around doing our shopping, we noticed that there were many trees uprooted. Trees that when standing looked perfectly fine. I was reminded to check my “roots” and ask how deep they run. Are my roots deep enough to withstand any storm that might blow my way? Lent is a great time to do a “root “check. I leave you with this scripture verse…from me to you, before the next storm hits: “   For this reason I kneel before the Father,    from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name.    I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge...

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9 I have posters hanging in my classroom designed by my students. They are on the Gospel of Mark. They have a scripture passage, a Catholic Social Teaching point that a current day organization lives out the message of standing up for the poor, needy and marginalized. We discussed many of the same points in the Gospel of Matthew, and now we are in the Gospel of Luke doing the same. The beauty of Luke is his sense of equality. He has a balance of gender and treatment of people. This Lenten journey is looking at how we use our voice. It is about balance with our actions and voices. Do we tear down or build up? Do we create tension or a safe place? This is a version of the five-step Daily Examen that St. Ignatius practiced: 1. Become aware of God’s presence. 2. Review the day with gratitude. 3. Pay attention to your...

Yesterday it rained, it snowed, it rained, and it snowed. The weather, which is typical of Wisconsin spring reminded me of being indecisive. James 1:8 states “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Indecisiveness. I can be indecisive at times. I admit it. Yet, the scripture for me is pointing to one who follows Christ, but at times does not. There is no room for indecision when claiming to be a Christian. You must be all in. That is right, ask yourself are you all in? Today remove those areas in your life where you know you are not all in with God on the path…

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training n righteousness.” 2 Timothy 3:16 My drive in today was quiet. I listened, but, only stillness. I never worry about stillness, or quietness, for I know the whisper is there. Yesterday was 73 degrees out. I went out and worked up my container gardens. I still need to get a few things before I plant my first seeds of snow peas and kale, but it was nice to be outside and working the earth. I don’t grow a lot, mostly flowers. The reason is because I love farmer’s markets. Gray skies, out my window remind me that like can be gray but through it I know I bring the light, I find the light in Scripture, and whispers are there and seasons, well in Wisconsin seasons are fluid on the path…

“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…

 This morning, I was greeted by a brilliant large moon that lit my way. A travel companion and light. Jesus told his followers to follow him. It is hard following anyone. I once took a group on a mission trip. We had one leader we followed. That didn’t work well. I find it hard to follow. I am a leader, strong independent woman after all. Yet, my Jesus says to follow. I don’t presume to be his equal. No, but he is my friend and companion. This morning, I was reminded that I am called to follow, not lead, not strangle behind, but follow. I study scripture so I know the foot steps I am to walk in. This Lent reminds me I must follow, not take charge, not get lost or sit down, but follow. In order to follow I need to trust the leader, and know his path. So here I am, this morning resigned to follow on the path…

  The Lenten journey is a reminder to me that I need to look at those who perhaps have done me harm or treated me poorly. I think of Luke: “But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.” (Luke 6:35) The hardest thing to do is to treat everyone who is sacred. I watched a movie starring Woody Harrelson entitled “Champions.” In the movie, Woody’s character learns that one of the characters will not play basketball for him because he was in an accident where he sustained a traumatic brain injury. Woody has to coach as a community service sentence for drunken driving. The boy “hates" drunken drivers. The boy's mother encouraged the boy to forgive. Learning to forgive hurt is difficult, yet I think that is part of the Lenten process. Who is your “enemy”? Who do you need to forgive, and see the person created by God on the path…