W.I.S.E. Bible Study

  “After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.” Acts 4:31      Red Sky. This morning, the sky was red and pink. My grandpa taught me the saying, “Red sky at night, sailors delight. Red sky in the morning, sailors warning.” The vibrant colors of the morning sky was helped by the Canadian wildfires. Reading the sky or the situation is important to our survival. The faithful of Christ gathered in a room because they knew they needed to stay together. They “read” their sky and felt that without Christ, they were in danger. They knew they were stronger together. Their reward was the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit gave them courage and wisdom to continue the work of Christ. Together, we can create a red sky at night for others to see. We can help them to see the delight in following Christ. As I wait for the “littles” to come out so they get a ride home...

  Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble. When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lied down, your sleep will be sweet” Proverbs 3:23-24. New Places. Sometimes the biggest things that holds us back is ourselves. Yet the world is there for us to have dominion and subdue. We are to explore and go out and discover. We are meant to bring order to world through our defining it and treasuring it. I remarked to my husband this morning that we had not even gone fishing yet this year. Heck, I don’t think we even have our fishing license. This is very late for us. Part of the reason is because we have been consumed by projects around the house. Taking time to get away reminds us that we are to spend the summer not with lists but with each other. Today think about travel and how God is with you and calling you from your four walls on the path…..

  “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 Walking Miss Molly. Miss Molly is a golden doodle. When in a camping area, or even a new area, her golden retriever side comes out. Miss Molly has to explore everything with her nose. Her exploration can make for an interesting walk to say the least. Yet because we love her immensely, we allow her, her diversions. Last night I slept on the sofa bed because she had to bark at each new sound. She even growled once or twice. The things we do for love. Today, a little tired, a little sore, I think about the big three from the passage. Faith, do I have faith? A genuine faith from the spaces of my heart and soul? Do I hope? Hope is something of imaginations. To hope for….place anything in there…big dreams….big ideas…big wants…it takes a good imagination to hope. Finally, how do I love? Do I love with joy? Do I love with patience? Do I love with faith and hope? Today as you wander...

  “But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.” John 16:7 Christmas. Yesterday we had family over for a meal. My autistic granddaughter announced that it was Christmas. The joy of everyone being together meant it was Christmas! For her, it wasn’t about presents but about sharing a meal. She has special numbers for each family member and uses them instead of names. Yesterday she gave her uncle his special number. Christmas. Easter is about the risen Christ. Soon we will be celebrating Pentecost. The birth of the church. The gift Jesus gives us is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit seems like this silent partner we don’t think about, but the Holy Spirit is with us and given to us as our “Christmas” present. Eucharist is our sharing of a meal, and the Holy Spirit is ever present for us to call upon, and include with us as we journey on the path…

 “ One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, *  listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying.” Acts of the Apostles 16:14 Pay Attention. From softball games to beer gardens, I am reminded that God sends people into our lives, and we need to “open our hearts to pay attention.” For his final this year, I had a student write about the people God had placed in his path so that he could graduate. He wrote about how he finally listened and could “lock in.” His concluding prayer was to ask God to continue to put people in his path. At the softball game, I listened. I found offense in the dugout chants of the opposing team. I was proud of my team's sportsmanship. I took my grandson to his first softball game and taught him how to cheer. His enthusiasm was great! Sitting at a beer garden, being outside with family and friends, does the soul wonders. The importance is listening to the ...

  “So I commended pleasure, for there is nothing good for a man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be merry, and this will stand by him in his toils throughout the days of his life which God has given him under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 8:15.   Summer Vacation. As I begin my summer vacation, I am reminded that rest is needed and that I can reflect on the past school year, knowing that God walked with me. I don’t really have any plans. (LOL)   I will be camping here and there and hanging out with family and friends. I am teaching a new course next year on Comparative Religions, so I will be creating the curriculum. I also have areas of the house to organize, but I must remember to “eat, drink and be merry.” This is important for someone like me who likes to plan and have check lists. Perhaps this summer will be a summer of wherever the wind takes me on the path…. (stay tuned!)

  Isaiah 26:3  ~ You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Because. Growing up, if you asked why you had to do something, my mom’s response was, “Because I said so.” God on the other hand does not wait for me to ask the why question. Instead he let’s me know the because right away. Maybe that is why I appreciate scripture so much. God is direct. God doesn’t beat around the bush. Nope. If I keep God in perfect peace because my mind is on God it is because God trusts in me. Many times we talk about trusting in God. Today thought we are reminded that God trusts us. Why do I walk with God? Why do I do his will? Not for me, but because God trusts me to do so. I love that. Even when I fall short, God trusts I will make amends. Today as you think about God, and struggle for peace ask yourself if you truly trust in him as he trusts in you on the path…