Uncategorized | Paula Wiseman

Study Tip: Now What?

In the last few tips, we’ve examined Scripture to see what it reveals about God, and what it tells us about ourselves. What do we do with all that information? If it doesn’t affect our daily lives and make us more Christ-like, then it’s no better than knowing our state capitals.

By way of review, last week we considered Hebrews 4:12-13

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (13) And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

And we came away with some observations about ourselves.

1. I am made up of the physical and spiritual.

2. I have hidden motives

3. I am not able to hide myself or my motives from God.

4. I must give account to God.

Here’s the part I call the ‘Now What?’ How does this information change my life when I leave my desk? How will it make me more Christ-like?

Knowing that I will give an account encourages me to life according to His standards, to be transparent and diligent in His service. Understanding that I will deceive myself about my motives (I have hidden ones that God sees through), I need to constantly ask God to show me where I’m fooling myself. One of the most significant things I’ve learned is that I cannot trust my perceptions and I need God to sort those things out for me.

Filed Under: Study Tip Tuesday, Uncategorized Tagged With: application, Bible study, Hebrews

Let It Begin With Me

By Paula

If you fear the Lord and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the Lord your God.
1 Samuel 12:14

I had to give up watching the news. Oh, I still read the headlines on the internet, and I still get email updates, but no more news broadcasts on any network for me. I found that they were contributing to a general discouragement and made me harbor some unsanctified thoughts about some of my countrymen. However, I cannot deny that our country is in deep trouble. Court rulings, legislation and political policy seem increasingly hostile to God’s authority and His standards.

As I read Scripture, the remedy won’t be found in the halls of Congress or on a picket line outside. (This is not to say that people shouldn’t avail themselves of whatever means God leads them to use to speak the truth.) The key to good God-honoring government resides in my heart and the hearts of others. If you fear the Lord, serve Him, obey Him and don’t rebel against Him – did God make Himself clear, or what? – If we as citizens commit ourselves to personal holiness, then our leadership will follow suit.

I am one person. I can vote, but how much influence do I really have on Washington D.C.? I can control my own actions, though. I can choose to fear God and honor Him. If THAT catches on, then the nation will change. If we live out genuine faith, if we become vessels of honor, sanctified, cleansed and prepared, we become part of God’s solution to the ills of our society. True healing is only found in Jesus Christ.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: 1 Samuel

Be the Sheep

By Paula

My Bible study group is working through Kay Arthur’s study of Psalms, Praising God through Prayer and Worship, and this week we hit Psalm 23.

Psalm 23 has been commented on maybe more than any other passage, and there is much comfort to be found in the promises of provision and protection. A shepherd is a person, but I looked at “shepherd” more as a verb, to guide.

First, a detour- I got side-tracked in the dictionary… I shall not want. The shades of meaning for want are significant. I shall not be needy or destitute. I shall not feel “need” or even have “need”. I shall not have an independent desire to come and go or be. I shall not have a strong desire for anything else. I shall not put my energy into hunting something with the intention of apprehending it. If the Lord IS my Shepherd, then I don’t want anyone or anything else. He is the source and supplier for everything. In Him there is contentment, rest and peace. To walk away from Him is to trade away those things for cheap, illusory copies.)

So where does He shepherd me?

Green pastures – abundant, easy-to-obtain nourishment. He will lead Me through His Word to feast on the riches of His Truth.

Still waters- Sheep won’t drink running water. He understands my frailties, and graciously works through those.

Restores my soul- He so desires a relationship with me that He will shepherd me through the tough process of repentance and restoration, so that nothing stands between us.

The valley of the shadow of death- First off, it’s a shadow. While it’s the size and shape of death, it’s only a shadow. He’s with me. He’s still leading.

The presence of mine enemies- To prepare the table, He had to get there first, before me. No matter what the enemies have in mind, the Shepherd is one step ahead.

Anointing- Healing, favor, selection, identification, consecration, commissioning… Anointing was used to show all these things.

None of these places is a one time stop-over. We revisit them as often as needed according to the Shepherd’s assessment, timing and purposes. The ultimate destination is the house of the Lord – He will finish the job, and will safely bring us into His eternal presence and glory.

The sheep is not responsible for figuring all this out, for trying to solve all these problems. The Shepherd, who led the sheep there, is the One responsible. He is Shepherding. Am I “sheeping”? I was not made to be a free-agent, but to glorify God through obedience.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Bible study, Kay Arthur, Psalms

The Risk of Choice

By Paula

Happy Friday! It is warm finally. My son starts Little League practice Saturday. It must be Spring! I hope to pack up the winter clothes this weekend at last.

Reading The Giver (I gave a quick synopsis in yesterday’s post), soon after the boy begins training, he is frustrated by the lack of choice in his community. He wants to be able to decide. He quickly concedes that there is a danger in that. If people can choose, they might make the wrong choice.

Beginning with Adam, God trusted man with the ability to choose, knowing the risk it presented. [I am NOT going to get into Calvinism and irresistible grace.] God gets glory when we choose to love and serve Him. That means we understand that He is worthy. It’s a step toward revering Him the way He deserves. It also reflects His character- He loves us because He chooses to.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: The Giver

The Wisdom of Suffering

By Paula

Yesterday, I finished reading The Giver, a Newbery winner from 1993, by Lois Lowry. I cannot wait to start discussing it in class! It’s a deep book with weighty themes. In fact, I’m shocked it’s a children’s book. There will probably be several posts about it in the coming days. The story is set in a tightly controlled society in the present or near future. Every facet of life is regulated by the Committee of the Elders. They choose your mates, your career, your children and even the day of your death (we find out later). In exchange for the regulation, people enjoy a safe, pleasurable life with no upsets. There is one elder, however, who carries within him the collective memories of the society throughout their history. He alone remembers pain, suffering, loneliness and grief. He is also the only one who knows true joy and love. A twelve year old boy is sent to train with him and eventually take the old man’s place. That’s the background.

The boy asks the old man why the community needs to remember pain and suffering. Wouldn’t they all be happier without it? The old man replies that the memories- which for him means reliving the events- bring wisdom. Proverbs in the sourcebook for wisdom, but one verse in particular 8:35 reads ‘For whoever finds [wisdom] finds life, and obtains favor from the Lord.’ I admit, I don’t want pain or suffering. Most days, I don’t even want aggravation. But it’s the difficulties that make me depend on God’s grace, on His strength, not mine. It’s the suffering that allows me to become more Christlike, so I may know Him … and the fellowship of His sufferings. (Phil 3:10) Suffering and pain bring an intimacy into our relationship with Christ that cannot be achieved by any other means. And that realization is just a small sliver of wisdom.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Lois Lowry, Philippians, Proverbs, The Giver, wisdom