Paula Wiseman

Talking about Baggage

Paula — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:33:16 +0000

We all have it. We've been dragging it around for years. This past Friday, I got to speak about a woman from Luke 7:36-39 who left her baggage at the feet of Jesus.

Here's an excerpt…

We don’t know any more details about her or her background, but I can tell you she was an outcast. If she had any living family, she was dead to them. The only people she had contact with were the men who used and dehumanized her or other women who were as broken as she was.

I’ve had little girls and I can tell you, of all the things they ever said they wanted to be when they grew up, “prostitute” was never mentioned. No, when they played, when we played, when we were growing up, we all wanted to be princesses, daughters of a King.

If this woman ever had that dream, it had long since died. Whatever the circumstances were that lead up to this moment, this wasn’t the path this woman envisioned for her life. And many of us, like her, find ourselves in a place we never thought we’d be. Depressed. Divorced. Childless. Unemployed. Abandoned. Alone. Whatever it was, whatever it is … it’s a lot of baggage to carry.

You can read the rest or watch the video.

Thinking about Romans 8:28

Paula — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:09:32 +0000

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

A lot of folks misread that. It's not 'all things are good'. Because they aren't. Some events and circumstances are devastating, crushing, life-altering. To deny that is disingenuous at best. At its worst, it destroys our faith and warps our view of God, sometimes even to the point we no longer serve Him.

In Genesis, we read the story of Joseph, a teenager who was guilty of nothing more than being a brat. He was sold into slavery by his own brothers, then falsely accused of sexual assault and imprisoned for thirteen years. Thirteen. Years.

His response echoes the idea behind Romans 8:28. He says, "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." (Genesis 50:20 NAS)

He doesn't whitewash his brothers' intent or that it was personal, but he says God wove those strands together in a way that redeemed them. Since sin first entered the world, God has chosen to redeem it rather than destroy it. He is redeeming my sins and failures as sure as He redeemed my soul. And He's redeeming the wrongs committed against me.

Well-meaning folks will use this verse intending to encourage us in difficult times, but instead it becomes a false barometer. If we don't agree that whatever "it" is is good, our faith, our love for God or even our salvation itself is brought under suspicion. That's unfair. It doesn't show a lack of faith if we mourn and grieve when bad things happen. It shows we have a tender heart that longs for the day when all tears are wiped away, but yet remains bound to a fallen world. It is a cry for the day when God will avenge all those wrongs, while realizing we're bound to endure them for now.

I pray for God's strength and comfort on us all as He weaves.

STT: 2 Timothy

Paula — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:07:50 +0000

If you knew you had mere days or weeks to live, what would your frame of mind be? What things would you want people to know? What instructions would you give to ensure your work continued? These are the questions answered in the Apostle Paul's final short letter to his young protégé, Timothy. It's quick, heartfelt read.

Since Timothy was quite familiar with Paul's doctrine, you won't find much exposition in this letter. Instead you find unique insights into the heart and mind of the apostle.

Keep track of what you learn about Paul. Where is he? What is his emotional state? What things are weighing heaviest on his mind?

List the instructions and admonitions he gives Timothy. What seems to be his greatest concern for Timothy?

Bonus study: Compare this letter with Deuteronomy 31. Both Moses and Paul knew death was imminent. Are there similarities in the tone or content in their final words? What differences do you notice?

How would you summarize Paul's last words?

The Lord Knows

Paula — Mon, 14 May 2012 12:38:06 +0000

Psalm 1:6 says "… the Lord knows the way of the righteous …"

"The righteous" include all who are His. Even when we don't feel it. Even when we don't act like it.

The Lord knows…

the "way" we should be going and the detours we take.

the "way" we hurt and worry.

the "way" we hope and dream.

the "way" we want to serve, and the "way" we sometimes fall short.

the "way" we yearn for Him, and the "way" we sometimes hide from His presence.

The Lord knows…

This is not just intellectual knowledge, or a cold accounting of facts.

It is deep empathetic, experiential knowledge.

It comes with love and understanding.

The Lord knows.

Indemnity – A 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist in Religious Fiction

Paula — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:06:58 +0000

Announced late Wednesday – Indemnity was named a 2012 Next Generation Indie Book Award Finalist in Religious Fiction.

The Next Generation Indie Book Awards is the largest Not-for-Profit book awards program for indie authors and independent publishers. In its fifth year of operation, the Next Generation Indie Book Awards was established to recognize and honor the most exceptional independently published books in 60 different categories, for the year, and is presented by Independent Book Publishing Professionals Group

In Case of Turbulence

Paula — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:05:47 +0000

A few weeks ago, my husband and I flew to Florida by way of Chicago. The weather in Chicago was less than perfect and those atmospheric disturbances translated into a bumpy flight. And I mean bumpy. I've flown a fair amount, and even skirted a thunderstorm once, but this flight was unnervingly turbulent. It was enough that the little guy in front of me – and his mother – made use of the sick sacks.

Jon has his private pilot's license and I think he was enjoying the ride. However, when I saw the view from my window swing wildly from sky to grass… and back… more than once… I decided it was probably best to try to memorize the stitching pattern on my sneakers.

There are many times though, when I look around, when I feel the effects of the turbulence in the world around me, it's no less unsettling than that airplane ride. In Psalm 18, one of my favorites, David declares, "The Lord is my Rock, and my Fortress and my Deliverer." (v.2) and later he asks, "who is a rock except our God?" (v.32)

My Rock. My Fortress. My Deliverer.

No matter what rages around me, I have a sure foundation. I have a place of safety and I have a Savior.