Paula Wiseman

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Home » Sage Words

Truth from Thessalonians: Pray for Us

By Paula Wiseman

 Truth from Thessalonians Pray for Us title graphic

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2

The Apostle Paul had prayer requests.
Think on it for a moment.
Do we ever hesitate to ask for prayer when we need it?
Maybe we think we “should” be able to handle things…
Maybe we don’t want to “bother” people…

Not Paul.

And he asked for prayer for the thing he was best at
The thing he was known for
Evangelizing.

Notice what he requests.

That the word would spread rapidly.
That the word would be glorified.
That they would be rescued from perverse and evil men who would oppose them.

That’s actually a very good prayer for today.
Pray that the gospel would spread rapidly.
Our world is in desperate need.
Pray that the word of God would be glorified.
What a seismic shift that would be.
Pray that believers would be delivered from opposition.
Imagine if we all prayed that for each other.

Finally, brethren, pray for us.

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: 2 Thessalonians, Truth from Thessalonians series

Dunkirk, Darkest Hour, and Our Call to Action

By Paula

In the film Darkest Hour, there is a scene in which Winston Churchill, newly named Prime Minister, meets with his war cabinet. It is May 1940. The Nazis are racing across France with devastating speed and threatening to annihilate the entire British army trapped at Dunkirk. Churchill asks his military leaders and strategists what their plan is.

And he is met with silence.

There was no plan. Not even a bad plan. It was staggering. This was their area of expertise. They had devoted their careers to studying military planning, strategy, and execution and at this critical moment, they had nothing to offer.

One of the cabinet ministers then reiterated that he favored opening talks for a negotiated peace with Germany. Compromise and surrender.

We too, are in a war.

I wondered how often we, how often I, come to the table with no plan whatsoever. We’ve studied and small-grouped for years. We’ve practiced and planned but

When jobs are lost
When devastating diagnoses are handed down
When addiction ensnares
When young lives are senselessly lost
When middle-aged people are overcome with despair
When older people pass their days in loneliness
When children grow up much too quickly
When so many give sex in hopes of securing love
When others chose the illicit or the virtual over purity and genuine intimacy
When relationships dissolve
When prejudice and rancor are the norm

we sit in sheepish silence. Or someone suggests compromise or even surrender.

 Our faith is not abstract theory. Or at least it shouldn’t be. It is true that our faith does not insulate us from difficult situations. In fact, I know believers who have experienced each of those things on that list. But to be sure, our faith should move us to act.

 In Matthew 25, Jesus gives us a call to action.

Then the King will say to those on His right hand, ‘Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ Matthew 25:34-40

While these verses are often cited to encourage us to take care of the poor and hungry – and we should – notice verse 40. Inasmuch as you did it to My brethren. Other believers. Hungry, thirsty, in need, cut off, alone …

 How was the army at Dunkirk rescued? By their countrymen, by ordinary people who were willing to risk life and livelihood to do it. They answered Churchill’s call to action. The German bullets were real. The Channel was cold and unforgiving. Success and safety were not guaranteed.

But at Dunkirk, the cost of NOT acting was far greater.

 Likewise, it is no easy thing to invest in the lives of others, to share with them, to suffer with them. We risk being misunderstood and maligned. We might be underappreciated and taken advantage of.

But we might pull off a daring rescue with eternal significance.

 

 

 

 

Filed Under: Thursday in the Word Tagged With: kingdom of God, Matthew

Thy Word Have I Hid in My Heart

By Paula Wiseman

Thy Word Have I hid in My Heart Title graphic

Thy Word is a lamp to my feet,
a light to my path alway,
to guide and to save me from sin,
and show me the heav’nly way.

Forever, O Lord, is thy Word
established and fixed on high;
thy faithfulness unto all men
abideth forever nigh. [Refrain]

At morning, at noon, and at night
I ever will give thee praise;
for thou art my portion, O Lord,
and shall be through all my days! [Refrain]

Through him whom thy Word hath foretold,
the Savior and Morning Star,
salvation and peace have been brought
to those who have strayed afar. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Thy Word have I hid in my heart
that I might not sin against thee;
that I might not sin, that I might not sin,
thy Word have I hid in my heart.

Ernest O. Sellers, 1908
Read Psalm 119:9-16

We cannot overestimate how important Scripture is in the life of a believer. It acts as a guiding light, providing wisdom and clarity in times of uncertainty. In its pages we find comfort, inspiration, and a moral compass to navigate the complexities of life. God reveals Himself, His character and His ways through His word. It’s available to us in multiple formats, so it’s accessible almost anywhere we go. Dig in and hide the Word in your heart. you won’t regret it.

Filed Under: Wednesday Worship Tagged With: hymns

Truth from Thessalonians: Not Shaken

By Paula Wiseman

Truth from Thessalonians Not Shaken title graphic

We ask you, brothers, not to be quickly shaken in mind or alarmed, either by a spirit or a spoken word, or a letter seeming to be from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. 2 Thessalonians 2:1-2

“Shaken” is the word used for an earthquake.
The Thessalonians not only thought they had missed the Rapture
But were left to face intense persecution.
They were confused, disheartened and disillusioned.

When we look at the world around us,
We, too, can fall into that same confusion.
Especially if we listen to voices
That instill fear and anxiety.

If you keep reading the chapter,
You find that Paul reassures his readers.
He calmly, methodically walks them through the truth.
And that’s what stops the shaking.

The antidote for the fear and anxiety
Is to go back to the truth.
God loves us. He is in control.
His plan is on track.

His promises are sure.
His word is unchanging.
Our salvation is secure.
His love never wavers.

No shaking.
No earthquakes.
Just a solid Rock.

Filed Under: Monday Meditations Tagged With: 2 Thessalonians, Truth from Thessalonians series

You’ve Been Sealed

By Paula

A cute seal on the beach and the words youve been sealed

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. Ephesians 1:13

You were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise. It’s not “sealed” like the marine mammal you see in circuses honking bicycle horns. And it’s not “sealed” like being trapped inside the mummy’s tomb forever … but that one is getting closer. So what is Paul getting at when he says we have been sealed? I think there are at least four things included in it.

Authenticity – Back in the days when software came on disks or CDs it often came with a certificate with a seal of authenticity to let you know you had the genuine item, that it wasn’t a pirated copy. You could be confident that it as going to function as expected and that it had all the features you wanted.

The Holy Spirit ensures and attests that our salvation is the real deal and it rests in no one but the One True God accomplished by His Anointed. No fakes, no substitutes, no sub-contractors.

Security – If you have ever been drug-tested for work or had bloodwork, you may have noticed the technician or nurse putting a bunch of stickers on the sample containers or bags. Those are there to prove the samples have not been tampered with. They affirm the integrity of the sample so the results of the tests can be trusted.

The Holy Spirit seals us so that our salvation cannot be tampered with. Because of that we know the results, like joy and peace and growth and answered prayers and so on can be trusted. Not only that, we can be confident that the end result of our salvation, our ultimate glorification in Christ’s presence is a sure thing.

Ownership – Cattlemen used to brand their herds so that even in a big group, it was easy for anyone to see which cows belonged to whom. Even now we mark our lunches, and our coffee cups and kids’ jackets so that ownership is clear.

The Holy Spirit seals us so we never have to question who we belong to. Not only that, but it should be easy for anyone else to tell it as well.

Authority – Your high school or college diploma. Your driver’s license. Your building permit. All of them have some sort of seal affixed to them indicating that some governing entity with the requisite authority has conferred on you some right or privilege or standing.

The Holy Spirit gives us the standing as children of God, joint heirs with Christ and further grants us the status as ambassadors for His kingdom.

You probably already knew it, but just for the record that’s an unbreakable seal.

Filed Under: Thursday in the Word Tagged With: Apostle Paul, Ephesians, Holy Spirit

Bringing in the Sheaves

By Paula Wiseman

Bringing in the Sheaves title graphic

Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,
Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;
Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,
Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;
By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. [Refrain]

Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,
Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;
When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. [Refrain]

Refrain:
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;
Bringing in the sheaves,
Bringing in the sheaves,
We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Knowles Shaw, 1874
Read Galatians 6:7-10

This is an old hymn, but I’d say we don’t know it as well as we think. It’s an encouragement not to lose heart even when we feel we aren’t making any progress or having any impact. Hang in there. There will be a harvest.

Filed Under: Wednesday Worship Tagged With: hymns

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