Paula Wiseman

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Halftime 2010

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RunningIt's halftime! 

July 1st. The year is halfway over. In a football or basketball game, halftime is an opportunity to evaluate the gameplan and make adjustments as needed. I entered 2010 with some goals in mind. So far, one of them is in the bag (yay!) and one is out of my hands at the moment (sigh!). That leaves running and losing those accursed ten pounds. Let's talk about running.

Progress is slow, but it's measurable.

I love that! Definable, measurable progress. This morning, I ran a lap around our neighborhood park. Then I walked a half lap. Then I ran another lap! Last year, the best I EVER did was to run 1 lap. And I only did that one time. My goal was to run two miles. This week, I've run two miles a couple of days in a row. Still with walking in between, but there is progress.

Progress is painful.

I hurt every day after I run. Granted that may be because I'm 40-something. I prefer to think it's because I'm pushing a little harder, trying a little more each day.

Progress means re-evaluation.

Can I still make the two miles? I think so. October was my goal. Depending on how things go, I may consider stretching that to 3 miles or 5K.

It no different in my walk with God. I need an honest look at my relationship with Him. Then once I see where I am, I need to listen to His suggestions of where I should be. Then I need the discipline to work steadily at achieving that. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit will take care of the hard stuff, but I have to be available for Him to work on. He won't drag me across the finish line of Christlikeness.

What about you? What were your goals? How are you doing on them?

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Study Tip: Go To the Source

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Bible study… Intimidating? Frustrating? Go to the Source.
The Holy Spirit inspired every word written in Scripture.  He is the One who pulls back the curtain revealing new things each time we study Scripture. In fact the Bible itself underscores how necessary the Spirit is for understanding.
1 John 2:27 He teaches us
Isaiah 11:2 He is the source of all wisdom
John 14:26 He will teach us all things and remind us
John 16:13 He guides us into truth
Nehemiah 9:20 God gave the Spirit to instruct us
1 Corinthians 2:10-13 The Spirit searches and reveals the deep things of God, the things only He can know and teach
1 Corinthians 2:14 Learning from the Spirit is the mark of a believer
Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you read and study.  Let this be your prayer. “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your Law.”  Psalm 119:18

j0385403Bible study… Intimidating? Frustrating? Go to the Source.

The Holy Spirit inspired every word written in Scripture.  He is the One who pulls back the curtain revealing new things each time we study Scripture. In fact the Bible itself underscores how necessary the Spirit is for understanding.

1 John 2:27 He teaches us

Isaiah 11:2 He is the source of all wisdom

John 14:26 He will teach us all things and remind us

John 16:13 He guides us into truth

Nehemiah 9:20 God gave the Spirit to instruct us

1 Corinthians 2:10-13 The Spirit searches and reveals the deep things of God, the things only He can know and teach

1 Corinthians 2:14 Learning from the Spirit is the mark of a believer

Seek the Holy Spirit’s guidance as you read and study.  Let this be your prayer. “Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things from Your Law.”  Psalm 119:18

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Spiritual Lessons from the Wii Fit

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j0405148I got a Wii Fit Plus for Christmas, and we've really enjoyed it. It doesn't hurt that I've lost five pounds so far. (More than I lost in three months of running, I might add, but that's another story.) My BMI is dropping. My balance has improved. My coordination… well, I'll get back to you on that one. Plus, as I've used it, I've unlocked new exercises, more reps, and some challenge games.
So how is my Wii Fit like the Holy Spirit?
I have to take advantage of it. If I don't take the thing out of the box, I'll never get any stronger or fitter. If I never rely on the Holy Spirit, I'll never get any stronger or fitter for God's kingdom.
I get better, the more I use it. My scores from the first week were terrible. I don't even want to discuss step aerobics. In the same way, it becomes more natural to follow the Spirit, the more I do it.
Some parts have to be unlocked. Even though all the games, challenges, levels and reps are on the disc, I can't get to them all at once. The Holy Spirit wants me to exercise my faith before He opens up some things to me. The stronger my faith and my walk with Him get, the more challenges I'll b ready for.
I got it as soon as I received the gift. All those games and levels were mine as soon as I opened the present, but I have to put in some effort to access them. All that the Holy Spirit has for me was mine as soon as I accepted the gift of salvation. However, I have to put some effort into my own growth.
So how fit are you? How many levels have you unlocked?
"…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Phil. 2:12-13.
j0405148I got a Wii Fit Plus for Christmas, and we've really enjoyed it. It doesn't hurt that I've lost five pounds so far. (More than I lost in three months of running, I might add, but that's another story.) My BMI is dropping. My balance has improved. My coordination… well, I'll get back to you on that one. Plus, as I've used it, I've unlocked new exercises, more reps, and some challenge games.
 
So how is my Wii Fit like the Holy Spirit?
 
I have to take advantage of it. If I don't take the thing out of the box, I'll never get any stronger or fitter. If I never rely on the Holy Spirit, I'll never get any stronger or fitter for God's kingdom.
 
I get better, the more I use it. My scores from the first week were terrible. I don't even want to discuss step aerobics. In the same way, it becomes more natural to follow the Spirit, the more I do it.
 
Some parts have to be unlocked. Even though all the games, challenges, levels and reps are on the disc, I can't get to them all at once. The Holy Spirit wants me to exercise my faith before He opens up some things to me. The stronger my faith and my walk with Him get, the more challenges I'll b ready for.
 
I got it as soon as I received the gift. All those games and levels were mine as soon as I opened the present, but I have to put in some effort to access them. All that the Holy Spirit has for me was mine as soon as I accepted the gift of salvation. However, I have to put some effort into my own growth.
So how fit are you? How many levels have you unlocked?
 
"…work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Phil. 2:12-13.

Encounters Series

From the opening pages of Scripture, no one who has encountered a holy God has come away unchanged. Adam, Abraham, Hagar, Moses and many, many others realized that God is not distant but a God who … Read More

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Foundations Series

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