Category: Biblical Wisdom

Have you ever noticed that when you try to intentionally start doing the “right’ thing or living in a better way, that bad things sometimes begin to happen? Sometimes when we make the effort to draw closer to God, it seems that the world around us is against it.

Ever wondered why that would be?

As I read through chapter four in the Gospel of Luke the other day, it struck me that Satan didn’t even take notice of Jesus until He was baptized and filled with the Holy Spirit. Of course, before that, He was just a carpenter, doing carpentry. He hadn’t yet begun His mission that God had sent Him to do.

It occurred to me that this is also the case with us today. When we are living our lives and doing our thing, apart from God, Satan doesn’t have much of a desire to interfere. Even if we are Christians, but aren’t really making an effort to learn what we are called to do and then do it, we aren’t really a threat.

Sure, we are one less soul for him, but we aren’t really affecting the landscape of Heaven, if we are just attending church intermittently and doing little else.

No, it’s when we really start to draw closer to God and bring others along, that he takes interest in us. That’s where the temptations start, just anything to draw us away from our true purpose.

Often it’s things that are benign like skipping worship service to go to the lake or skipping Bible study because we are too tired. It can also take on the form of that one person who drives us so crazy, that we elect not to get involved with some sort of ministry that we know we are called to.

Satan is more than happy to help us come up with all types of excuses to keep us home, because if we aren’t worshiping God with other believers, we aren’t growing and learning. We aren’t becoming a part of a community to help each other stay accountable.

It’s really important for us to remember that we have an enemy. It’s the same enemy that Jesus had. Jesus resisted His wilderness temptation with the help of the Holy Spirit. Christians today have the same access to the Holy Spirit.

It’s kind of humbling and inspiring at the same time. We will be tempted, but we will have help if we ask. The Holy Spirit always knows exactly how to help.

The Bible says to, “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

That’s strong protection, but should we really expect anything less? God looks after His own. It’s up to us to stay close to Him and He will provide.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

My church is doing a Bible study on the Gospel of Luke. Last night, we covered chapter four. There’s a lot of events that occur in that chapter. The account of Jesus being tempted by Satan, as well as Jesus preaching in his hometown synagogue and being run out of town, are all big stories. Jesus casts out demons in this chapter and heals many. The last verses tell us that He went away for some quiet time.

I could write a post on every one of those worthy of our thought, topics, but last night, there were two simple verses that really caught my attention. It’s an account of an everyday woman, just like me. She was so ordinary, the writer doesn’t even bother to name her.

She is known simply as Simon’s mother-in-law. In verses thirty-eight and thirty-nine, we learn that she has been in bed with a high fever and they asked Jesus to help her. We don’t know who “they” are either, but Jesus answers their request and He leans over her and rebukes the fever. “She got up at once and began to wait on them.” Luke 4:39b

It’s just a simple story, really, of a simple woman, serving Jesus. Yet, it speaks volumes.

I love all of the simple stories of unnamed people tucked throughout the scripture, who are doing God’s work.

There were people who loved her enough to ask Jesus for His help. Isn’t that what we are doing when we pray for the people that we care about? Aren’t we asking Jesus to intervene in some way, whether it’s to heal physical sickness, spiritual sickness, emotional sickness, or financial or relationship issues?

How did Jesus react to the requests of those who cared about her?

He healed her.

How does she react?

Is she thankful, while she takes a long deserved rest? Does she take a vacation? Does she feel entitled somehow because she has been through so much and overcome so much? Does she question God for letting her get sick in the first place?

Nope.

She gets up and serves them, immediately. She serves Jesus.

What do we do when our prayers for healing or deliverance are finally answered? Are we super thankful as we get right back to living our lives or are we convicted in some way to serve the God who has saved us?

It can be really difficult sometimes, to get back to serving when we feel we have been smacked down somehow, yet that’s exactly what Christians are called to do. As long as we are breathing, there is work to be done. Simon’s mother-in-law serves as a beautiful reminder for me. Perhaps you needed reminding too.

Have a awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Back in August, Donald Trump, who was defending his Christianity, stated in front of reporters, that the Bible was his favorite book. The follow-up question was, “What is your favorite Bible verse?”

Trump deflected the question and said that it was personal and he wouldn’t share that information. Of course, a firestorm was created about whether or not Trump was truly a Christian or whether he truly knew his Bible.

Politics aside, the entire fiasco really got me to thinking. If I were standing in front of a group of reporters and I were asked my favorite Bible verse, would I have an answer? Would you?

While it’s true, that God sees our heart; the world sees our actions. Like it or not, at the moment, Christians are kind of walking around with invisible targets on our heads, that the unbelievers love to take aim at. We often give them ammunition.

We know we are supposed to read the Bible. We know it’s God’s Word. Yet, we so often don’t read it or know what it says.

Trump later followed up by saying that he liked Proverbs 24. Since it’s one of the Books of Wisdom, Proverbs is always a wise choice for leaders.

Yesterday, I pondered the question, if you had to be buried in a t-shirt with a few words that summed up your life, what would they be?

One of my readers commented, that her son’s youth group leader challenged  them to pick out a verse that they would wear on a t-shirt, and then they all got shirts with the verse. I absolutely love that idea.

Knowing scripture is part of the Armor of God. We are supposed to use it to keep ourselves spiritually safe.

So, here’s my challenge for you. What’s your favorite Bible verse? If you know, I’d love for you to share it in the comments. If you don’t, I encourage you to spend some time and find one. There are so many amazing ones to choose from.

Mine is, “For nothing is impossible with God.” Luke 1:37

I can’t wait to hear yours.

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Last Sunday, our pastor talked about the Transfiguration of Jesus. It’s found in three out of the four Gospels. Luke tells us that Jesus had taken Peter, James, and John, his besties, up to a mountain top to pray.

I always find it interesting that Jesus seemed to seek out beautiful spots in nature to pray. I’ve always felt like mountains have a spiritual presence. I find that I too, feel closest to God in the beautiful places that nature provides. Jesus had them once again, hiking somewhere and when they got to the top, Peter, James and John, had to rest. They even fell asleep.

This too, is a reminder that when we decide to walk with Jesus, the path sometimes gets bumpy and downright exhausting, but we are called to rest as well. I imagine they had become used to walking with Jesus at this point and they may have realized that they had to grab some rest whenever they had the opportunity.

Life with Jesus then, just as now, was never boring.

When they became fully awake, Jesus was praying and had changed into something glorious. “His face changed and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning.” Luke 9:29

Elijah and Moses appeared and were talking with Jesus. This is the point where my pastor said that this must be what Heaven is like. He said he often gets questions about whether or not we will recognize our loved ones in Heaven when we arrive. Peter, James and John had never met Elijah and Moses. They had been dead for centuries and they certainly didn’t have any photos of them; yet they knew who they were. I find that comforting.

So upon seeing a glimpse of Heaven, what did Peter suggest?

“Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” Luke 9:33

Peter didn’t want to leave that mountain top, ever. He had glimpsed Heaven and he thought they should just stay right where they were, indefinitely.

Who hasn’t been there?

We all have had glimpses of Heaven. It may have been a mountain vista, or a perfect sunrise, or a beach, or holding our child for the first time, or saying “I do,” to our spouse. There have even been people who have had near death experiences that describe a brilliant light, that they are drawn to, but are pulled back because it’s not their time.

I think God gives His people these glimpses, these gifts, from time to time to let us know that there is something better and brilliant that awaits us in eternity. I think He reminds us sometimes that we are travelers here, but while Heaven awaits us eventually, we have work to do now.

We would all love to just stay in those glimpse of Heaven moments, but that’s not what Christians are called to do. Jesus had the cross awaiting him and Peter, James and John would not only be witnesses, but would be there for the resurrection too. They would also go on to be instrumental in the birth of the Church as we know it.

None of that could have been accomplished on that mountain top.

The Bible reminds us to treasure those glimpses of Heaven. They are special and sometimes miraculous. They are a gift. But, we are also reminded that until we get to Heaven, we are called to work hard and share the love of Christ with as many people as we can.

What will you do today?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

I recently read a blog post centered on 1 Thessalonians 4:11. “Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands just as we told you.”

The writer went one way and my mind went spinning in an entirely different direction. I looked it up and discovered that the you, is followed by a comma, not a period, so I read the rest of the sentence, which is verse twelve, “so that your daily life will win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” 1 Thessalonians 4:12

I quickly read the footnote for explanation. Paul had written this letter to the people of Thessalonica, who were doing a good job in their Christian walk, but he had a warning for them. First he tells them how to live and then he tells them why.

The Greeks of the day, apparently, looked down on people who performed manual labor, worked with their hands, and Paul was reminding them that Christians are called to work hard and not be dependent on others due to idleness. If they led a quiet life and worked hard, others would see and be drawn to Christ as well.

This verse swirled in my thoughts all day long. Paul could have written it for us today.

In a world where we all desperately seek our fifteen minutes of fame at all costs, living a quiet life seems almost impossible. We take to social media to tweet every thought that comes into our minds and we take pictures of our meals to post. We broadcast when we get a new dog, a new car, or a new spouse. We feel compelled to share everything.

But, all that sharing is the opposite of quiet and it also leads to the next warning about minding your own business. It’s fairly difficult to mind our own business when we can’t put down our social media, because we are so engrossed in everyone else’s business.

Christians who are able, are also called to work hard and not depend on others to take care of us. Paul is not talking about the elderly or sick; he’s talking about people who are simply lazy.

On the surface, it seems like a simple recipe. Lead a quiet life; mind your own business and work hard. But, I don’t hear a lot of quiet these days and it seems like no one minds their own business. Everyone has an opinion about just about everything, and they feel deeply, the need to express it. And, we have a lot of able-bodied folks who refuse to work.

So, what can we do?

The change, starts with me and you. We need to lead a quiet life and mind our own business. We need to work hard, because the rest of the verse says that we, “may win the respect of outsiders.”

Outsiders are non-believers. Is there a better way to share the Gospel than earning the respect of those who don’t believe?

Isn’t that what we are called to do? That’s what Paul believed. What do you believe?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Yesterday, our Sunday school lesson for our middle school class, was on Jesus calling Peter, James and John to be fishers of men. I remember this story well from my own Sunday school days. I feel like there were felt board cut outs for it. I know there was a song.

As I recall, these guys were cleaning their nets and Jesus strolled by and said, “Follow me,” and they dropped everything and walked off into the sunset.

But, as I read Luke 5:1-11, for our lesson, verse eight, really spoke to me. I don’t ever remember discussing it as a child in Sunday school.

The men had fished all night and had caught nothing. It was now daylight. They had cleaned their nets and were probably ready to head home. Jesus told them to go out and try again. Peter reluctantly agreed. When he cast his net this time, there were so many fish, that the net was breaking; his companions, and James and John, brought their boat over to assist and they had so many fish in both boats that they began to sink.

Peter, a seasoned fisherman, knew he was in the presence of the Lord. Do you think he embraced him and thanked him for the huge bounty?

Nope. “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me Lord; I am a sinful man.'” Luke 5:8

There Peter stood in the presence of Jesus, and instead of reaching for Him and trying to lean into His goodness, his first instinct was to push Him away.

As I attempted to ask the kids in our class if they had ever done anything that they felt was unforgivable or that made them unworthy of Jesus’ love, I was met with blank stares.

Youth is such a beautiful thing; isn’t it? I suppose that’s why the Bible says we all need to have the faith of a child. Children tend to believe in God’s unconditional love. They haven’t done much living, yet.

But, as we grow up and tender hearts get broken and toughened and bad choices get made and we fall, over and over, we can come to believe that grace and forgiveness are for everyone, except for us. We can believe that we are too far gone or have committed just one too many sins to ever be forgiven or redeemed.

In fact, as adults, that’s often our go to. Look at Peter. “Get away from me Jesus, I’m a sinner.” (my paraphrase)

But, Jesus knew that He was here to save sinners. Peter was just one of the many. Jesus certainly wasn’t shocked by any of Peter’s shortcomings or yours or mine, for that matter.

Do you know what Jesus said to Peter?

“Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

Don’t be afraid. Ever notice how often that phrase turns up in the Bible? Jesus wanted us to know that we have nothing to fear when we follow Him, not our pasts, our present, or our broken hearts, or our sins, or our doubts, or even our lack of faith.

He simply wants us to take His hand and follow Him and when we do, He will take care of all of our baggage. That’s the beauty of grace.

And grace, well it’s amazing and undeserved, yet ours to have, if we choose. Our lives are no different than Peter’s, while we are all sinners, Jesus loves us and calls us anyway. He wants to use us too.

Peter believed what Jesus said and he left everything and followed Him, and got to be on the front row of the greatest love story ever told.

Jesus is still calling. What is our answer?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂

Our church started a Bible study on Wednesday night on the Gospel of Luke. I love Luke because of all of the intricate details that it includes. Luke is the only place where we see Gabriel visit Mary and Zechariah to tell them about their miraculous babies.

Luke also includes “Mary’s Song.” After Mary has had some time to let the angel’s news sink in and after she has spent some time with her older and wiser and also pregnant, cousin, Elizabeth, she embraces her situation. She comes to realize that the unplanned and unanticipated pregnancy, is actually a gift, a blessing from God.

She decides to believe that God does have a beautiful plan and she bursts out in a song. The musical loving gal in me, can so appreciate this.

Our pastor pointed out that Mary’s song was similar to a prayer spoken by another woman named Hannah, hundreds of years earlier. Hannah was old and desperate for a child and God heard her prayer and Samuel was born. But, he pointed out, while the two praises were similar, Mary’s was different. She took Hannah’s prayer and made it her own.

Our pastor said he felt like that’s what the entire Gospel of Luke does, it makes Jesus’ story, our story.

I pondered that all day the next day. Isn’t that why the Bible is so important for guidance for Christians? Yes, it’s God’s word, but it’s also the story of God’s people. As God’s modern-day people, we can see our story in theirs. That’s what makes the Bible so amazing.

No, we probably won’t ever see the entire earth flooded and build and board an ark, but Noah teaches us that we can trust God. Noah teaches us that God will save those who walk with Him. Noah teaches us patience and obedience.

We probably won’t ever be put on the spot to save our entire nation, like Queen Esther, but Esther teaches us that we were made for the very moment we are living in and that God will use us if we trust Him and allow Him to.

Most of us aren’t or haven’t been a prostitute like Rahab, but her story teaches us that we are all redeemable if we decide to worship God.

Most of us aren’t ever going to be shepherds, or a king, but David teaches us about slaying giants and about repentance and God’s unfailing love for His people.

Most of us won’t ever be sold into slavery by our brothers like Joseph. But, Joseph’s story teaches us about faith and trust in God and forgiveness for others.

Why do Christians read the Bible? Because we can easily see our story woven in with theirs. We have all been betrayed. We have all needed redemption. We have all needed to be forgiven and we have needed to forgive others. We all need to learn to trust and obey God and we all need to grow our faith.

The Bible teaches us all of that through the stories of God’s people and ultimately through Jesus, the greatest love story ever told.

And the story of God’s people is still being written today. What will your part be?

Have an awesome day!

Wendy 🙂