W.I.S.E. Bible Study

Our focus can tell us where we are at in life. If we our poor and our focus is consumed with making money, we could say our passion or hearts desire is money. If we are rich and our focus is on gaining more wealth we could say our hearts desire is money. Our focus can b help us to accomplish and move our lives in certain directions. Today Matthew reminds us that our focus and hearts desire should be Christ. Matthew 19:23-24 “Jesus said to his disciples, “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for one who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” As a retired person, each day I do have a focus or direction. I can get caught up in my day, yet I weave prayer, reading/studying and service into the day so that I don’t become consumed by passions other than faith. Today we ask God to guide us, show us where we have excluded Him from our lives. We list our gra...

“Now someone approached him and said, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” He answered him, “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:16-17 Commandments. Do you know your commandments? Rules can be difficult, but are important. They direct our path and help us become our best possible self. Faith provides me with the importance of discipline. Discipline has transferred into all parts of my life. When I accomplish something it is for Christ. I would like to shout out to past students as you continue to journey remember to do so with the commandments as your road markers and discipline as your guide . Lord may we all allow your commandments to be written in our heart. Guide us to be disciplined in Christ. Know our gratitude as we continue on the path…

The Faith of a Canaanite Woman : “   Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon.    A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is demon-possessed and suffering terribly.”   Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, “Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us.”He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.” The woman came and knelt before him. “Lord, help me!” she said.   He replied, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”   “Yes it is, Lord,” she said. “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table.”   Then Jesus said to her, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.” And her daughter was healed at that moment. Matthew 15:21-28 Due to the Canaanite’s women faith she changes Jesus’s mind and he grants her request...

  Today I start with a quote from Pope Francis. This is a quote from a preface he wrote for a book on women’s leadership. “It is my belief that, as the research shows, equality must be achieved in diversity. Not equality because women assume male behavior, but equality because the playing field is open to all players, without differences of gender (and also of color, religion, culture...). It is what economists call efficient diversity. ” ( https://aleteia.org/2023/03/08/pope-writes-preface-for-book-on-womens-leadership-full-text/ ) I start with this because I am still researching Mary of Magadala and Mary the mother of Jesus and I am struck by their doing the will of God did not mean they were “seen and not heard.” No they gave themselves to faith and pick up the yoke of being genuine. It was not easy and much of their voice is hidden in manuscript that are incomplete and not acceptable. Listen to the words of Romans 12:2 “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but...

 Today I start my morning with these words: “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22 I look out over my wildflower garden…it’s out of control. Yet, we had to get the littles out because we had about a half dozen or more dragonflies buzzing the yard. They thought it was so cool. The joys of summer and nature. Today I hope your heart is cheerful. Find the positive, be thankful and mostly share the joys with others on the path…

 Yesterday was a day to do something for my family. I made homemade chicken and wild rice soup, brownies, cornbread and homemade gluten free bread. Time in the kitchen is always a relaxing endeavor. Family is important for me. I must remind myself though of Mark 3:33-35 “But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and [my] brothers? “And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. [For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” I am part of Jesus family. All are, whoever does God’s will. So, what is God’s will. I think for all it is kindness, truth and those qualities Jesus taught starting with family. Biological families can be messy. Yet, when we remember to whose family we truly belong we can start doing God’s will by living out the gospel message. I love family, even all the messiness. Join God’s family, do God’s will by finding ways to bring about the gospel message on the path….