W.I.S.E. Bible Study

 Do you know your mission? The reason you are here? Jesus gave us his by quoting scripture: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19 Mission is our passion, our duties, our focus and our dreams. Jesus started by telling us his mission and then he proceeded to live it and eventually die for the mission. A mission can be simple. Make it through the day. Or it can be complex: create a podcast and write books. Mission becomes part of the roles we find ourselves in, and what life has handed us. Knowing your mission and being open to shifting missions when life is messy or neat. I am writing later than normal. Went to the gym and have a cousin in Kansas. I don’t believe we have all the answers, but we do need to weave our faith in our missions. Faith must be a ...

 Sleeping for Autistic children and adults can be a complicated thing. Taking our littles camping always poses some interesting sleep patterns. Part is driven by anxiety, the other just the way littles are. I am reminded of Psalm 4:8 “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Making memories may come with less than desired amounts of sleep, but when it does come knowing in any surrounding the Lord will make it safe is comforting. The importance of sleep is evident in all the studies, etc. However, I think making memories is also important. Today Lord, we ask that you keep us safe both in sleep and in our adventures. May God provide health, and safety to all who are in need on the path…

“The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise ones replied, ‘No, for there may not be enough for us and you. Go instead to the merchants and buy some yourself. “ Matthew 25:8-9 Be prepared. I first want to point out that this passage points to a persons action, their responsibility as the foolish ones were told to go buy their own oil as the wise did not have to share. I am a Girl Scout with my Gold Award (girls version of eagle) Being prepared means working through all contingencies and solving any problems before hand. Why? Murphy’s law. Something will go wrong so you have just mitigated most problems to focus on the one you have. What does this have to do with faith? Fill yourself with God’s love letter, and surround yourself with other believers. Pray, fast and be steadfast. This is filling your lamp with oil. There will be battles, there will be storms and your lamp’s oil needs to full. Lord help me fill my lamp so no dar...

 The sun is shining. Life is good. Getting the littles ready for a new school year does present some anxiety. We are taking them camping for their last weekend. I pray that all students have an amazing year of growth and great memories. I pray for teachers as I know the task ahead. Today I share this scripture verse: “The LORD is good to all, compassionate toward all your works, all your works give you things, LORD and your faithful bless you.” Psalm 145:9-10 Note that it says, “your faithful bless you.” I believe that in how we approach our anxieties, the unknowns and each other is how we bless God. Our words, actions, decisions, who we choose and what we choose to surround ourselves with influence our blessing. Today, no matter where you are in life, be reminded of who God is and how you can bless God through your life, your breath. May the Lord of good be with you, guide your, protect you and give you vision to be compassionate and peaceful on the path…

 Today, as I read and pray through scriptures I am struck by these passages: “In fact, when we were with you, we instructed you that if anyone was unwilling to work, neither should that one eat. We hear that some are conducting themselves among you in a disorderly way, by not keeping busy but minding the business of others.” 2 Thessalonians 3:10-11 How long ago was scripture written? A current problem, as somethings don’t change. What if the eating was communion, and Jesus expects all of us to work, that is be disciples in order to be welcome at the table. Jesus welcomes all, but I do think we are required to live our lives and do God’s “work”. Eating sustains, and so does the menu of God’s words, learning from others and our experiences being processed through the lens of God. Minding our own business and working seems to be like two great qualities to have. I have to ask myself if I am doing my fair share of work and focusing on my appropriate “business.” Lord, please focus my w...

“Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours. May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word.” 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 Pulling weeds yesterday reminded me of how overgrown with “weeds” our lives can become. You know the weeds: those things that have creeped in, sometimes entangling themselves with the beautiful flowers in our lives. Sometimes the weeds are beautiful and we feel we should keep them around not realizing how invasive they are. Today, stand firm and hold fast by weeding out those things we have allowed to creep in our garden. Pray, allowing God to help you with the work so that standing firm and holding fast are the flowers we enjoy on the path…

As I start my morning with scripture I am reminded that I need to be more than just a person who studies the word of God. “Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourself.” James 1:22 Compassion, forgiveness and patience are just a few ways a doer lives out the word. The weather is in transition. A Christian knows that their transition is everyday saying yes to living the word. It is not easy, it is a commitment. Being human means our free will choices are not always the best. Transition means three steps forward and two steps back. That’s being human and very much Wisconsin transitional weather. Perfection is Gods to behold. Ours is being the best version of ourselves by being both hearers and doers on the path…

“Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who waits for him. “ Isaiah 30:18 The Lord is waiting to be gracious to you! My husband is the kind of guy who is always helpful. When he sees a need he jumps in. One thing is that he will say is that he does not read minds. You have to ask or he has to see or hear about someone in need. God respects our free will; with that said God waits for communication on needs. That is the reason prayer is so important. God waits to be gracious. Today, pray so God can show God’s mercy on the path..

Today, as focus is shifting to fall, back to school and perhaps harvesting, I want to think about focusing on being steadfast. 2 Chronicles 15:7 “But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded.” Perseverance in our chosen or give path is a focus to remember. Life is hills and valleys. And when we find ourselves struggling as we climb hills we need to remember to be strong and not give up. Our strength can be drawn from those good around us, mental reminders and of course our faith. As Dori says, “keep on swimming.” You will get there. Me, well I try to remember this as I reconstruct my days without formal work. The sun is shining, family members are traveling to the homestead, and life is good. Why? God is good, all the time on the path…

Wisdom is the ability to see the world as God sees the world. Sometimes, I think, we all get a glimpse of this. We see something that is profound and we know God. Yet there are times when life is messy that we need wisdom to guide us through. Today remember James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” The lens we choose to wear bring our lives into focus and perspective. Choose the lens of God to see the world, God’s creation through God’s eyes. When we do this our goals, our challenges, our everything changes and we find we live a life of love. A life that cherishes and is full of compassion on the path…

My sewing room has moved several times over the years. I have been a tote seamstress. The last couple of days I have been able to sort through and organize the chaos. It’s a good feeling when you accomplish a daunting task. I am reminded of Phillipians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. Today, if you have a difficult task or one that you know needs the of the Lord, be reminded of this passage. Stick to it because you can do it! Lord, I am thankful for tasks being accomplished. Help me to persevere and push through when tasks are not pleasant or difficult. I continue to ask for your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. May the gift of counsel be at my side as I walk in fortitude and reverence. In Jesus name on the path….

“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”Ephesians 4:32 Today’s scripture passage reminds us of how we are to act as a Christian. It is easy to be defensive and put up walls, yet the Lord wishes for us to be open with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness. Those verbs can be hard to incorporate in your day. Lord we ask for strength and courage to live our day as one who is kind and tenderhearted. Grant us wisdom and knowledge to truly be a forgiving soul. Thank you for the day, a clean page with possibilities to draw a day fill with the ways of a Christian on the path….

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….

“ As it is written: He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor; his righteousness endures forever. The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed and increase the harvest of your righteousness.” 2 Corinthians 9:9-10 Yesterday, my son, my husband and I went to the State Fair. I wanted to see the horses but the barn was closed. I did see the cows and other animals. I am struck by how much of the fair is vendors though. We did get caught in a thunderstorm that pushed us into a build with, you guest it, more vendors. Wisconsin has 72 counties, perhaps each county could have an exhibit telling us about them I might want to visit. It was a good walk though and I got many steps and spent time with family. I did have a meltdown when it comes to food. For me, I have to make sure I know all the ingredients…sometimes I just want to be a person that can eat anything. Oh, well. Bread for food takes on a whole knew meaning…but today’s verse reminds us ...

At the mountain of God, Horeb, Elijah came to a cave where he took shelter. Then the LORD said to him, “Go outside and stand on the mountain before the LORD; the LORD will be passing by.” A strong and heavy wind was rending the mountains and crushing rocks before the LORD— but the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake— but the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was fire— but the LORD was not in the fire. After the fire there was a tiny whispering sound. When he heard this, Elijah hid his face in his cloak and went and stood at the entrance of the cave. 1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a The whisper. Today’s reading is a reminder to listen for the whisper of God. Like Elijah, we need to find the moment when we know God is passing by. That God is with us. I think because of the influences of movies, TV shows etc. we think that only in the largeness, dramatic, action pack is where the best is found. God, however, comes in the...

Have you ever run into a situation where someone really doesn’t understand you? I think at one time or another, we all have. Our journey is full of moments of trying to be heard or understood. John writes this in 1 John 3:1 “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us it that it did not know him.” If we are to be understood, then one must understand God. A person must know God to know us. As a disciple we walk in the way of the Lord, and no the world will not understand that. As I go about my day, I try to remember being understood isn’t necessarily a goal. Instead, my actions point to another so that they know God and God’s ways. Today, think about how you can let your actions speak and not use words but deeds to point to the kingdom of heaven here on earth on the path…  

  As I get started on my day, I am reminded by 1Corinthians 16:13 what my mindset should be: “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong.”  You never know the twists in a day. One thing can hold true and that is always being on guard, standing firm in our faith being courageous and strong. I received a retirement letter from the Archbishop of Milwaukee. It was nice to be recognized and it reminded me how much we need to uphold each other. Who do you need to uphold today? Thank them, guide them gently, or even remind them of what being one of faith means. Be on guard today, that is surround yourself with positive, kind, those of Christian character. Don’t let those threads of negativity and unhealthy creep in. Instead stand firm with courage and strength so that the words of the Gospel are being lived out on the path…

  Today’s part of the reading states: Matthew 17:4 “Then Peter said to Jesus in reply, “Lord, it is good that we are here. If you wish, I will make three tents *  here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” Hospitality. I think of myself in this scene. Jesus invites me to go to a place and when we get their Moses, and Elijah appear. Jesus appears in his glory. Peter’s first instinct is to offer hospitality. I wonder if I would fall to my knees in awe and wonder. Would I run? What would my reaction be? I hope, like Peter, I will offer hospitality. In life we are greeted with situations where we must remember (as my mother would quote) perhaps we are entertaining angels. Taking the approach that we want to make those we encounter comfortable is a characteristic to have. Today I pray that I remember to entertain everyone, that is, make them comfortable as if they were sent by God on the path…

  Ezekiel 36:26 “   I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” As many start new school years and new beginnings, I find Ezekiel’s words helpful. A new heart, a new spirit for a new year and one that is directed towards God’s will by removing a heart of stone. It is now that the reality of retirement is becoming real. New school years, new jobs, new friendships and new direction from God. Today, think about where your heart is still one of stone. Where do you not allow God in your life? Are there parts where you still say, “I’m doing this” or “This is the way I need to go, act, believe or participate without others telling me what to do?” Spend time with God, ask for God’s direction, his will allowing God to breath into you a new heart, new spirit and remove stones from your heart on the path…..

 Matthew 15:10-11 “He summoned the crowd and said to them, “Hear and understand. It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one.” Words are powerful. What comes out of our mouth says a lot about us. In this time of political campaigns, I am struck by words. I wonder if they understand the duties of a Governor? Promises from the mouth that tell me a lot about who you are. Everyday we encounter words every day. Today, think about your words and what they say about you. Use language to build up. Do fall into the fowl mouth that makes me look cool syndrome. Words. Deescalate, by being kind. Be truthful with courage and words that do not destroy. Yes, this means we have to think before we speak, but Jesus wants us to use our words for building the Kingdom here on earth. So speak, write, use words for the betterment of society, for education, truth and justice on the path…

Matthew 14:28-31 “Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw how [strong] the wind was, he became frightened; and, beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” I have to admire Peter’s gumption. He sees Jesus’ walking on water and wants to do that. Peter, put’s his foot in his mouth, tries the impossible, denies Jesus…the list goes on. I have to love him though because he is so human. He isn’t a larger-than-life superhero. No, he is very like you and me. Jesus final words to him can speak to us: O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Is there something in our life that we started but strong winds came along and we have gotten discouraged? Fear not, keep your eyes on Jesus as he has called you out to ...

  “On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.'”  – John 7:37-38 Door County area has lots of water. It is the “thumb” of land sticking into lake Michigan. There are also rivers and creeks. Water. Our trip had warm temperatures, and we packed plenty of water. Hydration is important. I find the older I get the more I make sure I am hydrating. Living water from Christ is something that ensures all that Jesus taught and died for. I want living waters in me so that I can tell others about faith and give hope. Jesus says to go to him and drink. Today is a good day to drink the living waters by praying, turning to scripture and studying words that feed your soul. Commit yourself to helping community, that is others for aren’t we all about 95 % water on the path…