Productivity

Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established (Proverbs 16:3).

Like many of you, I strive to be more productive. I love learning new tips and methods to help me manage my time. As I reflect on many of those, I realize that many tips, seminars, planners, and other tools really are what could be called “work-productivity” and not a “grace and faith-based productivity.”

What does “grace and faith-based productivity” look like? For me, it means ignoring all the noise and distractions in our world that compete for my time. It means starting and ending my day in God’s Word and prayer. I have been reminded that God doesn’t expect me to finish my to-do list before I die. If it’s on His list, he will complete it with or without me. And like Jesus, we must take time for solitude — rest and listen to God’s voice.

You can start and end your day with Bible studies and devotions that can be found under “The Word” tab at lwml.org.

Karla Koehler

Treasurer
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Saints Equipped to Serve

So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ (Ephesians 4:11–13 NIV).

What a productive week! The LWML Board of Directors (BOD) and appointed committee members met in St. Louis four days last week in an interdepartmental meeting. This was the one opportunity when all committee members could meet face-to-face to plan their work for this biennium. The Pastoral Counselors led Bible study, and BOD members guided training exercises centered around the 2021–2023 LWML “Primary Focus" and “Strategic Plan.” Committee members reviewed the purpose of their committees and how they could best engage the women of the LWML — just as they were equipped by the BOD to serve in their new roles.

We thank and praise God for these willing and faithful saints and for their work to build you up and encourage you as Lutheran Women in Mission!

Brenda Piester

Recording Secretary
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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LWML Resources Remain Relevant for All Women

This week, members of LWML committees, task forces, and teams will descend on St. Louis, Missouri, for training and planning for the 2021-2023 biennium. More than 70 women and our pastoral counselors will worship and enjoy Bible study together. Under the theme of “Saints Equipped to Serve,” based on Ephesians 4:11-13, participants will receive training so they can develop resources and products, enabling every woman of the LCMS to confidently share her faith in Jesus with her family, community, and the world.

LWML offers free resources to all who want devotions, Bible studies, and new ideas for servant events and other gatherings of mission-minded women right now — on this website — and each resource needs to remain relevant. These incredible women will develop new resources and update past documents so anyone using them may be assured that they are doctrinally sound and applicable to our needs today.

One of the most popular resources LWML offers is our podcast. Listen often to LWML podcasts and enjoy the peace that passes understanding whenever you need it.

Today, and always, we are surrounded by God’s grace,

Debbie Larson

President, 2019–2023
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Walking in Prayer

The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working (James 5:16b).

In our frailty, our mind often wanders during prayer, or it may not always be our first go-to thought. God welcomes us to share our cares, listen to Him and enjoy spiritual renewal in our “walk” with Him.

LWML’s Walking in Prayer: Organizing a Prayer Walk helps participants focus on their time in prayer. This new resource shares ideas for organizing an interactive Prayer Walk for the purpose of practicing and encouraging individual prayer time. The Walk is organized with participants stopping at several “stations” to focus on a prayer exercise. Ideas in this resource are organized into four different categories: Devotion/Prayer, Interactive Scripture, Mission Service, and Visual Prayer.

Consider adding a Prayer Walk to your next rally, retreat, convention or even your local group activities.

Susan Brunkow

Vice President of Christian Life
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Doubts, Fears, and Trust

John 20:29b is my confirmation verse: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Do you ever feel like Thomas? Doubting?

Do you ever need a little proof? A sign?

Gideon, in Judges, chapter 6, asks God for a sign, not once, but two times. Just as Jesus was patient with Thomas and his need to see, God was patient with Gideon and his need to be sure.

God is patient with me, also. He sees my heart — full of faith, love, and trust — and then calms my momentary doubting mind. When doubts try to sneak in, I remember the verse given to me by my pastor at confirmation. I turn to Jesus instead of focusing on fleeting doubts.

The LWML website has a resource — “I Love to Tell the Story,” — a podcast which deals with doubts and fears that are covered by God. Access this podcast here.

Karen Morrison

Vice President of Gospel Outreach
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Resources for Your Faith Walk

By faith Noah, being warned by God concerning events as yet unseen, in reverent fear constructed an ark for the saving of his household (Hebrews 11:7a).

This past June my husband and I toured The Ark Encounter in Kentucky, which was amazing in size and complexity. Noah and his family spent an estimated 75 years building the ark, a decades-long reverent act of faith. We left with our faith strengthened and in awe of our faithful God.

The LWML has many resources to help your group in their faith walk. Most are available as free downloads on the LWML website. A new resource is Faith Building Help for Groups 2021–2023. This planning resource includes over 50 new devotions, songs, Bible studies, and sketches to encourage your faith. Try using these resources at your next LWML gathering!

Arlene Naasz

Meeting Manager
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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LWML Sunday Celebrations

Did you know that the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) is almost 80 years old?

What do you do when observing a “milestone” birthday? Do you reminisce and look at old photos? Do you think, “I look just as good as I did ten years ago?” Do you plan a celebration?

We are celebrating LWML Sunday this fall. This is a great time to think of our LWML memories and thank God for what he has done and continues to do through this organization. From one grant for $15,000 in 1942, to 28 mission grants to fund, and a $2,150,000 mission goal in the current biennium, God has truly blessed the LWML.

This year’s LWML Sunday theme is “Our Hearts in HIS Hand,” written by Rev. Dale Meyer. He writes, “Our hearts for Christ are in His hand of service, wherever and whenever He has need of us.”

Celebrate what God has done this fall with 2021 LWML Sunday materials!

love one another earnestly from a pure heart (1 Peter 1:22b).

Susan Donnelly

Public Relations Director
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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