The Gift of Prayer

Thus says the Lord … I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you (2 Kings 20:5b).

Have you ever stopped to think about God’s gift of prayer? As a child, I was taught to say my prayers at night, before I went to bed. I petitioned the Lord to bless my family members, one by one, and I thanked Him for His many blessings of the day. 

Although I didn’t realize it then, prayer is a direct communication with the One who cares and loves us the best. I always appreciate and feel a sense of comfort in my soul when I learn someone is praying for me. We are all blessed when this happens. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me! (Psalm 66:20).

At the LWML Minneapolis convention, a prayer for my granddaughter, Sierra, was read as we gathered together on the convention floor. God answered that prayer; Sierra received a life-saving double transplant three weeks later.

Sierra as a baby

Sierra grown up

Sierra and Ginger

Praying with others is such a blessing. The 2021 LWML Prayer Service, “He Prayed with Them,” based on Acts 20:36b, is designed to be used at any time by large or small groups. 

Ginger Starrett

Recording Secretary
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Prepare

Prepare. The LWML Board of Directors (BOD) and committees have been preparing for the 39th LWML Convention in Lexington. Thousands of emails have been sent and many Zoom meetings have been held. Preparation continues, remembering that our plans are not always His plans and all that we do will be done to His glory.

God wants us to prepare for future events. He prepared a way for Noah and his family to survive the cleansing flood. It was a good plan that involved a lot of preparation and trust on the part of Noah.

In preparation for Lexington, the BOD and committees have stepped out in faith, trusting that God will lead them to develop the programs and resources that will be used to share Jesus with our families, community, and the world. Click here to read about the preparations made for Lexington.

Take some time to thank God for His work of preparation in your life. We may not have to build an ark, but we are engaged in the work of preparing hearts to be ready for Jesus’ coming again. Prepare. He is coming!

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

Debbie Larson

President 2019–2023
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Keeping Afloat in the Lord!

and never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth (Genesis 9:11b).

This year, you may have felt that you were living in the times of Noah, getting seasick, and no one would let you off the boat. Never fear, the Lord is near!

As we approach the “Running the Race ... Looking to Jesus” LWML Lexington Convention, you may feel like this last year, your race was run chasing pandemic issues. To refresh you in the race, the LWML Christian Resources Editors Committee has compiled a fresh supply of Bible studies, devotions, songs, and sketches in Faith Building Help for Groups, available during convention.

To sustain your journey, one new Bible study is available to you in advance of convention. This week you can download the Bible study, Living in the Times of Noah — Today at www.lwml.org/posts/short-bible-studies/living-in-the-days-of-noah-today to help you weather the storms of life. Noah’s life was no more of a cruise than ours, but he kept his head above water with the Lord.

Smooth Sailing Blessings,

Terri Bentley

Chairman, Christian Resources Editors Committee
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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LWML: A Love that Endures

As we approach Mother’s Day, let us remember those women who have nurtured us in the faith and mentored us in joyful service.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 107:1).

The women and men of LWML have a heart for faith, family, and mission-giving. What better way to pass on that legacy of faith and mission service than including the Lord’s work in your estate plan?

Whether you seek to

• share your faith by using a Christian preamble for your will or living trust,
• bless your family by recording your wishes and instructions for end-of-life to guide them, and/or
• impact ministry with a simple bequest or beneficiary designation,

one of our professional, trusted Gifts of Love Planning Counselors can help you! This LWML ministry is offered as a free service to LWML members and their families. For more information or to contact one of our Gift Planning Counselors, go to www.lwmlgiftplan.org.

Eden Keefe

Vice President of Gospel Outreach
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Routines

How do you begin each God-given day? I once heard an interview in which the speaker suggested that making your bed first thing in the morning gives you a sense of accomplishment, thereby encouraging you to tackle the remaining tasks outlined for the day. That thought has stuck in my mind and has produced a feeling of, “Okay, I’m ready for what’s next!”

However, even better is beginning each day with a devotion. A Mustard Seed Devotion? Portals of Prayer devotion? A special daily devotion book? Using a schedule for reading the Bible in a year? No matter what devotion routine you use, it’s the best way to start your day — even better than making your bed.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16).

May your daily routine begin with the Lord. The LWML home page tab “The Word,” the LWML app, and LWML On The Go Podcasts are excellent resources for starting good routines.

Char Kroemer

Vice President of Communication
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Reflecting the Immense Love of God

The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2).

Have you ever looked at your reflection in a pool of water? Imagine seeing the Spirit of God reflected there! God’s Spirit created faith in your heart at Baptism, and you now reflect God to the world. Water is vital to maintain life — without water we all would die. Without faith our soul will perish.

A favorite family photo shows my husband, an LCMS pastor, baptizing our grandchild. What a thrill to witness the Spirit of God creating faith and bringing another child into His heavenly family!

God wants us to help spread the Good News of Jesus throughout the world so all people can be in His family. LWML mission grants we support with our mites and prayers help bring souls to Christ. May we always reflect the immense love of God as we strive to live for Him!

Arlene Naasz

Meeting Manager
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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Come, Spend Time with Me

During the last year, life has been turned upside down. Many of us were ordered into isolation as the virus spiked all over the country. I had time at home that I don’t normally have. And here was God saying, “Come, spend time with Me.”

I looked up Bible verses on diseases, crises, encouragement, and hope. A verse that spoke to me loudly was, For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you (Jeremiah 29:11–12). Many of us are very familiar with verse 11, but verse 12 is key. God has plans for us, but we also need to call upon Him; pray and He will answer.

As Lutheran Women in Mission, we share God’s Word through LWML Bible studies and devotions, especially in isolation.

Susan Donnelly

Public Relations Director 
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

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