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The Time is NOW ...

The Time is NOW … for Convention!

Excitement is in the air! The 36th Biennial Convention of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League is happening this week.

The Time is NOW … to share registration totals: over 4,400 as of June 12, including more than 500 delegates and 1,000 first-timers.
The Time is NOW … to share a NEW option: view the Mission Grants video before convention.
The Time is NOW … to share another NEW option: read the Convention Manual before you arrive in Des Moines and get busy with convention activities.
The Time is NOW … to invite friends who can’t come to Des Moines to watch the Livestream videos of the Opening Worship with Proclaimer, The Rev. Gregory Seltz, Lutheran Hour Speaker. You can download and print worship folders from the Convention page. Encourage congregations to show the video feed in their churches.

The time is almost NOW … to celebrate “Bountiful! Sow • Nourish • Reap.”

Abba, Father

Abba, Father

Growing up, my sister and I each had our own table prayer. My prayer was “Abba, Father, bless this food for everlasting good.” It wasn’t until I was grown that I learned that the Greek word “Abba” was a term of endearment, like “Daddy.”

I am continually awed and thankful that our almighty God seeks a close, personal relationship with me … and with you. His love is shown through the promise and fulfillment of a Savior, His Son, Jesus Christ, and through Him, the promise that I am an heir with Christ. That truly makes me His little girl.

The Time is NOW to share with someone your “Daddy’s” great love for His children.

Don't Wait

Don't Wait

This is a busy time of the year. We have weddings and reunions to plan and attend, vacations to look forward to, and of course the LWML Convention, June 25-28, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa! We are always planning and counting down the days to some event in our lives, but let’s not forget that our Lord and Savior gave us today – this very moment. The Time is NOW to make the best use of this moment to God’s glory.

We can plan for tomorrow and it’s not wrong to count down the days to a big event. But don’t wait to be in His Word and in prayer, to seek forgiveness, to share His love and mercy with everyone we meet, and to serve our Lord. We also (and always!) rejoice in the gifts of His sacraments. Celebrate this day and thank God for each moment. Don’t wait!

“Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble” (Matthew 6:34).

Family Reunions

Family Reunions

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another … (Hebrews 10:23-25).

Family. Just the word can bring to mind memories of celebrations, reunions, comfort, worship, forgiveness, prayer, and encouragement.

When I think of family, I often think of LWML gatherings. Perhaps you do, too! I consider my sisters and brothers in Christ involved in the LWML part of my family – my family of faith. With our Savior Jesus as the Head of this family, each time we come together in His name helps us make new memories as we celebrate, comfort, worship, pray, forgive, and encourage one another. Any LWML gathering becomes a much-anticipated family reunion!

I look forward to our LWML family reunion in Des Moines, Iowa, in a few weeks. I hope you can be with us, too. The Time is NOW to encourage your sisters and brothers in Christ to join in the celebration, June 25-28. See you there!

Signing with the Word of God

Signing with the Word of God

Do you ever notice the signature line of email messages?  Often the sender uses this as an opportunity to share something about themselves. Most of the time the signature line for messages sent from my computer includes Be still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! Psalm 46:10

Knowing that God is in charge and that we can and should go to Him with our problems because He can handle them is very important.  We can feed the cat, take out the garbage, and make some decisions, but only as God allows. In the end, God’s plan for our lives includes our salvation and His victory!

I believe it is important to share this message with those I correspond with so that they too may know the comfort and security of God being in charge.

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Pat Reichert

Vice President of Special Focus Ministries
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

 

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Go ahead…use me!

Go ahead…use me!

Does it ever seem there is no end to the tasks you have to do?  We cook, clean, run kids to activities, attend meetings, and then start the whole process over again.  “I feel like I’m being used!” may be our cry.

Then, God places, in your midst, those who need help and we jump to support, nurture, and pray. Why?  Because we remember those beautiful, life giving words of Ephesians 2:8; “By grace you have been saved through faith. . . It is the gift of God.”  We remember that these opportunities for service are God’s opportunities.  God puts them in our path. "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in" (Ephesians 2:10). What an honor to “get to” do the errands of the King!  God has placed these tasks in our path so that we can serve Him and our neighbor. 

When the to do list gets long … and it will … remember it is not your to do list, but rather God’s tasks that we are completing for Him.  Let us have our hearts prepared so that our errand going feet, working hands, and proclaiming lips will be ready to serve the Lord with gladness.  Then we can joyfully say,  “Lord, I want you to use me!”

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Katy Gifford, Chairman

Mission Servants Committee
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

 

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Transitions

Transitions

My dad dizzily stumbled around the optometrist’s office, frustrated with his new bifocals. It was difficult to keep his balance as his eyes moved across the abrupt line in the middle of each lens. He was grateful when “no-line, easy-to-transition” bifocals became available.

Over the summer, our LWML will be transitioning leaders. New officers will be elected at Convention, and new committees will be appointed in August. Although names of people in each position will abruptly change, those currently serving will mentor and encourage the newly-elected to make an easy transition. As St. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 14:31, “… so that all may learn and be encouraged.”

Please keep the Des Moines Convention in your prayers, for those planning it, as well as for all people on the ballot. Those elected will need God’s guidance for their new roles, and those not elected will need to hear God’s call for service elsewhere.

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Carolyn Blum

Vice President of Organizational Resources
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

 

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